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Can you please link to this Karagril conversation? Sounds like an interesting thing to read in the context of your enjoyable and insightful post.
Here it is:
From your position at the base of Karagril all you can see is its towering height, but you know that just on the other side of Death Pass is Karak Drazh, and the entire might of the Red Fang Orcs. "Gyrocopters, siege weapons, Runelords. The caldera is a death trap for any enemy that tries to cross it. And Kvinn-Wyr is handled. Our only dangerous fronts are against Mors under the caldera, and against Moulder in the under-Karagril. That's manageable. Pushing downwards, though..."

King Belegar grimaces. "New fronts with Skryre and the Red Fangs."

"Skryre might stay focused on Mors, but whoever controls under-Karagril is going to have the full attention of Karak Drazh. That Karagril was full of them shows they've got ambitions here. So it comes down to Moulder and Mors. If we reassert the status quo, maybe Moulder is distracted but Skryre and Eshin won't be, and that's two and a half on one, and once Mors is stamped out we're likely to get their full attention. But if we hit Moulder enough to crumple them, and Mors expands into the under-Karagril..."

"All three fronts would be against Clan Mors," King Belegar says slowly, distaste clear on his face but still giving it consideration. Pitting enemies against each other was Ranger tactics, which he'd come to accept. Seeking for a specific enemy to prosper was a step further than that.

"Clan Moulder was definitely moving to try to invade the Karag proper before Mors and the Red Fangs got involved," you say, trying to reshape the issue so it fits better in the Dwarven mind. "A decisive counterstrike would discourage other factions from trying the same."

King Belegar looks up at the Karag towering above the two of you, lost in thought. "No," he says finally. "Comforting, but false. I'll spread the lie for everyone else but won't swallow it myself. We do this to empower Clan Mors, and draw out the Skaven stalemate as long as possible."
 
I would argue that Mathilde very much has a specialty, Dwarfs of which she knows more than any other Grey Wizard, Skaven likewise and more broadly xeno-affinity. She is the external diplomat, which is not a bad thing for the heir of a trader house to be.
...That is a good point actually, Mathilde has gone hard on non-human diplo, going so far as to be asked for advice from the Emperor's Diplo Counsler. Fair enough, though I do think my point stands, even if I might consider swapping Regimand and Mathilde's position. Then again, alot of Mathilde's non-human research is into how to kill something not elf (Well, most elves) and not dwarf... Trade offs I suppose... Isn't Eike supposed to die via 'Hooves'(probably beastman) or was that another girl we talked to? Just a thought I had
 
@Boney - If Mathilde will choose to mentor Eike, she will need to spend time on it. It we want Mathilde to be at least as close to Eike as Reginald was to Mathilde - will we need to spent actions on it? If so, could You give estimates on how much?

I would like to know how big of commitment it is in regard of Mathilde already too-busy shedule.
 
@Boney - If Mathilde will choose to mentor Eike, she will need to spend time on it. It we want Mathilde to be at least as close to Eike as Reginald was to Mathilde - will we need to spent actions on it? If so, could You give estimates on how much?

I would like to know how big of commitment it is in regard of Mathilde already too-busy shedule.

I asked this way back when her College came up and the answer was that Eike would not take up AP, but could be assigned to actions which she might help or hinder... though that was not set in stone as far as I recall.
 
@Boney - If Mathilde will choose to mentor Eike, she will need to spend time on it. It we want Mathilde to be at least as close to Eike as Reginald was to Mathilde - will we need to spent actions on it? If so, could You give estimates on how much?

I would like to know how big of commitment it is in regard of Mathilde already too-busy shedule.

Maybe two AP total over the next six years, if even that. The point of Apprentices is they don't learn by sitting down in a classroom, they learn by following you around to the jobs you'd be doing anyway, watching what you do, and making themselves useful.
 
[X] You
[X] Wilhelmine

I lowkey want Wilhelmine to win because I think it would amuse all the greys if they have the EIC as their officially unofficial spy ring/merchant fleet.
 
...That is a good point actually, Mathilde has gone hard on non-human diplo, going so far as to be asked for advice from the Emperor's Diplo Counsler. Fair enough, though I do think my point stands, even if I might consider swapping Regimand and Mathilde's position. Then again, alot of Mathilde's non-human research is into how to kill something not elf (Well, most elves) and not dwarf... Trade offs I suppose... Isn't Eike supposed to die via 'Hooves'(probably beastman) or was that another girl we talked to? Just a thought I had

Eike's dooming was to "beware the cloven hoof". I should point out that doomings are not literal. There's a short story in one of the RPG books (I forget which one) about a guy who's dooming is about the dangers of a knife. He freaks out and moves to a cabin in the woods where there are no blades at all. One day a trader stops at the cabin looking for a place to rest, and the guy sees the trader has a knife on him and kills the trader out of fear. He's then caught and hung for murder. The moral of the story is that a knife did ruin his life—but not by stabbing, but by turning him into a paranoid hermit.

Mathilde's is even less literal—"When abandoned and alone, Morr shalt befriend thee". After she was abandoned by her family, Mathilde adopted a kitten called Morr.
 
Zlata's first line has established a few facts. She is into beautiful men, she's sad that she took a vow of chastity and she can't boink these men, and that she's straight. Insightful.

She could also be into a lot of other people, and just pocked to oogle men today. No, what it tells me, is that she is into physical strength or perhaps the physice that comes with it. If she gets promoted while on the project, I think she might get on just great with Max :p

I knew there were Hag Witches older than Kislev. The Sea Hag comes to mind. But I was under the impression that being that old they would not longer be that active, being the sort that act as hermits, rarely popping up except in legends or some such. It's curious that Niedzwenka is still an active political influence despite being at least a thousand years old. No wonder that she casually presents such dangerous statements off-handedly. I'm starting to believe her words about "teaching the High Elves a lesson if they interfere". It also presents the whole "walking like a queen" description that Mathilde stated back in her first meeting in different light.

She is certainly a bit more powerful than I thought. I figured she was old [mortal scale] not old [nation scale].

I am suddenly very glad our Ice Witch is a not interested in posturing.

It's also an interesting concept that most Ice Witches are peasants. It's kind of a way for them to bypass the social boundaries of their society, since Ice Witches are greatly respected members of society.

I find it interesting that they don't teach reading. Implies a very strong mono focus on just their lore, with very little scholarly teachings on the side.

Guess the practicalities of a burning country of constant crisis really got to them. Gotta get more Ice Witches out fast nd faster.

but I guess I can't blame a sexually frustrated abstinent young women for being distracted.

I wonder what that oath is about. Seems strange to put such a strain on your students.

I suppose in this case Aksel is referring to Laurelorn as a Dog, considering that it's the domesticated version of a Wolf. They've cultivated the surroundings to be the most optimal companion that you could have, a trusty friend rather than a possible rival.

Funny to think of the terrifying defensive forest as cute little doggos. Accurate, especially considering how scary dogs can be, but funny.

To him, this could be seen as an example of erasing the Boundaries between Civilisation and Wilderness. The Forest is no longer Wild, but tame, and it might no longer resonate with his concepts as a Hedgewise.

I wonder if that weakens him here.

At times, it just falls flat, like trying to present the realpolitiks of the Karagril situation to Belegar in a way that would sooth his ego and him refusing to bite. He didn't want to lie to himself, so her efforts kind of fell flat there.

In this case, I agree with him. "Realpolitics" is an excuse made up by those that can't live with their own decisions. Either you can justify what you have done, and bear the price it cost, or you can not, throwing fancy words up as smokescreens to pretend that all those that would call your actions into question just don't perceive "the real world" can only lead to deluding oneself.

Change the world we live in. That's her goal, and as long as she still lives, she will continue to strive towards it.

And maybe even afterwards, if Omegahugger rises in his long prophecied return. :p

I think it was a good choice to reveal that she worshipped Ranald. It provides more perspective to the conversation and allows for further understanding between the two as Aksel slots her in his internal paradigms. He knows Ranaldites and what they're like. It's also interesting to see that Aksel talks about how he thinks he worships her most important facet like others do, when Mathilde is somewhat unique in how balanced she is in her view of her God. I wouldn't say she understands every facet of her God, but she certainly worships Ranald in his entirety rather than just one part of him, which even Heidi seems to view as unique.

I find it interesting how much she trusts him. Is it simply trust rewarding trust, or does the coin perhaps work both ways…

Ranald and Handrich are similar and yet completely at odds. I really can't put my finger on it.

Similar, yet forever at odds? Estranged siblings, or a shattered old relationship (of any flavor) perhaps.

His alias is really weak I must say.

Only because you don't see the 5 others. :p

That's pretty significant. Two Lord Magisters want her as an apprentice, and unless Algard decides he wants her as an apprentice, Mathilde has the first choice here. Pretty crazy to think about.

And I don't think he would, if we ask for her. He isn't a certain light flinging fool, he doesn't spite his best people for questionable gain.

The same applies to Reiner, who I'm somewhat worried about. Why did he take an interest? What is he planning?

I think the most obvious answer is the right one. She has promisingly high intreague and loves to learn, she would for his job quite well.
 
Eike's dooming was to "beware the cloven hoof".
I suppose we shouldn't take Eike with us when we get around to reclaiming Waystones from Beastmen.
I find it interesting how much she trusts him. Is it simply trust rewarding trust, or does the coin perhaps work both ways…
I think the coin does work both ways, but not in any magical way. A show of trust from someone can make you feel like you can trust them in turn. Besides, one of Ranald's strictures is about trusting your coreligionists, and while Aksel isn't quite that he's close.
 
Emulating the Ancient Widow's presumed lack of sex life, supposedly.

The Widow had to have been married at some point, right? Like, I get that the Ice Maidens take the vow because they are, you know, maidens, and it also lets them be drawn in tighter into the coven rather than mucking about with pretty outsiders in haystacks, but if they are imitating the Widow I would have thought the abstinence would come later in life? Then again, maybe to attune to Ice magic you need to attune to the Widow's current mindset, rather than imitate her prior life stages.
 
Mathilde's is even less literal—"When abandoned and alone, Morr shalt befriend thee". After she was abandoned by her family, Mathilde adopted a kitten called Morr.
Man I remember this one, always found it funny, hilarious even, that Mathilde did that and walked around like she beat death iir what Boney said bout her attitude. It still makes me laugh when I read it.
 
Is it just me or are all the Ice Witches we meet really horny :V

Lliljana, her apprentice whose name i currently cannot remember and now Zlata.
 
She could also be into a lot of other people, and just pocked to oogle men today. No, what it tells me, is that she is into physical strength or perhaps the physice that comes with it. If she gets promoted while on the project, I think she might get on just great with Max :p
It's less who she chooses to ogle and more her phrasing. She specifically highlights Laurelorn as the "Land of Beautiful Men", not the "Land of Beautiful People" or "Land of Beautiful Men and Women" if she was being less inclusive. I don't typically assume characters are heterosexual unless they clearly indicate that they are, but this is the closest to outright confirmation of a character's sexuality that I've seen in DL. Not that she can't figure out that she likes people other than men later on or something, but I think it's safe to say she likes men for the moment.

I'd like to think that in Warhammer you aren't going to be grappling with internalised homophobia blocking your ability to explore your sexuality and that you'd be more likely to know who you are as an adult as a result.
I wonder what that oath is about. Seems strange to put such a strain on your students.
Boney talked about this briefly:
Ice Maidens aren't allowed to do any matching until they reach full Ice Witch status. It's thought to make them better able to understand the magic of the Ancient Widow, who after all isn't the Ancient Single And Ready To Mingle.
Abstinence is an easier situation than telling your initiates to marry someone than experience losing them to understand what it's like to be a Widow.
I find it interesting how much she trusts him. Is it simply trust rewarding trust, or does the coin perhaps work both ways…
I can attest that it's incredibly easy to trust someone if you know that they trust you. It's incredibly easy to go quid pro quo with someone, which is why it's so much easier to reveal things to a person who has revealed a lot to you. Mathilde is in a huge advantage here, with him being much more open than she is, so she can afford to let things like her being a Ranaldite out.
I wonder if that weakens him here.
I'm pretty sure it does. Different scenarios weaken different Wizards, like not having the requisite Winds or situation to enchance the casting. Ghyran grows weaker in Winter for example. We're pretty lucky in that Ulgu is almost always present in usable quantities outside mono-wind environments. Although I suspect that aside from sunset and sunrise, Eclipses are moments of power for Ulgu Wizards thanks the Umbra/Penumbra from the celestial bodies.
 
Maybe we will be able to combine learning the cloak activity spell with some sort of teaching action.
 
I'm having trouble deciding which rabbit hole would be harder to explain. Hi, Codex's sibling!
Also, now that they're not looking over my shoulder, I can talk a little about it. It was genuinely hilarious having to explain Buridan's Ass, which they got stuck on pretty hard. Their reaction was a very simple "why can't you guys just talk like normal people", which I find ironic because they speak like a Zoomer and laugh at stretched out monkey pictures.

Their name is Raven (Internet Alias and Non-Binary name). They're the person that was happy to know Cython is in this quest. I've been trying to get them to read this quest for the longest time, and they're trying to get me to read a Danganronpa Fanfiction in return. The exchange is set to start... sometime. I thought you might like to know that we talk a lot about your Quest even if they never read it.
 
I love, love, love our shadow. It's so cute and inquisitive, and I adore when Boney takes the time to describe what it's doing. Mathilde is used to its antics, but other people aren't and that makes for some serious shenanigans potential. I wonder if the shadow responds to Mathilde's subconcious or if it "has a will of its own", however that turns out to be. Out of all the Arcane Mark explorations, our shadow is probably the most interesting to me.
I have an idea.

So, in WFRP 2e: Realms of Sorcery, some wizards (including grey wizards) can gather up a bunch of materials and use it to create a familiar, and you can make familiars with some pretty wild designs, like a large snake with two arms and a jackal skull for a head. However, in WFRP 4e: Winds of Magic, you don't strictly need materials, and the forms that familiars can take can get even wilder.
Page 183
Familiars of Azyr
Combat: A lead-grey humanoid thundercloud. It grumbles like a distant thunderstorm, rumbling loudly if its master is threatened. It attacks as a whirl of wind and lightning.

Power: An invisible presence, that oppressive feeling there's a storm brewing. Its master can see it, but others only see it when its power is called upon: a jagged flash of forked lightning by its master's side; somehow, it looks like it's smiling.

Spell: A metal animal, flattened as though the feature of a weather-vane. Seeing this two-dimensional creature move like a three-dimensional one is mildly headache inducing, but one can't help not look at its brilliant starlike eyes, which burst intensely when it casts its spell.

Familiars of Ulgu
Combat: A large cat, bat, or spider made of shadows. Absolutely silent, even when fighting.

Power: A thick snake-like fog, swirling around its master, who sometimes wears it like an affectionate animate scarf.

Spell: A humanoid shadow, always there, but only visible where there is light to cast its presence. When casting its spell, the entity casting the shadow momentarily appears.
And your musing on whether our shadow's got a will of its own or acting on Mathilde's subconscious reminded me of stuff from pages 34, 181, and 182:
Familiars are rather limited in their abilities to improve themselves, being driven in part by the will of their creator wizard.
On rare occasions, creators and their familiars suffer from pronounced personality clashes, though as familiars are created with a portion of their creator's essence this usually indicates that the wizard is not at peace with themself.
NPC familiars do not necessarily improve over time, but familiars are blessed with independent thoughts and experiences.

There's a remarkable amount of similarity between our shadow and Winds of Magic's familiars. Given it's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from being the same thing, my idea is this: maybe we can make our shadow into a proper familiar? Divided Loyalties uses Realms of Sorcery's system of familiars, but I actually think RoS can support this idea.

Realms of Sorcery page 186 explicitly says you can have more than one familiar, loads in fact. The same page also gives us the Bind method of getting a familiar, which is what we used for Wolf: get an existing creature and spend some time forming an aethyric bond with it. The only hitch in the plan is that the table provided for Binding is animal-exclusive, but if Boney waives that restriction, I think we're golden.
 
[X] You
Eike will become the Apprentice of Lady Magister Mathilde Weber.

[X] Regimand
Eike will become the Apprentice of Magister Regimand Speiseschrank.
 
[X] You

@Boney, apologies if it was asked before, but if we'll take Eike on as an apprentice, is there a possibility of granting her nobility by making her the heir to Mathilde's estate? Nobility title is a generally good thing, increasing number of opportunities one has in life, and for some things in some places and circles, e.g. in Bretonnia, it's hard to get by without it.

Or would Mathilde for some reason won't think of it or won't do that? Or is her title not inheritable?
 
Also, now that they're not looking over my shoulder, I can talk a little about it. It was genuinely hilarious having to explain Buridan's Ass, which they got stuck on pretty hard. Their reaction was a very simple "why can't you guys just talk like normal people", which I find ironic because they speak like a Zoomer and laugh at stretched out monkey pictures.

Their name is Raven (Internet Alias and Non-Binary name). They're the person that was happy to know Cython is in this quest. I've been trying to get them to read this quest for the longest time, and they're trying to get me to read a Danganronpa Fanfiction in return. The exchange is set to start... sometime. I thought you might like to know that we talk a lot about your Quest even if they never read it.

I've got zoomer brothers so I know the feeling, the ways of people that grew up with the digital hellscape are so strange. It always takes me so offguard to hear about people discussing the quest outside of the internet, I'm so used to thinking of the internet as a different world that I never expect my contributions to it to leak out into the 'real' one.

@Boney, apologies if it was asked before, but if we'll take Eike on as an apprentice, is there a possibility of granting her nobility by making her the heir to Mathilde's estate? Nobility title is a generally good thing, increasing number of opportunities one has in life, and for some things in some places and circles, e.g. in Bretonnia, it's hard to get by without it.

Or would Mathilde for some reason won't think of it or won't do that? Or is her title not inheritable?

Mathilde could designate Eike as her heir, but being heir to a Knighthood doesn't formally make one a noble until they inherit, you need a loftier title for nobility to 'trickle down' like that.
 
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