Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Don't forget the Chaos Dwarfs too, they also got the whole evil industrialization thing going on. Kinda a trope in fantasy settings ever since LOTR.
Warhammer Fantasy: A Dynasty of Dynamic Alcoholism
- Thread starter torroar
- Start date
- Mature
-
- Tags
- warhammer warhammer fantasy fantasy intrigue happens male protagonist ck2 quest belief stronk count of cannons drunken wisdom foes in the shadows graf of guns (guns) if you have a question check the front page first it begins... mountain vietnam ogres paranoia rising unseen enemies everywhere use the search function before asking waifu wars wake the bull
- Location
- Pennsylvania
Yep, because in fantasy settings living with nature good, industrialization and science bad. Although to be fair in a setting where the trees can literally go and tell loggers to knock it off you kinda gotta be an asshole to go the whole clear cutting and strip mining route.
- Location
- United States
That's true, but it also just furthers proves my point lol. The two industrialized polities that we know of on the planet are brutal machines that churn through bodies like wheat to create daemonic horrors.
Elector's Meet of 2343 IC Part 1
[] Bring Tank
[] Medium Escort (150 Greatswords, Urgdug, 10 Maelstrombringers)
Moratorium For 1 Hour.
Elector's Meet of 2343 IC Part 1
Swiftly, you headed south to Wurzen. While there were many large barges available for usage to and from Wulfenburg into the great channels which ran the length of the Empire, the largest quite simply could not make it all the way up, the river was not wide enough. Especially ones that might be able to take upon themselves a vapor tank. To be fair, for all its weight, it was not the equivalent of a full five hundred men and number of ogres as well as a gryphon as you've travelled south in the past. But it was just somewhat awkward, its unique shape and nature making it impossible to regard and treat as a simple large carriage or wheelhouse. For all that, however, the proprietor of the traveling river barge Silver Hawk is well used to the peculiarities of the rich and noble. In fact, as he laughingly tells you, there was once even a couple – a man and a woman of rather remarkable wealth but odd speech – who paid him to transport them to Hochland from the south not less than a year ago. They were quite peculiar, but they too were accompanied by an ogre, though of course nothing like Urgdug. Theirs was dead silent, smelled awful, and wouldn't speak. Just carried about a massive box on its back. Of course, the two remained below decks the whole time, but of course what with your gryphon you'll presumably be out and about far more. He happened to proclaim such within earshot of one Arthur von Hohenzollern, who along with the rest of your council had accompanied you to the riverside for last instructions as how to handle things in your absence.
The captain of the Silver Hawk was much less cheerful after he took him to the side to speak with him about the odd couple and their carriage. In fact, he seems as pale as the couple he had been speaking of.
On the plus side, your ride down to Nuln will no longer cost you anything.
"I must admit, I am surprised you requested to travel south with me, son," you tell Arthur as he comes up the ramp onto the ship, dressed in his formal priest's robes and his magical blade chained to his back. "Though I must admit that tensions easing in the Cult of Morr are a welcome thing to hear."
"Well, perhaps," Arthur grimaces as his accompanying Black Guard knights stomp up the boat after him, quickly taking positions around him without outright choking him with their closeness. "I am both proud to have been invited south for the Conclave as a representative of Morr, and worried as well."
"What are you worried about?" You raise an eyebrow.
"Representatives of the Cult from Tilea have also been invited, meaning those who are most strongly opposed to the Order of the Garden will be present," he sighs as the crew of the barge begin working to set off.
Natasha glances at you quizzically, a look you return before glancing back at the remarkably calm Arthur, his robes not ruffling in the cold winter breeze even a little bit. There is a burst of bemusement from your wife, but it is undershot by genuine concern, a concern you share and return to her. The Grand Conclave is, by writ of Magnus himself, meant to be explicitly kept clean of purely theological debates. Rather, they focus upon actual matters of running the Cults, their relationships with the people and themselves, day-to-day organization, and so on. Of course, that is what goes on in the meetings of the chosen Cult representatives themselves and the Emperor. And only, in said meetings. Everyone knows that theological debates and much more rage throughout Nuln and Wissenland during the Grand Conclave, in the alleys and pubs and temples and shrines and streets. And more than one priest, or at least his acolytes and supporters, are known to have gotten into scuffles out of sight.
"Are they liable to get ornery while you're down there?" You raise an eyebrow at your son.
The High Priest of the God of the Dead rubs at his chin and sniffs.
"I have some friends amongst the southern leadership, but they are not amongst those being sent to the Conclave," he admits after a moment before shrugging.
You and your wife just look at him. After a moment, Arthur shrugs sheepishly and gives a surprisingly boyish grin. Weary maternal love emanates through the bond from Natasha, which you grasp for and hold close, letting it break over you and calm her at the same time.
"I'll defend myself as needed, but I'm reasonably sure it won't be necessary," he eventually says before moving over to Natasha and letting her kiss his left then right cheek.
"Be good, Arthur," she says sternly but with a smile.
"I always try, mother," he says back, "Be well yourself."
"I always try," Natasha replies dryly before turning to you while Arthur heads into the bowels of the barge. "As for you, be safe, all right?"
"I'll do my best," you smile back at her before sweeping her up into a kiss.
Burning, limitless love blooms to full force between the two of you, as bright as a star which layers and magnifies itself again and again the longer the kiss goes on. For the briefest moments, it washes away everything else. Every anxiety, worry, pain, and fear, all of it, for everything in the world. The world doesn't stand still, it simply blessedly shrinks until it is just the two of you. But then the stink of the river intrudes, the smell of the unwashed sailors, and the steady calls and bustle of a trade town along one of the mightiest rivers in the world. You part from her, and she from you, and both of you step back. Her back to travel to Wulfenburg, and you back to stay on the ship as it rushes its way south.
"All my love," you begin, bundling up the burning core of your being and gently flooding it through the bond. "Forever."
It is such an odd thing, to feel the outright coldness of her body through her hands, her every touch. To only be able to describe what flows through her end of the bond as a paradoxically glacier cold furnace, a incandescent incendiary freezing hurricane-strength winds, of unmistakable love and affection.
You wouldn't trade it for anything, though.
"Forever," she smiles before turning and heading down the ramp off the barge.
"So," you say after watching her leave for a good minute or two while the boat is finally unmoored and ready to begin drifting back out onto open water. "How's your love life going, brother?"
Urgdug chuckles and scratches at his neck, carefully spreading his feet and weight on the ship so that he doesn't just plunge straight through the deck. He isn't even wearing his armor, and still the hefty planks of wood that are meant to allow for dozens of folk to be running about on the top are very quietly groaning.
"You know?" He says with the goofiest smile you've ever seen on him. "It's pretty good."
"WARK!"
Both of you look over to see Oskana rear up slightly as one of the sailors gets too close to her, having apparently been goaded by some of his fellows if you judge the gaggle of men exchanging coins and grins. He's holding a piece of salted meat at her, which only shows he's an idiot, because the piece is smaller than his arm, and thus, barely even a snack for your noble mount. Which, because Oskana isn't an idiot, means that he's insulted her, because she knows she's a hefty woman who requires a good bit more food than that. Plus, the quality of the meat is, you would bet a piece of gold on it, not as good as the barrels you brought from Wulfenburg to keep her fed on the way to Nuln.
"HEY!" You bark, getting their attention, the smiles on their faces falling into the depths of the ocean. "What are you doing with my gryphon?!"
Urgdug doesn't even speak, he just needs to loom and walk steadily behind you as you grab the man who got close by the neck and drag him over to the others.
Nothing like a bit of lambasting to get the blood flowing on a chilly morning.
Your travel south is swift, pausing only to resupply rations and such for the crew and few passengers also heading south to Nuln. This time you were unaccompanied, as the whole of your family, blood-related and otherwise save for Urgdug were seeing to their own responsibilities. Magnus will be commanding the seat and holding court, Sabine is dealing with her fighting league, and so on it goes. The children, by contrast, are all far too young for such travel. You can't quite remember the last time that it was just you and Arthur. For just about the entire time leading up to them finally becoming adults Magnus and Arthur had been incredibly close knit, especially after Oskar's horrific death. So it is pleasant to speak to him, not as a priest, but as your son. Urgdug enjoys it as well, and the three of you spend your days south to Nuln in pleasant discussion. You disembark upon Oskana, on occasion, but never stray too far from the ship itself as it trundles down the stream. Not that it stops you and her from soaring down and ripping a particularly large hart from the forest and letting her devour it on the deck of the ship while it flailed.
Sure, the sailors were a little pale, but they've washed the deck free of blood and worse plenty of times before. It was a well-traveled ship whose clientele included the wealthy and notable, and once the captain had regained his good humor he spun many tales of duels over all a manner of things.
When you pass by Altdorf, and transition from the River Talabec to the River Reik, you can't help but stare directly in the direction of the Amethyst College. You know your daughters are not there any longer, but you also have no earthly idea as to where they are at this very moment. But still, you look towards that forlorn little section of Altdorf, squinting as if you can burn your gaze through so many buildings and at least two other Colleges of Magic. Thankfully, you chartered the ship to be free of any additional passengers, though you can see the captain wincing as some of the speakers for some of the wealthier nobles at the docks call out potential payments they could offer if he lets them board. He doesn't, though, and after the ship resupplies itself once more, you are on your way. You cannot help but be entranced by the sheer bustling of the docks of Altdorf. It makes Wurzen look like a hamlet with a plank of wood for a dock by comparison. Men of many nations stride back and forth, and there are more than a few visible wizards passing this way and that. You started hearing rumors, just a few months ago, that the very geography of Altdorf was beginning to shift. People were claiming that streets were leading to different locations entirely, that new streets appeared and disappeared, and so on. It was hard to know if it was true, though of course many were already beginning to blame the wizards. Unfortunately, if it turns out to be true, you can't be entirely sure if it's undeserved. You know quite well what excesses of magic can do, and if there was anywhere in the Empire where magic could be considered in excess, it would be Altdorf.
(Altdorf To Nuln: 77/100)
Travelling east to Nuln is just as swift, though here between what might well be considered the two greatest cities of the southern Empire the rivers are absolutely chock full of ships rushing back and forth. Traders and transporters are so regular that there are portions of the travel when you can barely see the rivers. Stout patrol ships bearing the colors of Altdorf show up more than once to organize the traffic, forcing the ships into separate lanes, and you see many people gaping at the forever irritated Oskana as she nestles on the deck. Then they notice Urgdug standing nearby, and their jaws fall further. Thankfully, no one is absolutely stupid enough to try and try to offer a price for her, but you can see that a few were considering it before they saw you and Urgdug standing next to her. You even get to see the rumor mill activate in real time, watching as some ships passing faster alongside you realize who you are, and then just a few miles further east you have some ships calling out greetings to 'the Count Hohenzollern'. And then offers of meetings, of deals, of so on and so forth, all eager to reach out and perhaps grasp a bit of information, a bit of influence. For a short time, at least, before another force entirely intercedes.
Strangely, no one seemed overly eager to meet with Arthur, though he was quite visible on the deck as well. In Ostland, Arthur was approached almost constantly, folk seeking succor for their dreams, full of wonderings about their dead kin and friends, and so on. But here, in the south of the Empire, you see dozens of swarthy men and women on the decks make warding gestures and turn their faces. Bright-faced noblemen spy his billowing black robes and the silent knights in their pitch black armor next to him and seem to pale. You actually watched one man, with an absurd mustache and hat, both colored like a rainbow and full of half a dozen too many angles, nearly tip over in the water upon seeing Arthur turn to look at him.
Whether by Morr's grace, or just Arthur's, you reach Nuln without any major incidents. Once there, your son disembarks first, sharing one last embrace with you before going to the local Garden. It won't be even close to the temple complexes that he had built in the north, but it doesn't need to be. You, on the other hand, have to take a bit more time, and cause a rather massive stir when the vapor tank emerges from the ship's hold. The constant crowds in the Nuln docks go quiet, then get very, very loud when the boiler builds up enough heat and the entire war machine leaps to life. The crew wave to the people before closing it off entirely, but by that point your guards have formed a cordon. It is completely impossible to avoid people gawping at the thing as you make your way towards the Ostland Manse, and you know quite well that the rumor mill will be busy screaming about this from one of the city to the next within seconds.
Such assumptions are proven correct when you spy not one, not two, but two dozen Nulner engineers pop up in the crowds by the time you are halfway to the manse. The majority of them look thunderous, though one or two are just awed. Though that shifts to anger as well as the vapor tank continues on its way. While it is, of course, loud, it quite simply does not shudder and shake like the steam tanks do. It can't, its system is far more regulated and measured. As such, as The Horns steadily rumbles along to the Ostland Manse, it allows for rather extensive observation by everyone who can look past the Maelstrombringers and the Greatswords also accompanying you. You aren't stopped, nor intercepted, and they don't even ask questions. No, they let the citizens do that for them.
Herr Otto Zurbak, the master engineer in overall command of the tank, is happy to answer the shouted questions as they drive along, though he knows never to get too detailed. Thankfully, he doesn't broach a single true engineering secret, either pretending to not hear them as they are bellowed at him or perhaps outright not hearing some of them considering the volume.
Soon enough, however, you reach the Manse. The servants which maintain the place in your name are interviewed as to any goings on – nothing at all – and your guards begin their checks and patrols. The vapor tank itself shuttles through the wide wrought iron gates and is placed beneath a particularly large stone awning. It's not quite the safety of the workshops back in Wulfenburg, but some of your Greatswords are going to be stationed in its defense at all times. You made quite good time, and so you've got a few days to try and meet with various others. Based on initial reports from the servants, you were one of the last to arrive, which is unfortunately regular for you, but you are not, in fact, the last. The Elector Count of Hochland has not shown up at all, nor has his representative if any. It would, presumably, be Briggs, but the General is also desperately needed to keep peace in the province. So that's uncertain as well. Stephan is also in Nuln, and has brought little Mena with him, perhaps to assist in her education as to her duties. The only ones also not here are Ortrud and the Lady Ava von Krieglitz, but by all accounts they are apparently travelling together on a somewhat more leisurely route, having begun traveling south a week before you did.
Still, that leaves you with a bit of time for yourself before the Elector's Meet proper starts. This is the first time you've actually made such good time to Nuln, out of the handful of previous Elector's Meets that you've attended.
There is an Imperial Week (8 Days) between now and the Elector's Meet starting. Now is the time to meet with others, or at least request meetings with them, to politic and so on, if so desired. Know that others will be doing the same, some will be unavailable, their temperaments may change from day to day as they experience their own circumstances. As a note, the Grand Conclave, the cross-country gathering of religious authorities, is also scheduled to take place after the Elector's Meet completes, meaning representatives of all the Imperial Cults have flooded the city already. This happens to include the High Matriarch of Manann herself, amongst the other major leaders of the Cults.
Day 1 of 8 (Choose/Write-In 3 Options, In Order Of Priority. Highest voted option succeeds, but second and third possibilities offer alternatives if first choice is unavailable/refuses to meet for one reason or another)
[] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something (Write-In) [Depending On Which, Agreement To Meet Success Not Guaranteed]
[] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something (Write-In) [Depending On Which, Agreement To Meet Success Not Guaranteed]
[] Attempt To Meet With The Emperor, Magnus the Pious About Something (Write-In Topic. Depending On Topic, Success of Acquiring Meeting Will Change)
[] Attempt To Meet With One Of the Imperial Cults About Something (Write-In) [Depending On Which, Agreement To Meet Success Not Guaranteed]
[] Go Wandering Around Nuln?
[] Rest In The Manse For The Day
[] Write-In
As a hopefully helpful reminder as to previously raised topics/suggestions:
- Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric
- Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation
- Possibly telling the Emperor about the ongoing trade war
- Talking with the Emperor about the potential tensions between Taal and Rhya depending on certain actions such as further popularizing the seed-drill.
- Speaking to Averland about canceling the contract to regain a third research action per turn, or something like that.
- Speaking to the High Matriarch of Manann about organizing a position to face critics during Meet/Conclave discussions.
- Approaching the Countess of Wissenland to shore up relations between the North and South further.
- Meeting with the Cult of Myrmidia, who are still working to regain political strength in the Empire, and potentially work some sort of deal out with them.
- Trying, somehow, to possibly improve relations with Gunthar/Middenland. Somehow.
[] Medium Escort (150 Greatswords, Urgdug, 10 Maelstrombringers)
Moratorium For 1 Hour.
Elector's Meet of 2343 IC Part 1
Swiftly, you headed south to Wurzen. While there were many large barges available for usage to and from Wulfenburg into the great channels which ran the length of the Empire, the largest quite simply could not make it all the way up, the river was not wide enough. Especially ones that might be able to take upon themselves a vapor tank. To be fair, for all its weight, it was not the equivalent of a full five hundred men and number of ogres as well as a gryphon as you've travelled south in the past. But it was just somewhat awkward, its unique shape and nature making it impossible to regard and treat as a simple large carriage or wheelhouse. For all that, however, the proprietor of the traveling river barge Silver Hawk is well used to the peculiarities of the rich and noble. In fact, as he laughingly tells you, there was once even a couple – a man and a woman of rather remarkable wealth but odd speech – who paid him to transport them to Hochland from the south not less than a year ago. They were quite peculiar, but they too were accompanied by an ogre, though of course nothing like Urgdug. Theirs was dead silent, smelled awful, and wouldn't speak. Just carried about a massive box on its back. Of course, the two remained below decks the whole time, but of course what with your gryphon you'll presumably be out and about far more. He happened to proclaim such within earshot of one Arthur von Hohenzollern, who along with the rest of your council had accompanied you to the riverside for last instructions as how to handle things in your absence.
The captain of the Silver Hawk was much less cheerful after he took him to the side to speak with him about the odd couple and their carriage. In fact, he seems as pale as the couple he had been speaking of.
On the plus side, your ride down to Nuln will no longer cost you anything.
"I must admit, I am surprised you requested to travel south with me, son," you tell Arthur as he comes up the ramp onto the ship, dressed in his formal priest's robes and his magical blade chained to his back. "Though I must admit that tensions easing in the Cult of Morr are a welcome thing to hear."
"Well, perhaps," Arthur grimaces as his accompanying Black Guard knights stomp up the boat after him, quickly taking positions around him without outright choking him with their closeness. "I am both proud to have been invited south for the Conclave as a representative of Morr, and worried as well."
"What are you worried about?" You raise an eyebrow.
"Representatives of the Cult from Tilea have also been invited, meaning those who are most strongly opposed to the Order of the Garden will be present," he sighs as the crew of the barge begin working to set off.
Natasha glances at you quizzically, a look you return before glancing back at the remarkably calm Arthur, his robes not ruffling in the cold winter breeze even a little bit. There is a burst of bemusement from your wife, but it is undershot by genuine concern, a concern you share and return to her. The Grand Conclave is, by writ of Magnus himself, meant to be explicitly kept clean of purely theological debates. Rather, they focus upon actual matters of running the Cults, their relationships with the people and themselves, day-to-day organization, and so on. Of course, that is what goes on in the meetings of the chosen Cult representatives themselves and the Emperor. And only, in said meetings. Everyone knows that theological debates and much more rage throughout Nuln and Wissenland during the Grand Conclave, in the alleys and pubs and temples and shrines and streets. And more than one priest, or at least his acolytes and supporters, are known to have gotten into scuffles out of sight.
"Are they liable to get ornery while you're down there?" You raise an eyebrow at your son.
The High Priest of the God of the Dead rubs at his chin and sniffs.
"I have some friends amongst the southern leadership, but they are not amongst those being sent to the Conclave," he admits after a moment before shrugging.
You and your wife just look at him. After a moment, Arthur shrugs sheepishly and gives a surprisingly boyish grin. Weary maternal love emanates through the bond from Natasha, which you grasp for and hold close, letting it break over you and calm her at the same time.
"I'll defend myself as needed, but I'm reasonably sure it won't be necessary," he eventually says before moving over to Natasha and letting her kiss his left then right cheek.
"Be good, Arthur," she says sternly but with a smile.
"I always try, mother," he says back, "Be well yourself."
"I always try," Natasha replies dryly before turning to you while Arthur heads into the bowels of the barge. "As for you, be safe, all right?"
"I'll do my best," you smile back at her before sweeping her up into a kiss.
Burning, limitless love blooms to full force between the two of you, as bright as a star which layers and magnifies itself again and again the longer the kiss goes on. For the briefest moments, it washes away everything else. Every anxiety, worry, pain, and fear, all of it, for everything in the world. The world doesn't stand still, it simply blessedly shrinks until it is just the two of you. But then the stink of the river intrudes, the smell of the unwashed sailors, and the steady calls and bustle of a trade town along one of the mightiest rivers in the world. You part from her, and she from you, and both of you step back. Her back to travel to Wulfenburg, and you back to stay on the ship as it rushes its way south.
"All my love," you begin, bundling up the burning core of your being and gently flooding it through the bond. "Forever."
It is such an odd thing, to feel the outright coldness of her body through her hands, her every touch. To only be able to describe what flows through her end of the bond as a paradoxically glacier cold furnace, a incandescent incendiary freezing hurricane-strength winds, of unmistakable love and affection.
You wouldn't trade it for anything, though.
"Forever," she smiles before turning and heading down the ramp off the barge.
"So," you say after watching her leave for a good minute or two while the boat is finally unmoored and ready to begin drifting back out onto open water. "How's your love life going, brother?"
Urgdug chuckles and scratches at his neck, carefully spreading his feet and weight on the ship so that he doesn't just plunge straight through the deck. He isn't even wearing his armor, and still the hefty planks of wood that are meant to allow for dozens of folk to be running about on the top are very quietly groaning.
"You know?" He says with the goofiest smile you've ever seen on him. "It's pretty good."
"WARK!"
Both of you look over to see Oskana rear up slightly as one of the sailors gets too close to her, having apparently been goaded by some of his fellows if you judge the gaggle of men exchanging coins and grins. He's holding a piece of salted meat at her, which only shows he's an idiot, because the piece is smaller than his arm, and thus, barely even a snack for your noble mount. Which, because Oskana isn't an idiot, means that he's insulted her, because she knows she's a hefty woman who requires a good bit more food than that. Plus, the quality of the meat is, you would bet a piece of gold on it, not as good as the barrels you brought from Wulfenburg to keep her fed on the way to Nuln.
"HEY!" You bark, getting their attention, the smiles on their faces falling into the depths of the ocean. "What are you doing with my gryphon?!"
Urgdug doesn't even speak, he just needs to loom and walk steadily behind you as you grab the man who got close by the neck and drag him over to the others.
Nothing like a bit of lambasting to get the blood flowing on a chilly morning.
======================================================================
(Wulfenburg To Altdorf: 81/100)
Your travel south is swift, pausing only to resupply rations and such for the crew and few passengers also heading south to Nuln. This time you were unaccompanied, as the whole of your family, blood-related and otherwise save for Urgdug were seeing to their own responsibilities. Magnus will be commanding the seat and holding court, Sabine is dealing with her fighting league, and so on it goes. The children, by contrast, are all far too young for such travel. You can't quite remember the last time that it was just you and Arthur. For just about the entire time leading up to them finally becoming adults Magnus and Arthur had been incredibly close knit, especially after Oskar's horrific death. So it is pleasant to speak to him, not as a priest, but as your son. Urgdug enjoys it as well, and the three of you spend your days south to Nuln in pleasant discussion. You disembark upon Oskana, on occasion, but never stray too far from the ship itself as it trundles down the stream. Not that it stops you and her from soaring down and ripping a particularly large hart from the forest and letting her devour it on the deck of the ship while it flailed.
Sure, the sailors were a little pale, but they've washed the deck free of blood and worse plenty of times before. It was a well-traveled ship whose clientele included the wealthy and notable, and once the captain had regained his good humor he spun many tales of duels over all a manner of things.
When you pass by Altdorf, and transition from the River Talabec to the River Reik, you can't help but stare directly in the direction of the Amethyst College. You know your daughters are not there any longer, but you also have no earthly idea as to where they are at this very moment. But still, you look towards that forlorn little section of Altdorf, squinting as if you can burn your gaze through so many buildings and at least two other Colleges of Magic. Thankfully, you chartered the ship to be free of any additional passengers, though you can see the captain wincing as some of the speakers for some of the wealthier nobles at the docks call out potential payments they could offer if he lets them board. He doesn't, though, and after the ship resupplies itself once more, you are on your way. You cannot help but be entranced by the sheer bustling of the docks of Altdorf. It makes Wurzen look like a hamlet with a plank of wood for a dock by comparison. Men of many nations stride back and forth, and there are more than a few visible wizards passing this way and that. You started hearing rumors, just a few months ago, that the very geography of Altdorf was beginning to shift. People were claiming that streets were leading to different locations entirely, that new streets appeared and disappeared, and so on. It was hard to know if it was true, though of course many were already beginning to blame the wizards. Unfortunately, if it turns out to be true, you can't be entirely sure if it's undeserved. You know quite well what excesses of magic can do, and if there was anywhere in the Empire where magic could be considered in excess, it would be Altdorf.
(Altdorf To Nuln: 77/100)
Travelling east to Nuln is just as swift, though here between what might well be considered the two greatest cities of the southern Empire the rivers are absolutely chock full of ships rushing back and forth. Traders and transporters are so regular that there are portions of the travel when you can barely see the rivers. Stout patrol ships bearing the colors of Altdorf show up more than once to organize the traffic, forcing the ships into separate lanes, and you see many people gaping at the forever irritated Oskana as she nestles on the deck. Then they notice Urgdug standing nearby, and their jaws fall further. Thankfully, no one is absolutely stupid enough to try and try to offer a price for her, but you can see that a few were considering it before they saw you and Urgdug standing next to her. You even get to see the rumor mill activate in real time, watching as some ships passing faster alongside you realize who you are, and then just a few miles further east you have some ships calling out greetings to 'the Count Hohenzollern'. And then offers of meetings, of deals, of so on and so forth, all eager to reach out and perhaps grasp a bit of information, a bit of influence. For a short time, at least, before another force entirely intercedes.
Strangely, no one seemed overly eager to meet with Arthur, though he was quite visible on the deck as well. In Ostland, Arthur was approached almost constantly, folk seeking succor for their dreams, full of wonderings about their dead kin and friends, and so on. But here, in the south of the Empire, you see dozens of swarthy men and women on the decks make warding gestures and turn their faces. Bright-faced noblemen spy his billowing black robes and the silent knights in their pitch black armor next to him and seem to pale. You actually watched one man, with an absurd mustache and hat, both colored like a rainbow and full of half a dozen too many angles, nearly tip over in the water upon seeing Arthur turn to look at him.
Whether by Morr's grace, or just Arthur's, you reach Nuln without any major incidents. Once there, your son disembarks first, sharing one last embrace with you before going to the local Garden. It won't be even close to the temple complexes that he had built in the north, but it doesn't need to be. You, on the other hand, have to take a bit more time, and cause a rather massive stir when the vapor tank emerges from the ship's hold. The constant crowds in the Nuln docks go quiet, then get very, very loud when the boiler builds up enough heat and the entire war machine leaps to life. The crew wave to the people before closing it off entirely, but by that point your guards have formed a cordon. It is completely impossible to avoid people gawping at the thing as you make your way towards the Ostland Manse, and you know quite well that the rumor mill will be busy screaming about this from one of the city to the next within seconds.
Such assumptions are proven correct when you spy not one, not two, but two dozen Nulner engineers pop up in the crowds by the time you are halfway to the manse. The majority of them look thunderous, though one or two are just awed. Though that shifts to anger as well as the vapor tank continues on its way. While it is, of course, loud, it quite simply does not shudder and shake like the steam tanks do. It can't, its system is far more regulated and measured. As such, as The Horns steadily rumbles along to the Ostland Manse, it allows for rather extensive observation by everyone who can look past the Maelstrombringers and the Greatswords also accompanying you. You aren't stopped, nor intercepted, and they don't even ask questions. No, they let the citizens do that for them.
Herr Otto Zurbak, the master engineer in overall command of the tank, is happy to answer the shouted questions as they drive along, though he knows never to get too detailed. Thankfully, he doesn't broach a single true engineering secret, either pretending to not hear them as they are bellowed at him or perhaps outright not hearing some of them considering the volume.
Soon enough, however, you reach the Manse. The servants which maintain the place in your name are interviewed as to any goings on – nothing at all – and your guards begin their checks and patrols. The vapor tank itself shuttles through the wide wrought iron gates and is placed beneath a particularly large stone awning. It's not quite the safety of the workshops back in Wulfenburg, but some of your Greatswords are going to be stationed in its defense at all times. You made quite good time, and so you've got a few days to try and meet with various others. Based on initial reports from the servants, you were one of the last to arrive, which is unfortunately regular for you, but you are not, in fact, the last. The Elector Count of Hochland has not shown up at all, nor has his representative if any. It would, presumably, be Briggs, but the General is also desperately needed to keep peace in the province. So that's uncertain as well. Stephan is also in Nuln, and has brought little Mena with him, perhaps to assist in her education as to her duties. The only ones also not here are Ortrud and the Lady Ava von Krieglitz, but by all accounts they are apparently travelling together on a somewhat more leisurely route, having begun traveling south a week before you did.
Still, that leaves you with a bit of time for yourself before the Elector's Meet proper starts. This is the first time you've actually made such good time to Nuln, out of the handful of previous Elector's Meets that you've attended.
There is an Imperial Week (8 Days) between now and the Elector's Meet starting. Now is the time to meet with others, or at least request meetings with them, to politic and so on, if so desired. Know that others will be doing the same, some will be unavailable, their temperaments may change from day to day as they experience their own circumstances. As a note, the Grand Conclave, the cross-country gathering of religious authorities, is also scheduled to take place after the Elector's Meet completes, meaning representatives of all the Imperial Cults have flooded the city already. This happens to include the High Matriarch of Manann herself, amongst the other major leaders of the Cults.
Day 1 of 8 (Choose/Write-In 3 Options, In Order Of Priority. Highest voted option succeeds, but second and third possibilities offer alternatives if first choice is unavailable/refuses to meet for one reason or another)
[] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something (Write-In) [Depending On Which, Agreement To Meet Success Not Guaranteed]
[] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something (Write-In) [Depending On Which, Agreement To Meet Success Not Guaranteed]
[] Attempt To Meet With The Emperor, Magnus the Pious About Something (Write-In Topic. Depending On Topic, Success of Acquiring Meeting Will Change)
[] Attempt To Meet With One Of the Imperial Cults About Something (Write-In) [Depending On Which, Agreement To Meet Success Not Guaranteed]
[] Go Wandering Around Nuln?
[] Rest In The Manse For The Day
[] Write-In
As a hopefully helpful reminder as to previously raised topics/suggestions:
- Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric
- Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation
- Possibly telling the Emperor about the ongoing trade war
- Talking with the Emperor about the potential tensions between Taal and Rhya depending on certain actions such as further popularizing the seed-drill.
- Speaking to Averland about canceling the contract to regain a third research action per turn, or something like that.
- Speaking to the High Matriarch of Manann about organizing a position to face critics during Meet/Conclave discussions.
- Approaching the Countess of Wissenland to shore up relations between the North and South further.
- Meeting with the Cult of Myrmidia, who are still working to regain political strength in the Empire, and potentially work some sort of deal out with them.
- Trying, somehow, to possibly improve relations with Gunthar/Middenland. Somehow.
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ConfusedCanuck
Where did it all go wrong?
- Location
- Neverland
I think we should definitely talk to Count Rommel about the letter interception and to build closer ties with the south and to also speak with the Countess of Wissenland to do the same. We have plenty of allies in the north but we need more friendly faces in the south as well and those two we have ins with already.
Also I suspect the Hochland Witch Hunter chapter will be busy soon investigating a vampiric couple that have either passed through there province or settled in said province.
Also I suspect the Hochland Witch Hunter chapter will be busy soon investigating a vampiric couple that have either passed through there province or settled in said province.
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Oh boy, the second I heard this story my mind immediately screamed vampires and glad to see the same from Arthur. The silent but smelly ogre was a bad sign too as an undead servant.
Seems like the Witcher Hunters have a specific target in mind this year when the news reaches them.
Good to see our tank getting the recognition it deserves. Now we just need to build one for service for the Emperor's personal forces.
I think Rommel should be our first stop if we can manage it. It's probably the biggest issue we have here short term. Failing that Getting in touch with the Ar-Ulric for the flame or Magnus for the Taal and Rhya issue are also fairly big ticket.
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
How does this look as a good First Day kinda plan? We will have lots of opportunity to talk to Nuln school, talk to Myrmidia cult, get more wizards, etc, but these feel the most important to us personally first.
Talk about the Eonir, Albion, Beastmen activity, Kislev tensions etc can be talked about in Meet proper since effects rest of Empire.
[] Plan Important Stuff First
-[] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something
--[] Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation
-[] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something
--[] Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric on our High Priest's request
-[] Attempt To Meet With The Emperor, Magnus the Pious About Something
--[] Talking with the Emperor about the potential tensions between Taal and Rhya depending on certain actions such as further popularizing the seed-drill
--[] Apologize for the whole mess you started with the Cult of Manann he had to manage before we fixed it
Talk about the Eonir, Albion, Beastmen activity, Kislev tensions etc can be talked about in Meet proper since effects rest of Empire.
[] Plan Important Stuff First
-[] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something
--[] Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation
-[] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something
--[] Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric on our High Priest's request
-[] Attempt To Meet With The Emperor, Magnus the Pious About Something
--[] Talking with the Emperor about the potential tensions between Taal and Rhya depending on certain actions such as further popularizing the seed-drill
--[] Apologize for the whole mess you started with the Cult of Manann he had to manage before we fixed it
Rolen von Keng
Sleeping Green Bear
- Location
- The Wilderness
Ok, first things first. We do the important tradition, that we've always done...
Go out drinking with Urgdurg and hope Natasha doesn't catch us.
Go out drinking with Urgdurg and hope Natasha doesn't catch us.
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
I mean... she has a constant emotional bond with him. If we try to go on a drunken bender things are gonna get past over.
Which means we should totally do it!
NCRTrooper
Wishing For A Nuclear Winter
- Location
- New York
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan North and South
-[X] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something
--[X] Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation. Also open up relations with him if we can.
-[X] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something
--[X] Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric on our High Priest's request.
-[X] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something.
-[X] Speak with Countess Toppenheimer to shore up relations between Ostland and Wissenland further.
This is an Elector's Meet. We should try to talk to some of our fellow Elector Counts outside of the Trident, no? Not to mention the thought of Wulfenburg getting its own sacred flame tickles a fancy in me.
-[X] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something
--[X] Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation. Also open up relations with him if we can.
-[X] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something
--[X] Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric on our High Priest's request.
-[X] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something.
-[X] Speak with Countess Toppenheimer to shore up relations between Ostland and Wissenland further.
This is an Elector's Meet. We should try to talk to some of our fellow Elector Counts outside of the Trident, no? Not to mention the thought of Wulfenburg getting its own sacred flame tickles a fancy in me.
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Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Moratorium only one hour so we can vote now! Here is mine before I go to bed for night.
[X] Plan Important Stuff First
-[X] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something
--[X] Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation
-[X] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something
--[X] Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric on our High Priest's request
-[X] Attempt To Meet With The Emperor, Magnus the Pious About Something
--[X] Talking with the Emperor about the potential tensions between Taal and Rhya depending on certain actions such as further popularizing the seed-drill
--[X] Apologize for the whole mess you started with the Cult of Manann he had to manage before we fixed it
[X] Plan Important Stuff First
-[X] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something
--[X] Speaking with Count Rommel of Reikland about the strange letter interception situation
-[X] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something
--[X] Speaking with the Ar-Ulric about spreading the Flame of Ulric on our High Priest's request
-[X] Attempt To Meet With The Emperor, Magnus the Pious About Something
--[X] Talking with the Emperor about the potential tensions between Taal and Rhya depending on certain actions such as further popularizing the seed-drill
--[X] Apologize for the whole mess you started with the Cult of Manann he had to manage before we fixed it
[X] Plan North and South
can we vote now?
can we vote now?
ConfusedCanuck
Where did it all go wrong?
- Location
- Neverland
[X] Plan North and South
As I said I want to talk to the other electors and try to shore up relations in the south.
As I said I want to talk to the other electors and try to shore up relations in the south.
Warmach1ne32
Machine of War and Quests
- Location
- Indonesia
She'll probably sense the drunken joy of a night of drinking. Like reading a book before bed and then feeling Freddy have a really god time getting drunk from the link. They have trained to prevent unconscious sending of emotions but being drunk might mean Freddy forgot to do that.
- Location
- Underground
Apologizing at all is problematic, but that bit about Frederick fixing it could easily backfire (if it's in the vote then decent odds Frederick would phrase it that way). He fixed the issues with the cult of Manaan...and Ostland. He has not, and probably cannot fix the issues between the cults that resulted from all that.
I don't support bringing it up at all, but if you MUST bring it up...(you could subvote it as being mentioned only if Magnus brings it up).
Emphasize that Frederick stands by his decision. But he showed penitence and personally squared with the cult of Manaan. But he still regrets the other consequences.
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- Location
- Underground
[X] Plan North and South
Actually, come to think of it, we ought to talk to Matriarch of the cult of Manann before talking to Magnus.
If Magnus does bring up that whole mess on his own, then Frederick would then have more than a sort of apology, he'd have a game plan.
Actually, come to think of it, we ought to talk to Matriarch of the cult of Manann before talking to Magnus.
If Magnus does bring up that whole mess on his own, then Frederick would then have more than a sort of apology, he'd have a game plan.