hi @Azel, excuse me for bothering you with this even though we haven't finished character creation but given that the house with access to arcane magic won, could we get an infodump on how it works on this setting and what can we expect our mages to do? because I feel this would affect our choices even from turn 1.
"Having access to" is not quiet what that particular trait does. It merely means that you won't face social repercussions for learning sorcery, not that you start with it, let alone that you have sorcerers on retainer. Your house is definitely a bit too broke right now for such extravagant retainers.
The thing with non-divine magic in this setting is that people distrust it. A lot. For good reason. Magic here is not of the "leveling a city with a flick of my finger"-variety, but there are still plenty of things that even a moderately skilled sorcerer can do (curses, reading thoughts, remote-sensing, etc.) that are viscerally terrifying for people to contemplate being leverage against them. On top of that, the times when a sorcerer of considerable skill goes off the rails usually make it to the history books, because it tends to end with an iron-fisted dictatorship or a whole lot of dead bodies, some of which might be still ambulatory and can remain a local hazard for centuries (ask the Demadi why they don't go to certain parts of the desert). Priests rarely if ever use their abilities for questionable ends, thus resulting in sorcerery being seen as something only the godless and amoral are doing. So, when interacting with a known sorcerer, people tend to be careful to full blown skittish, fearing what that person might do to them or might have already done to them.
House Lipern has had a few quiet well known sorcerers in its past though, and none of them tried to drink the blood of 100 firstborn, declared themselves God-Emperors or caused a plague whenever someone was insufficiently polite to them. Your family is perceived as safe and well behaved, even when given unnatural powers beyond mortal ken. So you can learn magic without having to henceforth fight against constant prejudice.
Luckily, vainglory scales, so no matter how powerful and glorious you become, you will still be perceived as slightly too smug and full of yourself for it.
Luckily, vainglory scales, so no matter how powerful and glorious you become, you will still be perceived as slightly too smug and full of yourself for it.
"I get that he's the Emperor of the World, but does this throne really have to be so tacky?"
"I know, right? And last week's speech was just so overwrought!"
"I really struggled not to laugh, honestly - even though the secret police were right there!"
"Having access to" is not quiet what that particular trait does. It merely means that you won't face social repercussions for learning sorcery, not that you start with it, let alone that you have sorcerers on retainer. Your house is definitely a bit too broke right now for such extravagant retainers.
As you sat there and weighed the seal in your hands, you could not help but remember the story of how it came to be. After the massacre of the Metuan Senate, your ancestor Irenaus Lipern swore that he would not rest until he had brought Augustus Tullus severed head before the senate. Tullus died before he could make good on that promise, his body sinking to the bottom of the sea together with his personal galley. So instead, Irenaus beheaded a statue from the hated emperors own palace and brought that before the empty senate in Metua itself.
When the first Senate of Panike came together a few years later, they unanimously voted to carve their seals from this symbol of their victory over their oppressors. You had marvelled at it when you were still a boy, the seal bound by blood to Andros, and now it was yours. The Abbuti that your cousin had hired to discharge his will was visibly annoyed that you took your time, but this was something that deserved to be done deliberately. With the offered knife, you pricked your finger, then carefully traced the olive wreath and the lyre that were your houses symbols with your blood, which immediately disappeared into the flawless white stone without a trace. It was almost disappointing that all the artifact in your hand did was to become slightly warm.
The voice of your houses Sakellarius took you from your revery, the old man bowing deeply to you. "It is a great honour to be the first to address you as Patriarch Lipern, my lord."
"Thank you, Sarrut.", was the only thing you could answer to this. He had been working for Andros longer then you had been alive, always taking care of the household and the houses finances, but while you had fond memories of the affable scribe, this was not the moment to treat him like an old friend.
With a slight cough, the Abbuti drew your attention back to him, offering yet another legal document. "With this, the city of Alumahi, represented by the honoured Persum Vibius Aulus, recognizes you, Oreipolos Lipern, as the legal heir to all estates, rights and obligations of the honoured house of Lipern. If you would be so kind?"
The seal, your seal, was pressed onto the rough parchment, leaving a red imprint on it, and with that it was done. Now you were the patriarch of the house and there was plenty of work to do.
Traits:
Classical Education – You have been brought up with the teachings and insights of the ancient thinkers, which has left a mark on how you speak and act. Gain +1 Persuasion and Leadership against scholars and people sharing this trait.
Engineer – You received a full and practical education in natural philosophy, giving you the skills needed to plan buildings, ships and machines. Discount to the cost of buildings, ships and certain actions.
Diligent – You take joy from your work and will gladly put in extra effort to make sure it is perfect. Gain +1 AP per turn.
Vices:
Vainglory – You like to live in the glorious past of your house and act in accordance with that legacy. Some think you are overdoing it a bit.
Martial
Combat - 2
Command - 2
Diplomatic
Persuasion - 4
Leadership - 3
Mercantile
Negotiation - 3
Administration - 4
Intrigue
Subterfuge - 2
Espionage - 3
Learning
Moral Philosophy - 4
Natural Philosophy - 5
Metaphysical Philosophy - 4
You have 6 AP to spend.
Financial
When you were given the first accounting of House Liperns finances, you were shocked to the bone. You always had assumed that your family had been rich. Money had never been a matter of worry after all. But the short statement put together by Sarrut, was dire indeed. There was barely any money left in the mansions vault, not even enough to cover the interest for the outstanding loans, some of which were taken at truly preposterous rates. At the same time, the trade fleet barely made more coin then it took to keep the family mansion staffed and maintained.
Last Turns Income: 1
Current Wealth: 3
Outstanding Loans:
- 5 Wealth owed to a mix of various small-time lenders – 1 Wealth interest per turn
- 2 Wealth owed to the city for outstanding court fines – no interest, but must be paid back within 2 turns
- 8 Wealth owed to Sillaniu Qaypanu, a well-known usurer – 3 Wealth interest per turn
Sarrut reassured you that he would do his utmost to cut costs in the household and to make the trade fleet more profitable, suggesting you instead should have seen about acquiring more loans to keep the vault filled for now, but you had your doubts. He was rather tight-lipped about the details of expenses and income. Some of it was probably habit. Since Andros never paid that close attention to your families mercantile interests and Minuwrios hated ledgers with a passion, Sarrut had been running the businesses side of things alone for decades. Still though, it seemed as if your Sakellarius could not fix this on his own and feared to be blamed for the situation.
[] Get another loan. (1 AP, DC 4 Persuasion check, DC 2 Negotiation check)
With your coffers almost entirely empty, you lack the funds to invest into anything, and it might help your situation if you could pay off some of the loans with prosperously high interest rates. However, with House Lipern being suspected of bankruptcy, it might not be easy to get a loan.
[] Look at the books yourself. (2 AP, DC ??? Administration)
Whatever Sarruts reasoning for keeping details of your businesses to himself, you can ill afford his secrecy. Look at the books yourself and see where the pains of your house stem from.
[] Try to strike a deal with Sillaniu Qaypanu. (1 AP, DC 3 Negotiation check)
The loan to this one moneylender represents most of your houses debt and it was taken at a quiet ludicrous interest rate at that. If you could somehow find a way to renegotiate the terms, there would be much less pressure on your coffers. However, Qaypanu is not known to have much compassion for his debtors and it is hard to guess what he might demand in return.
Diplomatic
Sillaniu Qaypanu – Moneylender / Usurer - +2
A man known widely for being a discrete and reliable lender, but also for charging exorbitant interest rates and is ruthless means of getting his money back. Owns a bathhouse near the Red Bazaar, from which he runs his business.
+1 from Reputation (Trade Houses)
+1 from punctual interest payment
Alumahi – Public - -1
The wider population of Alumahi has been given little reason to care about your house one way or another, but the influence of the Deucallian people in the city still dampens your reputation somewhat.
-1 from Lipern Legacy
Alumahi – Trade Houses - +2
Even though the station and prestige of House Lipern has dwindled, your name has still weight and meaning among the other trade houses and many wish to sun themselves in some reflected glory by associating with you. Lately though, rumours have put a dampener on that.
+4 from Lipern Legacy
-2 from suspected bankruptcy
Alumahi – Great Houses / Sibu - 0
To the Sibu, your houses name has lost most of it's lustre. The time where they were proud to house your family in defiance of Panikes will are long gone and recent rumours are eroding what little goodwill you had left.
+2 from Lipern Legacy
-2 from suspected bankruptcy
Deucallian Region / Panike –Everyone - -10
The scholars all agree: It is your family's fault that the Imperium Panikes golden age ended and that it was plunged into centuries of slow rot and decay. That is bad and you should feel bad.
-20 from Lipern Legacy
Alumahi – Kassarium - +4
While the Kassarium tries to stay out of the politics of Alumahi, your family has brought forth so many scholars and philosophers that some ties have developed over the years and your own years of studying in its halls cotinued this.
+2 from Lipern Legacy
+2 from having studied there in your youth
You never had considered the possibility that it would fall on your shoulders to represent the name Lipern and with your sudden ascension, there was no change to make the connections that would be vital to your houses prosperity. Certainly, you had a reputation that you could leverage and you did make some contacts in the Masurium, but that alone would not cut it. This could be remedied though and with the ascension of a new Patriarch of a house usually being celebrated with a banquet, you even had the perfect opportunity to do so.
[] Organize a modest banquet. (1 AP, 1 Wealth)
Invite your peers to a simple feast and some socializing.
[VAINGLORY] Such a meagre display would be unworthy of the name Lipern.
[] Organize a simple banquet. (1 AP, 3 Wealth)
Invite your peers to a feast and a traditional symposium with music and poetry.
[] Organize a banquet. (2 AP, 8 Wealth)
Invite the trade houses and scholars of Alumahi to a feast with dancers and singers to entertain them, followed by a traditional symposium to debate philosophy.
What you needed above all else though were new trade contacts. Even without knowing the details of your houses agreements with the Inotian republics in the north-west, you knew what these cities craved the most. Spices. And for better or for worse, the spice trade was entirely in the hand of the Ealim traders from the east, who were still viewed with great suspicion after their repeated attempts to conquer Alumahi. Few of the minor houses were associating with them for fear of the social costs and the Sibu saw it as a matter of pride to shun them. Maybe you could have struck a deal or two to increase your profits?
On the other hand, there was the caravan trade with the Demadi to the south. Ever since the Ealim conquered the lands of Qabwet and with that the Demadis ports, the spice trade had ground to a halt there, leaving only far less profitable bulk goods such as lentils, chick peas and beer for the caravans. That trade was not very profitable and the houses conducting it not very prestigious, but the capital needed to join in was also comparatively small. Though there was the chance of others seeking to besmirch House Liperns honour for trade routes looked down upon by many, there was equal chance to find good deals among those houses craving greater recognition by associating with you.
[] Seek Opportunities: Visit the Madrasa (1 AP, DC 5 checks in all Philosophy skills)
The most common place for the wealthy Ealim traders to gather is the small Madrasa of Alumahi. If you can prove yourself worthy of attending their discussions and seminars, you should be able to make some useful contacts there.
[] Seek Opportunities: Visit the Red Bazaar (1 AP)
This bazaar in the centre of the less affluent southern districts of Alumahi is the most important exchange for the food trade. Around it are also found the homes of the more affluent Demadi and those houses who trade primarily with the south. See if you can meet some people here with whom you can do some business.
Intrigue
Though it never was something you had spent much thought on, you still knew enough about courtly intrigue to try your hand at it.
[] Gather Rumours (1 AP, DC 0 Espionage check)
Gossip and rumours are as much the lifeblood of this city as gold is. Spend some time listening to the rumour mill and see if you can pick up something useful. (Increases quality of this turns rumour mill.)
[] Investigate Minuwrios Death (2 AP, DC ??? Espionage check)
The death of your cousin leaves many open questions. He was young and reasonably healthy, and his body was buried surprisingly quickly. Then there are those fines that you have never heard about before and for which you have no explanation, just the written order of the court that your house has to pay them. You need to find out what happened in the last three years.
[] Look for Secrets (1 AP, Espionage check, overspending: 1 AP, 1 Wealth)
See if you can find something with which you can extort someone.
-[] Sillaniu Qaypanu (DC 6)
-[] Write-In (DC ???)
Personal
Even though you were now the Patriarch of House Lipern, you still existed as a person outside of that title.
[] Sell Posessions (1 AP)
Your house has accumulated many books, art and trinkets over its long history. It is not uncommon for a new patriarch to sell a few things that he has no interest in keeping and the money might not hurt right now.
[] Spend time at the Kassarium (1 AP)
It has been a while since you went to the Kassarium. Spend some time there to catch up with old acquaintances and see if you can maybe make a few new ones.
[] Learn at the Kassarium (2 AP)
Try to improve one of your skills. (Note: Sorcery requires you to have a sponsor who has taught you the basics of a magical tradition. It is currently unavailable.)
-[] Write-In which skill
[] Learn at Home (1 AP)
While learning on you own without at tutor will likely yield not as good results, studying on your own means that you can easily do so on your own schedule. Thankfully, the mansion has a good library covering many topics.
-[] Write-In which skill (maximum rank 3)
[] Look for a Wife (1 AP)
As the last known Lipern, it is up to you to make sure that your houses legacy does not end with you. Look for a prospective bride.
[] Practice Philosophy (1 AP)
You have spend much of your young life learning what others have discovered or though up. It is time to see if you too can make some additions to the worlds shared knowledge.
Pick one:
-[] Moral Philosophy
-[] Natural Philosophy
-[] Metaphysical Philosophy
[] Turn to Religion (1 AP)
You have never paid more then lip-service to the gods, as many in your family did. Now though, with the enormity of the tasks before you sinking in, you wonder if that is worth changing. After all, beyond the miracles performed by the priests, there are plenty of tales about people whom the gods helped in their time of need. See what the faiths of Alumahi have to say for themselves.
Pick one:
-[] Metuan / Deucallian Gods
-[] Demadi Gods
-[] Philosophy of Mathaqaf
-[] Minor Cults
[screams in Beggar King]
Well then, I'm putting together a plan that focuses on our cash situation. Our other goals, whatever they are, will surely be easier once we've got actual resources to throw at them.
@Azel, will the "look for a wife" option trigger a subvote for what kind of wife we're looking for? And if yes, is "marry someone with a large dowry/inheritance" a valid goal?
We've made a... pretty decent character, all things considered.
AP is always good, discount on things is much needed in the family's financial ruin, and the bonus to relations will likely be of use when we get down to dealing with other high-born polities, classical education is often around those parts.
@Azel, will the "look for a wife" option trigger a subvote for what kind of wife we're looking for? And if yes, is "marry someone with a large dowry/inheritance" a valid goal?
Yes. There's bunch of options that will require further input from you if you take them and have some success. For example, if you can get Sillaniu Qaypanu to offer you new terms for the loan, then you will have to vote if you want to take it or not.
General rythm will likely be Turnvote -> Reaction vote to results -> new Turnvote. Baring mini-arcs like travelling abroad for a while or similar things.
As for the marriage, yes. Getting a large dowry is in the cards if you can find a bride with such. Also take note that some actions synergize with each other. For example, looking for a bride will yield better results if you also throw a banquet. If you take the actions to go to the Red Market or the Madrasa, you will also get Demadi and Ealim women among the candidates, potentially with explicit promises of trade deals as part of the dowry. Going to the Kassarium in the same turn would likewise add a few scholars to the list.
Same goes for things like rumor gathering. You get bonuses to those rolls that would reveal information relating to other stuff you did that turn.
[X] Plan "fix this shit and get magic": - [X] Try to strike a deal with Sillaniu Qaypanu. (1 AP, DC 3 Negotiation check) - [X] Seek Opportunities: Visit the Madrasa (1 AP, DC 5 checks in all Philosophy skills) - [X] Seek Opportunities: Visit the Red Bazaar (1 AP) - [X] Sell Posessions (1 AP) - [X] Spend time at the Kassarium (1 AP) - [X] Look for a Wife (1 AP)
forget my bullshit, I'm voting for: [X] Plan Gold Digger
Alumahi – Kassarium - +4
While the Kassarium tries to stay out of the politics of Alumahi, your family has brought forth so many scholars and philosophers that
[X] Plan Gold Digger
-[X] Look at the books yourself. (2 AP, DC ??? Administration)
-[X] Seek Opportunities: Visit the Madrasa (1 AP, DC 5 checks in all Philosophy skills)
-[X] Try to strike a deal with Sillaniu Qaypanu. (1 AP, DC 3 Negotiation check)
-[X] Organize a simple banquet. (1 AP, 3 Wealth)
-[X] Look for a Wife (1 AP)
I'm putting actions here in the order I'm hoping to see them happen. Looking at the books sounds like an ongoing task that'll go on throughout the semester, so let's start early! And just in case we are in fact being embezzled from or something, let's see if we can notice it early.
Next, visiting the bazaar: that could maybe provide extra wealth if Azel and the RNG are kind, but I'm mostly hoping to get bonuses for the wife-finding. I also considered taking the "sell possessions" action in case we need cash quick for the banquet or to seize some opportunity in the bazaar, but this might worsen our reputation right as we're looking for a wife. We're already failing to take the most impressive banquet option, so let's not worsen things too much.
As for looking for a wife? Well that's the hope I'm pinning our finances on: let's see if our protagonist can marry rich, or something! Considering how broke he is now, marrying literally anyone who isn't horribly in debt is already a short-term improvement. I'm not too sure how this would work (added income? Just a one-off dowry?) but in any case it should help. This may turn out to be useless if Sillaniu Qaypanu offers us a great deal that fixes our debt problems, but I somehow can't see that happening soon.
I was really tempted by the Espionage action targeting Sillaniu, but unless we get some sort of bonus I think we'd have less than a 10% chance of success (must roll 5+ on 3d6). Let's just see what we can negotiate going in blind... This isn't a situation I like, but our current loan conditions are absolutely disastrous so we have to try. We really should investigate Minuwrio's death as soon as we find the time.
I'm hyped for some philosophy and learning actions, but I couldn't fit them in this plan yet. Let's prioritize resolving the immediate crisis, please!
This obviously isn't the only valid plan (I also considered seeking other loans and selling everything, which would damage our reputation but might be enough if we're lucky) but I figure that our protagonist would be the sort to really care about the family's good name.
EDIT: Bazaar replaced with Madrasa. This seems likely to yield better contacts, and it's not like any immediate business we'd make at the bazaar would be enough to save us anyway.
It's 4d6 actually, so the chance is about 12% for a regular attempt and around 23% if you over-pay. Unsurprisingly, digging up dirt on someone who is professionally taking advantage of other peoples misfortunes is pretty difficult or he would have been driven out of business long ago.
By nature I'm inclined to throw a tremendous feast as a way of dispelling the rumors of bankruptcy while desperately scrounging for cash under the table, but coughing up 8 Wealth is ... probably not a wise idea. Still, in order to get a decent marriage, we're going to need to do a lot of fibbing about exactly what state our House is in.
By nature I'm inclined to throw a tremendous feast as a way of dispelling the rumors of bankruptcy while desperately scrounging for cash under the table, but coughing up 8 Wealth is ... probably not a wise idea.
We don't even have 8 Wealth right now. We have 3, which will all go into the feats (and will therefore make us miss payments to Sillaniu if we can't get another deal with him).
Maybe I'm misreading things, but I understood Madrasa as "nerds" and Red Bazaar as "merchants". If we're gold-digging, socializing with the merchants seems more valuable.
I was really tempted by the Espionage action targeting Sillaniu, but unless we get some sort of bonus I think we'd have less than a 10% chance of success (must roll 5+ on 3d6). Let's just see what we can negotiate going in blind... This isn't a situation I like, but our current loan conditions are absolutely disastrous so we have to try. We really should investigate Minuwrio's death as soon as we find the time.
I actually think this means we replace negotiating with Sillaniu with either investigating Minuwrio's death or visiting the Madrasa.
We don't quite have enough information, or leverage, to go to Sillaniu -- and given where we are, I think that if we choose to negotiate we may want to take a turn to prep.
Maybe I'm misreading things, but I understood Madrasa as "nerds" and Red Bazaar as "merchants". If we're gold-digging, socializing with the merchants seems more valuable.
Yes and no. The Madrasa is primarily a center of learning, but due to cultural values, it's also the place for the upper class of the Ealim people, which is nigh exclusively traders in this city, to hang out with each other. So if you go there, you can flex your philosophical muscles to impress people with money.
Yes and no. The Madrasa is primarily a center of learning, but due to cultural values, it's also the place for the upper class of the Ealim people, which is nigh exclusively traders in this city, to hang out with each other. So if you go there, you can flex your philosophical muscles to impress people with money.
Hm. In that case, I'm changing my plan. Madrasa instead of Bazaar, to focus on getting the best possible contacts and on impressing them with our education. We're unlikely to be impressive in the business context of the bazaar, considering our current poverty.
The bazaar would have given us a chance to make immediate business deals (maybe helping our money situation?) but Madrasa seems better for the gold-digging plan + seems useful if we want contacts that can later be used when we take science/culture actions.
I actually think this means we replace negotiating with Sillaniu with either investigating Minuwrio's death or visiting the Madrasa.
We don't quite have enough information, or leverage, to go to Sillaniu -- and given where we are, I think that if we choose to negotiate we may want to take a turn to prep.
We owe 3 wealth per turn though, and I fear that he'll ask for even more if we want to renegotiate an even bigger sum. And what if he goes public about us defaulting, wrecking our reputation in the first turn?
Hm. In that case, I'm changing my plan. Madrasa instead of Bazaar, to focus on getting the best possible contacts and on impressing them with our education. We're unlikely to be impressive in the business context of the bazaar, considering our current poverty.
The bazaar would have given us a chance to make immediate business deals (maybe helping our money situation?) but Madrasa seems better for the gold-digging plan + seems useful if we want contacts that can later be used when we take science/culture actions.
Keep in mind that the Red Bazaar is the place of people like House Senwet, who are not exactly considered prestigious. Just having a contract with the name Lipern as the other signatory would be worth a lot to many there.
The running theme of these actions is that you have to put your good name on the line in some fashion, since it is basically everything you've got right now.
Gotta build initial capital before we can start hiting assassins to take out people we don't like and discreetly looking into the possibility of making ourselves a mage.
Nerd-start gets us good opportunities to skim money here and there.
