After a fair bit of genteel haggling you reach an agreement with Lady Magister Mira:
I was actually kind of looking forward to seeing this haggling live. But, the muse can't be forced. And three plus paragraphs of back and forth for something that is already long decided OOC is not everyone's idea of fun.
the Unfähigers, once the most powerful dynasty in the Empire but quite fallen from grace in modern times after the disastrous rule of Emperor Dieter IV Unfähiger.
I can't get over the fact that that's their actual dynasty name instead of just being the epithet of Dieter IV in particular. It literally means incapable.
You take careful notes and start to consider how best to start prodding at the mystery yourself.
If we were to steal Alric's glory after, thus doing Mira the favor we didn't promise her to do, would we gain anything from it beyond her gratitude and once again leaving an impression that we are a massive overachiever?
volume of messages concerning some sort of trouble brewing in Ostermark while still maintaining the complete dearth of useful information.
What would that look like? Disappearances of prominent people? Of minor villages? Of trade goods? Random travelers griping about problems they are nonetheless super tight lipped about? Unusual volumes of sealed correspondence changing hand? Nobles from neighboring provinces visiting Ostermark more and more frequently?
Regarding the other EIC news, I am going to assume that no canal news is good canal news. Though I am curious if the mystery epidemics among the workers ended up fading on their own or not.
And rumours of unrest between Marienburg and Couronne, possible a reignition of the eternal question of where, exactly, the border between Couronne and the Wasteland can be found.
What does Marienburg even do with the Wasteland? Tax it? That said, I get how they wouldn't want Couronne to build any castles or road infrastructure anywhere near them.
No, you haven't reached a formal agreement with a nearby population centre
Haven't we, technically speaking? We have Belegar's formal promise of protection and the majority of Dwarves are technically militia, willing and able to take up arms at the drip of a hat if necessary but not being professional warriors exclusively.
One particular sticking point is that of religious dedication, and eventually you settle for Valaya, which the mountain itself is named for and was once dedicated to. It's as correct as if you had put 'none',
Would the Dwarves agree with this claim?
Also, I assume that we either missed our chance of a more proper religious dedication along the way or that you decided based on your reading of the hive mind that we'd have gone/would go with some subtle Ranaldian dedication if given the chance and that neither being honest about that nor acting coy about which god we are choosing would be an acceptable option here.
When you finally finish and submit the application, you expect to wait months as a proper assessment is made, possibly involving hosting an inspection committee to study the grounds themselves. You're a little outraged when within the hour one of Altdorf's pigeons, grown large and confident from a city steeped in Ghur, drops in your lap the official recognition of KAU's new status.
Silly Mathilde. Not only could you have added all that in a freeform addendum, but of course everyone who is someone in the Colleges knows about K8P. And you're a trusted LM. And, as you yourself emphasize, it's
Dwarves.
The Fimir, perhaps? The Shartak? Or had it once been ocean, and some ancient turmoil beached a temple built by the Prometheans?
Are we mentioning these theories in the paper?
[Observations on the Borderlands of Chaos, 2487. Subject: Rare, +1. Insight: Confirming, +1. Delivery: Thrilling +2. Exotic, +1. Varied, +1. Shared Credit, -1. Total: +5.]
I do like the paper mechanic. Beyond the steady and codified income of CF it also provides satisfying recaps and revisitations of past events, once removed allusions to headpats for our achievements and interesting insights into Mathilde's inner thoughts.
"Not widely, I'm afraid. I've been relying on the density of skilled farmers here. Even if I can refine the techniques, it would still be far more labour-intensive than assarting the equivalent acreage out of the forests."
Oh cool. I learned a new word.
The interplay between Panoramia and her Patriarch is enjoyable to read as well.
But Paranoth isn't done. "The first time I visited Araby, I wanted to see an oasis, but instead I got caught up in a fight between Malaluk and Ghutani nomads over a treasure they had found in the ruins of Bel-Aliad. I could have ignored them all and pushed on, but instead I stayed and tried to find peace between them, being young and naïve. When they proved unwilling to listen to the ignorant prattling of a foreign Wizard, I instead sold my services to the side that was willing to pay more, and came home richer and wiser for it. And a few years later I used a small part of that money to buy passage on a ship to Al-Haikk and joined a caravan that was travelling to the oasis I had originally intended to visit." He smiles. "I've sidetracked myself, but with a story about the value of sidetracks. That is why they call me the Wanderer, you know. Not because I travel without purpose, but because I welcome new purpose where and when I find it. Where was I actually going, though?" He muses. "Oh, yes. Take in the unexpected harvest. It will cost you time, but gain you resources and respect and interest in your original goal."
Wow, Paranoth is a joy to behold.
Their belief might add the appearance of truth to your bluff. But I would be empowering a faction that anchors the Order in our past ignorance."
Woah. For some reason I didn't expect him to be this involved in the dispute, let alone on that side of it. Though it makes sense for someone who has traveled far and wide to be a progressive sceptic back on the home front.
There's trouble brewing there, but whatever it is keeps hopping across the Upper Talabec into Kislev. And the Jades don't have much reach in Ostermark, never have, even before Teclis. But you of the Grey might be able to find friends there. Plus you got along with the Ice Witches. Uncover what's to blame for the goings-on there, and I'll send one of ours to the table."
What is it with everyone just calling it "trouble"? Is Paranoth's problem that the local Gryphons are failing their math exams? Why not just say what gave him the impression that there's trouble in the first place?
Anyway... Is that the same Shadow Woods that the Halethans interact with? If yes then that might actually be quite interesting to get involved in.
If you do agree to investigate the trouble in Gryphon's Wood, which representative from the Jade Order will join the Project in exchange?
Are we essentially deciding this on the spot or are we doing it by mail after agreeing to look into Gryphon Woods? Given that we are presented with quite a bit of information about the options that we didn't have before, I assume the latter. If my assumption is true, might we ask Panoramia regarding the personalities of these people?
Now... On to looking at the new social options.
