Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

[JamesShazbond]

[X] Kragg the Grim, who you could likely convince to start gloating.
[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
[X] Roswita, as she tries to wrap her head around the influx of Battle Wizards.
[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.

 

[TripleG316]

[X] Build it into the entrance to the Penthouse.

Gotta show off the skull.

[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
[X] Kragg the Grim, who you could likely convince to start gloating.
[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).
[X] Anton, to see how his firearm factory is going.

[X] Loremaster: Expert on weaving
I think this would be the best of the loremasters to get.

Edit:
[X] Try to find Kasmir in Sylvania.
[X] Write In: Our former Master, to share whatever infiltration stories we both have that the other has the clearance for

 

[Redshirt Army]

Wow, the update was so popular it crashed the server.

 

[Alobomb]

[+] The Wizards of Karak Eight Peaks (locked in)
[X] Kragg the Grim, who you could likely convince to start gloating.
It'll be a cold day in the warp before we convince him to accidentally give up any secrets of runesmithing, but we've quickly become likely the largest single human font of knowledge on the workings of magic and it's interactions with Dwarvern runes in a long time. If we show our genuine interest and respect he might be willing to lowkey affirm or deny some of our thoughts.
[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.
I think we're finally breaking some ground with the kid. It'd be nice to be able to help with securing Abelhelm's legacy in a more active manner, presenting her the paper will be giving her both a tactical advantage and a bit of an emotional buoy. (Which she'll then associate with us.)
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
I think we can all agree this was Pretty Weird, let's see what this not-vampire is up to. I wonder if she's furthering Ranald's long-con here, or if he's furthering hers?
[X] The Amber College, to see how your donation of Lustrian eggs is going.
Just curious, really.
[X] Write In: Visit Reinhild Gerber at the Blutdorf firing range, if she's still there. Otherwise check Nuln? Or wherever Anton has seen her last.
She seemed like a nice lass with extremely interesting ideas regarding Imperial gunnery. I'd be interested to see if she's willing to contract with the EIC without the extra boon of a marriage to Anton.

Dragon Skull Vote:
[X] The best reading chair ever.
The thought of reclining in the hollowed out skull of a dragon on a nice spider-hive-mind-silk cushion, reading the actual literal Liber Mortis while sipping on a dwarf-rune cooled brandy is so incredibly decadent that I can't not vote for it.

 

[Vocalend]

"I should have guessed," he says with a smile, "I've heard good things from the Dwarves. This is my dear wife, the Empress Consort Heidi Haupt-Anderssen."

You're not able to bask in the news you've become known to the Emperor himself, as you've suddenly realized where you've seen this woman before. "A pleasure to meet you!" says the woman who was once known as Countess Gabriella von Bundebad brightly, closing the gap between you before you can react and taking your hands in hers. "I'm sure we've so much in common!" And hidden by her hands, she folds one finger over another in the sign of the Gambler, and with a tiny sliver of divine attention that leaves you feeling giddy, an always-familiar presence gives confirmation.

"The pleasure is mine, your Majesties," you say faintly.

Click to shrink...

I-what.

[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.

That's it. I have no words. My mind is stunned at the sheer gumption this lass is capable of. A Ranaldite for Empress Consort and not only that, this is a Chekov's Gun ages in the making.

C. Gabriella v. Bundebad. vC(?)

Click to shrink...

I don't care. Above all else, she gets in and win because goodness, she has balls.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.


[X] Roswita, as she tries to wrap her head around the influx of Battle Wizards.


[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.

 

[Asheram]

The *was ballsy enough to pretend to be a vampire* Countess who was part of the conspiracy is:
a) A devout Ranaldian who,
b) Managed to become empress.

I think it's safe to say that Mathilde is Ranald's second most favored mortal, because holy shit what

Click to shrink...

I'm starting to ponder if Ranald is intentionally sneaking his priests in at very high positions of power.
First Mathilde, who is right hand woman to the most progressive Dwarven King in milennia.
Now the Emperess of the human empire.
Is there some very lucky Halfling in the Moot that we should know about?

 

[Abhorsen]

[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
[X] Kragg the Grim, who you could likely convince to start gloating.
[X] Try to find Kasmir in Sylvania
[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).
[X] Anton, to see how his firearm factory is going.

The first two are the two best in my opinion. Just the sheer awesomeness of both demands more screen time. And I want to find or bury Kasmir. He deserves it. The last two are tactical.

Other Votes:
[X] The best reading chair ever.
[X] Loremaster: Expert on beekeeping

 

[Whumbly]

[X] Princess Edda, to pry for details about her illicit romance with Prince Kazrik.
[X] Kragg the Grim, who you could likely convince to start gloating.
[X] Roswita, as she tries to wrap her head around the influx of Battle Wizards.
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
[X] Anton, to see how his firearm factory is going.

[X] The best reading chair ever.

The comfy chair of DOOM!

 

[Jedij4]

From fake vampire to empress THE LEGEND RETURNS!!

 

[Alratan]

We've now spent an awful lot of time with Roswita this turn, we should really get to know Mathilde's colleagues who she's now spent eighteen months living alongside and knows almost nothing about.

She's spending many months away from the Karak every year, so we need to invest in actually building social relations there, as currently I think Mathilde knows basically no one there. We should fix this.

 

[Arksurek]

[X] Roswita, as she tries to wrap her head around the influx of Battle Wizards.
[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.

 

[Redshirt Army]

I mean, we've gotta talk to the empress. She's Ranald's high priestess, after all.

 

[TempestK]

She's also preggers. So it's highly likely that her child will be the next emperor.

 

[tokero6294]

[X] Kragg the Grim, who you could likely convince to start gloating.

[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).


[X] Roswita, as she tries to wrap her head around the influx of Battle Wizards.
[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.


[X] Anton, to see how his firearm factory is going

 

[Angelazreal1]

You pass the Imperial Dragon, the size of a horse and growing at a terrifying rate, whose enclosure is becoming home to more and more of the Imperial Treasury as its size and greed increase.

Click to shrink...

I did not know this was a thing. That's awesome.

[X] Loremaster: Expert on weaving

[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).
[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
[X] The Amber College, to see how your donation of Lustrian eggs is going.
[X] Check in on your fief in Stirland.

 

[Sinsystems]

[x] Loremaster: Expert on beekeeping

[X] Roswita, as she tries to wrap her head around the influx of Battle Wizards.
[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).
[X] Prince Kazrik, as he tries to pry a shipwright loose from Barak Varr.
[X] Try to find Kasmir in Sylvania.

[X] Build it into the entrance to the Penthouse.

 

[CrimsonOddball]

And he also got to the bottom of the matter of 'old age', which wouldn't properly translate: tumorous growths inside the dissected Egg-Layer's stomach, which had nearly reached the point where the creature would no longer be able to ingest food, and within each one a fragment of warpstone ranging from specks to splinters, some unprocessed, some refined. Judging by the hard, calcified layer around each one, they'd continue containing the warpstone long after the rest of the body decayed, even if the rest of the innards had been liquefied and consumed by the rest of the We. You thank him for shedding light on the topic, and add his notes to your existing information on the We.

Click to shrink...

Aha! This is very important information that can be traded with the We
Their Egg Layers, the most important caste within their... is society the right word? Anyway their Egg Layers are dying premature deaths due to unknowingly ingesting fragments of Warpstone, likely Warpstone that was on or in a Skaven, though some of it can be from the general environment as well
We could easily notify them of the danger and show them how to properly check and remove such dangerous material from their meals before digestion, as well as just generally avoiding the stuff
Well maybe being a giant spider would cause issues with removing Warpstone, but that just means there can be a business arrangement where someone can help handle that for them
Alternatively this can bolster efforts to trade with them, knowing that the goats being fed to them don't cause such issues makes them more valuable to the We

 

[Seleucus]

And "Empress Heidi" is supposedly a Haupt-Anderssen. As in the former ruling dynasty of Stirland that all died out, letting van Hal become elector count.

There's presumably another giant story about what the heck happened there.

 

[EVA-Saiyajin]

[X] Loremaster: Expert on beekeeping

[X] Francesco Caravello, proud leader of the Undumgi
[X] Sir Ruprecht Wulfhart, as the new home of the Winter Wolves takes shape.

[X] Prince Gotri, who will seize any excuse to talk about his gyrocopters.
[X] Try to find Kasmir in Sylvania.

[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).
[X] Barak Varr, to watch the progress of the canal.
[X] Karak Hirn, to satisfy your curiousity about Prince Ulthar.

[X] On display in the Duckling Club.

 

[Trickster314]

[X] The best reading chair ever.

Technically a skull throne, Khorne approves?

 

[buli-buli]

I've noticed everyone has forgotten about the Loremaster vote.
[X] Loremaster: Expert on weaving
Because he'll bring the dwarf's interests in mind.

[+] The Wizards of Karak Eight Peaks (locked in)
[X] Princess Edda, to pry for details about her illicit romance with Prince Kazrik.
[X] Karak Kadrin, presenting them with the skull of an old enemy (but not to keep).
[X] Roswita, to present her with a copy of the book her late father contributed to.
[X] Empress 'Heidi', to see if you can snatch a private moment to speak honestly with her.
[X] The Amber College, to see how your donation of Lustrian eggs is going.

[X] Canopy bed, except skull instead of canopy.
[X] The best reading chair ever.

 

[WanderingEye]

While I commend people willingness to give her a copy, spending two actions is rather too much I think
We could always send her the copy, the priority here is so that she won't freak out...much

 

[Imugi]

[X] Wolf, because he's a good boy.

 

[BungieONI]

While your previous arrivals in Stirland had drawn attention, the way your return to Fort Redemption captures the full attention of everyone present even before you disembark with the head of a Vampire under your arm. You lead a procession of Hammerers carrying the financial records of Teufelheim through the streets with word racing ahead of you, and when you arrive at the Fort's keep you receive salutes from the guards on the gate and are immediately lead into the war room that Roswita spends most of her time in, just as the General she had been meeting with finishes rolling up his map and excuses himself.

Throwing the head at her feet would certainly be dramatic, but would be bad for the fragile reconciliation that has been building between the two of you, so instead you place it upon the table in front of her. She returns the absent gaze of Alkharad, whose fixed smile has turned somewhat manic from the jostling the head received since you acquired it. "Elector Countess Roswita Van Hal, allow me to introduce Alkharad of the Necrarchs. I believe you're already acquainted."

Click to shrink...

EEEEEEEEEEE off to a good start Mathilde.

"Not in the flesh," she says faintly. "Any regrowth?"

"None. Nor any active Dhar since decapitation. All appearances are that his resurrection will be no easier than usual for his kind."

Roswita pulls a seat from the table and very carefully does not collapse into it, and you pretend not to notice the shake in her arms. "So it's done."

"As done as things ever are with his kind. But he's not the first I've interred, and if anything happens to me there's a representative of the Order of the Guardians in Eight Peaks to take over the vigil."

Click to shrink...

And here we can see more evidence Mathilde is smart. The Dwarves will remember unless they are utterly destroyed.

You let Roswita digest that as you murmur instructions for the Hammerers to deliver their cargo and then wait outside. Though it was overshadowed by the mystery of the Aethyric Vitae, you remember how you felt when you finally turns the tables on the Thorned One that had stalked you for years, and Roswita's nemesis was significantly worse. You take a seat across from her and begin to peruse the ledgers.

When Roswita stirs again, her voice is as steely as you remember. "Stirland thanks the Grey College for it's intervention in this matter."

"This is on behalf of King Belegar and Karak Eight Peaks," you correct. "As part of the ancient alliance between the Empire of Man and the Karaz Ankor, and in gratitude for the assistance of Stirlanders in the Expedition that retook the Hold." You can see the gears turning in her head, and the frown starting to form. "Sometimes external machinations are benign. There's nothing wrong with just smiling and nodding if a King decides to use you to advertise the benefits of Dwarven allies."

Click to shrink...

An interesting correction and a very important one.

She considers for a moment longer. "Stirland thanks Karak Eight Peaks for it's intervention in this matter."

You push over one of the ledgers for her consideration. "Alkharad had set himself up as ruler of Teufelheim. Here's the records of all those that traded with him - and not just for food, but for regents and tomes and other rarities."

She turns to the most recent dates, skims the pages, then pauses. "I recognize some of these names," she says. "We suspected them of smuggling but couldn't prove it. They're affiliated with some of the wealthiest families in Southern Stirland. If we can make them talk..." She looks up at you again. "Why?"

"Because my King asked it of me," you say simply. "For the good of the Empire, of Stirland, of the Colleges, of humanity." You hesitate. "And because your father was important to me."

Click to shrink...

Eeeeeeeeeeeee this is the first part of the awesome scene I wanted! Yay!

Algard does not have an open-door policy, but that is only because it would let the warmth out. Any Grey Wizard who believes they have sufficient reason to see him are allowed to do so, with the understanding that the right will be revoked if squandered on trivialities. So surely after your arrival, the door to the Magister Patriarch's office opens and you push in the cart you've borrowed for this purpose.

Algard is brilliant, but just as prone to eccentricities as any Wizard. Instead of bookshelves or mementos, his office walls are lined with carefully illuminated copies of the Imperial Army's estimates of the Chaos warbands, Beastherds, undead hordes and even one Naggaroth raiding party that have each succumbed to the lure of his famous Screaming Towers and been caught by ambushes and pincers as a result. His desk is completely clear save for a small enchanted windsock that shows the direction and strength of the Winds' whimsies, with his inbox and outbox rotated into dimensions created for this sole purpose of maintaining a clean desk.

Click to shrink...

Right so I already am starting to like this guy because having the pizzaz to dimensionally hide your mail boxes is rad shit. Already getting Sidereal department head vibes. Also he basically seems to have a Conspiracy Wall and that's hilarious.

"Dame Magister Loremaster Weber," he greets you with a smile that doesn't detract from his piercing gaze. "What tidings bring you to Altdorf?"

"The best kind of good news," you say.

He considers that for a moment. "I'd say Malekith's death or a full-blown Skaven civil war, but I doubt either would involve a cartload of paperwork."

Click to shrink...

Pfft okay that's a funny opening and response. My liking grows.

"The kind that would have been very bad news, except it ends with 'and I took care of it'." You take the top book and slide it across his desk.

Algard opens the book, and begins to scowl after skimming a few pages. "Oh fuck you, W'soran. You and your entire damned bloodline. You sure you got this one?"

Click to shrink...

Fuck it I love this guy, I want to see more of him at some point.

"Just got to finish cleaning it and his skull will join the Singing King. Might have been graduates, or ones out running errands, or ones in the town that kept out of sight, but every student that was in the keep is dead and his books have been burned."

He sighs in relief. "Thank every God there is for that. I'll send in a trusted few to make doubly sure. Is this one of the ones that filled the Von Carstein vacuum?"

"If you put any stock in Vampire boasting he claims that he's always held Teufelheim and he and the Von Carsteins had some sort of understanding. The amount of exotic animal corpses suggests he's been there at least since Hel Fenn."

"And we never heard a whisper. Time to relight some fires. Come with me."

Click to shrink...

Yeah, this guy is a Siddie I love it way too much.

Dragomas took being a Journeyman to its ultimate extent and wandered into the Dark Lands. Many years after he was considered dead, he returned with a non-aggression pact from the Emperor of Cathay carved into a jade tablet. He was retroactively promoted to Lord Magister to grant him the authority to have negotiated it, and in the coming years he quickly rose through the Amber College in no small part because he was actually willing to engage in the politics of Altdorf. His discovery, hatching, and raising of the Imperial Dragon earned him the title of Magister Patriarch of the Amber Order, and him transforming into a Celestial Dragon in the Hall of Duels caused Alric to concede and go into a peaceful retirement. Since then, he has championed the cause of the Battle Wizards both on and off the battlefield, transforming them from a living weapon sealed up between battles to men and women respected for their sacrifice who live lives of medication and training inside gilded cages, and considers the Imperial Zoo to be his personal hobby.

Click to shrink...

*finger rises*

Yeah you know what I also really like this guy. Fucking cast Gromril balls on him.

"All that were in the keep, and all I found in the town, Lord Dragomas."

"Not near enough to 'yes' to be comfortable. Not your fault. You can never get the entire swarm at once." He sighs and turns to Algard again. "Your way or mine?"

"We've got enough goodwill, and he's in high spirits of late. Your way."

Click to shrink...

Heeeeeeee!

Inside, a cheerful-looking woman in plain but well-made clothes is reading a book before the fireplace, and looks up with a smile as you enter. "Sweetheart," says the Emperor, his voice full of warmth. "You remember Dragomas and Algard?"

"Of course," she says, in a disturbingly familiar voice, rising to her feet and revealing the faint swell of pregnancy.

Click to shrink...

Uhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... Gabriella?

"Algard, I take it by the robes she's one of yours?"

"Of course, my apologies, your Majesties. May I present Dame Weber, Magister of the Grey College and Loremaster to King Belegar."

"I should have guessed," he says with a smile, "I've heard good things from the Dwarves. This is my dear wife, the Empress Consort Heidi Haupt-Anderssen."

You're not able to bask in the news you've become known to the Emperor himself, as you've suddenly realized where you've seen this woman before. "A pleasure to meet you!" says the woman who was once known as Countess Gabriella von Bundebad brightly, closing the gap between you before you can react and taking your hands in hers. "I'm sure we've so much in common!" And hidden by her hands, she folds one finger over another in the sign of the Gambler, and with a tiny sliver of divine attention that leaves you feeling giddy, an always-familiar presence gives confirmation.

Click to shrink...

What.

W. H. A. T.

Judging by the hard, calcified layer around each one, they'd continue containing the warpstone long after the rest of the body decayed, even if the rest of the innards had been liquefied and consumed by the rest of the We. You thank him for shedding light on the topic, and add his notes to your existing information on the We.

Click to shrink...

Huh. That's an interesting way to handle it.