Warhammer Fantasy: A Dynasty of Dynamic Alcoholism

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Well, to continue talking about Blood Bowl while simultaneously putting the conversation back on track, I have one very important question.

@torroar Can we create the sport known as Blood Bowl in this quest?
 
If Ostka=vodka can we use it to make flaming weapons or just do the circus flame breathing trick? I ask because I now have the image of a drunk Ostlander with bottle of Ostka being attacked on his way home at night by one of the beastmen and taking a big gulp from his bottle and belching through his torch killing it.
 
prince84 said:
If Ostka=vodka can we use it to make flaming weapons or just do the circus flame breathing trick? I ask because I now have the image of a drunk Ostlander with bottle of Ostka being attacked on his way home at night by one of the beastmen and taking a big gulp from his bottle and belching through his torch killing it.
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Molotov cocktails.
 
Turn 2 Results
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    2305 IC​

    Military: Sir Maximilian von Raukov is a retired member of the Bull Warriors, Ostland's only Knightly Order. Despite being retired, there remains a fire in his belly. He is here to advise you on military matters. (Choose 2)

    Middle Mountain Scouting: You do not like large plumes of smoke in areas not under control by the Empire. Generally you just don't like large plumes of smoke. It usually means that a large number of greenskins have come together, or a large number of beastmen. You don't like either possibility. So, as such, put together a few scouting parties to investigate, yes? Cost: 50. Time: 1 Year. Reward: ???

    - The vast majority of the Middle Mountains are within the vaguely defined boundaries of Ostland, which means that it technically is also your responsibility. Somewhat. Hochland and Middenland also partially own much smaller portions. In any case, you fund a few brave men and women to go and scout out the origin of those giant plumes of smoke, whatever they were. What they find is most unsettling. Just as innumerable tribes of beastmen and greenskins roam the Forest of Shadows, they are even more so in the Middle Mountains where Imperial control is even weaker in scope. But what is found is neither. The great plumes of smoke occurred, yes, but there is little sign of what made them. It had to have been a large group, perhaps even a small army, but they've managed to cover their tracks. They headed southwest and thus deep into the mountains, to where no Imperial has gone for some time. It will be a hell of a thing to make it into the true depths of the Middle Mountains, for no man or dwarf has ever made it into or out of there for more than a thousand years. Reward: There's an army of...something...in them there hills.

    Reclaiming The Coast: The coast of Ostland is filled with beastmen and Norscan marauders who can come and go with impunity. It is there that your father fell, attempting to do just what you are about to try. The largest port of your province, Salkalten, is also the only real port of your province. Verborgenbucht is at best a very large yet singular dock. It is there that what seems like an entire clan of Norse raiders has taken up residence. There they sit, even now, drinking the copious stores of Ostland alcohol in its many forms, and prancing about the blackened ruins with their dark and disturbing culture and rituals. The Norse were supposed to be broken utterly by Magnus's actions, but not these ones. Perhaps they have gotten so drunk they have forgotten to be afraid. It's a common Ostlander problem to be so drunk that fear takes a holiday. Which means only one thing. They took your port, your beer and ale, and now they are starting to appropriate your culture. No. Longer. Your father attempted this with a small detachment of soldiery. You are going to bring an army. Cost: 0. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Battle of Salkalten (Ostland's only actual port, currently caught in the grip of a surprisingly stubborn band of Norscans. Success = Large boost to Peasant/Noble Opinion)

    - Battle Turns Begin With Next Post.

    Diplomacy: Baroness Katrin von Freud is a slim and stiff necked old bat. But she's been wining and dining with the best of them since before your father was a twinkle in your grandfather's eye. (Choose 1):

    His Magnanimousness: Yes yes, hurray for the new Magic Colleges. But you know what you need right now? Imperial aid. The North has been greatly neglected by the Emperor as of yet, who has apparently been spending his time building colleges and rebuilding Nuln. Which is, fine, of course, for the Empire and all that rot. But it would be nice if he could send literally any form of help at all for the North. A helpful Order of Knights? Building materials? Some additional soldiers? You'll honestly just take an injection of capital for your treasury. But it would be nice if the Emperor could aid you somewhat. You are, after all, one of his Elector Counts. No, wait, ask him for his blessing for your marriage to Natasha! With a barrel of Ostka to go with it! Cost: 50. Time: 1 Year. Reward: ???. Chance of Success: 65%. Required: 35. Rolled: 96+20=116

    - Well. Just…well. The Emperor did not come himself, but he apparently decided to do the next best thing. Apparently, according to the very well-equipped man in front of you, your short and simple letter explaining the issues that Ostland was suffering from reached Magnus. The words chastised and regretful were thrown about in your slight daze, as well as the words 'determined to make up for this neglect'.

    The Emperor, Magnus the Pious, has not quite sent you an army. But he has sent you in no uncertain means a heady amount of support.

    A full fourth of the newly named and founded Knights Griffon, anointed by Magnus himself, have come to Ostland. Formed this very year, from the most elite and devout of the famous Knights Panther. They, as well as their commander Sir Erwin, have been sent here to assist you in your efforts at the monstrously difficult task that you have set for yourself – the cleansing of the Forest of Shadows. These incredibly pious and skilled men have been sent here to assist your efforts and have been explicitly ordered by the Emperor to subordinate themselves to you. But as the Knights Griffon were formed out of the 100 most devout of the Knights Panther, and their numbers have not yet begun to grow, the Emperor who admittedly fought an entire war, the Great War in fact, he knows that you would need more.

    So he sent a detachment of the Imperial Foot. You know, the foot equivalent of the Reiksguard Knights? Three thousand of the finest warriors accessible by the Empire have come, and with them their incredible expertise, experience, and equipment. There is much less fighting in the South against the general threats of the Empire, and so Magnus has sent them here where they can do the most good. Accompanying them are five veteran Warriors Priests of Sigmar, veterans of the Great War Against Chaos. Though the Foot is nominally under the command of their Lieutenant Jaeger, they follow the orders of Ser Erwin overall. As do the others who have come.

    Four cannon, and the men trained to use them, have come to offer the power and devastation created by the famous weapons of Nuln. You have never seen one of these put to use yourself, but you have heard the stories. All three of these groups are to be here for some time, their 'objective' to assist you until you should feel you no longer need their services or they are dead. Retreat and return are not an option. It says something that Magnus believes in you that you can manage your apparent task within your lifetime and that of these men. Their loyalty, experience, and skill is unquestionable, and that they arrived and bowed to you during court sends a blatant message.

    The Emperor is with Ostland, and her Count. The effect was only intensified when you are presented with an incredible gift for which you have no comparable return to. Magnus the Pious, that devout man who many say is one of the most humble men in history, has heard of your rather simple life up until this point. As such, he has sent you an absolutely expertly made smithing hammer with a lacquered black hilt and entirely featureless head. Humble. Yet effective. The message belted out by Sir Erwin when he presents the entire force to Wulfenburg and yourself in an entirely unplanned parade/celebration/greetings that the Emperor regrets being unable to be there during your wedding to Natasha and a generally circular set of phrases and sentences that were later clarified by said wife to be the Emperor explicitly giving approval to your marriage and to Natasha in particular. You didn't quite get it at the time, but the nobles of Ostland did. As did the Witch Hunters who turned out to see just what was going on.

    The only negative thing, because the world is just like that, is that you didn't get everything that Magnus apparently sent you. There was even supposed to be an entire knightly order that was to shift their Primary Chapter House from Altdorf to Ostland. Unfortunately the Knights of the Everlasting Light somehow disappeared from the main body of the group on the way here. While alarming, that order of knights is also well known for their practically unnatural bad luck.

    Reward: Marriage Approved by the Emperor Magnus the Pious. 25 Knights Griffon, 3000 Imperial Foot, 5 Veteran Warrior Priests of Sigmar, Four Cannon. Peasant Opinion Raised to 7/10. Noble Opinion Raised To 6/10.

    Stewardship    : Morgan von Bernhardt is an experienced steward, and often ran things while your father was off gallivanting around. The middle aged man is quiet, but his ideas more often than not have merit. For now he wants to repair the roads and ports, but you need to reclaim those from the creatures of the Forest first. (Choose 1)

    Final Food Stretch: Two thirds of Ostland's farmland has been rebuilt and regrown as best it can. One third remains to be repaired and have farms rebuilt there. It will take an entire year to do, but helping Ostland get back up to its former levels of food production is probably one of the most vital things you need to do in the coming future. Cost: 100. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Ostland Farms return to Pre-Great War numbers. Increase Farming Income.

    - At last, the devastation dealt unto Ostland in terms of farmland has been repaired. You wouldn't think it would take an entire year to fix things, re-plow, rebuild, have priests wave sticks around and mumble like a drunk to themselves, and a whole host of other things, but it did. In any case, Ostland's Farms have returned to generally the same amount of production that they reached before Kul rammed his armies into the Empire's throat. Reward: Farming Income +50. Farms Fully Rebuilt, Additional +25.

    Research:     Helga…has no last name. Despite the fact that you are pretty sure that girls are not allowed in the Gunnery School in Nuln, she has shown to be extremely adept with firearms. As in she took one apart and put it back together supposedly 'better' during the first privy council meeting you had with her. Are there female dwarf engineers willing to teach people? Where did your father find this woman? (Choose 2):

    Through the Trees: One of the greatest difficulties in fighting through the forestry that is most of your province is orders. Colors stick out like a sore thumb but are easy for enemy forces to detect. Same for flags. At the moment your people don't possess any real sort of communicating orders except through messengers. There has to be a way to do so, or else your people shall suffer reduced adaptability on the battlefield. Which…is bad. Cost: 100. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Something easier than colors/flags for forest operations (aka Ostland operations)

    - It's, all right. It sounds primitive, but damn it if it doesn't work. Whistling, various different noises of the forest, a repetition of certain animal noises, etc. We know it sounds like going backwards technologically but until we have something that can somehow teleport orders from one person to the next instead of actually having to speak to them that is better than waving flags about, this is it. It was tested even during mock battles, with small piercing whistles that bounce sounds all around the forest so that it's even harder to detect the origin. Reward: Easier Communication between troops. Better mobility on battlefield translating to +3 during rolls.

    Her Name Was Valma: All the tales say that dwarves are meant to be grim folk, which is understandable given the tales of how much they have lost over the millennia. Valma Tharmaniz is anything but grim. She is not bubbly, no, but she is not stoic in the least. She is filled with a harsh and spikey sort of energy, but she is filled with it. Curses abound, as well as drink, wherever she walks and talks. But, Valma did promise to teach Helga. Now it remains to be seen if Valma would be willing to teach others. Not to the extent of Helga, obviously, but every chunk of knowledge helps. Cost: 0. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Valma willing to teach others about engineering and guns. Chance of success: 65% Required: 35. Rolled: 35.

    -She nearly refused. Nearly, but not quite. The Slayer hemmed and hawed, having titanic arguments with Helga that shook the rafters as they enacted an unholy combination of debate, pub crawl, and grappling combat. In the end, Helga succeeded. Somewhat. It took Helga a solid three months of plying the woman with Ostka and every kind of alcohol that Ostlanders can access (a lot) including a barrel of one of those most rare of things that Helga had apparently been holding onto for just such an occasion as this – a barrel of that rarest of spirits known as Bugmans XXXXXX. Apparently it is, bar none, the best dwarf produced drink on the planet. You've never had the stuff so you wouldn't know but apparently it was the clincher in helping Valma decide.

    For now, Valma seems to have absconded with an entire tavern where her 'lessons' take place. The only patrons allowed inside are her students. Do you suppose it says something that the first engineering classes in Ostland took place in a place where the barrels of beer were close at hand with a drunken Slayer Engineer and a smattering of other 'students' who were also drinking? The instructors at Nuln would never approve. But then again the instructors at Nuln have never had to live in the Forest of Shadows. Wissenland is big fields and pleasant copses of trees. You have a forest filled with monsters that you have to live in. Helga knows much, and the selected few who are literate and can do numbers have rounded to about twelve men and women partaking in the extremely unorthodox learning experience of learning at the feet of Valma. Reward: Valma has taken on a few students. Having made the plunge of doing so, it is likely that she may accept doing more.

    Piety:     Most people wouldn't expect an Ulrican and Sigmarite Priest to stand shoulder to shoulder on something. Well, wonder of wonders, it's happening here in Ostland. Wulff and Leopold glare at you from across the table during Privy Council meetings, while Eizenhorn stands on the far wall behind them with his hands casually near his weapons. (Choose 1)

    Damage Control: Oh damn it. The Witch Hunters have been following Natasha around the Castle. This will not do, but at this moment the Order of the Silver Hammer is far more likely to manage killing you for being a tainted traitor than you would be at defeating all of them. You don't fancy being filled with lead. Something must be done, and you aren't stupid enough to think that just ordering them to 'stop that' would actually work. You need to do something to at least somewhat relieve their suspicions. This means that you may…ugh…have to go to church. At least to put on a show. Natasha is willing to go. Perhaps if they see the two of you attending a few services then they'll back off because you're showing 'remorse and/or repentance." It also may do to have at least some of the Sigmarite Priests on your side. Through say…a few donations? Cost: 100. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Reduce Witch Hunter Suspicions. A bit. Chance of Success: 75%. Required: 25. Rolled: 28.

    - Up until this point in time you have had a rather extreme distaste for the Gods. Said negative sensations have been upgraded a tad. Because now you have actually seen the damned powers that the Priests of Sigmar have been claimed to possess this entire time. If it were anyone else, they would have likely gained some amount of pious respect at the sight of the powers of a God actually acting through mortal men and women. But you aren't anyone else. Instead, you saw that an entity of some sort actually is capable of producing powers, shields of protection and healing.

    Where. The. Hell. Has. That. Been.

    Ostland has been ravaged by the denizens of the Forest of Shadows for two thousand years, and at no point in time did these priests with their powers change things! With all the light and powers granted by their God's, how have they not cleansed the forest, and struck down the dark creatures of the world?! A perfect example of this is the first time you entered the Church of Sigmar in Wulfenburg for a service. The people, of course, were stunned, as were the Witch Hunters who have been tailing your wife (the latter part told to you by said wife). You had never been there before. It was disgustingly wondrous. Light poured through the colored glass, structures of shiny brass and gold hung everywhere, and there was ornate artwork and sigils of Sigmar across the entire place. Being the only Temple of Sigmar in Wulfenburg, which is simultaneously the largest concentration of Sigmarites in Ostland has left it to be the sole recipient of all donations and build-up. A book was read from, a couple chants sung, a few prayers murmured in unison.

    Then you went outside, and what did you see? The Forest of Shadows, with shapes and things creeping through the darkness that fills the forest of your home. How can no one else rage against the Gods? To go from that place of richness and 'piety' and power and worship to see the state of Ostland that has been that way for generations and generations? Natasha does not share your active dislike of the God's, and instead possesses a general sort of apathy towards them. But during your conversations after being forced by the latest circumstances into the temples she agrees somewhat which is more than you could have possibly hoped for with anyone else.

    These priests, of Ulric, of Sigmar, they have all of this…and yet the Forest of Shadows remains. The God's aren't useless, as you had previously thought. No, they are guilty of another crime. Ineffectuality.

    The powers of the God's are held and used by the hands of these people, and yet…they have changed nothing. Not in Ostland at least. Perhaps down in the South where Magnus the Pious resides the power of Sigmar is capable of doing much. Ugh.

    Besides the evolving facets of your annoyance at the gods, supposedly good or absolutely bad, it seems to have worked. Apparently because when you left the temples the people whisper of just how incredibly energized you seem to be. You are, but because every time you exit a temple of a god you are reminded of the work that lays before you which they could have taken care of if they were less worthless by even a modicum of effort. The Witch Hunters still watch you and your wife, but their hands have moved from being directly on the holsters of their pistols and the grips of their torches to being an appreciably amicable distance. Reward: Reduce Witch Hunter Suspicions. A bit. Witch Hunter Reputation raised to 5/10, Suspicious Dislike.

    Intrigue:     Ah yes, what could be better than one twitchy Witch Hunter? Another twitchy Witch Hunter. Unlike Eizenhorn, Marlisa is focused on matters of internal security and intrigue. With a smaller emphasis on faith. But not by much. Eh, you'll take what you can get. (Choose 1)

    Trouble Makers: You aren't naïve enough to assume that the Witch Hunters are just going to let your marriage and general lack of religious fervor slide. You can hope that more intellectual ones will accept what the Emperor and High Theologian say, but know that the more zealous ones are likely to be an issue. Marlisa is one of the former, thankfully. She accepted the word of Magnus the Pious with immense stoicism as she apparently mentally reorganized her entire world-view. She also is aware that such an action will be beyond at least some of her Order. It will be better if she's the one asking instead of you, by the way. Cost: 50. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Problematic Witch Hunters within Ostland identified.

    - This sort of internal survey is normally unheard of in the Order. It's actually quite disturbing now that you get to see some of the internal workings of the organization. Oh, by the way, now that you are making yourself more familiar with the Order, they have apparently phased out the usage of the Order of the Silver Hammer some time ago and replaced it with The Holy Order of the Templars of Sigmar. Also, they are based in Altdorf, meaning that you cannot actually change much about their policies or order more back like you had initially assumed.

    To be fair, Marlisa mentions, rather the point of the Witch Hunters being so secretive is so that they can move without their targets immediately figuring out that they are in fact being hunted. In any case, Wulfenburg was after all named after the founder of the Order and as such has a substantial force of the Order. She cannot tell you all of the secrets of the Order, that would, again, defeat the point, but she can reveal some of the hierarchy. There is a singular Lord Protector, followed by a nebulous number of Grand Masters and Witch Hunter Generals, followed by a Supreme Council made of 12 Knights of the Inner Circle. Other positions exist, but the only thing you need to concern yourself is with Witch Hunter Captains, and the Witch Hunters beneath them…and the woman in charge of Ostland's Chapter House i.e. Witch Hunter Captain Lieselotte. She is the one in command of Ostland's Witch Hunters.

    She doesn't like you, apparently. Her reports to the Witch Hunter General in charge of the North District of the Empire are apparently recommending that you be interrogated about your apparent magic sympathies and to learn whether or not you had been tainted by Chaos due to your distance from the rest of the Hohenzollerns. However, she doesn't hate you on principle. She simply is exceedingly dedicated to the edicts of the Empire. But as the Order is under the command of the Grand Theologian and the Emperor himself all comments about your suspicious closeness to someone who uses magic has disappeared.

    So long as you stay within the confines of what the above two individuals say, you should be fine. Probably. You have more to worry about though. Specifically, three Templars. The field agents of the Order, these are the ones with the experience and the gumption to chase down cultists, sorcerers, vampires, and other such dark things with nothing but a pistol and rapier at their side. Sometimes with assistance, but sometimes not. So if nothing else their general ability to not die immediately as they stalk throughout the Empire on their lonesome is something to be respected.

    If only the respect would be returned by the Templars Magnus, Otto, and Maud. Each of these three have raised numerous concerns about your rule, your general state of soul, piety, and whether or not you are secretly a corrupted agent of Chaos. Or have been ensorcelled by a foreign witch, no matter what the Edict's say. Or in Magnus's case, both. Magnus is a native of Averland, while Otto is of Nordland and Maud is of Ostland itself. All three got extremely distressed at the sight of your wife's powers which apparently only began melting several days after you left. They were the ones who most vigorously and painstakingly followed the both of you around, watching you in temples and without. They have decided that something is vigorously wrong with you, one way or another. They said that something must be done.

    They disappeared the moment you began this little internal looksee into the Ostland Chapter.

    Witch Hunter Captain Lieselotte says that Templars often disappear on their hunts but the woman did not get into her position by being stupid. She is fully aware that they might try to do something foolish, and has in fact ordered some of her own Templars to find these three before they attempt said potential foolish things. Only time will tell if it is successful. Reward: Information, Captain Lieselotte is the head of all Ostland Witch Hunters. Look to her if you need something, only the Emperor and Grand Theologinist working in tandem can order them as an organization to do something. They're based in Altdorf. Your city is named after their founder. Neat!

    Personal:     You refuse to let being an Elector Count consume every free hour you have. (Choose 2)

    Frost And Steel: Your wife's command of ice magic is impressive, and on a battlefield you have no doubt that she would be a force to reckon with…individually. But what if someone gets too close, or she must lead troops instead of Captain Ivanov should the big man be incapacitated? Can she fight without her magic if she must or need to? You never know, especially in this neck of the woods. Offer to train her at least with a sword, while discussing battle tactics. It's a two for one. You get to know your wife better, and she gets to learn more about combat, something she was unable to do much of in Kislev while her sister did much of the work. Reward: Better spousal relationship. Natasha +1 Martial.

    - As it turns out she has, in fact, not spent much time doing much exercise in the same manner as you are used to when it comes to combat. Now, a lot of people might get angry that you would suggest they are out of shape, but Natasha…well, she didn't get angry. She just made lots of vaguely mean snide comments while sweating her body weight several times over. But she doggedly hung on during your small spars as she formed an ice simulacrum of Brain Wounder. Despite how she sometimes says things that are the opposite of what she actually means, it eventually comes to a head. She never received much combat training, unlike her sister. The Tzarina is expected to at the very least be capable of the weird little ritual combats that nobles are meant to know the conduct of. Natasha never received that, so she takes to these exercises like water to a man dying of thirst. For all the time that she spent reading books and drinking wine and contacting people late at night, she never truly got to work on fighting. Almost all of her martial skills are due to her Ice Magic, and she has absolutely no bearing on actual combat tactics. Now that you have suggested it, however, she quite intends to rectify this. Reward: Boost to Spousal Relationship. Natasha gains +1 Martial.

    Care For A Drink?: You have got to get the people used to Natasha. One of the best ways to connect to Ostlanders is to share a drink with one. Now, you know for a fact that your wife is a hell of a drinker, so perhaps it may be worth it to throw a bit of a party? Isn't that the noble thing to do, throwing parties? By doing so she can prove that she can drink with the rest of them, one of the best ways to set your people at ease, and also she can provide something which so far only you have gotten to experience – chilled Ostka. It makes it taste better. Make the people see it! This would have the added benefit of letting you and your wife make an entwined appearance. Cost: 300. Time: 1 Year. Reward: Party Thrown, Public Opinion improved? Chilled Ostka introduced to Nobles.

    - An absolutely amazing change comes over Natasha as you plan it out. Unlike yourself and your rather less courtly experience…away from court, she has done things like this a thousand times. Well, maybe not literally that many, but the point is that she became an excellent hostess through intuition, experience, and luck. In Kislev, it was she who planned out the royal parties and meetings and balls and such for her oh so much more busy older sister. She is not the best at fighting without her magic, but she is one hell of a party thrower. You honestly have no idea where she found the people or materials to put this together but she did in a flash. Then she did something you hadn't even thought about – advertising.

    Man. You are really terrible at diplomatic things like this. Natasha is the opposite. Intrigue and words, this is something she is quite good at indeed. The party is actually planned months ahead of itself, with mysterious rumors beginning at first, then confirmation from servants, then guards, then…well. It came out like dominos, and soon enough the nobles were clamoring for more. Regardless of what they think of you personally, it's practically a responsibility of nobles in the Empire to show up when the Elector Count throws a party. For a time your wife plays them like a fiddle, playing up sympathies and loyalties with one group and then the other, all the while slipping around them until even the most distrustful and resistant nobles are all wrapped up together like a present in a bow. Who knew that determining who was going to the party, when, and what they would wear could be such a competitive activity.

    When the party does actually happen, everyone who was anyone in Ostland showed up. Natasha actually pushed you ahead instead of arriving alongside you, while informing you to simply be yourself and that she had a plan. You don't know why she wanted you to do that but hell she was better at the court crap anyhow. So yes, you were yourself.

    Thus, conversations ended stillborn nine times out of ten, polite words were spoken with increased strain behind them, and what were probably dozens of veiled threats, promises, and apologies went right over your head. Eventually, after the better part of an hour, no one wanted to talk to you lest you end up making them very upset for one reason or another. Which is right around when your wife arrived.

    Dressed in a gorgeous dress that must have cost a fortune, some parts of which at the very least must have been created with ice magic, Natasha Von Hohenzollern nee Romanov arrived as a literal saving grace. The lights dimmed somewhat, music played, and harps were strung. On the metaphorical battlefield of conversation and high society where the daemon known as Frederick had reined in his terrible lack of tact and manners, she arrived like a protective goddess to shield them.

    The nobles of Ostland ran from you, leaving you to grab your own horderves and finally sit down and not have to listen to some drunken fop complain about literally nothing in particular. Drunken fops were terrible creatures indeed. Drunken sots were fine, that was a common Ostlander state of being, but drunken fops? Ugh.

    More pleasant to think about was that immediately after this you were able to figure out what your wife had done once you translated the dresses and jewelry and drinks and food into military application. Off in Jegow, you had much time to read books and learn military strategy. You hadn't forged literally every hour of the day. With your general actions and disposition you had left them with no recourse but to seek out literally any other harbor than yourself, and the only other such place was Natasha herself.

    You could even see some of them becoming frightened when she demonstrated a small lattice of ice which caused many an ooh and ahh…only to look back at you over by the ostka bowl at which point you would raise a glass filled with the liquid with a single raised eyebrow. They would then reconsider.

    Ironically, to get many of your nobles over the fear of your wife's magic and foreignness, you needed to get them to fear you. At parties anyway. You are, quite truthfully, so mind bogglingly bad at even the barest form of diplomacy and intrigue that the magic using, foreign 'priestess' of the savage Kislev is the preferable choice at a party to talk to. In the province where the Witch Hunters were founded. Filled with Ulricans and Sigmarites, both of whom have issues that sort of thing. Burning-at-the-stake sorts of issues.

    Then your wife introduced chilled Ostka which was an absolutely enormous boom of joy for everyone involved. Except for when you took over the ostka bowl and your wife had to make you slip on some ice to get you to understand to get out of the way. But it all turned out for the best. Your wife was apparently a delightful conversationalist and told many a great joke, all of which was enhanced two-fold whenever you were nearby to be compared silently.

    Honestly, it was fine with you. The biggest issue had been their issue with her, and while this is most certainly not the end of it, a great amount of tension between your nobles and Natasha has been eased. It isn't done, not by a long shot, but this is a really good start. Even better, as an apology your wife and you found your way into your chambers at the end of the party after having imbibed a truly staggering amount of alcohol.

    Oh uh…and now she's pregnant. Reward: Noble Opinion Boosted to 7/10 - Neutral.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Right then, orcs and beastmen in the mountains.
    Gonna need to have this be an easy win...

    torroar said:
    His Magnanimousness: Yes yes, hurray for the new Magic Colleges. But you know what you need right now? Imperial aid. The North has been greatly neglected by the Emperor as of yet, who has apparently been spending his time building colleges and rebuilding Nuln. Which is, fine, of course, for the Empire and all that rot. But it would be nice if he could send literally any form of help at all for the North. A helpful Order of Knights? Building materials? Some additional soldiers? You'll honestly just take an injection of capital for your treasury. But it would be nice if the Emperor could aid you somewhat. You are, after all, one of his Elector Counts. No, wait, ask him for his blessing for your marriage to Natasha! With a barrel of Ostka to go with it! Cost: 50. Time: 1 Year. Reward: ???. Chance of Success: 65%. Required: 35. Rolled: 96+20=116

    - Well. Just…well. The Emperor did not come himself, but he apparently decided to do the next thing. Apparently, according to the very well-equipped man in front of you, your short and simple letter explaining the issues that Ostland was suffering from reached Magnus. The words chastised and regretful were thrown about in your slight daze, as well as the words 'determined to make up for this neglect'.

    The Emperor, Magnus the Pious, has not quite sent you an army. But he has sent you in no uncertain means a heady amount of support.

    A full fourth of the newly named and founded Knights Griffon, anointed by Magnus himself, have come to Ostland. Formed this very year, from the most elite and devout of the famous Knights Panther. They, as well as their commander Sir Erwin, have been sent here to assist you in your efforts at the monstrously difficult task that you have set for yourself – the cleansing of the Forest of Shadows. These incredibly pious and skilled men have been sent here to assist your efforts and have been explicitly ordered by the Emperor to subordinate themselves to you. But as the Knights Griffon were formed out of the 100 most devout of the Knights Panther, and their numbers have not yet begun to grow, the Emperor who admittedly fought an entire war, the Great War in fact, he knows that you would need more.

    So he sent a detachment of the Imperial Foot. You know, the foot equivalent of the Rieksguard Knights? Three thousand of the finest warriors accessible by the Empire have come, and with them their incredible expertise, experience, and equipment. There is much less fighting in the South against the general threats of the Empire, and so Magnus has sent them here where they can do the most good. Accompanying them are five veteran Warriors Priests of Sigmar, veterans of the Great War Against Chaos. Though the Foot is nominally under the command of their Lieutenant Jaeger, they follow the orders of Ser Erwin overall. As do the others who have come.

    Four cannon, and the men trained to use them, have come to offer the power and devastation created by the famous weapons of Nuln. You have never seen one of these put to use yourself, but you have heard the stories. All three of these groups are to be here for some time, their 'objective' to assist you until you should feel you no longer need their services or they are dead. Retreat and return are not an option. It says something that Magnus believes in you that you can manage your apparent task within your lifetime and that of these men. Their loyalty, experience, and skill is unquestionable, and that they arrived and bowed to you during court sends a blatant message.

    The Emperor is with Ostland, and her Count. The effect was only intensified when you are presented with an incredible gift for which you have no comparable return to. Magnus the Pious, that devout man who many say is one of the most humble men in history, has heard of your rather simple life up until this point. As such, he has sent you an absolutely expertly made smithing hammer with a lacquered black hilt and entirely featureless head. Humble. Yet effective. The message belted out by Sir Erwin when he presents the entire force to Wulfenburg and yourself in an entirely unplanned parade/celebration/greetings that the Emperor regrets being unable to be there during your wedding to Natasha and a generally circular set of phrases and sentences that were later clarified by said wife to be the Emperor explicitly giving approval to your marriage and to Natasha in particular. You didn't quite get it at the time, but the nobles of Ostland did. As did the Witch Hunters who turned out to see just what was going on.

    The only negative thing, because the world is just like that, is that you didn't get everything that Magnus apparently sent you. There was even supposed to be an entire knightly order that was to shift their Primary Chapter House from Altdorf to Ostland. Unfortunately the Knights of the Everlasting Light somehow disappeared from the main body of the group on the way here. While alarming, that order of knights is also well known for their practically unnatural bad luck.

    Reward: Marriage Approved by the Emperor Magnus the Pious. 25 Knights Griffon, 3000 Imperial Foot, 5 Veteran Warrior Priests of Sigmar, Four Cannon. Peasant Opinion Raised to 7/10. Noble Opinion Raised To 6/10.
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    Magnus you glorious motherfucker.
    CANNONS, magic support with warrior priests AND awesome infantry.
    This isn't counting how he's just given us his approval, or helping us start knightly chapters around here.

    ...Not too sure about these knights of everlasting light though, whatever happened to them can't be good.

    torroar said:
    The post disappeared due to some stuff not copying properly. The new one has everything, I hope.
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    Ah, ok.
    I thought that old one had 7/10 for opinion, but this works.
     
    Magnus you magnanimous motherfucker.

    There's no way this can go wrong for him, is there? If we succeed in clearing the Northern regions of Chaos influence, it brings back the northern ports back under Imperial Control, clears the area from any potential Chaos attacks on the South and creates and even stronger barrier against future invasions. Not to mention, he gets the added benefit of looking all nice and buddy buddy with both the Northern Counts and Kislev Royalty, while also appearing to still wage the battle against Chaos.
     
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