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>>37906547
Note that I intend to try to keep this session moving fast. That means I plan to start writing five minutes after each update. If your vote isn’t in by then it probably won’t count; write-ins might be counted if they’re not too much later and gel with the vote and what I’m writing. I’m hoping to put out updates only 20 minutes apart.

Current Date and Time: Early evening on February 6th, 1954PC
FR Points: 1

The speaker’s voice echoes throughout the council room and across the series of raised dais that occupy it, “I would ask all elves who are not members of the council to please vacate the hall and enter the visitor’s halls surrounding us. Our honoured guest, Imperator Talon, has arrived and the 181st council session of her majesty, Queen Alenier, is to begin.”

The woman, or girl really, that you presume to be Alenier stands on the highest rank of dais. Her figure is a stark contrast to the other elves, as she clearly looks to be only as old as Merrafier but towers above the rest of the Lefir with her long, thin build. She twists and turns the sceptre in her hands as she gives you a nervous look.

The other councillors don’t share her emotions, however. Many look rather bored or uninterested and many chatter quietly among themselves, creeping to the edges of their dais to whisper to one another. Levaine stands out like a sore thumb, standing at attention and giving you a calm, measured gaze.

Another stands out, a woman that stares at Finn with obvious fury and doesn’t let you get a word in.

>continued

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>>37906558
“Honoured guest? I hardly see any honour in a man who protects a convicted murderer and flaunts the fact in front of those victimised,” she spits at you, her voice so acidic you’re surprised it’s not melting the councillors in front of her.

“This is hardly the time for such nonsense, Trevia, particularly as the boy was never convicted,” Levaine says, his eyes narrowed in her direction.

“Boy? Monster, more like. That damnable Daerfir slaughtered my daughter like she was cattle! His head should hand from the treetops,” Trevia says.

Finn, standing beside you, flinches at her words, looking down at the wooden floor beneath him. Holding back a frown, you consider your next action. You don’t know if Finn actually killed anybody, but Trevia sounds certain. The circumstances are unknown, though you doubt they were that positive from what Caeminn and Borminel have hinted at. At the same time, you’re not sure it matters – Finn’s your squire and that’s that. You…

>1. Restate that Finn is under your protection and try to kill the topic. You’re here for diplomacy, not what passes as an elven court of law.
>2. Remain silent and let Levaine try to handle Trevia – politicians can handle other politicians.
>3. Attack Trevia verbally. Most likely any deaths would have been self-defense if they happened, and you doubt the Lefir treatment of Finn was that positive.
>4. Custom

>>37906582
>3
Don't you shit talk our squire like that.

>>37906582
3

Bitch needs to sit her ass down.

>>37906582
>1. Restate that Finn is under your protection and try to kill the topic. You’re here for diplomacy, not what passes as an elven court of law.

>>37906582
>1. Restate that Finn is under your protection and try to kill the topic. You’re here for diplomacy, not what passes as an elven court of law.

>>37906582
>1. Restate that Finn is under your protection and try to kill the topic. You’re here for diplomacy, not what passes as an elven court of law.

This is a subject adjacent to our purpose here. It will need to be dealt with separately.

>>37906582
1
Just thought I'd mention it, but I hope to have a long post on what direction I see the quest going when I get home from work, but to give the tl:dr version, I think Malantine would make a great cold war style enemy, and a long term foe like that would help give the quest direction, since we'd always be playing chess with Malantine

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1 wins. Writing. I won't make these confirmation posts in the future, but you can assume I'll take consensus relatively rapidly (more rapidly than this first vote, as it usually takes a little bit for people to spot the thread).

>>37906757
I'll break for some discussion in about 3 hours, I reckon. Then resume for the few scenes that need doing before the timeskip is over.

>>37906757
I agree with that whole heartedly. It also ties into naval development, and occupying those islands since we'll get to play with them in both theaters.

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>1.

“This isn’t up for discussion, by anyone,” you say coldly, your voice carrying through the room and into the hallways surrounding it via the open arches. “Tarfinn is my squire and is under my protection. I’m not here for whatever passes as an elven court of law.”

Whisperings and mutterings filter into the room from the crowded visitor hallways as the peanut gallery reacts to your statement. Many councillors appear to be more alert now, aware that a diplomatic incident might be happening right before them.

“Then you will gain nothing from us, York,” she says, giving you a glare that you happily return after that insulting usage of your surname. “If you will not allow elven justice, we have no business with you.”

“Justice? There is little of that in any dealings with the Daerfir,” Levaine says, his face still passive. “Do not use words you don’t understand the meaning of.”

A few chuckles come from his side of the chamber, as well as numerous glares and angry mutterings from the other. Did these councillors physically separate on political lines? How bothersome.

Alenier raises her sceptre above her head with both hands to call attention to herself and stop Trevia and Levaine. “As Imperator Talon says,” she begins, emphasising your first name as she gives Trevia a nervously reproachful look, “this is not a court of law. We are here to speak of diplomatic matters between the elves of Terrnaine and The York Empire.”

Both Trevia and Levaine frown at the queen’s intervention, clearly annoyed at the way she denied them their quarrel. The council room and visitor hallways fall silent, the queen having undertaken what you assume to be a rare action. Sadly, it’s broken quite soon.

>continued

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>>37907270
“The protection of a murderer is a diplomatic matter so far as I’m concerned. How can we trust a nation that protects a murderer or a ruler that takes one under his wing?” another councillor says, standing near the front and stroking a sparse beard.

“Because it’s a damnable farce, that’s why,” a councillor standing on his own behind you says. “Those Lefir played with fire and got burnt. Both adults and children were too stupid to understand what was happening. I’ll support the trial of the Daerfir boy as a diplomatic matter once we try the deceased parents’ for threatening the stability of our people and nation.”

The council erupts into a furore, both sides hurling abuse at one another and at the councillor who defended Finn. You hear Caeminn mutter about useless politicians. Only a display of magic from the queen quietens them.

“Enough!” she says, the entire room shaking as green light sparkles from her sceptre and you hear the tree creak around you. “Do not make me interrupt again. Imperator Talon has already said it is not for discussion and I will not see relations threatened over an internal matter.”

Alenier nods at the speaker, who gives you a nervous smile and says, “Make your case, Imperator.”

It was going to be hard to win over Trevia’s side without addressing the problem of Finn. The queen might be the safest bet if you weren’t going to side with Levaine.

>1. Speak of Levaine and your wish to cooperate with him. He appears to have the majority support in the council room, at least at present. This will mean supporting his plan to take the Daerfir and leave.
>2. Speak of the alternate plan (pic related) of accepting elves into your territory and providing them with military assistance in Terrnaine.
>3. Speak more generally about Caeminn’s plan to help the Daerfir and try to win the queen’s support for it while avoiding general elven politics.
>4. Custom

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>>37907304
Man, I suck at attaching pictures when necessary. I go into autopilot when posting.

>>37907304
1

>>37907304
>>2. Speak of the alternate plan (pic related) of accepting elves into your territory and providing them with military assistance in Terrnaine.

>>37907304
>3. Speak more generally about Caeminn’s plan to help the Daerfir and try to win the queen’s support for it while avoiding general elven politics.

>>37907395
infact, scratch that,

>>37907304
>3
and flow into 1 and 2 as naturally as possible.

>>37907304
2

>>37906547
>14th Feb.
Well, I'm here anyway. ;_;

>>37907304
>>2. Speak of the alternate plan (pic related) of accepting elves into your territory and providing them with military assistance in Terrnaine.

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Writing 2.

>>37907485
I didn't even think of the date, as it's actually the 15th in Australia. Oh well. Maybe I'll make it a special thread, depending on my mood.

You know rereading 2 that actually sounds fun as fuck.

That'll teach me to skim things

>>37907525
No worries. In the very unlikely event I'm not here I doubt I'll be missed. Unless you guys do something really retarded, which is always a possibility.

Also, I'm guessing you want us to wait with the future of the quest talk until you're finished with the session?

I hope we still get to go after that rogue enchanter. I want dem sweet enchants man.

How do we plan on integrating them into our empire if this succeeds? Will they get citizenship on entrance? What location will we be setting them up in? What leadership structure will we set up for them? Considering they havent ever had real representation in a governing body, I assume they would do poorly at laying the ground work.

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>2.

“My interest here is to work with all of you, to help bring elves into a world that is bigger than just Terrnaine,” you say. “A world more like what used to be the case. My hope is to bring as many elves as are interested into my empire in order to forge closer relations between all of us.”

Levaine interrupts you, “You want us to send elves to your empire?”

“I want open immigration between our two nations. As I doubt many humans will want to live in the treetops, as dwarf-like as we are in our love of stone and earth,” you say with some levity, the room filling briefly with light laughter, “that means it will mostly be elves coming to my lands. I’ll cover the expenses, embassy and transport as necessary.”

The room fills with discussion, much of it heated. It’s clear that what was expected clearly wasn’t this.

Trevia won’t be swayed, however. “You think that any elf would want to live among humans? That they would leave their beloved homeland for so little?”

“I think there is future aplenty for many elves,” Levaine says slowly, opposing Trevia seemingly out of habit. “Are you willing to take on the Daerfir, Imperator? They would surely show great interest in exploring the world at large.”

“What? We can’t send the Daerfir away. Who will protect us?” another councillor says.

Queen Alenier gives you an odd look, glancing between you and Levaine. For his part, Levaine is openly assessing you and your new deal. You respond with…

>1. Your intended offer of magitech equipment and trainers to replace any Daerfir that leave.
>2. Very little. Try to leave it to Levaine to explain why the Daerfir aren’t necessary.
>3. A more forceful offer, merging Levaine’s plan and your own in order to win his support. Say that you’ll take all the Daerfir, as they’re clearly a danger to elven civilization, and that you’ll provide both magitech equipment and soldiers to replace them for the near term.
>4. Custom

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>>37907794
That's probably a good thing you guys could discuss among yourselves as I don't want to dedicate discussion or voting time to it. I know that the anon who proposed the plan wanted to put them in Orkney's huge forest.

>>37907855
3

>>37907855
>3. A more forceful offer, merging Levaine’s plan and your own in order to win his support. Say that you’ll take all the Daerfir, as they’re clearly a danger to elven civilization, and that you’ll provide both magitech equipment and soldiers to replace them for the near term.

>>37907855
>1. Your intended offer of magitech equipment and trainers to replace any Daerfir that leave.

>>37907855
>3. A more forceful offer, merging Levaine’s plan and your own in order to win his support. Say that you’ll take all the Daerfir, as they’re clearly a danger to elven civilization, and that you’ll provide both magitech equipment and soldiers to replace them for the near term.

Might work out even better if we take them all with us leaving them even more dependent on us.

>>37907855
>3. A more forceful offer, merging Levaine’s plan and your own in order to win his support. Say that you’ll take all the Daerfir, as they’re clearly a danger to elven civilization, and that you’ll provide both magitech equipment and soldiers to replace them for the near term.

>>37907855
>>1. Your intended offer of magitech equipment and trainers to replace any Daerfir that leave.
2 is too depended on someone who has his own plans and 3 seems a bit extreme. I'd rather go with a more subtle approach.

>>37907855
>3. A more forceful offer, merging Levaine’s plan and your own in order to win his support. Say that you’ll take all the Daerfir, as they’re clearly a danger to elven civilization, and that you’ll provide both magitech equipment and soldiers to replace them for the near term.

The lord ember is a threat to everyone, and it makes sense for us to project a defensive bulk-ward against him, including the elven lands is a bonus to us.

>>37907794
Well we should probably dump them down somewhere close to Harrowmont so we can keep check on them better until they are better integrated.

>>37907794

I suppose it'll depend upon who we get. They'll likely rally behind a few as is their nature, and if Talon can be taught how to politics I'm sure the daefir can.

Also, we have space in Harrowmont for those willing. Otherwise dedicate a few IECs to the task of building them a comfortable home. I think we'll need to take steps to make it look more like we're integrating them as opposed to resettling. So it might be a good idea to encourage humans/foxes/vamps to live among them. Or just throw them into the melting pot that Harrowmont has become.

>>37908069
>>37908091
Harrowmont, monster central.

>>37908121
If you ask me we need more monsters. Like more dragons so THEPLAN.PNG can finally be executed.

>>37907855

Offer to the council that in the brief time we have been here, it seems that there is a growing tension between the Daerfir and the rest of the elves and that giving them an option to move would result in the more aggrative of them to leave resulting in a lower probability of a civil war... Not to mention, we could also establish agreements and trades that could assist in replenishing their defences...

>>37908091

You know it wouldn't be hard to convert one of the new bastions on the next Harrowmont expansion to be more... Elf friendly. Though on runs the risk of being targeted by fire from besiegers.

>>37908204
>THEPLAN.PNG
What was the THE PLAN again? Get all the monsters together, and then do the Monster Mash?

Would rather set up a settlement in Orkney forests. It seems like a more natural home for elves and they would benefit having room to grow without Harrowmont or fox settlements nearby.

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>3.

“To be frank, I don’t think the Daerfir will be protecting you much within a few years anyway,” you say.

“What nonsense are you spouting now?” Trevia says. “It is the duty of the Daerfir to protect all other elves. They have fulfilled that for centuries, why would they abandon it now?”

“Because it wasn’t merely out of one-sided duty, but a trade,” Levaine says. “That trade ceased to happen when your mother and others denied them their homes. I imagine it’s hard to feel you owe a duty to those who give you nothing in return.”

“They are elves! We allow them to live in this forest and they protect us in return. Now you are speaking nonsense too, Levaine,” another councillor shouts, this time on Levaine’s side.

The grinding of Caeminn’s teeth is practically audible and it’s clear that he’s not appreciative of the dismissive behaviour of some of the councillors. Esra sighs and gives you a plaintive look, clearly not liking where things are going.

“You allow them to live in the forest, councillor? I don’t tax my citizens merely because they live on the lands of my empire, but because I provide them with protection and safe roads and governance. If I taxed them merely because they were on my land, I’d be little more than an extortionist bandit,” you say. “To discuss it is pointless. I visited the Daerfir camps while I was here. Their resentment is all but tangible, despite the efforts of their leaders to quell it out of ‘duty’. My proposal is to offer them a new future, like Levaine suggested they may have, so that they don’t cause a civil war you cannot afford.”

“The turmoil between the castes is an internal matter, Imperator Talon,” Queen Alenier suddenly says, interrupting you with an alarmed look on her face. “It is not a diplomatic matter to discuss whether they protect us or not.”

>continued

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>>37908401
In other words, you were being told to replace them or have to defend Finn again. You say, “I understand. I’m merely pointing out that the Daerfir are not necessarily the protectors you need. I’m happy to provide magitech equipment and soldiers to replace them. They will be loyal to our alliance and allow you to protect elven lands.”

“Foreign soldiers? You’re offering foreign soldiers to replace elves?”

“I am not sure that would be enough to protect us, Imperator. Our threats are great and the loyalties of foreign soldiers in guarding land that is not theirs is… questionable,” Alenier says.

You…

>1. Say that if they’re appointed to serve directly under the Queen then they’ll fight like any royal guard would. That’s a constant amongst humans. This will likely empower the Queen, making it hard to uproot her, but might weaken the council and prevent Levaine from seizing power.
>2. Suggest that they might build a home here, protecting the forest as well as anywhere else. They would serve within the elven military and build friendships and family like anywhere. You don’t mention that this might give you a satellite within Terrnaine.
>3. Point out that they’re soldiers that are loyal to their commanders and yourself. With an alliance, they would be able to serve under the council and act in the best interests of all elves and the alliance itself. This would likely give Levaine an edge if you want to work more with him.
>4. Custom

>>37908434
2

I like it

>>37908434
>2. Suggest that they might build a home here, protecting the forest as well as anywhere else. They would serve within the elven military and build friendships and family like anywhere. You don’t mention that this might give you a satellite within Terrnaine.

>>37908434
>1. Say that if they’re appointed to serve directly under the Queen then they’ll fight like any royal guard would. That’s a constant amongst humans. This will likely empower the Queen, making it hard to uproot her, but might weaken the council and prevent Levaine from seizing power.
+
>3. Point out that they’re soldiers that are loyal to their commanders and yourself. With an alliance, they would be able to serve under the council and act in the best interests of all elves and the alliance itself. This would likely give Levaine an edge if you want to work more with him.

In effect: Nominally they would be appointed to serve the Elven throne under an alliance treaty, and commanded by an appointed adviser or general of the council in the most part.

Balances out the queens benefit with Levaine's power grab, as they both gain, but not enough to massively upset the status quo any time soon.

>>37908434
>1. Say that if they’re appointed to serve directly under the Queen then they’ll fight like any royal guard would. That’s a constant amongst humans. This will likely empower the Queen, making it hard to uproot her, but might weaken the council and prevent Levaine from seizing power.
Also point our that the templars (I think that was the name of those guys) once died for them. Elves arent the only ones who die for elves.

>>37908434
>2. Suggest that they might build a home here, protecting the forest as well as anywhere else. They would serve within the elven military and build friendships and family like anywhere. You don’t mention that this might give you a satellite within Terrnaine.

>>37908265
I wonder if we can put a magic forest on top of the cliffs.

>>37908507
>>37908510
>>37908592
Wont this risk the men becoming loyal to the Elves and Terrnaine instead if they live their and make their homes theere?

>>37908434
>2

>>37908634
Considering we have no aspirations to conquer the elves any time soon if at all, its a null problem.

Frankly if we do someday try to absorb their territory we should do it as part of a protectorate. But that is a long time off if ever.

2 seems really out there. I seriously doubt the isolationist elves would agree.

>>37908634
You have a point there. OTOH, we could always rotate their squads, so sometimes serving in Harrowmont, sometimes in Termaine.

>>37908592

I wonder, it sounds silly but we do have a growing collection of the best engineers on the continent. Surely landscaping on epic proportions would be a skill within their repertory.

>>37908714
Its certainly something to offer, on top of warriors, a fortification project a la great wall of china might be useful.

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>2.

“If you believed that the Daerfir would protect this land merely out of duty, then why do you not believe that my soldiers would do the same, especially with more support from myself,” you say. “The Templars died for the elves for the sake of their duty, too. Elves are not alone in this world and I want to reach out.”

“Who will they fight for? What will they fight for? Orders from a ruler halfway across the world won’t count for much,” Levaine says.

You spread your arms as you speak, making a general ‘togetherness’ gesture, “If they live and fight for Terrnaine, then this will be their home. They will serve within the elven military, making friends and comrades and training others to aid them. They will live in homes with elves, building relationships and people that they want to protect.”

A councillor snorts, “Do you think it will be that easy? That they’ll fight as if they were elves?”

“Everybody understands what it means to fight to defend your home and loved ones. This will be no different,” you say.

Queen Alenier frowns at you. “That may be so, Imperator, but it takes time to bring people together. Just as the Daerfir have been alienated, so too might your soldiers feel the same. It seems like a great risk.”

Looks like you’re going to need to do some convincing and it won’t be easy.

[DC17 Diplomacy]

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>37908855
here goes nothing

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>37908855

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>37908855

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>37908855

I offer the dice gods my drink...

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>37908855

>>37908812
Honestly, I intend to turn everything within the 'Great Wall' into some kind of wonderland.
Magic forests, underground fortresses, temples and mage towers built into the sides of mountains, that kind of thing.

FR point? or will we be forced into a over time concession?

E.g. start out with a small soldier detachment for a small elven detachment and see how it goes. Time is on our side with this, so long as something is seen to happen.

>>37908855
>>37908897
>>37908907
>>37908917
Remind them of the Templars.
Also point out that we can back them up with not only humans but also Dragons, Foxes and Vampires.

>>37908897
>>37908907
>>37908917
DC 17 was rather high, anyway. I take it as a sign there's some heavy opposition to the idea.

>>37908981
Concessions should always be planned for, in my mind. It's like haggling.

>>37908985
>>37908855
>“The Templars died for the elves for the sake of their duty, too. Elves are not alone in this world and I want to reach out.”

>>37908981
Would rather not. Hopefully we could diplomance our way back to options 1 or 3.

>>37909017
With these rolls, i doubt it. of course ide rather go full as well, but like
>>37909008
said, concessions should be planned for.

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>Target not met

The council mutters amongst itself, including Levaine for the first time as he confers with a few of the closer councillors. It’s obvious that Trevia is outright opposed but a number of her supporters can be seen stepping up to speak with what are presumably her close advisors. You have a strong feeling that you’re going to be asked for concessions from both sides. A large detachment of foreign soldiers would be able to offer a great deal of power to whomever holds their reins.

As such, you’re not too surprised when Queen Alenier raises her sceptre to speak, “We’ve reached a point where I feel it is best for the council room to deliberate privately over the offer from our honoured guest. In the meantime, I would invite him to join me in a private meeting between rulers.”

That catches the council’s attention. You’re rather certain that the king or queen of the elves is supposed to be a figurehead, at least recently. Alenier appears to have different ideas and those two councillors with their own visions of grandeur don’t appreciate that fact.

“Actually, my queen, I think we’re well suited to continuing this debate openly,” Levaine says.

“That’s not standard practice, Lev,” the councillor from earlier who stands behind you says.

“This is hardly a standard occasion,” Levaine replies.

>continued

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>>37909206
“Foreign dignitaries often make appeals to the council. This seems the best time to meet with the Imperator myself, as no doubt he has other places he wishes to be after we kept him waiting all day,” Alenier says, being more forceful about wanting to meet with you before the council makes a decision.

“Why not let him make up his own mind? Spirits below, we’ve debated enough with him present already. Perhaps he wants to hear more?” one of Trevia’s advising councillors says, speaking from next to her and earning a glare from her for speaking.

Alenier looks at you, with a glance at Esra. Esra just gives you a wry look and a wink. You…

>1. Agree to meet with the queen privately, where she’ll no doubt ask for private support and concessions.
>2. Remain in the council room, where you’ll no doubt be pressured by Levaine and Trevia to support one of them.
>3. Say that you’d rather get some fresh air, and that a meeting between rulers is best to be done after this matter is settled.
>4. Custom

>>37909238
1

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>37909238
>1. Agree to meet with the queen privately, where she’ll no doubt ask for private support and concessions.

>>37909238
>1
"How could i turn down such an invitation?"

>>37909238
>1. Agree to meet with the queen privately, where she’ll no doubt ask for private support and concessions.

>>37909238
>>1. Agree to meet with the queen privately, where she’ll no doubt ask for private support and concessions.

Opportunity here. She clearly sees a chance here to gain some authority and we can give it to her, or take it and give it to someone else. She will owe us for it and know it.

>>37909238
>1. Agree to meet with the queen privately, where she’ll no doubt ask for private support and concessions.

I believe that their Queen is actually a rather shrewd manipulator and our 'intervention' is making her need to chance her plans....
Then again, I assume that anyone who is portrayed with forms of social discomfort are generally BBEG types... so my view is Biased from the start...

>>37909402
nicely done.

>>37908434
Wait, now I'm totally confused. I thought we were providing them with magitech equipment that their nonmagical elves would use, while providing a training cadre to ensure that FMK don't accidentally divebomb the palace.

If we have to choose between the queen or Levaine, I would rather the queen. A singular ruler with control over the military would be better than a council. With the Daerfir gone Malataine would soon attack.

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>>37909732
Did you not see the vote that post was about?

>1.

You accept Alenier’s proposal and find yourself travelling with her and Esra through a corridor behind her dais, your party in the council hall still. It’s a rather short trip and you find yourself in a small sitting room with just a few chairs around a coffee table.

“You certainly know how to make a splash, Imperator,” Alenier says as she makes a small pot of tea from an already boiling kettle. Did somebody prepare it in advance or does it always remain like that? “I expected you to talk about forging closer ties and talk about taking Caeminn off for his little side project. Instead you want to complete upend our society.”

You eye her closely as she pours the tea, her nervousness not completely gone but she’s clearly a little sharper with just you and Esra. She flicks a stray lock of her strawberry blonde hair behind her shoulder as she pours your cup, her hand shaking a bit.

“I’m not so sure it hasn’t already been upended, your majesty,” you say, sipping at the tea only after Esra does so. Then again, maybe she’s immune to poison and that was pointless. “Maybe people just thought it was supposed to be this way.”

>continued

>>37909732
>>37907855
We merged our offer of Magitech and training with Levaine's idea of military aid.

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>>37909832
“You sound like my father. He all but dedicated his life to getting me on the throne in hopes that I could do something to make life what it was before the shadowbeasts,” she says, frowning a bit. “Why do you want all the Daerfir, Imperator? Is it because of their ability as soldiers? Or a sense of justice? I don’t see why you should take them if Caeminn can help them.”

Esra watches you closely, clearly judging you, even as she strokes Alenier’s arm reassuringly. Given her breakdown earlier after hearing about Levaine’s plan, it’s obvious she cares about her people dearly. You answer with…

>1. A reminder about the imminent civil war and that you don’t want to see the elves destroyed. Caeminn’s cure, if successful, will do nothing to quell the boiling hatred that many Daerfir no doubt have after being alienated for generations.
>2. Your promise to Esra that you will help her and all the Daerfir. You feel that will be done best by placing the Daerfir withing your lands.
>3. Their capabilities as soldiers. Even without all of them having tattoos or weaker ones, they’ll still be immensely capable and your ambitions are no secret. They’ll have a better home too, where only some will have to fight rather than all.
>4. Custom

>>37909858
>2. Your promise to Esra that you will help her and all the Daerfir. You feel that will be done best by placing the Daerfir withing your lands.

>>37909858
>4. We don't want to see the Elves fade away and want to prevent a civil war. We want to help Finn so he wont die. We also like soldiers, as a ruler we have to consider all the advantages we can gain. There is no room to do things just because we like it, it has to be good for the nation as well.

>>37909858
>2. Your promise to Esra that you will help her and all the Daerfir. You feel that will be done best by placing the Daerfir withing your lands.
For our squire as well

>>37909858
Because we made a promise to Finn we would help him. Not helping the rest of his caste when we could and benefiting at the same time would be wasted opportunity.

>>37909858
>>1. A reminder about the imminent civil war and that you don’t want to see the elves destroyed. Caeminn’s cure, if successful, will do nothing to quell the boiling hatred that many Daerfir no doubt have after being alienated for generations.
and
>>37909990

>>37909858
>>1. A reminder about the imminent civil war and that you don’t want to see the elves destroyed. Caeminn’s cure, if successful, will do nothing to quell the boiling hatred that many Daerfir no doubt have after being alienated for generations.

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Writing 1.

>>37909990
I'm going to interpret this largely as a one as it seems to be primarily the main reason to intervene to help the entire caste.

>>37909858
They need help, we promised to help. Their capability of soldiers aside, if they stay with the elves, both will destroy the other and the elves will be, if not wiped out, crippled.

The only just thing to do in this situation is to relocate the Daerfir to our lands and heal them before it all boils over. The fact that we can help Finn and Esra's people is cake.

>>37909858
Could we start with option 2 and then segue into a little spiel about how we had hoped to find a potential ally in the elves and we would hate to see them weakened or destroyed by the civil war that is almost certainly coming if the status quo remains (option1)?

>>37909858
Little bit of everything really, but the main is 1 and 2.

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>1.

“I wasn’t lying when I spoke in the council chamber, your majesty,” you say. “Everything that I’ve seen and heard suggests that the Daerfir are on the verge of outright rebellion. Caeminn believes he can avert it with the cure, but I’m inclined to agree with Councillor Levaine in that the outrage and anger of the Daerfir over their treatment won’t simply vanish. Esraveel might support you out of her sense of duty, but most of the Daerfir don’t feel that because they have no reason to.”

Alenier sighs, fidgeting with her mostly empty cup of tea. Giving her arm a pat, Esra turns to face you outright with a sharp gaze.

“I’m going to guess that Alie wants to ask you to place your replacement soldiers under her authority,” Esra says, ignoring the sharp look from the queen. “I’ve already told you my thoughts on the Daerfir leaving, but if you feel it’s best, Talon, then I’ll trust you.”

Looking between the two of you, Alenier frowns. “I’m willing to accept the soldiers. If they’re under my authority, the council can’t stop me. As there are no restrictions on the Daerfir’s freedom of movement, and there needs to be approval from both myself and the council to enact such restrictions, I can also let you take the Daerfir. If you’re going to take my beloved Esra, I want your soldiers, Imperator. That will give me the ability to prevent a hostile takeover from any councillors and prevent the knights from acting as corruptly as they have.”

>continued

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>>37910559
You frown at that. “I hadn’t heard of that. I thought the knights served you?”

She shrugs. “They serve the council, just like the entire military now, which typically results in Lefir using them for business reasons. The lack of large property ownership by the other castes isn’t that legitimate but mostly a result of the inability of them to be protected by the knights or to pay the fees the council deems necessary. With your soldiers I can do a lot of reform.”

“The purpose of the equipment and soldiers was to defend you from Malataine and the Lords.”

“Which doesn’t happen all that often. We’ve been attacked once by each in my eighteen years here, and it sounds like the Lords will be busy for some time. Give me those soldiers, Talon, and I’ll have unquestioned authority here in Terrnaine. That way, maybe Esra and her people can return to their homeland someday,” Alenier says, giving you a passionate gaze.

She seems genuine, but the cynical side of you just suspects her to be practiced. Esra seems fond of her, however. You’ll likely have to support her or Levaine in the end, both of whom have designs on ultimate power over the elves. The former seems more reliant on you whereas Levaine is clearly confident and experienced enough to think he can take care of his own matters. That could make Alenier the better choice if she can be kept under control. You…

>1. Agree with Alenier.
>2. Refuse and side with Levaine back in the council room.
>3. Refuse to place your soldiers under any individual (in effect) and instead pursue a more limited option of just getting support for Caeminn’s research rather than the Daerfir.
>4. Custom

So, before Talon came here the situation would have turned south as soon as Era died since she's the only thing keeping the Daerfir in check?
She has, at best, 10 years right?

Now that Talon came the timetable kicked in higher gears and the 10 years "peace" is seriously damaged, shit could turn south as soon as something fire the first shot by doing/saying something stupid?
Something like what happened in the council chamber?

>>37910586
1

>>37910586
>1. Agree with Alenier.

>>37910586
>1. Agree with Alenier.

>>37910586
>>1. Agree with Alenier.

>>37910586
>4. Custom
Agree but under the condition that she would be willingly to send a few more Lefir to prolong our enchanters life.

>>37910586
>1. Agree with Alenier.

Now taking bets on how long before bed jokes are made by the gang...

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Next post will be the last one before the break and discussion. Looks like a strong 1. I wonder if support would be so strong if I'd swapped the genders of Levaine and Alenier...

>>37910631
I think Levaine said it, but Talon is something of a catalyst. Elven society has been sick for a while and people have noticed. The Daerfir see Talon as a potential saviour, and so are gearing up for battle while he's here. The Lefir see him as a political tool and ally. Basically, people are putting plans into motion sooner in the hopes that Talon will support them - or even just as an excuse to do something they wouldn't be supported for normally.

>>37910586
>1. Agree with Alenier.

>>37910707
I would still vote to support the monarch.

>>37910707
Honestly for me I just view her as a much more easier to manipulate pawn. Levaine seems the type who I wouldn't trust. Alenier seems easier and the soldiers shouldn't be too hard to keep on our side. So if she starts leaning on foreign aid then we already have control to start with.

>>37910707
>gender biased support?
Maybe, though I voted mainly on the basis of Esra's recommendation since having /her/ loyalty (and her continued support in bringing our bridge to her people) a much more immediate priority than the ultimate state of the elvish nation.

>>37910799
>Levaine seems the type who I wouldn't trust.
This. While both are Lefir, Alenier was born into her position of power and works to maintain it. Levaine seems to be taking power.

>>37910801
>much more immediate priority than the ultimate state of the elvish nation.

Honestly for me if it wasn't for the lords or the likes grabbing it right afterwards I would just let the elves rot. The more they breakdown the easier it is to take them latter.

Getting Esra and the Daerfir is just a nice advantage we have that we can take for later in our wars. As well as helping a bit with Finn.

>>37910966
Wait, how did the previous monarch die again?

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>>37910966
Alenier wasn't born into it. It''s been said before (by Sala, and Talon repeated it in thought) but the royal line for the elves isn't hereditary. That's why she said her father worked to put her on the throne.

>1.

“Very well, Alenier,” you say, using her first name in response to her doing the same. “I’ll offer you the soldiers, though I imagine I’ll have to talk with somebody about the precise numbers. You do have that somebody, preferably somebody who isn’t Esra?”

“”I do. A knight who has been advising me my entire life on the military side of things,” she says, eying you oddly since you said her first name. “Is it normal to use the first name of a foreign ruler? You’re the first I’ve met.”

You chuckle at that, and Esra pats Alenier’s hand sympathetically as she gives you an annoyed look. Waving it off and straightening your face, you consider the best way to answer. Probably in a mentor-like fashion.

“That depends on what you want from them. I do that with Fenix and Alyce – the former because we’re old friends and the latter was more a case of circumstance. It can be useful to feign a level of closeness or personal appeal, which is what I thought you were doing,” you explain.

Looking nervous and embarrassed, Alenier looks off to the side and just mutters something almost inaudible about just slipping up. You’re not convinced but try not to say it. That seemed like a practiced appeal to you.

>continued

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>>37911160
The rest of the evening flies by, as you return to the council chamber and announce that you’ll place your soldiers directly under the queen’s authority, to mimic how it works in human nations. There’s some grumblings, but Alenier is saved from needing to invoke her authority by Levaine’s support. Most of the night is spent discussing with Esra and Sir Mernien about the soldiers and equipment you can provide. As you wander out into the open air and outside the council hall, the brilliant elven architecture lit up by wisps of every colour of the rainbow, you spot Levaine and a few rangers standing near him.

“It seems you’ve made your choice, Imperator,” he says, his voice holding no animosity. “Not the one I had hoped but it should be workable for me. I’m just glad that you’re taking the Daerfir away, so don’t worry about any ill feelings. We both got what we really wanted in the end, even if not everything we wished for.”

The rangers draw the arms across their chests in a salute and give a short bow before following the councillor towards the lift. You doubt that’s the last you’ll see of Levaine – he seems to sort that will make the smart choices and retain power despite Alenier’s growing authority. After all, that’s why he voted to support her in the end. A savvy politician.

Now you just need to claim the Place of Power and put in motion the plans you’ve made, including moving ten thousand Daerfir all the way to your lands.

>Discussion next

>>37910586
ok so
>Queen
Totally unaware of the state of things
>Levine
on top of things, realized that the daefir will rebel... and thinks that the elves don't need them

They are honestly both hilariously out of touch. And propping either of them seems like a mistake to me.

I also worry we are reading too much into esra's signal. I would think basically a few more days in quest of moving around and talking to the various groups is in order before committing.
(heck, the elves are probably gonna take at least that long to decide on anything)

>>37910707
>I wonder if support would be so strong if I'd swapped the genders of Levaine and Alenier...
So far we always support the women over the men, its rather irksome.

>>37911282
>Totally unaware of the state of things

I wouldn't be so sure. She seems to be acting a lot here and having our troops around the elves is advantageous just due to a lot of the monarchs power coming from Talon.

>>37911312
I figured we could manipulate Alenier more easily should the need arise.

>>37911312
Do you not remember the thread when we chose Irlin over Sylvian?

>>37911201
>“It seems you’ve made your choice, Imperator,” he says, his voice holding no animosity. “Not the one I had hoped but it should be workable for me. I’m just glad that you’re taking the Daerfir away, so don’t worry about any ill feelings. We both got what we really wanted in the end, even if not everything we wished for.”
Man, he is smooth

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A bit of discussion on where and what to do next while I have some lunch.

One of the worst problems I’m running into with the quest is constantly second-guessing what to actually provide. Terrnaine wound up being mostly political, simply because I decided that having the elves already fighting each other wouldn’t be best. I suspect many people thought it was more action/adventure oriented or were just interested in the PoP.

So more than ‘what to do next’, as in whether you claim the Sithran PoP or skip to the Mage Guard fight, I want to hear more about the sort of content people want more of. Do people want more sieges, offensive or defensive? More field battles like the one in Raupe so long ago? More action/adventure style conflict like exploring the labyrinth below Ahm? I can modify how things happens to suit the sort of content people actually want to see more of – if you go to see the Sithran PoP it can be done countless different ways. Maybe you have to reclaim the great gates that lead down to where the shadowbeasts are effectively locked away; or maybe you’ll have to hold back the tide when you open them; or you might skip them entirely and go down with a small party. The same can be said with the conflicts with the Mage Guard – should it be military or political, mostly? This isn’t a videogame where the ‘optimal’ approach can sometimes be unfun and I don’t want to be second-guessing whether I’m doing things people actually want to participate in.

Also, you should probably discuss where to go and what to do next. There’s the Sithran PoP; the Taurine Islands; fighting the Mage Guard. Do people feel they need a greater, overarching plot?

Personally, my feel for the overarching quest is that I need to go back to basics a bit. A bit more focus on the originally central characters (plus Finn) and bringing previously large sideplots like the dragons, Lord of Ember and League/RSK problems into the forefront as a driving force.

>>37911312
Honestly it's probably because it always seems more advantageous. I mean helldragon vs the wardens, Making up a deficient amount of mages while still keeping our friendship vs more mage knights.

>>37911387
>Do you not remember the thread when we chose Irlin over Sylvian?
That was more of people not realizing they were choosing one over the other. They thought they were playing irlin alongside silvian

>>37911395
I would like to do the Mage Guard war. After the shit show that was MG politics, EWTC and now elves, it would be fun to go back to what Talon is good at. Because he would destroy most opposition they throw at him, playing as Lynn, Finn or Felix might be fun.

>>37911387
That was more being fake as hell. Without really noticing how fast she takes things personal.

>>37911395

I'd say we should go to the mage guard fight. Field battles are wonderful but I can enjoy any kind of fight really.

>The same can be said with the conflicts with the Mage Guard – should it be military or political, mostly?

The ideal for me is mostly military since we did so much political. On the other hand it works good to break up the monotony of constant war if we get some of either.

>what to do next. There’s the Sithran PoP; the Taurine Islands; fighting the Mage Guard. Do people feel they need a greater, overarching plot?

I say we prepare for the mage guard now. We shouldn't be flopping around everywhere unless we do it years ahead of time.

>A bit more focus on the originally central characters (plus Finn) and bringing previously large sideplots like the dragons, Lord of Ember and League/RSK problems into the forefront as a driving force.

That would be a pretty good idea. Having time away from that is good but in the long term it would make us fly around randomly.

>>37911395
>So more than ‘what to do next’, as in whether you claim the Sithran PoP or skip to the Mage Guard fight
I would love to do the sithran pop next

> I want to hear more about the sort of content people want more of. Do people want more sieges, offensive or defensive? More field battles like the one in Raupe so long ago? More action/adventure style conflict like exploring the labyrinth below Ahm?
I like all of them. as long as we are alternating between the kind of content. I would prefer to do a dungeon crawl next, followed by tactical combat.

>if you go to see the Sithran PoP it can be done countless different ways. Maybe you have to reclaim the great gates that lead down to where the shadowbeasts are effectively locked away; or maybe you’ll have to hold back the tide when you open them; or you might skip them entirely and go down with a small party.
I think I would need more info here to answer this question. What are those gates? I thought a small group wasn't an option here...

>The same can be said with the conflicts with the Mage Guard – should it be military or political, mostly? This isn’t a videogame where the ‘optimal’ approach can sometimes be unfun and I don’t want to be second-guessing whether I’m doing things people actually want to participate in.
Mostly military with a bit of politics is my preference. But only because we just got done doing a bunch of politics

>>37911395
I like battles and empire management.

So let's go conquer the Mage Guard first and foremost. Get a good ally in the form of a huge ass dragon and some nice new land.

Then perhaps it's to incorporate the RSK into our glorious little empire?

>>37911650
>Then perhaps it's to incorporate the RSK into our glorious little empire?

Personally after the mage guard I say we go to the Taurine Islands and start looking for any advantages we can get there.

The RSK is in a clusterfuck right now so it should be pretty easy to gang up on on one of the factions and use Fenix to help clear it out and make a land grab.

Given how the nobility works there and how close they are they would be ideal as a next target.

>>37911395
Warring=Managing>Politicking=Adventuring
Also don't worry too much about things beings unfun since it's relative. But I like this quest for it's general feeling rather than specific parts.

>>37911395
Mage guard currently, and I'd like to see more field battles.
Personally, I think the conflict should be mostly military, with some politicking that has direct military implications, splinter groups that might help us in return for something.
As for a gramder plot, I think that can be provided somewhat by Malantine. Frankly, after what we've been doing some Malantine "independent" knightly orders should probably start picking fights with us on our campaigns. It'll give a good recurring foe, and shows that actions have consequences

>>37911395

I really would like to see more battles, any kind, but that's only because it's been so long. I have a special desire to have a defensive siege in Harrowmont. The Guard is a looming threat so that should be our priority, that said, politics are going to be involved regardless because we've already stuck our collective thumb in that pie.

After that I'd really like to do some more stuff at home, there's a lot of stuff on the management side I feel we could be doing more with. That and sending some people to the islands, because that'll open up more plot points.

Speaking of. I've liked the bigger issues in the background we've got going. Talon has his own plot, I'd like to keep it that way, and his interventions into the other issues are when they are necessary.

>>37911723
Though once the guard is gone we will be much more looked after then for most of this quest so far. Which could cause issues.

After we take all of the RSK we can start working on annexing the magi league.

>>37911395
First off, I just want to say that one of my favorite things about this game is actually the role exploration plays in discovering the setting. What made Terrnaine interesting was the fact that it was nothing like I expected and the problems we had to deal with were not anything we really could have prepared for going in.

Now, I think that the primary focus should probably be the key moments in the expansion/evolution of the York Empire. Many of those will be military related (I really enjoy the sieges and overall campaigns), some of them will be exploratory (contact with new territories, allies, enemies and organizations), some will be policy and trade negotiations and some will be dungeons, but I feel like those should be framed more as a small elite unite assaulting a key fortified position and less the traditional "you enter a dungeon of traps and dangers". We can do that too, but that seems more like an independent adventurer thing that something the leader of an expanding nation should be focusing on.

...so, mostly military (but work the dungeons into the overall campaigns either as optional objectives or strategic facilities we need to assault), secondarily on politics, and tertiarily on exploration (maybe we've that in with our politics as going meet the allies or infiltrate the enemies). All that being said, I really hope you keep doing the slice of life stuff since its so much fun getting to see the characters breathe and relax during their down time.

>>37911814
>What made Terrnaine interesting was the fact that it was nothing like I expected
ditto.

>>37911723
>I say we go to the Taurine Islands and start looking for any advantages we can get there.
What exists on those bloody islands anyways? Can't recall anything about them.

>make a land grab.
Imagine conquering them after the Mage Guard. Doubling our territory after we have just doubled it.

>>37911801
How do you propose we go about it? Diplomacy? Divide and conquer? Outright war? I don't think that many would favor the later?

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A couple of other things I forgot to mention. I'm liking the faster pace I drove this first half of the session - I'll probably try to keep this, which may drive down the average size of posts. THe other is that I'm going to try to make your opponent's more proactive - I feel that part of the problem with the Shropham campaign compared to the Taouran one was that your own real foe was the Mage Guard, and that just felt like a timetrial, because Shropham were more like hurdles than a real foe.

>>37911569
I don't see myself doing any alternate points of view for a while. I may do a Finn one towards the end of the MG, but I also may not.

>>37911599
>I think I would need more info here to answer this question. What are those gates? I thought a small group wasn't an option here...
I think you missed the point. What I was saying is that there isn't an optimal solution, because that's not how the quest works. I was just offering an example of how I can vary up the content (e.g. dungeon crawl v offensive siege v defensive siege) for the same objective.

>>37911793
>I have a special desire to have a defensive siege in Harrowmont.
That was going to be the opening event for the world event planned. I may still do it, actually, if people are interested in a defensive siege over, say, field battles or dungeon diving.

>a lot of stuff on the management side I feel we could be doing more with
Sometimes it feels really small, though. Like the argument over the dwarven tariffs getting loads of interest while the expansion of Harrowmont gets surprisingly little. Maybe I need to make Harrowmont feel more important.

>>37911879
>How do you propose we go about it? Diplomacy? Divide and conquer? Outright war?

The best method for them is slow assimilation. Get closer to Alyce bombard them with our culture and our economy. Talon is immortal so he has a long time to slowly make them a piece of his empire without war.

>What exists on those bloody islands anyways? Can't recall anything about them.

Fruit and ancient ruins of the divine empires and beasts. Which might prove useful with gaining power.

I agree with much of the above sentiment.

But first and foremost, make sure whatever we do is still fun for you. I don't want to end up where you aren't feeling it again and a small aside arc turns into two sessions out of the month again. I love this setting, and delving further into it and pushing the limits is fun. But if you aren't having fun, then we aren't either more than likely.

I figure after we start fighting the MG the League will start breaking down further. Without the presence of the Inquisitors the western towers will feel safe to explore more taboo magic. Magic they would use to defend themselves from the Lords.

>>37911913
> I feel that part of the problem with the Shropham campaign compared to the Taouran one was that your own real foe was the Mage Guard, and that just felt like a timetrial, because Shropham were more like hurdles than a real foe.

Honestly for me the big problem was more that the pacing was shot. The god-knights showing up and our Fist fight with our combat magister buddy was great and it made sense with how we fought that the guard+Talon would be overwealming military wise.

But it was like what 3-4 threads before things got really up there? The first CM battle, The god knights, The golem battle and the last fist fight was the best points and there was a good amount of distance between them.

>>37911913
>That was going to be the opening event for the world event planned. I may still do it, actually, if people are interested in a defensive siege over, say, field battles or dungeon diving.

Oh shit son that sounds awesome. Please do it after the moat expansion.

>>37911913
>I feel that part of the problem with the Shropham campaign compared to the Taouran one was that your own real foe was the Mage Guard, and that just felt like a timetrial, because Shropham were more like hurdles than a real foe.
a big part of it was the simultanous attack by both us and the mage guard from both sides with overwhelming force. and them possessing a super fortress.
With the mage guard actually outnumbering us, I am imagining a multi thread campaign similar to the ones we had during the day of the 3 way war with vitria and taour

>>37911913
>Shropham were more like hurdles than a real foe.
yup, they were completely on the defensive the entire time. Shroopham di not risk, so they did not win. One thing I want to mention is don't be afraid to have our enemies be active on a strategic scale as well. Asafel, Malantine, Magi League hardliners, they all should have plans, and sooner or later, a plan to deal with us as well.

>>37911913
>Sometimes it feels really small, though. Like the argument over the dwarven tariffs getting loads of interest while the expansion of Harrowmont gets surprisingly little. Maybe I need to make Harrowmont feel more important.
Its mostly the fact that we haven't actually had a choice to make in harrowmont in a while
remember there used to be huge massive arguments on what order to rebuild harrowmont in. Walls, merchant quarter, residential quarter, pop chamber, mage tower, etc.

We mostly just queue up construction in harrowmont lately which has no need for debate.

Although we did have a huge debate on the school of combat mages, spellsword, and vampires. again, because it was a meaningful choice (it wasn't even mutual exclusivity, just which order, knowing that there will be several years between the first and the last)

>>37912189
>yup, they were completely on the defensive the entire time.
They did sortie out to attack us... and we backed off, forcing them to choose if to pursue us or the mageguard, and they went after guard.
Then there was the clever trap with the 5 combat magisters trying to assassinate talon

>>37911913
>THe other is that I'm going to try to make your opponent's more proactive

Yes please do. Even if it pisses us off like the EWTC ordeal. I want to see them try to slap us around.

>I feel that part of the problem with the Shropham campaign compared to the Taouran one was that your own real foe was the Mage Guard, and that just felt like a timetrial,

That was sort of on us as well. The blitz plan pretty much took away any offensive they might have tried, and any attempts to establish links to those in charge, i.e. the Knight Order, failed. So we just kept trudging on.

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>>37912108
Hahaha. Part of the reason I wanted to do it now was because it would be a real test of the defences, as the outer wall would be breached and it would become a mixture of a siege and cityfight before the Crown Wall.

>>37912104
A bit of that was because Shropham didn't do anything and I stupidly relied on dice rolls to determine whether the CMs would be at a theatre of battle. That, and skipping Gravecral was kind of dumb. Dunno what I was thinking there.

>>37912267
Well, I tried to get feedback on the next expansion idea and it was pretty limited.

WHAT TO DO NEXT VOTE
>1. Skip to the Mage Guard War
>2. Claim the SIthran Place of Power
>3. Visit the Taurine Islands
>4. Something completely different!

I'll do a content vote immediately after.

>>37912334
>3

>>37912334
>3. Visit the Taurine Islands

This is during the timeskip yes?

>>37912334
>3. Tropical paradise? Yes, yes I do want that.

>>37912315
>That was sort of on us as well.

Yeah. Though honestly for me I don't really mind. If we make good tactics that break their ability to attack they probably shouldn't somehow magical break though it for challenge.

Things are starting to heat up now.

>>37912334
>3
Glorious, glorious ruins.
Also potential naval base.

>>37912334
>>1. Skip to the Mage Guard War

>>37912334
>1. Skip to the Mage Guard War

>>37912334
>1. Skip to the Mage Guard War
Time to get back in the fight and expand.

>>37912334
>1. Skip to the Mage Guard War
to much shit going on to deal with some islands

>>37912267
>We mostly just queue up construction in harrowmont lately which has no need for debate.

I'm going to comment on this. Here's the thing. I'm around a lot, and I've been here during all discussion times and numbers thread and offer to talk shop on the expansions.

But I don't get much, so I just roll with stuff Aspirational and I come up with. Trust me I'd love to incorporate more ideas into my expansion propositions. But when I don't get much feedback, well we get this.

All of that being said. The next expansion has three different routes to take now that my need for a ridiculous moat is sated.
>Digging into the cliff face. (Think dwarf)
>Continue down the hill(possible more terraces, different ideas)
>Build on top of the cliff facings (Maybe elves?)

With that in mind I'd love to see some ideas about it, what kind of stuff we should do, and how. I'm an Architect, I like being told what to draw(within reason).

>>37912334
Hold up, when you're saying "Skip to the Mage Guard War" are you implying a time skip or are we just moving it up the list of priorities?

>>37912334
3

Ah shit son islands!

>>37912334
>1. Skip to the Mage Guard War
Did someone say war?

>>37912334
>2. Claim the SIthran Place of Power

>>37912334
>3

>>37912502
>>Digging into the cliff face. (Think dwarf)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWz0qVvBZ0

>>37912502
Personally I like the idea of building more terraces.

>>37912502
Could you make a bunker design? There was this plan I had where we had concealed bunkers which we used to supply gurella forces to slow enemy offensives to a crawl.

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So that looks to be a solid 3. It's not going to be a huge arc, however. I only plan 2-3 threads before going back to the war. Content vote imminent.

>>37912514
There was already a timeskip. A lot of the current stuff is just taking place at different points within the timeskip. This basically, just writes off that time for the sake of getting to the warfare. Not that it's a huge amount of time (about 12 months).

>>37912502
>Continue down the hill(possible more terraces, different ideas)
There's no hill left anymore. Hell, any outward expansion is going out into hilly/rocky plains.

>>37912650

I was actually curious about this but was unable to comment on it previously. If you screenshot the email I'll look at it and see if I can work it out.

>>37912686
>There's no hill left anymore. Hell, any outward expansion is going out into hilly/rocky plains.

Right. Misspoke on that. That option would be more like terraforming the area below Harrowmont, and would require some stupid long walls.

>>37912687
gimme a second. I'm actually on another computer, because my laptop won't charge.

>>37912502
>>37912334
I should clarify that I was not saying that it is BAD that we just queue up things. sometimes there is just an obvious solution and I actually LIKE not having a huge argument over harrowmont build queue every thread.

My main point actually was that we DID in fact have huge arguments over what to build next in harrowmont. Some of which were actually very recent (build order of the various academies), I am sure that when we think of something else in the future like we would have similar arguments

For example, if we have a "research" like approach for developing our domain powers, where it takes X years to develop each power (similar to how mal does his personal research), it will certainly spark a lot of argument on the order in which to develop them

Or if/when we do the thing where magic power instantly replenishes we would have plenty of tower mages wanting to come over as well. And will have to choose how permissive we are with whom we allow to come over (that is, how much do we try to maintain authority over them rather then the traditional competing towers structure), and which order to build those towers at

>>37912502
>Continue down the hill(possible more terraces, different ideas)
>Build on top of the cliff facings (Maybe elves?)
can you explain the difference between those two?

Also, I personally think we should build UP the mountain instead of DOWN... so that the approach to the city remains a climb up a windy road that is easy to trap against an oncoming army killbox style. we can go down a bit on the other sides though... so basically a city shaped like a pac man

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For those worried (not sure how many), I'm going to try to tie part of the Taurine Islands into one of the greater sidestories rather than start something completely wonky and new.

>>37912762
I'm surprised there's no arguments over what to use the Dominion for. I mean, you're about to claim the PoP and get Dominion over the keep.

CONTENT VOTE
Vote for the top 3, in order of preference. Do this both in regards to what you immediately want to do and what you enjoy overall, as I'll be using this as a guide for the next couple of arcs.

>1. Defensive siege
>2. Offensive siege
>3. Field battle
>4. Action/adventure (dungeon crawling or just small party-based battle)
>5. Politicking
>6. Exploration/World-building
>7. Empire management
>8. Custom

Oh, and I'd like people to weigh in on whether they want to immediately hit the islands or do a defensive siege of Harrowmont first. Assuming people are itnerested in defensive sieges.

OTHER VOTE
>1. Hit the islands; no siege.
>2. Defensive siege of Harrowmont before islands
>3. Custom

>>37907855
>2. Very little. Try to leave it to Levaine to explain why the Daerfir aren’t necessary.

>>37912852
>4. Action/adventure
>6. Exploration/World-building
>3. Field battle


>2. Defensive siege of Harrowmont before islands

>>37912852
>6
>7
>1

>2

>>37912852
>I'm surprised there's no arguments over what to use the Dominion for. I mean, you're about to claim the PoP and get Dominion over the keep.
We have just been throwing ideas for a long time about what to use it for.
Arguing about what order to do those things with it is kinda pointless until we actually get it. Like how there has been no debate on what to do with the wardens once we conquer them yet
Also, we don't yet know the mechanics of it.

>>37912852
>3. Field battle
>2. Offensive siege
>7. Empire management

>2. Defensive siege of Harrowmont before islands

>>37912852
>CONTENT VOTE
>2. Offensive siege
>3. Field battle
>7. Empire management

OTHER VOTE
>2. Defensive siege of Harrowmont before islands

I need some action.

>>37912852
>CONTENT
Ah ah...
>3. Field battle
>1/2. I just like Sieges
>6. Exploration/World-building

>OTHER VOTE
>1'. Hit the Islands and come across some unexpected conflict.

>>37912852
>3. Field battle
>5. Politicking
>Defensive siege

>1
Mainly because I can't imagine what would attack us first, Or how it beating it would really help us.

>>37912849
>can you explain the difference between those two?
Well the latter is now defunct as I misspoke. I'm not sure how to explain the difference otherwise.

>Also, I personally think we should build UP the mountain instead of DOWN...

Not really possible. Harrowmont is built into a little cut away of the cliff facings which tower over the whole of the city.

Any building UP, would be upon the cliff facings themselves. Much in the way that the Imperial Academy was built(which was cut into the cliff facing, built on top of the new cutaway.

>>37912852
>3. Field battle
>4. Action/adventure (dungeon crawling or just small party-based battle)
>6. Exploration/World-building
I wish I could vote for more than 3.

>2. Defensive siege of Harrowmont before islands

>>37912852
>>7. Empire management
>3. Field battle
>5. Politicking

>>37912502

I still think that building small forts around the other ends of the Canal tunnels from Harrowmont is something we need.

Also, didn't we have an idea for a hidden dock inside the mountains with concealed canal access, or did I imagine that one? though such a thing would likely contain emergency equipment and supplies to help evacuate the city should shit really hit the fan...

>>37912852
>2
>6
>7

>2

You bet your ass I want to test my design.

>>37912965
>Any building UP, would be upon the cliff facings themselves. Much in the way that the Imperial Academy was built(which was cut into the cliff facing, built on top of the new cutaway.
Yep, exactly :)
We might need an elevator

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>>37912952
>Mainly because I can't imagine what would attack us first, Or how it beating it would really help us.
It's more that they're going to attack you at some point anyway. It's an early event in the very first major sideplot that got introduced in the first thread, technically (and one that people still think about from time to time).

>>37912932
There are mechanics, I just need to summarise them.

>>37912990
>I still think that building small forts around the other ends of the Canal tunnels from Harrowmont is something we need.

I'm not sure if this is my domain or not, as they wouldn't likely be very interesting forts, and I'm not sure of their necessity. That and one side pokes out in Ren's city anyway, so I'd only be designing one.

>Also, didn't we have an idea for a hidden dock inside the mountains with concealed canal access

I'm not sure? We already have the clandestine docking areas, one of Aspirational's earlier ideas, but as for concealed access to them, I don't think so.

>>37913045
>It's more that they're going to attack you at some point anyway. It's an early event in the very first major sideplot that got introduced in the first thread, technically (and one that people still think about from time to time).
foxes from the other continent?

>>37913021

Ah. So basically you want to build on the cliff facings. Got it. Side note, the IA has several elevators already set up, the 500 step staircase is mostly for show. Haha

>>37912502
How about a redesign of vitiria or Farun? Sarah or Fin's girl could easily convince Larrya to make them a design on a slow day

>>37913094
dragons I think.

>>37913122

I wouldn't dream of redesigning Vitria. It's a beautiful city as it is, doesn't need my touch.

Farun, depends on how it's set up. We don't know much about it really, or if it would need it.

>>37913151
Vitria does need a matching naval academy though.

>>37913119
>Ah. So basically you want to build on the cliff facings
Yes, build on cliff facing... all the way to the top, then build on the top itself.

>>37913147
why would dragons attack us? dragons love us right now...

>>37913151

What about Taour? didn't we need to wreck the city due to all the shit that went down there?

>>37913182
>why would dragons attack us?
Because Lynn. More specifically her dad.

>>37913179
>Vitria does need a matching naval academy though.
The issue is that the "core" of the navy is actually wizards. Ships are enchanted, they attack by onboard wizards throwing fireballs at each other. And wizards give them their awesome speed (much much faster than regular sail).
so really, harrowmont would be the best place for a naval academy because of all the domain fuckery we came up with

>>37913179

Accurate. Though also not my domain, I can design a basic building, that's it really. That would be an overall vote/effort.

>>37913182

I suppose it depends on where people want to take that. I rather like keeping Harrowmont tight, but if that's what people want to do.

I'm also not sure of the overall build of the cliff themselves further up the mountains. It might be incredibly expensive to do so. Or impossible.

>>37913187
That's...actually not a bad idea. We should probably talk with the appointed governor about imperial funded public works projects etc. next time we get the chance.

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Okay, so it looks like a defensive siege next thread. I'll also try to do a field battle (or something very similar) in the Taurine Islands on top of the exploration and management there. Dungeon crawling and politicking are about where I expected them to be, as something that might be done occasionally or needs to be done but not of huge interest it seems.

Also, the siege is going to be fun. This is going to be the single toughest force I've created so far, with completely new stat blocks. They won't be in the Battle Calc.

I'm going to write up the memorial visit and PoP event, followed by the event with Vad's kits becoming humanoid. I can't think of any other major side events to tackle, though I feel I'm forgetting one.

>>37913239
>I suppose it depends on where people want to take that. I rather like keeping Harrowmont tight, but if that's what people want to do.
Hence my pac man idea. And minimum height
Basically, massive giant city... sprawling all over the mountains and cliffs. With only one (or maybe later we can carve a few additional ones) approaches which are heavily fortified and easily trapped for defense.

>>37913187

No that was the Fortress in Raupe. Though if people want to tear down Taour, I'm not sure why, it would be an overall vote. So yet again not my domain.

I'm not looking to design and redesign every city. My focus is on Harrowmont, small forts(like Fort Dirk), and random things that catch my fancy(such as designing the interior of Harrowmont's Keep). Mapping Taour would be a pain really, and I'm not sure how necessary it is.

>>37913291
>though I feel I'm forgetting one
Reassigning research? Mal and Neir's babby?

>>37913291
>Also, the siege is going to be fun. This is going to be the single toughest force I've created so far, with completely new stat blocks. They won't be in the Battle Calc.
I have no appropriate images

>>37913291
Oh boy, Harrowmonts gonna burn.

>>37913187
>>37913253
We didn't wreck the city. Taour took little damage, however, the city itself was all subterrainian and the humans dislike that, especially due to the reason (convenience of their vampire masters). So we allowed them to freely relocate to the surface and invested in heavy housing construction and reconstruction.
As a result we now have a surface city growing there where a lot of the human population is moving into, and the underground city is becoming abandoned.
We planned on luring dwarves over to populate the under city

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>>37913346
There will be a big reward for winning at least.

>>37913344
The latter needs to be done, yeah. The first has already been done in the numbers thread.

>>37913291
>Also, the siege is going to be fun. This is going to be the single toughest force I've created so far,

I'm so hyped. The outer wall being assuredly breached will give further cause to the moat expansion as well, which I always support.

Can't wait.

>>37913291
>followed by the event with Vad's kits becoming humanoid
dawww

>>37913362
Well we could put some Elves into the Underda- I mean the under city.

>>37913388
>There will be a big reward for winning at least.

A 10-tailed fox?

>>37913291
>other side events to tackle
Convincing Esra to become our familiar? Or did that not have enough support in the end?

>>37913344
>Mal and Neir's babby?

You know this kid is going to become so fucking wrapped it's hilarius.

Uncle Talon, One of the worlds strongest mages as a dad, A spy master as a mom, Vampires, Elves, Dragons, Foxes, Knights.

By the time he is 20 he is probably going to be wondering where all the supernaturals are at in random villages.

>>37913182
>>37913230
This is assuming that it is dragons and not the RSK through Gespad or something else entirely

>>37913291
Uh, something with fluffy tail politics maybe? I think their military numbers haven't been sussed out. We also are due a unit of dragon knights
Or Alyce and Sylvian in a room?
Or Merce's reaction to what we just did?

>>37913428
Why would we want to anyway?

>>37913430

That kid is going to be pure hell on wheels. No doubt Sala and Slyph are going to baby the hell out of him too.

Poor Mal.

>>37913409
The elves have a nice 3000 Square mile forrest to settle in.

>>37913291
Ok, so it sounds like clearly talon is going to be there.
I am betting this is basically triggered by the pop binding. since we already established that doing that will reveal it to the world. It is an extremely attactive target, with the 2-3 month acclimation period mentioned before domain happens, it is prime time to attack.

Incidentally, it is bordered by a foreign power in the south, meaning the only plausible avenues of attack is from the south or the sea.
From the south we are looking at either RSK (remember that general who threw with the daughter of felix, the one who has been pushing hard for permission to attack talon? i bet its him), or it could be the archmage doing the rebellion there, thinking he could make better use of that source

or it could be a crazy force like dragons or foxes or shadowbeasts or angels or devils or who the fuck knows.

>>37913467
All new stat blocks mean that its not the RSK or any human faction.

>>37913409
elves prefer forests. and we have plenty of territory to get the elves their forests. it is also a total waste of a perfectly good dwarf honeypot to put anyone who isn't a dwarf in it.

also, the elves are coming from slavery where being forced to live in sub par housing is a core component of it.
So we really HAVE to let them settle wherever they want

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>>37913467
One of those is right. Actually, no, one of those is almost right. Almost - wrong term.

>>37913428
THere will be a vote on what to do with Esra.

>>37913499
>All new stat blocks mean that its not the RSK or any human faction.
unless they developed new magitech

>>37913505
...Fae?

>>37913467
We knew about this attack long before we decided to go to the elves.

Honestly I get the feeling Lairos is finally showing up.

>>37913505
.... fae, we are gonna get attacked by fae!

>>37913428
why? also, talon doesn't know how to bind familiars

>>37913452
It's probably the easiest option for preventing her soul from further major degradation (and rejuvenating her to boot) while a cure for the tattoos is being researched. Plus she's a he'll of a warrior and it'd be good to have her around for training and combat missions. I'm not suggesting a primal contract, just a standard one which both parties can opt out of.

>>37913505

I'm going to guess devils/demons.

We never went down that path with the random demon we saw when Talon overpowered that dwarf's demon magic.

>>37913465
>>37913500
Yeah I know, just making a poor joke about turning the Daerfir into DnD Drow.

>>37913505
Definitly beasts from Northen Gauron. Or Angels.

>>37913515
And replaced their entire military, including all their MMK, when we weren't looking? If that happens we fire Neir out of a cannon.

>>37913544
>It's probably the easiest option for preventing her soul from further major degradation (and rejuvenating her to boot) while a cure for the tattoos is being researched.
Not quite. Making her a familiar will fully regenerate her almost instantly.
On the other hand, we can also immediately start regenerating her via the domain, that would take 20 years for full recovery, but she will immediately start getting better
Either way she will be around long enough for the tatoos to be fixed.
She is also already a hell of a warrior without a full regen

>>37913552
>And replaced their entire military, including all their MMK,
no, just sent in an elite force comprised of just those units ahead of the main army...
although that does sound extremely implausible... so yea, its probably not that

>>37913613
We might be able to speed up the domain regen either through Ren and Syphh, or have Raphael instantly fix it for us. If we stop a demon/fae incursion when he isn't looking he might do us a solid.

>>37913505
>>37913521
>>37913537
>>37913550
>>37913551
GUYS guys I think I may may have figured it out

>One of those is right. Actually, no, one of those is almost right. Almost - wrong term.
>Actually, no, one of those is almost right.
>One of them is almost correct
>almost one

So Lynns dad leading an army of something. Could be cool.

>>37913698
Sylph herself confirmed she cant heal the damage the tattoos have done.

>>37913738
or maybe the wrong term is "dragons" instead of "dragon"
we are getting attacked by one dragon.

but no, that doesn't work either
>This is going to be the single toughest force I've created so far, with completely new stat blocks. They won't be in the Battle Calc.

unless maybe summons

>>37913793
She can help speed it up a bit in the domain.

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>Visiting the Templar memorial

You elect to visit the memorial with only a few people, the rest not being that interested or preferring not to crowd out those that have things to remember here. An enormous wrought iron fence rings the memorial, poking out of a large stone base and rising several metres above your head. It’s almost as large as the town itself, enormous trees with trunks of pure white that you haven’t seen elsewhere in Terrnaine provide a physical barrier to sight. Stepping through the gate with Mal, Tarfinn, Esra and the elemental sisters behind you, you begin a slow walk so as to let Gnome and Sylph dwell a bit.

It’s a slow, silent walk along the wooden path raised from the ground by a stone foundation. The wood is white, but the stone almost pitch black. The only noise in the clearing apart from your footsteps is the chattering of animals, insects and birds that make the lush trees and grass filling this little reserve home. Gnome looks especially grim, her face darkening as you walk further and further, while Sylph remains more passive. Prodding Gnome about her reaction to the elves trying to once deny her access to this memorial now seems a little cruel, as it seems the elemental has strong emotional attachments to the people who are memorialised here.

>continued

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>>37913913
Your feet crunch on gravel, an entire raised clearing littered with white stones chipped down. Beds of dirt ringed by black wood dot the clearing between the gravel. A few hundred white obelisks, no more than a metre tall, stand up from each bed of dirt. Magic hangs over the clearing, clinging to the various graves, and you see tokens and preserved flowers spread amongst them. Gnome steps slightly in front of you, biting her lip as she looks over them, and you place a hand on her shoulder and give a tight squeeze which she leans into.

Silence reigns as you gaze out over a memorial to an entire order of knights who gave their lives for others. The elves certainly wouldn’t be here without them even if only the very oldest elves would remember this sacrifice. Gnome does, however.

A single black obelisk stands amongst the field of white, a curiosity, but one you’re not sure you should investigate before Gnome does. A small building made of the same black stone stands at the far end of the clearing, likely leading down to the Place of Power. You…

>1. Leave Gnome and Sylph to themselves while you explore the PoP.
>2. Stay with Gnome as she explores her memories a bit.
>3. Investigate the black obelisk.
>4. Custom

>>37913939
>2.

Wow this suddenly got really sad.

>>37913939
>2.

>>37913939
>3. Investigate the black obelisk.

>>37913939
>2. Stay with Gnome as she explores her memories a bit.

>>37913939
>1. Leave Gnome and Sylph to themselves while you explore the PoP.

>>37913939
>2

>>37913939
>2. Stay with Gnome as she explores her memories a bit
You know, Talon may well have ended up in this order if it was still around in this time. I'd imagine he feels more of a connection to them than the astral adepts.

>>37913939
>>2. Stay with Gnome as she explores her memories a bit.
We got the time.

>>37913939
>>2. Stay with Gnome as she explores her memories a bit.

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>2.

You stay with Gnome as she walks amongst the grave markers, her hand slipping from yours from time to time as she wanders to and fro. She always comes back however, her hand grasping yours again. Saying little, she often stops to gaze down at a particular obelisk. Each bears a name and title, but no more details. You absently read through each of them, trying to catalogue the names for later recall. No obelisk is different to any other, apart from the one that is of black stone, and it’s with some surprise that you find yourself next to the grave market of the grandmaster of the Templars.

“The real shame is that few of their bodies are interred here,” Gnome says, breaking her silence as she stares at the mound of dirt before her.

You wait for her to speak again, rubbing the back of her hand with your thumb. A sword stands up from the mound, poking out of the dirt. A number of lockets of various shapes dangle from its gilded hilt. It doesn’t take much imagination to realise what pictures, drawings or carvings lie within. Gnome leans against you for a moment.

“The angels took them to keep fighting. Those that fell as revenants were returned here but most of them were still alive in the 1790s when the shadowbeasts came,” she says, pausing for some time before changing the topic. “Marc was a good man. He grew up in Ahm and wanted to be a mage so badly. In some ways it was sad that he was never able to achieve that – he would have lived so much longer, seen his grandchildren. In other ways…

“He led them until the end. I was elsewhere in the Last Line but Saareg’s told me the stories. He’s the last of them, still around either because of his raw power or because the archangels took over for Lord Sirion at some stage. That’s his obelisk there.”

>continued

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>>37914533
She points at the black marker nearby. The two of you slowly walk there, crunching across the gravel with each step. His marker, made of black stone with a few purple and white impurities within it, reads:

‘Matthias ‘Saareg’ Holt; Champion’

Saareg. The last revenant and that of the archangels, according to Gnome. You wondered what sort of man he was.

“The elves replace the black markers with white markers whenever they cease to be a revenant. The belief was that the black marker would guide their spirit home to where people can see them rest once their duty is over. The white marker then allows them to pass on,” Gnome says, rubbing the black marker clean from some dirt that has found its way onto it. “I’m not a believer but it’s a nice thought, particularly with the Barrier.”

There’s not much else to say or explore here. You…

>1. Leave Gnome and Sylph to themselves up here and claim the PoP.
>2. Head down into the PoP with just Mal and Undine, leaving the others to comfort Gnome and Sylph.
>3. Invite Gnome and Sylph down with you.
>4. Custom

>>37913939

>2. Stay with Gnome as she explores her memories a bit.

>>37914568
>2. Head down into the PoP with just Mal and Undine, leaving the others to comfort Gnome and Sylph.
let them have their time

>>37914568
>2. Head down into the PoP with just Mal and Undine, leaving the others to comfort Gnome and Sylph.

>>37914568
>2. Head down into the PoP with just Mal and Undine, leaving the others to comfort Gnome and Sylph.

Now I am kinda sad.

>>37914568
>3. I really don't feel like deserting Gnome at the moment. Besides, we have time, we can wait until she's ready to move on.

>>37914568
>2

We rarely get to see sites like this. Probably the most somber moment we've seen.

>>37914568
>2. Head down into the PoP with just Mal and Undine, leaving the others to comfort Gnome and Sylph.

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>2.

You rub Gnome’s back for a minute before giving her a peck on the cheek and a whisper to let you know you’ll be back. She nods and you try to quietly trudge away across the gravel.

“It’s not quite true, you know. About Saareg at least,” she says, causing you to pause. “His body is here, buried in this mound. Most revenants are created from their own remains, their soul fused to a slowly decaying body. Saareg was given a new one, which fits him as his mind is no longer the same. He was brash and arrogant and now he’s merely cautious, tireless and patient.”

Going quiet again, Gnome then wanders off, crunching across the gravel to visit the graves of other old friends. You watch her for some time as the others find you before exploring the building that leads down to the Place of Power. There’s nothing special waiting for you. No protections, traps or guards. Just a ward that dissipates when Esra touches it, strong enough to trouble Mal and Undine but keyed to her touch.

Down below is an old workshop, cobwebs covering the benches and rusted tools. At one end is a glowing protrusion, a great spike of crystal that seems to have a field of runes slowly turning in the air around it. The power here seems at peace, likely protecting the memorial and not simply ratcheting off into the walls and surroundings.

“It’s unbound. I guess nobody wanted to disturb the memorial,” Undine says quietly, her face sombre from watching Sylph and Gnome wander about the graves above.

>nobody has any problem with using the PoP to gain Dominion power over the keep? You won't be seizing another PoP for a while now.

>>37915078

Nope.

>>37915078
yup.
Random question: Did any Templar have the last name York?

>>37915078

Sounds good to me.

Going to need that Vad's kit scene to be extra adorable now.

>>37915136
or rather, I want the domain power, negative questions are confusing.

>>37915078
>dominion power

That was the bargain, so sure.

>>37915380
Maybe? I honestly feel that's the sort of thing we have a spymaster for though. Same with the League tensions stuff.

>>37915078
no objections
dominion ahoy

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>>37915380
I explained last thread I'm passing that one by because it wouldn't have led to anything more than clues etc. I want to get back to the main content for now, rather than just hinting at new sideplots and the like.

>Talon now has Dominion over the entirety of the keep of Harrowmont. Details at the end of the session.

You don’t feel any different after the binding. You can feel something at the edge of your perception, like a concept lingering at the edge of consciousness that you can’t quite grasp. Or a fly just out of reach. Annoying but not of use. Maybe you need to go back to Harrowmont itself, first?

This seems as good a time as any to talk to Esra about her plans, however.

“So, you plan to come with us to Harrowmont?” you ask her.

“I want to help you prepare for the arrival of my people, yes. I’ll speak with the elders over the next few weeks then make my way to Harrowmont,” she says, giving you a small smile. “I can’t exactly go now. Caeminn and the others can head back with you, of course.”

You look at Mal, who shrugs in return. That leaves you to explain the idea.

“Mal and I were talking about an idea, with Sylph’s input. If we were to bind you as a familiar using a spare Place of Power then you might be able to get better much faster,” you explain.

“Faster?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.

“There’s another way that might take a few decades we think. This would be much faster but I don’t know if you want to be a familiar or not,” you say, trying to steer the topic back on track.

>continued

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>>37915565
She shrugs, her face impassive. “My intention was to serve you directly, like I did Alie. If you want me to be yours merely through fealty or through magical bond, that’s up to you. Hmm, I suppose that means I have to call you Master now?”

“No, not really.”

“You might grow to like it.”

“That’s what worries me. I’m not like Mal.”

“You just don’t understand what you’re missing. Neither did I, before Sylph started saying it,” he says, giving you a leery grin.

Esra takes one look at that and says, “I guess I’ll drop it. For now. But it’s up to you if you want me to be your familiar or just your personal warrior.”

You decide she will be…

>1. Neither. She’ll be a commander and fighter in your military, like Rayza.
>2. A member of your retinue and probably the Order of the Griffin.
>3. Your familiar, once you locate a suitable PoP that isn’t connected to the Source.
>4. Custom

>>37915591
>>1. Neither. She’ll be a commander and fighter in your military, like Rayza.
We gonna need more commanders once our army reaches 90k

>>37915591
>2. A member of your retinue and probably the Order of the Griffin.

>>37915591
I honestly figured she's end up as the head of whatever Deafir Knightly order ends up getting organized (and a member of the order of the griffon that way).
also >3
because fuck tradition.

>>37915591
>3. Your familiar, once you locate a suitable PoP that isn’t connected to the Source.

"So yeah, I rule an Empire named after myself, bound the most powerful Earth elemental in Gauron, accidentally bound a vampire, and decided eh fuck it, I'll bind the Champion of the daerfir as well I've got power to spare."

>>37915591
>1. Neither. She’ll be a commander and fighter in your military, like Rayza.

>>37915591
>>2. A member of your retinue and probably the Order of the Griffin.

>3 way tie, 2 for each vote
haha, damn

>>37915591
>4. Custom
whatever she wants to be. The TYE is a 'free' empire. You can aspire to be whatever you want to be, assuming you have the capacity to do it... She wants to be in our retune, she can. If she wants to be a commander, she can. If she wants to be a baker, why not?

On a more productive vote; 3.
might rile up Alyce and her familiar, who's name escapes me...

>>37915591
>3

>>37915591
>2. A member of your retinue and probably the Order of the Griffin.

>>37915755
>Alyce has mage elf
>We get warrior elf
I can imagine her teasing us for modeling ourselves after her

>>37915755
>whatever she wants to be.
I think the point was that she said she is fine with whatever, so we the players get to choose

>>37915591
>>2. A member of your retinue and probably the Order of the Griffin.

>>37915591
>3. Eventually
>2. Until we locate a suitable POP

Once she's our familiar and can run her tattoos on an external power source rather than her soul I think we might want to re-evaluate using her as a field commander/general. For now I'd rather not.

>>37915833
You do remember that caelmin is getting fixed tattoos for everyone.
She is getting healed, the point of the familiar is to get it done ASAP. And also because some people decided they really want her as a familiar because reasons

>>37915591
Note for OP. if in doubt this >>37915833 was a vote for option 3.

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Looks like 3 wins. I'm going to cut over to the kit's growing up scene in the next update.

>>37915883
I have very little faith that Caelmin is going to be able to crack the tattoo > magi tech conversion this decade. This is a /very/ challenging project.

>>37915947
>I have very little faith that Caelmin is going to be able to crack the tattoo > magi tech conversion this decade.
Even if it takes him (and the team we set up for him) a couple of decades to do so. She would still have gotten fully healed via domain and sylph.

>>37915926
>I'm going to cut over to the kit's growing up scene in the next update.

I can't wait to see what kind of antics those three get up to with Uncle Talon now. Poor Vad, he'll never recover from the constant onslaught.

>>37915833
>Coddling her
you remember that she can easily kick talon's butt in a fight right now?

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>3.

It’ll be a while before you can genuinely claim Esra as your familiar. In the meantime you could focus on making Gnome and Aladria less likely to get upset over it. You would also need to work out how to deal with Esra’s hero worship. Her reaction when Taira brought her to Harrowmont a few weeks later was giddy and childlike, proof of how much of a caged bird she’d been.

Time flew past quickly, so quickly that you accidentally scheduled an important diplomatic meeting with Captain Bern of the RSK’s Tallorn on the same day as the birthdays of Vad’s kits. The day where they’d go from terrifyingly competent little fox kits into humanoid, magically capable children. Who already knew a little too much about battle tactics from what you’d been teaching them. You’d never had the heart to explain that you were the one who taught Naite how to climb up and ambush people by leaping on their back.

“You seem in a rush, Imperator,” Bern says, his voice as slow and monotonous as always.

“I have somewhere to be after this meeting,” you say. “In any case, is that all? I’m surprised of how dismissive you are of Falwick.”

“His abilities are not suited to his diminished position,” Bern says. “If he lashes out, then our combined forces will crush his starved figure. Or perhaps the Aefir will.”

You wrap up the meeting, not as reassured as the phlegmatic Bern in Falwick’s impotence. Only a fool ever underestimated somebody like Falwick – a mad dog will only be more dangerous if they feel backed into a corner. It’s only a matter of time before he unleashes his power. For now he’s clearly biding his time.

Rushing into the keep, you hope you’re not too late. You don’t hear any rampant celebrations, though there are raised voices leaking out from the large meeting room in the back of the keep that was co-opted into the birthday party room. You step inside and see a lot of fluffy tails crowded around some much smaller ones.

>cont

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>>37916430
“They’re not supposed to be multiple colours,” Taira is saying as she pats the tail of a small girl who looks no older than seven or eight years old.

“You have white in your gold tail,” Mal points out, a young boy about the same age of the girl seeming to hide behind him to get away from the other foxes.

“It’s still gold in the right light, just faded. Sai’s tails have black streaks in them. I haven’t even heard of this happening,” Taira says.

“Uncle Talon!” the girl shouts suddenly, spotting you at the entrance and making an escape from Taira’s grasp.

She practically cannonballs into you and you keep your footing only out of experience. From battle, not from catching small children. Somehow the two seems awfully similar. Sai, Vad’s only daughter, waves her tail wildly as she clings to you and gives you a big smile.

“I’m all big now, Uncle Talon!” she says, grinning up at you.

“I can see that,” you say, ruffling her hair which is the same colour as her tail.

You survey the room. Sai’s tail is a bronze-gold colour, with large black streaks running through it from the base almost to the tail. You’d guess that Naite is hiding behind Mal, as he’d always been the savvy one, and Dain is near Tsucchi and Vad. Both their tails are of a silver colour, or platinum really, but their tips and base is the same black as Vad’s tails.

You don’t really know how to react. You have a feeling things have gone a bit topsy-turvy with the strange tail colourings. You…

>1. Join the rest in discussing the reason behind the tails.
>2. Try to dismiss the oddness and get the others to just celebrate the birthday.
>3. Let the three kits play around together, like they usually do, while you discuss with Taira, Ren and the others about the tails. Maybe get Vad and Mal to keep them busy – Mal could use the experience.
>4. Custom

>>37916460
>3. Let the three kits play around together, like they usually do, while you discuss with Taira, Ren and the others about the tails. Maybe get Vad and Mal to keep them busy – Mal could use the experience.

Yes that sounds the most amusing.

Talon will have to promise them attention later though for being late.

>>37916460
>>2. Try to dismiss the oddness and get the others to just celebrate the birthday.
"Tails are influenced by the location they grew up. This is a source, of course it will be weird."

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Rolled 1 (1d2)

Tie-breaker.

1 = Option 2
2 = Option 3

>>37916460
>4. Desire that their odd coloring is a good thing and play up how cool it is. Make sure we make the kits, er, kids feel special and not like their deformed (auntie Taira, quiet!). Also, Sai gets to ride on our shoulders since she came to say hi over first.

>>37916725
that really doesn't sound all that good. anyways, looks like it has already been decided.

>>37916861
Yeah, it's time for me to pass out. Best of luck everyone.

>>37916460
>2. Try to dismiss the oddness and get the others to just celebrate the birthday.

"Come on now, there's a lifetime to discuss tails, but today is special for the kits. It should be about them, not their tails. And this is me saying this!"

>>37916906
night

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>2.

“So we are going to celebrate their birthday or stand around chattering about it?” you ask the room. “Honestly, this isn’t exactly the most normal place for a fox to grow up so don’t act so surprised.”

Chasing away the three particular foxes that can’t help but continue chattering, you indulge the three young mystic foxes. Mostly they just want to run around, exploring their much larger bodies, though they do complain about having to wear clothes. When things move beyond them running around and demanding attention, you decide to rope in help.

“Why do I have to help?” Mal says.

“You could use the practice,” you say.

“I can get behind that. Get out there, Mal,” Neir says, her pregnancy very obviously showing.

“How am I supposed to help a fox learn to use their magic,” he whines.

“By preventing them from doing anything might discourage them, like breaking something or hurting somebody,” you say. “Even a single tail can make spells that hit like a truck. Especially because we don’t know how powerful they are.”

“There’s not much to teaching them at first. Arrays are tricky but they’ve only got one tail so it’s just a matter of focusing power,” Vad says, waving a hand from side to side as he watches Dain ride on Naite’s shoulders in order to try to overpower Sai.

“She’s very good at that,” Karise notes, watching as Sai suddenly twists and pulls Dain off his brother’s shoulders. There’s a warping sensation from her as she catches with magic Dain before he cracks his head open on the stone floor.

“Yes, and that terrifies me,” Vad says. “I’m not sure I want a daughter who might be able to knock me around someday.”

You form three pairs, one with each kid. Sai certainly wastes no time with recklessly throwing around magic, making both you and Undine very nervous.

>continued

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>>37916954
“Sai, honey, please try to actually direct the power. Don’t just fling it around,” you say after watching Undine hurriedly block a surge of magic that would have hit Ren. “And Undine, don’t stop it if she’s going to hit Ren. That will be hilarious.”

“Okay, Uncle Talon!” she says, before proceeding to nearly knock your block off with a concentrated look. “See! See! I directed it at you.”

Your nose is a little sore after that, and you’re just glad that Sai didn’t seem to understand that breaking your nose was bad. Clearly the ability of Undine to just heal it made her a little indifferent. On the plus side, she did the same thing with Ren.

“Did I do good, Uncle Talon?” Sai asks you earnestly, the laughter of the adults ringing in her ears as Ren heals his broken nose. The other two foxes, unable to do more than make odd sensations in the room glare at their sister enviously.

>1. “Yes. He should be able to stop it.”
>2. “Yes. You should still keep practicing to direct her magic power, even if she is very good at summoning it for literally her first day using magic.”
>3. “Yes. In fact, that’s the best way to greet Chief Ren.”
>4. Custom