Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
And I actually had a bit about Melkoth written up some; talking about how "Yeah, this guy is old enough that he walks with a cane. He's visibly an old guy." "Plus, we're not 100% sure he's actually Melkoth; it could be he just got good enough at casting Melkoth's Miasma, that he then took the name." "Or any other appropriate Grey Wizard bullshit."
Maybe Melkoth was just being generous and decided to nuke every Lord Magister's Birthday?
 
[X] There's a festival to Grungni coming up, and Johann has taken to observing the Holy Days of the Ancestor-God. Join him in this.
[X] The Halflings are renowned chefs, and several restaurants have opened clustered around the base of Karag Nar. Share a meal with her.
[X] Conceal matters you know the Dwarves would prefer you conceal
 
-The dwarven Civil war moment in Karaz-a-Karak.
-The golem

-The vaults Belegar is melting all those old coins from.

-Other Dwarven religious rites
I think these should all fall under "Keep this secret."

Because the dwarf almost-Civil-War-moment in Karaz-a-Karak... it's too much. That's something that is being kept secret from every other Dwarf and the public. So, no, this falls under "secret." Basically, like... The sheer depths of the rift between Belegar and Thorgrim... maybe not reveal that much?

The vault thing should absolutely stay secret! It is a secret! Belegar does not want this known! If this is known by somebody outside of the Empire, they have blackmail and leverage over him. Just... no.

As for Dwarf religious rites... I'd probably keep that out, actually. Like, maybe some holidays or something, but... Well. Religious rites is getting into personal Dwarf culture and stuff, so...

As for the golem... I'd also keep that out. Because that is something that is both a strategic asset of Karak Eight Peaks, and it involves some secrets of Runesmithing. So yeah. Definitely keep this private and not share it at all.
 
[X] There's a festival to Grungni coming up, and Johann has taken to observing the Holy Days of the Ancestor-God. Join him in this.
[X] The Halflings are renowned chefs, and several restaurants have opened clustered around the base of Karag Nar. Share a meal with her.
[X] Conceal matters you know the Dwarves would prefer you conceal
 
[X] Speak honestly of everything you're asked about, even outright secrets of the Karaz Ankor

This isn't a gossip session; the Chamberlain is only going to ask questions on topics necessary to the stability of the Empire and its alliance with the Dwarves. The option also isn't "gabble on about everything we know". The vast majority of secrets will not be asked about because they don't know to ask.

I think option 2 here is the worst of both worlds. If the Chamberlain asks on a topic and Mathilde stonewalls, that's a loss of trust. If the Chamberlain asks about something sensitive and we spill with the excuse that "we weren't specifically told not to" , that's a loss of trust on the other side. Neither balances out the other, so everyone is unhappy.

Being wishy-washy and trying not to commit to either side is a coward's choice. If you want to keep the Dwarves' confidence, do. If you want to demonstrate loyalty to the Empire, do. Go 1 or 3, not 2.
 
[X] Speak honestly of everything you're asked about, even outright secrets of the Karaz Ankor

This isn't a gossip session; the Chamberlain is only going to ask questions on topics necessary to the stability of the Empire and its alliance with the Dwarves. The option also isn't "gabble on about everything we know". The vast majority of secrets will not be asked about because they don't know to ask.

I think option 2 here is the worst of both worlds. If the Chamberlain asks on a topic and Mathilde stonewalls, that's a loss of trust. If the Chamberlain asks about something sensitive and we spill with the excuse that "we weren't specifically told not to" , that's a loss of trust on the other side. Neither balances out the other, so everyone is unhappy.

Being wishy-washy and trying not to commit to either side is a coward's choice. If you want to keep the Dwarves' confidence, do. If you want to demonstrate loyalty to the Empire, do. Go 1 or 3, not 2.

Do you want to get killed by dwarfs? Because revealing secrets we swore to keep is how you get killed by dwarfs, no iffs and buts.
 
I think option 2 here is the worst of both worlds. If the Chamberlain asks on a topic and Mathilde stonewalls, that's a loss of trust. If the Chamberlain asks about something sensitive and we spill with the excuse that "we weren't specifically told not to" , that's a loss of trust on the other side. Neither balances out the other, so everyone is unhappy.

Being wishy-washy and trying not to commit to either side is a coward's choice. If you want to keep the Dwarves' confidence, do. If you want to demonstrate loyalty to the Empire, do. Go 1 or 3, not 2
If "I swore to the Dawi not to reveal this" isn't a valid reason to stay quiet the Empire should get a new foreign relations guy.

You do not want to break a promise to someone who will remember it for at least three generations.
 
None of the 2 wikis, or 1d4chan, or any of the excerpt quotes of the actual texts about her... ... ever say anything about centuries. (And the 1d4chan entry said that Elspeth has had like all of one appearance in any lore, and has only got a single paragraph about her. It's in the Tamurkhan book thing. SO. Her popularity and widespreadness... is due to fan popularity.)
I do think there was a RPG supplement for 2ed with her in it, or at least her tower.
 
[X] Speak honestly of everything not explicitly secret, including rifts within the Karaz Ankor
[X] Though you both use your magic to cheat, you both have an interest in personal fitness. Work out with him.
[X] The Halflings are renowned chefs, and several restaurants have opened clustered around the base of Karag Nar. Share a meal with her.
 
Ok then, I'll try to propose a vote:

[X] Plan Micromanage:
-[X] Try to balance your debts and responsibilities.
-[X] Keep to answering question, with but a few things that you raise as of interest.
--[X] Tell them that Ulthar is heir now, and about his character, but merely say that there was downright human unpleasantness around the whole matter and that as dwarves, the whole thing is a massive pot of shame best left unmentioned and untouched.
--[X] Share what you know of Belegar on a surface level, but keep back about his crisis of faith. Do mention he is unortodox and it has caused friction with more elderly clans/holds.
--[X] Don't mention the rift directly, personally, but warn him you witnessed a moment where a dwarven civil war might have happened, without going into the details. And that you'd like to stop something like that from happening, if possible.
--[X] Do talk about the rift between the holds, but talk about it as a Young/Old holds kind of thing, with Belegar and the High King as focus points. As competing theories of what is proper, culturaly and martially. Hint that there is more to it, but under the kind of seals that would make dwarves go to war to protect. War on the whole Empire, possibly.
---[X] Do go into the non-classified/non-privileged, general information on what the stances are between the two main currents. The Old and the New.
---[X] The golem (without the five-soul runes detail), and how dwarves in general are about old things is definitely insight the top Empire diplomat wants to have, if they don't have it already. Just put it in more general, less personal terms if he asks.
--[X] Do mention the canal project, if he is unaware, he needs to know.
--[X] Don't talk about the We directly, that should be their choice first, but do mention that the slik situation might be suffering some major disruptions soon from K8Ps.
--[X] The Dragon and its ceasefire. Dragons fly. The Empire should know it's there, if he asks. Otherwise, you should inform your boss.
--[X] Mention your Thane status and it's implications as you understand it. It shouldn't matter, but you're not the top Empire diplomat. He might know some way to use it.
--[X] Don't share dwarven language with him. That's secret/earned in person. Do share insight into general dwarven culture and behaviors, as long as it is scrubbed of personal details and couched in general terms.
--[X] Do tell him details about other noble dwarves, their opinions and preferences. Anything public, at least. If things were said in confidence, only use them in non-personal ways. IE: I've noticed some dwarven organizers struggle with working with humans because of how different the problems that come up are, between the two species. You can hint without outright saying things. He's a diplomat. This should be bread and butter for him.

Really, if this was anything but diplomacy, I'd trust Mat to handle it. As it is, I'm not sure if this is helping or hurting, but I think going in there already committed what you will and won't reveal if asked is a good idea.
 
I do think there was a RPG supplement for 2ed with her in it, or at least her tower.
Is there? As far as I'm aware, she was invented in Throne of Chaos.

[X] Speak honestly of everything not explicitly secret, including rifts within the Karaz Ankor
[X] There's a festival to Grungni coming up, and Johann has taken to observing the Holy Days of the Ancestor-God. Join him in this.
[X] Though you rarely think of those days, you did grow up on a farm and know something of the soil. Spend time with her as she goes about her work.
 
[X] Though you rarely think of those days, you did grow up on a farm and know something of the soil. Spend time with her as she goes about her work.
[X] You've got a puppy, he's got several. Easy. Spend time with him as your pup plays with his.
 
And I actually had a bit about Melkoth written up some; talking about how "Yeah, this guy is old enough that he walks with a cane. He's visibly an old guy." "Plus, we're not 100% sure he's actually Melkoth; it could be he just got good enough at casting Melkoth's Miasma, that he then took the name." "Or any other appropriate Grey Wizard bullshit."
It's worth noting that if we're discarding things about Melkoth on the basis of Grey Wizard Bullshit we have to discard almost everything about Melkoth on the basis of Grey Wizard Bullshit, the wrinkles and cane could also be theater. (Which isn't to say you're wrong in your overall point, I don't really know enough about the lore to have a firm stance.)
 
Ok then, I'll try to propose a vote:

[X] Plan Micromanage:
-[X] Try to balance your debts and responsibilities.
-[X] Keep to answering question, with but a few things that you raise as of interest.
--[X] Tell them that Ulthar is heir now, and about his character, but merely say that there was downright human unpleasantness around the whole matter and that as dwarves, the whole thing is a massive pot of shame best left unmentioned and untouched.
--[X] Share what you know of Belegar on a surface level, but keep back about his crisis of faith. Do mention he is unortodox and it has caused friction with more elderly clans/holds.
--[X] Don't mention the rift directly, personally, but warn him you witnessed a moment where a dwarven civil war might have happened, without going into the details. And that you'd like to stop something like that from happening, if possible.
--[X] Do talk about the rift between the holds, but talk about it as a Young/Old holds kind of thing, with Belegar and the High King as focus points. As competing theories of what is proper, culturaly and martially. Hint that there is more to it, but under the kind of seals that would make dwarves go to war to protect. War on the whole Empire, possibly.
---[X] Do go into the non-classified/non-privileged, general information on what the stances are between the two main currents. The Old and the New.
---[X] The golem (without the five-soul runes detail), and how dwarves in general are about old things is definitely insight the top Empire diplomat wants to have, if they don't have it already. Just put it in more general, less personal terms if he asks.
--[X] Do mention the canal project, if he is unaware, he needs to know.
--[X] Don't talk about the We directly, that should be their choice first, but do mention that the slik situation might be suffering some major disruptions soon from K8Ps.
--[X] The Dragon and its ceasefire. Dragons fly. The Empire should know it's there, if he asks. Otherwise, you should inform your boss.
--[X] Mention your Thane status and it's implications as you understand it. It shouldn't matter, but you're not the top Empire diplomat. He might know some way to use it.
--[X] Don't share dwarven language with him. That's secret/earned in person. Do share insight into general dwarven culture and behaviors, as long as it is scrubbed of personal details and couched in general terms.
--[X] Do tell him details about other noble dwarves, their opinions and preferences. Anything public, at least. If things were said in confidence, only use them in non-personal ways. IE: I've noticed some dwarven organizers struggle with working with humans because of how different the problems that come up are, between the two species. You can hint without outright saying things. He's a diplomat. This should be bread and butter for him.

Really, if this was anything but diplomacy, I'd trust Mat to handle it. As it is, I'm not sure if this is helping or hurting, but I think going in there already committed what you will and won't reveal if asked is a good idea.
Putting aside each of the individual points I disagree with, I think that going through on a point-by-point basis is a lot more liable to trip Mathilde up and make it obvious we're weighing what to tell him than a simple rule like "What's a secret" or "What the Dwarves wouldn't like to talk about" would be.
 
[X] Conceal matters you know the Dwarves would prefer you conceal.

when can we know about the final tally. I know boneym closes voteing but I cant see how close my votes get or the general feel of the other voters. Just the results when it comes with the update.
 
I really do not like write-ins for something like this.

I especially really do not like write-ins that are that big, and which try to use our -- us poster's -- judgment on everything that is or is not classified or secret or sensitive!

I think trying to micro-manage this is the worst possible thing to do.

EDIT: Wow, reading it again makes me wince-panic even more. Just... no. Plus, this reads more like trying to tell Mathilde's story of K8P and hit all the sensitive stuff doing so. (And using personal judgment on what to tell, which...) Rather than just trying to tell him what would be useful for Dwarf culture and diplomacy. Something -- the Dwarf culture at least, and the current political stage of some of the holds at least -- that we, Mathilde that is, would actually be suited for.
 
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when can we know about the final tally. I know boneym closes voteing but I cant see how close my votes get or the general feel of the other voters. Just the results when it comes with the update.
Go up to the top right of the page, next to the Watch/Unwatch button, click on "Thread Tools", then on "Vote Tally", then on "Tally".
 
I really do not like write-ins for something like this.

I especially really do not like write-ins that are that big, and which try to use our -- us poster's -- judgment on everything that is or is not classified or secret or sensitive!

I think trying to micro-manage this is the worst possible thing to do.

Although I do not agree with the winning vote I do agree with this sentiment. I think we should trust Mathilde's judgement on this one regardless of what is chosen.
 
[X] Conceal matters you know the Dwarves would prefer you conceal

[X] There's a festival to Grungni coming up, and Johann has taken to observing the Holy Days of the Ancestor-God. Join him in this.

[X] The Halflings are renowned chefs, and several restaurants have opened clustered around the base of Karag Nar. Share a meal with her.
 
except possibly Ambers (the brainless jocks of the Wizarding world)
Johann wants a word.
The Empress looks not a year older than when you first met her as Gabrielle,
Which was... late teens, maybe early 20s apparent age, IIRC?
Shallyans could make a killing with that anti wrinkle cream.
And I actually had a bit about Melkoth written up some; talking about how "Yeah, this guy is old enough that he walks with a cane. He's visibly an old guy." "Plus, we're not 100% sure he's actually Melkoth; it could be he just got good enough at casting Melkoth's Miasma, that he then took the name." "Or any other appropriate Grey Wizard bullshit."
Maybe Melkoth was just being generous and decided to nuke every Lord Magister's Birthday?
Melkoth was a Lord Magister Grey for a decade or two, but got bored of the anonymity, so he made everyone forget and took on the identity of Melkoth. Just never established a birthday.
 
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Johann:

[X] There's a festival to Grungni coming up, and Johann has taken to observing the Holy Days of the Ancestor-God. Join him in this.

Throwing a vote for the only option I do not feel conflicted about.

Also, I actually really like this option. :)

It's Johann and Mathilde, spending time during a Dwarf holiday! This is just... this is great. I -- actually really want to see this?

Not just for the potential/possible lore and culture of Dwarf stuff, but because... I really want to see what Mathilde is like on a holiday or festival or whatever. And, moreover, to see her trying to relax and have fun during such a thing.

I really do want to see it. :)
 
We really need a better diplomacy score. There are a lot of tactics I can think of where we get the best of both words, but all of them require Mathilde to have at least a not vastly inferior diplomacy score with the diplomacy expert of the empire, which... no, at least not yet.
 
I think write-ins cause a lot of trouble because they're very rigid, and that means that it puts QMs in a vice. Either they can meet every requirement on the checklist they've just been handed and everything goes exactly to plan, in which case somebody else has written the update for them, or they have to deal with the players explicitly going for something that they can only see causing trouble, so they let the players get in trouble and now everybody's day is ruined.

It's probably for the best to just assume that the QM has your general best intent in mind and let them sort out the specifics, because nobody wants to have to deal with SV planning (and monologuing) like an overly complicated super villain.

Edit: Specifically the Micro-manage-y ones, not necessarily all write-ins.
 
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