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Finally, you arrive at Pearl's harbors.

And they're... actual harbors. Even if they don't compare to Tianna City's sophisticated port and docks, it's impressive what your people at home managed to accomplish in just the week you've been away. They've raised solid wooden piers and built stone barriers and skerries around it, to protect it from the rough seas.

Although the dock is just in front of the shallow coast in front of the island of the shore spirits (you'll have to find a name for it, or maybe ask them to). You can see your hearthstone's manse, Sapphire Palace, rising from the center of the islet, a spiraling, wide-based, circular tower built from white, blue-veined stone. The very top of the tower is surmounted by a sphere of solid rock, about two meters across.

You idly wonder if the spirits are alright, and if Glorious Tide is running things smoothly. Or if she fucked up something bad while you were away.

Your ships steer in port and begin to unload. Even here, a vast crowd greets your arrival. You catch a glimpse of Pyre Spark in it, waving frantically. Karas is there as well, accompanied by a small group of people in uniform.

Dismounting the ship with Tia and Amata, Pyre does her usual thing and throws herself at her, vaulting over the assembled crowd. Fortunately, she doesn't hit as hard as Tia does.

"DIVINE MAKAAA! I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"

"It's nice to be back for me, too." You gently pat her head while trying to peel her off you.

"Glad to have you back, sis." Karas steps towards you.

"I'm back."

>Let's head back home, we need to talk.
>Who are the people with you, Karas?
>Explain the Gem situation to him.
>Better keep the plan a secret for now, don't want him to do something dumb.
>Ask for a report on the situation in Pearl
>(Other?)

>>46666533
>>Who are the people with you, Karas?
Sup EF?

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>Who are we?
Maka, an exiled noble Exalted as a Zenith-caste Solar. Queen of Gem, now ruling the western island of Tianna. You have gathered a vast amount of allies and friends, and defeated every threat to Tianna up to now.
You recently discovered that Tianna is actually an artificial island, built around a First Age Titan: an almighty flying fortress. Your forces have crushed the Bodhisattva Anointed by Dark Water, a Deathlord who tried to usurp its power for himself.
And now, on the day of your wedding, the Unconquered Sun Himself appeared to you and crowned you Princess of Creation, asking you to be an example for others in these dark times.

>Solar? Zenith? I don't know Exalted...
This quest is as newbie-friendly as possible, and I want it to work as a newbie's intro to Exalted. If you have ANY question, ask in thread. For the setting, google "1d4chan exalted".

>Archive?
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Solar%20Quest

>System?
Dicepool-like system. When performing an action, everyone rolls 1d10 when posting. the first X rolls are considered, where X is equal to attribute + ability.

>XP?
Attributes cost [current score x5] xp. Abilities cost [current score x3] xp, except Zenith costing [(current score x3) -1]. Charms cost 10 xp, except for Zenith-based charms (related to charisma and physical/mental fortitude) which cost 8 xp. At the end of every "session" (thread) you will be presented with a list of possible acquisitions.

>Twitter?
@exaltedfag

>Any questions?
http://ask.fm/Exaltedfag

New System Info: http://pastebin.com/pvAZpsJ6
Characters info (player-made): http://pastebin.com/5WnD47jp
Quest in ebook format (player-made): https://www.dropbox.com/s/0wl5obxcwuakgdj/Exalted%20Quest%20-%20Threads%2001-101%20%5Bpdf%5D.rar?dl=0
Meanwhiles: http://pastebin.com/u/Exaltedfag

>>46666533
>>Let's head back home, we need to talk.

>>46666533
>Who are the people with you, Karas?
>Ask for a report on the situation in Pearl
>Explain the Gem situation to him.
Let's get a quick status report to make sure nothing is about to blow up or something and then head inside our manse to talk.

>>46666533
>Who are the people with you, Karas?
>Ask for a report on the situation in Pearl

>>46666533
>Let's head back home, we need to talk.
>Who are the people with you, Karas?

>>46666533
>>Let's head back home, we need to talk.
>>Who are the people with you, Karas?

Hello, EF!

>>46666533
>>46666621
Also wave and smile to the crowd, Queen's back everyone.

>>46666710
>"The queen's back everyone! Hey Your Majesty, show us your tits!"

>>46666746
You mean that thing that we do with amazing regularity to the point we're our subjects are de-sensitized?

I mean, we can

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I updated a bit the map of Tianna. While I have the file open, is there anything you want to point out, ask, names to suggest, etc?

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And here's your calendar.

>>46666765
>to the point we're our subjects are de-sensitized?
Man I hope they aren't already desensitized to our mammoth Social 6 mammories, it's a long time till we can get social 7 and out next growth spurt.

>>46666823
I just realized Maka is going to be heavily pregnant during summer camp. Good thing that doesn't affect Solars at all.

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>>46666848
>Social 7 maka tits

My god man

>>46666791
No name yet for the road between Tianna and Pearl?

>>46666854
We'll be fine, Exalts don't show until the very last month

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>>46666556
>the Unconquered Sun Himself appeared to you and crowned you Princess of Creation
>Mfw this is my first time here and the MC already sounds Mary sue as fuck.

>>46666882
Nope, all stuff without a name on the map is still... er, to be named.
Suggestions are welcome.

>>46666909
Did you miss the "Exalted" in the title?

>>46666533
>Who are the people with you, Karas?

>>46666909
This is Exalted, if you're not playing some variety of power fantasy you're doing it very wrong.

>>46666909
It took 100 threads for that. Read the whole thing that led to it.

>>46666868
I can barely imagine how glorious they shall be.

>>46666909
>>46666931
So far we've been pretty much having our cake and eating it too, though. There are theoretically other forces in the universe just as powerful as us, but we haven't had to deal with them very often, and even the actions of an unstoppable set of tits should have some unintended consequences.

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>>46666943
>implying a Mary sue character can ever be justified
That's cute.

>>46666991
To be fair the times we have faced great evil and power our ass was kicked tremendously.

>>46666991
We will face consequences when we are in aneed important area of Creation. Like Gem.
Or when the get its shit together. Whichever comes first.

>>46666991
>>46667024
We also failed saving Tyrant, and that was a major goal for Maka.

>>46667041
No we saved her, we got her back into the cycle of reincarnation and out of the neverborn's clutches.

It wasn't the most ideal situation but we DID save her.

>>46666998
Every setting has a different Sue threshold.
Even a starting character in Exalted would be a Sue by the standards of most other settings.
Being acknowledged by The Unconquered Sun after 100 threads of work is like a D&D character getting acknowledged by a King and being granted a title.

>>46667056
Was that confirmed? Her soul back to the cycle?

>>46667085
Yep

>>46667056
Yeah, as I recall we've never really lost anyone or anything we cared about during a thread, just in backstory.

>>46667100
No, we lost one: Silk's first behemoth

And Flow.

>>46667100
That probably has something to do with the fact that we keep throwing ourselves into danger first, which has nearly gotten us killed twice despite how Tanky we are.
We WOULD have died the second time if it weren't for Final Ray of Light

>>46667100
To be fair, most of what we care about han't had a real chance to be threatened outside of a few fights early in the quest. The Silver Prince thing could've ended up incredibly shitty if he had targeted people we care about, instead he feinted us to try and take over the Titan, which he almost succeeded at.

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>>46666998
>>46666909
>mfw you realise the Lord of the Eagles' talons are the only thing between you, and a 700ft drop into flaming trees and angry Wargs when he wants to know,
"Why is Bilbo being such a hater?"

>>46667124
With the Silver Prince there were a ton of chances to get fucked over, if we hadn't noticed Mik was being sword controlled before we met up with everyone, if Amata hadn't been a Sid she would have died right there, Five Tails totally almost died according to EF on his Ask, and then we tried to fight three opponents that individually outclassed us.

Sorry guys, have to go AFK for a bit.

>>46667208
NP

>>46667179
>and then we tried to fight three opponents that individually outclassed us.
We really should upgrade our SHS.
We're stating to attract big name attention, and not all of them will give us the chance to Social them into submission.

>>46667256
>SHS
?

>>46667275
Solar Hero Style.
The method of fighting we use when we're unable to Social our way through a problem.

>>46667296
Right right, didn't understand the acronym. I'm sure that's the whole point of the summer camp, we're going to get swole.

>>46667256
SINGLE HEAT SINKS!?

>>46667340
But we need to take down Skullstone permanently between now and Summer camp, and I can't imagine that going off without us having to fight someone.

>>46667366
Luckily for us Silver Prince's main Combat monsters fucked off or died. 9 soak is a barrier few will penetrate with ease.

>>46667388
>9 soak is a barrier few will penetrate with ease.
Yeah our defense is good, but offensively we're shit.
Sort of the opposite of our social combat stats.

>>46667412
Our combat pool is hardly small, we're not horrible. We're just not fully combat specialized.

>>46667412
Even then we're still pretty soft, one or two fights is fine with our soak and health levels, but any prolonged engagement will still whittle us down badly. We really should pick up another Ox Body or two

>>46667430
That also depends on what the prolonged engagement is with. We cannot be hurt my mortals now, period. The only things around that could really drag us down are nasty combat exalts, deathlords, and major gods.

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As you dismount and the crowd parts to let you through on your way to Golden Reach (with Pyre Spark still attacked to you), you cast a curious aside glance to the people in uniform following Karas around.

You count four of them, wearing white uniforms with some bits of plate on the shoulders and shins that are evidently only parts of a more complete suit of armor. It's evidently derived from Tianna's royal engineers uniform. They're all carrying some variant of firedust weaponry with them, as well as shortswords strapped behind their backs. As you glance over them, they stiffen and stand at attention.

"...Who's your company, Karas?" You wonder. You see the four soldiers tense up.

"I've been working at putting together and training a special force of volunteers, to be sort of an elite core for Pearl's army, and to supplement Tianna's force." He explains. "You know, I wanted to keep busy while you were away, so I've been reorganizing the structure of the armed forces here."

You smirk. "It feels strange hearing you talk about organization and structure."

He groans. "You wound me. What, you think I'm a complete meathead? If anything, I'm actually better than you at organizing things."

"Keeping your bedroom and closet in order and knowing how to fold clothes does not count."

"It does, and you would probably drown in your own trash if you didn't have Millian and Regis following you around constantly." He replies. "You can't handle yourself."

You don't deign him of a reply, limiting yourself to a very expressive rolling of the eyes.

>Return to Golden Reach directly.
>Take a tour around Pearl to see how things have changed in this week.
>Ask about more details on Karas' work.
>Talk about Gem.
>Ask if you missed anything while away.
>(Other?)

>>46667517
>Return to Golden Reach directly.
>Talk about Gem.

>>46667517
>Take a tour around Pearl to see how things have changed in this week.
>Ask if you missed anything while away.
Hey we totally cooked for ourselves for the first time

>>46667517
>Ask about more details on Karas' work.
>Talk about Gem.
>Ask if you missed anything while away.

>>46667517
>Take a tour around Pearl to see how things have changed in this week.
>Ask if you missed anything while away.

>>46666920
>Suggestions are welcome.
Two Queens Road?

>>46667517
>>Return to Golden Reach directly.
>>Ask about more details on Karas' work.
>>(Other?) Despite our playful banter make sure he knows we missed him and are proud of what he's done

>>46667610
Just Queens Road sounds better I think

>>46667621
Seconding.

>>46667517
>Ask about more details on Karas' work.

>>46667517
>Talk about Gem.
>Ask if you missed anything while away.
>>46667626
Fine by me.

>>46666791
Who's in charge of the White Skulls? Because we could make good use of that three-dot Wood manse. *cough* Resilient Bamboo *cough*

>>46666823
Time to get the assault team ready for Skullstone!
Checking in on the Abyssals, yay!

>>46667658
Just a word of advice, can you please just repeat the actual lines rather than say "seconding"? It's so much easier to keep track of that for me.

>>46667694
Talon.

>>46667517
>>Return to Golden Reach directly.
>>Talk about Gem.
Don't want to talk about it in the open.

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"Well, looks like you've kept yourself busy." You not thoughtfully. "Just four people, though?"

"It's about twenty, actually. I've got a larger team of generalists, and then one squad of engineers and long-range specialists - this one - and one of close combat specialists." He explains.

You give another glance at their equipment. "...Long-range? But they have firedust weapons."

"They look like firedust, but they're actually Essence discharge." He smiles.

You whistle. "You found people with Awakened Essence?"

"No, they use Irene's cartridge system." He explains. "Though I heard that Zaan is working on an alchemical formula that can cause people to gain Awakened Essence."

"Yeah, but it's still work in progress." You nod, going over the small team of soldiers once again as you head into town. "...Any reason they're all girls?" You whisper in his ear.

"A disproportionate amount of them volunteered for the special training." He shrugs. "About twice as many."

Oh, so it was a "coincidence", right.

"...Did I miss anything serious while I was away?"

He thinks about it for a second. "...Well, Five Tails seemed upset and worried about something, but I haven't had time to talk with her properly. Valeriana has been working, though without pushing herself as hard as before, and she's been messing around inside the Titan with Samiel for quite a bit. Oh, and a team of prospectors organized by the Denzik trade trust has arrived and is scouting around."

"Took them long enough." You groan. "Sometime I wonder under what schedule the Denzik operate."

"Wind, tides, Lintha and pirates, I'd guess." He muses.

Not much seems to have changed in Pearl, and Golden Reach is as beautiful as always. The work for the upper half of the Manse has made some progress, but, without any more feeling of emergency, it seems like the work crews are mostly focusing on polishing the details they didn't have time to care for before.

(cont.)

>>46667517
>Take a tour around Pearl to see how things have changed in this week.
>>Ask about more details on Karas' work.

>>46667928
I need to know what eroge these girls came from. Please.

>>46667949
Google Image Search or iqdb

Does anybody have a link to the fanart album?

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Once you're out of the crowd and walking with Karas and Pyre Spark in the Manse's corridors, you break the news to him. "...I got some news from Gem."

His face changes.

"...what?" He almost grabs you by the shoulders. "W-what did you hear?"

"Calm down." You gently grab him back and get him to relax a second. "Before leaving, I sent a team in Gem to investigate the situation there."

"...But that was just a week ago." He replies. "No way they got there so fast."

"Aexel has a spell that lets them make the trip in three days or so." You reply.

"...Wait, why didn't you tell me anything?!"

"Because I knew that if you knew about this, you would've done something stupid. This was a sneaking mission, and you're one of the least subtle people I know."

"I don't- I wouldn't-" He bites his lip and shuts himself up.

You take a big breath. "Rakan has dad and Eskarin prisoners. They're not in any danger right now."

"...what about mom?"

You shake your head. "No one knows. She disappeared the day of the coup."

Without warning, Karas slams his fist in the wall.

The large marble block splits and explodes with a loud crack, and his arm sinks into the stonework up to the elbow.

"If something happened to her, I'm going to... I'm going to..."

>Save that anger for when we get to Gem. You'll need it there more than here.
>You'll calm down. A hot head and a hole in the wall won't help anyone right now.
>I need you to stay here in Tianna while I go take back Gem. You're going to mess up if you come, I know you.
>Let him vent.
>(Other?)

>>46668047
>Save that anger for when we get to Gem. You'll need it there more than here.

>>46668047
>Let him vent.
As long as he doesn't punch anything else

>>46668047
>Let him vent.
Let him. I know I'd need it.

>>46668047
>Save that anger for when we get to Gem. You'll need it there more than here.

>>46668047
>Let him vent.
But don't worry, we got a plan to take Gem back.

>>46668047
>Let him vent.

>>46668047
>Let him vent.

>>46667928
>that far left
So it did happen

>>46668047
>>Let him vent.
>You'll calm down. A hot head and a hole in the wall won't help anyone right now.
>>(Other?)
"Karas... I'm sorry, and you have every right to be angry. You need to yell and shout? You need to fight it out? Or just to talk it over, do that with me. I'm here for you and for that. But I need you to work it out and calm down, Pearl and Tianna needs us and I need you. And before we act we need to prepare and when we act we must not fly off the handle, we could take down the usurper down single handed but dad, sis, and our people are mortal and can't stand up to him.

>>46668047
>>Save that anger for when we get to Gem. You'll need it there more than here.
>(Other?)
"If something happens you're going to get in line so I can have first crack at Rankar."

>>46667928
Hey EF, do these qt gunners have names? In case, you know, some writefagging should occur.

>>46668273
I'm sure they have names and distinct personalizes that will decanonise any premature writefaggery and break your heart.

You patiently wait.

"..."

Karas just stands there, arm embedded in the wall as bits of stone crumble to the ground. The impact made a huge noise, and you can see, with the corner of your eye, servants and soldiers rushing to see what's happening, then quietly shuffling away once they find out.

"Are you done with your little tantrum?"

He pulls the arm out of the wall, causing the shredded block of marble to fall in pieces to the floor.

You hope Valeriana will not get too mad.

He takes an extremely deep breath. "Yes, I'm done."

"Now you see why I kept you from knowing this up to now?"

He doesn't reply.

You two stand in silence in the corridor for a few more seconds. Pyre Spark awkwardly shuffles behind you.

"When are we going?" He finally asks.

>Today. As soon as we gather our full Circle.
>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.
>About a week. Just to be sure that things are all set both here and there and we don't get nasty surprises happening while we're en route.
>What do you mean, "we"? Who said that you're coming?
>(Other?)

>>46668316
>>About a week. Just to be sure that things are all set both here and there and we don't get nasty surprises happening while we're en route.

>>46668316
>>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.

I guess get preparations underway for when we eventually go finish Skullstone.

>>46668316
>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.

>>46668316
>>About a week. Just to be sure that things are all set both here and there and we don't get nasty surprises happening while we're en route.

>>46668316
>>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.

>>46668273
>>46668314
I'm pretty sure they came from this bit of writefaggotry
http://pastebin.com/hGt8fJbR

>>46668316
>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.

>>46668316
>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.

>>46668316
>>About a week. Just to be sure that things are all set both here and there and we don't get nasty surprises happening while we're en route.
Give everyone time to settle any existing things going on

>>46668316
>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.
Frantic Five Tails worries me.
>>46668350
Also Skullstone.

>>46668316
>About a week. Just to be sure that things are all set both here and there and we don't get nasty surprises happening while we're en route.

>>46668316
>In a couple days. Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here.

>>46668316
>Taking the full Circle.
We're going to run into some Alchemicals while we're there, aren't we?

>>46666791
Island name: Flow's Respite

>>46668370
>Frantic Five Tails worries me.
Lunar moot is here

>>46668370
We have time before we must deal with Skullstone and is probably left till after our superpowered boot camp

>>46668451
>>46666791
I like it

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>>46666791
>>46668451
Yes! Flow's Respite

>>46668273
>>46668314
Ahahaha. Yeah. I mean, I DID give them names and think of personalities, but what the heck, it's not like either you or I should care so much about "canon" in a Quest thread.

But for knowing their names, you'll have to ask, and to know their personalities and such, spend some time with them~

(Or I'll just tell you at the end of the thread if that doesn't happen)

>>46668474
We already told Moray that we would send a force at the end of this month, and even then he didn't like waiting that long.

>>46668541
Duly noted. Looking forward to some girl-talk with our brother's personal guard.

"In a couple days." You reassure him. "Just enough to organize Tianna and Pearl before leaving, and take care of a few loose ends here."

He grumbles. "You're SURE that they're safe?"

"Would I be taking my time otherwise?" You reply, deadpan.

He concedes.

"We have Zareen, Starfall, Talon, Aexel and Lynne there keeping an eye on the situation. Put some trust in them."

"...Oh, so that's why Lynne hasn't been annoying me lately." He realizes.

"Pretty much." You smile. Apparently he hadn't noticed anything.

"So, what's the next move?" He asks. "What's this stuff that needs looking into?"

>Armed forces organization. Tell me more of what you're doing.
>Civil engineering for Pearl. I'll have to take care of this city a bit.
>I'll have to hear from Valeriana how her work is going.
>I'll meet with Mikahil and get the politics stuff out of the way first.
>Maybe this thing that's got Five Tails worried is really important.
>I'd like to meet with these Denzik prospectors first.
>(Other?)

>>46668549
Ahh, I forgot that detail

>>46668661
>Armed forces organization. Tell me more of what you're doing.

>>46668661
>Maybe this thing that's got Five Tails worried is really important.
>I'll meet with Mikahil and get the politics stuff out of the way first.

>>46668661
>Maybe this thing that's got Five Tails worried is really important.
>I'd like to meet with these Denzik prospectors first.

>>46668661
>Maybe this thing that's got Five Tails worried is really important.
>I'll meet with Mikahil and get the politics stuff out of the way first.
They're probably together, anyway. We can also tell him to wrap things up on his end before we head out.

>>46668661
>I'll have to hear from Valeriana how her work is going.

>>46668661
>>Armed forces organization. Tell me more of what you're doing.
Get that out of the way first
>>I'll meet with Mikahil and get the politics stuff out of the way.
Karas should sit in since a military foray was part of our agreement with the neck

>>46668661
>>I'll meet with Mikahil and get the politics stuff out of the way first.
>I'd like to meet with these Denzik prospectors first.

>>46666791
Did you use any particular program to make that map? Sorry if you've been asked this before or the answer is somewhere obvious and I'm being stupid, but I either missed it or forgot and have a sudden interest in hex-based mapping tools.

>>46668661
>>I'll meet with Mikahil and get the politics stuff out of the way first.
>Maybe this thing that's got Five Tails worried is really important.
And then we can leave Mik or Amata to sort out the Denziks, that's why they're the ministers or trade and smart queen after all

>>46668661
"Stay with me while we do all of this. It'll also give me a chance to talk more with your ladies here."

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>>46668752
Hexographer. It's amazing AND free. Really one of the best mapping programs available.

They also have a square-based version.

Updated the map btw.

>>46668798
Why did you take the water manse's name off?

>>46668833
I don't want the map to look too messy. When there are multiple points of interest (like, Pearl also contains Golden Reach, etc), the largest one takes precedence.

>>46668798
Thanks.

>>46666791
>>46668798
Do the white rings in the upper left mean anything, or are they just part of the program?

>>46668904
I didn't draw them. the program, for some reason, outputs them and I have no idea how to make it stop. I could try editing them out with photoshop, but... to be honest, it's a hassle to do that every time I edit the map, so please just pretend they're not there.

>>46668661
>>I'll have to hear from Valeriana how her work is going.
>>I'll meet with Mikahil and get the politics stuff out of the way first.
>>Maybe this thing that's got Five Tails worried is really important.
>plus the rest
Basically everything. We're a Solar, we can speedrun this shit.

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"Well, I'll have to start with a chat with Mikahil." You explain, heading straight for his office. "Come with me, this might interest you too."

"Oh, right, how did the political stuff go in the Neck?"

"Not as good as it could have been, but still very good." You sup things up.

Mikahil's office in Golden Reach has grown since you last saw it.

Not just in the sense that it's a lot richer, more well appointed and furnished, with fuller bookshelves and a busier looking desk and now it properly looks like the office of a head of state or something like that: it's literally bigger.

You can see that he must've had at least one wall torn down to adjust it to a larger size. You hope that he did it with Valeriana's permission. You heard some horror stories about whet happens when you alter a powerful Manse's geomancy without knowing exactly what you're doing.

A handful of assistants are milling about, busy with carrying papers or books, putting stuff back into place, stamping documents, checking tables and lists, making notes, and so on. You can see that about one third is maids and butlers from Golden Reach, about one third is civilians, well-dressed but without uniform, probably paid scribes and assistants who Mikahil contracted for a full-time job, and the last third is Silk's weird maids, who have been relegated to just carrying stuff around. Well, since they probably can't make sense of human governments and economics, all they're good for is dumb labor.

(cont.)

File: Mikahil.png (1.07 MB, 727x1028)

1.07 MB PNG

"I heard you were back." He stands up from behind his desk. It's full of papers and modules and ledgers. An old battered abacus lies broken inside the office's dust bin, and a brand new one is proudly placed on the desk itself. "Sorry for not showing up at the docks."

"No problem." You shake his hand. "I can see you were busy. Everything's all right?"

"Now it is." He explains, sitting back down. "It's nothing overly complicated, just a matter of giving some sense and order to the new city. Law, order, patents, permits, permissions, contracts, authorizations..."

"Sounds like a mess." Whistles Karas, sitting down on a comfy-looking leather chair.

"It's not a DIFFICULT job, it's just MASSIVE." He sinks deeper into his chair, clearly tired. "Simple but repetitive and basically just a lots of papers that need pushing before the whole thing can become sort of self-sufficient."

"How done are you?" You wonder.

"About eighty percent." He lightly shrugs.

>Who are these people?
>Do you need any help?
>I got news from Gem. We're going soon.
>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details.
>(Other?)

>>46669145
>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details.
>I got news from Gem. We're going soon.

>>46669145
>>I got news from Gem. We're going soon.
>>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the detail
The plan was in a few days, but however many you need to finish up here is fine.

Also has he spoken to the Denziks, he was pretty friendly with Roan, the one we made the deal with so I assume he met up with them at some point

>>46669145
>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details.
Maybe inform him of the unique cultural practices of The Neck as well.

>Do you need any help?

>>46669145
>>I got news from Gem. We're going soon.
>>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details.

>>46669145
>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details.
>Do you need any help?
We do have all these dots of Eclipse for a reason, plus I'd feel bad about dropping more work on him without helping out when it is our city

>>46669145
>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details.
>I got news from Gem. We're going soon.

>>46669145
>Who are these people?

>>46669145
>>The Neck's with us. I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details.
>Do you need any help?
We can takeover here after we finish making rounds

"The Neck's with us."

He smiles. "You got approval from the Council of Patriarchs?"

"Wasn't hard." You shrug nonchalantly.

"What did they agree to?"

"Formal alliance, trade agreement, protection, and we return to them Cormorant once we get it from Skullstone." You explain. "I secured their approval, now you'll have to handle the details."

"It's going to be quick." He nods to himself, taking notes. "Mostly, what we want from them is food supplies at low price, and possibly to get some extra immigration from them to us. The supply lines are short, so it's going to be easy to cover them and protect them from pirates and raiders." He scribbles a bit more, than looks up to you.

"Need any help?"

"I can handle this, don't worry."

"Oh, also I had a few words with a god-blooded priest of Ocean Father there, name's Garan Zha, who will drop by sometime to train Regis, Millian and Pyre in Terrestrial Martial Arts."

"Oho."

Pyre (who followed you, although this time with her own legs rather than attached to you like a barnacle to a ship's keel) makes a dismissive noise.

"...What's up, Pyre?"

"I don't want to learn from him." She grumbles. "I want to learn from you."

"...I don't know any Terrestrial styles, Pyre."

She doesn't answer to your (sensible) objection, but she seems to still disapprove of the idea.

Sensing that he has to keep the conversation going, Mikahil continues, asking you details of your stay in the Neck, of how you dealt with the locals, the Clans, the Council, and the Realm mission there.

halfway during the discussion, he giggles. "I'm amazed you didn't come back with a harem. I know it's fairly normal for them, and I thought they'd be very interested in you. You're Exalted, after all."

>I don't need one.
>I don't have time to deal with that.
>I had to leave, but I left the door open.
>(Other?)

>>46669671
>I had to leave, but I left the door open.

>>46669671
>>I had to leave, but I left the door open.
We tried to add the two Dragon-Bloods we encountered, but one of them was too stubborn.

>>46669671
>I had to leave, but I left the door open.
The reason why things could have gone better.

>>46669671
>I had to leave, but I left the door open.

>>46669671
>I had to leave, but I left the door open.

>>46669671
>>I had to leave, but I left the door open.
We did give them our Water Court to use though, so if he goes make sure to take a few as a gift.

>>46669671
>I had to leave, but I left the door open.

>>46669671
>>I had to leave, but I left the door open.
Plus I think its more of a reaffirming good relations kinda act

>>46669671
>I had to leave, but I left the door open.
>I'm expecting it as a gift or something to straighten relations.

>>46669671
>"While I'm always open to more, I've already got the best harem here in Tianna."

>>46669671
>Pyre
This is why we need to find that sunken city ruled by the god who knows Golden Janissary.

>>46669904
Why him in particular? It's not that rare of a style.

>>46669671
>>(Other?)
Any idea what's up with Five Tails?

>>46669948
Actually we should see about trying to attract a bunch of MA stylist to set up shop in Pearl or Tianna, maybe offer to build a dojo for them if they agree to move and train some people for us.

>>46669671
>>I had to leave, but I left the door open.
Also, have the government idea that keeps popping up.
Cool. Stripped of all the high flown legal language it amounts to this:
The Neck is effectively annexed into a new nation (Name to be Determined.)
The new nation consists of the Okeianos Confederacy, the Kingdom of Tiana (which Pearl is folded into for administrative reasons) and the Three rivers.
Maka is technically the "high queen" although as a practical matter she's co-equal with Tia and Amata.
The government recognizes two types of territories: incorporated and protectorates. Any nation can, if they wish, request annexation as an incorporated territory which brings the following duties and privileges:
1. Taxation: any territory is subject to one form or another of taxation to support the federal/imperial government, although there are specific protections designed to stop one part of the nation from sucking the others dry like the Realm does with its satraps.
2. A basic Bill of Rights that every nation is expected to adhere to. (No human sacrifices, laws regarding the treatment of slaves, laws banning religious persecution ect.)
3. A requirement that every territory is required to fund and train reserve troops to handle local problems and assist the national military in defending the territory.
4. Restrictions on internal and international tariffs to avoid causing the bullshit that was the Articles of Confederation
5. Be a competent local government.
6. Restrictions for messing with the federal/imperial government in various ways (interfering with military recruitment or whatever)
The Federal Government has to:
1. Defend against outside threats.
2. Assist in economic development in territories that need outside assistance.
3. Deal with longstanding local issues (Fae, shadowlands, asshole gods) when it has the military might to spare.
4. Handle foreign diplomacy.
5. Deal with the territories getting into spats.

"Well, I had to leave, but I left the door open." You explain with a sly grin. "I didn't want to... upset them too much, you know."

He nods slowly, trying not to look TOO amused by your commentary. "Well, considering that the Neck is very... culturally different from Pearl in some matters of sexuality, you probably did the right thing. I'll see how things play out when I get there, then. Ah!" He raises a finger, as if he had suddenly remembered something. "Incidentally." He rummages for a bit in a desk drawer, and hands you a large wood-and-brass stamp. It's brand new, and it bears your personal crest.

"Wow, this is really well made."

Smiling, Mikahil then hands you an ink pad.

"Um."

And a quill pen.

"Mika."

And a huge stack of papers.

You stare at them.

"Wait... I thought you said you didn't need help?"

"I don't need it with the Neck. But there's some stuff that needs your sign and stamp. You're the queen of Pearl, and some laws must pass by you."

You flip through the huge stack of papers. Yeah, they seem to be all fairly important laws.

Mika explained it to you some time ago: Pearl is adopting all the legislative corpus of Tianna, with minimal changes, rather than writing a new one ex novo (which would be a lot of work). There isn't anything really objectionable in Tianna's laws anyway,
But still, that means that there's a huge backlog of important laws that must be extended to Pearl, and that... evidently requires your signature alongside Amata's.
To that, you'll have to add all the differences. A small, expanding settlement like Pearl will need different laws and regulations from a large, established fortified town like Tianna.

>...Alright, I'll get to work.
>Actually... I'm really busy, I'll handle this later!
>(Other?)

>>46669975
Will we build them a salon?

>>46669671
>Mostly, what we want from them is food supplies at low price, and possibly to get some extra immigration from them to us.
Also godbloods to train for our elite troops.

>>46670010
>>...Alright, I'll get to work.

We should get a charm for this.

>>46670010
>...Alright, I'll get to work.

>>46670010
>...Alright, I'll get to work.

>>46670010
>...Alright, I'll get to work.

We got a big desk right?

Where's Tia? Have her under it whilst paperwork happens.

>>46670010
>>...Alright, I'll get to work.
I GUESS.

Oh, but Gem is happening soon. That's kind of important.

>>46670010
>...Alright, I'll get to work.
I'd like to at least reference this though >>46669996

>>46670010
>>...Alright, I'll get to work.
Don't spend more than a few hours on it. We have stuff to do and different terrestrial directions to be.

>>46670056
I like the way you think.

>>46670010
>Actually... I'm really busy, I'll handle this later!

>>46670056
If we don't have our own office someone messed up when building the castle-manse.

>>46670094
You have a throne room and a bedroom. No dedicated office, but your bedroom does include an "office" corner with a desk and such.
It would be trivial to have an office allocated, though. About a third of the Manse's rooms are still empty, and there are plans for expanding it upwards.

>>46670067
Agreed

>>46670162
Might as well have one set up for work and so people know where to look for us, but for now we'll go to our room.

Are Amata and Tia even with us?

>>46670010
>>...Alright, I'll get to work.
>>(Other?)
While I put a dent in this do you or Karas have any thoughts yet about how we'll handle Skullstone? Especially now that its acquisition is effectively part of our trade agreement.

>>46669996
>>46670067
We haven't taken them over completely just yet anon, for now it's just an alliance and a trade deal. We aren't going to upend there government just yet.

>>46670224
Oh! I like this. Talk and work.
So, repeating:
>...Alright, I'll get to work.
>(Other?)
>While I put a dent in this do you or Karas have any thoughts yet about how we'll handle Skullstone? Especially now that its acquisition is effectively part of our trade agreement.

>>46669996
Maka hands this to Mikahil for when he'll have to work on the details of the agreement.

>>46670205
Tia went straight to your bedroom when she guessed that you were about to waste time in boring stuff. She's waiting for you there. I wrote a few words about this but they seem to have been eaten somewhere along the line.

Amata... seems to have vanished. Oh boy. Well, she does that.

>>46670162
We definitely need our office to be set high with large windows so we can look out over Pearl towards the sea.

>>46669996
You forgot rule 0.
0. The Queen's word is above the law.

You groan, grab the stamp and quill, and get cracking.

Fortunately, it's not an IMMENSE amount of work. All that it's required of you is a quick read (you trust Mikahil to not try to sneakily get you to put your stamp and sign on stuff you normally wouldn't or on papers with nasty fine print, after all), stamp and sign.

After a short while, Pyre Spark falls asleep in your lap. You wish you could imitate her.

As you two both work, you keep talking. "While I put a dent in this... do you or Karas have any thoughts yet about how we'll handle Skullstone? Especially now that its acquisition is effectively part of our trade agreement."

"It's the reason I'm training the troops and reorganizing the military." He points out.

"What's on your mind?"

"In warfare, the defender always has an advantage." He muses. "There are four terrains where the advantage of the defender is strongest than any other."

"You sound like you actually studied." You giggle.

"He's been reading all sorts of books on military matters in the library recently." Mikahil agrees.

Karas seems flustered. "...Anyway: those are: islands, deserts, mountains, and fortresses. In those terrains, the advantage of a defender is overwhelming."

"Sounds bad."

"Skullstone is an archipelago of islands. It's also, effectively, a desert, because nothing grows and it's hostile to life. On top of that, it's also a mountain, because it's relatively mountainous, full of jagged cliffs and tall, rocky hills and peaks. And, it's been fortified."

"So what you mean is..."

"That, even with the serious blow we dealt them, it's still going to be a terribly uphill battle, figuratively and literally." He notes.

(cont.)

"So we got news from Gem."

Karas stiffens, but all you get from Mikahil is an eyebrow lifting. "So soon?"

"Apparently it was easier than expected. Rankar doesn't have much in the way of supernatural allies. It seems there is no foreign interference in Gem, either."

"Mh."

"It sounds way too easy."

>>46670481
Oh no, Amata, what are you doing? Leave Time and Space alone!

"I promised to Moray Darktide that we'd liberate Skullstone in a month." You point out.

He sighs. "It's going to be a bloodbath."

"What would you suggest?"

"In the short term, time is on our side." He ponders. "We can train our troops and repair the captured war materiel fairly quickly and that's a huge force multiplier for us. But in the long term, time is on their side. Out force can only grow so much. After a while, once we've trained all of our troops and repaired all of our materiel, consolidated our manses and so on, our force growth will plateau. From that point on, the time will be on their side. They need to rebuild their large force from the ground up, rather than just improving what is available like us."

Mikahil clears his throat. "So you say that there's a point in time where our military strength will have peaked, while their own won't still be replenished fully?"

"Yes, and it sure as heck ain't in a month."

"How much?" You ask.

He thinks about it. "How much do you trust that Nysela chick's "summer camp" to actually be useful to us?"

>Not much, actually.
>So and so.
>Your guess is as good as mine.
>Quite a bit.
>One hundred percent.
>(other?)

>>46670600
>>Quite a bit.
I mean, probably it will be?

>>46670600
>One hundred percent.

What other answer could we give?

>>46670600
>>Quite a bit.

>>46670600
>One hundred percent.
If anyone other than UCS knows how to train Solars it's gotta be his own Right Hand woman. We brought it up for a bit to him actually, he said she was working hard on it.

>>46670600
>One hundred percent.

Fangirls must stand together.

Also, this >>46670667.

She's been on the Daystar since before the Primordial War. She knows some stuff.

>>46670600
>>One hundred percent.
But if he's worried about it being too far in the future maybe we can get in contact with her to get it pushed forward a bit earlier

>>46670600
>Your guess is as good as mine.

>>46670600
>Quite a bit.

>>46670600
Asking if we could do it early might not be a bad idea, not sure how we would get in contact with her though. Prayer?

>>46670600
Though I agree with Karas about building up, I wonder if it would matter if we threw all we had against Skullstone.

>Full Circle of Abyssals
>Full Circle of Solars
>Additional Dawn Caste
>Lunar Mates for everyone in our Circle
>A Sidereal
>Numerous strong Dragon-Blooded with Dragonkaiser
>Probably other stuff I'm forgetting

>>46670600
>Quite a bit.

>>46670600
>Your guess is as good as mine.

>>46670856
They've got pretty much the closest to a first age nation in the entire world. Even if they can't match up to us in Exalted they have a shit ton of ghosts, essence users, magitech, necrotech, necromancy, sorcerers.

A good plan would probably be to try and incite a civil war with one side rallying around Moray so we have a foothold against them.

>>46670856
>>Full Circle of Abyssals

>>Lunar Mates for everyone in our Circle
So when are we meeting our Abyssals' Lunar Mates?

>>46670900
A better plan would be a raid on island five to kill the last abyssal working on soulsteel magi tech and to cripple steal or sink the remains of the princes fleet. We already neutralized much of their sorcery and necromancy when we killed that abyssal in the battle. Lynne had the contacts to be assigned as an engineer on that fleet so he should be able to get is in to cripple the source of skullstones arsenal.

>>46670981
It'd be hilarious if it happened at the moot.

>>46671008
Just have Tia bench that island then beat the navy to death with it.

>>46666533
>Pearl's harbors
kek

>>46670600
>One hundred percent.
Maka has never shown anything but the fullest faith in the Unconquered Sun, and Nysela is his right hand. I don't share the same faith out of character, but in character I'm sure Maka has no doubts.

"Quite a bit, I'd say. She's literally our patron god's right-hand woman, besides. You should have a little more faith in her, too."

He nods, still pensive. "Then I'd say more or less after that."

"It's four months away."

"I know." He nods. "Honestly, if it depended only on me, I'd tell you we have do do it in Resplendent or Descending Fire."

"Why, though?" You ask. "What's your reasoning?"

"With our Tiger Warrior Training Technique, plus the Lunars having, from what I understand, an equivalent Charm, we can bring our entire armed forces to Tiger Warrior level." He explains. "That would probably take somewhere between one and two months. In this span of time, we also complete recruiting of new troops and reorganize the armed forces and navy."

"How many soldiers do you think we can field?" Mikahil thinks, already juggling numbers in his head.

"Five thousand." He replies. "That's full wartime mobilization."

"Which means we can't keep them under arms for too long."

"Especially not during harvest season, which is the last months of Wood and the first of Fire, depending on crops." He points out. "Plus, I heard from Valeriana that repairs and conversions on all the materiel we captured will take until mid-Fire season to be completed. On top of that, there's the training camp, in the first week of Fire. Add Zaan's plan of alchemical Awakening of Essence. And..." He smiles. "I think there's a Charm beyond Tiger Warrior Training Technique."

"Huh," That DOES sound impressive.

>You've convinced me. We'll organize ourselves for attacking Skullstone in Fire season, then.
>Maybe a compromise is best, attacking in Earth season.
>We still can't. We'll have to attack next month, no matter what.
>(other?)

>>46671199
>(other?)
We need to bring Moray in on this discussion. That's an important alliance, and he should be aware of our logistics during the planning process, instead of informed after the fact.

>>46671199
>>You've convinced me. We'll organize ourselves for attacking Skullstone in Fire season, then.
Asking as we can get Moray to agree.

>>46671199
>>You've convinced me. We'll organize ourselves for attacking Skullstone in Fire season, then.
We'll definitely go talk to Moray though, not only have we not had the chance to yet, but if he's getting antsy then we'll want to give him something to do to tide him over while we wait.

>>46671237
>>46671199
>(other?) bring moray into the discussion.

I'm curious to know why he wanted the attack within one month

>>46671237
>Bring Moray in to the discussion, though tell Karas that we ourselves are pretty convinced.
Agreed. We should bring Moray in before we commit to a decision. Not only for being an ally, but he knows Skullstone better than anyone else and probably has thoughts to contribute.

Also, if we're waiting that long, we could pull another Gem and send in a recon unit of Abyssals and maybe Moray. He might want to gather support on the down low.

>>46671199
>"I think there's a Charm beyond Tiger Warrior Training Technique."
Oh baby, what do we need Dawn 5? Dawn 6? We can get that if we need.

>>46671347
We'll definitely want to wait for Lynne to come back for that, he's spent years on Skullstone apparently

>>46671290
If I remember right, he was afraid of them re-arming quickly and making themselves a harder target to take down. Without the Silver Prince, they were vulnerable.

>>46671199
>>You've convinced me. We'll organize ourselves for attacking Skullstone in Fire season, then.

>>46671199
>We still can't. We'll have to attack next month, no matter what.

>>46671237
>>46671199
Seconded

>>46671237
Thirded.

>>46671237
>(other?)
>We need to bring Moray in on this discussion.

Let's go with this.

On a semi-related note, I want to train up a specialized corps of engineers for our invasion force. We're already getting a fair bit of experience reverse-engineering and taking over Skullstonian hardware, which is one of the great advantages of starting defensive and then turning it into a counteroffensive. If we do this right, though, we might be able to take over Skullstone's bases one by one while leaving them functional and in our hand as we continue the invasion.

So I want to put together a corps of engineers with that as their specific specialty. A team that can convert Skullstonian warships, warstriders, and so forth for Tiannan use between individual battles.

Have Irene and Karas work together to find a way to train these teams of hyper-specialists, if need be.

But I think such a force could, in a very real way, be the secret weapon we could use to turn Skullstone's logistical and technological advantage into our own instead.

"...I'll have to talk with Moray before deciding. I don't want to take this big decision without consulting him."

Karas replies: "Yeah, I understand him very well. He wants to act. He wants something to be done."

"He's the same as you, in a way." You realize. "He wants to rush in headlong, now, without waiting. Save his people."

Mikahil nods. "Speaking of which, about Gem?"

"Yeah, was about to say. It sounds easy."

Karas nods nervously. "You think it's some sort of trap?"

>It might be. We'll have to be extremely careful.
>I don't think it is. Nothing in our recon suggests that.
>It doesn't change much, trap or not, does it?
>(other?)

>>46671649
>>It might be. We'll have to be extremely careful.
I'm probably being paranoid, but that's what the away team is looking up. For now the plan is go to Gem, Light Up The Night, and then take back the city.

>>46671649
>It doesn't change much, trap or not, does it?

>>46671649
>It doesn't change much, trap or not, does it?
>It might be. We'll have to be extremely careful.

>>46671649
>>It might be. We'll have to be extremely careful.
Also worth noting that we can let Morray do his what he does best: piracy and hit and run attacks on skullstone.

>>46671691
Fair point. Keep them on the back foot instead of recovering for as long as possible. Maybe he can even capture more material to help train up our hypothetical team of thief-engineers.

>>46671644
So, wait, a squad of military hacker-ninjas and battlefield chop-shoppers?

I love it.

>>46671649
>>It doesn't change much, trap or not, does it?
>>(other?)
We should prepare as it if is a trap but hope it isn't, nothing indicates it is.

>>46671649
>It might be. We'll have to be extremely careful.

>>46671649
>It doesn't change much, trap or not, does it?

>>46671649
>>It doesn't change much, trap or not, does it?

File: Moray Darktide.jpg (161 KB, 400x513)

161 KB JPG

"Better to be ready than not." You explain pragmatically. "But... what if it's a trap? We aren't going?"

"Fuck that." He slams his fist in his other hand. "We're totally going, trap or no trap."

"My point exactly." You smile. "Come with me, let's go get Moray."

Just as you're about to leave, a thought strikes you. "...Oh, yeah, what happened to Five Tails?"

Mikahil shrugs, exasperated. "I have no idea! I haven't done anything, but she... She's avoiding me or something? She seemed panicky for a full day and then just disappeared."

"You haven't been looking for her?" Karas wonders.

"...You really think I could find her if she doesn't want to be found?" The Eclipse replies.

"Fair point." Karas backs down.

You walk out of his office, and, after a while, you've tracked down Moray Darktide. He has quietly settled down in a room of Golden Reach. Minimal furniture, just a closet, a chest and a bed. A window looking out on the sea. A small cabinet half-full of medical supplies.

He's sitting on the edge of the bed as you enter, looking out towards the ocean. His wounds seem all perfectly healed. One month ago, as he had just emerged from the battle, he looked more dead than alive, you remember.

"No knocking?" He wonders, sounding surly.

"Sorry." You apologize. It slipped your mind. "I just came back. Came here to talk about the operations on Skullstone."

"How much are you going to delay them?"

"...how do you know?"

He turns to face you. "It's obvious that there haven't been nearly enough preparations done. I have eyes, you know."

Karas coughs. "...We don't really have the manpower or the firepower to attack Skullstone head-on."

"I know." He replies, calmly. "But you told me that you would. By the end of this month. Which is one week from now, actually."

His stare is making you uncomfortable.

"So, are we going to attack next week?" He asks.

It's obviously a leading question. It's obvious that you aren't. He's provoking you.

(cont.)

>Don't use that tone with me.
>We are going to attack next week.
>We're not going to attack next week. You'll have to wait another month.
>We're not going to attack next week. You'll have to wait another season.
>We're not going to attack next week. You'll have to wait two seasons.
>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.
>(other?)

>>46669710
I think you mean 'happily engaged.'
Seducing people is fun and all, but I dont think we need to go trying to bust down peoples current/soon to be marriages. Forcing the issue is an extremely first age thing to do, and as much as I hear Maka being hyped up as 'Working for the good and happiness of everyone' she sure seems be fine with trying to snake her way into married couples bed.

I'm fine with her being promiscuous, but if someone doesn't want to share their spouse, perhaps its more in character to respect that than force the issue?

>>46672210
>>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.

>>46672210
>>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.

I vote we put together a fancy raiding party with Moray leading in order to find and strike Island Five. We can ask our abyssals to borrow a soulsteel clad ship and bang it up a bit so it looks like a returning straggler from the battle and crew it with their ghosts plus moray and whoever else we think we need for this hit.

They slip into the docks of Island Five and then go apeshit on the place, best case scenario we can kill the last abyssal there to stop the manufacturing of soulsteel and sink or steal the remains of the Prince's fleet.

A fast raid to destroy Skullstone's arsenal and capacity for manufacturing more Soulsteel.

>We're not going to attack next week. You'll have to wait two seasons.
Give him the plan and our reasoning, ask for input, he's still loyal to Skullstone itself so I don't want to just ask him to start hunting down their pirates, but get him involved with the planning

>>46672210
>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.

Raid, not full attack.

>>46672210
>Don't use that tone with me.
>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.

>>46672229
> if someone doesn't want to share their spouse, perhaps its more in character to respect that than force the issue?
I'm don't want start an argument again this thread, but I disagree. Maka has shown consistently that while she is overall a good person, her judgement about sex is rather skewed.
Think of it as high Compassion, low Temperance.

>>46672210
>>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.

>>46672210
>Don't use that tone with me.
>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.

>>46672273
That's not a bad idea actually, the people being used for Soulsteel was the worst part of Skullstone and what really made him turn against the Prince so an attack on it will probably calm him down.

>>46672210
>>(other?)
We're not going to attack next week, we need time to train and arm our forces and ourselves, my circle has been invited to receive training after which we will leave for Skullstone. I would like for you to join us and to help training our mortal forces in the mean time, your sklls and insight will be invaluable.

>>46672324
Exactly, it will stop the people of Skullstone from being turned into Soulsteel which is definitely his biggest concern right now. We destroy that ability to manufacture Soulsteel and we save umpteen thousands of civilians from being turned into a screaming soulsteel toilet.

It should also calm him down about the whole thing and be more open to a careful buildup on our side.

>>46672312
>her judgement about sex is rather skewed.

Fair enough.
Tends to happen to Exalted I guess, haha.

>>46672210
>Don't use that tone with me.
>We're not going to attack next week, but we can still do something then.

>>46672377
I personally think we acted in the right way. She told us she didn't want it and we didn't force it.

Seemed pretty IC to me.

>>46672273
The raid before, during, or after we go to Gem, nothings really stopping us from doing both at the same time, but obviously if we do we can't be there to help him out personally. It'll be him and the Abyssals with whatever help we give him, probably the Swift Middays and our Tiger Trained sailors.

>>46672404
>she didn't want it
That time.
We'll just have to roll higher next go round.

>>46672404
I think it wasn't so much 'we didnt force it' as 'we gave up for now, and are going to try again later.'

Theres a difference here between actually respecting them and just biding our time. Somehow I expect the thread plans on the latter, and I'm against it.

>>46672210
>We're not going to attack next week. We're changing our approach to maximize our chances of success. You and any willing Abyssals will do limited strikes, then when our forces are ready we'll take the archipelago.

>>46672477

>>46672453
And here is exactly my point.

>>46672477
>>46672491
Your opinion is noted.

>>46672301
This. We need to at least hold ourselves to our own word, but we can't go in half-cocked. A raid sounds like a good compromise, and if it's at a location we only need to probe, not hold, then we should be fine even if they reinforce that part.

>>46672405
I'd say we launch the raid after we return from gem so Karas and Tia are available to tag along as the big guns for this raid.

No mortals though, if I were the prince with total mastery of necromancy and an insane disregard for life i'd put some shit on the island that instantly kills any living thing that enters it's coastal waters.

>>46672516
Sabotage and Assassinate are a good set of objectives for a raid, fuck up their Soulsteel production by either taking out their Daybreak or smashing the island

>>46672301
>>46672489
>>46672516
I like these ideas. Raiding operations to keep Skullstone from recovering while we build up, followed by the invasion. It not only keeps our word, it also helps ensure our eventual success.

>>46672516
Agreed. Our word is important, and he's a Dawn who knows Skullstone. Poor guy just needs to feel like SOMETHING is being done.

>>46672491
There's nothing wrong with trying again later. None of our charms are mind control, so nothing we can do will force them to accept.
Besides, Sanaya was clearly not as against the idea as Ivana, why should the one who objected get the only say?

>>46672539
There is also an objective of smashing the rest of the Prince's fleet in drydock. He only sent about half of his world ending death fleet our way so the rest of it is currently docked there. We can capture them or sink them, either way Skullstone loses their greatest weapons and opens up for our main attack.

>>46672572
>why should the one who objected get the only say?
Because otherwise we're the homewrecker seducing married women into adultery that our detractors say we are?

>>46672533
We don't know how long Gem is going to take though, eight days of travel, to and from there with the Chariot, however long it will take to actually do the Coup, however long after that to get things squared away and settled.

Part of the point of the Raid is to calm Moray down and give him some results soon rather than in six months or so

>>46672599
It depends if we're even going there to do the Coup just yet or if we're going there to get our family out.

So far all we've said is "we're going"

>>46671644
I don't mind the idea, but how viable can it be really?

I mean, remember that it took Irene working full time to strip and build one Warstrider and that was when we weren't even fighting, Valeriana with all her charms still only managed 3 ships between the end of the war and us leaving for the Neck, and you're asking a team of mortals to do this.

Not just that, most of this would only really work if the war was a prolonged one, lasting days or weeks where we would have time, resources, and people to do all these things.

Uh, guys? Is Moray going to be cool with us giving away Cormorant to the Neck? He may hate the Silver Prince now, but he's still a true patriot of Skullstone.

>>46672632
The whole point of us going personally is to take back Gem, if we wanted our family back we would have just told the others to break them out already.

>>46672572
Again, what I'm saying is that by continuing to try and seduce them we ARE forcing the issues, and not respecting their marriage. Are we forcing it via magic? No, I never said that. But continuing to try shows off a deep disrespect for their vows, and that we don't care what they want if it means getting into their pants. Thats morally reprehensible, and if we are actually trying to be a good guy here, we should respect their boundaries. We can be their friends without adding them to the list of conquests.

>>46672590
>We can capture them or sink them
We should capture whatever we can. Our Abyssals need Soulsteel, and they aren't going to be forging it themselves, so capturing other sources is important.

>>46672591
That's why we need to bring Ivana around before making our final move on Sanaya.

>>46672644
Some sacrifices have to be made, that island was taken under orders of Silver Prince who is a huge dick so asking for it back isn't insane, plus it's a good gesture of faith to show that the New Skullstone isn't the same as the previously dethroned one.

>>46672635
My assumption is that conquering Skullstone is going to be a campaign that take at least weeks, probably months, hopefully less than a year to complete. No, this squad won't work if we want them to do their work over the course of hours rather than days. If that's the timescale that it ends up looking like we'll be working under, I'll drop the idea entirely at that time.

>>46672673
We'll have to spin it right. Spinning it wrong will lead to a Solar blowing up in our faces.

>>46672697
Eh, he knows that the "perfect order" of Skullstone is a lie now, I think he'll be amenable to reason about dismantling the Silver Prince's government.

Best case scenario is that we get him on board with a plan to cleanse the archipelago and make it no longer a shadowland.

>>46672697
>"We aren't. YOU are."

>>46672756
Sorry, meant that for the raid proposition, not Cormorant.

>>46672210
>Don't use that tone with me.

You give him a brief glare. "Don't use that tone with me, Moray."

"Worry about your ability to keep your own promises, rather than my tone of voice." He lashes back.

Karas steps between you, and you both decide to drop it.

"If you want an invasion of Skullstone to be successful, rather than just feed another boatload of souls into their net, then that invasion will have to wait until we're in our best shape." He makes a poignant argument.

You nod and continue: "That doesn't mean that we won't do anything. I was thinking that a raid against Skullstone, aimed at damaging whatever mechanism they use to trap souls and distill them into Soulsteel, collecting intel and generally sabotaging them, would be perfect right now. It would take the pressure off the population, exploit this moment of doubt they're certainly having after the disappearance of their messiah... possibly even starting a resistance movement."

Moray Darktide smiles. "Way ahead of you."

"What do you mean?" You frown.

He taps his forehead. "I have a plan. Once it was obvious that we weren't going to attack directly next week, I started thinking. And I worked. I wrote and sent letters. Asked questions. Got busy." He smiles humorlessly. "Skullstone is my home. I'm not going to stand by and do nothing."

"We're not doing nothing." Karas protests. "We're building up our forces."

He takes a deep sigh. "...I know. I don't mean to sound confrontational. But the people of Skullstone cannot wait. So... if you cannot move right now, I'll act on my own. I won't hold it against you. No leader should want to see his people suffer and die, so I won't ask you to march your unready forces in a meatgrinder for my sake."

Karas sits down next to him on the edge of the bed. "So, what does this plan entail?"

(cont.)

>>46672273
This is a good idea.

>>46672661
Damn it I don't want this argument to eat up another thread so this is my last response.
>But continuing to try shows off a deep disrespect for their vows
No it doesn't, at least not according to Maka's worldview, remember we were fine with Tia sleeping with Iscariah despite us being engaged.
>and that we don't care what they want if it means getting into their pants.
Sanaya already wants into our pants, so you're ignoring what she wants and focusing solely on Ivana.

>>46672816
>No it doesn't, at least not according to Maka's worldview, remember we were fine with Tia sleeping with Iscariah despite us being engaged.

We have the empathy to realize that not everyone is cool with that.

>>46672776
I think it works better for Cormorant, actually.

>"WHAT!? After all of this, you're giving away pieces of my country to your other allies? Haven't my people been through enough, you won't even let us put ourselves back together intact?"
>"No, WE aren't giving away Cormorant. YOU, as a gesture of good will and good faith, are returning Cormorant to the people of Okeanos, which is long overdue. It's the right thing to do, and the right way to show our new alliance that you're not the same Skullstone that everyone's afraid of."

>>46672273
Should also note that raiding Island 5 doesn't carry the downside of alerting Skullstone, or rather, it does, but only if they enjoy shooting themselves in the foot. They won't be able to retaliate properly without alerting the populace at large to it's existence, which would basically mean an instant rebellion that would potentially make the invasion proper that much easier.

On second thought, it might be worth trying to bait that exact response, for those exact reasons. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and we proceed as normal. Best case, it works, and we gain the support of the people while Skullstone loses it's manufacturing facilities, two birds with one stone.

>>46672816
>No it doesn't, at least not according to Maka's worldview, remember we were fine with Tia sleeping with Iscariah despite us being engaged.

As >>46672827
said, just because Maka is okay with it doesnt mean everyone else is, and Ivana clearly isnt, so we should respect that.

>so you're ignoring what she wants and focusing solely on Ivana.

Both halves of the marriage need to want it for it to be okay. Ivana clearly doesnt want to share, so continuing to push the issue just because Sanaya wasnt saying no is not the right thing to do.

"I'll need some hardware. Three motorized ships, with your best artillery. Another one, to be scrapped. Working engine, nothing else matters. That one will be a loss. And... about two hundred red Cowries in cash, gold or goods." He opens his hands. "Plus, new weapons for myself. My old ones were destroyed in the fight."

Your head spins. That's a very high price. It's about at how much you'd price the monetary cost of the full-scale invasion. But then someone strikes you.

"...What, you don't need men? Just ships, weapon and money"

He stands up and turns to the sea again. "...I can't ask people from Tianna to fight and die for Skullstone."

"We are planning on attacking Skullstone anyway." Karas mumbles, confused.

"But that's on you. That's because Skullstone is your enemy, and you want to defeat it." He points out. "But I want Skullstone to be free. Not conquered by you."

"We wouldn't, like, turn it into a slave state or anything, you know." Karas is confused.

"I know." He nods. "But after living for centuries in darkness and lies, the only way Skullstone can be truly saved is if they can find within them their own pride."

"You're planning a revolution." You realize.

He nods. "I've been doing some very deep thinking, yes. And that's my conclusion. Of course, the ships will be returned or repaid, as well as the cash. I don't want charity."

>Don't be crazy. We'll help you. You know we aren't going to enslave Skullstone or anything.
>If that's what you believe, I'm in no position to stop you. But it sounds like you're being too headstrong.
>I understand what you mean. As much as I'd want to liberate Skullstone, you're right.
>Do you want to free Skullstone independently because you plan on being our enemy afterwards?
>Tell us your plan, then, and we'll decide if it's better than an outside invasion or not.

>>46672971
>>If that's what you believe, I'm in no position to stop you. But it sounds like you're being too headstrong.

>>46672971
>Don't be crazy. We'll help you. You know we aren't going to enslave Skullstone or anything.
That said, I'm down for the REVOLUTION. I want Skullstone to join our alliance as an equal member state, not as a conquered territory. Just, you know, I want to make sure we support our allies, especially logistically.

>>46672971
>But then someone strikes you.
Radiant, stop bullying Maka.

>>46672971
>Do you want to free Skullstone independently because you plan on being our enemy afterwards?
Worry.

>>46672971
>>Don't be crazy. We'll help you. You know we aren't going to enslave Skullstone or anything.

>>46672971
>>If that's what you believe, I'm in no position to stop you. But it sounds like you're being too headstrong.

>>46672971
>>Don't be crazy. We'll help you. You know we aren't going to enslave Skullstone or anything.

Compassion motherfucker, we've got it.

>>46672971
>>Don't be crazy. We'll help you. You know we aren't going to enslave Skullstone or anything.
I mean I like the idea of Skullstone rising up for itself, but let us help with that, not as a conquering state, but as future allies helping each other out.

>>46672971
We've even talked about how we wanted to put Moray on the throne, Revolution is a good idea, but he doesn't have to do it alone like this.

>>46672971
>If that's what you believe, I'm in no position to stop you. But it sounds like you're being too headstrong.
>No offense, but I don't think you have enough exalted to stand off the Silver Prince when he returns.
>We should at least tell him about >>46669996 He's likely to be more sympathetic to the idea that Skullstone would still have an independent local government and military. That way, they can still have their traditions and pride while receiving our help. Also, If Maka goes full tyrant, Moray has a powerbase that he can use to try to kill us.

>>46672971
>Don't be crazy. We'll help you. You know we aren't going to enslave Skullstone or anything.

>If that's what you believe, I'm in no position to stop you. But it sounds like you're being too headstrong.

>>46672816
>No it doesn't, at least not according to Maka's worldview, remember we were fine with Tia sleeping with Iscariah despite us being engaged.
>Anyone that believes in X is literally incapable of comprehending anything that's not X

>>46672971
>>If that's what you believe, I'm in no position to stop you. But it sounds like you're being too headstrong.
We'll provide what you ask and wish you the best. But if you aren't able to do it on your own we will continue to ready our forces and

>We'll help you. You know we aren't going to enslave Skullstone or anything.
We wouldn't be a liberating invasion so much as assisting an already established resistance force.

>>46672816
We should continue to focus on winning them over as allies or failing that to not see us as an enemy, that does not mean keep trying to win them over as bed fellows. Even if that was a crucial goal, which it isn't it would be a bonus at best, they are not mental ready for that and continuing to push for it would wreck all the good favor we built and send us backwards.

You sit on the window ledge, staring at Moray Darktide silently.

Every time you think that you've finally understood what kind of person he is, he surprises you a bit.

"...if that's what you believe, I'm really in no position to stop you. But please, let us help more directly. We all want a free Skullstone, for many different reasons." You reply, after some thought. "We can give you so much more than three ships and some money."

"But how long will my people have to wait?" He replies, bitterly.

"I think." Karas butts in. "That Moray has a point. Skullstone should definitely take part in its own liberation. But, they don't have to be alone."

Moray stares at him. "So, what do you mean?"

"We'll give you what you need to start a revolution in Skullstone. Meanwhile, we'll prepare our own all-out invasion. And you'll prepare the ground for that invasion while you're in the archipelago. What do you think of this?" He explains.

"If it saves Skullstone." He replies. "I'll still need the ships and the money. Can you provide it, or will I have to do without?"

You can read it in his eyes. If you said no to every his request. He'd leave tomorrow, on a rowboat, heading for Skullstone alone. He's that kind of guy.

>We'll give you both money and ships.
>We'll give you the money, but we can't spare the ships.
>We'll give you the ships, but we can't spare the money.
>We can't give you anything right now, unfortunately.
>(Other?)

>>46673460
>>We'll give you both money and ships.

>(Other?)
Mention Island Five since lynne told us about it. Talk about a raid there to stop the production of soulsteel.

>>46673460
To be clear, what kind of ships is he asking for?

I mean he said motorized, but are there any other kind except for the First Age ships?

>>46673460
>We'll give you both money and ships.

>>46673460
How many ships do we have?
At resources 4 I assume we can spare him the money, but depending on the state of our navy, WE might need those ships.

>>46673460
>>We'll give you both money and ships.

>>46673460
>We can't give you anything right now, unfortunately.

>>46673460
The money is easy enough to do especially if we go and take back Gem in a week or so, but I'm still not sure about the ships he's asking for

>>46673460
>>We'll give you both money and ships.
Worth noting that while we are in Gem we might as well rob the treasury.

>>46673460
>>We'll give you the money, but we can't spare the ships.

>>46666556
I've said this before and I will say this again
>Unconquered Sun crowning you
This is a load of BS
You know how powerful was the last Solar Exalt who got crowned? She was fucking powerful enough to punch out primodrials, arguably the most powerful single exalt to ever live, ever.
Maka is not anywhere neaaaar close to her influence and power.

>>46673460
>We'll give you the money, but we can't spare the ships.

>>46673460
>>We'll give you both money and ships.

>>46673568
>I've said this before and I will say this again
You opinion is noted, you don't need to keep bringing it up.
It will change nothing and only serves to shit up the thread.

>>46673568
Okay.

>>46673513
He obviously means those first age-class ships, yes.
>>46673524
At resources 4, the amount of cash he's asking for would put an enormous dent in your finances. If you weren't planning on taking back Gem, his request would normally be impossible to fulfill.
Karas say that, with the latest repairs, you can have 6 fully functioning ships by the end of the week.

>>46673568
Which is why we only got a sliver of the Crown instead of the whole thing.

>>46666943
Not him but regardless of how many threads it took...I repeat, the last solar that got crowned by Unconquered Sun was at very least essenece 10 and had all of the combat based stats absolutely maxed, if not all the stats there are.
Being crowned by the Sun has to take more than what Maka did so far.

My solar circle did more than she did by now and they are essentially conquering the whole creation with their monopolistic currency and have a shot at world domination, killed three death lords and have done all sorts of shit, each of them would most likely solo Maka too...guess what Unconquered Sun has not showed up with a crown for any of us.
And this is universal for any group of Exalts that have played the campaign for more than a year, by one year mark you would have achieved so much bullshit but said bullshit does not come even close to even older bullshit because unless you start timeskips your Exalts honestly did not have enough time to become as powerful as Solars of the First age.

>>46673460
>>We'll give you both money and ships.

As we will be attacking Skullstone after we are done with Gem, we might as well consider this an investment.

>>46673460
>>We'll give you both money and ships.
Money and ships then, I meant what I said about us wanting to help you out, but we will want to get these paid back after everything. The ships at least.

>>46673662
>guess what Unconquered Sun has not showed up with a crown for any of us.
Probably because your ST is different and isn't interpreting the Unconquered Sun's character in that way? I don't know what this comment is supposed to prove or state, but here's your reply.

>>46673662
Ok? Who cares?

>>46673662
'k

>>46673662
Do any of the member s of your circle have the Unconquered Sun as their personal mentor?
If not, then their experiences aren't comparable to Maka's.
also >>46673713