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I just realized something, Mathilde would make such a good Gandalf, particularly Gandalf in Moria. I mean giant flaming daemon, closest in universe approximation is a Bloodthirster, no way we could fight one of those right? Well before the bridge scene Gandalf actually seals the door to the Hall of Records with a spell to give them all a chance to flee. Mathile would just stand in the door
  • 25 Martial base
  • +10 from guarding a door
  • +20 from Ranald's coin (She would have put it on the quest action)
  • The enemy does not get their martial bonus on the first strike
She is feeding that Bloodthirster its wings with anything approaching a decent roll :V
Alas, I have to raise the issue that the Bloodthirster is probably a good bit bigger than the human-size-opponent Baranhune provides that last benefit for. At least if I recall Bloodthirsters Correctly.
 
Now I can't help but wonder if an Ulgu spell could be created that tricks Greenskins into thinking a Waaagh is being formed and as such draws them to a certain place. Probably would be more of a ritual now that I'm thinking it further.
 
Hmm, in Grey Battle Wizard Quest, the thread is probably freaking out over the current course of events.
—They pick up a newly released Battle Magic, probably getting some +20 bonus to learn it from who the fuck knows where
—An opportunity to use that new Battle Magic liberally and intensively just so happens to crop up
(Or it happens in reverse order, with a problem followed by a very convenient solution being revealed at around the same time. Either way, sus)
—The engagement goes very well, probably with another mysterious +20 somewhere, maybe in the casting roll
GBW Quest is left panicking, cause why the fuck were they getting mystery bonuses, and how did everything line up so perfectly, and oh god oh fuck, are they being used as a pawn by Tzeentch or something?

It's worse than that. Digging into it a bit, they'd find that the creator has an awful lot of papers with Egrimm after an expedition to the Chaos Wastes, which would almost certainly have their thread in even more of a tizzy than ours was when he showed up. That expedition also had a notable dwarven figure die in a mysterious accident, which could easily be taken to be either the start or the culmination of a dedication like Albricht was performing. And if they really pushed, they might find out that she reported a visit from a Lord of Change shortly after that expedition.

real question I've been afraid to ask?

why do people find Gretel interesting.

like, I don't think she is bad, but all the other Ducklings were way more interesting and dynamic to me.

it kind of feels like she is the 'favourite duckling' more because Mathy narratively said it, then it actually being played out that way in the quest. considering this is the first time I think she might actually get voted for.

I have a type, okay. :p

More seriously, she's a friendly Amethyst who's very different to the others we've encountered, and I like Amethyst magic in general anyhow. And it's not like she's going to get more fleshed out from us ignoring her. The fact that she's involved in whatever the Dwarves are doing in the Border Princes is just a bonus.

Looks at the thread.
Don't.

Suddenly, I'm reconsidering how much I mind Red Riders.

Alas, I have to raise the issue that the Bloodthirster is probably a good bit bigger than the human-size-opponent Baranhune provides that last benefit for. At least if I recall Bloodthirsters Correctly.

...something about recent thread discussion made me parse Bloodthirsters Correctly as a Puritan-style name.

Now, social votes...

As noted, the Canal is significantly behind. That means someone did something to it, someone bodged it up, or we hit an unanticipated complication. Nordland and House Filuan are both potentially time-sensitive, and they might open up options for EIC actions on both the mercantile and clandestine side.

[X] Black Water Canal
[X] Gretel
[X] Gold College
[X] Nordland
[X] House Filuan
 
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Personally yor is much unexpectedly lethal then Mathilde. Mathy gets her lethality from a honking big sword and her magic.

Yor just is good at throwing/ stabbing/slicing with whatever she has in hand.
I mean, yes, if you know who they are and how they fight Yor's lethality is more surprising, and in absolute terms I actually wouldn't bet on Mathilde against Yor in a fight, but to a random person just meeting them? I'm speaking purely on appearances, not which one is actually more deadly.

Yor is, from what I can tell, pretty tall and while some of her clothing is concealing, she is still easily identified as a well muscled woman in most cases. Mathilde, however, is a five foot none woman with consistently worn long robes. I don't think she wears her guns openly, and the staff looks more like a walking stick or something for self-defence than actual combat.
 
At first I thought 'why would Mathilde let them know she could summon greenskins instead of summoning greenskins and sending them one by one at fortified Dwarf positions to clear grudges and improve the Dwarven psyche'.

Now, ignoring the practical problems, potential ethical problems if their sapient, and the whole 'what if Mattie is discovered sending enemies at Dwarves' and the many other issues with this plan, it quickly then occured that greenskins are greenskins. You could literally set up a farm for them with traps for when they burst out of the ground and then you have a Grudge farm.

Now, again, myriad problems such as it potentially not really relieving a grudge if you brought the greenskins into the world, the horrifying ethical issues, etc etc, but I did wonder if a Dwarf had ever considered doing that.

Then I realised I pretty much just imagined Dwarves making a Minecraft mob farm for harvesting Grudges, and I unfortunately couldn't actually not share that.

...I wonder if any Druchii ever made that? That seems like something they'd do.
Grudges are generally against specific people or groups and the ones that aren't are broad enough that a few Orks don't make a dent.
 
[X] House Filuan
[X] Swordplay
[X] Sofia
[X] Gretel
[X] Wissenland
[X] The Black Water Canal
[X] Gold College
[X] Skull River Ambush
[X] Elementalism

I'm tempted to not vote for House Filuan, because I feel bad that Gretel is just missing the cut again. I'm tempted to not vote for Gretel, because her just missing the cut again is hilarious. For now, I'll split the difference and vote for both.
 
I put together an updated Eike character sheet.

Eike Hochschild

Diplomacy: 7+1+1+1-2=8
Martial: 8+1+1+1+2=13
Stewardship: 6+3+1+1=11
Intrigue: ?
Piety: ?
Learning: 12+2=14
Magic: 1+1=2


Traits:
Grey Wizard: She has the ability and education to wield the winds of Ulgu, the grey magic of shadow and illusion.
Apprentice: She has reached the level of training where she is able to begin learning the simplest of spells. Her Master is Lady Magister Mathilde Weber.
In Awe of Mathilde: Every story Eike grew up hearing about Mathilde has convinced her to make the most of the opportunity to learn from her directly. This will be replaced by one of Mathilde's traits at some point during her Apprenticeship.
Keep The Wagons Rolling: Eike believes implicitly that logistical efficiency is absolutely essential for the continued survival of the Empire and its allies. +2 Learning, +3 Stewardship.
Seen, Not Heard: Eike learned at a very young age not to draw attention to herself, an instinct that serves her very well in some ways but holds her back in others. +3 Intrigue, +1 Piety, -2 Diplomacy
Mark of Ulgu: She bears the Mark of Ulgu upon her right arm, signifying the claim that the Wind has laid on her soul. +1 Magic.


Diplomacy:
Colleges of Magic (1/3)
Empire of Man: Under the tutelage of her grandmother, she has achieved a solid understanding of the provinces of the Empire. +1 Diplomacy
Diplomacy: Eonir of Laurelorn: A period of immersion in Tor Lithanel during her teenage years gave her a solid understanding of the Eonir. +1 Diplomacy
Diplomacy: Politicking 1/3
???

Martial:
Fitness: Beneath her robes lies the muscle of a warrior rather than the soft flesh of a typical wizard. +2 Martial
Greatsword: Eike has developed a basic understanding of the Tilean spadone style, with a few Imperial flourishes. +1 Martial
Greatsword, Advanced (1/3)
???
???
Pistols: She was taught to wield her grandmother's weapon of choice from a young age. +1 Martial

Intrigue:
???

Stewardship:
Accounting: As heir apparent of the EIC, she has been taught the arcane art of double-entry bookkeeping. +1 Stewardship
Trade: She has a basic understanding of the endless flow of goods and gold that keeps civilization running. +1 Stewardship

Piety:
Old World Pantheon (Northern) (1/3)
Old World Pantheon (Southern): Having grown up in the softer corners of the Empire, she is familiar with the more civilized of the Empire's Gods.
Shallya (1/3)

Learning:
Economics (Old World) (2/3)

Languages:
Reikspiel
Lingua Praestantia
Tar-Eltharin (Eonir accent)

Magic:
Waaaghbane (2/5)

Spells known:
Drop, Glowing Light, Magic Dart, Marsh Lights, Sleep
Aethyric Armour (Mastery - Indefatigable)


References

Initial charsheet
Eonir diplomacy + Eltharin
Martial reveal + Greatsword finish
In Awe of Mathilde + Fitness finish
Stewardship reveal + 2 traits revealed, new spells
Eike Learning +1
 
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I've only voted for Gretel and swords; anyone want another vote for other topics who is willing to add a Gretel vote in exchange?
 
A social action (probably next turn, cause it's kind late now): Bragging to Regimand about our cool apprentice, and how she's way better than his apprentice.
I want to spend some time with wizard dad and tell him about wizard granddaughter.

Unrelated, I'd like to Kislev tributaries next turn. Boris is cool (haha), and Baba Niedzwecka is badass. And Zlata tries, I guess, even if she isn't quite on the level of the other contributors. Maybe we can get him to send us another Grandma?
 
I strongly encourage you not to use swords. Why? Because our style is better when it's a secret, and showing it off to a bunch of perfectionist elves (while there are Druchii in town) is a sure way to spread "we should think of ways to counter this" among the immortal sword-maniac community.

EDIT: Or they might start trying to copy it, which would be even worse!
 
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[X] Sofia
Meet and learn a bit about Panoramia's new Apprentice, Sofia de Siernos.
[X] Okri
You've met Loremaster Okri of Karak Eight Peaks once before. Pay him a visit and see how his great ambitions for heavily-armed Ironbreakers delivered by Gyrocarriage are going.
[X] Middenland
See how the Ulricans are going with their new Eonir coreligionists.
[X] Wissenland
Though the Elector Count is his usual self, some of their actions recently have hinted at the hand of someone a great deal defter. Investigate who took the job of his Spymaster after you turned it down.
[X] Elementalism
Now that you're sitting on a massive stockpile of magical texts, explore what 'Elementalism' actually is from an inside perspective.
 
Now I can't help but wonder if an Ulgu spell could be created that tricks Greenskins into thinking a Waaagh is being formed and as such draws them to a certain place. Probably would be more of a ritual now that I'm thinking it further.
If it was a ritual I expect that some captive greenskins would be part of the ritual requirements.

And a botched ritual has those captive greenskins empowered to be such mighty war bosses that they break out.
 
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Keep The Wagons Rolling: Eike believes implicitly that logistical efficiency is absolutely essential for the continued survival of the Empire and its allies. +2 Learning, +3 Stewardship.
I mean...she's objectively correct. A state unable to move goods/people/supplies/etc effectively within its own borders isn't much of a state at all. Closer to "petty kingdoms in a trenchcoat" really.

Neophytes talk tactics, amateurs talk strategy, professionals study logistics.

Eike really is a smart cookie.
Looks like the Grey College is getting some really good use out of this which is great.
It's a genuine force multiplier! So long as a competent grey wizard is available (though, to be fair, there's not all that many), the Empire can leverage its troops in significantly better ways. Not just infantry, but cavalry, which is the closest thing in this age of war to reliable armor units. (Steam Tanks don't really count). Being able to look at a battlefield and be able to use your cavalry with near-impunity to terrain would make most generals of the time drool.
This dude is really cool, too bad we didn't choose to work for him, but saving the world takes priority. This whole thing also proved that the Karak Eight Peaks branch of the school was a great idea, and that our library is a good thing to have around.
Yeah, I get the warm and fuzzies every time one of our achievements gets proven to be "genuinely benefits civilization" in the long term. Imagine the reactions in Nuln Quest.

>Foundry collapsed into Skaven sinkhole
>records and production and workers almost totally lost
>ohshit
>wait, branch campus preserved all the expertise?
>will get all production back + dwarf quality for almost free?
>will also create backup location for basically the entire university district in same location?
>what the hell did we roll????
 
(Everything I've ever said before was a lie and I suddenly like the Elementalists)

What are you talking about? As soon as the Elementalists hastily hand over all their books on Magic they hope won't give her Cause, Mathilde will always have considered them perfectly meritorious, pragmatic and reasonable individuals whom she can work with.

>what the hell did we roll????
Ranald is in fact not merely real, but hyperreal. When it tickles Him, He can reach out across the meta-metaverse to impact nega-quests.
 
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