The previous year has been a mixed bag, it was primarily filled with successes in all departments but your failure in understanding the secrets of the Sea of Sorrows weighs heavily on your mind. Fortunately the successes of Stefanus and his department have brought a lot of enjoyment to the DOFE, even you have taken the time to visit the mineral hot springs and have a soak in the hot waters. Taking a moment to enjoy the memory of the warm waters you wait for your council to arrive in the meeting room set aside for the annual reports.
Bryant is the first to arrive, his step deceptively light for such a large man, and he graces you with a light smile and nod as he sinks down into a chair that was specially prepared for him, the padding thicker than the rest of the available seating. The two of you chatter for a while as you wait the arrival of the others, Stefanus joining you with a bright smile and his smokey eyes crinkled in laughter at the anecdotes of Bryant. Sussanah and Americ arrive together, seemingly locked in a quiet debate that peters out as they enter the room, Americ greeting everyone with individual comments on the suitability of their daily attire while Sussanah simply slides into a chair and inclines her head in acknowledgement of your attention.
"Well, we have all had a fairly productive year as far as things go. In particular compliments must go to Americ and Stefanus and the incredible progress their departments have made. That said we have an issue facing us this year, a lack of available funds. As a result I am opening the floor to suggestions that address this deficit, however I will not table anything that puts us in significant debt, I will not go to the capital with my hat in hand begging for handouts from the family. Keep this in mind as we go forward."
Resources
CROWNS
Previous total: 70
Spent: 65
Income: 15
Expenses:5
Current Total: 15
Unless stated otherwise, all actions take 1 year (1 turn) to complete.
Advisors will add their full relevant stat and half of yours.
The new category personal has been added to reflect the lessening time demands
Turn 1
Diplomacy (Choose up to 2)
Establish contact with the Capital: You have started to operate at the will of the Patriarch, perhaps improving relations with the capital of Val Harman would allow you to gain more backers, or to create opportunities to expand your influence amongst the powerful.
DC 30 Crowns 5
Result: Establish contact with the movers and shakers of Val Harman, more diplomatic options.
Establish Contact with a Royal Organisation: There are many groups that have been founded in the glorious history of your family, many of which are still operational and some amongst those that could aid you. You just need to choose who to contact.
-Council of Zoning
-Alchemical College
-Trading Consortium
-The System Archives
DC 50 Crowns 10
Result: Increased relations with the selected group, further interactions available.
Funding Propositions: All things run off money, this is the conventional wisdom of nobility. While your funding is sufficient to cover your operational expenses it won't continue if you begin to expand or become active. However you haven't produced any results that would warrant an increase in funding. This would require a persuasive argument.
DC 80 Crowns 5
Result: Gain an increase of +10 to yearly income.
Branches of greatness: Many memorable and talented members of the Branch Family lack the opportunities to expand their skill-sets and prospects, instead languishing around local estates and frittering away their time. Americ suggests that he could sound of some of these dilettantes and provide a meaning and goal to them.
DC: 60 Crowns 10
Result: Improved relations with Brach Families, potential for hero/elite units.
What do they say?: Your organizations new, and untried. His could attract derision from your competitors and give them a means by which to attack your reputation, set Americ to the task of investigating this possibility.
DC: 50 Crowns 5
Result: Awareness of Branch and Core Family views towards you.
Hot spring hustle: The discovery of the hot-springs nearby have opened up the possibility of creating a tourist attraction based around it, helping to alleviate the fiscal burden the DOFE is under at the expense of opening up Sorrow's Point to more scrutiny and possible exposure.
DC:70 Crowns 5
Result: Basic tourist attraction to hot-springs, increased income, potential point of infiltration.
Military (Choose up to 2)
Keep the land controlled: Bryant has established that there has been minor activity in the area in the past, in order to ensure that it stays in the past he proposes a series of boltholes and supply points to be made in the lands around Sorrow's Point so that his forces may range further and ensure that they are in a position to muster at any-point around the area.
DC 50 Crowns 5
Result: Establish a series of hidden supply caches and muster points to allow for greater force projection. Ensure that any attempts to invade suffer attrition.
The Spoils of Sorrow, Martial: Have your forces scour the beaches for any wreckage that has made its way to land, based on the rumors surrounding the place there is a good chance your people will make some valuable finds and gain some minor field experience.
DC ? Crowns: 0
Result: Variable, but likely trade good and resources from shipwrecks. Potentially valuable objects.
Expansion, Mass: You have a very limited amount of forces, 2 squads of 10, and a great deal of land to manage. By sending word to everyone you can think of and calling upon recruiting practices you can expand your available manpower many times over. It will strain your logistics but the pay off should be worth it.
DC 20 Crowns: 10
Result: Gain up to 100 squads of green soldiers.
Expansion, Targeted: Instead of opening the floodgates, you could target the promising squads from the armies of Riordian and offer them a better position. Not quite as guaranteed as the previous option, but wont be as straining to manage and likely will result in better troops.
DC 40 Crowns 10
Result: Gain up to 20 squads of Professional soldiers.
Expansion, Elite: Quantity has a value, you know this. But it has a risk, more people aware of your actions and existence. Instead go for the very best, the cream of the military training programs, special forces soldiers, the Household Guard. You don't need a hammer, you will wield a scalpel.
DC 60 Crowns 20
Result: Gain up to 5 squads of Elite soldiers.
Fitness, the Demios way: Bryant Riordian-Demios is a first and foremost an educator, in the realm of physical and martial excellence. Allow him to set up a custom training field using the sea, sand, and stones to improve the physical conditioning of your soldiers. He recommends only sending a small amount through for now as proof of concept, but the scale can be increased if it produces results.
DC: 80 Crowns 10
Result: Consistent improvement to the physical capacities of your soldiers, chance for trait gains.
Patrols: You might only have 2 squads of soldiers but they can be better arranged by reducing internal patrols and focusing on external threats. Bryant is a little surprised at the extensive list of behaviors and signs you have your guards alert for, and recommends a specialist force for that with the current forces put to their intended purpose. Patrol around the area and make sure nothing and no-one approaches without your knowledge.
DC 40 Crowns 0
Result: Increased security against outside threats, continue patrol system.
Defensive practices: Bryant proposes that rather than needing to create hidden outposts his men build a series of small forts in close proximity to Sorrow's Point, with the intent of creating a series of outposts that would need to be taken before the main base could be attacked. He says that is would serve as good practice for his men to get used to making permanent fortifications considering your expansion mandate.
DC 60: Crowns 5
Result: Two small forts built around Sorrow's Point, increased resistance to conventional military attack.
Temporary fortifications: Another suggestion that Bryant has is to have his men practice creating temporary camps that serve as impromptu forts. Having his men travel around the area building up and tearing down these structures, digging and filling in trenches, creating and destroying palisades and barricades will serve as good exercise and training while preparing them for extended duration operations beyond the borders of Riordian.
DC 80 Crowns 0
Result: Soldier gain experience with construction and siege warfare, beginnings of a siege engineer skill tree.
Intrigue (Choose up to 2)
Meddle with the family: While you have the potential to rise far above your siblings in the Patriarch's esteem, perhaps it would be a good idea to see what your relatives are doing and if the need a few less than helpful pointers.
DC 55 Crowns 5
Result: Establish what your siblings are doing, future intrigue actions unlocked.
Random workplace inspections: While you may have vetted your workers so far, time has passed and there is no guarantee of loyalty. Every oath has a loophole and that doesn't account for poorly secured documents, so you will make sure that everyone is following the correct procedures for sensitive information.
DC 35 Crowns 0
Result: Increased information security, decreased chance of leaks.
Shadow-ways: While the nearest town is a weeks ride away, there are ways and means to reduce that. Have Sussanah establish these to gain access to the town of Vel Latimos, and begin to investigate the underworld actions around there.
DC: 65 Crowns 15
Result: Knowledge of criminal activities in Vel Latimos
Test procedures: You have spent a great deal of time and effort creating a series of policies you employees must follow if they suspect they are compromised or observed, for attacks and sabotage. Set Sussanah loose and have her stress test these.
DC ? Crowns 5
Result: Gain counter-Intel practice, establish DC of enemy infiltration/spy efforts.
Big city woes: The capital of Val Harman is filled with the best and worse that the Autocracy has to offer, and it is this divide that provides opportunity. Turn Sussanah and her agents loose into the city and have them target gangs, depriving them of resources and serving as practice for larger foreign operations.
DC 55 Crowns 10
Result: Gain salvage from defeated gangs, improve quality of life for general population, increased experience in urban actions.
What lies within: It is a strange thing that the Autocracy restricts the sale and ownership of maps from the majority of it's population. Spend some time working through the system and greasing some wheels to acquire the same level of maps that someone of your standing should have.
DC 75 Crowns 5
Result: National Map.
Stewardship (Choose up to 2)
Expand the base 1/3: Your facilities are adequate for your current operations, however if you hope to increase in scale you will need more buildings. Housing, administrative centers, mess halls, clinics, recreation zones, and even more. An invigorating challenge to manage!
DC 40 Crowns 10/30 (10 crowns per turn, for a total of 30)
Result: Expanded facilities allowing for more staff, space for specialist buildings, improved moral.
Expand the dockyard: You have a pier, you have construction facilities. Expand the two and create an integrated system that can produce any small sized ship that is brought to your attention.
DC 80 Crowns 10
Result: Can create ships in house without need of expensive components being shipped in, reduced upkeep for naval forces.
Ironwood groves growth: Having acquired specialist Silviculture workers you are able to create a system of exploitation where you can sustainably harvest the incredibly hard wood that makes up the tree, allowing its use in shipbuilding and trade.
DC 60 Crowns 5
Result: Increase in income, increased quality of ships built on site.
Copper mines: The incredible mineral resources of the local area offers great wealth to whoever begins to exploit them. Take this opportunity and begin to open up a mine dedicated to extracting the copper from the earth and selling it to the greater Autocracy.
DC 70 Crowns 10
Result: Small copper mine established, opportunity for expansion, increased income
Metal mines 1/2: Rather than focusing on the copper seam alone, Stefanus proposes a more balanced approach to the mining effort that would result in less expense over time as the mine can handle any material it finds. However it will take longer to build and be less profitable in the short term.
DC 60 Crowns 10/10
Result: Create a general mine to harvest all metals in the deposits found. Opportunity for expansion. Increased income
Comb the beach: Have the professionals begin reclamation efforts on the beach, making sure to search deep within the dunes and under the surface for any hidden caches. The potential windfall is massive, if anything has survived the harsh environment.
DC ? Crowns 5
Result: Variable, but likely trade good and resources from shipwrecks. Potentially valuable objects
Better dunes and gardens 1/2: Establish growing fields and sheltered areas for valuable crops to be grown to fund your organization, it may take time but should allow for you to establish a basic level of self sustainability.
DC 80 Crowns 10/20 (10 crowns per turn, for a total of 20)
Result: Reduce upkeep by 5 Crowns.
Learning (NONE, DEADLY TIDES LOCKED IN)
The deadly tides: The sea around the Shores of Sorrow are lethal for all those who try brave it, requiring anyone who wants to sail past it to go far out to sea where some are still lost forever. It may behoove you to try understand by what mechanism the seas claim the lives of all who try traverse them
DC 50 Crowns 10
Result: Identified the dangers of the Sea of Sorrow, further naval research.
Naval principles: The design of Riordian ships is focused around merchant uses, with large shallow hulls for river travel or trade along the coast line. As a result there is a very small field for military use, however Journey-woman Kressia has proposed several designs for a small fast vessel designed to chase down merchant style vessels and patrol the coastline.
DC 100 Crowns 20
Result: Creation of the Cutter class naval vessel, prototype Cutter vessel.
Efficient Training: The armies of Riordian train their soldiers well, fostering competition between soldiers to help elevate the strengths gained from the system. However the Main Family has secrets of its own and some of the minor ones are ways to increase in power faster than all others, perhaps you could try implement a small portion of these to ensure your warriors are better than their competition.
DC 50 Crowns 15
Result: Soldiers gain inveteracy faster, increased chance of specialist units developing.
Faster messengers: The wonder of isolation is that you can experiment and grow as you desire, but it does make hearing the news from home much slower, and in the event of a disaster you may never know until it has passed. That is intolerable and you turn your mind towards means by which to hasten your messengers.
DC 80 Crowns 20
Result: Access to timely rumor mill, can call on others and be called on, work towards projecting organizations power.
Better Buildings, Foundations: Being so close to the ocean is an unusual choice for Riordian society, not many structures have been extensively tested in such conditions. As a result there may be room to improve the core design principles behind your buildings.
DC 50 Crowns 10
Result: Sturdier buildings better able to handle the salty weather, advances in design philosophy
Better Buildings, Materials: Stone has always served Riordian, and now you have access to a whole coastline of it. Explore and experiment with different compositions and see if anything is well suited to the environment.
DC 40 Crowns 5
Result: Building actions slightly cheaper, less maintenance costs.
Personal (1 action)
Train your self: Practice makes perfect, and you have never been one to shy away from putting in the hard work needed to improve. Buckle down and set your mind to work.
-Diplomacy
-Military
-Intrigue
-Stewardship
-Learning
DC 70 Crowns 2
Result: Improvement on chosen skill, has diminishing returns if used on the same skill.
A suitable courtier: Despite your position far from the throne, indeed being the 64th in line to inherit, you are still a desirable political commodity, let alone for your wit and knowledge. Your combat form is above average and you burn with passion for self advancement. While you are being observed for courting you could do the same and ensure that you find only the best candidates.
DC 40 Crowns 5
Result: Identify potential spouse, remove avenue of weakness to gossip and whispers.
Double down: Your full attention is a valuable thing, and sometimes is needed to ensure that a plan goes ahead without fail.
-Select an action to add your full stat to instead of half.
DC NA Crowns 5
Result: Add full stat to a chosen roll.
The system of power: The Riordian Autocracy has long held it's power through the judicious control and usage of the System. Blessed to be of the Main Branch, your particular interface is less restricted than most, and you can utilize this to achieve feats of physical and mental prowess that have been dubbed "Unnatural" by the unenlightened. Take the time to fully activate this blessing.
DC ? Crowns 5/10/15 (variable, choose how many to devote)
Result: Gain full access to the System, with unique powers and rewards you do.
I know you, but let's speak further: You have full dossiers on each of your advisers but you haven't taken the time to get to know them as individuals, an oversight that could lead to problems down the line. Rectify this.
-Choose an adviser and speak with them.
DC 30 Crowns 0
Result: Improve relationship with selected adviser, gain fuller understanding of them, secure loyalty.
