La Chanson de la Victoire (The Song of Victory): La Petite Arpenteuse (Non, SV, you are a General of France in the Napoleonic War!)
- Thread starter Plausbius
- Start date
- Mature Alt. History
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Plan: Think clearly when relaxed and informed
Switching votes
And I implore you all to remember what happened the last time we involved ourselves in Politics with an unknown DC. (Hint: It's the reason we have to go to Egypt in the first place.)
Switching votes
And I implore you all to remember what happened the last time we involved ourselves in Politics with an unknown DC. (Hint: It's the reason we have to go to Egypt in the first place.)
ThatGuyWithIdeas
Treize died for our sins
- Location
- Romania
[X] Plan: Escapism is Popular For a Reason
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NoxOfUmbra
Shadow of the night
- Location
- Colombia, South América
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] Plan: Think clearly when relaxed and informed
Guys, @perfectgeneral has no actual solid proof for his belief that our Plans WILL get leaked 100% if we take the Maps for Egypt Action. Wouldn't @Magoose have written it in the Action's description if that was inevitable?
Sure, it COULD still happen if the Roll fails massively, but the risk of hard failures runs with every Action we take. Also, an Option with ???DC doesn't HAVE to have a DC THAT high.
Sure, it COULD still happen if the Roll fails massively, but the risk of hard failures runs with every Action we take. Also, an Option with ???DC doesn't HAVE to have a DC THAT high.
That's not really accurate. The Reason we are being sent to Egypt isn't because that Roll failed, but because we Ultra-Crit the Army Reaction-Roll that followed that failed Roll.
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[X] Plan: Think clearly when relaxed and informed
- Location
- leiden (NL)
No, but he makes a good reasoning on why it would be, even if we suceed (unless we ultra-crit, maybe). Let's face it. There is zero reason that whatever pirate we buy maps from will not want to get more money for selling that info. There's no way be can retaliate if they do.
And the QM is NOT forced to tell us all the consequences of our choices.
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
I appreciate you playing devil's advocate here, as debate helps us all with weighing up consequences. I put numbers much lower than that in my speculation on what DC ??? means in this case. Both this and the political DC ??? suggest consequence outside fail/succeed. How much warning can be given that things will get tricky? Egypt and then India as orders seems interesting enough already. We have been kicked into the longest grass to get lost.
I put 80% for some kind of negative and only 40% for worst case scenario, but then I was trying not to spook the same metaphorical horses you are trying to stampede. At least you accept that there is some risk if you are willing to dicker over percentages. I just don't want to make it harder to find our way back to France.
The media manipulator pictured in my avatar is Rupert Murdock. I'm asking for scepticism. That can apply to my position too. I may have got a bit invested in the quest. I'll try and tone my passion down.
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There's alway some risk to anything. But I don't believe that in this case, a bad outcome is as dead-certain as you think it is.
Maybe I'm wrong, but we'll see.
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
you are correct. We don't have to tell you anything about the consequences of choosing your actions.
You should have the foresight to understand that is greater, bigger, and more powerful players at work, who know far more than you do.
But I shall tell you this:
Brian has made a lot of enemies thanks to his coup and stabilizing of Paris (in the Short term). Besides the Obvious Robespierre, there are royalists and Republicans who view you and your brother as traitors to France.
Enemies who are also your own enemies, though you do not have to deal with them because they think you are the lesser threat of the Auclair Sibling Duo.
The Republicans for Brian's Actions in Paris, and you scurrying the royal children away from the city, and The Royalists for you not immediately putting Louis onto his rightful throne immediately after scurrying him away from the city.... And for Brian's Actions in Paris, which they thought was a sign that the Royals would be crowned and returned to Paris to be placed under a regency.
The Ministry of War can't touch Brian without going through Napoleon, his Patron, meaning, that for now they can only sit and watch while he gains even more popularity with the French Masses, and in Europe, by winning staggering, impossible victories.
There is also the fact that quite a few members of high command and the ministry of War hate your guts, but can't fire you, or demote you because you have proven to be a very effective army commander, who got very popular, very quickly. Who also have several high-ranking Patrons, like Kellerman, Napoleon, and several other (Spoilers) who wish for you to remain in the Army. The Propaganda Value alone that you provide to France means you are very... precious.
And you have done absolutely nothing but bring victory to France after gaining a high command when Jourdan was training up the Troops.
Even Saint-Just, the Guy who has every right to chew us a new one for disobeying order, has given us glowing reports after Amiens.
So... This Egypt/Sicily campaign is... well, a chance to get rid of us for a while, while they reign in Napoleon, and try to placate the veterans that are in need of payment.
Of course, this could all just be a lie, to placate you while we laugh in the background.
You have also been given the most dangerous theater of operation where you could die in.
plus you know, we will havefull control in doing whatever the hell we want in the place for our objective.
Meaning, baring incredible circumstances... you... No I won't say.
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- Location
- Cambridge, UK
Alea iacta delenda est (the cast die must fall)
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Eventually.
But I shall say this. You will love and hate next turn.
- Location
- France
[X] Plan: Think clearly when relaxed and informed
I am worried about what Robespierre is doing, and I'm not against meeting Napoleon again, to see if Theresa is receptive to his courtship. But I think it is best to keep the Egyptian campaign secret for a while longer, at best not until we have landed in Egypt.
I am worried about what Robespierre is doing, and I'm not against meeting Napoleon again, to see if Theresa is receptive to his courtship. But I think it is best to keep the Egyptian campaign secret for a while longer, at best not until we have landed in Egypt.
For the last time: WHY are you all so certain that the Maps for Egypt Option will 100% definitely reveal to everyone in the damn World that we will go there?! It's not like Therese would just, like, put up a Request in the Newspaper. I'd expect her to at least try to acquire these Maps in relative Secret.
Like, sure, the risk of someone snitching is always there, but that you all treat it as this dead-certainty when we have no factual Proof to believe so annoys me as all hell.
Like, sure, the risk of someone snitching is always there, but that you all treat it as this dead-certainty when we have no factual Proof to believe so annoys me as all hell.
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- Location
- Somewhere
I have a suspicion that there's gonna be a dice roll for the quality of the map we procure and the higher it is, the more accurate or detailed it's gonna be.
Not unlikely. Some Maps in this Era where of...questionable Quality. The British Army in Spain could tell some Stories there.
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
While yes, we will roll the dice... Cyber came up with something...
Devious, and far more practical then just maps of the region we are trying to invade.
You will also get some cursory information.
While correct... The Quality of the maps is also going to come with added benefits for our intelligence operations as well.
We had a very productive Brainstorming Session with Plaus in regards to the maps that we could potentially gain, and the ideas we came up with... were both good... and I think will be an excellent reference for our intrepid Surveyor to plan her moves.
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- Location
- Cambridge, UK
Voting 9 : 8 : 1 so far with the prospect of an exciting campaign to follow the preparations. We pretty much have to set off after this. Unless the whole thing is cancelled...that would almost be funny.
Likely map (based on my luck roll and the easy position references)
I will love hating it, but never hate loving it.
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/anc...ng-smaller-islands-geographical-189026054.jpg
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~itasicily/genealogy/maps/AncientMapSicily.jpg
Likely map (based on my luck roll and the easy position references)
I will love hating it, but never hate loving it.
https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/anc...ng-smaller-islands-geographical-189026054.jpg
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~itasicily/genealogy/maps/AncientMapSicily.jpg
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[X] Plan: Escapism is Popular For a Reason
Soooo....who wants to bet we see Nappy B crit his romance role?
Soooo....who wants to bet we see Nappy B crit his romance role?
Hi New, Im Daed.
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Yeah... THat would be kinda stupid...
And totally something Napoleonic war to happen.
I mean, I know where we crit, but I won't say.
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Counterargument: Yes you will, when you post the update.
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
You know what I mean.Counterargument: Yes you will, when you post the update.
Orders, Drill, and Training (AvidFicReader)
- Location
- Hawaii
Orders, Drill, and Training
"All right, men, gather 'round!"
Severin's infantry commanders drag a somewhat mystified Estienne and Leclerc into a tight circle with arms draped over their neighbors' shoulders.
"With the onset of autumn, our window for training is getting smaller and smaller. While I still want to run the men through route and firing drills, we'll need to up the ante. We're going to mix in formation drills on the route marches. From marching columns to assault columns, to close order battle line, and from each of those to square formation. Run them hard, they're not in basic training anymore. Get them to the point that they reflexively move to formation when hearing the signal. We're going to be fighting an enemy renowned for their horsemanship. They beat back the Mongols, after all."
"The who?"
"The Mongols, you know, the ones that nearly overran Europe five centuries ago."
"Severin, not all of us are history nerds like you. My head's either in a bottle or in a brothel, if you know what I mean."
"My God, Mathieu, you are a pig. Get yourself to a confession booth post haste!"
"Eat shit, Joly, go find a priest to b-"
"Enough! You have your orders, get to your divisions and seem them through!"
The officers broke from their huddle, though Perrot lingered a moment longer.
"And you Severin? You looked distracted. You normally don't let Mathieu and Joly get into it in our circle of brotherhood."
"I have been settling my personal affairs before the expedition departs, making sure I spend time with my family, and there is the... personal matter La Generale has asked of me. It's not an official order, but it's an important matter that needs to be seen to. Enough about me, see to your men. You know Mathieu and Joly will be competing to take the vanguard from you."
"They can try. If they manage to beat my division's times, they're welcome to take the van."
With that, Perrot marches off to set his division to work.
When Severin returns to his hotel suite turned office, an important guest awaits him. A boy of seven, Louis Capet is the rightful heir to the throne of France, and according to Therese, the newest official soldier of the Army of the Orient, courtesy of paperwork filed by Berthier.
Louis immediately snaps to attention, Severin's sergeant instincts immediately scrutinizing his form. A sloppy salute, in imitation of a gesture seen many times, but never practiced. The boy's body is trembling slightly, a case of nerves, perhaps? To think, such a meeting would have been unthinkable a few short years ago. A common sergeant would have no reason to stand before the heir to the throne of France. Severin himself would have been beset by nervous anxiety, though he would do his best to hide it. Now, the common soldat Louis Capet stands shakily before Colonel Denis Severin. What has the world come to?
"At ease, soldat. Before we get started, I have a couple of questions. First, Therese told me that this was something you wanted; something you wanted badly enough to go behind her back and request of Berthier, the royalist. Why go so far, Louis?"
"Therese- she's been so busy lately, and she barely has time to see me, while Charlotte is working as her secretary. Everyone has always told me what to do, from my parents, to my tutors, and that man-" Louis shakes away the unpleasant memories before continuing. " I wanted to make a choice for myself, for once."
"Well Louis, of all the things you could have chosen to do, you joined the army. Where most of your time is spent being told what to do by someone else."
"It was still something I decided myself. I don't want to be Louis Capet, King of France. I just want to be Louis, who joined he army of his own free will. That way I can prove my loyalty to France and make a name for myself beyond what everyone thinks I should do."
"I see. Well then, Louis, what kind of soldier do you want to be? Do you want to rise through the ranks as a common soldier? That is what I can do for you the best. Do you want to be an officer? I've no formal training, but I can teach you the lessons I've learned the hard way. If you want to be a cavalryman, I can ask Leclerc to get you started on horsemanship, and I'll even go ask that dandy Murat to teach you the finer points. If you want to be an artillerist, I'll have you learn with Estienne, someone recommended personally by Chamans and de Lisle."
"I want to be an officer. I'm too small to be a proper soldier, and I want to lead armies, like Therese. She's the only one who hasn't..." Louis trails off, but Severin can guess where the boy's thoughts were going.
"Very well Soldat Capet. Welcome to the Army of the Orient. The first thing you should know is that the vast majority of army life is regimented monotony and drudgery, physical exertion until exhaustion, and a handful of hours of sheer terror, blood and noise spread throughout. I will start you on physical training, the first of the basics of soldiering. One must be in shape and fit to carry out the duties of a soldier. Training is difficult and grueling, but it is much more bearable when undergone with others. Thus, I will introduce you to your training partner. He's actually a bit younger than you, so try to look out for him, would you? His name is Charles Leon, I'll take you to meet him now. Your first exercises will be basic calisthenics: push ups, sit ups, squats, and distance running. I'll increase your workout as you get stronger. And don't worry if your hair starts falling out, that's normal. It's just your body telling you you're doing something it's not used to. It will get used to it soon enough."
Edit: fixed some autocorrupt and typos.
Edit 2: Added a punny reference.
"All right, men, gather 'round!"
Severin's infantry commanders drag a somewhat mystified Estienne and Leclerc into a tight circle with arms draped over their neighbors' shoulders.
"With the onset of autumn, our window for training is getting smaller and smaller. While I still want to run the men through route and firing drills, we'll need to up the ante. We're going to mix in formation drills on the route marches. From marching columns to assault columns, to close order battle line, and from each of those to square formation. Run them hard, they're not in basic training anymore. Get them to the point that they reflexively move to formation when hearing the signal. We're going to be fighting an enemy renowned for their horsemanship. They beat back the Mongols, after all."
"The who?"
"The Mongols, you know, the ones that nearly overran Europe five centuries ago."
"Severin, not all of us are history nerds like you. My head's either in a bottle or in a brothel, if you know what I mean."
"My God, Mathieu, you are a pig. Get yourself to a confession booth post haste!"
"Eat shit, Joly, go find a priest to b-"
"Enough! You have your orders, get to your divisions and seem them through!"
The officers broke from their huddle, though Perrot lingered a moment longer.
"And you Severin? You looked distracted. You normally don't let Mathieu and Joly get into it in our circle of brotherhood."
"I have been settling my personal affairs before the expedition departs, making sure I spend time with my family, and there is the... personal matter La Generale has asked of me. It's not an official order, but it's an important matter that needs to be seen to. Enough about me, see to your men. You know Mathieu and Joly will be competing to take the vanguard from you."
"They can try. If they manage to beat my division's times, they're welcome to take the van."
With that, Perrot marches off to set his division to work.
When Severin returns to his hotel suite turned office, an important guest awaits him. A boy of seven, Louis Capet is the rightful heir to the throne of France, and according to Therese, the newest official soldier of the Army of the Orient, courtesy of paperwork filed by Berthier.
Louis immediately snaps to attention, Severin's sergeant instincts immediately scrutinizing his form. A sloppy salute, in imitation of a gesture seen many times, but never practiced. The boy's body is trembling slightly, a case of nerves, perhaps? To think, such a meeting would have been unthinkable a few short years ago. A common sergeant would have no reason to stand before the heir to the throne of France. Severin himself would have been beset by nervous anxiety, though he would do his best to hide it. Now, the common soldat Louis Capet stands shakily before Colonel Denis Severin. What has the world come to?
"At ease, soldat. Before we get started, I have a couple of questions. First, Therese told me that this was something you wanted; something you wanted badly enough to go behind her back and request of Berthier, the royalist. Why go so far, Louis?"
"Therese- she's been so busy lately, and she barely has time to see me, while Charlotte is working as her secretary. Everyone has always told me what to do, from my parents, to my tutors, and that man-" Louis shakes away the unpleasant memories before continuing. " I wanted to make a choice for myself, for once."
"Well Louis, of all the things you could have chosen to do, you joined the army. Where most of your time is spent being told what to do by someone else."
"It was still something I decided myself. I don't want to be Louis Capet, King of France. I just want to be Louis, who joined he army of his own free will. That way I can prove my loyalty to France and make a name for myself beyond what everyone thinks I should do."
"I see. Well then, Louis, what kind of soldier do you want to be? Do you want to rise through the ranks as a common soldier? That is what I can do for you the best. Do you want to be an officer? I've no formal training, but I can teach you the lessons I've learned the hard way. If you want to be a cavalryman, I can ask Leclerc to get you started on horsemanship, and I'll even go ask that dandy Murat to teach you the finer points. If you want to be an artillerist, I'll have you learn with Estienne, someone recommended personally by Chamans and de Lisle."
"I want to be an officer. I'm too small to be a proper soldier, and I want to lead armies, like Therese. She's the only one who hasn't..." Louis trails off, but Severin can guess where the boy's thoughts were going.
"Very well Soldat Capet. Welcome to the Army of the Orient. The first thing you should know is that the vast majority of army life is regimented monotony and drudgery, physical exertion until exhaustion, and a handful of hours of sheer terror, blood and noise spread throughout. I will start you on physical training, the first of the basics of soldiering. One must be in shape and fit to carry out the duties of a soldier. Training is difficult and grueling, but it is much more bearable when undergone with others. Thus, I will introduce you to your training partner. He's actually a bit younger than you, so try to look out for him, would you? His name is Charles Leon, I'll take you to meet him now. Your first exercises will be basic calisthenics: push ups, sit ups, squats, and distance running. I'll increase your workout as you get stronger. And don't worry if your hair starts falling out, that's normal. It's just your body telling you you're doing something it's not used to. It will get used to it soon enough."
ONE PUUUUNCH! Anyway, Severin's of the 'practice til it's second nature' school of thought. His infantry officers reflect facets of his personality. Perrot is 'the reliable one', Mathieu is even more of a jock than Severin, Abel is more 'in over his head at being an officer' than Severin, and Joly is even more religious and strict than Severin. Meanwhile, Severin is trying to balance work and family and 'sort of work'. Delegating the training of the men to his division commanders, spending time with his family, combining Therese's request to train Louis with training his son. He's noticed some of Louis' issues and is (clumsily) trying to work on them. Maybe get Louis to open up a bit and be a big brother. Typed up on my phone at work, so I might need to make another editing pass.
Edit: fixed some autocorrupt and typos.
Edit 2: Added a punny reference.
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- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
+10 to the rolls.