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Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

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@BoneyM

Would you be adverse to writing romance between Belebro and Mathilde? Figure its best to get your view on the subject before seriously pushing the idea.
 
Alratan said:
I'm still not seeing any real reason for why claiming a tempel site is a critically urgent priority compared to things that actually do need to be done now?



I think this is a scenario where we should invest favour now to help earn more later. Both a weapon, and, if possible, a learning acceleration item would make it much easier to gain dwarven favour and preserve Mathilde's reputation with them by avoid faux pas.
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way I see it we build the temple pick the priests therefore gain another power base in the hold. Plus it is a place for formalized Ranald worship to grow. Doing it early means we benefit from organic expansion.
 
[X] All this time away has made you miss your friends. Visit Anton and Wilhelmina

[X] There's a growing concentration of royalty here. Get to know King Kazador, and this 'Sky-Thane' Prince Gotri

[X] King Belegar is allowing you to use the King's Armoury. Recover your extant study materials from Stirland and tuck them away safely in there.

Could we use a gyro bomber to pick up our stuff and visit both our friends and collect our things over a few days?
 
SuperSonicSound said:
The Ulricans might well do it. As a sort of fuck you to the orcs and as a way trying to show ulric as ascendant to the orc gods, which is why id prefer to do it ourselves first.
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The Ulricians aren't here in strength though, and they already have a shrine of their own.

The other thing is that with the prevailing votes, the aggregate long term prospect vote look like:

[1] This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused on threats outside the Karak.
[1] This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.
[2] This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.
[1] This suggests a future of investigation and study at Karak Eight Peaks, and perhaps helping Johann poke at Skaven technology.
[1] This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused on threats within the Karak.

With this vote, the only thing that Mathilde is consistently investing in with regards to the future is being the leader of the local human community. I just really don't want to do that. Particularly when the most effective future direction is probably a combination of:

This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused on threats within the Karak.
and
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a battlefield wizard.

We haven't done any of the second and not much of the first, although we will hopefully take the scouting option next month, as we really don't want those threats to grow any further or metastasise.

Sinsystems said:
So here is one thing I am wondering, if Deathfire mountain is where the Anvils of Doom were forged. Does that mean if it is reclaimed the Dwarves can begin to make more of them?
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Thunder Mountain, not Deathfire, I think. And unfortunately the dragon there is probably a but of an impediment. The fact that he ate the runelord who forged the Rune of Sorcery probably doesn't help either.

Uhtread said:
way I see it we build the temple pick the priests therefore gain another power base in the hold. Plus it is a place for formalized Ranald worship to grow. Doing it early means we benefit from organic expansion.
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Doing it one month later shouldn't make much difference. There's also no ordained priests here of Ranald's cult to lead services or do full time job which is founding and leading a religious community that we're aware of. Mathilde just doesn't have time to serve as unofficial priest for the months it could take some to show up.
 
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I am against romancing Belegar as well, since even beyond how I see him more of a bro than a romance option. But beyond that I think it probably would be a good idea to avoid the sheer mess of a political situation that such a relationship would be.
 
BoneyM said:
In general, yes. For this specifically, no. Belegar's response to having more wizards is currently very yes.
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Talk about making a good impression.

[X] Write a series of papers on the magical phenomena you witnessed. Or better yet, get your Journeymanlings to do the actual writing.
[X] Convince Esbern and Seija to stay long enough to deal with the spiders in the Chiselwards.
[X] Convince Esbern and Seija to stay long enough to hatch the supposedly Lustrian eggs and study and possibly train whatever hatches.

I think those 3 options above have wonderful synergy of basically taking care of our journeymanlings. I bet each of them can open a decent paper based on their experiences, and we can rope the one with best writing skills into writing our paper too, just as Grey Wizard should do. Delegation and all.

Re: quarters, I think that Karag Nar throne room is best for the future Mayor of Karag Nar. It gives wonderful view of human settlement and all that. And I personally want to be a spymistress/fulcrum of any action, not a mayor. So more out of the way place has my vote.
It being a site of one of our bigger victories and God-Mugging is a nice reason too.

[x] Karag Nar temple


And I definitely want to invest into this boomtown. Empire is going to profit off safe K8P anyway.

[X] This is Dawongr Weber's money. The funds will largely go projects within the Karaz Ankor - your tower for one, but also investing in the Undumgi or Ulrikadrin, or purchasing goods made by Dwarven artisans or sold in the markets of Barak Varr.
 
Oh huh, Thorek has an Anvil of Doom, and apparently he's the best person in the Karaz Ankor at wielding Anvils of Doom. That's pretty neat.
 
Andres110 said:
I am super against trying to romance Belegar specifically, because given Mathilde's feelings towards her old boss it'd be creepy.
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I'm against it because of how close we came to this happening:
BoneyM said:
Belegar and Kragg tying you up and flying you to Karaz-a-Karak for Dwarven soul examination
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On another subject is Gunmar seeing anyone ;)

E: So much later on, I realise I misread examination as extermination. The situation was less dire than I had thought.
 
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BoneyM said:
The sheer power of concentrated Runecraft in the hands of Clan Angrund, the spectacular display of the Anvil of Doom, the induced inversion of a Waaagh field. All sights unknown, as far as you are aware, to the Colleges of Magic. It feels wrong to let this opportunity slip away, and yet in such a pivotal moment in history there are more opportunities than any one person can grab, so the best you can do is have your flock of Journeymanlings jot down their observations so that they will still be available when you have time to fully translate them into something more suited to academia. With Esbern and Seija looking like they would soon depart, it could be that there would never be an opportunity to get this many perspectives on foreign magic.
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No... my precious Collage Favours. What about the Magic and Learning buffs? What about the Science!?

Some are of a religious bent, and you approve shrines to Shallya, Ulric, Myrmidia, Ursun, and the Lady.
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The Lady? Be interesting to see if she extends any influence so far from her chosen territory.

Belegar had expected to pay in ingots, but at you presenting the paperwork of your one-night gambling hall, he had grumbled in an extremely unconvincing way and then hurried enthusiastically off to rummage through the carefully packed heirlooms that had been passed down through generations of exile.
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Belegar remains best Dwarf King.

The striking out of money owed to and from the dead saw your own 'share' fall by about a quarter, three thousand, six hundred and seventy had been set aside in the safety of the King's Armoury for you to decide the fate of. The equivalent of fourteen thousand gold crowns, give or take.
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14,000g.
Wasn't our last windfall nearer to 1400g? And that raised concerned eyebrows. On the other hand that came out of nowhere. This is the expected result of a successful high profile expedition.

First preference:
[X] This is Dawongr Weber's money. The funds will largely go projects within the Karaz Ankor - your tower for one, but also investing in the Undumgi or Ulrikadrin, or purchasing goods made by Dwarven artisans or sold in the markets of Barak Varr.
Second preference:
[X] This is Magister Weber's money. Make no attempt to push the funds through any of the available loopholes and spend it all in plain sight of the College. You would be beholden to spend it on ways at least nominally good for the Empire, and soon.
Third preference:
[jk] Sleep on it.

[X] Karag Nar penthouse
As we are choosing to be a, if not the, VIP of the Undumgi we may as well take a commanding position for our tower and make a statement.

and though no other power have followed the Dwarves into the sky, some of the strange weapons that bristle upwards and track your approach suggest that they are determined not to be caught unprepared when they do.
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High Elf armies are flush with flyers, from great eagles to dragons. Vampires are famous for the bats. Fair few demons come with flight.

"How long can yours?" King Belegar responds, and you fight to keep your expression neutral. The moment stretches as the two stare obstinately at each other. "The East Gate is taken and fortified. Karag Nar is completely cleared, Karag Lhune has only a colony of spiders that are deciding whether to starve or be shot until it is the same, and both are fortified against any intruders from below. The Citadel is taken, and the caldera has been burned clear and by the time I return there will be enough artillery mounted that anything foolish enough to show itself will die. Kvinn-Wyr is infested by feral trolls, as much an obstacle to our enemies as it is to us, and that flank too is being fortified. Karak Azul's Throng has reached us and King Kazador has sworn to me that each one will die before he lets his people be cut off again. Karak Norn is selling us war machines on credit. Karak Izor sent colonisers three months ago. Barak Varr is already counting their profits. There are manlings building houses. There are Halflings building houses. As far as I can see, Karak Eight Peaks has a brighter future than any Hold east of Black Fire Pass." He points at the Book, which stopped having its pages flipped as the Elder turned to watch. "That Karak is three thousand years dead. If the one that exists today holds no interest to you, I have no business here."
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Well. That's him told.

"This is Prince Gotri Stoneheart. The title is still being debated, but for now he is 'Sky-Thane'. Gotri, put a branch of the Aircorp in Karag Lhune."
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Now that is a useful contact to have.

[Total: 35.]
[Dwarf Favour cannot be spent in Karaz-a-Karak]
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At this rate we might get in shouting range of Sigmar's Dwarf Rep.
Losing Karaz-a-Karak is no meaningful loss. The only thing the older Holds have that younger Holds don't is Rune Smiths. And at least for now the two best Rune Smiths in the world are our next door neighbours.


Might vote more tactically later but for now…

[X] There's a growing concentration of royalty here. Get to know King Kazador, and this 'Sky-Thane' Prince Gotri.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused on threats outside the Karak.
We should get to know our fellow councillors, even if none of us are technically part of a council.

[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 on threats within the Karak.
Not like we aren't going to put at least some effort, even if only part time, into poking the infestations with a sharp stick.

[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.
Journeymanlngs! Also research. Also Collage stuff to keep the Greys off out back. Also Journeymanlings.


[] Convince Esbern and Seija to stay long enough to deal with the spiders in the Chiselwards.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with its reconquest, as a Spymaster focused on threats within the Karak.
[] Convince Esbern and Seija to stay long enough to hatch the supposedly Lustrian eggs and study and possibly train whatever hatches.
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.
While I would love for them to stick around I don't think this is really the place for them and really don't want to spend an action on it. Be nice if they help out with the papers but otherwise…

[ ] King Belegar is allowing you to use the King's Armoury. Recover your extant study materials from Stirland and tuck them away safely in there.
This suggests a future catching up on your pre-existing study topics.
While this is something we need to do I don't feel it is time critical. Research isn't going to be our primary focus, just a very prominent secondary one.

[ ] Claim the site where Ranald mugged Mork and build a shrine to Ranald there.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.
I suspect this will get chosen but personally I think Ranald got more than his money's worth out of us already.

[ ] 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.
Eh, had enough of campaigns for the time being.

[ ] 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.
Still don't care about Stirland. Our friends can wait for a regular turn.

[ ] 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.
Nope. We are staying here and liaising with the Dwarfs. Also researching. The Collage can do its thing and we will do ours.

[ ] 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.
Sod the Empire.

[ ] Not every sellsword will accept King Belegar's offer of employment. Travel with them.
This suggests a future as a travelling mercenary.
I want a base to adventure from, not to be a murderhobo.

(Note, posted this before catching up with the thread. 20 pages is a lot of discussion to sift through.)
 
I love Belebro, but I am against romance. Idk why, just feels off. He is a wonderful friend and ally, but still.

I am sure with all the traffic K8P will be getting Mathilde can get a lot of choice in nice men of all stripes. Some dashing rogue of an adventurer, or broody knight on quest for revenge, or desperado seeking their fortune...there are a lot of options.
 
How many foes is s10 actually useful against?

Okkam's Mindrazor will eventually allow us to have strength connected to leadership once caste and would apply to allies so if we really need very high strength use the spell, true it is a hard spell with a higher chance of miscast, however are we expecting to fight many super monsters? Are we expecting to solo hell pit abominations?
... personally, I would go with more attacks, multi-wound, harder to hit (or easier to hit enemies), that sort of thing...

I am fine with which ever combination of runes we are given because I expect a runelord to be able to figure out appropriate runes for us as well as thematic ones for our achievements... and to not just use tabletop runes.
And we have seen one sword with runes on it used by a dwarf so yay


Also isn't Thorgrim's reasoning that grudges are choking the Dwarfs and that for the dwarfs to actually grow they need to actually fulfil the grudges? So he is trying to actually make the Dwarfs stronger?
 
[X] There's a growing concentration of royalty here. Get to know King Kazador, and this 'Sky-Thane' Prince Gotri.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks with foreign relations, as a Spymaster focused on threats outside the Karak.

[] Claim the site where Ranald mugged Mork and build a shrine to Ranald there.
This suggests a future assisting Karak Eight Peaks, as leader of the Undumgi and point of contact for the Ulricans.

[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.

[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'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.

[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.
 
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[] 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 on threats within the Karak.

It'd be really nice if this managed to somehow get a win from behind. I expect the sequel to scouting out the horrors would be brutally murdering the horrors which we won't get the option to take if we don't grab this now. Also it would just be amazing to read about all the horrible gribblies out there and what they're up to.
 
BoneyM said:
It's been building for a while, and from a number of things. The Young Holds rolling better than the Old Holds initially was one bit, and Mathilde's rerolls doubling that certainly contributed. Manling contributions, Halfling contributions. All the Dwarves on his Council of War are either Young Hold or... Kragg. And while Kragg is a hell of a contribution, if you look at it a certain way it's also a hell of a message. Karak Izor sent hopeful young settlers, Karaz-a-Karak sent the embodiment of Dwarven conservativism. Then there's Mathilde's contributions, which saved lives again and again and again through assassination and wizardry. That's a hell of a lot of reasons to stop holding the traditions to be sacrosanct.

So when Belegar got to Karaz-a-Karak, when the automatic and inevitable reaction is 'oh boy look at all these crossed-out Grudges' Belegar was not really in a place to be happy that that was his High King's take-away from the sacrifice of twelve thousand lives.

And yeah, I edited in the Top 3 thing a few minutes after posting.
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We know Belegar got a lot to think about.

None the least of what the other dwarvenlords would think and will this won him some rep to earn him some credit and rep.
He got a few dozen chopers out of the debacle. And one do not entrust a prince on a losing foothold.
Now if he can only use those choppers as a special forces insertion vehicle.. it would be golden.
Exmorri said:
I found an animated version of the comic and photoshopped in your dialogue and Thorgrim's head. Enjoy. :D

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In theory.. if i remember my calculus, pressing the button reduce your number by 1% yes , but it would also would never be zero.
 
Bear Templar said:
Also isn't Thorgrim's reasoning that grudges are choking the Dwarfs and that for the dwarfs to actually grow they need to actually fulfil the grudges? So he is trying to actually make the Dwarfs stronger?
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To me, the disagreement seemed less about their goals and more about their treatment of each other. Thorgrim kinda insulted Belegar with the "How long will your foothold last?" question, which Belegar took exception to.

EDIT: Belegar has also been very...challenging? He's basically not very diplomatic when he feels like he has to make a point. See the message to Karak Azul where he basically threw down the gauntlet. The same attitude didn't work quite as well in Karaz a Karak.
 
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Random fact I just learned, the Storm Wardens are the name of the dwarven intelligence long range intelligence (and assassination) arm. They're based out of Barak Varr.

ctulhuslp said:
Sounds hilarious, but I would rather spend 15 on weapon and 15 on tower.
I imagine wizard tower with 15 favors of dwarf help in making it nice would be a pretty good spot to conduct research...although riskier experiments will still necessitate something far removed like Grand Abyss or other spell testing polygon nobody would miss.
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Just as the dwarves wouldn't know how to make a wizard's staff, I doubt they'd know how to make a wizard's tower. It's the same concept on a grander scale*. The Rune of Sorcery is lost, and that's the kind of rune that you want to use to direct how magic flows. By contrast a magic item that accelerates how fast you learn is incredibly valuable for wizards, given their power is based on understanding the world. Not to mention more mundane skills like weapons and ranging and the rest.

Weren't people worried about how many actions things like learning to be a sniper would be? With a learning item, that would be much less of a concern.

Bear Templar said:
How many foes is s10 actually useful against?
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Surprisingly many. Particularly if people want to poke at Thunder Mountain and the local dragon. However, it's also exceptionally useful as an anti-infrastructure tool. Who needs to carry bombs around when each blow is being hit like a cannon. Remember the problem Mathild just had with wanting to collapse a gatehouse for example?
 
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@BoneyM, something is wrong with Sidestory and Apocrypha threadmarks. Both categories say that there are 98 of them (which is not true) and flipping pages in Reader mode eventually leads to the first post of the thread.
 
Alratan said:
Just as the dwarves wouldn't know how to make a wizard's staff, I doubt they'd know how to make a wizard's tower. It's the same concept on a grander scale*. The Rune of Sorcery is lost, and that's the kind of rune that you want to use to direct how magic flows. By contrast a magic item that accelerates how fast you learn is incredibly valuable for wizards, given their power is based on understanding the world. Not to mention more mundane skills like weapons and ranging and the rest.

Weren't people worried about how many actions things like learning to be a sniper would be? With a learning item, that would be much less of a concern.
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Counterpoint: Kragg's belt is an insanely good tool for any wizard. Most would gladly give a literal arm and a leg for it, I reckon.

Dwarfs will not, probably, make us some wizard power amplifier, but they are peerless craftsmen, especially when we are talking about shaping the stone within a mountain. They can probably make it so if something explodes we do not kill bystanders, for example, make it sturdy, engrave some Runes Of Fuck Off Chaos on the tower and so on. The only ones in the world who could make better wizard tower are Slann and High Elves, I think.
 
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