Runelore is a holy relic and a WMD combined. There's no way they let it out of the Karaz Ankor, no matter the wordplay it's draped in.
Less concentration, slightly more time.
Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy Users' Choice!
-
- Tags
- warhammer warhammer fantasy fantasy be gay do crimes (gay) female protagonist pansexual protagonist ck2 quest divided loyalties mountain vietnam ranald is real this is a dwarf quest (dwarfs) this is maybe an elf quest this is not a vampire quest this is not an empire quest try it and find out open voting
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Runelore is a holy relic and a WMD combined. There's no way they let it out of the Karaz Ankor, no matter the wordplay it's draped in.
Less concentration, slightly more time.
- Location
- Argentina
I'd rather not have to bring Thorek himself to the chaos wastes if I can help it. Will vote for the other one if it has more chances of winning, though.
- Location
- Brazil
I don't mind if not, but isn't the Fog Path specifically something we could bill to the Expedition Expenses pool the Karak's are putting forth as their support?
- Location
- Earth
This is Chaos makes Taal feel peeved!, except we don't recruit Runesmiths and attempt to see through Pall of Darkness instead.
[X] PLAN: No Risking Runesmiths
-[X] MAX: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations.
-[X] JOHANN: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations. (NEW)
-[X] DUCK: Attempt to recruit Esbern and Seija and their compatriots of the Knights of Taal's Fury.
-[X][EIC] Integrate the Gong Farmers and the Niter Factory into the EIC, and expand production.
-[X] Try to see through Pall of Darkness with your improved magical senses.
-[X] With the help of a gyrocarriage, personally scout part of the route specify: Western Great Steppes
-[X] Continue to work on your 'Fog Path' spell
--[X] The Gambler: specify an action this will apply to: Fog path spell
-[X] Branulhune's ability to disappear and reappear at a thought allows entirely new forms of combat. Try to create them.
-[X] Enchant an item with a Fiendishly Complex or easier spell: Robe with AA and AA mastery (with an aim to have physically indefatigable always on (Overwork)
--[X] Use Ulgu power stones and drake scales to assist with the enchantment if it would help.
-[X] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar: -100gc for 1 room, bonus to room's purpose.
-[X] Write a paper: Warp Lightning observations - shared with Adela (Serenity)
Approval Voting:
[X] Plan Perfectly Balanced
[X] Plan Unconvention
[X] PLAN: No Risking Runesmiths
-[X] MAX: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations.
-[X] JOHANN: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations. (NEW)
-[X] DUCK: Attempt to recruit Esbern and Seija and their compatriots of the Knights of Taal's Fury.
-[X][EIC] Integrate the Gong Farmers and the Niter Factory into the EIC, and expand production.
-[X] Try to see through Pall of Darkness with your improved magical senses.
-[X] With the help of a gyrocarriage, personally scout part of the route specify: Western Great Steppes
-[X] Continue to work on your 'Fog Path' spell
--[X] The Gambler: specify an action this will apply to: Fog path spell
-[X] Branulhune's ability to disappear and reappear at a thought allows entirely new forms of combat. Try to create them.
-[X] Enchant an item with a Fiendishly Complex or easier spell: Robe with AA and AA mastery (with an aim to have physically indefatigable always on (Overwork)
--[X] Use Ulgu power stones and drake scales to assist with the enchantment if it would help.
-[X] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar: -100gc for 1 room, bonus to room's purpose.
-[X] Write a paper: Warp Lightning observations - shared with Adela (Serenity)
Approval Voting:
[X] Plan Perfectly Balanced
[X] Plan Unconvention
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One reason I want to take the chance on recruiting Damsels is that I really want to see BoneyM's worldbuilding in relation to Bretonnia.
I'm also really curious about what inspiration we could take for Windherder from seeing human spellcasters that can use multiple Winds.
I'm also really curious about what inspiration we could take for Windherder from seeing human spellcasters that can use multiple Winds.
- Location
- Earth
Last time we recruited a group that has no stake in the venture (Ice Witches) Mathilde got complications to deal with (theft/retrieval mission).
I doubt a Damsel comes cheap if one has time at all.
- Location
- Red Blood on Golden Shield
It was more like a general warning, of what I was looking for in a plan.
Also making sure that people realize what picking Torek could mean. For me that's a big no
In_lurk_shadow
[ ]
- Location
- here and there
[X] Plan: Fog Path to Success (Damsels and Rune smiths)
[X] PLAN: Taal plan, with Better Robes and EIC Marienburg
[X] PLAN: No Risking Runesmiths
[X] PLAN: Taal plan, with Better Robes and EIC Marienburg
[X] PLAN: No Risking Runesmiths
Plot hooks aren't a problem either, really. I'd expect complications, but that those complications can themselves be leveraged to produce useful assets and contacts.
There are probably significantly more Damsels than there are Collegiate wizards, so I would't expect them all to be any busier than all wizards are.
SuperSonicSound
Shadowmancer of the Shadow Cabal
Considering what the Damsels can do I'm completely fine with it. Even if it means having to spend an AP or two later on to help them. AP spent in the presence of Damsels is literally something that gives Mathilde the chance to passively observe the only extant and current human Sorcery tradition where you have Priestess of a Goddess doing what is ostensibly Arcane magic.
This is a huge potential opportunity and if it does cost AP in the future to get that look so what?
It does I just didn't explicitly label it as such I believe?
-[] With the help of a gyrocarriage, personally scout part of the route specify: Western Great Steppes
-[] Try to see through Pall of Darkness with your improved magical senses.
-[] Continue to work on your 'Fog Path' spell
--[] The Gambler: specify an action this will apply to: Fog path spell
-[] Enchant an item with a Fiendishly Complex or easier spell: Robe with AA and AA mastery (always on).
--[] Use Ulgu power stones and drake scales to assist with the enchantment if it would help.
-[] Attempt to recruit assistance for the Karag Dum Expedition. (Damsels of Bretonnia, Thorek Ironbrow)
Five actions.
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- Location
- Argentina
Yeah, I was just counting and noticed that. I think that you should put it somewhere so that everyone notices that.
The less Dwarven scrutiny on that spell, the better. If it had two orders of magnitude longer in R&D, Dwarves would still consider it hasty.
Also, Damsels have their funky Fey Paths spell, where they summon a thick magical mist they walk into only to reappear somewhere else, potentially many hundreds of miles away, from another patch of mists.
I'd really like to take a look at that for inspiration.
I wonder if it;s best to let them assume that Melkoth is teaching her the spell rather than helping her invent it...
I'd really like to take a look at that for inspiration.
I wonder if it;s best to let them assume that Melkoth is teaching her the spell rather than helping her invent it...
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- Location
- Before the Ninth Gate
I voted the same way, and I'm basically scared of Thorek blowing up the Runesmiths guild.
Vebyast
Nascent Transhuman
Not a fan of any of the extant plans. I'm therefore presenting my own. Reasoning is inline.
[x] Plan Unconvention
-[X] Attempt to recruit assistance for the Karag Dum Expedition. (Light College, Azul Runesmiths)
Unconventional position number one: Light College instead of Damsels. I seem to remember a WoG somewhere saying that we wouldn't be able to get Damsels. Even if I'm wrong, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the idea. I'd prefer sticking with a known quantity that we know we can work with and characters that we might see again. Without Soizic I also don't think we have a way to get in the front door. If our goal is to get anti-demon magic, I think that going with Light magisters is a much more reliable option.
The runesmith situation will be somewhat tricky, but I think that we need runesmiths around in the case where Karag Dum is overrun more than we need to avoid possible complications if Karag Dum isn't overrun and the runemasters are inclined to cause major problems. We'll also have a much stronger negotiating position if the initial conflict happens while we're on the expedition rather than when the whole Karaz Ankor can get in on it, specifically, "you need to get along so we don't all die right here and right now." Given that I'm solidly supporting runesmith recruitment.
-[X] Continue to work on your 'Fog Path' spell.
--[X] The Gambler: specify an action this will apply to: Fog path spell
Necessary.
-[X] With the help of a gyrocarriage, personally scout part of the route specify: Western Great Steppes
Following the lead of the other plans.
-[X] Branulhune's ability to disappear and reappear at a thought allows entirely new forms of combat. Try to create them.
-[X] Enchant an item with a Fiendishly Complex or easier spell: Robe with AA and AA mastery (with an aim to have physically indefatigable always on) (Use powerstone and drake scales) (Overwork)
This is basically a "pick two of three" - between Branulhune, Robes, and Pall of Darkness, we're going to do all three by the time the Expedition leaves, so it's basically just which you prefer to start with. I think that the robes are the most important to get right, so we lead with those so we have time to spend another AP if they take more than one action.
-[X] DUCK: Attempt to recruit Adela and some human siege weapons and operators for the Karag Dum Expedition.
Unconventional position number two: Adela and siege rather than kittybirds. I think that the Knights of Taal's Fury will cause more logistical problems than they solve tactical problems. And you know the quote about amateurs studying tactics and professionals studying logistics. Tunnels are the native environments of siege engines like the Skaven warp-lightning cannons and the grapecannon, so I have to believe that human ballistae would do perfectly well inside Karag Dum, probably just as useful as the Knights, and they'll have competitive tactical value and greatly lessened logistical difficulties on the road. Additionally, spending six months working on a steam-wagon day and night will do fantastic things for Adela's engineering chops. Esbern and Seija, on the other hand, will get basically nothing out of the expedition.
-[X] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar: -100gc for 1 room, bonus to room's purpose.
We still have a few different options for fun towers. A couple crafting-related options, plus I have a personal desire for a teleport tower. Tactical would be good just so Mathilde doesn't have to tromp up and down the stairs six times a day, but I'm also into the tactical teleport tower as a stepping stone to a strategic teleport tower that would, for example, let us touch base with the expedition leaders more frequently than once every two years.
Additionally, there aren't that many options left for rooms. We weren't exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel in the last vote, but IIRC only two or three rooms got any support at all other outside the five we picked.
-[X] Write a paper: Warp Lightning observations - shared with Adela (Serenity)
Get this done.
-[X] MAX: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations.
-[X] JOHANN: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations. (NEW)
Let them do their thing.
-[X] EIC: Found an auditors division, to make sure the ledgers are in order.
Unconventional position number three: Navy and Gong Farming are both low-utility.
Gong Farming in particular is a bigger risk than I think people realize; integrating a largish guild and a bunch of workers from a totally unrelated field is by far the most likely way for the values we instilled in the company to begin to fail. I've seen it happen at more than one company.
Navy is of strictly short-term utility - Marienburg collapsing or the canal finishing will both make it a moot point.
Of the options that I think are actively good, hardening the EIC against insider risk is at the top of my list. Company-wide cultural values won't help at all if a single bad actor goes unnoticed for too long.
[x] Plan Unconvention
-[X] Attempt to recruit assistance for the Karag Dum Expedition. (Light College, Azul Runesmiths)
Unconventional position number one: Light College instead of Damsels. I seem to remember a WoG somewhere saying that we wouldn't be able to get Damsels. Even if I'm wrong, I can't say I'm a huge fan of the idea. I'd prefer sticking with a known quantity that we know we can work with and characters that we might see again. Without Soizic I also don't think we have a way to get in the front door. If our goal is to get anti-demon magic, I think that going with Light magisters is a much more reliable option.
The runesmith situation will be somewhat tricky, but I think that we need runesmiths around in the case where Karag Dum is overrun more than we need to avoid possible complications if Karag Dum isn't overrun and the runemasters are inclined to cause major problems. We'll also have a much stronger negotiating position if the initial conflict happens while we're on the expedition rather than when the whole Karaz Ankor can get in on it, specifically, "you need to get along so we don't all die right here and right now." Given that I'm solidly supporting runesmith recruitment.
-[X] Continue to work on your 'Fog Path' spell.
--[X] The Gambler: specify an action this will apply to: Fog path spell
Necessary.
-[X] With the help of a gyrocarriage, personally scout part of the route specify: Western Great Steppes
Following the lead of the other plans.
-[X] Branulhune's ability to disappear and reappear at a thought allows entirely new forms of combat. Try to create them.
-[X] Enchant an item with a Fiendishly Complex or easier spell: Robe with AA and AA mastery (with an aim to have physically indefatigable always on) (Use powerstone and drake scales) (Overwork)
This is basically a "pick two of three" - between Branulhune, Robes, and Pall of Darkness, we're going to do all three by the time the Expedition leaves, so it's basically just which you prefer to start with. I think that the robes are the most important to get right, so we lead with those so we have time to spend another AP if they take more than one action.
-[X] DUCK: Attempt to recruit Adela and some human siege weapons and operators for the Karag Dum Expedition.
Unconventional position number two: Adela and siege rather than kittybirds. I think that the Knights of Taal's Fury will cause more logistical problems than they solve tactical problems. And you know the quote about amateurs studying tactics and professionals studying logistics. Tunnels are the native environments of siege engines like the Skaven warp-lightning cannons and the grapecannon, so I have to believe that human ballistae would do perfectly well inside Karag Dum, probably just as useful as the Knights, and they'll have competitive tactical value and greatly lessened logistical difficulties on the road. Additionally, spending six months working on a steam-wagon day and night will do fantastic things for Adela's engineering chops. Esbern and Seija, on the other hand, will get basically nothing out of the expedition.
-[X] PENTHOUSE: Have a tower built atop Karag Nar: -100gc for 1 room, bonus to room's purpose.
We still have a few different options for fun towers. A couple crafting-related options, plus I have a personal desire for a teleport tower. Tactical would be good just so Mathilde doesn't have to tromp up and down the stairs six times a day, but I'm also into the tactical teleport tower as a stepping stone to a strategic teleport tower that would, for example, let us touch base with the expedition leaders more frequently than once every two years.
Additionally, there aren't that many options left for rooms. We weren't exactly scraping the bottom of the barrel in the last vote, but IIRC only two or three rooms got any support at all other outside the five we picked.
-[X] Write a paper: Warp Lightning observations - shared with Adela (Serenity)
Get this done.
-[X] MAX: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations.
-[X] JOHANN: Allow him to spend all his time on his own preparations. (NEW)
Let them do their thing.
-[X] EIC: Found an auditors division, to make sure the ledgers are in order.
Unconventional position number three: Navy and Gong Farming are both low-utility.
Gong Farming in particular is a bigger risk than I think people realize; integrating a largish guild and a bunch of workers from a totally unrelated field is by far the most likely way for the values we instilled in the company to begin to fail. I've seen it happen at more than one company.
Navy is of strictly short-term utility - Marienburg collapsing or the canal finishing will both make it a moot point.
Of the options that I think are actively good, hardening the EIC against insider risk is at the top of my list. Company-wide cultural values won't help at all if a single bad actor goes unnoticed for too long.
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In what scenario do you see runesmiths being useful if Karak Dum is overrun? If it is, we don't have a big enough force to retake the place, so the only person who'll be able to do anything inside it is Mathilde, and a runesmith sitting back with the expedition miles away isn't going to be of any use to anyone.
Oh god, this is worse Petty Dwarf Bullshit than I could have possibly feared.
The Runelords snubbed Karag Dum when it was begging for help against the Chaos attack it saw coming. The only way for that not to be a shame so great they would have to shave their heads is if Karag Dum was so awful and untrustworthy that they couldn't possibly have believed it. So to save their own skins, they've spent all the time since the Great War smearing the name of Karag Dum.
I guess we spent two gallons of AV to find out that the dwarves of Karag Dum are being given a reputation they probably don't deserve.
- Location
- Brazil
I bet the Runemasters would be more chill
So, our Sneeze O' Doom didn't look like too big an area, but did I misread or are the splinters from the tree flying so fast they made craters on the ground?
Vebyast
Nascent Transhuman
To help us crack runic seals and disarm runic traps. To analyze runic artifacts so we know if they're safe to carry home or not. If the runemasters decided to encrypt any messages for the eyes of other runesmiths only. To help us diagnose the issue if Karag Dum fell because the runemasters attempted something extremely ill-advised with runes as a last-ditch effort. Etcetera. In general, if we're going into a dwarven ruin, we'll want expertise with the kinds of things that you find in dwarven ruins.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
...probably recovering key irreplaceable artifacts? And you know, knowing what is an replaceable artifact to begin with? Mathilde is perfect for that situation, and being able to bring things back to the expedition to be checked or to consult with the closest thing to an expert would be excellent.
- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
The auditors are extremely low-utility from Mathilde's perspective. I don't care about saving the EIC money, I care about using the EIC as a tool to make the world a better place. Wilhelmina cares about money; let her found an auditor's division if she is concerned about embezzling.
[x] Plan Unconvention
To hell with this Thread Madness obsession with the Damsels; you have my vote.
EDIT: I will vote for any plan that does not attempt to recruit the Damsels. That is my sole priority, to stop that.
[X] PLAN: No Risking Runesmiths
[X] Plan Perfectly Balanced
[X] PLAN: Escape Cavalry
[X] Plan: Fog Path with Questing Knights
To hell with this Thread Madness obsession with the Damsels; you have my vote.
EDIT: I will vote for any plan that does not attempt to recruit the Damsels. That is my sole priority, to stop that.
[X] PLAN: No Risking Runesmiths
[X] Plan Perfectly Balanced
[X] PLAN: Escape Cavalry
[X] Plan: Fog Path with Questing Knights
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You've not explained the scenario that can happen in. If the Karak has been overrun, the runesmith won't be able to get to those runic seals and traps, and won't be willing to tell Mathilde anything useful because of the extreme secrecy requirements. Any runic artifacts or records can be hauled home and analysed by runesmiths there, just as well as they can back in base camp. Remember, Wolf can see through our eyes. He can talk to Kragg the Grimm to describe what we're seeing in real time. If we give him the right enchanted item he could produce illusionary copies that Kragg can examine. What can any runesmith we bring along do better than that?
There's very unlikely to be so many recovered artifacts post-looting that they won't fit.
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