Remove ads

Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Reader mode
Boney said:
He shrugs. "Only from myths and legends. When Sigmar slew Morath of Mourkain, he charged the local Hedgewise with watching over the nexuses that the necromancer had fed upon, and granted us a fortress in the Middle Mountains for our own. But after he was declared a God, his Cult declared a crusade to claw back all authority he had ever given in life so they could keep it for themselves. When the Everchosen Cormac Bloodaxe attacked Ostland and left us weakened in his wake, the Cult of Sigmar assaulted the bastion that Sigmar had granted us and took it for themselves, and it's been changing hands ever since. At various times Ostland, Hochland, and Reikland have all claimed it, and all have in turn lost it. Similarly the nexuses within the Forest itself have been lost to us, and are now known only as the Tower of Melkhior and the Blood Fane. If the Kislevites hadn't cut off the flow of energy from Norvard when they rebuilt it into Erengrad, the Forest would have been lost to Chaos generations ago."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Well that's a certainly spicy meat ball, probably counting chickens but speculation is always interesting.

Either go the elementalist route if the hedgewise want for legitimacy without threat of being absorbed into the colleges, or perhaps try to form some foggy middle ground with the grey college of them forming a branch college like our web - mat which would only be possible under our coin influence to trust us to not pull a fast one over them and two lord magisters in the grey order having hedgewise connections to them, and one outright being a traitor at that and didn't get yeeted and still maintains ??? contacts with the hedgewise.

EDit: mhm, think i'm going secretly for the hedgewise since that cleaves them closer to the grey order and they explicitly trust us because of the coin and 2 of the lord magister's were once hedgewise so if we ever help them reclaim the nexus and perhaps even that keep in the middle mountain maybe we can do some shenanigan's and call the reclaimed keep or nexus point a secretive branch college like our WEB-MAT or the alchemist guilds proxy of the gold order. Such would only be possible through the coin to for these hedgewise to trust us and they seem cool and interesting and willing to try to reclaim the nexus and waystones lost.
 
Last edited:
mathymancer said:
All signs point to Halétha being the daughter that takes after Ranald. It is true that this update doesn't confirm that, but I am not sure how it could. Probably the best way to find that out is to learn more about Halétha, and I'm not sure how to go about that. We'll see in the future, I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Straight from Kupfer's quote - Halétha has inherited some of Ranald's Deceiver (stole shadows) and Protector(empower protectors). Also some Night Prowler, maybe - because that's an obvious use for those shadows.
 
I'll react to the Tindomiel part of the update later, but first, I'm bound by ancient oaths to react to the Hedgewise part of the update.
Boney said:
"It's good times for my lot," he says to you as you settle down. "Most of the Ostland Blessed are dead, which is unfortunate, but it means that their families are coming out of the east for protection, joining with us. Old families with a lot of old secrets and a lot of proven wisdom. And the business in the west has people a lot more willing to face the dangers of the Forest, and having a lot more respect for those that protect them from those dangers. Word is you've a part in that."

You consider how to answer that for a moment. "I wasn't involved with the founding of the relationship between Laurelorn and Middenland, but I am trying to build that into a relationship between Laurelorn and the Empire as a whole."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
One thing to note here is that Aksel seems to attribute some positive developments to Mathilde based on very little. Is that the effect of the coin, making him assume that Mathilde is both competent and trustworthy and thus if her name was mentioned in relation to a good thing surely she had something to do with it? Or I could be reading way too much into this.
In any case, I'm glad Mathilde didn't lead him on: trust in your brothers and sisters, after all, and while Aksel is more of a nephew I think the principle is the same.
Boney said:
He shrugs. "Only from myths and legends. When Sigmar slew Morath of Mourkain, he charged the local Hedgewise with watching over the nexuses that the necromancer had fed upon, and granted us a fortress in the Middle Mountains for our own. But after he was declared a God, his Cult declared a crusade to claw back all authority he had ever given in life so they could keep it for themselves. When the Everchosen Cormac Bloodaxe attacked Ostland and left us weakened in his wake, the Cult of Sigmar assaulted the bastion that Sigmar had granted us and took it for themselves, and it's been changing hands ever since. At various times Ostland, Hochland, and Reikland have all claimed it, and all have in turn lost it. Similarly the nexuses within the Forest itself have been lost to us, and are now known only as the Tower of Melkhior and the Blood Fane. If the Kislevites hadn't cut off the flow of energy from Norvard when they rebuilt it into Erengrad, the Forest would have been lost to Chaos generations ago."

That's rather more information than you expected, and you have to fight the impulse to start tugging on a half-dozen intriguing threads at once. "If you regained control of one of those tomorrow, could you restore it?"

He takes a moment to think that over. "I could try, and pray that our recollections of what we once knew have remained true."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
So, there's a lot here. Let's see what we have here:
  • The Hedgewise have Waystone lore - watching over (some) Waystones is a duty they were given by Sigmar
  • But since they have no access to actual Waystones the Hedgewise don't know if their Waystone lore works - no practicle experience, only theory.
  • The Brass Keep was a Hedgewise fortress granted to them by Sigmar (what the fuck?)
  • Cult of Sigmar are assholes, news at eleven
  • The Hedgewise aren't maintaining the Forest of Shadows Waystones as I suspected
  • The reason the Forest of Shadows isn't a big blob of Dhar despite the above is that the flow of energy from Kislev is cut off (what about Dhar that arises in the Forest naturally? Or is the Forest of Shadows falling to Chaos, just not as fast as it would have without Kislev cutting off the flow?)
Boney said:
He's quiet for quite a time. "I've heard said," he eventually says, "that many thought it was the beginning of the end when the Magisters were formed. But it seems to me that me and mine have seen more good than bad out of you and yours. And I've heard of you, and the Kupfers and Krammovitches have vouched for you. If there is a chance that you can find success, then we are bound by ancient oaths to assist you in this."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Kupfer is a Hedgefolk, what do you know. Also, the Father just got us the Hedgewise for free, and they seem a lot more free with their secrets than they would be under any other circumstances. A pretty good result, and somewhat better than what I hoped for (I thought they'll demand something) but I'll wait and see how much their secrets are actually worth before I break out the champagne.

Boney said:
[ ] [HEDGEWISE] Openly
Aksel of Hüven will join the Waystone Project as a representative from the Schattenwald Hedgewise.
[ ] [HEDGEWISE] Discreetly
Aksel will join the Waystone Project as a representative from the Cult of Halétha.
[ ] [HEDGEWISE] Secretly
Aksel will join the Waystone Project in the guise of a Grey Order Perpetual who will claim expertise in the inherited lore of the Grey Order.
[ ] [HEDGEWISE] No
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
So let's talk about our options here.
  • Secretly is probably the best for Mathilde, maybe for the project as a whole, because it will make it easier to say that the Grey Order and thus Mathilde had Waystone lore all along, which will keep up the ruse that Mathilde has something to do with the K8P Waystones waking up. This is my tentative favourite.
  • Openly is a bit risky from a political standpoint, but it might end up working in the Hedgefolk's favour if at ends up leading to their legitimacy. But is that a likely outcome? I don't think so. Still, something to think about.
  • Discreetly is interesting. I'm not really too optimistic about this leading to the Hedgewise gaining legitimacy as priests, not when every single one of the strongest Cults in the Empire hates them. But this will give some legitimacy and prestige to the Cult of Halétha. Will this be good for Halétha, and if so will She like us for doing Her a solid? I might be religiously obligated to approval vote for this.
I think I lean towards Discreetly but I'm open to changing my mind.
 
Last edited:
Boney said:
From a certain way of looking at it, there are two broad ways to be a Wizard in society. The first, as practiced by most of the Colleges in Altdorf, is to try to filter and dampen oneself so as to broadcast a palatable and unthreatening image in the hopes that the people around you will become comfortable with your presence among them. And then there is the example set by the likes of the Dark Lady of Nuln, Magister Matriarch Elspeth von Draken, who lets their true nature shine through in open challenge to the masses, and if they don't like it they see if they can work up the courage to do something about it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Hmm, I wonder which one Mathilde falls into… :V
 
TalonofAnathrax said:
Grey Wizards: I'll make an excellent, well-embedded disguise with a perfect reason to be here!
Grey Magisters: I'm in a hurry? Then I'll use magic to be so incredibly stealthy that they will never notice me traveling! And if they do notice me I'll have a disguise, and if that's not good enough they'll simply forget having noticed me at all.
Mathilde: Yes, flying straight there is the least disruptive option. It's a lot easier than trying to be completely stealthy!
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
If you can't be stealthy, might as well be blindingly obvious and so fast nobody has time to react.
 
I'm so glad the Father worked on the Hedgewise. It is really cool to have that theory confirmed and I am excited for what opportunities it will open in the future. I am thinking Discreetly for the Hedgewise makes the most sense, because I remember reading that they have long claimed to be religious cults instead of hedge wizards and this would help back that argument. If I am wrong about that then I will probably lean to the Secretly option.

I have no idea what to think about the demands from House Tindomiel. I am probably leaning towards just saying no, but if we did accept them I would probably say rights to the Empire and the Dedication option for a +2 to get the Enchanter.
 
Okay, some draft plans for the Tindomiel:

[] Plan: enchanter
-[] [SCOPE] The Empire (+2)
-[] [REP] Enchanter (-2)
-[] [FORM] Dedication (0)

[] Plan: theorist
-[] [SCOPE] The Empire (+2)
-[] [REP] Magical Theorist (-2)
-[] [FORM] Dedication (0)

[] Plan: priest+heir double combo
-[] [SCOPE] The Empire (+2)
-[] [REP] Priest (-1)
-[] [REP] Heir (-1)
-[] [FORM] Dedication (0)

These are the options that cause the least amount of damage. I don't feel comfortable promising Bretonnia or Kislev because the Lady and the Old Widow probably really do not want elven gods moving on their turf (Sigmar is probably the same, but we literally have the authority to make that decision, and if he doesn't like that he shouldn't have supported Magnus).

I'm leaning towards the enchanter myself, but the other options are viable.

I suppose we could upgrade the waystones to full shrines, and get either the priest or the heir in addition to the enchanter/theorist, or just go straight for the head dude himself. Priest sounds like he'd bring a lot of divine insight, but the Heir is a mystery box, and I like the idea of giving them a chance to prove themselves on this project.
 
Waystone shrines sound super cool so I would just go with that and accept the issues. The house also is powerful and has an interest in getting people to appreciate their goddess, so they should be able to handle a lot of issues themselves as long as it is within their comfortable traveling distance. Either of the two-cost contributions seem fine as well, so that works out to a coherent plan. It will be fun to see how they pitch Hekarthi to non-magical people.
 
The Hedgewise land is technically owned by Nordland, and we know from the wedding gossip that Nordland is still furious and intending to do something about it. I worry that doing either of these openly is going to be like waving a red cloth in front of a bull.

I think we need to start the investigation on what it will take to build real trade routes for Laurelorn. It would help to have a bunch of people on both sides of the border with an interest in heading off anything that will shut down the trade.
 
MkZ said:
Straight from Kupfer's quote - Halétha has inherited some of Ranald's Deceiver (stole shadows) and Protector(empower protectors). Also some Night Prowler, maybe - because that's an obvious use for those shadows.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yes, that's a big one. Also Halétha and Ranald's runes are both conductive to Ulgu and some Hedgefolk worship Ranald but none worship Shallya as far as we know. Then there's the Ostermark Hedgewise's signs which looked like Ranaldite signs, but alas, this update did not confirm whether or not the Ostermark mystery cult worships Halétha.

Note to self: Ostermark Hedgewise worshipping Halétha's sister still theoretically possible. Can we, like, talk religion with Aksel in the near future? I really want those Halétha deets.
 
Pardon, but is not Hekarti the goddess of dark magic? As in, dhar? The stuff we're trying to get rid of? I'm no expert on the relationship between drukhii and chaos but this seems counterproductive.

Also, never trust a rat, a dark elf, or a chorf. Scorpions and frogs.

Edit: Wait, these are Eonir, not Drukhii. And wild magic is different than dhar? Objections revoked.
 
Last edited:
For my money, refusing Tindomiel now and coming back when we have some successes under our belt wrt Waystones is the better option. The concessions they're asking for right now would be a millstone around the neck of the Project forever if we accept them, but they will probably be more accommodating to work with once we've, y'know, done literally anything.
 
Phrux said:
Pardon, but is not Hekarti the goddess of dark magic? As in, dhar? The stuff we're trying to get rid of? I'm no expert on the relationship between drukhii and chaos but this seems counterproductive.

Also, never trust a rat, a dark elf, or a chorf. Scorpions and frogs.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Not quite, she is the Hydra Queen, as in the one with Eight Heads, wild magic is hers not dark. I made the same connection, but Boney corrected me
 
mathymancer said:
Yeah, this seems to be new information. That does make sense in light of his comment at our promotion ceremony
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Doesn't necessarily mean he was guaranteed to be a Hedgefolk but it does flesh out his background.

Talking to Kupfer about the Forest (and also about Halétha and if she might possibly have a sister) might be very interesting.

DragonParadox said:
I think we can promise some Hekrati favor for the Wayystones. Very few of them are public and I imagine all the less so for the broken ones that we would need to fix.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

The problem is that getting serious involvement does require a lot. A point for the heir or priest makes sense but they're asking a lot for the 2-3 point options without necessarily offering more expertise compared to the Grey Lords.
 
Phrux said:
Pardon, but is not Hekarti the goddess of dark magic? As in, dhar? The stuff we're trying to get rid of? I'm no expert on the relationship between drukhii and chaos but this seems counterproductive.

Also, never trust a rat, a dark elf, or a chorf. Scorpions and frogs.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

The Dark Elves worship her as a goddess of Dark Magic, because their sorceresses use Dark Magic. The Eonir worship her as the goddess of the Eight Winds of Magic, because they use the wind magic.
 
IronFist said:
Mathilde Murder-blender Weber's Universal problem solving algorithm?

Can the problem be solved by applying a bladed object to problem?
Yes?
Apply bladed object to Problem. Problem solved.
No?
Find a different bladed object. Go to step 1. Repeat until problem solved.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Give her some credit! She might also turn it off and on again!
 
Phrux said:
Pardon, but is not Hekarti the goddess of dark magic? As in, dhar? The stuff we're trying to get rid of? I'm no expert on the relationship between drukhii and chaos but this seems counterproductive.

Also, never trust a rat, a dark elf, or a chorf. Scorpions and frogs.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
The Cytharai are the gods of the World as is, while the Cadai are the gods of the world as we would like it to be.
And Hekarti is the goddess of the eight winds of magic
 
Andres said:
@Boney, what's stopping the emperor from declaring the Hedgewise legal like how Dieter did for the elementalists?
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Normally I'd say an appropriate bribe, but he isn't Dieter.

More reasonable he'd alienate all of the following if he did that: Sigmarites, Ulricans, anyone who hates wizards, The Colleges, The Elementalists.

At a minimum.
It's not worth it to him.
 
Reader mode
You must login or register to reply here.
Remove ads
Back
Top