[] Plan: Meet with Wissenland First
-[] Attempt To Meet With Another Elector Count About Something
--[] Speak with Countess Toppenheimer of Wissenlad for clarification on the RIver of Echoes situation. Seek clarification on what bodies have been uncovered, beastmen, skaven, greenskins, humans?
--[] Speak with General Briggs of Hochland about some organized military drills with Ostland outside of Hochland (inside Ostland land, or work with the trident in full for a military drill), perhaps get Hochland's military more drilled. Or if General Briggs would like Ostland could work with Hochland's military inside Hochland.
-[] Attempt To Meet With A Religious Elector About Something
--[] Speaking with Grand Theogonist Molatok III [Archibald Gottfried] for Freddy to perform a private apology and a brief overview of the Sigmarite side on the fallout of Freddy's choice that opened up conflict with the rest of the Cults and the Cult of Sigmar.
Elector's Meet of 2343 IC Part 9
(An Elector's Schedule: 39+Hero of the Empire(10)+Blessed by Sigmar(20)=69/100)
Emeline Toppenheimer sends your messenger scurrying back with a verbal acquiescence rather than bothering to make them wait for a written letter. She awaits you, at your convenience, despite you being the one to ask for a meeting. This time, when you leave the Manse you order one hundred of your Greatswords to keep a full watch over the place, perimeter and internals, and leave with the remainder on your way to the Wissenland Manse. Your travel through the city is as easy as yesterday, there seems to be no real notice or care of the fact that five watchmen died. But of course, in a city with so many people from so many places, you've little doubt that others died within the past twenty four hours just as well. But whether any of those deaths are connected to the watchmen, you can't know.
"What do you think, Urgdug?" You ask as you approach the Manse.
"About what?"
"Toppenheimer. Wissenland's troops," you shrug.
Urgdug rubs at his chin for a moment before speaking, his eyes still darting about the streets to watch for potential threats.
"They got as much artillery as us, and guns," he says absentmindedly, "Lots of money, lots of supplies, good gear."
"True," you nod. "But I haven't heard much about Toppenheimer actually taking to the battlefield."
It's not absolutely required, of course, there is nothing that legally compels one to do so, but it is notably rare throughout the history of the Empire that an Elector Count has not shed the blood of the Empire's enemies in battle at least once. As far as you know, Emeline has joined that rare number, even including the past six years of opportunities. No single province is utterly free of threats for the troops to fight, not even those in the south. But the lack of engaging in open battle or patrols is all the more noticeable in the rumor mill. Six years is a perfectly good amount of time for many people to alter their physical fitness and combat prowess.
"Maybe she is not a fighter?" Urgdug ponders. "Not the worst thing."
"Well no," you shake your head, "But she hasn't even nominated a champion or blade-bearer for
Blood Bringer, and I know she's not putting
Grudge Settler on."
"Didn't she give that up to Magnus? Some sort of-,"
"No that was the previous Electoral family," you cut your hand through the air. "Whether that was one last act of humbleness and loyalty to the Empire, or part of their Dark God-addled minds before the purge hit, I don't know. And - ah, never mind, we're here."
The watchmen at the checkpoints to the streets bordering the Manse are doubled in number now, something you don't doubt has been enacted across the entire city whenever possible. But the Manse proper is fully guarded behind a wall of Greatswords and Knights of the Shining Talon on quietly fidgeting razorbeaks. They spot you all easily, and shift their bodies with utmost precision to allow you a channel towards the entrance of the Manse itself. Your Greatswords, and the Maelstrombringers, split their own number as well, and less than half end up following you into the Manse proper where you are greeted by several finely dressed footmen and maids. With them, standing with her hands folded across her stomach and no blade belted at her side, is the Countess Emeline Toppenheimer of Wissenland.
"Count Hohenzollern!" She calls, a greater quaver in her voice than the last time you saw her though she does wave quite vigorously. "Count Hohenzollern, it brings me great pleasure to see you again!"
Her slightly burnt straw colored hair has lightened considerably since the last Elector's Meet, past streaks of grey straight on to white. Though there is some tasteful makeup, it cannot fully mask the wrinkles and crows feet which are visible on her face. Rather than bulking up slightly, as you had expected when she was granted the Runefang, either through general exercise or at least some form of minimal combat training, she has actually thinned out notably. Not to a wholly unwell extent, but the difference is significant enough on its own.
"Countess Toppenheimer," you bow to her, "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."
"Oh of course, of course!" She flaps her hand about before gesturing within the open doors of the manse. "Come in, come in!"
Just like that, you are whisked away to a large ballroom area which was apparently installed at some point, within which is a table set with light finger foods and refreshments aplenty. Truly aplenty, as something which goes against the rather dainty atmosphere created by the light pastel colors and lace of the room is the trio of barrels of ale which have been set up on a space clearly prepared for Urgdug. She hasn't gone so far as to try and commission some sort of chair capable of withstanding his weight, but the positioning of the barrels and the plates with food on them clearly designates where he will be sitting. Emeline guides you both over, bustling to her own chair and pointing your own on the way. A pair of servants immediately begin pouring some wine into glasses for the two of you, and helpfully opening the cask of one of the barrels for Urgdug.
"I was so surprised to get your message, but I am of course happy to receive you," she says with surprising seriousness, "I heard about that dreadful business with the watchmen. How terrible!"
"Good men died, yes, but I have faith in the Sword of Justice and the Emperor," you say, coughing slightly as you drink your wine.
"Of course, of course," she nods rapidly. "Still, that someone would try and approach any of the Manses is disconcerting, in these times. But," she sits back in her chair and sips some of her wine, pulling a small fan out from somewhere, "Your letter mentioned that you actually had some questions you wished to ask me? Is it something not related to that matter?"
"As a matter of fact, it is not," you pause, "Well, I would hope not, at least."
"Oh my," she says while fanning herself lightly.
In winter, of all times, but then the Wissenland Manse seems exceptionally warm. There are three separate fires burning in large fireplaces in the ballroom. Even as far away as you are from them, the heat is more than enough for the room. Then again, you get the distinct feeling that the fanning isn't entirely due to heat, and might well just be a part of that strange thing known as fashion.
"Forgive me if this seems sudden, or unexpected, but as you may know I am a man who likes to be aware of threats to the Empire, not just to Ostland."
"Oh of course," she titters, "You have charged across the land more than once to the aid of your fellow Imperials."
"Right," you nod before draining your wine glass and leaning forward. "The River of Echoes."
The pleasantness drains slightly from Emeline, though not entirely. Her fanning does slow somewhat.
"Ah, yes. Dreadful business - or perhaps I should say the lack thereof," she tuts, shaking her head at the same time. "I presume you know of the extreme importance of that trade route?"
You grimace and nod. You'd known some of it, no Elector would easily miss one of the most vital connections to one of the foreign lands near the Empire. But just to be sure, you had asked Sabine to further educate you, which she had done with aplomb and abundance. You'd suffered some damage to the trade networks which had destinations in Ostland when the river route had been damaged, in fact.
"Direct path from Tilea to Nuln, essentially, deep enough to avoid the winters which make the mountains impassible, far less dangerous than the muddy avalanches in the spring," you say, folding your hands together in your lap. "Remarkably safe, most of the time."
"Far more than trying to go over the mountains," Emeline agrees with another nod, now sipping a bit more deeply of her wine. "Occasionally, small bands of goblins would show up, but those would be cleared out by regular patrols. This latest disaster...," she partially swoons in her chair.
"So you can understand my concern. The rumors are terribly garbled," you say gently. "The rumors of the corpses, and such."
"Ah, yes," she ceases fluttering the fan, and in fact snaps it shut. A shudder runs through her as she places it back down against the table, a gesture from her having the servants scurrying out. Emeline inhales deeply before looking back up at you, her head held high. "I have read the illuminated editions of Karak Ungor, as written by the Sword of Justice, Count Hohenzollern. As such, I cast aside the garb of the ignorance for this - yes, the bodies we recovered were skaven. A great many skaven, in fact."
She drinks the rest of her wine glass, her already pale skin paling further. Without the servants, she is left to refill her glass on her own.
"I had thought them a myth, a story, until some of the corpses were brought back to Nuln for examination...and the Emperor spoke to me in person."
Her grip tightens upon the fan, and you suspect that her knuckles might be as white as the fine gloves she's wearing.
"After that, I reached out and received the illuminated editions, rather than those that are available in the Empire. To think that such teeming chittering hordes lie beneath our feet...," she shudders again.
"It is a bit horrifying to think about, yeah," you sigh, pouring some more wine for yourself.
"We cleared out the ones under Wulfenburg, wasn't that many though," Urgdug says after putting an empty barrel down next to himself. "Not sure about Nuln."
Emeline's eyes dart around the room for a minute, specifically at the closed curtains which close the windows off entirely from the outside world, and lets loose a sigh.
"It is a significant 'Under-City'," she says after a moment. "We are currently coordinating with the Grey College in scouting it out, and with the Emperor to prepare a strike to lay it low in the future. But at the moment...there are other concerns," she pours herself some more wine. "The River of Echoes was subject to some sort of sabotage from the skaven, intentional or otherwise, which claimed the lives of a great many of them."
"Damn," you groan as you lean back in your chair. "I had my suspicions, but...,"
"The harm to the greater Empire was notable, but to the southern provinces, it is
significant," she draws out the last word. "Many merchants had their fortunes and lives ruined outright, the inability to make bulk sales to the south has harmed our agricultural producers," she places a hand against her forehead and simply pauses for a moment. "Keeping Wissenland and Averland afloat financially whilst simultaneously preparing for a potential battle against the WAAAGH!! to the south has been...taxing," she says quietly.
The words are a subtle hammer blow. Your mind is ablaze with tactical and strategic considerations, the sheer supply stockpile required to potentially fund a large armed force moving down to confront the WAAAGH!! currently embroiled in Karak Eight Peaks, otherwise known as the Blood Bowl to the greenskins. Would it just be Averland and Wissenland? Siegrich, you can easily imagine wanting to participate, Wissenland and the Sudenlanders within it have suffered the touch of greenskins deeply before, and would likely like to avoid it happening again. But what of others armies, other provinces?
"Ah. I see," you say after another moment passes. "I apologize if I have distressed you."
"No, no, I am happy to speak with you, even if the subject matter is...harrowing," she shakes her head a bit and straightens in her chair. "I...would appreciate it if you would keep that information to yourself. I think the Emperor is planning on speaking more on the subject during the Meet proper," she says quickly. "I should not have spoken so brazenly, I am simply...weary, as of late."
"Oh?"
"Nightmares," she admits ruefully. "Ever since I saw those ratmen corpses, I cannot stop thinking about them beneath our feet, our cities. Of them watching as so much vital trade was traveling through the River of Echoes. Mark my words, Count Hohenzollern, I am already doubling patrols through the excavated lengths of it, and shall extend that to the whole river if possible in the future."
"The Tileans might have something to say about that," Urgdug says, pursing his lips. "Might want you to stick to the northern half."
"That is likely, and yet I will only do so if I can convince the Tileans to increase their own patrols in the southern half," Emeline nods, a surprisingly fierce look on her face. "We cannot allow the skaven to act with such impunity again."
You can't help the smile on your face at the fire in her voice.
"I agree. I suppose I can only wish you great favor in such an endeavor...and that the Tileans will be willing to work with you on it."
"I hope so," she says fervently. "I truly do."
"Well, with you at the helm, and so dedicated to the matter, I think you might have the matter in hand."
Emeline smiles at that.
"Thank you, Count Hohenzollern. I know that I do not possess the same...prowess in combat as many of my peers, but I have great faith in the state troops of Wissenland. In our cannonry and guns if nothing else," she titters, though there is a slightly forced edge to it.
"Ah...yes," you say awkwardly, rubbing at the back of your head.
Urgdug opts to drink the rest of his second barrel, trying very hard not to cause the bull cannon to scrape or make any noises at all. Even so, Emeline pauses and looks between the two of you, her hand going to her mouth for a moment before dropping back into her lap.
"The foundries of Nuln are powerful, and those factors who deal with them wealthy indeed, but my family's wealth is tied up more in Pfeildorf," she says awkwardly. "I do not...well healthy business competition and all that," she coughs daintily and drinks a bit more wine, frowning at the bottle's emptiness after filling her glass one last time.
"Right," you agree. "Sure."
"But," she claps her hands, "Moving on from such unpleasant topics, I have heard stories about Marienburg, and there are
rumors of something in the forest of Laurelorn involving you and those unfortunate Blue Wolves...oh! And of Albion!" She smiles, relaxing slightly and gesturing to the doors where two of her Greatswords wait, letting the servants back in to replace the bottles of wine and barrels of ale.
"Those are...," you grimace, "I must admit, Countess, they are not the most pleasant and joyful of tales."
"Are there giant rats that are shaped like men in them?" She asks, a deep loathing in her voice.
"Well...no."
"Then I can assure you that I shall find them more pleasant than you think," she says firmly as your wine glasses are full of wine once more.
(Extricating: 5+Diplomacy(5)=10/100)
You don't know how she does it, but Emeline Toppenheimer is a master of the conversational trap. Six years ago, she managed to pull you into a vortex of conversation, and now she does so again. Somehow, she manages to get you to talk all about Marienburg, and then about Laurelorn and Athel Loren. You definitely do not go too much into detail about any of the three, but even when censoring information that you are relatively sure that the ruling elven nobility would prefer not spoken freely of, there is much to talk about. Rare is the person who has made it within Athel Loren and then leave alive. You say nothing of deals, of debts, or especially important and relatively personal moments of yourself or of many others, and aside from a confirmation about Albion and some minor detail you say little of the isle at all.
Even so, Emeline has a way of stretching out what you hadn't really intended to take up the whole day into something which ends only as night falls and you simply must return to your own Manse. For propriety's sake if nothing else. And, contrary to your expectations, she really does seem more heartened and excitable after hearing your stories than she was when you first arrived. She truly does seem traumatized by the skaven, despite never having encountered a live one before. But your burgeoning friendship seems to be buoying her quite well, which can only mean good things for relations between your provinces. You make it back to the Manse without incident, the Knights Griffon reporting that other than gawkers coming to see the knights themselves, that they saw no others attempting to get into the manse proper.
Reassuring to hear, at least, and so you let yourself relax a bit as you enter your bedroom, ready to call a Greatsword to help you peel the plate armor off.
(Noticing: 66+Frederick Martial(19)=85/100)
Brain Wounder flashes in your hand and stops just before it would have decapitated the maid of Magnus, standing as she was directly behind you somehow. Or at least, that's what should have happened, only she'd managed to step backwards just out of the reach of the blade as you'd spun about, your forearms burning with halting the momentum. She is not dressed as a maid anymore, nor as a noblewoman, but instead she wears the rags and dirty linens better associated with those in the gutter, lost in alleyways and under cracked awnings. But those strange, cold, nearly inhuman eyes are unmistakable. Then again she might not be trying to hide them at the moment.
"You," you breathe out heavily, your heart racing. "Leah."
"Count Hohenzollern," she bows deeply, at the waist, before rising again. "I bring news of the investigation. It is proceeding apace. We have a small number of suspects, and are checking them all."
"You...," you pause, glance around the room. "That door was locked. So is the window."
"Yes," she nods.
You work to slow your heartrate and lower
Brain Wounder entirely.
"Do my guards truly need that much work?"
She shakes her head.
"You cannot blame them for being unable to pierce the workings of the Grey College, nor the stolen gifts of Khaine."
Your grip around
Brain Wounder's hilt tightens at the mention of the God of Murder.
"The hell I can't," you say, just to be petty, "But go on with your information. Who are these groups?"
"Do you require assistance in getting out of your armor?" Is what she says instead.
"I'll handle it afterwards," you tell her flatly. "Your information?"
"The Lodge is a possible suspect, but unlikely. This may be the work of vampires, but I am not so certain," she says steadily, "I think it is more likely to be skaven. You have proven yourself an enemy of them in Karak Ungor, and they may wish revenge."
"Skaven, right," you sigh, leaning against a bedpost, "I thought that the Grey College was keeping a watch on them?"
Her eyes do not widen, but rather her lips curve downwards slightly.
"Countess Toppenheimer told you."
"A bit. Don't blame her, she hasn't been sleeping well," you say firmly.
The possibly ex-assassin doesn't respond to that, just tilting her head and glancing away towards the window.
"It may not be the skaven, however."
"Chaos cult?"
She shakes her head.
"Unlikely, but possible. We are still investigating. I was advised to keep you informed as to your investigation, if only for your peace of mind. That is what we know, it has - after all - been only a single day."
Your heart has just about reached a normal pace while you fling reassurance back north back at a suddenly panicked Natasha, who herself was panicking because of your own shock.
"Well...I suppose I appreciate it. But you didn't have to do it like this."
She frowns.
"I did. You are being watched. If you are being watched, then it follows that those that meet with you are also watched. As such, I needed to go unseen when meeting with you," she shakes her head and clucks her tongue. "I have delivered what information has been garnered to you thus far. Remain cautious, Count Hohenzollern."
She isn't entirely wrong, and you know it.
"I...yeah," you sigh. "You've confirmed it wasn't-,"
"It was not one of the other Electors," she interrupts with the answer, "Which includes Starbrook, though the Lodge may be working apart from him for plausible deniability."
"I just want to know what they thought they'd gain out of this," you growl.
"Unknown. It may be unrelated to you entirely."
Even with her dead tone, and lack of expression, you know she doesn't believe that for a second.
"Right. Do you need me to see you out?"
"No, thank you."
She bows once more, but pauses as she turns to leave as you ask another question.
"Who
are you?"
Slowly, the not-a-maid turns back.
"I've seen you before, a maid in the palace. But the way Evangeline talked about you...,"
She studies you for a moment before sighing, glancing down and to the side.
"My name is Leah, as you have been told. I was once a servant of another," she peels back some of the dirty linen to reveal a monstrous multitude of ritualistic scarring along one of her hands and arms.
Scarring which is now heavily obscured with tattoos and brands belonging to other Gods of the Empire.
"Now I serve Magnus, and in doing so, may perhaps save my own soul through good works. If you truly desire more information, you may ask the Emperor. Or...," her lips twist. "The Sword of Justice. Know that I am your ally, Count, if nothing else."
Your eyes narrow as you look her up and down as she obscures her arms once more.
"Fine. I suppose you'll be on your way then."
Leah simply nods, and then simply walks into the voluminous shadows filling your room and seems to melt out of existence. Frowning, you follow right after, only to squint at the bare walls and solid flooring in the darkness. Even when you bring a torch over which scatters the shadows entirely, you can't quite figure out how she got out aside from it being magic. Some kind of movement through the shadows themselves? You've heavily utilized the Jade College, and made contact with the Amber and the Bright, even the Gold, but you've rarely considered the Grey College aside from your brief exposure to them previously. If this is the result of their work, it might be worth looking into them further.
Day 5 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)
Moratorium For 3 Hours
[] 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?
[] Stay In The Manse For The Day
[] Write-In
As a hopefully helpful reminder as to previously raised topics/suggestions:
- 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.
- 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.
GM NOTE: Some revisions made in the previous update to reflect on the fact that it was Evangeline who met Leah during the Owl's Journey sidestory, and that Frederick doesn't actually know about the former assassin's story IIRC. Unless I'm wrong and I'll just re-revision.
