> Twitter channel for announcement of times here: https://twitter.com/#!/CirrusandN> Game Wikia here: http://noblemanquest.wikia.com/wiki/NoblemanQuest_Wiki> Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Nobleman%20QuestAmaryllis actually has the daring to resist you for a few moments. 'Sir... please...' You back off for a moment, and then Orchid enters the room to report that the two ladies and one lord have safely returned to their chambers. 'Sir, it seems that Lady Merinites' advisor is getting on very well with sirs Katesas and Daneg. In fact, he has asked if he could let his disciple request an audience tomorrow morning with you.'You think this over. Tomorrow morning... technically, if you wanted to get back in good time, you should already be setting off with them tomorrow morning. It's really up to you whether you want to stay here a little more. Oh, also, Orchid and Amaryllis are both here now. There you are.
Sitrep: > You are currently at the manor of House Daudu. > Lady Saragites seems to be rather doubtful of your ability, given its distinct lack of proof. She is egging you on into taking more power from your family - whether legally, or perhaps against the very laws of your kingdom and state...> Lady Merinites does not seem to offer something quite as drastic as you - but she would like you to support her in her own quest to overthrow her family. In return, you may well be the holder of great power among the Easterners. > Meanwhile, things are going on in Margade. Your spy network appears to be humming on smoothly, though it still lacks centralised leadership. You should appoint someone soon. > Baseg has reported that the purchase of land up north is successful. And that the effort to conceal it is also successful - no one knows you have that large tract of bare land. Actually, since you have it... why not do something with it...?
We haven't slept with our subordinates for some two days now, so time to catch up.In the morning, say our goodbyes to everyone we are leaving here while our servants pack up.Then, we can set off.
If the weather turns bad tommorrow, we can stay here and wait it out. Otherwise, set off in the morning.
ask Amarillis nicely. catch up on our 'activities'.Tomorrow morning we set off asap.
>>19806887>>19806869>>19806854You nod as you listen to the reports, while still holding on to Amaryllis. Orchid can guess what was going on, and she moves to grab her colleague. 'She's ticklish, sir!''What? No! Please, sir- AHAHAHAHAHA no please don't HAHA...'Your tickling soon turns into caressing, and the three of you melt into a lovely conclusion to the day. Your last memory was of Orchid straddling you, her hair damp and fragrant, while you lay back in Amaryllis' lap and relaxed...... the next morning your head is back on its pillow, though there is someone sitting next to your bed. Aww, how coy... you smile, turn to admire the silhouette - and then realise it's neither of the two girls. Then Peony turns around and fixes her dark eyes on you.'Woah! Peony! Why're you here?''Father's taking over in the residence, sir. And there's some urgent news, so I took the horse and came over.' She sighs. 'There's trouble with the Hillmen, and trouble with the Congregation. Which one would you like to hear first, sir?'To make the start to a day less wretched, though, she's also brought you fresh flower tea. > What do/say? Also, you're completely nude, but then Peony's used to that...
Start with the hillmen.
Looks like we should go back as soon as possible.
>>19806954'Hillmen, eh?' Peony takes something out of her sleeve, a small scroll. 'Sir, it would seem that people in the palace - including the lordships - have been fiddling about with the tributary system between Mar and the hillmen.''Yeah, I did figure that. What's broken, then?''Not just broken, sir. The White Oak tribe - one of the largest Hillmen tribes - sent one of their sons and one of their ladies to Mar to participate in the ceremony as well, but they got turned back at the border because no sent invitation was recorded. The White Oaks insist they have an invitation, however. Lily says it's on the way to the palace. Lily also says the White Oaks have threatened to burn a route to Raumar if they have to...'... bloody hell, man. The White Oaks, if they gathered all three wings together, could easily muster about 1,200 men - not enough to take the Palace or Margade, but certainly more than enough to devastate all the farmland just as the grains are ripening. That would ruin the appanage for the next year...> What do/say/ask? Convocation trouble will come later then.
Well, either someone is deliberately keeping the invitation from arriving on time or the post office chose a bad time to fuck up.Either way, we have to investigate this as soon as we get the chance to. Possibly right now, depending on who we have available here at the moment.
Yeah, a lot of records of Hillmen tribute business are "erased", looks like invitation record is gone the same way. We better investigate.
>>19807085>>19807117'Damnit,' you sit up. 'Looks like something for us to investigate.'> Roll d100. As for the Convocation trouble, it's a lot more minor - doesn't involve burning a path through anything to anywhere, at least. It does, however, involve a mass petition to His Highness the Prince, requesting a judicial review of the three Immigrant-run Purveyors (along with two of the Localists, just so it seems balanced). And it also demands a check of some of the previous records of the candidates that the Immigrants have on their list. Sure, Beribo's not among them, but according to Peony there are already incidents of people coming forth to accuse them of price-fixing, evading taxes and rent, and corrupting the City Guard. Bloody hell, mate, that's a pretty big counterstroke from the Localists!> What do/say to *that*? Oh, also, Orchid enters the room to ask if Arahunir's student may be granted an audience soon. It appears that Arahunir will not be accompanying his lady into Raumar, but you could perhaps invite the student along if you want to...
We need to hear Convocation troubles to decide what to do.
rolled 26 = 26Rollan
rolled 13 = 13Rolling! Convocation sounds serious as well... we need to attack them back somehow.
rolled 35 = 35rollan
rolled 65 = 65>>19807235We shouldn't attack anyone, it is up to Immigrants to counter-attack, and then we can support them if needed.
>>19807267 Disregard the 65 roll, it is my secon roll, i forgot to empty e-mail field.
>>19807267This.Contact the immigrants first chance we get, ask them what they are doing about it and then we can consider how we are going to defend them.It is not really in our interest to "attack" anyone (except that one guy we are trying to humiliate and kill to help some other guy get his revenge or something).
rolled 98 = 98>>19807189rolling
>>19807192>>19807235>>19807267Yeah, Convocation troubles sound pretty tough too. You start thinking of ways to counterattack, then it hits you that you really ought to stand back from the situation and be careful. 'Well. Back to the Hillmen. You were going to say something, Peony.''We've found out the people who probably amended those tribute records, sir. We as in, Father and I. They're two house-servants, who are responsible for keeping the archives. But of course, they're not doing it by themselves - and we aren't sure who it is who's working for them...'> Well then. What do/say? Also, you haven't made a decision on Arahunir's student yet.
>>19807288>>19807295Just pointing out that 98 for you. I wouldn't want it to go to waste
>>19807295and we can just take the student with us
>>19807295We should report the Hillmen record situation to father. If those erasings are by his admission than we can't do anything, if he doesn't know then he can give us more authority to investigate.We could interrogate those servants by our self of course, but i am not sure how proper that would be.
>>19807295Get dressed, talk to the student and invite him to come along.Keep in mind that he might be reporting back to someone.As for the investigation - we have a starting point. We will have to gather info on the two house servants as soon as possible, but doing so ourselves would attract attention.We might want to talk to Lily or someone else about how to approach this.
>>19807288> ARRRGH well I'll keep that roll in mind. No good luck goes unused!>>19807283You tell Peony to get you in touch with the Immigrants once you're back in the Palace. 'But be discreet. We're not partisans. We can't be.''I understand very well, sir.' Peony gets up. 'Is there anything you'd like me to do? Maybe make you another tea?'You have to admit, the tea that they made for you in House Daudu is nice, but not quite as nice. You're too used to your own attendants, is what it is. Rose makes awesome tea... Anyway, Peony seems to be saying that if you have no immediate instructions, there might not be an immediate need to return to the palace for you. She'll do the running. >>19807343>>19807328You tell the young man to pack and follow you to Raumar. As for the Hillmen affair... it does seem rather dodgy if you interrogated those servants yourself, since they belong to the palace and therefore your father. > Right then. Stay at Daudu's a bit more? Rush back right now? Strip naked and swim back via the East Lake? (Don't do that.)> What do/say?
>>19807386Sorry man it's the curse of all your quests. All the high rolls are ones RIGHT before you post. >This coming from the guy who rolled the 98
>>19807412I know, right? It's okay. Gifts will be in store.
>>19807386We should probably get stuff together and bring out guests to Mar. This place is nice but I want a chance to enjoy the journey and not rush them on the road. Also just in case going is slow due to weather or something I want a bit of wriggle room.
>>19807386Yeah, we better move. Also why Arahunir is not going with Merenites? She offered to employ him to us and now sending him back to Saburan?
>>19807378>>19807439You tell Peony to go on ahead of you - you're leaving ASAP, but that's still not as soon as Peony. Why does the poor girl have to do her own courier duty? Granted, those were pretty serious issues - potential war, and potential mutiny among your constituency. Damnit. Meanwhile, Arahunir's student Dosunir comes into the room and you inform him that he will be following you. 'It would be my great pleasure to follow you to Raumar Palace, sir!''Good. Go get ready, then.' You take a little time getting ready yourself. You notice that Amaryllis seems to be terribly shy today, and she puts on your sash the wrong way up, after which she puts it on inside out. 'I'm very sorry, sir, so sorry...''Hey. Adrian.' You look up, with one attendant hugging you to attach the sash and another adjusting your sleeves. It's Gurunir. 'We're almost ready. Are we leaving soon?' He then glances at your two attendants and at you, and just then one of his own attendants comes over and he puts his arm around her waist. 'Sir!'> What do/say?
>>19807517Indeed we are, I would like a chance to enjoy our time on the road instead of being in a rush to Mar. How are you doing this morning?
>>19807506Arahunir might be brought here as a gift, and if he is not wanted by you, Meri might prefer him back at Subaran. You know - or you think you know - what Meri's plans are, so you aren't really surprised by that. Trusted people are hard to come by. >>19807550'That is a good point. The weather today is much better than two days ago, I'll give you that.' So it is. The sun is shining brightly, and everything appears more vibrant in the intense light. But a breeze is blowing, which mitigates the heat and keeps it from being unbearable. 'Also, I must say,' Gurunir says, looking at you, 'it seems you keep company with some interesting gate-guests. Me and that Subaran woman, we drank with your two advisors. Hm. Hmm.'He nods. And then he waves to you and leaves. You, too, should be ready to leave soon...> Do anything before thanking the host and leaving? > It appears that, Daudu being Daudu, giving them something - a favour of some sort - might do you good from them in the long run.
>>19807635All I can think of is promising to spread word of their fine hospitality. They did well as hosts and all that.
>>19807635Promise to commend them to the Prince. They did the appanage a service and they deserve thanks.
>>19807635Well it looks like we're bringing the two nations together through mutual drinking. They provided excellent hospitality so we should leave a pretty generous favor. I'm not sure exactly what we have on us or what would be considered normal.
>>19807655>>19807677>>19807678Magori of Daudu is standing by with his family, ready to send you off. 'You have done well, Baron. I will commend you to the Prince, and commend you to the city as well. I will give you a token of my thanks at a later time, when I've returned.''Your lordship is indeed a wise and discerning young lord. Please, have a safe journey.' The baron is grinning like crazy now; you've clearly said something to please him. It's no surprise; the social and political status of House Daudu is very low among the nobility, and any boost would be much appreciated. As you enter your carriage, Katesas looks at you. 'Pardon me, sir, but you look pale. Has something untoward happened?''It's not something to do with the Palace, is it, sir?' Daneg joins in. You glance at your two attendants beside you, who also look at you, slightly concerned. How pale exactly do you look!? Saragites is travelling directly behind you, with Gurunir leading the escort on horseback; and at the very back is Merinites herself. Sadereg is up front clearing the way. > What do/say? Also, how would you like to arrange lunch? As the host, you have the right to do what you want, though a large and luxurious inn is pretty much out of the question here. > You have to say, the general poverty of the fief - even along the edges of the East Lake - do not make a good sight for showing the foreigners...
>>19807733Informal lunch! Maybe even a picnic or something.
>>19807733I'm not really fond of showing weakness in front of our guests. Tell him that issues have come up and they are being dealt with as we speak.
>>19807834> To clarify: your carriage is closed, and none of your guests can see you. This is only fair, of course. Every nobleman needs their privacy.
>>19807733Take a look at ourself in a mirror, assess our general health.Informal lunch, something like a picnic at a nice pretty natural spot.
>>19807848Well, in that case, tell them what happened and ask for their view on it.
>>19807792>>19807834>>19807866You deny that anything is wrong - well, things have happened while you were away from the palace. But they are being worked on right now. Then you get a bronze mirror and check yourself in the brazen, yellowed surface. Well, you don't seem too unhealthy. Ah, you're a good looking fellow, aren't you?... wait, is that a hicky? That's a hicky on Orchid's neck, isn't it? You turn to look at her neck. You probably did that last night. Unseemly, Adrian...As you move on, you gradually come to see some people working the fields, and people on the Lake's surface on boats, casting their nets. Then Sadereg informs you that you can take a little detour to reach this place they call Crane Point, a lovely scenic spot by the lake, by noon. Or you can go on farther, and probably find a nice restaurant. 'Crane Point it is,' you say.> More incoming.
>>19807887Crane Point is a large pillar of rock, a grey outcrop which juts out from the shoreline and extends into the water. For a long time the locals have thought it a holy place, and there was a small shrine there; but it has since fallen into disrepair, along with the general decline of the Appanage. As you get nearer the spot - you can now see it from your window, in the distance - you tell your advisors about the Hillmen affair and the Convocation affair. Katesas seems quite interested about that Convocation thing. 'Sir, it seems this is an excellent way to make use of that criminal Beribo's acts. If you acquiesce to the investigation, but then demand that the candidates of the Localists also be investigated, then Beribo will be caught in his own trap...'As for the Hillmen thing, it seems a bit too iffy. Daneg supports your course of action in reporting to the Prince, but Katesas feels that if it is one of the Earls who is somehow manipulating the records, telling the Prince won't get anything done. He has a point... but then you don't really feel like breaking the law so soon...> What say?
>>19807958Well first we should try to clear things up so that they don't get violent on the way to Margade, smooth things over. Then we'll have people investigate further and once we have some solid proof we can present it to my Father and deal with it. Until then all we can really do is keep cleaning up the fires they've been starting.
Just calling for an investigation on Beribo may not be enough. He's a slippery one and we will probably have to make sure that the investigation does not get sidetracked or buries ubder paperwork.This, in turn, may reveal that we are actively working against him, even if we do come up with a good exuse.A reliable contact in the investigation team, if it is ever formed, would be very useful.
>>19807958Actually, where exactly are the hillmen? Are they already on the attack? Waiting to attack? Also, katesas has a good plan.
>>19808006> Do you mean they as in the hillmen? Fair enough, then. >>19808029>>19808042Katesas nods grimly. 'Sir, it is not Beribo himself that is the problem, but his advisor. Niduseg, as you must know by now, is the brains behind the entire operation. I would not be surprised if he was the one who called for this investigation.'Daneg then suggests that you use your position, as the Monitor, to agree to the investigation on the condition that you get to nominate the investigators. That would prevent them from stuffing someone into the post who would come down hard on the Immigrants. 'It seems that you, sir, are at a disadvantage, trying to remain in the dark while others have moved into the light already... but that may yet be an advantageous course in the future.' Or would it... hmmm.Anyway! Having arrived at Crane Point, you are surprised to find that it is actually filled with people. There are clusters of men and women - but many of them, you notice - are women - on the rocks. They are all dressed strangely, and have their hair covered. Then, as you watch in amazement, several young boys and girls jump into the water and disappear. It seems like forever before they re-emerge... with clams and oysters in hand!The two ladies, it turns out, have also brought their own food, including some interesting specialties from the East. > Roll d100 for your underlings' presence of mind. > Also, what do/say?
rolled 60 = 60>>19808137Rolling!Let's go down and look at those divers.
rolled 60 = 60>>19808137ROLLAN
rolled 89 = 89>>19808137Well set up at a nice place to have lunch.Then we should talk with some of the pearl divers, get a feel for what is going on here. It might be interesting.
>>19808176>>19808192> 2 borderline rolls in a row! Okay, this could be interesting. Holding for more suggestions for a bit.
>>19808210not anymore more man look at that 89. Your curse and our blessing at work here
>>19808198>>19808236>>19808192>>19808176> Oh, I was basing it on the fact that two consecutive rolls yielding the same number is far less likely (thus far more lucky) than a single good roll. So you were actually headed for LUCK!You are just about to swear for not remembering to bring food, when suddenly Orchid comes up with a box, and Amaryllis brings out a large silk-wrapped package. The box turns out to be cured fish roe and rice cakes, and the package is wild honey and bee pupae cakes - both lovely delicacies of your people. And so, with the mats spread out, all of you sit down on a high spot to eat your food! Gurunir's even brought a large jar of liquor to ease the wind, which is now becoming pretty strong indeed. Saragites is talking and laughing with her brother, while Merinites mostly eats alone and makes small talk with her attendants. You notice something - she's making small talk with Sara's attendants now, too. Sara doesn't seem to have noticed, or maybe she doesn't care. As you talk, you come to learn that those two who attend Meri are called Hibiscus (that's the dancing girl with grey eyes) and Goosefoot; Sara's attendants, in turn, are called Alethea and Jasmine. All very lovely flower names, you think. As you nibble on cured fish roe, you notice that the pearl divers have seen you, and while curious, they are wondering if they should leg it - you are, after all, surrounded by armed guards...> What do/say? Talk to anyone in particular?
>>19808306"This could be interesting" is a phase scary to anyone who doesn't control how the story flows (as in all the bad things that could happen) but yeah I get what you are saying.
>>19808306First we should talk to some of the pearl divers, maybe get some pearls straight from the water to use to decorate any pretty machines we make.Then have some drinks and laughs with Saragites and Gurunir, Merinites might not appreciate us interrupting her getting a good talk with Sara's attendants.
We should talk to all of them in turn. Actually, let's try to get them to talk to each other.
Actually, we may want to buy a pearl or two right here. Getting it from the source should be cheapre than getting it from the merchants.My knowledge of pearls is very shallow, however and I may be wrong.
>>19808423>>19808387You make your way down to the divers, who shrink instinctively from you when you go among them. 'What do you fish for?''We... we dig traps at the bottom, for prawns and crabs. We also gather clams, and waterweed, and whatever is edible...'They still seem terrified of you, until you dismiss Sadereg and the guards. Then they become more curious, as you move to the pile of clam and oyster shells. One of the girls comes over to you, a girl with a pouty mouth and large, curious eyes. Her hands, however, are hard from the work.> 60, 60: the dice gods are with you!'Do you... want any of them?'You point, at random, to a pretty large looking oyster. 'I'll have that one. Open it for me.'You then watch as, with a small piece of flint, the girl tries to open the oyster. But it's an unusually large oyster, and unusually strong; and while she manages to pry it open, the flint slips and cuts her at the last moment and she gasps. 'Ow!'Her gasp is shared by everyone else as they realise what's inside the oyster. It's a perfectly round, pale blue, freshwater pearl - the most precious sort there is. It is said that one in a hundred thousand bear such pearls. The girl's blood runs into the oyster's flesh, mixing with its juices. She too is gaping at the thing. 'Oh, dear heavens, is that what I think it is?' You turn around. Meri is several steps behind you; she's clearly observed what you've discovered.> What do/say?
> Note: pearls are indeed very precious, and these people are not actually pearl divers as you've just realised. They dive to get seafood for a living, and pearls are a rare extra.
>>19808482I do believe that it is what you think it is. I suppose I am simply extremely lucky.Find a piece of cloth to wrap up the girl's wound. What would proper payment for the pearl be? I want this pearl, it'd make an absurdly good centerpiece for a piece of jewelry or a little machine.
>>19808518DO we know the cost of one
>>19808525>>19808548For a pale blue, top quality, natural pearl that's just been plucked out of the water? And is about 1.5 cm in diameter (using modern measures here, yes I know)? All the money in your treasury, about 3,600 taels now, could possibly buy you about a third of it. The divers are all stunned, and they are aware of it. You try to tear your sleeve, but your sleeve is made of proper reinforced silk; instead Meri tears a strip from her sleeve and leads the girl away to bandage her wound. Only then do the siblings from Theniron come down and see your find. 'Adrian? Did you just find that? Oh. Oh by Fisewa-hansa.' Saragites sounds excited... man, you have no idea what you should pay for this. But you look up and see that the divers are crying, or on the verge of tears. When you ask them, they reply saying that normally the pearl goes to whoever's opened the oyster. That would be you. Actually, technically, it's bleeding thumb pretty girl, but... maybe if you took the girl along, you would get the pearl as well. They look like they would much rather you buy it, but they can't force you, can they? Even without knowing who you are.> What do/say?
Ask them what they want in exchange. Holy shit, that's quite a find.
>>19808610Well it'd be horribly rude of us to just take something like this. Inquire to what they could want in exchange for this thing of beauty.
We can give them some money(not near the real price of course). And offer the girl to get her some good job in the city. She wouldn't be able to get thousands of taels for it anyway, but good job is a big luck.
>>19808678>>19808648>>19808638You hold the pearl in your hands, feeling its smoothness. Then you look up, and by then the two ladies are both standing beside you. Looking at the jewellery with understandable desire. 'What would you like... in exchange for this?' You ask the divers. They hesitate; then suddenly one of them points at you - and an older woman, seeing what she's pointing at, quickly slaps her hand away and throws herself on her knees. 'Your lordship! Your lordship! We... we wouldn't dare...' Of course. They've seen your sash and lapel ornaments, the arrangement of beads and knots which denote your rank. Saragites' lovely eyes narrow as she turns to you. 'I say maybe we could pay them some and take it. If they don't ask for anything...'Merinites, meanwhile, is holding the girl. 'Maybe if you also took her off as an attendant, Adrian? That would secure her for life, would it not?'The divers remain mute in terror. Hmm.> What give for the pearl? You do have some money with you. And if you think that isn't enough you could always borrow some from your guests...> You also have a box of silver from Meri, and a box of gems from Sara.
>>19808741> Of course, giving away the gifts in front of the givers is not likely to endear yourself to them.
>>19808741Pay money, don't pay with silver\gems from presents, to avoid favour\unfavour situation for our guests. Dunno about her being attendant but take her with us if she is willing, then we can question her on her skills and personality and decide were to put her from there.
>>19808741Tell the divers to calm down so we can actually discuss this.I'd rather not burn through our treasury for this or something like that. Pay some amount of cash we can afford, maybe around 1000, talk to the girl, see if she has a useful skillset and if she wants to become an attendant.
>>19808826No need for 1000, 200-300 or something would be enough. After all we could take it without payment at all if we were our second brother or some other less scurpolous noble(which i assume are majority of nobles).
>>19808795>>19808826Well, unfortunately you haven't really got a thousand taels with you right this moment. But certainly, once you get the divers to calm down, you sit down on a rock and offer them that money. They look at each other, then at you.'Sir... your lordship... please if you would be so merciful, we shall ever be in your debt...' Ah, there they go crying again. Sigh. It somehow seems as though a thousand taels is their idea of a reasonable price, though... which is depressing. Half a day away is a city whose affluence is unimaginable for these people...As for the girl, Meri brings her to you. She, too, seems mute with terror, her wide eyes staring at you. She's pretty, but in a rather... strange way. Still, pretty is pretty. 'So. What can you do? Would you like to be my attendant?''I... I wouldn't dare...''I'm not asking if you dare to be my attendant, I'm asking if you want to. I dare to be your master, if you're wondering,' you say. 'Um... yes, yes I can. I mean, I want to! Master... um, I can cook... and I can clean the house, and I can open oysters, and carry heavy things...'You hear Hibiscus stifle a giggle, as do Sara's attendants. Orchid, too, is smiling. Those duties are, of course, normally left to slaves rather than attendants. But you're not going to take her as a slave... it seems she would like to follow you, though.> What do, then? Promise a thousand taels, and then take the girl?
>>19808867Argh, sorry, didn't see your post before I posted.
>>19808927Since we offered I guess we should promised to pay. Just put some money down as a down payment and ask where we can find them to pay the rest. >Here is a guy who has no idea how much we have on ourselves at the moment. Not counting the savings
>>19808927Promise to pay them, better not specify the sum. Take the girl. Send them money when we return to palace, but i think we better give them less then 1000 and some tradeable goods from our vault, as we need taels ourselfs.
>>19808927Well first get the girl's name, then accept her into our service.The Pearl is worth somewhere around 10-12 thousand right?
>>19808994Well we could always just sell the pearl since it's worth so much. Just a option
>>19808994After checking the vault,looks like there is no goods which would be of use to peasants, so i guess we just pay them the money.
Don't know the context of where we're at, haven't been following since right before Father came back from his hunting trip.As long as we're paying this rather hefty sum for something that we're likely not going to sell (ha ha selling this?), we should get more out of the deal.Are we still doing aggressive expansion? Do these guys have anything to offer us besides this girl? How connected are they?
>>19809000Well since 3,600 buys a third of it then yeah around that area
>>19809000The question is not how much the pearl is worth, but how much it will be worth once we are done crafting it into something.
>>19809008>>19809000>>19808994>>19808988> Okay, let's change it that you simply promised them money. You reach into your purse, and take out 80 taels to give them first. You promise you will pay them, in silver and in kind, once you have returned to the palace. The girl's name is Murona, but she doesn't have a flower name for obvious reasons. You look around, and then see some chamomiles growing on a patch of grass near where you are standing. > Call her Chamomile?> Also, do/say anything more while resuming the picnic? You keep the pearl in a purse and hide it properly in your sash. These things you can't be too careful about.
>>19809052Nah these guys look like dirt poor people who don't even know the value of this pearl. Looks like they just fish all day for food.
Thinking back on it, 1k taels is a bunch, might that paint these villagers a target in that someone might murder them for that much? Maybe we could work out a payment plan.
>>19809052> Welcome back!Aggressive expansion is still a plan, and in fact has become more of a plan since you met those two lovely foreign ladies. If you want to keep track of those expanded plans, keeping up on the archives is highly recommended. As for what these divers can offer you, well... they're divers at a scenic spot in the middle of nowhere. You really don't think they can be of much use, unless you've got some unconventional uses to put them to.
>>19809050I'm sure the vault's just for precious items. We've got plenty of normal food and stuff we could give them. If they are diving just for food, food is probably a good thing to give them.
>>19809095Sure, Chamomile seems like a good name.Rejoin the picnic, express some awe at our absurd luck.
>>19809158>>19809110I guess we can hammer out the details when we get back. Mix and match I guess give some goods and 200-300 taels?
>>19809099I don't even know where we are, are we in a place that is under our (family's) jurisdiction? If so, then we're probably doing better than any of our siblings would. Promising more payment later without specifying how much is a reasonable decision. As long as we remember to keep our word, that should be enough.At any rate, we could probably have the pearl set in an ornate amulet or something. Just selling it straight up might net us less than having it worked into an object.
>>19809158You right, something like shipment of grain and dried meat could be of great value to poor peasants, won't attract unwanted attention of bandits, and won't cost us much.
We also can say that our luck is unmatched, because that's the third precious perl that we found on that trip.
>>19809235Well we did promise SOME money so we can throw 100-300 taels in there
>>19809235>>19809216>>19809208>>19809184You're sure you can hammer it out later in the palace. By which you mean, you can have Peony and Baseg and Mormer hammer it out for you. Sitting back down at the picnic mat, you shake your head in wonder at your good luck. Sara smiles. 'It is not luck, Adrian. It is favour. And more favours will come, surely.''Much as I wouldn't admit it, she's right,' Meri, too, is in a good mood. 'It seems like a gift from providence, to be treasured...'Hmm, hmm. As you continue nibbling, the divers suddenly come over to you with a large tray of clams and a small charcoal stove. While you watch in amazement, two old women grill the clams before you, and you watch as their juices spurt and they pop open, writhing and dying on the flames. When they are finally done, they are the sweetest, most succulent, and most magically delicious seafood you have ever had. The cured clams of the palace pale in comparison to this. Then, just as abruptly as they came, the divers take their leave of you. Meri sits back and looks at the clear blue sky, and then starts reciting a poem about a pearl. You frown for a bit, then realise she's improvising and making up poetry. When she's finished her 16 line verse about pearls in the presence of cranes, you can't help but clap. Sara then launches into a poem of her own, a far grander poem about the scenery, and the delicacy of the pearl set against the grandeur of the East Lake. That's... very grand too. ... wait, does the host have to join in? Seriously?> What do/say?> If composing poem, roll d100 and mention some of your themes. The more detailed the theme, the bigger your bonus and chance of making a good poem.> Or do you want to use your 98 here? I'm not suggesting it because it's not a 'work' roll, but if you want...
>>19809288Your statement draws bright laughter from both the ladies. Huh. That seems to be breaking the ice between them, rather. Well done you, Adrian.
So, someone want to sum it up for me: has Adrian finally succumbed to crushing avarice.Also, is Karma (or a belief in it) a thing in this setting?
>>19809403What do you mean by succumbing to crushing avarice? Also, that's a vague foreign belief you've heard of. It comes from those weird naked wandering priests who came in from the west and north, right?
rolled 21 = 21>>19809377Themes of note, pearls, the time required for a mollusk to grow one, how it is an effort of a lifetime for them and its legacy, and diving for pearls and fortune.
rolled 29 = 29>>19809490
rolled 48 = 48>>19809490Sounds good, rolling.
rolled 19 = 19>>19809377Rolling>>19809490This is a nice theme
rolled 22 = 22We should write about how we got three pearls, and how uncommon that is, and how it is a time to be cherished.
>>19809468crushing avarice in the sense of being a greedy bastard.doesn't seem like it.Also, our poetry skills are uninspired.
rolled 11 = 11>>19809584>>19809567>>19809564>>19809535>>19809490Well, at least we're consistent with our character. We speak half a dozen languages and know lots of poetry in all of them, but we aren't that good at it ourself.
>>19809490>>19809564> 48 + 18: reasonable, if not very inspired. You strain to think of sufficient lines before reciting, and as you recite it soon seems to you that everyone is listening out of politeness. Well, but your lines scan and rhyme properly, and that's the important thing, right? 'It is true that an oyster takes so long to furnish us with a single pearl,' Meri says. 'Look, the divers are leaving.'So they are. You notice it's getting on into afternoon, and you had better get going too. As you move on down the road, though, the unpredictable weather that often dominates the Lake starts to act up again, and soon you are riding under driving wind and a cold drizzle. 'Sir, come think of it - maybe we should enter the palace through the southern side entrance?''Eh? Why?'Daneg bows. 'They must be holding the processions of the deities now, sir. And dancing them in water. That will take all evening...'Oh, that's true. > What do/say? Do you want to avoid the festivities, or go and join in? > Basically the procession is when many major temples take their deity statues out, reconsecrate them, take them round the city and then clean them in the waters of the East Lake. Well, when I say clean, given how filthy the East Lake is around Margade... but there you are. It draws huge crowds, it often leads to pushing and accidents, and it's noisy as hell.
>>19809680We're getting in after a long ride, it'd be rude to subject them to the festivities unless they really want to see them.We can ask if they're actually interested in seeing the noisy, chaotic procession.
>>19809680Oh man. Let's avoid the festival. Go back, let the girls orientate Chamomile. Then we figure out our politics. Should we hire that student guy? Let's see him as well.
Not interested, although showing up at the very end of it to say "yeah, we were totally there..." might be worth it. I mean, granted we have nothing else to do.
>>19809748>>19809755Neither of the ladies are interested, though Gurunir sounds like he wants to go look. 'I'll just head off myself, though,' he says. And true to his word, as you near the southern city gate, he peels off with his bodyguards. Sara leans out of her carriage window. 'Stay safe, brother!''Yeah, sure!' And with that they're off. You lead the ladies into Raumar Palace, and then at the central courtyard you bid them farewell. 'We will see you soon,' they say. 'Thank you for your hospitality and aid.'As you ride off, you turn around and watch them being attended to and ushered into their apartments. They do seem impressed with Raumar, looking around at the buildings. You wonder if they're impressed with the grandeur, or more disgusted at the age? It has to be said that Raumar is not the best maintained palace...Tsk. Heading back, you hand Chamomile to Rose and Lilac so they can take her around. Linden has already run a bath for you. You look around and see that Pea and Ixora aren't around. 'What's happened?''Peony has sent them off, sir. They're only here for the first round of the Convocation meetings, remember?'Oh dear. Well, such is life. You can only hope they've had a good impression of this place. Linden asks if you'd like to hire more attendants, as she rubs your shoulders. She's wearing scent again; she has this habit of daubing a little of the scent in her cleavage. You have absolutely no complaints about that. 'Nah. Too busy.''Is it the Hillmen crisis, sir?' So even Linden knows! 'It seems they are gearing for war now...'> What do/say?
>>19809854Looks like. I ought to be able to calm the Hillmen down and keep them from setting things on fire. Though I really have to find whoever is doing this, it's probably out of greed and they're just screwing up everything. Linden, remind me why I decided to actually go and try to do something important as an earl instead of just lazing around, sleeping all day and drinking all night.
>>19809854How far has the news gone?After that, do we know of any jewelers? Wasn't there that one metalworker from some time ago? What does Linden think about setting that pearl?
>>19809854Oh i am glad to see Linden after long time of two or three friends. She is my favorite of our attendants.
>>19810005>>19810001>>19809964'You're going to calm the Hillmen down, sir? But what's it got to do with you?'Actually, she has a point... what did you want to calm them down with, anyway? You can't buy the White Oaks off like you did with the Red Pines. This is a tough question...'Well, someone will calm them down. Someone had better, before they start setting fire to the fields. So does everyone in town know this now? Tell me, Linden. Why am I working so hard as an Earl? I could be sleeping all day and drinking all night...' You pull Linden's arms around you, and then rest your head on her chest and collar. Ah. She smells and feels lovely as always. 'I don't think the town was informed, sir. It's been really recent so they might not know yet. Has to be said, though - if they do know that their food supply is under threat, now that could be dangerous. Margade is always hungry...'And as for why, sir, it's just because you're so smart, and such a good man as well. Because you care!' She kisses your cheek appreciatively. 'I also know about that Convocation thing now. Those bastards.''I only have one head, Linden. I can't deal with two things at a time...'> Righto. It's evening now, and you probably ought to get to work. What do?> Also, tomorrow is the Third of Fifth - you are not allowed, as an older sibling, to be in the Palace. > And for the Fourth of Fifth, do you wish to make an appearance with the two ladies, or just go yourself? Or go with *one* of the two ladies?'The pearl?' Linden gasps when she sees it. 'I... oh, oh god.''Found it. In an oyster. Just like that... should I set it in something?''I think, personally, sir, you've found yourself a family heirloom!'
>>19810130Set up the money and food thing for the place we got the pearl. Get our people to get more details on the Hillman problem, I'd rather not have the fields catch on fire. It'll make life more annoying, and if we get them not to set everything on fire it'll be a feather in our cap. We need more information on them, their situation, what leverage we can use. We might have to personally issue the invitation or something like that. As for the Fourth, we should probably bring them both with, for now. Don't start it out by showing too much favor either way for now.
>>19810130We can go with both ladys, but we better counsel our advisors first on that matter probably. Maybe we shouldn't overextend on our sympathy to the foreigners while this Convocation business is still on.
>>19810130Let's go see that dosunir fellow first. Ask him about his skills. Tell him about the hillmen crisis, see what he'd do.
>>19810229>>19810222>>19810221> I take it this means you are gathering your gate-guests, then. Dosunir will come a bit later. Your gate-guests, with one new addition, come in and sit on the floor. You ask for a more thorough briefing on the situation. It seems that, according to the rudimentary network of spies you have in the northern villages, the White Oaks aren't moving out... yet. But they have certainly camped on the hillside and are all ready to move, apparently. The young man and woman they sent were the children of the central wing's chief, and he insists he was sent the invitation. And yet you have never heard any news about the invitation being sent, since you've been in the Palace all this while. Linden, who was to draw up the list of women for your perusal, also agrees that there's no mention of hillmen. 'It all sounds like an excuse for extortion,' Mormer and Daneg agree. Ramogis, along with them, suggests that forces should probably be ordered to stand firm. It's too late to send an invitation, since the event starts tomorrow morning; but then maybe with gifts the affair can be smoothed over. Katesas isn't so sure though, and since he's of Hillmen descent he knows what he's talking about. 'The White Oaks are the largest of the tribes bordering the Appanage. This is a matter of face, not of material gifts. And yet... I wonder if they are doing this for themselves, or at someone's behest? Or are they trying to impress their own tribespeople and the other Hillmen?'> What do/say/ask?
> Also, hmm. Another two posts and I'm off to bed. Thanks very much for playing, everyone!
>>19810331Interesting. Maybe someone falsely sent one out to them in order to cause some chaos to exploit, or they are just trying to muscle in on this. So there's no chance of giving them an invitation, we couldn't say send Imian or myself to go fix this and personally invite them. I'd rather not have to of course.
>>19810393Well, a delegation is possible - but it wouldn't be an invitation delegation. More of an apology delegation. But seriously, why the hell does the Appanage of Mar have to apologise to a bunch of hillbillies? You can easily see how this would damage the name of the appanage as a whole.
>>19810416I'd rather not have to, but 1500 angry men with torches by our fields in harvest season can't just be ignored.
>>19810416It seems like it'd be much better if we pushed through an investigation, got some results, and then executed the wrongdoers and showed their heads to the hillmen. We'd be like 'here, we found the idiots, it's not our fault. don't bother us.' and it's not an apology.
Yes! Reading like a motherfucker.>how i feel
Ignore this post if it's off, I'm obviously out of the loop, but why is it our job to smooth things over? Should we/did we inform Father, seems that a military movement of Hillmen should be something the Prince himself deals with, not the Earl.Unless we're just being proactive about showing people up with our diplomacy...This isn't the Red Pines, right? We never promised anything to these White Oaks people?
>>19810331>>19810416Could we use our 98 to see if anyone sent a fake invite or just general investigation? Unless it's for something else
>>19810393>>19810433>>19810468>>19810487Oh, sorry - if clarification is needed, your gate-guests aren't saying YOU should go to the gifting and the talking, but that gifting and talking should probably be done. You are of course right in wondering why you should be the one to do this work, unless of course your dad tells you to. And yes, your father does know about this. He does not know about the business with messing with tribute records, however. That was what led the Red Pines to attack. Of course, if you would like to, the White Oaks crisis can definitely be played for your personal political advantage. It's rather dirty, and potentially damages everyone, but hey, it's fair. Or, you could just focus on your problems with the Convocation now...> What do/say/decide? > Continue discussing and plotting and planning. It would be great if a consensus can be reached regarding at least one of these two issues, and what to do with them. Both seem to offer potential for damage as well as gain...> See you next thread!
>>19810535You can use it for investigation, definitely. The results will only be apparent the next day, however - investigations take time. Also, if you use the 98, it will be assumed that you took matters into your own hands with your only leads, namely the two servants of your father who altered tribute records.
>>19810564Man this could lead to all sorts of problems and even if it was my 98 I rather not make a decision like that because I ain't a regular
>>19810564>>19810611As a regular, I say don't worry about it. We'll use it. It's not like dad can dislike us any more than he does now anyway.
>>19810537Since we haven't actually been assigned to deal with the Hillmen I say we should concentrate on the Convocation, as that immediately threatens our position. It also finally gives us the chance to deal with Beribo.
>>19810652Yes he can, our oldest brother is testament to that fact.
>>19810681Well if we do it that way we could use the 98 for choosing our own investigators to do what it was advised over >>19808137>The non-regular just throwing around ideas
>>19810537We should indeed focus on our dealings with the Convocation and turning around their most recent plot. This 98 would surely help us greatly in our quest to put Beribo "out of business"
>>19810825So how exactly are we going to use that 98 for?
>>19810861So it's agreed that we're going to focus on the Convocation investigation then?I think the 98 should be used on convincing the merchants to let us choose the investigators and picking the ones that will both slam down on Beribo and not go too hard on the foreign merchants.We can then focus on ensuring that Beribo is well and truly buggered, the best way to do this would be to somehow Nsudeg onside. He's already shown evidence that he's not particularily happy with covering Beribo's arse.
>>19810861>>19810767We can use it for pushing through a counter-investigation and stuffing the jury with our people.
We really need to get Beribo on the list of suspects. The scandal uncovered there will definitely overshadow any dirt dug up on the Immigrants or Localists.
>>19811022That is very true though it might look slightly worse for the Localists since they are supporting Beribo as of right now.Which of course we can use in our favor in some way.
>>19811084We don't want to alienate to the Localists, but Beribos exposure will probably be good grounds to cause a split in their party. I think, when we get to that point, we should convince a few of the more vulnerable members to throw in their lot with the Immigrants.Maybe they should be renamed so that the party isn't so obviously in favor of the immigrants. Perhaps the 'Margarde Expansionist Party'?
Also, who is in favor of selling the pearl? That would give us some serious capital to get our grand plans for the city in motion.
>>19811212While the capital is nice we can get money elsewhere. It would find better use in a piece of jewelry either to wear ourself for prestige or to give as a serious fucking gift.
>>19811233I dunno man. That pearl will nearly quadruple our current holdings. Where else are we going to get that kind of cash?
>>19811146See now "that" is a wonderful idea.While they would still have to work out some stuff it would give the side we are supporting the look of having "the whole of Margarde's interests" in mind.>>19811212Part of me wants to sell it, but the idea "we" could use our tinkerer background to make something that will define us is very tempting.
>>19811254It's appealing, but 11,000 or 12,000 taels is nothing to look down on. That would give us a veritable fortune, and we've already spent 1000 on getting it 'fairly'.We simply don't have any other way of gathering such a fortune, and so quickly. The sentiment of an heirloom is nice, but sentiment won't buy us holdings that will provide further income, or put the City Guard in our pocket.
>>19811254Cash is a transitory concern, but I doubt we will be seeing a gem like this soon. I'd say we make something awesome out of it, a scepter perhaps?
>>19811389We change the 1000 to just "promised to give them money". Just pointing that out>>19809095
>>19811389Very good points.Though the only thing standing in out way to a vast fortune is finding a person to buy it off us.Though i'm sure this is a minor thing concern since we are the third Earl.
>>19811406A scepter? How big do you think this pear is? A brooch or ring seems more workable.>>19811480We really should pay them. It's basically cheating them out of a fortune with 1000, not paying even that is a pretty shitty thing to do. I doubt Adrian is particularily bothered by the occasional moral ambiguity, but that's just low.As an aside, I reckon we should get Orchid (or whoever trained her) to start training Chamomile.
>>19811696No I mean we didn't agree to the 1000 we just promised them a sum of money> Okay, let's change it that you simply promised them money.
>>19811696Even though I think they should get 1000 for it at least maybe not all at once though because that would hurt us financially and make them a bandit risk
>>19811751as in bandits will go after them if they find out they have that much cash
>>19811733Could be I just misunderstood it though although after that was posted everyone was posting lower sums and just saying give them food.
>>19811733If we want Chamomile's loyalty, which I certainly think is important to start our ninja-attendant cohort, we have to pay them fairly. We could maybe skim it down to 800taels, but anything more would clearly be cheating them.
>>19811783I think that was for a down-payment.
>>19811766That might be an excuse to convince them to move closer to Margarde. I can see an advantage in that, they would be fairly secure once housed in a village (prefferably coastal) they would spread the tale of our portentous finding of the pearl, and our generosity (only merchants would know that we scored an absolute bargain).
>>19811836Yeah but wouldn't those merchants go around telling everyone we basically trick a bunch of dumb peasants to give us a pearl work 10-12k for just 1k. It's not a good look if they telling people of our "generosity". Just saying if we are going to give them 1k (which we should) we better not give it to them all at once then again after we pay them it's not really our problem .
>>19811921Good point, we're not exactly on friendly terms with the merchants right now. But the point, and we might make this clear to the divers (subtly of course) is that technically we didn't have to pay them anything. Whatever we do pay them is from our own generosity (whether that is actually legally true or not), and their story should reflect that. Just an idea, otherwise we can just pay them and forget about it.
I can't help but think that if we give the peasants cash they're not going to be able to do anything with it other than get robbed. At this technology level money is only really of use to people who deal with cities- the peasants aren't in a position to spend theirs, because there aren't easily accessible merchants with the goods they need all around them.Depending upon the political situation in that particular area, it may be more practical to spend a thousand taels on giving them usable goods, sending a crew of builders to improve their infrastructure, or something of the sort. It would be a hell of a lot harder to steal and actually do something practical for them- and since we'd just be issuing orders, it wouldn't actually take much more work on our part than sending a bag of coins.
Since this was so short, is there a chance of a continuance some time in the near future?
perhaps this is a dumb question, but would it be possible to send the hillmen an invitation / draft them another? Perhaps take it to them ourselves, if such a thing isn't too improper. Then again, all our grain being burned is pretty improper too, so let's not be TOO afraid of extending that olive branch...
playing keep-alive here.
We better not sell perl yet, we don't *need* that amount of money right now, and we always can sell some of the more regular treasures from our vault.We should concentrate on Convocation problem, but we still have to report to father about Hillmen tribute shenanigans, remember *our* Hillmen suffer from it too, what if next season they will be forced to raid us again? And i thought we already agreed on paying 200-300 taels in money and the rest in goods to pearl-divers.
> Not continuing the thread right now - have lots of work to do. But...> In the near future, sure. Watch the Twitter.To clarify: you've told Baseg to prepare hampers and money to give to the divers. You will only be giving 200 taels in money, along with the 80 taels you already gave them (in any case, that's a tiny fraction of the gifts you got from Sara and Meri). Baseg has, however, set aside several vats of soy paste, a cartload of rice and a cartload of beans, some silk and linen of reasonable quality and two large cured hams for the payment in kind. And that's only the first payment. Baseg is a good man, you're pretty sure you can trust him with this. As for the 98, I take it you are going to use it on the Convocation instead of the Hillmen. All your gate-guests, after you fill them in, agree that the best way would be to order an investigation into *all* candidates, in the interests of fairness. Then you can reveal your dirt and throw them on the wrong foot. Where the Hillmen are concerned, you have decided to personally report to the Prince that this isn't the first time the records got cocked up on the Hillmen. > Acceptable course of action? If so I'll start the next thread with this.
>>19816942That sounds good.
>>19816942I'm not sure what we expect personally reporting to the Prince that the Hillmen have had their records repeatedly screwed with to accomplish, given that we have precious little else to offer him regarding that. Our father doesn't seem the sort to get fired up over having the stench of corruption in the city pointed out, and being the one to flag the issue will make us a target to whoever's behind it- I believe we had traced the other Hillmen document issue loosely to the second brother, but I'm not confident of my recollection.Anyway, without a solid idea of what the gain for us is in pointing it out I'm not sure it's a good idea.
>>19817151Since we're focusing on the Convocation it doesn't look likely that we'll be coughing up more evidence on that matter any time soon. Might as well play the dutiful son and discreetly inform father that we suspect there is a plot at work here, and that we'd be willing to investigate it for him.>>19816942This seems solid. I vote that we go with it.Also, our little sister Mara. Is that a reference to Mara of the Acoma from the Empire trilogy? I'm just reading it now.
>>19816942Sounds right. >>Our father doesn't seem the sort to get fired up over having the stench of corruption in the city pointed outSure if it's the regular corruption, but that one almost started a war, and that is serious.>>19817634Our little sister is Martha, not Mara.
