Sheepy Hollow - A Victors’ Rest.The rest in the village turned into a camping, with army replenishing its strength, leaders taking their time with civilians and the Weylanders turning the promised profit with the captured men, while leaving the rest of the prisoners to suffer captivity under the eyes of Elbrethians.
A good day after the battle a big feast was declared and the town eagerly awaited awaited, with life seemingly revolving around the army that liberated the town. Girls talked about the handsome captains and knights, while young men were enraptured by the warrior princess and impressed by the gathered regiments.
Erika Sigurdson
Erika, accompanied by an honour guard, visits the people of the burned district and those whose kin were slain in the battle. Taking charge of what soldiers are available, she directs the clearing of rubble, extinguishing of any remaining small fires and salvaging of property and livelihoods. She personally assists with the clearing of wreckage and work, keeping her guards close at hand. On the way and while doing this, she allows the people of the town to speak with her, one by one, and bring to her their complaints and fears. She notably prioritises those who help with the clearing work.
In the process of this, she takes time to visit Norn.
[1+1] (from Charisma) You go towards the burned district with a guard, while people swarm around you. Well, at least you try to get the district, as you are halted by the mass of people. Had the solders not been there with you, you think the squeeze could have had easily suffocate you. They cheer and invoke your name, some mention a militia commander that has fallen with the others and inquire if he is still alive.
The people call out to you and swamp you with requests and pleas for help. The help is mostly about one thing – food. The sunken faces and the hollow cheeks speak volumes and the fact that these people give the rest of their winter supplies to you and cheer you on, but at the same time plead for help. The Prestonian rule and harsh winter did their thing and as spring comes, people are hoping for the best. Illness is a second concern, but the majority of those worried are already crowding the chapel and the Sisters gathered there.
The rubble and damage is quickly cleared up by people and troops themselves, as you are stuck in the middle of the adoring crowd. You manage to call out to those who are clearing up the debris. You ask them for their needs, but the response is the same – food, cloth, medicine. Yet, your presence is uplifting, and their attitude is one of celebration, despite their poverty. For them, it’s not a question of if, but a question of when.
You are exhausted by the ordeal by the time you get back from the town and return to the Town Hall, where Anate is resting on one of the residential rooms. The Sister who takes care of him smiles and bows before letting you in.
“He’s resting, Your Highness, but I think it won’t do him any harm if you speak to him. He’s had some time to himself for a bit now. You are his first visitor in fact.”
Ssyrith Hassir
Search for the best metal worker in town, and ask him to create some medals for the commanders and the peasants, alive and dead, who had fought in the battle.
Ask around town for some silver with which to make these medals.
Search the town for all possible trouble makers, Republicans, Anarchists and the like.
Search for the fleeing Factor and identify where she is going, and if possible, attempt a capture.
Scan the maps for the best routes to Castle Black and Sheepstead (Best being fastest and safest).
Review my knowledge on my magic, and then share what I can with the princess.
[1] the best metalworker turns out to be a smith, who sadly has no experience with the sort of thing that you require. Most of the more complicated things and goods were always shipped either from Preston or Sheepstead, with locals being usually too poor to afford most of it. As such, you have neither the silver nor the medals. As sad as it is, the town is unable to provide you with the merits that the Princess requested of you.
[3+1] The town is deceptively large, despite its small size. People are plenty and its not easy to find the people you are after. In not too long a time you realize that the biggest concentration of Republicans and potential subversives is… in the Elbrethian Army. The town folk are too awed by the arrival of their queen and desperate to think of rebellion, not to mention, the people that were most responsible for trouble have been chased off with cannons and magic.
[?] For all the power of your scouts and spies, you are unable to capture or divine the exact location of Factor Meredith Reed, however, you know that she is on the move and is still in the country. Her route points to her heading towards another concentration of Prestonian army.
[2] You explore the maps for the best roads to both Castle Black and Sheepstead, but the only roads you find are those that are already on the maps as both places have only single roads leading to them from where you are. Not much variation or opportunities, unless you are willing to cross through countryside, which would mask you from the enemy somewhat but would slow you down considerably.
[3] Your knowledge of magic is basic - you are aware of its workings and the fact that you are gifted. You can perform most basic spells also provided spell books and can improvise small things or add a little energy to the mixtures you are working on, but there is no overt specialization that you possess. As a result, you would be able to tell if someone has a magical gift, but not really do much with it, apart from teaching them the basics of controlling and living with it. There is a lot that you do not recall, your master was insistent on teaching you dusty theory and speculation rather than the practical uses or manifestations of it.
Ambros von Hoffenburg
Order the men to prepare a feast
Order scouts to survey the routes towards Castle Black and Sheepstead. Check for patrols. Try to be subtle.
Determine the possibility of salvaging the Preston artillery. If possible, have any volunteer metalworkers ready them for service.
[5-1](supply situation) Your call is readily answered by and despite harsh situation of the townsfolk, they break out their remaining supplies, while the soldiers decide to open up the army rations and the supplies of the baggage train. A feast, while not overly refined, is organized in no time, with ample food and drink. While it could be seen as reckless, the promise of victory and the more ale boost from the event are well worth it.
[4+1](Ssyrith’s map studies) as you were made aware by the maps, the roads to Sheepstead and Castle Black are pretty straightforward. Normal roads lead to both locations and your scouts forage ahead, using these roads to observe the patrols. The immediate situation around the Sheepy Hollow and the northern part of the country are clear, as the army responsible for the region was swept away, however, the patrols appeared closer to the capital. They are as aware as they were on the border, but there are little in the way of countryside over watch, with roads being the primary and most obvious routes.
[3] – Preston artillery was shattered during the battle and most of the guns were damaged or destroyed. While a lot of it will never be more than scrap for melting down, you think you would be able to salvage at least 1 battery of guns. The problem is putting them up on limbers, which, if to be made from scratch, could bog you down in the town for a bit. The town has skilled carpenters and smiths, but the time needed could imperil your progress towards the capital.
Abbess Santaria
[5+1]Abbes, you give the people a sermon and with your usual power, it holds the people as if under a spell,. God clearly works through your words and deeds as people are lifted up in their spirits and are think you profusely. Your calls to war inspire many, but with the sisters present and active in the chapel, you are soon swarmed by requests to help and heal. With few broken bones and bruises on the soldiers, your sisters are largely handling the townsfolk, who come to them with various ailments. In not too long a time, the temple is turned into a makeshift hospital. You and your Sisters are likely to be stuck in here for the reminder for your stay in the town.
Alistair Harroway
Accompany the Princess with her honor guard to visit the people of the town and clear the wreckage. Make certain to take a position right behind her, to put emphasis on my importance as the hero of the battle. When questioned by those who lost properties or families during the fire, take up the persona of a regretful hero who did what had to be done to present unnecessary monarchist bloodshed.
Visit the most notable and influential journalists in town and impress them / convince them / bribe them in order to have them write stories with a focus on my contribution to the battle. The stories should not paint me as the sole hero, but instead look like an attempt to give everyone some glory, with me overshadowing all the others.
Speak with the soldiers who were under my command and try to start bonding with them. Capitalize on the fact that thanks to my magic they never needed to put their own lives at risk.
Return to the Princess before the feast, as per her instructions.
[5+1] You manage to survive the squeeze alongside the Princess and the opportunities to speak are scarce, but you are seen and heard with her .While few of them find it hard to believe that you are the person responsible for the walls of fire, you are certainly hailed as a hero. People cheer you alongside Erika, calling you the most loyal of her servants. It would seem that your words are a tad too clever for these folk and while you got the result you wanted, the political message got lost. Yet, being seen and heard close to Erika certainly raised your profile overall, and the news of the royal mage will be heard with those of rebellion.
[5+1] While newspapers are in their infancy in this part of the world, there are plenty of enthusiastic and promising writers and documentarists, who spread news and information via their letters, writing to bigger cities, where their dispatches were paid for and printed. Luckily, you've stumbled upon just a man. Marc Besson, a young fellow in a jacket that probably was slept in one too many nights and a pencil tucked behind his ear, eagerly noted your words. He was taken in with a tale of your magic and the glorious battle, which saw a nearly flawless victory for the Elbrethian side. The problem was that Marc’s talent and inspiration had him draft the dispatch to Sheepstead, where he would get a pretty penny for the story, in addition to spreading news of the charismatic battlemage Harroway, who fought for queen and justice. Again, it seemed that your talent was shooting over the people you hoped to reach, but you had no doubt that the news of the revolution and your exploits would be heard in the country.
[4+1] Despite your fearsome and strange powers, soldiers look favourably on you and for once, notice your egalitarian outlook on things, which is heartily applauded. They embrace your talent and saved lives, and you form quick bonds with some troopers and officers, with bonds sealed by jugs of beer and cider passed around. You have some but resist the urge to be lost in the cups, as you excuse yourself with your need to attend the feast later one. You are met wit h disappointed but friendly voices and you return to Princess, assured that the soldiers would be your supporters – the road to that is long, but you have laid the foundation stone.
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Topic: You Are King! - The Steam Age - Chapter I: Liberty [Game Thread] (Read 20331 times)