An Utterly Thankless Job (Alt. Title: No SV, You Are A Logistics Officer)

[Vocalend]

Roads Not Travelled: CharGen (Part 1 of 3)

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Welcome to the Roads Not Travelled section of the Quest. This is where your perpetually sleepy and lethargic QM outline the what-ifs that would have happened. This section will also cover what you picked, if only to contextualize what exactly happened. In this post, I will outline the decisions not taken (and taken) on CharGen 1 and 2. Originally, I planned on making it between CharGen 1 to 3 but considering the length of CharGen 1's choices alone, I felt cutting them into a more manageable piece might be better.​

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CharGen 1 Choices​

Gender Vote
This one is, as can be seen with CharGen 3, is not a purely cosmetic vote. Women rights are something much stronger than the period of time the Quest is based on (early-1900s) on account of the fact female Mages can blast fireballs just as well as male Mages. That said, the treatment gets slightly more period accurate if you happen to be the 98% of the population that can't sling fireballs.

Life isn't hunky dory if you're a male Mage either. You will be targeted for your Magic Potential, due to the (maybe true maybe not) belief that children between Mages tend to result in a child that is also a Mage. This would've led to perhaps the most utterly dreaded vote in the Questing community, the so-called 'waifu' vote (Or 'husbando' vote but that got sidestepped pretty hard, more on that later.)

[] One Named
This would have been the utter shounen subversion option, perhaps. Your Patron picked you simply because you start with a 1d100 in Magic Potential. You are, as a talent, would be utterly indispensable to contesting the presence of hostile mages. Your magic combat potential is simply unparalleled in one-on-one duel. Your presence alone would be a sheer morale multiplier, perhaps one that would've made you into an archetypical Jeanne d'Arc figure.

Which is why you're pointedly not going in the front line. Your Patron is an Intrigue-focused character who knows that you are proverbially holding a giant sign that simply reads "KILL OR CAPTURE AT LITERALLY ALL COST". Your existence as a trump card is a state secret available to the highest echelon of society. You would be part of a covert group that will run high-risk mission interspersed with your cover job. Your successes and exploits would be relegated to the annals of the deepest and most secure archives of the state. Your job as a Logistics Officer is a great cover... it's just not the one that you excel in the slightest (There would've been no option for you to focus on Stewardship Skills). Which is bad because as part of the deep cover and classified info, you are supposed to do your job.

Fortunately, you're aided in several. You have a handler, who would have either been a 'subordinate' or a superior who can waive or handle some of the tasks you're supposed to do as a Logistics Officer. Not to mention the fact that you're equipped with the best of Ides Code available to help you in your run, not that you can show them off nilly willy either. You also have the clandestine backing of the entire Wollenfrei Empire, which can allow you to Requisition (new mechanic, TBA) things to help you run your job as well. Of course, it does not mean much if the Supply Chains (also new mechanic, TBA) happen to be bombed to bits and you are, say, cut off behind the enemy lines. But you know, some benefits are situational and all that~

Oh, as an orphan, you're carrying some hefty upbringing baggages. Which would have carried several repercussions. The bad kinds.

[] Three Named
This is the profligate option. The option in which you can be pretty sure that you'll be able to contribute to the war effort with your own coffers. The option in which you start higher in every single base Skills by virtue of a more refined and educated upbringing. The option in which you start with Ides Codes (yes, plural) of your selection.

Also, the option in which you pointedly do not have Magic Potential.

Now admittedly, you could've still be a Mage on top of those advantages, but a roll result of 22 sort of put a stop to that line of thought. Had this option been picked, you would've also been forced to roll a dice to see how a possibly sheltered teenager who used to have things to their way suddenly not get something so coveted react to this revelation. That'd have been 'interesting', to say the least. You got thrown into the spot of being a logistics officer due to losing in the usual noble intrigue, which also forces you to pick an enemy character. Which would've been 'fun'.

Also, this is the option in which you start with a betrothal arrangement with someone of the opposite gender. Actual romantic feelings to one or the other may vary, but this is would've left you with a character that, at worst, would be an asset, or at best, would be a Second Companion (more on that later).

[X] Two Named
The one you picked. And the one where the descriptor of 'luck' is the most apt one to be had. This is the middle-ground option. Or rather, it should be. You start without any upbringing baggages, unlike One Named option. You do start with Familiar Relationship Bonds (more on that later). But neither do you start with anything especially great, unlike Three Named option.

That is, until you rolled 78. That put a stop to that line of thought of 'anything especially great'.

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CharGen 2 Choices​

Affinity Choices
This one is self-explanatory. The vote is all about the Primary Affinity of the MC. The four options headed your way were a pick between the Stats "Stewardship", "Martial", "Diplomacy" (with a side boost to "Intrigue"), and "Magic". Different Named options have certain restrictions on what Primary Affinity they are unable to advance in. Intrigue and Piety are locked off to Two Named. One Named do not have Stewardship or Diplomacy option but do start with the choice of Intrigue as a Primary Focus. Three Named, of course, do not have Magic option, but they do get to pick two focus for their Primary Affinity, to simulate the their more sophisticated learning opportunity.

Companion Choices
This is the big one. This sort of chooses what sort of person who you can count on when the going gets tough. And of course, the other way round, the 'drawback' is that it is hard to downright impossible to try and ignore your Companion's requests or pleas for help. The choices are as follows:

[] A man in the same officer uniform as you. Right. He never seem to fit his clothes, always looking too much like a scoundrel for it. Not helped, of course, by the fact that he always carries on his waist a trench shovel. A small scar ran along the top of his left eye. It's a detail that you'll never forget from him. Due to the simple fact that you had inflicted it on him.

Click to shrink...

Remember The Radamantine Butcher mentioned in the last CharGen? This is him. A former death-row prisoner who got his pardon when, during the first weeks of the war, he defended the town of Radamantine after being assaulted by an enemy Battalion. He is credited with two hundred confirmed kills, of which ten of them were Mages he dueled personally. It is said that the shovel he carries is the same one he uses in Radamantine as his main weapon, utilizing his Ides to such an precise extent that the trench shovel turns into a makeshift Ides Code. His sheer presence is utterly terrifying to behold, making him a character with an Infamy Score of 8.

And just so happens, Hertz would've been the closest thing he has to a handler. Or well, monster tamer. Leash holder, if one's brave enough to utter it in his earshot. 'Might makes right' is his credo and Hertz managed to beat him well enough.

The Radamantine Butcher is a pure-Combat duelist beatstick with a secondary-specialization at "Roguish Persuasion". He is simply a murder blender who can and will mulch any combatant headed his (and thus Hertz's) way. He is capable of some subtlety and actual diplomacy, but he leaves that to you as the handler. Picking him would result in you being put together as a joint Mage Unit.

The Companion Relationship between him and Hertz relies on how much Hertz found the Butcher's presence acceptable. A Strained Bond would give her the inverse of Emil's vote, 3 Reputation/1 Infamy, at the expense of Hertz being unsure that being handed the leash to an extremely dangerous blender. A normal Bond would've given her 2 of each Scores, on account of fully accepting that she has a beatstick at her beck and call, making her just that bit more violent and unscrupulous in dealing with obstacles. No matter what, being in close proximity of The Radamantine Butcher would give Hertz some hefty Melee Combat boost.

[] A woman in the same officer uniform as you. Her eyes held concern and not a small amount of exasperation. She's taller and a slight deal more attractive (and bustier) than you. All the better to avert people's gaze from the revolvers hanging from her hip holsters. It's something that a lot of people fall for on spars.

Click to shrink...

Anya Syle is, in many ways, a mirror of Winslett Hertz. Both are simple girls with the simple ambition of being more than they could be. Both happen to get the chance of achieving said goal, both having Ides Manipulation of their own. Both happen to be scouted by capable Patron who both recognized their respective charge's talents.

It is no wonder, then, that the two would find their similarities a comfort and something that strengthened their relationship to that of a Companionship.

Anya Syle, however, is not a Stewardship-focused officer like Hertz. She is a hybrid Intrigue-Magic Duelist who is nonetheless exceedingly good at her job as an Intelligence Officer. Her posting, much like Emil, would've brought her far from Hertz. It's hard to keep in touch when your job entails being a covert agent.

The Companionship Bond between Hertz and Syle depends on how much they find each other's Companionship to be. There are many forms of Companionship, after all. There's the more platonic type, conferring the two of them normal Companion Bond, with 2 Reputation and 0 Infamy Scores gain. Then there's the more romantic type, which confers a Strained Companion Bond, which also confers 2 Reputation and 0 Infamy Scores gain. The strain comes from the fact that while the relationship is acceptable (Names wise, which is why Hertz and Emil pairing is substantially more dangerous), both Hertz and Syle understand that their posting would very well put them far way from one another and there's a good chance that one of them would die well before the other. Mending that bridge, however, has the chance of turning their Companionship to a Special Bond.

[X] A man in the much personalized officer uniform than you. Ah, him. With his wry smirk and... he's also holding a glass of wine. Of course he would have the same idea as you on what to do on mornings like these. Well, you and him often got the same ideas running through your minds. Which explains your affinity with each other despite your differing number of Names.

Click to shrink...

The picked option. Emil Gram-Grelav. There's not much to be said, mostly because a relationship between Hertz and Emil hinges on CharGen 3... which is not covered in this post.

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And that covers the first installment of Roads Not Travelled. Next two installment might take a bit longer to write. If there's something I missed or you want to particularly know in this installment, do let me know.

 

[Vocalend]

Roads Not Travelled: CharGen (Part 2 of 3)

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Welcome to the much belated second Roads Not Travelled section of the Quest. This is where your still perpetually sleepy and hapless QM outline the what-ifs that would have happened. This section will also cover what you picked, if only to contextualize what exactly happened. In this post, I will outline the decisions not taken (and taken) on CharGen 3 and 4. CharGen 5 to 7 would be last, as they are the most 'insubstantial' and thus allows me to build a proper concluding section later on.

So without further ado....

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CharGen 3 Choices​

Bond Choices
This is, for all intents and purpose, the Husbando Vote. Well, sorta. Karamovich might have been an option avaiable or maybe someone else entirely In the sense though, both options lean somewhere along the romantic tone but there's a key difference of course.

The Bedroom Tango. The Deed. The Homerun. Whichever way you want to call it, the key difference of both votes lies on whether or not that event occurs.

But before we get into the nitty gritty of the particular vote, who exactly is Emil Gram-Grelav?

Well, he's a hybrid Tactician-Diplomat option. Where as Orlon "The Radamantine Butcher" Teutogen and Anya Syle has a decidedly close/mid-ranged in the application of their skills, Emil concerns himself with scaled combat with him at the helm. Combat in warfare and in diplomacy...as well as the occasional dagger in the dark. Having an Ides Anomaly that allows one to basically read and analyze the subtle tells and body languages in the time it takes for one to blink is...well, I wouldn't say overpowered, but I would say to be extremely versatile.

And well, he's about as good as it gets, when it comes to someone as a potential husband. Not that I couldn't make any better options, but the combo of "Three Named + Ides Anomaly + Mage" is about as good as it gets. Now, the vote:

[] Maybe Friends, Maybe More
The unpicked option by singular vote. The Strained Bond. The option where the Tango is not initiated and things are...rough. Both Winslett and Emil would be in quite the turmoiled state of emotions. In the same sort of reason why Syle's planned Strained Bond. It's wartime, and none knows what would have happened. The QM may or may not be rolling for Emil's survival every week. Not that may or may not matter, considering that we've only reached Week 3

But point is, a lot of fuss over the actions voted since well, Winslett is limited to two options (and remember, Ilham or any potential Subordinate cannot work on most Diplo/all Personal actions). And a Strained Bond would be a noticeable distraction.

So what exactly is there to gain from all these problems then?

Well, Two points in Reputation right off the bat. There's a whole song and dance to the whole that is 'marrying-up'. The Wollenfrei Empire is a bit curmudgeonly on this part but the whole thing of both Emil and Winslett not doing the Bedroom Tango is seen as an admirable ideal harkening back to the 'olden times', when the times were good and rose-tinted glasses are worn to look backwards to those times. Two points open many doors, even those disinclined to the romantics of Companionship would not bar their doors.

Not that this meant that Francesca Leyton-Feult would be any less disinclined towards you. That is all I will say in regards to the Budding Rose, however, as her plotline is yet to be completed (or even started).

And more pertinently, starting in Strained Bond would have had the effect of switching it to something more. A Special Bond was in the cards, even. As both of them separately yet simultaneously reaffirm their Bond with each other, whether as friend or as lovers unto death, something awaits at the end of resolving the Strained Bond.

[X] Friends with Benefits
So the Tango is initiated. Numerous times. More than enough times considered as acceptable dalliance for a Three Named and a Two Named of opposing genders. For all that the system of Named is oddly draconian, the society have all these safety doublethink valves to make fraternizing in the kinds the two did to be 'waived'.

No longer. The offence was too great. Blades were drawn and defeated, by both Winslett and Gunabatu. Letters and correspondences were frantically weaved about by the Patron and Emil. The damage is done, however. The doors to a good deal of the Three Named have been closed. Not permanently, of course. But for the foreseeable future, the relationship will sour. It may even curdle, depending what happens on the Marden Front.

The less said about Francesca would be better. Not that I can talk much about her for now anyway

As for Winslett's fellow Two Named Officers? They....are also not very inclined with her. In their hearts of hearts, they realize that it's a matter of jealousy and resentment. That the truly vexing problem was that she 'climbed up' brazenly.

But that doesn't stop the sweltering and simmering irritation. It may not reach further than that, but...it may. Who knows~

But of course, brazenness is its own rewards. This is where that sole point in Reputation is gained As I have noted, there are those who doesn't care of the romantics and rose-tinted glasses amongst the Three Named. People pragmatic enough to realize Winslett's worth and see past all the (justifiable) outrage. People like Karamovich and the Anhauser-Busch. And maybe more Three Named like them are present. You (Read: The Thread) haven't checked, of course. But we shall see.

And of course, a good number of the more....brazen Two Named are on her side. You (Read: Also The Thread) haven't met any yet. People who could give less of a tosspot about what tango occurs and the moves within. Officers who had climbed in the same way Winslett had, near shamelessly but successfully so. Again, you (Read: Who else?) haven't checked.

And of course, the Normal Bond. Simple yet effective. Mind you, the exact nature of the Bond has yet to be seen. As are the benefits and boons it grants to both Winslett and Emil. Can't say much on this one, of course. Spoilery stuffs.

Oh, and right. Mutual skill transference. Emil rid of himself of some of the ineptitude in regards to the management of money and for Winslett, diplomacy. This would have happened in both vote scenarios, but that's why this one is for the last.

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CharGen 4 Choices​

Connection Choices
This is the choice that dictates the sort of... crowd Winslett fall into, synergizing with the previous choices made. And of course, it dictates the secondary affinity for her, marking what else is she good at aside from numbers.

[] The Chaplaincy
In the years that I have been in SV, I have come to observe something. There is a single thing that I know the general quester base would put in the lowest priority when it comes to voting. Faith and the spiritual matters. An observation of sorts that rang true here, more than four months back. Regardless of that, I had made a...somewhat passable So, what exactly is the matter with faith?

Well, It's very useful. Especially in the sort of times when one like Winslett tends to be ostracized due to the breaking of traditions. The Chaplaincy vote would have triggered a subvote where in I would have given you six options, The First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Qurn. Third isn't part of this because breaking the premarital bindings is not very kosher to that particular branch. They offer various things, giving a tinge of something....perhaps divine within her. Winslett would still be a rather... well, a drunkard bent on cussing, but there's a sort of reverence in her to one of the Six or Qurn, whichever goes.

This is also where Winslett get her free Subordinate. They would be tailored of course, to the faith that she held closer than others. Perhaps you would have a Fourth much like Ilham, but less focused on the aspect of death and more on healing. Perhaps you would get a Fifth, a scoundrel of a Corporal who can talk himself out of many troubles and shoot out all the troubles he can't talk away from. Perhaps you would even get an Automata of the Sixth, a batman capable of giving her an extra action simply because of how good they are at ensuring that Winslett's every need is satiated.

Regardless whichever way the subvote falls, Winslett would have increased both Willpower and Fervour Dice Pools, as well as a minuscule bonus to one of her other Dice Pools, depending who she decides to venerate the most.

For the good things that comes though, it comes with a drawback. Winslett would open herself to the religious front. Though the Wollenfrei soldiery and officers rarely concerns themselves with matters of faith, any angle of attack on her would be dangerous. Her faith is hidden behind her proverbial sleeves, yes. But so are others. A future Dossier, one that sheds light to the frictions between the Companions, will elaborate on the potential angles of attack and mistrusts occurring for those with faith.

[] The Officer Mess Hall
Basically do what the Hor-Herren had done for the entirety of his stay in the town while Winslett was off doing paperwork

The acrid yet familiar smoke wafting throughout the bar, the chips being traded for the casual rounds of Seven Kings, the laughter and clinking of spirit-filled glasses as wins and loss racked. The life of an officer is one filled with wheeling and dealing.

And in context of the previous vote, successful wheeling and dealing. The diplomatic acumen of Emil and rather remarkably Winslett herself, had managed to snag the both of the cadre of impressionable youngsters and cadre of fellow peers now graduated from Pennsbrooke. Cadres who, by all intents and purposes, would be heavily inclined to support Emil and Winslett in the intrigues of army life. It needn't be said that correspondingly, Winslett's Persuasion Dice Pools would be increased by an appreciable amount.

This is also where Winslett would have met her Peer, who also have had the devil's luck of being shipped to the Hell-Grinder with her. Peers are people who Winslett considers to be equals and vice versa. Peerages can be likened as a proto-Companionship. They do not confer any special bonus, but those in Peerage with one another would be able to work in tandem with one another in matters of all kinds.

As has been noted as well in vote text as well, there are ways to lessen Winslett's predicament of being shipped to the Hell-Grinder. A particular officer in charge of requisition might be able to flex her connection and gifting her platoon with a bevy of important supplies and some interesting mystery box weapons. Another officer, who may or may not be Karamovich in a different incarnation, would be willing to lend Winslett his Ides Code for a short while (read: Months) as he's forced to return to his home estate due to familial matters. A junior of her, a rather sly Follower of Fifth, would be willing to spread the word of Winslett's good deeds through the new and impressionable ranks of the officerhood, which would have had the effect of transferring one point in Infamy towards Reputation in the upcoming months...as well as planting the seeds for further rewards.

[X]The Training Hall
The option that got voted in. Now, I now what you all are probably thinking at this point. "All those above looks far better than getting mutton for dinner?" "One extra action as a reward? QM, are you purposefully making this option the worst one of the lot?"

Not really. Each of them have their own special shiny.

Now, admittedly, this option is less of a must-pick had Winslett not gotten Ides Manipulation. Now, admittedly, this option doesn't do much to the situation or alter much of the narratives in regards to the whole of the debacle with Emil. With this option, Winslett is very much inclined towards the martial matters. It made her...hard to approach, shall we say. It changed the perception of Winslett throughout Pennsbrooke in that no one wants to mess with her. After all every single Martial Dice Pool with exception to Command would be increased. Duelling would be mostly disastrous and those who could duel would rather not waste their time.

That is, everyone but your current Superior.

Karamovich Hor-Herren is your Superior. An almost fully specced Martial officer with some specialization towards carousing about. And cooking. Indeed, had Karamovich not been the Superior, Winslett would have needed to fend for herself from all sides, up to and including Captain Gulfrey Gren-Desault, who leads the Company. Who is as noted, a rather traditional person.

By picking this option, Karamovich becomes a rather ablative shield in terms of the intrigue and diplomacy game. Even had Winslett not picked to duel him (More on that later on the third instalment of Roads Not Travelled), he would have indirectly shield her from the worst of the games as hitting her directly, would mean to hit him and that is not right at all.

And since Winslett had duelled him....

Well, that would be a story for another time.

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And that concludes this instalment of Roads Not Travelled. As usual, do let me know if there are things in particular you are curious with.