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@BoneyM I presume the matter of the Black Orcs were already sent ahead of this?
If its not spoilery I'm curious how they took it.

It was. Not a matter for public ears.

Undoubtedly somewhere in the Hold, priests and strategists are still trying to find a meaning to extract from these events.

@BoneyM Quick question. Say we wanted a Sword, or an Axe, how many favor's would it take for it to be made out of Gromril?

10, and you'd have to go out and get some, or wait until the next time some was found and mined.

Say @BoneyM would Mathilde be able to make an enchanted artifact with an alarm spell that is basically a "Push button to call Grey Wizard, only use in emergency" sort of thing?

Yes.
 
I'd like to reemphasize this bit by Alratan, guys. That shrine to Ranald is not so urgent as this. Days and weeks have passed, who knows what the enemy is up to.


I don't know if people have noticed this, but I think that the options with the same italic text may build on each other and open further opportunities. We took

[ ] Travel to Karaz-a-Karak with King Belegar for the striking out of several well-aged grudges.​
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused on threats outside the Karak.

and unlocked:

[ ] There's a growing concentration of royalty here. Get to know King Kazador, and this 'Sky-Thane' Prince Gotri.​
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused on threats outside the Karak.

Similarly,:

[ ] You could help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves.​
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.

was then followed with:

[ ] Claim the site where Ranald mugged Mork and build a shrine to Ranald there.​
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.

also:

[ ] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.​
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.

then:

[ ] King Belegar is allowing you to use the King's Armoury. Recover your extant study materials from Stirland and tuck them away safely in there.​
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.

I fear we've missed a trick here by spreading Mathilde so thin, which means we're not even getting to see some of the higher tier opportunities. Particularly concerning is neglecting the actual real threats to Karak Eight Peaks in favour, particularly of taking human leadership options that don't really help. I think, for example, the lure of hammering the shiny Ranald option is leading us to being severely complacent. We've not seen hide nor hair of the skaven since the first battle of the expedition, and we're just sitting back and focusing on self-aggrandisement and jockeying for position, without considering that we've now given our many, many enemies the time to need to regroup, plan, and get their act together.
 
In order to pass time, I am going to speculate about the role of greatsword in Mathilde's life.

There are many things a greatsword symbolizes - her blazon, the symbol of her order, one of the swords of the EETC - but one, I believe, was not mentioned. A greatsword (blade) is the badge of office of a Greatsword (trooper). And the in a sense, Mathilde considers herself the last Greatsword of Stirland and the only one who didn't fail her duty.

When she started training with the Greatswords, they accepted the adorable but deadly serious little girl as one of her own. They didn't reject her or make fun of her as she feared, but instead treated her as an equal. The Greatsword champion became something of a father figure to her, one of several, perhaps, but a father figure nevertheless. Perhaps the most caring one, given the personality of Regimand (her other, more significant, but also a more stern and sarcastic father figure) and the fact that Abelhelm was something different. Her greatsword is the very same greatsword Marcus gifted her and taught her how to use.

During that fateful battle at Drakenhoff, she was dealt not one, but two blows: Abelhelm died, and Marcus and the Greatswords failed their sacred duty of protecting their charge. The greatswords have but one true duty, and when it was necessary they were not their - all but one, the youngest and smallest Greatsword of Stirland. And despite doing her very best, she was not enough - and she couldn't forgive Marcus and Greatswords for that, their failure wounding her deeply because of their closeness. And neither they could forgive themselves, so they chose to go out in suicidal charges, joining the Slayers, and so Mathilde became the last Greatsword, and while she wields that blade the company still lives.

And that's not a good thing.

Stirland has a new countess-elector, and she has a new greatsword company - one raised in Altdorf and having no links to Mathilde's broken company. Abelhalf is dead and his Greatsword company no longer has a purpose and should be disbanded. Mathilde needs (and arguably has) to move to acceptance of his death, and in my opinion, her setting aside the particular flamberge she is wielding now would be the final symbolic gesture. Not cast aside, but hang respectfully in her living room. The Ablehelm's Greatswords have served their purpose and belong to history. In truth, I don't care if the weapon she replaces it with is a greatsword, greataxe, or something more exotic - I just believe that for the sake of her mental health she must set her current one aside and get a new one.








Well, that, or we should all join Omegahugger faction. Either works.
 
2) Thunder Mountain. The Dragon Ogers aer apperantly not doing so hot. They also don't have easy reinforcements. Likely a much softer Target (though that doesn't mean they don't have a whole lot of nastiness in store). Why go for this? First, it should help secure the logistics further. Second: This is where they made the Anvils of Doom. We can get the two best Runelords on trying to recover the art. If that can be managed, even in a lesser form initially, it will be a great symbol that restoration is possible. Those are some of the most revered artifacts of dwarfkind, and have been lost for a long time. If Karak Eight-Peaks can be retaken, if the Anvils can be reforged, then surely the dwarven race has a future outside the mausoleum?
I definitely agree with this. If we execute quickly, before Chaos realizes we're killing their rare limited edition pets, we should be able to easily clean out quite a few. We have to scout the place, get a number count and figure out where to put the big guns, we should aim to get it done before they get an emergency wake up.
 
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Please note, that 20+ point weapon is not the only possibility. We can try for shield, (I think) talisman, cloak, etc. There is also Dwarf lore that would require much favour to get.

Mathilde is already killy and will get more so in future with Shadow Knives and battle magic. Getting something to disperse magic of miscast on commant may be better use. As is learning more Dwarf lore to improve Learning trait - which would help immensly in future.
 
Belegar had expected to pay in ingots, but at you presenting the paperwork of your one-night gambling hall, he had grumbled in an extremely unconvincing way and then hurried enthusiastically off to rummage through the carefully packed heirlooms that had been passed down through generations of exile. With the careful oversight of suitably skilled Longbeards, for the first time in three thousand years a coin is struck bearing the Eight Peaks you had all fought for.

I had forgotten to comment earlier, but this part really made me go 😊.
 
so a couple of things to note:

1) we cant really get a set of dwarven armor. Runes need to go on metal, and heavy armor interferes with our spell casting.

2) ideally, we would remake our armor enchantment after we get to magic 8 for the improved armor save and hopefully incorporating our anti-fatigue mastery in to it. we dont need a sneak cloak, that is what our spells are for. having permanent anti-fatigue without having to recast every few minutes is another story.

3) we have other things we can spend our favor on. Therefore, we dont want to blow it all on one item. Training to use rifles and whatever weapon we get Kragg to make us is the big one. We want it because having a hero-tier teacher is a major time saver and more likely to get us traits. We might also want to go to Zhufbar and get a custom sniper rifle commissioned.

4) and as for the fear of missing out, I wouldn't worry about it considering how powerful our belt is and the fact that one of the greatest Runelords of the current era will make it. We will get something truly great with 15 favor, just not a legendary piece of equipment.

Hell, having a legendary-tier piece of equipment is potentially a bad thing. Something on the level of Ghal Maraz (which is what I imagine a 25 favor item is approaching) is attention getting. and we might not survive the kind of attention something that powerful can draw.
I want a legendary item. If it gets attention, well that's just fine. We're hardy, and we've got friends.

I'm aware that traditional armor won't work. That's why I suggested the cloak of sneakiness. Whatever the case, I'm pretty sure they can work something out that doesn't stop our spell casting, and is also super rad. Maybe a ward save. If not, then we still have a few equipment slots to fill.

Even if we spend 25, there will still be a nice left over. And I don't think training will actually cost much. We can probably just ask a friend, like we've done so far.

For a long range weapon, I'd actually suggest a crossbow. Ulthar can teach us, it's silent (big advantage for assassination), and we know Dwarf understand how to enhance those (at least they can do bolt throwers).
 
Because part of it is that from what I'm seeing, Thorgrim's concern is basically "is this a fluke?"
He'd need to hold all eight peaks for a few centuries to convince the Grudgebearer that maybe this might be worth it.
I do think this is basically Thorgrim going "I think you're doomed to fail. Prove me wrong."

I also don't think it's a coincidence that the last support he provided are the very latest Dwarf creation, Gyrocopters. Not the most traditionalist weapon.
 
10, and you'd have to go out and get some, or wait until the next time some was found and mined.
So what I'm hearing, is clear out the Dragon Ogres, and check and see if there is any Gromril left at the place they once forged the Anvils Of Doom. Still definitely something to keep in mind.

So let me think....just as a Personal List here: 20 Favor Axe/Sword made out of Gromril, commission a Rifle from Zuffbar which would only cost us money, spend 4 or 8 Favor on getting a Marksman Teacher to maximize the actions we spend training with it, Possibly 4-8 Favors on learning to use an Axe if we go that route. Thats 24/28 Favor for the Weapon and Rifle teacher, 28-32 if we add an Axe teacher on top of that, leaving us with anything from 7-3 Dwarf Favor.

Thats not bad at all, there is 6 more Peaks to be reclaimed, so we can always help with that if we wanted Favor, and clearing out the Dragon Ogre's would probably give us some Favor too given the important of the Thunder Mountain.
 
I want a legendary item. If it gets attention, well that's just fine. We're hardy, and we've got friends.

I'm aware that traditional armor won't work. That's why I suggested the cloak of sneakiness. Whatever the case, I'm pretty sure they can work something out that doesn't stop our spell casting, and is also super rad. Maybe a ward save. If not, then we still have a few equipment slots to fill.

Even if we spend 25, there will still be a nice left over. And I don't think training will actually cost much. We can probably just ask a friend, like we've done so far.

For a long range weapon, I'd actually suggest a crossbow. Ulthar can teach us, it's silent (big advantage for assassination), and we know Dwarf understand how to enhance those (at least they can do bolt throwers).
I'm pretty sure dwarven rune lore is no longer capable of such enchantment of fabric or hide, since there's a direct reference to Dwarves of the past making a dragon hide banner and then not being able to make others later on from what I recall.

[X] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.
[X] This is Dawongr Weber's money. The funds will largely go projects within the Karaz Ankor - your tower for one, but also investing in the Undumgi or Ulrikadrin, or purchasing goods made by Dwarven artisans or sold in the markets of Barak Varr.
[X] Convince Esbern and Seija to stay long enough to deal with the spiders in the Chiselwards.
[X] Karag Nar penthouse
[X] There's a growing concentration of royalty here. Get to know King Kazador, and this 'Sky-Thane' Prince Gotri.

This should help at least some of the other enemies and by getting to know Kazador we can learn a bit about what they have found down in the deeps.
 
If you're looking for a symbol. We're still wearing the guys hat and thats far less practical than the sword.
Nah, I'm just voicing my thoughts about the recent debate 'to greatsword or to greataxe?' and the accidentally raised question 'just what exactly does the sword mean to Mathilde?'.

My thoughts got carried away a bit.

The hat can stay - I don't think it carries the same emotional baggage.
 
The Colleges would be better for tools and environments aligned with individual winds, but the Dwarves would be better at creating magically inert tools and workspaces. The former is good for creating, the latter for investigating.
Hmm.

@BoneyM Is it possible to combine Dwarven and College favour (assuming we get some) when creating/expanding our tower? I.e. get the dwarves to do most of the construction but have the Colleges come in to help us design specific areas (such as enchantment rooms)?
 
I do think this is basically Thorgrim going "I think you're doomed to fail. Prove me wrong."

I also don't think it's a coincidence that the last support he provided are the very latest Dwarf creation, Gyrocopters. Not the most traditionalist weapon.
Definitely. They haven't even settled on what the position of the leader is called. I think that's actually a really nice touch on Thorgrimm's part, and a sign that maybe deep down, he still has an ember of hope that the new ways could prove themself the salvation of the dwarfs.
 
How much for training from Gunnar in matters of the soul?

As per Hero-level training and you will need to swear to live forever by the code of Gazul:

Always oppose all defilers of the dead, especially necromancers.
Never refuse to perform burial rites for any that perish.
Never enter or disturb a place of burial that has been blessed.

This is not a cross your fingers behind your back and you're all good oath, either. This is if you knowingly break it and they hear about it, suddenly the entire Skaven and greenskin races are bumped down a notch as you become public enemy kill-on-sight number 1 for literally every Dwarf.

@BoneyM
Does not spending all of our Dwarven favor give some sort of benefit, IE does it make dwarves more friendly to us?

No, this sort of thing is accounted for by Dwarf Rep, which isn't spent.
 
I'm pretty sure dwarven rune lore is no longer capable of such enchantment of fabric or hide, since there's a direct reference to Dwarves of the past making a dragon hide banner and then not being able to make others later on from what I recall.
Hmm, do something similar to what we did with our robes? Or make the cloak from wire. Both are ideas.
 
I want a legendary item. If it gets attention, well that's just fine. We're hardy, and we've got friends.

I'm aware that traditional armor won't work. That's why I suggested the cloak of sneakiness. Whatever the case, I'm pretty sure they can work something out that doesn't stop our spell casting, and is also super rad. Maybe a ward save. If not, then we still have a few equipment slots to fill.

Even if we spend 25, there will still be a nice left over. And I don't think training will actually cost much. We can probably just ask a friend, like we've done so far.

For a long range weapon, I'd actually suggest a crossbow. Ulthar can teach us, it's silent (big advantage for assassination), and we know Dwarf understand how to enhance those (at least they can do bolt throwers).
Lesser Magics: More difficult but also more codified than petty magics, these are usually learned out of a book instead of being taught directly. Like Petty Magics, these are common to all the Colleges, and Priests can also achieve the same effect by channelling their Gods.
K / Silence: Makes someone unable to speak for a few seconds at short range. Interrupts spellcasting.
Enchanted Silenced Dwarven Sniper Rifle > Dwarven Crossbow. Also as far as I know, Crossbows and such aren't enchanted, so I think your out of luck.
I kind of dread Belagar meeting the Emperor or any Elector Counts after this, tbh. The roasting is going to be spectacular.

I forgot to quote this earlier, but you say dread, and I say eagerly look forwards to. Especially if its the Al-Ulric, Grand Theoginist, or Abelheim's daughter.
 
[] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.

[ ] Scout the rest of the Eight Peaks, to find out what other horrors are waiting out there.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused on threats within the Karak.

[ ] Convince Esbern and Seija to stay long enough to deal with the spiders in the Chiselwards.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused on threats within the Karak.

These have high synergy in that they keep the wizards together for the papers and views on magical phenomena, and two of them are focused on internal threats in the Karak.
 
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