La Chanson de la Victoire (The Song of Victory): La Petite Arpenteuse (Non, SV, you are a General of France in the Napoleonic War!)

Sir_Travelsalot · Feb 26, 2021

Mr. Sandman said:
And they won't be in the frontlines fighting, they'll be in the rear, as they were when we campaigned before.

That didn't stop us from getting shot before, even though we weren't on the front line when it happened. IRL in the American Civil War, in one of the first battles the upper crust of the nearby town showed up with their families to observe the fighting as entertainment. They set up a good distance away, on a hill far off to the side of the battle, nominally in range of nothing but eyesight of the battle.

Several of them still died from stray shots. None of that distance from the fighting mattered as to their safety. There is no such thing as 'safe' within an active warzone. And unlike the idiot upper crust families who died in that battle, we're a professional soldier and know this fact, intimately so from our own wounds. Proposing to bring children to such a place in spite of knowing the certain danger they'd be in is utterly unconscionable. As opposed to what, leaving them in a boarding school where they might face abuse?

Magoose · Feb 26, 2021

Mr. Sandman said:
That's a pretty low bar though, and there are die hard republicans and DIE hard republicans. If he is the latter that is not good for the kids. If we know him well enough and he is the former I guess it would be alright.

Well the problem is, you don't know. You are going off of one of your comrades suggestions.

Mr. Sandman said:
Yeah, there is no way we should let the two of them be responsible for each other. They are much too young. Which is why the apartment option is a non-starter

Well the thing is, unless they openly proclaim they are the two royals that most people think are with us... who would really belive them unless they knew them and had chances to interact with them.

Mr. Sandman said:
(I'm guessing Lucien?)

You are (Mostly) correct.

Mr. Sandman said:
This doesn't fill me with confidence, since they are potential pretenders to him, and he probably has taken that in consideration when selecting the academy. So maybe no Royalist plots, but other things might happen. I guess the question is: would we trust Napoleon with them enough?

Well the thing that you should think about: "Can we afford to trust Napoleon with potential keys to power?"

perfectgeneral said:
Napoleon wouldn't recommend a bad school, nor one that promoted royalist ideals. As the school's customer we would hold them accountable, Brian could to

Napoleon also is the one who got the school up and running again.

perfectgeneral said:
Can we detail a bodyguard?

If they needed a bodyguard, they would not be going to the academy.

Mr. Sandman said:
Sure, but the two of them are potential pretenders to the leadership of France. It is much more likely that he suggested it to keep an eye on them and make sure they are isolated from people sympathetic to them. The quality of the school is immaterial if it is a hostile environment for the children or puts them in potential danger.

Well let me put it to you this way.

When people decide that it's better to just... ignore bygones and let them remain bygones, then there would be world peace.

Problem is, that will never happen.

Mr. Sandman said:
We should either take them, give them to Brian or to their Aunt. In that order. The academy is marginally better than the apartment in my view.

Taking them is its own problem...

all the other options are their own problems that you need to find ways to deal with.

Sir_Travelsalot said:
Several of them still died from stray shots. None of that distance from the fighting mattered as to their safety. There is no such thing as 'safe' within an active warzone. And unlike the idiot upper crust families who died in that battle, we're a professional soldier and know this fact, intimately so from our own wounds. Proposing to bring children to such a place in spite of knowing the certain danger they'd be in is utterly unconscionable. As opposed to what, leaving them in a boarding school where they might face abuse?

Well officer, but the statement is correct.

But again, are they any safer in France, where they could be taken by people who do not have their best interests at heart, and forced to be puppets... and if they lose, would they also lose their heads?

AvidFicReader · Feb 26, 2021

[X] Chamans & Road Trip

Chamans is a more well-rounded Chief of Staff, and he's had experience running the army while Therese was convalescing after Amiens. This way, Chamans can deal with the admin and step in for diplomacy if needed, while de Lisle can focus on his job, logistics. I do favor stopping first in Sicily to secure fleet basing and food (both staples and citrus) and potentially sulphur for dealing with Plague. Then on to Malta for additional secure anchorage. It may even be prudent to leave a fairly sizable detachment in Sicily to deter Naples from thinking a counterattackis a good idea. And if that force can stand up regiments of Sicilian auxiliaries, it may become enough of a threat to divide Naples' attention between Napoleon and the Sicilian force.

Sir_Travelsalot · Feb 26, 2021

Magoose said:
But again, are they any safer in France, where they could be taken by people who do not have their best interests at heart, and forced to be puppets... and if they lose, would they also lose their heads?

They survived being taken by people who definitely did not have their best interests at heart, when they had no friendly contacts or allies. This time, they are known to be the wards of Therese Auclair, an army General whose brother overthrew Robespierre. Even if the people who take them in while we're on campaign did harbor ill intentions, they would have to be committed enough to said ill intentions to risk our wrath, or Brian's. Which gives them good odds, I feel.

Vi'Talzin · Feb 26, 2021

Sir_Travelsalot said:
As opposed to what, leaving them in a boarding school where they might face abuse?

Abuse is the least of my concerns, them being kidnapped, attacked or even murdered are possibilities. Placing the Dauphin in an academy full of people with Republican ideals with no protection is irresponsible.

Also, this isn't the American civil war, combat is very different, the chances of what you described are very unlikely, and we can account for it. Whilst leaving them unnatended a continent away in an unknown environment chaperoned by someone we've never met and hates what they stand for is not.

Sir_Travelsalot said:
This time, they are known to be the wards of Therese Auclair, an army General whose brother overthrew Robespierre.

Are they though? Besides, that's not much protection when she is far away.

Sir_Travelsalot said:
they would have to be committed enough to said ill intentions to risk our wrath, or Brian's.

There are plenty of people willing to do just that. As Magoose stated more eloquently than I could put it:

Magoose said:
Well let me put it to you this way.

When people decide that it's better to just... ignore bygones and let them remain bygones, then there would be world peace.

Problem is, that will never happen.

Leaving them unsupported is a bad ideia.

Tjakari · Feb 26, 2021

Sir_Travelsalot said:
IRL in the American Civil War, in one of the first battles the upper crust of the nearby town showed up with their families to observe the fighting as entertainment. They set up a good distance away, on a hill far off to the side of the battle, nominally in range of nothing but eyesight of the battle.

An entirely different context, more than half a century removed from the context here.
I'm not saying a warzone is safe, but I am saying the dangers of a warzone are known and, provided that we're not completely routed, easier to manage than whatever nonsense is bound to happen in France while we're away.

Sir_Travelsalot said:
And unlike the idiot upper crust families who died in that battle, we're a professional soldier and know this fact, intimately so from our own wounds.

Nobody's letting the kids set up lawnchairs.

Sir_Travelsalot said:
As opposed to what, leaving them in a boarding school where they might face abuse?

Trivializing the things that can happen to those kids is poor form. We're the only form of real protection that they have in a continent full of people that would more than love to have them underwing, under control, or under lock and key.

Magoose said:
"Can we afford to trust Napoleon with potential keys to power?"

Likewise, even those who are our "allies" can't be trusted to act with the children's best interests.

So I say, let's not take unnecessary chances and do what's been working so far, keeping them close. Sicily will be no worse than the Rhine and by the time we can get to Egypt, we'll have a better handle on how things will go vis a vis the kids.

Sir_Travelsalot · Feb 26, 2021

Tjakari said:
Trivializing the things that can happen to those kids is poor form.

It is not trivializing, these are Magoose's own words. The children being taken in by someone with nefarious aims is a possibility, in which case they are in danger. Bringing them along to a warzone means danger to their lives is a certainty.

Tjakari · Feb 26, 2021

Sir_Travelsalot said:
They survived being taken by people who definitely did not have their best interests at heart, when they had no friendly contacts or allies.

That was under the Girondists, before the War in the Vendee and an army of Royalists had to be put down. It was also before a coup put the Directory in place.

That was a different time, and different rules. And more to the point, the kids just weren't on as many people's radars back then.

Now that they're our wards, there's a bigger target.

Sir_Travelsalot said:
Even if the people who take them in while we're on campaign did harbor ill intentions, they would have to be committed enough to said ill intentions to risk our wrath, or Brian's

If consequences stopped people from stirring the pot, we'd be walking on the sun.

Sir_Travelsalot said:
Bringing them along to a warzone means danger to their lives is a certainty.

Exactly, we know what to expect, what to prepare for, and what the risks are. There are no snakes in the grass (as far as we can ever know) and our army is our backyard.
Taking them with us is a known quantity. No curve balls.

Also, it's what the kids are already used to. It's what they're comfortable with.
Traveling with the army has been the safest place for them since the Revolution started.

Vi'Talzin · Feb 26, 2021

Sir_Travelsalot said:
It is not trivializing, these are Magoose's own words. The children being taken in by someone with nefarious aims is a possibility, in which case they are in danger. Bringing them along to a warzone means danger to their lives is a certainty.

He also said that all of the options have their own problems, danger to their lives is a possibility at the academy too. Especially as they would be isolated, with no one they know to get help from and thousands of miles away from the only people that can protect them from dangers physical and political.

As I've asked before when arguing about this, would you hand over your child to a complete stranger, who may or may not hate everything they stand for, for months while you are thousands of miles away, knowing that there are people out there that are willing to kidnap, torture, kill or use them as political puppets? If you don't want them to go to Egypt, there are other options, like leaving them with Brian or their Aunt. At least they would have someone with their interests in mind to protect them.

Magoose · Feb 26, 2021

Tjakari said:
Trivializing the things that can happen to those kids is poor form. We're the only form of real protection that they have in a continent full of people that would more than love to have them underwing, under control, or under lock and key.

I mean technically their aunt as well, but even then she has motives.

Tjakari said:
Traveling with the army has been the safest place for them since the Revolution started.

Well I mean with their parents were the safest place for them.

We know how that ended.

Sir_Travelsalot · Feb 26, 2021

Mr. Sandman said:
If you don't want them to go to Egypt, there are other options, like leaving them with Brian or their Aunt. At least they would have someone with their interests in mind to protect them.

No one's stopping you or anyone else on this thread from voting for any of those other options, least of all me. The winning option has them being brought to a warzone. The runner-up is an academy that at least one of them wants to go to. If those options aren't to your preference, you are welcome to make a vote more to your liking.

Vi'Talzin · Feb 26, 2021

Sir_Travelsalot said:
No one's stopping you or anyone else on this thread from voting for any of those other options, least of all me. The winning option has them being brought to a warzone. The runner-up is an academy that at least one of them wants to go to. If those options aren't to your preference, you are welcome to make a vote more to your liking.

I'm fine with my vote, I think they'd be the safest with us despite being a warzone, since there would be someone with their best interest in mind looking over them, and away from the dangers France poses them. Just pointing out that there are options other than leaving them alone with no one they know, surrounded by people probably hostile to them while their only real caretaker is thousands of miles out of reach. Also, one may want to go there, but we don't know what the sister wants. If we want the option that likely pleases both of them we send them to the aunt.

Nicholas Brooks · Feb 26, 2021

[X] chamans & road trip

Tjakari · Feb 26, 2021

Is anybody else's notifications screwed up?

I've been quoted multiple times throughout this and never gotten one.

ArvisPresley · Feb 26, 2021

perfectgeneral said:
That is a really bad reason. The tally is 9 v 8 now so you are deciding with this vote one way or the other. I think you should change it.

I think Charmans can cope with paperwork better and leave De Lisle free to concentrate on logistics. These are two very different things. Being sent off to Egypt has shown that we could do with the diplomatic filter on our correspondence too.

I was worried about the academy, but I think it will be alright. Kids need a good school and I trust that they will act in our interests.

Changed vote: (I updated my previous voting post to strike through the voting text and remove the X)
~~[-] Chamans & Academy~~

@Sir_Travelsalot Are you going to post a voting promotion text to sway the voters and tip the balance?
I am appealing also to
@Mr. Sandman
@wencitofrum
@Tjakari
@Star
@UNKNOWN01
@Shadow1863
@Donkey Hote
@Night_stalker
All to reconsider in light of the points I raise. Please.

#election fever

I had already voted for De Lisle and ROAD TRIP since its my plan
The Tally was counting me separately
I'm sticking by De Lisle because above all else Logistics is King. Shite Logistics doomed the IRL Egypt campaign and the soldiers within it.

Sir_Travelsalot · Feb 26, 2021

ArvisPresley said:
I'm sticking by De Lisle because above all else Logistics is King. Shite Logistics doomed the IRL Egypt campaign and the soldiers within it.

It's not like De Lisle isn't coming along if we don't pick him. Besides, Chamans is called out as being a competent administrator, which means he knows how to delegate. Most importantly, he can keep everyone on the same team, and if we plan to play silly buggers with our orders to claw out some kind of success, we'll need his ability to keep a secret. ~~Also, De Lisle is called out as never questioning our decisions, which is a rather detrimental quality in an officer.~~

Magoose · Feb 26, 2021

Sir_Travelsalot said:
Also, De Lisle is called out as never questioning our decisions, which is a rather detrimental quality in an officer.

That was actually bad wording on my part.

He has never questioned you, because he is very much trusting of our judgement calls. That does not mean he won't call us out on it, its just we haven't done anything that warrants being called out on.

Sentient Tree · Feb 26, 2021

[X] chamans & road trip

[X] Chamans & Academy

I don't want to split the vote and end up getting De Lisle, but I've changed my mind and now want to take the kids along.

Magoose · Feb 27, 2021

So... Anyone have any questions that I might be able to answer?

Vi'Talzin · Feb 27, 2021

[X] Chamans & Road Trip
[X]De Lisle and ROAD TRIP

Vi'Talzin · Feb 27, 2021

Magoose said:
So... Anyone have any questions that I might be able to answer?

What do the children think of their aunt? Did they see her often? If so, how warm was their relationship to her? Which of the suggested options does Charlotte express the most interest in?

SzechuanSauce · Feb 27, 2021

Magoose said:
So... Anyone have any questions that I might be able to answer?

Are we gonna see any of the other famous generals of the time? This era was when people in their mid to late 20s got promoted to high positions due to a lot of the old officers fleeing. Where's Pichegru, Dumas, Hoche, Marceau?

Dain24601 · Feb 27, 2021

Mr. Sandman said:
What do the children think of their aunt? Did they see her often? If so, how warm was their relationship to her? Which of the suggested options does Charlotte express the most interested in?

There's been plenty of discussion regarding where to send them but none on what they themselves desire. I'm curious myself on their answer.

Magoose · Feb 27, 2021

Mr. Sandman said:
What do the children think of their aunt?

The Relationship with their aunt is currently a rather strained one, if only because they haven't seen her in two years, and they are not the children she remembers them as.

They have grown up, and in a way that she would not consider... Proper.

Mr. Sandman said:
Did they see her often?

Well they did see each other and interact, but not nearly as much as other members of their family, or their parents.

Mr. Sandman said:
how warm was their relationship to her?

Lukewarm, if only because Elisabeth is... more conservative than Charlotte, and still wishes to be treated like a princess.

Mr. Sandman said:
Which of the suggested options does Charlotte express the most interested in?

She wants to be hired by you as your offcial personal secretary (Which she has become in all but name), and wishes to continue traveling with you in the army.

However, she views her responsibility to her brother first, and you second.

SzechuanSauce said:
Are we gonna see any of the other famous generals of the time?

Yes, actually, you will be meeting several future faces of Napleon's Grand Armee very soon.

And you get to choose two or three of them to join you as Junior generals.

SzechuanSauce said:
Pichegru

Is finishing a six-month prison sentence for his actions in Vendee, but is about to get released because France desperately needs senior officers that know what the hell they are doing, and since the coup, they see fit to release some of the more high ranking members of the rebellion, as long as they swear oaths of loyalty to France.

He is replacing us under Jourdan at the Rhine as a General of Brigade.

SzechuanSauce said:
Dumas,

a Choice to serve as a junior general to you, during the Egyptian campaign.

SzechuanSauce said:
Hoche

A Freshly released Colonel (he was imprisoned by the previous government on treason charges), that has been assigned to the Spanish Front, to make sure Spain doesn't decide to backstab us...

He might be promoted soon to General.

SzechuanSauce said:
Marceau

He is now serving in the Army of the North and is now a Colonel, serving as Kellerman's interim Chief of Staff while he's looking for a replacement.

ArvisPresley · Feb 27, 2021

Magoose said:
So... Anyone have any questions that I might be able to answer?

Any possible Navy bois we can promote or recruit in the future?

La Chanson de la Victoire (The Song of Victory): La Petite Arpenteuse (Non, SV, you are a General of France in the Napoleonic War!)

Parlez-vous français?

Oui, je parle très bien français!

Un peu.

What? Francis? Nope.

What? Oh, don't be silly, my dear!

¿El español es lo suficientemente bueno?

Ich verstehe dich irgendwie.

Я очень хорошо говорю по-русски.

我听不懂。

何を言っているのですか？

nuqneH pa'!

فرانسه بلدنستم

Never wakes up tired.

SV's Questing Fanatic

Never wakes up tired.

Never wakes up tired.

SV's Questing Fanatic

Never wakes up tired.

Redeemer and Destroyer

Never wakes up tired.

SV's Questing Fanatic

SV's Questing Fanatic

SV's Questing Fanatic