Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Naturegirl1999]

Reward: the 6 Insect Larvae
Not sure about the speech though

[mightymushroom]

Hau explains, "I obviously cannot guarantee your safety, especially considering the size of the target, but I can assure you raiding is somewhat less dangerous than you'd expect."

No problem at all.

Truthfully though, I think I counted only one miss that wasn't a Crit-fail.
We might need to practice our military command skill if we intend to do much more of this.

-----

Bride discussion: My estimation of Alanna went way up seeing how she handled herself, but I would like to meet Luanda. We should also wait to check out the list of Titanlands candidates before committing. No marriage tonight

Mistress discussion: let's put this off till we have the measure of our bride's tolerance. No mistress

One Night Stand discussion: There would be less pressure with one of the 'unimportant' girls. We do still have the awkward teenager malus, on account of inexperience.

Prize discussion: The Artifact Lance fits our riding skillset and is suitable for a king. Giant bugs freak me out, it's a personal taste thing.

Do you give a speech? If so, what notes and topics do you hit on?
Congratulate Keanu and Kaylee on their marriage.

+1 Ad libbing on the theme of personal love, maybe throw in an embarrassing story or two from back in the desert. Make sure to take a good long swig of whatever first, so nobody expects great eloquence.

Disagree with making the speech some political set piece about the future of our reign.

[Maximum Spin]

I am also absolutely against making their marriage about us by making a speech about us. Give a speech about them, centring on their experiences together and their future... that touches upon themes relating to our own hopes for our future reign without outright saying so.

Alanna's forthrightness would make me, personally, uncomfortable. And honestly has. I vote against making any rash romantic or sexual decisions before we've given everyone a proper chance, and I don't mean 'in bed'. I'm a little disappointed in the complete lack of interest everyone else is showing toward Kamea, though. She seems cool, and comes with an inheritance, just saying.

Tentatively leaning artifact lance. Unlike mightymushroom, I'm okay with giant bugs, but we have no idea what they are and what use they will be, while the lance is at least definitely a weapon.

[IronyOwl]

I'm a little disappointed in the complete lack of interest everyone else is showing toward Kamea, though. She seems cool, and comes with an inheritance, just saying.

She's an option but a small one. If we wanted to marry for raw power we could probably do better than a small raider clan, and if we wanted a warrior waifu we have at least one other option who's also a druid right here.

[nuclearwhale]

+1 to taking the insect larvae We're really good with animals, and while I don't doubt the artifact lance is the most powerful option in the short-term, a trained adult version of the little grubs is likely to be just as useful to us, if not more so. Especially if we can figure out how to breed more down the line. Even if the adult form isn't that much bigger than the larval state, they could make some truly excellent royal pets.

Focus on taking about the newlywed couple. We'll have plenty of opportunity to brag about our own greatness later. Doing so now would only serve to make us seem horrendously self-centered.

[Maximum Spin]

a trained adult version of the little grubs is likely to be just as useful to us, if not more so.

How is that likely? For all you know, they're used like sheepdogs, are a weird elven delicacy, or someone was going to start the equivalent of a flea circus.

She's an option but a small one. If we wanted to marry for raw power we could probably do better than a small raider clan, and if we wanted a warrior waifu we have at least one other option who's also a druid right here.

I'm kind of just not into this whole druid thing!

[Taricus]

How is that likely? For all you know, they're used like sheepdogs, are a weird elven delicacy, or someone was going to start the equivalent of a flea circus.

Honestly, sheepdogs or livestock isn't a bad haul either, definitely long-term in regards to payoff but either could be particularly useful in themselves. Then throw in magical experimentation and we have an interesting little side hobby.

As an aside, Allana probably is the best spouce we could pick in regards to heirs, given the larger window there and being able to keep (outside) dynastic politicking down to a minimum would be great. Also more leeway if we lose a heir too.

[King Zultan]

+1 to taking the insect larvae We're really good with animals, and while I don't doubt the artifact lance is the most powerful option in the short-term, a trained adult version of the little grubs is likely to be just as useful to us, if not more so. Especially if we can figure out how to breed more down the line. Even if the adult form isn't that much bigger than the larval state, they could make some truly excellent royal pets.

Focus on taking about the newlywed couple. We'll have plenty of opportunity to brag about our own greatness later. Doing so now would only serve to make us seem horrendously self-centered.

+1

[mightymushroom]

I was thinking about the way Alanna can become fixated on a goal. I think her elven mindset might hinder her quickness of thought in palace situations or even field leadership; she's an excellent fighter who stopped fighting before the enemy was truly downed. Don't get me wrong she's a solid choice in other areas but I'm hoping for a co-ruler with whom we could split duties when interesting opportunities arise.

I would absolutely under no circumstance tell her we turned her down because she's part elf, she already has enough issues dealing with that. If we do end up bedding her we should compliment her skin and her ears and whatever else. The whole "what makes you different makes you special" routine.

[Powder Miner]

+1 to the larva as much as I actually despise bugs, I have to admit that with how absolutely fucking stonks our animal husbandry skill is, getting new stock is a good idea.

Make our speech about Keanu and Kaylee, of course, drawing upon our shared history.

Remain awkward chaste lad Arawn for now and stay single - I sure as shit don't want to elope until we meet some of the other options (like ms. 17 foot long river crocodile from the cenozoic era), getting a mistress while actively meeting marriage options seems a bit two-faced, and Arawn just seems the type to not really get into a one-night stand.

[Fluffe9911]

+1 to the larva as much as I actually despise bugs, I have to admit that with how absolutely fucking stonks our animal husbandry skill is, getting new stock is a good idea.

Make our speech about Keanu and Kaylee, of course, drawing upon our shared history.

Remain awkward chaste lad Arawn for now and stay single - I sure as shit don't want to elope until we meet some of the other options (like ms. 17 foot long river crocodile from the cenozoic era), getting a mistress while actively meeting marriage options seems a bit two-faced, and Arawn just seems the type to not really get into a one-night stand.

+1

[Weirdsound]

Larva = 7
Lance = 2

I'll count the votes to stay chaste as a -1 to all other options, so nothing happens here.

Political Speech = 2
Wedding Toast = 6

You launch into a deeply personal speech about the years you spent with Keanu and Kaylee in the desert.

Skill = 4
Roll = 4
King Addressing Subjects: -1
Final Result: 3

"...And that is why I know this union will work. They want to make it work. And they will put the work in. They have been putting work in since the day they found out that they were matched to wed. Kaylee and Keanu are not perfect for each other, because people are not perfect. 'Marriage is like any other skill, it can be mastered' is a quote commonly attributed to my Great Grandfather King Geralt. Geralt, of course, famously murdered his first wife, stole her throne, and killed all her sons. But looking past his rough beginnings, he mastered the skill of marriage in the end with Queen La'akea, and we are all here because of it.

Keanu and Kaylee are of lesser birth than Geralt, but I'm positive that in matters of the heart they are better people than a King dubbed 'The Heartless'. I am confident they will need far less trial and error to master the art of married life than he did!"

You get a roaring round of applause as you conclude your speech. You wait for it to die down before hugging both the bride and groom, and returning to one of the campfires to indulge in more drink.

---

The following day you speak with druids present before departing. They agree to help you put the insect larva into a state of suspended animation. Everyone involved is pretty confident that somebody at the grand temple will be willing to watch the critters and maintain the spell until you are ready to take the time to figure out what they are and what they eat.

---

Eventually the victorious raiding party arrives at Hau's raid camp, about a quarter day's journey by road or river from Bride Price. A delegation of imperial clerics are waiting to heal the wounds and attempt to save the souls of the victorious raiders. Among them is your brother Anders.

Anders personally tends to Andre, who was born before your parents met and thus can be easily argued as exempt from the Imperial restrictions on healing royals. Andre's injuries amount to several broken ribs; an easy fix for an Imperial Cleric.

After he completes his duty as a cleric, Anders pulls you aside, and introduces you to a chubby balding Imperial man called Horton De'Ville. Horton explains that he is your steward, and that you are to meet with your council shortly upon your arrival in Bride Price. The primary order of business is to present you with the list of possible Imperial Brides that you requested from The Titan Canyons, but the King, of course, is always free to raise any order of business he wishes at the meeting. Horton asks if you have any issues that you would like the council to discuss or brief you on. If so, he will ride ahead and pass the news along so your other councilors may prepare themselves to speak on the desired topics.

After Horton leaves, Anders speaks with you one on one. You can see the lines of exhaustion on your half brother's face, and deduce that the rumors that he is overworking himself are likely true. Nonetheless, he gives you a personal briefing on the state of your court.

Right now your council consists of Bishop Guthrey, an old friend of your father's, as your court chaplain, Queen Mother Anne as Lady of the Court (a role she is expected to concede to your eventual wife), and Anders himself as your court mage. Your marshal, steward, chancellor, and spymaster all come from the House of De'Ville.

Anders explains that the De'Ville Patriarch Burt was the son of a powerful foreign Duke who had inherited lots of money but no land. Burt turned to trade and investments to further expand his fortune, and by the beginning of the crusade against the Eunuch League he was perhaps the richest Imperial to not wear a royal crown. Zealous and hungry for land, Burt and his family fully committed to the crusade, in which Burt lead as a general and most of his sons fought as clerics or officers.

When the crusade ended, Anders explained that although Burt easily had enough money to buy passage back home, he instead chose to import the non-combatants in his family and his worldly possessions to New Mahallo, where he had purchased both land and influence from your desperate mother. When Queen Anne abandoned her regency early to join you on the hunt, the De'Villes more or less took control of the Kingdom, and now they dominate your royal council.

In the short term, Anders suggests that the De'Villes goals may align with your own. The wish to develop the frontier and build an army that can participate in a second crusade that will hopefully begin in a few decades once your Brother Felix can no longer keep his confederation united. In the long run, however, Felix warns that most of House De'Ville is less tolerant of the Mahallo people than the average Imperial, and that Burt would love nothing more than to quash their culture and religion. He is wise enough, however, to avoid antagonizing the locals before he has developed a base of power for himself.

Advising you on the upcoming meeting, Anders warns that the De'Villes know you are sniffing around the temple and considering Druidic Brides, and as thus they are likely to apply heavy pressure for you to pick a spouse from the list Penteram's Bishop has prepared before you leave the meeting. You might want to think of a diplomatic way out of that situation unless you actually are planning on taking an Imperial spouse.

Although Anders does not favor antagonizing or firing the De'Villes at this time, he admits he is frustrated with your spymaster Mathias De'Ville. Although your spymaster is seemingly competent at most aspects of his job, he pays no heed to your brother's concerns about a dangerous Orcish spy ring, as he believes the 'sub-humans' of the Bloodstone Plateau incapable of such sophistication. As Mathias himself is a cleric able to use magic, Anders suggests that he would willing to resign as your court mage so that you could give Mathias that position and appoint a spymaster who is not blinded by delusions of human supremacy without having to cause a scandal by firing anybody.

Do you favor Anders' idea? If so is there a friend or confidant you'd like to apoint spymaster? Is there a powerful figure or group, such as Penteram, Hau, the Merchant families that you like to ask to propose qualified candidates?

[IronyOwl]

'Marriage is like any other skill, it can be mastered' is a quote commonly attributed to my Great Grandfather King Geralt. Geralt, of course, famously murdered his first wife, stole her throne, and killed all her sons. But looking past his rough beginnings, he mastered the skill of marriage in the end with Queen La'akea, and we are all here because of it.

Man we are descended from an absolute bastard.

Horton asks if you have any issues that you would like the council to discuss or brief you on. If so, he will ride ahead and pass the news along so your other councilors may prepare themselves to speak on the desired topics.

Economy and living conditions of our people.

After Horton leaves, Anders speaks with you one on one. You can see the lines of exhaustion on your half brother's face, and deduce that the rumors that he is overworking himself are likely true. Nonetheless, he gives you a personal briefing on the state of your court.

Order Anders to take it easy. He's our premiere magic specialist, we can't have him performing his duties while ragged.

You might want to think of a diplomatic way out of that situation unless you actually are planning on taking an Imperial spouse.

A mistress would have come in handy here.

Ideally we'll say that events while raiding require us to at least formally consider marriage to certain involved parties, so we can't possibly commit to a wife at this time. They'll be frustrated, but too disdainful of Mahallo culture to question whether any of that's true.

Do you favor Anders' idea? If so is there a friend or confidant you'd like to apoint spymaster? Is there a powerful figure or group, such as Penteram, Hau, the Merchant families that you like to ask to propose qualified candidates?

No. We'll rephrase it instead- the orcs may be subhuman brutes, but there's no shortage of human traitors willing to profit from their crude bribes. Ideally we'll use our vampire contacts to uncover an example first, which will force him to acknowledge there's something going on here.

[Powder Miner]

Absolutely a fat NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO on putting an extra close-minded member of a likely imminently particularly troublesome group of hardliners into the position responsible for magic working under an Extra Heretical Magic Fan king.

The De'Villes are going to be an issue - I think we need to do some sniffing around to find out how deeply their influence penetrates the kingdom beyond the council.

[mightymushroom]

Ask for the council's assessment of the orc situation. We can establish early that it's not just getting swept under the rug.

I wonder if we can get a very broad overview of the kingdom's situation, maybe condensed down to a handful of numbers on a single Scroll of Kingdom Status.

Thank Anders, and tell him we're concerned for his health. We're in this for the long haul.


I had planned to ask Maeve to spy for us – I'm sure she is reporting back to Mistress Mire, could she please pass on a copy of her non-vampire findings to us? Giving her the official status may need to wait until the seat opens up, we wouldn't want to push it too obviously what with her being an agent of a foreign power.

Ideally we'll use our vampire contacts to uncover an example first, which will force him to acknowledge there's something going on here.

We're thinking alike. If we find something really juicy, we can fire him for incompetence.

On the same theme of putting together a junior council under the De'Villes' noses, I wonder if we can get Keanu appointed to the army staff. I think he has the most potential as a general or Marshal out of our childhood friends.

Marriage:
I don't know that an Imperial bride would be too bad... but I don't know if it would be good either.

The Mahallo appear to be reasonably casual (Andre has several lady friends) and Philip is well tolerated as a bastard, so having a druid mistress wouldn't be out of the question. I nominate Alanna – we know she's interested in us and she would make as good or better a bodyguard than Andre (not necessarily a better soldier). Maybe we should have been bolder at the celebration, oh well.