Rough Plan ideas:
Martial:
[] Gifted Warriors: There are nearly a thousand wargs in Wintertown, and more scattered about your lands. There are a few hundred men and women blessed with incredible strength, albeit not to the level of the Mormont berserkers. There are people who can heal with a touch, people who can steal the courage of their foes with a song…the blessings of the Old Gods are many and mighty. Brandon intends to organize some of the Gifted into a force to be reckoned with upon the battlefield, or possibly in the more strategic sense. He has filled papers with possible uses for wargs alone – everything from delivering messages to using armored bulls as living battering rams. Time: 3 seasons. Cost: 600 gold, upkeep. DC: 55. Reward: Some sort of Gifted force attached to Winterfell guard. Type will be determined by dice rolls.
I really think we should do this one. It takes three seasons, and isn't that expensive at only 600 gold. Best to start it now so we actually have wargs available when the invasion time comes.
I want to see what the ballista action is like before deciding on the second martial action, but of the current options leaning towards Guard Training.
Diplomacy:
[] Speak with Vassals (Northern Lords): Most of your direct vassals are loyal and trustworthy, but it's good to keep an eye on them all the same. And if any of them have trouble, you might be able to help. Time: 1 season. Cost: 50 gold. DC: 30. Reward: Vassal relations boosted, aware of problems
This action is essential to take this turn. We need to know if they are having any food problems. If they start starving we fail a mission that has pretty hefty penalties. We are already down to Medium, and they are probably lower than us to start with.
For the second action I was leaning towards establishing relations with the Reach, but I could be persuaded to support the Braavosi Recruits action. I also want to see what the diplo action is involving the Starry Sept, now that we know the solution to their problems.
@notbirdofprey I remember you said this would get a bonus if the trade deal with Braavos was successful. Is this a bonus to doing this before Edwyle returns? Or is the bonus after he returns
Stewardship:
Current actions are locked, so choosing something here requires using our Free Action. If we do pick one here, I'd prefer to use the +15 bonus on the hardest DC, which is Setting Standards.
Learning:
[] Hire Acolytes: The Citadel is the ordinary source kings turn to when there are more tasks that require literacy than there are literate people in the kingdom. You are reasonably certain you are not an ordinary king, and you remember that the Citadel is not always trustworthy, but there is no sense in not taking advantage of such a resource. Ask for the assistance of a few more acolytes and use them to assist your civil service while the school at Winterfell keeps teaching people. Time: 1 season. Cost: 500 gold, Citadel attention. DC: 35. Reward: Citadel attention, support for civil service.
I think this is the best choice, it solves the Bureaucrats issue the fastest, and I'd like to do this and the Valyrian Link before annoying the Citadel with Expanding the Schools. Copy Books is going to just attract more attention form the Citadel, so that should wait until we got a Valyrian link maester. Also, if it works like last time we can get some more acolytes bonuses to some of our specific fields of interest (like agriculture and chemistry).
Piety:
[] Ritual Crafting: While the Sacred Arrows created by the rite do not last forever, several other rites do create objects or blessings that last for a long time. While some can be done by some of the more skilled among your Green Men, others are beyond the power of all but Frost, most notably the making of protective talismans. He will devote his time to doing so if you ask and have some of his brethren do the same. Thresholds will be blessed, beast-bane spears given to those in the Wolfswood, and a few sacred arrows will be made as an assurance. Time: 1 season. Cost: 400 gold. DC: 30. Reward: Varying number of rites performed
This is a good choice, but recruiting more Green Men seems like a too expensive one. Let's pick Rite of the Wild instead:
[] Rites of the Wild: The First Men and the Children of the Forest learned much from each other once the Pact was sworn, but much has been forgotten. Frost and his brethren will begin to seek the rites of the wood and waters and attempt to recreate them. Time: 4 seasons. Cost: 50 gold. DC: 75. Reward: New magic unlocked
Power over water will useful in the sea battles to come.
Intrigue:
All options are locked, but maybe it's time to use our Free Action here to do some Counterintelligence work?
[] Kill Someone (Ironborn spies): Name your target and spend the necessary amount on supplies, and give both to Janna. They will die, although it's unlikely to be subtle. And if they are caught, there will be retaliation. Best be careful. Time: Varies. Cost: Varies: DC: Varies. Reward: A corpse. Please @ me when you use this action so I can give you the numbers.
@notbirdofprey The DC and cost of this?
Personal:
[] Speak to an Advisor (Maester Brynden): You want to know more about the people you work with. Time: 1 season. Cost: 0. DC: 50. Reward: Gain knowledge of an advisor, improved opinion.
We got to do this one. Why do people keep saying "Oh that's a good idea" and then not doing it when the time comes to vote?
For the other action, I'm divided between God's Eyes or possibly the Given Sacrifice Ritual if the QM adds that. I agree that training our children is important, but I'd note that Edwyle is still in Bravoos! How is that supposed to work?
That's roughly 1750 gold, plus additional cost depending on the other actions, which probably varies between ~200 gold, and ~600 gold. I think that is a more reasonable cost, with real benefits, but preserving some cushion for more fleets and a possible future food purchase.
