Remove ads

Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Reader mode
Vebyast said:
My preference is still with Panoramia. She's the one that gets Mathilde, she's fun to hang out with, and I think that she has the best chance of keeping up with Mathilde in the very long term both professionally and personally.

Look at how sad Mathilde was when nobody got the "Staff of Mistery" pun:
She didn't gloat about the pun at all. Panoramia regularly saves Mathilde from the disappointment of her genius going unacknowledged.

Secondarily, Cython.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I'm genuinely curious here if you don't mind, why do you think that Panoramia is the one that'll keep up with Mathilde?

Also in regards to the Pun:
BoneyM said:
This one seems to have snuck past everyone, which just makes it more satisfying when they realize it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
The longer they go without realizing it was a Pun, then greater the reaction will be when they finally do so.
 
@BoneyM Would something like
[ ]Cython and Gunnars, to start a dialogue on Gazul between the two.
be viable or is that more of an action-action rather than a social action?
 
Chlof said:
@BoneyM Would something like
[ ]Cython and Gunnars, to start a dialogue on Gazul between the two.
be viable or is that more of an action-action rather than a social action?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

As far as you can tell, Cython's interest is in the Gods is academic, rather than faithful. No Priest likes to describe their God to someone who's trying to pin said God to a metaphorical corkboard.

SuperSonicSound said:
@BoneyM

I take it that Regimand and Melkoth couldnt assist at all hence the lack of bonus to the dice rolls?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

From the update:
- Melkoth didn't get involved in the spell creation process because he wasn't needed. If Mathilde had hit a roadblock or it turned out the Skywalk approach wouldn't work, then he would have been brought in. Same sort of thing as when you use the Coin on something and then you obliterate it in the first diceroll.
 
[ ] Belegar, to discuss the northern Karaks and the Expedition.
[ ] [ROMANCE] The Ice Dragon of Karag Zilfin
[ ] [ROMANCE] Journeywoman Panoramia
[ ] [ROMANCE] Elector Countess Roswita van Hal
 
BoneyM said:
Settra, Great King, the Imperishable, Khemrikhara, The Great King of Nehekhara, King of Kings, Opener of the Way, Wielder of the Divine Flame, Punisher of Nomads, The Great Unifier, Commander of the Golden Legion, Sacred of Appearance, Bringer of Light, Father of Hawks, Builder of Cities, Protector of the Two Worlds, Keeper of the Hours, Chosen of Ptra, High Steward of the Horizon, Sailor of the Great Vitae, Sentinel of the Two Realms, The Undisputed, Begetter of the Begat, Scourge of the Faithless, Carrion-feeder, First of the Charnel Valley, Rider of the Sacred Chariot, Vanquisher of Vermin, Champion of the Death Arena, Mighty Lion of the Infinite Desert, Emperor of the Shifting Sands, He Who Holds The Sceptre, Great Hawk Of The Heavens, Arch-Sultan of Atalan, Waker of the Hierotitan, Monarch of the Sky, Majestic Emperor of the Shifting Sands, Champion of the Desert Gods, Breaker of the Ogre Clans, Builder of the Great Pyramid, Terror of the Living, Master of the Never-Ending Horizon, Master of the Necropolises, Taker of Souls, Tyrant to the Foolish, Bearer of Ptra's Holy Blade, Scion of Usirian, Scion of Nehek, The Great, Chaser of Nightmares, Keeper of the Royal Herat, Founder of the Mortuary Cult, Banisher of the Grand Hierophant, High Lord Admiral of the Deathfleets, Guardian of the Charnal Pass, Tamer of the Liche King, Unliving Jackal Lord, Dismisser of the Warrior Queen, Charioteer of the Gods, He Who Does Not Serve, Slayer off Reddittras, Scarab Purger, Favoured of Usirian, Player of the Great Game, Liberator of Life, Lord Sand, Wrangler of Scorpions, Emperor of the Dunes, Eternal Sovereign of Khemri's Legions, Seneschal of the Great Sandy Desert, Curserer of the Living, Regent of the Eastern Mountains, Warden of the Eternal Necropolis, Herald of all Heralds, Caller of the Bitter Wind, God-Tamer, Master of the Mortis River, Guardian of the Dead, Great Keeper of the Obelisks, Deacon of the Ash River, Belated of Wakers, General of the Mighty Frame, Summoner of Sandstorms, Master of all Necrotects, Prince of Dust, Tyrant of Araby, Purger of the Greenskin Breathers, Killer of the False God's Champions, Tyrant of the Gold Dunes, Golden Bone Lord, Avenger of the Dead, Carrion Master, Eternal Warden of Nehek's Lands, Breaker of Djaf's Bonds.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
We get it Setra, ur pp smol.
 
Johann and Anton are my favorites for the romance vote. Anton's had our back, and has liked us, ever since the beginning. He's been accepting and welcoming of Mathilde all the long while. Anton... just strikes me as a fundamentally good, and kind, person. And somebody like that, could be a good and worthy partner. And, of course, I wouldn't mind seeing him get into the story again more and be mentioned more. I don't know how easy it would be to build a life with him though. As he's in Stirland, and Mathilde in Karak Eight Peaks. But it can be worth trying regardless.

Johann, has been a battle-buddy/dungeon-delving-buddy for a while. We started the Karak Battle Royale on a heist with him. He had us there watching over him when he underwent the Gilding Ritual, twice. He's nice and amiable, easygoing and fun. He's also a Wizard himself, too, so he'll have something in common with Mathilde. And he decided to go and become a Magister regardless of what everybody expected of him to be capable of accomplishing.

Either of these guys I favor as the pick. :)

They're somebody who I can see being able to care for us, care about us, and be there for/with us. And that, is one important aspect of romance or partnership, I feel. Knowing that you have somebody who'll be there for you, and will back you up, and who shares things with you and cares for you.

And Johann and Anton both hit and pass that mark in spades.
Vocalend said:
Can I implore you folks to go and visit Kasmir after all these times? He's the last of the Old Council that we haven't met - whose options are given anyway - yet and we left him out of the social loop last turn.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yeah, same here. I'm favoring making sure to talk to Kasmir, before we finally head out to the Wastes. Heck, it could be an interesting conversation. The topic of faith and duty can come up; when facing the Old Enemy, and doing so to help an old ally. It should be interesting.
 
Vebyast said:
My preference is still with Panoramia. She's the one that gets Mathilde, she's fun to hang out with, and I think that she has the best chance of keeping up with Mathilde in the very long term both professionally and personally.

I know that some people think that Panoramia is "no fun" or something, but I see it very differently. Imagine that your primary source of amusement was telling really, really awful puns. Now imagine that nobody ever got them. It'd suck, right? Never getting the payoff. Panoramia doesn't just get the pun, she makes a production out of groaning and chasing Mathilde with a newspaper. She's not actually angry! She's actually quite amused! But she knows that Mathilde needs people to acknowledge her genius and she's willing to play along because it's fun.

Look at how sad Mathilde was when nobody got the "Staff of Mistery" pun:
She didn't gloat about the pun at all. Panoramia regularly saves Mathilde from the disappointment of her genius going unacknowledged.

Secondarily, Cython.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I don't want to romance Pikachu. I want another member of team Mathilde, so we can build a heinously complicated fish-mecha and pilot it together using bicycle treadmills.

The appeal of the Tsundere archetype is the idea that somebody who doesn't like you or what you do will come around -- a negative initial reaction so that the positive change feels larger. Panoramia never moves, personally or professionally. If she's not willing to take those chances, why bother mentioning them?
 
Last edited:
Not sure if this has been asked yet, but is there the option to have a non-romance option with Cython? As I like him, but I don't think that romance is the way to go after just one social. I feel like there has to be one or two more.
 
It seems like this simplified Skywalk would go well with a spell that uses apparitions. Capturing the steed of a Rider in Red and looking to Shadowsteed for framework, it could be possible to create a spell that Summons a steed that is not earthbound, that can gallop through the sky.
 
SuperSonicSound said:
Are you trying for a poly relationship or did you miss the part about this being the point where we cant easily walk back a romance choice now?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
It'd be weird to walk it back at this point yes, but in the sense that things would be a bit awkward:
BoneyM said:
While this would not be a soft-lock, it could be awkward to walk that back if Mathilde decides her heart lies elsewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
But it is something we could do, and arguable since the original Dates were supposed to be non-romantic, it makes sense that people might want to see actual romantic interactions before they make a choice.
 
Imugi said:
It seems like this simplified Skywalk would go well with a spell that uses apparitions. Capturing the steed of a Rider in Red and looking to Shadowsteed for framework, it could be possible to create a spell that Summons a steed that is not earthbound, that can gallop through the sky.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

That feels like a stretch. Ulgu is not Azyr, it struggles to make things properly fly.
 
Daemon Hunter said:
Not sure if this has been asked yet, but is there the option to have a non-romance option with Cython? As I like him, but I don't think that romance is the way to go after just one social. I feel like there has to be one or two more.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

If Cython isn't being pursued, that relationship is capable of taking care of itself as it digests the books it's borrowed. It will either reach out for more or it will be content with the status quo, which is win-win for the Karak.
 
My vote and suggestion will be.

[] romance Johann.

Dude always has our back. We asked him to go to hell with us and he didnt hesitate. When ever Mathilde wants to be showy hes got her back to accentuate things. Hes the only battle buddy we have currently able to keep up when we are doing the crazy MGS routine.

[] Belegar

Dudes got a lot on his plate and hes about to see his most trusted adviser go to hell on project he gave her. How does he feel about that, what does he think about the north dwarves in general?

[] Barakvarr

[] organ vat at the colleges.

spiritualatheist said:
I'm approval voting.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Are you okay with all of the romance choices youve got there winning because the end result is very different if all of them do vs 1 or 2.
 
Last edited:
Social turn thoughts:

[X] Gretel, who's apparently spending her newly-earned wealth to make herself at home.
We have been focusing lately on Adela and Hubert, who need more help. We should check in with Gretel.

[X] Belegar, to discuss the northern Karaks and the Expedition.
Some dwarf context won't go amiss, and we haven't had a regular chat with Belebro in a long time.

[X] Elder Hluodwica, High Priestess of Esmerelda and civilian leader of the Eight Peaks Halflings.
We have still never talked to her. We should fix that.

[X] Sir Ruprecht Wulfhart, leader of the frontier town of Ulrikadrin.
He might be coming to Hell's suburbs with us; chatting with him seems like a reasonable thing to do.

[X] Barak Varr, to watch the progress of the canal.
We should check on this ourselves, at all, ever.

[X] Kasmir, to see how he's keeping himself busy in Sylvania.
Old buddy, worth checking in on.

[X] Eike Hochschild, to get to know your future business partner.
We met her a few years ago, let's check in on her again.

[X] Follow up on your donation of the Skaven organ-vat, and see what has been made of it.
Look, the sooner we follow up on this, the sooner we get our College Favour.

And for the romance vote:
[X] [ROMANCE] Magister Johann

"...what?" I'm sure you're saying. "Pickle has literally never voted for Johann romance. What gives? Has he been replaced by three gherkins in a trenchcoat?"

Well, here's the thing: my top choices didn't really pan out. The potential I thought I saw in Oswald, way back in October 2019, didn't materialize; he's cool and all, but neither his social action nor his romance action won much in the way of fellow enthusiasts. At some point, I need to admit that I was jumping at shadows and overly reading into things, and I think that point is now. And while Roswita is adorable and I love her, again, her romance action didn't seem to really win hearts and minds.

But Johann? Johann's zeroth date won me over.

Mathilde has protagonist powers up the wazoo. Her magical talent expresses itself potently and evenly, not restricting her magical growth at all, and the upshot of that is that she's butting up against potential Lady Magister status at barely thirty-five. She spent longer as a Journeyman than she has as a Magister; her growth has been nothing short of meteoric. She's capable of gaining remarkable skill in any field she chooses to set herself to, in a fairly short span of time. She's got a god in her corner, one of the greatest books of magic ever written in her vault, and the some extremely significant movers and shakers in her social calendar. And, most significantly, she has seized every opportunity to leverage her resources into opportunities to gain more resources. She is, in short, a quest PC.

Johann has none of that. He has a magical handicap, a distinct lack of highly-connected friends as far as we know (save only for Gehenna and, well, us), and can't roll a fucking boxcar to save his life eyes. Here's what he's got:
BoneyM said:
"Probably do to most, but you need to be at least theoretically capable of Alchemy to take the class." He keeps his tone light, but it's clearly artificial.

"Ah." You remember a few of your classmates who ran into similar roadblocks. Most of them are still Apprentices to this day.

"Yeah. I was lucky that my Master gave me the chance to prove myself instead of dropping me right into Perpetual. I decided if I was going to be stuck at one third of a Gold Wizard, I'd have to be three times as good to break even. Eventually I had begged, borrowed, and stole enough coin for my first Gilding. Got made Journeyman on the spot. Who needs alchemy?"
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Johann is scrappy as fuck. We already know they get along great and collaborate well, but above and beyond those bare essentials for a relationship, that is the sort of attitude that I think can really generate a positive dynamic with Mathilde: challenging her by example. Mathilde has the classic Grey Order pathological need to appear in control at all times -- and, in fact, she really is in control of the situation at most times, because she's incredibly talented, invested her gains in more gains, and has a committee of extremely dedicated nerds planning out her career path. But Johann isn't in control of the situation, seems to almost never have been, and hasn't let that stop him. To quote the We:
BoneyM said:
But not-We are only ever one not-We, but they still hunt, and they hunt such that if they were other-We, we would consider it mating-suitability.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Johann hunts magnificently, despite being only one (or, to use his words, only one-third). I consider that mating-suitability. He has my vote.

[X] [ROMANCE] Elector Countess Roswita van Hal
[X] [ROMANCE] Chief Bombardier Oswald Oswaldson
(still approval voting my old faves tho)
 
Last edited:
I have never really enjoyed Johann, but I can feel the way the thread is turning in regards to romance and Johann is the one who feels like he has the strongest connection with Mathilde. We have a lot of interests aligned. We both care about the dwarfs. We both have pets that enjoy each others company. We both like to sneak.

All the other romance options, expect Anton, seemed focused on only a singular aspect. With Johann we have a variety of different ways to spend time together.
 
Remove ads
Indirect Premise Negation
  • Apocrypha
    • Article:
    Another day, another ambitious new scheme from Hergig as rumours abound of the Elector Count consorting with exotic foreigners! And we're not even talking about Nordlanders or Reiklanders this time. No, these guests were tall and graceful, with pointed ears! What business could elves have in our fair corner of the Empire? The timing is awfully suspicious. Could this be related to the large unidentified shipments seen headed towards the College of Sorcery last month? Will we experience another oddity like the Great Cabbage Roll Incident of '73? Or perhaps this merely portends the commission of a new artifact, or advice for an adventurous trade policy. Whatever the case may be, be sure to send us a letter if you have any information on the matter.
    Source: The Hochland Herald, 15-03-2475, p6.


    The University of Altdorf claims to be the premier institution of learning in the Empire. This is not an unfounded view, for she can boast the largest campus, the most students, the oldest traditions, the widest fields of study, the most influential alumni, and much more besides. It's hard to argue against the facts, so this contention goes largely uncontested beyond the grumbling of a few die-hard loyalists. But for those seeking to be more productive in their judgements, this leads to a natural follow-up question— who is second best? Why, the Grey College, of course. Any other answer would just be plain silly. Diplomats and spies, or soldiers and craftsmen? It's no contest. Third best, however, is up for grabs.

    Here, the theorists are split: the Golds own the largest facilities, the Lights recruit the most people, the Celestials ply the most influence, the Brights wield the greatest firepower, the Jades follow the most ancient traditions, the Amethysts undertake the most secretive ones. All valid lines of thought, but none is particularly convincing over the rest. Speaking of which, the Ambers don't care all that much, so they're not in the running. The Imperial Engineers School, of course, does not bear mentioning. They're more likely to blow up a good book than publish one. (And if the same is perhaps more true for the Colleges of Magic, well... given the odds of it to occur whilst one is in the same room, certain allowances can be made for the sake of preserving knowledge).

    Surely, one might ask, the institution that produces a better academic is the superior one?

    The Greys certainly seem to think so, and what better way to show it than in discourse and debate? Perhaps there's a reason they're in number two.

    Today, that tradition of intellectual rigor continues as you fidget in the near-empty classroom with your three fellows, each of you looking over the collated documents and references you'll need to make your cases, whatever they may be. Your roles aren't actually determined yet; before you lies the information for all of the possible viewpoints you'll be arguing for. A nervous flutter begins to tingle in your stomach before you ruthlessly suppress the feeling. This is what you've trained for. You can do this. You have done this several times already, in fact. You're ready.

    Well, not quite ready, when a line of wizards begin to reveal themselves in dramatic fashion, nearly startling you into knocking your pointy grey hat off onto your neighbor's papers. Nearly, as you snatch it back before it makes landfall. When you turn to offer an apology, she quirks an eyebrow and waves you off before both your attentions return to the flickering and dimming room, as if the air itself seems to grow pale and murky before the three robed proctors fade into their designated seats.

    The lead wizard claps once. "And that's the end of your prep time. I trust that you are familiar with the format by now, students. Today's resolution: The Hochland College of Sorcery in Hergig deserves recognition as an institution of learning.

    "Your roles have been assigned to you now on your desks. Please do not Dispel the Illusion."

    You look down at your assignment. [Indirect premise negation]

    Well, then. Negate a premise of the resolution. Simple enough, in theory. Every statement has a number of background details that are naturally assumed for it to make sense. But which premise to attack? A direct refutation would be that the Hochland College of Sorcery in Hergig wasn't deserving of recognition as an institution of learning. A less direct way of putting it could be that the College of Sorcery wasn't actually a college, and therefore not an institution of learning. That would still leave a number of counter points open, though. What if the College didn't exist? Workable, but... ah. What if Hochland didn't exist?

    As the first affirmative speaker begins, you begin to adjust your arguments. You wish you had Cloak Activity to make it seem like you were paying full attention, but you can still mask it with your notetaking. Their speech is formulaic and logical, and references the material often. You take your notes and offer points of information as required while multitasking, and soon enough, it's your turn.

    "Weber, you're up."

    "Thank you, Magister Adjudicator. I will begin by addressing the fatal flaw of this resolution, that 'the Hochland College of Sorcery in Hergig deserves recognition as an institution of learning.' As wonderful as the achievements my opponents have brought up are, the fact of the matter is that the fictional Imperial Province of Hochland does not exist, and we do not give accolades to fictitious organizations.

    "As we can see here by the ridiculous claims made in the Hochland Herald... "

    BoneyM said:
    The tests move away from magical ability and senses and into more esoteric parts of being a Grey Wizard. You're made to debate a number of different topics, some of them topical and some of them nonsensical; some days you're talking about geopolitical relations with Bretonnia and the situation with Marienburg, and others you're championing the argument that Hochland doesn't actually exist. Your lack of finesse with wordplay is made up for by your ability to grasp the salient details of whatever the situation at hand is, and you feel you manage to conceal the fact that diplomacy is among the least of your strengths.

    [Debates - diplomatic skill: Diplomacy, 21+10=31]
    [Debates - grasp of material: Learning, 99+19=118]
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    The ranking list of academic institutions in the Empire may have been a previous debate topic. :V

    I tried writing out the full debate, but it wasn't clicking.

    Article:
    36. Until the matter brought forth before the Diet is declared to be settled, the session will not end. All parties must remain in the premises for the entire duration of the debate.

    148. Do not linger overly long upon livestock and fowl brought in for the purpose of demonstration. Trust in your fellow Magisters to determine the relevance of their presence. If need be, lodge a complaint with the Chief Adjudicator.

    8. Interference with preparatory materials and evidence is strictly prohibited. The sanctity of the argument must be preserved.
    - This includes Flashcook.
    Source: Randomized Axioms of Debate, 2478 Edition - University Press.

    Article:
    - Four factions will be represented in each resolution, to be determined at random amongst the debaters.
    - The participants shall be given no less than 90 (NINETY) minutes to peruse reference materials provided for the upcoming debate.
    -
    2.
    Source: Collegiate Debate Structure
     
    Last edited:
  • Apocrypha
    • Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top