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Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

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I forgot about my Ranald x Shallya argument for Panoramia!

A transcendent friend of Ranald and a bright green Shallyan walk into a bar
Hijinks ensue
 
Rafin said:
I mean more are we allowed to come on to/flirt with Johann during the expedition if the chemistry is right, despite him losing the vote here?
I could see arguments either way. From a narrative and from a player interest perspective, battling by his side over a plethora of expeditionary chapters might change how Mathilde or the voters see him. From a fairness perspective it could be considered unfair that a losing option gets relitigated while being in a position where they have no active competition.
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No.

That's really not how things work in the quest if we don't vote to intiate a romance with Johann during the social turn there will be no Johann flirting/chemistry in the expedition.
 
[X] Belegar, to discuss the northern Karaks and the Expedition.
[X] Eike Hochschild, to get to know your future business partner.
[X] Barak Varr, to watch the progress of the canal.
 
It seems to be coming to:

[ ] [ROMANCE] Journeywoman Panoramia
vs:
[ ] [ROMANCE] The Ice Dragon of Karag Zilfin

One point to consider is that there is limited space in each turn. Whoever wins 'romance' vote will get that space. Whoever loses it will be much less present in quest, out of pure necessity.

Exact content of that screen time is different matter. It can be steamy romance, it can be platonic. It can be just being two friends spending life together. Whatever will be chosen, I trust Boney to make it interesting. But what are we really deciding now is a person that will get that slice of every turn: Druid or Dragon.

I prefer the Dragon.


In short: it's not about romance aspect. It's about who we want to read about in quest.
 
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SuperSonicSound said:
How the heck did we go from Johann and Pan being near parity in the first vote for romance to this result? :(
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Because Dragon, I think.

Also, for those not interested in multiple winners, the second place romance is 3 votes behind Kasmir, and 4 behind Eike. For those wanting a poly with a dragon and Pan, however: Congrats, you are close to winning!
 
Omegahugger said:
No, what you need are cute shippable moments.
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Very well, then.

BoneyM said:
You're quickly lost in a sea of faces you don't recognize, but you soon spot Anton talking animatedly to someone that looks like him plus thirty years, so you head over and are introduced to Baron Anton Kiesinger I. You're introduced as 'a friend from work', which you're pretty sure isn't one of your official titles, but okay.
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We've hardly met the guy, and he introduces us to his dad not as Spymaster Weber, Journeywoman Weber. No, she's Mathilde, a friend from work. He means it, too.

BoneyM said:
He shuffles the papers, then looks over to Anton. "How did you find the Knights of Morr?"

"I went to Siegfriedhof and they were right there," he replies, then smiles at the look Van Hal gave him.
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Anton was actually a bit braver than we were. We share similar senses of humor regarding wordplay, but he actually felt comfortable joking with his boss in a meeting, then getting back to work.

BoneyM said:
You enlist Anton's aid and you're soon in the workshop of the best carpenter in town, demanding he uproot all of his plans and start building an entire bedroom of furniture for you. Who are you? Good question. Perhaps you'd like to ask your good friend, the Heir of Blutdorf. Anton waves at the man. The man uproots all of his plans and starts building an entire bedroom of furniture for you.

It's nice to have friends.
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The first time Anton joined in on our antics. And the first time we called him our friend.

BoneyM said:
When Anton reappeared to get his next assignment before heading off again, you managed to grab him for a moment and asked him if there were children of nobility who'd be willing to work for a spymaster. He seemed delighted to be able to help you and promised to send off some letters, before shooting off to deal with whatever political hot potato is next on his agenda.

You end up with two interviews, and the first goes terribly when the young man starts responding to your questions with ones of his own and it quickly becomes apparent that somewhere along the line he got the impression that this was a date. You consider going along with it for half a second, then eye the young man's foppish clothes, braying laugh and overabundance of teeth and send him on his way, promising to yourself that you will get vengeance on Anton if it was deliberate on his part.
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Even while growing into his responsibilities and talents as a diplomat, Anton still had time to help us. He might have even shown some mischief if setting us up on that date was deliberate.

BoneyM said:
"Nobility," you say instantly. "I wish to be Knighted."

There's a sudden silence at the table, and everyone exchanges thoughtful looks. "Hmm," Van Hal says, eventually. "Knighting a Wizard... can we do this? Anton?"

"Precedent's entirely on your side," he says with a grin, seemingly delighted to welcome you into noble ranks. "Dieter IV's open sale of knighthoods went unchallenged, after all. You can knight anyone you damn well please. As for the titles, they'd exist side-by-side. The Knightly Orders are technically monastical organizations, but noble and ecclesiastical titles are held together."
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Backs us up in an instant, and is absolutely delighted to have us elevated to his social level.
BoneyM said:
Anton hurries out of the crowd and takes up position next to the throne - Van Hal never bothered to appoint an envoy, but the ceremony demands one so Anton is it - and he calls out, "The Count now calls Mathilde Weber to come before this Court."

Okay. Just like Anton taught you.

You walk forward and stand before Van Hal. You notice all over again just how tall the man is.

"Mathilde Weber, have you undertaken to accept the accolade of Knighthood that was offered to you at Eagle Castle?"

"I have."

Without turning, Van Hal addresses Anton. "Sir Anton Kiesinger II, as a member of the Peerage, do you now affirm that Mathilde Weber has grown in virtue and honour, the hallmarks of a true and faithful Peer?"

Unable to keep the smile from his face or his voice, Anton recites; "may it please my Liege to know that having heard the counsel of my Peers, and from my own certain knowledge, I am able to affirm that Mathilde Weber is a worthy lady whose achievements on the field of honour have been matched by her services to the Empire."
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He personally coached us for our knighting ceremony, and volunteered to be our sponsor for knighthood. He means every word, too.

BoneyM said:
Once more, you're all gathered around the council table. Anton sits with a look of concentration on his face, trying to think of a new pretence to ask you something just so he can call you Dame Mathilde; you'll tell him to stop it as soon as you get tired of hearing it, which will probably be never.
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Again, immediately catches on to the games we want to play and plays along to a T.
BoneyM said:
Once more the council meeting is in Fort Redemption. This time Anton has managed to make it down, fresh from Ostermark, and is deep in conversation with Van Hal. "Now, Anton," he's saying, "when I said that I was authorizing payment for mercenaries, did you note the plural?"

"Well, technically..." Anton begins.

"A steed doesn't count."

"I think this one does," you murmur. Once more, you look out the window at where an enormous jade-green dragon is being fed whole roast pigs by awed troops, under the watchful eye of an elf clad in bejewelled armour.
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Keep in mind, this is after he already worked diplomatic miracles in Flensburg and Western Stirland, but this is what cemented Anton in thread consciousness. The man pulls off the same crazy stuff we do, just innocently.

BoneyM said:
You realize through your warring thoughts that someone's calling out to you, and find Anton running up behind you. For an instant you think that the girl's changed her mind and sent him as a runner, but Anton catches his breath after a moment. "I resigned," he says, outrage warring with exhaustion in his voice - it's barely a minute from the castle, he needs to work on his fitness - "I'll not be having with that."

You smile at him, remembering what you found so long ago while rifling through his things: the letters written in secret to his aunt in the Jade College, long since slain in the service of the Empire. "Thank you," you say simply, and the two of you walk down the road from Eagle Castle into the town of Wurtbad.
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Anton stands by our side. Always.

BoneyM said:
"Fifty-three! Who's number fifty-three?"

Grinning, you step forward. "I've a complaint about the conditions of the roads," you say.

Anton sighs. "For one, the roads are the responsibility of the Elector Count, you'll have to take it up in Wurtbad, for two there's a number system, unless you're number fifty-three-" he stops as he finally notices you. "Mathilde! Oh gosh, it's you!" He practically leaps from the throne to hug you and you return it with a laugh. He turns from you to yell up at the guards, "send someone to bring snacks from the kitchens, court is adjourning."

The people around you grumble a bit, but the promise of snacks keeps them happy as Anton leads you into the keep proper, which is vastly more modestly-scaled than the castle you're used to, and into a comfortable little sunroom where he stokes the fire to life and offers you a drink from the sideboard.
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He's genuinely delighted to see us, and even if he pauses court to talk with us, he still cares enough to bring snacks out to his people.

BoneyM said:
Anton spends some time trying to talk himself into going with you, but no matter how he tries to twist things he can't get around the responsibility he has to Blutdorf. He apologizes to you for his inability to come with, and makes you promise to not die. Then he makes you follow him around for half a day as he tries to find a suitable going away present, and finally presents you with a cartload of the finest crossbows Blutdorf has to offer. You point it towards the forces gathering in Averland, thank Anton, and give him the biggest hug you can muster.
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Anton's responsibilities as a Baron trump even his relationship with us, which in my eyes is even better than if he had gone with us.

BoneyM said:
"Or," he says nervously, "I could just marry you." You almost laugh off his words, but Anton doesn't generally joke about such topics, and your surprised stare spurs him to continue. "It's like with Wilhelmina and trade. There are things I," he waves his hands vaguely in the air. "I don't understand, and I know I don't understand them, and I'd much rather just let someone who I trust that does know what they're doing take over. Probably whoever I end up marrying is going to be able to get me to do just about anything they want to, so I might as well marry someone that can already do that and hasn't done anything bad with it, right?"
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This is pretty much a summation of Anton's relationship with Mathilde. From the first day they met, Anton handed Mathilde his trust. It was a gift without strings or conditions, and it has never been questioned, let alone revoked. He is a man utterly without guile, and an optimism strong enough to beat our cynicism.

BoneyM said:
. And though they may be far down the list of local leaders, the Baron of Blutdorf and the President of the Eastern Imperial Company are also here to pay their respects.

The first introduction to make is, of course, to Wolf. Anton lowers himself on one knee to return Wolf's quizzical stare, nods gravely, and gives independent verification of Wolf's status as a Good Boy, and from that moment on Wolf remains stuck to Anton's side.
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In addition, I highly encourage you all to reread the entirety of Mathilde's celebration of Two-Gifts Day with Anton and his dad. It pretty much encapsulates everything about their dynamic that I love.
 
DiceOfStupidity said:
It seems to be coming to:

[ ] [ROMANCE] Journeywoman Panoramia
vs:
[ ] [ROMANCE] The Ice Dragon of Karag Zilfin

One point to consider is that there is limited space in each turn. Whoever wins 'romance' vote will get that space. Whoever loses it will be much less present in quest, out of pure necessity.

Exact content of that screen time is different matter. It can be steamy romance, it can be platonic. It can be just being two friends spending life together. Whatever will be chosen, I trust Boney to make it interesting. But what are we really deciding now is a person that will get that slice of every turn: Druid or Dragon.

I prefer the Dragon.
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Romance may not necessarily take up all that much space. I, for one, still root for the pairing of Mathilde x work/research, and wouldn't be surprised if events took precedence over her love life, as it did in the turn after the first two dates.
 
So, would both Panoramia and the Ice dragon winning lead to a "Ah yes, me. my girlfriend. and her 5000 thousand years old ice dragon" situation?

because I'm down for that.
 
[X] [ROMANCE] The Ice Dragon of Karag Zilfin

To me this is prety simple, more than anyone else Cython showed to be the same kind of cat as Mathield, so I am very interested in seeing how this would develop.

Also Regimand and Melkoth are already going to be part of the duck club and chance of also having the Emperor Dragon taking part would be worth pursuing on that alone, besides Boney already said that there will be a folow up vote on wether Mathield want's Poly or is just playing the field so that is no reason to not get the Dragon in the top 4
 
[X] [ROMANCE] Journeywoman Panoramia
[X] [ROMANCE] Elector Countess Roswita van Hal
[X] Belegar, to discuss the northern Karaks and the Expedition.
[X] Barak Varr, to watch the progress of the canal.
[X] Eike Hochschild, to get to know your future business partner.
[X] The Gold College, to see what's become of their research into Skaven technology.

Panoramia has a fun vibe with Mathilde, and I continue to hold out hope for Roswita's enemies -> friends -> lovers arc. In particular, I'd really like a chance to gauge Mathilde's chemistry with Roswita in a setting a little more conducive to romance than showing up to watch her give a paper to an academic conference.

On the non-romance front, if the Gold College was going to make such a huge deal out of getting us to hand over all our Skaven goodies for research then I'd like to see what they're actually accomplishing with it.
 
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