Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

[Rafin]

Voting, and then sleeping.

[ ] Travel to Karaz-a-Karak with King Belegar for the striking out of several well-aged grudges.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused outwards.

I'm not opposed to this, but being a political Spymaster for a young Dwarf king seems like a headache. And it's currently second place anyway. Meh.

[X] Scout the rest of the Eight Peaks, to find out what other horrors are waiting out there.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused inwards.

This one seems more like it when it comes to staying in K8P and still being completely in Belegar's employ and sitting on his war council.

[ ] Join Karak Azul as they raid and scout in force the other portions of the Karak.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a battlefield wizard.

Battlefield Wizarding was a fun diversion, but not where I see Mathilde long term.

[X] You could help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.

So much potential. As long as we don't have to act like an actual mayor and instead can just establish various fancy institutions and otherwise represent the humans in a less formal capacity.
In other words: Karag Nar being known as the Wizard Ruled Mountain seems like a bad idea for various reasons. Us simply being someone in the background that no one can say no to seems better.

[X] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.
This suggests a future of investigation and study at Karak Eight Peaks, and perhaps helping Johann poke at Skaven technology.

Sure. Why not. So much interesting stuff to catalogue and codify for the good of human and dwarf kind. Not to mention the experiments.

[ ] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.

Whatever vote wins, we'll end up making a home somewhere. And we'll also end up tinkering with it until it becomes a worthy base. With only three votes officially winning it seems like a complete shame that this is at the top. It's probably just there because everyone wants to do it, but, counterintuitively, that's the reason why it shouldn't win, because it will win in the first couple of normal action votes anyway. I mean, just look at how much we did with both our secret underground palace and Sonnigwiese without either ever being an official quest focus.
I really wish it wasn't an option here in the first place.

[ ] All this time away has made you miss your friends. Visit Anton and Wilhelmina.
This suggests a future in Stirland, whether Roswita likes it or not.

Maybe later.

[ ] You're going to have a rough time explaining your windfall to the Bursars. Better to get that over with.
This suggests a future performing an assignment the Grey Order thinks is suited to you.

This needs to get done. But not as a future defining vote. K8P is too awesome.

[ ] You've been out of touch for a while. Head to Barak Varr and then Altdorf, and catch up with what's been happening in the Empire.
This suggests a future seeking employment on the Council of an Elector Count.

Tempting. But K8P is currently more tempting to me. And what are the chances of any EC being as awesome as Abelheim?

[ ] Not every sellsword will accept King Belegar's offer of employment. Travel with them.
This suggests a future as a travelling mercenary.

Least appealing option. Essentially discards most of BoneyM's currently developed worldbuilding, plot hooks and character creation. Hard pass.

 

[EVA-Saiyajin]

But it's name. It's called Karag Grim. The Grim Mountain.

That name just feels like something happened there that the Dearves felt deeply enough about to name the mountain for it.

And Grim is Not a pleasant thing to be remembered for.

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Or it belongs to Kragg. (Only partially joking)

 

[Darik29]

It means harsh/unyielding.

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So. The Harsh, Unyielding Mountain.

...

Now I'm even more curious as to what went on there. And yet, no longer willing to have Mathilde poke it with a stick and see what kind of horrifying monstrosity comes out of it...

 

[EVA-Saiyajin]

Anyways, I have no desire to be tied down by responsibility of that scale.

 

[BungieONI]

Whatever vote wins, we'll end up making a home somewhere. And we'll also end up tinkering with it until it becomes a worthy base. With only three votes officially winning it seems like a complete shame that this is at the top. It's probably just there because everyone wants to do it, but, counterintuitively, that's the reason why it shouldn't win, because it will win in the first couple of normal action votes anyway. I mean, just look at how much we did with both our secret underground palace and Sonnigwiese without either ever being an official quest focus.
I really wish it wasn't an option here in the first place

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This vote is about setting up prep work and to give Boney an idea of where the thread wants the story to go. That particular option is construction focused and thus benefits from prep work if you want it done right.

 

[Mopman43]

It means harsh/unyielding.

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Out of curiosity, what's Thorgrim translate to?

(I was almost going to ask if Ungrim translates to "Unyielding Watchtower", but I realized that was Und, not Un)

 

[BurnNote]

Has Stabreim Knochenbeinern been a pen-name all along...

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I could never decide, but I kinda want it to be.

For The Honour of Greyskull College, indeed.

(Coming Soon, from Stabreim Knockenbeinern)

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Flattery, Imitation, and such. I gave it my own shot.

In a backpack, slightly smudged with dirt, is a copy of The Magical Princess 1: For the Honor of Greyskull College. The backcover blurb reads:

After long battle, MAGDA WESSEN, powerful MAGISTER KNIGHT of the GREY ORDER, has led her band of journeymanling in the RECONQUEST OF KARAG EIGHT-PEAKS, but she still stands alone. On the path through the lost BADLANDS, she has discovered her SECRET HERITAGE as a ROYAL PRINCESS. With the fortune granted by her god, RANALD THE PROTECTOR, (see The Knight Witch Hunts 3: Grobi Gods of the Deep) she has funded the COLLEGE OF GREYSKULL, home of the valiant Undumgi.

Now her DESTINY calls her to retake her ancestral home, but can she forsake her DUTIES to the valiant BELEGOR, KING of KARAG EIGHT-PEAKS and her position as the WIZARD OF KARAG NAR? Who will join her on her JOURNEY OF RECLAMATION? Kindly and beautiful CONSTANCE BREW, hard-bitten and wolfish RUPERT WOLFRAM, or even the young KING BELEGOR?

Only one thing is certain: Magda will need all her STRENGTH, FAITH and MAGIC to survive.

 

[Boney]

Out of curiosity, what's Thorgrim translate to?

(I was almost going to ask if Ungrim translates to "Unyielding Watchtower", but I realized that was Und, not Un)

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'Ungrim' is a Dwarf yet to fulfil their oath. He chose it specifically.

Far as I can tell, 'Thor' doesn't mean anything, it's just a common name and name fragment in Nordic languages (for obvious reasons) so it was a good fit for the High King, but it hasn't been given a Khazalid meaning.

 

[Humbaba]

I'd like to take the opportunity to push the journeyman vote a bit. It gives Mathilde more wizards to talk to, who can appreciate her love of magic and desire to talk about it (most dwarves would be disinterested at best). It develops her connections with her journeymanlings, which in turn also deepens her relationship with the other colleges (useful for going for wizard lord).

It also helps to nurture an incredibly important skill which Mathilde has not yet fully developed:
DELEGATION

Whilst we got a bit of practice in Stirland, our ability with the shadow steed has meant that we were able to run the Stirland Spy agency with markedly less delegation (and people) than would normally be required. Which was great, but did sometimes mean that there are things we don't consider. Such as Abelheim's reaction when Mathilde wanted to set up an undead research organisation with wizards permanently on staff.

And it let's us actually delegate the part of Academia that Mathilde actually hates. Which let's us spend more time on other actions (including adventuring) rather than rewriting our latest dissertation to the college 6 more times.

I also don't want the level of responsibility BoneyM has said applying for the job with the Undumgi gets us. I'd like helping them get set up a bit and further promoting Ranald (the protector), but I'd much prefer having them as a side project or part of general spymastering

If you're in charge of the Undumgi you're in charge of the Undumgi. You could delegate certain tasks and areas to underlings, but surrendering the entire Karag to self-governance will be seen as you neglecting your duty if it leads to any sort of trouble. This is still a Kingdom.

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[In_lurk_shadow]

[X] Travel to Karaz-a-Karak with King Belegar for the striking out of several well-aged grudges.
[X] Scout the rest of the Eight Peaks, to find out what other horrors are waiting out there.
[X] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.
[X] All this time away has made you miss your friends. Visit Anton and Wilhelmina.
[X] You've been out of touch for a while. Head to Barak Varr and then Altdorf, and catch up with what's been happening in the Empire.

 

[Mopman43]

Far as I can tell, 'Thor' doesn't mean anything, it's just a common name and name fragment in Nordic languages (for obvious reasons) so it was a good fit for the High King, but it hasn't been given a Khazalid meaning.

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Aw. Little sad they never gave it a meaning.

Wonder if there'll be a fan-made full Khazalid in, like, 20 years? It'd be cool. Fans are crazy enough.

'Ungrim' is a Dwarf yet to fulfil their oath. He chose it specifically.

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And his son Garagrim was "The oath to be fulfilled" or something like that? (Just something I half-remember from Torroar's quest)

 

[Rafin]

If you're in charge of the Undumgi, then you're in charge of the Undumgi. You could delegate certain tasks and areas to underlings, but surrendering the entire Karag to self-governance will be seen as you neglecting your duty if it leads to any sort of trouble. This is still a Kingdom.

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That's not quite fair. The answer we are giving Belegar would be that we want to "help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves", not "give me lordship over the Undumgi". Going to the as of yet leaderless hold to put down some foundational "suggestions" and then write ourselves out of the official ruling position should be a possibility. Else it would be a write-in vote that, essentially, is worded the same as the current one but with different italics. Like,
establish yourself as the behind the curtains Grey Eminence of Karag Nar while outwardly being its helpful wizard, chief advisor, link to the King of Eight Peaks, celebrity founding figure, philanthropist and whatever else flies our fancy.

 

[Boney]

Aw. Little sad they never gave it a meaning.

Wonder if there'll be a fan-made full Khazalid in, like, 20 years? It'd be cool. Fans are crazy enough.


And his son Garagrim was "The oath to be fulfilled" or something like that? (Just something I half-remember from Torroar's quest)

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Literally, un-grim means not-unyielding, or yielding. Together it means a Dwarf who hasn't fulfilled their oath.
Literally, gara-grim means fearless and unyielding. In light of 'grim' being linked to oaths, it can be translated as 'does not fear oaths', or 'need not fear oaths'. So in context it can mean the oath will be fulfilled, because that would leave Garagrim free of it.

 

[TheWoo]

[X] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.
[X] Scout the rest of the Eight Peaks, to find out what other horrors are waiting out there.
[X] Travel to Karaz-a-Karak with King Belegar for the striking out of several well-aged grudges.
[X] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.

 

[Fehu]

[X] You could help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.

Wizard-dame and secret Ranaldite city of Karak Eight Peaks!

[X] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.
This suggests a future of investigation and study at Karak Eight Peaks, and perhaps helping Johann poke at Skaven technology.

Don't know about that skaven tech, but getting a intra specialist cooperation going sounds good. Also great if Mathilde doesn't have to write everything.

[X] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.

Wizard-lord and finally figuring out Snek juice, besides a neat tower able to look down on everything with Ulgu lenses. Woh.

I hope it's okay to pick a few choices?

 

[Boney]

That's not quite fair. The answer we are giving Belegar would be that we want to "help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves", not "give me lordship over the Undumgi". Going to the as of yet leaderless hold to put down some foundational "suggestions" and then write ourselves out of the official ruling position should be a possibility. Else it would be a write-in vote that, essentially, is worded the same as the current one but with different italics. Like,
establish yourself as the behind the curtains Grey Eminence of Karag Nar while outwardly being its helpful wizard, chief advisor, link to the King of Eight Peaks, celebrity founding figure, philanthropist and whatever else flies our fancy.

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My apologies, I misread your original post. I thought you were talking about what would happen if you eventually took the role that lead towards. Yes, you can help them out without it permanently binding you to them.

That said, I still wouldn't recommend trying to fan the flames of democracy. That sort of thing is why Ranald gets suppressed.

 

[EVA-Saiyajin]

@BoneyM

I admire your dedication to providing this degree of Khazalid. This consistent usage of such terms has really helped the immersive feel of the quest, somehow. That point where Ulthar gives Khazalid name to our title has really stuck with me. And the designation of seeking purpose as well.

 

[WorldSlayer]

So while MagisterLord is much more difficult, even getting a "might be able to" for battle magic is difficult; we have the track record with spells, and a good reputation, but we have almost no seniority, and that good reputation is more in terms of 'skilled' than 'proven and seasoned', which as i understand it is the type of reputation we'd need.

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Mathilde has been a Grey Wizard for 18 years. Gelt was only a Wizard for less than 15 before he became Supreme Patriarch. There's also been Magister Lords who managed to get promoted from Magister to Magister Lord in 2 years.
Mathilde is actually pretty good as far seniority goes.

[ ] Travel to Karaz-a-Karak with King Belegar for the striking out of several well-aged grudges.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused outwards.

[ ] Scout the rest of the Eight Peaks, to find out what other horrors are waiting out there.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused inwards.

[ ] Join Karak Azul as they raid and scout in force the other portions of the Karak.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a battlefield wizard.

[ ] You could help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.

[ ] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.
This suggests a future of investigation and study at Karak Eight Peaks, and perhaps helping Johann poke at Skaven technology.

[ ] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.

[ ] All this time away has made you miss your friends. Visit Anton and Wilhelmina.
This suggests a future in Stirland, whether Roswita likes it or not.

[ ] You're going to have a rough time explaining your windfall to the Bursars. Better to get that over with.
This suggests a future performing an assignment the Grey Order thinks is suited to you.

[ ] You've been out of touch for a while. Head to Barak Varr and then Altdorf, and catch up with what's been happening in the Empire.
This suggests a future seeking employment on the Council of an Elector Count.

[ ] Not every sellsword will accept King Belegar's offer of employment. Travel with them.
This suggests a future as a travelling mercenary.

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Alas no option to look into the Middenland-Nordland situation.

I think this is the future I want. Being respected and trusted enough by Belegar to be placed in charge of one of Karak Eight Peaks' peaks, and respected and trusted enough by the humans living there that they're good with it. Getting the nod from the Colleges to move in long-term because goddamn, that's about as prestigious a spot as any human will ever get in a dwarf Karak. Killing orcs and skaven as needed, but not constantly, leaving time for social and research. Maybe seducing some of those Ulrican knights instead of being content with romance novels. Being the highest-ranked magical authority around and probably called just "The Wizard" or something similarly simple-but-impressive by the tens of thousands living here. Having a position that lets us set laws for the glory of Ranald (taste the irony!) and which are fully respectful of those who get magic and ensure that no new-manifested mages ever get casually burned.

It feels like a good place and way to settle down.

[x] You could help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves.

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My main thing is that I really want to get back to the Empire so that we can investigate what was causing all those disappearances, since that is really worrying to me.

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I've been dithering on this situation for a while. Do we head back to the Empire, complete our research, fill in our spell list and help with important Empire actions or do we stay here in Eight Peaks where we lose easy access to those Empire resources and quests?

Ultimately I've decided that I really do want to stay in Eight Peaks. Joining the Expedition to fight for a while would have been the mark of a journeywoman making her way in the world and gaining experience. Having come here to mark out our place in the world is the signature of a Magister Lord.

Building a wizard tower, performing important research, having important contacts and positions and sending out feelers to begin a proper chapter house will be the best way to move forward in our career as a knight, as a spy, and as a true Wizard Lord.


[X] Scout the rest of the Eight Peaks, to find out what other horrors are waiting out there.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused inwards.
Preventing our enemies from being to able to strike at us by removing their leadership and knowing where best to strike in turn. When even to contemplate striking at the home of a Grey Wizard Lord means to have your throat slit in the night who would dare do so?

[] You could help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.
A potent position of authority, a Wizard Lord commands the respect of Empire Citizens much like she commands the Winds of Magic.

[X] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.
This suggests a future of investigation and study at Karak Eight Peaks, and perhaps helping Johann poke at Skaven technology.
Innovative research is a common pass time for the most potent of master wizards. Making subordinates perform the research and taking the credit is even more common.

[X] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.
What Wizard do not have a place from which they can perform their research and command respect? A place to dissect the underpinnings of reality.

 

[Guile]

I'm way more interested in Belegar's "Retake the Karak 8 Peaks" quest, where they're nat 100 random event roll netted them a Master Grey Wizard who then proceeded to round them up another load of reinforcements and then assassinate the enemy leaders multiple times, stop a major greenskin plot, and of course totally pulled the rug out from under the Greenskins multiple times.

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Clearly, in Belegar Quest they just rolled really well on the extra reinforcement action Mathilde gave them. Damn that silver-tongued devil, Belegar Stouthammer!


[X] All this time away has made you miss your friends. Visit Anton and Wilhelmina.
This suggests a future in Stirland, whether Roswita likes it or not.
[X] You've been out of touch for a while. Head to Barak Varr and then Altdorf, and catch up with what's been happening in the Empire.
This suggests a future seeking employment on the Council of an Elector Count.
[X] You could help the Undumgi and the Ulricans establish themselves.

"Gonna run back to the Empire for a couple months, clear out my backlog. I'll be back in a bit!"
zoom

 

[Derpmind]

(Kragg's Player: I don't care how much evidence there is to prove the point. I refuse to subscribe to the theory that Dwarven Grudges are best resolved trough wacky hi jinks.)

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And thus Kragg the Grim, determined not to be outdone, went on to invent the Master Rune of Wacky Hijinks. Thus canceling the End Times and instead ushering in the Wacky Times.

 

[Mopman43]

Mathilde has been a Grey Wizard for 18 years. Gelt was only a Wizard for less than 15 before he because Supreme Patriarch.

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I really don't think Gelt could be considered average in anything.

She also started very young. To my understanding, Gelt was an adult before he joined the Gold College.

 

[duskrider42]

[X] There's a lot of prime real estate currently unclaimed. Stake out a prime position for a wizard's tower.

[X] Travel to Karaz-a-Karak with King Belegar for the striking out of several well-aged grudges.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused outwards.

[X] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.

 

[BurnNote]

And thus Kragg the Grim, determined not to be outdone, went on to invent the Master Rune of Matilda. Thus canceling the End Times and instead ushering in the Wacky Times.

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FTFY

 

[cokerpilot]

Didn't there use to be a list of notable kills somewhere in the informational posts? I can't seem to find it anymore.

 

[BungieONI]

I've been dithering on this situation for a while. Do we head back to the Empire, complete our research, fill in our spell list and help with important Empire actions or do we stay here in Eight Peaks where we lose easy access to those Empire resources and quests?

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We can travel back and forth in three days on shadowsteed by word of Boney.

800ish miles, 30 miles an hour. Two days each way in an emergency, three at a sane pace. Not counting time spent going somewhere within the Empire once you get there.

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