Captain of the mercs. Also Pax - you mentioned the Lords storehouse was here. Does that mean there are Uurlanth uniforms and crap in them? If so, we have the potential items needed for a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel...

Let's take care of our temporary allies first. Meet their captain and escort them to the wine cellar.

>>13474076
Grab whichever of our captains knows the most about wines and spirits, then meet with the mercenary captain and see about his payment. If there are any particular gems in the cellar, we'll want to have someone who can catch on with us.

Make sure that Lena checks for arcana along with Laelith. She's incapacitated at the moment, but she's a much surer bet for finding everything than the elementalists are.

>>13474138
I think we should leave Lena alone for now. She's still getting used to the idea of killing people. Honestly, I think we might want to ask Laelith at some point on what she can do outside of killing people. I don't think the girl can take combat.

>>13474087
>they would be the uniforms his men wear, with the feudal system each lord uniforms his men, usually in his house colors (since word will get out that this house has no military left to speak of it would be pretty obvious to anyone intelligent what was going on).
>in short, no weasel soup for you

You make your way over to the entrance to the wine cellar "Lets see to your pay then." you announce, before kicking the locked door in. You descend into the cool, dark chamber to find it fairly small, perhaps 14 feet across and 21 deep, the walls lined with racks filled with bottles, and a set of free standing racks splitting the room almost straight down the middle, if the back 7 feet were not given over to large casks of alcoholic refreshments. The mercenary makes his way back to the casks, ignoring the racks of spirits, all of them full down to the last slot.

"Theres a few casks I want. The Kelrlis lordling said that a friend of a friend imported the drink, and its as damned good as it is unplaceable. I'll have two of the three casks he brought for my men, and I'll keep a few bottles of port for myself. Would 300 Ingots be fair, since my boys got so ripped up?"

>>13474223

I'm fine with this deal. By the way, since we're down here, can we do an elementalism check for secret spaces?

>>13474223
What's the equivalent of 300 ingots to our currency? I'm also wondering if his mystery casks are our mystery blend... I'm wondering if we should ask the merc to try some and try some of what we have and see if this lord might know what it is.

And my weasel soup is still possible! There's at least one more day until people arrive at the nearest fortified town and tell them what's going on. That doesn't stop us from using the uniforms to fool the guards at the crossings since no one would of told them. I would of liked to spread some false information using the uniforms but taking those three crossings easily is sufficient in my mind.

>>13474223
300 ingots... how many did they start with, and how many did they lose? I'd be inclined to offer them less money and the option to freely equip themselves from the massive stock of surplus weapons that we're acquiring from slaughtering army after army, because it would both keep us richer and free up some space.

>>13474157
I didn't mean demand that she check everything over right now, just sometime before we leave.

>>13474294
We might as well give the mercs we have hired free reign of the left over gear. It'll be a waste to just leave it behind and if we can upgrade the mercs, that's cool.

>>13474319
Leave nothing behind. Everything comes with us or gets destroyed.

Or we could use our elementalism to bury the surplus underground somewhere for our army to retrieve later, I guess.

>>13474294
>started with just over 100, ended with just under 80.
>since the ingot is bigger than the dragoon, it would net you roughly 500 Dragoons after you turn it in to be recast/exchanged

>>13474366
That's what I meant. I just meant at least let the mercs get some use out of it rather than destroy everything.

Also Pax, would my idea be possible? We know the mercs were used as marshals for this lord so if we get them to deliver a message to the crossing guard that they need to return to the city ASAP, we can ambush them out in the open while the mercs and maybe some of our men dressed up pretend to be the replacement garrison.

>>13474368
See if we can pay a little less but give them free reign of any weapons and armour that's left over as well. If not, I can live with that price.

>>13474368
I think the price is fair, and since he'll be leaving one of the mystery casks for us, he can have the other two.
We should get Finian and Uurist in here sorting the drinks; I assume that as dwarves, the two of them will have a good knowledge of which drinks will be valuable and which we should just drink now.

>>13474394
>if the right man for the job leads it, yes

>>13474438
Well then. I think this is a job for Janos. He's shown he's very good with his diplomatic skills and he knows Uurlanth customs rather well. I think it's a pretty solid plan if we can convince the merc captain we're talking with atm to help us out since the Lords men would likely recognize them.

Can we do a stonesense check for secret compartments? This place is bound to have some GOOD secrets. Maybe even ones the current lord has no clue about.

>>13474488
>if enough people agree with your plan, roll for persuasion
>>13474436
>actually, Uurist and Sansa would be the better pair to set to that task

>>13474488
Maybe an additional 150 ingots (which we get from looting) and free pickings from the armory as payment for this extra job?

>>13474525
I'll wait until others comment on it then before hazarding a roll.

>>13474525
Alright, once we get the butcher's bill from Sansa, her and Uurist should go through the wine cellar.

Also agreeing with using stonesense to find hidden treasuries.

>>13474488

I'm good with this plan. Surprise has been one of our best friends to date. But, I'm nervous about using Janos for this task.

>>13474592
Janos knows Uurlanth customs better than anyone in our maniple and likely more about this lord than us. Hell, he can act as a mercenary himself with his iron mask. I suppose we can try someone else but we know Janos is pretty good at talking when he needs to be.

>>13474368

Wait, is that 500 Dragoons per ingot? Because if he's asking for 300 Ingots, then that's... 150,000 dragoons.

I'm hoping I read that wrong.

>>13474629
>yea, the whole 300 ingots would net you a full 500 dragoons.
>and you'll need to make a stonesense roll to try to track down any hidden compartments

rolled 46 = 46

>>13474657

Makin dat stonesense roll

>>13474560

They have to escape Uurlanth's boarders after their little stunt, right? Why not stick with the guy they just helped while he makes his way to crush the defenses at a crossing or two?

We're protection for him, while we can send him into a tower to say "The lord has sent us to replace you. Report to Lost Conflux at once to crush an enemy force raiding the local villages!"

play the fact that the lord's troops likely won't think twice about moving to defend their homes.

>>13474657

*enormous sigh of relief*

>>13474669
That's also an option since Janos did mention this lord often used mercenaries as his captains. And since we have captured the lord, we can even make letters using his seal. If word wasn't being spread of how he's been so crushed, we could of abused that so much to send false information to the enemy...

>>13474560
Seeing as this may net us an outpost a bit easier assuming we get there before the peasants do. Therefor I shall agree to it as well.

>>13474663
Aside from a tunnel some prisoner dug from the dungeon that ends underneath a few hundred pounds worth of barrels of alcohol, this room is exactly what it seems to be.

>I'll start the convo with the merc captain once you guys settle on a plan

>>13474744
Plan seems to have them go to the outposts in turn with fake orders from the lord to go back to the fort to help defend the city while they're going to hold the towers. Then when the enemy troops leave the safety of their fortifications, we can ambush them when they're in the open or force their surrender. Then we repeat this with the three crossings being controlled by this lord since if we're quick enough, word shouldn't reach them that Fort Conflux and the city has fallen.

What ya guys think?

>>13474744
Why not take a bit of time doing that first, would add a considerable bonus to the check correct?

>>13474787
Its a small space, encased in granite, shale, and scrap stone (mostly scrap stone). There are 17 places where it will likely collapse from within the next 100 years, and a reservoir a few hundred feet beneath it. And that is what you got from it in a 15 minute check while the mercenary captain tracked down the casks he wanted.

>>13474784
Lets Get Moving!
Potencial of little to no blood spilled all while fullfilling our objective, plus a nice tasty bonus of God +rep...

>>13474784

I like it.

Offer them 200 ingots for their services, or they can go with our plan and be paid an additional 50 ingots per crossing. (LC only had 3 guarded crossings, correct? so total 350 ingots)

>>13474784
I think the plan is good.
My only concern is that if we don't do it fast enough, then word of the manor's fall will get out.

>>13474864
Definitely but Aurelius and the Ghosts mentioned the civilians were heading to the nearest city. The border guard shouldn't have anyone go near them for at least two days since I doubt this Lord prepared any easy way to contact them or planned for such an occasion. Unless I'm making bad assumptions, it should be doable.

rolled 84 = 84

Right - guess I'll roll persuasion since no one seems to disagree.

>>13474904

VETO

>>13474904
Damnit. Guess if he will agree, it won't be cheap.

You offer the captain your flask "Taste familiar?" you ask the man.

He takes a sip, wipes off the mouth and hands it back to you "Same shit I'm lookin' to take by the cask." he announces, his face suddenly falling.

You grin "200 ingots and the casks. If your want to get more gold on your way out I have a plan that would require your participation." you reply, offering your hand.

The mercenary takes it "Deal, now whats this plan of yours?"

>roll for persuasion

>>13474924

if he asks for more, he's barking up a tree that outnumbers his team by what? 10:1?

All he can do is take what we are willing to give. If he doesn't like it, he and his men can surrender their lives.

And our plan still works with the merc unit. Simply assign Janos some men and make them look like mercs.

>>13474926
Someone else roll it since Pax choose not to use mine it seems. Lucky us.

rolled 68 = 68

>>13474926
Alright, let's see if my luck's any better than Maximus'.

rolled 66 = 66

Here goes nothing

>>13474949
But he has the advantage of already being familiar with how this Lord does things. That and we're not going to turn into people that butcher mercs the second they disagree with us. It'll give us a bad rep amongst the mercenaries. I rather deal fairly or generously with the mercenaries and eventually word will spread from them to other bands at how awesome we are and mercs may start coming to us for work or be a lot more willing to be hired for cheap.

rolled 11 = 11

>>13474926

"If the plan goes right, your men won't even have to fight. I just need to have you convince the border guard that your unit is under orders to take over, and that they're being shipped home to take care of raiders."

>>13474953
>indeed, you rolled while I was typing, you lucky bastards.

"I plan to use the spare uniforms Lord Blentus has to disguise some of my own men as his. You and your men, accompanied by a group of mine, will give the forces garrisoning the towers overlooking the crossings false orders to draw them out from their towers, then cut them down." you inform the man.

"Why do you need me for this, and whats the pay?" he asks, leaning against a trio of casks.

"I would like to use your men because the garrison troops will recognize you as being in their lords employ. And 50 dragoons a tower, that's 150 for some light butchery." you inform the man.

He thinks for a moment "65, its still combat duty after all. And I'll only do this for the two nearest towers, even with a forced march we'll be hard pressed to reach the second tower before word of what happens here gets out." is the captains counter-offer.

>>13475035

Sounds good to me. We can smash the last one on our own easily enough.

>>13475035
"How about 70 and all three towers? My engineers have found a way to speed us along without resorting to a forced march and the Lord said only two units were guarding the towers spread out across all three."

>>13475035

65 each, 2 towers. total additional pay of 130 ingots?

Deal.

We shouldn't have a hard time getting him "official" orders, either!

rolled 15 = 15

>>13475035
I find that to be an acceptable offer.

>>13475060
>>13475035

I'm good with this as well.

>>13475035
Done.

Now, let's finish up with this guy and take stock of our losses. We need to figure out who we still have available to plan our next wave of assaults.

>>13475035
I think that's fine.

Also, I think we should send Blackbird out now.
Make sure to set up a meeting point where we can pick him up in a few days.

You think for a moment yourself, the terrain being as open as it is you wont be able to realistically use your autowagons to speed the travel up, and the man does make a good point about there still being a chance of combat for his under-strength unit. "Deal, now lets get your casks cleared out of here." you reply, shaking the mans hand.

About half an hour later you track down Sansa, who hands you the butchers bill as you approach her.


-196th Legionary
Gaius Rex
195/200
Excellent
-454th Legionary
Cornelius Hoursch
188/200
Excellent
-98th Warlords
Uurist Titius
130/150
Excellent
-99th Hunters
Aurelius Caspius
55/75
Excellent
-50th Dwarven Scouts
Finian Gaurush
97/100
Excellent
-65th Dwarven Rangers
Kyria Esfelda
65/75
Excellent
-House Garlian Uursan Cavalry
Lady Jayne Garlian
43/75
Excellent
-Impetus Marauders (Elf)
Aeristus Beztia
Chainmail, twin combat axes
100/200
Excellent
-Kemnios Swifriders 71/75(dwarves)
Dagnar Mestius
horse Throwing axes, splintmail, lances, battle axes, kite shields
-Clarish Ghosts 93/100 (Elves)
Vesteaus Helmenu
leather, javelins, shortblades, composite bows
-Cornwal Mercenaries
Buckmoore Kystris
Chainmail, spear and shield
124/175
Excellent
-Kharynchek Cavalry 47/50
Vohzd Lennis Greanthi
enthused

"Sansa, would you and Uurist be so kind as to go through Lord Blentus' wine cellar to sort out the drinks worth keeping to sell, and those we would be better off just drinking? And do be careful with the casks I marked, it has our mystery ale in it."

Your aid nods enthusiastically "I'd love to!" she exclaims "Is there anything else you need me to take care of first?" she asks, tempering her enthusiasm.

>>13475229
Ouch. Some of our units took a bit of a pounding but I suppose it's not too bad for taking out the entire fort and city. As long as we get some nice loot. Don't think there's anything else we can give Sansa to do for now so let her go. I also think we should tell our merc captains to go raiding in their equipment and upgrade if they can.

rolled 9 = 9

>>13475264
I agree with this.

>>13475229
No, I think Sansa can start going through the alcohol.

We will need an accounting of what loot we've been able to plunder, as well as preparing our maniple to march.

As for the prisoners, there are dungeons, correct? Could Degrian quickly set up a timed lock sort of thing, where in two days time the dungeon door will unlock automatically?
I don't want word of our presence or the confirmed fall of Lost Conflux getting out until we've taken care of the towers.

You instruct your mercenary units to go through the armor and weapons your smiths didnt pull aside, which they set to eagerly. Well, almost all of them do, Vohzd Lennis has his son go through the noblemans stables instead, claiming that aside from refreshing their supply of javelins his men were perfectly well equipped.

After talking with Degrian he says that given the better part of the next day he would be able to rig something up, though he cannot garuntee its accuracy, only that it will be within 12 hours of two days once he sets the locks.

>so, arcana, loot, finish up with Blentus, what do you want to go to take care of?

>>13475350
I say check in with Laelith on the arcana and library part, loot and then deal with Blentus and his heir.

>>13475350

oooo, let's do arcana, loot, then the fat one, in that order.

rolled 40 = 40

Fuck yeah, here for the start this time.

We need to start opening up our caverns for storage. Hell, what use is this manor now to the other lords. Once the Legion crosses we can come back at our own leisure once we are finished raiding. We could collapse the wine cellar entrance once we fill it with our loot.

>>13475350
Have Degrian set it up, and food and water for 3 days set aside for the prisoners when we throw them in the dungeon.

As for the young lordling and his fiancee, I was impressed with his courage, if not with his wisdom (really? Trying to stab the enemy commander when his entire maniple has just finished mopping up your troops?).
I'm torn between keeping him for ransom from his father, and just letting them go because I don't want to deal with prisoners when we have to be marching hard for the rest of the week.

>>13475415
It's three more people on a wagon and I imagine we can get the boy to cooperate as long as we assure the safety of the girl. As long as we don't keep them together so they can try to escape, it won't be a problem. With Blentus having no male sons, I assume that means the boy will get these lands. He's a pretty valuable hostage.

You make your way to the library, where Laelith is sitting near a nice little chest of loot, and a generous stack of tomes and books. "Just in time, Justinian." she greets you "Do you want to go through the arcana or books first?" she asks you, to which you reply arcana. "I couldn't identify all of it, but there was another set of signal rings, a few lockets for use by water and fire elementalists as well as a set of gloves that aid in the location and healing of wounds. I found two blades, one thats steaming in the winter air, and not from its warmth, another that throws off a long, trailing after-image and a smiths hammer that I have no idea as to the workings of. I also found a set of garters amongst the arcana loot. I have no idea as to what their use is, but i found a clue going through the house Blentus genealogy. did you know that the fat bastard is a quarter elven?" she asks, to which you shake your head. "There were no maps of any real use, but I found several tomes on elementalism, mysticism, and one on the dread arts... the opposite side of the coin to what Lena has been learning. With time I should be able to find another tome or two for the girl to study. Did you need my help for anything else?" she asks, still sounding more like a librarian than anything else.

>>13475557
"Did you happen to find any books on history in relation to our people or the old gods? Any information we could get on the 7th Praetorian or just the old gods in general could be useful. That and I had another odd vision recently that I still have no clue how to describe and I'm wondering if history might have some answers."

Insert explanation if she asks. Hmm. I wonder if we should ask her what she thinks about using Lena for combat.

>>13475557

A quarter elven? Hmm, those may explain why he decided to marry off his daughter to an elven lord's son, considering elf/human unions normally fail.

The knives and smith's hammer we'll definitely keep. Whatever we can't properly identify, I suppose we could ask the fatfuck about. The books are a keeper, definitely. The necromancy tomes especially, since they may contain ways to UNDO necromancy.

>>13475557
Send down the healing gloves to our doctors; that should help them immensely.

Distribute the signal rings so that each captain has 1.

Finally, are the lockets elementalism amplifiers or training aids, like the gloves? If so, they will be very helpful in training our elementalists.

>>13475557
Does she think that with Lena's abilities she might be able to determine something more of the purpose of those unknown items?

And we can immediately authorize her to take one of the lockets for her personal use in battle, I think. More fire is always good.

All the arcana and all the valuable tomes get kept, of course. We can't take the full library, so tell Laelith to identify the most useful and valuable tomes to add to our personal collection- the rest burns as we destroy the fortress while leaving.

rolled 27 = 27

>>13475708
I wholeheartedly oppose burning a library full of books. It's just wrong. We could just stash it somewhere in the forest for safe keeping until we are taken off the line. Piclk them up on the ride home.

>>13475771
Only the useless books! We'd keep all the best ones, and no one would know that we kept any since they'd figure that we burned them.

It's part of the whole pillaging thing, you know. We should also collapse as much of this castle as we can behind us, burn all standing buildings, seal all wells, slaughter the livestock that we can use for food and the rest on principle. Plus anything else we can manage to ensure that it will take a shit-ton of effort and money before this place stands ever again as a worthy stronghold.

>>13475771
I agree with stashing.
The whole purpose of us learning how to make caverns was so that we could stash treasure we loot in hidden caverns that we pick up on our way home, so we don't have to destroy valuables.

>>13475771
Agreed. The single worst thing mankind ever did to it's self was the burning of Alexandria's library. It may be on a proposed smaller scale, but I'm against it, too.

>>13475823
Let's not get crazy. Pillaging and razing an entire city is very different. We're only destroying anything that can be used against us militarily. And the forts and manor. We can leave the civilian homes alone.

How long would it take to make a cavern to stash stuff Pax? If we do make one, we should do it out in the wilderness so we can get it without worry.

"Speaking of Lena, do you think she should be in combat?" you ask, still worried about the gentle Kharynchek girl.

"with her upbringing I dont think she'd take well to you trying to give her a different task... but no, I think killing will have a profound affect on the girl, and I have no idea as to what it might be as of yet. with how close she holds her negative emotions I doubt even Wulf would be able to surmise what is going on in her head. Though I can tell you one thing, on the battlefield she most certainly isn't frightened, nor is she the sweet, gentle girl we all know around the camp." Laelith replies, thoughtful.

"Thank you for that, now, were there any books on the gods? I had another vision the other day and was hoping that I would be able to determine just what it means before it is too late." you ask the elf.

" I think I found one near the back of the Library, if you wanted to look through it, and what did you see this time?" Laelith asks, setting the book she had been flipping through on a much larger pile off the front of the desk she is sitting at. You explain the vision to the elf, who simply replies "That's quite... unsettling."

"Those lockets, what is their purpose?" you ask.

"As far as I know, they function like my torch, but on a smaller scale. I would assume water created through magic would be the best thing to fill them with, as such a small amount of regular water would be of little use, and a regular ember would die shortly after the locket was shut." she replies.

After we crush the local crossings we should set up some stashes. Preferably on the Western side of the river if we can avoid the water table. If forced to stash on the East side, preferably locate the stashes near the northern crossing?

We should be able to carry any loot we please from the city. Simply commandeer the noble's stables and as many sturdy wagons/carts as we require. Worst case we rotate a small group of our bear cav for cart pulling duty.

>>13475858
"See if you can examine that tome I got you on the use of draconian and such for our situation with Lena. There must be a way she can still use her abilities without forcing her to go through the hell she's putting herself through each battle. I suppose we can test some of those weapons as we move unless you think you can figure them out better with a bit more time studying."

Can't think of anything else so perhaps we should move on. For the record, I'm against burning down the library as well. It serve no real purpose to deny the enemy anything valuable.

>>13475852
>Let's not get crazy. Pillaging and razing an entire city is very different. We're only destroying anything that can be used against us militarily. And the forts and manor. We can leave the civilian homes alone.
No. Our plan was explicitly to destroy as much as possible in order to create large numbers of refugees and thereby burden Uurlanth's economy, remember? We agreed- no murdering and raping civilians, but steal or destroy EVERYTHING.

I could get into how a city full of civilians that hates you is a military asset to your opponent, but that's an endless argument anyway. Point is, we should scourge this place into unlivability and leave it a smoking wreck behind us.

rolled 98 = 98

>>13475823
I imagine that the printing press hasn't been invented yet, which means that all these books were hand written. so only the rich would have them because they cost so much to produce. none of these books are useless because no one would spend a large sum of money on something useless. each of these books has something that we could use someday. maybe a ledger on important people (or spies), or a personal diary filled with dirty secrets. this was a nobleman's personal library, we are stranding in a gold mine of information. keeping these books will help us in the long run.

>>13475917

I agree. The only things that should remain of this city are the rubble from the manor wall and memories of ghosts.

>>13475917

Alright, but before we do, we should make sure there isn't a living soul left here. You never know when you might find.

For now, let's have another chat with the fatfuck.

>>13475917
No, the plan was that we would burn warehouses, tanneries, smithies, textile mills, forges, looms, and anything else that could conceivably be used to create or maintain war material.

We will burn Uurlanth like Sherman burnt Georgia and South Carolina, and in the same manner.

>>13475964

SECONDED. Just the right amount of burning will serve our purposes fine. As for the books, stash them in a cavern we'll make later on so they don't weigh us down. But as for burning them, no.

>>13475964
Yeah I thought this was the plan especially since we don't have the time to do a long-term destruction of cities. Once we've destroyed all their resources and crap in the city, people won't be able to stay here anyways. Not unless they want to starve. Plus I don't think the gods will be super happy if we go raze crazy and our main goal isn't industry destruction. We're just doing it because we're here and we can destroy certain things quick enough.

>>13475964
>>13476012
>>13476025

Are we going to leave what remains of the city with its wooden wall and stone walled manor?

>>13475964
>anything else that could conceivably be used to create or maintain war material.
I read that as "everything". Anything that people have to rebuild has a societal opportunity cost which could have been spent on warfare, ergo all things are part of a societal war machine in a multigenerational conflict such as this.

>>13475937
I will accept the argument "stealing books is like stealing money" when it comes to not burning the library. We can loot the whole thing, no complaints.

>>13476025
>especially since we don't have the time to do a long-term destruction of cities
Unless a premodern city is in the mountains or has another reason to be built primarily of stone, all you have to do to destroy it is light it on fire in several places and encourage the flames a bit while stopping anyone from putting them out. Buildings burn really, really well. With a fire elementalist of Laelith's caliber here destroying the whole thing should take relatively little effort.

>>13476053
The walls can be used against us. Of course those are going to be taken out or breached to hell so they are useless.

>>13476065
While you may think that sounds like everything, I disagree. I'm also trying to keep the gods in account here - while from a tactical sense you may be right, I think leaving the civilian homes and crap intact will be best for our relationship with the Sun pantheon. If we want to become the 7th praetorian, we have to get used to always keeping that stuff in mind.

Laelith tells that by the time you finish with Lord Blentus she should be finished in the library, and at that you plant a kiss on her cheek and head for the cell the fat noble was put in. As you cross the courtyard, you notice that the slaves you freed are begining to trickle into the city, some already taking up residence in the mostly abandoned homes, as the bulk of the cities population has already fled, more likely than not expecting the place to be razed to the ground soon enough, and assuming that if they stay to long you will cease restraining your soldiers baser instincts. contemplating the fate of the city, you enter Blentus' cell, unfortunately, his stench has not improved. "Have you come to torment me more then?" he asks you miserably, as you cover your nose with your hand.

>>13476110
As long as we meticulously make a point of not killing anyone- perhaps ordering our men to ride through town, shouting that we're burning the whole thing and anyone still hiding had best flee- I don't think we'd lose too much favor with the Sun types. This is war, and we must do what it takes to win- not harming the populace is a hell of a lot more generous than almost any raider ever, historically.

Heck, the god of travel might even like us. Think of all the people we're giving the opportunity to see new places!

>>13476158
Heh. All the slaves are taking up residence in the city. We're going to need to convince them to leave or we don't have much choice in leaving it standing it seems.

>>13476144
"Torment? You and I have very different definitions of torment. If you would truly like to see what I consider torment, perhaps I could put you in the same situation as the slaves you had at the fort."

Recitation: "Not this time, no. You've already sullied yourself more than I ever could. I came to ask you about a couple arcana we couldn't identify: a pair of daggers, a smithy hammer, and, ah... a set of garters? My firebug thinks your ancestry has a clue about their use, but I'd like to hear it from you."

>>13476110
While I still stand by my position on not worshiping the gods or becoming their pawn, I also recognize that they are powerful entities that can become dangerous adversaries or strong allies.
As such, I think that we should keep the pantheons in mind, be careful of actions that could be considered anathema to them (just as we would any non-allied nation), and continue with our quid pro quo relationship.

Razing the ENTIRE city, including residential districts, would be one of these actions.
The destruction of military targets and sources of war material, on the other hand, is something that the sun pantheon could grudgingly accept as a strategic necessity of war.

>>13476227
I never meant worship them but if we do become the 7th Praetorian, it's our job to ensure the Empire doesn't do anything to piss them off terribly if I remember correctly. We best get used to the annoying balancing act now is all I'm saying.

>>13476186
I daresay that shouting out that we're going to burn it would be pretty damned convincing. It's not like they'd be able to keep it anyway- the first Uurthlani army to roll through here would slaughter/enslave them all. They can follow us or flee elsewhere, as they choose; we've been compassionate enough to slaves in the past that I daresay we'd let them have a plentiful cut of the granaries and livestock before we burn/slaughter them.

>>13476144
>"Have you come to torment me more then?"
"No, I've only come for answers. First, tell me the use of every arcana you possess. Then tell me something I don't know which you think I would find interesting or useful. Then tell me why I should let you live."

>>13475964
As a South Carolinian I have to say that it's nice to be doing the burning for once

You know what would make our dilemma a little easier? Let's see how the pantheon's feel about burning the entire city down. If it doesn't damage relations too much I could go with it but I'd like a clear idea if possible on how much it would affect things with the two pantheons.

>>13476144

Well those freed slaves are going to pose a problem...

The best solution for us to deal with the city's wall and fort are to get them burning as we leave. The fire from the wall will likely destroy a good chunk of the city's sprawl, but we shouldn't risk delaying to take the wall down by other means.

We should be able to render the stone wall of the manor fairly useless with a good night of meditation, though. Simply focus on opening a fissure under the walls, section by section, but don't bother making it able to support the wall. weaken enough of the wall and it should simply sink into the earth or topple if our aim is off.

>>13476309
I think we should leave the manor wall at this point now that I think about it. We need to make for the crossing towers ASAP so we can take them easily and spending another night here might make them aware the town was taken. The manor isn't that large and won't be able to support too much at least if they do station new troops here... Unless we leave some men behind to try to take apart the walls while we move out to take the crossings.

"Torment?" you reply "I would hardly consider what I did to you torment, and I highly doubt you could soil yourself any further, so before I return to the topic of the prospect of your life, I need to know what a few of my newest arcane items do. The blades, smithys hammer, and, this one truly baffles me despite my fiery librarians hunch... a set of garters."

The noble whimpers before replying "One of the blades freezes whatever it cuts, the other passes through steel and iron, though the higher ores seem to be immune to its power. The hammer amplifies the force of a blacksmiths blows, allowing one skilled with the hammer to create sharper blades, it once was coupled with an anvil, but that was lost to my house generations ago. The garter, was my grandmothers she is where my elven blood comes from, my father was their only child... the stories say that my grandfather was so excited on his wedding night that he neglected to remove the belt. My father was born a dwarf, and fat, but that he was born at all was enough for the garter to be placed in the arcana vault. Do you need me to tell you about anything else you are stealing form me? Or are you such a boor that you plan to burn everything that doesn't shine or kill?"

>>13476187
This

>>13476361
"Despite your situation you still try to find ways to influence me to not burn down your town. I'll give you credit for that. Do you have any other children or only your single daughter?"

>>13476361
>Do you need me to tell you about anything else you are stealing form me? Or are you such a boor that you plan to burn everything that doesn't shine or kill?
"Oh, I have no plans to burn you, and I daresay you aren't quite greasy enough to shine... or fierce enough to kill anyone not helpless."

>>13476361
"oh come Lord Blentus, I'm no barbarian. I'm aware that certain things have great value even if they aren't made of precious metals, Your library for example. I'm sure you spent a pretty penny for those books, perhaps if you had spent that money on hiring troops or training your levies better I would be your prisoner instead of the reverse"

Ladies and gentlemen I just had a crazy Idea if the slaves hold this city long enough for the main invasion force to arrive we may have just claimed the the whole damn city in the name of Degnar

>>13476342

Do we know how far the crossings are from the city?

If they are a day or two, the army could march while Justinian, Lealith, and some cav stay back 4-5 hours to do as much damage as possible before rejoining the force?

>>13476463
I doubt Lord Dylon's men will leave the slaves in the city alone honestly but I could be wrong. Hmm. Good question.

"Is Lord Dylon aware of your slaving ways or is this something you've kept hidden from him?"

>Or are you such a boor that you plan to burn everything that doesn't shine or kill?
"Perhaps if Uurlanth hadn't invaded Imperial lands, you would still have your manor and fort. Perhaps if your king had restrained his enthusiasm for harming the Empire, then this tragedy would not have befallen you.
"Regardless, your nation has crossed the line one too many times. You have sown the wind, and now reap the whirlwind of your own making.
"We have endured your predations for the past two generations; be thankful that we are not exterminating your entire nation and leaving you with your lives."

>>13476494
Voting this.

>>13476361
"I am Degnarian, not a barbarian. This is a punitive march, and I am my Emperors sword."

"You are being helpful. That is good. Though part of me thinks the young elf with the dagger and the guts to use it would be a better lord for these lands, I promised your life for your co-operation and am a man of my word. Are you?"

"I have another question.
Can you tell me, that large casks in your cellar, What are they called? That very good whiskey you have."

Maybe mention the symbol of the cultists, see if he can recall it?

>>13476572

Wait! When did we promise him ANYTHING?

We really should kill this guy on principle.

>>13476601
No. We're bringing him back to be tried for his actions. If he was super uncooperative we could have but at this point, I think we can spare him a quick death and have him be humiliated in front of our people during a trial. The people back home will love us more for it too.

>>13476601
Really? I don't he's worth the wood or nails required to crucify him.

>>13476601
I was under the impression that we were going to keep him captive and then turn him over to our commander for trial when the legion arrives

>>13476601
We didn't we said "I may show you mercy."

>>13476601
>>13476612
He will be tried for his crimes. It's a better chance than his political slaves ever had.

>>13476612

On what grounds do we take a man from a country where slavery is technically not illegal and bring him to OUR country to charge him with being a slaver?

Even a man pissing himself in fear could argue that the Empire has no right to judge him for a crime not committed in the Empire's lands

>>13476646
on the grounds that we defeated his armies and that our Empire is extremely anti-slavery, so much so that we were nearly accused of using slaves when we made us of a volunteer unit during the hunt for khalless.

>>13476667
use

"I am no barbarian, Blentus." you reply, contemptuously "I expect to find many useful things in your library. Nor do I keep slaves, or suffer them kept. I wonder if Lord Dyron knows of your slaving ways..." you trail off hoping to frighten the nobleman

He scoffs "Of course he does, it is within my rights to keep my own laws. As surely as the he cannot raise his banners agains the King or his peers, he cannot dictate to me which laws I may or may not enact. Now let us finish this charade, I have surmised that you are the ranking Degnarian in the region, if you were not your superior would have arrived to take his share of my belongings. We both know my 'crimes', and their punishment. If I am to be released from this coil I would have it before you preach to me the evils of slavery; you hypocrites keep them in your own way, and I find your stratification of your citizens far worse than the system Uurlanth lives under. My Elaine will continue to hold this hall after I pass."

"You know, this tragedy that has befallen you is entirely your own peoples fault. Degnar turned the cheek for two whole generations. You have sown the wind through your predations, and now the time has come to reap the whilrwind. Be glad that this is only a punitive march, not one organized to wipe this pathetic excuse for a nation from the map." you reply, taken aback by the prisoners audacity.

He laughs at you "Do you truly believe King Garius will be defeated by your people? He has planned, he has prepared... and though I do not know his plan, I know that it is he, not your emperor, that will be victorious. The only seeds we have sown are those of your destruction."

>>13476646
On the grounds that as a servant of a sovereign nation which just kicked his sovereign nation's ass in battle, we get to dictate what is right and what is wrong and try him according to our standards of morality.

It's good to be the victor.

>>13476679
>and though I do not know his plan, I know that it is he, not your emperor, that will be victorious. The only seeds we have sown are those of your destruction.
Time for a evil smile, now.
"Oho, so you DO know something, then. Well, that changes things, doesn't it? I believe you shall be in the care of the Degnarian Legion for quite a while, Blentus. As will your daughter."

>>13476679
"Unfortunately for your King Garius, not every plan survives initial contact with the enemy. Your nation better hope he is as well planned as you believe he is. Hmm. Now that you daughter is my hostage, I wonder how Uurlanth would respond if your lands heir never returned."

I'm actually curious on how they'd respond now that I think about it. Too bad we're not playing Justinian as more devious and cruel. So many amusing things we could potentially do.

>My Elaine will continue to hold this hall after I pass.
After line like that, I want a look at this guy's face after he watches us ensure there is no hall left here to hold.

Anyway, unless this guy is going to tell us more- and I don't really think he is- we might as well move on from this conversation. Let's go inventory our loot, dispatch some troops to eliminate those towers, and then prepare to thoroughly strip the town of all valuables and burn/collapse as much of it as we can get consensus for.

>>13476719
>>13476721
I say we combine these two

>>13476679
"we shall see. Your fate is not mine to decide, but the courts. As for elaine, I assume you mean your daughter, she is my prisoner and I am not in the habit of letting valuable prisoners go when it has no benefit to me. Especially ones as comely as her" The last bit isn't to foreshadow our actuall events, just to troll that fat bastard

>>13476721
I would rather say that he's cunning and very well versed in subtlety and misdirection.
We won't actually do anything to the girl, but her father doesn't have to know that.

And really, we should try to wring every scrap of useful strategic information out of Blentus.

>>13476679

Recitation: "Actually, I have decided your punishment will be to teach you of the folly of slavery, the fun way. I'll gather the slaves I found, give them some throwing stones, a single dagger, and the key to your shackles. We'll see just how forgiving your victims are."

>remember, as the ranking Degnarian official in the area, you ARE the law, for all intents and purposes

>>13476679

I say we give him what he wants and slay him here. Why make an animal suffer?

As the life fades from his eyes, we ask "Who will pay Elaine's ransom now?"

He's getting too cheeky.

>>13476787
True but I think the benefits are greater and the risks lower if we wait until an officer of a higher rank than ours arrives on the scene and defer the judgement to them

>>13476787
I'm torn. Part of me thinks he should be left crucified in front of his manor while another part of me wants to take him back to the capital to be tried. Maybe we should go consult the gods about town burning while we think about this.

>>13476811

Waiting for a bigger chief to arrive and make the choice doesn't sound like a good plan for someone with ambition.

>>13476843

Agreed. We should just do away with him.

>>13476843
Agreed. We need to be decisive.

>>13476843
true but it will make us look more grounded, we won't seem like a brash young officer who let a few victories go to his head, instead we'll be the hero of the empire who had humility enough to defer to his older more experienced commander instead of making a rash decision.

I think we need to interrogate him more.

Though he may not know the King's plan on how to crush the Legion forces invading Uurlanth, he knew enough to know that something is being planned.

We should get this information while sending Blackbird out to raid, and try to get some more information about this so that we can present our legion's legate with this information when we link up with him.

>>13476893
You're right. I have to agree with you. He knew the King has plans of some kind for some reason. Worth looking into.

>>13476885

True, but "young and rash" tends to mellow with age.
being known as indecisive will only fester and rot the ladder we seek to advance upon

Or we can just have him put on trial by the court system. That way we look like an upholder of justice and not someone who is indecisive. The final perk is he gets to stew in his own doubt while he waits.

>>13476927
a valid point, I still believe that we should wait until the end of the week for when the legions arrive but I will accept whatever decision we come to

>so, keeping him to kill later then?
>also, roll for interrogation

rolled 23 = 23

>>13476989

ROLLING

rolled 2 = 2

>>13477003
HOLY SHET!
WE ACTUALLY MIGHT INTERROGATE A GUY FOR ONCE!

Then again, this situation is slightly different I guess......

>>13477003
Beautiful roll there TRO.

If you guys want to keep him alive, can we at least take a finger as punishment?

It might even loosen his tongue when we ask about these "big plans"

>>13477019
Damnit. If only you had rolled, heh.
>>13477025
I don't see the point at being needlessly cruel to cause pain. An arrogant guy like this? His shame is enough in a lot of ways.

rolled 22 = 22

>>13477040
We still have a botch.
And dont we get two botches for non-combat related rolls?
So, anyone else think the Garters may actually magically help fertility? We could always ask for it to be blessed by the love goddess to actually matter though. (or a pair of garter's of our own, dunno if you want to wear some old dwarves garters with Kyria and Lealith.)

>>13477085
Goddess blessing is definitely a surer bet. Even with the garter, the lord said his father had some physical defects. I want only the best for our children.

On the other hand, our resident arcanist might be able to analyze and improve upon arcane items that we acquire, if we can get her to focus on something other than combat tricks for a while.

Speaking of which, motion to talk to Lena immediately after inspecting our loot. She needs some serious chatting.

>>13477123
yeah, and see what was up with her and Beslatrix before the battle. If I recall, Bella was scolding Lena about something last thread

>>13477176
She wanted Lena to tell us that she only left Lena's side because she told her too after taking out the fort.

>>13477187
ah, well either way we should probably go check on her

I'm thinking we should cut down Lena's combat duties from direct-fire missions against enemy infantry, and keep her with the artillery crews to take down enemy fortifications. That might be a workable compromise between her desire to contribute to the fighting, and her problems with killing people.

>>13477226
Agreed. Until we can brainstorm other things magic can do.

>>13477226

I wonder what would happen if we had Lena spend some time with our rune-smith dwarven lass? (why do i keep forgetting her name!?)

>Firrie entrance

Oh captcha, you taunt me so

"So, your king has plans then... mind sharing?" you ask, glad you had grabbed a few bits of arcana from your tent on your way to the fat noblemans holding pen as you draw one of your blades.

"Of course he planned this out, I wasnt privy to his plan but AHH-" the nobleman cuts his retort short, eyes now fixed on the blade stabbed into the dirt between his legs.

You know that his life is forfeit, you know he deserves death for what he did... but he has useful information somewhere above his flock of extra chins, and you think it best that an authority higher than you decides how exactly his final punishment should be delivered. This does not prevent you from wanting to release some of your own fury at his crimes on him. "Answer me truthfully, and with all the information you have." you instruct him icily, pulling the blade from the ground and wiping it clean. "What do you know of your kings plans?"

"I know that he... he instructed Lord Dyron that there was a chance either he or Lord Blunduk would be on the recievingend of a Degnarian counterattack." he replies, staring at the knife.

"You know more than that." you reply, kissing the top of the noblemans hand with your blade, running a line from his thumb back to and along the base of his wrist. "I told you to withhold nothing from me."

"I... I know that, that part of the reason he was refusing all of the border lords requests to be allowed a larger standing army was his plan. Thats all, I know, I swear it!" the quivering fat man continues, soiling himself again, staring at the cut on his hand.

You rest the tip of the blade under the noblemans uncut thumbnail, holding the hand down with your free hand. "Oh come now, surely more of a reason was given than that." you prompt the man.
>cont'd

"My, my agents, they told me that we needed to look as vulnerable for a counter-attack as we normally do in the kings plan, that of we started recruiting more soldiers for ourselves the Marshal would not be able to properly grow his forces for the plan to work. Please, dont hurt me more..." the man pleads.


"Is that all you know?" you ask the pile of filth before you, he nods, whimpering... dishonesty is so very easy to see in a terrified mans eyes though. "No it isnt." you inform him, flicking the knife underneath the nail, nearly removing it from the digit.

Blentus screams, loudly, soiling himself yet again... the pig deserves it. "His dispatches mentioned something about a refuted flank, a ruse... thats all I know I sweahehear." the man wails. This time, its the truth.

Wishing he had lied again you rise form the lords level on the ground "The wounds will not heal unless I send an elementalist to seal them, one may be along if you remember anything else." you inform the nobleman as you leave his cell.

>well, what do you want to work on now?
>remember lawful good (more or less how your running Justinian) =/= Lawful nice

>>13477375
Oh dear... We need to inform the second praetorian of this but we have no way of getting a message back. Perhaps when the incoming forces arrive, we can warn them of this.

Should we bother talking to the young elf just to make him realize not to do anything stupid? Maybe we should try to talk some sense into the slaves to get them to leave and see what the gods think about burning the entire town down.

>>13477375
Dispatch an eagle/messenger to relay this new found info, that the boarder lords are being used as decoys while the inner lands built their forces.
Which we could use to our advantage, hoping to Turn boarder lords against the king, For useing them as Disposible pawns.
Something we should mention to the fat pawn that nearly overflows his chess square, and ask him why he went along with it.

>>13477375
Would the Legion counter-offensive have started already? Can we send a runner to the main force if we get better intel?

It sounds as if the King is amassing a huge army that he intends to wield as a sledgehammer, possibly trying to trap the main Imperial forces out in the open once they enter Uurlanthi territory.

>>13477426
speaking of the 2nd praetorian, did our messengers ever return? Seconding talking to the Elf

rolled 40 = 40

>>13477375
send aquila back to our lines. notify our commander and peers of what we just learned. warn them to hurry or to bulk up, something big is stirring on this side of the river. and it ain't good.

We should deploy Blackbird to try probing deeper into Uurlanthi lands. We need to know what's going on in there.

Eh, I think we should just go ahead and crucify him and be done with it. Stick him up on the thing in the middle of town, or in front of his burned out manor.

>so, send a warning letter, have blackbird hit the more inland locations (less loot) then do what?

>>13477544
Have Blackbird focus on being stealthy and seeing what's going on though. He cannot afford to be captured.

I think we should go check up on Lena and Bellatrix.

>>13477570
Agreed

>>13477570
Agreed. We need to see how our mage is doing.

Worriedly, you head back to your tent to find Kyria reclining in your chair working on her small forge. After greeting her you quickly pen your letter, and send it off to the 2nd praetorian. Hoping as hard as you can that the information will reach DragonsReach in time to have a meaningful effect you set out to find Blackbird, he is easy to find, as he is dropping morsels of meat into one of his stone boxes. "Commander, am I free to set out?" he asks you, his men materializing around him as he does so, all eager to get to their work... he really did have a profound effect on those men.

Hmm. I hope sending Blackbird out doesn't bite us in the ass. If they're as prepared as it seems, I wonder how much intel he'd really be able to get us.

>>13477570
I agree with this as loot will do us no good if there is no Dregnar to go back to.

>>13477666
"There's been a change of plans. This entire counter-attack might be what Uurlanth is expecting and we need more information. Blackbird - do you think you could move deeper into Uurlanth territory to get a better picture of what's going on? Raiding is irrelevant here, we need to know what they're planning."

Maybe we should send the ghosts instead. They're infiltration experts no? Plus they might be able to pose as mercenaries if they do get caught but then we might lose them from being bought off...

>>13477666
"It is indeed time for you to depart, Blackbird, but I am afraid that your mission is somewhat different than planned. The lord here yielded up some... disturbing information. It has led me to believe that lurking within Uurlanth there may be some sort of force preparing to catch our invading army with a devastating counterstroke of some kind. I have no troops at my disposal which I would trust more than you and yours to discover the truth of this and bear me word of it in time to make a difference. Can you do it?"

>>13477694
I almost want to send both out to gather as much info as possible but we also need the ghosts to train up our hunters into Deadeyes.

>>13477666
"A slight change in plans.
"Apparently, the Uurlanthi are amassing an army of unsurpassed numbers, to be used as a sledgehammer against our unprepared forces when they cross the Greyrun River.
"We need more tactical and strategic information concerning this host, and I have no better forces than yours to sneak in undetected and come out with the information I need.
"I won't tell you to not raid, but you must make sure that no one finds out about your presence.
"No witnesses, Blackbird, and preferably no obvious evidence such as burnt out houses or slaughtered caravans in the open."

"Yes, but you will not be pacing the maniple as I move south." you reply, most of the men look confused, but Blackbirds grin deepens "Lord Blentus divulged some disturbing information. There could very well be a large force amassing deeper within Uurlanth territory, ready to smash our counter-offesive as it crosses the Greyrun. I need you to verify that. I'm not saying that you cannot raid, but I need you to travel as far inland as possible while still being able to return before the week is out so that I can properly brief the commanding officer when he arrives."

"I will use the most obvious of my tools as I pass the village at the northmost mine, then disappear with my men into the countryside. You will have your count, Commander." he replies, rising and starting to bark orders to his men. All 31 of them running single-file from the city before you are able to track down Lena and Bellatrix.

"How can I help you, commander?" the gentle kharynchek asks you, going through her most recently translated tome happily.

>>13477824
"Lena, you're looking much better. Have you had the opportunity to see the arcana and tomes we recently acquired? Laelith was looking rather pleased with the collection."

Delicate approach at first. Get a sense for how she reacts before bringing up how she's holding up with the violence and mass slaughter.

>>13477824
Yeah, this girl really hides her emotions behind her happy facade. We really need to pierce through it although I'm hesitant to do it with Bellatrix around.

>>13477863
I can support this.

>>13477863
Second. Gotta ease the idea of having her stop front-line combat into the conversation.

"Is that one of the tomes Laelith found recently Lena" you ask, sitting in the chair beside her. From the look of it she, or more likely Wulf, dragged them outside from the manor.

"No, this is the last one she translated. Did you just stop by to tease me?" she asks warily.

>>13477922
"No, but I did want to know how your studies are coming along, and how well your abilities have developed.
"Our most recent battle made me wish I had brought more siege engines to bring down fortifications. It would take too long to build more on the march, but you seem to be quite capable of the task."

>>13477922
"Would that I had the time to idly tease the women within my maniple at this time. I'm just checking up on you Lena. I saw you after the last battle and thought I should check up on you."

Any reaction from Bellatrix as well at this point?

>>13477922
Laugh. "Believe it or not, Lena, I do acknowledge that there are forms of interactions other than teasing. On rare occasions I even find it appropriate to use them." Wink. "I came by to see how you're doing. A lot of people find that their first few battles change them quite a bit, in one way or another... so I'm going to ask you a question and require an answer."

Look her in the eyes and be very serious. Try to determine how honest she's being, and don't let her get away with evasion.

"Lena, what did you learn today?"

Push until we get an answer as to her honest emotional state. If she blasts us into a smear on the ground for pushing... well, then, we won't have to worry because we'll be a smear.

"If only I had that sort of time. I simply wanted to check up on you after your second battle." you reply, looking over at the sleeping form of Bellatrix.

"I'm doing well enough." she replies, her usual quiet self "And I really am enjoying my studies. I even read some tomes that werent related to the skills I'm training." she replies, though she looks rather unsettled by whatever it was she read.

>>13478014
"It's never a bad thing to be well read in general. When we return to the capital, I'm sure Laelith would love to show you the library there and the numerous topics you could look at. What are you currently studying?"

Look over her shoulder and see what she was reading Pax.

>>13478014
So follow up with
>>13477981
and >>13477955

>>13478053
Seconding this. We have to get her mask to crack apart before we can fix what's behind it.

>>13478116
Go for it then although I'm still interested in what she is reading.

You glance at the books in the area, she is holding a tome on high magic and its offensive and defensive employments, but topping the stack is one of the books Laelith recently found, titled 'True Power, the Use and Focusing of Black Magic', underneath it is one of the tomes on Necromancy Laelith translated, then a few of the tomes you had intended her to learn. "Its good to be well read, I'm sure Lealith would enjoy going to the archives with you when we return to DragonsReach. Though I am curious as to what you are studying right now." you muse, surprised by how quickly the blind girl became a bookworm.

"I'm looking into something more effective than my arcane bolts, they work but theyre so very draining to use in enough numbers to be effective on the field." she informs you quietly, leaving you more shocked at how quickly she picked up the terminology and mindset of a soldier than anything else.

A few minutes pass in silence as she turns the pages, ghosting the motions to gather power, than uttering words of diffusion periodically. "I really do wish that I had brought more siege engines with me on this campaign, taking down walls is taking me entirely too long" you announce to no one in particular.

"I suppose that is your own fault." Bellatrix announces as she stirs, before mumbling something about making sure Aurelius was behaving and wandering off.

>cont'd

Lena chuckles "Its nice that she finally found someone she can talk too." Lena announces once her older sister is out of earshot.

Not detered by your attempt to plant a seed in Lenas head may have been thwarted by a light sleeper, you wait a while longer, than get down to your real reason to starting this conversation "Lena, most everyone finds that their first few battles change them, that they learn themselves better through the changes the cruel field imposes on them... What is it you have learned from your first few battles?" you ask her bluntly, yet gentler than many would have approached the issue.

She sets her book down to think "I learned that I'm not a helpless girl, that I dont have to sit in the tent and cry while my family fights and dies around me, or on some distant field... that my belonging is earned, not given." she replies thoughtfully, half epiphany, half reciting something she must have learned as a young child.

>>13478285
Hmm. Not sure how to word what I want to say without sounding hypocritical. Must keep thinking...

>>13478285
This conversation is depressing.

"Lena, all those things are true. You have learned a great deal about what you -can- do. But I would ask you this... what have you learned about what you -want- to do, since joining the maniple? I have seen you on the field, and after it. I have seen you reading books and in Wulf's arms. And as I have told you, this maniple should be like family- which makes me the closest thing to a father you're probably going to get around here. You need not hide anything from me- please tell me truly."

>>13478285
>I learned that I'm not a helpless girl, that I dont have to sit in the tent and cry while my family fights and dies around me, or on some distant field... that my belonging is earned, not given.
"But do you belong on the front-lines? Or would your talents be better used at a more strategic level behind the lines?"

I'm also thinking additionally: "I can find a soldier anywhere, but the strategic possibilities that your abilities open up are much, much harder to obtain."

>>13478285
"You're wrong about having to earn a place where you belong. To be apart of the military that may be true. To have gotten close to people in the maniple though? Do you really think you had to earn Wulf's attention and care for you? Do you think the only reason I keep checking in on you is because I only care about your abilities?"

>>13478370
My concern is that if we tell her straight that we think she'd be better suited for a position off the field of battle, without making her set up the line for us, she'll get defensive. She'll feel that we're moving her around because we think she's weak, or that she's not helping enough, or something similar- and we can't have that. We need her pushing herself to excel on our behalf, not feeling like we're forcing her into a lesser position because we don't think enough of her to let her fight.

>>13478405
Yeah I have to agree for now. We already saw how she reacted last time we suggested it. We need her to kind of doubt what she's saying at this point since she seems to think she has to do it.

>>13478430
>>13478405
Alright. You both make valid points.
We'll go with your two, then.

"That is true, there are many things you are capable of, Lena. Things most would never be able to accomplish in their lives. But what matters, is what do you _want_ to do? I've seen you reading, or relaxing in Wulfs arms... and I've seen you after battles too. There is no need to lie, and no need to constantly 'earn' your belonging. A family does not disown their own, ever, and you are one of us now." you reply as sternly as you can without scolding.

"No, it is not right for one who is capable of defending the Ghorat, the family, to not do so simply because it pains them. I... I wasnt vomiting because of what I did. There were no wounded and dying after my first battle. When we took the manor though, there were. I dont leave men broken, screaming for mercy that wont come in time in pools of their own blood and fluids. I learned yesterday that the faces of the men I killed werent those of agony, but shock. agony is the man I saw stabbed through his groin and immasculated bleeding out on top of the man he thought he had slain, pain is the soldier who died from a festering wound on his arm. You took me in, and allowed me to earn my place in the family" she continues, gratitude in her eyes "and for that I thank you. I thank you even more for what you decided to teach me, Black Magic and Necromancy were both equally viable schools for one with my skills... and I would not be able to use them to protect my family as I can use this" she confesses, hefting the tome she is reading "I would not be able to inflict such pain on another, to defile their bodies and very souls as the other schools would have me. I am the most merciful one on the battlefield, the only painless way a soldier can fall, to sudden and terribly powerful for the body to feel anything but release from life. Anything else... after being to the hospice tent... I could not."

>>13478522
Damnit. That didn't work out - she's still totally for helping.

"I understand what you're saying Lena but at least try to do this for me - don't feel like you have to earn your place here with us. You are one of us and we won't abandon you, even if you ever decide to stop using your abilities. If things change for you and you feel the need to talk though, you can always come to me."

Yeah, I don't think we're going to talk her out of this but at least it doesn't seem like she's going to go dark side on us. And I head to bed. See you all later.

>>13478584
I can't think of anything better to say.
Anyone else?

>>13478522

>>13478522
Recitation: "The idea of using the dead to fight dosen't sit well with me, either, and it is something I would never consider asking. The dead should stay dead, it's nature. However, I'm hoping those tomes may also contain the ways to bring death back to the undead, to restore balance. We may come across such abominations in our travels. Better to be prepared for them. Things look to be getting hard enough as it is."

>>13478608
Okay, that made me laugh.

>>13478522
That is tough. Lena's got a hard road ahead of her.

"Lena... I will tell you three things. Firstly, I believe the men who spend their time building our catapults and mixing up our dark-sight paste do more to defend and protect the rest of the maniple than thrice their number of troops fighting with blades, and that you would be worth hundreds of men there just as you are on the field. Secondly, know that war burns most people in their hearts, but some it chars until nothing but ash remains. If you truly wish it, I will stand by and watch you face the fire... but if you end dead inside, and I suspect that after enough battles you shall, your fate will haunt my nightmares until I die and cost me the respect and esteem of several who I value greatly. Third, my greatest wish for any of my soldiers is to see them have a long and glorious career filled with victory and brotherhood, followed by a peaceful and prosperous retirement large and loving family, and you are no exception."

Get up after that. I think we're done here, one way or another. Throw in >>13478584 then.

>And now I'm to sleep, too. Night.

>>13478679
>>13478584
Supporting these two, with a dash of >>13478635
I really don't want to face magic zombies.

Resigning that despite her gentle nature, Lenas upbringing wont allow her to not contribute to any battles you decide to accept her determination to be on the battlefield. "I dislike the prospect of the dead being roused to do battle as well. I was hoping that those tomes on necromancy will contain some manner to return the dead to their slumber... otherwise I would have had them destroyed." you reply honestly

She looks at the tomes at her feet "When my skills are better I could try to help Laelith find something that may work..." she offers.

You smile at her eagerness to help "Lena, if ever you change your mind about fighting on the front line, know that even if you only look for counters to other forms of magic you will save a hundred times more members of this family than you ever could on the field. However, as you seem set on this path... I feel obliged to tell you some things. I cannot remind you enough that you need not fight to prove your worth, to begin. Second, war and battle burns out the heart and souls of nearly all who face its trials, leaving only charred, bitter husks when it ends. If you choose, I will watch you face the fire, you could very well be burnt beyond recognition. And that, that is something that would haunt the blackest of this soldiers nightmares for the rest of his life. Finally, it is my greatest wish for all of my soldiers, that they live a long, prosperous career filled with victory and brotherhood, that ends with retirement to their hard-earned citizenship, and large, loving families, and you are no exception to that." The girl nods, the look in her eyes finally assuring you that you have done everything within your power to protect the gentle girl before you from the hell that is war... though her decision still sits ill with you.

>I think I'm gonna call it then.
>someone archive please
>I'll be back wednesday at 9:30 10:00ish server time
>if you have any questions about the setting/CQ in general just email me at paxcomquest@yahoo.com

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