Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

[Imugi]

Magister Patriarch Algard: I must ask you Lady Magister Weber, where does your loyalty lie!

Lady Magister Weber:

Spoiler: Template

 

[consequences]

Cut demons into pieces, this is my last first resort

Click to shrink...

This is entirely your fault:

Cut your life into pieces
This is my first resort
Evisceration, much bleeding
Don't give a fuck bout the damned lies you're feeding

This is my first resort
Cut your life into pieces
I've reached my first resort, choking shadow, no breathing
Don't give a fuck if I burn your mind reading
Do I even care if you die pleading?


Would it be wrong, would it be right?
If I took your tomes tonight
Chances are that I might
Hiding treasure out of sight
And I'm contemplating homicide
'Cause I'm cloaking your sight, holing your mind
Wish some headpats would tell me I'm fine
Cloaking your sight, holing your mind
Wish some headpats would tell me I'm fine


I always realized I was spread too thin
So I trade some loot to bind apparitions
Angry, dunking on chaos and burning out sin
Research backlog, where do I begin?
It all started when I found my lover
Got love for myself and more love for another
Searching to find a truth upon a higher level
Finding nothing but questions and devils


'Cause I'm cloaking your sight, holing your mind
Wish some headpats would tell me I'm fine
Cloaking your sight, holing your mind
Wish some headpats would tell me I'm fine
Hot ale's not right
But Wolf is fine
I'm casting and you're dying
You're dying, you're dying, you're dying, you're dying
You won't go on living this way
Cut your life into pieces
This is my first resort
Evisceration, much bleeding
Don't give a fuck bout the damned lies you're feeding
Would it be wrong, would it be right?
If I took your tomes tonight
Chances are that I might
Liber Mortis out of sight
And I'm contemplating homicide
'Cause I'm cloaking your sight, holing your mind
Wish some headpats would tell me I'm fine
Cloaking your sight, holing your mind
Wish Wizard Dad would tell me I'm fine
Nothing's alright
Nothing is fine
I'm casting and you're dying
You won't go on living this way
Won't go on
Living this way
Now it's alright



Last Resort, Papa Roach

 

[consequences]

I tell only lies
I don't tell only lies
But I tell truth disguised as lies
But really I twist anything to lies
But I tell


Lord of Change out in the Aethyr
Who creeps all over you
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul
Even if it complements your hat
Find a more wholesome source for your headpats
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul



It has some Secrets to tell
Pissing off Slaanesh as well
Claiming hidden meaning the thread will not handle well
It claims your fate isn't free
Alric blusters quite endlessly
It tried to be quite scary
But my friends have faith in me
Like clueless daemonettes
It doesn't manage to get
In my head



Lord of Change out in the Aethyr
Who creeps all over you
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul
Even if it complements your hat
Find a more wholesome source for your headpats
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul


I tell only lies
I don't tell only lies
But I tell truth disguised as lies
But really I twist anything to lies
But I tell


There's a twisted web I can see
Claims to control my destiny
That I'll ward off the hordes
And thwart chaos schemes endlessly
Though that should tempt me a lot
I think I'll give a pass on that job
Rather finish Waystones off
Then maybe give Kragg help with Bok
Blue bird of emptiness
Delayed Morbing to impress
One more year





Lord of Change out in the Aethyr
Who creeps all over you
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul
Even if it complements your hat
Find a more wholesome source for your headpats
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul
While you're at it
Stash damning evidence in
The Birdhouse in your Soul


Even if it complements your hat
Find a more wholesome source for your headpats
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul
While you're at it
Stash damning evidence in
The Birdhouse in your Soul

Lord of Change out in the Aethyr
Who creeps all over you
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul
Even if it complements your hat
Find a more wholesome source for your headpats
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul

Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul
While you're at it
Stash damning evidence in
The Birdhouse in your Soul
Even if it complements your hat
Find a more wholesome source for your headpats
Carve a Runic Birdhouse in your Soul



Birdhouse in Your Soul, They Might Be Giants. Brought to you by thread chatter, the number pi, and the letter Batman symbol.

 

[Nerdasaurus Rex]

Mathilde's Bibliography
(organised by category)​

Natural Science:
-Flora:

• A Novel Species of Psalliota Found Cultivated by the Night Goblins of Karak Eight Peaks, by J. Panoramia (Jade), M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2483.
• Thaumomycology, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Panoramia (Jade), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), 2489.

-Fauna:

• Dragon Ogres and Volcanic Lightning, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), J. Esbern (Amber) & J. Seija (Amber), 2478.
• Preliminary Observations on the Eusocial Cave Spider, by J. Esbern (Amber) & J. Seija (Amber), M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2479.
• Chemical Properties and Possible Applications of the Autoignitive Saliva of the Lustrian Salamander, by L.M. Stanisława Skłodowicz (Gold), M. Hans Scheunacht (Bright), M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2483.

-Geography:

• Observations on the Borderlands of Chaos, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), M. Egrimm van Horstmann (Light), M. Esbern (Amber) & M. Seija (Amber), M. Johann (Gold), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), M. Michel Solmann (Celestial), J. Alexandra Kohler (Bright), J. Barbitus (Light), J. Citharus (Light), J. Cyrston von Danling (Jade), J. Timpania (Light), J. Hubert Denzel (Celestial), 2487.
• A Compendium of Terrain Obstacles, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), Sky-Thane Gotri Stoneheart (Karak Eight Peaks), Runelord Kragg Thungnisson (Karaz-a-Karak), Runelord Thorek Ironbrow (Karak Azul), Steward Francesco Caravello (Karak Eight Peaks), General Soizic (Karak Eight Peaks), Chancellor Oswald Oswaldson (I.G.S.(KN)), 2489.

Social Science:
-Enemies of Man:

• A Full and Accurate Census of All Varieties of Undead within the Hunter's Hills, 2476, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), E.C. Abelhelm Van Hal (Templar) (S·T·T·L), J. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), 2480.
• The Clan Eshin Perspective of the Third Skaven Civil War, by M. Grey (Grey), 2482.
• Rakilid un Thaggorhun, 2483.
• Winning the War Below, 2483.
• Queekish, 2483.
• The Neglected Front: Economic Warfare against the Vampiric Bloodlines, by E.C. Roswita Van Hal (Templar), E.C. Abelhelm Van Hal (Templar) (S·T·T·L), M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), Chaplain Kasmir Heinz (Stirland), Steward Rodebrecht Brennen (Stirland), 2484.
• The Loathsome Chaos Dwarves and All Their Vile Kin, by L. Quirin Waramunt (UAlt), 2487.
• Faultlines in the Greenskin Continuum, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2490.

-Civilised Realms:

• Araneae Sapiens, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), We (Karak Eight Peaks), M. Esbern (Amber) & M. Seija (Amber), M. Johann (Gold), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), Priestess Fidelia (Esmerelda), Loremaster ɧæð (Karak Hirn), 2484.
• Karag Dum: the Third Schism of the Karaz Ankor, including Observations on the Shadowgave, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), Thane Borek Forkbeard (Karag Dum), Prince Asarnil (Caledor), L.M.(E). Ljiljana (H.L.V.), Head Ranger Snorri Farstrider (Karak Kadrin), Head Engineer Gotrek Gurnisson (S·T·T·L), Preceptor Joerg von Zavstra (K. Taal's Fury), Sir Ruprecht Wulfhart the Younger (Ulrikadrin), M. Egrimm van Horstmann (Light), M. Esbern (Amber) & M. Seija (Amber), M. Johann (Gold), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), M. Michel Solmann (Celestial), J. Alexandra Kohler (Bright), J. Barbitus (Light), J. Citharus (Light), J. Cyrston von Danling (Jade), J. Timpania (Light), J. Hubert Denzel (Celestial), 2487.
• The Return of Karak Vlag, 2486.

-Other:

• Polyphenic Theories of Lizardmen Society, by Lathruai of Chrace (S·T·T·L), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), Borek (Grimnir), Head Engineer Gotrek Gurnisson (S·T·T·L), 2491.
• Linguistic Deviation in Southlands Lizardmen Runes, by Lathruai of Chrace (S·T·T·L), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), Borek (Grimnir), Head Engineer Gotrek Gurnisson (S·T·T·L), 2491.

Applied Science:
-Engineering:

• Internal Mechanisms of the Ratling Gun, and How to Foil Them, by M. Grey (Grey), M. Gold (Gold), 2483.
• Firearm Breech Design with an Eye to Safety and Reliability, by M. Daegal (Gold), M.P. Manning Feldmann (Gold), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Christa Feldmann (Gold), 2489.

-Medical:

• Anatomy of the Fire Dwarves of Zharr-Naggrund, by M. Grey (Grey), J. Gold (Gold), 2482.
• The Function of Glandulae Renibus Incumbents, by M. Margarete Schluchtbuck (Amethyst), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Gretel Maurer (Amethyst), 2488.
• A Novel Treatment for Croup and Anhelitus, by Dr. Eduard Gladston (GPhAlt, UAlt) A. Gotthard Widenhoft (GPhAlt, UAlt), A. Ulthvas Daubler (GPhAlt, UAlt), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), M. Margarete Schluchtbuck (Amethyst), J. Gretel Maurer (Amethyst), 2488.

Magic:
-Teclisian Magic:

• Ulgu/Spell/Other: Mathilde's Mystical Matrix, by J. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2476.
• Ulgu/Spell/Simple: Mathilde's Multidimensional Aethyric Projection, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2480.
• Sevir/Spell/Lesser: Mathilde's Multidimensional Aethyric Polysevirric Projection, by L.M. Olenus (Bright), M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2481.
• A Method of Creating a Bright and Even Light with Azyrric Energy, by J. Adela Burgstaller (Bright), M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Hubert Denzel (Celestial), 2485.
• Ulgu/Spell/Battle: Rite of Way, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2490.
• Chamon/Enchantment/Altar: Sylphic Wrath, by L.M. Eldrick (Gold), M.P. Manning Feldmann (Gold), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2490.
• The Pharological Perspective on Recursion in Elven Enchantment, by L.M. Elrisse (Light), L.M. Egrimm van Horstmann (Light), M.M. Mira (Light), L.M. Stephen (Light), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), et alia, 2491.
• The Agrological Perspective on Recursion in Elven Enchantment, by M. Tochter Grunfeld (Jade), L.M. Arburg (Jade), M. Cyrston von Danling (Jade), M. Dieter Vogt (Jade), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), et alia, 2491.
• Aethyric Vitae, by L.M. Weber (Grey), 2491.

-Waaagh Magic:

• Waaagh and Peace: Efficient Solutions to Greenskin Magic, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), 2481.
• Lectures on Waaagh and Peace, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey) at Magnus Hall, University of Altdorf, Pflugzeit-Sigmarzeit 2482.
• Observations on Waaagh Phenomena During the Karak Eight Peaks Expedition, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), A. Eike Hochschild (Grey), M. Johann (Gold), M. Esbern (Amber) & M. Seija (Amber), J. Panoramia (Jade), 2489.

-Necromantic Magic:

• The Properties Of and Countermeasures To an Observed Suite of Necrarch Control and Enhancement Spells, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), E.C. Roswita Van Hal (Templar), 2481.
• Observations on a Necrarch's Extreme-Range Real-Time Interaction Ability, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2482.

-Runecraft:

• Observations on Runecraft During The Expedition To Karak Eight Peaks, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), J. Esbern (Amber) & J. Seija (Amber), J. Panoramia (Jade), 2478.
• Deployment of an 'Anvil Of Doom' During The Battle Of Karag Nar, by M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), J. Panoramia (Jade), J. Esbern (Amber) & J. Seija (Amber), 2478.

-Other:

• An Eyewitness Account of a Distinct and Hitherto Unknown Variety of Skaven Sorcery, 2483.
• Observations on Warp Lightning, by J. Adela Burgstaller (Bright), M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2485.
• Observations on a Golden Prosthetic Talon of Unknown Origin, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), L.M. Egrimm van Horstmann (Light), M. Johann (Gold), 2488.
• A Treatise on the Vanquishment of Dharic Lightning, by M. Gold (Gold), M.P. Gold (Gold), L.M. Grey (Grey), 2488
• Observations on the Windfall on the Road of Skulls, by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), L.M. Egrimm van Horstmann (Light), M. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), J. Barbitus (Light), J. Citharus (Light), J. Timpania (Light), A. Eike Hochschild (Grey), 2490.

Divinity:

• A New Perspective on Ghyranic Faith, by J. Panoramia (Jade), Cython (Hysh), L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), 2489.

 

[Imugi]

Slightly relevant meme here.

 

[consequences]

Malekith can't you see? You're not the Druchii for me.
I know it might be wrong but I'm in love with Malekith's mom.

Click to shrink...

Malekith's mom has got it going on
Malekith's mom has got it going on
Malekith's mom has got it going on
Malekith's mom has got it going on
Malekith, can I come over while your rule?
(While you rule)
We can hang slaves over the shark pool
(Over the shark pool)
Did your mom get back from her vengeance trip?
(Vengeance trip)
Do you think she'd be impressed by the size of my ship?
(Size of my ship)
You know I'm not the Asur toy that I used to be
I'm a dark elf now, lady, can't you see?
Malekith's mom has got it going on
She's all I want, and I've murdered for so long
Malekith can't you see?
You're not the Druchii for me.
I know it might be wrong but I'm in love with Malekith's mom.
Malekith's mom has got it going on
Malekith's mom has got it going on
Malekith, do you remember when I raided Khans?
(Raided Khans)
Your mom came out with a heart dipped in bronze
(Dipped in bronze)
I could tell she liked me by the way she glared
(The way she glared)
And the way she said, "You missed a tribe over there"
(Tribe over there)
And I know that you think it's just a heresy
But since you're trapped in the aethyr, your mom could use an elf like me
Malekith's mom has got it going on
She's all I want, and I've murdered for so long
Malekith, can't you see, you're not the Druchii for me
I know it might be wrong
But I'm in love with Malekith's mom

(According to Lord Magister Kupfer, in traditional Naggaroth performances this is when the chorus inevitably gets interrupted as the singer is tortured to death. Morathi adores the song, and Malekith can't stand it, so the compromise they reached is that she can have it performed as much as she wants, and he can take as long killing each singer as he wants, with this normally resulting in the song only being played for her on special occasions due to the time it takes to train the singers to Morathi's exacting standards)



Stacy's Mom, by Bowling For Soup.

 

[MooseHowl]

Sorry my fellow participants, but the very idea of spending a Transendent Boon on a finite library deal or a one-of bunch of basic runes is literally preventing me from sleeping.

Look at what the previous Transcendent Boon got us. Belegar ceded 1/8th of his kingdom to us. Not for our lifetime. Not for his lifetime. Forever. For as long as the line of Angrund rules their ancestral lands. On top of that he sent workers to furbish and renovate the whole mountain sized thing to our specifications. On top of that he is obliging himself and all of his descendants to bankroll a massive operation, including a budget for a (figuratively) non-finite amount of scribes. On top of that he allows us to permanently and irrevocably affect a small part of his nation's foreign policy.

And remember, this whole thing was quite a bit below the theoretical limit of what we could have asked. As a thread we specifically wanted to prevent him from bankrupting himself or from spending any Dwarven lives on our request. We could have become a Border Princess and asked him to build a wall around our Princedom and man it, if we had been selfish enough.

And people here are thinking of spending an equally Transcendent Boon on what at most would be a few hundred books!!!

Sure, Karak Vlag (currently) doesn't have the same capabilities as Karak Eight Peaks. They feel insecure about the outside world, don't have the same relationship with the rest of the Karaz Ankor and lack certain types of typical Dwarf expertize. But they are still a polity of 20,000+ Dwarves! And because right now in the Waystone Project or our other hobbies we don't have any specific needs they can help with, we are going to spend a Transcendent Boon of a Dwarf Karak in order to furnish a minor detail or a small section of the whole greater thing we also got from a single Transcendent Boon of a Dwarf Karak? That's like spending a Great Deed to hire 2-3 knights for WEB-MAT.

If we had voted Markgraf we could have asked them to help us cleanse Mt Drakenhof and refurbish it into a secure Karag, manned by a Dwarven honor guard for as long as someone loyal to the Empire rules Sylvania. If we had voted Countess or Border Princess we could have asked for a fortress as awesome as the KAU is an awesome library. If we had voted Swamptown we could have gotten a bunch of Runkit to permanently move with us to another continent.

But no, better throw the Transcendent Boon out the window for the equivalent value of 1-2 AP or a bunch of gold or another mini-adventure than have it sit on our character sheet, because god forbid it ends up being like a buff potion you never drink in an RPG video game.

...

Sorry. I just had get this off my chest. It's half past 4 here. Maybe now I can finally sleep.

Click to shrink...

You make very good points.

However...

 

[Redshirt Army]

 

[ReImagined]

Happy fifth birthday to the quest!

Spoiler: Threw this together for the 10k pages thing but forgot to post and found it a year and a half later

 

[Nerdasaurus Rex]

This reminds me of one of my earlier observations of Mathilde. From the outside, Mathilde looks like your standard brooding love interest in those romance novels. To Pan she may have looked that way up until the doggy part.

Then there was the whole teacher shenanigans she was starting to pull. Mathilde is definitely leaning into the showman persona more than the edgy vigilante some might expect a Grey Wizard to be.

Click to shrink...

That reminds me of this Pan/Mathilde analysis I wanted to write up (which is very similar to your own observations).

Okay, so imagine you're Pan, right? Gifted darling of the Druid faction. Magic has always been there for you, it's your friend, it's your companion, it's a constant presence in your life. Loads of people praise you for it, but underneath that praise is the political turbulence of the Jade College, and you're not sure how much of it is genuine and how much of it is appeasement to your mother. You start to see the darkness in the heart of the druids—the darkness in your own family—and you start to resent them for it, for tainting the beauty and purity of Ghyran with petty politics.

You also start to self doubt—how much of your talent is "you", and how much of it is your mother? Are you actually a talented wizard, or are you just coasting on your mothers reputation?

So you leave home as soon as you can, and end up drawn into the campaign against Mordheim. There, you use magic to strike down unholy abominations, revelling in the purity of the jade wind against the corruption of Dhar. You tell yourself that you were prepared for the other soldiers fear of your powers, but you weren't really, this is the first time you've interacted with non-wizards, and the extent of their fear took you by surprise. But despite that, your power was able to win a grudging respect from them. You feel reassured that your talent is real, not just a political fiction to appease your mother.

But you are still not comfortable, so you travel further afield, and join Belegar's expedition. You're leaving the Empire, how exciting! No scheming druids, no superstitious soldiers. Sure, the dwarves don't understand magic, but they don't fear it either, and the halflings—well, they love you. No judgement from them at all.

And there she is.

Magister Weber, hero of Drakenhof, vampire slayer, elf-friend, knight of Stirland. You don't know which stories are true and which are false, but she strides through the encampment, powerful and confident, a living hero, all seeing, all wise. Even the dwarves give her the time of day.

She is everything you want to be.

Sure, she comes back from scouting expeditions covered in other peoples blood, and that's a little unnerving, and tales circulate about how she single-handedly routed an entire fortress with nothing more than her sword and her shadow—which is downright terrifying. But that's just the nature of her magic. You're good at growing plants, she's good at... murder.

But then again, aren't you? You're a living weapon, honed to destroy the enemies of the Empire. That's your purpose as a wizard. That's your reason for existing—the only reason you are allowed to exist.

And then, before an important battle, she gives you an order. An order you don't like. An order you don't want to follow. An order you don't understand. Instead of participating, she wants you to sleep. Does she not think you're good enough? Does she think you're too weak, too young, too precious for the battle? It's not your first battle, you've killed before. You are not a child who needs coddling.

You are a wizard of the Empire, you trained for this. You deserve to be there, fighting, alongside your friends.

So you disobey her. You fight, tired and unrested. But you know you can do this—Ghyran has never failed you before, so why would it fail you now? It's your friend, and it obeys your every whim.

Besides, there's no way she could find out—she's supposed to be on a secret mission underneath the mountain, you're going to be in the valley with the archers.

But the Grey Order sees everything.

She confronts you after the battle, and with a face full of fury, tells you that you are being irresponsible with your magic. You look at her grey robes, her witch hunters hat, and that's when you remember—the Grey Order has a darker purpose.

To hunt down wizards who are threats to the Empire.

And she's telling you that you are being irresponsible with your magic.

The magic that's never betrayed you. The magic that's been your companion, your friend, your entire life.

The magic that could turn on you in a moments notice, and kill all of those around you.

You flee.

What else can you do? She's not wrong.

But that doesn't help, because later that day she tracks you down again. But she's not here for you, but actually to swap old war stories with Titus, and neither of them object to you listening in.

And then you get the biggest shock of the day.

Magister Weber can't cook. She's never learned how. Of course, you think, she's a war wizard, a weapon of the Empire. She doesn't have skills not relating to battle. Maybe you feel a little sorry for her. So you decide to teach her.

It's a disaster.

You only turned your back for a moment, but when you looked back, she'd set the pie on fire.

It's burnt and raw and marinated in brandy, and she eats it anyway, because she's a peasant and who knows when the next meal would be? And then she leaves to "test the ale", and ends up causing all sorts of hijinks over the course of the night.

You're starting to see a side of Magister Weber—no, Mathilde, that you never considered before.

The halflings then introduce you to Mathilde's familiar, Wolf, who, despite the name, is a daft and playful puppy.

He licks your face.

Why is Mathilde raising Wolf like a lapdog? Surely shaping him into a weapon or a tool would be more appropriate for a Shadowmancer? But no, she wants a companion—a companion that's just as fun loving and intelligent as she is. A companion she doesn't—can't—have to hide from.

And then there's the onion soup incident, where Mathilde, rather calmly, lays out how magic changed her life, and she doesn't regret it, because it lets her make the world a better place. She fights so that others don't have to.

It clicks into place—Mathilde wasn't angry at you. She doesn't think you're a threat to the Empire, and isn't going to come at you with a sword in the night.

She was worried about you.

And finally, you see that beneath the surface of the cold and practical assassin—is a woman who cares. The core of her soul is compassion, and violence and duty and murder are just the tools she's be trained to express that compassion.

She wades through rivers of blood, endures tempests of destruction, faces all the horrors and evils of the world, because she loves the world, and there is no darkness, no suffering, that can dim the light of her soul. She is an oak unbending, standing proud and strong, roots dug deep into the earth—and sheltering all beneath her canopy from the storm of Chaos, so that they might bloom into beautiful flowers.