Here's my opinion on the options:
First of all we should decide how much we care about the individual Unfähiger lives. The kind of effort spent if we focus on solving the mystery and catching the culprit is not necessarily the same as trying to play bodyguard to a bunch of nobles. Our approach is also different if we consider eight weeks a strict time table than if we are more or less okay with two more deaths. That said:
[ ] Bring in the Empress
I really wanted to do this, but I don't see an easy and (relatively) low risk way to do so given the option that we overwhelmingly voted for. Any other option would have allowed for a smooth insertion (except maybe the Favor to Ranald type options). So I guess this is out for now.
[ ] Bring in Lord Magister Egrimm
I think that the risk of him blabbing should be easily mitigateable. That said, if we wanted him here, why the hell didn't we vote for that immediately? As I see it the voters already expressed their concern with putting Egrimm in this position, even if I disagreed with the majority at the time.
[ ] Bring in Lady Magister Elrisse
I don't like bringing Elrisse. She pretty much explicitly doesn't oppose Alric and won't be keen to play these kinds of petty games. She joined the Waystone Project when asked by her current Matriarch and agreed in part because in her eyes it was one step removed from getting directly involved in those politics. Also, unlike Egrimm, she doesn't work for us directly. She represents the Light Order, which works with us on the Waystone Project. All in all we can't trust that she won't blab or otherwise act in a way we don't like her to, even if Mira tells her to play nice.
[ ] Bring in Egrimm and Elrisse
See above. We can do this if we need the extra firepower due to getting close to not stopping the plot in time. But at that point we should also consider going to Alric after all.
[ ] Renegotiate with Mira
I am generally in favor of this option. But I don't see why we should do it right now. Since I'm not very interested in bringing our own Light Wizards on board it makes more sense to me if we wait with doing that until we have something more concrete to show her.
[ ] Bring in someone else: specify who
I like the idea of hiring the Stirlander to reveal her knowledge on Albrecht.
[ ] Approach Alric directly
Well, this kind of goes against our hopes here. That said, if the seventh murder happens and we are still none the wiser, I think it's time to put aside petty squabbles and approach him. That's still a while off though.
[ ] Interrogate the spa Unfahigers
Too high risk and I don't see how the reward would be much higher than doing this to his family in the lodge. Except maybe if Alric has been sharing his progress with him in detail. But even then, consensus seems to be that finding out stuff Alric doesn't yet know is a better approach than following in his footsteps.
[ ] Approach the hunting lodge Unfahigers
This one depends on how much we care about actually protecting them. I am currently ambivalent. Maybe next turn if we find out little and our best course of action is catching the perpetrator in the act.
One thing we could do if we choose this option is to tell them exactly what not to do in order to not be in the kind of situation that makes setting up their murder choreography easy.
[ ] Interrogate the hunting lodge Unfahigers
This is one of the straight forward investigation options I am not opposed to. But I actually don't expect them to know all that much, given that they are innocent when it comes to the revenge motive and also otherwise have probably no connection to Chaos.
[ ] Investigate Krieglitz Manor
Another straightforward investigation option, though like it a bit extra due to Mathilde's incredible windsight (which by the way I have been wanting to show off to a Grey Wizard colleague for ages). That said, the trail is pretty cold by now.
[ ] Plunder Krieglitz Manor
I know I asked questions about this, but I don't actually care one bit about doing it. Except if we stumble upon something truly amazing while investigating the place. Then maybe. Next mini-turn.
[ ] Research: Alberich's life
This is one of the straightforward investigation options, but I am a bit more ambivalent on it. We already know the pattern and I don't know how directly relevant his previous personality is to combatting what he has become now.
That said, if we go down this investigation route then I'd like the Stirlander on board first.
[ ] Research: Alberich's fate
This one is a bit extra interesting in order to confirm if we are actually dealing with a Chaos Undivided plot.
[ ] Research: Alberich's form
Other than investigating the murders themselves, I don't see how this would be more than blind guessing. Even with the best books and experts Chaos is Chaos. The Warp can have done literally anything to the guy. He may be a slave with a broken body and barely coherent mind, his vague feelings of revenge used to make way for another force. Or he may have ascended to Daemon Prince and been directly whisked away to his new home, now sending his own minions to do his bidding.
[ ] Research: Chaotic Vengeance
An okay research option, but nothing really draws me to it compared to the other ones I like. I'll probably still approval vote for plans that include it.
[ ] Research: Murder Rituals
While applying our newly gained skills is fun, right now our goal should be to interrupt the ritual no matter what. And the best way to do that is to stop the murders. The actual details about what might happen don't really matter. We know it will be bad and we can look into how bad once we think that stopping it is less likely. Around the time where we should be approaching Alric anyway I guess. Who himself will know this kind of stuff better than we ever will.
[ ] Research: Underworld Turbulence
I don't know how relevant this is to the case and it is an added risk because we might step on the feet of one or more completely unrelated Chaos conspiracies that may retaliate, but I still kinda wanna do it. I'm just curious. In part of course because of the Everchosen contest we know about OOC. But it might well be relevant to what we are doing right here and now as well.
Next I'm going to check the actual plans people are voting for.
