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[Taricus]

"Because it isn't betraying your country. And besides, how do you know that killing me and dragging my corpse will benefit you more anyhow, unless you were planning on becoming queen yourself, and that's assuming that popular opinion would massively support the person that actually took the traitor queen's head from her shoulders.

However, if I cannot garner your support, I'd like one thing: A guarantee that you'll not intervene in the events to come."

[Shootandrun]

"You are the best man for the job, William. I do want you to have the title. Before we do anything official, though, I need to tell you something."

He paused. He did not show any emotion - his face might have been made of stone.

"I murdered Nikephoros."

[filiusenox]

William doesn't even looked bothered, keeping one hand on his side, tapping his fingers against his hip.

"Sorta guessed it. Long as you don't try to kill me or my dream, i'm fine with it."

[Shootandrun]

You arrogant, cocky son-of-an-abomination. Not even bothered.

"You don't understand... Of course not. I should not have thought that you would."

He drew the Thunderblade out of its scabbard with a strange care, and he slowly placed it upon the table. He looked at the words written on the blade for a long moment.

"The words written on this side of the blade are 'Honor, Justice, Strength.' It was written on the sword long ago, and it has become my family's motto. Honor before Justice, Justice before Strength. My family was built with that blade, William. My grandfather rose to glory using that sword. It was used for many things - duels, battles, executions, oaths, a few men even got knighted with it. However, it was never used for murder - until I killed Nikephoros with it. He trusted me, the fool, and he thought that I wouldn't attempt to stop his madness, so I betrayed his trust and assassinated him."

He looked directly at William's eyes.

"The man I was three years ago would have killed on sight the man I am now. Traitor and murderer."

He sighed.

"I've been starting to wonder if it's all worth it."

[Child of Armok]

And what kind of person are we talking of?

[CyberGenesis]

Find a secluded place and experiment on the (probably meager) power storage of the various rocks Eurika collected earlier.

There was probably no possibility that mundane stones would hold as much power as, say, a hunk of iron, but thoroughness was paramount.

[41] Draining various stones gives you a good estimate of their storage ability and your thoughts are confirmed - the more refined the material the better. Attempting this experiment cost you though, as there was some backlash of energy from a handful of attempts that the power you gathered had no where to go. You're not sure how it'll affect you, but you're sure you should practice some caution for the near future.

"Because it isn't betraying your country. And besides, how do you know that killing me and dragging my corpse will benefit you more anyhow, unless you were planning on becoming queen yourself, and that's assuming that popular opinion would massively support the person that actually took the traitor queen's head from her shoulders.

However, if I cannot garner your support, I'd like one thing: A guarantee that you'll not intervene in the events to come."

[26] "Well you are worth five ducats, and breathing isn't so much a requirement anymore. Besides, with you dead and should I be the bearer of your head...Well we are still missing a Lord in the Leadership..." She studies you for a few moments, "I have my work cut out here dealing with William's failures - another great choice you made - and won't be back to Talama soon. So should you succeed, I prefer exile to death. If you don't, well none of this really matters."

"What I would request is of very... specific nature and something that Lord Cain must know of. I'm in need of manpower. Slaves, criminals, undesirables. All the people that will not be missed or aren't of great worth to anyone. Experiment that I'm currently involved in requires... a lot of test subjects or so to speak. A few hundred people or so.

Now, while I understand that this sounds absurd and ridiculous, it would be silly of me not to tell Lord Cain about it and to try to obtain these...."candidates" myself. It involves no death magic or blood sacrifice, honest. I'm merely working on ... "technical applications and feasibility of high energy states drawn from bio-spiritual source and contained in  crystal lattices ".

Phew, that bit of technobabble might confuse the fellow and get me the meeting.

"So you need a few expendable souls. Very well, I'll convey your needs to My Lord."

A day later...
[31] "Your request has been granted due to the implications of your success. Know, however, that your request is only acceptable while results are produced and supplies are limited. So be careful not to break your tools..."

A young man is dropped off into your lab, gagged and blindfolded, tied to the chair he was carried in on. He looks a little worse for wear, but suitable to your research.

[Taricus]

"Well, you'd be dealing with a lot more of William's fallout in future if I don't succeed, as I assume you've heard that news already. And why would I punish you if I win Alaria? Please, I do need to know why you honestly think that..."

[Skyrunner]

Hmm. Okay, she should have thought of a place to put that energy. This time, with metal she should go.

Head to Laythe's army's armory person and ask for any weapons or other steel items like spear tips or arrow heads that aren't fit to be repaired and reused in the field.

[Ardas]

Bugger.Will one man be enough? and that bastard wants results too... As long as the imbued effect won't wear off from the stone and if cain can be stalled for long enough then maybe my Project may be completed

He walked over to the man, briefly looked at him and begun setting up the table. He placed the table in front of the man, and he placed the stone on the table. A full soul should be enough to transfer a small chunk of Gav's own ability and imbue the stone with it. Hopefully, the quartz will take on similar, soul-reaving properties and will become a perfect conduit and centrepiece for the remainder of the project.

Gav stood next to the table, placing one hand on man's shoulder, ignoring his movement, and the other on the stone. He concentrated on himself and then on the cool object. He begun his work.

Using the man as the source of energy, Gavin attempts to imbue the stone with his own ability to specifically manipulate soul energy. A minuscule chunk of his own soul will be used to transfer the characteristic onto the stone, while the "test subject" will fuel the process. Drain him as much as possible without killing him.

[filiusenox]

William remains silent for a few moments, before stepping over to the other side of the table and sitting down.

He hesitates for a moment.

"What did Nike's madness entail then, Kathos?"

[Shootandrun]

"He wanted to go to war over stained honor. He had decided that the battle of Mileth was a victory that had been stolen from him... And he wanted it back. He could not find any other reason. And when I told him I refused, he got... Angry. He had placed me in my position, and he expected to have a loyal pawn, who would only tell him what he wanted to hear. Fool. In the end he made it clear that he would go to Mileth, and that I could not stop him. He was mad, incompetent, arrogant and wroth... But I had a sword, and he had a firearm. I think he believed he was safe that way. Fool."

[Deny]

Continue trying to gather enogh people to start a proper settlement, if/when enough are gatherd attempt to settle the land

[filiusenox]

In Polca:

And what kind of person are we talking of?

"Any kind of person I say. No one too important, of course."


In the Council Room:
William taps his fingers on the table, staring at Kathos.
"More then one man would have died if he attempted to take Mileth. If you need to balm your conscious then think of how many men you just saved from a possible meat-grinder. How many wives and children and parents won't have worry about their loved ones."

[Child of Armok]

I'm willing to help you, milord.

So, what's my first job for you?

[Shootandrun]

"That is what I tell myself, William. I made my choice there and then, and I believe it was the best option. What is a madman's life next to hundreds of soldiers dying under the walls of a city?"

Kathos took back his sword, and he sighed.

"I thought you needed to know, before you took the man's position. Since one of the members of the assembly is with Alaria and Alaria might join Laythe, I can't see you getting elected anytime soon - therefore, I name you temporary Lord Protector, since I can safely say that this is a time of crisis - Laythe's forces in Ligorian lands count as an invading army, as far as I know. Once her forces are out of the limits of our territory or have been wiped out, we'll name an official Lord Protector.

For now, we must prepare to face Laythe. She will be going to Ligoria now - she must know that this will be her only chance. Depending on whether or not she has Alaria on her side, she may outnumber us. Still, we have the walls, and an inestimable advantage - you are an outstanding general and I am an experimented siege master, while Laythe has no experience of strategy, and Alaria is a cavalry commander. We must not underestimate them... But we can assume that we have a tactical advantage there.

We can try to even the balance of powers by stopping the training of the soldiers currently being drilled in the city. This will cost us in the long run, but I believe it's worth it. If we can get enough troops on the wall, Laythe won't have the numbers to storm the city. And if she can't get in that way, she will only have two options left - using treachery, or starving us out.

Treachery is a risk. Laythe may still have loyalists in Talama - even though she killed hundreds of citizens when she fled in her instant of madness. To prevent such men from placing us in a dangerous position, I suggest that we place our personal guards to defend the city gates, the palace, and the food stores.

Finally, she might try to install a real siege. That could be dangerous. Talama has a very large population, and we'll have a lot of men to feed - our ships won't be able to sustain the city eternally, I fear. We could take control of the merchant ships, but that would place men who want the siege to end this side of the wall - more potential traitors. I suggest that we take the food of the farmers around the city, and invite the farmers inside the walls. This will enlarge our food stores and stop Laythe from feeding her forces from the fields. We'll give back the food to the farmers once this is all over, or, if we need to eat it, we'll pay them back in spring. We should also poison every well, pond and small lake within three days' march of the capital. It does not need to be permanent - just throw a few dead animals in and the water will be undrinkable for a long time. That way, Laythe won't have food or water - which means she will either have to storm the walls, or to leave. If she storms the walls, she will not have the numbers take the city - hopefully - and if she leaves now, her credibility will die - and her claim on the throne will follow.

Any comments or suggestions, Lord Protector?"