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Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

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[X] Answers TNE
-[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I believe that they were truly suborned by the Von Carsteins.
--[X] Reasoning: This was the man that created the Stirlandian League. A supremely selfish man, he had the power and the means, and vampire-dom is an offer many of such persuasion would find enormously attractive. Can't be sure, but it all fits too well.
-[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
--[X] We will forever be looking over our shoulders until we know for sure he is dead and done. Especially with our suspicions.
-[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
--[X] Stirland as a whole needs to be stronger, even if it dearly costs in potential information gain. Our ultimate enemy and goal is Sylvannia. There's no way this ends without an army involved, and we need ours to be the biggest and baddest if we are going down this road.

[x] Plan Backlog
Adhoc vote count started by Lupercal on Jan 29, 2018 at 9:48 AM, finished with 185 posts and 27 votes.
  • [x] Plan Backlog
    -[X] Do your job:
    --[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    --[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of.
    ---[x] ... and make sure some of the new hires and trustworthy ones report to you.
    ---[X] Ask the good Brother to assist you. Can't hurt to double check when it comes to HERESY.
    --[x] Much of Western Stirland is under the de facto direct control of the Elector Count. Meet with each of the local leaders and make it clear that you're to be kept in the loop.
    -[X] Secret Base:
    --[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
    -[X] Research:
    --[x] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    ---[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    ---[X] Ranald's Blessing
    ----[x] Bring an example or two to show your master while you are in Altdorf.
    -----[X] Lead-lined steel case. Magic lock on top of mundane one. Carry on your person.
    -[X] Go to Altdorf:
    --[x] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them.
    --[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    [x] Plan Slight Changes
    -[X] Do your job:
    --[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    --[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of.
    ---[x] ... and make sure some of the new hires and trustworthy ones report to you.
    ---[X] Ask the good Brother to assist you. Can't hurt to double check when it comes to HERESY.
    -[X] Secret Base:
    --[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
    --[x] Filled with Potential: You've got a room cleared out and ready to be put to use. It should make an excellent enchanter's workshop after a bit of furnishing and some purchases in Altdorf. (no action, -personal gold)
    -[X] Research:
    --[x] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    ---[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    ----[x] Bring an example or two to show your master while you are in Altdorf.
    -----[X] Lead-lined steel case. Magic lock on top of mundane one. Carry on your person.
    -[X] Go to Altdorf:
    --[x] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them.
    --[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    ---[X] Ranald's Blessing
    --[X] Who Needs Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order. Either way, a visit is in order.
    [X] Answers Reasoned To Bits
    [X] Answers Reasoned To Bits
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I believe that they were truly suborned by the Von Carsteins.
    --[X] Loyalty Reasoning: The primary factors are, how agents of Drakenhof knew enough to move the ledgers, which should only be known to the prior count and his administration, how the Von Carstein aligned nobles knew we didn't have them, how the League benefited from the loss of the ledgers and the various undead and monsters literally buried within the castle at the barest inspection.
    ---[X] While the last factor could be achieved through incompetence or sloth, this does align with the former pieces, which points to a highly competent individual who knew they were in league with monsters. Either his loyalty lies with the monsters, or his greed lies beyond mortal means to fulfill.
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    --[X] The case of the stablehand to feed us poor information, and the Ledgers placed where they could be recovered intact, rather than much more simply burned or thrown in the river, points to further plots aimed at us rather than simple obscuration of loose ends. As such, the previous spymaster should be considered an active party rather than a simpler historical note.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    --[X] Intelligence wise, with what we know of their affiliates, the entire network's integrity is suspect, and its continued operations highlight the possibility of its former master still being in control, which would make it too easily suborned a source of deliberately bad information. Economically, the vast amounts of wealth running along the League has to be funding SOMETHING, and indications are that this is not to our benefit. If there were to be such a drain upon our economy, it should at least go towards paying for our operations rather than a mystery party's.
    [X] Answers Opportunity
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: Their self-serving nature and incompetence only gave the Von Carsteins an opportunity.
    --[X] Reasoning: The previous history of Stirland's rulers was a history of human bunglers, not a history of evil puppets. If they had been fully suborned, I think competent Von Carsteins would have moved more towards taking over; while less competent Von Carsteins would have revealed their hand more openly. The Stirlandian League in particular strikes me as a very human sort of corruption that vampires would have little interest in.
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    --[X] Reasoning: The evidence, particularly the hidden ledgers, speaks to me of long-term planning by an opposition that's still out there, working against us, and that possibly will turn to the Von Carsteins as they run out of other options, if they haven't already done so.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    --[X] Reasoning: If we had attempted to take control of the League at once, it might have been worth it at the time. Now, we have a replacement network of greater loyalty, as well the documentation to simply confiscate many the League's assets as we crack down on it, to the benefit of both the Count's own treasury and the rest of the province as a whole. The League's use to us has diminished, while its injury remains.
    [X] Pragmatic advice
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: Their self-serving nature and incompetence only gave the Von Carsteins an opportunity.
    --[X] "I don't think there's sufficient evidence that suggests the rot was so widespread as to include my predecessor. Him being compromised would make it likely the League was compromised, together with his entire intelligence structure, and they could have dealt much more damage than has been done, had he truly been aimed at total subversion. Let's prepare for the worst, but not jump to premature conclusions just yet."
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    --[X] "That being said, finding and eliminating him as a player is of tantamount importance to get to the bottom of this. He's still in a position where he could cause substantial damage if he wanted to."
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not waste such a potent resource. Claim the League.
    --[X] "Tentatively. The concept is incredibly useful, giving us a ready-made flow of information many rulers could only dream of, without lifting so much as a finger. Yet, this requires that we find our predecessor first and look if we can claim it in the first place, and maintain it without employing the same...popularity-decreasing tactics."
    [x] Plan Slight Changes
    [x] As Per Orders: Perform your current assignment.
    -[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    -[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of
    --[x] Coordinate with Kasmir on this one
    [X] Answers TNE
    [x] Plan Slight Changes
    --[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of.
    ---[x] ... and make sure some of the new hires and trustworthy ones report to you.
    [X] Sure why not. I'm down. Let's do this thing.
    [X] Plan Networking, Enchanting, and a Road Trip
    -[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
    -[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    -[X] Wurtbad, like all major cities, is home to a number of guilds. Reach out to them and enforce your will. (EXTRA)
    -[X] You're naturally talented at enchantment; so far, this just amounts to being able to make your desk meow for about an hour. See if you can improve on that, or at least figure out a way to make that useful.
    -[X] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    --[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    ---[X] Bring an example or two to show your master while you are in Altdorf. In a lead-lined steel case. With a magic lock on top of a mundane one. Carried on your person. Can't be too careful
    -[X] Go to Altdorf:
    --[X] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them. Investigate them in person.
    --[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    ---[X] Ranald's Blessing
    --[X] Who Needs Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order. Either way, a visit is in order.
    [X] Pragmatic advice
    [X] Answers TNE
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I believe that they were truly suborned by the Von Carsteins.
    --[X] Reasoning: This was the man that created the Stirlandian League. A supremely selfish man, he had the power and the means, and vampire-dom is an offer many of such persuasion would find enormously attractive. Can't be sure, but it all fits too well.
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    --[X] We will forever be looking over our shoulders until we know for sure he is dead and done. Especially with our suspicions.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    --[X] Stirland as a whole needs to be stronger, even if it dearly costs in potential information gain. Our ultimate enemy and goal is Sylvannia. There's no way this ends without an army involved, and we need ours to be the biggest and baddest if we are going down this road.
    [X] plan rip the weeds out by the roots
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I believe that they were truly suborned by the Von Carsteins.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    -[X] Wurtbad, like all major cities, is home to a number of guilds. Reach out to them and enforce your will.
    -[X] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    [X] Allow the Morrites to examine them (does not take an action).
    [x] Research:
    -[x] This is Stirland. Time to bone up on your knowledge of the Undead.
    -[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    --[x] Renald Blessing
    [x] Backtracking and Side Operations:
    -[x] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them. Investigate them via correspondence.
    -[X] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    --[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    [x] Plan Renald Cult
    -[x] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I think that even if they were merely self serving and incompetent, it is not something we can risk betting on. A well entrenched spymaster could do a lot of damage if he really works with vampires. I think the risk of letting him go is too high.
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    --[x] Stirland economy is in poor shape, and the league carries much of the blame. It completely cripples trade that it isn't doing, which in turn lets it prey on local businesses and cripple their growth as well, and its tax exemptions make things even worse. While it is a bit of a shame to lose out on such an impressive intelligence engine. We can still do our job without crippling the economy.
    [x] Plan Backlog
    -[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    -[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of
    -[x] Much of Western Stirland is under the de facto direct control of the Elector Count. Meet with each of the local leaders and make it clear that you're to be kept in the loop.
    -[x] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them. Investigate them in person.
    --[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help. *Renald's Blessing*
    -[x] Home Comforts: Your Palace-Shrine is bursting with potential. And also mud.
    --[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
    -[X] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    --[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    ---[x] Bring an example or two to show your master while you are there.
    ----[X] Lead-lined steel case. Magic lock on top of mundane one.
    [X] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    [X] Hang Out A Shingle: Spymasters don't advertise, but wizards sometimes do. Make an official announcement that there's a wizard in residence, and see who comes out of the woodwork.
    -[X] Filled with Potential: You've got a room cleared out and ready to be put to use. Decide what you're going to put there.
    -[X] a headquarters for your growing intelligence agency
    [X] Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order.
    [x] Home Comforts: Your Palace-Shrine is bursting with potential. And also mud.
    -[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
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So, our predecessors are thralls of the vampires, they must all be killed, and destroy the League. Truly, the Witch Hunteriest of plans.
 
BoneyM said:
I'm seriously considering putting it to a vote regarding whether or not you're trying to husbando Van Hal.
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It wouldn't work tho because we in the end are a mage. And he's our Lord. At best we could become his mistress /concubine but he'll be expected to actually marry and start having kids and we can't marry him and any kids would not be legitimate especially if they have magic
 
While a marriage between an Elector Count and a wizard would raise eyebrows, as far as I'm aware there's no actual laws against it.

The Imperial Colleges of Magic normally regard celibacy as the ideal. However, there are some Magisters who not only pursue personal relationships but also welcome children into their lives.

The Amethyst College and the College of Light are strictly celibate Orders. It is both forbidden to form unique relationships with man or woman by the laws of their Orders. It is also rumoured that the individual Winds embraced and pursued by these two Orders steals from their brethren the very desire and will to form such relationships. The Gold and Celestial Colleges have no laws forbidding personal relationships, but the Magisters of these Colleges tend to be so wrapped up in their studies that it is almost unheard of for any of them to marry or have offspring. No one really knows much about the beliefs and rules of the respectively misanthropic and highly secretive Amber and Grey Colleges when it comes to the matter of relationships. However, the Jade and Bright Colleges have no restrictions on such matters, either by internal rules or external influence.
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For the average citizen, marriage is a simple and informal affair between the couple and a priest of any given cult willing to perform the ceremony. Marriages between nobles, however, are lengthy and grandiose, seen as a way to show the wealth of the union between
houses. Generous offerings to various cults are expected of the couple—other, scheming members of their peerage assess the worth of these gifts to gauge the couple's current wealth.
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Mr.rodent said:
It wouldn't work tho because we in the end are a mage. And he's our Lord. At best we could become his mistress /concubine but he'll be expected to actually marry and start having kids and we can't marry him and any kids would not be legitimate especially if they have magic
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We can marry him. Wizards are not barred from marrying, although the grey college does frown on it. That might impact our chances of promotion within the college though. We just wouldn't get any courtesy title, due to being barred from gaining noble titles as a member of the Colleges of Magic.

That said, while normally a Witch Hunter who was also somehow an Elector Count would be able to marry a wizard with only mild repucutions. Van Hal is... a Van Hal. Marrying us could be really bad for his already shady family reputation.

Edit: Ninja'd by the QM
 
mrttao said:
[x] Plan Renald Cult
-[x] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I think that even if they were merely self serving and incompetent, it is not something we can risk betting on. A well entrenched spymaster could do a lot of damage if he really works with vampires. I think the risk of letting him go is too high.
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Sound enough, erring on the side of understatement rather than speculation.

-[x] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
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Nothing here
-[x] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
--[x] Stirland economy is in poor shape, and the league carries much of the blame. It completely cripples trade that it isn't doing, which in turn lets it prey on local businesses and cripple their growth as well, and its tax exemptions make things even worse. While it is a bit of a shame to lose out on such an impressive intelligence engine. We can still do our job without crippling the economy.
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The issue here is that the Count is asking us about its value as an intelligence asset. Telling him about how much it hurts the economy is useless since he knows that.

He wants to know if we think it's a useful intel asset and I think the biggest issue is that it's not. Hes willing to throw money away if it gets him results(namely vampires staked, witches hunted and heretics burned), but not if it's ineffective or defective.

Picking over the update
BoneyM said:
Without the Professor's droning to begin the round of reports, Anton jumps in to fill the silence before it has a chance to extend awkwardly. "As you're aware, your Grace, the new Count von Stolpe is settling in well. Maksim is delighted to get out of his older brother's shadow, and has already begun to send back-taxes to make up for what Petr didn't pay. That said, he probably won't be able to change the deadlock of infighting in Southern Stirland without help."
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Hmm, once we extend our network to Southern Stirland we should dig up more dirt to quell the fighting if Anton can't solve it by then.
"Back-taxes have started flowing in," she says, "and nobody else is putting up a fight about it like von Stolpe did. Either nobody else realizes we were missing the ledgers, or they took heed of the lesson." She looks from Van Hal to you and back again, looking uncomfortable for a moment, then moves on. "The treasury should soon start increasing, despite the climb in expenditures."
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Looks like we're scaring her with perfectly disappearing the old von Stolpe without anyone knowing a thing.
"Brother Kasmir, how is the spiritual health of the castle?"

"Among the servants, Sigmar is not as venerated as I would prefer, but Morr and Shallya fill the void. More concerning is the state of the souls of the Greatswords - they have not had a chaplain assigned to them in some time, and though I could find no worship of proscribed cults, there is no central uniting faith among them. The closest is Ulricans, but they only make up a third - the rest are Sigmarites, Myrmidians, Morrites and Verenans." He shakes his head sadly. "The rift between the Sigmarites and the previous rulers of Stirland left the Army without spiritual guidance. I can only hope that I continue to find no evidence of heresy among them."

CASTLE SERVANT FAITH: Primarily Morrite and Shallyan.
GREATSWORD FAITH: Heavily mixed. Ulrican, Sigmarite, Myrmidians, Morrites, Verenans.
ARMY OF STIRLAND FAITH: Unguided.
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Hmm, we get what we expected to see here. Would not be surprised to find Ranald in the servants, though we should keep that on the down low and drag them into our network.

The army is worrying but none of our business for now. Khaine and Khorne alike flourishes in unguided armies.

The servants are a little suspicious though. We had monsters in the castle walls, but theres no way for them to get IN there without some servants being aware. Are all the former servants gone, or are some of them lying about their allegiance?

"Herr Schultz, any problems with the granary?"

"None, your grace. I've turned it over to Frau Hochschild's authority, and I understand it is gradually filling with grains from taxes paid in kind."

EAGLE CASTLE: Granary added.
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Going to need some cats, because granaries attract rats.

"It's about 80 miles from Langwald to Leicheberg, but to go by road means having to circle all the way around and through the Moot. Once you've seen to the villages, you are to survey the area so we can begin work to drive a road between the two."

Schultz pales. "Your grace, that area of the province-"

Van Hal's eyes narrow. "I'm aware. You'll have troops assigned to you."
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Uh, anyone knows whats up with that bit?
"Letters every now and then. I'll have been getting in touch with them this year anyway because there's a killer illusion-snake trying to murder me."

Van Hal's mug was halfway to his lips when you said that, and he lowers it back down onto the desk and gives you a flat look. "What have you been getting up to," he asks - he doesn't quite growl, but there's a hint of it in his voice.

"Nothing recently," you assure him. "This is from back when I was still getting a hold on Ulgu."

"And it didn't occur to you to tell me there was a Thorned One pursuing you?"

"You know of it?" You ask, hopefully.

"Barely. I once pursued an artist-cult that worshipped it as their muse. In the end, I only got the snake's leftovers, and they would have been for the asylum if they had escaped the pyre." You sigh, disappointed, and he shakes his head at you. "A Thorned One. And you're only just sending letters home to ask for advice."

"I've been busy," you say defensively.

He smiles and shakes his head again. "If there's a solution to the snake I can help with, let me know.
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"Theres a demon snake trying to eat her brains for the past few years and she thinks she's too busy to spare the time to deal with it." *shakes head* "Maybe she needs a vacation?"

[ ] As Per Orders: Perform your current assignment.
-[ ] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
-[ ] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of.
-[ ] Acquire a copy of Brother Kasmir's report, and confirm everyone is worshipping as they claimed to.
-[ ] Wurtbad, like all major cities, is home to a number of guilds. Reach out to them and enforce your will.
-[ ] There's a vacuum where a dozen trade guilds should be. Found one of your own, and let information and profits flow through you, and see what the Stirlandian League does about it. (warning: expensive, will need Van Hal or Wilhelmina to sign off on it)
-[ ] Much of Western Stirland is under the de facto direct control of the Elector Count. Meet with each of the local leaders and make it clear that you're to be kept in the loop.
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As per instructions, we just need to secure the Watch, the Servants and the Guilds.
The rest are optional for now.

[ ] Delegation: Maybe it's time to start being less spy and more master. Though Gods know where you'll find someone competent and trustworthy enough to grant such easily-abusable power. (write in source of potential lieutenants)
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Currently we have the Ranald priests, but I wouldn't trust them to manage anything other than the thieves guild and the tavern.

Next turn after we have the guilds and watch hooked in we can find someone via Marcus for the Watch(which is basically just overseeing the passages through the city and reported crimes, so we don't need anyone subtle, just attentive) and possibly Anton for a list of people we can vet to manage the diplomatic networks.

[ ] Home Comforts: Your Palace-Shrine is bursting with potential. And also mud.
-[ ] Diggy Diggy Hole: A wizard wielding a shovel is unnatural, but doing it yourself might be the only way to keep things secret. Clear out a new room of your Palace-Shrine by hand.
-[ ] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
-[ ] Filled with Potential: You've got a room cleared out and ready to be put to use. Decide what you're going to put there. (write in the purpose of the room)
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We're going to need to set up a lab in one of these rooms eventually. And if we excavate out an alternate entrance we should set up an operation room there for our own minions to work from.
 
veekie said:
The issue here is that the Count is asking us about its value as an intelligence asset. Telling him about how much it hurts the economy is useless since he knows that.
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He is not asking us about its value as an intelligence asset. He is asking us if we think its value as an intelligence asset outweighs the damage it does. I am arguing that its value as an intelligence asset is less.
veekie said:
Sound enough, erring on the side of understatement rather than speculation.

Nothing here
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Thank you. Yea, I was actually linking them. I figured predecessor loyalty covered it all so there is no point in repeating it the same info on predecessor approach.
 
On a side note, I sort of hope that our bookshelf in our base steadily gains a selection of adventure and "adult" novels and eventually when someone tries to steal info from us they mistake the novels as some kind of ingenious cipher we use to hide information within them.
 
veekie said:
Uh, anyone knows whats up with that bit?
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Right along the Stirland-Sylvanian border, specifically through the aptly-named 'Haunted Hills'.

Herr Schultz hasn't suggested a single course of action that takes him outside the safety of Wurtbad's walls. Van Hal is tired of it, and wrote in an order.

Sinsystems said:
On a side note, I sort of hope that our bookshelf in our base steadily gains a selection of adventure and "adult" novels and eventually when someone tries to steal info from us they mistake the novels as some kind of ingenious cipher we use to hide information within them.
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A book cipher is actually a really good way to encrypt messages without anyone having to carry around an incriminating codebook.
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by TotallyNotEvil on Jan 28, 2018 at 8:58 PM, finished with 99 posts and 12 votes.
  • [x] Plan Backlog
    -[X] Do your job:
    --[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    --[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of
    ---[X] Ask the good Brother to assist you. Can't hurt to double check when it comes to HERESY.
    --[x] Much of Western Stirland is under the de facto direct control of the Elector Count. Meet with each of the local leaders and make it clear that you're to be kept in the loop.
    -[X] Secret Base:
    --[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
    -[X] Research:
    --[x] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    ---[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    ---[X] Ranald's Blessing
    ----[x] Bring an example or two to show your master while you are in Altdorf.
    -----[X] Lead-lined steel case. Magic lock on top of mundane one. Carry on your person.
    -[X] Go to Altdorf:
    --[x] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them.
    --[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    [X] Answers Reasoned To Bits
    [X] Answers TNE
    [X] Answers Reasoned To Bits
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I believe that they were truly suborned by the Von Carsteins.
    --[X] Loyalty Reasoning: The primary factors are, how agents of Drakenhof knew enough to move the ledgers, which should only be known to the prior count and his administration, how the Von Carstein aligned nobles knew we didn't have them, how the League benefited from the loss of the ledgers and the various undead and monsters literally buried within the castle at the barest inspection.
    ---[X] While the last factor could be achieved through incompetence or sloth, this does align with the former pieces, which points to a highly competent individual who knew they were in league with monsters. Either his loyalty lies with the monsters, or his greed lies beyond mortal means to fulfill.
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    --[X] The case of the stablehand to feed us poor information, and the Ledgers placed where they could be recovered intact, rather than much more simply burned or thrown in the river, points to further plots aimed at us rather than simple obscuration of loose ends. As such, the previous spymaster should be considered an active party rather than a simpler historical note.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    --[X] Intelligence wise, with what we know of their affiliates, the entire network's integrity is suspect, and its continued operations highlight the possibility of its former master still being in control, which would make it too easily suborned a source of deliberately bad information. Economically, the vast amounts of wealth running along the League has to be funding SOMETHING, and indications are that this is not to our benefit. If there were to be such a drain upon our economy, it should at least go towards paying for our operations rather than a mystery party's.
    [X] plan rip the weeds out by the roots
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I believe that they were truly suborned by the Von Carsteins.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    -[X] Wurtbad, like all major cities, is home to a number of guilds. Reach out to them and enforce your will.
    -[X] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    [x] Backtracking and Side Operations:
    -[x] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them. Investigate them via correspondence.
    -[X] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    --[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    [X] Pragmatic advice
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: Their self-serving nature and incompetence only gave the Von Carsteins an opportunity.
    --[X] "I don't think there's sufficient evidence that suggests the rot was so widespread as to include my predecessor. Him being compromised would make it likely the League was compromised, together with his entire intelligence structure, and they could have dealt much more damage than has been done, had he truly been aimed at total subversion. Let's prepare for the worst, but not jump to premature conclusions just yet."
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    --[X] "That being said, finding and eliminating him as a player is of tantamount importance to get to the bottom of this. He's still in a position where he could cause substantial damage if he wanted to."
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not waste such a potent resource. Claim the League.
    --[X] "Tentatively. The concept is incredibly useful, giving us a ready-made flow of information many rulers could only dream of, without lifting so much as a finger. Yet, this requires that we find our predecessor first and look if we can claim it in the first place, and maintain it without employing the same...popularity-decreasing tactics."
    [x] Home Comforts: Your Palace-Shrine is bursting with potential. And also mud.
    -[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
    [x] Research:
    -[x] This is Stirland. Time to bone up on your knowledge of the Undead.
    -[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    --[x] Renald Blessing
    [x] Plan Renald Cult
    -[x] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I think that even if they were merely self serving and incompetent, it is not something we can risk betting on. A well entrenched spymaster could do a lot of damage if he really works with vampires. I think the risk of letting him go is too high.
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    --[x] Stirland economy is in poor shape, and the league carries much of the blame. It completely cripples trade that it isn't doing, which in turn lets it prey on local businesses and cripple their growth as well, and its tax exemptions make things even worse. While it is a bit of a shame to lose out on such an impressive intelligence engine. We can still do our job without crippling the economy.
    [x] As Per Orders: Perform your current assignment.
    -[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    -[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of
    --[x] Coordinate with Kasmir on this one
    [X] Allow the Morrites to examine them (does not take an action).
    [x] Plan Backlog
    -[x] The Wurtbad Watch already has their ear to the ground. Make their information flow to you.
    -[x] Personally vet everyone that works in the castle, and replace everyone you're not sure of the loyalties of
    -[x] Much of Western Stirland is under the de facto direct control of the Elector Count. Meet with each of the local leaders and make it clear that you're to be kept in the loop.
    -[x] Van Hal is considering candidates for the post of Marshal, and he has asked you to vet them. Investigate them in person.
    --[x] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help. *Renald's Blessing*
    -[x] Home Comforts: Your Palace-Shrine is bursting with potential. And also mud.
    --[x] Diggy Diggy Hole, Outsourced: Pay someone to do the digging, then Mindhole them on their way out. (no action required, -personal gold)
    -[X] A large number of Shyish-stained weapons were uncovered from the Barrow. Perhaps you should:
    --[x] Examine them yourself and see if they're useful, or dangerous, or both.
    ---[x] Bring an example or two to show your master while you are there.
    ----[X] Lead-lined steel case. Magic lock on top of mundane one.
    [X] That damn Asp has still been quiet, but maybe it's just biding it's time. Finally admit it's existence to your contacts back in the College and see if they know anything that can help.
    [X] Hang Out A Shingle: Spymasters don't advertise, but wizards sometimes do. Make an official announcement that there's a wizard in residence, and see who comes out of the woodwork.
    -[X] Filled with Potential: You've got a room cleared out and ready to be put to use. Decide what you're going to put there.
    -[X] a headquarters for your growing intelligence agency
    [X] Letters Home: You might be able to wring more information out of your Master, or you might just be able to get news, information and guidance in general from the Grey Order.
    [X] Answers TNE
    -[X] PREDECESSOR LOYALTY: I believe that they were truly suborned by the Von Carsteins.
    --[X] Reasoning: This was the man that created the Stirlandian League. A supremely selfish man, he had the power and the means, and vampire-dom is an offer many of such persuasion would find enormously attractive. Can't be sure, but it all fits too well.
    -[X] PREDECESSOR APPROACH: The rot lives on; we must excise it.
    --[X] We will forever be looking over our shoulders until we know for sure he is dead and done. Especially with our suspicions.
    -[X] STIRLANDIAN LEAGUE: Do not clasp the snake to your bosom. Destroy the League.
    --[X] Stirland as a whole needs to be stronger, even if it dearly costs in potential information gain. Our ultimate enemy and goal is Sylvannia. There's no way this ends without an army involved, and we need ours to be the biggest and baddest if we are going down this road.
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