- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
Again, I think we need to think long and hard about how we're supposed to trade with Europe in a ship crewed by the dead.
Try to survive the Winter: A planquest in Fantasy Colonial America
- Thread starter OldShadow
- Start date
- Fantasy Alt. History
- Location
- Somewhere between the stars
- Pronouns
- She/Her
"You know how bad scurvy can get in these times
, nothing to worry about sir british inspector"- Location
- Spain
Well, the obvious answer is that we send some of our people on each travel to do the talking and to load and unload the trade goods...
The ship may be crewed by the dead but we don´t need to let the buyers or the sellers access to it...
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
It's going to be very hard to keep people from noticing, especially if the ship is docked in a port.
Or we could just import grapes from Europe. Who knows what effects the local variety will have.
Yeah, but if we perform a good faith effort to complete Deadport Turn 11, the image is far better. Throwing the Blades+Sara at it has a 71.6% chance of completion when you factor in omakes, before any potential synergies. I'd say that qualifies as a good faith effort. Plus, it will probably connect us with a new Patron connected to the seas, which will likely be useful for when we have to handle the Corsair expedition.
Why? It's not like we will be actually making gunpowder yet. The gathering teams are simply too expensive.
As for safety, protective equipment that doesn't protect gunpowder makers from explosions is kinda like an umbrella that doesn't protect against the rain. I'm hoping that there's safety equipment behind that Gunpowder Workshop.
I don't think stockpiling will have that much of an impact. We can only make as much gunpowder as input resource we have the least amount of. As for using the Saltpeter for fertilizer, I have to imagine that will require either dice or Craft AP, and given our already high crop yields, I don't see us taking that option anytime soon.
Difference there is that none of the Razorweed projects we have done thus far have been listed as "Risky" unlike that one. Plus, having a second die wouldn't reduce the risk judging from past experience. Negative consequences will likely occur if a die rolls below a certain threshold. An additional die would just increase the risks of something going wrong.
Even if we no-sell literally every other thing Winter throws at us, I wouldn't be surprised if we lose two dice from Smallpox alone. The amount of ashes we have used up trying to help the trees isn't exactly comforting either. I'm really wishing we had taken that option that lets us no-sell one Winter action per turn.
I don't think any number of mundane crew members would do much good if their vessel bears a striking resemblance to the Flying Dutchman. Plus, there's always customs inspectors to worry about. Tariffs were a major source of revenue during this time period.
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
TBH, I'd rather find other workforce dice to do it rather than Sara + Blades (probably using the two I have busy right now and finding a way to add another.)
Judging by previous work on Deadtown, if it's just barely incomplete with human workers, we might have a chance to finish it at the cost of Morale.
But if it's Sara and the Blades, our chance to finish it will probably be at the cost of additional fatigue for Sara. And I value Sara's stamina more than morale given how high ours already is and how reliant we'll be on her for a lot of activities for a good while to come, especially with Winter at the gates.
We were specifically told by QM that Protective gear would help, just not against the worst case scenario. But it would still have an effect.
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- Location
- Spain
Well, That was my favorite action for me as well... But Honestly, the Steel on the Soul made a lot of sense with the whole Integrating the Unchained and it has helped us a lot this year...
We still have unlocked this thing that is pretty likely to help us a lot with the Smalpox tough
Not necessarily, OldShadow has told us that the Risky and Dangerous actions get less risky the more dice we use on them... (IIRC using a single dice for the Devourers Expedition had a threshold for negative consequences at 30-40, and if we put 4 dices that gets reduced to 10), so for a merely 75-point action, 2 dice should make things much more manageable...
That is why I think we should get both Shepherds for Corpses done ASAP (preferably this turn with the Mourners)... We could put 2-3 dice per turn into Deadport Actions (and other derived actions), without needing to worry about morale loss or tiring Sara...
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Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
Well, that was specifically for the fight against the Many-Limbed Devourers IIRC, because if we do that action with regular dice, then it provokes the majority of the Devourers to hurl themselves at us in big swarm, and the more dice (and therefore, fighters) we have, the less dangerous it becomes for any individual fighter.
- Location
- Spain
Well, let's ask the QM then...
@OldShadow can we assume that, in general, adding more dices in a risky or a dangerous action will reduce the threshold in which the dice we use gets negative consequences? Or that is only for the Many-Limbed Devourers?
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Pretty sure that's the sort of question which requires an omake for an answer. Or it would be if we hadn't already asked about a project that serves as a counterexample. Remember the OOC I we got when we asked about Blood Pact? The risk of the action is directly proportional to how many dice we use on it. Therefore we most definitely cannot assume that adding more dice will always reduce the risk of an action.
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
It's worth pointing out I feel that the vast majority of the ashes we used on the trees were from the scarecrows and Wicker Man that were filled with curses.
I remember that since I asked if we were doing anything else with those ashes and got told no. Which is why I was alright with trying to feed them, since we couldn't use them for help with disease.
We weren't using them at the time, but that doesn't mean that we wouldn't have used them if a plague hit.
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
The question is what we could use them for. Given how magic works in this setting, those ash fragments are accursed. They're not powerful enough piece by piece to initiate magical effects themselves, but they're the magical equivalent of hazardous waste. The only safe way to use them is to 'treat the waste' by filtering it through a process that destroys all trace of what it once was... something like feeding to another supernatural being that can 'digest' it.
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
Yeah, I think using them would have made things worse for our sick, given how the description had it that the power within those ashes had to be "purified" by the Vessels before it reached the Voices.
And a big part of the reason why we let the Voices have them in the first place was an argument that it was unlikely that the Curses could do cross-species contamination.
And a big part of the reason why we let the Voices have them in the first place was an argument that it was unlikely that the Curses could do cross-species contamination.
Faith of a Fool
Lurking_Badger
Cheese Enjoyer
- Location
- Wisconsin
Faith of a Fool
Several entries from the incomplete journal of Eitel Hartwig von Mansfeld of the Order of Saint Michael written some time in the early 17th Century after returning from a failed expedition into Transilvania, translated from German.Our group of pilgrims found the lands of Hungary occupied by the Turks to be more pleasant than expected. While they have been at peace with the Habsburgs for over four years, I had expected things to be much worse. Those monasteries we rest at that haven't been destroyed by battle are still prosperous under the rule of muslims..
The Grandmaster and Pope may be making the right decision with these talks of cooperation against the enemy in Transilvania. The threat of men is small compared to the dangers of demonic magic and monsters. I will withhold my judgment until after our mission is over. Depending on what we find, such an alliance may be unnecessary.
In a week we will have arrived at the city of Makó and travel up the Mieresch into those cursed mountains. With luck, we will get there unhindered.
What a strange turn of events. After days away from civilization, we have run into a group of warrior Muslims. At first there were hostilities between us, but our commanders have resolved to have no hostility between us. While I do not trust a Turk, I trust Sir Albert's judgment. I'm told that they are on a similar mission to ours in scouting the forests and mountains.
While we seek monsters, they seek strategic information. The Ottomans have been struggling against a continuous assault on their kingdom. Whatever dark power that rules over Transilvania seems to have a vendetta against them. In comparison, the creatures and sorcerers that wander into Christian lands are little to what they endure.
I hope that their travel with us does not draw too much attention. We may be strong, but we are still small in number. We had hoped that our small group would be unnoticed, but now our band numbers over one hundred. I feel as though there is something watching our every step.
(Several missing pages)
I have met an angel.
Eitel lifted his shield just in time to block the two inch long claws that had been aimed at his chest. With a sickening screech, they scraped against the metal surface leaving a trail of sparks to light up the darkness. A quick jab of the sword through the neck dispatched the canid beast as it burst into flame. Even with it dead, two more monsters came to take its place.
It had all started so well. On that day they had been making good progress up the river. There was the occasional giant animal or strange creature, but nothing a trained Michaelite could not handle. The Ottomans with them had found the ruins of a castle that they thought would make a defendable position for the night.
A little after sunset they had made their camp in the crumbling walls. Looking back at it, Eitel realized they had grown complacent. Few noticed as a strange fog rolled in and the sky darkened at an unnatural pace. It came as a complete surprise when a giant wolf jumped over a pile of rubble to bite out a man's throat.
From there things only got worse with more and more creatures. Birds the size of ravens with saw-like beaks swooped down from above, animal headed humanoids, and even what might be a giant of stone. It was impossible for anyone to see clearly in the obscuring fog. Those that found a friendly face quickly grouped together.
With his fellow knights, Eitel moved further into the castle. Out in the courtyard they were too exposed to attacks from the sky and by moving indoors they could limit the direction of attack. While many of the rooms above ground had fallen apart, they had found the entrance to tunnels underground.
One of the knights to his side reached into his belt and took out a ball made of glass with liquid inside. Those around him realized what he was doing and quickly looked away as the ball was chucked forward. With a sudden explosion of light and sound, they made their retreat underground.
That is what brought Eitel to his current situation fighting wolves that walked like men. He ducked underneath a swipe from the right and stabbed into the one on the left. With a surge of power, his sword also burned at the evil in the creature. As he turned to face the remaining creature, it was speared through the chest.
He turned to the armored man with a spear. "James, it is good to see you alive."
"There isn't time to talk. Sir Albert is dead and you now hold command. What are your orders?"
It only took a moment to decide. "Gather any men you can find. There is a large chamber two hallways down that has an iron door. We can use what explosives and greek fire we have to destroy the other entrances and hold out."
With a nod between them, they got to work. In less than two minutes, there were thirteen men in the chamber. Only five of them were proper nights with the others being squires or other traveling companions. Notably there were no Ottomans among them.
Piling what debris they could find against the iron door, they waited. In the darkness illuminated only by a single torch, they waited. Sweating in layers of armor after an hour of battle, they waited. Not knowing if the room would be their tomb, they waited. Then there was a thunderous bang as something pounded on the iron door.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Louder and louder as big dents started to appear. Everyone held weapons at the ready for what was to come through. Bang! Bang! Bang! The hinges groaned as the door bent further inwards. Then it stopped and through the bent frame of the door a mist leaked in.
As the room slowly filled up, people started hearing whispers. Soft half spoken things barely understood, then louder about countless imperfections they had, then louder still with all the sins they had committed, then yelling at them the tortures they would endure in hell as the mist formed into the faces of the damned!
The torch went out. Every sound was silenced. Everyone was in complete darkness. Eitel fell to his knees and did the one thing he could do. He prayed.
"Lord, please help me."
No answer.
"Please, anyone, help me."
Before him a prick of light like a star formed. It grew larger and larger until a glowing figure of white was before him.
I HEAR THEE
EITEL, SON OF MAN, WHAT DOST THOU WISH?
"This is too much for me and my men. We can not hope to defeat our enemies. Please, let us escape from this place."
WHAT OF THE TURKS?
"We just want to live."
IF I PROTECT THEE, THEIR FATE SHALL BE SEALED ON YOUR HEAD
"We'll let you do whatever you want with them. Just let us survive to see our way home."
SWEAR IT, ON YOURSELF AND YOUR MEN, SWEAR IT
"I swear it."
LEAVE WHEN THE STAR OF DAWN CROSSES THE HORIZON
LEAVE AND DO WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS GOOD
With that it disappeared. In the morning, they left the tunnels to see the corpses of Ottomans and knights side by side. Miraculously, they found their horse alive, though their faces were covered in blood. Giving thanks to the Lord, Eitel and his men needed to return home to warn them. Any alliance with the Ottoman would only lead to ruin.
Right in the nick of time! I didn't think I would be able to complete this tonight, but I did. For some context for why Vlad would target the Ottomans, he was held as a hostage by them at a young age and they assassinated his family. He would then spend the rest of his life trying to take back his father's title as prince of Wallachia form them. The guy really hated them.
I pretty much took the last scene completely from the game FAITH: The Unholy Trinity. If your wondering who the glowing figure is look at 2nd Corinthians 11:14.
I pretty much took the last scene completely from the game FAITH: The Unholy Trinity. If your wondering who the glowing figure is look at 2nd Corinthians 11:14.
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The Cochinos of Hispaniola
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
The Cochinos of Hispaniola
"I should never have taken this job, but what was I to do? Putting down rebellious slaves and isolated traitors for pay and plunder was a much more reliable prospect than mad searches for El Dorado like so many of my fellow captains seem eager to waste their lives on. Better to gain coin and crown's favor both on Hispaniola, I thought.
It has been three weeks since we arrived on this island, and divided and burning as it is, our steel and skills were sorely needed, and paid well for, whether it was against other, more treacherous Spaniards, or rebellious slaves. The zeal with which the rebels fought surprised me, but then, seeing how their kinsmen are treated, I can no longer blame them for seeing death by our blades as the better future.
Some of the men grumbled when I told them we would be treating the rebel dead ourselves, but no more. I think many of them feel the same as me. There is something…wrong, about the way the field owners punish revolt with the feeding of the dead to their pigs. "Rebating of our losses" or no, some fates are too cruel even for Moors.
Though I admit, it seems a paltry thing. Pens across the island have been broken, and corpses lay discarded where they lay. Swine across Hispaniola have no doubt acquired a taste for manflesh by now.
A week ago is when Hell itself descended upon us though. The estate of another great magnate, no doubt as cruel as all the others (and I say this as a man who is no stranger to cruelty myself) required security, blaming rebel slaves for the destruction of his livestock pens. But we arrived to find the estate aflame, and those awaiting us were not men, but monsters.
Swinelike in appearance, but walking on two legs, their skins covered in bloats and bleeding pustules! A few small wretches seemed to have half-digested human skulls jutting out of their sides! The very sight made us sick, moreso when we realized they were devouring the dead like it was a grand feast!
Battle was soon upon us, the Cochinos, as we quickly named our foes, hurling themselves at us with weapons ranging from butchering and farming tools to pikes and pistols pilfered from the estate's guards. Stupid as the beasts may have been, they nearly made up for it with brute strength and sheer numbers. I have thanked God every day since that our formation held, else even the Cochinos' stupidity and our steel and fire would not have saved us. Instead we found ourselves alive and victorious, and returned home to bring news of what had occurred after putting the building and every accursed pig-corpse to the torch.
But in the days since that battle there has been little to give thanks for. Each day since then we have encountered more of the Cochinos pouring out from the woods. Yet however brutish and stupid they were, no matter how many we killed, their numbers never seem to dwindle, but only increase with every passing day.
How is it that this threat so ceaselessly grow? Surely even swine cannot breed so quickly! Can they raise more of their number from other pigs using whatever black arts spawned them in the first place, as Tomas has suggested? Or…I have found myself unable to stomach the taste of pork since our first battle with the Cochinos, yet when I look at the pigs who have feasted on dead slaves and rebels, be they wild or tamed, I can't help but feel that there is…something…there, that shouldn't be. But if their numbers keep rising, then I fear for us all. The wildlands of Hispaniola have been infested with feral hogs since the animal was first brought to the island.
Tomorrow I shall offer doubled shares and pay for men willing to venture into the forests in search of whatever camps these beasts have set up. We cannot remain on the defense forever, not while Hispaniola still burns."
-Leon Badelas, Mercenary Captain
----
A/N: Thank you, Darkest Dungeon, for giving me this idea for an omake.
So, I tried to make this an Occultified variant of things in real life. The introduction of pigs into Caribbean ecosystems was devastating environmentally, as they upturned local ecosystems and drove native plants and animals to extinction, and they were a particular problem on Hispaniola. The buccaneers that people think of from the Golden Age of Piracy got their start as hunters of those same pigs in the western parts of Hispaniola.
So I took the real life introduction of pigs into the Caribbean as an invasive species and gave it an occult spin inspired by the origin of the Swine in Darkest Dungeon, and gave the Cochinos (which as I understand it is a Spanish word for "pig" specifically in the sense of being "dirty.")
@OldShadow Thank you for your help with figuring out the exact nature of the Cochinos, and I already have my question in mind for its reward if accepted: Will anything happen to the Galleon if we leave it with neither making the Galleon Seaworthy or completing Deadport done by the time of the coming Winter that would interfere with our ability to complete the Dead Mariners on the Waves Again Mandate, and how severe will the issue be if so?
"I should never have taken this job, but what was I to do? Putting down rebellious slaves and isolated traitors for pay and plunder was a much more reliable prospect than mad searches for El Dorado like so many of my fellow captains seem eager to waste their lives on. Better to gain coin and crown's favor both on Hispaniola, I thought.
It has been three weeks since we arrived on this island, and divided and burning as it is, our steel and skills were sorely needed, and paid well for, whether it was against other, more treacherous Spaniards, or rebellious slaves. The zeal with which the rebels fought surprised me, but then, seeing how their kinsmen are treated, I can no longer blame them for seeing death by our blades as the better future.
Some of the men grumbled when I told them we would be treating the rebel dead ourselves, but no more. I think many of them feel the same as me. There is something…wrong, about the way the field owners punish revolt with the feeding of the dead to their pigs. "Rebating of our losses" or no, some fates are too cruel even for Moors.
Though I admit, it seems a paltry thing. Pens across the island have been broken, and corpses lay discarded where they lay. Swine across Hispaniola have no doubt acquired a taste for manflesh by now.
A week ago is when Hell itself descended upon us though. The estate of another great magnate, no doubt as cruel as all the others (and I say this as a man who is no stranger to cruelty myself) required security, blaming rebel slaves for the destruction of his livestock pens. But we arrived to find the estate aflame, and those awaiting us were not men, but monsters.
Swinelike in appearance, but walking on two legs, their skins covered in bloats and bleeding pustules! A few small wretches seemed to have half-digested human skulls jutting out of their sides! The very sight made us sick, moreso when we realized they were devouring the dead like it was a grand feast!
Battle was soon upon us, the Cochinos, as we quickly named our foes, hurling themselves at us with weapons ranging from butchering and farming tools to pikes and pistols pilfered from the estate's guards. Stupid as the beasts may have been, they nearly made up for it with brute strength and sheer numbers. I have thanked God every day since that our formation held, else even the Cochinos' stupidity and our steel and fire would not have saved us. Instead we found ourselves alive and victorious, and returned home to bring news of what had occurred after putting the building and every accursed pig-corpse to the torch.
But in the days since that battle there has been little to give thanks for. Each day since then we have encountered more of the Cochinos pouring out from the woods. Yet however brutish and stupid they were, no matter how many we killed, their numbers never seem to dwindle, but only increase with every passing day.
How is it that this threat so ceaselessly grow? Surely even swine cannot breed so quickly! Can they raise more of their number from other pigs using whatever black arts spawned them in the first place, as Tomas has suggested? Or…I have found myself unable to stomach the taste of pork since our first battle with the Cochinos, yet when I look at the pigs who have feasted on dead slaves and rebels, be they wild or tamed, I can't help but feel that there is…something…there, that shouldn't be. But if their numbers keep rising, then I fear for us all. The wildlands of Hispaniola have been infested with feral hogs since the animal was first brought to the island.
Tomorrow I shall offer doubled shares and pay for men willing to venture into the forests in search of whatever camps these beasts have set up. We cannot remain on the defense forever, not while Hispaniola still burns."
-Leon Badelas, Mercenary Captain
----
A/N: Thank you, Darkest Dungeon, for giving me this idea for an omake.
So, I tried to make this an Occultified variant of things in real life. The introduction of pigs into Caribbean ecosystems was devastating environmentally, as they upturned local ecosystems and drove native plants and animals to extinction, and they were a particular problem on Hispaniola. The buccaneers that people think of from the Golden Age of Piracy got their start as hunters of those same pigs in the western parts of Hispaniola.
So I took the real life introduction of pigs into the Caribbean as an invasive species and gave it an occult spin inspired by the origin of the Swine in Darkest Dungeon, and gave the Cochinos (which as I understand it is a Spanish word for "pig" specifically in the sense of being "dirty.")
@OldShadow Thank you for your help with figuring out the exact nature of the Cochinos, and I already have my question in mind for its reward if accepted: Will anything happen to the Galleon if we leave it with neither making the Galleon Seaworthy or completing Deadport done by the time of the coming Winter that would interfere with our ability to complete the Dead Mariners on the Waves Again Mandate, and how severe will the issue be if so?
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Great omake, although I figure that Hungary would be sufficiently under Hapsburg influence that they wouldn't be traveling through Ottoman lands beforehand due to the whole "Dracula" thing. It's really hard to see how the Austrians could be fighting against Vlad if they don't have a border with Transylvania. That being said I see why it was necessary for this omake to work.
- Location
- France
I will only say that the informations I gave for the Many-Limbed Devourers only apply for them. Each risky or dangerous action have their own specifics dangers.
Canon, appart from the figure not necesseraly being Satan himself (but there are many liers and shapshifters waiting in the setting).
The land near Transylvania tend to be quite chaoting, with no nations truly controling them.
Canon, the only thing a little different is that the Cochinos will, in most cases, not be an existential threat to colonies, but a constant source of raiding and damages (much like a swarm of wild hogs).
To answer the question, there are two sources of potential damages to the Galleon :
- If left alone for too long, the ship will simply rot and crumble until not even the Freed can do something with it, however this process will take years.
- If one Winter Union do not take many Harsness Dice or a faction like the Tribute-Taker go near it, they could either destroy it...or try to turn it into a litteral flying duchman preying on both shipping and coastal settlements. It is unlikely, but possible.
Lurking_Badger
Cheese Enjoyer
- Location
- Wisconsin
Well they did travel through the Kingdom of Hungary (Habsburg controlled) to eventually go through Hungary (Ottoman occupied) to get to Hungary (Independent Transylvania). As turns out, have on and off conflict for over 150 years in an extremely mountainous region leads to the borders between territories being confusing with people claiming to own a bunch of stuff.
It mostly comes down to if you had people to actually control the land, which the Ottomans did. They controlled most of Hungary directly or as vassals from 1541 to 1699. They pretty much just wanted people to pay taxes, which was a pretty good deal for protestants who moved their to escape Catholic persecution. History is weird like that.
Fair enough. He probably has more important things to do right now anyway. I don't think he would care if someone used his image to cause chaos and conflict in the world.
For my next two stories, I'm going to go back to North America. I'm choosing which to write first, but I'll give you the titles they currently have; The Council of Many Fires and Crafts of War.
- Location
- Spain
This is true but @Chimeraguard the thing is that in Spanish cochino is a word for pig that can also means to be dirty... BUT in Spanish we have more than 20 words for pig and at least half of those are commonly used as synonyms for being dirty (and the rest can still be usedas synonyms, even if they are less common)...
So you could have also used cerdo, puerco, guarro, marrano, gorrino, chancho, gocho, gorrino... Or basically any Spanish word for pig.
Thanks for the info...
Well Chimeraguard with this info I consider that we can let the Galleon rest where it is for a Winter... We have always taken plenty of Harsness Dice and with our own Doomslayer we can afford even more, and we know that the Tribute Takers will be busy preparing for the Raid against us for the next couple of years...
So if we put those two dice on searching for Malcolm we can put all the Skirmisher and Warrior's Son on the Eyevines Nodes we have a good chance of finishing up the 3 nodes and getting both the reward and the new Patron before Winter hits...
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And the rest are used as synonyms for the police
But yeah, the reason there are so many different words for the same thing is that they are local variants used in different countries.
Cerdo is the most neutral and used to refer to the animal in like cientific settings.
- Location
- Spain
Well, it is less synonyms for the police and more EVERY FIGURE OF AUTHORITYAnd the rest are used as synonyms for the police
(Police are relatively respected compared with things like supervisors or politicians)Truly, the traditional Spaniard sentiment of disdain towards authority is legendary to behold
Not exactly... There are indeed some local variants of words referring to swine in different countries, but in Spain alone, besides the mostly neutral "Cerdo", we can use very often around 12 synonyms of the same word...
Don´t get me wrong, some of the synonyms come from local variants used in different countries, but many other synonyms came from inside the countries themselves... Probably because Pig is a great word to derive insults from...
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Just Spaniard? more like Hispanic. You lot across the ocean are not alone
Missed this post somehow, my apologies. I honestly forgot about that bit of info. Still, I would like to get the Workshop done, and not just because of the potential safety upgrades. I'm also hoping that there will be some efficiency improvements as well. Once we get all the Serpentine upgrades done, we will be able to produce 6 units of gunpowder per year fairly easily. Unfortunately, we currently use 7 units per year, and that's with us not being fully equipped with guns and without any Expeditions which may very well cost us powder.
You're sorta missing my point. I am aware that Hungary was mostly under Ottoman control during this period OTL. My issue is one of geography.
The main narrative in regarding the war against Dracula is that of the HRE and Ottomans, the two biggest claimants to being successors of Rome during this period, needing to fight side by side against the threat of Dracula. It's a great narrative, and is especially fitting if you're aware of how the conflict between the HRE and Ottomans helped lead to Vlad the Impaler gaining power in the first place.
However, it sorta requires the Hapsburgs to have direct land access to Transylvania. That simply isn't possible without them having influence over more of Hungary than in OTL. Well, not without the sort of border gore that would make a seasoned EU4 player blush.
I'd actually rather have Sara and the Blades handle the Eyevines while the Devourers are kept at bay by the Dead and the Son plus Skirmishers handle the Woodflesh Spiders. It's a matter of availability. With the likely synergies and Sara's recent power boost, I imagine that both the Sara and Son options would be suitable for handling the Eyevines.
However, the Warrior's Son is far better suited for eliminating the Woodflesh Spiders, and since he will probably be less available next year, I think we should focus on getting the project we need him to do done. The fact that doing so would leave a Warrior's Son die free in exchange for that Dead die is a noticeable advantage as well.
For an added bonus, we're likely to need silk for gunpowder making later. It turns out that placing gunpowder pellets in a silk tumbler reduces the risk of said gunpowder pellets blowing up accidentally. We probably won't be getting any silk from trade anytime soon, so it's best we find a domestic source.
On another gunpowder-making note, I've figured out a way to include Ashes in the mix without reducing potency. I actually found a historical recipe for making saltpeter, used by the U.S. during the American Revolutionary War, which includes ash as an ingredient. According to PBS, the colonial soldiers mixed urine with soil, ashes, leaves, and sticks. The ammonia in the urine reacted with the potassium in the soil and ashes to produce potassium nitrate, aka saltpeter. Mind you, the saltpeter output will probably be significantly lower than the caves will provide, but it should be fine for special occasions.
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
Well, another reason I wanted to do Sulfur Paths this turn is hoping that doing it alongside Further Out will cause any spillover from the latter (if it completes) to go into the former.
There is a degree of potential synergy between the two with both being focused on expanding Union's control over the Wilds outwards, just with Sulfur Paths doing so in a very specific direction.
Hmm...I'm a bit worried on if Sara + Blades can find the Nodes to the same level that the Son + Skirmishers would be able to, but the description does mention "whispers of the spirits and some brave-hearted scouts", and Sara definitely has the spirits bit covered. And OOC Answer about the options didn't say anything about the Silent Blades doing poorly at Eyevine Node destruction, while it did for Woodflesh Spiders. Which would imply that the Silent Blades + Sara combo will be fine.
And it would be nice to clear out the Woodflesh Spiders now (or at least get them to a point that we can just toss one die on it next turn and call it a day), seeing how the Warrior's Son and his Skimishers will be busy with the Tribute-Takers for most of next year.
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