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>>31714101
You lean back against the stone bench you’re sitting on, gazing up at the sun through the gaps in leaves. On one side of the town square lays wanton destruction – the ruins of pathways and the walls of buildings. Volante’s body lay lifeless in the middle of the cracked and scarred flagstones and his head lay in a slight crater nearby. The other side of the square is almost pristine, with leafy trees, stalls and clean pathways – marred only by an enormous sword embedded in a wooden wall.

As you sit there, you consider the fight. It was a short fight in retrospect. A handful of attacks and manoeuvres, thrown against each other with all your strength and skill. The main thing that kept you on top was your ability to keep control of the initiative despite Volante’s talent. If you’d slipped even once you would have found it difficult to recover easily.

>Battlefield Control increases to [II]. You now have the ability to control any battlefield, and receive your stat boost, except against opponents with more talent in this than you.

You hear your companions jogging up to you from the direction opposite your original entrance, led by Gnome. You wave to them as they approach. Your senses are still empowered so you catch Mal and Vad’s conversation.

“So does this often happen? Him being modest and asking for help right before completely annihilating his opponent?” Vad asks, his fox ears twitching slightly as he glances around the square.

“Not quite so dramatically, but yes. Reasonably often,” Mal replies, walking over to you directly. “Usually his opponents have been less terrifying, though.”

Then Mal calls out to you, “Going up in the world are we? I don’t think you could have done this a year ago.”

>continued

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>>31714114
“I did kill one of their most powerful daywalkers a year ago, Mal,” you respond, giving him a smirk.

“And you were all roughed up and weak afterwards. Here, you’re completely fresh,” he says, stopping a short distance away.

Gnome doesn’t show the same courtesy. “You said you were going to wait for our back-up.”

“I said I wanted your help if things went poorly, Gnome,” you say, raising a questioning eyebrow. “They didn’t.”

“This wasn’t some schoolyard fight, Talon,” Gnome says angrily. “One slip up and he would have had you.”

“Aww, is Gnomey jealous of Tallie beating up the big bad daywalker that gutted her?” Sala interjects, smiling wickedly as he she stands nearby with her hands stretched out behind her head. “Afraid that her darling master might not need babysitting anymore?”

Gnome whirls on Salamander and gives her a sharp glare. Sala returns the look with wicked eyes. Damn, you’d forgot that she could be like this – she usually played so nice.

“You know, times like this make me think not having his harem is a good thing,” Vad whispers to Mal, which you barely catch with your empowered hearing.

Mal nods slightly. “Sometimes I think so, too. Then I look at the women he’s got and realise how crazy that thought is.”

No help from the peanut gallery, you think. You might need to step in and do something about this fight yourself.

>Write-in response

>>31714135
We could distract with what the vampire told us before he died.

I am surprised Gnome is loosing her cool so much these days. Its nice to know she cares so much.

>>31714135
"Salamander, as you well know, as I increase in strength so does Gnome. Therefor it would be rather silly of her to be jealous of my strength as her babysitting ability will be improving as well."

Also, the jokes about the elf got me thinking. I don't see us dating her anytime soon, though I do see us flirting with her. In front of Gnome. Just to troll her.

>"At least Gnome will be able to keep up with me. Haven't seen Mal doing help you do the same Sala."

>tfw remembering us getting our shit pushed in by a Darlesian General with an axe

Man this shit is crazy.

>>31714135
"The enemy's are only going to get stronger here on in, so long as i keep winning"

>>31714255
>Also, the jokes about the elf got me thinking. I don't see us dating her anytime soon, though I do see us flirting with her. In front of Gnome. Just to troll her.
Yeah, talon would do that alright
>>31714255
>>31714235
Either of these works.

>>31714235
Do this. Distraction would work excellent here.
>Did you know that he was the Grandson of the the man whose armor I am now wearing...

I am also thinking pointing out how lucky we were to "disarm" him as first blood, probably due to getting underestimated (because I love making a disarm pun)

>>31714326
>Haven't seen Mal doing help you do the same Sala."
1. not sure what you are trying to say cause the grammar is poor
2. if my guess is correct, I wouldn't say it at all

>>31714135
"I don't need babysitters. And I don't need the women I care for bickering like hens."

>>31714384

That was the worst grammar, my mistake disregard. Been a long day.

>>31714135
"I am absolutely certain that having somebody babysit me will be more than appreciated when we're fighting against the Lord of Ember and other such monstrosities. Having this situation under control was just luck."

>>31714135
"If it did go less perfectly I"m sure I could have held him back long enough for all of you to give support. Otherwise I wouldn't have taken his challenge at all. Although speaking of this I never knew I would find Darlesian royalty here of all places."

>>31714255
>I don't see us dating her anytime soon, though I do see us flirting with her. In front of Gnome. Just to troll her.

Be great if we could have had Undine there without spoiling. Just because she kind of helped raise her which makes it more hilarious. I suppose we are stuck just screwing with Gnome.

>>31714135
I prefer being over-prepared to being dead. One bad move and he would have had control over the battlefield once more.

>>31714483
>Just because she kind of helped raise her
Its an interesting dynamic for undine too. her main parental figure was gnome when she just formed, and now they are both with the same man

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Write-ins. Write-ins everywhere.

RESPONSE VOTE
>1. Rebuke them for bickering after a victory. No need to baby them, they're grown women. >>31714405
>2. Try to distract them with Volante's revelation about the Darlesian royal line. >>31714235
>3. Try to disarm the situation by teasing the both of them. >>31714255
>4. Take Gnome's side. You'll need their strength - ascribe the victory to luck. >>31714419
>5. Take Sala's side, very slightly. Express confidence in yourself. >>31714483

>>31714580
>2. Try to distract them with Volante's revelation about the Darlesian royal line. >>31714235
>3. Try to disarm the situation by teasing the both of them. >>31714255

>>31714580
>3

>>31714580
>2. Try to distract them with Volante's revelation about the Darlesian royal line.

With some 1 in there.

>>31714580
4 and 2.

>>31714580
2.
3.
as if we would go with anything else with those options on the table.

>>31714580
2

>>31714580
>>2. Try to distract them with Volante's revelation about the Darlesian royal line. >>31714235

>>31714580
2 go sho

>>31714580
>3

>>31714580
2
Can we please not do 3
I'm tired of our badass Emporer being such a punk

>>31714679
eh its not so bad so long as he keeps it light.

>>31714679
we usually tease them though.

>>31714679
I agree about getting tired of the constant teasing. it loses its meaning if it is done non stop.
Tease, but in moderation

>>31714679
I kind of agree. I mean, he's supposed to be sort of serious, and we just found out some deep shit about Darlesia. We can tease them when we get home.

>>31714679

Can get behind the notion. During down time sure. Now? Nah.

>>31714580
2
maybe assure Gnome afterwards that if we had slipped up we would have called them in to help immediately.

>>31714626
Changing my vote to just 2.

>>31714580
>4
It really was luck, after all.

>>31714580
3

>>31714679
>What is half the shit alexander the great did?

Though yeah in this case we have too much info to just mess with both of them. Though I like >5 the best just because it says he has confidence but won't do it blindly if he thinks it's a bad idea helping with gnome. Then it distracts them with the Royalty making them think there.

>>31714114
Don't mean to distract but
>Battlefield Control increases to [II]. You now have the ability to control any battlefield, and receive your stat boost, except against opponents with more talent in this than you.
What exactly does this let us do?

>>31714544
Don't forget Mercenie was there for a lot of her life too helping her out. It's why she has such a soft spot for her.

Thinking about it further. I think sala is basically standing up to gnome for talon (he is stronger than you give him credit for), but is being quite harsh about it. Part of it is that Gnome is probably/usually doing the same to sala and undine.

I say that later we thank sala for that vote of confidence... but try to get her to see that gnome is only being a fussy babysitter to those she loves because she is afraid to lose them, especially with her losing undine one before.

I got a feeling that maybe talking to gnome too (separately), not sure exactly what to say yet. but end result is that, hopefully, they will make up before this has a chance to grow more sour.

>>31714882
from PC char sheet
>Battlefield Control I – increases all attributes by one when fighting in a battlefield of own creation.
So, BC2 removes the limitation of being a battlefield of our own creation. as long as the enemy doesn't have greater battlefield control

>>31714882
I think it gives us a bonus when we have the initiative and lets us get it easier. Like going first in a fight etc.

>>31714900
These sisters have been bickering for centuries. This is the first time they've been together for more than a few days, they've got grievances spanning time from before we were a twinkle in our grandfather's eyes. Let them vent their frustrations with each other before we step in.

>>31714927
I notice it says ALL attribute rather than all physical. that would mean int and cha and magic and resistance too I think.

>>31714945
Which is why I suggested we don't step up into their argument, but later talk with each in private. If we don't that specific argument could repeat itself and we will get dragged into it in the open and there are no correct answers in such a case.

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>2 & 3

You sigh. The joys of having a coterie of sisters serving you.

“Volante said something interesting before he died,” you say, interrupting the impending catfight.

The two girls turn to you, Gnome quickly redirecting her anger and Sala mostly looking put out, giving you a pout. The others look interested, and Felix steps into earshot having finished firing off some sendings to your men.

“Turns out the Darlesian royal line won’t be a problem. Volante claims to be the grandson of the owner of this armour, and the last of the original royal line anointed one hundred and twenty years ago,” you explain.

Gnome frowns, her anger fading. “That’s officer armour, Talon. I can’t see a Knight of Basette forsaking his vows and becoming royalty.”

“Didn’t you say that belonged to a Sir Arquin, Talon?” Undine says, her face lighting up as she catches the connection first. “Who then became grandmaster?”

Gnome looks shocked for a moment while the others look surprised. “That’s right. You did say that. And Arquin did slay the regent here, though he didn’t take the throne.”

“No, his son did. Volante Terces was the son of the first Darlesian king and the grandson of Arquin Terces,” you say. “We’ll need to check, but if it’s right then the Darlesian royal line was broken a century ago and, without a new line anointed, we can argue that anybody claiming their titles from the old country holds them unrightfully.”

>continued

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>>31715152
“In other words,” Felix says, grinning broadly, “you probably have more right to the throne, having just killed the true crown prince and last real heir as well as controlling the capital.”

“Was that really a problem?” Vad asks. “Who’s going to cause trouble?”

“Magister General Falwick, for one,” you say, grimacing. “Mercenie told me that he’s requested the king grant him permission to invade Darlesia in retaliation for us killing RSK spies. My friendship with Old Fenix kept Falwick at bay. If he found a noble with a connection to the old royal family however, Fenix would be bound by precedent and politics to give him permission.”

“Old Fenix?” Lynn chirps up, looking confused as the looks of the others darken.

“Old King Fenix Dorack, of the Royal Seraphi Kingdom,” you say. “Or just King Fenix to be polite.”

“You’re friends with the largest country on the continent?” Vad exclaims, tails and ears standing straight. “And you just received personal warning from the right-hand of the most powerful mage alive? I’m beginning to think I hit the jackpot by signing you on the alliance.”

You shake your head and direct everybody back to camp, talking as you go.

>You now control Deodain
>The Taouran soldiers have retreated from the countryside of their provinces and into the capital and fortresses

Okay, so I need to briefly duck off to pick up some groceries. This is the perfect time for you guys to decide where to move next before I get back.

>>31715173
I'm up for either turtling(causes them harm and we gain), or taking out another feeder province and makes sure there isn't an escape route, also getting around the death wall in crece.

>>31715173
We have two choices:
1: The slow methodical assault were we bring up our southern forces and pincer attack their capital.
Risks losing vampires as they run though.

2: The fast approach were we assault them quickly to capatalise on the panic this victory will bring.

Depending on how the full moon sits, if we have plenty of time then its not an issue, if the full moon is within the next week then we stall till after it, if its within 2, the slow approach would be more feasible.

>>31715173
We should strike the capital now. Killing Volante was a lucky break
Unnecessarily prolonging the conflict would be bad for us

Also, if we now move all 5000 troops bordering the capital to it, we outnumber them 5000 to 4000 and we have 8 hero units (7 if we don't count felix) while they have 3, only one of which is a combatant (the other two are an administrator and a cowardly thrallherd)
If we wait they will likely withdraw most troops from crece to the capital, but not all. Withdrawing all troops to capital would let us pincer them on a 10,000 vs 8,000 (same ratio as before, but our hero units matter less due to scale increasing), so most likely they will leave a thousand troops to guard crece, and prevent us from doing that. meaning we would be outnumbered or have to spend a long time going around (and allow them to sack darlesia to do so as they can reach it faster then our troops can go the long way around the mountains)

>>31715302
we will have to go through the death wall, and denied giving away a favor.
We will lose large amount of troops and that is if the day walkers don't come down and help.

>>31715302
as I recall, the full moon is in 2 weeks. so, if we want to avoid the powerup, we either rush the capital now, or take out the now-undefended feeder provinces and then strangle them in Taour.

>>31715302
>1: The slow methodical assault were we bring up our southern forces and pincer attack their capital.
Bring them through where?

>>31715340
worth noting, after full moon every daywalker would be able to turn another person to a vampire
And the daywalkers (all 3 of them) can turn 3 people into fresh daywalkers immediately (since the last time one of them turned someone was 50 years ago and it recharges every year)

>>31715325
>>31715340
why don't we rush past the feeder provinces and pincer attack crece?

>>31715375
This would be tunneling under the death wall as suggested before. Again, slow, methodical.

>>31715375
>worth noting, after full moon every daywalker would be able to turn another person to a vampire
you mean nightwalker, and this just increases the problem of the blood farms being gone.

>>31715302
The main risk with option 2 is that we end up in a situation like Taour did, where we get so bogged down in conquering the capitol that the Magi league snaps up the feeder provinces and Creece.

>>31715391
It leaves our supply train wide open to attack, which could devastate our forces.

>>31715325

I favor quick attack on capital as well, the time to press our attack is now.

I would have favored strangling Taour if they still had Volante, without Volante we have an advatange we should press before they come up with some sort of vampire trickery

>>31715325
PS. I am also loathe towards emptying darlesia of troops, we need to guard that border and finish solidifying our control over it, it is a major city after all.

>>31715391
Crece is a fotress, pincering it would not make it easier to take and gives us nothing except a now smashed fortress
Also, it would take more than a week to rush through the feeder provinces like that, remember the average province is 2500 square miles, some of them larger.
Taking the capital = killing the vampires and killing their rulers. The non vampires will then surrender

oh, that is another thing. the army in crece might defect to join us after capital falls. so we gain 4000 troops instead of losing troops.

>>31715425
true, the league will zero to no resistance from the feader provinces.

>>31715425

I'm not as worried about the feeders as I am Crece.

That is a huge defensive location and if they snapped it up, which remains a distinct possibility regardless of their disposition towards us, it would split that general land of ours in half and make any normal movement incredibly difficult.

>>31715409
We can tunnel in to there if they refuse to surrender after we take the captal
heck if we take the capital we just cut off food supply to the fotress from both sides and the 4000 troops in it will surrender or starve to death

>>31715456
>killing their rulers.
this includes the nobles correct?

>>31715425
Frankly if we take the capital with moderate losses then we could easily move out into the countrysides surrounding soon after and establish tentative controll, but again it puts us at risk.

I would rather build up a little and capture some feeder provinces, goad them out into the field.

>>31715425

I don't think Magi League is likely to snap up feeder provinces since Alyce wants to maintain positive relationships with us.

Magi League isn't going to want relatively poor provinces at the expense of their relationship with us.

We also still have a favor with them as well.

>>31715325
This in wrong on several counts:
First of all, the vast majority of forces in Crece are men at arms and archers, with the capitol having virtually all of their remaining mage knights and mages. Our distribution isn't as unequal.

>>31715416
I did mean nightwalker, yes.

>>31715425
>Magi league snaps up the feeder provinces and Creece.
Our agreement with them is that they don't. and after taking the capital we can send a thousand troops to each feeder province to capture it real quick before they can react

>>31715437
>I favor quick attack on capital as well, the time to press our attack is now.
>I would have favored strangling Taour if they still had Volante, without Volante we have an advatange we should press before they come up with some sort of vampire trickery
Yea, that was my logic. them losing Volante is a huge boon for us and changes the course of battle. I favored letting them get more rebellious before, now the situation changed and we should strike while the iron is hot

>>31715490
We won't be able to feed taour without their aide if they do. Do you trust them that much?
>>31715511
not really
>>31715491
You forgot that we can pull in two grandmaster knights (and several masters) as well as a Grand Magister and magesters for the final attack.

>>31715488
>this includes the nobles correct?
Only those found guilty of crimes against humanity in the public trials to follow...
so, yes killing all of them.

>>31715490
If one of the local commanders does it of their own initiative its going to be hard for her to pull back.

>>31715549

Those gallows are going to be packed.

>>31715549
good since they stayed in power by sucking up to the vampires.

I would like to propose that now is a good time to start sending sendings to the mages, knights, commanders, and any other sub faction without taour that might want to defect.
Scare them a bit with the "talon is marching on you, he just killed Volante in single combat; Taour is finished, Join him and be spared" spiel
>>31715491
>First of all, the vast majority of forces in Crece are men at arms and archers, with the capitol having virtually all of their remaining mage knights and mages.
Where is this information coming from?
Even if true, the situation remains the same. we have powerful hero units with excellent anti army capabilities

>>31715588
>good since they stayed in power by sucking up to the vampires.
I am pretty much betting they had a path to vampirism being that of prestige. you suck up enough and commit enough atrocities, you can get promoted from cattle to vampire.

>>31715603
They have vetrans and elites, while our army is still mostly green, to normal.

>>31715603
This leaves us open to a planned infiltation attack. I am against letting them know a route straight in to us in advance.

>>31715603
hero untis can only do so much anon.

>>31715545
>We won't be able to feed taour without their aide if they do. Do you trust them that much?
Remember that the magi league relocated its army to the north west to fight lord ember. and the RSK is not attacking them because the RSK would rather the magi league be fighting ember then them. (especially with the shit they need to clean up in their own backyard).

Furthermore the magi doesn't want us to ally with the RSK. So if we have an explicit deal with us I expect them to honor it.

I think that they'll essentially give us the feeders at this point. They are on a major downward spiral and at this point likely just trying to damage us as much possible and extend this conflict. (Perhaps so escape is possible, or something else.)

If we go ahead and take the feeders they'll just bulk the capital and Crece even more. They'll offer us little resistance, and if they do we'll wipe them. So at this point going for Taour seems like a good plan. But that also leaves two countryside provinces with small amounts of vampires in the field. That can easily flee or harry our rear/side flanks. So it might be the better idea to take the feeders, smash what we can, surround them, and just blast the city with all we got assuming that the highest concentration of vampires are there for a right proper purging.

>>31715603
>Where is this information coming from?
OP has said that they pulled the majority of the mage knights to the capitol. Thus, if we shuffle our hero units again we can attack Men at arms and archers with our hero's. Thus, the odds won't be 10000 vs 8000 it will be more like 10000 vs 5000 once we've sacked Crece.

>>31715603
I'd prefer to moderate the 'join us and be spared' bit. more of a 'any man who does not attack us will be spared' thing.

>>31715678
They can do a lot, and we also outnumber them 5 to 4

>>31715654
we disarm the defectors until after the battle is over and have them sit on the sidelines.

>>31715649
We have vets too.

>>31715603
No with that sending.

>>31715725
>vets too
a fraction of our army is vets.

>>31715725
>They can do a lot, and we also outnumber them 5 to 4
The odds will be better once we've taken Crece. Taour did it, and they were facing large numbers of mage knights.

>>31715711
>Assuming the vampires will not cut our supply lines as we circle the capital
>Assuming the vampires will not send a force to sack our capital if we leave a path open
>Assuming we take no losses while seiging a very very powerful fortress
our hero units cannot cast through the powerful shield domes of a fortress anon.
>Assuming that there will be no reprecussions for emptying darlessia of troops

>>31715695

My concern is that we don't want to give them time to build up Taour.

The feeder provinces have marginal value to us in the short term. In the long term, they'll be useful to us in starving out Taour, but that may take months.

If the only utility of feeder provinces has to be measured in months, then I think it's better to just take Taour quickly and consolidate our forces afterwards.

If we have a sufficient rearguard and scouts, I think the risk of ambushes can be minimized, particularly since the remaining Daywalkers are not going to ambush us from the behind.

And if they do, we can simply murder them since it's not going to be Blackwater

>>31715741
Let me try, then.

"Volante is dead, killed in single combat. Darius is dead, eradicated entirely. Our armies march on you now, and we will smite all who stand in our way. Any man who lays down his weapons and surrenders himself to our armies will be spared our wrath. There will be no second offer of clemency."

better than that guy?

>>31715775
>don't want to give them time to build up Taour.
i think its the opposite.
Right now they should be feeling hungry and deperate.

>>31715800
It is better than what I wrote, I approve

Crece seems like a side quest at this point.

Just have the troops at Darlesia keep troops at Crece occupied so they can't reinforce Taour.

Speed is key here, we want to press our advantage and strike before full moon

>>31715767
>Assuming the vampires will not cut our supply lines as we circle the capital
How in the world would they do that?
>Assuming the vampires will not send a force to sack our capital if we leave a path open
That path is already open. There is no force between Creece and Harrowmont that can stop the force there. Taking creece secures the capitol.

>Assuming we take no losses while seiging a very very powerful fortress
Its not that strong anon

>our hero units cannot cast through the powerful shield domes of a fortress anon.
Yeah we totally can.
>Assuming that there will be no reprecussions for emptying darlessia of troops
Assuming we do that.

Also, why the fuck do you think that Vampire central is less defended?

>>31715839
so why not have a force attack crece, and when taour tries to send reinforcements attack taour, and have the people at crece retreat?

>>31715800

Do we want to offer thralls a chance at clemency by saying that we are developing a cure?

This might be useful after we slay Blackwater as well since thralls who haven't been commanded to fight to death might be more willing to lay down their arms.

Or would this be counterproductive?

>>31715775

Well Taour can only support so much, they are running low on food supplies, blood supplies, and I'm sure the general state of the city is bordering on anarchy.

They don't have the building up capabilities we do. Let along without any supply line from their feeders.

A huge force within Taour might actually make it easier to take due to disorganization and a general lack of needs supplied, thus lower morale and weaker troops(because most are still human remember).

So a thought just popped in my head, what if the day walkers are not in taour?

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>>31715812
it is worth noting that after we take taour we need to rebuild it. the more damage happens to it before we conquer it, the less useful it is when we get it and the less we get from it.

Oh, here is another thing, if we give them time to see it coming they might sabotage the HMK factory too.

>>31715864
>>Assuming the vampires will not cut our supply lines as we circle the capital
>How in the world would they do that?
seriously?
look at the map, you are suggesting we bring our troops from raupe, to forfdain, to carrlouf, then attack crece from the north with 5000 troops while our 5000 troops from the south attack it as well. then after that simultanous attack, our surviving 100% of troops due to no lossess attack taour from crece.
While we are at forfdain with all our troops the vamps will just march into deodain and cut off our supply lines. leaving us trapped behind their lines with no supplys (except what we can maybe loot from the land as we go)

>>31715888

Because attacking a fortress head-on is going to get a lot of our troops killed and will produce uncertain results and likely divide our hero units.

it's better to threaten attack and use raids since the fortress isn't going to be a big deal if Taour is taken and Daylords slain.

Just make sure the Crece troops are tied up without risking our own in a major engagement is what I'm saying.

>>31715839
>Just have the troops at Darlesia keep troops at Crece occupied so they can't reinforce Taour.
They'll abandon Crece to support the capitol anyway. Of course, feinting towards Taour to draw down Crece's troop strength before storming it is a good idea.

>>31715921
Aspie flat-out told us they are now clustered in Taour. any other situation would be delibarate lying.
>>31715898
We shouldn't say that we're developing a cure, but something along the lines of 'thralls who surrender will be taken by our mages for testing.' otherwise the vamps will just thrall all of them to fight to the death.

>>31715921

Then we easily take their seat of power, destroy their main army and laugh?

>>31715864
>>our hero units cannot cast through the powerful shield domes of a fortress anon.
>Yeah we totally can.
Only talon can at the cost of an FR point. the rest of them cannot penetrate the permanent shields of a magitech fortress. Don't confuse fortress shield dome with hastily conjured moving shields erected by mages

>>31715962
>it is worth noting that after we take taour we need to rebuild it. the more damage happens to it before we conquer it, the less useful it is when we get it and the less we get from it.
the thing is do you want your troops to survive or an intact city that can be rebuilt by gnome and a few other earth elementals in a month or 2.(we are planning on turtling after Taour.

>>31715864
>That path is already open. There is no force between Creece and Harrowmont that can stop the force there. Taking creece secures the capitol.
wrong path anon
if their troops leave crece our force from darlesia CAN intercept them
if we move 5000 troops from draupe and deodain to circle around through forfdain and carrlouf to take crece we will leave a path for taour to go to raupe and then vale and then vitria/harrowmont.

>>31715969

But why do we want Crece in the first place and not Taour?

Crece is just a big ass fortress, we want to take their capital and kill the Daywalkers

I would rather probe Crece's defense first and if it's borderline abandoned, have Araile siege it on his own initiative while we do our thing in the North. If it's heavily garrisoned, have Araile keep it that way

>>31715962
>raupe,
we are actually inside Deodain anon.

>>31715962
>look at the map, you are suggesting we bring our troops from raupe, to forfdain, to carrlouf, then attack crece from the north with 5000 troops while our 5000 troops from the south attack it as well. then after that simultanous attack, our surviving 100% of troops due to no lossess attack taour from crece.
Uh, no I'm not. At all. I'm suggesting moving the troops from Darlesia to Crece, attacking the undermanned and underexposed force holding it with powerful elites, and I was assuming that our continous production of mundane and AA gear would make up most/all of the losses we take.

>>31716000
Anon. what the fuck are you smoking? Stoneworks damage is gonna be identical. I was talking about POPULACE damage dumbass.
People will die, people will starve, people will be killed by vampires, etc
Remember the state darlesia is in right now? That is what we could end up finding.

furthermore, it will upset perrin, he was barely ok with it before when we had a good argument of NEEDING to do it. now its not needed anymore

>>31716027

5000 in Darlesia
~3000 in Raupe
~2000 with Talon in Deodain

If I'm remembering my numbers right.

>>31716027
>>raupe,
>we are actually inside Deodain anon.
Talon is with 2500 soldiers, another 2500 and general perrin are in raupe
The plan I was replying to suggested all 5000 circle around the north to attack crece from carrlouf

>>31716020
...so that our southern force can assist in the attack on the capitol. And So we don't have to worry about the Magi League getting grabby.

>>31716081
>The plan I was replying to suggested all 5000 circle around the north to attack crece from carrlouf
No it didn't that was someone else who's terrified of the fortifications, and somehow thinks that a wall originally built to protect Darlesia from Taour is weaker when attacked from the Taour side. Seriously, most of the defenses are pointed in the wrong direction.

So any chance that the generals in Crece is thralled and was ordered not to give up?

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Right, sorry about that. All my plans went awry when I slept through my alarm this morning.

>Calling on Vitria for aid
If you decide to call on the knightly orders and mage towers in Vitria for aid in conquering Taour, you'll get about 300 noble knights (high morale HMKs), 50 battle-mages (including a few magisters) and 50 medium combat summons (not that strong but immune to fear). Doing this normally costs money (as you need to cover the peacetime salaries plus hazard pay), but with you recently capturing Vitria you essentially get a freebie but it only lasts a short while.

>penetrating fortress barriers
If you remember back in Thread II where your mages had to spend an hour doing a complex ritual to blow through the walls, then you'll know that you'll need magically enchanted siege weapons to take down walls. Like what Taour tried against you at Niorte.

>How defensible is the Wall of Lesia?
It's a long wall and relatively poorly manned right now. It has strong barriers, however, that also impede movement so you'd need to break those barriers to move through even an undefended part of the wall. Note that any tunneling will also face barriers that stretch underground.

>intimidatory messages to Taour
You can try them. Taour is sliding towards revolt, now.

>Taour's defenses
It's a walled city, but the city also towers very high in a terraced fashion with large underground areas. You don't need to knock down the walls to move onto them or pas tthem as the barriers only try to stop fast-moving projectiles.

>current forces
5000 in Darlesia, mostly untrained
4000 in Raupe, mostly untrained (includes latest recruits
3000 in Deodain, mostly regular

>>31716088

I personally think the Southern Force won't be as helpful since:

(1) They will have taken moderate to heavy casualties from besieging a huge fortress

(2) The survivors of Crece would just retreat north to join Taour

(3) This would require us to hold off on attacking Taour with Northern Army, which could let the vamps reorganize after Volante's death.

>>31716055
>Uh, no I'm not. At all. I'm suggesting moving the troops from Darlesia to Crece, attacking the undermanned and underexposed force holding it with powerful elites, and I was assuming that our continous production of mundane and AA gear would make up most/all of the losses we take.
In that case you butted into a refutation against a plan that is different than your.
I was replying (originally) to guy who suggested we consolidate the raupe and deodain force and have them attack crece from the north
if what you are suggesting is to just have the 5000 troops from darlesia attack crece

well, that would cause unnnecessary losses to our troops, it is better we conquer taour and then just choke the fotresses in crece until they surrender (if they don't surrender the moment we kill the vampires in taour).
Heck, I expect all former taour provinces will surrender the moment the vampires are all dead.

>>31716151

How long would it take for Vitrian Aid to arrive at Taour.

>>31716151
>but with you recently capturing Vitria you essentially get a freebie but it only lasts a short while.
can this freebie be banked or is it a "spend it or lose" it case?
because I am guessing it is a spend it or lose it in which case we might as well

>>31716151
>5000 in Darlesia, mostly untrained4000 in Raupe, mostly untrained (includes latest recruits
jesus that is bad against elites/vetrans.

>>31716164
I agree

>>31716151
Question: wasn't it originally designed to defend Darlesia against Taour? Shouldn't it be much weaker against attacks from Darlesia both due to prioritizing defense from that direction and to make it easier to retake should it fall temporarily

>>31716184

Vampires are in the field(albeit small forces of such) if we go straight for Taour I fully expect the feeders and Crece to become independents. Possibilities of some Nightwalker getting it in his head he wants to be a lord and dig into some area and give us hell. Possibility old armies will burn and pillage the countryside until we come out and deal with it while dealing with a city barely out of revolt.

>>31716263
Why would they want to commit suiicide? also, please take a look at troop count on the map. the feeder provinces have troop count of 0 to 1000 troops each
Also also, if we attack orange we upset RSK... if they seize unprotected deodain we have cause. I sincerely doubt they will, but I hope they will

>>31716263
>Vampires are in the field(albeit small forces of such)
So, just so I get it straight, you are arguing that all the elite human soldiers were recalled to the capital, but all the vampire soldiers were sent away to the feeder provinces?

oh, oho. Vampires will not stand a chance in magi league if they escaped there, this means the best escape route for them is through farun. Which is excellent for us for various reasons

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Okay, so plans I've seen are to pincer Crece by crossing Taouran territory (as they've hunkered down), take the rest of the feeder provinces and starve them out, or just hit the capital.

>>31716208
Spend it or lose it. The reason it's there is because I've been pushing at a breakneck pace and there hasn't been a chance to do the downtime event related to the costs etc of this.

>>31716252
It's a double-sided wall with a huge fortress in the centre of it, with mustering grounds etc. It was built during the war with Taour but retrofitted in case an assault came from the other direction.

>>31716220
They'll largely moderate up to Green soldiers due to your vets and regulars spread out among much of your forces.

>>31716207
Vitrian forces can muster and march to Hiien in Raupe in about seven days. The next full moon is in five days. You've got a two day march from Raupe or Deodain to Taour.

>>31716151
>4000 in Raupe, mostly untrained (includes latest recruits
>3000 in Deodain, mostly regular
oh, i didn't realize the reinforcements arrived already. this means we have a 7000 to 4000 troop count advantage. even better.

>>31716308
>Why would they want to commit suiicide?

What else does a Nightwalker/Thralled army have as an alternative answer in the field after Taour is sacked? Can't cross any border without getting blasted and they know they'll die from Talon's hand regardless. So why not cause as many issues as possible within the field to make us calming Taour and the surrounding areas all the harder.

Also never suggested we attack Orange, where did that come from? I meant Independents in the same vein Olmn and Mier were before we took them.

>>31716339

No no I was just raising a small point I'm really not trying to argue anything with that.

There is a chance Nightwalkers and thralls of lower standings are out in the field. That's all I'm saying. That can cause post Taour issues.

>>31716391
>What else does a Nightwalker/Thralled army have as an alternative answer in the field after Taour is sacked
You said vampires not thralls, Unless the thrall has ORDERS to perform a suidical actions he will run away as far as he can when his master dies. as we have seen happen before
>vampire
use his amazing stealth and mind powers to disappear and avoid detection and slaying rather then commit suicide just to slightly inconvenience this guy who fucked it up.

Also, I am positive all troops were recalled from the feeder provinces to protect the capital

>>31716379
Or just hit Crece, then attack Taour from both sides. Incidentally, does Taour have knight orders?

>>31716379

Could you add feinting to Crece while hitting capital as a sub-option under the Capital Offense option?

>>31716443
look, what would tg do if they were a vampire out in the field whose capital was just sacked?
commit suicide by attacking the dude who just oblitirated the super powerful elder vampires
Or run and hide using their amazing powers of stealth?
I am better that every vampire that is out in the field when taour capital falls is going to be running and hiding, not causing major trouble

>>31716379
Will taking the feeder provinces and crece leave us open?

>>31716496
so, trick Crece into not aiding Taour when we siege them. I think this is the best option if we want to preserve the HMK foundry.

>>31716496

I should clarify:

Feinting to Crece with our Darlesian forces while our Northern forces attack the capital

>>31716546
>HMK foundry.
isn't fixing one always cheaper and faster than making a new one?
Having a working HMK factory isn't a top priority for me.

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>>31716491
>Incidentally, does Taour have knight orders?
Not really, no.

>>31716527
That would depend on how you deployed your armies.

ACTION VOTE
>1. Attack Taour (the capital) with your northern armies while feinting an attack against Crece from the south.
>2. Attack Crece
>2.1. Attack Crece with just your southern forces
>2.2. Pincer Crece with both your southern and northern forces.
>3. Take the feeder provinces and turtle temporarily
>4. Custom

>>31716619
1

>>31716619
>2.2. Pincer Crece with both your southern and northern for

>>31716619

1

>>31716619
1

>>31716619
>3. Take the feeder provinces and turtle temporarily
we can still recruit and grow.

Rolled 7

>>31716619

1 but can we also have the knight orders deployed to our norther armies?

>>31716619
1

Rolled 9, 11, 13, 14, 3, 20, 15, 13, 9, 2, 7, 6, 17, 17, 17, 20, 8, 10, 9, 13 = 233

test

>>31716619
1

Rolled 1, 9, 3, 17, 6, 17, 4, 20, 13, 20, 10, 6, 7, 4, 13, 15, 1, 16, 6, 17 = 205

>>31716724
I wanna test too !

>>31716619
>>1. Attack Taour (the capital) with your northern armies while feinting an attack against Crece from the south.

If we're waiting on the mustering of Vitrian supplementary forces then we'll be right after the full moon.

What are we going to do waiting on them?
Couldn't we take a feeder during that and then march from three fronts at once on Taour?

>>31716724
Problem with multi dice test instead of multi roll test is that the algorithm for the rolling 2d20 is different than rolling 1d20 followed by another 1d20
brcause 2d20 needs to generate two results from one seed.

>>31716619
>1. Attack Taour (the capital) with your northern armies while feinting an attack against Crece from the south.

Rolled 15

>>31716815

Personally, I just requested the troops because

1. Why not, it's a freebie
2. Serve as reinforcement/garrison forces if need be

I'm personally for pushing and trying to city in one swoop with the feint

>>31716860
good point.
capture city within 2 days with our existing forces
5 days later the knights arrive, they help us restore order as well as capturing the feeder provinces and purging them of vampires as well as help us pincer crece (crece might yet surrender at that point)

>>31716860
counterpoint, even though it is a freebie, wasting their time with trivial work is not going to be good for our relationship

>>31716860
Lets attack right after the new moon.

>>31717043
why? what possible reason is there to do this?

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>1.

That's a clear vote to assault Taour. I'm going to get to work on the opening text for organisation and marching. I'm assuming you're bringing all hero units.

TAOURAN ASSAULT FORCE
7150 (inc. Vitrian reinforcements)
110 Flying Mage-Knights (Avg: Regular)
140 Heavy Mage-Knights (Avg: Green)
920 Medium Mage-Knights (Avg: Regular)
410 Arcane Archers (Avg: Regular)
1470 Archers (Avg: Regular)
550 Heavy Men-at-arms (Avg: Regular)
3100 Men-at-arms (Avg: Green)
50 Battlemages (Avg: Veteran)
+300 Noble Knights (Avg: Veteran)
+50 battle-mages (Avg: Regular)
+50 medium combat summons

VITRIAN FORCES VOTE
>1. Ask for the knightly orders and mage towers to assist you in assaulting Taour. This will delay your assault by at least seven days.
>2. Don't ask them to assist you. You can attack whenever.

Current Date: August 23rd, 1952PC
Next Full Moon: August 31st, 1952PC (sorry, I got the date wrong before).

It will take two days to march to Taour, so the full moon will have passed by the time you attack with the Vitrians and still be a week away if you attack now.

>>31717110
1

>>31717110
how big an effect does the full moon have again?

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>>31717110
>2. Don't ask them to assist you. You can attack whenever.

>>31717110
>1. Ask for the knightly orders and mage towers to assist you in assaulting Taour. This will delay your assault by at least seven days.
This will get us an additional 125 arcane archers as well.

>>31717110
>1. Ask for the knightly orders and mage towers to assist you in assaulting Taour. This will delay your assault by at least seven days.

Perfection fine with this.

Rolled 3

>>31717110

>1

But start besieging Taour and start bombarding them with propaganda/demand that individual soldiers surrender for clemency

Build defensive works in preparation for a potential counterattack on full moon and attack after reinforcements arrive

>>31717140
were wolves

>>31717110
>1
this is an inclusive empire after all, everyone should get a share of the work and a share of the spoils

>>31717110
2.
delay would mean enemy nightwalker population could double as they each can turn one person every lunar month.

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>>31717167
Actually, it wouldn't. I calculated the number of AAs you'd have assuming you attacked with the Vitrian reinforcements because I derped. You receive 125 AAs every seven days after August 14th, basically so if you attack now you'd technically lose some AAs.

>>31717140
Nightwalkers become super-strong and fast werewolves and immune to anything non-magical. Luckily, much of your army is loaded with magic.

>>31717140
during full moon nightwalker vampires turn into wolfmen who are MISTAKEN for werewolves but are NOT.
During that time they are a lot more powerful and invulernable except to magical weapons and magic spells
also, once every lunar moon a nightwalker can turn a person into another nightwalker

>>31717209
>socialism

>>31717282
actually, feudalism

>>31717110
2

>>31717110
Should we take Volante's head to intimidate the rest?

>>31717275
>Nightwalkers become super-strong and fast werewolves and immune to anything non-magical. Luckily, much of your army is loaded with magic.
Aspir, what about nightwalker ability to turn "one person per lunar month"? wouldn't that recharge at the new moon?

>>31717355
it could work. they'd know his helmet better, though.

>>31717110
>>1. Ask for the knightly orders and mage towers to assist you in assaulting Taour. This will delay your assault by at least seven days.

>>31717355
sword, less dishonorable

>>31717355
we should keep his corpse and bury it in darlesia with some fanfare anyways. as we need to solidify our claim to it to prevent that darlesian general from finding a minor distant relative and attacking us "to put the rightful ruler in power"

>>31717361
They'd presumably have no idea how their powers work. They'd be conscripts at best.

>>31717371
we kinda smashed it up

>>31717408
They will obviously vampirize elite MMK. they won't know any vampire magic, but they will still get 3x faster, 3x stronger, and regeneration. combined with MMK and being an elite fighter to begin with would make them pretty damn tough nut for our troops to crack (we would, but we will suffer more losses)

then again. we would have the knights and mages. so it is a give and take.

Oh, but the delay could allow the administrator and thrallher daywalker to escape to countryside

>>31717492
also werewolves

>>31717492
If it's smashed up, then that's even better, since it would be clear what happened. After all, the dude's not ever seen without wearing it.

>>31717403
Problem there is he is a fucking vampire. We will need to get a bunch of scribes to comb this family tree and prove this.

>>31717380
>Dishonorable
>Talon caring about warriors honor.

I agree though just because it sends a better message then dropping a head.

>>31717492
>They will obviously vampirize elite MMK. they won't know any vampire magic, but they will still get 3x faster, 3x stronger, and regeneration. combined with MMK and being an elite fighter to begin with would make them pretty damn tough nut for our troops to crack (we would, but we will suffer more losses)
Depends on how quickly they adjust to literally having a new body. Hell, some of them might accidentally go for a morning stroll.

>>31717573
or just look in history, Aspirational said it would be pretty easy since he gave us the right direction to look.

>>31717492
>Oh, but the delay could allow the administrator and thrallher daywalker to escape to countryside

Not all that worried there. As long as we get the land things should work pretty good even if they escape it is us with an entire army.

>>31717355

My first thought was placing his helmet on the tip of our battering ram. It'll fall to pieces but it'll be a bit of show of force.

>>31717573
>Talon caring about warriors honor.
Talon cares about it in so far as to not alienate his followers, like the knightly orders whom he wishes to serve under him
Do dishonorable things in secret

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>1. followed by 1.

>Organisation and marching on Taour

“General Parras, is everything ready?” you ask.

You’re leaning over a planning table in your command tent, surrounded by your officers. You’re less than a day’s march from Taour itself, the last conquest before you can genuinely claim this region and call yourself a continental power.

“Yes, Imperator,” Parras says. “With the help of your elementals we’ve been able to fashion siege weapons on the march, including your design for a magi assault tower. The men are in good spirits, particularly knowing the enemy’s best general is dead and that we outnumber them severely.”

“The feint appears to be working,” Arail says over his sending device. “My scouts indicate that all their forces are remaining here despite the threat to the capital.”

“I’ve been organising sendings amongst all the mages, Imperator,” says Archmagister Saril, joining you for the first time. He’s been a member of your cabinet but had been absent from battlefields thus far due to his position with his own tower. “We’ve been trying to spread word amongst the Taouran populace that we’re coming and that General Volante is dead. I have a report from the magisters leading the operation here.”

[DC11/19 Sowing Panic]

>>31717598
That's what I mean.

>>31717592
That and Taour already has blood issues. Adding a hundred or more new vamps is just asking for one to get hungry and rampage.

Rolled 4

>>31717653

>>31717630
I am pretty sure our battering ram is talon's astral arrow, or barrier crush with sword, or gnome punching something with enough force to shatter a hill (she isn't at full strength yet, if she was it would be enough force to shatter a mountain)

Rolled 14

>>31717653
Let's sow some panic

Rolled 7

>>31717653

Rolled 7

>>31717653

Rolled 1

>>31717653

>>31717665
>That and Taour already has blood issues. Adding a hundred or more new vamps is just asking for one to get hungry and rampage.
desperate times call for desperate means.
being attacked by superior force is a desperate time.
Besides, they know that many vampires would die during the battle so the blood requirement would be lower after the fight

Rolled 20

>>31717653

>“The feint appears to be working,” Arail says over his sending device. “My scouts indicate that all their forces are remaining here despite the threat to the capital.”

Excellent

>>31717683


Our good luck from yesterday is still holding strong

>>31717649
Depends on the order mainly. Warriors tend to view death in their own ways and sending the head in a basket has always been a good old past time. I don't suggest we do it though just because the sword works better.

Though I wonder how many of the orders are idealistic vs how many aren't.

>>31717683
Eh, I'll take it.

>>31717681

Well I assumed it was more of a multi pronged attack attack. And Talon doesn't always pull off the astral arrow and frontlining an assault like that is risky even for him. I mean you do have a good point, but still just a thought of mine.

>>31717751
His army knows he just killed volante, him cowering in the back while sending them to die can hurt morale.
Besides which, talon is a really tough nut to crack.

>>31717653
>Feint is working

This is just great. I was wondering how many people would go for that idea when I mentioned it a while back glad it seems to be working.

>>31717771
Just depends here. I mean him sending them forward while he stays in the back for a part of the battle until he sees a flaw in the defense and rushes in would work better. Just staying behind might do something. But in general I don't think most of the men would notice just because it's hard to notice while your trying not to get stabbed in the face.

>>31717863
True, but I like talon leading from the front. It is cool as hell, good for morale, and we get sweet precious combat XP and life or death situations help us hone our power (since it is an innate power with no teacher)

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>Lower target met

You gesture to Saril to give you the gist of the reports and attention focuses on him.

“The mages tasked to sowing panic amongst the populace are reporting good results, with many receiving responses from their targets,” he explains, skimming the reports as he reads. “Street riots in some cases, others are clearing the streets or organising plans to hunker down. Military morale is down too, according to those mages, but their towers successfully blocked many of your sendings to them. On that note, their mages are unresponsive. I’d say they’re in this deep, Imperator. Especially hearing what happened at Hiien.

“There’s no coming back from that,” Saril continues. Any mage or tower connected to that will be attracting Mage Guard inquisitors like honey does bears. It might be for the best, though it pains me to say this, to simply purge the Taouran mage towers.”

The mood turns grim and silent before Mal adds his piece, “We might not need to be that severe. So long as we don’t shelter any mages, we’ll be fine. Kill those who fight us, place the others under house arrest.”

“Is the Mage Guard going to take that much interest in this?” you ask. “And why would I let their inquisitors into my territory?”

“You can’t afford not to,” Gnome states, playing slightly with one of the piece used to represent military forces on the table. “The Mage Guard will declare you dangerous, which is bad even in the Magi League who normally ignore the Guard, and then they will start to sow discord. As for their interest – the Mage Guard will be very interested in the political leanings of a new power and how they might influence them.”

>continued

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>>31717965
You sigh. Bloody politics.

It would be easier to just order your men to kill all Taouran mages on sight. You’ll avoid any Mage Guard lackeys flitting about in your territory. The Magi League might also use this as an excuse to take a closer interest. You doubt they’ll find many connections, as mages tend to be good at destroying evidence, but they’ll leap on any excuse to get involved in your new nation and refusing them when they have justifiable cause will sour relations.

On the other hand, if you just kill all the mages you’ll potentially lose very valuable assets to your realm. Assuming he’s still alive, and that you can cure thraldom, there may even be a machinist in Taour.

What are your orders?

>1. Purge all the Taouran mages.
>2. Kill those who fight-back, arrest the others.
>3. Custom

@Aspir. You said talon is practicing his astral archery on downtime.
I was thinking we could have a vote on what skills talon should try to develop during downtime.

A few other ideas
1. reshape our astral shield into something resembling wings to gain flight
2. barrier break arrow
3. improve slow fall using shield (we already do that, but poorly, if we improved it we could get it to parachute level)
4. Learn to properly curve arrows (we should be missing, but somehow we hit as long as our concentration holds, we are actually "aiming" with our magic rather than proper stance. this means we could potentially curve arrows)

Rolled 10

>>31717995
>2. Kill those who fight-back, arrest the others.

Rolled 6

>>31717995

>2

We want those assets

>>31717995
2

>>31717995
>2. Kill those who fight-back, arrest the others.

For now we just want to see if they are thralls or not.

>>31717995
>2

I really kind of want to work our way up towards the Mage Guard and eliminate them. They kind of piss me off at the moment, getting in our business.

>>31717995
>2. Kill those who fight-back, arrest the others.

This will be a lot of FUCKING POLITICS afterwards but it'll be worthwhile. I'm definitely more inclined to killing though then saving as many as possible if it comes to it.

>>31717995
>2. Kill those who fight-back, arrest the others.
Mage guard is actually on our target list, if they move against us first we have cause. Also, we could make a lot of fanfare about running our OWN investigation and public trials. Saying "no need for your inquisitors, we have our own"

Speaking of which, I want talon to appoint auditors whose job is to audit nobles for corruption. "noblesse obligae", nobles have a duty and SOMEONE needs to make sure it is being performed. that someone is talon.

Rolled 10

>>31718112
I agree with everything you are saying

>>31718096
it is worth noting that the mage guard is ruled by a dragoness who blames lynn's father (personally) for the fall of their species and the death of her family. So she is probably going to come after us anyways. This is a better reason for it

>>31717995
>2. Kill those who fight-back, arrest the others.

With those assets, we'll be able to deal with the Magi League's bullshit better. Besides, they'll just find another way to get their grubby hands in our politics anyways.

>>31718112
Though a big issue with them being on our list of possible targets. If we win lord ember will be right next to us. Which is just asking for it. The other issue is the fucking dragon.

>>31718112
We're going to instate an imperial inquisition? I LOVE IT. it'll add a whole lot of intruige and spy shit as well as being able to counter Mage Guard shenanigans.

Rolled 8

>>31718112

I like the auditor idea. It would also be a big boost to our efforts to develop a professional, educated middle class outside of the nobility.

Oh, another reason why we want mage guard. their territory closest to us contains two pop. one of which for our source, and the other containing sylph.

>>31718158
I prefer we don't actually call it inquisition, and limit their powers to discovery of crimes. information they discover then goes to fair trials.
Heck, trials in general could be a public affair anyone can observe if they wish.

>>31718200
I like the idea of it being called Inquisition, though. Give it power to seek into whatever matters it finds troubling to the realm. It'll be a great way for Aspie to bring Plot Hooks to our attention.

>>31718112
>appoint auditors whose job is to audit nobles for corruption.

That's just asking for corruption. It's insanely easy in this case to have some noble go "Hey 2 TBs if you help me take out my rivals"

I honestly think we should go for something like traveling magistrates+secret police. Someone who dresses up like civilians and travel around looking for things that destabilize the empire and crimes that others do. But officially don't reveal their identity unless they have too.

Make the policy for joining absurdly hard and meritocratic and make sure we have their loyalty.

>>31718225
Yeah, call it an inquisition, but have the principle behind its operation be more like the imperial adventurers club.

>>31718252
Well, the auditor's identities could be secret. they should travel the country pretending to be random citizens most of the time.
As for corrupt auditors... have internal affairs investigations for that as well. It beats having no auditors at all and letting the nobles get away with any degree of corruption

Rolled 14

>>31718252

Why not have both? Auditors can be the first line of investigation and magistrates can investigate claims raised by auditors.

Checks and balances

>>31718305
I guess its fine to call it inquisition since there isn't the association of "torture people who don't believe our religion" in this world (probably).

So any chance we can get talon or some who is a womanizer to say this?Nigga, does it look like I give a shit?
The ass. was. phat. I would motorboat that buttocks until my neck snaps. Her booty would shake so much onlookers would think they were watching a Michael Bay movie. My head would be vibrating at a frequency so high it would cause the molecules of my face to fuse to her asscheeks. Niggas would start calling me Hebrew National because I would hotdog that ass until she started shitting out sheckles. I would slide between those cheeks like Luke Skywalker invading the deathstar, with my cum shooting out with a force that rivaled the destruction of Alderaan.

An ass like that begs to be worshiped like a child of god. Fate asks, nay, DEMANDS that I plunder that booty like Monkey D Luffy, searching for that One Piece of ass. You just don't understand my poor simple nigga. You don't see what I see. I would wreck that shit harder than Wreck-It fucking Ralph.

>>31718335
I like this idea. heck make it three layers
Informants are commoners in cities that give reports to inquisition
Auditors openly check the books and inspect things
Magisters follow up on info raised by other two branches and are only ones who can actually indict someone.

>>31718342
We could actually work towards associating the word inquisition with something better, like "Royal Batmans"

>>31718318
Yeah. I'm thinking something like getting kids from orphanages. People that don't have anything then having the organization train them and put them in tiers depending on ability. Their oath of service will be something like. "We will be the imperators hands and never hold a higher master nor truly join another organization." With a internal over watch division. That way we don't have to worry much about internal loyalty and we are giving orphans a life.

>>31718375
no

>>31718375
>nigga, does it look like I give a shit?

Stopped reading there. Don't even care what else you were saying, but whatever it was you wanted somebody to say in character was probably retarded. Stay in goddamn character.

>>31718390
and nobody actually knows who the magistrates are, so they can't be bribed. I like it. that could work.

Rolled 19

>>31718400

Honestly, it would be a pretty sweet gig for any non-nobility members as well.

Part of my motivation is to try to concentrate less power in the hands of nobility as well. A grateful middle class is key to ensuring stability.

>>31718375
did you post in the right thread?

>>31718467
Good idea.

>>31718434
he referenced movies and modern artists

>>31718475
It isn't about disenfranchising nobles, its about weeding out the corrupt nobles and keeping only the good ones.
Nobility should carry both benefits AND responsibilities. Nobles should be, well, "noble" instead of evil scheming pricks

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>2.

“I’m with Magister Reegan on this one,” you say. “I’m not going to massacre the mages, many of whom might not be connected to the vampires or the atrocities at Hiien, to avoid the Mage Guard. If they want to cause trouble, I’ll cause it right back.”

Saril nods, and you think he looks a little relieved. On the other hand, you also know that he’s dreading inquisitors coming into your empire. You’ll deal with that when the time comes.

“Anything else?” you ask, and then quickly run through some minor details.

Afterwards, you patrol your encampment, chatting with the men and raising morale. You’ll break camp at dawn and reach Taour by late afternoon. The full moon will have passed, but the vampires will be stronger in the nighttime, making a dawn assault the day after the best choice.

Grandmasters Lucas and Toren are sitting at a make-shift table, playing cards, in the midst of their encampment. The Black Stone and Golden Bears make up fully two-thirds of the knights who answered the call for assistance and they appear to be getting along quite well, despite their past disputes. Toren raises his hand in greeting as you approach.

“Ho, Imperator,” he sees, a toothy grin spreading on his face. “Good to see you doing the rounds. Ready to become a vampire exterminator?”

“I already am a vampire exterminator, Grandmaster,” you say, giving him a smile in return. “Are your men ready to march with my heavies?”

“Naturally,” Lucas says. “We did some drills in some spare time – that armour of theirs is pretty good, despite being machined. Many of them are obviously getting used to it, though that Captain of yours is damned talented. I’d recruit him but I don’t think you’d appreciate it.”

>continued

>>31718467
Oh they can. By telling them they are underwatch but if they give some cash..

Can't ever make a system uncorruptable. Which is why we need a over watch division to look out for this. Though these guys should mainly be looking for the bigger shit like treason and shit. They can't be looking into bullshit like the noble stole a little money from another because that shit happens so often and is so meaningless it doesn't really matter.

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>>31718539
“You’re the biggest bulk of experienced soldiers on the field. You’ll be the centre of any major push into the city – if you can work with my heavies, keep their morale up and them safe, then things will go smoothly,” you say.

“I’d make a crack about getting in first,” Toren starts, “but you’ve got that covered. Lot of siege here. And that tower of yours looks interesting.”

Toren point up at the multi-storey siege tower standing near him. The magi assault tower was an interesting invention of the Magi League. Made of wood, it’s layered with magicks to make it light, then filled to the brim with mages. Each level of this one can hold twenty mages. The lowest levels of mages cast and maintain barriers on the wood, carrying their spells up to the uppermost storeys, while the mages up top rain death on their enemies. They make for enticing targets for an enemy but are tough as nails due to the number of mages there. With Mal defending it with his own anti-magic, you doubt that it will be touchable – in the meantime, your mages can rain hell on the enemy’s walls and barriers.

“These are common on the battlefields of the League and RSK, I take it?” Lucas asks.

“Very common,” you answer. “Even the Seraphs started using them.”

You bid them goodnight and do some more rounds. This is probably your last lull before making you’ll be readying your siege of Taour. Who do you spend time with?

>1. The elemental sisters.
>2. Lynn, Felix and your personal guard.
>3. Vad and Mal.
>4. Take some alone time. You get precious little.
>5. Custom

>>31718484
>>31718434
>>31718426
Eh not word for word honestly, but i laughed at the idea of talon/some one ranting about how sexy a women and something like that.

>>31718561
>3. Vad and Mal.
Bros

Rolled 7

>>31718561

>2

We haven't spend any meaningful time with the men and women tasked with saving our ass

>>31718561
>2. Lynn, Felix and your personal guard.
Sometime I'd like to get their opinion on the Arcane Archers

>>31718561
2
I want more time with Felix, he's cool.

>>31718561
>2. Lynn, Felix and your personal guard.
>3. Vad and Mal.

>>31718564
what is the context though? it was randomly said as part of a discussion of strategy.

>>31718561
>2. Lynn, Felix and your personal guard.

They'll be frontlining with us. Best to share in whatever they are up to.

Also the MAT is fucking awesome.

>>31718475
I mainly want to do this with orphans so we can cut them from all ties family, Noble, everything. Their only loyalty is to Talon and the empire. If they are playing a merchant with guards then in the end they should be able to willing give up the role at anytime even years of playing it.

Make them not a commoner, Noble, Mage anything. They are the magistrates and that is their only social position in the end.

>>31718611
The grandmaster's opinion rather.

>>31718561
>4. Take some alone time. You get precious little.

Wait we can take a break fuck yeahs

>>31718633
Maybe a flash back of talon when he was young and talking to mal, or hell can be the Ren talking about how it is travesty that not all woman know his touch.

>>31718561
Anything interesting planned for 4 or will it be a write-in?

>>31718664
no. it's stupid, and you're stupid for suggesting it during a serious point in the quest.

>>31714114
You said to bring up map ideas to you...
how about marking gespad and bucchum in a different color to denote they are currently controlled by the rebelling ex archmage of RSK?

>>31718561
>2. Lynn, Felix and your personal guard.

>>31718695
we haven't gotten to the serious point yet anon, we are in pre-planning stage at the moment, and i never say now, but in the future or something akin to that.

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>>31718682
4 would have been a short reflective scene of Talon.

>>31718706
I'll be marking areas controlled by new factions as they appear. Currently Darvui is still in the midst of sedition.

>>31718733
You could just have a color for 'in open rebellion' instead of a new faction color every time.

>>31718733
oh, I was under the mistaken impression he already took those.
That requires changes to the various ideas I had raised before

BTW, we should probably start talking via sendings to various world leaders (maybe via a large enchanted mirror?)
By talking to said world leaders we could get more info about where they stand and be able to pick our targets better.

>>31718834
Be pretty hard to pull that one off. Just because of the issue of they would start to get a idea of what we plan. Although luckily we are friends with the HSK king which helps on that front.

>>31718867
no, i mean pick our target as in "we don't want to kill this person he is nice" and "this dude is an asshole, lets kill him next" and "he wants us to do what? no way... and when we refuse he will probably attack us".

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>>31718755
I'll probably need to do that. It might not be a colour, but there'll be some sor tof visual indicator that a province or region is rebelling.

>2.

You decide to visit your personal guard. Heading back to your own tent, you’re still careful to greet and talk to your men. After a short while, you find Lynn, Felix and his two friends, sitting around a campfire, drinking some mead.

“Do you often get drunk when I’m not around?” you ask joking as you take a seat next to them.

“Of course not,” Lynn chirps. “It’s only a few cups of mead.”

“It’s probably more accurate to say she never gets drunk,” Felix says, smiling slightly. “I wised up quick to her abnormal constitution, though my comrades haven’t.”

He gestures to his side and you realise both of them are passed out and are leaning into their cups. You shake your head, wondering just how much mead Lynn’s drunk. And why she’s getting her subordinates dead drunk on a march.

>Write-in response

I’ll only do one more post on this scene. Then it’ll be final plans for besieging Taour.

>>31718924
>Write-in response

Drinking Contest

>>31718924
drink with them.

Rolled 20

>>31718924

Ask them how they like being members of your personal guard, particularly Felix.

Whether they find the change worthwhile etc

While drinking with them of course

>>31718924
Drinking contest

>>31718924
>Drink a bit. Then say it's going to really suck to be them when they are hungover and having march.

>>31718924
"have you found the kind of fighting you were looking for yet, Felix?"

Drinking contest also sounds fun.

Wait since when did we get 2 guys into our personal guard?

>>31719017
contest might be going a bit far. we need a clear head for the battle.

Rolled 17

>>31718960

I'm not sure having hung-over bodyguards before a major assault is a great idea to be honest

>>31719053
Nah, that sounds rhetorical and an insult to Felix.

Drinking contest can work, though. We've got empowerment.

>>31719068
>>31719063
Magic

>>31718924
Maybe you could put black hashing through a rebelling province. not the black color you have for the adepts, but the color you have for borders.

>>31719068
Yeah. Depends on the time they have to get cleared up. I mean if I was in a battle and hungover I would get pissed and kill shit for making too much noise.

>>31719104
it's not at all rhetorical. He was about to betray us because he wanted to go down in history as the man who destroyed a monster and a tyrant, because he has some very cynical views on people in power. asking him if he's found the enemies he's searcing for is asking him if he still thinks we're a monster compared to the daywalkers and vampires we've faced.

>>31719053
>>31719104
i agree with anon that said no
also. part of why we have him with us is so that he can get a better measure of us as a person. so we can convince him we are not actually evil

>>31719179
He's looking for a fight that could get him immortalized through history. It's obvious that he hasn't found it yet, let alone gotten anywhere near close to fighting that fight.

It's rhetorical.

>>31719120
>Contest against lynn who is magically resistant
>Both drink whole gallons of booze
>Enough to overwhelm their magic resistance

>>31719248
>It's rhetorical.
which makes it insulting.

Hey guys can we spar with lynn/felix?
We haven't sparred in a long time.

>>31719275
let's not wear ourselves out the night before a big siege.

>>31719275
I'm up for it, i think getting drunk is a bad idea anyway.

>>31719288
Yeah this.

>>31719275
Probably not worth it, plus I still don't totally trust Felix not to try killing us if we look vulnerable while he's holding a weapon anywhere near us.

>>31719236
so, maybe we should ask what he thinks of our actions so far. since we are using him as a barometer for our goodness

>>31719275
Don't we do so regularly in the background?

Also, I proposed some time ago to commission enchanted weapons which match the weight and size and shape of our current weapon. but are dull AND are enchanted to stop harmlessly on impact rather then to cut better to prevent accidents. So we could go at it harder while sparring
Anyone in favor of doing this?

>>31719288
It's a social scene. Aspir isn't Dranule; we'll be fine.

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“You really shouldn’t get your subordinates drunk, Lynn,” you say chidingly. “It’s going to be hell for them marching with a hangover.”

“They’re grown men, they should just stop drinking if they can’t handle it,” she says, grinning at you. “Not my fault they’re lightweights.”

Or that you’re a dragon, you think quietly. Then you say, “Well, why don’t you see if you can keep up with me? I’m pretty confident I’m not a lightweight.”

Felix chuckles at the sight of the two of you drinking the mead as he cleans and polishes his equipment. Lynn slowly but surely gets steadily more tipsy as you remain stone sober. Being drunk, she doesn’t twig to the fact you’re cheating – though Felix has a knowing look.

“So, Felix,” you say between gulps, “how are you finding your new position?”

“Death-defying,” he says bluntly. “Being one of your generals, I didn’t realise just how dangerous the enemies you personally fought could be. Those strange black god-knights in Raupe were far stronger than I ever expected them to be. The fact that you and your close comrades could largely hold your own – that my own captain,” he nods briefly at Lynn, ”could hold one off after taking a hard blow to her arm to save us… well, it’s eye-opening.

>continued

>>31719325
you're the paintball guy, aren't you?

>>31719314
then why make him a personal guard?
>>31719325
Sure i'm up for it, and i meant it as in thread since we can gain exp for skills and attributes.
>>31719314
>>31719288
Eh, we sparred before big fights before and it didn't affect us.