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[Stonecutters]

Options for Raynor:

1. We build a reputation that is similar to Vlad the Impaler, so none of our enemies will dare fuck with us. This can be accomplished with mind magic, or illusions. 

2. Spy Network, Barick has already got some thugs on the street we could expand this.

3. We continue to make allies and friends from youngest noble to lowliest of peasants. This way we have friends/allies in the more seeder places and some in higher places.

Anyways, we should continue expanding a metalworking industry because we are still gunning for the Island Nation. We also have some good excuses to hire teachers about offensive and defensive magic now. Also, how is that gift going for Ritalia?

I think we should give that noble that saved us Royal Protector because it is another pawn we could use in the court. Better yet a position within the city guard because you never know when you might need someone who command the quite a bit of man power to perform a coup.

I don't think a cruel or sadistic reputation is justifiable IC. Anyway I prefer the approach Raynor takes right now because I can respect him as a leader.

The noble who came to our aid does deserve to be rewarded, but not with land. The title Royal Protector seems good enough; However I think we should also pay him a visit in person to thank him, possibly with a gift.

Is the King's consort the mother of Eric (I think that's his name. The boy who is possibly going to be legitimized.)? We really need to find out from our mother what happened during our absence that caused her to fall out of favor, and for the consort to take over because I think she may be trying to secure power for her son so that she can rule from behind the scenes. Eric doesn't seem very ambitious, and I think he is being manipulated by his mother. Its very possible she was the one who tried to have us assassinated to remove us as an obstacle. If the king let slip to his consort about the golden pin, or its more well known, its more probable she is behind it. It's also possible our Uncle is behind the attacks, or our older brother (though I cant think of a motive for either of them), but they have much less to gain from our death than the Consort would. She is the biggest suspect.

[3man75]

Options for Raynor:

1. We build a reputation that is similar to Vlad the Impaler, so none of our enemies will dare fuck with us. This can be accomplished with mind magic, or illusions. 

2. Spy Network, Barick has already got some thugs on the street we could expand this.

3. We continue to make allies and friends from youngest noble to lowliest of peasants. This way we have friends/allies in the more seeder places and some in higher places.

Anyways, we should continue expanding a metalworking industry because we are still gunning for the Island Nation. We also have some good excuses to hire teachers about offensive and defensive magic now. Also, how is that gift going for Ritalia?

I think we should give that noble that saved us Royal Protector because it is another pawn we could use in the court. Better yet a position within the city guard because you never know when you might need someone who command the quite a bit of man power to perform a coup.

I don't think a cruel or sadistic reputation is justifiable IC. Anyway I prefer the approach Raynor takes right now because I can respect him as a leader.

The noble who came to our aid does deserve to be rewarded, but not with land. The title Royal Protector seems good enough; However I think we should also pay him a visit in person to thank him, possibly with a gift.

Is the King's consort the mother of Eric (I think that's his name. The boy who is possibly going to be legitimized.)? We really need to find out from our mother what happened during our absence that caused her to fall out of favor, and for the consort to take over because I think she may be trying to secure power for her son so that she can rule from behind the scenes. Eric doesn't seem very ambitious, and I think he is being manipulated by his mother. Its very possible she was the one who tried to have us assassinated to remove us as an obstacle. If the king let slip to his consort about the golden pin, or its more well known, its more probable she is behind it. It's also possible our Uncle is behind the attacks, or our older brother (though I cant think of a motive for either of them), but they have much less to gain from our death than the Consort would. She is the biggest suspect.

Yes the Eric is the Consorts son. An i feel that's her aim also which is probably why he avoids most and became part of the military profession. I think at one point the GM revealed that he is great with a sword and was taught by the best Knights. I also think he's the one that snuck around and took out barick when he was tangling with the other knight. Having a spy on him would be useless though if we ever did endanger his mother...he could come after us.

However, that's why were being cautious.

[jaass]

Yes the Eric is the Consorts son. An i feel that's her aim also which is probably why he avoids most and became part of the military profession. I think at one point the GM revealed that he is great with a sword and was taught by the best Knights. I also think he's the one that snuck around and took out barick when he was tangling with the other knight. Having a spy on him would be useless though if we ever did endanger his mother...he could come after us.

However, that's why were being cautious.

However, Stonecutters reasoning is sound. The only game we can play now is fishing for information since we barely know anything to make proper decision. So the only choice is to ask mother about what truely happened between father and her.

[3man75]

Yes the Eric is the Consorts son. An i feel that's her aim also which is probably why he avoids most and became part of the military profession. I think at one point the GM revealed that he is great with a sword and was taught by the best Knights. I also think he's the one that snuck around and took out barick when he was tangling with the other knight. Having a spy on him would be useless though if we ever did endanger his mother...he could come after us.

However, that's why were being cautious.

However, Stonecutters reasoning is sound. The only game we can play now is fishing for information since we barely know anything to make proper decision. So the only choice is to ask mother about what truely happened between father and her.

+1 he seems more interested about the crown then his own kid...an i mean that more than just the simple "cut throat world" of medievalness.

[Mlamlah]

When you press your mother for information about why her and your father do not see eye to eye she doesn't quite seem to know where to start. "It's... complicated Raynor. I was married to the King before your father, your uncle, before he died, his marriage to me just made the most sense. We've never really been very close, and i think he's always seen me as his brother's wife." She grows more uncomfortable as she speaks, as if something is slowly occuring to her. "It's not something you should be worried about, you're my son. Both me and your father have your interests at heart, we both work to keep you safe, we just do it in different ways." She lays a kiss on your forehead before excusing herself, and ushering in people waiting outside your chambers.

The healers have done their work well, and though you are a little sore your injury will not prevent you from doing whatever work needs doing. Squire Elwer arrives and tells you that he is deeply sorry for leaving your side when he should have been there to defend you. You assure him that the mistake was not his, that you should have waited for him and Barick. He comes accompanied by two new bodygaurds. Sir Walter, a man who's been a knight of the crown for nearly a decade, a tried and true combatant, and Adrickar, an older former warmage who found the duties and skills of being a warden more to his liking. Both are members of minor houses with little history.
Barick mentions to you that he hired two mercenaries to protect you. One had his throat cut and looks to die soon, but the other will still be watching your back for the time being.

Golian, the crown steward is accommodating when you ask him to make the arrangements to give Serles a title. He explains to you that it's primarily an honorific title, but it comes with a small stipend and permission to sit in on crown war councils as an advisor when he comes of age. The King of course, is free to bar his presence from those war councils, and he would be there solely as an advisor. Before you leave the Tall, Strong-Browed steward tells you that he's personally looking into the matter of your attempted assasination, and that he fully intends to bring vengeance against those who would do you harm.

When you pay Serles a visit you find a pair of palace healers still tending to him. It seems he's lost the majority of his ear, and he was beaten badly by one of the attackers. His broken bones they can mend, but his ear will always be gone. You do manage to lift his spirits when you tell him he's being granted a title for his assistance in saving your life. He beams as he tells you how proud his father is going to be, and he seems to very much believe that you've helped give him a better future.

...

The wedding is today. The preparations being made. You have your gift for Ritalia and Penrod made ready, and prepare for your small part in the ceremony.
The Palace is remarkably busy, servants beyond number swarm the halls and rooms, preparing food, decorating the place from floor to ceiling, gardens to bedchambers. Your own servants swarm over your own person, washing and perfuming and dressing you in an elaborate costume of the latest style. You're dressed in the blue and gold of the Casar family, with the Narwhal motif featured prominently in the stitching of your tunic. A decorative longsword unfamiliar to you is placed at your side, and it's craftsmanship is remarkable enough that you bemoan it's unsuitability as a real weapon.

You and the other family members fast before the ceremony, a symbol of solidarity with the betrothed couple who must "Delay the Whims of the body until Glorious Fulfillment." As the expression goes. Perhaps it's an effective point, as before mid-day you already find yourself eager for the feast. You find yourself wishing that the bride did not need to remain in seclusion, you are sure Ritalia could use some encouragement just now, and it's touching she broke seclusion to come see you when you were injured.


GM Note

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Wedding post incoming.

[3man75]

Just wait around a bit until it starts.

[Mlamlah]

It is Sunset. The wedding has an audience of hundreds of collected nobles, all prepared to watch the first marriage of their King's children. The moment of alliance with a strong foreign power. Knights, Barons, Counts, Mages, Distant Relations and several Dukes are all in attendance. Your sister's minus Ritalia are both dressed in elaborate dresses that must have taken hours to get them into, particularly Mary, who even now seems uncomfortable in the restricting clothing. You recall hearing one of her nursemaids grumbling that she's likely to ruin it before the day is out. William is dressed in elaborate robes, clearly advertising his status as a burgeoning mage. Your father is resplendent in ceremonial armor, your mother next to him holding his arm, a strained and tired smile on her face. Penrod has chosen an elegant outfit in a tastefully dated style, forgoing the armor and weapons you are used to reading about being involved in Adalbertian wedding ceremonies. Covering his missing eye is a sort of partial mask anchored to his collar, an interesting choice for a man known to make a point of leaving his light disfigurement bare.

The wedding is presided over by three public figures. The Royal master of ceremonies Baron Vaerga; a short slender man with a disarming wit and sense of humor, and the two Major religious officials of the realm, The high priest and priestess of the mother and father. The religious aspect of the ceremony is quite minor, mostly involving basic ascent from the divine, marriage is primarily an earthly concern.

When Ritalia arrives in the royal hall of ceremonies it is on an elaborate plush platform carried by the magic of a trio of court mages. Her dress anchors her and attaches her to the platform. As she draws closer, it is revealed that her dress is actually an extremely elaborate full body cowl. The seams in the dress are subtle, but easily removable by hand with just the right sort of tug. The dress is constructed entirely of overlapping layered fabric, the implication is subtle, but clear.

The ceremony itself does not last long. Ritalia's platform touches down amidst the wedding party. Your father and mother delicately remove the first layer of Ritalia's elaborate costume, leaving her free to rise from the platform and move beside her soon-to-be husband. The Prince smiles at her gently, but you cannot see if she smiles in return. Vaerga begins to make a speech, starting on the long history of conflict between your two nations, and the noble effort of one ruler on either side of that conflict in doing their best to ensure peace between the two rival nations. Just as it seems he's about to drone on about alliance rather than marriage he skillfully draws attention to the couple, speaking on the virtues of both of them. Prince Penrod he exclaims, is a proud and strong ruler, a defender of peace who has conquered great tragedy in his life. His tone softens as begins to speak on Ritalia, but he still manages to maintain the volume of a skilled orator. He talks about her kindness and her love of family, how she's taken an interest in the lives and culture of what will soon be her own people. Concluding, the Master-of-Ceremonies commends the couple for their disparate virtues, as a symbol of the disparate nations coming together in alliance. 

Then, at last, the final words are said between all parties. Vows of loyalty are spoken, promises to protect one another as much as within eachother's power. And an alliance is sealed in a kiss.

...

The time for the feast arrives at last. A variety of delicacies are served, some on masse, and some on request. The dinner guests are fewer in number than those present at the ceremonies, but many come all the same to offer the married couple their congratulations and gifts. You eagerly indulge your appetites, and even begin to drink wine. You have your own table quite close to the Wedding party, your new gaurds and a few of your more high status allies at court all sitting with you.

The wedding gifts are dreadfully dull, and you find yourself glad that you have a much more clever sort of gift prepared. Penrod receives a great variety of arms and armor. Bejeweled plate, enchanted steel, and even one painfully unironic gift of armor banded with fur. Ritalia recieves similiarily uninspired gifts of perfume, dresses, and jewellery. The Adalbertian prince seems increasingly annoyed by the torrent of uninspired gifts, and you notice at the table across from you your uncle Robilard. He's possessed of great nonchalance, and sparing great attention to the wedding party, you would almost swear that his pleasure begins to grow as Penrod's discomfort does. 

As one of your companions begins to tell you about the county he stands to inherit, Robilard has a servant fetch his own gifts for the wedding party, and prepares to present them himself. Firstly, to the bride he presents a hand-mirror linked to another that your Uncle explains he will be leaving here with her family. Robilard explains that the mirrors have a powerful twin enchantment that will last a decade, allowing sight and hearing from one to another. Your mind boggles at the extravagant gift, such a powerful enchantment is extremely difficult, and even more expensive. The second gift to Penrod, at first seems more mundane. A steel tipped wooden lance, specially enchanted recently to be quite durable, and virtually age-proof. The Duke grins almost evilly as he presents the lance. "This weapon is quite special to me, i used it in a joust that i consider a great personal victory. I offer it to you in light of your own victories, as a reminder of all that they have wrought."

Penrod's expression at this new gift is dark, and grim. His mouth curls into a scowl, and with his one eye he shoots a glare that could be considered hateful. But in an instant the expression is gone, so fast you are not sure how many might have caught it, and in it's place Penrod is all noble grace and gratitude. He thanks your uncle for the gift, and assures him that he will not forget it .

[3man75]

This alliance is off to a great start...

Okay we NEED  to have that special headset gift wrapped and delivered personally.

Uncle is someone we may need to talk to after the wedding also.

[jaass]

This alliance is off to a great start...

Okay we NEED  to have that special headset gift wrapped and delivered personally.

Uncle is someone we may need to talk to after the wedding also.

Is our gift ready yet? I also agree we should talk to Uncle there is differently a history between him and Penrod.

[3man75]

This alliance is off to a great start...

Okay we NEED  to have that special headset gift wrapped and delivered personally.

Uncle is someone we may need to talk to after the wedding also.

Is our gift ready yet? I also agree we should talk to Uncle there is differently a history between him and Penrod.

It's a metal chess set with historical figures i beleive and i'm not sure. GM can you shed light on this?

Also -1 to talking with our uncle he's coming off as kind of evily right now.

[Stonecutters]

It seems that our dear Uncle may have a rivalry with Penrod, and I would bet the lance was used in a joust between the two. I wonder what he would stand to gain out of a conflict with Penrod, or if its just personality politics and there is nothing to gain.

I agree that we should deliver the chess set personally, to help make up for all those other dreadful gifts.

In light of these assassination attempts, I believe we should begin wearing cloth covered armor. The extra body guards are a good start, and the mage even more. We might even want to have Barick find us additional guards. Although it may be a tad paranoid, assassins only have to get lucky once. 

[3man75]

It seems that our dear Uncle may have a rivalry with Penrod, and I would bet the lance was used in a joust between the two. I wonder what he would stand to gain out of a conflict with Penrod, or if its just personality politics and there is nothing to gain.

I agree that we should deliver the chess set personally, to help make up for all those other dreadful gifts.

In light of these assassination attempts, I believe we should begin wearing cloth covered armor. The extra body guards are a good start, and the mage even more. We might even want to have Barick find us additional guards. Although it may be a tad paranoid, assassins only have to get lucky once.

Well we are trying to get a intelligence ring together.

Plus having a mage ( a second one for healing/protection) would help a lot.

+1 to cloth covered armor.

[Snaps]

I think our dear uncle might have taken out Penrod's eye with the lance that he gifted. The antagonism isn't just professional, I'm-trying-to-needle-you so the alliance will fail. This is personal.

Now, I feel that we should give our chess set in private. It is tantamount to a declaration of war against the Keshlan whore and her bastard, Eric. And while there, if we can, we should wish Penrod the best of luck and maybe ask what dear Uncle has done to earn Penrod's hatred. Even a little bit of information could prove crucial here.

Now, for the next bit of business:

I feel that we should create a retinue, ck2 style. I'm just not comfortable with mercs guarding us, as their loyalty is to their skins and gold. They are bribe-able, and Machiavelli hits his truest point when he states that no Prince may safely rely on them.

So our squire, the noble who saved our lives, and the man that father gave us should surely be in our guard. After that, let us find good veterans who've fought in our country's wars and now are out of a job, and a few mages. Of this core bodyguard, Barrick should be the chief.

Other than that, I second the motion to wear armor under our clothes. Preferably enchanted to weigh less, but the added protection is welcome.

In new actions, I recommend that we (1) delegate a day, such as Friday, to give charity publicly to the poor, from the profits of our business. We should also talk to local businesses about donating money to create the medieval equivalent of a charitable foundation. I recommend partnering up with the church. Not only does this get us contacts with the priesthood, it also solidifies the trust our men will have in us. Plus it gives the peasantry and the bourgeois a stake in us. We must be a Prince in touch with the people.
 
We should also take to praying every Sunday, or whatever the equivalent is, in a church of the local priesthood that is for the common people. During this time, we should be clad in only regular robes with armor underneath. None of the wealth of the clothes of the nobility should be on us. We should encourage that our bodyguard or any regular parishioners pray along side us for the continued well-being of the nation.

Another bit of business- we must acquire an title. Right now, we are a Prince without a title, and thus, aside from our mercantile interests, no steady source of income or soldiers. This is intolerable. If we are to exert our will, we need a people who personally owe us loyalty. I recommend approaching Father for this, but not as "You give me a title", but rather as a "What must I do to earn a title?"

The last bit of business- let's explore the bureaucracy that the nation currently utilizes to function. How does it work? Who reports to who? Now, of course, there is the nobility. But alongside them should be a legion of clerical staff, and they probably report to some central authority in the palace, who reports to the King. I recommend that we look at this bureaucracy, and come up with a holistic plan to improve it along with any advisers that we have.

TL; DR

• Give gift and heartfelt congratulations to Penrod personally, and if possible, ask about Uncle.
• Hug our sister and wish her a goodbye with all the love in our heart. Reassure Ritalia that you will always be there for her.
• Start wearing armor under our clothes, and buckle a sword by our side.
• Recruit a guard of 10-20 men that are loyal veterans of our country's wars to form our retinue. Don't rely on mercs. If Barrick knows men that aren't mercs and will consent to being taken on retainer, employ them.
• Delegate a day to public charity, in a very visible public area. Partner up with local merchants and the church to give alms to the poor, personally.
• Pray in church publicly every Sunday or religious equivalent.
• Ask Father what we must do to earn a title and land and people to govern.
• Understand bureaucracy of kingdom, and come up with proposal to improve or revolutionize it.

[3man75]

I think our dear uncle might have taken out Penrod's eye with the lance that he gifted. The antagonism isn't just professional, I'm-trying-to-needle-you so the alliance will fail. This is personal.

Now, I feel that we should give our chess set in private. It is tantamount to a declaration of war against the Keshlan whore and her bastard, Eric. And while there, if we can, we should wish Penrod the best of luck and maybe ask what dear Uncle has done to earn Penrod's hatred. Even a little bit of information could prove crucial here.

Now, for the next bit of business:

I feel that we should create a retinue, ck2 style. I'm just not comfortable with mercs guarding us, as their loyalty is to their skins and gold. They are bribe-able, and Machiavelli hits his truest point when he states that no Prince may safely rely on them.

So our squire, the noble who saved our lives, and the man that father gave us should surely be in our guard. After that, let us find good veterans who've fought in our country's wars and now are out of a job, and a few mages. Of this core bodyguard, Barrick should be the chief.

Other than that, I second the motion to wear armor under our clothes. Preferably enchanted to weigh less, but the added protection is welcome.

In new actions, I recommend that we (1) delegate a day, such as Friday, to give charity publicly to the poor, from the profits of our business. We should also talk to local businesses about donating money to create the medieval equivalent of a charitable foundation. I recommend partnering up with the church. Not only does this get us contacts with the priesthood, it also solidifies the trust our men will have in us. Plus it gives the peasantry and the bourgeois a stake in us. We must be a Prince in touch with the people.
 
We should also take to praying every Sunday, or whatever the equivalent is, in a church of the local priesthood that is for the common people. During this time, we should be clad in only regular robes with armor underneath. None of the wealth of the clothes of the nobility should be on us. We should encourage that our bodyguard or any regular parishioners pray along side us for the continued well-being of the nation.

Another bit of business- we must acquire an title. Right now, we are a Prince without a title, and thus, aside from our mercantile interests, no steady source of income or soldiers. This is intolerable. If we are to exert our will, we need a people who personally owe us loyalty. I recommend approaching Father for this, but not as "You give me a title", but rather as a "What must I do to earn a title?"

The last bit of business- let's explore the bureaucracy that the nation currently utilizes to function. How does it work? Who reports to who? Now, of course, there is the nobility. But alongside them should be a legion of clerical staff, and they probably report to some central authority in the palace, who reports to the King. I recommend that we look at this bureaucracy, and come up with a holistic plan to improve it along with any advisers that we have.

TL; DR

• Give gift and heartfelt congratulations to Penrod personally, and if possible, ask about Uncle.
• Hug our sister and wish her a goodbye with all the love in our heart. Reassure Ritalia that you will always be there for her.
• Start wearing armor under our clothes, and buckle a sword by our side.
• Recruit a guard of 10-20 men that are loyal veterans of our country's wars to form our retinue. Don't rely on mercs. If Barrick knows men that aren't mercs and will consent to being taken on retainer, employ them.
• Delegate a day to public charity, in a very visible public area. Partner up with local merchants and the church to give alms to the poor, personally.
• Pray in church publicly every Sunday or religious equivalent.
• Ask Father what we must do to earn a title and land and people to govern.
• Understand bureaucracy of kingdom, and come up with proposal to improve or revolutionize it.

+1 to make that charity work though i beleive we should definetly get the church involved.

[3man75]

*bump*