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[Weirdsound]

Ask your hosts if they know anything about Ulmient.

[3man75]

Not sure who Ulmilient but ask about the Bandit Barons an if they have ever tangled with them before.

Ulmient is the magician who who took on Kaeleck the grim when no one else would and didn't die. Definitely ask about him and the bandit baronies. Hopefully we can know more about both of these subjects.

Edit: Btw what was the messenge behind the chess set?

It had something to do with historical figures but could the GM or someone remind me what it was please?

[Snaps]

I think that we should try to mingle with as many influential people as possible during the Tourney, as many Barons, Counts, and Dukes as possible, plus if we can, the special steward in charge of the Crownlands. Especially the latter- we really need to meet the man/men in charge of the Crownlands.

The objective for the Tourney is to sound out how people feel toward us. Maybe make a list of the important people, their positions, and how they seemed to react to us. Try to get past small-talk and look for the tells that will let us know what they truly feel about us.

In our meeting with Penrod (?) our new brother-in-law, try to sound out his support for us becoming King. As everyone knows, the King legitimatizing our bastard "brother" means that that whore and her son have a greater position than us for the moment. If we can secure Penrod's oath to support us after our father's death (whenever that happens) that'd be awesome, but even an awareness of how Penrod is leaning at the moment would be great.

Next, we really need to get jumping on that charity project and general piety. In these ancient times, the power of the Church was generally immense, and getting the support of the Church would go a long way towards making us a contender for the Throne. Besides, we are a trueborn son of the King, unlike our bastard "brother", who is the son of a concubine, and thus not likely to be in the favor of the Church.

So, I'm recommending the following:

Using the attempt on our life as an excuse, we should pretend as if we've had a spiritual awakening, and should rigorously attend ALL church services, and attend even a few more that we normally wouldn't go to.

We should get in touch with the Bishops/other leading church figures, and sponsor charity. To be effective, tough, we must be front and center and be highly publicly visible when aiding the people.

I've thought up a few public relations stunts that we could do to aid that approach:

We could pay for the food out of pocket, and set up a soup kitchen-like thing, where on random days, we are the ones personally ladling out food and soup to the comers.

We could go to visit the orphans of soldiers, and perhaps teach them letters every once a week or a month.

We could go visit the ailing and dying, and after learning some medicine, lend them aid.

To facilitate this, we need to start up a PR branch. So, I'm recommending that we look into theater companies, and either make one or buy one.

Whenever we do a good deed, we could have it as the local play of the week. Something like: The Adventures of the People's Prince, telling highly dramatized accounts of our actions, casting us as a kind, benevolent, and righteous young man.

And we should have pamphlets distributed, with fiction writers telling stories of our adventures.

Aside from that, we should sponsor missionaries, and go other actions to curry the church's favor.

We should also tell our Royal Protecter about the virtue of keeping quiet when serving the prince, but not in an angry way, just somewhat disappointed.

We should get in touch with the Keshla merchants we propped up, about troops and support.

That's it for now.

Thoughts?

[3man75]

We're at a tourney right now and we're around Penrose and some other nobles.

As for getting on touch with the church: I agree but later and not that pious. We don't need to be there doggy.

[Weirdsound]

Also, we are about to skip town. For now our goal should be 'make friends and try not to die on the trip'. Grand schemes should, for the most part, go on hold.

[3man75]

Also, we are about to skip town. For now our goal should be 'make friends and try not to die on the trip'. Grand schemes should, for the most part, go on hold.

+1

EDIT: Send a message to Barrick to target our bastard brother if possible. Let's learn as much about his fighting style (which is his only redeeming quality that we've seen. Well that an his mom seems to be good at courting support for him.) and work to think of some counters.

[Mlamlah]

Raynor Casar, Royal Prince of Analysse, popular claimant on the future crown.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

13 Years old

Personality:
Strong leadership traits.
A passion for knowledge and education.
A deep love of family, particularly towards sisters.
Is bold when faced with an opportunity to prove himself, but tends towards caution much more of the time.
Has shown a desire to rule.
Quiet and assured confidence.

Health and Physical Abilities
Superficially Injured and Sore
Foul Mood
Mediocre fitness.
Youthful agility.

Social Skills
A strong understanding of etiquette and social grace.
Tends to inspire loyalty in others.
A bright and well honed mind.
Solid political skill.
Solid business Savvy.
Mediocre grasp of Adalbert language.
Poor Grasp of Keshlan language.

Practical Skills
Mediocre Magicianry
Mediocre swordsmanship.
Amateur Shield-work.
Sword and shield technique: Amateur.
Amateur riding.
Novice armoured combat.
Amateur Strategist.
Amateur Sleight of Hand.

Vassals and Servants
Sir Bepher, Knight of the Sail: Respectful
Barick the Bodygaurd: Protective.
Local Business partners: Respectful
Elwer, your squire: Eager to serve.
Captain Verack: Polite, but otherwise indifferent.
Ishvakala the Hedge Mage:Amused and Grateful.
Serles, "Royal Protector", personal toady: Deeply Grateful, Loyal
Sir Walter, Knight of the Crown: Dutiful
Adrickar, Palace Warden, former warmage: Dutiful

Allies
Various palace servants and Attendants: Deep Love and Loyalty
Palace Pages and Squires: Healthy and lasting respect, newly restored loyalty.
Isvan the Apprentice Warmage: Eagerness to please, loyalty.
Ritalia: Loving and Protective, deeply loyal.
Business Contacts: Polite.
Courtiers and Politicians of the King's Court: Slightly awed.
William, your elder brother: Erratic, but loyal
Sir Evanson: Patronizing, but loyal.
Sir Raymond the country Knight: Grateful
Analysse City Street Toughs: Begrudgingly Helpful

Magic
Apprentice-level Scrymaster, experienced at surpassing magical resistance. May only scry with one sense at a time. May set up poor quality scrying wards to hinder intrusion or alert you upon it. Capable of impressive power in forcing your way past screening wards, and of great subtlety in avoiding detection wards.
Novice Level War-Warder. You have some shaky skill in warding objects and people from specific kinds of harm which must be stated in the spell. None of your spells have yet lasted much more than an hour, and are easy to dispel.
Novice Level Force magic. You may use crude energy with basic competence. Currently this allows you to bludgeon and move things forcefully and indelicately, with strength just barely above your own physical strength.

-Spell Tricks known:
Artificial Wind. Can create breezes over an extended period, or a single momentary gust capable of sending light objects flying and unbalancing individual people.
Symbol reproduction. Can instantly reproduce the contents of one page on something else, the symbol(s) must be made with ink or a similiar substance to work, and must be performed on a flat surface.
Palm Light: You are capable of creating a shining light in your palm that is about as bright as a torch, you may also attach light to your fingertips as bright as a candle, the light has heat, but not much.
Missile Launching: This cantrip allows one to launch an arrow, bolt or similiarily sized missile at an opponent with the strength of a crossbow bolt. Could theoretically be used to launch less conventional missiles in a pinch.
Repel object: May be used to turn away missiles, blades and blunt objects, though not reliably.

Assets
Various travelling clothes of high quality, including cloaks and riding boots.
Riding horse fitted with barding, (quilted over top studded leather).
A modest collection of historical books.
A small collection of varied books on magic, including basic theory, scrying, warding of various sorts and warmagic.
High quality gold emerald-embedded brooch. A gift from your mother.
Cart with draft horses
Boots of sticking. Boots capable of fusing on any surface on the command word. Generally used for pranks.

Wealth:
Opulent palace quarters.
Personal servants.
Varied high quality clothing and jewelry.
Trade goods.
Various stall based portside businesses.
Modest Middle Man business.
Some partnerships with estalished small businesses.
A handful of small smithys, and attached metalworking businesses.
Generous Royal Allowance.
A tidy sum of money, a little more than enough to buy and man a decent sized ship.
A small hoard of useless trinkets and jewlery.
Ornate Plate Armor
Masterfully crafted Ornamental Longsword

War Assets:
Masterfully crafted Dagger.
High quality short sword.
High quality leather breastplate.
High Quality Scale Mail armor.
A crate of flashstones, capable of producing a blinding light when struck against a hard surface.
A ring shield, capable of producing a small shield of force energy on the command word. Limited life.
A stave of magical protection. Absorbs overtly hostile magic directed at the holder before shattering.

Bodyguard Equipment: Leather Jerkin over sturdy woodmans clothing, a high quality longsword, a warhammer, a hidden dagger, a short sword, a hatchet, a leather shield. A riding horse with custom saddle. Ornate plate armor. High quality Banded armor.

Squire Equipment: High quality shortsword, quilted armor and travelling clothes. Riding Horse. Fine clothing.

The Silver Moon Mercenary Company
Based in a converted Warehouse in the docks district.
Headed by Verack, a northman warrior who has skill with a claymore.
Senior Members:
8 Axemen (throwing and Melee), 2 archers, 3 Halberdiers, 1 Fire Mage. All dressed in Ringmail/plate composite, with weapons of decent quality.
Regulars:
1 elite archer, 1 archer, 1 halberdier 1 axeman. (dressed in Ringmail, weapons of mediocre quality.)
Recruits:
13 Able Bodied Trainees, 2 fire mage apprentices. Substandard training equipment. (Dulled metal weapons and used hunting bows, armor of wood and cloth padding)

In the last minutes before the tournament you ask Barick to be prepared to engage your half brother in combat if possible, in order to better gauge his skill as a combatant. There is too little time for you to recieve a response however, as the last preparations for the final and fastest paced event in the tourney are nearly complete. During the brief time you have available, you also speak with your neighbors about the mage Ulmient, who comported himself rather admirably against Kaelack. Apparently he's a regular on the tourney circuit, but he isn't signed off with any of magic orders of Analysse, nor has any lord managed to hire him into their personal service.

Barick is placed next to a number of seasoned combatants in the melee, and you find yourself gritting your teeth in anticipation of what will be a difficult fight for your champion. At the last, a trumpet announces three clear notes, and the drumbeat begins, signalling the start of the melee. Barick is set upon on two sides by two of his neighbors, and it is all he can do to merely repel their attacks. One nearby tournament regular of respectable renown downs two nearby Knights before turning his attention to your champion and his opponents, managing to batter one of the two assaulting Barick into submission with his mace. Barick, takes advantage of his opportunity to sweep his remaining assailants legs out from beneath him in a great blow that surely would have broken the man's legs if the field did not mitigate such injury.
At that, ten seconds have passed, and a pause is called to pull the many downed combatants from the field. All told there can be no more than fifty remaining on the field, leaving only seasoned combatants and tournament champions to fight when the combat is resumed. Now Barick and his rescuer are squaring off, spending seconds testing the defences of one another in light feints, before Barick abruptly begins an all out offensive, loosing several powerful swings upon his opponent, all to be caught upon shield. At first the skilled warrior seems to be holding his own against Barick's raw might, but the moment that he moves to return Barick's blows he opens himself up just a little too wide, and catches a hammerblow on his wrist, leaving his weapon arm useless. The man yields, leaving Barick to seek more opponents.

Barick finds his opponent soon enough, the same Adalbertian Knight with a grudge that sought him out in the last tourney, apparently intent on finding some sort of satisfaction. They don't exchange words this time, instead they merely begin meet weapons. This time, Barick begins with the advantage, using his hammer to good effect in putting the Knight off balance. The Adalbertian does what he can to regain his form, but it's to no avail, as pouncing n his opponents weakness Barick begins a merciless rain of ceasless blows. It's become apparent this is where your bodyguard shines, in capitalizing on putting his opponents off balance and on the defensive. Still though, the Knight manages to remain standing despite the brutal blows that by now must have left his head ringing and arms numb.
Their combat is interrupted, as Erik and two other knights of the crown capitalize on the distraction of the two combatants and attack. Seamlessly, Barick and his opponent switch from fighting eachother to fighting off the three pronged attack of some of your nations most skilled warriors. Barick has clearly grown tired however, and at first he is able only to defend himself, while his former countryman manages to daze one of the attackers with his shield. Soon enough Erik and his allies manage to wear out their tired opponents even further, and remove them from the competition with rather anticlimactic slowness.

The melee drags on after that, taking minutes for the last few combatants to eliminate eachother, and at the last, Gerald again stands as winner of the grand melee. With that the tourney has seen it's last event. About an hour from now you had planned to meet with Penrod, so now would be the time to finalize anything you wish to say to him. While an hour isn't much time, it is some, so if there was something else you would like to accomplish between now and meeting with Penrod it may be possible. 

[Mlamlah]

Edit: Btw what was the messenge behind the chess set?

It had something to do with historical figures but could the GM or someone remind me what it was please?

Two of the pieces greatly resemble both you and Penrod, and are placed on the same side of the board. Subtly indicative that you regard Penrod as an ally, or seek to forge alliance.

[Weirdsound]

Before Meeting: Try to Calm Down. Get a quick massage, have some soothing tea, hang out with your younger sisters, anything to dispel our present funk.

I think the key points of the meeting should be as follows:

-Tell Penrod matter-o-factually that although you love all of your family, save perhaps the mother of your half brother, your deepest affection is for your sister, and as he is now responsible for her well being, you intend to keep his interests in mind, and act on his behalf should he require any assistance at your father's court, so long as such assistance wouldn't be suicidal or blatantly and outwardly treasonous to give.
-Ask to pick his brain about the assassination attempts. Tell him what he doesn't already know. Ask if he can think of any reason, assuming one's goal is the throne, to start by killing the youngest prince in contention.
-In turn, allow him to bounce any issues concerning him off of you.
-Ask what is up between him and your uncle; Is it just leftover venom from the old wars? Or something more personal than that?
-Mention your older brother, and that he is considering leaving the Capital. Ask if he would be open to the idea of building an estate for him on or near the border between Analysse and Adalbert. The estate could be used for treaty signings, tournaments, weddings, and other major events involving both nations, and it could serve as a vacation retreat on which both royal families might be able to intermingle when times are good. If he seems open to the idea, ask if he would be willing to approach your father about it with you and William, assuming of course that William agrees.

[3man75]

Before meeting with Penrod let's talk to Barrick.

((guy's cuban philosophy on the way!))

"Barrick, you feeling alright?"

If he seems fine and up and up. then no speech. If not give him this:

"I heard from many heroes in my history books that to fall down is honorable, but to get up is mandatory. Despite your injuries earlier you put up a big fight and fought against that knight from aldabert. I'm sure you would have won had it not been for that interference at the end. Learn anything by the way from my brother?"

Barrack: Blah blah blah

"Alright go see some healers while i talk to penrod, this journey may be the most dangerous yet so i'll need you on top condition."

EDIT:

Before Meeting: Try to Calm Down. Get a quick massage, have some soothing tea, hang out with your younger sisters, anything to dispel our present funk.

I think the key points of the meeting should be as follows:

-Tell Penrod matter-o-factually that although you love all of your family, save perhaps the mother of your half brother, your deepest affection is for your sister, and as he is now responsible for her well being, you intend to keep his interests in mind, and act on his behalf should he require any assistance at your father's court, so long as such assistance wouldn't be suicidal or blatantly and outwardly treasonous to give.
-Ask to pick his brain about the assassination attempts. Tell him what he doesn't already know. Ask if he can think of any reason, assuming one's goal is the throne, to start by killing the youngest prince in contention.
-In turn, allow him to bounce any issues concerning him off of you.
-Ask what is up between him and your uncle; Is it just leftover venom from the old wars? Or something more personal than that?
-Mention your older brother, and that he is considering leaving the Capital. Ask if he would be open to the idea of building an estate for him on or near the border between Analysse and Adalbert. The estate could be used for treaty signings, tournaments, weddings, and other major events involving both nations, and it could serve as a vacation retreat on which both royal families might be able to intermingle when times are good. If he seems open to the idea, ask if he would be willing to approach your father about it with you and William, assuming of course that William agrees.

He's going to be living with the Warren mages in a magical commune probably. Also ask him about the Bandit Baronies at some point. They interest me personally and they'd be a good target for us when we come of age and need a military victory.

Hopefully resting will clear our bad mood.

[Mlamlah]

The Warden Order doesn't have a centralized dormitorization kind of thing, they are more akin to a modern university. Warden mages receive training, then move to pursue careers, generally in service to nobility or with lands and titles of their own. Some more scholastic mages join the order hierarchy and pursue research together, but even those mages generally arn't put up by the order.

In regards to the Bandit Baronies... it refers to groups of decentralized outlaws who live in seclusion in a large stretch of land outside the borders of Analysse and Adalbert. Those who live on the borders of either country tend to come into armed conflict with these outlaws frequently. They've lasted as long as they have because they tend to dwell in hidden fortresses in the wilderness, with a lack of any kind of infrastructure linking them together, this forces opposing armies to expend great resources in seeking them out. The lack of a central authority also means that there is no one single force to combat, but rather dozens of different organizations. The vast land they hide within and their splintered nature mean that the victories made against them by Lords of the past have had little consequence in the eradication of these multiethnic Bandit forces.

Always feel free to ask for IC information, Raynor knows a lot about history and local politics.

[3man75]

I guess we should ask about the economic situation in Korinberg.

It's poor but maybe penrod can tell us why besides the fact that wars have been getting nasty.

EDIT: Ask Penrod what he thinks about our brother  Erik warrior wise. He's a veteran combatant with probably good insight.

Also ask him about Sir Oskar the winner of the second jousting tournament who beat the Knight Commander.

Edit: I still don't think the manor is a good idea. It's on the border so he'll be open to kidnapping or assassination. Maybe we can get him a manor on the country side of the capital? That way he'll have privacy and be close in case he needs help.

[Andres]

Hi. I'm new here. I just recently read everything from the original thread up until now. I know what PTW stands for but I don't really know what "watching" does or if you then have to click another button to "watch". If someone could enlighten me it would be much appreciated.

1. Sell small hoard of useless trinkets in Annalysse before leaving.
2. Receive more useless trinkets from adoring peasants on way to Koringberg.
3. Compare Koringberg prices to Annalysse prices.
4. ? ? ? ?
5. PROFIT!!!

We should try to better improve our relations with Erik on the trip to Koringberg, seeing as it has slipped a bit from what it once was and it would doubtlessly prove useful to have him on our side. Besides that, he is our brother in both blood and law and we should treat him as such.

I also have an idea for a little magical experiment. Try to throw a Palm Light. If successful, create two Palm Lights in either hand and try to combine them into one Palm Light of equal size but greater density. Seeing as Palm Lights do generate heat, we may have ourselves a makeshift Fireball, or at least some kind of Blinding Light spell. Maybe.

Assuming it's not OOC it would also be nice to have info about the political influence of the Analyssian church over the nobility and the people. This seems like it would be a rather important thing to consider before we try to become Saint-Pope Raynor I.

One rather IC thing I would like to know about is Raynor's facial hair status. He is a 13 year old boy after all, he'll be eager to start looking manlier and more badass with some hair on his face. Just have him rub his chin or something.

Theorycrafting

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The woman who tried to hypnotise us in the woods was the concubine.

She was in the picture from the start. In the introduction we're told we have two half-brothers that must have come from her.

You are told that you have two half brothers, whatever that may mean.

Then, out of nowhere, our previously amicable half-brother Eric suddenly is named a Knight of the Crown, gets legitimised, and furthermore there is talk of him getting lands, and now has a better claim than the entirely legitimate, child prodigy, business-savvy 13-year old that you are, further complicating the succession of the throne (remember the uncle).

The last bits of the month provide you with some news. Your half-brother, squire Eric has been named a Knight of the Crown, and there is very brief talk of him being provided with a bit of land before your father legitimizes him as his son. You double take at that bit of news.

Eric is older than you, and therefore has a better claim on the throne than you, though you are fairly certain he's poorly suited to such a task. Then there is the fact that Robilard is still the named crown prince.

Obviously with all these things to consider the king would never lavish Eric with all the titles and promises of land unless he for some reason legitimately thought bringing internal strife to Analysse was a good thing, or was hypnotised by his scheming, traitorous, magical concubine so as to place her own son on the throne.

Also, Erik used to think rather well of Raynor, thinking him a true brother and wishing to go with him to Koringberg:

"No way am i letting my little brother head out to the eastern borderlands without some decent protection, it's rough out there, i would go with you if i could."

to being somewhat reluctant to go with him on the same journey, just days after an assassination attempt. This change in behaviour happened within a mere few months and without clear reason. As far as we know nothing about Erik has changed politically. There was talk of him getting lands but it doesn't look like that's really going anywhere, he isn't betrothed, his status as a Knight of the Crown is unchanged in any way, nothing. Really the only possible explanation is that his evil, lying, manipulative mother is badmouthing us, or brainwashing him. Seeing how she is often with Erik she has ample opportunity to to the former but also the latter.

Then there's the dreams:

You have dreams, very poor dreams.

Again your sleep is troubled by poor dreams, night terrors that sap the will.

The dreams could be interpreted as Arelar (the concubine) attempting to invade our mind, as in the woods. It could be she's trying to do the same but that the palace wards prevent her from "going all the way" as it were, or she could be playing it more subtly, sapping our will, which is detrimental to us for a broad number of reasons. If it's possible for us, a 13 year old boy who's magical ability is mostly self-taught, to bypass the many palace wards in our scrying it might also be possible for a more experienced magician (we really don't know much about the concubine, she might be) to invade our mind, if only to a lesser degree perhaps.

[3man75]

Hi. I'm new here. I just recently read everything from the original thread up until now. I know what PTW stands for but I don't really know what "watching" does or if you then have to click another button to "watch". If someone could enlighten me it would be much appreciated.

1. Sell small hoard of useless trinkets in Annalysse before leaving.
2. Receive more useless trinkets from adoring peasants on way to Koringberg.
3. Compare Koringberg prices to Annalysse prices.
4. ? ? ? ?
5. PROFIT!!!

We should try to better improve our relations with Erik on the trip to Koringberg, seeing as it has slipped a bit from what it once was and it would doubtlessly prove useful to have him on our side. Besides that, he is our brother in both blood and law and we should treat him as such.

I also have an idea for a little magical experiment. Try to throw a Palm Light. If successful, create two Palm Lights in either hand and try to combine them into one Palm Light of equal size but greater density. Seeing as Palm Lights do generate heat, we may have ourselves a makeshift Fireball, or at least some kind of Blinding Light spell. Maybe.

Assuming it's not OOC it would also be nice to have info about the political influence of the Analyssian church over the nobility and the people. This seems like it would be a rather important thing to consider before we try to become Saint-Pope Raynor I.

One rather IC thing I would like to know about is Raynor's facial hair status. He is a 13 year old boy after all, he'll be eager to start looking manlier and more badass with some hair on his face. Just have him rub his chin or something.

Theorycrafting

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The woman who tried to hypnotise us in the woods was the concubine.

She was in the picture from the start. In the introduction we're told we have two half-brothers that must have come from her.

You are told that you have two half brothers, whatever that may mean.

Then, out of nowhere, our previously amicable half-brother Eric suddenly is named a Knight of the Crown, gets legitimised, and furthermore there is talk of him getting lands, and now has a better claim than the entirely legitimate, child prodigy, business-savvy 13-year old that you are, further complicating the succession of the throne (remember the uncle).

The last bits of the month provide you with some news. Your half-brother, squire Eric has been named a Knight of the Crown, and there is very brief talk of him being provided with a bit of land before your father legitimizes him as his son. You double take at that bit of news.

Eric is older than you, and therefore has a better claim on the throne than you, though you are fairly certain he's poorly suited to such a task. Then there is the fact that Robilard is still the named crown prince.

Obviously with all these things to consider the king would never lavish Eric with all the titles and promises of land unless he for some reason legitimately thought bringing internal strife to Analysse was a good thing, or was hypnotised by his scheming, traitorous, magical concubine so as to place her own son on the throne.

Also, Erik used to think rather well of Raynor, thinking him a true brother and wishing to go with him to Koringberg:

"No way am i letting my little brother head out to the eastern borderlands without some decent protection, it's rough out there, i would go with you if i could."

to being somewhat reluctant to go with him on the same journey, just days after an assassination attempt. This change in behaviour happened within a mere few months and without clear reason. As far as we know nothing about Erik has changed politically. There was talk of him getting lands but it doesn't look like that's really going anywhere, he isn't betrothed, his status as a Knight of the Crown is unchanged in any way, nothing. Really the only possible explanation is that his evil, lying, manipulative mother is badmouthing us, or brainwashing him. Seeing how she is often with Erik she has ample opportunity to to the former but also the latter.

Then there's the dreams:

You have dreams, very poor dreams.

Again your sleep is troubled by poor dreams, night terrors that sap the will.

The dreams could be interpreted as Arelar (the concubine) attempting to invade our mind, as in the woods. It could be she's trying to do the same but that the palace wards prevent her from "going all the way" as it were, or she could be playing it more subtly, sapping our will, which is detrimental to us for a broad number of reasons. If it's possible for us, a 13 year old boy who's magical ability is mostly self-taught, to bypass the many palace wards in our scrying it might also be possible for a more experienced magician (we really don't know much about the concubine, she might be) to invade our mind, if only to a lesser degree perhaps.

+1 to every thing including the theory crafting. We can try the palm thing at Korinberg when we get a private room.

We'll need to keep erik as close as possible (an our friends closer) during the trip. Also try not to be afraid of these dreams or talking with possible new allies or brides.

Also bumping for update.

[Mlamlah]

Hi. I'm new here. I just recently read everything from the original thread up until now. I know what PTW stands for but I don't really know what "watching" does or if you then have to click another button to "watch". If someone could enlighten me it would be much appreciated.

Welcome!
When you next post look just beneath the text box before posting. There is a little button labelled "Attachements and options".
If from there you click the checkbox "Notify Me of Replies" you will recieve notifications or emails whenever someone posts on this topic.

Assuming it's not OOC it would also be nice to have info about the political influence of the Analyssian church over the nobility and the people. This seems like it would be a rather important thing to consider before we try to become Saint-Pope Raynor I.

The Church in Analysse is not currently deeply influential in the High Politics of the nation. It's divided into two loosely connected religious organizations, the Priesthood of the Father, and the Priesthood of the Mother. The Priesthood of the Father is more closely associated with the nation's nobility, while the Priesthood of the Mother concerns itself more with the affairs of the common people, this directly relates to the basic theology of the bitheistic religion.

The Priesthood of the Father has the most effect on politics, and most Lords have at least one or two Priests as advisers and officials in their court. More religious lords give lands and wealth to a Priest of the Father in the establishment of Abbeys, which exact taxes and draw levy from the local populace. While the ruling Abbot helps to protect the lands of his Lord in times of strife he does not truly answer to him, instead owing service primarily to his local High Priest. The High Priest rules in a High Temple, and due to political convenience there is one High Priest in every province of the Kingdom. There is no official religious head of the Priesthood of the Father, but the other High Priests tend to defer to the decisions of whatever High Priests sits in the Kingsland, as he tends to have the most wealth, military power and political visibility. The Priesthood of the Father does not have a dedicated military force, and large enough portions of the Kingdom are irreligious or of different religion that it's strength is mostly dependant on the support of local lords.

The Priesthood of the Mother has a much less strict heirarchy, and it's clergy is more numerous, but it also tends to be poor and focused locally. Largely, it consists of local shrines and churches paid for by charity and the support of Mayors, and the Deputy officials of towns and cities. The Priesthood trains entrants in the arts of healing and herbalism, runs orphanages and dispenses alms to the needy, and in general helps attend to the needs of the common people. Enough Lords understand the value of the Priesthood of the Mother that rarely does the priesthood experience true poverty, but where political corruption is strong so too is the Priesthood weak. When the last High Priestess of a Province dies many of the elder Priests and Priestesses of the Mother gather and elect a new one from among their number.

In a scant few places in the nation both religious orders have next to no visibility, instead worship might be supplanted by shamans that organize cults around the worship of tangible spirits. The worship of spirits is not outright illegal, but many Lords take it upon themselves to root out and oppress such cults, distrusting the fey power of ethereal beings. Some Lords also, instead of sponsoring the state religion, invite priests who worship the "Holy Sentinel" into their courts. Your father has forbid lords from giving land to any of these foreign priests, but your Uncle Duke Robilard is apparently quite friendly with a few of them.