The Mathematics Club sounds like a very valuable resource. Dorian will need their money advise if he's going to be paying tuition by himself and setting up a business to support himself, their alchemy advise will be useful since our plan if for him to use alchemy, and it sounds like the club will be a steady source of Knowledge xp. It even synergizes with the Astromony Club, which is another source of Knowledge xp. The Explorer's Club would have to come up with something amazing to be able to compete with this.
@Chandagnac , could we have a new extracurricular table added to the Informational tabs? I've been using the one in the first week-planning session since it's the easiest to access, but it has the Mathematics Club as a Twoday thing, so it sounds like it's inaccurate.
@Chandagnac , could we have a new extracurricular table added to the Informational tabs? I've been using the one in the first week-planning session since it's the easiest to access, but it has the Mathematics Club as a Twoday thing, so it sounds like it's inaccurate.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Hmm, actually, I might leave the Mathematics Club on Twoday, otherwise there'd be two not-very-interesting clubs on Twoday (Debating and Poetry) and two interesting clubs on Fourday (Mathematics and the Explorers/Archaeologists Society) would clash.
Here's the most current version of the timetable (which may actually be the same as the one you're used to):
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Bladderwrack League, Equestrian Society
Bladderwrack League, Fitness Club
Bladderwrack League, Equestrian Society
Bladderwrack League, Fitness Club
Board Games Club, Dueling Club, Gardening Club
Debating Club, Mathematics Club, Society of Pyromancers
Gardening Club, Literature Club, the Apathy Society
Explorers and Archaeologists Club, Poetry Club, Society of Cryomancers
I think you really underestimate ritual magic. It is our main skill, and the key to every other magic skill. Alchemy is great, and knowledge important, but this is the main skill of magic, we have 0 in it, yet it is the only skill we do no effort at all to increase
I think you really underestimate ritual magic. It is our main skill, and the key to every other magic skill. Alchemy is great, and knowledge important, but this is the main skill of magic, we have 0 in it, yet it is the only skill we do no effort at all to increase
Bladderwrack increases Ritual Magic and we have two sessions of it this week.
It hasn't been the focus of our study sessions because we've been working hard to get Isolia literate. With that solved we can devote those study periods to Ritual Magic. With two Bladderwrack sessions, Mathematics Club, and Astronomy club, we could get 3(classes) + 2(study sessions) + 2 (Bladderwrack) + 1 (Astronomy or Mathematics) =8 Ritual Magic xp each week. That's enough to try to improve Ritual Magic every 2 weeks.
You are overlooking the part where alchemy makes money. As a result of prior votes, Dorian does not currently have enough money to pay for next year's tuition. The plants he is growing will not sell for enough even if he doesn't turn any into seeds.
We have been putting extra actions into alchemy whenever we can, because right now, alchemy is the "don't-starve-to-death" skill. If we can't find a way to make money with alchemy, Dorian will starve, or worse, be expelled!
I'm not trying to say I don't like ritual magic. Ritual magic is cool, and with bladderwrack, we're actually investing about evenly into it as we are into alchemy.
Venta fervently venting at us for this event will not prevent us from the more adventurous uses of the spell once we eventually invent how to circumvent its limitations.
Also, for one who is supposedly clueless Dorian sure doesn't fail to notice her fangs are "cute".
Which is a stance I completely back him up on, mind.
Yes, this was the kind of team interaction I had in mind. We should do it more often.
Not interested in economics just yet. I want to see what they are about on an average day.
[x] Do something else, but promise to come back to the Mathematics Club another time.
[x] Attend the Debating Club.
We have been putting extra actions into alchemy whenever we can, because right now, alchemy is the "don't-starve-to-death" skill. If we can't find a way to make money with alchemy, Dorian will starve, or worse, be expelled!
We are at no risk of starving to death because the meals are provided by the academy.
More seriously, the problem of tuition money won't arise for a year, and we don't need to devote most of our time to alchemy just yet. There will be plenty of opportunities during the semester; we don't have to jump on the very first one.
Currently most of our money come from club activities, and even the lion's share of the tuition fees is supposed to be covered by selling flowers and alchemical components, not performing alchemy ourselves. I would venture a guess that some of the discoveries by the Explorers' Club could be even more profitable, although most of the profits would likely find their way into Simony's pockets, and it comes with other downsides besides.
So no, I do not believe it is something that is absolutely necessary at this junction.
I think you really underestimate ritual magic. It is our main skill, and the key to every other magic skill. Alchemy is great, and knowledge important, but this is the main skill of magic, we have 0 in it, yet it is the only skill we do no effort at all to increase
Bear in mind that you have five years to learn all this stuff before you leave school. I'm not expecting you to become a fully-fledged wizard immediately. (The fact that you have a lot of problems and enemies which seem too big and powerful for you to deal with at the moment is a design feature, not a flaw.)
You are overlooking the part where alchemy makes money. As a result of prior votes, Dorian does not currently have enough money to pay for next year's tuition. The plants he is growing will not sell for enough even if he doesn't turn any into seeds.
We have been putting extra actions into alchemy whenever we can, because right now, alchemy is the "don't-starve-to-death" skill. If we can't find a way to make money with alchemy, Dorian will starve, or worse, be expelled!
You have most of the rest of the year to make enough money to pay next year's tuition. And you will have other opportunities to make money. I wouldn't worry too much about it right now.
Venta fervently venting at us for this event will not prevent us from the more adventurous uses of the spell once we eventually invent how to circumvent its limitations.
Ugh. Yes, I'm sure wizards in this setting come up with all kinds of perverted ways to use their magical powers, none of which will be appearing in this story. I'd rather not think about it, to be honest.
I would venture a guess that some of the discoveries by the Explorers' Club could be even more profitable, although most of the profits would likely find their way into Simony's pockets, and it comes with other downsides besides.
Ugh. Yes, I'm sure wizards in this setting come up with all kinds of perverted ways to use their magical powers, none of which will be appearing in this story. I'd rather not think about it, to be honest.
Personally, I was thinking about refining the illusion spell to create a full body double to prank people with. What were you thinking about?
I was just amused to see "Venta vents" together and it made me want to stuff as many vents in a sentence as I could get away with.
...really, though, I can't remember when I last saw her happy. Makes me wonder about her name.
Eh, I don't know. You can call someone smart, or beautiful, and even though these aren't entirely objective, there are common metrics - or at least, common for a given time and place.
But calling someone funny or cute, or praising some other kind of wildly subjective quality has a measure of personal preference in it.
So he kinda calls her attractive in his mind. Now, there are all kinds of attraction between people, not all of them romantic in nature, but it makes Phil's sniggering entirely deserved.
Eh, I don't know. You can call someone smart, or beautiful, and even though these aren't entirely objective, there are common metrics - or at least, common for a given time and place.
But calling someone funny or cute, or praising some other kind of wildly subjective quality has a measure of personal preference in it.
So he kinda calls her attractive in his mind. Now, there are all kinds of attraction between people, not all of them romantic in nature, but it makes Phil's sniggering entirely deserved.
'Good evening, both of you,' she says, giving you a respectful nod. 'If you're here to join the Mathematics Club, perhaps tonight isn't the best night for it. We're having a lecture by a guest speaker, talking to us about how the ongoing wars and the debasement of the currency have affected – and will continue to affect – the Sambian Empire's economy. You're welcome to stay, if that has any appeal for you, but you won't get a taste of what we normally do at these meetings.'
'And what do you normally do?' asks Phil.
'It depends. We tend to split into groups to work on different projects. Currently, we are collaborating with the Astronomy Club, assisting Jaqari Pruyte with the mathematical principles behind his "giant space gonne" – which is fascinating, don't you think?'
You and your teammate both agree.
'Also, we usually have a group dedicated to studying alchemical formulae, trying to work out exactly what ratio of ingredients – physical, magical, and spiritual – gives the best results. We have advice sessions for pupils who are struggling to pay their school fees, helping them with budgeting and suggestions for how they can make money safely and legally, but not usually until later in the school year. And there are some of us who apply principles of geometry to arcane circles and diagrams, trying to make ritual magic as efficient as possible. Would any of that be of interest to you?'
You agree to stay for the lecture on economics. Philander is initially reluctant, but agreed to follow your lead. After you've thanked Miss Jabtoreth for her helpful advice, you file into the lecture theatre with the Mathematics Club members, find a seat in one of the middle rows, and sit down, ready to listen,
The guest lecturer, Torian Pessimides, apparently a famous scholar and philosopher, is a thin, ascetic fellow with a balding pate and shabby brown robes. He walks up onto the stage, looks around to see if his audience has settled down, clears his throat, and begins. 'The Sambian Empire is one of the greatest civilisations in human history. Spread across most of a continent, with a total population of more than seventy million, it is extraordinarily wealthy and powerful. However, unless fundamental changes are made to its economy, it will not survive the next century.'
Hearing that, the assembled members of the Mathematics Club sit in stunned silence.
Pessimides goes on to say that, although the Sambian Empire is very wealthy, most of its wealth is in the hands of private individuals: rich noblemen or landowners who hoard their money and let as little as possible trickle down to their employees. They pay as little tax as possible and are unwilling to lend money to a government which is clearly struggling to fulfil its obligations to its people. 'You might say that they are well within their rights to do so. After all, it is their money – it belongs to them – why shouldn't they keep hold of it? Why shouldn't they do whatever they want with it? However, because they think like that, the economy is grinding to a halt. The entire empire is grinding to a halt.'
He is more ambivalent on the subject of making coins out of alchemical silver. On the one hand, this is clearly a good thing because it means that the currency isn't bound to a finite resource, supplies of which are constantly dwindling. 'At least fifty tons of silver have been lost at sea, just this century,' he says with an annoyed grunt. By using alchemical silver instead, the Imperial Mint can stimulate the economy by minting new coins, without the need to use precious metals. However, there are numerous problems with this. The addition of new coins to the economy naturally causes inflation, which can be useful in some ways; however, the addition of too many new coins at any one time is likely to cause hyperinflation, which could easily lead to an economic crash. A related problem is that these coins are easier to counterfeit, further devaluing the currency, because any skilled alchemist with access to the right tools can produce convincing fakes. Also, this is something of an impediment to trade with neighbouring countries who use silver-based currency and are unwilling to trust Sambian coins made of "base metal".
'What do you know about the war with the Rhuzadi Khaganate?' asks Pessimides. 'Have you been told that it's going well?'
A boy sitting near the front, raises a hand rather diffidently, and – when given leave to speak – suggests that someone might be arrested for sedition if they said otherwise.
'That is what they might say,' Pessimides allows. 'Foolishness. If you're in a bad situation, it isn't possible to things better by putting your hands over your eyes and pretending that it isn't happening. Instead, you should be proactive and do whatever is necessary to solve the problems you have."
He goes on to explain that the war with the Rhuzadi Khaganate has caused the Sambian Empire to lose all of its possessions in the eastern half of the continent, including the great cities of Tebhollion and Kopesh, the ancient kingdom of Gavidia which was one of their most important vassals, and the lush farmlands of Rhee which used to be one of the great breadbaskets of the empire. Also, the Rhuzadi have conquered the independent city-state of Sarn, quite possibly the richest city in the world, formerly a central hub for trade between different continents and one of the Sambian Empire's most important trade partners.
'Now, there is no trade with Sarn at all. Its people are reduced to eating rats, rotten grain, or each other,' says Pessimides. 'The Rhuzadi refuse to trade with infidels who do not accept that Astran is the one true god.'
Most recently, the war with the Rhuzadi Khaganate has turned into a gruelling stalemate, with neither side gaining or losing any new ground. All the while, the lands of the Kaflors, which form a bridge between east and west, are being devastated. The native people, citizens of the Sambian Empire, have been forced out their homes. Fleeing west, they have gone to live as refugees in lands which do not want them and have no work for them.
'That is one problem which I feel could be solved or at least alleviated by the abolition of slavery,' says Pessimides. 'Too many menial jobs are done by slaves when it would be better to hire free men who would do a better job and – just as importantly – go out and spend their wages on various necessities and luxuries, thereby creating opportunities for other people to make money and stimulating the economy.'
He goes on to describe the events which led up to the attempted genocide of the Wranni people living in the Sambian Empire. Many of them were hardworking and patriotic, they were excellent seafarers and traders, they were renowned for being highly skilled in metalwork, and many of them were soldiers in the Imperial Legion. However, a long-running dispute over unequal pay and unfair treatment led the Sambians in positions of authority to believe that their Wranni soldiers were "unsound". When a group of nomadic tribes joined together to form the Rhuzadi Khaganate and declared war against the Sambian Empire, they feared that their Wranni soldiers would "turn traitor" and "join the rebellion". Therefore, they decided to discreetly murder the veterans whom they thought would be the ringleaders of any mutiny. When the Wranni found out about this, they mutinied en masse. The Rhuzadi were able to capitalize on this infighting to completely annihilate the legions of the east.
'And so, for revenge, or to prevent another rebellion, or for some other damn fool reason, it was decreed that all Wranni were to be exiled from the Sambian Empire on pain of death. Many of them fled north, across the sea, to the lands of the Ryk. Others went west, to Quellonia or Enishar, to the lands of the Dunhas or Sini, or any of the small chiefdoms of the mountains. Many of them serve as mercenaries, fighting for foreign kings. Only those with Sambian blood were permitted to stay.' Pessimides sighs frustratedly. 'What a waste!'
In conclusion, he proceeds to summarize the economic problems which he believes are the biggest threats to the stability and continued existence of the Sambian Empire. First of all, because of the wars, the empire currently has more soldiers than it can afford to pay. It must either reduce the need for soldiers, increase taxes, or find other sources of revenue. Also, while it is spending so much money on wars, it isn't spending that money on roads, bridges, or other useful public works. For this reason, Pessimides believes that the empire should seek a truce with the Rhuzadi Khaganate and as many of the Wranni as possible. Also, it should abolish slavery and seek closer ties with other neighbouring countries – such as the war-torn kingdom of Quellonia – who abhor slavery. A few good trade deals with nations which have historically been enemies of the Sambian Empire would go some way towards mitigating the loss of trade with Sarn and other lands which have been conquered by the Rhuzadi.
Finally, Pessimides pauses, takes a deep breath, and asks, 'Any questions?'
You may ask one question. (But it is possible that I will have NPCs ask any other questions you may have.)
[] "Are we going to get into trouble for listening to this, if it's considered to be seditious talk?"
[] "If we abolish slavery, won't the Kingdom of Aspitolm be upset with us? They depend on slavery for everything and they're one of the few trade partners we've got left."
[] "If we end the wars with Rhuzad and the Wranni, what will all the soldiers do?"
[] "What about elves? Do you think they should get paid or not?"
[] "Actually… what is the legal status of elves within the Sambian Empire?"
[] "If I were to resurrect an old and long-forgotten god who wants to destroy this city and take the land for himself, would that be good for the economy? Or bad?"
[] "Is demon worship good for the economy? Or bad?"
[] "If Tyrepheum were to declare itself an independent city-state outside of the Sambian Empire, do you think that we'd have a better chance of surviving? Or worse?"
[] Say something else (write in).
I might have Philander ask some of the 'obvious troll' questions.
Honestly, this might be an important question in the long run. His answer to this could tell us a lot about how the laws and social rules of the Sambian Empire work. Knowing where the lines are of what you can and cannot say could be important eventually. Clearly the lecturer believes that he won't get punished, so there's some measure of leeway by default, or merely in this particular circumstance. No matter what the case is, this is much more relevant knowledge then the rest, unless the elf questions are relevant somehow and I'm not sure they are. Well, they're probably not relevant to us, they could be relevant to Green Flame. So maybe the elf questions do have merit.
Hrrm.
[X] "Well if the Empire basically has to turn around and undo all the dumb things it did, and it doesn't, what will you be doing when it falls?"
A question I think doesn't get asked enough. It fell over, what now?
[X] "If we abolish slavery, won't the Kingdom of Aspitolm be upset with us? They depend on slavery for everything and they're one of the few trade partners we've got left."
[X] "If we abolish slavery, won't the Kingdom of Aspitolm be upset with us? They depend on slavery for everything and they're one of the few trade partners we've got left."
[X] "If we abolish slavery, won't the Kingdom of Aspitolm be upset with us? They depend on slavery for everything and they're one of the few trade partners we've got left."
[X] "Well if the Empire basically has to turn around and undo all the dumb things it did, and it doesn't, what will you be doing when it falls?"
[X] "If I were to resurrect an old and long-forgotten god who wants to destroy this city and take the land for himself, would that be good for the economy? Or bad?"
[X] "If we abolish slavery, won't the Kingdom of Aspitolm be upset with us? They depend on slavery for everything and they're one of the few trade partners we've got left."
