Topic: (SG) Vassal: Rise of a Pharaoh (Read 23904 times)

Weirdsound · « **Reply #180 on:** April 14, 2017, 10:18:49 pm »

So we have three distinct and somewhat incompatible plans to deal with the impending threat of a duel. I need a tiebreaker. In the meantime, have a bit of infodump:

Family Archives:

Pharaoh Karses I - Born the eldest of the bastard litter belonging to Pharaoh Mumrak IX and his half high-elf mistress, your great grandfather was shunned by his family from an early age on account of his impure blood. As a teenager, Karses earned a degree of respect for his ability as a sailor, as well as a reputation of being something of a lady-killer.

It was the Philandering of Karses I that initially got him into trouble, when he was caught in bed soiling the pure blood of his eldest sister and presumed wife of the next Pharaoh, Estillix. For this indescretion, Karses was banished to the infamous Labyrinth Prison in Icarixip, where he spent the better part of a decade confined to a small cell and subject to great abuse.

It was rebellion that freed Karses I. Pharaoh Mumrak was infamous for attending and hosting elaborate parties with dignitaries from the high elf city-states nearby, burning the nation budget on such affairs while his people starved. Discontent over this turned into a full blown uprising when the Holy Guardian of Icarixip sided with the people, and began launching attacks against the rest of the Loam Coast, as well as its neighbors, from his fortified position. When these rebels captured the High Elf Port of Steel Cape, and were thus able to extablish a navy, Karses I was freed and made a minor naval officer.

Ironically, it was the high elf elements in Karses' blood, most notably his ambition and taste for intrigue, that caused Karses to quickly rise through the ranks of both the rebel military and political structure; By the time Mumrak was overthrown four years later, it was a forgone conclusion that Karses would be the next Pharaoh and the beautiful Estillix his wife.

To outsiders, especially high elves, Karses was seen as a monster. Declaring all other races the enemies of the Loam Coast, your great grandfather made a statement by razing Steel Cape once he no longer had need of its port, and slaughtering every high elf male, female, and child within its walls. He banned foreign comerece, and to ensure his people had no trade goods to disobey this command, also banned the use of Claychantment except for the production of arms, armor, and other military supplies. Without trade, Karses built and commanded massive pirate fleets to fill his treasury, and considered any settlement he did not personally rule over fair game for said raiders. To this day, it is estimated that nearly half of the long-lived high elves in Silvershoes and Treasurewave have lost close relatives to raids commanded by your great-grandfather alone.

To his own people, however, the bloodthirsty pirate was a beloved leader. He preached that all clay elves were divine, and spent much of his personal wealth on improving conditions within the loam coast. An elf of the people, Karses spent more time with his common sailors than his fellow members of the ruling class, and famously enacted many reforms. Some, such as the banning of incarnation as a form of punishment and the right for commoners to join the clergy, were eventually rolled back by his son and successor Xamut III, but others, including the right of lowborn females to own property, the right to make a same-sex lover a spouse rather than a concubine, and free public access to the urban finishing forges, still stand to this day.

For all his merits and strengths, Karses I was also known as an absolutely abysmal commander of ground troops. Following a reign of only eighty five years, Karses I was taken captive when he made the rookie mistake of attempting to engauge an Acid Elf clan in open battle without an overwhelming numbers advantage. Upon learning the identity of their hated prisoner, the acid elves forced him to disembowl himself before chucking the Pharaoh to the hyenas.

VoidSlayer · « **Reply #181 on:** April 15, 2017, 12:05:28 am »

The three options seem to be:

Quote from: VoidSlayer on April 14, 2017, 02:53:17 am

So for the duel, lets hold a full investigation and I think point out to both sides that WE are the ones who had employees murdered, friends who we knew personally and all that. Order Foreman Yipip to be put under house arrest until we can sort this out and try and figure out how to actually investigate what happened. Interview survivors and anyone captured.

Quote from: IronyOwl on April 13, 2017, 08:32:06 pm

Let's break apart the duel with a speech on understanding and forgiveness, pointing out that the future is more important than the past, especially when the past ran on different rules. Then we'll get Foreman Yipip to publicly announce that of course he would never order Imperial citizens killed simply for studying Clay Elven arts and sciences, and denounce anyone who would. While Lieutenant Spinam is either sputtering about what a liar he is or nodding viciously along, we'll segue right into getting him to publicly deny and denounce mistreating Clay Elven citizens.

If all goes well, this will establish us as a reconciler, and either force a confrontation with us right then and there, or make things reeeeeal awkward the next time we drag somebody, possibly themselves, in front of us on charges of being a dick.

If that fails, have them apprehended by Tarantula Elves and stripped of their positions, explaining that one war was enough. We'll need some punch if the power of friendship doesn't work, and firing a pair of relatively low-level mooks trying to gut each other in court shouldn't step on either faction's toes too much.

Quote from: Taricus on April 13, 2017, 07:33:37 pm

For these two dopes though, we break up the pair, and then sentence them to death and throw them into cells to await execution. There, we then try to interrogate them into revealing what they actually know about the incidents, in exchanged from a lesser sentence. And not tell them it's death by acid elf.

I think we are all in agreement about ending martial law in the two cities where the General is not present.

IronyOwl · « **Reply #182 on:** April 15, 2017, 01:37:38 pm »

Fiiiiiiine, I'll back down and endorse VoidSlayer's plan. I still say a full investigation will be counterproductive, but it's certainly better than just murdering everyone involved.

micelus · « **Reply #183 on:** April 15, 2017, 02:31:58 pm »

I endorse IronyOwl's plan

IronyOwl · « **Reply #184 on:** April 15, 2017, 02:59:51 pm »

I take everything back victory is mine

There can be no compromise with animals

Wait that sounds like I'm endorsing Taricus' plan

10ebbor10 · « **Reply #185 on:** April 15, 2017, 03:28:26 pm »

+1 Ironyowl

VoidSlayer · « **Reply #186 on:** April 16, 2017, 03:11:03 am »

I was going to endorse murdering everyone but ill go with compromise... now that my idea lost.

+1 Ironyowl

Weirdsound · « **Reply #187 on:** April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm »

Pharaoh Karses II, Governor and Godking of the Loam Coast, and Head of the Divine Clay Elf Bloodline:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Occupied Government of the Loam Coast:
(Please Read now, Official descriptions of the offices will likely be deleted from this spoiler to save character count in future posts)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Imperial Province of Loam Coast:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

---

"Peace, brothers," you announce with authority as you rise form your chair, "the past was a different time run under different rules. In my kingdom we forgive and rebuild."

The two arguing parties fall silent, and all eyes in the room turn to you. "Foreman, you would never do such a thing as to order imperials killed for studying the arts and sciences of our people, right?"

"N-not at all m'lord."

"And Lieutenant, I can count on you to prevent our noble imperial soldiers from besmirching their own honor by abusing the locals, correct?"

"Umm... Er... Yeah. But of course my lord. But of course."

"Good. Then put your swords away, there is no need for strife here. Let us return to business."

The rest of the meeting goes more or less smoothly, as the Lieutenant and Foreman limit their hostile interaction to occasionally glaring at each other. Discussion of larger political issues are wrapped up, and court quickly moves on to smaller issues and individual petitions.

A proclamation from the Imperial Senate and an accompanying note from High Judge Ganymede Agilis are presented and read to the court. Ganymede is dealing with a sick wife as well as wrapping up some of his other affairs in the heartland, and as such estimates it will be four to six months before he arrives in the Loam Coast to assume the office he has been appointed to. In the meantime, the Senate has granted you approval to allow any of your appointed local judges to carry out the duties of High Judge on an interim basis.

Admiral Fugit Figulus approaches you with a personal request. He has managed to track down the Clay Elf sailor he fell in love with while she was his prisoner, and wishes for you to grant her imperial citizenship so that he may eventually marry her and even give her employment in the Imperial Navy so he may keep her close.

Both Admiral Figulus and Lieutenant Mulo (on behalf of Commander Bufo Fidelis) present you with a jointly signed letter requesting that you petition Caesar Menas to allow the Loam Coast Province to annex the imperial lands of Southeast Cape. Although gaining new land is always tempting, it is quite apparent that this proposal by your military leaders is one driven primarily by self interest. Aside from the naval installation that Figulus and Fidelis would gain control of, and a couple of interesting high elf ruins, there is little of use to you on the cape.

Prince Agrilvin of Treasurewaves has been put in the uncomfortable position of requesting that the Loam Coast begin paying reparations for the various heinous crimes committed by your ancestors against his city-state. The Prince informs you that although the King is a fan of your work on elf rights, and wouldn't normally be so quick or upfront in bringing up this issue, a populist revolt is feared if the leaders of Treasurewaves appear to allow the defeated Loam Coast to go unpunished.

Holy Lady Damivia makes a bit of a scene among the more prudish imperial members of your court by aggressively flirting with both you and your wife. You are fairly sure she is subtly requesting to be made Holy Guardian of Traggix, a position often given to somebody of her blood who is a lover of the Pharaoh, but you are not entirely sure about how you would go about giving her the title if you even wanted to. The position of Holy Guardian was abolished by Caesar, meaning that it would take an imperial agent (likely yourself) to restore it. Clay Elf Tradition, on the other hand, mandates that new Holy Guardians are appointed by your high priest, and you are not even sure your uncle Xamul is fond of you enough to help you in the matter.

---

You manage to get in a private moment with Tsunamia later that day, and after indulging in the obligatory newlywed antics with her, discussion turns to the topic of the Flower Demon, which sadly turns out to be a bit more complicated than you would have hoped.

The resources given to your wife by her father allows the demon to be bound in one of two ways: To the blood of a close relative of the binder, or to a dwelling.

Tsunamia had been hoping to bind the demon to her new home in the Loam Coast, but Clayden is owned by your brother, so such a binding would render the demon loyal to him rather than you.

She could try to bind the flower demon to her hideout in the Shrieking Mangroves, but she isn't entirely confident that such a binding would ensure the creature's loyalty if it was kept as far away from the bound location as Traggix. Another idea would be to bind the demon at your family's ancestral home of Sacred Point, but Tsunamia doubts your kin dwelling there would be keen on allowing the ritual to be preformed on site, Such a binding would also likely make the demon loyal to your entire divine bloodline.

The safest option would be to wait for your children to be complete, so that Tsunamia could bind the demon to one of their bloodlines. She could limit such a binding to go back only one generation, to prevent untrustworthy ancestors of yours from commanding the creature, while allowing it to answer to both you and herself. There would be no changing the child once the demon is summoned this way, however, so you would have to consider carefully which offspring's bloodline it would be bound to.

If you are impatient, Tsunamia could bind the flower demon to her own blood. This would cut you off from ever directly controlling the demon, as you are not her ancestor or descendant, but would also ensure that all your children, and not just one, would inherit the right to command it.

---

You speak to Parakeet and Cockatrice about their spy network and what is known about those loyal to General Fuckwit.

Acording to Cockatrice, all the important imperial officers in both Traggix and Stimilif are loyal to the interim judge, and all the officers below them are at the very least complacent. They don't have dirt on anybody important yet, but they expect that to eventually change, and will be sure to inform you when it does.

Parakeet then breaks the bad news that they are basically blind to going-ons in Icarixip at the moment. Detesabilis isn't allowing Clay Elves to enter or exit the city, which makes communicating with their agents there nearly impossible.

Lastly, your defacto spy masters warn you against employing their services against your grandmother for the time being. Many of their sources in Traggix, including a few members of your servant staff at Clayden, also share or sell their information to Stellixeth. They in turn do have sources close to your grandmother as well, who might be willing to work on your behalf, but they fear their network might implode if you wind up in an espionage war against the royal arms-maker.

---

The following day, you order the Wayward Clay be made ready to sail before heading outside to interact with the citizens of Traggix.

As you have come to expect now, the commoners are quite familiar and informal with their god-king, leading to you receiving many unsolicited hugs and firm pats on the back. You recieve many requests to intercede with your ancestors on behalf of a sick parent or child, and are offered many free drinks which you must turn down as the important day is quite young.

Unaware of the tension and mistrust between you and her, many of the elves you meet speak favorably of your grandmother Stellixeth. She apparently lives in town, in a new mansion only two blocks from Clayden, and has been very active in sharing her wealth with the struggling populace during and after the recent war. According to several whom you speak to, every day since the Imperial Army destroyed the industrial oven complex where shipbuilding materials were massed baked, she has gone down to the site and lead the former employees and their families in prayer at dusk. You get the feeling that Stellixeth is either very good at masking her malicious nature, or actually a decent person with a dangerous devotion to the sanctity of her craft... You are not sure which would make her more dangerous...

There are more elves on the street today, and moral seems a bit higher than you had expected. Apparently Lieutenant Spinam seeks to suck up to you, as after court yesterday he proclaimed that Martial Law would be phased out over the next few weeks, and that the several dozen soldiers under his command with the worst reputation for abusing the populace will soon be sent south to relieve tired troops under the command of Bufo Fidelis.

You eat lunch aboard the Wayward Clay over the course of a several hours long voyage to Stimilif, a city which you find in far worse shape than Traggix; With the exception of the ovens district and the already under reconstruction city walls, the structure of Traggix was barely scathed by the war. Stimilif, however, seems to consist of little more than tents scattered amoung ruined buildings.

The first locals you encounter here are in a chain-gang, being forced to demolish some of the few remaining undamaged houses in town. Apparently some of the occupying imperial officers are bringing their families in from the heartland, and think that this spot is an ideal place to construct a proper imperial bathhouse, existing dwellings be damned.

The people here, unaware that Boil is your apointee, seem to think that the empire has a particular hate for their town as they were sent a wicked Acid Elf for a judge. Nobody, however, can name a reason that Boil is wicked aside from the fact that he is an acid elf. As Lieutenant Stella, the man in charge of the local garrison, is presently out of town, meeting with General Dickwad in Icarixip, you decide that the judge in question is the closest thing to the person in charge, and arrange a meeting.

Due to a lack of important looking standing buildings in town, Boil's office has been set-up inside a temple for the worship of your ancestors. You can tell this arrangement makes your friend uncomfortable, as he seemingly walks around on pins and needles.

The virtuous judge explains that he has spent his time since arriving in town compiling evidence against abusive soldiers, and informs you matter-o-factly that he could have has many as eighty legionaries and seven officers easily convicted of rape and/or murder - crimes which usually carry the death sentence. A mass execution of imperial soldiers would go a long way toward winning the 'wicked' judge the love of the citizens of Stimilif, but would likely anger the senate and others back in the heartland.

On the other hand, Boil suggests he could use his evidence against the officers as blackmail material, and try to sieze influence over the garrison for himself, which would allow him to personally end martial law and protect the citizens moving foward.

Boil explains that he was planning on traveling to Traggix to seek your council on this matter once Lieutenant Stella returns, and is more than willing to take whichever action you deem appropriate. You can't help but be impressed at your friend's work ethic and ability; Gathering damning evidence from a mistrusting public against so many offenders in such a short amount of time is quite the feat.

---

As the small seaside villages where ships with cargo or passengers bound for Icarixip disembark have yet to be rebuilt following the war, you are forced to travel from Stimilif to your military stronghold by land. The journey takes you up winding, steep, and war-damaged road, and lasts nearly three days. By the time you arrive at Icarixip you are exuasted and in low spirits. What you see dose not help matters at all.

Walking through the streets of town, you are greeted by hisses and jeers. One Clay Elf even has the gaul to spit in your direction as you pass, and is promptly siezed and throughly beaten by a pair of nearby and overzealous imperial soldiers.

You meet the Judge and General Detesabilis in the most eloborate building you have seen in the Loam Coast so far, his home and office which was taken from the local Holy Guardian. The dickwad is cordial and arrogant, feigning politeness yet never letting a victorious grin fall from his face.

He arrogantly explains that he has been beginning and ending all his public proclamations by reminding the public that he is your friend and humble servant. He also informs you that he has taken great care to publicly commend, spoil, and dote upon Warqueen Whipscale, who has been in town for several days awaiting the arrival of her clan, as your friend and ally. Neither of these acts could be called 'treason' by any stretch, but it is clear that through these means he has publicly aligned you with his wicked agenda and the hated acid elves in the eyes of the public... You have your work cut out for you in Icarixip.

IronyOwl · « **Reply #188 on:** April 16, 2017, 07:17:27 pm »

Ha! It actually worked! For the moment, anyway.

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

A proclamation from the Imperial Senate and an accompanying note from High Judge Ganymede Agilis are presented and read to the court. Ganymede is dealing with a sick wife as well as wrapping up some of his other affairs in the heartland, and as such estimates it will be four to six months before he arrives in the Loam Coast to assume the office he has been appointed to. In the meantime, the Senate has granted you approval to allow any of your appointed local judges to carry out the duties of High Judge on an interim basis.

Admiral Fugit Figulus approaches you with a personal request. He has managed to track down the Clay Elf sailor he fell in love with while she was his prisoner, and wishes for you to grant her imperial citizenship so that he may eventually marry her and even give her employment in the Imperial Navy so he may keep her close.

Both Admiral Figulus and Lieutenant Mulo (on behalf of Commander Bufo Fidelis) present you with a jointly signed letter requesting that you petition Caesar Menas to allow the Loam Coast Province to annex the imperial lands of Southeast Cape. Although gaining new land is always tempting, it is quite apparent that this proposal by your military leaders is one driven primarily by self interest. Aside from the naval installation that Figulus and Fidelis would gain control of, and a couple of interesting high elf ruins, there is little of use to you on the cape.

Prince Agrilvin of Treasurewaves has been put in the uncomfortable position of requesting that the Loam Coast begin paying reparations for the various heinous crimes committed by your ancestors against his city-state. The Prince informs you that although the King is a fan of your work on elf rights, and wouldn't normally be so quick or upfront in bringing up this issue, a populist revolt is feared if the leaders of Treasurewaves appear to allow the defeated Loam Coast to go unpunished.

Holy Lady Damivia makes a bit of a scene among the more prudish imperial members of your court by aggressively flirting with both you and your wife. You are fairly sure she is subtly requesting to be made Holy Guardian of Traggix, a position often given to somebody of her blood who is a lover of the Pharaoh, but you are not entirely sure about how you would go about giving her the title if you even wanted to. The position of Holy Guardian was abolished by Caesar, meaning that it would take an imperial agent (likely yourself) to restore it. Clay Elf Tradition, on the other hand, mandates that new Holy Guardians are appointed by your high priest, and you are not even sure your uncle Xamul is fond of you enough to help you in the matter.

-I'm thinking Dust Crone for this. She's cunning enough to handle the job, and Boil, while awesome, is busy.
-Sounds like a great opportunity to accept provided he eases up on punishing every other Clay Elf in the province.
-Is there a reason not to? Consolidating Imperial assets in the area is a decent idea, those two are roughly on our side, and the ruins might be neat.
-Well shit. See below.
-As we know almost nothing about her or the situation, I'm inclined to pass on this bucket of worms for the moment.

The way I see it, we have two options regarding reparations:
1. Promise to pay later, once we've rebuilt. We'll have actual money then, and will accomplish the purpose of reimbursing Treasurewaves for damage caused in the past.
2. Agree to pay now, as a proportion of our currently miserable income. We'll be seen to be suffering then, and will accomplish the purpose of vindicating Treasurewaves for pain caused in the past.

Obviously, they're going to want Option 3: Pay them tons of money right now because we're vile savages that owe them, but, well.

I'm in favor of 2 because it allows us to cheat using our own personal wealth (assuming angry vindictive elves are not very observant on details), and I assume angry elves are more worried about suffering than gain, but 1 is cleaner and more productive, and long-lived elves might be patient enough to go for the long haul.

In any case, we should have a long chat with him on exactly what Treasurewaves wants.

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

You manage to get in a private moment with Tsunamia later that day, and after indulging in the obligatory newlywed antics with her, discussion turns to the topic of the Flower Demon, which sadly turns out to be a bit more complicated than you would have hoped.

Damn it.

I'm inclined to bind it to Tsunamia, as we shouldn't ever particularly need to command it personally; Tsunamia can be trusted to look out for our interests and probably go along with our plans unless she has a strong reason not to, and by the time she dies our children will hopefully be on similarly good terms with us.

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

Acording to Cockatrice, all the important imperial officers in both Traggix and Stimilif are loyal to the interim judge, and all the officers below them are at the very least complacent.

*sound of Taricus crowing "I told you we needed to murder them aaaaaaaaaall" in the background*

That said, still in favor of subtler methods. Boil is making great progress already, and if we opt to get the Flower Demon immediately we'll no doubt have hilariously sinister ways of dealing with organic problems.

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

You get the feeling that Stellixeth is either very good at masking her malicious nature, or actually a decent person with a dangerous devotion to the sanctity of her craft... You are not sure which would make her more dangerous...

To be honest I'm guessing the latter. She's 100% correct about us and her precious art, which will no doubt make her a staunch and likeable adversary.

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

Stimilif, however, seems to consist of little more than tents scattered amoung ruined buildings.

The first locals you encounter here are in a chain-gang, being forced to demolish some of the few remaining undamaged houses in town. Apparently some of the occupying imperial officers are bringing their families in from the heartland, and think that this spot is an ideal place to construct a proper imperial bathhouse, existing dwellings be damned.

WITH A RUSTY SPOON

Have Boil publicly order the officers in question to reimburse the homeowners (and laborers, if doing so makes sense), before having them publicly explain to the crowd how this project will, in accordance with the personal wishes and orders of their Governor and Pharaoh, improve the lives of the citizens and speed economic recovery.

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

The people here, unaware that Boil is your apointee, seem to think that the empire has a particular hate for their town as they were sent a wicked Acid Elf for a judge. Nobody, however, can name a reason that Boil is wicked aside from the fact that he is an acid elf.

IT BEGINS

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

The virtuous judge explains that he has spent his time since arriving in town compiling evidence against abusive soldiers, and informs you matter-o-factly that he could have has many as eighty legionaries and seven officers easily convicted of rape and/or murder - crimes which usually carry the death sentence. A mass execution of imperial soldiers would go a long way toward winning the 'wicked' judge the love of the citizens of Stimilif, but would likely anger the senate and others back in the heartland.

On the other hand, Boil suggests he could use his evidence against the officers as blackmail material, and try to sieze influence over the garrison for himself, which would allow him to personally end martial law and protect the citizens moving foward.

Poor, poor 7-foot-tall Tyrion. I say he blackmails them behind the scenes, much cleaner.

I also say we tell him he's earned our respect and trust, and that he can count on our full support should he need anything. Anything at all.

Quote from: Weirdsound on April 16, 2017, 03:51:47 pm

Walking through the streets of town, you are greeted by hisses and jeers. One Clay Elf even has the gaul to spit in your direction as you pass, and is promptly siezed and throughly beaten by a pair of nearby and overzealous imperial soldiers.

You meet the Judge and General Detesabilis in the most eloborate building you have seen in the Loam Coast so far, his home and office which was taken from the local Holy Guardian. The dickwad is cordial and arrogant, feigning politeness yet never letting a victorious grin fall from his face.

He arrogantly explains that he has been beginning and ending all his public proclamations by reminding the public that he is your friend and humble servant. He also informs you that he has taken great care to publicly commend, spoil, and dote upon Warqueen Whipscale, who has been in town for several days awaiting the arrival of her clan, as your friend and ally. Neither of these acts could be called 'treason' by any stretch, but it is clear that through these means he has publicly aligned you with his wicked agenda and the hated acid elves in the eyes of the public... You have your work cut out for you in Icarixip.

This is no common douchebaggery. We're up against a professional, here.

To be honest I'm not sure how to handle this. In the short term, I mean. In the long term I'm a fan of replacing his central nervous system with a parasitic eel, but it'd be nice to end martial law and get our people to not hate us now.

Urist Mc Dwarf · « **Reply #189 on:** April 16, 2017, 07:56:58 pm »

Ask him to go manage somewhere far away?

IronyOwl · « **Reply #190 on:** April 16, 2017, 10:13:37 pm »

Hm, that's an option. We'd need somewhere else for him to ruin, though, and I'm not sure what postings would be considered fair and normal. For instance, can we send him to deal with the rebels? He's technically employed as a judge and garrison commander, not a field soldier.

Speaking of rebels, it'd be nice if we could get down there and see if any of them would be willing to join up now that we're in charge. We have way too many things to do.

There's also the issue of his underlings, which would presumably continue business as usual in his absence. They might be less ballsy about and generate less backlash in the senate when we have them crucified, though.

...

Okay, what if we go full chicken on him and tell him we're going to use our 3000 soldiers worth of ceramic arms to equip citizens of the fort? He's only got a garrison of 2500, so even if most of them aren't trained soldiers that would be cause for alarm. In a perfect world it'd be enough to scare him into backing off, because he'd realize that if he keeps going the city will erupt on him.

Problems with this include:
1. Senate may not like hearing something about us raising an army of bandits? Detestabilis' report says some very worrying things!
2. 3000 disorganized but well armed citizens are not necessarily going to be able to take out 2500 organized, professional soldiers with a stranglehold on the city
3. He might go for it anyway and engage in a glorious civil war, or just shove the city until it bursts into open rebellion and then pull his forces out while laughing
4. Senate will most certainly have questions for us if anything in #3 happens

#1 isn't insurmountable, just eyebrow-raising. For #2 we could shunt a large portion of the garrison south, since now the patriotic citizens will guard the fort! #3 and #4 are... difficult to reconcile. This is a much better bluff than solution.

Weirdsound · « **Reply #191 on:** April 16, 2017, 10:42:27 pm »

#2 isn't a thing. You have the documents to track down hardened and well trained elves from the war.

IronyOwl · « **Reply #192 on:** April 16, 2017, 11:38:39 pm »

The idea was to arm enraged locals in a (probably doomed) attempt to convince Fuckwit not to push them too far, but I suppose just raising our own Clay Elf garrison and shoving the assholes south (or giving the elves orders to keep the peace at all costs) would be simpler and produce less angry rebel fortresses.

So... yes, I like this idea. We replace the garrison entirely with clay-armed Clay Elves, ~~General~~ Venerable Judge Fuckwit is now surrounded by resentful well-armed veterans. He'll still be able to mess things up, but not nearly as badly, because the soldiers will resent and drag their feet on his orders to abuse locals, and he'll never sleep all that well again knowing he has 3000 surly animals wondering whether shoving a sword through his gullet would be worth dying for.

Bufo will also really appreciate the reinforcements, and it'd be a good time to head out to meet with him ourselves and see if any of the rebels will come quietly.

Weirdsound · « **Reply #193 on:** April 17, 2017, 03:41:28 pm »

Pharaoh Karses II, Governor and Godking of the Loam Coast, and Head of the Divine Clay Elf Bloodline:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Occupied Government of the Loam Coast:
(Please Read now, Official descriptions of the offices will likely be deleted from this spoiler to save character count in future posts)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Imperial Province of Loam Coast:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"I'm glad to see you are keeping busy, general." You reply with the closest thing to a genuine smile you can muster. "The reason for my visit is simple. I want the rebels dealt with as quickly as possible, so I'm raising a few thousand men under my authority as Pharoah. They will garrison Icarixip, while the imperial troops you have done so well to gather shall march south to aid Commander Fidelis."

"Wha?! You ba-" Detestablis stammers before quickly regaining his smug composure. "I-I mean, what a wise decision Governor. I'm sure my men will relish to opportunity to bring the coldest justice to those inferior beings who think themselves worthy calling a true imperial such as yourself 'Family."

You can't help but flinch a bit. Even if some of your kin to the south must die, you wouldn't wish fuckwad's brand of justice upon them. Still, the die is cast, and there is no turning back now. "Very well. I'm not entirely sure how long it will take me to round up the elves. I need the ceramic weapons Caesar captured transferred West. I will be recruiting from Traggix and Stimilif, seeing how you have done such a good job of getting the locals to like us here. Have the human garrison ready to march as soon as my troops arrive."

---

The trip from Icarixip to Stimilif is mostly downhill, so going back is actually much quicker and easier.

While back in Stimilif, you meet with Boil once more. You instruct the judge to have the officers involved in the bathouse projected publicly humiliated and forced to reimburse those who lost their homes to the construction. The Acid Elf agrees to do this.

Over lunch, you inform Boil that he has your respect, and that if he ever needs anything at all, you will have his back. Your scholarly friend considers your words, and informs you that sometime in the next few years, once the situation in Stimilif has stabilized a bit, he would like to take a several month long leave of absence to study the legal customs of some of the smaller Acid Elf clans around your southern border. It turns out Boil is writing a book about the laws of his people, and although he expects to get much of his material from Whiptail's clan while they are in the country, he knows well enough that no two clans are the same, and that significant differences exist between the smaller tribes and the Wyrven Clans.

---

You take advantage of the short voyage from Stimilif to Traggix to start drafting a letter to Caesar Menas, requesting permission for your province to annex Southeast Cape. There is a chance The Emperor might visit the Loam Coast to witness the spectical of Whipscale's clan, so you are not worried about sending this message quite yet, as you might have the chance to make the request in person.

---

You track Pyriusia down and inform her that she is to be the interim High Judge of the Loam Coast. The Dust Crone is actually annoyed by this news... Apparently she is making some decent progress towards reverse engineering the secret of Claychantment's green finishing fire, and isn't happy with the extra duties.

---

Once back home, you spend a good half day socializing with your wife, who you give instructions to bind the flower demon to her own bloodline. The Blue Witch nods. "Consider it done."

---

The following morning, Tsunamia introduces you to what appears to be a cactus in bloom twisted into the shape similar to that of a short and stout humanoid. The newly bound demon hisses and gurgles in an aggressive manner until your wife informs it that you are a friend. "He lacks the means to replicate any spoken mortal language, but if he is as smart as my dad claims, he should be able to modify himself to talk. I'm going to order him to do just that, if you don't have any better use for the creature... I'm not sure how long he will take though."

She then shows you an empty closet with about twenty-five glowing runes engraved on the back wall. "This is what the universe has given us for summoning the flower demon. At first glance, none of these runes look too impressive. If you don't mind me doing so, I might have that portion of wall torn out and shipped to the Shrieking Mangroves so that my assistants can give it a good through looking over. I'm not sure I want to waste my time performing deeper analysis on these ones personally."

---

In hopes that keeping a local as a lover and perhaps wife might be enough to temper Admiral Fugit Figulus' hatred of his own kind, you issue a proclamation and write out a document declaring her an Imperial Citizen.

The female in question isn't terribly notable in either birth or military station, but you do learn that she is already one of the few elves in Icarixip who dosn't hate your guts. Apparently two of her brothers were with Xamut's fleet during the war between the Everstorm Lands and Humpback Island, and they returned home singing your praises to your family.

In fact, as far as you can tell, those sailors who were with you up north, and their families, have formed a strong core of deeply loyal partisans on behalf of their new Pharaoh. These loyalists call themselves 'Icebergs', a name inspired by their adventures with you up north, and have a decent amount of influence over the ports in both Traggix and Stimilif. To his credit, Xamut V, the defacto leader of the Icebergs, seems to understand your agenda, and as such the Icebergs are already doing their best to prep both the dockyards and the population at large for foreign trade for the first time in centuries.

If you could get Admiral Figulus to align himself with this party, perhaps by marriage, you would ensure that the commanders of both your Imperial and Elfish navies would be largely on the same page.

---

You send an emissary to Treasurewaves, to negotiate reparations based on the Loam Coast's current income, before spending the next few weeks organizing an elfish garrison for Icarixip.

This process goes somewhat smoothly, as Xamut steps in to help. Fifteen days later, you have rounded up 3000 clay elf veterans, 2500 of which are armed. Claiming a fear of bandits taking the gear on the road, General Fuckwit has been slow to send you the portion of the captured Loam Coast arsnel stored behind the walls of Icarixip.

The matter of picking a commander for these elves is brought up at this point, and as it so happens, you have two or three good choices. Nixulop, the twin of your beloved sister Pulchra whom you met at the wedding reception Xamut threw, commanded the Icarixip Garrision during the most recent war, and has the unique distinction of being the only high officer in the Loam Coast Army to never once taste defeat in that particular conflict. Although he is throughly qualified, and Xamut swears that he will be loyal to your wishes, you are quite aware that Nixulop despises the empire and might not be above causing some trouble... but perhaps that makes him all the more appealing, as he would be a tough pill for Judge Asshat to swallow.

Your other main option would be to send one of your two Tarantuala Elf officers, either Fangearl or Tuft, to lead the garrison. You could also send both, along with the fifty elite soldiers under their command. Sending your personal underlings could reflect well on you, and perhaps they could slowly start to repair the damage to your reputation caused by Detestablis... Assuming, of course, that they behave themselves.

The very afternoon you are pondering this descision, your emissary to Treasurewaves returns, flanked by a particularly tall High Elf who introduces himself as Crowned Prince Jaspersigh. Your unexpected guest seems agitated and worried, but before you can question him, you are interupted by an equally agitated and worried messenger from Commander Fidelis to the South. As it turns out, both come bearing the same message.

It seems that intelligence about the active Wyrven Clans nearby has recently become much more clear, and what has been learned is rather frightening. The clan formed from the hostile survivors of the Tall Ears War, who wish to indiscriminately burn and slaughter everything civilized, is terrifyingly large. Calvary screens make an exact headcount difficult, but it is estimated that foot-soldiers alone account for sixty to eighty thousand savages. The Prince informs you that the rule of thumb is to assume at least one dangerous Wyrven Rider for every five foot-soldiers when dealing with a Wyrven Clan.

Apparently this hostile force has split up. About fifteen thousand of them have united with a large host of wicked frillfolk from Wraith Valley, and this new force is amassing just Southwest of the friendly city-state of Spiceflood. If this force invades the War Coast region and manages to either take or get around Spiceflood, they would likely march north and pose a serious threat to Treasurewaves, Traggix, and Stimilif; Cities whose walls have been badly damaged in the recent war between Caesar Menas and Xamut IV. Fighting Acid Elves without good walls or an overwhelming advantage in terms of both numbers and equipment rarely goes well.

The remainder of the hostile Wyrven Clan is moving north along the east coast, following Whipscale's tribe at about three day's distance and letting your future allies do the brunt of the work and take the brunt of the causalities for them as they march to war. Although this enemy host is much greater in number, it would have to get through Whiptail's Clan, the Naval Installation, and Icarixip, each being a formidable obstacle in its own right, before it could threaten any truly vulnerable cities.

When you talked to Whipscale at your wedding, she told you that her clan's might consists of thirty-three thousand footsoldiers, nine thousand wyrven riders, and fifty-seven war-priests. It is likely, however, that Whipscale has suffered some casualities since then. It also might be difficult to convince her to deploy the priests; Most Acid Elf Clans consider it dishonorable to use magic in battle, and so such trickery is usually reserved for fighting lesser races unworthy of honorable combat.

Estimates on the arrival of Whiptail's clan, and thus the hostile force following it, range from two weeks to three months from now, depending on the opposition posed by the lesser clans in the area. Nobody can be quite sure when the hostile force near Spiceflood will mobilize, or where it will go once it does so.

On one hand, this news is terrifying. Armagedeon would not be an understatement if the smaller force aligned with the Frillfolk attacked Traggix and Stimilif as things stand now. Unlike the Acid Elves, the wicked Dragonkin know a few things about laying seige, so what modest and damaged walls you have are unlikely to be enough. To make matters worse, between the Acid Elves seeking bloody revenge and the Frillfolk, who consider high and clay elves equally delicious, it is likely that any city taken by this collation will be slaughtered down to the last child.

On the other hand, however, this threat presents a great opportunity to make peace and even alliances where you might not otherwise be able to. The civilized coastal is already exausted from battle, and the enemy is somewhat smaller in number and not lead by a fearsome demon, but otherwise the situation isn't that dissimilar from the Tall Ears War, which was enough to make even your famous ornery father throw his lot in with the empire for a spell. You will have follow in his shoes and build a coalition of your own if you wish to survive.

Crowned Prince Jaspersigh must be thinking the same, as he offers to suspend talk of reparation payments for seven years if you sign a mutual defense pact with his City-Sate that is effective until the impending threat has been dealt with.

---

Below is the map of the situational map of what has been described above. The red teardrop shapes are the two parts of the hostile force. The purple teardrop shape is Whipscale's clan. The black arrow is the approximate route to be taken by both Whipscale's clan and the hostile force following it. The size of the teardrop shapes are roughly to scale.

The 3000 Strong 53rd Imperial Legion is spread out along along the rivers in your province, South of Sacred Point. Commander Fidelis predicts there are anywhere between 1200 and 5000 hostile Clay Elf Soldiers divided between six or seven pretender pharaohs in that same region.

You know that all the City-States in the yellow tinted War Coast region, as well as the Lion Elf tribes who live in the same area, will likely come to the aid of one another if attacked, but you don't have any solid intelligence on their respective military strengths.

The key to the rest of the map can be found here.

IronyOwl · « **Reply #194 on:** April 17, 2017, 05:08:55 pm »

Oh dear.

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Author Topic: (SG) Vassal: Rise of a Pharaoh (Read 23904 times)

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