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>>3276141
The second most pressing concern, as Caesar judged at that time, was to speak with Ummashtart, the sole captive among the royal family that ruled in Suerna. It was apparent that the princess was engaging in a self-destructive form of mourning, refusing much of the food and water sent to her room. In the process of gaining access to the well-guarded quarter of the princess, Caesar impressed the two lieutenants of Cabaleiro (they who were at that time given the duty of securing the princess) by his eloquence and display of authority. Xenophilos' interest toward the young Caesar began that day, and Galen (who gained the cognomen "Suernica" after their first meeting) would develop a grudging respect for the would-be-commander.

In his audience before the princess, Caesar was struck by her beauty and the glimmer of intelligence, marred as they were by her hunger and grief. He vowed to be wary of the princess from there onwards, being fully knowledgeable of his own weakness for that certain kind of women (the last of which fathered young Caesarion in his previous iteration).

Having successfully persuaded the depressed princess who had been fasting in grief of the deaths of her family members to regain her desire to live, Caesar planned to make dialogue with the high-spirited chieftain of the Gauls after a light meal to break his fast. He was worried of the conflict that apparently existed between the new German hires and the Gauls, and wished to placate the two cavalry bands if possible. Furthermore, he was interested in the attested (by the noble Ambiorix) expertise of his daughter in all matters equestrian.

With all these different matters filling young Caesar's mind, it should not strain the belief of the reader that he did not at the time notice a certain absence onboard the Rhea.

---

Welcome to the third chapter of the Commentaries on the Chinese War, an odd enough name given our initial launch-off point in the Parthian Empire. But hey, I wasn't exactly expecting us to start this far east! If you are looking for the archive, you can find them here:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Commentarii

I'm surprised (in a good way) we've gotten to part three, given the rather niche subject of this quest compared to animes, but I suppose the whole reincarnation bit gives it some boost. Thank you for the loyal readers who have followed this from the first thread, and a hearty greeting to they who just found this for the first time! I hope to see a lot of discussions and write-ins and pointing out neat historical tid-bits (like the inclusion of Nesaean horse, which was entirely unplanned on my part) like the previous threads. And now, on with the quest.

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>>3276144

"Alexandros!" Ambiorix waves you over with a huge grin, the shout of his voice startling the horses. "Over here! Come and look at this one - she's foaling!"

You struggle not to retch at the stench of blood and amniotic fluid that emanate from the mare. You remember worse than this, from the countless battles waged all across Rome, but this body is still new to the sensation. Perfect. This was just the kind of environment you wanted to discuss the troubling news of conflict between the Germans and his Gauls over.

"Don't just stand there, gawking about!" A girl in the cusp of womanhood demands from the other end of the mare's room. She is armoured and helmed - probably ran here from training. The Gauls had a few women among their number, though they were all warriors like their men. "You, boy, I need more hot water. And some towels."

"Never mind the boy, Aisling, I'll take care of that," Ambiorix says, and turns back to you. "You should be here when the firsts fruit of your purchase begins! Keep her company here, and don't mind her sharp tongue. She doesn't bite, unlike her mother."

"I'm telling ma what you said if you don't hurry with the water," Aisling growls, which sends Ambiorix off in uncharacteristic hurry. She turns back to caring for the mother horse, stroking gently and in a calming manner "There there, you poor thing. It's almost over, now." She looks up at you. "She's just having a break, since the worst is past. The foal's chest region is through. All that remains is making sure the rest of the body makes it without breaking the hind legs. Don't come near, boy. A single kick from a tired horse can still send something as fragile as you to Aericura."

"You seem experienced," you say, carefully avoiding the floorspace wet with horse fluids and taking a seat on the chair so recently vacated by Ambiorix. "Have you trained anything like the Nesaeans before?"

"Not ones as big," she admits. "These horses in the east are much larger than ours, and stronger to boot. I can see now how your Parthians can stay upright with all their steel."

Beat.

"Sorry you have to wait. I know you came here to talk with pa over... politics."

>"Not a fan of the trappings of chieftainship, then?"

>"Actually, I'd like to know more about you, too. Your entire family, really."

>"Say, could you tell me a little about this rivalry thing you have going on with the Germans?"

>>3276148
>"Not a fan of the trappings of chieftainship, then?"
Ease her into it. It'd be better if we can build a rapport with anyone in positions of influence beforehand. Manipulative? Sure, but such is a necessity in politics, and necessity for the maintenance of peace on this ship, if not camaraderie.

>>3276148
>"Not a fan of the trappings of chieftainship, then?"

A little tangential but can we expect to see more women warrior from the Germans since historically speaking, they were the ones who were more renown for that than the Gauls?

>>3276148
>"Not a fan of the trappings of chieftainship, then?"
>"Actually, I'd like to know more about you, too. Your entire family, really."

>>3276164
Yep! Currently your military might consists of:

One (1) Rhea, your father's Carthaginian prototype warship, equipped with eight (8) ship-board ballistae distributed throughout the vessel.

One (1) heavy infantry auxiliary, consisting of roughly six hundred and seventy (671) green soldiers.

One (1) heavy infantry company, consisting of roughly five hundred (521) men.

One (1) Gallic cavalry company, consisting of roughly four hundred (408) riders.

Twenty-one (21) kataphraktoi, led by Ariamnes, each armoured rider also having an assistant, broadly comparable to the roles of a squire. Senharib is one such assistant to Ariamnes.

One (1) German cavalry company, consisting of one hundred and twenty (120) riders and their light infantry partners (120), elaborated in the first thread -

>[The Germans are fierce warriors, against whom the Gauls do not even pretended to compete with in bravery. They have a unique view on the constitution of the cavalry, in that every horse-rider is paired with a light infantryman who will run alongside his mounted partner, until the conjoining of the battle. Then the footsoldier, armed with a kind of spear or pike, clings to the side of the horse by grappling the mane, protecting the flank of the rider and stabbing at the enemy. They proved especially effective against enemy cavalry, as you found from the German mercenaries under your employ during the Gallic War. It is not unusual to see Germans so far from home - their native lands are cold and inhospitable, regularly driving them outwards in search for a better habitat. This particular group is led by a chieftain, Hermann, who also bring with him a number of dependents along with the soldiers.]

Some of the rider-infantry pair may be married couples. Nothing like riding together into battle together to spice up your sex life! Not to mention, there are those among the civilians who will grow up to be soldiers themselves.

"Not a fan of the trappings of chieftainship, I take it," you say with a wry smile.

"Not my style. I can't see myself making deals with foreigners who hire us or order others to fight while I sit back and watch, not while I still have my arm-strength and an axe that can bite." She wrinkles her face in distaste, whether from the renewed smell from the mare's birthing or the idea of being a chieftain you cannot tell. "Besides, my father has to deal with other people's problems."

"Like the Germans?"

"Like the Germans-" she says, then catches herself mid-sentence, blushing furiously. "You Greeks are real slimy with your words, you know that?" she says accusingly.

You point a finger at yourself, your face the very portrait of innocence. "Hey, all I did was agree with you. The truth is, I did come here to talk about the issue between the Belgae and the Germans with your father. But that wasn't the only thing."

"Oh?" she looks, her lips curled up in a teasing manner. "Another suitor to the Gaulish chieftain's daughter, perhaps. Epona help me, what am I to do with all these ravenous men?"

"Ah," you nod sagely. "So there is another suitor."

Her pale cheeks tinge red once more with embarassment. "I'm not talking to you anymore," she says. "Pa said I talked too much, and I guess he was right. I don't have the kind of know-how to make a deal, or find things out from others without revealing my hand too much."

"Honesty is one of the many tricks of a deal-maker," you grin. "For example, you might charm the other side with an open face that holds no secrets. Such stark innocence can be anathema to those who wheedle and deal in the dark - especially when it is held by a lady of such beautiful countenance."

She considers your words for a moment. "I don't believe you," she declares. After a moment, she adds, "Don't tell my pa about the suitor."

"Your wish is my command, fair Aisling," you say with a mock sincerity, hand over chest. You can guess what the conflict is about now. Some German boy chasing Aisling caused the over-protective Ambiorix to snarl back, which resulted in this cold impasse. Lovers split between a border of culture and race - a story as old as time. And you can see why a German would pursue her instead of some girl he knows from his own tribe. The girl is currently covered in blood and horse-shit and embryotic fluid, her armour souped with the detritus of her midwifery, but that does not detract from her fresh beauty - it enhances it, surrounds her with a kind of virile charm. Here is a woman who does not shy away from hard, dirty work, ready to get arms-deep into things other fair maidens may faint at the mere sight of. And her blazing red-orange hair, an inheritance from her barbarian ancestors, seems to glow with a fire of its own... you've never had redheads before.

Perhaps she was not beautiful in the classical sense, but the classical sense also demanded you drink horse piss. "So who is the lucky fellow?"

>>3276240
She rolls her eyes. "He's certainly not lucky, if he wants to marry me. My brothers all agree that I'm unmarriable. And there's nothing wrong with that," she says in a challenging manner. Seeing that you offer her no argument, she continues. "He doesn't love me, anyway. Wants to marry me so there will be "harmony" and "peace" between the two tribes. And for your information, I have no interest in him, so that is that."

"I am familiar with such marriages. Love can sometimes take a back seat when arranging a... mutually profitable union, not solely for the sake of the two individuals, but the families as well."

"My pa is not the kind of person to force me to marry someone who doesn't even love me," she says fiercely. "And Hermann is too old for me, anyway. He's almost as old as my pa!"

Wait, Hermann? The puzzle pieces together at last. So, Hermann really was the kind of man you thought he was. Rational, cold, and utterly pragmatic. It is not often such characteristics are found outside the blessed Roman race, yet here he was. Of course, his sensible suggestions - tying the two horse-people, the Germans and the Gauls together as they head into unknown territory - would have angered the more emotion-driven Gaulish barbarians.

Well, that or he wanted a young wife. Couldn't fault him for that, could you, Caesar?

>>3276245
>"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.

>"There is more to life than marrying to a good family, Aisling. You might find that special certain someone, or maybe not - whatever the case, you only live once. You might as well try to live it free of regrets." Look at you, lying through your teeth with this romantic drivel. You're definitely doing this because you're interested in the girl, aren't you? Ah, love. Or lust - it can be hard to tell with Caesar.

>Custom [write-in]

>>3276250
>For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.
Ah Hermann. A man after our own heart. Why shouldn't we help a like minded individual, especially an oddly Roman like German chieftain? There'll be other redheads for us to pursue another day.

>>3276250
>"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.
Hermann may or may not deserve it.

>>3276263
Also, maybe phrase it in a way that's more palatable to the young Gaul. Maybe that simply because a marriage was made for political purposes doesnt mean love and mutual respect can't bloom afterward.

>>3276250
>"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.

>>3276250
>"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.

>when the child is going to be a little Charlemagne seven centuries too early

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>>3276536
>Charlemagne
>not Karl the Gross

>>3276250
>"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.

While Aisling seems like a relatively good partner for Caesar, I’d like to think we can aim higher than the daughter of one of our subordinates. Although I know the Romans do have a taste for that sort of adjoining...

>>3276574
Caesar liked younger women. We're 5, and Aisling is almost a woman. We should start looking for a partner for Alexandros once he's enough older the girl can be a young bride.

>>3276624
I’m not thinking so much about Caesar’s preferences as I am about the usefulness of the pairing. I’d prefer to play less fast and loose with marriage than the powerful Romans of the period tended to, and so would prefer to wait for the most useful possible wife available.

>>3276624
Personally I'd say wait until we get.to the orient. There we can wed some Han princess and lay claim to the Mandate of Heaven.

>>3276656
Yeah, I'm all for waiting. 5 is way too early to be thinking about romantic options for Alexandros.

>>3276250
>>"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.

A damn waste of a fine plain-talking, easily-embarrassed, orange-red headed tomboy that doesn't want to be in control (of others).

We should at least see if we can solve this another way, it'd be good to keep this one in with us by helping her get out of this situation if we can do it fairly easily.

What if Hermann marries the Suernian princess? Given the Gauls have paired off with them for the most part, this would tie the three people together quite effectively and we know the princess is of the mind set to see it as being good for her people.

>>3277740
Actually, changing my vote to that.

Also, we should see if we could arrange some marriage between one of Ambiorix's sons and one of Herman's daughters.
If we wanna go the "tying the two mercenary groups into one" route, then we need to have plenty of intermarriage, not a single one.

>>3277740
Yeah, not a fan. Not sure why you're talking about waste, either, since she's like 15 years older than Alexandros.

>>3276250
>"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.

>>3276250
>"There is more to life than marrying to a good family, Aisling. You might find that special certain someone, or maybe not - whatever the case, you only live once. You might as well try to live it free of regrets." Look at you, lying through your teeth with this romantic drivel. You're definitely doing this because you're interested in the girl, aren't you? Ah, love. Or lust - it can be hard to tell with Caesar.

>>3278086
True but the point of this initial relationship is to establish a "bridge" / provide their people with knowledge that they are to be one people rather than merely living with one another for as long as they are both hired. Fact is, short of their leaders making a religious pact on both their sets of gods or something, this is the only way to start a process of unification.

>>3278104
>Not sure why you're talking about waste, either, since she's like 15 years older than Alexandros.
True but it is one of my favourite archetypal characters. Also you just reminded me I've yet to actually vote myself.

>>3278145
>Lust
HE IS FIVE! There's no way the glands are operating properly yet.
If this turns into a shotacon quest I will be very disappointed.

>>3278171
>HE IS FIVE! There's no way the glands are operating properly yet.
Firstly, all I did was take the other option that OP (as in the man who literally controls our quest's reality) layed out. If you want to take up an issue such as that with someone, you should do it with him and should have done it when he first layed it out as an option.

Secondly, we are physically more mature than 5 thanks to the events of our first conquest (the military kind). By how much hasn't yet been established but assuming we manage to conquest a few more towns then we might end up a fair bit more physically mature.

Third, we are the mind of a adult in the body of a child, I'd argue an awareness of sexuality doesn't depend on your body so much as it does your actual knowledge. To put it another way: the spirit is willing; the mind is aware; the flesh is unable.

>If this turns into a shotacon quest I will be very disappointed.
Eh, OP seems to plan on having us age as we travel through Asia, so at most it'd be that way for a little while. It's not like he plans on having us remain forever young or having us arrive in China very quickly.

>>3278206
Not actually mad, it's cool. Just thought it was an odd bit of phrasing given the character's situation.

>>3278227
Fair enough. Your reason is fairly understandable but to be honest, this if 4chan: if OP planned for this to be a porn quest, /trash/ has a tradition is fulfilling that...demand, these days. Assuming he wouldn't just shunt off to one of the chan's that more openly support such quests.

>>3278104
>she's like 15 years older than Alexandros
She's actually likely closer to 10 years older than Alex, rather than 15, given she's described as a "A girl on the cusp of womanhood".

>>3278312
Well that depends on if we're going with a modern definition of woman or a contemporary one. Main point is she's probably at least 8 or so years our senior.

"For what it's worth, I think Hermann is a most eligible bachelor. He is, after all, the leader of his own people. You deserve someone of his status as the daughter of Ambiorix." If you could tie the two people together, it might make things much simpler in the long run. If you could interest her in the marriage, and use your good rapport with her father to make him more amenable to such a union, the German-Gauls might soon become one people. Plus the Suernians, whose women have more or less been paired off with the Gauls already.

"You sound like that German," she sniffs.

"The consequence of being in a place of power," you say. "Ah, not that I had such power. But when you are a chieftain, there are things that you must do for the sake of the well-being of the tribe, I imagine. We will be seeing things - strange and wondrous and deadly things - as we head away from the known world. A close bond between the two tribes... that may be crucial in holding everyone together."

For the next few minutes, the two of you watch the newly-born foal struggle to rise in silence. It is a wonderful thing to watch the birth of such a majestic beast. A new life unfolding right in front of your eyes...

"Doesn't look like there are any complications," Aisling suddenly announces. "Now if only pa would come with that hot water and cloth so I can bathe them."

"Boiling water takes a while," you say, "just like everything good in life."

She arches an eyebrow, the ginger hair contrasting sharply against her ice-blue eyes. "You're more of an adult than I thought you would be, you know that? I know my brothers didn't act like this when they were little. How old are you, ten?"

"Five," you say simply.

The expression on her face changes from surprise, to amusement, to consternation. "No," she shakes her head. "There is no way you are just five. Five year olds piss and shit and cry for their mums, not talk calmly about arranged marriages."

"Indeed, it is as you say," you smile crookedly. "I am not just five."

"The orphans from Suerna were like that," she says comtemplatively. "Little snotlings, but they became jaded too quickly for their own good. Little boys should be let to run on green hillsides and play house with their puppy-loved girls. I wonder..." Aisling looks inquisitively at you, then begins a question that dies in her throat. Ambiorix has entered the stable. "I brought the water! Careful, it's hot," he says, balancing the steaming basin carefully. On his shoulder are the fresh towels, still stiff from being so recently dried. He looks with concern at the bloody mare and her offspring. "Did I come too late? Is the foal alright?"

>>3279346
A flash of annoyance streaks through her visage, but it fades away as she smiles. You feel a tingle in your nerve that runs its way from your left fingertips to your heart. Was that how your Roman mother felt when she was consigned to her marriage with your father, twenty years her senior? Damn this over-sympathetic Greek body.

Even as you linger in that thought, she has returned to her cheerful self. There is no sign left of the pained Aisling, the vulnerable girl who for a few minutes opened herself up to a little boy nine years her junior. "No pa, you're just in time." She picks up the towels from her father and directs him to set the basin near where the foal rests. "Ah, I'll finish up here, the mother is fine so there isn't much left to be done aside from washing them."

"I could send one of your brothers down here if you need an extra pair of arms," Ambiorix says, but Aisling shakes her head.

"Only thing left is the clean up. You two should go and do your political jabbering somewhere else, so you don't pollute these innocent foal's ears with your manly topics," she jokes. But there is little of that vibrant energy she had earlier, when you first saw the girl.

---

"So, little Alexandros," Ambiorix sips his cup, then frowns. "What the- is this vinegar?"

"And water, with a bit of fruit juice. Keeps your teeth from falling during extended sea-travel." You sample the cup of posca, savouring the drink. The drink of the marching legionnaires - it was a long time since you last had it. Posca was not the tastiest thing in the world - indeed, it was popular among the lower classes and as mentioned, the soldiers, not the patrician class to which the gens Iuli belonged. But Gaius Julius Caesar was not one of those extravagant Grecian potentates. He was a soldier himself, once. "Get used to it, we won't have the luxury of fresh juice for long. Then we're back to just water and vinegar."

"Hmph, I would have preferred some of your wine, or beer," Ambiorix grumbles good-naturedly, but downs the rest of posca. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"You injure me, Ambiorix. Does one have to have a reason to wish a drink with an acquaintance?"

He smiles with a knowing look. "I've known you Greeks for far too long to know things are rarely what they seem. This isn't just a courtesy call, otherwise you wouldn't have called me so soon after the ship left the harbour. Out with it!"

>>3279349
>"I was wondering how things were going with you and your people. Are they satisfied? Is everything alright with the Suernian additions to your tribe?"

>"I noticed you were fascinated with my new horses. Had to make sure you weren't thinking of stealing them." [Joke]

>"Straight to the point, then. I am here about the Germans and the Belgae. I want to know what is the issue between your people and theirs. Should I be worried about the efficacy of your warriors when they fight side by side with the Germans?"

>Custom

>>3279350
>"I was wondering how things were going with you and your people. Are they satisfied? Is everything alright with the Suernian additions to your tribe?"

>"I've heard about the troubles brewing between your Gauls and the Germans. While I have no desire to force myself into the age old feud between your peoples, I do want to keep the peace between my mercenary companies and avoid infighting.
It seems Herman tried to act in such a way by asking for your daughter's hand in marriage but his offer was received badly; it is not my place to tell you how to marry your children but I do think it would be worth considering at least.
At the end of the day, given how much your second's son has been eye-ing the chieftain's youngest girl, we're probably going to end up with a political marriage between your tribes, whether arranged or not... "

Let's go for MAXIMUM INTERMARRIAGE

>>3279350
>I was wondering how things were going with you and your people. Are they satisfied? Is everything alright with the Suernian additions to your tribe?"

>>3279350
>"I was wondering how things were going with you and your people. Are they satisfied? Is everything alright with the Suernian additions to your tribe?"
Specifically focus on the Suernians, don't follow up with the rest of >>3279392.

>>3279350
>I was wondering how things were going with you and your people. Are they satisfied? Is everything alright with the Suernian additions to your tribe?"

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"I was wondering how things were going with you and your people. Are they satisfied? Is everything alright with the Suernian additions to your tribe?"

He shrugs in response. "Eh, some of them are accepting it better than others. You know, these Suernians you brought in... very beautiful people, but, how shall I say this?"

"Decadent?" you suggest.

"Weak!" He pours another cup of posca, and sips it with less grimacing this time. "None of the boys wants to hold a weapon. Imagine that! A boy who doesn't want to hold a sword? It's puzzling, it really is. Some of my boys have adopted the orphaned kids, but they're at their wits end!"

"The terror they felt from your ride into their city must have burned into a residual memory." You know you still get clammy hands when you think of how close things were in Alesia. "Shock and awe is the way of your people. Think of it as a... compliment, of how effective you were!"

Ambiorix harrumphs, but the twitching in the corner of his mouth shows that your sideway priase got to him. He ruffles your head enthusiastically - Jupiter, he has long arms - until you dodge away for the survival of your scalp. "We'll see how they adjust in the long term. Not to worry, little Alexandros! I made sure to tell my men not to brutalise them too much. We do need children to continue on the next generation." Underneath all his bushy eyebrows and even more bushy beard, he looks content. "I appreciate you giving them over to us."

"Hm. Speaking of the next generation..." should you broach the subject? When he's still potentially touchy about how Hermann went with his proposal? You didn't hear the specifics, but from what Aisling said, it seemed as though Ambiorix was something of a sentimental father.

The chieftain and father of four looks over his glass. "Yes? What about the next generation?"

"...let's hope your men's children from the Suernians will be as hardy as you are," you end.

"Bet on it! I will whip their younglings to shape, see if I don't."

>>3283143

---

Ambiorix doubtlessly sees you as an equal to his own now, at least when it comes to one's wits. You take a break from all this talking and socialising and convincing people not to kill themselves to take a breather, running up to the deck.

There, you find your father, watching the sun set. The day of beginnings is ending. You take the place by his side, looking at the waves break up the reflection of the sun, the clay-baked buildings of Suerna cutting jagged edges into the skyline. It is not a complete silence - the ocean lapping against Rhea, the wooden scaffoldings creaking, the sails fluttering heavily in the wind - but it is a peaceful sound. You could fall asleep on your feet here.

"One day," your father says, his deep voice rippling through the ambient sound, "this will be yours, my little Alexandros."

You look up at your father. "You are not speaking of the ship," you guess.

"No." The light of the sun is in his eyes, making it blaze like the wheels of Apollo's chariot themselves. His granite jaws are set firmly in - sadness? Anger? - an expression you haven't seen from him since he first found out that your mother's illness was not a one-off thing. He moves his trunk-like arms and gestures at everything in the horizon with a single wave. "This. All of this. The entire world will bow under your command, from the petty kings of Persia, to the disorganised rabble I have to call my countrymen - even the prideful Romans, who think themselves above any criticism." There is a gravitas that you had never felt from him before, a bitterness.

You don't know much about this man, who is your father, you realise. Nothing about his past, or when he came so far east away from the Greek lands... or even how he gained the gigantic ship that he captained.

"A tall order for a five year old," you remark. A tall order for any man.

He lays his heavy hand against your shoulder. "You'll make it," he says softly. "After all, you are the son of your mother. I named you Alexandros because I saw in your eyes the spirit that will tame the earth." He pauses. "And when you have conquered the world, I will ask for a single boon."

Landros must be in a poetic mood today. Whatever happened in the Harkonni estate, it seems to have put him on an edge. But greater still is the revelation that he truly expected you to do anything as outrageous as your namesake.

You thought your father carelessly named you after the great Macedonian king - after all, who doesn't know about Alexandros, King of all Asia, Ruler of the Four Corners of the World? It was a popular name among boys of all stripes and colours.

"What would that be?" you say carefully, modulating your voice to make sure your surprise does not show.

"Death of the Atreidae."

>>3283152

Caesar would not learn of the reason behind his father's vendetta against the rival merchant family that ruled the economical world of Asia Minor behind the political, together with the Harkonni - not until the Night of Daggers. He could not get the secret out, not from the kindly Micah, or the eternally busy Lynius - even from Timon, who gossipped like a housewife in his free time.

Five days into the voyage, the various captains of the peoples of the ship were called to confer in the captain's quarter. Caesar, present as the de facto strategos of the expedition, watched and listened as men argued over their course of action.

There was a particularly affluent city, not too far inland, according to Cabaleiro. It was around three day's march from the coast where the ship was currently, and would make for a fine looting. Ypra, so the city was known to the captain of the Five Hundred, was apparently a place known for their slaves, trained in the sensual arts. It did not surprise Caesar that Cabaleiro would know of such a place.

Hermann and Ambiorix were of one mind in their opposition to such a campaign, despite their private differences. A large number of whores, Hermann argued, would cause a laxity in discipline aboard the ship as the men became more desperate in spending time with the captured men and women instead of keeping their arms strong and their weapons sharp. Ambiorix had a more specific problem - his men were only recently paired off with the Suernians, and it could cause a rift between the new transplants into the Gaulish tribe if the newly-husbanded warriors started spending more time with the slaves instead of culturally Gaulifying the Suernians to make them a single, united people.

The slaves would fetch great money, Cabaleiro said. Girls were picked from tender ages all around the world to be trained here, where debauchery was the norm and their export was the sins of the flesh. The Hindus, he added, would be very interested in adding foreign, and therefore exotic, slaves into their harems.

>Here, Caesar weighed in with Cabaleiro. The profit to be had from raiding such a city was not inconsiderable, and every bit of money helped. Such a city famed for their slaves would not only have living merchandise, but also great wealth in coins and gems and precious metals.

>Caesar concurred with the barbarian chiefs, knowing the exciteable nature of men, and how they softened and weakened when in prolonged contact with expertly trained slaves. He desired them battle-ready for anything and everything.

>Custom

>>3283162
>Here, Caesar weighed in with Cabaleiro. The profit to be had from raiding such a city was not inconsiderable, and every bit of money helped. Such a city famed for their slaves would not only have living merchandise, but also great wealth in coins and gems and precious metals
if the gauls and germans are concerned we could place the whores on separate ships.

>>3283189
This sounds like a good compromise.

>>3283189
Support

>>3283162
>Caesar concurred with the barbarian chiefs, knowing the exciteable nature of men, and how they softened and weakened when in prolonged contact with expertly trained slaves. He desired them battle-ready for anything and everything
We... don't have separate ships.

>>3283561
Well if this city is a few days in from the coast, we almost certainly going to have to park in a port somewhere. We could look into selling our newest acquisitions for some more boats which, even if it defeats the point of buying them, would be quite useful for transporting more soldiers or other shit in future.

File: mothership.jpg (14 KB, 275x400)

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>>3283189
>>3283191
>>3283213
>having more than one ship
>the ship literally named after your mother
>cheating on the mother ship mothership
Anons ;_;

Also as >>3283561 says, you don't have separate ships. You do have landers, though - the Rhea is large enough that it can't dock smaller ports (you may remember that Numante was classified as Large), necessitating the use of intermediaries. You could... put the slaves on the lander and haul it with ropes? Though then there's the issue of preventing the slaves from cutting free while they're in that lander comically surfing behind the Rhea, and if you post guards on the landers themselves you would need to rotate them out constantly which will slow down the journey, and so on.

You can buy ships, I'm not preventing you from doing that, but you need to actually go to a place that sells ships to buy ships.

>>3283598
I doubt an ancient ship could hold thousands of men and women and their supplies and belongings.....

>>3283611
Fortuna provided extensive details on our ship and why it can do so in the first thread. Go back and read it.

>>3283162
>Caesar concurred with the barbarian chiefs, knowing the exciteable nature of men, and how they softened and weakened when in prolonged contact with expertly trained slaves. He desired them battle-ready for anything and everything
Ultimately more slaves will not do much for us, and may have severe repercussions for our morale and cohesion. I’ll pass.

>>3283611

"Ptolemy Philopator built [a ship] of forty banks of oars, which had a length of two hundred and eighty cubits, and a height, to the top of her stern, of forty-eight; she was manned by four hundred sailors, who did no rowing, and by four thousand rowers, and besides these she had room, on her gangways and decks, for nearly three thousand men-at‑arms."

- Plutarch, Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans

Rhea certainly is a fictional ship, but it's based on the tesserakonteres (described above) and Sycarusia. I hoped I made certain that it was a pretty large vessel when describing it from the first and second thread!

>>3283641
Then I’m changing my vote. We should still sack the place for loot and treasure, but leave the pleasure slaves behind. It will be good practice for us and a way to get loot, experience, and get our men used to cooperating better. If Cabaleiro wants a couple of personal slaves that’s fine, but otherwise we’re not taking any more. We want gold, expensive trade goods, and if they have any good quality weapons and armor take that and refit the Germanic light infantry with some extra protection. At the very least, extra weapons and armor could be materials to use to make better equipment.

Idea: skip Ypra, make a plan with Galen to have him take over the Five Hundred, and throw Cabaleiro overboard with a sign reading "pederast" around his neck.

>>3283162
>>Caesar concurred with the barbarian chiefs, knowing the exciteable nature of men, and how they softened and weakened when in prolonged contact with expertly trained slaves. He desired them battle-ready for anything and everything.
No more tagalongs, though I wouldn't be opposed to more looting

>>3283728
>>3284162
How about we just march up and demand tribute?
Maybe we get loot without effort
cash, food and equipment

>>3283189
>>3283213
Loot

>>3283561
>>3283635
Don't loot

>>3283728
>>3284162
>>3285222
Pick and choose what to bring, possibly without resorting to full on sacking, focus on gaining material wealth that isn't slaves

Is the last one an acceptable compromise?

>>3285350
>Is the last one an acceptable compromise?
yup
if they don't want to pay, shit may have to happen of course

Caesar concurred with the barbarian chiefs, knowing the exciteable nature of men, and how they softened and weakened when in prolonged contact with expertly trained slaves. He desired them battle-ready for anything and everything. One of Pompeius' biggest mistakes was relying too much on his oriental legions posted in Asia Minor, the most affluent province of Rome, who were too used to an undisciplined life. Wine, women, and wealth - these things soften the man if he opens himself to their corruption.

But there is more to Ypra than her slaves.

"Fifty thousand people." Cabaleiro's voice is solemn and slow, his fine feline features shadowed by the stuttering oil lamps on the table. "This is not going to be as easy as Suerna. We are looking at a protracted campaign if we want to attack this city head-on, and most people would think that is the only way to crack this little jewel. And before you ask, we cannot repeat the battle of luck that you orchestrated in our previous conquest, little one. Not that a single night's attack would be enough for this place - it is far too big for that. The city is like a warren, built onto the hill that rises from an ancient copper mine, empty before the Greeks came here. Your riders," he says to the two western chiefs, "will find it difficult to ride quickly in their roads. Cluttered and uphill."

"I wasn't expecting us to use that trick again," you agree. This Hispanian must think you a fool, if he thought you would suggest that again. "The target is simply too large, and our numbers have grown. It will be hard to ignore a thousand infantrymen and more than half that many riders."

"Precisamente! And the visitors to this city, they do not come in thousands, but singles and tens and hundreds." A wolfish smirk plays on Cabaleiro's visage. "It is a fortress of vice, where the rich enter to empty their too-heavy wallets and indulge in a variety of exotic interests." He places his finger on the visual representation of the city, and traces his finger around its walls. "Double-lined walls, professional militia. They are used to having to put down the customers who are, shall we say, overtly rowdy. These are not the cow herders given spears and told to guard the gates like we had before. Their guards could almost be called an army on their own."

"And how do you know this?" Ambiorix asks. "This seems like very specific information, and we haven't even landed!"

>>3285436
"Ah, my dear Gallician, I see you have not lived a full life despite the length of your beard and the lines on your brow," the Lucitanian captain purrs. "This one had the pleasure of a contract with the city, three or four years back. A precaution on their part - they'd heard that a nomadic group was being expelled from the hell-hole that is Central Asia by an even bigger and badder horde. More importantly, they thought that these people might pass by their beloved city, loot the gold spent by the tourists and rape their women. And the boys. There was this one energetic little creature, cheeks as rosy as little Alexandros' here. What lovely bedding he made. And the screams-"

"The bigger the walls, the less eager they tend to be in coming out," Hermann says stiffly, cutting the Spaniard's husky-voiced recollection. "How many of these guards patrol the walls at any point?"

Cabaleiro looks mildly annoyed, but returns to the subject at hand. "My men tell me that they estimated eight hundred, when we were there last."

"Eight hundred behind a wall..." Ambiorix shakes his head. "I do not know about this. My men are trained in combat on the field, not some honey comb of a city. Suerna was easy, sure, but that was thanks to the large and empty night roads."

Cabaleiro nods. "Correct. And we will not have such luxury here. Ypra never truly sleeps, and some of the most... interesting events occur right before the dawn."

"Eight hundred during moments of high alert, perhaps half that during peace time," Hermann thinks aloud in a detached voice. "And that's just on the walls, acting as the eyes. A city as large as this will actively use its army for policing duties, which makes a standing army much more likely behind even their militiamen."

The Spaniard claps his hands sarcastically. "Yes, very good, German! We all know how to count here, I think. You believe Cabaleiro would be so brazen, he suggests we take the untakeable? No, no, no. This is where the mine comes in. Behold," he points at a nondescript area in the map, "a secret tunnel!"

The location his finger rests on is a decline from the hillside that holds Ypra, with nothing marking it as a location of note. "This place," Cabaleiro declares, "is the key to the city. Our city."

"And none of the natives of this city know of the passage?" Timon says with some skepticism.

"Man of straw hair, even the people of Ypra are not drunk enough not to notice a giant tunnel between them and there. Of course they know this tunnel. The people of Ypra use it to move things and peoples too sensitive to be seen in public. The bodies of slaves who were used too... roughly, maybe even love-childs that should not have been born. Things that the people don't want to see, things that inconvenience them and disrupt the revelry - they get moved out with this nice little tunnel and dumped somewhere out of sight."

>>3285440
"Not much of a secret, if the entire town knows it," Ambiorix grumbles.

"It is a secret, because the inhabitants of Ypra think it is a secret," Cabaleiro sighs. "They only post a few guards here, because they do not expect outsiders to know of it. All foreigners who are allowed to use this place are blinded with cloth before making the journey through."

"And how do you know this?" Hermann asks with faint curiosity, and the Hispanian responds with a laugh.

"Why, I was born here, of course! The city of my father - or mother, I was never quite sure."

It does not surprise you too much to learn that the Iberian was not born in his native region, given his taste for decadence. But a native of Ypra, betraying his own city so callously... you look around the table and see the surprise (and in Hermann's case, revulsion) on their faces. A man's city was his family, his government, his home. Even the quarrelsome Greeks considered treason to be an act so heinous so as to render all the criminal's achievements null.

Micah coughs, drawing the eyes of the military men in the war room. "If I may... the city is wealthy and provides its, ahem, services, all the year round, am I correct?"

Cabaleiro nods.

"Well, then I don't see why we need to do any ransacking at all," Micah says. "The threat of military activity might be enough to proactively deter our engagement in such an act."

"What, bribe us off?" Ambiorix asks.

"Precisely!" Micah beams. "Then we do not lose anyone, they do not lose anyone, everyone comes out on top."

"One little problem with that," Cabaleiro says. "Once we declare our intent to make war upon the city, she will close up quicker than a whore you pre-paid. I am not saying it is impossible - but it is, maybe just a little bit unlikely." None of the other military chiefs look enthusiastic with the prospect of fighting a city that has been given time to defend itself.

>>3285441

>Follow Micah's advice first, and try to bully the city into paying you. You will have to send an emissary, or find some way to get that declaration in to the rulers of the city's doorstep.

>Full-scale siege warfare. Time to make use of that newly created Engineers Corps! It should also be good training for the infantrymen, who really should be expected to know basic construction skills like your beloved legionaries of old.

>Let's try the Spaniard's not-so-secret love tunnel route first. Even if it is not to be used for the attack, it will still be useful to scout the inside around before making the final decision.

>Custom

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>>3285436
Forgot the pic for this

>>3285443
>Full-scale siege warfare. Time to make use of that newly created Engineers Corps! It should also be good training for the infantrymen, who really should be expected to know basic construction skills like your beloved legionaries of old.
This seems like a solid choice to get back in the groove of city-cracking.

>>3285487
I'll back this if we send in a small sabotaging taskforce through the love tunnel first

>>3285491
I’m entirely on board with that.

>>3285443
>Full-scale siege warfare. Time to make use of that newly created Engineers Corps! It should also be good training for the infantrymen, who really should be expected to know basic construction skills like your beloved legionaries of old.

>>3285503
>>3285491
Yeah the tunnel option is not mutually exclusive, you might use it to scout first. But would you make me do that, anon? Make me write of the degeneracy of Ur-Vegas?

>>3285523
>You must enter Sodom to put it to the torch

>>3285523
As long as you write of heterosexual sex in the missionary position for procreation only

>>3285443
>>3285487
>>3285491
Supporting

>>3285530
Anon, we are talking of the city that bred Cabaleiro here. Seriously though, I'm terrible at smut so...

>>3285541
>>3285503
>>3285491
Siege + light scouting beforehand

>>3285515
just the siege, thanks

Closing vote

>>3285575
>spoiler
Do it anyway: I find smut to be amusing.
I have stopped watching comedy and use hentai instead

>>3285575
you dont need to write smut op, i like my sex in real life

>>3285575
>We don’t need smut, just information pertinent to sacking this hive of scum and villainy

>>3285608
>Fortuna, don't write smut, fuck me instead
Bold

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"It's been a long time since I saw my mother city," Cabaleiro rubs his hands. "I will ready my men immediately."

"No." Hermann looks calculatingly at the heavily armoured Iberian, then shakes his head. "Your men would be too conspicuous, too obviously military. And they know your face."

"It was two years ago," the Spaniard says, but the German is having none of it.

"A non-zero risk. Scouting - that's a pretty word for spies. You want someone discreet, not flamboyant. People who will be ignored by the watchmen. Women and children, with maybe one man."

"We have children," Ambiorix says thoughtfully. "Jews, Suernians, even a couple Germans." Clever Hermann - he understands the danger of sending a group of heavily built men with sword-callouses on their hands and a no obvious occupation as spies. Women and children tend to be overlooked if only for the simple fact that they can't fight. Well, most women.

"But adding children into the mix could jeopardise the mission!" Cabaleiro says. "You think this is a game? Boys and girls will weep at the sight of blood, blurt out compromising information at the slightest suggestion. Add women into the scouting party, but children?" Behold the Captain Cabaleiro, defender of little children.

And Hermann is having none of it. "Have you ever seen a convincing mock-up of a family without at least a single child on tow?" he says. "This is, as you say, Spaniard, not a game. We either go all in, or don't waste effort in half-arsing a fake family."

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>>3285699
Ambiorix raises a hand, pausing Hermann who looks like he has a little more to say. "If I may speak." He settles his fingers together in a curious manner, steepling them like the leaning rooftops of a Gaulish village. "From what has been said so far, what we need is a non-threatening male-figure, a motherly female, and a child, the last of who will not flinch at the sight of blood, won't babble senselessly about the mission to the first adult they come across, and - if you will pardon my French - show the general characteristics of a psychopath. Am I correct?"

The others display their assent, Cabaleiro being the most reluctant. You can think of a certain Parthian equite to fulfill the role of the "father" (or perhaps even grandfather - that man was ancient). It was hard to believe he was an actual soldier, nevermind one with years of veterancy, from the way he went on about watermills. As for women, one of Hermann's she-warriors might do well. But what kind of child, so tainted by real world experience and the cunning of an adult, would be chosen in such a risky advent of daring-do?

"A kid who is used to the sight of violence, since the infiltrators might have to do some daggerwork," Hermann adds thoughtfully. You're pretty sure it's a given that some blood will be spilled, the volume of said liquid increasing as the infiltration bungles more and more.

"Someone who can look at the bigger picture," Cabaleiro taps his fingers. Yes, the kid needs to be able to formulate plans by himself in case he (or she) gets lost in the crowd or circumstances force him (or her) to separate temporarily from the others.

"It seems to me," Ambiorix continues, "that we have just the right candidate."

"Who?" You pipe up. The others look at you.

>>3285708

>No.

>Noooooooooooooooo.

>Hmm, alrigh- no.

>A ROMAN GENERAL DOES NOT INFILTRATE THE ENEMY BY HIMSELF

>Surely, there are a bunch of war-orphans (newly adapted) from the Gaulish tribe that can be of use! Ignore the non-zero potential of them running away and blabbing to the nearest military figure in the city, compromising the entire thing.

>Custom

>>3285714
>No.
>Noooooooooooooooo.
>A ROMAN GENERAL DOES NOT INFILTRATE
In that order.

>>3285714
>>Noooooooooooooooo.
NOOOOOOOOO!

>>3285714
>Yes

>>3285742
>>3285714
Gimme a childish shrug too, and we’re gold.

Leaving that vote aside (the vote is still open, just need to get something else hashed out), how do you want to format the scouting party, aka Family?

I was thinking of:

>Father/Grandfather
Ariamnes

>Mother
German shieldmaiden

>Sister [optional]
Aisling?

>Little boy
SUERNIAN WAR ORPHAN PERFECTLY FINE! (MAYBE!) [This comment is not to be understood by players of QM guarantee of Suernian War Orphan™ being perfectly fine.]

>>3285714
This- this might just work. But I shudder to think of what Landros' reaction to the idea might be. And God forbid what might happen to a young boy like us in such a den of degeneracy.

>>3285760
Looks good to me

>>3285760
seems ok
im not opposed to going ourselves though, if others also back it

>>3285816
Well obviously the Little Boy slot will switch to Caesalexandros if the vote goes that way, right now it's fifty-fifty

>>3285714
Changing my vote to
>Custom
Caesar refuses, but is talked into it by the others.

>>3285760
This is great. Go dventuring with Don Quixote, absolutely.

>>3285760
Let’s include our “older brothers and sisters” in this, some of the more youthful looking soldiers and Germanic shield maidens. We can pose as a wealthy merchant family. Bring a Jew along to pose as our accountant. We could have a couple of household guards. Veteran soldiers. And female Germanic shieldmaidens to pose as houseslaves. The idea is to maximize the fighters we can bring without arousing suspicions.

>>3285714
>>No.
>>Noooooooooooooooo.
>>A ROMAN GENERAL DOES NOT INFILTRATE THE ENEMY BY HIMSELF

>>3285714
>Custom
TRY TO RUN AWAY, FAIl TO REACH DOOR KNOB BECAUSE OF SHORT 5 YEAR OLD LEGS

>>3285725
>>3286643
no

>>3285877
>>3287709
forced [EXPLICIT] [38 BC]

>>3285742
>>3285757
>>3285764
yes

Finding no means of egress from Ambiorix's proposition, Caesar's hand was forced. What remained was the precise composition of the scouting party (family).

>Hermann argued for a smaller, less noticeable family of modest means, emphasising that the lower classes tend to be ignored or overlooked. [uses tunnel for maximum sneak, three people]

>Ambiorix wanted the cover story to be cloaked as that of a large, extended family going for a bit of fun after coming into money, and also suggested he should be added to the group as a "bodyguard". He emphatically denied when accused by the others of his primary motivation being the sight-seeing of Ypra herself. This would also mean that the party could simply pass by the main gate, as they would be taking in the disguise of legitimate customers. [4-7 people]

>Cabaleiro suggested that the party go under the guise of a full-blown Grecian noble with all the retainers and household guards that entailed. This plan would necessitate the use of several of the high-class slaves plundered from Suerna for the sake of appearances, but it would allow the maximum number of people to be brought in. It would be an expensive cover story, and likely demanding for your coffers since rich people are expected to spend richly in this city of sin. [30-50 people]

>>3288337
I keep forgetting to put an entry for custom option. Just... assume the entry exists for those who want to elaborate on/be more specific/have other ideas.

>>3288337
>Hermann argued for a smaller, less noticeable family of modest means, emphasising that the lower classes tend to be ignored or overlooked. [uses tunnel for maximum sneak, three people]

>Cabaleiro suggested that the party go under the guise of a full-blown Grecian noble with all the retainers and household guards that entailed. This plan would necessitate the use of several of the high-class slaves plundered from Suerna for the sake of appearances, but it would allow the maximum number of people to be brought in. It would be an expensive cover story, and likely demanding for your coffers since rich people are expected to spend richly in this city of sin. [30-50 people]

Why not both? Get the maximum amount of eyes on the city and its defenses, and get people to scout out the tunnels at the same time.

>>3288402
Support. We can distract the guards from the inside while the scouts map the tunnels.

>>3288402
+1

>>3288337
>Hermann argued for a smaller, less noticeable family of modest means, emphasising that the lower classes tend to be ignored or overlooked. [uses tunnel for maximum sneak, three people]

>>3288337
>Hermann argued for a smaller, less noticeable family of modest means, emphasising that the lower classes tend to be ignored or overlooked. [uses tunnel for maximum sneak, three people]
Why not both? It's too expensive and we're the only available child.

>>3288468
The tunnel is not something that needs to be "mapped", by the way, it's already known by Cabaleiro from his time living in the city.

>>3288402
>why not both
Which group would Caesar go in?

>>3289519
We need to make sure of it ourselves. Also, Caesar goes with the tunnel group.

Looks like the "Send two groups" wins, now we'll need to work on formatting each group. The coffers of the ship's treasury has been (reluctantly) opened to you, giving you access to the entirety of Rhea's wealth. Keep in mind that Micah will object to what he might feel as overspending of the treasury. RESOURCES are not just liquid assets like coinage, but also represents luxurious clothing, jewellery, items of worth like palanquins, and other things of value. Please note that allocating RESOURCES is not the same as spending it - all unspent RESOURCES will return to the coffers unless spent in the city or lost in other ways.

>CURRENT TREASURY RESOURCES: 40


GROUP A:
>Budget
This is the operating cost for the Group as they spend time in the city, so as to keep the convincing lie of being just another visiting nobility/noveau riche wishing to indulge in the city's offerings. The higher the budget, the more convincing the lie and the longer they can perpetuate it.

A) 5 RESOURCES
B) 10 RESOURCES
C) 13 RESOURCES

>Noble/Noblette/Otherwise Wealthy Authority Figure
You want someone who is convincingly a person of high status, used to the finer things in life with a commanding presence.

A) Ummashtart, Princess of Suerna - within the Rhea, she is the only person who has experienced luxuries barring yourself. There is some concern regarding her loyalty to your cause (if it even exists). She may simply choose to announce the oncoming invasion so as to save Ypra the fate that Suerna suffered.
B) Pikiphryne the Hetaera - a female slave of Corinthian origin, Pikiphryne (nicknamed Phryne) is a courtesan of the highest caliber and likely served high-profile figures in Suerna before its destruction. Hetaerae are no mere prostitutes - they are expected to provite stimulation both physical and intellectual, usually servicing their clients on a long term basis, and often have only one lover at any given time. However, Ypra may prove too welcoming to a woman of her trade - more welcoming than your wooden island with poor food and sea-troubled beds...
C) Ariamnes (the Gallant) - As a member of the landed nobility of a Parthian satrapy, Ariamnes is (probably) familiar with the kind of authoritative gestures and mannerisms that the vendors of pleasures in Ypra will surely appreciate. There is an unfortunate problem - you are not sure if he is, to put it politely, entirely there.
D) Custom

>Retainers
The followers to your chosen "noble" would also need to be appropriate to suit their cover stories. For example, one would not expect a lone female noble to travel without handmaidens of some kind, and conversely it would be strange to see an obviously military man like Ariamnes without a retinue of soldiers.

(cont.)

>>3289670

A) Suernian Handmaidens - raised from the temple to Ba'al-Zephon from infancy for the sole purpose of providing companionship to the members of the city's royalty, these girls are fiercely devoted to serving their princess and may be difficult to dislodge from her presence.

B) Hetaerae - the high-class escort-slaves that you "liberated" from Suerna (Phryne being one of them) could act as handmaidens, unless they decide to free themselves from you as well and ply their trade in this city.

C) 10x Kataphraktoi - these equites that came with Ariamnes, armed heavily both bodily and horsily would make grand escorts (not in the sexual sense) to any individual. Their use in this operation would preclude them from being used militarily, however - the heavy traffic of Ypra is not conducive to cavalry charges.

D) 10xHousehold Guard (Five Hundred)

E) 10x Household Guard (Gaulish Horsemen)

F) 10x Household Guard (German Horsemen)

G) 10x Household Guard (Six Hundred [the newbies])

Keep in mind that while multiple options are allowed, the larger the party, the higher the budget necessary to feed and bed the group.


>Secondary Cosmetics
Disguises and tools to assist the Group in pretending to be party-goers.

A) Jewellery [3 RESOURCES]
These baubles and valuables "borrowed" from the womenfolk on the ship for the purpose helps maintain the illusion of the party's opulence and splendour. Ummashtart and her Handmaidens have the Jewellery effect by default.

B) Lectica [1 RESOURCE]
This luxurious palanquin intended to carry the royalty of Suerna requires requires six strong men to mobilise. While carrying the vehicle, the men are only capable of SLOW movement.

C) Musicians [2 RESOURCES]
Among the Jewish civilians aboard your ship are several musicians who might act as a band to herald the passage of your "noble". Musicians also help clear crowds from their noise and the significance attached to someone decadent and egotistical enough to hire a band to follow them around in public.

D) Suggestion

(cont.)

>>3289694
GROUP B:

>Father/Grandfather
This is the main male figure of this small but tight-knight "family". Too young a man might draw suspicion.

A) Lynius - one of your father's oldest friends, Lynius is usually too busy dealing with matters related to the running of the ship to have spent much time with you after your birth. Maybe you could spend some time with him this time. He is terrible at anything that comes close to combat.

B) Ariamnes (the Gallant) - the ancient yet robust Parthian (?) is something of a curiosity. You saw the wanderlust in his eyes when you greeted him in to your merry band, but for such a drive to strike him at his advanced age, he must either be mad or... mad. Yet, it is his very age that makes him such a non-threat as far as the city guards would be concerned - an estimation that would be very, very wrong. You pity the fool that tries to beat the man in a swordfight, from what you have seen in his daily training routine.

C) Ambiorix - Sure, he's obviously Gaulish, and you are clearly Greek, but maybe you could say you are adopted. And the camaraderie between you and the Gaul could work as a sort of... father-son relationship.

D) Cabaleiro - He knows the terrain. He knows the city. He knows the tunnel. But do you feel safe around him?

E) Hermann the German - Though there's the same issue with Ambiorix here, his level-headedness might be of use if something unexpected occurs inside. But this is just a quick scouting in-and-out, nothing could go wrong.

F) None. You are fatherless.

G) Custom

>Mother

A) None. You don't have a mother.

B) Rhea - Well, lugging around a sick woman would certainly appear like a non-threat - until the guards decide she has the flux and burns her body.

C) Eir, German spearwoman - An expert melee combatant, Eir is old enough to be your mother - apparently she has already borne her husband three healthy children - but looks as fresh and youthful as the lilies of the valley. Like all of Hermann's people, she is blonde, blue-eyed, stern-faced and guarded in her mannerisms. But what really makes her motherly is her huge... assets.

D) Phryne - the beautiful hetaera certainly could play the role of your mother and maybe has done so in your dreams. But maybe she's a little too beautiful for a poor family's mother? Then again, beauty has its uses...

E) Suggestion - maybe come up with a mother figure from the Suernian female population, or one of the Jews. Can't think of some right now because I am a hack.

(cont.)

>>3289806
Fucked up the spoiler tag up there above, rewriting the segment for legibility

D) Phryne - the beautiful hetaera certainly could play the role of your mother and maybe has done so in your dreams. But isn't she a little too beautiful for a poor family's mother? Then again, beauty has its uses...

E) Suggestion - maybe come up with a mother figure from the Suernian female population, or one of the Jews. Can't think of some right now because I am a hack.

(cont.)

>Sibling [Optional]

A) Aisling, daughter of Ambiorix - It may be remarked upon if your sister is a redhead, while the rest of the family is not. This is when you pull the ADOPTION card. That'll work on the city guards. Maybe.

B) Ummashtart, Princess of Rubble and Dust - the soft-gazed little princessling has lost her siblings. Maybe you could make up for their deaths by filling that hole in her. Then again, would it be wise to let her loose in such conditions?

C) Cabaleiro's Boy - You don't even know his name. You just did this as a power play against the bloody pedophile. Actually, does he even speak Greek?

D) None. You have no sibling.

E) Custom

Oh boy, this is going to take a while to achieve vote consensus.

>>3289694
Group A :
13 Resources
Ariamnes the Galant and 10 Kataphraktoi with Jewelry and Musicians

We going all in with the pimp style

Group B :

Ambiorix and Eir as our parents and either Aisling as a sibling or none at all.
We can play the part of the oblivious adopted kid, having our """parents""" acting threateningly when their paternity of us is put in doubt would probably only reinforce the illusion.

Anyway, it's better to go with maximum safety and pick as many fighters as possible since we're going to be essentially alone in the lion's den.

>>3289886
i agree with anon

>>3289670
GROUP A:
>Budget B
We want to be able to keep up the lie while spending as little as possible. Middle ground seems wise.
>Noble C
We can't rely on Ummashtart. I'm concerned about whether a courtesan slave can be trusted, also. Don Quixote is our best bet here.
>Retainers C
If we're engaging in a siege, the kataphraktoi will likely not be all that useful to begin with. Besides that, they are the men Ariamnes is used to working with, and will better serve the lie.
>Secondary Cosmetics C
Again, this seems the most appropriate for Ariamnes. A gallant noble knight might not be decked out in jewellery, and certainly will not ride in a palanquin. Musicians would be quite appropriate, however.

GROUP B:
>Father/grandfather E
3 reasons: this is his plan, I want to get to know him, and we need a leader with a cool head.
>Mother C
We should keep a German to play the role of the mother if we're bringing Hermann along.
>Sibling D

>>3290150
Supporting this. Frugality is wise, and I don't trust the gauls to keep up the lie. I'd like to bring Tart along as our sibling, though...

>>3289886
Supporting

>>3290150
Couldn’t we just recoup our costs from looting this city?

>>3290165
To be honest, I wouldn't mind switching to budget 13 since anon and I agree on most points. The main thing, though, is that I don't think Ariamnes would go for the jewelry and I *really* don't want to use the gauls as the family. Like pastel blue anon said, they're too hotheaded to carry off the mission properly. We also haven't spent enough time with Hermann; it's important to create a bond with all our officers, not just Ambiorix.

>>3290179
Fair points. I do think we should bring Aisling along as our sister, an extra fighter is always welcome.

>>3290190
Eh, I can't stand Aisling, and the relationship between her and Hermann seems like it'd create problems for the mission. Why not bring along a young fighter from the German tribe instead? Have him play an older brother.

>>3290213
>>3290190
But wait! If we bring Ummashtart, she can add authenticity to the "adopted" narrative by being clearly unrelated to either us or the parents! Plus, that'd be progress on our plan to induce Stockholm syndrome!

>>3290226
>Bring ummashtart
>She’s surrounded by the Germans and Caesar
This might work...

>>3290179
I'd rather have someone we can actually trust and whose martial prowess we've witnessed first-hand rather than Roose Bolton as our bodyguard. The mission will be carried out just as good, if not better.
We can check on the Germans later, ensuring our own safety is what should come first.

>>3290226
She's an extra liability we'll have to protect and defend for no good reason nor gain, we're supposed to be swift, effective and precise; bringing her along would be a detriment to all that not to mention a major risk as she could just slip off and tell on us.

>>3290226
I didn’t even know that was a serious plan. I thought she was basically useless to us, and only a liability. We could sell her off to some rich Indian guy or something.

>>3290275
Part of being able to actually trust someone is making an effort to cultivate a bond with our officers. From what I've seen of Ambiorix so far, he's hotheaded and excitable. Not at *all* the kind of person you want on a spying mission. We're not picking out a bodyguard for the battlefield. We're going in for espionage, and a cool head is *essential* for the face of our party. No gauls.

>>3290275
>Only person who's demonstrated the Roman virtues other than Caesar, despite the disadvantage of being born a barbarian
>He's untrustworthy! He's an emotionless villain! Take the hothead who hates Romans instead!
Do you hate the protagonist too?

>>3290275
I feel like you're overestimating the likelihood we'll get into a fight. The object of this mission is to go in, gather information without attracting attention, and leave before the battle commences, right? So why are you focusing in on the "bodyguard" and "martial prowess" angles?

>>3290399
You're aware, I hope, that the roman Virtus wasn't "being a cold psychopath" at all, right?

Valor, courage and pride were the three pillars of it, mastering one's emotions (or rather the public display of them) being rather minor compared to those.
Ironically for your argument, Ambiorix actually exemplify more the Roman qualities than Herman ever will, having disqualified himself from being a "true man" the moment he proposed a stratagem (the very word being considered to be an insult by even Roman generals) to take down the city by treachery.

Sorry to get in the way of you sucking the G*rman's dick but yeah, I'd rather take the Barbarian that's acting like one than the wannabe schemer; especially when the former proved that he's good at his job unlike the later.

>>3290380
He's a hothead and excitable in private but he's first and foremost a soldier and we've nothing to reproach about his conduct while on duty not to mention the chances of shit hitting the fan are closer to a certitude so we're indeed very much picking a bodyguard albeit not one for the battlefield.
He's simply and objectively the best choice, Herman can stay at home. Don't worry tho, we're still taking the German spear-wife as our "mother".

>>3290413
We're going, alone, into a secret tunnel that is sure to be guarded and patrolled to map it out; said tunnel being inside a city with copious amount of almost professional militia and private guards from the numerous VIP currently inside it.

There is just no way that it's going to end (if not even to start) without blood being shed and I'd rather not it be ours, thank you very much.
We're going for armed infiltration, not court espionnage.

>>3290516
Well, we're certainly going to end up screwing the mission and getting in a fight if you're pushing for it this hard. Excuse me for wanting to get things right.

>>3290498
Still not seeing why you think he's a psychopath. So far, all we've seen from Hermann is that he's a leader who applies more logic than emotions to his decisions, and tries to minimize casualties.
As for the proposition that we sneak in through a secret tunnel and take the city by treachery, that was Cabaleiro.

>>3290526
How exactly do you plan on mapping out a (guarded mind you) secret passage without getting into a fight at some point or another?
Excuse me for not wanting Caesar to get killed just for the sake of playing at Solid Snake.

The whole point of the mission is that we're distracting people with a big, loud group and sneaking as quickly as possible with another less conspicuous one but not amount of "unconspicuousness" will save us from guard wanting to kick our ass the moment we're spotted inside the city's secret tunnels because, you know, they're supposed to be secret and shit and the guys patrolling them will probably be able to put two and two together and understand why foreigners could be inside them and, when that moment come, I'd rather we be ready for the fight that will ensue.

>>3290566
I'm not arguing we should go in with a group of flautists and handmaidens, you know. I just think someone less eager to fight will be a better pick for an espionage mission. They're both professional soldiers; neither one is going to be a shitty bodyguard.

>>3289818
Are you the same guy who ran the Umbrella Corp quest a few months ago?

>>3290702
Not the QM, but I was the anon who suggested Colonel Quaritch as the MC, if I am thinking of the right quest. Didn't really play on after a female protag was picked.

>>3290498
As >>3290553 points out, it was Cabaleiro that suggested sneaky sneaky.

>>3290226
>>3290275
Do keep in mind that having vulnerable-looking people might improve the chance of making your "family" seem more of a non-threat. Though they might wonder what such a pretty (and different looking) girl is doing with this roughshod family.


Really digging the discussion, somewhat saddened by lack of interest in wacky Parthian adventurer - but then again, I suppose Ariamnes does fit well in the "noble here for some fun" role. Don't take this comment as being "you should have picked the Parthiaaaan", there is no "right" answer here. I'll leave you guys to it for a while yet, don't take this comment as being the end of the debate.

>>3292647
Regarding Ariamnes, I just love Don Quixote and want to see him as much as possible. Can't speak for others, of course.

>>3292658
Missed a word there. "see him *doing* as much as possible," I meant to type.

>>3292658
Fret not, for there are plans within plans, and some of them include showcasing the Old Knight!

Hey guys, I'll be doing some paperwork-intensive activities for visa and bank stuff for a few days, so I may not be able to update the usual one post minimum for this quest for a while. I wanted to let you know instead of leaving you hanging.

Sorry. Hope everything goes well with this, I'm so bad with dates and submission forms (in triplicates) and whatnot.

>>3304352
Welcome to Ypra.