>>1411133
>>[Dilettante/1d10] "Force him to go to a few parties."

>>1411133
>[Dilettante/1d10] "Force him to go to a few parties

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>>1411133
"Force him to get to a few parties," you say. "The more public, the better. Ideally, some of his clients would show up as well."

"That would be terribly awkward," Myrddin says. "It's not like they could talk about these matters so publicly."

"I know. That's the point."

>Roll 1d10, best of three.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>1411198

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>1411198
>1d10

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>1411198

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>1411198

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>>1411198
Celdwyn isn't the only part of this though. He has underlings who check up on his deals and retrieve payment when clients aren't forthcoming. Assassinating all of them would be a little too obvious, but there are more subtle ways of handling them.

"We could frame one of them for the theft of the ledgers," Myrddin says. "We can't provide fool-proof evidence, but we can throw enough suspicion on one or two of Celdwyn's people to convince him to eliminate them."

"That would have been easier to do beforehand," you say. "Besides, it'll only get a few people killed. What if we offered a bribe to one of Celdwyn's most loyal lieutenants?"

"He won't accept it," Myrddin says.

"No," you say, "but Celdwyn will have to wonder who on his team might have accepted a bribe."

"Oh, I like that." Myrddin pushes his glasses up and grins. "Very devious."

"I'm glad you approve," you say. "Any other suggestions?"

Myrddin shrugs. "I suppose we could spread some rumours that Prince Celdwyn suspects one of his men betrayed him and that he wants to enact a purge," he says. "At the very least, it would undermine his men's morale. At best, it might convince them to snitch on him."

>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Frame someone for the theft of the ledgers.
>[Intrigue/1d12] Offer a bribe to one of Celdwyn's men to cast doubts on the loyalty of his other subordinates.
>[Intrigue/1d10] Spread rumours about Celdwyn's displeasure to undermine his underlings' morale.

>Roll 1d10, best of three. You have an active crit on Intrigue.

>>1411243
>>[Intrigue/1d10] Spread rumours about Celdwyn's displeasure to undermine his underlings' morale.

>>1411243
>>[Intrigue/1d12] Offer a bribe to one of Celdwyn's men to cast doubts on the loyalty of his other subordinates.

>>1411243
>[Intrigue/1d12] Offer a bribe to one of Celdwyn's men to cast doubts on the loyalty of his other subordinates.

We'll get Celdwyn to do the morale breaking for us.

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>>1411243
"We'll go with the bribe," you say. "Let Celdwyn run an inquisition on his minions and destroy their morale himself. If he convinces himself that he's been betrayed, all the better."

"I'll find a suitable rube and come up with a reason to try and bribe them," Myrddin says.

>Roll 1d12, best of three. No idea why I wrote to roll 1d10 in the previous post. Maybe it's because I have some d10s on my desk?

Rolled 9 (1d12)

>>1411310

Rolled 7 (1d12)

>>1411310

Rolled 12 (1d12)

>>1411310

>>1411337
nice

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>>1411310
"The next order of business must be… the clients?"

"There isn't much we can do about them without attracting your uncle's attention," Myrddin says, "As I mentioned earlier, there are lower-class clients who fall into predatory loans and higher-class clients who can't secure loans from reputable sources."

Naturally, you can't deal with them the same way. The commoners who were preyed upon have few avenues for retaliation, so simply turning them against your uncle in any overt manner would be almost pointless. However, if you protect them from Celdwyn's attempts to force them to pay back their debts, you might be able to earn a few favours, or maybe even some tips on your uncle's dealings.

"If necessary, we can shuffle the guards around and ask them to crack down on loan sharks," you say. "That'll help us deal with the lower-class clients. I assume you have ideas concerning the higher-class debtors?"

"I can find their business partners and leak information about the shady loans," Myrddin says. "Few people will be willing to go into a joint venture with someone whose credit is questionable at best."

"I wonder… do you think you can ruin deals in a manner that seems to benefit my uncle?"

"It would require some combination of creativity, forgery, and dissemination," Myrddin says. "After all, these clients wouldn't have made deals against Prince Aled in the first place."

"So you can do it?"

"I can try," Myrddin says, "if you think it's the best way to proceed."

>[Sovereign/1d10] Adjust the guards so they protect the peasant debtors and crack down on moneylenders.
>[Intrigue/1d10] Leak information on the high-class debtors' illegal loans.
>[Intrigue/1d6] Leak information on the high-class debtors' illegal loans and frame your uncle for it.

>You have an automatic success on this roll.

>>1411356
>>[Sovereign/1d10] Adjust the guards so they protect the peasant debtors and crack down on moneylenders.

>>1411356
>>[Intrigue/1d6] Leak information on the high-class debtors' illegal loans and frame your uncle for it.

Automatic success means the most vicious open is a win automatically.

>>1411356
>[Intrigue/1d6] Leak information on the high-class debtors' illegal loans and frame your uncle for it.

It also will add to the list of names of possible suspects when he bites the bullet.

>>1411356
>[Intrigue/1d6] Leak information on the high-class debtors' illegal loans and frame your uncle for it.
wow, uncle is screwed. He's gonna know, but he's screwed.

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>>1411356
The matter is settled. It'll take a few more days to see any evidence of progress against your uncle, but you're confident that your plans will succeed.

"As usual, I'll monitor the situation," Myrddin says. "Once discontent approaches its peak, we can meet again to decide how to push the situation over the edge."

"Try not to go overboard though," you say. "We don't want this to undermine the royal family, just my uncle."

"I'm aware, your highness," Myrddin says. "Actually, do you think we can use this for propaganda once everything is over? It's been a while since you've accomplished something for the capital and wouldn't do for your reputation to dim."

"I'm not sure if it would be a good thing for me to have my name associated with this," you say. "Perhaps we could find some way to allow the Crown Prince responsibility?"

"Another possibility that would require a great deal of work," Myrddin says. "After all, I'd need to find some way to allow the Crown Prince to become aware of this without allowing him to become involved. It wouldn't be easy."

You raise an eyebrow to prod Myrddin to answer the obvious question.

"But, yes, it can be done," Myrddin says. "If it's what you want."

>"On second thought, it's better to keep everything quiet."
>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] "In that case, make sure I get credit."
>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] "In that case, make sure the Crown Prince gets credit."

>>1411413
>>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] "In that case, make sure the Crown Prince gets credit."

>>1411413
>"On second thought, it's better to keep everything quiet."

>>1411413
>>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] "In that case, make sure the Crown Prince gets credit."

>>1411413
>>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] "In that case, make sure the Crown Prince gets credit."

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>>1411413
"In that case, make sure the Crown Prince gets credit."

"Right. I'll find some way for the Crown Prince to investigate your cousin's dealings in a manner that doesn't interfere with our plans. I'm sure that won't be difficult."

"Your optimism is, as always, exemplary, Myrddin," you say. "Do take some time to rest when the situation allows it."

"Fortunately, there's quite a bit of waiting involved with this plan," Myrddin says. "And what of you? What will you be doing while we wait for our next report?"

>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Spend time with your uncle. It might tell you something useful.
>[Sovereign/1d12] Spend time with your brother. He still needs some guidance.
>Spend time with your mother and children. You don't want anymore work right now.

>>1411464
>>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Spend time with your uncle. It might tell you something useful.

>>1411464
>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Spend time with your uncle. It might tell you something useful.

He isn't long for this world, best pay our respects for the dead.

We have a lifetime to spend with the kids, and still quite a bit for Haul.

>>1411464
>>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Spend time with your uncle. It might tell you something useful.

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>>1411464
"I believe I'll spend some time with my uncle," you say. "It might tell me something useful."

"That's dangerous, your highness," Myrddin says, "but I can see the benefits. Just try not to get castrated. You're all set for heirs, but Olwen would be very upset."

"Thank you for the reminder, Myrddin."

You leave Myrddin's office and pass by your personal cellar to pick up some glasses and a good bottle of wine. Then you replace it with an acceptable bottle of wine. Sure, you need to give your uncle a present, but there's no reason to go overboard.

And it is just a present, a polite greeting between family members who haven't had the chance to meet in a long time. You're most certainly not just doing this because you're afraid your uncle will try to poison you again and you want to personally control the alcohol to make sure it doesn't happen.

Honest.

After the detour, you go over to your uncle's wing of the palace. His door is slightly ajar, so you just nudge it open.

"Uncle! I hope I haven't caught you at a bad time!"

Prince Aled looks up from his pile of papers and gives you his best fake smile. "Meirion, welcome. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"No, no." You hold up the bottle of wine. "It's been quite some time since we've had a chance to talk, so I was hoping we could share a drink while I had a bit of freedom."

"Ah, yes, children are quite a handful aren't they?" Prince Aled chuckles and clears out a spot on his desk. "Come, have a seat."

You sit down and pour a glass for each of you.

>"How are you feeling these days?"
>"How is your business doing?"
>"Speaking of, how are your scions doing?"

>>1411537
>>"How are you feeling these days?"

>>1411537

>"How are you feeling these days?"

>>1411537
>>"How are you feeling these days?"
>Cousin's demise must still weigh heavily on you.

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>>1411537
"So, how are you feeling these days?"

You take a sip of wine. That's acceptable wine. No poison or anything.

"Quite well, quite well indeed," Prince Aled says with a laugh. "I was hoping I'd get to rest a little more during my trip to the capital, perhaps assign a few tasks to Celdwyn, but unfortunately…" He pats the papers that are scattered all over his table. "Even if I'm only a discarded prince, there are still many tasks that require my personal attention. It's all quite tedious, but at least I can enjoy the food. Haha!"

It's the sort of petty, self-deprecating nonsense royals use to make themselves seem busier than they really are. It's one of the basic tricks your mother taught you early on, actually.

"Oh, so you've been locked up in here for days then?" You ask. "It's no wonder we haven't met until now. Then again, my schedule would be the same if it wasn't for Myrddin."

"Yes, the only thing I don't do here is sleep," Aled says. "I do have a bed in the walk-in closet, but using it would just be depressing."

You can clearly tell by his tone: he isn't as stressed out as a man who just lost a record of the illegal money he loaned out should be.

Prince Aled still doesn't know about the theft of Celdwyn's ledger.

Maybe you can give him a little encouragement.

>[Intrigue/1d12] "Come to think of it, cousin Celdwyn is in Aurwain as well, isn't he?"
>No, this can wait until later.

>>1411637
>>[Intrigue/1d12] "Come to think of it, cousin Celdwyn is in Aurwain as well, isn't he?"

>>1411637
>>[Intrigue/1d12] "Come to think of it, cousin Celdwyn is in Aurwain as well, isn't he?"

>>1411637
>Not, this can wait...

>>1411637
>>>[Intrigue/1d12] "Come to think of it, cousin Celdwyn is in Aurwain as well, isn't he?"

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>>1411637
"Come to think of it, cousin Celdwyn is in Aurwain as well, isn't he?"

You just need to plant the idea in your uncle's head. He'll take it from there.

>Roll 1d12, best of three.

Rolled 2 (1d12)

>>1411697

Rolled 5 (1d12)

>>1411697

Rolled 4 (1d12)

>>1411697

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>>1411697
"Yes, I asked him to look after a few of my interests outside the Crown," Prince Aled says. "He's been doing quite well, though now that you mention it, I should spend more time with him. Not to be rude, but it is odd that I've had wine with my nephew and not my son."

"Oh, I assure you, I take no offense," you say. "I understand your position quite well now that I have family of my own to look after."

You share a few more glasses and make a little more small talk before leaving your uncle's office so he can get in touch with Celdwyn. If he didn't know about the ledger before, he most certainly will now, and won't that make for an amusing sight?

Rolled 3, 2, 1 = 6 (3d6)

>>1411732
And now for the bonus XP.

Rolled 3, 5, 5 = 13 (3d8)

>>1411735

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1411741
And that's all for today. As usual, Beleaguered Prince Quest will return on Friday May 5th at 7PM EDT. Until then, goodnight and thanks for playing.

>>1411746
I have not been able to follow the quest for some time now but it makes me happy you are still running.

Cheers.

>>1411746
Thanks for running! Good to see our plans moving forward!