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Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

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Boney said:
[ ] Seek an agreement with a Cult to have access to their libraries (specify which, eg: Verenans, Myrmidians, Sigmarites)
Difficulty will vary heavily depending on the Cult in question, but can allow access to rare tomes and esoteric subjects.
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If we wanted to clear the air with (non-Nuln?) Verenans, would this be the option to work with? Or would that sort of thing be better served by a write-in? I don't think we should necessarily do that this turn, but I'm asking for posterity.
 
Nerdasaurus Rex said:
Also the Indic Aqshy books remind me of a scene from Jim Butcher's Codex Alera, where in the first book a fire mage uses a torch to incite bravery in his own army and primal fear in the enemy.

The effect is noticeably more devastating than if he'd simply set them all on fire.
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I mean, I think it says something that the most blatant use of battlefield magical powers in Lord of the Rings was the Ringwraiths and their supernatural fear or Gandalf restoring morale.

Fear is utterly lethal to not just the individual but the army.
 
Aura said:
An issue: once we have a source for Waystone gold, what happens to the prohibition on its possession?
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Legally-enforced Collegiate monopoly, probably.

Redshirt Army said:
If we wanted to clear the air with (non-Nuln?) Verenans, would this be the option to work with? Or would that sort of thing be better served by a write-in? I don't think we should necessarily do that this turn, but I'm asking for posterity.
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It'll come up if you do something that involves the Verenans. If there's no immediate need to do business with them, the best thing to do is leave it be instead of picking at it.
 
That bit on the Indic books about Aqshy was really neat. I love seeing the different interpretations of magic throughout the world. Also makes me want to figure out a way to get more books from the East. Maybe sponsor an entire trade expedition with the express goal of acquiring as many books as possible.
 
With the specter of yet more AV actions removed, I would like to suggest we use an AP for a second EIC action:

[ ] EIC: Insert agents into a particular province, cult, company, or institution to start gathering their secrets. (specify who)
-[ ] Cult of Ulric
[ ] EIC: Negotiate and plan a magical route through the Schadensumpf to allow for easier trade with the Eonir without compromising their defences

We opted against putting eyes on Nordland during our social, so it seems prudent to set our info network to work piecing apart the main instrument of their sour grapes. Mathilde's primary contribution to the waystone project's creation was diplomatic in nature, and I suspect her contribution to its continued existence will likewise continue to be so.
 
Boney said:
In any case, you find that you prefer Verena, who has much more of a focus on using knowledge for good, rather than simply acquiring it for its own sake. She also has a sword, and would be much less likely to meekly sit back and accept the destruction of Her personal library.
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It's weird that Mathilde personally respects Verena, despite her often having institutional disagreements with her Cult and her being her most annoying friend's mother in law.
 
Boney said:
From a Hoethian point of view, is the Sundering the result of a divine mishandling on the part of the Emperor of the Heavens? That would be a particularly spicy take.

In any case, you find that you prefer Verena, who has much more of a focus on using knowledge for good, rather than simply acquiring it for its own sake. She also has a sword, and would be much less likely to meekly sit back and accept the destruction of Her personal library.
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...Gremlin weber, is that you?
Boney said:
Another milestone that passed almost without notice was your fortieth birthday. You don't feel forty, but then again, you suppose you don't know what forty is supposed to feel like. What you feel like is, well, like yourself, only more so.
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Yes. Yes it is.

You don't feel like you're forty because you never grew up, you silly bint. Never change, Mathilde. :rofl:
 
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I loved the atmosphere of this one.

Boney said:
and on the study of linguistics, which in Elven texts are largely focused on the descent of primordial Eltharin from Anoqeyån, the supposed origins of Anoqeyån in the tongue of the mysterious 'Old Ones', and the further devolution of Eltharin into the dialects of the ten kingdoms and the languages of the Elven diaspora.
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This is fascinating to me because it's a complete vertical slice of linguistics, and almost pristine in its descent from how it sounds.

Which means it's a model of how to dissect and trace any other languages, like a scholarship template. I can see how the bonus would come into play and I like it.

Boney said:
Unless - you frown and leaf back through the pages - are the actions of Malekith being blamed on Asuryan here? From a Hoethian point of view, is the Sundering the result of a divine mishandling on the part of the Emperor of the Heavens? That would be a particularly spicy take.
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Oooohhhh, druchii-adjacent takes! But I like how Mathilde is framing this- not 'makekith was acting as asuryan' but focusing on first the actions (bad) then the actor (Malekith) and finally the metaphor (a god did this) to get 'blamed on asuryan'. It's such a wonderfully contained piece of moral reasoning to cut through BS.

Boney said:
In any case, you find that you prefer Verena, who has much more of a focus on using knowledge for good, rather than simply acquiring it for its own sake. She also has a sword, and would be much less likely to meekly sit back and accept the destruction of Her personal library.
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OMG Mathilde sees herself in Verena. Or wants to.

I know that Mathilde and Ranald are close, but I still want to see Mathilde as a fan of Verena.

Like Sigmar, but better.

Boney said:
The inevitable result of this is that these Indic books on Aqshy are very different to Collegiate ones. Where the Colleges focus on the brute force that the fires of Aqshy can bring to bear, these books focus on the ability of the Wind of Fire to instill bravery and passion.
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This reminds me of the torq with the inspiring cloak of fire that we handed off to the viceroy, as a symbol of office. I like that it's something that the empire would find mysterious and exotic, while the indic people would see it as normal for a leader and perhaps a trigger for a bit of homesickness. What with the item being made in the empire and all.

More seriously, I like the idea of bright college/indic practitioners cross training as a WEBMAT project. It gives us a reason to base a bigger institutional part of it out of K8P, it gives us a solid reason to expand institutionally, and it'll net a rotating background cast of bright journeymen coming to learn.

Boney said:
outside of it their most visible roles would be as leaders of festivals and counsellors against melancholia.
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Also I think this is very important to import and could be an amazing soft tradition alongside the college's hard martial 'throw more fire at it's tradition.

But maybe I just like it because I can imagine my little bright journeywoman from U-K8P growing into this if it were an option.

Boney said:
Another milestone that passed almost without notice was your fortieth birthday.
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Hi I too just turned 40, I see that your campaign to make me empathize with Mathilde continues apiece. ;)

Boney said:
You don't feel forty, but then again, you suppose you don't know what forty is supposed to feel like. What you feel like is, well, like yourself, only more so.
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...yeah ok. Yes. Nicely put.
 
I suggest we teach Eike Shadowsteed and have her learn to Cowboy with Gretal, maybe hunt some Orks or Goblins, because now we know cowgirl boarder princess is a thing, and that's awesome.

More seriously, maybe we can get her greenskin clearing mission with some Eight Peaks Rangers, work with dwarves and sneaky combat experience.
 
The Phoenixian said:
Actually, now that you mention it, I should ask:

@Boney Was the action to check if the Aetheric Vitae behaves differently in the absence of wizardly influence forgotten or was the action just canned?

(I'm fine either way, just confused)
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See the chapter A/N:
Boney said:
- I had previously posted about the possibility of adding something like 'Test whether Vitae that has never been exposed to any magical energies has unique properties' to the list of research possibilities since it is a reasonable possibility that Mathilde might have thought to pursue after reading the Elementalist books, but on further thought I've decided against it as it would not have satisfying or interesting results, and I think it's more important that this quest be an interesting experience than it be a strictly accurate depiction of even the least satisfying parts of R&D.
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azereath said:
Could be that you are dwarfish enough that you can tell time to just take a hike
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I don't think this is actually the case but it got me thinking on the mechanism behind Living Ancestors lifespans. We know that Dwarfs in the quest are ultra-mutable by magic (hence why they use Valaya's protection to prevent that). Perhaps it runs on the same thing? A Dwarf feels they can't afford to die yet, so their bodies mutate to prevent them doing so?
 
Okay, quick draft of a plan, going for two EIC actions and both AV actions. Not sure it's completely wise to do AV without our main lab, but we're impatient like that. The second waystone action is flexible—I've seen some interest in exploring other networks, and I kinda want to poke Karak Norn about their nexus at some point.

We could even do Bretonnia and finally deal with the Iron Orcs! HAHAHA!

[] Draft Plan: Double EIC, Double AV
-[] Waystone: Foundation (everybody?)
-[] Tributary: Something, Somewhere?
-[] Create Orbs of Sorcery solo
-[] Attempt to create a liminal realm (Gambler)
-[] EIC: Negotiate and plan a magical route through the Schadensumpf to allow for easier trade with the Eonir without compromising their defences (Free Action)
-[] EIC: Insert agents into a particular province, cult, company, or institution to start gathering their secrets. (Nordland)
-[] KAU: Begin copying the full corpus of a Partner Library. (Grand University of Nuln)
-[] Serenity: Observations on the Windfall north of the Dark Lands (FADED) (With Egrimm as primary author)
-[] Eike Actions: Orbs of Sorcery, Nordland Agents, Windfall paper
-[] Eike Study: Sounds

I want Eike on the Orbs action because I kinda want to super impress her with the end result of our research, and maybe instill an appreciation for the more practical kind of magical experimentation. I just think it'll be a neat action to get her perspective on. I've just got her learning sounds because it's the spell she's struggling with, and I don't want to overwhelm her with too much stuff—especially if she's going to be building a spyring this turn as well.
 
I'm very much in favor of doing the Elfcation this turn, as we have WoG that we can break up the expenditure over two turns. That makes it much more affordable to me, especially since I'm incredibly leery of doing more than two Waystone actions this turn.

The reason for my hesitance is that I want that Foundation figured out this turn, and I feel like we should put just about everyone with applicable skills on the project, given how complex it's sounding. As for whoever is left, maybe have them do some Waystone mapping?

Long distance travel isn't exactly safe though, so I'm really wishing we had the EIC mercenaries action done now, although I concede that the charcoal trade's more important. Maybe we take that as our second Waystone action, although I admit it's something of a stretch? Perhaps we bring the Cult of Taal aboard to provide guides and bodyguards instead?

That leaves us one free turn to train Eike
Parabola said:
Hmm. Roads as a possibility is intriguing, because the Old Dwarf Road is right there, but also, most other roads tend to be rather easier to destroy or fall into disuse than rivers are.
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Bigger issue imo is that roads are bidirectional. As such, any magic put into them will likewise go both directions as well. That makes it a rather niche application.
 
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