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[Iituem]

Korgoth, please see the OOC thread for your traits.

Attempt to woo the chief with the sad story, submissive behaviour and attractiveness. ( I'm guessing my +1 as spy master still counts for this? Since acting skills and being good at tricking people are essential parts of being a spy. )

[6] Your act is a little too successful.  You are brought before the chief, an enormous man with sun-darkened skin and a magnificent white beard and he listens to your story.  Captivated by your beauty, he immediately commands that he will see all your needs met as his newest concubine, and a number of serving women arrive to escort you to your new hut.  They gossip quite freely once they are out of earshot of the chief, but it seems incredibly likely that the chief will come to, ahem, claim you this evening whether you like it or not.

Bribe the Pelt Trader with Pelts and the Jewels in exchange for Information about the Hillmen's Lands.

E: If it matters at all, this is what I'm interested in in order of importance:
1. The names of the six Hillmen tribes.
2. Their dispositions toward outsiders.
3. Their dispositions toward the other tribes.
4. The location of the capitals of the Hillmen tribes.
5. The location of any smaller Hillmen villages.
6. Trails, paths, etc. leading through the Hillmen lands.

[Finance: 2+1] You end up losing all of your furs at a thoroughly embarrassing rate, but the lengthy bartering does at least get the man talking.  He turns his nose up at the first ring you offer and you end up having to give him three to get him to talk, but you manage to avoid depleting the loot significantly.  [Minimal success - no check bonuses to information]

Spoiler: Infodump (click to show/hide)

[4,6,5,3,4] The trader is quite familiar with the six main clans.  The most powerful politically are the Alvings, based out of Alfjord (your current location).  This has a lot to do with the statesmanship of the clanlord and his kin; they have a long tradition of leadership and command.  When communication with Meridia, the Alvings are usually responsible for sending the emissary.  The Alvings have the most 'neutral' disposition toward the other tribes and outsiders.

The two low-hill clans, the Ath Cils and the Jallings, have the most fertile and game-filled land and tend to be traders more than raiders; the pelt-trader himself is a Jalling.  The Ath Cils are also known to occasionally mine copper or iron for the other clans, while the Jallings are mostly trappers.  These two clans have various villages scattered around the foothills, but their seats are Athill and Jalbron.  They are more open to trade with outsiders than other clans.

The richest clan are the Oddis, based at Odfjord, and they control several crossing points of the rivers in the Westhills.  Their wealth earns them some ire from the other clans and they are often fighting off raids from the more warlike clansmen.  On the other hand, much of the clan's current wealth is descended from the days they looted Meridia.

The most warlike clan is the Velkyr clan, a sparse but hardy people who live in the higher hills near the Herald's Home.  They raid other clans and other peoples constantly, and only the loose alliance of Hillfolk held by the Alvings keeps them from invading Meridia again.  They are enemies of the low clans and the Oddis, simply because they make the best targets.  The only clan the Velkyr seem to get on with are the Uthri, who are exempt from raiding.  Velkyr don't have a capital, but they do have a few fortified holdfasts in the high hills.

The Uthri, the trader explains in a hushed voice, are the scariest clan.  He doesn't advise trading with them.  They don't have villages or a capital, but are instead a fraternity of shamanistic travellers and wise men responsible for keeping the histories of their people.  They are also reputed to be able to deal in magic and fate, and killing one is considered to be terrible luck.  They lack distinctive clan markings or dress, though, so until they reveal themselves they could be anyone.

The trader draws you up a rough map of the Westhills, as well as the main trading towns and clear routes between them, plus some of the more useful villages for a trader to know.  You hand him a couple more rings as a thank you and walk away.

Just as you turn the corner around the street, a wrinkled old hand claps you on the shoulder.  You instinctively spin around to see a thin old man smiling toothlessly at you.  He appears to be garbed in furs and rags and clutches a thick staff for support.  His eyes are golden, like a wolf's.

"You seem an inquisitive sort," the old man croaks.  "What brings you to town?  And pray tell, do be honest."

[Grek]

Herr Gamel silently curses his luck. He thinks carefully for a moment.
"This man is must be one of the Uthri Shaman that the trader spoke of. It would not do to offend him - he might lay some vile curse on me. I must be honest."

"I come from the east, in Meridia, where I am a hunter. I haff come to the Hills to trade gold and pelts for knowledge of the six tribes. I have learned what I haff come to learn, and so I will soon depart. I cannot say more zan zat, save that I come in peace and vant no trouble."

[Azthor]

Lord Atsam turns towards the Commander "An interesting question, Commander Raeric, the seasonal reports should arrive later today; you will have your answer once we get to speaking of the royal treasury (...) though I must remind you that, while none will begrudge you your good intentions, it falls upon Lord Marshal to decide on matters pertaining to the army, at least until further appointment by His Majesty, not upon the Commander of the Guard" he says warningly.

Spoiler: Actions/Orders (click to show/hide)

Have the financial reports from across the realm brought to me and tally them for presentation before the Court.
Compile a list of the realm's noble vassals, free cities and bishopries, with their respective income and crown taxes.

He then calls Alexis over, his expression monotously blank.

"There is something I must ask you" he says, waiting for her reply.

[Alexandria]

Standing up from her place beside the king the young woman approached and stood silently before the man waiting.

[Digital Hellhound]

At the court, Hulen approached the king once more.

'Your Highness, with your permission, I will return to the Highwood to speak with the ancestors. They will know the omens and grant us their blessing. The peasantry believes fervently in the meaning of such things - you will have an army of the people overnight.'

Regardless of the King's answer, Hulen leaves for his temple to prepare for a ritual.

[Ardas]

The young king was pleased by the buzz of activity at his court. He rubbed his chin as he saw the mercenary enter and present his offer.

"A mercenary? I would like to hire you and use you against the hill peoples, if you claim to be as good as you are. I do need however for my courtiers to deliver to me a detailed report on state of finances to see what can be done."

King turned to his chancellor.
"Your plans regarding marriage are most... interesting. However I am uneasy with the idea of polluting the royal blood with barbarian one as well as any underhanded dealings that may come with it. However, if she proves to be an ... "appropriate" candidate, my mind might be swayed. Also, please consider my Commander to be my chief military officer for the time being. We both know our kingdom's army is pathetic, we don't need many officers to run it.
Last but not least, I need a report on our finances. That is your priority for now.

Grewie, consider yourself to be my new emissary to the Hillfolk. It will be your job to gain an insight of their demands and what caused them to rise. once you get that, report back ot me. You also have the taks of buying us some time before we reply. Feel free to sugggest that royal marriage might be an option, but do so sublty. I don't want open statements. So far I had no use of a mage yet, so consider this your test for usefulness at my court.

Hulen, you may do so. It is wise to curry favour with the gods, yes.

Kyle, I was thinking of establishing a more permament seat of learning than my royal library alone,a place where scholars and thinkersay work and produce new insights into the nature of things. Do survey my kingdom and find out if there are people who are both interested and wise enough to take part in this. Unless you can suggest something else you would like to do or thing my kingdom could use.

[Alexandria]

Nodding her head at the orders for the mage the blade at the kings side whispered quietly in his ear.

With permission I will send some of my sisters with him, bandits roam the hills and our mage being killed would make us look weak.

[Ardas]

Nodding her head at the orders for the mage the blade at the kings side whispered quietly in his ear.

With permission I will send some of my sisters with him, bandits roam the hills and our mage being killed would make us look weak.

You may do so.

[Alexandria]

Nodding and motioning to one of the blades around the room she whispered to her briefly then sent her from the room.

Returning several minutes later she approached the mage.

Your escort awaits, 10 sisters are in the courtyard. They will see you to the town then you are on your own.

[Azthor]

The Chancellor nods "Of course, my liege, though I am afraid I must have you wait a little longer, since the reports have yet to arrive in their entirety" [read: waiting on Iituem]

He approaches the King discreetly "As for the marriage, by tribal customs the marriage alone would make you the likely heir in the absence of a male one, should the current Clanlord perish, and in time, with no dynasty left to defend her rights, his daughter could be made into a concubine, allowing you to wed one of your liking by our own customs. The decision rests, of course, on your will alone"

His expression hardens slightly "While you are King, and therefore sovereign to appoint your own commanders. Your father's former Marshal retains the office by tradition until formally dismissed... where he anyone, tradition could, perhaps, be disregarded for once, but he is a Count amidst your vassals" he kneels before you "neglecting to go through the proper protocol before appointing your new Marshal of choice, or extinguishing the office, should you so wish, could well damage your landed vassals's opinion of you"

He lets you think it over before concluding "Shall I send for him?"

Later, with "Alexis"

"She has gone on her way to try and act ahead of this Council, has she not?" he explains "Three blades go, five return; a few days later, several weary ones appear in the Capital, as though returning from a botched mission... more importantly, none of them bear her voice, not even you, Blade"

He continues, approaching the King in the nervous Blade's company "If the Alving Clanlord were to die at the present moment, it'd be to our disadvantage. They are by and far the ones least wary of outsiders and, if he were to die as he is, a more aggressive tribe's ascendance would be inevitable"

His tone rises considerably, as though making an announcement "I will head to Alfjord myself, if you agree, to defuse this situation before it explodes on our faces, though I cannot do so unescorted, or it'd never be seen as an official delegation. What say you, Your Majesty, and you, Commander Raeric?"

[Alexandria]

Waiting a moment the blade then responded, her voice a perfect match to that of Alexis the blade smiled inwardly at the suddenly uncertain faces around her.

Voices can be very deceptive in my line of work. As for the rest, I answer to the king and none other and as such you hold no authority over me or my sisters.
The king's wishes shall be carried out as ordered, the required forces have likely reached the town by now, no thanks to the guides botched efforts.

My lord you have the opinion of myself and my sisters, we gather information on our enemy and then we remove them.
My orders contract stands and as such we are prepared to infiltrate the enemy and slaughter those who lead on your command/color]

Turning back to the chancellor the blade growled quietly her voice still a perfect match to that of Alexis.

Do not presume to judge me or my sisters, my oath is to the king, I tolerate you only at his command and my tolerance has limits. Remember that.

[Ardas]

"Very well, I shall speak with the Marshal first.

Also, I do not wish to have the situation changed at the moment. Even if they have been infiltrated, their chief should not be murdered under any circumstance, lest it sabotage our efforts to buy us time."

[Alexandria]

My blade is not one for rash actions.
As you surely know from our perfect record of success in serving the former king.

[10ebbor10]

Sire, if I might introduce myself. I'm Robert, one of the late King's court Architects. The Guilds have seen it fit to appoint me as one of their representatives, in order to settle relations and address certain problems.


((Actually, I think an OOC thread might be usefull. Last game seemed to have suffered from OOC in IC quite a bit))

[Ardas]

"Ah yes, a court architect. I actually was looking forward to someone like that. My kingdom is in idre need of public buildings and infrastructure. My chancellor shall give you few tasks, no doubt he is anxious ot put your skills to use."

King returned to his chancellor.
"I am afraid your job will be to stay here and look after my affair from a more...overarching perspective. My wizard Grewie was interested in being the meissary so I grated that privilege to him along with instructions on it. However, I am most interested in how chieftain's daughter looks like, if only to make sure I am not forced ot deal with with unpleasantness later on. I want you to bring me a portrait or your first hand account. You have free hand in howe you get it."