Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy Users' Choice!
-
- Tags
- warhammer warhammer fantasy fantasy be gay do crimes (gay) female protagonist pansexual protagonist ck2 quest divided loyalties mountain vietnam ranald is real this is a dwarf quest (dwarfs) this is maybe an elf quest this is not a vampire quest this is not an empire quest try it and find out open voting
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
Thanks. I remembered the achievements of the others and also that von Bucht had destroyed multiple problematic trade conglomerates, but for some reason my memory was telling me that the Imperial regalia was hidden away by one of the Saint Greys.
Well, yes. I also thought it would be a Divine ability and not some kind of mutation that is highly sought by Gazul priesthood recruiters.
Thanks for the continued replying. It definitely helped me slowly wrap my head around things.
I wonder if one of Starke's issues if he were to become Patriarch is that he'd have a penchant for looking for frictionless spherical Grey Patriots before promotions or if even he wouldn't have enough power to change the Grey Order's standards that much. But that's not something that needs answering here. The extent of Starke's beliefs and the internal "deep state" of the Grey Order staff are both things we will find out through play if we want to.
That actually makes sense. And changes my opinion on the urgency of those scribes.
What did/do the Quinsberry books add mechanically to our book lists by the way?
I didn't even know that this already leaked back to our superiors. I guess we started our academic career with an adaptation of a necromantic cantrip, ironically enough before we ever had access to the Liber Mortis. After that we managed to channel Whaaagh into a massive miscast, which is just plain weird but which is apparently a flash of brilliance that we have been eager to share. We collaborated to create a Ratling Gun destroying cantrip, but officially did so by "reading Queekish". And we managed to physically remove a miscast in the making through minor Dhar manipulation. That one might be it. I wonder which Duckling blabbed.
But other than that I don't remember us actually using our Dhar insight or other knowledge of forbidden magic in front of others. Then again, my memory is not the best at times.
At least no one's thinking that she's banging the returned Vanhel. Yet.
We did? I thought all of our interactions with her were socializing after business brought us together. Do you remember what happened on that pre-date?
The more interesting part to me is how the order of the other options turned out. Mathilde would rather have him join the priesthood of three different gods than subject him to nullification. Obviously he could step into his mother's footsteps, but the other two options would probably be giving the Grand Theogonist a significant boost in political clout or doing the opposite and shipping the young prince to some Ulrican cloister for a hard education in self-reliance.
Chapter reading time!
She made Mathy the godparent of her only child, that is a big thing in this sort of culture. Like for context if both she and Lutipold died you could make the argument that Mathilde would have a duty to stand by him as a parent would. Also the fact that she did this in secret and chose the woman whose deeds indirectly allowed her to be here in the first place only adds to that
Raiseth
I Find Your Lack of Memes Disturbing
- Location
- Russia
Mmm.
[Q] Fish for headpats
-[Q] From King Belegar
-[Q] From Supreme Patriarch Dragomas
-[Q] From Elector Countess Roswitta
-[Q] From anyone who looks appropriately proficient in the ancient art of pats and headscritches and willing enough to accommodate you.
Time to cement Mathilde's position as the Empire's most superior dwarven cat.
[Q] Fish for headpats
-[Q] From King Belegar
-[Q] From Supreme Patriarch Dragomas
-[Q] From Elector Countess Roswitta
-[Q] From anyone who looks appropriately proficient in the ancient art of pats and headscritches and willing enough to accommodate you.
Time to cement Mathilde's position as the Empire's most superior dwarven cat.
- Location
- Leeds
Who else could she talk to about this?
If it helps we might be less of a friend and more of a co-conspirator.
- Location
- Earth
We did write up the necrarch mist teleporting and undead enhancement suit from observing alkahazdr.
Mathilde had to fiddle the paper a bit, because she knew exactly which necromancy spells he based the improvement upon.
It's not just using them it's the insights. We have a lot of papers where we sneaked in Liber Mortis bonuses, like that vampire communication one. Then there is the fact that we broke into the College of Necromancy. Sure we know that we did not take any magic book that time, but they do not. Heck for all they know Evil Dumbledore had a copy of the Liber Mortis on him.
We are also her friend. Boney explained that in this time of long travel time and only letters for communication a friendship can keep or develop over the written word and a visit 10 years ago. So we are actually rather good friends with Heidi.
Godwinson
"Well, I've got nothing."
Who's to say that Mathilde was only there the one time, either? After all, she killed everyone who could have given testimony about the inner workings of the College.
They've yet to trickle in, but among the books on Halfling genealogy would be varying levels of Agriculture, Livestock, Cooking, Halfling Gods, Distilling, Archery, Geography, and whatever else it would seem appropriate to me for that library to have accumulated.
Plus one paper on Eshin sorcery and two on observations of Necrarch necromancy.
[] Norland : Tell the Nordland ambassador about the former inhabitants of the razed villages relocated to K8P. Tell as much as we can about the reasons why it needed to be done . Express our interest in seeing the conflict between Nordland and Laurelorn resolved amicably if possible and offer to relay messages or help if wanted.
So as far as votes go I am thinking:
[] Speak to the House Foger representative about the Ambush on the Skull River and your suspicions that someone is trying to frame Marianburg in order to spark a war
This is diplomatically put, but the thing is that even if it was someone in the Directorate trying to frame the Empire, which is the other theory we came up with, it is unlikely to be the local dwarfs. Not even the most gold-mad dwarf would trust Skaven black powder to do the job.
[] Speak to one of the Bretonian representatives about who would have the most interest and skill with Waystones among the Damsels
Feels a little clunky, but it gets the point across and I trust Boney to smooth it out so we know where to go next turn.
[] Speak to the House Foger representative about the Ambush on the Skull River and your suspicions that someone is trying to frame Marianburg in order to spark a war
This is diplomatically put, but the thing is that even if it was someone in the Directorate trying to frame the Empire, which is the other theory we came up with, it is unlikely to be the local dwarfs. Not even the most gold-mad dwarf would trust Skaven black powder to do the job.
[] Speak to one of the Bretonian representatives about who would have the most interest and skill with Waystones among the Damsels
Feels a little clunky, but it gets the point across and I trust Boney to smooth it out so we know where to go next turn.
- Location
- Earth
So, various ideas in more concrete form, in no particular order:
[] Ask Karak Vlag about what kinds of books they have, and also take the time to check in on them in general
[] See if there are any Damsels interested in joining the Waystone Project, and what kinds of things we'd need to do to make one join
[] See how the Middleheimers are dealing with their Eonir correligionists
[] Check up on how Weissenland's campaign against Under-Nuln is going
[] See what things the Tileans would be willing to trade for a Queekish dictionary
[] Check up on the Skull River ambush investigation
[] See if there's any way to get the Grudge on Ranald for stealing and reincarnating your allegedly Dwarven soul lifted
[] Get House Fooger's view on the canal project and Marienburg situation. Perhaps bring up the Skull River ambush and likely framejob
[] Run around bragging about how you totally owned Drycha's butt... literally
[] Ask Karak Vlag about what kinds of books they have, and also take the time to check in on them in general
[] See if there are any Damsels interested in joining the Waystone Project, and what kinds of things we'd need to do to make one join
[] See how the Middleheimers are dealing with their Eonir correligionists
[] Check up on how Weissenland's campaign against Under-Nuln is going
[] See what things the Tileans would be willing to trade for a Queekish dictionary
[] Check up on the Skull River ambush investigation
[] See if there's any way to get the Grudge on Ranald for stealing and reincarnating your allegedly Dwarven soul lifted
[] Get House Fooger's view on the canal project and Marienburg situation. Perhaps bring up the Skull River ambush and likely framejob
[] Run around bragging about how you totally owned Drycha's butt... literally
Last edited:
The only thing this would provide is a diplomatic incident between karak eight peak and Nordland, which no one needs.
Okay, so a few ideas:
[] Carcassonne/Bretonnia to sound out willingness to join the waystone project
[] Vlag to inquire about the state of their archives for the library project
[] Roswita to find out who became Markgraffin, and if anything happened to the vaults of castle drakenfels
[] Mira to get headpats for the whole Alric thing
[] Dragomas to ask about shamans for the waystone project
[] Boris Todbringer to ask about trade with Laurelorn
[] Marienburg dwarf about trade stuff and maybe the ambush? Sounds a bit intimidating, having a grey wizard approach you and ask "do you know anything about this terror attack that killed a lot of dwarves?"
[] Carcassonne/Bretonnia to sound out willingness to join the waystone project
[] Vlag to inquire about the state of their archives for the library project
[] Roswita to find out who became Markgraffin, and if anything happened to the vaults of castle drakenfels
[] Mira to get headpats for the whole Alric thing
[] Dragomas to ask about shamans for the waystone project
[] Boris Todbringer to ask about trade with Laurelorn
[] Marienburg dwarf about trade stuff and maybe the ambush? Sounds a bit intimidating, having a grey wizard approach you and ask "do you know anything about this terror attack that killed a lot of dwarves?"
- Location
- Aotearoa
Boney says in the update this is where you lay the ground for future negotiations and agreements.
So what wheels do we wish were in motion, but currently aren't? What broader trends would we seek to encourage?
Or... Are there parties we want to bring together? We've facilitated a lot of good by easing cooperation and knowledge sharing between the forces of Order. Three-party conversations would be much easier to arrange here than elsewhere.
(While I am certain even bringing up the very existence of a Queekish translation at this event is a terrible idea.)
So what wheels do we wish were in motion, but currently aren't? What broader trends would we seek to encourage?
Or... Are there parties we want to bring together? We've facilitated a lot of good by easing cooperation and knowledge sharing between the forces of Order. Three-party conversations would be much easier to arrange here than elsewhere.
(While I am certain even bringing up the very existence of a Queekish translation at this event is a terrible idea.)
Last edited:
- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
This kind of feels like a low roll on our Diplomacy dice. Like, honestly is nice, but her phrasing is pretty blunt and she does make this advise look more self-serving than I expected of her.
I'm actually not sure what Heidi's big elaborate plan could even have been in this case.
Since it is an ancient ritual, I assume that once upon a time, in the days of the Ancestor-Gods or shortly thereafter, it was actually played straight. And that this is at least one point of evidence that the "good old days" weren't actually better in every way and that modern Dwarves have had improvements in their culture even under the pressures of constant war and massive loss of quality of life. I guess certain pressures can improve gender equality if before it has ossified during an age of plenty.
For some reason I thought that the Rangers didn't organize in a proper Guild, but I think I just have been mixing up certain Ranger facts. Like the Redbeards not being a proper Clan, Rangering being seen as a lesser and almost scandalous trade (below even herding and farming), many Rangers moving between Holds instead of staying in and around one and of course the massive Clanless demographic among them, who traditionally are often not even allowed to join Guilds.
But it makes sense that most or all Holds would have a core of more Hold-bound Rangers who make up the official Guild while unofficially accepting and collaborating with all the other Rangers who, through their disconnection, might even be better Rangers than whoever has official membership. Or they are just one of the Guilds much more happy to accept and trust "Clanless Outsiders" among their official ranks, making the Guild as a whole even more suspect and contemptible in the eyes of traditionalists.
Speaking of Guilds and respectability, do the Dwarves have any Guilds that are responsible for keeping the Holds clean? Like garbage disposal, cleaning the tunnels, gong farming and such. If yes, who would be their patron Ancestor-God? Valaya?
K von Carstein
Likes to go for a walk
- Location
- Belgium
- Pronouns
- He
We could formulate that as « someone is trying to frame you for it, could you please help us find the true culprits? ».
That's still very intimidating coming from a grey wizard—especially since we can't prove Marienburg was framed. And if they are guilty, we're essentially tipping them off to how little we know and give them the opportunity to frame someone else in their place.
The problem is that Heidi's instinct is to go for Wizard Emperor and then is feeling guilty over that because she sees it as playing Gambler with Mandred as a chip so she's thinking that maybe the 'better' option as a mother would be to 'fold' by suppressing Mandred and just going for regular Emperor. Mathilde is being blunt because she doesn't need to talk Heidi into letting Mandred be a Wizard, she just needs to make her see that it's the right choice as a friend and a mother, not just the right choice as a disciple of the Gambler, and that if she does go for Wizard Emperor and 'fails' and ends up with just Wizard Grand Prince, that's still very far from having failed as a mother.
There's no overarching organizations for that, it's the responsibility of each Clan and Guild and Cult to keep their portions of the Hold clean.
deathofrats0808
Don’t think of it as dying; just as leaving early
- Location
- Earth
To clarify, I think it would be Gazul telling Gunnars. A bit like if Mathilde were to ask Ranald if someone had been possessed and then a cat turned up. Rather than an ability Gunnars now possesses due to being a priest. Though I still think it's mostly just his knowledge rather than mystical powers. Dwarfs prefer knowledge to mystical powers if possible.
That only holds if they did the job themselves, rather than the far more likely "hiring someone". Marienburg's entire military strategy is based around the fact they can use their vast wealth to import enough food and hire enough mercenaries to hold the walls until the enemy have to bugger off. It would make sense if they applied that same strategy to intrigue. And of course, spies and saboteurs usually aren't part of the ruling class, so even if they didn't hire a patsy, it's deeply unlikely the Directorate didn't send someone whose job it was to blow stuff up instead of sending a family member to go do it.
- Location
- Australia
We could sound out potential waystone partners like the Hedgewise, a cult, the Ambers, or an Eonir house.
Something I MASSIVELY want to do is talk to the Barak Varr booksellers. We've been customers for decades but never had a social action come up with them. I want to meet them and see how they're doing. For something more practical, we could try and introduce them to the Bretonnians in the hopes that they expand their operations there, that way we can get many more Bretonnian books.
A broader trend we seek to encourage is peace and cooperation with the Eonir. If we get Heidi or the Emperor's representative talking with the Queen's representative, that could lay the groundwork for a firmer peace. Roswita would appreciate magical or martial assistance for her vampire war. Elves in general are pretty skilled and knowledgeable so advisors and tutors and such might be able to help out various rulers. If we really want silk sheets, ask someone who knows about Eonir textile workers if they want to have a crack at We silk.
The EIC is someone that would benefit from connections with anyone, and one of their Secondary Corporate Beliefs is Friends in High Places, which synergises very well with this event. Could introduce them to the Eonir and get a possible monopoly on elven trade goods from them in the best case scenario. Maybe we break the ice with Kislev and expand there, open up the book market with them. If you want a three-party conversation, pairing the EIC up with Kislev and Karak Vlag might be a good idea. We own the EIC, Karak Vlag trusts us, and Kislev will want trade with Karak Vlag, so making the EIC the middle men could well be doable.
Last edited:
The thing is it's not easy to get Skaven Blackpowder, in fact it is dangerous as hell and only really relevant if the person you hired to do the job for some reason really wanted it to succeed. Could I see a world where a dwarf hires someone both skilled and risk prone enough to go use Skaven stuff, yeah, but I do not think it is likely at all.
deathofrats0808
Don’t think of it as dying; just as leaving early
- Location
- Earth
Or perhaps they bought it because it was local, or it was cheap, or they didn't know it was Skaven, or they wanted to frame the Skaven or they wanted to obscure Marienburg's hand in it, or they thought it would be more effective, or it was all they had or it works better underwater or they bought the mine, not the powder.
There's loads of reasons to use warpstone laced blackpowder. And there's a whole bunch of Skaven everywhere and they were busy fighting a civil war at the time. K8P had just kicked the shit out of a band of Skryre, maybe they got it from there. An there's no guarantee that House Foger hired someone specifically, ratehr than just going to Marienburg's spy agency and going "go disrupt the canal project" and they then chose to go blow up the Okral. Like, the decision to use the stuff was almost certainly made several levels removed from anyone in power. That's how competent agencies work.
There are no elves or hedgewise at this wedding (except maybe Kurtis), but cults and the ambers are a good shout—Dragomas is almost certainly here, and if not, absolutely would have a representative.
If we do speak to a cult, I think Taal would be the best one—over the last turn, we've seen three waystones that are also Taalite holy places, so they should know something.