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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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BoneyM said:
] Your debt to Stirland is recorded in a handful of documents in the Archives, and the current Steward is leaving the position. If said documents were to be slightly altered at the right time, nobody would notice in the handover and your debt could evaporate.
[ ] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
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What magnitude of financial killing? Hundreds of gold? A thousand? 1,500? More?

Because the first action is worth somewhere around those last two figures.

And what is our current remaining debt on the original EIC shares purchase (roughly)?
 
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[X] Plan Mistress of Shadows Without the embezzlement

Edit: The anti-embezzlers convinced me to change
 
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I like how the character sheet is developing. :)
BoneyM said:
The Buried Palace is a former palace buried over generations by the silt of the River Stir. The only above-ground entrance is a shack built into the back of an inn. Currently it possesses a handful of functional rooms, with many more remaining buried.

Contents of shelf above desk:
Flensed skull of the 'Singing King', a Strigoi vampire that ruled over an army of ghouls encountered during the Purge of the Haunted Hills, slain by you, Kasmir, and Abelhelm.
Gargoyle head taken from the wreckage of Castle Drakenhof.
Abelhelm's spare witch-hunter hat.
Your published paper on Mathilde's Mystical Matrix.
The memoirs of Asarnil the Dragonlord.
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Siual said:
[X] Plan Mistress of Shadows
-[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government.
-[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.

Verena's a fairly vanilla choice, as people have pointed out. Ranald might actually not be a good pick for the watch, as we want to make a Ranaldite Thieves' Guild. Having both the watch and thieves have the same faith might lead to some unfortunate blurring between the two.

-[X] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing

So likely hypothesis is that whoever's controlling us is at the very least perfectly willing and able to use vampires in their schemes, and probably more deeply involved with them. Let's bring the hammer down on them.

-[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.

I'm fine with one embezzling action, but we didn't return to Wurtbad to bankrupt the province and shit all over Van Hal's legacy. These are newly 'conquered' lands, if anyone's entitled to a modest cut it's us.

-[X] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour.
-[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you.

I'm surprised no one has noticed this. We are in the ideal position to influence who gets to be the next Elector Count if Van Hal's children don't come through, not to mention getting a feel for Empire politics. Getting Gustav under our thumb is a great way to increase our power on the council and outside of it.

-[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.

The QM quite explicitly suggested this action, and I think it's damn important to have a say in Stirland's wealthiest organisation.

-[X] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
--[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities using headhunted experts from Nuln. (-2 Budget Points) (NEW)
--[X]Overwork
-[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)

6/5 personal actions --> One extra organizational action
3/2 organizational actions

I know it doesn't have a training action, but we recently got a martial boost and this could be one of the most vital turns with a lot of time-sensitive actions, I don't think the +1 martial is worth not doing one of the above for.
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Why gustav instead of one of the other possible options? Also, remember the free time choice.
 
Alliterate said:
What magnitude of financial killing? Hundreds of gold? A thousand? 1,500? More?

Because the first action is worth somewhere around those last two figures.
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Depends how many buyers you could find, but you'd expect at least 500 crowns, possibly a lot more, and a big chunk of land for yourself that could turn into a significant money-maker with some care and attention.

Alliterate said:
And what is our current remaining debt on the original EIC shares purchase (roughly)?
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About three quarters is still outstanding.
 
BoneyM said:
I don't know if you're trying to weasel an upgrade into a 'hero' character or just outright trying to guilt me for not putting enough effort in to this quest. Either way, cut it out.
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I definitely intended neither and want to apologize for coming over that way. All I hope for is to encourage you to give us a cool Dwarf guy down the line to interact with, maybe for longer than just one update. And I perfectly know you're capable of it, since you already did so with several Dwarves from the Sylvania campaign, so it isn't meant as criticism. Just as declaring something I'd like to see.
BoneyM said:
If Van Hal's heir does not appear to take the role of Elector Count of Stirland, then he has absolutely no claim to the treasury of Stirland. If you want to steal the money then steal the money, but this isn't a valid justification for it.
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Mostly I imagine that something that could easily happen is that we get sent an Elector Count before Van Hal's heir shows up. Or even despite him showing up. I was thinking of backing the legitimate heir no matter what, as long as they are also up to it. Having a hold on Stirland's funds during a succesion crisis would be helpful to say the least. But for now I won't include that in the plan. As far as you've told us in the narrative it isn't all that much to begin with. Though I guess it is at least enough to pay all of the military for a turn or two.

[X] Plan: First Things First
-[X] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
-[X] Grungni, the principal Dwarf Ancestor God, actually has some following among the Stirlandian populace - and he is their Lawgiver to boot. Bring in a few priests to make it happen. (-1 Dwarf Favour)
-[X] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
--[X] Also ask our master if there's any chance he could put his weight behind Anton while we're there. He's a good candidate with love for Stirland.
--[X] Ranald's Blessing
-[X] Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth.
--[X] Make sure both of your loyalties still ultimately lie with House Van Hal.
-[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you.
-[X] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned.
--[X] Martial
-[X] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned.
--[X] Diplomacy
-[X] Free actions:
--[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
--[X] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Wilhelmina. (does not take an action)

"Cunning" Plan: Get the whole council on our side and prepare for Van Hal's heir, while proping up Anton as official EC/indefinite regent, depending on if the new Van Hal doesn't want to come or comes late. Ask our Master for help in this endeavor.
Also, if all we get is a letter, I would be interested in making sure Abelheim's children actually penned the letter, and not some meddling 'protector'. But that would be a question for next turn's vote.

Reasoning:

The main idea behind this plan is to stay loyal to Van Hal, prepare for the Elector Meet to a degree and make the best of time-restricted opportunities regarding self improvement. Cons are that the plan neglects maximising our future income at the cost of the next EC and arguably Stirland as a hole. I also thought that what we can personally do at the Elector Meet would be limited, so I didn't go for that. Lastly, publishing and magic stuff doesn't run away. We can do that when a kind of routine has returned. Or when we decide to give up our post as Spymaster.

The list of names is the last thing Abelheim left us. This is essentially his Last Will. And even if he didn't care to clue us in, we are the Spymaster of Stirland. One could even say that he could expect us to try and decypher it/be part of the aftermath, if we choose to. So he can't possibly hate the idea of us being involved, or he would have said so in his letter.

Anton is the safest candidate for EC. We have to at least try, in case the true heir declines or is delayed.

Gustav is backup if it doesn't go through. We may need him especially if a Van Hal shows up and the stooge sent by the Elector Meet doesn't want to make way.

I agree with what @veekie said time and time again regarding the value of practice right after the campaign. Who knows, if we're lucky we might get another trait of the ones listed. Artillery commander would make sense.

Free actions are free.
Even if we stay a silent partner for now, we should still do this since we can always learn economics later and start mattering. Not to mention the value of having the most shares once Wilhelmina bites it and splits her shares in two.
And being with our friend who was also close to Abelheim in our free time only makes sense. Choosing this here instead of in the Groundwork part makes it clear that this is supposed to not be primarily bussines related.

Organizational actions:
This seems to be the best time to connect the network finances to the watch finances. Once the next EC shows up it will just be the way things are done in Stirland. Also, of all the money-grubbing options this seems the most palatable since we can honestly say that it is for the good of Stirland as we see it.
Of all the available gods, Grungni is in my opinion, the best compromise between palatability to us and palatability to the Watch membership. Verena opposes our buddy Ranald. Ranald won't be accepted no matter how much wishful thinking we apply. Shallya is a bad fit, and if she couldn't even send a single competent priest on Van Hal's campaign, I don't trust her worth here. Seppel I've personally never heard of and sounds dangerous. With Grungni on the other hand, he fits perfectly with our plans to get Dwarves training the Watch in everything from combat over investigation on to gunpowder production.

EDIT: Approval votes

[X] Plan for Abelhelm and Stirland
[X] [Plan] Forming a group
 
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Alliterate said:
The new EC might get rid of some or all of the council. This might be entirely irrelevant.
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He might be, but I think it's a safe bet to assume he won't be unless there's unforeseen circumstances in play. You don't just switch up proven military leadership for no good reason, and guaranteeing a smooth transition of government from one EC to the next is bound to be pretty important to the new EC.

zup said:
Now you are thinking like a proper noble.
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Well. We did topple the literal worst concentration of nasty gribblies within the borders of the Empire. And hey, we don't have a liege to reward us any more, we kind of have to do it ourselves don't we?

Alliterate said:
We're really not supposed to have any personal wealth. We're supposed to tithe any income. Tax Evasion was how they got Al Capone.
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The Office of Spymistress of Stirland or our own Knightly holdings (that we are required to have, as a landed noble) provide us with any justification we might need to gather wealth. Most of our spending benefits Stirland directly or indirectly, we are in serious debt and I'd rather have some liquidity to spend when there's a crisis situation than not have it. Also we've embezzled before, I don't see how this is fundamentally different?
Adhoc vote count started by Siual on Mar 14, 2018 at 9:05 AM, finished with 327 posts and 65 votes.
  • [X] Plan Protector Of Stirland
    -[X][Intel] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X][Watch] Expand the Watch into a new county or barony (choose which) (No Budgetary Impact due to expanded Gong Farming)
    --[X] Drakenhof
    -[X][Free] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly. (does not take an action)
    -[X][Personal] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    -[X][Free] It may be a moot point, but you can still send off the entirety of information gathered on undead types in Sylvania to your string-pullers. (does not take an action)
    -[X][Free] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X][Personal] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    -[X][Personal] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned (choose which trait; can be taken multiple times; will be more effective if you've used the trait a lot lately).
    --[X] Martial
    --[X] Diplomacy
    -[X][Personal] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Ranald is the God of Thieves, yes, but he's also the God of protecting the common folk. It's worth a shot, right?
    -[X][Overwork] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities and call in favours to bring a dwarvern expert in. (-1 Budget Point, -2 Dwarf Favours) (NEW)
    ---[X]Ranald's Blessing
    -[X][Social] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)
    --[X] Kasmir
    [X] Plan Mistress of Shadows
    -[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government.
    -[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.
    -[X] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
    -[X] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour.
    -[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you.
    -[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    -[X] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities using headhunted experts from Nuln. (-2 Budget Points) (NEW)
    --[X]Overwork
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)
    --[X] Anton
    [X] Plan Improving Mathilde and the Watch
    -[X][Intel] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities using headhunted experts from Nuln. (-2 Budget Points) (NEW)
    -[X][Free] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly. (does not take an action)
    -[X][Personal] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X][Free] It may be a moot point, but you can still send off the entirety of information gathered on undead types in Sylvania to your string-pullers. (does not take an action)
    -[X][Free] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X][Personal] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    -[X][Personal] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned (choose which trait; can be taken multiple times; will be more effective if you've used the trait a lot lately).
    --[X] Martial
    -[X][Personal] Learn magic, but flip a coin and trust in Ranald for which magic to learn
    --[X] If heads Read the Liber Mortis. (NEW)
    --[X] If tails Qhaysh Juice: Whatever it is, it's dripping out of the box at a steady rate. You've got several gallons of the stuff and it's still coming out. It's got to be good for something.
    --[X] If other Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu. (NEW)
    -[X][Personal] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Grungni, the principal Dwarf Ancestor God, actually has some following among the Stirlandian populace - and he is their Lawgiver to boot. Bring in a few priests to make it happen. (-1 Dwarf Favour)
    -[X][Social] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)
    --[X] Anton
    [X] Plan Loyal to Van Hal
    -[X] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities using headhunted experts from Nuln. (-2 Budget Points)
    -[X] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth.
    --[X] Make sure both of your loyalties still ultimately lie with House Van Hal.
    -[X] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.
    -[X] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour.
    -[X] Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu.
    -[X] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)
    --[X] Kasmir
    [X] Plan Morally Grey Wizard:
    -[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government.
    -[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.
    -[X] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly.
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] Your debt to Stirland is recorded in a handful of documents in the Archives, and the current Steward is leaving the position. If said documents were to be slightly altered at the right time, nobody would notice in the handover and your debt could evaporate.
    -[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
    -[X] There's never been less oversight on spending. Embezzlement now would be impossible to trace later. Scrape up whatever funds can still be found in the treasury, and pocket them.
    -[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    -[X] Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu.
    -[X] Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth. (Overwork)
    -[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you. (Overwork)
    [X] [Plan] Forming a group
    [X] Plan for Abelhelm and Stirland
    -[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government. (NEW-ish)
    -[X] Grungni, the principal Dwarf Ancestor God, actually has some following among the Stirlandian populace - and he is their Lawgiver to boot. Bring in a few priests to make it happen. (-1 Dwarf Favour)
    -[X] (1)As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    -[X] It may be a moot point, but you can still send off the entirety of information gathered on undead types in Sylvania to your string-pullers. (does not take an action)
    -[X] (2)Concentrate the gathered information on undead types in Sylvania into a single dense tome and publish it. It's likely to be of some use and interest to Morrites and Amethyst Wizards. Not ground-breaking, but a nice feather in your academic cap nonetheless.
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] (3) Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth.
    -[X] (4)Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour. Try to put Anton on the throne.
    -[X] (5)Information Network: Work alongside to Julia to administer the network. Choose another Organizational Action for the Network.
    --[X] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X] (ADDITIONAL)(6)Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Attempt to hire administrators and clerks from Altdorf and Nuln.
    ---[X]Ranald's Blessing
    -[X] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action) Wilhelmina
    -[X] (ADDITIONAL) (7) Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    [X]Plan No Gods Only Guns
    -[X][Intel] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X][Watch] Expand the Watch into a new county or barony (choose which) (No Budgetary Impact due to expanded Gong Farming)
    --[X] Drakenhof
    -[X][Free] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly. (does not take an action)
    -[X][Personal] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X][Free] It may be a moot point, but you can still send off the entirety of information gathered on undead types in Sylvania to your string-pullers. (does not take an action)
    -[X][Free] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X][Personal] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    -[X][Personal] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned (choose which trait; can be taken multiple times; will be more effective if you've used the trait a lot lately).
    --[X] Martial
    --[X] Diplomacy
    -[X][Personal] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities using headhunted experts from Nuln. (-2 Budget Points)
    -[X][Social] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)
    --[X] Kasmir
    [X] Plan Mistress of Shadows Without the embezzlement
    -[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government.
    -[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.
    -[X] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour.
    -[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you.
    -[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    -[X] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities using headhunted experts from Nuln. (-2 Budget Points) (NEW)
    --[X][Overwork] Expand the ranks of the Watch, so that they're able to start covering even the poorer parts of their covered area.(-1 Budget Points)
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)
    --[X] Anton
    [X] Plan What We Do In The Lack of Official Oversight
    -[X] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X] Expand the ranks of the Watch, so that they're able to start covering even the poorer parts of their covered area. (-1 Budget Point)
    -[X] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned.
    --[X] Diplomacy
    --[X] Martial (Overwork)
    -[X] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly.
    --[X] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour.
    -[X] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities and call in favours to bring a dwarvern expert in. (-1 Budget Point, -2 Dwarf Favours)
    -[X] Thieves Guild: It's currently little more than a church group, albeit of a very unconventional god. If it could be expanded under your aegis, it could be a powerful tool.
    -[X] Free actions:
    --[X] Free Time: Kasmir
    --[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    --[X] It may be a moot point, but you can still send off the entirety of information gathered on undead types in Sylvania to your string-pullers. (does not take an action)
    [X] Read the Liber Mortis.
    [x] Plan Training & Power Grab
    -[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government. (NEW-ish)
    -[x] Ranald is the God of Thieves, yes, but he's also the God of protecting the common folk. It's worth a shot, right?
    --[x] Ranald's Blessing, if allowed
    -[X] It may be a moot point, but you can still send off the entirety of information gathered on undead types in Sylvania to your string-pullers. (does not take an action)
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned.
    --[X] Diplomacy
    --[X] Martial
    -[X] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour.
    -[x] Read the Liber Mortis. (NEW)
    --[x] Ranald's Blessing, if not used on Watch action
    -[X] Thieves Guild: It's currently little more than a church group, albeit of a very unconventional god. If it could be expanded under your aegis, it could be a powerful tool.
    -[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you.
    --[X]Overwork
    -[x] Free Time: Anton
    [X] Firming up the Foundations
    -[X] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch.
    -[X] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly. (does not take an action)
    -[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
    -[X] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities and call in favours to bring a dwarvern expert in. (-1 Budget Point, -2 Dwarf Favours)
    -[X] Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth.
    -[X] Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu.
    -[X] Read the Liber Mortis.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned.
    --[X] Martial
    --[X] Intrigue
    [X] Plan: Second Things Second
    -[X] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities using headhunted experts from Nuln. (-2 Budget Points)
    -[X] As above, but insist on being a part of whatever happens.
    --[X] Also ask our master if there's any chance he could put his weight behind Anton while we're there. He's a good candidate with love for Stirland.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Spend time with Anton, possibly talking about how good a candidate he would be - local support, known to external powers, and a few powerful friends supporting him, and so forth.
    --[X] Make sure both of your loyalties still ultimately lie with House Van Hal.
    -[X] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch.
    --[X] Grungni, the principal Dwarf Ancestor God, actually has some following among the Stirlandian populace - and he is their Lawgiver to boot. Bring in a few priests to make it happen. (-1 Dwarf Favour)
    -[X] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned.
    --[X] Martial
    --[X] Diplomacy
    -[X] Free actions:
    --[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    --[X] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Wilhelmina. (does not take an action)
    [X] Plan Mo Money Mo Magic
    -[X] Open a dialogue with Zhufbar, offering an information exchange.
    -[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities and call in favours to bring a dwarvern expert in. (-1 Budget Point, -2 Dwarf Favours) (NEW)
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] Visit the Amethyst Wizards in Altdorf and ask what the hell they were playing at.
    -[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour.
    -[X] Enchantment: You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
    -[X] Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu. (NEW)
    -[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    -[X] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)
    --[X] Wilhelmina's kids
    [X] Firming up the Foundations
    [X] Plan Military Industrial Tycoon
    -[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government. (NEW-ish)
    -[X] Grungni, the principal Dwarf Ancestor God, actually has some following among the Stirlandian populace - and he is their Lawgiver to boot. Bring in a few priests to make it happen. (-1 Dwarf Favour)
    -[X] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly. (does not take an action)
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] Though the Haunted Hills have always technically belonged to the Elector Count, they've suddenly skyrocketed in value. If you could backdate some purchases from the Elector Count, you could make a killing reselling them, and still retain your own slice of prime grazelands.
    --[X] Ranalds Blessing
    -[X] Spend time with Gustav, securing his subordination to you.
    -[X] Practice, Practice, Practice: Having been thrown into the deep end of imperial politics, it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your skills and internalize the lessons you've learned (choose which trait; can be taken multiple times; will be more effective if you've used the trait a lot lately).
    --[X] Martial
    -[X] Your experience with the so-called Fog of War has given you a lot of ideas for new applications of Ulgu. (NEW)
    -[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
    [X]Plan SPEND SPEND SPEND
    -[x] Expand your information network into another county or barony (choose one)
    --[x] The new territory
    -[X] Special Branch: Pull some financial trickery to get the information network classified as part of the Watch, so that their costs are covered by the Stirlandian treasury.
    -[X] Trade Delegation: Convince Wilhelmina to partner your network with the EIC based on the value of market information. Especially likely to work since Wilhelmina will soon be losing her position of power in Stirland's government. (NEW-ish)
    -[x] Expand the Watch into a new county or barony (choose which) (No Budgetary Impact due to expanded Gong Farming)
    -[X] Set up saltpeter production facilities and call in favours to bring a dwarvern expert in. (-1 Budget Point, -2 Dwarf Favours) (NEW)
    -[x] Verena is the Goddess of Justice. Enshrine her as the patron goddess of the Stirland Watch. (overwork)
    -[X] Abelhelm left you with a list of notarized names. Pass them on to your Master and let the fireworks fly. (does not take an action)
    -[X] Buy out half of Markus' shares in the EIC. (does not take an action; increases your debt to Stirland)
    -[X] Your debt to Stirland is recorded in a handful of documents in the Archives, and the current Steward is leaving the position. If said documents were to be slightly altered at the right time, nobody would notice in the handover and your debt could evaporate.
    -[x] Attend the Elector's Meet yourself, to take any opportunity that arises to manipulate events in your favour. (overwork)
    -[x] Information Network: Work alongside to Julia to administer the network. Choose another Organizational Action for the Network. x2
    -[x] Stirland Watch: Work alongside Jack to administer the Watch. Choose another Organizational Action for the Watch. x2
    -[X] Financial Jargon: Everything with the EIC flew right over your head last time. Try again. Succeeding here will mean that you can take a more active hand in the company, adding it to the organizational actions; failing or not attempting means Mathilde will remain a silent partner.
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Alliterate said:
We're really not supposed to have any personal wealth. We're supposed to tithe any income. Tax Evasion was how they got Al Capone.
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Nope, Mathilde is a noble and a priest; both of which demands wealth due to respective responsibilities. Having money is not a crime even if there was a vow for provety.
 
BoneyM said:
that could turn into a significant money-maker with some care and attention.
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Sigh. You just want to swap out our Divided Loyalty to Avarice... ;)

[ ] Avarice: To be an advisor to an Elector Count is usually a well-paid position, but even greater opportunity can be found with the lucrative projects and bountiful budgets such a position has access to.
Bonuses to embezzlement attempts and other profitable avenues; willpower rolls to keep from dipping directly into the budgets you control if you make no off-the-books income or other improvement in personal wealth in a particular year.

Soooo many opportunities to shatter our vows of poverty.

Shadowmancers can be found in service of important officials, merchants, and nobles, whether these groups realise it or not. The Lords of the Grey Order assure all Magisters of their Order are bound very tightly by the Articles of Magic and by the Order's own very strict rules. Shadowmancers mayonly practice their spellcraft for the benefit of Imperial society and are expressly forbidden from using their magic for their own profit or solely for the political or financial profit of their patrons. All Shadowmancers must take vows of poverty and are not permitted to accumulate property or wealth not of direct and practical use to their cause.

What figleaf of coverage applies in these fairly transparent attempts to enrich ourselves? Unless our cause is somehow to continue to serve Stirland, whether we are Spymaster or not, and we can justify this property and wealth as direct and practical use to that cause... well...

Any breaches of the many strict rules laid down by the Order are prosecuted very harshly and vigorously.

The Order of Shadows has killed or Pacified more of its own members than any other of the Orders of Magic, and this is ... a reflection of the zero-tolerance of rule breaking and corruption within the Order

Nothing stops Boney from offering us the rope to hang ourselves.

VoidZero said:
Nope, Mathilde is a noble and a priest; both of which demands wealth due to respective responsibilities. Having money is not a crime even if there was a vow for provety.
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We're not a priest. And yes- our Knightly duties require us to have lands, I.e. those meagre hillfarm sheep grazing lands paying us 10g. That was fine, according to the last Elector Count anyway. Not the same as embezzling enough land to support a Barony. We don't have duties that require that.
 
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VoidZero said:
Nope, Mathilde is a noble and a priest; both of which demands wealth due to respective responsibilities. Having money is not a crime even if there was a vow for provety.
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Mathilde's potential priesthood isn't something to be stated in public. And what do you mean, "even if"? There is a vow of poverty. It's part of being a Shadowmancer. Boney's previous statement on this:

Enriching Mathilde Weber is forbidden; increasing the operational budget of the Spymaster of Stirland, however, is entirely okay.

The more I think about it, the more the current big embezzlement options look like red herrings and traps we should politely ignore. Just because money is there doesn't make it right to steal it. Especially as our personal income is positive, and our operational budget (that we can more safely embezzle from) is also positive.

Getting Stirland to cover more expenditures for our organizations, OTOH, looks like a much better idea.
 
@Siual
You forgot about this: [ ] Free Time: Now well-established in Wurtbad, you can spend some time in your scant off hours getting to know someone better. Pick one character. (does not take an action)

As for targets, i'd suggest Kasmir myself to see how functional he is.
 
The real question why embezzle so much money in the first place.

The real constraint holding Mathilde back is time rather than money, and the big problem that did require money was the Watch which runs on its own budget. I don't think that Mathilde has yet to encounter a situation that she didn't have enough personal funds to resolve.

And stealing money from Stirland's treasury to pay for Stirland's spy ring strikes me as counterproductive.
 
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Exmorri said:
Mathilde's potential priesthood isn't something to be stated in public. And what do you mean, "even if"? There is a vow of poverty. It's part of being a Shadowmancer. Boney's previous statement on this:

Enriching Mathilde Weber is forbidden; increasing the operational budget of the Spymaster of Stirland, however, is entirely okay.

The more I think about it, the more the current big embezzlement options look like red herrings and traps we should politely ignore. Just because money is there doesn't make it right to steal it. Especially as our personal income is positive, and our operational budget (that we can more safely embezzle from) is also positive.

Getting Stirland to cover more expenditures for our organizations, OTOH, looks like a much better idea.
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If "Enriching" Mathilde is a crime then the assassin would be taping our shoulders when the Count gave out a title and land.

Seriously, there are so many valid causes for Mathilde's current wealth and use for future wealth that these kind of worry are overblown.
 
Alliterate said:
]not permitted to accumulate property or wealth not of direct and practical use to their cause.

What figleaf of coverage applies in these fairly transparent attempts to enrich ourselves? Unless our cause is somehow to continue to serve Stirland, whether we are Spymaster or not, and we can justify this property and wealth as direct and practical use to that cause... well...
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How about WoG?
BoneyM said:
Unless of 'direct and practical use to their cause', which is less of a loophole and more of a loopchasm.
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This argument has come up several times already. If we were bound to rules of poverty, we couldn't be a landholding noble, nor could we be a significant shareholder in a very large trading guild.
 
racnor said:
Why gustav instead of one of the other possible options? Also, remember the free time choice.
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Because that effectively puts us at two council votes, and other political actors will know that we were the ones holding the reins during Stirland's largest victory in the history of the province, and still are wearing the pants in the relationship. We become our own powerful backer.

Also good point. I'm thinking Anton as we'll already be spending time with Wilhelmina, and I kind of want to give Kasmir the cold shoulder. What would we even say to him? Our internal monologue basically puts him at somewhere between pity and disdain. His God failed him, he should draw his own conclusions from that. If anything we might make the situation worse with how distinctly anti-Sigmarite we're now.
 
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