[X] The Grand Heretical Prophecy
[Exalted, ?] Most High
- Thread starter Rihaku
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Rihaku
The Internet
You don't know yet, you haven't reached Luseng to see the situation on the ground.
Maybe, but you'd have to prioritize, as your days are about to become MUCH busier. Taking a full day off to tend to non-Luseng related matters may be seen as an egregious breach of your duties as Satrapal Commander.
[X] The Scarlet Flag Prophecy
I don't think we benefit as much by losing the initiative as our opponents would. The Lunar can get reinforcements from The Bull, The Fae pretty much always have reserves, and the Death knights are Solaroids who also always have reserves. Meanwhile ceding the mountain and surrounding territory makes it much harder to get reinforcements, so we'll be somewhat isolated and have less resources on hand then they will, and we'll also be losing out on mobility against superior forces.
I don't think we benefit as much by losing the initiative as our opponents would. The Lunar can get reinforcements from The Bull, The Fae pretty much always have reserves, and the Death knights are Solaroids who also always have reserves. Meanwhile ceding the mountain and surrounding territory makes it much harder to get reinforcements, so we'll be somewhat isolated and have less resources on hand then they will, and we'll also be losing out on mobility against superior forces.
Rihaku referred the Gardener as multiple people, which strikes me as suspicious; I'm thinking split personality.
I think that natural state of father-son in law.
- Location
- Fabulously Rainbow Ireland
Well they're just one more potential unlikely ally to add to our collection! (We just need a Lunar, a Raksha, a demon, a Primordial and a god and we'll have one of everything)
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Okay, first things first, Three Kingdoms Prophecy has a problem--namely, that we completely cede the Mountain to them, and if my gut instinct has any basis in reality, at that point, we're on the clock, because sufficiently determined Exalts can do a lot of scary shit with "Literally a geological feature made of Jade" even if the Mountain is exactly what it appears to be, at the very least, it could serve as a terrifying component for a high level Working. (Though this is also something we could employ ourselves if we keep it, doesn't Ayala owe us one?)
On the other hand, we're also badly outnumbered, our leadership has been decimated, and the enemy almost certainly has eyes and ears in the city itself. This is certainly a daunting task, but not an insurmountable one.
I'm thinking we might want to try for misinformation actually--Rihaku, assuming we went with Scarlet Flag Prophecy, would We count as a member of the navy soon enough to move in quicker than expected? Even gaining another day or two might suffice, if my read is correct...
On the other hand, we're also badly outnumbered, our leadership has been decimated, and the enemy almost certainly has eyes and ears in the city itself. This is certainly a daunting task, but not an insurmountable one.
I'm thinking we might want to try for misinformation actually--Rihaku, assuming we went with Scarlet Flag Prophecy, would We count as a member of the navy soon enough to move in quicker than expected? Even gaining another day or two might suffice, if my read is correct...
Rihaku
The Internet
You have Prophet of Seventeen Cycles, though. What does it matter - the size of their armies, the scale of their cruelty - against a general who wields the flow of the world itself? But to do that, you need time.
If you really hated Anys, you'd consider the Grand Heresy! No one needs Flame if the Realm can ally with "Good" Anathema!
Fancy Face
Tactically Superior
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In classic Odyssial fashion, our first assignment is Stalingrad, if Stalingrad was being attacked by Nazi Zombies, Superhuman Mongols, and Fae. And replace the Oil with Jade.
So it's not really Stalingrad at all, but whatever.
The option of an Ulyssian Heresy, where the realm is split in two and theGod Emperor Immaculate Dragon is struck down by its favored son (hahahah) is a pretty appealing narrative. Plus it will help solve the whole "our accomplishments turn to ash if the truth is found out" thing.
However, we need to consider the navy, and Zao. We've kinda been perpetually pissing him off, and immediately after we gave him a major boon we got dragged off by Anys, so I think it'd be a good idea to build on what we were doing before. No matter how horrible the situation turns here, the safety of the realm is paramount, and naval superiority is a good part of that safety.
[X] The Scarlet Flag Prophecy
Also, REEEEEEEEEEEEED OPTIOOOOOOOOOOON!
So it's not really Stalingrad at all, but whatever.
The option of an Ulyssian Heresy, where the realm is split in two and the
However, we need to consider the navy, and Zao. We've kinda been perpetually pissing him off, and immediately after we gave him a major boon we got dragged off by Anys, so I think it'd be a good idea to build on what we were doing before. No matter how horrible the situation turns here, the safety of the realm is paramount, and naval superiority is a good part of that safety.
[X] The Scarlet Flag Prophecy
Also, REEEEEEEEEEEEED OPTIOOOOOOOOOOON!
It matters because a Circle of Deathknights may have one or more generals of, if not equal, comparable quality.
Guile
Having a really great time right now
[X] The Three Kingdoms Prophecy
This is pretty much everything I want in an option.
The Prophecy takes time to implement, which means Uly and his shikari can alpha strike one of the factions (I would suggest the Fae or the Abyssals) before pulling back and ossifying the stalemate. The fighting grinds to a halt, giving our poor beleaguered DBs a chance to rest and recover. Uly's ability to move around unknown is exemplary, his bag of dirty tricks is near-endless, and he is sitting on an entire mountain of jade. Barring the Lunar himself and one of the Abyssal Circle (whatever their version of Night Caste is), I'd say Uly's talents in subterfuge, deception and murder for high stakes are the greatest around.
Paying off pirate raids in exchange for trade agreements or simply pure jade is the least of it. Uly's talents with assassination can come into play without incurring the heavy penalty, as can his new rulership charm to keep bureaucracy and intra-Luseng trade moving. The Immaculates will also help keep things calm with the devout and - if they're good at sermonizing - causing people to believe that the Realm does not consider them wholly lost. More Prophecies may become available. Between his vibration-senses, stealth, Fortune-Stealing Palms and Prophecy, he can almost certainly bait one of the other factions to be the one to break first, incurring the penalties and inviting counterattack.
Purely as a bonus, the satrapy common folk are largely safe within Luseng. Unless the invading forces want silver or trout, they'll be aiming for us and leaving the rest of the territory fallow, so we may even get out of this with a territory that's recognizable as such if we're lucky.
This is pretty much everything I want in an option.
The Prophecy takes time to implement, which means Uly and his shikari can alpha strike one of the factions (I would suggest the Fae or the Abyssals) before pulling back and ossifying the stalemate. The fighting grinds to a halt, giving our poor beleaguered DBs a chance to rest and recover. Uly's ability to move around unknown is exemplary, his bag of dirty tricks is near-endless, and he is sitting on an entire mountain of jade. Barring the Lunar himself and one of the Abyssal Circle (whatever their version of Night Caste is), I'd say Uly's talents in subterfuge, deception and murder for high stakes are the greatest around.
Paying off pirate raids in exchange for trade agreements or simply pure jade is the least of it. Uly's talents with assassination can come into play without incurring the heavy penalty, as can his new rulership charm to keep bureaucracy and intra-Luseng trade moving. The Immaculates will also help keep things calm with the devout and - if they're good at sermonizing - causing people to believe that the Realm does not consider them wholly lost. More Prophecies may become available. Between his vibration-senses, stealth, Fortune-Stealing Palms and Prophecy, he can almost certainly bait one of the other factions to be the one to break first, incurring the penalties and inviting counterattack.
Purely as a bonus, the satrapy common folk are largely safe within Luseng. Unless the invading forces want silver or trout, they'll be aiming for us and leaving the rest of the territory fallow, so we may even get out of this with a territory that's recognizable as such if we're lucky.
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Windlass
A Windy Lass
- Location
- Wherever the wind is blowing
Ehh... I like Moon & Zao more than I hate Anys? Which is saying something.
Rihaku
The Internet
Well, think about what Prophet of Seventeen Cycles actually does. You're not making a Prediction and changing the world LotW / WotG-style; you're predicting the general course of future events with skill, collating everything like Asimov's Foundation, and that skill is so great that your predictions are kinda, sorta accurate for large-scale events. In cases that require an intervention to enact, you still have to intervene, though it may be on butterfly effect-levels of subtlety. Last month may have been the opportunity for a perfect storm to devastate the forces of the West, but you still had to forecast the weather and have Zao in position to magnify that storm a thousandfold. Similarly, the Scarlet Flag prophecy requires you to actually create plans, and Zao to actually implement them, and the Three Kingdoms prophecy requires you to perform some personal or troop movements that will catalyze the ossification of the situation.
This is not, mechanically, how the Charm works, but it's how the Charm works IC. Unless a circumstance already exists where it makes sense for you to declare that, yes, this is the obvious outcome and all who deviate from it will suffer an implausibility circumstance penalty, you do have to still act, even if it's something as simple as telling people what will happen and how to exploit it.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Damn, I was hoping we could make the Raksha think that we were going to show up at time X and see if they'd delay their march based to get a good Climactic Encounter, and then ride the waves of Scarlet Flag Prophecy to show up early and spoke their wheels while they're still a bit of a ways out.
Rihaku
The Internet
That Prophecy does require Three hostile kingdoms to activate, though you can still perform guerilla warfare nearly unimpeded. Assassinating the Lunar would certainly provoke his beastmen to attack or rout. Kill the Abyssal necromancer and suddenly his hordes lie fallow. Turn the Fair Folk story, or simply threaten it with the End. All options become possible if you are freed from the urgency of imminent war.
Who would not desire the succulent trout of Luseng, kept ever-cold by their RAINBOW SCALES and COLD MAGIC?
- Location
- The end of all things
[X] The Three Kingdoms Prophecy
The additional breathing room that this option gives us is simply invaluable. More time to use Prophecy and pursue covert operations to build advantage. Even a bit of a chance to rebuild our beleaguered forces.
[X] Wake the Sleeper
Changing my vote here, because this situation is absolutely ripe for covert action, and the personal concentration of power that this gives us is ideally suited for that.
The additional breathing room that this option gives us is simply invaluable. More time to use Prophecy and pursue covert operations to build advantage. Even a bit of a chance to rebuild our beleaguered forces.
[X] Wake the Sleeper
Changing my vote here, because this situation is absolutely ripe for covert action, and the personal concentration of power that this gives us is ideally suited for that.
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Buy some time via Three Kingdoms, do some research into the nature and abilities of our Abyssal foes, Perfect Mirror ourselves into a simulacra of the most dangerous of the bunch, and then go kill Ragmar. A neat little false flag operation, so long as the Shikari can be shaken off temporarily.
Rihaku
The Internet
Do remember guys - not just to vote - but, if you can, come up with plans to help you survive Luseng and your DB minders, the Immaculate Circle. Also opportunities for economic, social, and cultural development in the territory itself - the seeds of such ideas could well make it into the quest, if you get them in early enough.
Also, since it was undecided from last time, please do decide on a Title to get. I think Wake the Sleeper is still ahead but Absolutely Unbreakable has caught up, so everything's in contention. This will affect your capabilities DRAMATICALLY. Wake the Sleeper makes you almost 50% stronger in combat, Unbreakable gives you redoubtable immunity to twisting and warping effects while improving your Willpower Regen, and Immortal Commander is unquestionably relevant here. However, their areas of strength are also very different. Operative vs General, these are important considerations to make. The Obliterator may have lost, but that does not mean Ulyssian cannot forge a new path, a new chapter to his legend...
Also, since it was undecided from last time, please do decide on a Title to get. I think Wake the Sleeper is still ahead but Absolutely Unbreakable has caught up, so everything's in contention. This will affect your capabilities DRAMATICALLY. Wake the Sleeper makes you almost 50% stronger in combat, Unbreakable gives you redoubtable immunity to twisting and warping effects while improving your Willpower Regen, and Immortal Commander is unquestionably relevant here. However, their areas of strength are also very different. Operative vs General, these are important considerations to make. The Obliterator may have lost, but that does not mean Ulyssian cannot forge a new path, a new chapter to his legend...
Emerald Oracle
Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force
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- The Else
If we have the time later will we be able to cast that big ole screw you to the Bronze Faction? and if so, will it have a positive effect on extant Solars and Lunars? I ask, because if the reach of it is as wide as it seems to imply, I have to wonder if it would even effect Lea and the Handsome Monkey King in the Uttermost East.
Rihaku
The Internet
Read my earlier post on how that Charm works, it should be just a bit up in the thread. Prophet is not magic, it's skill. It's not a spell, you're just predicting factors in the world and adapting to them.