>>14488742
Wait, we need to get more alcohol, and lead him to where the recording arcana is stored!

Pax, do we have our personal flask of wine with us?
If we do, "Come friend, share a drink with me. Surely you have some good things to talk about."

>>14488792

THIS. Seconded!

Perhaps even break out the good stuff.

>>14488792
Don't think it'll be that easy.

>>14488742
"And you're a High Commander. No doubt you've done well to get as high up as you have. Men who follow you loyally, surely a heroes welcome on our return to Dragonsreach. Perhaps even someone waiting for you?"

"Not having a nice night I take it? Come, let's have a bad night together." You will say, thumbing in the direction of a secluded part of town, a town square or some such that sits bare this late.

While we're walking, mention, "From before, Surely you've had women who you'd loved? Name and rank like yours? They'd be throwing themselves at you. I prefer making the first move myself."

>>14488792
We don't need him so drunk that he passes out. This might be good enough.

Is the governor's villa nearby at all? Can we lead him to the vault, on pretense of showing him the anti-undead bell?

"Oh, I'm lucky, am I? Let me show you what threats we face five, ten years down the line. You'll probably be retired by then."

Once we get there and has the recording device, try to steer the conversation toward the past.

You pull out your flask and take a swig from it, offering him one afterwards "Women, sometimes a harem causes more trouble than they can be worth, what happened to yours?"

Seventus sighs, taking a drink from your flask "The same that may happen to yours. I lost Trina in a battle, lovely noblewoman, we were betrothed at the time. Later in the same campaign, I lost my eye trying to save Brina. Jeene and Lory died to assassins blades a month later after I nearly lost my leg, never got to say goodbye to them." he sighs, and takes another long pull from your flask. "Your Sansa looks just like my Jeene did." he muses bitterly.

"I..." you struggle for the right words, knowing how you would feel if any of your ladies were to fall.

He shakes his head, retuning his flask to you "Dont put it off son, you could loose them in the blink of an eye, and in our line of work, you may not always be able to find new love."

>>14488908
"I think this conversation requires some drink to go along with it."
Lead him to where the recording arcana is stored, or get a servant to fetch it, and some of the better wine with lower alcohol content in order to keep him talking for longer.

>>14488908
Take a swig, a light one. "And you haven't forgiven yourself for that. Or, you men for that it seems.

You hadn't tried again, after all these years? Or do their memories, still stay with you?"

>>14488908
"I won't deny there's been a few situations where it has come close to that. Surely you must have tried after that though."

>sadfrog.jpg
mfw Seventus is older Justinian, and therefore a sympathetic villain.

>>14488990
>sympathetic villain
No! We must avoid going down that path! Hold on to your hatred! Let it empower us, protect us, and cleave our path to victory!

>>14488990
I had the same thought

You accept the flask and take a light swig, though you play it out to be a longer one. "And it doesnt seem like youve forgiven yourself, or forgotten. Not that I would have if I suffered the losses you have." you offer him the flask again.

"The memory burns, it eats your soul after a while." he waves off the flask "I've already had two bottles with my memories, and if I return to my barracks as drunk as I have... its hard to replace a second in command like mine. He's too loyal I think, but if I make one more mistake..." he sighs deeply again.

You dont put your flask away, but you dont drink again either "Didnt you try again?" you ask, sheepishly.

He nods "I did, but by the time it didnt hurt constantly, I was too old, too scarred, too ugly to so much as win a giggle or a batted eyelash. Sometimes I couldn't even hire whores, and it only kept on getting worse." the man kicks a loose stone "And some things you can never replace."

>>14489062
Damnit, if he's not going to get any more drunk, then this won't work at all!
Maybe offer the vault where we kept the recording arcana as a place where he can wait out some of the drunkenness before returning to the barracks? Give him the excuse that he had late-night planning to be done?

>>14489062
"Mistake at the barracks? Like what? I've been drunk abouts the camps and compound a number of times and there never seemed to be an issue with morale for watching their command act a fool.

Turns out i dont dance as well as i think if do drunk."

>>14489062
"Aye, a good second in command makes life much easier. How long has he been working for you? And if you need to work off some of what you've drank, perhaps you can join me at the governor's house for a bit. And if you rather escape life for a little longer, I'm sure I can find us something to drink that the former governor won't need anymore. You can always tell your second we were planning."

Curious on if this second was the same one he did what he did to Sansa. And now potentially we'd have access to things we need it he follows us.

>>14489062
"too true, Were any of the women in your command more sympathetic? also I think I can find a place for you to sleep it off" then lead him to where the recording arcana is and let him sleep there

It sounds like Seventus' Second In Command knows about some of his commander's indiscretions.
He's a possible candidate to get an affidavit from, but Seventus said that he's too loyal, and may not willingly turn against his commander without another obvious indiscretion by him.

>>14489142
Right. I suppose we could try a guilt trip here.
"Even if those we love are gone, I suppose all we can do is live on as they would wish us to. I'm sure if those you loved could look on your life since they died, they'd be proud of the man you still are and the things you've done for the empire."

>>14489149
That might be a little too obvious. I was thinking of asking him to give us advice on what arcana to pick, which would put us right in front of them, but if he has any idea on what they are or asks about it, it might tip our hand too much.

>>14489157
If the Second in command knows, he might not know of 'All' of them. Sansa's Brother being killed, the number of lives ruined

>>14489193
That's a possibility. We'll need to speak with this Second-in-Command, sound him out.
Maybe we should have Gaius do it, initially? The two of them would be working together to train the city guard, so maybe Gaius has gotten a feel for him by now.

>>14489183
Heh, I like this one.

>>14489220
sounds good, also we need to find out what gaius' history is with this city.

>>14489183
Maybe save that for when we have the recording device turned on.

You raise an eyebrow "I have been drunk amongst my men often enough, and it never seemed to cause any problems."

Seventus turns to look at you, nearly tripping in his mildly inebriated state "Its, not that I make a fool of myself, or issue unfair orders. Its..." he pauses before chuckling bitterly "perhaps you dont know your Sansa as well as I had thought, or perhaps I'm drunk paranoid and stupid."

For a moment you are dumbstruck by just how close to confessing he came, as such it takes you a while to find your response again "A good second in command is hard to find, how long have you had yours?"

He shakes his head "Since I crawled back out of the bottle after the fortunes of war destroyed my family. Though I dont know how many I went through during the months I was still trying to drink the pain away."

>>14489306
ok so on IRC it was discussed that if he goes to sleep without confessing, we should go to the gods and see if they would be willing to send the ghosts of his harem to convince him to confess

>>14489306
"Despite what you might think, you must be a good man for your second to stand by your side as loyally as you say. And I'm sure if your loved ones could look down on you now and see all you've done since they left you, they'd be proud at the man you are and all the things you've done."

Yes, I'm going back to the guilt trip. Let's see how he reacts to that instead of asking about what he was saying about Sansa.

>>14489340
I don't like using the gods for something that we could conceivably accomplish on our own. I think the price for their assistance will be quite a bit higher than we expect, and this gambit isn't assured to work.

I'm going to vote no, but if I get overruled, I get overruled.

An Idea i had, to draw out a confession, would take a bit of help from the divine. It seems a good enough plan.

Neshai, she's been very helpful to us, and I think we could ask her of a favor, for one in return. To borrow the souls of the commander's loved ones, for a reunion. A second goddess, would need to be brought in for this, turning then to our future waifu, asking her to bring these girls with us to the Commander's dreams this evening. The dream may turn into a nightmare as we step forward to demand him to confess to his loved ones what he's done since their death, or that he confesses himself, seeking redemption. Love is the key part here.

Should we owe favors for this one, i can see owing those two a boon wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. All we need, if for him to fall asleep with us in the room, and begin our communion as he rests.

>>14489367
Alright, guilt-tripping him when he's inebriated might work.
Second.

>>14489372
This was me, I don't know what happened to my name.

>>14489367
This sounds good. We can do the ghost option later (this actually works as a decent setup for it)

>>14489367
Err, turn on the recording devices first.

>>14489433
We aren't in the vault yet, and it's unlikely that he will be following us.

>>14489433

We dont have it with us right now.

The ghost plan goes entirely against our policies regarding the divine thus far. How can we possibly justify blatantly taking advantage of divine aid like that in a personal arena when we're not willing to do so on the battlefield, which has much higher stakes? It would be embarrassingly hypocritical and insulting to all the gods that we've turned down the aid of thus far.

If we can do something without calling on the gods for it, then we do so; that is our policy. This is not a we-absolutely-must-have-gods situation. Stick to our fucking guns.

>>14489433
Slight correction. People seem to want to "save it for later". We have several recording arcana, though each only last a few minutes.

Turn one on now. Turn another one on if he falls asleep.

>>14489458
Anon (Ngodom?) makes a good point. We don't want to owe the gods anything. Period.

We have gotten boons in exchange of services already rendered in the past though. I think we just want to keep our balance sheet with the gods in the positive.

See if Nyetini or Jogra is willing to do this one for free?

>>14489458
Yes.
The plan uses Divine aid. But it is the action the aid takes, Beinging the reuniting of the commander with the women he loved, ones he didnt even get the chance to say goodbye to. He gets to see them again. We want to push for his redemption (With the blatantly dropping the 'you raped girls' right in front of his waifus being the Renegade option)
On top of that, its the goddess that we Favor and favor us, Nashai we could due to owe a favor to her with all the help she's given us already, and we're trying to hit on the other. and, being that this case is right up her alley, she might go for it.

>>14489514

Thing is we need to convince Neshai. Shes the one whom the souls go to once they depart.

We still have the Second-in-Command to question. We can still try other avenues to deal with Seventus.
Going to the gods simply because it's easiest, or most expedient, goes against all we have fought for up until now. Such an about-face on our policy of not accepting divine aid except when absolutely required for success of a given action, would destroy all credibility we have with the gods, especially with Garagush.

We still have mortal means at our disposal; I suggest we use them before we turn to the divine for aid.

You shake your head "Regardless of what you may think, or feel, for your second in command to stand by you so loyally, for you to have the love of 4 fine women, you must not be so low as you think. And I'm certain they are watching you from the other side of the Bleak Coast with pride"

He stops for a moment, before continuing ahead with you "For what I've done, no. And before this siege ends I feel all will be squared. Were I not so afraid of what I truly deserve I likely would have set things right myself long ago; I now need only wait for justice to come to me, mercifully cruel in her wrath." at that he salutes, and turns away to head for his barracks complex, leaving you again bereft of words near your own.

>so, what now?

>>14489514
Then let Jogra or Nyetini make the arrangements. Make them "owe" Neshai something instead. If they won't work with her, this plan won't fly anyway.

Raynha had talked about bargaining with Neshai for souls.

>>14489552
Things on the agenda I think we need to address -
1) Talk to Sansa.
2) Send out Blackbird if he thinks he can do his raiding stuff. Let him learn the lay of the land and all. No point leaving him in the city if the terrain lets him do his job.
3) See if we can use the autowagons to get resources from the nearby cities faster within the week.
4) Lower tier topic would be check up on Gaius' history in the city and see if he's been working with Seventus' second.

I personally suggest we talk to Sansa first. Until Dasesu gets us any information, we need to make sure she doesn't act rashly.

>>14489552
Alright, he's accepted that he's going to have to pay for his indiscretions, and likely before the siege is out.
Then that means that he may confess if confronted with evidence. It should be our goal to find that evidence.

First thing, of course, is to borrow some of the recording arcana from the vault. I think as military governor, we have the right.

Second, get some sleep. And real sleep, this time.

Third, in the morning, we speak with Gaius. Learn about his history here in Northmont, and then steer the conversation to the matter of Seventus' second-in-command.

>>14489552
I say chase after him and demand a confession.

He seems to *want* Sansa to kill him, but this might doom Sansa if she is caught, and probably us as well, since we'll try to cover it up for her.

>>14489552
It looks like he recognized Sansa and pretty much expects her to kill him during the siege, and is fine with that but probably he thinks we don't know we know about Sansa's past.

>>14489587
>>14489586
1. Grab recorders.
2. Talk with Sansa, make sure she doesn't do anything rash.
3. Sleep.
4. Send Blackbird out to raid and learn the land.
5. Send autowagons out to speed up gathering of supplies.
6. Talk with Gaius.


This better?

>>14489587
This is fine too.

>>14489613
I can lives with that.

>>14489567
I'm all for oweing either of them a favor. Think of it less as oweing a god something, But a friend. Because as the 7th, It'd be nice to be on eye level with the gods rather than looking up at them. Treat it as such/

If they take it at face value and help without asking for a boon in return, at least mention that we could owe them in return. Neshai and Nyetini are likely the only ones we need to talk to about this, which will lead us to a peaceful conclusion. The resulting scene that we see of him with his past loves is something we can later tell to Sansa (who might not know that he had a similar situation to us) to help convince her Not to try to kill him.

Sighing, you head over to the all but abandoned Lobis Vila to borrow the recording arcana, before trudging back to your barracks to sleep. Late in the morning you rise, the city already alive with preparation. Sansa left you a note in your room explaining that she borrowed the autowagons to speed the process of filling the cities cache of food, but she isnt sure how much of a help it will prove to be. Gaius is more than happy to talk with Seventus second in command for you. From the conversation he may not know the fullness of what happend, but he knows that Sansa was wronged by the High commander, and is more than willing to help set it right.

Unfortunately you also receive news from the Skywings that the enemy was seen crossing the Ceberath River, and are just under 5 days off now. As you finally sit down for breakfast you are informed that both Blackbird and Degrian would like to speak with you when you have enough time, and that Rufus will be leaving with the House Morlan riders.

>>14489791

Blackbird and Degrain then.

I expect Blackbird will want to go out and go do some damage. We should speak with them at the same time to see if Degrain can offer any toys for them to play with once he knows what they're doing.

Once we're done, we go to see Rufus and the riders off. Do we need to send any messages out?

>>14489791
Degrian first, followed by Blackbird. Then we'll see Rufus off. Hopefully with Sansa gone, this gives Dasesu a chance to find out something interesting about Seventus that we could use.

I don't know what we're going to do about the food issue though... Unless we can sally out at some point and take some of their supplies, we're going to have starving people.

>>14489791
Well, we've got 99 problems but at least Rufus ain't one of 'em. Talk to Blackbird first, then Deggers.

>>14489791
We can eat breakfast on the go. Let's meet with Blackbird and Degrian.
Then, we meet with Rufus and the House Morlan riders before they leave.

Long term ideas from IRC:

1. Ditch around the non-gate sections of the wall. Dry moat, if you will.

2. Burn trees, brushes, undergrowth, and other vegetation around the city, so that elven snipers can't sneak up on our wall guards again.

>Think of it less as oweing a god something, But a friend.
No. None of the gods are our friends. Maybe some of them are friendly with us, and maybe we're trying to have sex with some of them, but they are not our friends. And we do not ever wish to owe them.

>>14489791
>Rufus will be leaving with the House Morlan riders.
We need to talk with both of them before they go. Confirm what their impressions of us were, and in Rufus' case give him some last advice since he's coming back to his dad a religious necromancer when he was neither when he left.

>both Blackbird and Degrian would like to speak with you
They come third and fourth.

>Sansa
She comes fifth.

>>14489841
Both of those should be fine.
We can have the earth elementalists training by digging the ditch, and the fire elementalists by clearing away any shrubs.

>>14489864
Hmm. We should screen the new recruits Blackbird got at some point. It might be a good idea to give him some elementalists to be apart of his unit at some point. I'm sure a fire elementalist would be useful in raiding.

Now would be a good time to send another status report to the 2nd. Our messenger eagles are getting shot down, right?

>>14489950
Along the front lines they are. This is likely one of the last chances we can send out any messages and maybe get a response back. Depending on how large their army is at least. If they surround the city, there's no chance.

>>14489950
I think those were eagles from the front that are getting shot down.

>>14490000
Let's not take any chances. Our eagle was a gift from Finnian.

You know, it might be worth it to see if we can't research arrow-deflecting arcana for use on messenger eagles. It seems to me like a simple enough place to start.

You take some pastries, and an apple and head off to speak with the members of your maniple that indicated they needed to speak with you. Rufus is the first you encounter, preparing to ride home, though it is clear that he would like to see how the siege turns out. "I hope you took to the lessons I taught you." you greet the lab.

"Of course I did commander." Rufus replies cheerily "Also, thank you for allowing me to learn from you. I realize that I was likely more of a burden than anything."

"Nonsense Rufus. and be sure to send my regards to your father." you turn to the house Morlan riders "How did you like my tactics?"

"Quite effective to be honest, hopefully you wont end up dead or wrong by the end of this war." the Morlan rider replies, shaking your hand.

"Likewise." you chuckle saluting the group. Next you wander about until you find Blackbird, him and his raiders preparing to set out.

"Commander, do I have leave to start harassing our foes?" he asks, hopefully

>>14490092
"You sound like you almost want to stick around Blackbird, was there something else on your mind?"

>>14490092
"You do. Priority targets are archers and siege crew, if you can spot them. If you run into arcanists, run. Come back alive, friend."

>>14490092
"Indeed, I had intended to see you today to send you out so you'd get used to the land. If you find anything easy to grab in terms of supplies, try to send them our way but you know what you do best and I trust you'll do it fine."

>>14490092
"You do, friend. Prioritize enemy command assets, archers, and siege crews and engines, and supplies if you can. Don't attempt to engage enemy elementalists unless you are sure you can disengage without losses."

>>14490092
"Hit them in the stomach. Target their food supplies. If you can send any food looted from the enemy our way, that's even better."

I doubt that the enemy will have an easier time resupplying than we do.

Can we agree on food and siege engines?

"Indeed, priority to any elven archers, siege crews and arcanists. Return alive and ahead of our foes, friend." you reply, patting him on the back.

"Commander, would I be able to borrow Wulf or Laelith? if the enemy will have arcanists for my band to deal with I would like to be able to respond appropriately." he asks, looking almost nervous.

Pax answered some questions regarding the Lacartians, their habitats and their diets in the IRC.

I propose using our elementalism powers to create cave under the city. Some of the lacartians should be cave-dwellers. They can help instruct civilians to cultivate fungi and mushrooms to help suppliment our stocks of food in the city, stretching our supplies further.

>>14490238
If Wulf is willing, he may take him.

Somehow I don't think Lena would do too well with Blackbird's men and their work

>>14490238
"You can take Wulf along old friend, just keep a handle on him so he doesnt try for bravado."

>>14490238

Take Wulf. But give him some time with his beau first or we'll never hear the end of it.

>>14490238
Huh. I'm having a hard time figuring on which we should send.

I'm kinda leaning torwards sending Laelith, but what do you guys say?

>>14490238
Wulf is probably the better choice. He's used to rough trails and will likely fare better than Laelith in the kind of black ops that Blackbird runs.

Wulf. More used to slumming it. Cuts a lower profile. Lightning is (slightly) stealthier than setting everything on fire.

You think for a while before responding "You can take Wulf, though make sure to give him enough time to properly say farewell to Lena."

Blackbird chuckles "I'll let him know now, and we will be on our way before nightfall." you salute the orc before heading off to find Degrian on the wall.

"Commander, how much spare wood and steel do we have?" Degrian asks after saluting you as you reach him on the wall.

>>14490407
Take out one of the supply status scrolls that Sansa left us, and give him our estimate.

>>14490407

>>14490413 This.

"You have something in mind, my friend?"

Do we know how much we have?

If more's needed, we can always send a couple elementalists into town to look for abandoned houses to tear down for material.

If we need more material, the forest is two days away, probably faster with auto-wagons. We also have the weapons and armor from the disarmed noble houses, that we can melt down for steel if necessary.

Some other things we might want to consider in the next bit - Talking to the heads of the loyal houses to see what kind of aid they can give monetarily/supplies and see if perhaps we can get more mercs. As well, there's elementalism training and finally we should see if we can find out how the assassin or the soon to be dead governor were contacting the enemy. It's possible we could send them false intelligence.

"Have something in mind friend?" you ask, trying to recall how much you have.

Degrian tries to laugh, though with his beak it doesnt sound quite right "I may need use all of it to create proper balistae battery. If I put all my engineers to work on it we could have 4 batteries of balistae that could fire almost continuously... for siege engines." he answers, going through his stacks of parchment

>>14490515
Fund it.

>>14490515
I say do it. We should have men getting more wood and melting down steel from spare weapons if we can. Bonus points if Degrian can hide/camouflage them in some way. Also, ask him what the downsides of using up the spare lumber and steel will be. As in what will we no longer be able to do.

>>14490515
Do it. NAO!

>>14490515

And we have tar.

Drag him to go find Sansa or one of our logistics officers to figure out what the rest of the wood is being used for.

In the worst case scenario, we can tear down houses in the city to provide wood and stone as raw material.

In any case, the outer ring of the city should be evacuated. This area is going to suffer heavy damage from the enemies' siege engines.

Removing all burnable material will have the added advantage of making fires less likely to spread. The refugees can be housed in caves we hollow under the city.

rolled 90 = 90

We need to commandeer all of those stalls in the market district, there is a shitton of wood to be used there.

>>14490615
Gotta be careful doing that. The people are NOT going to be happy about us doing that. If there's anything I've learnt from Game of Thrones, people are stupid.

>>14490615
Prioritize abandoned structures if more is needed.

rolled 20 = 20

>>14490648
Ah, we've already told them that they need to disassemble and free standing wooden structures to prevent fires.

>>14490719
Did we? Can't recall that. If so, then I apologize.
Regardless, I want to know what we're losing out on if we commit to this. If it's something like "Can no longer make new crossbow bolts/arrows" we might not want to commit all of it.

You smile "Talk to Sansa about how much we have to spare, but you have my approval."

Degrian smiles "You will not be disappointed" before clapping his hands together and shouting out in his native tongue, his engineers springing into action.

By the time you are finished assisting with shoring up the other walls it is just past midday. Someone bumps the back of your head, and as you turn to look who it was, you loose the culprit in the crowd, though you do notice Tyxia, the captain of the Sunstorm make her move on Balor Morzitus, who seems more than welcoming, and mostly over being shunned by Jayne for you. You smirk as they lean in to kiss, though you are confused when Balor shrieks, jumps back and runs off wiping at his mouth. The elves of the Sunstorm start laughing, and you become genuinely curious, so you rise from your seat to see what exactly it is that happened. When you get closer you immediately see why Balor ran, and you feel more than a little dirty for using your talents to convince... him, you realize, to sign on with you. Suppressing your own gag reflex you head back to your meal.

>so, anything else you want to do today, or skip ahead to the execution?

I think either elementalism at this point or meet with the heads of the other noble houses. I want to see what kind of assistance they can provide and see if we can hire more mercs.

>>14490740
lets run and tell Jayne the HILARIOUS news.

>>14490740
This exchange has left me confused. I have no idea what just happened.

rolled 68 = 68

>>14490823
She's a He

>>14490823

>>14490823
The Crying Game.

>>14490740

Can we find the merc commander that was making eyes at us when we hired her back in Dragon's Reach and find out what she and her unit is doing?

>>14490826
>>14490844
>>14490846

....REALLY glad we didn't take, uh, him, up on his offer.

rolled 24 = 24

Actually, screw it, Pax, can you give us an actual detailed list of ALL companies in both the maniples and mercs?

>>14490870
And this time, with accurate information on the gender of each captain?

>>14490850

Apologies. I meant the merc commander from Stonefoot. Neftius spearmen captain?

You decide to a better count of the units available for your defense, including the mercenaries in the area, which takes a few hours.

500 city guard (mail, spears, bows, circle shileds)
Seventus
47th Legionary 200
254th Legionary 200
371st Legionary 200
237th Archers 200
240th archers 200
56th Lacertan Light 120 (circleshield, axes, chainmail)
Garrison
Legionary 200
Legionary 200
Light Spears 150
Dwarf Light swords 150
Archers 200
Dwarf Scouts 100
>more inbound

We should totally go flirt with him.

Justinian
-196th Legionary
Gaius Rex
200/200
good
-454th Legionary
Cornelius Hoursch
200/200
good
-98th Warlords
Uurist Titius
150/150
good
-76th Deadeyes
Aurelius Caspius
100/100
good
-50th Dwarven Scouts
Finian Gaurush
100/100
good
-65th Dwarven Rangers
Kyria Esfelda
100/100
good
-House Garlian Uursan Cavalry
Lady Jayne Garlian
40/50
good
House Morzitus Heavy Cavalry
Balor morzitus
30/50
good
-Blacktusk Raiders 60/75
Blackbird
assorted gear
good
-The Sunstorm (elves)
Tyxia Nestad
185/200
Splintmail, spears, kite shields, javelins
good
-Celtron Guard (Dwarves)
Denuk Tyshop
150/175
Surecoats over mail, longswords, tower shields
good
-Daimus Skywings
Damian Corinth
Chainmail, polearms, valkeries
20/50
average
-Neftius Spearmen
Trysha Morose
120\150
leathers, spears, circleshields
good
-Dentrus' Raiders (elfs)
Boros Klars
185\200
Leathers, combat axes, kite shields, javelins
good
>one more, blargh

City mercs:
Torins Blades 150/150
Surecoats over chainmail, bastard swords
+++
-
5000
Cronus' Longbows 200/200 (dwarves)
Longbows, leather armor
++++
-
7500
Forents Finest 175/175
Battleaxes, crossbows, scalemail
+++++
-
9000

By the time you have all of the soldiery in the city compiled to one list, it is already late in the afternoon, and word of what happened to Balor had spread like wildfire, the nobleman is of course, nowhere to be found.

>>14491025
Think it might be worth picking up the mecs we have. A little bargaining, perhaps see if we can get any assitance from the noble houses but two of them are ranged.

>>14491025
Do we still have enough money left in the city treasury to purchase these three mercenary units?

I do not envy the next governor of Northmont's job, considering how wrecked their economy is going to be.

>>14491066
We might not need to use the treasury of the city. That's why I think we should meet up with the nobles and see if they will pitch in. That and in theory we have our own money.

>>14491081
Using our own money is something I am as a general rule against. The Empire should provide the cash for defense, not us.

>>14491110
I know but we're in the middle of a siege and I rather spend a little more money to ensure we hold the walls at this point. Also one of the reasons why I said we should talk with the other noble houses. It's not like we can really use their cavalry that effectively in a siege unless the walls are breached. Perhaps we can get monetary support if we don't use their troops in combat. I rather have 200 archers on the wall than 50 horses in the city doing nothing most of the time.

>>14491066
>not enough money left, but you might be able to talk them into helping if you roll well enough (2200 left)

>>14491136
That's a good idea. Instead of lending us their valuable mounted units they can hire the mercs for us.

>>14491140

We should also look into speaking with the houses. Those who have been identified as traitorous.

Speak with them about sponsoring some of the merc companies and their household troops in service to the empire. Imply that it'll be taken into account when the investigation begins.

>>14491185
That's foolish, we'll be seen as lying bastards afterward when they get strung up anyway and we just sit there with a shit eating grin.

>>14491185
We've already gotten ourselves in debt to the 2nd Praetorian getting that shadow mage kid off easy.
I doubt he will intercede a second time.

Seconding speaking with noble houses. Even the possible traitors. Those that are willing to provide support in the form of dragoons will have it noted in their trials.

>roll for talking the noble houses into buying the mercs for the city, roll 5 times, one for each house

>>14491308
Let's see how my luck is tonight.

rolled 21 = 21

>>14491308

Here we go!

rolled 49 = 49

>>14491330
Let's try that again.

rolled 76 = 76

Woo, roll.

rolled 29 = 29

Imma firin mah diceroll

rolled 17 = 17

And the last house.

rolled 69 = 69

>>14491308

Rollin

We definitely got three, with one iffy roll and a very likely no.

Not bad.

>>14491255

Nah, I just wanna leech the traitor houses first before going to the loyal houses. No intention of actually helping them out. They can just go and say they provided money and funds to the empire during the siege in their defence.

Did posting go down or something?

I don't know. The flying cavalry units would definitely get shot down in seconds. The heavy cavalry units might be helpful if we do decide to sally out for sorties.

Also, Pax, if we have any time left, (have our men) do these:

1. Ditch around the non-gate sections of the wall. Dry moat, if you will.

2. Burn trees, brushes, undergrowth, and other vegetation around the city, so that elven snipers can't sneak up on our wall guards again.

>>14491667

If we deploy our flying cav, it will be to counter enemy flying cav over OUR city.

You decide to spend the rest of the day talking with the Noble houses in hope of getting more soldiers for the siege. House Dyntus is willing to help Jayne replenish her cavalry, most likely hoping that she will vouch for them in their trial. The other two traitorous houses are too angry over their situation to be of any help. Rigels and Mourrs do hire the remaining mercenaries in the city to aid in the defense.

The next morning starts early, a crowd already gathering in the town square, the cross laying on the ground, awaiting its victim. The Lobis family of course are all in stockades as the crowd gathers, the children crying, Dorin silently resigned, and his wife trembling. Just before noon the days happenings begin, the executioner arriving, and not gently moving Dorin to the cross. Too weak to fight back after days without food and in a cell, the burly dwarven executioner easily straps him to the cross. The leader of the excolo agents steps to the center of the clearing takes a deep breath, and shouts out "Plegians and Citizens of Degnar, Legionaries and Nobles, let all hear this!" he sighs again, striking the locks from the stockades "These outcasts are the blood of traitors, mark their faces and ride ahead of them. Warn every man woman and child in every settlement they may pass know them before they arrive, that no aid is given to these most vile, no kindness extended their way." small purses are tossed at the feet of the now free Lobis family. Dorin tries to shout something, but his throat is to dry to form any words.
>cont'd

The head Excolo agent names each member of the family, and their destination, and already parts of the crowd disperse to do as the law demands. "And now, the traitor himself will feel the wrath of Imperial justice. Dorin Lobis, for the crimes you have committed against your nation, you are to be crucified, and your body left to feed the maggots and carrion birds, watch now as your family pays for your transgressions, and let no being with reason that witnesses this punishment doubt that traitors to Degnar reap any reward but death." he nods to the other agents who begin to push the family from the town square.

The executioner begins to drive the first nail into Dorin, who screams inhumanly from the pain of his flesh being pierced. "STOP!!!" one of his sons shouts as he is pushed towards the eastern gate "YOUR HURTING-" however, the boy is cut off as a rotten tomato impacts his face, nearly spilling the lad to the ground. The agent stops any further missiles from striking the lad, though the boy does not try to say anything else. Within half an hour Dorin is hanging in the sky, bleeding and gasping as the midday sun bears down on him.

The lead agent takes the boy bound for DragonsReach "I always feel like shit when its children. But the law is clear, on what I am to say as the citizen in charge of the exiles." You nod in agreement as the daughter stares daggers at you. At the back of the crowd you see a nondescript form make an exchange with the boy headed for Vohzd Lennis' people, a few silver Drakes for a small bound book, the emblem of Eago clearly visible on its cover.

>so, what do you want to do in the few days before the siege starts?

>>14491699
We need to talk to Sansa as soon as we can unless Dasesu or Gaius have any news for us. Otherwise elementalism I suppose?

And then there's the general things that have been suggested for defence, also getting pitch if we can and maybe pre-ranging the area around the walls so our siege units will be more accurate.

>>14491725

Second.

If we have some time, we should do some elementalism training.

>>14491752
Third.

Train stone-sense or fissures?

>>14491699

I'd like to at least consult some of the goddesses that we'd need for that ghost plan mentioned >>14489382

Resuggesting a ditch around the wall, say 30-50 yards from the wall's base, the depth roughly 6 ft.
Should stop siege towers unless they bring in earthelementalists or bridge/fill it. Either way, they'll be in range for our archers to give them hell.

>>14491725

seconding

Let's train up fissures. We did stone sense last time, I think.

Also, can we figure out finally if Justinian is capable of effecting metal. We keep putting it off!

>>14491772

I'd say stonesense.

Not happy that our current abilities was blindsided during the campaign.

>>14491725
Get any reports from Gaius or Deaseu, then talk to Sansa. Tell her that whatever her decision we will aid her in it, but if she kills him in the night it will be quite a bit harder to get her absolved of her supposed crimes. Also point out to her that we've done some preliminary scouting of him for her, and he both recognized her and is expecting her to come kill him. So, if she plans to go forward with that she'll need to be extra careful.

If she insists on death, well, tell her the plan we've come up with for making it look like an Uurlanthi assassin.

rolled 74 = 74

Elementalism training is ago!

rolled 86 = 86

>>14491785
>>14491772

seconding improving stonesense

rolled 45 = 45

giving it a roll

rolled 51 = 51

Rolling for possible botch.

rolled 18 = 18

>>14491808

Thirding stonesense!

Ideas for traps/defenses.

Previously mentioned defensive ditch.
Between the ditch and wall should be wooden stakes again meant to impede or breakup enemy formations or delay/damage siege engines.

Have we worked on our plan to make an underground aqueduct by chaining together "supply cache" caverns?

Over the next few days, you speak with Gaius, who is unhappy to report that Seventus' second in command is as tight-lipped about his commanders transgressions as you had feared. However the progress he reports with the City Guard brightens your mood considerably.

Daeseu is proud to report that Sansa is learning the lessons he has for her well when you speak with him, though he is finding himself hard-pressed to keep her from moving too early. Over the next few days you are able to set up decent sized ditches before the walls, which are in excellent shape thanks to the care given to them by Degrians engineers. The ground around the city is burnt clean, and the ranges marked off for balistae, mangonel, bow and crossbow fire. The day before the enemy is expected to arrive, Blackbird and his raiders return, in good spirits, though smaller than when they set out, Wulf happily added to their makeshift clan. Eventually you find Sansa that night, sitting atop the tower of the gatehouse. "Justinian, I have been... is what you heard from Seventus true? I still think he deserves naught but a blade, but..."

Pit traps just east of the city, off of the main road. Especially places where a siege tower would have to go through to get to the walls.

Did we put down the hidden underground pipeline to the river yet? If not, do that as well.

>>14491922

We need to debrief the raiders on the enemies' force composition and makeup.

rolled 10 = 10

>>14491922
Aye, from what I could tell, he seemed to be at least inebriated, so I don't really see why he would be lying. The man has his regrets, but having regrets does not make what he did right. It does mean though, that he might come clean if gently nudged towards that direction. Perhaps not so gently considering what he did to you, but death not by the hands of an official order of the Empire is something you should reconsider.

>>14491922
"Alcohol is nature's most potent truth serum. Even if his lips could, his eyes, by that point, surely could not."

>>14492002
"If you kill him, it would also be dangerous for us to seek justice for the other women he had wronged."

Did we ever tell Sansa about the other victims? It could push her decision either way.

"It's possible, love. Not a day passes when the fear of possibly losing one of you fails to touch my heart. Still, whatever his troubles it does not excuse what he did to you. It does not even mitigate it. Weaker men have suffered more, yet not harmed innocents. It is possible that he could be made to confess, or tricked into doing so thereby absolving both you and your brother of misdeed. You might well receive recompense by the Empire as well.

If you are still set on bringing an end to him, however, I have several plans to ensure that his death is seen as an assassination or accident, but it will likely mean that absolving you of the supposed crimes you committed will be impossible. The man who wronged you was killed during a siege when you were present, yet you had nothing to do with it? Such an investigation would prove dire.

Additionally, he recognized you and, I believe, expects you to try to kill him. It could be dangerous. I will defer to your judgement as you were the one wronged, but having him executed for his crimes of murder and attempted rape might be a better option.

Know that whatever you decide, I love you and will always support you."

Hey guys, think we should pop the question to her? Like, "But this has reminded me life is too short to waste time, so it would be my honor if when we return to Dragonsreach after this campaign you become my concubine." or something? Pax said we have to get a concubinical license like wives have marriage licenses, so I imagine we'll need a proposal too.

>>14492023
Err, no, I don't think now is a good time to pop the question.

>>14492037
gonna have to agree here.

>>14492037
Alright. Let's just go in the order we bonked them for simplicity. Laelith -> Sansa -> Kyria -> Jayne.

rolled 49 = 49

>>14492023
Yeh, not so sure about that timing there.....
also, I think, just to be fair, we should do all of those at the same time with our ladies.

>>14492050
Hmmm. While that makes sense from a fairness standpoint, I was assuming we would give each of them their own honeymoon. Not to would be kind of a dick move.

Then again, the picture of Justinian bringing his ladies into the courthouse and saying "Give me a marriage licenses and three concubine certificates." as the four of them stand behind him in wedding dresses is priceless.

>>14492080
And that sounds almost exactly how it would go.

You sigh "Alcohol is the most potent truth serum known, so I have no reson to disbelieve what he told me. And while I may have a modicum of sympathy for him, simply because I know how it would feel to loose you, or any of the women in my life I suppose, that does not excuse his crimes. I still swear to you that your false accusations will be cleared, and he will pay, either by one of our hands, or through the law, I care not which. However..."

Sansa smiles a little, and leans over to kiss you "I will kill him, I just need to time it right, so that you can have his name dragged through the mud and manure. Though, with what he's been through... he does not deserve to be alive for that, he has suffered enough."

You return the kiss "He expects you to kill him, actually. And its reassuring to hear that you will give me enough time to ensure this can be done safely for us." Sansa smiles again, kisses you one more time, and hops down from the wall, headed back to where she can properly command the night watch. You spend the rest of the night meditating, and manage to be able to get some sense of metals within 500 feet or so, though you have to focus to do it. In the morning you can see enemy forces on the horizon, a large force no doubt, all flying the same banners at least. You rise to get a better count, as horns bellow out the call to arms across the city.

>this seems to be a good place to stop, as we defianately dont have enough time or steam to do the siege tonight.
>I'll be back Thursday at 9pm server time
>someone archive please
>if you have any random CQ/setting questions just e-mail me at paxcomquest@yahoo.com

... Let's stay focused on the siege.

>>14492047

What happened to marrying Jayne?

>>14492206
We still are.

Also, best plan seems to wife Jayne and concubine all the others at once, and propose to them all at the same time when we get back to the capital. I don't even want to think about the honeymoon, poor Justinian isn't going to be getting sleep for days on end.

rolled 65 = 65

>>14492237
Heh, what do you think Jayne's inexperienced lass self is good for, keeping us going.

rolled 21 = 21

>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/14488742/
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