Grandpa Dace's Quest for a stable family

LordPenguin · Jun 14, 2018

Turn 3: September 1983

This summer was a catastrophe, but Dace has survived worse.

The manor was totaled, the protective spells were gone, his staff was injured, his apprentice was having a psychotic break, his (grand) daughter was having nightmares, and his pride was injured.
Still, nobody died, which was a plus, and he was still healthy. And rich.

Good news was that his insurance delivered, and the people of the Ministry, whom he helped, were more than happy to help with the paperwork where they could.

Gained 900 000 Galleons, remaining loaned money repaid.

Furthermore, nothing of value was lost! (Scry-block, potions, and research autopasses still active!)
After a bit of reorganizing the wreck, some resources were even acquired from cannibalizing the remains:

+40 Stone.

However, even if they were comfortable, sleeping in a tent was humiliating!

The bigger news, however, was that Dumbledore came up and delivered the Order members who attacked Dace to the aurors, noting that Aife escaped. Looking at the photos, it seemed like they had snuggled with a few dementors with how traumatized they looked. He then proceeded to step onto the podium at the Wizengamot and revealed the existence and goals of the Order of the Phoenix, before apologizing to Dace in front of the assembly and stepping down from his post of supreme mugwump.

If nothing else, that should leave him with more freedom to move.

Turn 3 Possessions:

Gains:

-Animal (mundane and magical) Ranches: +45,000 Galleon (after salaries and charges), 1d6 Epic animal components/ Turn
-- 1000 Employees, payed 544 G/t on average.
Greenfire (Floo powder producers since 1930): + 10 000 Galleons/ Turn
--200 Employees payed 500 G/t on average
Potion shops 'Montmorency' in England: + 60, 000 Galleons/ Turn
--500 Employees payed 550 G/t on average
Medjica (Healing salves and potions): + 30 000 Galleons/turn
--150 Employees paid 770 G/t on average
'George's Inferno': +6 Sulfur /turn, +6 Mercury /turn

Spendings:

Gwallawg Academy of Superior Learning: -40,000 Galleon / turn, 1d6 Chance of producing a Druid, 1d100-80 chance of Loyal Hero Unit. (Muggleborn population: 95%)

Manor employee salaries: (50 of them, 380G/t on average) (Paid vacations/medical leave)

Salaries: Agatha (1 000), Jason Swallows (1500), Mad Eye Moody (1000)

= 82500 Galleons / Turn

GASL Rolls
d6: 3 Druids joined the army
d100-80: 40 Nope.
Elizabeth roll
99: Amber necklace: Necklace of ???
Animal ranches:
1x Unicorn horn

Treasury:
991 100 Galleons
12 Mercury
12 Sulfur
3 Crystal
6 Gems
40 Stone

Skylight: A sapphire that seems to shine with an inner light. +10 to results if used to create items with [Life/Order] Attribute.
Nature Anchor: Allows to soak up a zone with Nature energy, necessary to build a Rampart.
Magic Book: (Need to translate to use fully)
Dragon Rearing book
Dragon nest plans (Need to translate to use)
Necklace of ???

Ingredients:
Hydra venom
Chimera heartstrings
Jobberknoll feathersx4 (Truth and mind potion ingredients)
Unicorn horn
Inventory:
Cloak of Crystal: Gain 1 Crystal / turn (Value: 5000 G)
Still Eye of the dragon +1 Troops Morale, +1 Troops Luck (Value: 2000 G)
Quiet eye of the dragon +5 Troops attack damage, +5 Troops attack defense (Value: 2000 G)
Pendant of free will: Immune to mind magic and hypnosis. (Value 8000 G)

Event roll: 50 – Absolutely nothing of interest happened. Dace heard about some important artefact being unearthed, however the building in which it was found was trapped and the item was destroyed, along with everything in its close vicinity, including the researchers.

Rumor mill: [Locked] Sadly due to your current living conditions keeping tabs on the mill is impossible.

Turn 3

Diplomacy: Adviser – Elizabeth Gwallawg: Actions: 2

Elizabeth is feeling a bit under the weather, but that doesn't keep her from rifling through your papers with gusto. More than one time, you've heard her muttering about 'ruining them' and 'plundering their accounts'. In any case, be glad that her jewelry and Cleopatra wardrobe survived the mansion's destruction.

[] Have a chat with Dumbledore. You've put it off long enough, and as much as you loathe the old man, he is a major player and you shouldn't let him run around unchecked. This will open up funding/trade/information/socializing (ugh) options.

[] Trials! Trials everywhere! Don't look at him like that, he's the victim here!

[] Visit the Ministry, try to build up contacts. The people over there like you well enough, but you never know who you can meet and what you can find.

[] Attend Academy graduation. You are, after all, the owner, founder and the one who funds the Gwallawg Academy of Superior Learning, located in Cardiff. This will increase your chance of people with exceptional potential stepping up, such as Oliver and Agathe. Miss Evans is currently indisposed and cannot give a speech, sorry.

[] Attend a ministry function. The current affairs are dreadful, truly dreadful.

Stewardship: Advisor – Oliver Lapierre: Actions: 2

Oliver, despite the one-track mind he has, is quite efficient when he comes to administration. Of course, he'd rather raise the wolves, but for now, he'll do as your steward.

[] Develop your budding empire, you need to spend gold to earn more gold, after all. Costs 10 000 G. Gains variable.

[] Real Estate Hunt (step 2). The people who take care of the real estate have encountered a bit of a snag when it comes to the property you want to buy. There is an infestation of trolls. Because of that, you can buy it at a reduced price, but you'll need to deal with them. Cost 800 000G.

[] Find sources of building materials. Your contacts went out of business not that long ago, and you need good sources. Guaranteed access to Wood and Stone production facilities. Chance of getting access to Gem, Crystal, Sulfur, or Mercury production facilities. Cost variable.

[] Takeover. You're well placed in your country, due to both luck and shrewd management. Now is the time to launch your attack and corner the potions market! Cost: 100 000 G

Martial: Advisor(s): Alastor (Madeye) Maugrey, Jason Swallows. Actions: 3

Madeye is almost spitting nails at having been beaten by a bunch of wet behind the ears newbies, and, shame of shames, he was left tied up in a closet! In a broom closet! They didn't even have the decency to knock him out and he had to chew through his bindings to get out of it! Of course, this led to the ex-mercenary ribbing him, which ended up in a duel that left them both out of commission. After being scolded by a scary mediwitch, those two seem to have reached somewhat of an understanding.

[] Animal pens. Crudely explained, you need a place to store your dragon, his mothers, your pet dog ~~wolf~~, his pack, and the fairies that are about to overrun the small woods near the charred ruins of your manor. [May only be taken if [Rampart: step one] is complete]. May only build one per turn for stealth reasons.

-[] Wolf den: Produces 10 Wolves / turn, 1 year after construction. Costs 10 Wood, 2000 G
--[] Direwolf den: Produces 10 Direwolves / turn, 1 year after construction. Replaces Wolf den. Costs 10 Wood, 3000 G
-[] Pixie huts: Produces 15 Pixies/turn, available immediately. Costs 20 Wood, 1000 G
--[] Sprite huts: Produces 15 Sprites / turn, available immediately. Replaces Pixie huts. Costs 10 Wood, 2000 G
-[] Dragon Cliffs: Produces 1 Green dragon/ turn, 5 years after construction. [Needs [Dragon rearing book] and [Dragon nest plans] to be translated.] Costs 30 Stone, 20 Crystal, 20 000G
--[] Dragon Lair: Produces 1 Golden dragon/turn, 5 years after construction. Replaces Dragon Cliffs. Costs 30 Stone, 20 Crystal, 40 000G

[] Hire more security staff. -10 to enemy infiltration rolls. 2000G

[] Combat drills. You have units, but they don't know how to fight as an army.
-[]Wolves
-[]Dragons
-[]Pixies
-[]Druids
-[]Treants

[] Military expedition:
-[]Yr Wyddfa

Intrigue: Actions: 2 (1+ Intrigue over 25)

You're not sure you'll find anyone you trust with this to help you, save for your wife, but you need her more where she is right now.

[] Plots are good for your health! Plot against: (Will receive intel on their moves, plus additional actions if the opportunity arises.)
-[] Dumbledore's little club of vigilantes.
-[] Voldemort's band of hooligans. Well, what remains of it, anyways.
-[] The Overlord of Chaos faction
-[] Riddle. He's tried to kill you thrice already.
-[] Aife. Better keep tabs on her.

[] Plots are good for your purse! With all those people being arrested left and right...
-[] Plot to take over shops in Diagon Alley (England, London).
-[] Plot to take over shops in the Green Alley (Wales, Cardiff)

[] Compulsive plotting is also good for the morale!
-[] Go on a matchmaking spree. Chance to increase Diplomacy, RP with some people, reputation.
-[] Go on a trolling rampage an adventure! Chance to increase Intrigue, cripple enemies, RP with some people.

[] Plotting is an excellent bonding activity!
-[] Plot with Oliver: +10 to Stewardship action rolls (+2 RP with Oliver)
-[] Plot with Elizabeth : +10 to Diplomacy action rolls (SL MAX)
-[] Plot with Scáthach: +2 RP with Scáthach, Scáthach gains 1d2 Intrigue to base score. She's still a bit young, but better get started early!

Learning: Actions: 2 (1+Learning over 25)

You're not letting anyone not from your family handle those books. Ever. You'll have to wait until either Elizabeth finds herself a newfound passion for reading, or until little Scáthach decides paper isn't for eating and learns to read. You have a feeling the latter will come earlier.

[] Translate books. Knowledge is always useful.
-[]Dragon nest plans [Takes 1 session] (reduced because you have a live dragon to experiment with)

[] The old tales are sometimes true. Brush up on your knowledge, after all each time something supernatural happened, a wizard was behind it.

[] On the other hand, you could also brush up your management skills... (due to owning Nature Anchor, this will cause the emergence of some skills.)
-[] With all of the things going on right now, you need to brush up on your Estates management.

Mysticism: Advisor: Agatha: Actions: 2 (+30 to rolls)

It stings a bit that you're just on the lower spectrum of powerful, but you'll deal. After that unpleasantness this summer, you've learned how much you are limited, however, and this displeases you. This displeases you greatly. On other news, Agatha's work with more... Enthusiastic...Colleagues of hers is continuing at a steady pace. It would be easier if she could give up on those 'Tolkien elves', but at this point, Dace'll take her just keeping the explosions away from camp.

[] Rampart: Step one (must complete all of those to unlock step 2)
-[V] Find a suitable location.
-[V] Find a full roster of Nature-themed creatures.
-[] Spare resources for the building: Pay 30 000 G, 30 wood, 30 stone. (0/30 000, 0/30, 0/30)
-[V] Investigate the Nature Anchor

[] Work on the Magic Book. Its powers have saved you multiple times, and yet, you know nothing of it.

[] Investigate the necklace your wife sent you. It's obviously magical, but you don't know what it does.

[] Y Ddraig Aur. He emerges once every thousand years and is currently chewing on a few cows in what remains of your backyard, but this time, it was early. Why?

[] You've been having ... Dreams, lately. So, did Scáthach to be honest, and you're fairly sure that Aife and her spawn will, too. They aren't particularly alarming; however, they are abnormal. If anything, you should investigate what they mean.

Personal: Actions: 6 (1 + Stewardship Advisor + Diplomacy Advisor + Mysticism advisor + 2 Martial advisors)

[] Spend time with one of your SLs: +2 RP
-[] Spend time with Scáthach: +3 RP, chance of ???
-[] ~~Therapy~~ Spend time with Lily: +3 RP, +1/? to recovery

[] Personal supervision. Supervise an action from the other sections. Gain +10 to rolls if Martial, Stewardship or Diplomacy action, +20 if Leaning or Mysticism action, +30 if Intrigue action. (May be used multiple times, but not on the same actions.)

[] Train. You hate doing it, and it hates you back, but if it makes Madeye shut up, you'll do it.

[] Ollivander has finished rifling through your mother's wands and now wants to teach you how to make wands because 'so much natural talent wasted is a crime against wizardkind and you should be ashamed not to use it!'. Seriously, what was it about you that made crazy old men nag at you all the time?

[] Extra action. Use your own free time to do stuff. (May only be taken once, may be used as substitute for AP)

Huh, would you look at that, Event-chan is giving you a breather and went to bully someone else! Praise Event-chan for her mercy!
Freyja be spitting as many nails as Madeye right now tho.
And [Queen of Shadows] procced!

Now, for a bit of an announcement, let's all cheer for Blonddude42 who joined ~~my cult~~ the team as a ~~minion~~ Beta!

LordPenguin · Jun 16, 2018

Honestly, back then, I'd thought Deathquest would have won, so I wrote it anyways, and after dithering for a while, I decided to post it instead of having it rot away. Besides, I still have dice to roll and stuff...

LadyPanda said:
[] Diplomacy: Make some connections at the ministry.

Rolled 15

For some reason, you didn't manage to get in contact with anyone of import. The best you could manage was the janitor. This is the third time you failed already, so it's pretty clear someone is working against you. You clench you teeth, trying to keep the blackness in check and slowly exhale. Patience, you tell it. Patience, Dumbledore will get his due.

No infiltrator in the ministry yet~

[] Stewardship: Try to get some funds.

Rolled 35

Most of the money around was used to fund the reconstruction after the Overlord's raids in Diagon alley and Voldemort's reign of terror, so money is scarce, and the ones with the money are too well protected for you to contact.

Gain 3 500 Galleons

[]Martial : Full out assault on Dumbledore's party. Double down.

Rolled 63,88

To be continued in Complete victory.

[] Intrigue: Try to infiltrate the Order of the Phoenix

Rolled 100

To be continued in Complete victory.

[] Learning: Continue translating the Book of Death. Double down.

Rolled 98,38

You have made a new breakthrough in translating this book. New spells avaliable:

Animate Dead - 3 mana
Combat - Summoning
Power: 82 + 7.5 HP/level + Demonology
Animate Dead raises a number of creatures based on the caster's level from any stack of dead creatures. All creatures vanish after combat ends.

Life Drain - 3 mana
Combat - Direct Damage
Damage: 16 + 1.5 dmg/level + Demonology
Life Drain steals hit points from all Life targets, and then caster gains a portion of the total hit points drained.

[] Mysticism: Necropolis step 2 : Upgrade Cursed Temple
Rolled 54

There was no problem with the construction.

Skeletons upgraded to skeleton warriors.

[] Mysticism: Necropolis step 2: Acquire resources : Stone
Rolled 49

Digging to expand those bone pits left you with quite the amount of stone to peruse

Gained 5 Stone.

Alright, everyone, you know the drill, prepare for some good old curbstomping

Raven said:
Yeeees... Stupid insert, here comes Tommy!

SoulWeave said:
Do you think we'll get to sacrifice her to our dark god instead? We need more worthy sacrifices.

Porky said:
Dude, we're going the undead harem master route, remember? The Angry Man can get Fumbledore though.

SoulWeave said:
But... But muh apocalypse...

LadyPanda said:
*Watches the rolls.* Okay...

MegaMinion said:
I'm scared.

Blondie24 said:
Naaah , it's Nat 100, even if we mess up we get goodies.

LadyPanda said:
Complete victory.

You finally managed it. You got spies within the Order, and what a spy they were. The intelligence they gave was invaluable for someone such as you, and the influence they had there was even better. Already they prove their worth.

Dumbledore was going to parley with the leader of the unnamed faction that appeared last year in the Orkney islands, only accompanied with his top two enforcers, James Potter, and Aife Lupin, who was supposed to be the Holder of Freyja's blessings. Better yet, she was pregnant, therefore, there was a chance the blessing spread to her spawn. Anyways, this was an occasion to wipe out three threats at once...

Then, there were a few... Unexpected events. According to his information Evans was the Elder Gwallawg's apprentice, so he really should have anticipated his presence. Still, he was inconsequential in regards of The Plan. What was more worrying was the rather characteristic presence of a giant Welsh Green, who looked an awful lot like an AvLee Green Dragon. That was supported by the fact someone was riding on it. They were tall and blond, but that's about all he could see from here. That would be a problem.
Tom made a mental command and the dead moved. In the air, the Dementors and their spawns were keeping them from running away while his footsoldiers advanced. His opponents seemed to have noticed too. Dumbledore and his followers decided to take the fight to him, while an army of automatons walked out from the city and the dragon took to the sky.

He beat them one by one. Potter was easily dealt with, while Dumbledore was pinned down by the never ending sea of the dead that was threatening to swallow him and Aife was currently engaging his dear Anastasia. He began casting the spell, a modified version of the Avada Kedavra and took aim.

Then a scream came from the sky, followed by a shockwave and intense ag0N-

...
...
...

Tom Riddle woke up with a start, Anastasia's red curls welcoming him to the land of the conscious.

"The city has fallen my love, however, I must apologize, I didn't manage to carry out your orders. Dumbledore called for his phoenix." She had apology all over her face, and the pitch black darkness in his gut rebelled. He quashed it with a thought and sighed, relaxing his body on the bed.

"I see. Then it can't be helped."

"However, you'll be pleased to know that I managed to contact some of my informants within the order of the phoenix, and they have some interesting information that I think you ought to know...

Order faction nipped in the bud. Order of the Phoenix key members subverted : Arthur Weasley, Emmeline Vance, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Gain an automatic +10 roll against each member of the Order. Gain intelligence of their moves. Relations between Order of the phoenix and Dace Gwallawg set to hostile.

MegaMinion said:
What ?!

Miyosan said:
Why are you so angry, we nipped one of the big 5 in the bud, it's awesome!

Blondie24 said:
We didn't get Fumbledore or Waifu number 4 though.

MegaMinion said:
Why is he here again ?!

Miyosan said:
Where did we see him again?

MegaMinion said:
He's the one who wiped out our army back home !

SoulWeave said:
Wait, he's not in the Life faction?

LadyPanda said:
Nope.

Porky said:
Where did he get that dragon? And where do we get one?

SoulWeave said:
Do you think it'd be a good base for our skulldragons? I want a skulldragon for our lord and Savior.

LadyPanda said:
Well, you could have, he got them on the same day you got the Death anchor~.

MegaMinion said:
Oh yeah, in the Dragon Utopia. Wait. Oh no. No no no no, please tell me you didn't.

LadyPanda said:
Look deep into your heart and you shall find the answer~

MegaMinion said:
@#ù¤$*! Guys, we need to track down the guy on the dragon and kill him harder than Tommy's mom! He's the fricking Nature faction leader!

Porky said:
The one who zerg rushes harder than we do?

MegaMinion said:
Yes! And he's already got fricking dragons!

Raven said:
Nah, you're exaggerating, I mean, Zebra told us with enough actions and a competent enough minion, you can tame anything.Besides, it's not af if they're resistant to magic, it's Harry Potter, one spell in the eyes and it goes down.

Blondie24 said:
Speaking of Potter, what's up with James and Lily?

LadyPanda said:
Whaddya mean?

Blondie24 said:
Well, they didn't seem that close to me? Lily was the leader of Order faction, Dumbledore's in Life, but James is with Dumbledore and not Lily? It's weird.

LadyPanda said:
Hm-Hmmmm~

Porky said:
Uh-oh. He hit the nail on the head, didn't he?

LadyZebra said:
I think at this point the cat's pretty much out of the bag anyways.

LadyPanda said:
Interlude : Fleur de Lis.

MegaMinion said:
You're telling me we've been hunting down somebody who didn't even exist for over three turns and wasted about 10 actions on it?

LadyPanda said:
Well, Yes. But hey, at least other You got Longbottom. Probably.

MegaMinion said:
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

SoulWeave said:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Raven said:
Ah, he broke again. Now what do we do?

Blondie24 said:
Same thing as we always do, we're planning to take over the world with our army of super waifus.

So here it is, it's supposed to be shorter because more revelations. Now, How do I make that darned sidestory/apocrypha tab...

LordPenguin · Jun 17, 2018

krahe said:
"Attempting Murder"

I see what you did there.

September 12th 1983

-[X] Real Estate Hunt (step 2). The people who take care of the real estate have encountered a bit of a snag when it comes to the property you want to buy. There is an infestation of trolls. Because of that, you can buy it at a reduced price, but you'll need to deal with them. Cost 800 000G.
Luck activated! Score raised: 59 + 20 = 79

Well, the first thing to do, Dace supposed, was to secure another base of operations. Still, having his house destroyed before he even finished paying for its ameliorations was annoying. At least that was paid back using the insurance money, leaving him with a lot more than what he had when he was younger. Therefore, he went, along with his granddaughter and his wife, to the real estate agent.

The place was sober and clean, which was all he wanted from it. One could easily gauge the level of competence from a business that way. Those who used lots of decorations were bound to use them as distractions, whether it was from the fact they were fleecing their customers or their own incompetence didn't really matter. The person receiving them was a no nonsense greying woman with square glasses and a squarer jaw that looked like she could chew a galleon and spit a nugget out, which made her smiles mildly terrifying. He liked that.

"Mister Gwallawg." She held out her hand for him to shake which he did, before she sat behind her desk, and his family in front of her. "Desidera Swallows. I have received your message about your interested in one of our lots. However, our people have run into some... Difficulties... Along the way, therefore, I have called you here to inform you about the situation."

Dace raised an eyebrow but said nothing, signaling her to continue with a move of his hand and seating himself more comfortably on his seat.

"As you probably do not know due to your current circumstances, this is mating season for the trolls, and they have invaded the property you're interested in. After failing to negotiate with them, my superiors have called the exterminators and opened up several other places that would correspond to the criteria you imposed, but-"

The man raised his hand, eyes closed, before opening them back with a faint smirk on his lips. The wheels in his mind were turning, and a plan began to take shape.

"I'll take it."

The woman looked slightly perturbed but readjusted her glasses and gave him the contract. She even gave him the contact information of some builders she knew.

Spent 800 000 Galleons. You now own the tallest mountain of Wales, in the middle of the natural park of Snowdonia.

September 14th 1983

Martial:
[X] Combat drills. You have units, but they don't know how to fight as an army.
-[X]Dragons Luck activated! Score raised: 81 + 20 = 101 :Critical success! Dragons combat ready.
-[X]Druids 24 / 200 until combat ready
[X] Military expedition:
-[X]Yr Wyddfa 68

"...And that's why you're all here today." Dace explained, looking immensely proud of himself, as he showed the grey shapes milling around the mountain, the wind carrying their terrible stench. The young graduates of the Academy, that Agatha swindled into convinced to become the first druids of your personal army looking at each other nervously, while the giant flying murder machines looked at you intently with an intelligence far from animalistic. Among them was the golden dragon, who had just reached maturity and was almost twice as big as the other dragonesses. Looking at the mountain, his reptilian eyes narrowed in what seemed to be calculation.

It then got up on its hindlegs, raised its head high, and let out a long, guttural roar that shook the air around and took flight, followed by the others, in direction of the mountain. Then, the mountain lit up as the dragons began circling it, spewing gouts of fire each time they saw a troll. Screams of agony reached their ears, and one of the younger druids began vomiting as the scent of burnt meat filled their nostrils. He'd have to train them a lot more before he could drag them onto the battlefield, it seems...

~~Slaughter~~ Battle results : 40x Trolls killed
Dace Current exp: 1261 / 2000
Fight result: Victory!
Exp Gained: 1600
Dace current exp: 2861 / 3000 Level up!

As he did in the last fight, Dace felt something. However this time, he tried to pinpoint the feeling, and he got the Anchor out of the back. Then, as he looked at it, he finally noticed brown wisps of something coming from the mountain, suffusing the cube, who was pulsating, and coming within him.

[] This calls for an investigation.
[] There's too much to do right now.

In any case, there is nothing he can do about it right now, thus, he instead began to shape the energy within him.

[] Spells that seemed more complicated before now were more accessible to him... Gain Advanced Wisdom.
[] The air around him sang with a song he was beginning to understand... Gain Advanced Air Magic
[] Clarity struck his mind, he's been doing it wrong all along! Gain Basic estates.
[] The earth beneath his feet, the leaves in the wind... He could understand that emerald radiance... Gain Basic Earth Magic.

Dace's current skills: 5/8 Slots taken.
Basic Wisdom: allows your hero to learn third level spells.
Basic Intelligence: Basic intelligence increases a hero's normal maximum spell points by 25%.
Basic Air Magic: allows your hero to cast air spells at reduced cost.
Basic Diplomacy: allows you to negotiate with monsters in exchange of gold and reduces the cost of surrendering by 20%.
Basic Luck: increases your hero's luck by 1

After spending a few days cleaning up and inspecting the land, Dace was pleasantly surprised by what he found.
Territory cleared! Land bonuses discovered:

Growth:

Fairies: ++
Wolves: +
Moon does: ++
Elves (unavailable): ?
Treants: +
Druids: +
Dragons:++

Resources:

Low amounts of gold : 5 000 to work the resource, 1 000 G/Turn, 1d6-3 Native Gold / turn afterwards.
Massive amounts of high quality stone: 20 000 to work the resource, 16 ore / turn, 1d6-3 Flawless Marble afterwards.
Massive amounts of high quality crystals: 40 000 to work the resource, 8 Crystal / turn, 1d6-3 Flawless crystal afterwards.
Massive amounts of gems : 40 000 to work the resource, 8 Gems/turn afterwards.

Well, as expected, the mountain was rich with resources, though that would cost him a pretty penny to buy the tools and workers to process them. Oh well, one needs money to make money...

October 6th 1983

Stewardship:
-[X] Develop your budding empire, you need to spend gold to earn more gold, after all. Costs 10 000 G. Gains variable.
29

Dace didn't know why his house being destroyed would in any way affect his ability to make money, however, the problem was that people did, and therefore refused to sell to him.

At least, he got his money back.

Failure!

October 25th 1983

Personal:
-[X] Spend time with one of your SLs: +2 RP
--[X] Therapy Spend time with Lily: +3 RP, +1/? to recovery 59

Lily was in a bad shape here. None of her wits, all of her temper, and whatever Dumbledore did to her left her unable to act on her visibly murderous impulses. He wouldn't enjoy what he was about to do. Dave levelled his wand at her and muttered a spell that, if he was caught, would get him a one-way ticket to Azkaban.

"Imperio."

There wasn't even a struggle, no resistance whatsoever to the spell, almost as if there wasn't a mind here at all, only an all-consuming rage, that ebbed and flowed. He made Lily get up and inspected her critically, before calling for his wife on his way out. He'd rather not have to witness his apprentice being bathed and fed.

After a few hours, Lily, now clean, clothed and fed was sitting in front of him like a doll, with some restraints just in case his countermeasure failed. On his hand, he held a modified calming draught that he made her drink. It seemed to have an effect, as control of her body was brutally yanked away from him and the young woman began convulsing on the seat, hands gripping the armrests, the wood breaking under the strain. She spent some time howling and groaning, but after she stopped, she looked at him with something approaching recognition in her eyes. At the very least, she didn't try to attack him.

"Good morning Lily."

She just blinked at him in incomprehension.

"Uuuuh."

Dace had a bad feeling about that, but he continued talking to her.

"One groan for no, two for yes, do you understand me?"

"Uuuuh."

Well. At least, she understood when people talked to her. Though, her mind was probably similar to a newborn's right now.

Then, a gust of wind made a dark cloth near the tent's opening flap and she tried to pounce on it, growling.

He bit back a sigh. It seemed she behaved herself around him because she knew him on an instinctual level, but her mind was closer to that of an animal, rather than a child's. An animal in perpetual fight-or-flight state.

It seemed more sessions would be in order.

Lily is a bit better and won't try to rip your head off anymore.
+1 to Recovery score, +5 RP (stored until she's cognizant enough to acknowledge something as complex as interpersonal relationships).

November 12th 1983

Learning:
-[X] Translate books. Knowledge is always useful.
-[X]Dragon nest plans [Takes 1 session] (reduced because you have a live dragon to experiment with) 72

It was long and arduous, and there were many terms that couldn't be translated, but Dace finally did it. It probably helped that now he had the mountain under his nose, it made him easier to project the hypothetical dragon nests, especially since his dragons had taken to napping around it. It seems that they liked high altitude, rocky areas where they could fly around.

Plans translated, Dragon nest construction available once Rampart tier 1 is complete.

AN:
Yeah, Snowdon got really good rolls, and even a bit of gold despite the maluses. Still, Stone got 115 and Crystals got 104, which allow them to produce supposedly rare materials that aren't important yet but would normally be hard to find. So, yay, I guess.

More importantly, my loyal minion has pointed out something that he felt was rather important I tell you: here, I play each and every faction you don't control, and all of them move towards their own victory conditions. Therefore I strongly advise you to try and be proactive. I will tell you this however:

Riddle wants to become a God, the Overlord seeks to achieve domination, Dumbledore wants to wipe out chaotic / evil factions, ??? wants the throne, ??? wants to defeat ???, ??? wants to create a legacy that will last forever and all are in search of the Holy Grail.

LordPenguin · Jun 20, 2018

Turn 3: Winter 1983

November 24th 1983

Intrigue:
[X] Plots are good for your health! Plot against: (Will receive intel on their moves, plus additional actions if the opportunity arises.)
-[X] Aife. Better keep tabs on her.
Personal:
-[X] Personal supervision. Supervise an action from the other sections. Gain +10 to rolls if Martial, Stewardship or Diplomacy action, +20 if Leaning or Mysticism action, +30 if Intrigue action. (May be used multiple times, but not on the same actions.)
--[X] Plot against Aife

It was more a stroke of luck than anything else by this point, Dace thought, as he read the report from one of his spies, that his daughter bought something from one of his shops. Of course she altered her appearance, however this didn't change the fact that even with black hair, brown eyes, a dirty face and a few fake moles, she was still eye-catching. Or, more probably, it was because of it that she was more easily noticed. After all, a poor woman wouldn't buy a costly fever reducer.

Still, it was an adequate enough camouflage, he supposed. His investigators tailed her, using the tracker in the bottle, and arrived at an empty flat, recently deserted. They just missed her, but it didn't matter. After all, if she was up and about, the potion was for her child, which meant that once he drinks it, Dace would have a reliable way to track her whereabouts by using her son.

The team came to his manor and dropped a few items, maps, books and baubles. After a bit of analysis, he managed to break the simplistic code on it and now, all he needed was time to spend over trying to understand what exactly his wayward (ex) daughter was after. After all, one didn't investigate old Myths and Magic lightly, even she knew that, or at least, he made sure to impress that upon her mind when she was younger. He still didn't know if it stuck or not.

Tracker placed on Aife! New option available next turn: Investigate Aife's plot.

December 1st 1983

Learning:
-[X] Translate books. Knowledge is always useful.
-[X]Dragon nest plans [Takes 1 session] (reduced because you have a live dragon to experiment with)

It took some time and was frustrating, especially considering dragon rearing wasn't his thing, at all, but he finally managed to translate the plans in their entirety, before throwing them in Oliver's way and proceeding to try and calm the headache it caused.

-[X] The old tales are sometimes true. Brush up on your knowledge, after all each time something supernatural happened, a wizard was behind it.

The problem with lore is that there are so many different interpretations of the same myth that nobody even remembers the truth behind it. Not even Dace's archives are immune to that, but at least, he does know which ones have truly happened, at the very least. For example, while Arthur existed, his sleeping with his sister Morgana was a hoax. In the end, there was too much data to find anything worthwhile if one was to look around aimlessly. However, he found some interesting things about the necklace his wife found. The implications were worrying though...
Mysticism:
-[X] Work on the Magic Book. Its powers have saved you multiple times, and yet, you know nothing of it.

Translating it was surprisingly easy, considering how much of a pain the dragon plans were, and it paid off. Dace finally knew what was up with that book, and when he did, he was both awed and horrified.

Magic Book becomes Book of Air!

If there was a book for the four elements, did that means there were books for the factions too? The thought of Riddle having a book containing so much magic about Death... He closed his eyes. This wasn't him. He didn't deal in what ifs. If there's a possibility of him having that book, then Dace needed to act as if it were on his possession already, and make contingencies.

Book of Air: Allows its owner to cast any spell from the school of Air, provided they have the necessary mana, regardless of the spell level. (List of spells : Air Magic Spells - Heroes of Might and Magic III / Heroes 3 )

December 28th 1983

Diplomacy:

-[X] Have a chat with Dumbledore. You've put it off long enough, and as much as you loathe the old man, he is a major player and you shouldn't let him run around unchecked. This will open up funding/trade/information/socializing (ugh) options.

Dace arrived in a flash of green fire, dusting his robes as he strode through the room, heading towards the seats, not bothering with introductions. Dumbledore's eyes followed him hands steepled over his ornate desk, the portraits of the old directors of Hogwards protesting his impoliteness as he sat. His blue-green eyes scanned the room, from Dumbledore himself, clad in those garish mustard robes that he was sure he wore to annoy him, to the multiple odds and ends clutteres on tables on the side, to the phoenix that was looking at him with piercing eyes. He stopped a bit, trying to understand why the animal looked upset then remembered.
"You had your chance, remember? It isn't my fault you were slower than the dragons."

The bird seemed to huff, before breaking eye contact and beginning to comb its feathers with its beak. The silence fell down on the room, where Dace and Dumbledore looked at eachother, gauging, judging.

"Nigh'mare..."

The door suddenly opened, and a toddler entered. Blond haired, brown eyed, he looked like somebody took Frank Longbottom and shrunk him down. This was most likely Neville Longbottom.

Dumbledore got up from his seat and walked towards the toddler, grandfatherly persona firmly in place, and smiled at him gently, rubbing the boy's head.Meanwhile, the gears in Dace's mind were turning. Why would he be at Hogwarts? Well it was the 'safest place in Britain', where Dumbledore could keep an eye on him.

"Is that so? Well, this is problematic. Have you called on Whimsy and Dozy?" The old man asked while waving his wand and making the boy levitate, eliciting delighted giggles on his part.

"They weren't here, so I came for you."

Albus frowned, but it disappeared quickly.

"Well then, we should remedy to that, shouldn't we?" He wrote a note and had his familiar pick it up, teleporting away to its recipient. The boy then looked around, eyes fixed on Dace, before he looked away again towards Dumbledore, babbling excitedly as the man sat back on his chair, the child on his lap. Dace closed his eyes, counted up to ten and got up from his seat, his voice smoother than he would have thought.

"It seems I am intruding. I'll be on my way."

Dumbledore sighed as the room flashed green.

"Grandpa? Who was that?" Nevilled asked him innocently, having likely picked up on the tension between the two men unconsciously.
"A mistake, Neville. The biggest mistake I have made in many years." The man seemed to sag, looking as if every year of his life finally caught back to him.

So Prophecy was all it took, huh...

Failure.

January 10th 1984

Intrigue:
[X] Plotting is an excellent bonding activity!
-[X] Plot with Scáthach: +2 RP with Scáthach, Scáthach gains 1d2 Intrigue to base score. She's still a bit young, but better get started early!
Mysticism:
-[X] You've been having ... Dreams, lately. So, did Scáthach to be honest, and you're fairly sure that Aife and her spawn will, too. They aren't particularly alarming; however, they are abnormal. If anything, you should investigate what they mean.
Personal:
-[X] Spend time with one of your SLs: +2 RP
--[X] Spend time with Scáthach: +3 RP, chance of ???

Winter had pretty much become the season Dace devoted to spending time with his heiress, though most of that time was used to teach her valuable life lessons. Today was no different.

"So," Dace began today's lesson with a slightly sour expression. " today, we're going to be talking about 'needs must'. Someday, you'll find yourself in a situation where you need to cooperate with people you don't necessarily agree with.... Yes?" He stopped, seeing that his granddaughter has raised her hand with an oddly concentrated expression on her face.

"Like you and Dumbledore?" She asked innocently. Dace twitched, before breathing in and out and nodding.

"Yes. Exactly like Dumbledore and I." He acknowledged, before continuing, a hard look in his eyes as he looked at the fire in the chimney." In fact, you may find yourself needing to cooperate with people you absolutely despise for the sake of your goals, whichever they may be, knowing perfectly well that they are nothing more than giant, irresponsible liabilities..."

"Grandfather, you're doing it again. "This time Scáthach interrupted him as he was going into one of his rants. "Grandmother told me to stop you when you do that, but why are you doing it in the first place?"

Dace deflated like a balloon and sighed uncharacteristically, running a hand through his hair.

"Dumbledore... It's complicated. " He started, trying to find some way to talk about it. "Some think him a great hero for defeating Grindelwald, but they forget he's the one who enabled him in the first place. They say he's the only one the Terrorist ever feared, however, according to that Chamber of Secrets mess, he couldn't even reign him in when he was a student. It's true he's strong, and a genius. However, he limits himself too much when it matters and that causes him to become inefficient." He was hesitating to say more about it when he was interrupted.

"Don't mind him sweetheart." The doors opened dramatically, and Elizabeth entered, clad in a periwinkle dress embedded with small sapphires. " Getting anything personal out of him is like trying to pry off a cerberus' tooth. Dace here has a bad history with Dumbledore." She continued, sashaying around the room and plucking the little girl off the seat. " Honestly, it's a miracle he managed to last that long without insulting the man. He's not necessarily wrong, mind you, but there are things better left unsaid until later." She gave him a pointed look, before bringing the girl out with her, leaving Dace alone in his office.

The man covered his eyes with one hand, pinching the bridge of his nose, before absentmindedly flicking his wand and sending a paper knife sailing through the air towards a copy of the older man's photograph on the journal. It struck true, a dull thud could be heard, but Dace didn't feel any better.

And then the dreams started.

A rocky island that was lapped at by the sea. A gigantic beast struck by a spear, its body, cut up and broken down into materials, a battlefield, a glowing figure falling down to the ground, a flash of red, and then nothing.

This wouldn't be that unusual, save for the fact that he dreamed of it every night, and it just so happened that dream interpretation, of Divination in general, wasn't his specialty. In fact, he was pretty inept at it. Still, it didn't take too much to guess what it was about, which is why he was unsurprised when Scáthach came to him one evening, clad in her pink nightdress, holding Amalthea in her arms and looking worried, talking to him about the dreams she had, identical to his.

There were only few reasons why they would both dream about the Isle of Skye and the Ulster Cycle, after all. It seemed he'd have to investigate his granddaughter's namesake.

+5 RP with Scáthach, Scáthach gains 1 Intrigue, Dace gains the trait Stressed.

Stressed : -1 to all stats, -10 to all rolls. All work and no play makes Dace want to go away ~

Go on an expedition?
[]No
[]Yes Costs 10 000 Galleons

Bring people with you?

[]No
[]Yes

-[]A small retinue : Higher risks, Smaller detection chances, 600 Galleons
You will go with a dragon, 2 druids, Oliver and your granddaughter.

-[]A medium retinue : Middling choice, 1 000 Galleons
Same as above, with 3 more dragons and another druid

-[]A large retinue: Lowest risks, Higher detection chances 1400 Galleons
Same as above, with one last dragon ( Sigurd), Hassan the wolf and a group of fairies.

-[]Write in: 100 Galleons / additional creature, fairy group counts as one.

Note: For the write in : Humanoid creatures generate little to no attention while those vastly unusual generate lots.

Sorry for the lateness, illness.
Dumbledice strikes again! And this time, Dace's the one paying for it~
On another hand, Queen of Shadows at hand. Yay? I mean, it was bound to happen since it was selected in character creation, but still, it's a bit early.

LordPenguin · Jun 23, 2018

[X]Yes Costs 10 000 Galleons + 100 / person/creature

[X]Yes
-[X]A medium retinue : Middling choice, 1 000 Galleons
Same as above, with 3 more dragons and another druid

January 12th 1984

It was decided that they would go at night, under the cover of darkness, to minimize the chances of being seen. The weather was rather good, even if rather cold, but druid or not, Dace was still a wizard, warming charms existed for a reason. He looked around, Oliver was steering the dragoness expertly while little Scáthach was looking around excitedly? This was the first time she was allowed out of her bed despite it being bedtime, after all. Both Oliver and Elizabeth were dubious about her coming here, however, to the man, it stood to reason for her to be involved, especially since the dreams were very clear about her presence being required.

If the one who invited them was who he thought they were, he'd really rather avoid annoying them.

The night advanced and the group travelled quietly, there was a spot of trouble when one of the greenhorn druids threw up in the void below, but other than that, nothing exciting happened. Of course, Oliver had to pipe up at that moment.

"Nice night huh. Bit boring though."
Encounter roll : 30
That was when the dragoness under them growled. It took Dace a bit of time to see what she was looking at, but he finally noticed them too.

Vampires.

The cloud of bats was floating on their right, and part of it separated from the rest, revealing a man with greyish white skin, black hair and blood red eyes.

"A nice night indeed to fly on dragonback." The creature answered in a smooth voice, sneering, before its eyes slid towards the little girl who was looking at them curiously. " Ah, this would be the granddaughter. A delicious looking morsel to be sure, even if the curse lingering upon her would spoil the taste."

Dace's eyebrow twitched. At least this one didn't try to butcher a Romanian accent like the last one he staked.

"Is there any reason behind you approaching us?" He spoke up, getting the creature's attention off his granddaughter. "I don't suppose you're here for small talk?"

It looked at him, then the dragoness, that was snarling, flames coming out of her nostrils, and his sneered twisted into a parody of a cordial smile.

"As a matter of fact, we were. Well then, we bid you a good night." It bowed, before turning into bats that joined the cloud and quickly disappeared from view.
Diplomacy failure.
"He's totally going to try a sneak attack, isn't he?" Oliver asked rhetorically, adjusting his leather gloves while Dace cracked open his book, looking for the spell he really should get around to learning.

"Yes." Was the simple answer, and the dragoness suddenly twisted, barreling through the air while dark shapes barely missed her, one of them caught by her flames and screeching in pain.
One side had hero, gain initiative! Dragoness 1 attack: Luck activated, double damage: 66 Damage
Grabbing his squealing granddaughter under one arm and his other hand opened, Dace clenched his legs and decided to trust in his adhesive charm as he chanted.
Dace spell: Destroy undead: -15 Mana, Damage: (power (2) x 10) + 10 = 30 to all. 15 Mana left.
He felt the now familiar luminous winds gather around him, before a powerful gale flew out of his palm, expanding outwards into a sphere, brutally impacting and eroding the vampires. The one already hit by the dragoness was outright disintegrated.
Vampire 1 dead.
Feeling weakness from the opponents, the other dragonesses decided to attack too, flying towards them at high speed, burning, biting and clawing anything that got near them, mowing down through the ranks of the undead, causing the rest to flee.
Dragon attacks. High morale! They attack twice: 6 x 33 Damage, vampire 2 to 7 dead.
Only one managed to get away.

However, that one was already too much. As Dace's group was hightailing towards their destination, a terrible cold followed them and they saw that the vampire was back, followed by an army of dark cloth and white bones sailing through the air. It seems that Riddle was intent on eliminating them here. And that he didn't learn about last time. Thought, that could be excused, after all, when he got his hands on the book, he could only use that spell once before becoming useless...

He sighed.

"Oliver?" He asked tiredly to his second in command who looked as if the situation was dire.

"Yeah boss?"

"It seems that I will have to rest after this. Ask Scáthach for the directions." He then gave him the little girl, who was struggling to get a better view of what was happening around her, lifted his leg and turned around, facing the cloud of enemies following him. There sure were a lot of them. He tilted his head and looked at the vampire in the eye, before a smile of unholy glee spread on his face and he raised his hand, that started to glow again.

The sheer terror on the beast's face as its death approached was hilarious.
Not even going to roll for damage, they're all under 30 hp. Dace mana 0/30
The night sky was illuminated by white light, before regaining its usual darkness, save for the few spots of light from the stars and the lanterns strapped on the dragons. And the glowing, flying silvery animals that were patroni who were following them. Feeling exhausted, he saw the familiar face of Rufus Scrimgeour closing in towards them won his broom.
Consciousness dice (mana exhausted): 75 – 10 (stressed): 65 needed 50, still conscious.
Dace waited for the man to catch up to them while waving at him lazily, chin propped up on his saddle's backrest. With a bit of difficulty, the Head auror arrived at his level with an expression stuck between annoyed and unimpressed.

"Interesting spell you used there, Gwallawg."

"That's a way to put it" Dace yawned, turning back and relaxing on his seat, his granddaughter pouncing on him and pestering him with questions like an excited puppy. Scrimgeour didn't get the hint however and continued the interrogation.

"What's going on here? And none of that evasive bull you always use either."
Diplomacy check: 25. passed by Intrigue.
"Is this an interrogation?" Dace raised an eyebrow." I have been very obviously attacked by rogue dementors, because, obviously, the ministry wouldn't want my death right now hm? " He didn't let the other answer. " Ah, forgive me, 'have my soul eaten' would be a more appropriate term. Still, dementors out of Azkaban, don't you find it interesting? Why, what would the people say if they learned the Ministry lost control of their wardens?"

The other man's jaw clenched as he glared wordlessly at Dace, before soldiering on.

"And those are class XXXXX creatures you're riding on."

"I have a permit, mister auror."Dace blinked with an innocent face.

"I know, I was there." Scrimgeour ground out. " How are you riding those?"

"By saddling them and letting Oliver drive?" Was the fake inquisitive answer as Dace patted the leather contraption.

"And the way you destroyed dementors? Those are setting several flags off, Gwallawg. Some people at the Ministry are becoming quite worried, considering your origins."

All expression immediately left Dace's face, and he leaned in towards Scrimgeour, speaking lowly in a whisper barely audible to the man, but that sent chills crawling through his spine all the same because of the sheer darkness it contained.

"Then you should know what happened to the last one who decided to meddle, hmmm?"

He suddenly drew back, smile firmly in place, but eyes colder than winter as the Head Auror gaped at the man's audacity.

"In any case, you're doing your job much more enthusiastically than your predecessor, so I will commend you for that. However, we're on family business here, and really need to get going. We thank you for the concern, but as you can see, your help was unneeded."

Scrimgeour's scowl deepened, but he relented and finally got the hint that he was unwelcome and retreated towards the rest of the aurors, who were busy gathering the dementor remains. They quickly disappeared from sight as Dace's group progressed towards its destination, and not a minute too late, for the cube hidden in Dace's pouch, hidden within an inner, expanded pocket in his pants began to vibrate, its energy discharging towards the people on the dragon's back. Not only him and Oliver, who jerked in surprise, but also Scáthach who giggled as if somebody tickled her.

Battle results: Dementors x 60, vampires x8 eliminated
Scáthach starting exp: 32/1000
Oliver starting exp: 430 / 1000
Dace starting exp: 2861 / 3000
Fight results: Victory!
Exp gained: 974 Each
Scáthach current exp: 1006 / 2000 Level up!
Oliver current exp: 1404 / 2000 Level up!
Dace current exp: 3835 / 4000 Level up!

How does Dace choose to improve himself?

[] Anything can be planned, from supplies, to moves, to types, it's just a matter of taking the good steps... Gain basic logistics.
[] Clarity struck his mind, he's been doing it wrong all along! Gain Basic estates.
[] The earth beneath his feet, the leaves in the wind... He could understand that emerald radiance... Gain Basic Earth Magic.
[] Magic wove itself around him like a protective shield... Gain Basic Resistance

Dace's current skills: 5/8 Slots taken.
Advanced Wisdom: allows your hero to learn fourth level spells.
Basic Intelligence: Basic intelligence increases a hero's normal maximum spell points by 25%.
Basic Air Magic: allows your hero to cast air spells at reduced cost.
Basic Diplomacy: allows you to negotiate with monsters in exchange of gold and reduces the cost of surrendering by 20%.
Basic Luck: increases your hero's luck by 1

Oliver focused a bit on what happened, and Dace's instructions, before his face scrunched up in concentration and the green energy around him dimmed. Past the rush of energy, the little girl looked confused however.

"Grandfather, what should I do with it?" She asked, a bit lost about her choice.

[] "You should heighten your ability to defend yourself " Gain basic combat
[] "One's value as a leader depends on the people they lead." Gain advanced nobility
[] "No matter what, as long as there's life, there's hope." Gain basic life magic
[] "One is never truly alone." Gain Nature magic – Basic Summoning

The little girl nodded with a serious expression that seemed a bit out of place on her juvenile face and Dace had to remember himself that she was truly a three-year-old, then, he remembered he had no idea on how to behave with children and directed her towards Oliver while he took a nap to try and replenish his (currently empty) wellspring of energy.

When he woke up, the sun was up, heating his face, yet, he felt himself fall. It seemed the dragoness was losing altitude, and his leg was being shaken. He groaned and opened an eye, so see his granddaughter shake his leg.

"Wake up grandfather, we're here!"

And here they were, the dragonrider mused from his driving seat, in a place that didn't appear anywhere on the maps. The ground was dry and crackled, nothing was alive in here, and Oliver really hoped the white shards he could see littering the ground weren't bones. Despite the sun, the land was cold, there was no wind, and the sky itself has an eerie, purplish tint. In front of them, a tall, jagged structure resembling a castle was towering over there, crows perched over the gates with a malicious intent gleaming in their beady black eyes.

Oliver shuddered, the druids were huddled together, and even the dragons showed some signs of anxiety.

Meanwhile, Dace didn't know why they were all looking so nervous, those were just a few birds perched on rocks. Interesting effect with the skies though, he'd have to replicate that, though, if he's going for a more Nature themed aesthetic, this may be difficult. Yellow or green would be more jungle-ish than anything else. Little Scáthach looked fascinated with the cloudless sky, nose up in the air and needing Dace to guide her. After a few minutes, he turned around and realized his escort stayed behind, as if paralyzed. A soft, muffled noise could be heard from behind him and he decided to begin the meeting.

"You know, you could have just told me to come alone, grandmother." Dace turned around, only to feel a violent pain on the top of his head and he blinked, seeing nothing else but stars.

"Oh my, it looks like the years have taught you to talk big, let's correct that, shall we?"

Faster than he could even think, something, a pole hit his knees from the side, making him buckle and fall. The noise of feet moving over dirt reached his ears and he just huffed, crossing his arms, back on the ground.

"Not going to resist?"

"I've got better ways to use my time." He answered almost sarcastically, having recovered enough from the blow on his head for his eyes to see the one who was talking to him.

[] Scáthach, the Shadow, the Warrior Maid

[] Scáthach, Queen of the Land of Shadows, Lord of Spirits

Word of warning. Yes, as you may have surmised, the latter one is Nasu Scáthach, included due to popularity among my team of evil. She is significantly stronger than the previous one, however, selecting her will make me, for balance's sake, introduce other Nasu elements, as long as they don't enter in direct conflict with the preexisting elements (Saberface bonanza and most things about magecraft and the Mage's association won't be a thing considering we already have the Wizarding World.). This will, of course, cause the emergence of a difficulty spike down the road if you can't leverage shishou's abilities well. Choose at your own peril.

Also, I gave up. I'll go with animu images. Feel free to post some that you think correspond to this or that character. I'll give a bonus for appropriate ones.

LordPenguin · Jun 27, 2018

[X] Scáthach, the Shadow, the Warrior Maid

[X] Clarity struck his mind, he's been doing it wrong all along!

[X] "One is never truly alone."

January 12th 1984 (2)

With the tattoos on her hands instead of the face. Image changed since people on QQ asked for a better one than the one proposed.

The woman passed a tattooed hand through her flaming hair, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, as his granddaughter was looking at them both, hesitating.

"Speak up girl, I won't bite." The older woman's expression softened a bit, the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth contributing to make her look less dangerous than the bone spear and swords she held may suggest.

The little girl tried to speak up, only to hiccup loudly, with a wisp of emerald fog coming out of her mouth. The fog moved to her right, coalescing into a humanoid figure.
It was a small man, about as tall as herself, wearing brown combat boots, yellowish green pants, a sleeveless green vest, and a buckled green top hat.

"Aye, aye, from the void I come and all of that. You my summoner? You don't look like much..."

The humanoid creature looked around, their eyes squinting at the little girl inquisitively, before noticing that there were other people around. They looked at Dace first,then, surprised and mildly horrified at the woman who had raised an eyebrow, staring at the scene bemusedly. They opened their mouth, raised a finger, then dropped it.

"Yah, fuck no." In a flash of emerald, they disappeared, leaving only their hat behind. There was a moment of silence before the red haired woman snorted, then began to laugh madly, holding her sides as she did, while the other two were too confused to make heads or tails of what they just saw.

It took a while for her to calm down, and when she finally did, she sat on the cracked ground, legs crossed, hands on her knees and elbows up in the air.

"Alright. I know the brat would rather be punched repeatedly in the face than admit we're related, or even worse, ask for help, but I'm gonna need some information about what's going on there."

Dace looked at her dubiously.

"Wouldn't you know? I know for a fact that you're keeping an eye on all of us."

The older woman smiled at him winningly.

" 'Course I do. Doesn't mean I keep track of your paperwork though."

The younger man sighed, sitting on the ground unceremoniously, making it very obvious he didn't enjoy this situation one bit.

"Long story short, there's a necromancer who acquired unholy amounts of power, a dark lord who actually uses his brains, Dumbledore, and Aife lost in the nature somewhere."

"Strange order of priorities." She commented lightly.

"It does look like kinslaying runs in the family." Was the acerbic answer

Blue eyes confronted green, as she began to loom from her sitting position.

"Oh? Is there something you want to tell me?" Her voice was dangerously mild.

"I don't know, how about getting your own ducks in a row before criticizing?" Dace snorted, fingers ever so stealthily inching towards his wand as hers creeped towards her spear.

"Um..." The baby of the group intervened, flailing around to try and understand the situation, but she ultimately decided to take her grandmother's advice "No fighting!" She crossed her arms in front of her, forming an X , feet apart from each other, expression scrunched into what she thought was a disapproving frown but with her strawberry blond ringlets and rosy cheeks, it was very unintimidating.

Downright cute, in fact.

Still, it did the job and got the two of them to back down, at least long enough for the girl's namesake to get up, walk towards her, pick her up and proceed to squeeze the life out of her.

"How cute, clearly you got that from your grandmother." The woman threw one last jab at Dace before her shoulders relaxed, signaling she had calmed down. " Still, it looks like you're in quite the pinch, so I'll help you, for her sake, if nothing else."

Scáthach the Elder joins your group. However, since she's Scáthach the Younger's subordinate, she'll act as a bodyguard/tutor for her as she is the one who actually passed that diplomacy check.

As they left her territory, castle and deserted landscape disappearing behind them, they heard a feral growl and blood chilling shriek. Hastening their pace, they rejoined the group that remained behind and saw one of the green dragons holding a dementor in their maw, a constant gout of flame steadily disintegrating the creature into a heap of burning black scraps and greenish-black fumes.

It didn't take much at all to understand that something was off. A lone dementor when it was already clear they stood no chance against his dragons was suspicious, however, if Riddle was half as smart as he liked to advertise, this sacrificial move had a hidden objective. The question was what that objective was.

Intimidation was useless, spying was a much better explanation. However, it wouldn't have been able to cross the boundary of Scáthach's domain, this was a useless sacrifice, and therefore much too optimistic a hypothesis to Dace's tastes. No. He needed to think....

After a few minutes of pondering, as he sat on dragonback, he felt a tiny weight on his knee. It was his granddaughter who dozed off due to it being far past bedtime, causing him to remember that he'd need to prepare for her introduction to society when she hits seven. And just like that, pieces finally fell into place.

He remembered Riddle's inquiries about her when they met a few years ago, the fact that the vampire was unusually interested in her, to the point of risking death to get to her. This on its own wouldn't be particularly enlightening. However, he also remembered the rumors he heard. Back then, he'd dismissed them as the talk of envious people trying to smear the reclusive genius' image. The fact was, three incredibly skilled and prominent young women, all between sixteen and seventeen, disappeared soon after being seen with Riddle. Add to that Riddle seeming more intent on hunting down Aife than squashing down Lily's budding faction, and this painted a rather... disturbing picture.

Depending on whether or not he could share the senses of his minions, Riddle had concrete confirmation of his granddaughter's existence. Considering his luck, that was most likely the case.

He felt the need to sigh.

Dealing with a hypothetically pedophiliac necromancer really wasn't what he had imagined he would be doing. At least not so early. Still, he'd better prepare, since he was sure Riddle wouldn't appreciate him destroying his troops for the third time in a row.

After all, if he were in his shoes, he'd try to kill him too, before he became a threat.

New intel! Riddle aware of Chibi's existence and is likely going after her for reasons unknown, save for the fact it's somehow related to Aife. Is very likely to attack you very soon to get rid of you before you become even more of a problem.

It's a pretty sad state of affairs when it's the 3 year old who's the adult of the group.

I hope you enjoyed background-roll-chan's vacations, cause she's back and ruining everybody's fun even harder than before. Except the dragon rolls. they're as bullshit as ever. Very bad rolls for you this turn, and Granddaughteru saved the day with her SL3 diplo reroll ability.

This part didn't want to write itself, so I'm calling it quits and screw subtlety ...

LordPenguin · Jun 29, 2018

March 1st, 1984

-[X] Trials! Trials everywhere! Don't look at him like that, he's the victim here!

Dace was sitting in the courtroom as if he owned the place, lounging leisurely and joking with Lucius about their next bit of entertainment. The young man, always happy to help when it comes to annoying people aligned with Dumbledore, was relaxed. It seemed like people finally forgot that Lucius bribed his way out of Azkaban and stopped talking where he could hear. Or they were too scared after he ruined the third business belonging to people who offended him.

It wasn't very subtle, but Dace supposed it got the job done. He looked with interest as the now one-armed James Potter entered, the very picture of wounded dignity. His green eyes met with the bespectacled man's own hazel, and the looks exchanged were one of pure hatred, and the other, amusement. Potter did a double take before glaring harder, which made Dace smile politely and tilt his head in false incomprehension, which did wonders to needle the other man. Ah, how he missed annoying people by offering them basic courtesy. He felt his tension leave and relaxed in his seat.

Dace then looked around, ignoring the irate man in favor of looking for a certain somebody who wasn't there. It seemed Dumbledore was true to his words and didn't try to protect them from judgement. What was strange though, was that at the end of the room, near the entrance, Dace could see a black silhouette clad in a black cloak. Nothing of them was visible, save for the unnatural pallor of their skin. There went his good mood. The undead even infiltrated here? He was glad he didn't throw his lot in with the Ministry, if that were the case.

However, this caused a complication, for if the Ministry was compromised, so was Dumbledore, to a certain extent. Which meant that should something happen, he wouldn't be able to count on reinforcements. After all, it would be trivial to engineer an incident somewhere else and go for the kill in the meantime. Especially if Riddle and the Overlord struck a ceasefire, like the lack of altercations between the both of them this winter may suggest... He hated it when his enemies were competent. More so when they were completely insane in a way that didn't impede their abilities in any way.

A stout woman, hair graying and big glasses set on her nose walked up towards James Potter and began speaking about him. How he was a respectable young man, a young father to a pair of twins, how him following Aife was a mistake due to youth, how it was truly Aife's fault, and she even began insinuating that the fault lied towards Dace for not being more strict with his daughter, as it was one of the regrets he expressed himself in that interview he had with Rita Skeeter.

Dace felt his smile become fixed.

Now now... That wouldn't do. That wouldn't do at all...

What does Dace do?

[] Let it go, he has more things to worry about than a mere trial

[] Well, he can't very well let them go unscathed after this, right?

[] Ruin them. He may not be as active as he used to be in the political arena, but he was still a force to be reckoned with.

Due to having sufficiently taunted and gloated in front of his enemies, Dace loses trait stressed. + 2 SL Lucius.

March 19th, 1984

-[X] Train. You hate doing it, and it hates you back, but if it makes Madeye shut up, you'll do it.

Dace didn't know what possessed him into taking the bait Moody presented, but in his defense, having his agility compared to that of a legless, arthritic goblin would get on anyone's nerves! Which was why he was currently at the feet of Yr Wyddfa, where the grizzled auror was scolding him for everything he had done wrong. Well, trying to.

"And what's this I hear about you being poisoned in your own house?! You should have known better than to drink something given to you by an enemy!"

"I had a tooth hollowed out and filled with a generic cure-all."

A vein on Madeye's forehead was beginning to twitch, expressing his immense annoyance.

"Here is what I have to say to you Gwallawg." He whipped out his wand, almost faster than what the eye could see and bellowed "CONST- "

Dace snapped his fingers and curtains of fog blocked out their sight. He then swiftly moved, barely avoiding a scarlet jet of energy, before dropping on his fours, all of Madeye's spells trying to reach for him, herding him towards a position that would have caused his loss had he remained on his feet. Secretly, he was glad this blocked off the ex-auror's eye, because of the indignity. Well, not that he really cared about that above results, but he had an image to maintain. With one last look at Moody's general direction, he steadily advanced on his fours, ignoring the bellows of Madeye calling for him to fight him like a man and, when he reached safe distance, he escaped the fog, got up and threw another vial.

Normally, the fog would be inert, even if it couldn't be seen through with magical means, but once the vial's contents is added the fog becomes of a powerful knock out gas. After he heard Moody fall to the ground, he lifted the trap, revealing a snoring Moody.

Perhaps, before talking about 'constant vigilance', he'd check his surroundings for nonmagical booby traps, next time.

He felt rather proud of himself and walked back to camp, only to see his ancestor with his granddaughter on her shoulders. The woman grinned at him, white teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

"Well then, what do we have here, cutting out classes, brat?"

She didn't really let him explain before she proceeded to 'beat the hooligan out of him' as an 'educational example for his granddaughter'.

Several hours later, he almost crawled into his bed after applying some salve for his bruises and mused that perhaps he preferred training with Moody over that. Still, he had learned an important lesson.

[] Knowing when to run: Bonuses to escape and dodging

[] Standing his ground: Bonus to combat

[] Proper timing: Bonus to opportunity attack

April 12th, 1984

-[X] Ollivander has finished rifling through your mother's wands and now wants to teach you how to make wands because 'so much natural talent wasted is a crime against wizardkind and you should be ashamed not to use it!'. Seriously, what was it about you that made crazy old men nag at you all the time?

Sitting gingerly to avoid aggravating the results of yet another beating from his grandmother's loving hands, he looked around him. Usually the mountains were only barely covered in grass when it wasn't snow, yet, the Treant's exodus led them to begin developing one there. Through holes in the shrubs, he could see wildlife, like wolves and moon does looking at him stealthily. Unblinking. And unmoving. This was slightly unnerving to be honest. Even more so since some of those wolves were apparently brought into existence by his granddaughter and nobody knew why.

Still, the most unnerving here was by far Ollivander himself. The man looked nothing like a well put-together shopkeeper, his clothes were instead a simple brown robe, and his silver hair resembled a crow's nest, or at least a bowtruckle's with the odd branch or leaf sticking out. He'd been spending quite a bit of time outside despite the temperature and looked almost manic at times, carrying with him branches of diverse sizes and forms while muttering things nobody could hear.

Dace was fairly certain, as the older man sat on the ground in front of him, that it was the Nature influencing him. Well that, and the fact that his greatest love always was, and always would be wandmaking. Speaking of which...

"Wands, are works of art. Each wand I made, I remember in the tiniest details, the size, the grain of the wood, the weight... There is no wand identical to another, each and every one of them is unique, and therefore each and every witch and wizard is the perfect fit to one wand for their whole life. However, the only way to ensure that perfect match, is to create it yourself, young Dace." Ollivander produced Dace's wand, that he hadn't even remarked was absent from the holster in his sleeve and held it to the light.

"My whole life I strove to find what were the best ingredients to make a perfect wand, and I managed to find three reasonably well supplied. Unicorn hair, phoenix feather and Dragon heartstring. There were more possible cores, but Basilisks and other such creatures were much too rare for me to have access to them. Such a pity..." He gazed into the forest, eyes lost in thought, before he snapped out of it again.

"In your particular case, you are well attuned to your wand, in no little part due to the fact your mother was its creator. Cedar and Dragon heartstring. Cedar is a wood that responds well to people with strong character and stronger loyalty. If memory serves, you were in Hufflepuff, were you not? " Dace grunted noncommittally and Ollivander continued. " It tends to favor perspicacity and perception and its holders tend to be rather... Frightening opponents if crossed, for loyalty and perception tend to be oft overlooked qualities that greatly surprise one's opponent. " His knowing, cloudy eyes were almost seeing through Dace at this point, who was wondering why exactly he agreed to this.

"Dragon heartstrings as a general rule produce powerful wands that allow for quick learning of spells. They tend to form strong bonds to their owners, however, they are also the easiest to win over in a fight, for dragons only acknowledge strength and dominance, and this trait carried over to the wands themselves, who also end up being quite temperamental." He chuckled, before waving Dace's wand, to no effect.

"However, in that case, the Cedar wood counters that effect, amplifying instead the power, to the detriment of the wand's ability to work with anyone else. This was clearly an intended feature I found in several other wands made by Bridget. However, I do not think this is the best match for you. No, no... In fact..." The younger man looked slightly offended now.

"No, you promise to be my trickiest customer by far. " A light of unholy glee was animating the man, whose body language was beginning to become erratic." Such a walking contradiction, such an inner turmoil. There is anger, so much of it, only held at bay by ironclad determination. A soul that only ever knew darkness and yet refused to answer its siren's call... No, young man, yours will be a wand made with a phoenix feather to serve you as a guide... As for the wood... Perhaps laurel. Or maybe even..." His maniacal grin almost reached his ears as the wind picked up making the living forest whisper." Yew."

+2 RP With Ollivander, Dace can now craft basic wands, ???/???

May 6th, 1984

-[X] Extra action. Use your own free time to do stuff. (May only be taken once, may be used as substitute for AP)
--[X] Investigate the necklace your wife sent you. It's obviously magical, but you don't know what it does.

It took him quite a while to understand what exactly it was. However, he finally found out. This necklace's effects were twofold. On one side, it strengthened any army its holder supported, on the other it reinforced their charm and fertility. The downside is that it could only be worn by women. At least it wasn't cursed. Now, where did her hear about a necklace like that before... He'd need to investigate.

Gained :

A mysterious necklace!

+2 Luck, Morale to army
+20 attraction roll in spring
+10 Fertility

Give the necklace to someone?

[]Yes

-[]Write-in

[]No

And now, the choice some of you have been waiting for....

Choose your Interlude!

[]The Dark Lord
[]The Black Lord
[]The Red Lord
[]The White Lord
[]The Grey Lord
[]The Red Lady
[]The Green Lady
[]The Pink Lady
[]The Blue Lady
[]The Bright Lady

Dace's dark secret finally revealed: Dude was a Puff.

LordPenguin · Jul 1, 2018

Interlude : The Bright Lady
Aife Negaverse (2)

(Looks like somebody on QQ got their wish)

LadyZebra said:
Huh.

SuperMinion said:
What now?

Kiyotan said:
Zebra? Zebra no! Zebra stahp! Whatever's on your mind isn't good!

SoulReave said:
Zebra yes!

Orky said:
Seriously, I feel like this quest should be called masochism simulator

SoulReave said:
IKR, it's like watching a trainwreck in slow motion!

Brunette24 said:
To be fair, Zebra told you since the beginning that going with the 'kill dad' plan would cause a difficulty spike

Kiyotan said:
There's difficulty spike, and there's this! We're supposed to play very easy mode!

Corvid said:
Even in very easy mode, if you shoot yourself in the foot, it's still going to hurt.

SuperMinion said:
That was surprisingly profound of you.

LadyZebra said:
Invasion : Code Red

It was going rather well at the beginning, banished as she was, she was still that man's daughter by blood and as such she had some leeway with the manor's protective spells. A look at the minimap on the top right of her view revealed the optimal route to go and save Lily and as such, she led the way, using a few secret passages. However, that luck didn't hold.

" Young lady."

A faintly familiar voice reached her ears, and she looked to her right, a group of maids was coming towards them from a corridor that was crossing with the one they were perusing. It took her a bit of time to recognize her. Martha was yet another of her muggleborn yearmates at Hogwarts that desperation pushed towards her father, and had to accept that degrading job. The woman was looking at her and her group suspiciously and Aife smiled brighty at her.

"Hello Martha, I'm just visiting."

The other woman just narrowed her blue eyes and sighed in almost disappointment shaking her head and making her long black hair sway with the movement.

"My apologies for sounding crass, but please stop trying to bullshit me."

Almost too fast to see, a red hail of stunners was launching towards them and Aife barely had time to erect a shield to protect her group. The maids all had their wands raised, organizing themselves in shifts to make sure the shield was constantly under pressure to lock them down in one single position, while another part of the group was fanning out around them to cut off their ways of escape. Aife was beginning to feel the pressure, and upon noticing their moves, she ducked, letting the shield fall and sprinted towards the middle of the group.

The maids dodged, the fabric of their skirts flaring and blocking her view as she heard the shouts of the other members of her group. She tried to attack them, be it with hand-to-hand or magical attacks, however none of them hit, the maids swaying nimbly around her. She then realized what their strategy was: Keep her away while the rest of them dealt with her group, and she swore. This choice of tactics has Moody written all over it. Deciding the mission was more important than discretion, she gathered her magic and punched the air next to Martha's head.

"[Wind Strike]!"

She shouted, opening her fist an unleashing a wind wave that knocked over the maids fighting her group and sent them flying against the walls with wet thudding sounds. Most of them stayed down, however, in doing so, she forgot that the person she was fighting was still active. She got what felt to be a steel fist in her thorax that pushed her away, before a massive blow to the side of her head disoriented her. She stepped back, avoiding a flash of silver and saw that Martha was wearing solid looking steel gauntlets over her fists, and was raining blow after blow upon her with her blue eyes colder than she ever saw them. From the corner of her eyes, she saw that Martha's group left her to finish off the invaders while Martha herself occupied her. Aife clenched her teeth. The blows were strong enough to make her bones rattle each time she had to parry them, and she had no leeway to use her wand with how close she was. She decided that at this point, discretion was pretty dead and changed tactics.

"[Power blow]!"

She punched towards the woman, who crouched at the last second, her own fist hitting and denting the wall behind her, while Martha extended her leg and
sweeped horizontally, striking Aife behind her knee, causing her to fall on her back. At least, it was supposed to. The ex-heiress rounded her back and threw her legs up, her hands over her shoulder making her roll away until she landed back on her feet and charged again.

Her blood was beginning to pump in her ears, and she felt excitement. Nobody ever gave her such a good fight. Too bad it was against someone her father hoodwinked into his service, and she had no time for this! Once again, she gathered her strength to fire off her finishing move, when another punch hit her throat, this one even stronger than the others what caused her shout to die in her crushed throat, immediately followed by a knee in her gut that expelled all of the air in her lungs and made her fold over, allowing her opponent to join her hands over her head, forming a fist and brutally bringing it down on her exposed back, sending Aife crashing into the floor.

She then sat on her and began repeatedly hitting the back of her head, her blows getting stronger and faster the more she hit. Barely conscious and blinded by pain, Aife could only struggle uselessly, her arms firmly locked by Martha's white silk stocking clad legs, and see notification upon notification regarding the damage she was taking.

A particularly vicious blow sent stars flying in her eyes and was noted as a critical him. A cold pit formed into her gut. Was she really going to lose here? Against a normal human of all things? Anger overtook her. No. No, she wasn't going to lose. Not here, not now, not when people were counting on her!

She called towards her the power Freyja gave her and felt her strength multiply.

She was not going to lose to a goddamned Hufflepuff of all things!

The energy flooded her, creating a protective shell, and she felt the woman jump off her. Too late. The ensuing shock wave sent her careening towards the end of the hallway, where she rolled a bit, before getting up unsteadily as Aife was getting rid of the others and reanimated her friends. Martha then looked at the scene, her colleagues on the floor and the intruders on their feet and her eyes narrowed.

"Code Rainfall."

Her voice smoothly rang through the air, though for some reason, Aife couldn't hear her from an ear, and the downed maids warped out of existence, the iridescent light coming from the brooches betraying their nature as portkeys. The woman's blue eyes threw one last glare at Aife, before she, too disappeared. Aife used that moment to check her status and winced at what she saw.

Named:
AifeLupin
Health : 90/200
Mana: 200 / 250
Status: Hairline fracture (skull, 2nd and 6th ribs, jaw) Broken (Right forearm, left knee), Ruptured (left eardrum, left kidney.) Pregnant (3 months)

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

That gorilla-like woman sure hit hard. She guessed it was one demerit of having the pain resistance skill. She took a pink potion flask from her pocket and downed it, the feelings of uncomfort and deafness disappearing. She'd have to be more careful, it was her last, and she no longer had any ingredients left to craft it.

"What's going on here?!"

A familiar voice barked, and she felt her shoulders fall in relief. She turned around and beamed at Moody, who was hobbling quickly towards them, electric blue fake eye spinning in every direction, betraying his agitation.

"Why are you there? Albus told me nothing about a visit."

People avoided his gaze and Aife flinched at the mention of the leader of the Order of the Phoenix, which made Moody almost growl.

"He doesn't know you're here, does he? Didn't the last time teach you anything girl? I thought your close call with the Necromancer finally drilled into that overly thick skull of yours that we need to work together, or we'll die alone! This isn't the time to indulge in you delusions!"

"But he has Lily!"

James protested hotly, wand in his hand, paling when a bright orange jet of light passed next to his ear.

"The same Lily you left to die alone to cover your escape, and don't interrupt me, boy."

The ex-auror snarled, both eyes fixed on James. Aife pursed her lips, before making her decision.

Sneak attack! Damage doubled!

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

She struck at Moody when he wasn't looking at her, and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Wha-!"

James balked at the scene, before Aife glared at all of them.

"We need to hurry before reinforcements are brought in!"

She shouted, the beginnings of panic lacing though her voice. Ropes flew from her wand, Moody's wand, peg leg and fake eye falling neatly into a box she conjured and locked shut, and she sent both the box unconscious man into a cupboard nearby, after tying him up and gagging him, locking the door shut afterwards.

"Should keep him down an hour or two. Let's go."

She ordered, the people following her hesitating until James strode towards the corridor, wand out. It didn't take them long to find the rooms, Dace and Lily were in the same room, in the guest wing. They had to deal with a few wolves, but nothing a few blasting hexes couldn't deal with, though, they gave quite
a lot of exp when they died. James, however, had to change forms to fight them off, since they seemed to be mildly resistant to magic and none of them were as strong as Aife in the department. They finally arrived at their destination, tired, some of them wounded, and angry. The woman leading them raised a finger to her mount and signaled them to walk away as she lifted her wand in direction of the well. Her father had a nasty habit of trapping doors, therefore she'd have to make her own.

"Bombarda maxima!"

The wall exploded with a massive noise and dust blocked their sight, before settling down, revealing a strange sight.

Dace and Lily were sitting on the bed, Lily rolled up in covers with holes allowing for her arms to peak out, eyes red rimmed, a bucket of vanilla and chocolate fudge ice cream cradled on her lap and right arm, and her other hand holding a spoon. Dace for once wasn't wearing robes, favoring instead a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow and black slacks, the black vest laying on a seat nearby while a yellow and black tie was hanging loosely around his shoulders. Aife had to stop for a moment. Since when did he wear muggle clothing? She banished that thought away, filing it for later, instead focusing on his hand on her back, as if he was trying to comfort her.

She bit back a sneer. As if that man was able of empathy, he was almost as bad as Voldemort, only smart enough not to get caught. It was clearly a ploy to bring her deeper under his thumb than she already was. Next to her, James shifted back to human form and glared wordlessly at Dace's arm, and she blinked, before understanding what happened. Her father may be in his fifties and rotten to the core, but he still looked like an attractive man in his thirties, according to her female friends. He must have thought he was trying to seduce Lily or something.

Still, it was time for her to act. She threw a glance at Lily and spoke at her, smiling reassuringly, avoiding that part of the wall that fell due to her overpowered charm. She needed to get them out of there before part of the building collapsed on them.

"I'm sure things are confusing right now, but you need to come with us, that man is bad news, don't worry, we'll protect you."

"Pro...tect."

Lily's face was white and her eyes glazed over, turning towards James.

"A stag."

he continued dazedly. That was strange, didn't she knew her own husband's animagus form? Though, those strangely empty eyes... He dared to use the imperius her?! Dace put his arm in front of her, wandless, and spoke out almost conversationally.

"Somehow, I do not think Dumbledore knows of it."

Some of them looked guilty, but Aife just scowled even deeper, glaring at his arm.

"Albus isn't the only member of the order. We're here to save Lily from you!" She sniped, making the older man laugh dryly.

" Like you were here for her all of those years? When her friends were killed? "What? " When her apprenticeship fell through due to her status? When you left her alone to fend for herself against Riddle and his army of darkness?"

A shiver ran up her spine at the dark satisfaction and smugness she could see in his green eyes -weren't they blue?- as he looked down at her, despite his hunched position. No, she couldn't let his words get to her, she knew how he worked, she wouldn't let him befuddle her!

"Voldemort is dead, he was vanquished on Halloween by the prophecy child. You're just one of the Necromancer's followers trying to capitalize on the fear he invoked to further your agenda! "

Admittedly, that one was a stab in the dark regarding the Necromancer, but Voldemort disappeared at the right date, therefore Harry probably beat him, even though both his parents were alive. She remembered hearing about James' parents dying around that time period, so it fit. Upon hearing that, Dace sneered, looking down at her in a definitely unpleasant expression, and she knew something was wrong, strengthening her gut feeling that things were going to go awry.:

"So that's your current theory to try to keep things as close as your canonical point of view. How cute. However, you forgot a small, unimportant detail... Harry Potter was never born."

The words rang through the air, the weight of the revelation almost suffocating her. She looked at James, who looked puzzled, and knew in her heart that it was the truth, but that begged another question. How did he know? His eyes glinted in the light, twinkling, much like Dumbledore's, and she knew. He used legilimancy on her when she was young. He knew everything from the very beginning. Ignoring her state, Dace continued mercilessly.

"Lily and James never married, and why would they? You beloved mutt killed her best friend Severus in front of her after all, even if she didn't know about that back then."

He would never... Sirius' prank in fifth year...

"Did you think she'd ever date successfully that man, Severus' biggest bully, after seeing her best friend die confessing his feelings of love to her?"

Dace tilted his head like a bird, a cruel light in his eyes.

" Did you think this is the only thing your interference ruined? Oh no, no no no, you don't get out of it that easily my dear."

Fear crawled through her spine and suddenly, her father looked like a giant in front of her, and she was so very, very small... Until a voice dragged her from the pit of darkness she was in, bringing her back to the situation at hand.

"Shut up!"

James shouted at him, brown light going out of his wand and catching Dace in the chest, sending him into the wall. There was a meaty thud and he fell, wheezing. The smile on the elder Gwallawg 's face, however, was only one step short of demonic and her hands were trembling. Why didn't Gamer's Mind activate?

"It's fine... live your life as you want it... After all... Your daughter is here to... Pick up the slack."

What?

"I don't have a daughter."

Aife affirmed, weakly, wracking her head to look for inconsistencies in his speech. It was a lie, had to be, there was no way Remus and her had a child, and they all forgot about them. At the same time, indignation rose in her breast. This was just like her father to use children as hostages. No, it probably wasn't hers, but still, there was an innocent child prisoner in his grasp, waiting to be perverted by him. She thought of her darling Romulus and what the man could do to him. The images steeled her resolve. Push come to shove, she'd have to deal with him herself.

"Ever wondered what is it that you forgot after you poisoned me?"

Was his simple answer, almost conversational. She wondered, yes. She wondered almost every day. The pieces were finally falling into place, his having her firstborn would allow him to transfer heirship. But still, a daughter with Rosier... With a Death Eater... Nausea rose through her. Moonlight was streaming on the room by now, but then Dace did something weird, falling to the ground, activating a secret passage and crawling to safety, puppy under an arm. She was about to pursue him, but Lily's trembling voice attracted her attention

"The stag... Under the full moon... You were here but why
..
Sev' said...
But then... The wolf... Mooney... The marauders? But then... Prongs."

Her right hand began scratching at her temple, the other holding an indigo cube that seemed to be the Order anchor.

"Prongs was here...
Moony
was here...
Sev'
...said-Catspaw-
-yourfault-youwerehere!"

Her speech became more and more erratic as she began shouting, her hand falling back to her side.

" Wait, Lils , you don't know everything"

James raised his hand to defend himself, looking stricken, as Aife was also trying to deescalate the situation.

"Lily, listen to me, I know my father, he loves twisting the truth, and-"

Lily spoke out again, interrupting her with death in her voice.

"This is all your fault."

Her voice was airy at first, but became more and more ferocious, angry, erratic as she spoke.

"Your fault.
Your fault, your fault
yourfaultyourfaultyourfaultyourfaultyourfaultyOurfAUltyourfFAUltyourFAUltYOURFAULT!"

She screamed loudly and shrilly, the scream a lot stronger than it should be, with an odd echo to it. Then, the cube in her hand broke, and everything became red.

The wrath of a woman scorned
Objective : Survive until rescue: Time left 05m36s
Failure : Death

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

Aife didn't understand what was happening, a shock wave sent her to her knees, and a red pillar came down from the heavens, striking Lily as she was screaming so hard she could almost hear it tearing itself apart. Lily's form was bubbling, flesh melting and moving as if she was made of wax and somebody was molding her.

"[Observe]."

She said, wetting her dry lips and promptly wished he hadn't looked.

Name: Lily Evans, chosen of Ares
Species: Human
Level 10 Divine Warrior
HP: 200 / 200
Status: Berserk

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

Aife turned around and shouted at the others to run away as a flash of red and burning heat fled past her, towards James. She recognized it was Lily, who, pounced on the man who managed to dodge with a feral scream. However, the burnt meat scent revealed he wasn't unscathed and James fell to the ground, screaming in pain as he held the burned stump that used to be his left arm, his wand laying uselessly on the ground, broken in two.

Under the moonlight, she could see the changes brought down on the woman due to the intervention of the god. Her hair was longer, reaching the ground easily and turned scarlet. Her musculature was more pronounced and her hands and feet were covered in strange and faintly luminous red plate. The air around her seemed to catch fire due to the massive power she could feel emitting from her.

Aife steeled her resolve, and used the Accio spell to bring James to her, then banishing him away so that the woman wouldn't kill him. Of all of them, she was the only one who had a chance of beat her. After all, they were both chosen by gods of war.

However, she miscalculated, and fought Lily as if she was a regular fighter, but Lily was not. She was a feral beast with the single minded objective of killing them all, which is why she was taken by surprise when Lily ducked under her spell and grabbed her head, making them both fall to the ground. She straddled her, holding Aife 's head with both hands, the burning metal making her flesh fizzle and bashing it to the floor, while a pillar of not-fire with her as the origin began to rise to the sky, keeping any spell from going through. Aife felt her magic losing potency and began to panic. They were both chosen, so why was Lily so much stronger?

No, she couldn't think of that now, she needed to escape her grip! Shifting, she threw her leg backwards, distracting the other woman long enough for her to turn on her back and kick her away in the sternum with both feet, standing up while the woman was flying away. However, Lily fell on her fours and pounced again, red claws digging easily into her abdomen, causing a rain of scarlet to gush out Howling for her to die. The pain was too intense for her to bear, even for her pain reduction skill, and the massive amount of notifications blocked her view, making her flail around blindly, trying to fight off the other woman.

Then, amidst the chaos a voice resounded through the chaos, booming like thunder.

"ENOUGH."

Dumbledore had arrived.

Aife couldn't move, however, she felt her agony lessen somewhat and the pressure of having Lily over her disappear.

She didn't know how long she remained stuck in the red, but when it all stopped, she opened her eyes to find herself laying in a white room, the red head of Fawkes perched over her, pearl like tears falling down on her body. She sighed in relief and tried to relax but opened an eye to try to identify where she was regardless. The first thing she saw was Dumbledore sitting near her bedside, casually reading a book on alchemy, his legs crossed and apparently perfectly at ease in his eye watering canary yellow robes with purple polka dots.
As if feeling her gaze, He closed the book abruptly with one hand, blue eyes scanning her through his half moon glasses. What was worrying her though, was the complete lack of his usual cheer, softness, or indulgence. This Dumbledore looked, however, every bit like the man who took out Grindelwald and burnt the entirety of his base to the ground. She had to focus on his ridiculous robes not to be scared out of her wits by the apathetic stare Dumbledore gave her.

"I must admit, that when I said to stay put, this wasn't what I had in mind."

He began mildly, almost innocuously. However, for all her father made her want to shrink down, Dumbledore's tone made her want to shrivel and die.

"Please, enlighten me as to why you thought storming in a presumed enemy's seat of power, with almost no backup, while you weren't still at full power, when he had time to prepare for your coming, was a good idea."

Aife bit her lip. Dumbledore didn't wait for her answer.

"Being a leader takes more than charisma, I'm afraid. You need to be ready to take responsibility for your actions, and see your choices to the very end. More than that, you will have to live with those for the rest of your life. Ah, it seems this old man is still a tad... Upset."

He sighed and got up, heading towards the door and Aife spoke up before thinking.

"You're not going to punish me?"

Dumbledore stopped, his hand on the doorknob and turned back towards her, with pity in his eyes.

"I think you've been punished enough."

As he left the room, she wondered the meaning of his words, rubbing her stomach reflexively, before realizing were a small bump should be, there was only a lean, muscled abdomen.

Aife's screams tore through the night, making birds fly from the building.

That night was horrible. She spoke more with Dumbledore, and she knew who he reminded her of when in a bad mood. Her father. Her insanely manipulative, hyper competent father. It may not be Harry Potter canon, but Harry Potter fanfiction wasn't out of question. The question was, would she risk it?

[The sword that chooses the king] Questline automatically taken. Somewhere, he slumbers, waiting for a brave soul to awaken him when Britain needs him the most. Somewhere, the other slumbers, waiting to finish what he started.

Barging into an enemy's base almost without preparations was unsafe! Who'd have though?

Kiyotan said:
What the fuck was that Zebra?!

LadyZebra said:
Guaranteed infiltration, not the rest.

Orky said:
Don't make us beg...

LadyZebra said:
A Nat 1 negative score in Lily composure?

SuperMinion said:
...Dear god.

Corvid said:
I think I'm in love with your dice. I'm speechless for once. Continue.

SuperMinion said:
You didn't pull your punches huh. Curiosity : what would have happened had we chosen not to poison our father?

LadyZebra said:
Probably? None of that.

SuperMinion said:
That's not helpful.

LadyZebra said:
Sounds like an OOC question~

Orky said:
Ugh. Kiyoooo?

Kiyotan said:
I spent my last to guarantee inflitration, see how it turned out.

SuperMinion said:
Just to be sure, it's not game over yet, right?

SoulReave said:
Oh, hey, woke up in time to see the discussion. Now to read.

Orky said:
Of course he'd come for that.

SoulReave said:
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA THAT BROAD IS SO DUMB!

SuperMinion said:
This is our MC you're insulting here.

LadyZebra said:
No, it is not. Not even the game's next phase, in fact.

SuperMinion said:
So, we got an abortion thanks to Lily, our standing in the Order is ruined, Dace's gonna sic the authorities on us, and there's a chance of Evil Dumbledore being a thing, while the Necromancer wants us undead. What do we do?

SoulReave said:
You know, there are times when a (wo)man must take a stand. Since the trainwreck is already taking place, I say we ride it to the end!

SuperMinion said:
This is going to end in tears.

Brunette24 said:
You have no idea.

SuperMinion said:
Shut up, you filthy traitor of a beta.

Kiyotan said:
Erm, guys, have you seen the invisitext at the end?

Corvid said:
...

SoulReave said:
...

Orky said:
...

Kiyotan said:
Zebra, you magnificent bastard.

LadyZebra said:
I try.

The maid fight was supposed to last 30 words, but I had so much fun with the Moody-trained CQC Specialist Terminator Meido Martha ( who may or may not be a Ruler Martha expy) that I just rolled into existence that it lasted much longer, like 1010 words longer. She was just supposed to be a mook; but she was so interesting, like Dace and Oliver, so why not? Besides, the rolls back then were 116 (maids) vs 122 (Aife's group), with all bonuses already counted in, it was still rather close and I hope it showed! It's good training for fight scenes! I'm not good with them, so if you guys have any advice / remarks about it, don't hesitate to speak up! I'm a bird, I have no teeth to bite you with

Also, Aife fails at being a proper shounen hero. Much sad. On another news, the train still has no brakes!

This chapter is 3x as long as originally intended. My bad.

LordPenguin · Jul 1, 2018

Weeell. Since we're a bit deeper in the game, and since it seemed to be a good time, time to unleash... the full action list. Do you have enough AP, player?

[x] Well, he can't very well let them go unscathed after this, right?
[x] Proper timing: Bonus to opportunity attack
[x] Yes
-[x] Scathach (Junior)

Summer 1984

Tents are still uncomfortable. Especially since that old witch is around.

Still, there was quite the surprise, as when one day you were trying to train your strength you saw one of your head maids...

[]Martha : Brawler type, CQC Monster.
[]Chloé : Ranged type, sniper disposition.
[]Laurie : Mid-range type, spying/assassination type.

Almost shaking you down so that you'd order her to do something because being paid to do nothing for over a year didn't sit well with her. A dit dazed (because dear lord, she's strong...), you absentmindedly ask her to clean the mess Agatha's explosions caused, which she ran towards, almost cackling.

Turn 4 Possessions:

Gains:

-Animal (mundane and magical) Ranches: +45,000 Galleon (after salaries and charges), 1d6 Epic animal components/ Turn
-- 1000 Employees, payed 544 G/t on average.
Greenfire (Floo powder producers since 1930): + 10 000 Galleons/ Turn
--200 Employees payed 500 G/t on average
Potion shops 'Montmorency' in England: + 60, 000 Galleons/ Turn
--500 Employees payed 550 G/t on average
Medjica (Healing salves and potions): + 30 000 Galleons/turn
--150 Employees paid 770 G/t on average
'George's Inferno': +6 Sulfur /turn, +6 Mercury /turn

Spendings:

Gwallawg Academy of Superior Learning: -40,000 Galleon / turn, 1d6 Chance of producing a Druid, 1d100-80 chance of Loyal Hero Unit. (Muggleborn population: 95%)

Manor employee salaries: (50 of them, 380G/t on average) (Paid vacations/medical leave)

Salaries: Agatha (1 000), Jason Swallows (1500), Mad Eye Moody (1000)

= 82500 Galleons / Turn

GASL Rolls
d6: 4 Druids joined the army
d100-80: 94-80 = 14 Heroic unit!
D6 : 3 Martial. Welp.

Elizabeth roll
19 : + 2 Gems
Animal ranches:
10x Unicorn hairs

262 600 Galleons
12 Mercury
12 Sulfur
4 Crystal
8 Gems
40 Stone

Skylight: A sapphire that seems to shine with an inner light. +10 to results if used to create items with [Life/Order] Attribute.
Nature Anchor: Allows to soak up a zone with Nature energy, necessary to build a Rampart.
Book of Air:
Dragon Rearing book
Dragon nest plans

Ingredients:
10x Unicorn hairs
Hydra venom
Chimera heartstrings
Jobberknoll feathersx4 (Truth and mind potion ingredients)
Unicorn horn
Inventory:
Cloak of Crystal: Gain 1 Crystal / turn (Value: 5000 G)
Still Eye of the dragon +1 Troops Morale, +1 Troops Luck (Value: 2000 G)
Quiet eye of the dragon +5 Troops attack damage, +5 Troops attack defense (Value: 2000 G)
Pendant of free will: Immune to mind magic and hypnosis. (Value 8000 G)

Diplomacy: Advisor – Elizabeth Gwallawg: Actions: 2

Lizzie has shootings for charity and nothing much to report with your network down.

[] Meet up with people. Going here and there, talking with people and interacting with them may yield interesting results, after all, when you go out, you never quite know who you will meet later in the day. Managing to make lasting ties in one encounter though... Is quite a bit harder.
50 / 30 / 10 % Chances to meet influent and/or important people. Opens new SLs.

[] Networking at the Ministry. With the new minister, comes a new balance of power. You never really bothered with it before, but with the current state of things, getting a few people to report to you and allowing you to influence the decisions would be rather advantageous.
60 / 20 % Chances to forge ties with ministry workers. Gain access to Ministry confidential information. Chance to get access to Ministry resources.

[] Visit Rufus: See how he's been going in his brand new office, you haven't had any news of him for a while, and you suppose he'd like some explanations about what exactly happened last winter.
70 / 50 / 20 % chances of success. Chance of opening the Rufus Scrimfeour SL, Chance to strike an alliance, Chance to subvert his loyalty.

[] Diplomatic meetings. Most of the leaders of the new world that seems to be coming have been identified. Do you dare to try and contact them?
-[]Dumbledore : Neutral, friendly.
-[]Riddle haha no.
-[]The Overlord : Neutral, Neutral

[]Slander Reveal dark secrets of: Sometimes, people do things they are not very proud of and try to keep buried. Along the years, you have collected and hoarded those secrets, to unleash them at your convenience.
-[] Write-in
Chances vary depending on who is targeted.

[]Bolster reputation: Having well placed friends is a boon in and of itself. And if they owe you favors, well, even better.
-[]Yourself
-[]Write in (Must be a SL)
Cost: 10 000 Galleons. 70 / 50 / 20 % Chances of success.

[] Attend Academy graduation. You are, after all, the owner, founder and the one who funds the Gwallawg Academy of Superior Learning, located in Cardiff. This will increase your chance of people with exceptional potential stepping up, such as Oliver and Agatha. Miss Evans is currently indisposed and cannot give a speech, sorry.
+ 10 % chances to recruit heroic unit next turn.

Stewardship : Advisor – Oliver Lapierre: Actions: 2
Oliver is taking it easy, though he and your granddaughter seem to disappear quite often, you aren't that worried.

[] Trade for resources ( free action )

Buy:

1 Wood for 2000 galleons
1 Stone for 2000 galleons
1 Crystal for 5000 galleons
1 Gem for 5000 galleons
1 Mercury for 5000 galleons
1 Sulfur for 5000 galleons

Sell:

1 Wood for 250 galleons
1 Stone for 250 galleons
1 Crystal for 500 galleons
1 Gem for 500 galleons
1 Mercury for 500 galleons
1 Sulfur for 500 galleons

[] Develop the land (Free action):
-[]Gold mine:
Cost: 5000 Galleons. Reward : 1 000 G/Turn, 1d6-3 Native Gold / turn afterwards.
-[]Stone quarry:
Cost: 20 000 Galleons. Reward : 16 ore / turn, 1d6-3 Flawless Marble afterwards.
-[]Crystal mine:
Cost: 40 000 Galleons. Reward : 8 Crystal / turn, 1d6-3 Flawless crystal afterwards.
-[]Gem mine:
Cost: 40 000 Galleons. Reward: 8 Gems/turn afterwards.

[] Find sources of building materials. Your contacts went out of business not that long ago, and you need good sources if you don't want to keep paying so much for them. Guaranteed access to Wood and Stone production facilities. Chance of getting access to Gem, Crystal, Sulfur, or Mercury production facilities.
Cost: 40 000 Galleons

[] Develop your budding empire, you need to spend gold to earn more gold, after all.
Costs 10 000 Galleons. 50 / 20 / 10 % Chances of success Gains variable.

[] Takeover. You're well placed in your country, due to both luck and shrewd management. Now is the time to launch your attack and corner the magical side of the market!
Cost: 100 000 Galleons Guaranteed success

[] Civilian infrastructure. (Requires Rampart step 1 to be complete to be built : One building of the kind may be built per turn.)

-[]Tavern:Cost: 25 000G.
Increases morale for standing army, Information on other players
-[]Market:Cost: 25 000G.
Trade resources at better prices ( the more markets you have, the better the prices)
-[]Town hall: Cost: 25 000G.
Allows for minor settlement, gain 5 000 gold / turn
-[]Resource silo : Cost:Cost: 25 000G.
+ 5 Crystal / turn
-[]Blacksmith :Cost: 25 000G.
Builds siege weapons
-[]Workshop:Cost: 25 000G.
Opens up crafting options
-[]Druid hall level 1:Cost: 5 Wood, 5 Stone, 20 000G
Five level 1 spells become available for heroes to learn. Heroes are able to purchase a spell book from the guild for 500 G.

[] Real estate hunt : Riddle already two places directly under his control now. See if you can't even the numbers. Though, first, you'd have to find suitable spots...
Cost : 0 Galleons. 40 / 20 / 10% Chances of success.

Martial:Advisor(s): Alastor (Madeye) Maugrey, Jason Swallows. Actions: 3
The two seem to get along rather well now, bonding over how the youth today have no respect. That includes you, apparently.

[] Hire more security staff. -10 to enemy infiltration rolls. 2000G
Cost : 1 000 Galleons. 60 / 40 / 20 % Chances of success.

[] Combat drills. You have units, but they don't know how to fight as an army.
Cost : 0 Galleons.

-[]Pixies : 0 / 50
-[]Wolves : 0 / 100
-[]Treants : 0 / 150
-[]Druids : 24 / 200
-[]Dragons : Combat ready.

[] Military expedition:

-[]Orkney Islands: After the fall ot the Order faction, the undead are rampaging throught tie Isles. Both muggle and wizarding wonder what kind of deranged serial killer is to be found there, and there are talks about invonling the army.
Cost : 5000 Galleons. 60 / 30 / 10 % Chances of success.

-[]Lundy Island: The Necromancer's base. No life can be found there, only cursed bodies and damned souls.
Cost : 5000 Galleons. 30 / 20 / 10% Chances of success.

-[]Dyfed: (This turn only)Directly South of your area of influence. You have read reports that there were strange events taking place there. Go investigate.
Cost : 1000 Galleons. 90 / 70 / 50% Chances of succes

[] Dwellings (Free action)(Requires Rampart step 1 to be complete to be built : One building of the kind may be built per turn.)

-[] Pixie huts: Produces 15 Pixies/turn. Costs 20 Wood, 1000 G
-[] Wolf den: Produces 10 Wolves / turn. Costs 10 Wood, 2000 G
-[]Homestead: Produces 7 Elves/turn. Costs 10 Wood, 2500G
-[] Dendroid arches: Produces 3 Treants / turn. Costs 10 Wood 3000G
-[] Moon glade: Produces 2 Mood does/turn. Costs 15 Wood, 10 Crystal, 6000G
-[] Druid's circle: Produces 2 Druids / turn. Costs 5 Wood, 5 Stones, 10 Gems, 6000G
-[] Dragon Cliffs: Produces 1 Green dragon/ turn. Costs 30 Stone, 20 Crystal, 20 000G

Intrigue: Actions: 2 (1+ Intrigue over 25)

You're not sure you'll find anyone you trust with this to help you, save for your wife, but you need her more where she is right now.

[] Plots are good for your health! Plot against: (Will receive intel on their moves, plus additional actions if the opportunity arises.)
40 / 30 / 20/ Chances of success.
-[] Dumbledore's little club of vigilantes.
-[] Voldemort's band of hooligans. Well, what remains of it, anyways.
-[] The Overlord of Chaos faction
-[] Riddle. He's tried to kill you thrice already.
-[] Aife. Better keep tabs on her.
-[] Investigate Aife's plot (this turn only)

[] Plots are good for your purse! With all those people being arrested left and right...
60 / 30 / 10% Chances of success
-[] Plot to take over shops in Diagon Alley (England, London).
-[] Plot to take over shops in the Green Alley (Wales, Cardiff)

[] Compulsive plotting is also good for the morale!
50 / 30 / 10% Chances of success
-[] Go on a matchmaking spree. Chance to increase Diplomacy, RP with some people, reputation.
-[] Go on a trolling rampage an adventure! Chance to increase Intrigue, cripple enemies, RP with some people.

[] Plotting is an excellent bonding activity!
Autopass
-[] Plot with Oliver: +10 to Stewardship action rolls (+2 RP with Oliver)
-[] Plot with Elizabeth : +10 to Diplomacy action rolls (SL MAX)
-[] Plot with Scáthach (the younger): +2 RP with Scáthach, Scáthach gains 1d2 Intrigue to base score. She's still a bit young, but better get started early!

Learning: Actions: 2 (1+Learning over 25)

You're not letting anyone not from your family handle those books. Ever. You'll have to wait until either Elizabeth finds herself a newfound passion for reading, or until little Scáthach decides paper isn't for eating and learns to read. You have a feeling the latter will come earlier.

[] The old tales are sometimes true. Brush up on your knowledge, after all each time something supernatural happened, a wizard was behind it. Variable results, autopass, may be taken multiple times.

[]Survey the land. You'll never know what you can fins by running around, but at the very least, you'll know the land's map.
70 / 40 / 30 chances of success. May be taken multiple times.

Mysticism: Advisor: Agatha: Actions: 2 (+30 to rolls)

It stings a bit that you're just on the lower spectrum of powerful, but you'll deal. After that unpleasantness this summer, you've learned how much you are limited, however, and this displeases you. This displeases you greatly. On other news, Agatha's work with more... Enthusiastic...Colleagues of hers is continuing at a steady pace. It would be easier if she could give up on those 'Tolkien elves', but at this point, Dace'll take her just keeping the explosions away from camp.

[] Rampart: Step one (must complete all of those to unlock step 2) (Restores Rumor Mill)( You really should take it)
-[V] Find a suitable location.
-[V] Find a full roster of Nature-themed creatures.
-[] Build basic fortifications: Pay 30 000 G, 30 wood, 30 stone. (0/30 000, 0/30, 0/30)
-[V] Investigate the Nature Anchor

[] Y Ddraig Aur. He emerges once every thousand years and is currently chewing on a few cows in what remains of your backyard, but this time, it was early. Why?

[] Screw you Tolkien. Agatha tried and tried again. This time, she agreed that if the two of you work on it, if it fails again, she will give up and you'll be free to recruit other creatures in their stead. If it's a success, well, you'll have supernatural snipers.
40 / 30 / 10% Chances of success

[]Where the wind blows. Dace will train hiw wind magic affinity.
30% Chances of success.

Personal: Actions: 6 (1 + Stewardship Advisor + Diplomacy Advisor + Mysticism advisor + 2 Martial advisors)

[] Spend time with one of your SLs: +2 RP
-[] ~~Therapy~~ Spend time with Lily: +3 RP, +1/? to recovery
-[]Write-in (must be SL)

[] Personal supervision. Supervise an action from the other sections. Gain +10 to rolls if Martial, Stewardship or Diplomacy action, +20 if Leaning or Mysticism action, +30 if Intrigue action. (May be used multiple times, but not on the same actions.)

[] Train. You hate doing it, and it hates you back, but if it makes Madeye shut up, you'll do it.

[] Extra action. Use your own free time to do stuff. (May only be taken once, may be used as substitute for AP)

[]Personal development:
-[] Way of the Alchemist: You're the best at potions, you know it, they know it, but there's still a lot of things to learn...

-[] Way of the Architect: You worked yourself from the ground up, but there is always much more to be done

-[] Way of the Whispers: Shadows are your home, your tool and your defense. However, with recent events, they may need to become your weapon.

LordPenguin · Jul 5, 2018

Winning plan :

Diplomacy:
[X] Visit Rufus: See how he's been going in his brand new office, you haven't had any news of him for a while, and you suppose he'd like some explanations about what exactly happened last winter.
70 / 50 / 20 % chances of success. Chance of opening the Rufus Scrimfeour SL, Chance to strike an alliance, Chance to subvert his loyalty.

[X] Diplomatic meetings. Most of the leaders of the new world that seems to be coming have been identified. Do you dare to try and contact them?
-[X]Dumbledore : Neutral, friendly.

Stewardship:
[X] Trade for resources ( free action )
-[X] 40 Wood for 80,000 Galleons

[X] Develop the land (Free action):
-[X]Gold mine:
Cost: 5000 Galleons. Reward : 1 000 G/Turn, 1d6-3 Native Gold / turn afterwards.

[X] Find sources of building materials. Your contacts went out of business not that long ago, and you need good sources if you don't want to keep paying so much for them. Guaranteed access to Wood and Stone production facilities. Chance of getting access to Gem, Crystal, Sulfur, or Mercury production facilities.
Cost: 40 000 Galleons

[X] Civilian infrastructure. (Requires Rampart step 1 to be complete to be built : One building of the kind may be built per turn.)
-[X]Tavern:Cost: 25 000G.
Increases morale for standing army, Information on other players

Martial:
[X] Hire more security staff. -10 to enemy infiltration rolls. 2000G
Cost : 1 000 Galleons. 60 / 40 / 20 % Chances of success.

[X] Combat drills. You have units, but they don't know how to fight as an army.
Cost : 0 Galleons.
-[X]Druids : 24 / 200

[X] Military expedition:
-[X]Dyfed: (This turn only)Directly South of your area of influence. You have read reports that there were strange events taking place there. Go investigate.
Cost : 1000 Galleons. 90 / 70 / 50% Chances of succes

[X] Dwellings (Free action)(Requires Rampart step 1 to be complete to be built : One building of the kind may be built per turn.)
-[X] Wolf den: Produces 10 Wolves / turn. Costs 10 Wood, 2000 G

Intrigue: Actions: 2 (1+ Intrigue over 25)
[X] Plots are good for your health! Plot against: (Will receive intel on their moves, plus additional actions if the opportunity arises.)
40 / 30 / 20/ Chances of success.
-[X] Investigate Aife's plot (this turn only)

[X] Plotting is an excellent bonding activity!
-[X] Plot with Scáthach (the younger): +2 RP with Scáthach, Scáthach gains 1d2 Intrigue to base score. She's still a bit young, but better get started early!

Learning: Actions: 2 (1+Learning over 25)
[X] The old tales are sometimes true. Brush up on your knowledge, after all each time something supernatural happened, a wizard was behind it. Variable results, autopass, may be taken multiple times.

[X]Survey the land. You'll never know what you can fins by running around, but at the very least, you'll know the land's map.
70 / 40 / 30 chances of success. May be taken multiple times.

Mysticism:
[X] Rampart: Step one (must complete all of those to unlock step 2) (Restores Rumor Mill)( You really should take it)
-[X] Build basic fortifications: Pay 30 000 G, 30 wood, 30 stone. (0/30 000, 0/30, 0/30)

[X] Screw you Tolkien. Agatha tried and tried again. This time, she agreed that if the two of you work on it, if it fails again, she will give up and you'll be free to recruit other creatures in their stead. If it's a success, well, you'll have supernatural snipers.
40 / 30 / 10% Chances of success

Personal: Actions: 6 (1 + Stewardship Advisor + Diplomacy Advisor + Mysticism advisor + 2 Martial advisors)
[X] Spend time with one of your SLs: +2 RP
-[X] ~~Therapy~~ Spend time with Lily: +3 RP, +1/? to recovery
-[X] Lucius Malfoy

-[X] Personal supervision. Supervise an action from the other sections. Gain +10 to rolls if Martial, Stewardship or Diplomacy action, +20 if Leaning or Mysticism action, +30 if Intrigue action. (May be used multiple times, but not on the same actions.)
--[X] Plot against Aife
--[X] Screw you Tolkien.

[X] Train. You hate doing it, and it hates you back, but if it makes Madeye shut up, you'll do it.

[X]Personal development:
-[X] Way of the Architect: You worked yourself from the ground up, but there is always much more to be done

Total expenses: 184,000 galleons, 40 wood, and 30 stone.

Got a bit busy IRL. Changed medication, hopefully it'll get better. Since I'm late enough already, posting it without beta. I'm still way over my 1/week post minimum, but still.

Autumn 1984

September 13th, 1984

Diplomacy:
[X] Visit Rufus: See how he's been going in his brand new office, you haven't had any news of him for a while, and you suppose he'd like some explanations about what exactly happened last winter.
70 / 50 / 20 % chances of success. Chance of opening the Rufus Scrimgeour SL, Chance to strike an alliance, Chance to subvert his loyalty. Rolled 51

"Mister Scrimgeour is ready to receive you." The secretary's voice droned on, dark shadows under her eyes and a bored expression on her face. He couldn't really fault the woman, considering the fact that entire wizarding villages up and disappeared last months. Well, Dace was here to correct that, hopefully.

The office in itself was sober, though, with the amount of diplomas and prizes on the creamy painted wall and sturdy oaken shelf, he could guess Rufus made some allowances for his personal pride. Having those ones be the first thing one saw when entering did help reinforce the projected professionalism of the former Slytherin head boy. Not that it was that useful nowadays, mind you, but a bit of posturing helped, he guessed. Dace preferred to let the results speak for him, himself, because you tend to be much less embarrassed when your plans fall when you don't advertise them. His eyes glided to the right to Rufus' desk, where he was sitting, fingers crossed under his chin, eyes fixed on him.

Dace looked at him critically with an 'are you really doing this?' expression full of disbelief and the other man sighed, leaning back, letting his hand fall and began to rub his temples.

"Why are you here now?"

A headache on sight? Dace was feeling flattered. He walked across the room and sat on the chair in front of the desk, looking as if everything was right in the best of worlds.

"My, good morning to you too, Rufus. I was just here to tell you Tom Riddle took control of the means of production to create dementors, is currently depopulating the Orkney islands and Cornwall to feed his army of undead, and has infiltrated both the ministry and Dumbledore's little club of vigilantes." Butter wouldn't have melted in his mouth as he talked to the Head of the Auror Office with a mellifluous voice, as if Rufus was his dearest friends.

The dull thud of a head banging against a desk made his smile grow wider.

Still, enjoying other's despair wasn't what he was here for, regretfully, so he patiently waited, hands neatly folded over his lap, as Rufus used a discretion charm and proceeded to use words that would make a sailor blush. Considering Moody's vocabulary when he was training people with no child in sight, he was beginning to suspect that it was an auror thing. After the other man visibly ran out of steam he looked at him, a feral gleam in his leonine eyes.

"And I suppose you're here for more than gloating?" He bit out, making Dace adopt a thinking pause.

"Well, I can't say you weren't warned, because I remember sending the note myself..."

"The same note that was found in Minister Bagnold's bedroom?"

"And that you were here for the attack on my person when I was on family business..."

"In which you proceeded to threaten an official."

"Now now, don't sound so sour, it was for your own good you know? My cute little pets found the spy shortly after, imagine what its master would do, knowing that the Ministry began to choose sides that early" Dace chastised Scrimgeour lightly. " Why, he may even gear up to attack even more of the population, instead of trying to stamp me out first."

Scrimgeour's face turned from annoyed to focused.

"Explain."

Dace sighed. This was going to be a long meeting. Thankfully enough, Rufus belonged to the rare and dying breed of good listeners who didn't interrupt when people were telling them things, so he didn't have to repeat himself multiple times. At the end of it, Rufus looked as if he was carved from marble, his complexion pasty white. Too much information? The man just looked at if waiting for something, before letting his head fall, writing a note from the pad that turned into a flying origami and flew out of the room.

They remained here in silence, until a brown haired woman with a square jaw and an intelligent look entered the room, face flushed from having probably run all the way down here.

"Code Black?! How in the world has nobody raised the alarms yet?!" She shouted after closing the door and reapplying the charms. Upon hearing her voice, Rufus sat up once more, waving his wand and making another chair appear, in which the woman sat, her eyes not leaving his figure even for one moment.

"Amelia Bones, meet Dace Gwallawg. I'm sure you already know of him, he's worse than the rumors say."

Dace looked at him with a mixture of indignation and betrayal.

"I most certainly am not! This is a conspiracy from the events against my image, I tell you!"

"And he's also the one who produced the material for the Order division." Dace's ears perked up upon hearing the capital here. "He also apparently is in open war against the Necromancer responsible for the disappearances in Orkney and the Massacre of Tintagel."

... That, Dace didn't hear about. This didn't sound good at all for anyone involved. He really needed to get his spy network in order. Still, right now was the time to reveal his cards and he leaned against his chair's backrest, crossing his arms and lifting his fingers.

"Dace Gwallawg, Undead hunter extraordinaire, it seems. Pleasure to meet you, Miss Bones."He sent her a quick smile, before his face turned into a focused mask. "The first time I met Riddle " He heard a gasp coming from the woman. "Was in 1981. You've probably heard about the dragon's abnormal behavior?" Rufus nodded, intrigued. "Long story short, we met there. I didn't really know what he was after at the time, however, now I know that he was after that." He opened his fist, revealing the small, glowing, emerald square that was the Nature anchor, making both Rufus and Amelia look at him in both wariness and evaluation. As the green light was inundating the room, both of the aurors' eyes briefly flashed Indigo, confirming Dace's theory. " It is my hypothesis that the Dragon Utopia was house to both the Nature and Death anchors. My informants tell me that shortly after, Riddle was forced to retreat because of Dumbledore's intervention. It matches with some of the disappearances among the members of his little club and Dumbledore's own heavy injuries, but it's still conjecture at this point." He paused for a moment, letting them assimilate the information, before continuing.

"The second time, you already know of. No doubt the aurors in place were pretty vocal about what happened when the necrotic traps activated." It was Amelia who nodded this time. " The third was shortly afterwards, when I received an invitation to the Meeting of Erudite, Scholars and Scientists that takes place every decade and was organized by Riddle this year. By this point, I liked to think I had gotten better at detecting creatures. Upon noticing what was crawling under the building, I immediately ran away after setting something on fire. However, it seemed all of the others were already bewitched, so I was the only survivor. That's when I knew for sure the Necromancer was Riddle and I sent the warnings nobody heeded. Oh well. The next time was when I was visiting your predecessor."

"But Mrs. Golly was already dead by that point..." Amelia piped up, pointing out the inconsistency, earning herself an exasperated look that he her huffing.

"Order Leader, Lily Evans, who set up her base in the Orkney Isles." Dace continued unperturbed, though, Rufus raised his hand with a complicated expression, that Dace promptly ignored. "We were discussing trade, Dumbledore and his little club also there, when we got attacked by his army. I managed to destroy his air force, however in the confusion, Dumbledore had run. I saved Lily and the Order anchor before Riddle got to them, however, it was for naught, as when Aife attacked my manor last summer, the Anchor was destroyed in the struggle, and Lily is currently entering her second year of convalescence. Whatever happened here stuck her in a permanent berserk state and she currently is unable to understand people, let alone talk to them. Which makes me think that if you link to an anchor, its destruction will have catastrophic consequences on you." He thought for a bit, trying to remember any more occurrences of Riddle's activities nearby.

"You already know of his attack on my dragons, and I have heard strange rumors in Dyfed that I will investigate shortly, most likely it is him scouting out the location and trying to set up a base to attack me, which tells me I probably have less than a year to prepare before he tries to launch an assault against me and mine." He noted almost nonchalantly as the other two stared. And stared. And stared some more. Amelia threw a look towards her superior, to which he answered with his exasperated one.

"I suppose you're telling us all that because you're willing to cooperate?" Rufus asked prudently, his second in command trying to make sense fo what she heard.

"To an extent, yes. You'll understand I won't be very active this year or the next one due to taking care of Riddle's expansion. However, I have with me copies of some schematics Lily had with her concerning some Order compatible constructions. " He lifted a stack of papers that the other man stared at intensely.

"You're really trying to reach out here." He noted with a small amount of amazement leaking into his voice as he took the papers, making Dace huff.

"I'm a businessman, I can behave, should I wish to."

"Which is almost never." Concluded the head auror, rifling through the papers.

"I don't do well with authority figures." He answered mildly.

And that was that. The both of them were very busy men after all.

Contact with Order faction established.

Order faction revealed: Ministry's Auror Division, headed by Rufus Scrimgeour.

Relations set to [Allied]. Expect some help from Rufus in case of attack this year.

Rufus Scrimgeour SL unlocked. Due to previous actions, Rufus Scrimgeour SL set to 3. Gain perk: Hypocrisy.

October 1st, 1984

Hero Unit:

[X]Martha : Brawler type, CQC Monster.

Martial:

[X] Combat drills. You have units, but they don't know how to fight as an army.
Cost : 0 Galleons.
-[X]Druids : 24 / 200 Rolled 47 : Synergy with ME : +37 x 2 (Full victory)+ 10 (Martha) = 131. 155/200

Martial:

[X] Military expedition:
-[X]Dyfed: (This turn only)Directly South of your area of influence. You have read reports that there were strange events taking place there. Go investigate.
Cost : 1000 Galleons. 90 / 70 / 50% Chances of success Rolled 37 : Synergy with CD : + 47 +10 (Martha) = 94 = Full victory, no more undead in Dyfed. Martha Gains 1 level.

Martha has been following Dace faithfully as he poured over the strategic map in his tent, explaining the situation to her as it went, and her piping up with suggestions that were actually well founded. Apparently, she'd been spending her free year training on her own in some cave and hounding down retired aurors for tips for her self training. Save for her complete lack of interest in anything involving aiming, she's a pretty well rounded fighter, though her trying to hide her brutal nature under mild manners and pretty smiles is quite amusing.

Still, the reason for Dace giving her the information right now is for another matter entirely. Namely, sending her on a mission with a double objective: Train the druids, and try to find out what's happening South of here.

Of course, being given carte blanche had her doing exactly what he thought she would.

Half a month later, Martha was sitting primly on the chair, sipping tea, the trainees behind her looking half dead with suspicious-looking bites here and there. It seemed that not only she managed to turn that weak minded mess of people into a group that at least wouldn't commit too much friendly fire, but Martha herself got a chance to let loose. Considering the utterly satisfied look she had when she informed him all undead presence was eliminated and the terrified look the trainees were sending her, she probably crushed a few skulls again.

Hero Martha Drake joins the army ( More information Here.)

No more undead in Dyfed.

Martha Gains 1 level.

Martha is now level 5.

Choose 1 Skill ( Combat tree skills trigger [CQC Monster]). 2 Primary skill slots left.

[]Primary Skill : Nobility.
Increases all creature growth in the town that recognizes the hero as its governor.
Basic: +10%.

[]Primary Skill : Life Magic.
Gives hero the ability to cast Life Magic spells.
Basic: hero can cast level 1 Life Magic spells.
Gives one level 1 Life Magic spell.
1d6 : 3:
Holy Word - 2 mana
Combat - Direct Life Damage to Death Units
Damage: 49 + 4 dmg/level + Spirituality
Holy Word does damage to a single Death target based on the level of the caster.
The power of Life concentrated in a single word - it's as good as a sword against those with evil souls.

[]Secondary skill : Herbalism (Nature Magic)
Gives the hero mana and increases mana recovery.
Basic: +10 mana, +2 mana recovered per day.

[]Secondary skill : Magic resistance (Combat)
Hero has a chance to resist hostile spells.
Advanced: 50%.

Martha reached level 5, it's time for her to choose the path she will follow. You may either advise her, or let her choose what she thinks is for the best.

[] Choose Martha's Class :

[]Nature + Combat : Beastmaster: +20% bonus to Summon Wolf spell
[]Nature + Nobility : Beast Lord: +20% bonus to Summon Wolf and Summon Moon Doe spells. (Needs Basic Nobility to be taken)
[]Nature + Tactics : Warden: gives all friendly creatures +10% to their Melee and Ranged Defense
[]Nature + Life : Summoner: summons +20 Experience Points worth of creatures per day (Needs []Basic Life Magic to be taken)
[]Combat + Tactics : General: +1 morale to all friendly creatures
[]Combat + Life : Paladin: has Death Ward (50% resistant to Death spells, Melee/Ranged Defenses +50% against Death-aligned opponents) (Needs Basic Life Magic to be taken)
[]Combat + Nobility : Warlord: +5 to Melee Attack (Needs Basic Nobility to be taken)
[]Tactics + Life : Crusader: hero always has maximum morale (Needs Basic Life Magic to be taken)
[]Tactics + Nobility : Lord Commander: gives all friendly creatures +2 morale (Needs Basic Nobility to be taken)

[]Let her choose. Will ~~open~~ complete* her SL.

November 20th, 1984

Mysticism:

[X] Rampart: Step one (must complete all of those to unlock step 2) (Restores Rumor Mill)( You really should take it)
-[X] Build basic fortifications: Pay 30 000 G, 30 wood, 30 stone. (0/30 000, 0/30, 0/30)

Stewardship:

[X] Trade for resources ( free action )
-[X] 40 Wood for 80,000 Galleons

Personal:

[X]Personal development:
-[X] Way of the Architect: You worked yourself from the ground up, but there is always much more to be done Rolled 94 +50% (Rampart+Resources) = 141. Massive success.

On another note, Dace finally enough of his tent and while Martha was busy cleaning the countryside of its undead, Dace decided that it was time to get to building fortifications worthy of the name. First he recalled all of his time spent at Hogwarts ant the time he spent marveling over its secret passages. Then came to his mind tales of the Library of Alexandria, of all the knowledge that was gathered here...

Fort complete.

Due to his competency at the task, Dace decided he liked architecture. Choose one :

[]Secret passages: + 10 to Intrigue related rolls.
[]Great Library: +10 To learning related rolls.

Rumor mill restored!

Turn 4 Rumor mill:

Event roll: 58:
With his Network finally back up and running, information flows in Dace's office. He's missed quite the important amount fo information, such as James being released after 2 months at Azkaban, the high number of births among the notable families, strange rumors of a mysterious Item in Cornwall and an ominous group after it. Still, there were now some fresh reports waiting on his desk.

Due to Dace having spent some time on last year events that he met, AP : 1

[] Walburga has written about some strange occurrences taking place near Stonehenge. Strange noises, items breaking at night, one of their family celebrations had to be postponed because of that, how dreadful. (41)

[] One of the druid apprentices, called Dave, pointed out something strange was happening not that far in the East. It didn't seem that dangerous at first glance, however, from time to time, the dragons were glaring in that direction too, he pointed out, and they have better sense for magic emanations than regular humans... (7)

[] Agatha broke in the safe. Nobody knows how, or why, but the golden coffer that was found years ago was stolen. While she may not be up to anything dangerous, this was still Agatha, supervision was necessary. (100)

He was standing in the safest place of the Rampart (after Agatha's damage was repaired), alone in the bare room.

In his hand the emerald cube was thrumming.

He extended his arm so that the cube was in the middle of the room and opened his hand, the item slowly falling to the ground. Once one of the Cube's ridges made contact, it sunk into the ground, emerald green lines spreading everywhere like ivy. The walls, the floor, even the glass of the windows. Then, they too, sunk in, making the whole structure tremble. He looked through the window and he could see the green lines spread around, the vegetation become that tiny bit lighter and greener, the creatures he brought grow. He could hear sounds of howling and growling all around the place. Then the sound of stoned rubbing against each other was heard and he turned around.

Where the cube fell now stood a pillar, the anchor, looking a bit dimmer, was pulsating like a heartbeat.

Currently updating the information section. I haven't translated all of it yet, I need to lose my habit to write on paper and in French for this quest...

Grandpa Dace's Quest for a stable family

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