Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

[Aegon Targaryen]

[X] [SPIDER] The We can be a powerful military ally against the greenskins.
[X] [SPIDER] The We can be a powerful military ally against the Skaven.
[X] [UNDUMGI] Francesco Caravello, Tilean ex-merchant
[X] [ARMOUR] It should be reforged into a worthy commemoration of the Karak's rebirth.
[X] [RUNE] 25 Favour Sword
[X] [ENCHANTMENT] An item enchanted with Talk With Beast to give to the spiders (3 favors)
[X] [LIBRARY] Imperial Texts: Extensive/Esoteric Skaven, Extensive Skaven Magic, Extensive Greenskin Magic, Antiquarian Grey Magic (2 College Favor), Extensive Amber Magic, Extensive/Esoteric Romance Novels, Extensive/Esoteric Linguistics, Extensive Warpstone, Extensive Morr, Extensive Karaz Ankor. Dwarf Texts: Extensive Greenskin Magic, Extensive Skaven Magic, Extensive Romance Novels, Extensive Linguistics, Extensive Daemons. Brettonian Texts: Extensive Romance Novels. Tilean Texts: Extensive Romance Novels.

Also relevant to a faaar earlier discussion, a medieval plate armor could reach 55 pounds easily, so...

 

[Neshuakadal]

One thing I just noticed was this

[Result of your Pep Talk to Anton: Diplomacy, 95+12=107.]

Is Anton's diplomacy seriously still 12? I would have thought that all the hard work and success he had as the diplomatic adviser would have been like pumping diplo irons but I guess not.

 

[Zero Gravitas]

I really don't get your position. Pointing things to others is actively detrimental to our interest of "getting rid of the liquid capital" , while zero loans are only useful in a fringe case when goodwill from that particular person is just that damn useful.

The grey order has no issue with EIC as long as it works ethically, the grey order has no issue with us spending money as long as it goes to dwarven community, therefore, we should pay dwarves to build money-generating things and transfer those to EIC ownership (because that is our instrument for managing our economic assets).

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Eh...

As the Wolfship captain said to the midshipman: if a fish jumps aboard there's no point throwing it back overboard, but don't get so used to the taste that you find yourself baiting hooks.

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I don't want to get anywhere near baiting hooks territory. Even if this is done above the board spending a lot of actions on pursuing personal wealth when Mathilde already has a metric ton of personal wealth is just a tad too close and twisting the poverty vows further might make people weary of us.

Mathilde gave Wilhelmina the heads up and can help establish a trading post for the EIC in Karak Eight Peaks thus giving the EIC a strong head start. Anything more would be a bit excessive since there's other things Mathilde should be doing.

You don't need an extensive collection worth 700 for that. A few books would do, and paying for a teacher is probably an easier way than just opening up a book in a foreign language and hoping you understand because you know the genre.

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There's no urgent budget constraints.

 

[Andmeuths]

There's no urgent budget constraints.

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Running the numbers to prove this would go a long way to convince skeptics.

 

[veekie]

I'm quoting the vault cost from Veekie's proposed plans, and I presume (though I can't speak for him) that the vault is meant to store highly sensitive artifacts Mathilde might come across in the future, as well as things she doesn't want others to know she has such as the Liber Mortis.

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Essentially yes, we're currently borrowing the royal treasury to stash the stuff, but its currently lacking in confidentiality, on the basis of being the royal freaking treasury.

One is presumably for research, the other is for enchanting, they'd probably have different equipment but I can certainly see there being overlap as well.

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Also this. The research lab wants to be relatively magic neutral and heavily grounded, so as to minimize interference with what you're studying and to vent any effects like Suddenly Shyish exploding out.
The enchanting workshop on the other hand we want to be basically supersaturated in Ulgu to completely eliminate random environmental influences except what we bring.
Both in separate towers so that if a research project explodes it won't contaminate the enchanting projects and vice versa(though Ranald knows when we'd actually have the time to do both at once)

Think I got their positions in the towers flipped around though.

Yeah, at worst Mathilde just turns into a dealer, relying on her existing customers to get new people hooked. The subculture would still exist, with discussion and recommendations still being made, with probably more than a few quiet wars happening between the fandoms of different series

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Meanwhile Mathilde can collect data on "Dwarvern Passions: A Study" by watching them check out the books. It'd revolutionize understanding!

If she created the Tavern/Shrine/Casino, she'd probably have to either dedicate the proceeds to the local Cult of Ranald or devote the proceeds into funding local and imperial wide Ranaldite causes.

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Dedicate the proceeds to the Protector. Ranald should approve of any of the following:
-Funding expansions to the Shallyans facilities.
-Funding a soup kitchen via the Halflings. Its a religious duty of theirs to have everyone well fed, and it plays to the Protector in ensuring that the poor are fed by the rich blowing their cash on gambling and booze.
-Funding orphanages. They aren't needed yet, but most of the male population of the Undumgi are migrant soldiers without a family structure to fallback their dependents on. They will be needed.
-Quality of life improvements. Things that nobody would actually pay for with their own money. I reckon murals and the like in communal spaces would be desired after a while. The existing decor is wiped by the greenskins use.

On the topic of EIC: I have a rather radical proposal: what if we sell some EIC shares to k8p?

I mean, we are already expanding EIC to k8p. Goving Belegar acstake in the business would make him look more favorably on EIC economic presence in k8p AND start increasing economic relations between Styrland and k8p, boosting both economies and tying them politically to each other, so one woyld help the other purely to protect economic interests.

I may be thinking too big here, as EIC is not that big right now to be a politicoeconomical factor, but it looks like it's getting there.

Thoughts?


Besides, think of the political and economical benefits forvthe empire from this move, and those ??? amount of college favours we could get for those!

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Terribad idea. Dwarf culture is different enough that it's setting up for a lot of heartache at different expectations.
Why do people keep trying to get rid of the shares?

The value of the shares lie in the ability to intervene meaningfully in the EIC. The returns are nice, but not actually important to us.

 

[DragonParadox]

Mathilde gave Wilhelmina the heads up and can help establish a trading post for the EIC in Karak Eight Peaks thus giving the EIC a strong head start. Anything more would be a bit excessive since there's other things Mathilde should be doing.

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Yes, like reading the Liber Mortis.

For some reason I suspect the Bursar would much rather we sink our time into getting rich as opposed to what we are actually doing in secret.

Not that I don't basically agree with you, it's just that the juxtaposition is funny as hell.

 

[Bear Templar]

[] [ARMOUR] It should be returned to the Hold it was stolen from, to build strong ties among the Karaz Ankor.

As I see it anything else is basicaly grudge territory
If this armour belonged to 8 Peaks then sure, suggest melting it down to make a symbol, however by dwarf law I question if it is even allowed... I have not read through the entire thread yet
[] [ARMOUR] Make no recommendation.

[] [SPIDER] The We can be a powerful military ally against the Skaven.

[] [SPIDER] The We can be a powerful military ally against the greenskins.

I am in favour of talking Soizic at some point

Also in favour of making the sword... although I'm not sure if this will still be a bastard sword given vote
[] [RUNE] A 25 favour sword to commemorate Mathilde's part the in retaking of Karak Eight-Peaks.
I do support this concept
[] [RUNE] 25 Favour Sword



General question, is the no great weapon runes a lore thing or a gameplay balance thing? I mean dwarfs make Great weapons, Dwarfs use great weapons, Ungrims Axe is massive, are we sure there are no actual runic greatweapons in lore?

 

[Waffle]

[X] [RUNE] No purchase.
[X] [SPIDER] The We can be a powerful military ally against the Skaven.

 

[10ebbor10]

One thing I just noticed was this

[Result of your Pep Talk to Anton: Diplomacy, 95+12=107.]

Is Anton's diplomacy seriously still 12? I would have thought that all the hard work and success he had as the diplomatic adviser would have been like pumping diplo irons but I guess not.

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He started at 4.

 

[veekie]

[X] [ARMOUR] It should be returned to the Hold it was stolen from, to build strong ties among the Karaz Ankor.

As I see it anything else is basicaly grudge territory
If this armour belonged to 8 Peaks then sure, suggest melting it down to make a symbol, however by dwarf law I question if it is even allowed... I have not read through the entire thread yet

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Noting this is just our advice. Belegar and the rest of the council can identify whether its a grudgy thing or not. Or if the armor can even be traced.

 

[Businessmanga]

One thing I just noticed was this

[Result of your Pep Talk to Anton: Diplomacy, 95+12=107.]

Is Anton's diplomacy seriously still 12? I would have thought that all the hard work and success he had as the diplomatic adviser would have been like pumping diplo irons but I guess not.

Click to shrink...

I mean it was 4 to start with, so he has improved a bunch haha. But yeah his miraculous rolls do have me picturing it higher normally.

Kind of understandable it's still low given that until recently someone could just throw a pretty pair of legs at him and he'd start crumbling. Here's hoping his new IRON SPINE manifests itself as a +1.

 

[JOJOBRN]

[X] [RUNE] 25 Favour Sword

 

[SuperSonicSound]

I mean it was 4 to start with, so he has improved a bunch haha. But yeah his miraculous rolls do have me picturing it higher normally.

Kind of understandable it's still low given that until recently someone could just throw a pretty pair of legs at him and he'd start crumbling. Here's hoping his new IRON SPINE manifests itself as a +1.

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Nah he now has higher LD and ignores fear tests.

 

[Neshuakadal]

I mean it was 4 to start with, so he has improved a bunch haha. But yeah his miraculous rolls do have me picturing it higher normally.

Kind of understandable it's still low given that until recently someone could just throw a pretty pair of legs at him and he'd start crumbling. Here's hoping his new IRON SPINE manifests itself as a +1.

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Perhaps for Anton his diplomacy simply works on a scale similar to our magic so we should be in awe of him instead. That is my new thought process.

 

[Andmeuths]

Also this. The research lab wants to be relatively magic neutral and heavily grounded, so as to minimize interference with what you're studying and to vent any effects like Suddenly Shyish exploding out.
The enchanting workshop on the other hand we want to be basically supersaturated in Ulgu to completely eliminate random environmental influences except what we bring.
Both in separate towers so that if a research project explodes it won't contaminate the enchanting projects and vice versa(though Ranald knows when we'd actually have the time to do both at once)

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If we want to keep lab and enchanting workshop in separate towers, that might be a case for actually keeping one facility (lab) beneath Tower 1, and a second facility (Ulgu workshop) in Tower 3, with our study/secret library/observation point in between in Tower 2. Not only does this create a single tower's worth of separation between our two facilities - by linking both facilities to Tower 2, but Mathilde can also travel directly from her study to either facility.

I'm also thinking: should we invest in a Gyrocopter Hanger/Aviary for potential future use?

I do think part of one tower could well be used to create rooms for possible future expansions as needs arise, as a form of future proofing. For example, if the Chamon users need a research forge, we could use a spare room to accommodate them (with them paying for the equipment, and us subsidizing/zero interest loaning them the excess sum they need). Or for example, we might want to set up a public library to loan out our romance collection to our network, in one of the lower floors. Basically, some funds should probably be set aside as a buffer for side projects such as this.

Essentially yes, we're currently borrowing the royal treasury to stash the stuff, but its currently lacking in confidentiality, on the basis of being the royal freaking treasury.

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I think the vault ought to be linked to Mathilde's bedroom or private study, with access barred/hidden from any other resident in the tower, in places only Mathilde can gain access. If so, I think Mathilde's personal quarter should be chosen carefully - ideally, it ought to link to the study and the vaults, so poor Mathilde doesn't have to climb too many stairs.

Dedicate the proceeds to the Protector. Ranald should approve of any of the following:
-Funding expansions to the Shallyans facilities.
-Funding a soup kitchen via the Halflings. Its a religious duty of theirs to have everyone well fed, and it plays to the Protector in ensuring that the poor are fed by the rich blowing their cash on gambling and booze.
-Funding orphanages. They aren't needed yet, but most of the male population of the Undumgi are migrant soldiers without a family structure to fallback their dependents on. They will be needed.
-Quality of life improvements. Things that nobody would actually pay for with their own money. I reckon murals and the like in communal spaces would be desired after a while. The existing decor is wiped by the greenskins use.

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I certainly hope that all of these dedications don't take up one action point each! Though if action point scarcity is an issue, I am in favor of dedicating first proceeds to Shallya due to Mathilde shipping Ranald x Shallya.

 

[ichypa]

Ah, good morning everyone. Let me preface this post with the reminder that Dhar is bad.

At this point our information network will spontaneously assemble itself from our trashy romance book club.

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The cipher will be based on the Book of the Month.

 

[TotallyNotEvil]

Thoughts?

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Remember all those nice options like "set up company policy to something other than maximum lucre" and "employ it as spy ring and info collection agency"?

Say bye-bye to those if Dwarven businessmen enter into the fray.

Things that decrease our control of it would have to have truly massive upsides to them, especially if they introduce a conflict of interests.

 

[Jrin]

Its quite annoying we're still buying more books, got to pace ourselves bit by bit is fine when needed and the romance book is a waste since the money is best save for rainy days....actually I would like to use the money to fund the temple of Shallya just something to give to those who settle here and weary travellers after months on the road. An act of charity from the Grey Order Wizard, also increase our rep with humans and halflings.

 

[Bear Templar]

Noting this is just our advice. Belegar and the rest of the council can identify whether its a grudgy thing or not. Or if the armor can even be traced.

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Sorry, but I am fully aware that making suggestions for a vote makes it more likely the person we are advising will go for it.


SO, NO I won't vote for anything I consider grudge worthy.

If the other hold is willing to have it melted down, I would support it
If the other hold is willing to let us keep it sure, see what they are willing to let us do with it

However, based on everything I know about dwarfs and my understanding of what she understands about dwarfs doing. literally. anything. other. than. immediately. returning. this. armour. to. its. rightful. owner. is. grudge. worthy. The sole exception is if said hold is dead and has no surviving heirs.

I won't give someone a suggestion that I think will be bad especially for sole purpose of enriching ourselves at the possible detriment of the person we are working for. Do you think Belegar won't realise this is based on selfishness? Do you think that they wouldn't be able to make the connection of us asking for a super sword and melting the armour down…? Do you think it would be good for future relationships?
If we were to suggest melting it down, I wouldn't vote for a rune weapon, and since I do want the rune weapon (well honestly a different rune item is also fine) so I am not voting to melt it down



If there is a convincing argument for this feel free to link it to me

"Or if the armor can even be traced." I hope this is more directed to it being hard to figure our where the armour came from to return it, not a there won't be proof of it if we melt it down and destory the evidence


Technically I don't think we know if all the parts for the armour came from the same dwarf.

 

[primemountain]

A treat for the entire UberSword! Party, and @TotallyNotEvil as the current leader of the Inspiring Legend weapon plan, have a quote from realms of Sorcery:

To put things into perspective,
over the course of a character's lifespan, if he ever gains one
magic item, he is singularly lucky. Only the mightiest heroes
and champions have more, and of them, almost none have
more than three. More than even their rarity, the Colleges of
Magic, temples, Imperial Armory and the Witch Hunters
all take steps to acquire these items, sequestering them away
to safeguard the populace from the magic item's corrupting
influence or to add the item to the Empire's arsenal to combat
the hordes of Chaos and the marauding bands of Greenskins.
And when acquired, characters who reveal the nature of the
item in a public way are guaranteed to attract unwanted
attention from some of the most powerful people in the Old
World.

Bolded for reference.

 

[Businessmanga]

I'm picturing AU Steward Mathilde's romance novel spending continuing to spiral out of control until she's gone full-on Candlekeep to sustain her habit. "Seek ye entry into negotiations with the dwarves!? First deliver unto The Collection a text yet unseen, a creation of kisses and wishes of only the finest quality!"

 

[EVA-Saiyajin]

I would like to thank everyone once again for being so calm and reasonable in this argument/discussion.

 

[Aegon Targaryen]

I would like to note that it's entirely possible the armor is from Vala-Azril-Ungol before the fall and as such it would rightfully belong to Belegar a Kalan Angrund, Za-Vala-Azril-Ungol (meaning Belegar of Clan Ironhammer, King in the Queen of the Silver Depths, in Reikspiel Belegar Ironhammer of Clan Ironhammer of Karak Eight Peaks)

 

[Codex]

[X] [SPIDER] The We can be a powerful military ally against the Skaven.
[X] [UNDUMGI] Soizic, Bretonnian Questing Knight
[X] [ARMOUR] Make no recommendation.
[X] [LIBRARY] Imperial Texts: Extensive/Esoteric Skaven, Extensive Skaven Magic, Extensive Greenskin Magic, Antiquarian Grey Magic (2 College Favor), Extensive Amber Magic, Extensive/Esoteric Linguistics, Extensive Warpstone, Extensive Morr, Extensive Karaz Ankor. Dwarf Texts: Extensive Greenskin Magic, Extensive Skaven Magic, Extensive Linguistics, Extensive Daemons
[X] [RUNE] No purchase.
[X] [ENCHANTMENT] No purchase.

 

[Kornet]

Foe everyone claiming that re-forging armor is grudgeworty: remember, we are not determining it's fate. We are merely advising. If it is indeed grudgeworthy, Belegar will not do it.

Ours is but a single voice, and the power of decision is not in our hands.

We don't lose anything if we suggest a course of action which happens to be beneficial to ourselves while being in line with the political position of our king and having a posdibility if a morale boost in the hold.

And if this course is indeed grudgeworthy, it will not be taken.