That's not really fair, as most of the actually skilled military leaders wouldn't actually be at court right now due to their still being multiple armies raised. These are just the court's armchair generals for the most part.
Behind the Serpent Throne (CK2)
- Thread starter The Laurent
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Location
- ?
I think Kiralo only ever got laid on crits, Yes?
Turn 13B--Planning
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Turn 13B--Planning
The city, just in the distance, was as if no war had happened, for no war had touched it, except in the ways that war touched distant lands. No doubt there would be ripples in the pond of the Empire for many years to come. A man would return to his home changed, for better or worse, and change his village.
A man would die who was promised to a girl who would now pine away and be married off to a cruel man, and she would protest by killing herself. Such stories were common.
And not merely because of the picture they drew of women, or of culture.
There were more than stories at stake: but nobody had died, at least, not died unusually, in the city.
It had high walls, layer after layer of them, and was home to more people than a man could count in a day.
And then within it was a smaller, more intimate city, one that had room enough for centuries of expansion. A masterpiece of a city.
And within that? An even smaller inner-palace.
"You know, I know you don't want to do it," Kueli said, "but you still could leave. Run for the border, or make your excuses and then run. You'd be in history, you'd be mentioned as a hero, General Kiralo. If that's what you wanted."
"You know me too well," Kiralo said, smiling at his friend. "I've never wanted little things."
"What if we conquered you a city?" Kueli asked, jokingly, in Southlander.
"One city? Just one?" Kiralo asked.
"Well, I figured if you actually did conquer all of the Southlands and unite them to conquer Csirit and install yourself as Emperor, that might warrant a few untoward comments by historians," Kueli said, with a wave of his hand.
"I suppose it might, at that," Kiralo conceded, as if he'd been deeply thinking about that. "I love Csirit, you know that, don't you?"
Kueli laughed, bitterly. "And we love you. Or most of us do. And those that don't? If you pay us in as much loot as we've gotten so far, you'll be our captain for some time to come… or our employer."
"Captain," Kiralo said, his smile a little harsh. "Captain, for now."
The thought of being a mere employer made him sick, though he knew there would come a day where he couldn't lead his men in the field, and then what Captain would he be? The day had come where he probably wouldn't be leading them in the field on horseback, at least not as often as he liked…
But there was far too much to do to give into that sort of odd despair.
Things changed. If people didn't, they were left behind.
That's what he saw when he saw that vast, sprawling city, on the edge of the greatest river in the known world.
A King of Rivers. But what was a King to an Emperor?
The city, just in the distance, was as if no war had happened, for no war had touched it, except in the ways that war touched distant lands. No doubt there would be ripples in the pond of the Empire for many years to come. A man would return to his home changed, for better or worse, and change his village.
A man would die who was promised to a girl who would now pine away and be married off to a cruel man, and she would protest by killing herself. Such stories were common.
And not merely because of the picture they drew of women, or of culture.
There were more than stories at stake: but nobody had died, at least, not died unusually, in the city.
It had high walls, layer after layer of them, and was home to more people than a man could count in a day.
And then within it was a smaller, more intimate city, one that had room enough for centuries of expansion. A masterpiece of a city.
And within that? An even smaller inner-palace.
"You know, I know you don't want to do it," Kueli said, "but you still could leave. Run for the border, or make your excuses and then run. You'd be in history, you'd be mentioned as a hero, General Kiralo. If that's what you wanted."
"You know me too well," Kiralo said, smiling at his friend. "I've never wanted little things."
"What if we conquered you a city?" Kueli asked, jokingly, in Southlander.
"One city? Just one?" Kiralo asked.
"Well, I figured if you actually did conquer all of the Southlands and unite them to conquer Csirit and install yourself as Emperor, that might warrant a few untoward comments by historians," Kueli said, with a wave of his hand.
"I suppose it might, at that," Kiralo conceded, as if he'd been deeply thinking about that. "I love Csirit, you know that, don't you?"
Kueli laughed, bitterly. "And we love you. Or most of us do. And those that don't? If you pay us in as much loot as we've gotten so far, you'll be our captain for some time to come… or our employer."
"Captain," Kiralo said, his smile a little harsh. "Captain, for now."
The thought of being a mere employer made him sick, though he knew there would come a day where he couldn't lead his men in the field, and then what Captain would he be? The day had come where he probably wouldn't be leading them in the field on horseback, at least not as often as he liked…
But there was far too much to do to give into that sort of odd despair.
Things changed. If people didn't, they were left behind.
That's what he saw when he saw that vast, sprawling city, on the edge of the greatest river in the known world.
A King of Rivers. But what was a King to an Emperor?
7 Influence (From various sources)+2 (Victory General!)+1 (Coinage of Victory and other actions)-1 (Ayila)+1 (Ayila, but for magical actions only)=10 Influence
Kueli is currently a little busy...
******
A/N: So here we go. The next turn after this will return to the Month turns, at last!
Kueli is currently a little busy...
Title: My Sweet Sister
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Yanmae has been alone all this time, waiting for the results of the war. Kiralo's sister, intelligent, brilliant in her own way, has a lot to contribute… and perhaps a lot to say.
Title: Father
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: 80%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Kuojah, the old bastard, has been busy. Perhaps it's time for a planning session with him. To scheme on what can be done, and what can't be done. And more than that, on where everyone's place is.
Title: Where There's A Will
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Kuojah's Will. That's… rather important now.
Title: The Joy of Matrimony
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Mingzhu, Aia's daughter (Aia being Kiralo's half-sister) is going to be engaged soon, if the last elements of betrothal can be worked through. Perhaps Kiralo could help, and in doing so, get closer to the political factions related to them… or at least, to members of his own lineage.
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Yanmae has been alone all this time, waiting for the results of the war. Kiralo's sister, intelligent, brilliant in her own way, has a lot to contribute… and perhaps a lot to say.
Title: Father
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: 80%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Kuojah, the old bastard, has been busy. Perhaps it's time for a planning session with him. To scheme on what can be done, and what can't be done. And more than that, on where everyone's place is.
Title: Where There's A Will
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Kuojah's Will. That's… rather important now.
Title: The Joy of Matrimony
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Mingzhu, Aia's daughter (Aia being Kiralo's half-sister) is going to be engaged soon, if the last elements of betrothal can be worked through. Perhaps Kiralo could help, and in doing so, get closer to the political factions related to them… or at least, to members of his own lineage.
Title: Before the Snake's Throne
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: It is time to report victory, and more than that, find some way to negotiate the difficult and complex politics that are around returning, conquering Generals. Kiralo is a threat, or he could be, and he needs to neutralize himself without destroying himself. He needs to be a loyal servant of the throne, though perhaps this will not be as hard as it might seem...
Title: Poetic Power Plays
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 60%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: If there's one tutor that is clearly insufficient, it is the Emperor's poetry tutor. The time has long since come to replace him. It is quick, but Kiralo has power now, and authority, and replacing him at this junction would give Kiralo a leg up on
Title: Eunuchs!
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 65%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The eunuchs have long been ignored. But if Kiralo is going to expand his influence over the Emperor, he needs to talk to them. Besides being functionaries, a number of them are personal servants of the Imperial Household. And the non-eunuch servants are, for various reasons, hard to talk to. Their influence is in a different way, involving different means… but eunuchs, they can deal. And be dealt with.
Title: The End of the Prince
Dice Rolled: N/A
Chance of Success: N/A
Time: 1 Turn
Text: It is the death of Prince Jinhai that will come, very swiftly indeed, as soon as he has confessed everything, or rather everything that needs to be confessed to. Perhaps there will be nothing. Perhaps going is an… affectation. Probably it is.
Title: Mayhaps to learn
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy, Learning, Stewardship
Chance of Success: 65 (Dip), 40 (Learning), 55 (Stewardship)
Time: 1 Turn
Text: It is time to evaluate the Emperor's education. What does he know, what doesn't he know? What could he be made to know? How honest are his teachers, how politically inclined… and how skilled are they?
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: It is time to report victory, and more than that, find some way to negotiate the difficult and complex politics that are around returning, conquering Generals. Kiralo is a threat, or he could be, and he needs to neutralize himself without destroying himself. He needs to be a loyal servant of the throne, though perhaps this will not be as hard as it might seem...
Title: Poetic Power Plays
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 60%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: If there's one tutor that is clearly insufficient, it is the Emperor's poetry tutor. The time has long since come to replace him. It is quick, but Kiralo has power now, and authority, and replacing him at this junction would give Kiralo a leg up on
Title: Eunuchs!
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 65%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The eunuchs have long been ignored. But if Kiralo is going to expand his influence over the Emperor, he needs to talk to them. Besides being functionaries, a number of them are personal servants of the Imperial Household. And the non-eunuch servants are, for various reasons, hard to talk to. Their influence is in a different way, involving different means… but eunuchs, they can deal. And be dealt with.
Title: The End of the Prince
Dice Rolled: N/A
Chance of Success: N/A
Time: 1 Turn
Text: It is the death of Prince Jinhai that will come, very swiftly indeed, as soon as he has confessed everything, or rather everything that needs to be confessed to. Perhaps there will be nothing. Perhaps going is an… affectation. Probably it is.
Title: Mayhaps to learn
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy, Learning, Stewardship
Chance of Success: 65 (Dip), 40 (Learning), 55 (Stewardship)
Time: 1 Turn
Text: It is time to evaluate the Emperor's education. What does he know, what doesn't he know? What could he be made to know? How honest are his teachers, how politically inclined… and how skilled are they?
Title: A Display of Piety
Dice Rolled: 1d100
Chance of Success: 90%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Kiralo hates it. Hates how everything is a display. But if he was seen praying in the major temples after his return, it'd be the… done thing. It'd be something people could point to, in talking about Kiralo's character. That he would go anyways, in a more quiet, respectful way doesn't matter.
Title: The Hiro We Need
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Hiro of Hari-Nat. There is not yet time to approve his course of action, or to give him the supplies he needs. But perhaps, for having done so much that might have won the battle in a tense situation, and did make things somewhat easier… perhaps he is owed an audience. Not merely with Kiralo, but with the Emperor.
Title: Secrets of the Dark Temple
Dice Rolled: Learning
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: What IS down in the temple that drove the spirits mad?
Title: The… loyal opposition?
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 75%/50%/25%/10%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The enemies of Kuojah are not that numerous, but perhaps they should be talked to, staked out, understood in some way. Negotiated with. Reasoned with. Whatever it takes, and it might well take a lot, more than Kiralo can afford, to concliate them… but understanding them? That, at least, was easier. They already had one thing in common, after all.
Title: Pressed for Time
Dice Rolled: Learning
Chance of Success: 55%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Printing presses are a complicated business. There are official governmental ones, yes, but also many, many, many private ones, and there have been for well over nine-hundred years. But there are only two official printing presses that release government documents… and only one of them is in Kuojah's control. Perhaps it is time to look into the matter of the other one, since scholarly and legal opinion on the reforms will be… very, very important.
Title: On the Western Barbarians
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy/Learning
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: There are circles now, circles of debate on the matter of whether the western barbarians, the Anlan, are in fact scheming against the Empire, and what should be done with them… and whether any Csiritans are the sort to… talk to them. Of all the things that one could do with such barbarians.
Dice Rolled: 1d100
Chance of Success: 90%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Kiralo hates it. Hates how everything is a display. But if he was seen praying in the major temples after his return, it'd be the… done thing. It'd be something people could point to, in talking about Kiralo's character. That he would go anyways, in a more quiet, respectful way doesn't matter.
Title: The Hiro We Need
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Hiro of Hari-Nat. There is not yet time to approve his course of action, or to give him the supplies he needs. But perhaps, for having done so much that might have won the battle in a tense situation, and did make things somewhat easier… perhaps he is owed an audience. Not merely with Kiralo, but with the Emperor.
Title: Secrets of the Dark Temple
Dice Rolled: Learning
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: What IS down in the temple that drove the spirits mad?
Title: The… loyal opposition?
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 75%/50%/25%/10%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The enemies of Kuojah are not that numerous, but perhaps they should be talked to, staked out, understood in some way. Negotiated with. Reasoned with. Whatever it takes, and it might well take a lot, more than Kiralo can afford, to concliate them… but understanding them? That, at least, was easier. They already had one thing in common, after all.
Title: Pressed for Time
Dice Rolled: Learning
Chance of Success: 55%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Printing presses are a complicated business. There are official governmental ones, yes, but also many, many, many private ones, and there have been for well over nine-hundred years. But there are only two official printing presses that release government documents… and only one of them is in Kuojah's control. Perhaps it is time to look into the matter of the other one, since scholarly and legal opinion on the reforms will be… very, very important.
Title: On the Western Barbarians
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy/Learning
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: There are circles now, circles of debate on the matter of whether the western barbarians, the Anlan, are in fact scheming against the Empire, and what should be done with them… and whether any Csiritans are the sort to… talk to them. Of all the things that one could do with such barbarians.
Title: Rassit Rambles
Dice Rolled: Martial
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The Rassit need somewhere to stay outside the city, and they need to be treated with care and respect for their victories thus far, but also with the right attitude to keep people from speaking too harshly about just what is being done with them.
Title: Settling Into Barracks
Dice Rolled: Martial
Chance of Success: 65%
Time:1 Turn
Text: Those that remain, what's left of the army, the core… they will be settling in, taking their rewards, doing what they can to slip back into a state of preparedness for the next war.
Title: The Price of War
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Money. A lot of money. That's the easiest price of war to quantify, to count. And there is quite a lot that needs to be paid, quite a lot that is owed, not merely in coin, though, but in favors as well. In bribes and spoils, and in deals as well.
Dice Rolled: Martial
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The Rassit need somewhere to stay outside the city, and they need to be treated with care and respect for their victories thus far, but also with the right attitude to keep people from speaking too harshly about just what is being done with them.
Title: Settling Into Barracks
Dice Rolled: Martial
Chance of Success: 65%
Time:1 Turn
Text: Those that remain, what's left of the army, the core… they will be settling in, taking their rewards, doing what they can to slip back into a state of preparedness for the next war.
Title: The Price of War
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Money. A lot of money. That's the easiest price of war to quantify, to count. And there is quite a lot that needs to be paid, quite a lot that is owed, not merely in coin, though, but in favors as well. In bribes and spoils, and in deals as well.
Title: A Primer On Foreign Magic
Dice Rolled: Magic, Ayila's Magic (34)
Chance of Success: 75%
Time: 2 Turns
Text: Kiralo might need to know about the nature of foreign magic. There is only so much that can be learned, but it would be helpful in evaluating the turtle, and any other possible threats, even if it isn't going to play into the war effort. But there is more to it than that, and there is some degree of risk in that studying foreign ways can sometimes be misconstrued as agreeing with them.
Title: Hunting For Heretics
Dice Rolled: Intrigue, Magic
Chance of Success: 50%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Among all of the priests and believers of the imperial court, there are some people who are rumored to use or steal holy and sacred spirits, and practice versions of spirit lore that are forbidden by both custom and sense. Finding out who these people are, and perhaps applying pressure to ruin them...or to blackmail them, might be possible, but it would involve stepping on some toes.
Title: Is it Possible?
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Ask around about the idea of tattooed scrolls. Very carefully, making sure to indicate that this is polite and respectful curiosity, more than an actual desire to know. But the first step of any question is knowing whether it is a proper one to ask.
Title: Local Spirits
Dice Rolled: Magic
Chance of success: 60%
Time: 1 Turn.
Text: There are many local spirits whose names and nature Kiralo does not know, and whose parallels he doesn't understand. He could attempt to give himself a crash course in the matter, for future reference and knowledge.
Title: Academy Days: Cultivating the Head
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 60%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The Archmage and headmaster is an old and powerful man, perhaps it could be that he might find it agreeable to ally with Kiralo in some matters. At the very least, it would not hurt to learn more of the man, though he's no doubt proud and powerful.
Title: Academy Days: The Bureaucracy of Magic
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: 70%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Every aspect of the academy has bureaucracy. Who is allowed to attend, and why, where the money for them to do so is gotten, and how they are licensed and registered upon graduation, the intake and outtake to ensure that the Academy remains the foremost one in Csirit. It is a matter of a great deal of work and effort, some of it in court, and getting a grasp on how the process works would give a greater ability to influence it for Kiralo's own purposes. One must know how a group works in order to begin to control it.
Title: War Mages
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy and Magic
Chance of Success: 65%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: After all they've done, the Mages that work with Kiralo cannot be allowed to slip off on their own. At least some of them might be willing to work for the army more full-time, if they are pressed.
Title: The Great Spirit
Dice Rolled: Magic
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Ayila's new… guest could be explored further, if one was just willing to take a few risks. Or more than a few.
Dice Rolled: Magic, Ayila's Magic (34)
Chance of Success: 75%
Time: 2 Turns
Text: Kiralo might need to know about the nature of foreign magic. There is only so much that can be learned, but it would be helpful in evaluating the turtle, and any other possible threats, even if it isn't going to play into the war effort. But there is more to it than that, and there is some degree of risk in that studying foreign ways can sometimes be misconstrued as agreeing with them.
Title: Hunting For Heretics
Dice Rolled: Intrigue, Magic
Chance of Success: 50%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Among all of the priests and believers of the imperial court, there are some people who are rumored to use or steal holy and sacred spirits, and practice versions of spirit lore that are forbidden by both custom and sense. Finding out who these people are, and perhaps applying pressure to ruin them...or to blackmail them, might be possible, but it would involve stepping on some toes.
Title: Is it Possible?
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Ask around about the idea of tattooed scrolls. Very carefully, making sure to indicate that this is polite and respectful curiosity, more than an actual desire to know. But the first step of any question is knowing whether it is a proper one to ask.
Title: Local Spirits
Dice Rolled: Magic
Chance of success: 60%
Time: 1 Turn.
Text: There are many local spirits whose names and nature Kiralo does not know, and whose parallels he doesn't understand. He could attempt to give himself a crash course in the matter, for future reference and knowledge.
Title: Academy Days: Cultivating the Head
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: 60%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: The Archmage and headmaster is an old and powerful man, perhaps it could be that he might find it agreeable to ally with Kiralo in some matters. At the very least, it would not hurt to learn more of the man, though he's no doubt proud and powerful.
Title: Academy Days: The Bureaucracy of Magic
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: 70%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Every aspect of the academy has bureaucracy. Who is allowed to attend, and why, where the money for them to do so is gotten, and how they are licensed and registered upon graduation, the intake and outtake to ensure that the Academy remains the foremost one in Csirit. It is a matter of a great deal of work and effort, some of it in court, and getting a grasp on how the process works would give a greater ability to influence it for Kiralo's own purposes. One must know how a group works in order to begin to control it.
Title: War Mages
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy and Magic
Chance of Success: 65%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: After all they've done, the Mages that work with Kiralo cannot be allowed to slip off on their own. At least some of them might be willing to work for the army more full-time, if they are pressed.
Title: The Great Spirit
Dice Rolled: Magic
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Ayila's new… guest could be explored further, if one was just willing to take a few risks. Or more than a few.
Title: A Secretarial Search
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy, Learning, Stewardship, and Intrigue, all separately
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: ??? turns
Text: Searching for a proper secretary will take time… possibly a lot of time. But you can't do it until you've done it, which means starting now.
Title: Due Diligence
Dice Rolled: 1d50
Chance of Success: N/A
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Now that he's back at court, he has more time to continue studying up on the issues, including the agricultural and leadership ones that have become quite prominent.
Title: Among the Scholars
Dice Rolled: Learning
Chance of Success: 55%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Perhaps he should start reading the classics and learning a little more about the process of Degrees, and of how it has been reformed… certianly not for his own run at such a prestigious and yet in his case useless rank. Certainly not!
Title: Serving
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Ones servants will need to be ready for bigger-time business, and bigger-time work, than they have previously done.
Title: Bring Me to Life
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: 80%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Perhaps Kiralo should hire a doctor. He's doing well for himself, of course, and more than that he's in the prime of his youth, but you can never be too careful, and a doctor could serve other functions and purposes as well, especially one that is on retainer. On the other hand, Kuojah's financial leash is pretty short as is.
Title: Time for Poetry
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: There's very little free time, but maybe something can be found to write poetry, to relax, to in some way build oneself back up to his old habits, and those habits included the writing of poetry. Especially if he's intending to influence certain poetical trends, it has to begin with him starting to write again, no matter how little time there is.
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy, Learning, Stewardship, and Intrigue, all separately
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: ??? turns
Text: Searching for a proper secretary will take time… possibly a lot of time. But you can't do it until you've done it, which means starting now.
Title: Due Diligence
Dice Rolled: 1d50
Chance of Success: N/A
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Now that he's back at court, he has more time to continue studying up on the issues, including the agricultural and leadership ones that have become quite prominent.
Title: Among the Scholars
Dice Rolled: Learning
Chance of Success: 55%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Perhaps he should start reading the classics and learning a little more about the process of Degrees, and of how it has been reformed… certianly not for his own run at such a prestigious and yet in his case useless rank. Certainly not!
Title: Serving
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: ???
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Ones servants will need to be ready for bigger-time business, and bigger-time work, than they have previously done.
Title: Bring Me to Life
Dice Rolled: Stewardship
Chance of Success: 80%
Time: 1 Turn
Text: Perhaps Kiralo should hire a doctor. He's doing well for himself, of course, and more than that he's in the prime of his youth, but you can never be too careful, and a doctor could serve other functions and purposes as well, especially one that is on retainer. On the other hand, Kuojah's financial leash is pretty short as is.
Title: Time for Poetry
Dice Rolled: Diplomacy
Chance of Success: Variable
Time: 1 Turn
Text: There's very little free time, but maybe something can be found to write poetry, to relax, to in some way build oneself back up to his old habits, and those habits included the writing of poetry. Especially if he's intending to influence certain poetical trends, it has to begin with him starting to write again, no matter how little time there is.
******
A/N: So here we go. The next turn after this will return to the Month turns, at last!
Last edited:
[X] Plan Tick Tock Goes The Clock
-[X] My Sweet Sister
-[X] Father
Yanmae's time is due, so to follow up on previous work, and to work out just how we're going to play the court with Kuojah. Is it a duet or a rockoff?
-[X] Poetic Power Plays
-[X] Before the Snake's Throne
-[X] The End of the Prince
I want to review the emperor's education, but I think we can make that more effective by replacing his poetry tutor with a better one first, while we're still riding the glory of victory and won't be opposed. After that we have a weak precedent to use to go over his OTHER tutors.
And the other two are mandatory events to attend of course.
-[X] The Hiro We Need
-[X] The… loyal opposition?
Gathering allies outside of Kuojah's base as well. The window is tight.
-[X] The Price of War
Above all, pay your soldiers, or meet defeat in victory.
-[X] War Mages
Bind the War Mages to us before they vanish into the crowd.
-[X] A Secretarial Search
And we need someone to organize our shit. Things are pretty hectic and will only get worse.
-[X] My Sweet Sister
-[X] Father
Yanmae's time is due, so to follow up on previous work, and to work out just how we're going to play the court with Kuojah. Is it a duet or a rockoff?
-[X] Poetic Power Plays
-[X] Before the Snake's Throne
-[X] The End of the Prince
I want to review the emperor's education, but I think we can make that more effective by replacing his poetry tutor with a better one first, while we're still riding the glory of victory and won't be opposed. After that we have a weak precedent to use to go over his OTHER tutors.
And the other two are mandatory events to attend of course.
-[X] The Hiro We Need
-[X] The… loyal opposition?
Gathering allies outside of Kuojah's base as well. The window is tight.
-[X] The Price of War
Above all, pay your soldiers, or meet defeat in victory.
-[X] War Mages
Bind the War Mages to us before they vanish into the crowd.
-[X] A Secretarial Search
And we need someone to organize our shit. Things are pretty hectic and will only get worse.
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[X] Plan Tick Tock Goes The Clock
Covers everything absolutely essential, and it'll help consolidate our position. Hopefully we'll have enough time that the Will isn't totally urgent.
Covers everything absolutely essential, and it'll help consolidate our position. Hopefully we'll have enough time that the Will isn't totally urgent.
Random Member
Gardener of Human Happiness
- Location
- Behind You
This action misses its chance of success.
If we don't take 'On the Western Barbarians', there's a good chance they'll make future contact with them harder. Which in turn will make getting the Turtle harder. And we promised Juae we'd get it for him. If we pick it and roll well enough, we might be able to make future contact with foreigners easier though. Which would be a great help, since part of Kiralo's plans is to establish diplomatic relations between them and the Empire.
I don't think replacing the poetry tutor is as important. It's certainly not as time-limited. Once we're settled back in, we have one point of Influence that can only be used on Poetry actions anyway, so that one can be used to oust the tutor. Sure, doing it right now might be quicker but again, it's not as time-limited as these 'talking groups' who could reach a conclusion before next turn and then work to undermine our efforts up till now. And with a variable chance of success, we're likely to get atleast something from that action, unless we roll really low. I don't have a problem with the rest of veekie's plan, so I'm just going to copy that and replace that one action.
[X] Plan Random
-[X] My Sweet Sister
-[X] Father
-[X] On the Western Barbarians
-[X] Before the Snake's Throne
-[X] The End of the Prince
-[X] The Hiro We Need
-[X] The… loyal opposition?
-[X] The Price of War
-[X] War Mages
-[X] A Secretarial Search
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It is, however. Previously it was beyond our authority to manage. But now we're riding a wave of public opinion after a victory, which means we have power. By exercising it to change a position like the emperor's tutors, it demonstrates power.
Which ultimately translates to more influence because people think we have influence.
Politics.
Barbarians are important, but not yet urgent
[X] Plan Neptune
-[X] Father
-[X] On the Western Barbarians
-[X] Before the Snake's Throne
-[X] The End of the Prince
-[X] The Hiro We Need
-[X] The… loyal opposition?
-[X] The Price of War
-[X] War Mages
-[X] A Secretarial Search x2
So far all three of the plans are quite similar, which isn't surprising given some of the options appear to be more time limited. In comparison to Random's plan above I've dropped Yanmae's action and instead doubled down on the Secretarial Search as that action is incredibly influential given how integrated they are into your life every single day, of every week, of every year.
For me it's essential we get a good one, or at least ensure we don't get a bad one, as both competence and loyalty in this position is very valuable. Likewise it was mentioned that the Secretary's to powerful people, themselves becomes powerful people, as they become the gateway towards interacting with that person.
-[X] Father
-[X] On the Western Barbarians
-[X] Before the Snake's Throne
-[X] The End of the Prince
-[X] The Hiro We Need
-[X] The… loyal opposition?
-[X] The Price of War
-[X] War Mages
-[X] A Secretarial Search x2
So far all three of the plans are quite similar, which isn't surprising given some of the options appear to be more time limited. In comparison to Random's plan above I've dropped Yanmae's action and instead doubled down on the Secretarial Search as that action is incredibly influential given how integrated they are into your life every single day, of every week, of every year.
For me it's essential we get a good one, or at least ensure we don't get a bad one, as both competence and loyalty in this position is very valuable. Likewise it was mentioned that the Secretary's to powerful people, themselves becomes powerful people, as they become the gateway towards interacting with that person.
Random Member
Gardener of Human Happiness
- Location
- Behind You
Eh.
This was an option before the civil war started and likely will still be an option. Or it'll be replaced by the new one. In any case, the option to replace the poetry tutor isn't going to disappear in a turn. Okay, maybe Kiralo won't do it himself but convince and help Bei'ren to do it, but the result is the same. And Kiralo's authority and power won't exactly diminish over the coming month. Maybe the court's flush of victory will end, but its opinion of us will still be high. High enough that replacing the tutor won't be harder than it is now.
The barbarian action is more urgent because if left alone, the court won't exactly need alot of time to come to its usual conclusion: foreigners bad! They are likely to reach that conclusion in only a turn and that will make future actions with the Anlans more difficult. It might still be doable but we can do without that headache. By interfering, we could convince them to take a more neutral response or atleast stretch the discussion out until next turn. It's still Csirit, so I doubt we're going to convince them that talks with foreigners are a good thing, but we can convince them that it's not that bad a thing.
Hmm, not a bad idea actually given the fact that the action rolls 4 separate dice. With 4 rolls we're likely to have atleast one bad roll, but that's less likely if all 4 are rolled twice. It's also likely to last multiple turns, but if I remember correctly spending multiple dice on an action that lasts multiple turns only locks in 1 dice while still giving it the benefit of multiple rolls per turn.
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Random Member
Gardener of Human Happiness
- Location
- Behind You
Ah gee, just when I was contemplating switching to Neptune's plan.
Best sis or secretary? Goddamnit, I hate court, forcing me to choose between stuff I like and stuff that I need. Well, my plan will still be there for people to vote for if they want.
[X] Plan Neptune
The four dice rolls is one of the primary arguments for spending another influence on it given the efficiency argument of it, but I preferred the narrative one above as it was less mechanical. Still it's a very good reason to want to ensure you get good rolls, and as I argued above loyalty and competence for someone who will be in your daily life and probably be the one planning it is paramount.
As for the second point; yeah this system is based of Imrix's Ulthuan one, which works the way you described.
Edit - @Random Member ninjaed me. Still it's good we're in agreement.
Zeitgeist Blue
Currently Made of Metal
- Location
- Manila, Philippines, GMT +8
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- Pronouns
- They/Them
All actions have consequences...
[X] Plan Random
[X] Plan Random
slybrarian
Creature of Fable
- Location
- A Far and Sunless Land
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan Neptune
- Location
- Germany
Could someone tell me what is so vital about witnessing the Prince's death? Because that is an action that I considered dropping.
Well, it is too late to create a new plan anyway, and Neptune's looks good, so:
[X] Plan Neptune
Though I wonder whether Rassit Rambles isn't necessary. I mean, if we don't take care of finding quarters for them, then where will they go? They have to stay somewhere and, not being Csirit, can hardly be expected to take care of their accommodation themselves.
Well, it is too late to create a new plan anyway, and Neptune's looks good, so:
[X] Plan Neptune
Though I wonder whether Rassit Rambles isn't necessary. I mean, if we don't take care of finding quarters for them, then where will they go? They have to stay somewhere and, not being Csirit, can hardly be expected to take care of their accommodation themselves.
Random Member
Gardener of Human Happiness
- Location
- Behind You
It's going to look weird if we're not there. "This guy didn't want to go see a traitor being punished for his crimes" isn't the kind of rumor you want spread in a court like this.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Witnessing the Prince's Death isn't as required as people seem to think. Whether it's worth it or not, well that depends.
Well, we can hardly work the crowd during the event if we aren't there!