>>29283119
The dragon is dead. No, not just dead. It has had all vestiges of life removed from it. Its flesh is rotted and desiccated, its bones are crumbling and any trace of the sorcerous power it once held has vanished. Someone had done something horrendous to it, something you had not previously thought possible. That someone is you, if your memory does not betray you.

“Before you stand and join the others, Talon, I think we should talk,” Gnome tells you, her voice very quiet. That’s right, your head is in her lap right now.

“The others!” you say, trying to stand up, suddenly worried. Pressure on your head and shoulders keeps you down. It’s not that you’re weak, you think as Gnome pushes you back into her lap, rather your familiar is simply strong.

“They are fine, Talon,” she says softly. “Do not worry about them. All they know is that some power destroyed the dragon. They don’t know what it was or that you had anything to do with it. I already had to explain to Sala that this wasn’t some special power of hers. Calming Undine was harder, as she didn’t exactly appreciate your sudden collapse.”

“If they don’t know, shouldn’t they suspect something from my collapse?”

>continued

>>29283119
woo, you are early today.

>>29283126
“No. They think you merely pushed yourself too hard using your sorcery. That is not what we need to talk about, though,” she says, her hands brushing over your face. You realise that she has removed her gauntlets and you feel her bare skin for the first time. “I felt your power. Though, I only know it is your power because I felt your thoughts. I do not know what overcame you, Talon, but your power and your thoughts melded to a greater degree than I would have thought possible.

“The fact that you did not pause in using your power – the reasons that you used it so quickly. I do not know whether they are good, for you acted to protect us, or bad, because to use such power so lightly is inadvisable.”

She stops talking for a while and instead stares off over at the dragon’s corpse. It’s the first time since you’ve woken up that she’s taken her eyes off you, but her hands absent-mindedly play with your hair.

>Response? Or shall you just remain silent?

>>29283139
Do you think it's some astral junk?

>>29283139
will i become an astral adept?
Like the three gods from my homeland?

>>29283139
"Good, I think. Considering who I am and what I want to accomplish, I already have to worry about using power lightly. Should I succeed a single action or incautious word can doom thousands. While this power is great, does it truly fundamentally change things?"

>>29283276
Sounds cool to me. Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest and all that.

"Good, I think. Considering who I am and what I want to accomplish, I already have to worry about using power lightly. Should I succeed a single action or incautious word can doom thousands. While this power is great, does it truly fundamentally change things?"

Gnome continues to look over at the dragon as she responds, “Fundamentally? Not now. Perhaps not ever. I am glad that you understand the weight of what you want to achieve, even before this power, but those who have ever held the power you did earlier are so few…”

You ask another question, “I have been told that astral power is capable of feats that defy imagination. This seems to me to be one of those feats. If that is so – does that make me like one of the Astral Adepts, the Gods as they think of themselves? Or like one of the Lords?”

Gnome’s eyes dart back to your face and her hands stop moving. “You are right that it is astral power. The differences are subtle in feeling but I have felt something so similar to this before. I have witnessed only one being use a power similar to what yours. Samael, the Archangel of Death. If your power is truly in any way similar… But whether it makes you like the Three Lords is unknown. Perhaps you are the fourth?”

Gnome lets out a very light laugh at that, though you aren’t certain if it is disbelieving or she simply finds the prospect amusing. She continues, “It is too early to assume what this makes you. The origins of the Lords are unknown. They merely came from nothing to destroy Kushan. It may be worth investigating.”

>continued

>>29283423
She pauses before giving you her full attention and her eyes hold a greater level of seriousness than before.

“Tell me, Talon. You have your ambition to become an emperor. You wish to build an empire that stretches across the continent. Undine tells me, and your thoughts as well, that you do so with otherwise good intentions. Yet, although your ambition is to build, you may possess the greatest of destructive powers. Which are you truly after? To build or to destroy?”

>1. I do not seek to destroy but to take what is already here and make it better.
>2. Sometimes in order to build new and better things, you need to destroy the old things first.
>3. It is natural to need to destroy. Even if I seek to build something, it first needs some measure of destruction.
>4. Custom

>>29283447
>>2. Sometimes in order to build new and better things, you need to destroy the old things first.

Omelet, eggs, etc.

So, archangels 'sealed' the Sources. We apparently interface with a Source that they missed then use powers similar to that of an archangel's? Probably just a coincidence.

>>29283447
>4.
"To build. I have no desire to only conquer and burn. Those who topple empires only to replace it with a foundation of sand have nothing but my eternal scorn. History may call them great, but I never will."

Yes, I am trashing Alexander "the Great."

>>29283447
>1. I do not seek to destroy but to take what is already here and make it better.
This what we have been doing.

>>29283447
>4.
To build, but to do so you must remove any rot from the materials you plan to use.

(this might count as a 2 vote, but I want to emphasize that this is /constructive/ destruction.)

Rolled 1

>>29283447
>>3. It is natural to need to destroy. Even if I seek to build something, it first needs some measure of destruction.

>>29283527
>>29283634

These sound good...


also, have we told Gnome about what happened when we first seen the Source? about the overwhelming power we could feel emminating from it? That Undine did not feel it...

>>29283527
>>29283596
these two methinks.

>>29283512
>>29283527
>>29283634
I'm going to write these up as a 2. vote but with a very constructive bent, unless I've misread something about one of the responses.

There is something that has been bothering me. So we always wanted to be Emperor, that's fine and dandy. But is there any reason in particular why? Did we just woke up one day and thought ' You know what would be cool? Rule the world'

>>29283826
That's up to you guys, really. That's why I pose these sorts of philosophical questions from characters. They're an important way to shape Talon's personality and ambitions.

>2 plus some custom

"To build. I have no desire to only conquer and burn. Those who topple empires only to replace it with a foundation of sand have nothing but my eternal scorn. History may call them great, but I never will. To build greater than those empires I must ensure that I remove any rot underlying them. Destruction is a tool to be used to make room for construction, not an end in and of itself.”

Gnome nods slightly and you get the sense she’s smiling a bit. “I see that you have no small measure of confidence in yourself and your goals. I look forward to serving you as your familiar until the end – though, given the strength you’ve shown so far, it may be my end and not yours. I wonder if I had perished when my old master fell, would I have been the one to be your Champion when you called to the Source.”

Gnome sounds wistful, which strikes you as strange given she’s been summoned anyway. Her words trigger a thought though. “The Source… I haven’t mentioned it before but when Undine showed it to me, I seemed to draw astral energy from it. Could that be the cause of this?”

Gnome shakes her head and you bite back a sigh at another denial of your theory. “This is a world where people are born to things. Nobility, magic and race. I doubt it was the Source that did something. Instead, you did something and the Source was merely a catalyst.

“Now, I think it’s time we rejoined the others, Talon. They’re worried about you. I’d also like to be grounded to you a bit better by the Place of Power – I’ve enjoyed the past few days and have no wish to return to solitude.”

>Any last responses before rejoining the group and claiming the PoP?

>>29283902
Also, for the moment I'm assuming you're happy to keep your mysterious power under wraps. You can decide otherwise, of course.

>>29283902

nope. that sums up about all I can think of...

>>29283902
"I've enjoyed them as well, Gnome. You and your sisters will always have a place at my side"

Then go rejoin the others.

>>29283902

>nah, claim that shit bro

>>29283826
Well, nobody's asked us why yet. When they do we'll either have to come up with his motivation, lie, or tell them to shut up.

He came from a peasant background, so there's that, and later he worked in the RSK.

So if you start with wanting to improve his own station, altered later by a large sense of dissatisfaction with the leadership in the RSK, which has been suggested to be pretty lame, it all adds together to make some motivation for empire. Throw in your own thoughts.

>>29283902
Gee, I almost feel like Gnome might not really want to be stuck at Harrowmont forever.

>>29283943
Until we have actual control over it (and probably after since I live having an ace in a hole) I agree with keeping it under wraps.

If we took the dragons essence, does that mean we gained any power from it?
Just a thought..

>>29284095
You don't feel any different right now. It appears that none of the power you had before remains in your body. You still don't know how to draw it forth, either.

Rolled 17

>>29284134
Of course we do, we just need to roll 20s like this one.

You pull yourself up from the sand before turning back to Gnome to say, "I've enjoyed them as well, Gnome. You and your sisters will always have a place at my side. Now, shall we?” You gesture over to the others.

The reunion is relatively brief and simple, as it was obvious you’d merely collapsed rather than been seriously injured.

“Talon, you really must be more careful in using your power. You need to know your limits,” lectures Undine.

“I’m inclined to agree,” Maloric says. “You’ve pushed yourself before, but doing so after that trick you did with the arrow must have been too much. You’re doing some amazing stuff, Talon, but try not to let it get you killed.”

You give them a few simple platitudes about taking better care of yourself, knowing that the real cause of collapse was very different. You have a Place of Power to claim after all.

The walk out to the centre of the lake was long. Only you, Gnome and Undine were walking out here in case of any unbidden side-effects. Gnome had said that was impossible but Undine was worried about any effects from the power that slew the dragon. The destruction of the mana storing crystals in the lake meant that the Place of Power was considerably more active than it had ever been previously.

“Although the three of us will be protected by the ritual, if the additional power causes something unexpected… I would much rather it was just the three of us, Talon,” Undine had told you.

The ice platform you’re walking on isn’t cold, to your surprise. Along with reinforcement it must have something on it to keep anybody near it warm without melting the ice. Just a short way in the distance is a wide circle of ice, with none of the walls present on the walkway of ice you are currently on. It is just a large, bare circle of ice.

>continued

>>29284276
“This is it,” Undine says. “Gnome needs to stand in the centre. I will need to move around the circle. Talon, could you please rest at the edge of the platform here.” Undine points to where the walkway meets the circle of ice. It seems, just like with the summoning of Gnome, you need to be present but not involved. That suits you just fine – no need to complicate matters by trying to have you do a ritual. Undine spends a small amount of time using her powers to create a circle of red in the ice – you’re not entirely certain how she’s doing it.

Then you feel a pull as Undine suddenly begins the ritual. It’s short and it’s brief, but you suddenly feel… Gnome. Not her thoughts or emotions, but her being. A strong and sturdy presence. Then that moment is gone.

“It is done,” Undine says. You blink, thinking there should have been something more.

“Really? That’s it?” you say.

Gnome laughs lightly again. “The only one changed now is me. I can’t read your thoughts any more, Talon, but I am still your familiar and this,” she gestures to the glowing lake around her, “is proof. I am bound to this power and through it the Source. You, as its master, are my master. It is done.”

The trek back feels shorter somehow. Gnome whispers something to you on the way back, “I had initially thought to try something that I would still be bound to you more strongly but I have realised that is not my place.” She gestures to Undine, who is ahead of you, in an odd way before giving your back a push.

Taking the hint, you walk next to your Champion. The big sister indeed, you think as you glance back at Gnome.

>Anything to say to Undine after all this? Any other matters down here? Next scene is ascending to the surface

>Also, for brevity and to keep the quest from getting too bogged down in the dungeon diving, the ascension will be fast-tracked.

>>29284301
>nothing to say, ascend

>>29284301
any highlight of going up the long way?

>>29284301
Can't recall anything we want to say

>Ascension

The trip back to the surface was just as long as the trip down but lacked any real danger. You had went the long way, hoping to get some more practice and experience but had found nothing. All the sorcerous power you had sensed was gone.

“The rocks seem to have less power in them, too,” Gnome says, running her hand over a cave wall as she walks. “It looks like it wasn’t just the power of those crystals that was returned to the lake. This is quite the disturbance, to have pulled so much energy in from the area.”

Gnome’s playing dumb quite well, given she knows this has to do with what you did. You wish you could remember exactly what you did to return all this power to its source like this. Or perhaps it was the dragon’s trap – you remember thinking there was one, but you aren’t sure exactly what it was. The inability to remember exactly what happened in that surge of power is the most frustrating element of all of it, you think.

The trip to the surface is otherwise uneventful, apart from when Lynn, who complained about being rearguard and swapped with you, fell off the edge of a platform in a tall cavern. You worried that she’d broken her neck being an idiot, but as it was she’d managed to bring her wings out and not harm herself. She appears to be a little more at peace with her draconic form now – or perhaps she is merely more willing to show you here now she’s already used it. Nevertheless, you might need to look at getting that armor modified to suit her wings so that once it’s repaired she doesn’t need to break it to stretch them out.

Eventually, you reach the surface. You guess that it is close to midnight. You make camp for the night, to venture back the next day.

You travel back by…

>1. Using Mal’s horses, despite your phobia of fiery death
>2. Run back to Harrowmont in order to get some exercise
>3. Let Salamander carry you back. She seems enthusiastic about it.
>4. Custom

>>29284570
>3. Let Salamander carry you back. She seems enthusiastic about it.

>>29284570
>fiery horses
getting carried doesn't send a good image

>>29284570
>2. Let Salamander carry you back. She seems enthusiastic about it.

Our fear of the horses is to funny for us to just let it overcome and it's better to not make Undine jealous

2 we run back for the exercise

>>29284661
You mixed up the number and quote there. From the text about Undine, I'm guessing you meant to run back?

Rolled 11

>>29284570
>2. Run back to Harrowmont in order to get some exercise
we need that cardio for our endurance stat

>>29284570
>>2. Run back to Harrowmont in order to get some exercise
What is the max on our stats?

>>29284685
Yeah I mixed up, I meant run

>>29284721
Stats max at 10. Skills and abilities at 4. The former increases reasonably quickly, though as once you hit [5] in any stat they'll start slowing down a bit as you're well and truly in the mythical domain of strength. Skills and abilities increase quite slowly.

>running it is

>>29284570
>3

>>29284789
you have a small way of showing what each represents like you did with 0-3.
A commoner might have STR 0, a soldier STR 1, a strong soldier STR 2. STR 3 is around normal human peak
Also what does charisma do.

>>29284870
its swag anon.

>>29284870
Leadership, convincing people etc. Important in battles and diplomacy.

Representing stats beyond the IRL range is hard. The most powerful creatures (demon lords, archangels etc) would be around 7-8 with some exceptions. Skill-wise, no skill would be your average person, skill level 0 would be a skilled home-cook, 1 would be a chef, 2 would be a star chef and 3 would be astoundingly world-class. 4 is pretty well in the domains of demigods.

>2

You decide to run back to get some exercise and practice your empowerment more. One of the problems you encountered in the cave was that your empowerment didn’t last very long given how far apart each encounter was. If you could improve that, you might be able to reach a point where you can simply keep your empowerment active making you less vulnerable to ambush.

“You’re never going to keep up, Talon,” Mal tells you. “These aren’t regular horses – they’re made of steel and run on magic. Just have Salamander carry you if you’re so terrified.”

You wave him off with a grin and start running. As it is, keeping up with the horses was quite easy – they’re fast but with the sheer amount of magic running through your body it’s not too hard to keep up with them. Doing it for the next sixteen hours, though…

Well, it would be much easier if Sala didn’t find it hilarious to antagonise you by flying near you. You’re very certain that those wings of hers will burn if they touch you and are in no mood to have to stop, drop and roll at the speed you’re running at.

>Partial ability upgrade
>Empower Self I now lasts three hours per use rather than one hour

Despite tiring yourself out horribly on the way back (and getting some complaints about your smell), you manage to keep up with the horses and Sala’s teasing all the way back to Harrowmont.

The fortress itself seems largely unchanged, though you notice a bit more activity around and some people who aren’t soldiers helping out.

>Strategy meeting and housekeeping shortly

There’ll be some updates on matters. Plus, with Gnome here you might want to seriously consider any major plans for the reconstruction.

>>29284939
so around the 7-8 range is when we are on even ground with the three great lords and archangles then.

>>29283826
Here is what we know so far:
1. We were born a peasant, toiling in the fields
2. we felt weak and powerless as a peasant until the day our innate sorcery awoke and for the first time we tasted power. (see last thread)

How we came from that to wanting to be emperor is up to us to fill. But its not at all hard to imagine.

>>29284976
I'm still up for taking over the second mining town, and trying out the idea of using the three sisters and mal to make some bitching armour.

Rolled 11

>>29284976
I don't know how castles are build in this age, but if they are built stone upon stone, Gnome should merge all the joints together with stoneshaping, so the walls become one massive stone, instead of thousands singles sacked upon another

>>29285016
Would you want it to be tragic or based on thinking we can run shit better?
I prefer the former.

>>29285034
I'm thinking of using the materiel from the mining town and have gnome form the rock, sala reinforce it and have mal and udine strengthen the enchantment.

>>29284985
Well, in terms of pure stats you are. Then there's abilities to contend with.

>Strategy meeting

Your present cabinet troops in. Along with General Felix, who is presumably still in Vale, you notice that Captain Moss is also missing. You decided to bring Gnome along, as she is likely to have some strong opinions on matters – and you also suspect that she wouldn’t take kindly to being excluded.

MILITARY UPDATE

General Arail tells you that Felix has been busy mustering troops over in Vale province. He also lets you know that he had sent some troops over on request, led by Captain Moss, as Vitria had sent a number of troops to reinforce the province after Argyle’s defection.

[DC13 Felix Mustering]

Rolled 6

>>29285107
Felix muster!

Rolled 20

>>29285107

diplomance?

Rolled 20

OUTSIDE THE WALLS [X] – this is immediate surroundings of the outer wall of the fortress, up to the cliffs. It is currently overgrown.
OUTER WALL [X] – this is the outer wall of the fortress, which stretches downhill into the fields before returning to the cliff side. It is currently highly damaged and provides no defensive bonus.
+ Outer courtyard, lower area [X] – the outer courtyard stretches between the two main gatehouses and is separated into lower and upper areas by some manmade platforms.
+ Outer courtyard, upper area [X] – the upper area consists consists of a mix of the space on top of the platforms and the natural incline.
+ Merchant area [X] – separated from the courtyard by a short wall, there is an area of housing and structures that was clearly intended to be used by merchants. It has its own small gatehouse in the outer wall. It also connects to the noble manors on the other side of the inner wall.
+ Residential area [X] – a tall stone wall with no battlements or rampart access separates the courtyard from the main residential area in the fortress. Fully half the outer area of the fortress is dedicated to this area. This area is connected to both courtyards - the south side contains the gatehouse through the inner wall. Gareth and Bartom have recently reconstructed the housing, roads and other infrastructure of the area and they estimate it can house 6000 people comfortably (if a little cramped - houses are built high).
>>29285107

>>29285132
>>29285141
Wow Felix, leave something for us to do.

>>29285132
Nice roll!!

>>29285132
>>29285141
Double 20's... what does this mean?

>>29285141

INNER WALL – this is the inner wall of the fortress, protecting an inner courtyard and the keep. The wall is also highly damaged, but the defenders have hastily erected wooden palisades around larger holes.
+ Inner courtyard [X] – The inner courtyard surrounds the keep, which is itself built into the cliff side. The entire courtyard is paved with flagstones, which are overgrown with moss and weeds, and many are missing making for a treacherous battlefield.
+ Noble manors [X] – the fortress has a dedicated area for three small manors, all of which are in ruin.
KEEP [X] – Harrowmont’s keep is a large, multi-level castle with many rooms and supply stores. The keep interior has been restored to a structurally safe state, but the outside is still in need of repair. The keep itself extends into the cliff.
+ Lower floors [X] – The lower floors include audience chambers, guard rooms and supply rooms for the most part. It is the working area of the keep. Most rooms are empty and dirty.
+ Upper floors [X] – the upper floors are where all the bedrooms and private hearing rooms are. Most rooms are empty and dirty.
+ Underground [X] – vaults and supply stores lie under the keep. Not all of these areas are structurally sound.
For people to see what needs done.

Rolled 2

>>29285132
>>29285141
Felix
is also a Godling

>>29285159
Guess we're about to find out? Maybe he now has enough of a personal following to take most of our forces with him if he decides to defect.

>>29285211
I think it just means we can go after the second mining town so that we can actually have enough resources to make the weapons and armour for our soldiers.

>>29285132
>>29285141
and thus are all the bad combat rolls from descending the cave redeemed

>>29285245
Not really, FELIX did really well, not us. That may be a problem down the road.

For reconstruction: Salamander might be a good bet for getting rid of that 'overgrown' status. Personally, I think Gnome should work on the Outer Wall, then the Soldiers' Residences, then the Keep, then the Inner Wall. Gnome and Undine could work together to make a pretty nice moat, if that's even worth having in this setting.

>>29285141
>>29285160
Outer and inner walls need to be fixed up and maybe a mage tower added.

>>29285277
I doubt it, we would smash him if he did

We make sure if he has done a good job he knows we are pleased! Give him a title and maybe a lordship somewhere

>>29285280
considering magic exist, unless the motte has some magic with it, none.

Sorry for the delay. I didn't expect this at all and it threw some of my notes and bookkeeping out.

>Exceptional success

Sarah adds her part, clearly very proud of the performance of the general she had brought with her, “Although Castle Gimbon had not initially joined us along with Count Argyle’s forces, General Felix has convinced them that joining us is for the greater good.”

Arail adds, “There’s still a sizeable Vitrian force threatening us, but Felix has turned a lot of the Vitrian soldiers to our cause. I think it’s safe to say that House Oaln’s ambitions are not too popular. Felix has so far avoided engaging them heavily, preferring instead to try to maintain control of the province as a whole and keep them contained.”

>You now control Castle Gimbon in Vale province
>You now control Vale province

MILITARY STATUS
>You have gained the following
4 Medium Mage Knights (Vet.)
50 Medium Mage Knights (Reg.)
200 Archers (Reg.)
50 Medium Mage Knights (Grn.)
200 Men-at-arms (Grn.)

FORCES IN HARROWMONT/MIER
45 Flying Mage-Knights (Vet.)
150 Archers (Vet.)
470 Men-at-arms (Vet.)
23 Battlemages (Reg.)
290 Men-at-arms (Reg.)
25 Medium Mage-Knights (Reg.)
140 Medium Mage-Knights (Grn.)
270 Men-at-arms (Grn.)

FORCES IN VALE
59 Medium Mage Knights (Vet.)
50 Medium Mage Knights (Reg.)
200 Archers (Reg.)
50 Arcane Archers (Vet.)
50 Medium Mage Knights (Grn.)
300 Men-at-arms (Grn.)

Orders for Felix:
>1. Engage the Vitrians in the province and drive them out
>2. Continue to hold the province
>3. Use your own judgement

>>29285381
>1

>>29285381
>1.

conquest my friends! conquest!

>>29285381
Holy crap double 20s yes.

With this big boost in numbers, I say we head out and fight some. These men need experience.

>>29285043
Honestly, I would prefer it to be just selfish desire.
We want power because its fun and we were born powerless.

However, that doesn't mean we have to be a dick about our desires. That is, we do have scruples and compassion. We don't just go around sacrificing innocents for small gains.

That being said, we do think we can run things better, and use that to justify our wars.

>>29285303
drawbridges are still useful. Anything to slow people down while arcane archers murder them behind barriers.
>>29285381
what are the enemy forces? Also, congratulate Felix and Sarah, the pair of them have earned it.

>>29285381
>1. Engage the Vitrians in the province and drive them out

>>29285381
Continue to hold the province. Those Vitrian soldiers might not know it yet, but they're going to be ours before too long. It would be a waste to have our soldiers kill each other. All those Vitrians might not want to fight each other, either.

Rolled 4

>>29285381
>2. Continue to hold the province
They will eventually come to us, and it is better to defend, less caualities. We will also probably get more converts if we just stay put, dig in and solidify our new land. Let us not overextend

>>29285459

Name: Port Temby
Owner: Vitria
Control: High
Order: High
Population: 280,000
Military Presence: Low; Weak
Resources: Large port and fishing piers; mage tower
Notable Locations:
Port Temby (town) - a large port town that handles a lot of trade and fishing. A lot of trade with the RSK takes place here.

- - - - -

Name: Craol
Owner: Vitria
Control: High
Order: Moderate
Population: 460,000
Military Presence: High; Moderate
Resources: Fishing piers
Notable Locations:
Trembin - a large fortress-town that borders Taour and Farun territory, Trembin is made for large musters and for defense. A sizeable part of the Vitrian military is always here in case of attack.

- - - - -

Name: Vitria
Owner: Vitria
Control: High
Order: Low
Population: 700,000 (220,000 in city)
Military Presence: Very high; Strong
Resources: N/A
Notable Locations:
Vitria - an enormous port city. After Vitria was freed, the extravagant nobles had much of the city rebuilt in western fashion - tall, winding spires and bridges between towers hundreds of metres in the air. The city itself is not walled but the design makes it highly defensible nonetheless.
Gimbon Falls - Gimbon Castle's sister fort, Falls is smaller but was built recently. It is positioned so that it can be bypassed on a march to Vitria but it enables easy mustering and protects arable land in the hills. As such, bypassing it could make for supply chain difficulties.
I would prefer we take the easier targets first, but okay.

>>29285381


these two!
>>29285469
>>29285472

>>29285381

3.
It is time to put our Vassal Lord in charge of the counrty...
Our own army will march to Vale where we will either reinforce Felix's Assault, or join with the forces there and begin the assault on House Oaln...

>>29285381
>1. Engage the Vitrians in the province and drive them out
Get the weaker targets first.

>>29285381
>1. Engage the Vitrians in the province and drive them out
ONWARDS TO GLORY

>>29285446
You know, I was thinking that maybe it would be neat if the desire to rule and control is like a side effect of having astral powers. Like what happened to the lords, and as we said that doesn't mean we have to dicks

>>29285381
>2. Continue to hold the province

I'm going to call votes here. It looks like a 1. to me.

>>29285591
>1

>>29285591
What would happen to the other two areas if Vitrai is taken down?
Also can we go after the weaker ones first?

>>29285381
Hey OP, would you mind doing me a favor going foreward and putting that regional map we have in your second post of the thread? It just gets annoying to have too many archive tabs open and sometimes I'm on mobile deceives so it can be a bit of a problem.

Thanks and sorry to bug you about that kind of thing.

File: 1388880882346.png-(31 KB, 1000x700, file.png)

31 KB PNG

>>29285653
This is 1/4 or 1/3 of the whole map.

File: 1388881018255.png-(16 KB, 1000x700, DarlesianRegionUpdated.png)

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>>29285674
It's about 1/33, actually.

>>29285653
I'll do that in the future. Most recent map attached as is.

>1.

“Have General Felix drive the Vitrians out of Vale. We cannot hope to improve order in the land with an enemy army patrolling. It will give our new recruits some additional experience, too.”

CONQUEST

“We have Vale and the path to Vitria is open. Talon, this is the time to strike,” Sarah implores you. Her feelings about taking Vitria as soon as possible are exceedingly clear.

Gnome, who has been perusing the maps up until now, speaks up, “It might be a better idea to ensure the Taour borders are strong. If you move on Vitria itself, they might withdraw forces from Craol and instigate an invasion due to their weakness.”

Sarah frowns at her, “Not even House Oaln would be so foolish as to withdraw the border armies. Taour would launch an assault the very second they sensed weakness.”

You speak up, “Given the choice between losing all his power and a single province bordering Taour, a powermonger such as Viktor Oaln may be willing to make otherwise foolish decisions.”

Cormann adds his piece, “Another option is simply to hold our territory and build it up. We’re stretched out and building trust and control in our provinces will take time.”

Glynn, as always, pushes the idea of towards Darlesia. “If we take Olmm before Taour, we’ll have an edge, sir. Our scouts tell us that Taour is still busy in Darlesia but are mustering to take that province. If we take it first and fortify it, it will make our life easier.”

“Or, we can let them crush the resistance there, then mop them up before they fortify,” Maloric says.

Your decision is…

>1. Move on Vitria
>2. Move on Olmm
>3. Fortify existing domain
>4. Other

>>29285381
1. Who is leading the vitrian's in that province?
2. Is he allied with Viktor Oaln?
3. We need to prioritize taking out Oaln, if we do that we become "hero of Vitria" and can then leverage that to get the various noble houses to swear fealty to us.

So, I agree we shouldn't just butcher vitrian soldiers at random.
Also, we must remember that carrol and vale are the borderguard which protect against invasion from the vampires. And Raupe is the most strongly fortified vampire territory (where they have massive human cattle being harvested for blood).

>>29285719
>2. Move on Olmm
>3. Fortify existing domain

>>29285725
>1. Who is leading the vitrian's in that province?
>2. Is he allied with Viktor Oaln?
The head of one of Oaln's vassal houses. You are still uncertain as to what Houses Rorek and Tabeth (the other ruling houses) are doing at this time.

>>29285719
seconding
>>29285757
2. Move on Olmm
3. Fortify existing domain

Vitria is under control-ish. Sarah is not looking upon this situation objectively

>>29285719
Province info:


Name: Craol
Owner: Vitria
Control: High
Order: Moderate
Population: 460,000
Military Presence: High; Moderate
Resources: Fishing piers
Notable Locations:
Trembin - a large fortress-town that borders Taour and Farun territory, Trembin is made for large musters and for defense. A sizeable part of the Vitrian military is always here in case of attack.

- - - - -

Name: Vitria
Owner: Vitria
Control: High
Order: Low
Population: 700,000 (220,000 in city)
Military Presence: Very high; Strong
Resources: N/A
Notable Locations:
Vitria - an enormous port city. After Vitria was freed, the extravagant nobles had much of the city rebuilt in western fashion - tall, winding spires and bridges between towers hundreds of metres in the air. The city itself is not walled but the design makes it highly defensible nonetheless.
Gimbon Falls - Gimbon Castle's sister fort, Falls is smaller but was built recently. It is positioned so that it can be bypassed on a march to Vitria but it enables easy mustering and protects arable land in the hills. As such, bypassing it could make for supply chain difficulties.

- - - - -

Name: Olmm
Owner: Independents
Control: Very Low
Order: Very Low
Population: 500,000
Military Presence: Low; Moderate
Resources: Mine network; quarry
Notable Locations:
Fort Locke - a small fortress that overlooks the mines and quarry of the province.
Niorte - the largest town in Olmm. It lies close to the southern border, on the highway to the RSK ports. It was the largest town in the former Darlesian territory and has high walls and a sturdy castle.

>>29285719
>2. Move on Olmm
I don't want Taour on our ass.

>>29285719
Other: We need to hunt down Oaln, when we do that we can cow the other nobles into supporting us (having defeated the greatest threat) as well as the people and nobles fear of the expansionist vampires of Taour to unify them. Vitria is not the real threat here, Taour is.

Questions
1. what is the seraphic empires relationship with taour (vamps).
2. We might want to talk to them about a coordinated strike

>>29285719
>1
if he's mustering forces to take olmm, he's less likely to move on us as we take vitria. We get vitria, he cleans out olmm for us, and then we get olmm.

>>29285803
Would Taour go after craol in attempt to stop our spreading?

>>29285719
2. and 3. But have Sarah continue to work at splitting the Vitrians. Can she move over any more non ruling houses? Can she convince one of the Ruling houses to turn coat? What about the commander at Craol, will he move when Oaln calls? What about port Tembly?

>>29285835
Taour is mustering forces behind us, not vitrai.

>>29285796
I also second this,
We should get Sarah to speak to olm vassel lords or the other houses and try to bend them to our will. We will not butcher them if they swear loyalty to is, otherwise we will wipe them and there hole family out and replace it with people who are loyal

>>29285719
>3. Fortify existing domain
>2. Move on Olmm

In this order, don't just spend months fortifying, use the time to get some rest for our army, and replenish our supplies, while using our mages and Gnome to fortify.

So a spend a week or two in Harrowmont, then start marching.

I also suggest that if we do stay a bit, we a have a small force of flying knights scout Olmm - maybe even have a mage capable of long distance communication. That way we will know if anything happens while we rest.

>>29285719
>2. Move on Olmm
And then fortify, Taour is a bigger threat than Vitria

>>29285879
yeah, to take olmm

>>29285833
>1. what is the seraphic empires relationship with taour (vamps).

Both the League and the RSK more or less ignore Taour. Somehow the vampires have convinced those two powers to ignore them.

>>29285851
Perhaps.

>>29285871
Sarah explains, "I can continue to try to win over smaller houses, but it is difficult to do so whilst it is publically known that I have sworn allegiance to you. Vitria may be ruled by many houses, but it is still one country.

"As for Houses Rorek and Tabeth - they have always been wildcards. They maintain their power through an alliance. It is possible they may attempt to fill any power gap left by Oaln if he weakens himself or we defeat his armies.

"The forces at Craol are loyal to Vitria itself rather than any one house, so I sincerely doubt they would listen to Viktor Oaln's orders to abandon the province."

Gnome interjects again, "They are loyal to Vitria and if we march on the city they will almost certainly defend it."

>This is otherwise looking like a 2. followed by 3. situation
>I think I'll allow more discussion before a vote next time

>>29285719
Factions we border:
1. Vitria - in civil war, most powerful noble is very greedy Oaln.
2. Taur - Vampires, keep humans as cattle, currently harvesting the humans of Darlesia's capital (probably bad for morale of our Darlesian troops). Extremely powerful. Extremely expansionist.
3. Seraphic Empire - unknown disposition, conquered several of darlessia's former territories (Arrece, Moln, and Farrlouf) after Darlessia collapsed.

We should talk to the seraphic empire, If we move on the vampires, I want their soldiers by our side rather then conquering our home from back.

We could have gnome tunnel through Marrn mountains and sack their capital with a combined force of seraphic, us, and vitria (vitria will require murdering Oaln first and then cutting deals with the nobles... or just conquering them first).

>>29286008
The rsk seem to have an allaice of sorts with the vampires.

>>29285916
>use the time to get some rest for our army, and replenish our supplies
The problem is that supplies come in 3 forms:
1. Food - we got plenty
2. Mundane arms - we got a mining territory, thats taken care of
3. Enchanted gear - we have no way to get it yet.

We know of 3 ways to acquire enchanted gear.
a. Conquer Darlesia (the city) to acquire a mage tower. (assuming the vamps didn't sack it)
b. Conquer Vitria (the city) to acquire a mage tower.
c. Conquer the seraphic empire's capital (IIRC mitromar or marrogar) to acquire their mage tower
d. Conquer port Temby and use its port town status to purchase (expensive) the gear we need from abroad (primarily RSK)
This Problem with this is that we do not have any ways to acquire supplies at the moment.

The 3

>>29286068
you know we could always make our own tower right?

>>29286045
The RSK has an alliance with Oaln. Also, we voted overwhelmingly against seeking help right now.

>2.

You decide to move on Olmm for now. You don’t want to deal with Taour charging into Mier and disrupting your mining operations.

>How large of a force should you take with you to Olmm?

The larger the force you take, the slower you will build on your current province’s order and control. You must also consider whether to reduce the number of troops Felix has (and his ability to hold Vale in case of a Vitrian assault). Other options include trying to convince the RSK to assist you.

So long as Vale is held, you do not think Harrowmont has a high risk of being attacked.

>Little bit of discussion now
>I’ll then try to filter out the ideas presented into a plan (and vote, if necessary)
>Don’t focus exactly on what troops to take, more on the general size of your force, unless you feel like being specific

GENERAL INFO
Felix has about 1.5x the number of Vitrian troops in Vale, and his men are more experienced. Neighbouring Vitria and Craol have high numbers of soldiers present.

Olmm may not be completely hostile to you, given your attempts to warn them about Taour and the imminent invasion. Taour maintains a sizeable force in Darlesia, however, which borders Olmm.

>>29286008
>>29286068
All of what you said is wrong in so many ways I don't even know where to start.

>>29286106
A tower is not just a building, its the mages living it.
We already STARTED building the harrowmont tower but at current estimate it will be years until its done.
However, if the darlesia tower was sacked by vampires then its quite possible that a large number of its mages escaped and might be enticed to our tower... if we actually work on it.

>>29286157
we have gnome with us.

>>29286175
>we have gnome with us.
and she is going to ... birth us a few dozen trained mages?

>>29286157
A fair point about recruiting mages. Allying with the RSK at this time is still incredibly stupid. Also, the RSK almost certianly has more than one location that produces mage plate for blatantly obvious reasons.

>>29286185
if we build they will come.

>>29286175
As I see the misunderstanding. When I said "started building" I mean how we told Maloric to start organizing our 20 or so mages into the seed of a need a tower. Not the physical construction of the building (meaningless).

>>29286185
A-a-are you "The fluff provider" from A.I.Quest?

if so, pls shut up.

>>29286185
We have around a million people under us and you expect there to be no mages, plus we could always get mal to go recruiting.

>>29286138
Decently sized force. I'd prefer to rely on diplomacy and such. Also, you mentioned that the first of our and Mal's friends would begin showing up around now. Anyone good show up yet?

>>29286218
No, I am not.
Also >>29286185 was sarcasm.

>>29286138
2/5 to Olmm
2/5 will remain in vale
1/5 will do garrison duty

Also do not ally with RSK, they are far stronger than us and if we invite them him there is a good chance of us either getting absorbed or made into a puppet

>>29286185
This is a distinct possibility just not right now.

>>29286286
make olmm 1/5 instead and add 1 to garrison, then you have my vote.

>>29286254
That will be part of the next set of posts of housekeeping. I'll be handling civil matters after this decision.

In the future, I'll probably try handling them first.

>>29286247
>We have around a million people under us and you expect there to be no mages
A tower is not just laymages. Our army has combat mages, our farms have farm mages, our cities have hedge mages.
But towers are where the best mages live and work. Its what we were explicitly told we need to capture if we want to build a magitech factory to mass produce magical gear. It is a simple matter of scale.

Mal can enchant a few items by himself, but he is a prodigy, who specifically studied enchantment, who can only enchant so many weapons by himself.

that being said, we might be able to just capture a magitech factory, but AFAIK those are in the same town as the tower that built and maintain them.

>>29286352
>capture a magitech factory
Vitria manufactures civil magitech and imports military equipment.
Darlesia's factory was sabotaged before the city was captured.
Taour is probably the only city with a functioning military magitech factory.

>>29286413
care to explain mage towers.

I don't think we need a full force army, but the threat of Taour being right there with a strong presence in Darlesia might be just cause to bring a bit more than needed, leave a force behind and we can start our outright war from that area, when it occurs.

A s the Mage tower, the call has been put out for other mages to cone, we can't really help that. Our forces are more like to be better equipped via taking a major city and using the resources there. Anything else is too costly.

Also, fuck anything with RSK. End have to split spoils and Talon had history with them, they might not be happy with us coming with military terms, when they would rather have had us as a vassal lord.

>>29286413
>magitech factory
I am suddenly much more interested in Vitria

>>29286439
Pretty much the only place to get competent mages. The train them, protect them and they all live there. Most mages outside them are agriwizards and the like - they do civil stuff.

Mage towers are also the centre of the economy in some cities. They can be banks, factories, chemists etc. Mages do a lot of stuff to make themselves money in combination with merchants and the like - though this is more common on mage-run cities like Ahm than in places like Vitria or Taour.

>Army split looks to be 2/5 to OImm and the rest split between garrison and Vale. Note that garrison forces can get to Vale pretty quickly, but you'll be almost a week's march from Harrowmont in Olmm.

>>29286446
this we will be keeping olmm as a border guard until we are stong enough to take darlesia, and by then we should be almost done with vitria.

Do we have any intel regarding Taour strength? Because seriously save the people of Darlessia should have higher priority than Vitria. Letting Vampires harness more strength seems an awful idea.

>>29286511
so if we build one mages will flock to it so tht they can learn?

>>29286413
Since the map only shows one small part of the continent. Are any of the forces on the map larger then they appear? For example, with more territory to the south or west.

Also, does Illin, Arrine, Deodain, and Forfdain directly border the Barrier of Marie?

Also, you had previously posted a (rough) continent map, but its not linked in the lorebins. Only the local territory map is linked

File: 1388883702435.png-(13 KB, 1000x700, GauronMap.png)

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>>29286578
They have a rather large army in Darlesia. It's around the size of your total force.

>>29286601
Not necessarily. You'd have to have something special to offer them. Many of them jin mage towers in their homelands or migrate to major cities like Ahm (Magi league capital).

>>29286603
Continental map attached. I posted a glimpse of it earlier and I've made it alrger (I'm still editing it).

COLOURS
Red – Astral Adepts
Light Grey – Malataine
Light Purple – Wasteland
Green – Elves/Wasteland/contested territory
Dark Blue – Magi League
Dark Grey – Mage Guard
Orange – Independents
Brown – Sithran Mountains/Dwarves
Tan – Royal Seraphi Kingdom
Light Blue – Current Region

BORDER COLORS
Pink - borders Barrier of Marie
Blue - borders sea

>>29286669
Hmm RSK sure is smaller than I thought

>>29286669
>You'd have to have something special to offer them
Any ideas guys?

>>29286723
the chance to work for the God-Imperator Talon?

>>29286723
Free blowjobs maybe?

>>29286713
It's about 1.6x the size of modern Germany

TOTAL MILITARY
45 Flying Mage Knights (Vet.)
59 Medium Mage Knights (Vet.)
150 Archers (Vet.)
200 Archers (Reg.)
50 Arcane Archers (Vet.)
470 Men-at-arms (Vet.)
23 Battlemages (Reg.)
290 Men-at-arms (Reg.)
75 Medium Mage Knights (Reg.)
140 Medium Mage Knights (Grn.)
570 Men-at-arms (Grn.)
Satisfactory support and logistics corps

SUGGESTED MARCHING ARMY
45 Flying Mage Knights
100 Archers
50 Arcane Archers
140 Medium Mage Knights (Grn.)
15 Battlemages
300 Men-at-arms (Vet.)
100 Men-at-arms (Grn.)

SUGGESTED GARRISON (Harrowmont/Mier)
100 Archers
8 Battlemages
75 Mage-knights (Reg.)
290 Men-at-arms (Reg.)
170 Men-at-arms (Vet.)

SUGGESTED VALE ARMY
59 Medium Mage Knights (Vet.)
150 Archers
470 Men-at-arms (Grn.)

>Any changes? I'll start moving onto other matters otherwise.
>Construction plans are next

>>29286723
The most obvious thing is the source, but that would mean revealing it which is unacceptable.

We could go for clemancy for exiled mages, but that would reduce the trustworthiness of the mages we get and might cause serious problems.

Or we deal directly with mage towers, and have them open a branch in our city.

Or we can just conquer a town with a tower, like Vitria.

Also, perhaps mage tower refugees from Darlesia might join if they seek revenge against the vampires

>>29286723
Well, I'm sure that one or two talented enchanters from both the RSK and Magi league will show up once the bows become common knowledge. They won't be working just for us though.

>>29286669
>Continental map attached
thanks

Ok, the magi guild and the seraphic empire are both utterly massive. We do NOT want to pick a fight with either of them.
No wonder they don't bother with Taour, Taour is like 1/10th of their size.

Our most obvious venue of expanion is to take Olmm, then vitria and Taour, then Farun, then expand northward to take the various independents directly north of us... all the while maintaing peace with seraphic and magi league.

>I'll still take comments on military matters, fyi

CONSTRUCTION

Gareth informs you he and his elemental familiar have finished construction of the residential area. “The whole of the residential area has been rebuilt – or rather, built completely anew. Bartom is really quite amazing. The houses are very high quality, as are the roads and other infrastructure. We can house not only an army here but also no small number of peasants to assist with administrative functions.”

>updated residential area status
+ Residential area [X] – a tall stone wall with no battlements or rampart access separates the courtyard from the main residential area in the fortress. Fully half the outer area of the fortress is dedicated to this area. This area is connected to both courtyards - the south side contains the gatehouse through the inner wall. Gareth and Bartom have recently reconstructed the housing, roads and other infrastructure of the area and they estimate it can house 6000 people comfortably (if a little cramped - houses are built high).

You face two decisions now. What to work on next, and whether to have Gnome help your conquest or reconstruction for now.

POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION
>>29285141
>>29285160

You can also decide to build some special things if you want to, though they’ll obviously need to go somewhere.

GNOME VOTE

>1. Have Gnome join you on the front-lines
>2. Have Gnome engage in reconstruction. She can work on something separate to Bartom or can speed up his work (she’s about twice his speed).

>>29286816
>mage tower refugees from Darlesia might join if they seek revenge against the vampires
I like this idea.
>>29286900
I would like to get the elves with us since they should make good forces.
suck my fucking ass hole dry and swab the poop deck like the pirates life is for you.

>>29286925
>2. Have Gnome engage in reconstruction. She can work on something separate to Bartom or can speed up his work (she’s about twice his speed).
Bringing 3 elementals would be over kill for Olmm, plus her presence should help with home defenses.
>>29286940
Well shit the spoiler part was supposed to be for anther thread.

>>29286925

1.
Not only can she help during the combat, but she can also assist in fortifying our conquests.

>>29286925
gnome should stay for construction for now
1. We do not want the vampires know we have her since she will help a lot with whatever strike we make against them.
2. She can help defend the source.
3. We need to rebuild our infrastructure.

She should help Bartom. More efficient to work together and get things done ASAP.

>>29286925
Work on the outer and inner wall first and then work on the merchant area.

>>29286925
>1
You never know when vampires are evolved, better safe than sorry

>>29286940
>I would like to get the elves with us
Elves are neato, but they are on the other side of the continent.

>>29286925
Start constructing a mage tower, fix up both outer and inner walls, and fix the underground since its not structurally sound.(also make some secret passage ways)

>>29287066
we aren't fighting the vampires, we are going to the last unclaimed darlessian territory of Olmm.
We could have gnome come to us before we move from olmm on the vampires, if we move on them.

>>29286925
>1. Have Gnome join you on the front-lines
cause i like her, and we need someone to build up the walls we will raze over there

>>29287032
Seconded

>>29286925
>2. Have Gnome engage in reconstruction. She can work on something separate to Bartom or can speed up his work (she’s about twice his speed).
>>29287036
>>29287096
These instructions work for me.

>>29287032
Seconding. As much as I want her with us (mainly because of her character), we need her at home for now.

>2.

You direct Gnome to remind behind and assist with construction.

She nods in return. “That makes a lot of sense. This fortress isn’t exactly in the best state right now and the sooner you get it rebuilt the sooner you can start redirecting your attention elsewhere.”

MAGE TOWER

>a lot of interest in this one

There is a sizeable section of the keep dedicated to mage workshops, able to support twenty-thirty mages. It needs renovation to be working properly for them. Alternatively, if you want more room or a research-focused tower (the keep will attract militaristic types more) you will need to build a separate structure or extend the keep. You don’t necessarily need to build this now, but adding it to the plans now is a good idea if you want to do it.

>1. Renovate the existing area
>2. Extend the keep for more room in the tower
>3. Build a separate mage tower in the noble area

>>29287266
Is there any effect it might have building it in other areas?
Like building it in the noble district making them assholes or something

>>29287266
>2. Extend the keep for more room in the tower
We need a new fancy tower to attract moar sorcerers

>>29287266
>2
It would be neat focusing on becoming a "technological" powerhouse.

>>29287266
>2. Extend the keep for more room in the tower

>>29287266
>1 then 3 I think

>>29287266
2

>>29287266
2

>>29287313
Hahaha, no. I simply suggested the noble area as it's within the main area of the keep. You could build it elsewhere if you like, but that would make it more vulnerable.

As it is, looks like it's a keep extension.

>Vote on construction priorities coming up

CONSTRUCTION OPTIONS

>I’ve filtered out earlier discussion on this
>give me priorities if you want to vote for more than one

Note, I’m assuming both are working together for simplicity for now. I’ll change times if you want two projects going simultaneously.

>1. Have both elementals work on the inner and outer walls. This will take about 2-3 weeks to do.
>2. Begin renovation and extension of the keep for the mage tower. This will take about 3-4 days.
>3. Begin work on the merchant area. This will take about 10 days.
>4. Begin renovating the keep’s underground. This will take about 3-4 days.
>5. Other work

>>29287505
>2. Begin renovation and extension of the keep for the mage tower. This will take about 3-4 days.

The odds of someone attacking Harrowmont now are small right now, so we can postpone the walls for a while

>>29287505
>2. Begin renovation and extension of the keep for the mage tower. This will take about 3-4 days.
>1. Have both elementals work on the inner and outer walls. This will take about 2-3 weeks to do.
>4. Begin renovating the keep’s underground. This will take about 3-4 days.
In this order.

>>29287505
>1. Have both elementals work on the inner and outer walls. This will take about 2-3 weeks to do.

>>29287505
What benefits would we get from working on the merchant area, instead of the other areas?

Just commerce in general?

>>29287505
3>1>2>4

>>29287505
first: moar mages now
>2. Begin renovation and extension of the keep for the mage tower. This will take about 3-4 days.
second: defense, defens, defense
>1. Have both elementals work on the inner and outer walls. This will take about 2-3 weeks to do.
third: get dat cashflow going
>3. Begin work on the merchant area. This will take about 10 days.
fourth: low priority
>4. Begin renovating the keep’s underground. This will take about 3-4 days.

>>29287505
3

need to get some revenue going...

>>29287605
Seconding.

>>29287633
The merchant area is commerce, contacts as well as administration. Your ability to control your empire beyond simple military matters (e.g. taxation) will be somewhat reliant on this as well as your keep.

>>29287584
it takes around a week to get to olmm and we can assume its gonna take another to take it over so it would take about a month before we come back.
>>29287505
2>3>4>1
As for the underground, that includes secret passageways correct?
What else does it do?

>>29287505
How about having them first fix the worst damage in each area just so we can get basic functionality again. Then come come back and finish it in the order we choose?

Also, weren't the magical enchantments rebuilding the walls by themselves?

>>29287711
I just remembered something, didn't we promise to rebuild the walls as soon as the residential area was done to some of our cabinet in a prior meeting?
I would say sticking to our word is a priority

>>29287711
Nah, the barriers rebuild themselves over the walls, but the walls themselves don't rebuild.

>>29287703
>underground functionality
Prison, dungeons, special rooms, additional space, armory etc. No secret passageways currently, but you could add some.

>>29287758
If that's true I'd agree but say we sould have Gnome do the Mage tower by herself while the other elemental continues on the walls.

Current vote priority appears to be:
2 > 1 > 3 > 4

>walls just nudges out merchant area after tower was removed

>>29287780
So assuming we are doing all of this, what is left to improve on in harrowmont?
Also can we do improvements to other places, like the area around harrowmont, Vale, or Mier.

>>29287800
Here we go
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/29133029/#p29136159

>>29287863
Special plans and the keep itself still needs renovation. Right now, all you're using the elementals for is just rebuilding, but they could help with all sorts of projects including building other fortresses or large smelters and the like.

Any plans for major manufacturing will benefit from having your elementals involved.

>priorities

You give your orders for construction priorities while you are absent:

1. Begin renovation and extension of the keep for the mage tower. This will take about 3-4 days.
2. Have both elementals work on the inner and outer walls. This will take about 2-3 weeks to do.
3. Begin work on the merchant area. This will take about 10 days.
4. Begin renovating the keep’s underground. This will take about 3-4 days.

Unless you get held up in Olmm for too long, you suspect that the merchant area will be approaching completion once you return.

OTHER UPDATES

Maloric tells you two mages from the RSK have arrived. One is an enchanter and the other a barrier expert. They’re looking forward to working with you.

Sarah says, “I tried to contact my vassal who assisted me with military matters but he’s gone silent. He’s either betrayed me or Oaln is after him. I’ll try to make contact with him but I don’t have much hope otherwise.”

>That’s all the topics on my schedule

If anybody has anything else to bring up or any plans to consider pop them up now (or if I’ve missed something otherwise important). Otherwise there’ll be a couple of general scenes before you muster for Olmm.

>>29287863
OUTSIDE THE WALLS [X] – this is immediate surroundings of the outer wall of the fortress, up to the cliffs. It is currently overgrown.
+ Outer courtyard, lower area [X] – the outer courtyard stretches between the two main gatehouses and is separated into lower and upper areas by some manmade platforms.
+ Outer courtyard, upper area [X] – the upper area consists consists of a mix of the space on top of the platforms and the natural incline.
+ Inner courtyard [X] – The inner courtyard surrounds the keep, which is itself built into the cliff side. The entire courtyard is paved with flagstones, which are overgrown with moss and weeds, and many are missing making for a treacherous battlefield.
+ Noble manors [X] – the fortress has a dedicated area for three small manors, all of which are in ruin.
KEEP [X] – Harrowmont’s keep is a large, multi-level castle with many rooms and supply stores. The keep interior has been restored to a structurally safe state, but the outside is still in need of repair. The keep itself extends into the cliff.
+ Lower floors [X] – The lower floors include audience chambers, guard rooms and supply rooms for the most part. It is the working area of the keep. Most rooms are empty and dirty.
+ Upper floors [X] – the upper floors are where all the bedrooms and private hearing rooms are. Most rooms are empty and dirty.
+ Source vault [X] – The lowest floor that was recently excavated is a sturdy vault that contains the Source. The Source itself is a large prismatic stone inside a large room on this floor - there is an illusion over the Source to prevent people from seeing its natural form and freaking out.
Is what we have left to improve.

>>29287934
Have the barrier expert work on improving our barriers and the enchanter making arcane arrows/boys while we are gone.

>>29287934
Ask our closest advisors about the current outlook of
>our forces
>our subordinate commanders
>allied and vassal nobles

Might as well see what everyone thinks is gonna happen in the future.

>>29287934
So if we can put a magic factory if we wanted then right?

>>29287992
Just don't treat them like mundane workers. If they were important enough to warrant Maloric's attention, they probably have R&D or raw power backgrounds that make them more valuable than just grunt work.

>>29288017
Once you get a machinist, yes. Right now you don't have any mages who know how to create very complicated magitech.

>outlook posting coming in a minute or two

>>29288042
the barrier is something really important, but i agree with you about the enchantment.

>>29287992
>>29288042
>>29288069
ENCHANTMENT VOTE

>1. Let him do whatever research he likes
>2. Have him take over Maloric's work on bow enchantment
>3. Have him start creating magical plate (slow going, but can be used to upgrade men-at-arms)
>4. Custom

>>29287934
Have the enchanter start working on producing more arcane archers. Vets first obviously.

>>29288099
Seconded

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Aspirational, can you post the source file for the maps you use? I would like to help by upgrading them with the inclusion of information from the lorebin, map legend, major landmarks, etc. (and then upload them for your use).
And it won't hurt my feelings if you dislike some such addon and want to delete it or reject the upgrade outright.

Here is some of my work so far.

>>29287934
>or if I’ve missed something otherwise important
At the start we were told that a lot of Darlesian vets would probably come to us once word has spread. Has that happened yet? We did get some longbowmen and men at arms, but no mage knights IIRC.

Has anyone come to prominance who we might employ in a spymaster position?

Alternatively, we need a PR department. Given that we are forging our Empire on the back of our own personality, strength and accomplishments - the more people who know of Imperator York and who have a favorable opinion of him, the better!

Does this world have the printing press? If so, lets start cranking out small pamphlets about our life, military victories and the like. If no, maybe we should hire a few bards? They could always double as foreign informants as well.

>>29287934
>If anybody has anything else to bring up
We need to get some spies to locate Oaln, if we can ambush him and kill him it will be an easy end to this war. Our priority with Vitria should be to get Oaln

>>29288140
>Alternatively, we need a PR department
Thats a bit ahead of our time and is usually handled by diplomats.

>>29288140
hmm

Aspirational, what are the cultures of our neighbourhood like? Maybe get to know a bit more about the people we're going to rule as Emperor one day.

>>29288094
mix of 1 and 2.

>>29288133
I, uh, use Paint. You have my source file. Probably the only thing to note is that the Darlesian region in the province map and the continental map do not match up exactly (as I'm not expecting you to conquer every single province before I move to the larger scale map). Otherwise, that's pretty amazing stuff.

>>29288139
You picked up several hundred veterans in Mier. No sign of MK equipment, but there may be some holding out in Olmm.

>>29288162
You know where he is. He's in the middle of Vitria, in a magically warded fortress spire surrounded by a small army of guards.

>>29288140
Not so much printing presses as photocopiers. Photocopiers capable of magically reproducing books in a few seconds, complete with the original cover etc.

http://www.seventhsanctum.com/generate.php?Genname=fantasyunit
For infantry ideas.

>>29288094
>2.
Once that's done he's free to pitch us his own research interests.

>>29288249
no, i resent lulrandom namegenerators

So I just jumped into this. So far I think one of the biggest issues we will have is our lack of build up. I'm thinking we should quickly conquer the next few areas then let Grome and them build our provinces up a bit.

Then with a fortified area we can start building our own weapons and armor to take more land.

>>29288094
>2. Have him take over Maloric's work on bow enchantment
Question, can we recruit a dwarf enchanter named Sandal?

>>29288167
Not really. Both Caesars' and Napoleons' ascent to the position of Dictator was aided greatly by their popularity and familiarity among the masses.

Both men, while they were in the field (Caesar in Gaul and Napoleon in Egypt) sent regular, if biased, reports back home regarding their accomplishments.

Thus doing so now would help solidify the control we have on our current possessions, changing blind allegiance due to the threat of force into actual loyalty and patriotism.

>>29288133
Holy shit that map is EXTREMELY HELPFUL THANK YOU

>Outlook from advisors

>only a couple because there’s lots. I picked the most distinct.

UNDINE

>forces
“I am worried we are overextending. Our force is large and consists of a number of veterans, but we would be hard-pressed to withstand a major attack. We are relying on their preoccupation with other matters.”

>subordinates
“You’ve gathered a number of very capable men and women, Talon. Having a more administrative presence would be a good idea, however, to offset Sarah’s obvious bias.”

>allies and vassals
“The Vitrians are concerned with their own problems. Once Oaln has fallen you will need to work quickly to improve Vitria or they will turn.”

MALORIC
>forces
“You need more heavies, Talon. You have a lot of skilled soldiers but they lack the equipment necessary to fight larger powers.”

>subordinates
“Too many military officers. You can make a lot of the military decisions yourself from your experience. Cut a few out of the decision making and bring in more variety.”

>allies and vassals
“Allies are good until they betray you. Make sure they know that they’ll die if they do so. As for vassals, limit the number of them – with sendings and a proper bureaucracy you can control things from Harrowmont quite well. Leave vassals for major cities.”

CORMANN
>forces
“Solid core but not enough variety. Once we can, we need to get some lighter suits of armor. You can do some fancy things with those. More flyers, too.”

>subordinates
“It’s kind of hard to be responsible for the logistics as it grows, Imperator. I wouldn’t mind somebody with more experience on the civil side. Hawkins knows the higher level stuff but is at a loss otherwise.”

>allies and vassals
“Less allies, more vassals. You have the power and leadership, just take what you need, York.”

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>>29288296
So what, we should hold our own regular triumphs?

>>29288296

Right now though we mainly want to keep our movements on the down low and to make foes wonder. We should get some PR once we start solidifying our positions with the land we get. Right now we mainly need to work on getting land.

>>29288243
>He's in the middle of Vitria, in a magically warded fortress spire surrounded by a small army of guards.
oh, ok then.

We should announce local holidays, to commemorate when a given region was incorporated into our empire.

That outta keep our heralds busy, and give a feeling of unity and solidarity

>>29288420
I don't mean to sound discouraging, but he has a lot of enemies and is very aware of that fact. You could try a stealth mission to take him out, if you liked.

>>29288296
To an extent, you can assume this sort of thing gets done automatically by your men. Its represented mostly by Control and Order in the province info.

>strategy meeting over for now
Hopefully the next one is less hectic. This got a lot more involvement than I remember the last few getting. I’ll try to plan around a lot more discussion next time.

As you dismiss the meeting, Sarah comes up to you.

“Imperator Talon, would we be able to have a word in private?”

>1. Accept
>2. Accept, but have the discussion here
>3. Decline outright

>>29288490
>2. Accept, but have the discussion here

>>29288490
>1. Accept
Also do we have combat medics?

>>29288490
>1.Accept

Hey, it's not like she's a dwarf with a devil-pact making handshake.

Not to mention she *did* win us all of Vale and seems to be a master diplomancer. Let's hear it.

>>29288490
[X]1. Accept

If she wants to talk in private it is most likely something she doesn't want overheard.

>>29288490
>1. Accept

>>29288530
Your logistics/support unit has a number of healers. They recover wounded during battle and try to save them.

>>29288579
Is it possible to teach our average soldier healing spells?
Or improve the combat capabilities of our healers?

>>29288490
>1. Accept

>>29288490
accept.

Also, I am having second thoughts about olmm, at the moment it acts as a buffer between us and the vampires. I do not think we are ready for a two front war with them while also fighting vitria. We should focus on vitria first, and only then go after olmm and then vampires.

>>29288605
>Is it possible to teach our average soldier healing spells?
Not to degree that they'd be useful in combat for most soldiers. Most already know some basic stuff (heal minor wounds) but it takes them a while to cast them.

>Or improve the combat capabilities of our healers?
Yes but you'd need a more capable mage to teach them. Otherwise they'll slowly improve over time.

>1

“Very well. Lead the way, Lady Hawkins,” you tell her.

She gives you a brief curtsy and leads you to a small meeting room near her room. The same one she swore allegiance to you in and once again it has a bottle of wine present, but no food. The two of you take a seat and you wait for her to start. She starts to pour the wine as she talks.

“Talon,” she starts and you frown. When did she start using your first name instead of your title? “I have been wondering these past few days and I need to ask you. Once you take Vitria, which I assume you will after your return from the west, what are your actual plans for it? Beyond just conquering it and using it – do you have any real intentions or dreams for it? If I am to rule it on your behalf, is there some special goal I will need to work towards?”

She hands you a glass of wine and starts to drink herself whilst waiting for your answer.

>Response?

>>29288791
"To be fruitful and increase in number. To fill their lands and prosper in harmony.

Beyond my own ambitions, I do not begrudge the men and women of this world their own prosperity and wealth."

I love quoting from the bible

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>>29288791
To make it it be peaceful and prosperous.

>>29288791
>While I feel such talk is premature, I do indeed have a general plan for Vitria, but this of course subject to the situation on the ground. After liberating her from the incessant squabbling of a divided ruling class, I will meet the people of Vitria and hear their dreams and desires. Then and only then can I commit myself to a firmer plan of action.

Basically I have no clue yet, but this sounds nice and Imperator-esq

Build, expand, grow. Make it safe and secure. Eliminate corruption. Make it safe, secure...
But honestly those are all platitudes. 10 people could say they wish to make the world a better place and each will have a different idea of how to do so. The devil is in the details, and it will take many conversations to clarify in full.

Ultimately my goal is not just personal profit, but to rule better than those that came before.

>>29288874
that's... oddly specific about breeding, comes off as creepy.

>>29288791
"Prosperous and stable mostly. I'd like the... fractiousness of your current noble houses curb quite a bit, but I am aware that trying to force that could have an opposite effect. I'd appreciate it if you could ensure better training for the troops there, and limit the amount of grumpiness the knightly orders will have over the arcane archers. I can already hear their grumbling about me knighting some of the more capable members."

>>29288993
So basically,
>Reduce the powers of the lesser houses, safely.
>Stop training such crappy troops.
>Deal with the knights bitching 'bout our rangers
I can get behind this.

>>29288791
The problem is that I don't know enough of the local history to answer.

What is this region historically know for?
Are they prepared for rapid industrialization?
Are they prepared to become the cosmopolitan capital of a growing empire?

We need to know are least what we're working with before we answer her. With something beyond "I plan to bring a glorious golden age to your people"

>>29288993
>>29289037
>Reduce the powers of the lesser houses, safely.
I am not sure this is wise, I would rather reduce the power of those who oppose us, are corrupt, or are incompetent. Be they greater or lesser house.
If the lesser houses unify behind us why should we target them specifically? its just asking for rebellion.

>>29288791
Education.

Opportunity.

Stability.

Peace.

PAX IMPERATOR

By destroying the other three major Houses, we ensure short-term stability in Vitria after we conquer it as there will be no unified or strong opposition to Sarah's House. However, in the long-term, with domestic opposition to occupy her thoughts and forces, she might stab us in the back if she senses an opportunity to break free...

I'm not sure which path we want to take honestly.

>>29288993
good with me.

>>29289078
My view is that we take House Olan out, then give its territory to Sarah. With the resources of the two most powerful houses, and us hovering in the background if needed, the situation should sort itself out.

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>>29289074
>Peace Through Strength

This shall be our motto - it worked for the Romans, why not us too.

>peace, prosperity with a bit of flippancy and power in your response

“To make it peaceful and prosperous. To make it a safe and secure city. TO build, expand and grow to true greatness,” you respond flippantly. “Those are all nice things I’d like to achieve – but the devil is in the details. I imagine you thought of similar objectives when you became the head of your house.

“I can, of course, think of some details. The fractiousness of the houses – your nation is in civil war. For all its wealth, it cannot control itself and the individual wants of every noble with a slight lust for power. The soldiers of Vitria, despite the size of the territory and their equipment, are not all that impressive. And your knights less so – though I may be willing to overlook that if they are happy to help me with some of my work in creating a new order.”

You don’t hesistate to speak down to her in this case. Her attitude soured a bit once you refused her request to take Vitria in the meeting and Mal’s word ring in your ears. For all her recent achievement, you need her loyal and if that means browbeating her then so be it.

She responds, somewhat sulkily, while playing with her dress, “You want to get rid of the rule of the houses?”

“I want to curb the rule of the houses. I will be the ruler. Remember, Sarah, I am the Imperator here and if you rule Vitria then you will rule under me. If the houses are able to maintain stability and achieve what I want then they can keep their power.”

>continued

>>29289246
You suddenly sit up, and tilt your half-full wine glass I her direction. “Tell me, Sarah, what is your vision for Vitria?”

She opens her mouth and then stops. She sips at her wine, silently, for almost a minute before answering. “I want Vitria to be something great. If you’re going to build an empire, Talon, I want to be able to have Vitria be a city that supports you – not to be the problem child that you must always chide and manage.”

She gives you a slightly sullen glare, and you wonder if she’s going to cry. Obviously something has bothered her in the last few days for her to be thinking like this.

>1. Press her on worries.
>2. Reassure her about Vitria and the future.
>3. Move on, make some light talk and end the meeting.
>4. Custom

>>29288986
If Sarah brings up the fact that it's creepy, just retort that, in all honesty, even without us encouraging it, it would probably happen.

Life goes on.

>>29289274
>4. Custom
Tell her to take her clothes off

>>29289274
>1

>>29289274
>1. Press her on worries.
Doubts and resentments are corrosive to any long-term alliance, let alone friendship. Lets hear her out.

>>29289299
no.

>>29289274
>1

>>29289299
wrong quest buddy

>>29289274
>2+1

>>29289274
1. and 4.
"A mature Vitria, then. One that is strong enough to stand by itself, independent. And yet it is also patriotic enough to stand beside it's neighbours as a union, rather than as rivals or archenemies."

"That will take time and effort, something which I'm sure you've reflected on?"

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>>29288305
You are welcome

Also, map update. I changed olmm color to match independents on the world map for simplicity. And started adding in mines and quarries icons. Also note on creece's terrain. (will add more of both of those features)

>>29289274
1. Lady Sarah, it is clear that you still have concerns both as to my plans for your city and for you. I would appreciate you sharing them with me and allowing me to address them.

>>29289340
>>29289346
oh.. i forgot. we are the asexual emperor. she wants an alliance, she is willing to do pretty much anything to get power. including bedding ze imperator. why not get some quality time after being beaten to shit the last 8 threads?
i'm just saying... we don't have to promise her anything. such is power, bitches loves a guy with power.

you guys must be faggots

>>29289274
2+1
"So far, Vitria is doing far better than darlasia

>>29289446
Actually I am aiming for a harem. Once we bind a pop to the source we become immortal and unmurderable by any children we have within our capital, so its actually not too big of a problem.
Its just that ordering a distressed woman you haven't known for that long to take off her clothes is entirely the wrong way to go about it.

>>29289446
>our vassal is trying to have a serious discussion with us, and we don't want to reply by telling her to take off her clothes

>faggots

try leaving your parents basement sometime, so you can learn how real people interact

>>29289446

no, we're just the kind of people who prefer not to mix business with pleasure... tends to warp perceptions and tint one's logic...

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Added a ripple to our flag, just makes it look a bit better.

>>29289509
Nah niggah, this will end with Overlord levels of harem. But that's all in time. We're a fledgling overlord right now.

Gotta get at least 50% of the way through the game before harem options appear.

>>29289490
lel
you have never touched a woman have you?

>1.

"A mature Vitria, then. One that is strong enough to stand by itself, independent. And yet it is also patriotic enough to stand beside its neighbours as a union, rather than as rivals or archenemies."

Her eyes dart to the side as she gives a small nod, her thoughts obviously not on the city. You sigh and sit back in your chair, leaning your head against your hand and giving her a direct look.

“Sarah, before you start crying I’d like to at least have a chance to actually reassure you about anything strange you might have been thinking,” you say.

She suddenly sits upright, the sudden movement spilling a little wine on her dress. “Crying! I’m not- I,” she splutters before you interrupt her.

“You’re not going to then? That’s good. I’d prefer if you talked to me whilst still showing your usual fire. That’s always more fun.”

She goes sullen again, though it’s more petulant. “Fun? This is fun?”

“Talking to you can be fun, yes. You were rather amusing last time you got drunk. Now, Sarah, tell me why you’ve suddenly started probing me about what I want to do with a city I haven’t yet conquered? And why you seem so worried in general?”

She looks away from you, busying herself with refilling her wineglass. She’s not feeling that talkative so you figure now is a good time to convince her to be talkative.

[DC12 Charm]

>>29289517
Good stuff! keep it up!

GRIFFON ETERNAL!

>>29289579
We're starting with the elemental sisters. That's all I'm saying.

Rolled 12

>>29289605
COMON

>>29289477
Ugh, got distracted
"Darlasia has rotted to total collapse. the taour nobles keep people as cattle, and most major powers are trying to commit genocide against one people or another. It helps put the issues of Vitria in perspective... although they are serious issues that need to be addressed, I am sure you will be up to the task"

Rolled 13

>>29289605


rollin for seduction

>>29289517
That's pretty awesome. I'm pretty happy to see some of the players add stuff that I'm not all that good at.

Rolled 7

>>29289605

>>29289517
sweet, looks awesome!

>>29289517

you my good sir are much better at image manipulation than I... I salute you.

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>>29289490
>try leaving your parents basement sometime, so you can learn how real people interact
>learn how real people interact
>real people
>4chan

Rolled 5

>>29289605
It's the wine!

Do we recognize the vintage? Stronger or weaker than the one we first brought over?

Actually, looking back on our first "debate" with getting Sarah to ally with us, the day after when she woke up and we went into her room, I got a lot of "Just Did the Act and Reflecting On It" vibe. Was it just me?

>>29289645
Oh, got a question. Does this setting have islands? There seems to be absolutely none of importance on the strategic map, which is kinda odd.

Rolled 5

>>29289813
>>29289490

>Implying 4chan is made of real people
>Implying 4chan isn't made of real people

Welcome to /tg/! Welcome to that special limbo of real people pretending to be things that aren't real!