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Unexpected Glory (A CK2-style Quest)

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[X] Rickard Astor
[X] A mere foot soldier. Born to humble farmers, you had enlisted after the death of your father gave you the freedom to finally follow your dream of glory. The wages helped feed your mother and siblings too. (+Stewardship, +Diplomacy, -Learning)
 
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Adhoc vote count started by StormyAngel on Jul 12, 2019 at 3:22 PM, finished with 26 posts and 12 votes.
  • [X] Rickard Astor
    [X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
    [X] A mere foot soldier. Born to humble farmers, you had enlisted after the death of your father gave you the freedom to finally follow your dream of glory. The wages helped feed your mother and siblings too. (+Stewardship, +Diplomacy, -Learning)
    [X] I Shall Not Give Thee Up
    [x] A scholar. Your family maintain the great library of Alkaden, and you were called forth to consult on the peculiar happenings in the lands of the east. Your dabbling in certain…mystic arts gave you a limited ability for self defence that has proven alarmingly necessary for your continued survival. (+Learning, +Sorcery, -Martial)
    [X] Rickard Mendalas
    [x] A young knight. The second son of an unimportant nobleman, you'd long since determined that you'd have to make your own way in the world. You'd sought the war as soon as you had earned your coat of arms. (+Martial, +Intrigue, -Diplomacy)
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Well, it looks like the bard has a slim lead. I'm going to leave the vote open until the website migration, then I'll probably have an update ready for right after the site comes back online.

Deathvon said:
@StormyAngel can I create a dark knight type character? I.e. pluses in martial and sorcercy and malus in stewardship?
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Absolutely! Sorry for the late response, but I gotta sleep sometime. I'm going to leave the vote open for a couple more hours, so there's still a chance you could see this happen, if you make it appealing enough.


KaldorDraigo said:
[ ] A young knight. The second son of an unimportant nobleman, you'd long since determined that you'd have to make your own way in the world. You'd sought the war as soon as you had earned your coat of arms. (+Martial, +Intrigue, -Diplomacy)
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You're missing an X there, so I don't think the vote was counted in the tally.

Plausitivity said:
I'd say it's what a performer/artist uses to perform:
Singing, dancing, drawing etc...
The more radical, the more out of the norm their actions are, and people become more awed at their radicality.
An action could be performing a play in a theatre--but with an explosive twist! Or challenging the local criminal elements to a battle of lyrical wit.
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Technically those would fall under diplomacy though, although in a medieval era I suppose you could break social norms in a non diplomatic way that would still be beneficial. I'm still not planning on adding it as a category though. :lol
 
[X] Rickard Astor

[X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
 
So some thoughts on the bard for those who are still on the fence . I think a bard would be interesting to play for several reasons .

  • Its unique , and has a unique perspective. Who is this person? What have they seen? Are they actually any good?
Theres a lot of room to work with for their background as they could be just about anyone. Have already established contacts, and have more freedom to work with then a farmer who grew up with limited education and interaction with the outside world.

  • Intrigue

The bard is specifically suited for intrigue, every party needs a bard, social gatherings are far better with entertainment after all. Wherass the peasent farmer will flounder in such a new alien setting, and perhaps the second son of a noble might have to balance certain familial bonds and alliances the bard is uniquely suited to diplomance, and ferret out info at these gatherings, as well as who they can and cannot speak to.

The bard is a unique player on the chessboard , with no familial ties to bind them to any already established faction. While not low enough that it would hurt someone's social standing being seen with. We are the entertainment. The joke, minor celebrity , the little pet project of the emperor who lucked out by saving his life in a moment of heroism. While there are plenty who will laugh at us and underestimate us , this works into our advantage to help make contacts and work our way into alliances.

  • Aesthetic
So much aesthetic it hurts. We have so many options for clothes heraldry, tabard, weapons . Oof my brain hurts with all the available colors.

Cons

There are cons to consider though. I dont want to wank the option too hard. Personally I think the bard having the lowest martial score of the options makes sense. Unless were some battle bard theres very likely little chance weve been exposed to that much violence besides a bar brawl. And that time training how to fight or use a weapon growing up was most likely instead used to learn instruments and how to sing.
 
[X] I Shall Not Give Thee Up
[X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
[X] Rickard Astor

I will not desert you milord!
 
[X] I Shall Not Give Thee Up
[X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
[X] Rickard Astor

I was gonna pick Scholar so we could immediately work on magical research, but I'm too intrigued to pick anything.
 
[X] I Shall Not Give Thee Up
[X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
[X] Rickard Astor


We'll get magic later
 
[X] A mystical soldier. A soldier with the ability to control the mystics of those before yee. Thou yee ain't the best with money. (+Martial, Sorcery, and -Stewardship)
 
[X] I Shall Not Give Thee Up
[X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
[X] Rickard Astor
 
[X] A scholar. Your family maintain the great library of Alkaden, and you were called forth to consult on the peculiar happenings in the lands of the east. Your dabbling in certain…mystic arts gave you a limited ability for self defence that has proven alarmingly necessary for your continued survival. (+Learning, +Sorcery, -Martial)

[X] Rickard Mendalas
 
[X] I Shall Not Give Thee Up
[X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
[X] Rickard Astor

All fall before the Rolling Rickard.
 
Alright, I'm calling it: The bard wins! I didn't actually expect anyone to use the write-in option, but I think it worked out pretty well. Also, it's hilarious that my inspiration for this quest was The Practice War, where the main character is a singer, and here you've all selected a singing character to lead your new domain.

[X] A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling travelling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)
[X] Rickard Astor

I'll be writing up the next post while the website is down, and posting it up shortly after things come back online.
 
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    • [X]Rickard Astor
    [X]A bard. You were born with a voice so clear and smooth that the midwives nearly all swooned over you during your birth. Now, you are a middling traveling minstrel throughout the lands. (+Diplomacy +Intrigue (+Radicalness) -Martial)

    Gained Trait: Voice of Angels. You have a natural talent for music, singing especially, that can bring even the hardest of hearts to tears. (+2 Diplomacy, +2 Intrigue)

    Gained Trait: Make Love not War. You have never been suited, by either inclination or ability, for the harshness of war. (+2 Diplomacy, -4 Martial)

    As the herald announces you, Rickard Astor, to the Emperor's court, you can't help but think back on the long road that brought you here.

    You were born…

    Family
    [ ] To minor nobles. (Gain Trait: Disowned)
    [ ] To a lowly barmaid. (Gain Trait: Not so Common After All)
    [ ] Write-in subject to approval. (Include ideas for a trait, which may or may not be used.)

    Somewhere in the…

    Homeland
    [ ] Southern end of the Empire (Gain Trait: Ancient Mythology, Gain Trait: Explorer)
    [ ] Central lands (Gain Trait: Everyone's a Farmer, Gain Trait: Child of Peace)
    [ ] Capital City, Alkaden (Gain Trait: Political Gossip, Gain Trait: Cityborn)
    [ ] Far North (Gain Trait: Innovative, Gain Trait: Survivalist)
    [ ] Write-in subject to approval. (Has to be somewhere in the Alkadian Empire. Ideas for traits welcome.)

    Despite the peace and prosperity of the Empire, you had a difficult childhood. Although all your needs were mostly taken care of, you were often left to your own devices, and your only real friend…

    Friend
    [ ] was a local squire. He loved your stories, and would always listen to your troubles. (???)
    [ ] was your older brother. He took the time to show you some neat tricks. (???)
    [ ] was your older sister. She taught you how to sing. (???)
    [ ] was your books. You loved to read. (???)
    [ ] was your guitar. You whiled away the hours in song. (???)
    [ ] Write-in subject to approval.

    But eventually you grew up, and you managed to find your calling in life when you met a wandering bard…

    Mentor
    [ ] of ill repute, named Ilos Langor (+Intrigue)
    [ ] of some renown, named Thomas the Dawnsinger (+Diplomacy)
    [ ] who you can't recall. But he left an impression. (No Mentor, Gain Trait: Self-Taught)
    [ ] Write-in subject to approval.

    And you set out into the world as a traveling minstrel. The Empire is a civilized place, and you freely traveled its length plying your trade, with varying degrees of success. More recently, you decided to cross the sea, in pursuit of a tale truly worthy of being put to verse. You never would have expected that you might become the subject of song yourself when you saved the Emperor.

    Gained Trait: The Chivalrous Bard. Your moment of heroism saved the life of the most powerful man in the world. Many in the Empire consider you to be a true hero. (+2 Martial)

    Regard Changed: (+2 Emperor Magnus, +4 Alkadian Empire, -8 Orcish Tribes, -???, -???)

    As a lowly bard the best anyone expected from you was to stay out of the way of the more experienced fighters. Your rescue was as timely as it was unexpected, however, and none can deny your bravery after stepping forward to block that orc's blow.

    How did you block that axe?
    [ ] With your instrument (???)
    [ ] With your bare hands (???)
    [ ] With a weapon (???)
    [ ] Write-in subject to approval. (What else is there?)
     
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    • A bit of an abrupt ending, but that will fit well with the next update. Before I can write your audience with the Emperor, I need to know these things. And there's quite a bit to vote on, I realize. This wasn't how I planned to write this one— I was going to go into more detail with Rickard's childhood, for one thing— but I think this will be for the best, in the end.

    Because there's so much to vote on, I figured I'd try to preempt some questions here. Not that I mind questions, but I want to save us all time because I'm eager to be on to the actual CK2 rounds. Which are still 1-3 posts away. So here's a small preemptive FAQ:

    Q1: What are these "traits"?
    A:Traits will give you bonuses or maluses to one of your stats, and will also help fill in the picture of your character. So they have both quantifiable and more nebulous effects that I hope you'll manage to extrapolate somewhat from their description/name. (Disowned does not mean your parents love you, for example).

    Q2:But wait a minute, what's up with all the (???) stuff then?
    A:Well, that's me refusing to tell you things, but things that I feel you ought to know do exist. I'm inviting you to consider possible outcomes.

    Q3:Why tell us some things but not all of them?
    A:Some of these choices you have the background to understand. Such as the "block the axe" question. You know what will happen based on what you choose, or can at least make a close guess. (Axe meets wood, wood breaks, etc.) With choosing a birthplace though, you don't know the setting, so I had to give you something to work with. Thus the traits.

    Q4:What are Rick's stats anyway?
    A:The Character Sheet should be up in a moment here is up on the second post, complete with the stats that I've rolled up for you.


    As far as Voting goes, if you want to vote for somebody else's plan, feel free, but it is not required. I will allow approval voting. In the event of a tie, we'll hold a brief run-off vote. This is how things will work until we get to the CK2 stuff, then we'll be switching over to a vote-by-plan basis.
     
    Last edited:
    Ahhhhhh I'm at work I need a second to come up with a plan and possibly a picture. How old are we merciful qm? And will the block vote...you know...scar us permanently ...
     
    Mr.rodent said:
    Ahhhhhh I'm at work I need a second to come up with a plan and possibly a picture. How old are we merciful qm? And will the block vote...you know...scar us permanently ...
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    Rickard is 25, unless someone can give me a good reason for a different age. And yes, if you block with your bare hands, you will gain significant scars, but no you won't lose a limb. At least, not in the second post of the quest. :grin:
     
    [x] To a lowly barmaid. (Gain Trait: Not so Common After All)
    [x] Southern end of the Empire (Gain Trait: Ancient Mythology, Gain Trait: Explorer)
    [x] was your guitar. You whiled away the hours in song. (???)
    [x] of ill repute, named Ilos Langor (+Intrigue)
    [x] With your instrument (???)
     
    StormyAngel said:
    Appearance: (I don't have a picture for this at the moment)
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    [X] To a lowly barmaid. (Gain Trait: Not so Common After All)
    [X] Capital City, Alkaden (Gain Trait: Political Gossip, Gain Trait: Cityborn)
    [X] was your guitar. You whiled away the hours in song. (???)
    [X] who you can't recall. But he left an impression. (No Mentor, Gain Trait: Self-Taught)
    [X] With your instrument (???)

    We'll need a new instrument!
    But the most important instrument we have is or voice!
     
    [X]Plan Handsome Ginger
    [X]write in: To a family of tailors (Gain trait: Fashionable)
    [X] Capital City, Alkaden (Gain Trait: Political Gossip, Gain Trait: Cityborn)
    [X] was a local squire. He loved your stories, and would always listen to your troubles. (???)
    [X] of some renown, named Lelliana the Nightingale (+Diplomacy)
    [X] With your instrument (???)
     
    [x] To a lowly barmaid. (Gain Trait: Not so Common After All)
    [x] Southern end of the Empire (Gain Trait: Ancient Mythology, Gain Trait: Explorer)
    [x] was your guitar. You whiled away the hours in song. (???)
    [x] of ill repute, named Ilos Langor (+Intrigue)
    [x] With your instrument (???)
     
    [x] To a lowly barmaid. (Gain Trait: Not so Common After All)
    [x] Southern end of the Empire (Gain Trait: Ancient Mythology, Gain Trait: Explorer)
    [x] was a local squire. He loved your stories, and would always listen to your troubles. (???)
    [x] who you can't recall. But he left an impression. (No Mentor, Gain Trait: Self-Taught)
    [x] With your instrument (???)
     
    Thank you kind QM. Now as always let me try and convince my fellow voters why my plan is best girl.

    I chose family of tailors for several reasons. For one , it's not too generic . You may see generic merchant family, or bastard child, or even grew up in a bar as a common trope for a person of lower standing or BG choice.

    But tailors? Not often. I chose this option becuase its Interesting. We know our family is in the picture, but how close are we? Also have any other nobles acquired the workings of our family already? It might give us an in with several nobles as their wives or mistresses have already bought dresses from us. We are a KNOWN factor.

    It makes the whole diplomacy thing far easier if we have a topic to discuss and bond over. Hence the trait "Fashionable" it is funny yes. But it is also extremely important for diplomatic relations and intrigue.

    We can make better impressions. We can tell what someone is wearing and what that indicates about their financial status, or health. And all sorts of nest things. We can give better compliments, or even scathing burns.


    I chose Capital city ( trait: political gossip, city born) becuase it stacks with our bard build. And makes us knowledgeable about current events so we arent scrambling, jumping at every shadow or percieved threat.

    Local squire becuase knight hero unit duh. We need that martial homie.

    I chose famous singer (female) because I thought it would be cool to have a female mentor based of lelliana from Dragon age.

    And lastly instrument becuase I dont want to ruin our hands and it's hilarious in it's own right
     
    [X] To minor nobles. (Gain Trait: Disowned)
    [X] Far North (Gain Trait: Innovative, Gain Trait: Survivalist)
    [X] was a local squire. He loved your stories, and would always listen to your troubles. (???)
    [X] who you can't recall. But he left an impression. (No Mentor, Gain Trait: Self-Taught)
    [X] With your instrument (???)

    I like the idea of an ambitious youngster who was born in the hinterlands and wanted to be fulfill his calling down south, and his family disagreed.

    Also, definitely a ginger.
     
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