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>>32782665
Current Date and Time: Early morning on October 2nd, 1952PC

>You have 0 FR points

“You got through all of that quicker than I thought,” comes Raita’s voice from next to you and you spin around to see her sitting on a nearby railing. “I wondered if this was your target.”

There’s a slight thrum of power in your ears, as though the stone and steel around you shudders in resonance to the power in that gigantic metal box standing in the centre of the room. You stand on the walkway around it, Raita next to you and your comrades fanning out behind you. The room crackles with barely contained magic, the residual energies from the PoP and you see that the stone walls and flooring of this room is covered with a thin layer of silver crystal. The walkways appear to be built to avoid walking on it, you guess.

Raita smiles at you, her six golden tails swishing around behind her freely. She doesn’t appear to be hostile but it’s too early to judge. The fact that she’s down here at all and appears to be aware of your actions is alarming enough.

“Is this what you meant by ‘somewhere else’?” you say cautiously, recalling her last words when you left her store.

Raita tilts her head and her smile shifts mysteriously. “No, not really,” she says and you blink. “I’d actually hoped you might pay me a midnight visit. My little love potion didn’t work but I at least thought you had been charmed enough by me to come back for some fun.”

>continued

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>>32782677
Giving you a disappointed look, Raita has the edges of a pout on her face. You’re not focusing too well as you realise the real reason she was behaving oddly in her private room. You block out the faint snickers of Vad and Mal behind you and try to focus.

Vad beats you to the punch though, asking, “A love potion? First you’re cooking and now you create useless fancies. Given how long it takes us foxes to learn new tricks, shouldn’t you actually focus on learning useful things?”

“I have more than enough time to learn everything necessary and then some,” Raita replies imperiously. “After all, I’m far older than you, Vadoric.”

There’s a slight pause as Raita eyes everybody with an odd look in her eyes, expecting some sort of reaction to something she said. It never comes, apart from Vad crossing his arms with a slight scowl.

“Yeah, yeah, so you have a century or two on me,” he says, and Raita gives everybody a disappointed look as she realises nobody is reacting to what she wanted. “If you waste it on learning useless crap it makes no difference.”

Instead of responding, Raita simply gives you a glower. Her tails seem to hang around her in a slightly despondent fashion and she clearly wants you to ask her something about her previous statement. As a particularly strong burst of power runs through the room, the runes on the Place of Power lighting up and sparking brightly, you wonder if the meeting here was planned. There’s a sense of theatre to this meeting, even if it appears to have collapsed under the weight of reality.

Still glowering at you, Raita flicks her eyes over Vad before returning her gaze to you. Your comrades are waiting for either you or her to say or do something, given the atmosphere right now.

>What do you do or say?

>>32782702

Ask her to undo her illusion so that you can see her as she really is. We already know that she's hiding her tails and she's far more powerful and older than she really is.

>>32782702
Ask her who she really is and why she wanted to meet us here. Ask her whether this PoP is hers.

>>32782702
Just accuse her of being Aira already geez.

>>32782884

Do we know enough to accuse her of being Taira IC?

>>32782702
Go Maximum Density, whatever she wants you to ask just do not do it. Just wait for her to say something.

>>32782984
no, we only know she is a) old and b) has more tails than 6. but we dont know how many more.

>>32782702
>So you are Taira the nine-tails, right?

>I mean, it seems kind of obvious from your pseudonym and the illusion around your tails, but I have to be sure.

Said completely casually.

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VOTE
>1. Ask her to drop the illusion, as you're certain she's a much more powerful fox.
>2. Ignore the illusion for now and instead ask her openly who she is and what she wants.
>3. Wait silently for her to say or do something.
>4. Custom

>>32783030
>>1. Ask her to drop the illusion, as you're certain she's a much more powerful fox.

>>32783030
3

>>32783030
>1. Ask her to drop the illusion, as you're certain she's a much more powerful fox.

"How about we redo the introductions?"

>>32783030
>1. Ask her to drop the illusion, as you're certain she's a much more powerful fox.

>>32783009
Well, we know there's a nine-tailed fox named Taira, we know Raita has more than six tails and we Raita is an obvious anagram of Taira, so it shouldn't be that hard to connect the dots.

>>32783030
2

>>32783030
Would you like me to re-introduce you?

>>32783108
Frankly im just waiting for us to state it and for Vad to eat his own tongue in surprise.

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>1.

Deciding not to play along with the growing silliness, you cut straight to the chase.

“You might as well drop the illusion,” you say. “That will make things go more smoothly. And quickly.”

Scowling at you, Raita gives a very loud harrumph. “Fine,” she whines. “I’ll show you all my tails. I thought you might be more fun.”

With that, she hops down from the railing and her tails weave for a second. In that second her entire figure appears to blur and you feel the usual warping sensation you get from foxes for the first time from her. You feel a strange draw in your chest, as though something is tugging on your very being. Then you shut it out, making use of Tsucchi’s training to guard your power. The sensation of a link between you and Raita remains, however. Like a faint grip on your heart.

Standing in front of you is now a nine-tailed fox, who you know to be Taira from what you’ve heard. She’s slightly shorter and less full-bodied now, possessing a figure that reminds you of Sala, with some actual body fat instead of lean muscle. Her nine golden tails swish around behind her as she glowers at you again.

“You are Taira, as I suspect-” you begin to say before you’re cut off by Vad’s strangled scream.

You tense, worried that Taira or some other monster has sprung but all that happens is Vad pushing you back and taking a stance in front of you. At least, you think that’s what happened – the enormous black fluffy tails fanned out right in front of your face make it hard to see.

“You!” he shouts in some strange mix of outrage and surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m on holiday,” Taira says simply, her voice slightly higher in tone now but laced with far more mischief. It’s a very practiced voice, you feel.

“Vad, please get out of my way,” you say.

>continued

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>>32783395
“No, it’s for your own safety. She’s way too much like you and Ren,” he says, confusing you.

“I never knew you were interested in men, Vadoric,” Taira says, her voice teasing and you can almost hear Vad gnashing his teeth. “But introductions are necessary – I am Taira, the only nine-tailed fox and the former head of the Six-Star Alliance. Or is it Five-Star? I haven’t followed the politics much since I left.”

“It’s still called the Six-Star,” you say, trying to push Vad out of the way without hurting him without much success. “And it’s not important right now. What’s your claim on the Place of Power, Taira?”

“It’s mine,” she says. “If you want it you’ll need to give me a reason to let you claim it. You’re interesting enough so I know you’ll be able to give me reason enough.”

Vad is still steadfastly remaining in front of you, even after you grab one of his tails, but Taira puts enough emotion into her voice to make determining her intentions easy. She’s bored and wants you to entertain her in some way – clearly her holiday as a baker has run its course. If she does want you to claim it then maybe she’ll give you some more hints.

>You need to determine how you will get Taira to hand over the PoP. This could be by force if you’re willing to try.

Feel free to ask her questions as you formulate your offer. Once you finalise the offer (which may involve a vote) then she’ll give you a response and you can potentially try again.

>>32783417
Don't bother trying to convince her, just chat for a while, maximum Vad trolling.

>>32783417
Well don't we have some delicious conquering planned? Doesn't she like conquering? Intrigue?!

"Don't you like imperial conquering?"

>>32783417
Lifting Vad back the collar at the back of his shirt off his feet may work better.

She is bored, and wants something interesting.
Plus, she has been out of the loop for a long time.

Stating the situation about the fox clans and asking her what it is she is after would probably work to get her to open up.

>>32783417
What sort of thing is she thinking of doing next? We could always try conquering our way into possession of some sea side property and hire her on as a privateer for a bit.

I mean pastery chef to pirate that's the logical jump right?

>>32783510
We already have seaside property.

>>32783417

Trying to think of what she would find interesting.

She clearly finds politics boring for the most part.

We could talk about how she could tag along for our conquests and adventure sheninagans.

Talk about the followers we collected, elementals, foxes, half-dragons.

Things will certainly be more interesting for her if she comes with us rather than staying as a baker in a stagnating city like Ahm.

>>32783478
I'm pretty sure maximum trolling would be us challenging her to see who can aquire the best harem of powerful people in two years. We'd exclude all members of our current ones of course just to equalise it.

>>32783553
that is a daft way of trolling, if trolling at all.

>>32783553
I don't think you understand what 'trolling' means.

>>32783553

Yeah, nah

>>32783417
Hey, wanna come help me conquer the world?

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>>32783478
"Taira, why is Vad acting like you are some sort of ancient evil I must be protected from?" you ask her from behind the wall of fluffy tails.

"Because she is an ancient evil," Vad growls.

"He's just worried you might run off with me instead of staying with him," she says.

"Generally, women run off with me," you say.

"I guess that's something we have in common. I mean, I already stole Vad once. It's how he got involved in the central court and with Ren," she says. "Your elf is very cute. Where did you find him?"

You don't answer that. It feels dangerous.

>>32783480
"Mmm, conquering sounds kind of boring," she says bluntly. "I already did a bit of that. I do like the sound of the imperial part - are imperial kitchens really big and fancy? I can't really afford a big one here."

"Shouldn't you be rich, given you're one thousand years old?" you ask.

"I run a small bakery in the back-streets of Ahm. It doesn't do too well," she says.

>>32783482
"The foxes don't really concern me. I left them behind for good reason," she says.

"You mean you flounced out of the alliance after Ren refused to marry you," Vad says under his breath and you catch a minor exchange of power between them and it crackles in the air for a moment.

>>32783533
"I have some very interesting companions, as you can see, and there's bound to be plenty more," you say. "Naturally, the sorts of things we do are very interesting. Don't you wonder about what that might be like?"

Taira looks over your comrades, nodding, before stopping on Lynn. "What's that?" she asks, pointing at Lynn.

>Do you tell her what Lynn is?

>>32783417
Does she have any taste in music? Scenic sex locations? Does she like to dance? Any preference for garden plants? A burning desire to express a political stance?

>>32783679

Ask Lynn whether she's comfortable with telling her

>>32783679
>Taira looks over your comrades, nodding, before stopping on Lynn. "What's that?" she asks, pointing at Lynn.
Mutant felldragon, why?

>>32783707
if yes encourage her to do full on drama mode with wings and fire "rarw"

>>32783679
haha no.
Got to play the game.
"She is Lynn"

>>32783679
>why don't you ask her, she is my woman not my slave, she can speak for her self, also "Who is she"

>>32783679
Blink
>It's a girl, Taira.

>>32783679

Why not, if she's comfortable with it.

Adventures and Bakeries seem like a winning combo.

>>32783679
no
"A unique and loyal companion of mine who's secrets are her own."

flirt heavily with her, offer our kitchens, tell her she can open a restaurant or some crap

>>32783679

"She is Lynn... The Commander of my Personal Guard... Any other questions must be directed at Lynn. I don't see myself as the type to kiss-and-tell..."

>>32783679
Man, 'conquering sounds boring'? She's quite shit isn't she. It just isn't going to work out at all.

Let's see, what don't foxes like in real life. Wolves? Panthers? Kittens? Maybe she's afraid of a cat stealing her baking pans or something excessively silly.

Because it seems we're probably only going to get something from her by offering her the title of Grand Chef of Harrowmont or scaring the shit out of her.

>>32783769
>>32783794
these two

>>32783849
Heh, we could actually just be as obtuse as possible.

"It's a girl."

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VOTE
>1. Let Lynn make the call as to whether to tell her.
>2. Play dumb. "Caitlyn is a girl, Taira. Just like you, I hope."
>3. Refuse to tell her.
>4. Tell her about Lynn's draconic ancestry.
>5. Custom

If you refuse, you can still potentially offer the information as part of the deal for the PoP.

>>32783867
>2. Play dumb. "Caitlyn is a girl, Taira. Just like you, I hope."
In the most innocently sarcastic way possible.

>>32783867
>2

>>32783867
2. And it's maybe more "sarcastic" than "dumb".

We give her nothing of value until the deal's set.

>>32783867

>2

Better to offer the information later as part of the deal.

>>32783867
2

>>32783867
This:
>>32783861
No exta add-ons, just 'it's a girl'.

>>32783907

Completely deadpan. "It's a girl."

hmm does she not have her wings and tails out?
Does Taitra not know about feldragons?

>>32783867
>>2. Play dumb. "Caitlyn is a girl, Taira. Just like you, I hope."
i hope his isn't a contentious vote

>>32783948
We can hope that Taira knows about very little, because she seems to be a dick.

>>32783948
Taira*

>>32783979
its hard to belive that, being older than gnome and all

>>32784008
She was probably busy being a dick. It seems to be a favored kitsune pass-time.

>>32784031
she ain't that dick she is just hella old and bored.

>>32783907
>>32783925

throwing my vote in with Deadpan Captain Obvious answer... let us see how she handles the dreaded 'straight face of Talon'...

>>32784083
How do you even GET bored as a massively powerful fox wizard? She's terrible.

>>32784111
When you get the apathy

>>32784111
Stupid life decisions culminating in selling sweet gods in a alleyway

>>32784111
basically done everything once before and now its all a little samey, and folks are still dicks so what they did before is gone.

Essentially she needs something to strive for.

>>32784111

Actually, fuck it, we tell her this next.

We just straight up mock her for being uncreative.

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>>32783948
She put them away when they weren't necessary. Wings and a tail can be difficult in tight corridors.

>2.

“It’s a girl, Taira,” you say in a deadpan voice. “I would think you can recognise one.”

Before Taira can respond, Vad shifts position so he’s standing equidistant between you and Lynn. You’d swear he thought she was going to jump one of you – or maybe that’s what he is worried about. Taira notes the move and lets a wicked grin shift onto her face.

“Oh, Vadoric,” she says sweetly and you see his tails stand on end in response. “You do remember the situation I and Ren parted under? We maintain very close contact and you owe him your allegiance. Why don’t you tell me so that I can tell him?”

“I can tell him myself if he asks,” Vad says slowly, his expression guarded.

“Hold on,” you say, but Taira speaks over the top of you.

>continued

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>>32784216
“If I ask you on his behalf, it’s the same as him asking you,” she says, narrowing her eyes. “I am still the eldest of the mystic foxes and sworn to protect our race. Do you not owe our race your allegiance?”

You can tell that’s a sore spot, as Vad winces and his expression becomes stiff for a moment. Several moments pass and you can tell Vad is debating heavily internally what to do. The history between these two is strong and you doubt you can do much besides rely on Vadoric’s own judgement.

“No, I won’t tell you,” he says, straightening up and returning her gaze strongly. “I owe Talon my allegiance as much as all foxes. I won’t betray his or Caitlyn’s trust where it doesn’t affect our race.”

Taira is shocked and gives you a surprised look. “Um, you’re not actually sleeping with him, right? Because you’ve really done a good job on him.”

You open your mouth to give a glib reply but she waves you off with a slight expression of wonder.

“Consider the question answered and part of whatever deal you offer,” she says. “I’ll make sure you don’t leave empty-handed at the very least. It’s good to see my old flame looked after.”

You raise an eyebrow as Vad blushes as Taira’s response. How strange, you think. Still, the reminder of a deal puts your mind back on track – you still need to get that PoP.

>Any more questions or anything to say to her? You can try to taunt her into things if people want to.

>>32784239
no

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>>32784111
>>32784154
MOCKING VOTE
>1. Mock her for her complete lack of creativity. I mean, really, an ancient and powerful mystic fox selling baked goods in an alleyway? That's just bad.
>2. Don't mock her.

>>32784239

I suppose we can ask her how she can be bored when such interesting things are happening all around her.

Lead-in to the whole adventure angle.

>>32784239
"Taira, you're only ever as bored in life as you want to be. You need to make your own spice. Look into the distance and want to see what's there. Even so old I can state you have not seen everything in this universe. You just need to get a fucking dose of creativity and passion."

>>32784288
>1. Mock her for her complete lack of creativity. I mean, really, an ancient and powerful mystic fox selling baked goods in an alleyway? That's just bad.

What could possibly go wrong with mocking ancient and powerful fluffy tails?

>>32784317
>>32784301
>>32784288
Definite mocking.

I mean, we're actually right here.

And honestly, if she takes our advice she'd probably have more fun and be less bored.

>>32784288
1

>>32784288
Oh, and she's sworn to protect their race, yeah? Well how fucking well is that going with the baked goods?

If she's not using her time to discover and develop her skills even better, she's legitimately reducing the ability of her race to survive by wasting valuable skill development time for her duty as protector.

>>32784431

Foxes seems to be doing alright, mate.

Don't hate on the fluffy

>>32784460
Fluffy tails a shit, elementals supreme best girl species.

>>32784460
you mean apart from one clan driving the rest out of their homes and basically crossing off an entire continent on their to live in list?

>>32784460
Look, she could be exploring new frontiers, mapping uncharted horizons, developing sexy tail synchronization magic, all for the glory of the fluffy tail race.

But she's not. You know, a little recreation is great, but this is full stagnation mode.

She's ultra-terrible.

>>32784288

Don't mock her, just play dumb a bit and say that If she's done everything, what could we possibly offer that would be new and exciting to her...

She wouldn't be interested in the Vampire Thrall research project... or any of our Millitary projects.... Conquest and Empire running are out.... While Talon is definatly a Prime specimen, I doubt that she wants the D... or would be interested in joining in with some of the others....

Talon does seem to have a knack for interesting people to be drawn to him...

Maybe comp her a VIP pass to the Grand Tourney... maybe some real estate in Harrowmont....

maybe a game of strip poker.... clearly this is both the time and place for it...

Or you know, she could have been spending all this time perfecting her baking or what not.

Just because she has stayed here for a while dosent mean she has been up to sweet F,A.
She owns this PoP after all.

Woo, a live thread of AEQ! Finally!

Too bad I'm still on thread XII.

But anyway, I hope the luck in this quest has improved. I haven't seen so many critfails in a quest before.

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>1.

“Why do I get the feeling this is the most interesting thing to happen to you since you left the alliance?” you ask rhetorically.

Taira gives you an odd look, frowning at the suggestion that her life has been boring. You push on despite the fact that mocking her is a very obvious danger zone.

“I mean, you’re an ancient mystic fox,” you say. “You apparently are so old you know things about the mystic foxes that the next most powerful fox dreams of knowing. You are pretty, charming and powerful. You led your race for centuries.”

Puffing up with pride, it’s obvious Taira isn’t sensing what you plan to say next. You’re not flattering her, you’re fattening her up to butcher her. At least her taking the bait makes the next part easier.

“And now you sit around in a rundown store in the backstreets of Ahm, selling amazing baked goods that use so little of your talent it’s almost embarrassing,” you say, voice turning sharp. “An old lover of yours chooses his lord over you, despite the wealth of power and charm you should have. You have money troubles and can’t get out of them easily.

“You completely lack creativity, Taira,” you say, plunging the knife in as she stares at you in a mixture of horror and surprise. “You’re terrible. So many things you could do and you sit around and annoy travellers. You even refused my offer earlier even as you beg me indirectly now.”

She stares at you, tails wilting as your words strike at her. You need to push this just a tiny bit further without pushing her over the edge. You also need to reel her in and try to convince her to help you, rather than just stand aside and let you take the PoP.

[DC12/18 Charisma]

And yeah, write-ins are welcome. You can roll before doing the write-ins if you like.

>>32784535
Honestly it's more on a motivational speech on the undiscovered beauty of the world now.

>>32784536
You know what she's been doing. She's been being dull.

Rolled 8

>>32784597

Rolled 7

>>32784597

>>32784563

We are about to find out whether our luck has improved or not

Rolled 17

>>32784597

Rolled 10

>>32784597

>>32784648
2close4me

>>32784648
>>32784645

damn right it has. I rolled well.

if we get a good enough write in we might lower the DC, but i get the feeling we are missing something.

>>32784645
>>32784648
Seems it has.

Quick, someone think of a write-in so we can get the higher target!

>>32784597
will writeins lower the DC?

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>>32784679
Yes, if they're good enough. This one will be harder to lower than most. You would want to focus on convincing her to help you rather than just standing aside.

Rolled 13

>>32784679
yer

>>32784597
"There really is so much undiscovered beauty and utility in the world, waiting to be explored. In my own life I decided to take that route, to unite and improve, search and find. You can even join me on it, or go it alone. But your life and your happiness is only ever what you personally make of it."

Rolled 11

>>32784648

Not bad.

I suppose we need write-in to get to higher target.

Promise of adventure, companionships, and things that she haven't seen before.

She was baffled by Lynn earlier, that alone indicates that we've seen and experienced things that she has no idea about.

If we could, we can reveal Lynn's nature if that lowers the DC to get her to help you.

She can also bake on the side if she wants, because her pastry was delicious

>>32784648
Well at least she doesn't kill us
You know I honk death by strangulation with fluffy tails is one way talon thinks he'll die

>>32784597
Show her the Dragon

>>32784701

>>32784713

Motivational strike! Just like what we heard in that dream fight, actually.

Rolled 12

>>32784746
I wonder, if we as a being make the offer more interesting, counting the fact that noone still knows what we are

>>32784597
So here is my offer: Come and work under me. I wont force you into anything, and any help you decide to give will be welcome, but it will sure as heck be allot more interesting than selling those baked goods.

And if you get bored of us? you can leave at any point.

>>32784597
"If you come with me, you can see the beuty of the world, the fun and the sorrows. Also, you can be there when Ren figures out something out about Catlyn here. I assure you, it will be worth the wait."
Cost of a bakery: .1 TYB
A new imperial kitchen: 1 TYB
Ren's face when he realizes who Lyn's dad is: priceless
There are some things money can't by, for everything else there's Mastercard

>>32784597
How many continents have you been to? Painted pictures from the highest mountain to or written a book in a langauge you made yourself and left in a forgotten tomb thats filled with gibberish just for the sake of tweeking explorers noses.

Where's the joy in living?

>>32784597
Throw in an offer to build her a kitchen that could house a small family.

>>32784597
>done a good job on him

"You have a wealth of knowledge, Taira. All you need is the opportunity to use it, I could give that, and more. As for having "done a good job on Vad", I've merely given him the respect and opportunity to not only use his powers, but to explore parts of a world he wouldn't have the opportunity to otherwise see, while also helping his species. I don't see something wrong with that, do you?"

>>32784597

"What you want is to be swept along with the world, not passed by... You 'chose' me as I have been making the largest waves despite how small my empire is compared to some of the others... You want to know more about Lynn, join me and learn about her as a friend... You want something interesting, join me and see old boundaries pushed and new direction explored... You want to see something new, something different, Join Me and be at the forefront of something that just might change the world, for as some things never age, all things must change.... Join Me, and you might just be surprised."

"So, What say you!? Will you Join me, and embrace the future, or will you let this pass you by too."

>>32784701
With all your potential you choose to squander it to leave the world unmarked by you. This is something I abhor. I impact the world by being and do it deliberately and to the best of my ability. I build, rather than abide. But I see in you the ability to shine. Those with me are exclusively individuals who can and will create and shape the world. If you were to join me we could magnify each others creative potential, rather than reflect as a subordinate or simply observe as plebeian. If you are so unambitious that I truly cannot convince you to join me, at least step aside and allow me to do.

>>32784597
"You have lived a full life, and you're bored. You think you've lived all there is to live, seen all there is to see, that there are no new things for you, but you haven't. You've stagnated, and you know it, and I think you hate it.

Come with me, with us, not for power, not for fame, not even to conquer. Come with us, because we are change. We are something new to you, something you, in your endless wisdom have never seen, never experienced before. Come with us and live again"

too much?

heh, we really want this fluffy tails.

>>32784916

i like this one

>>32784917
>>32784916
>>32784914
maybe something about how we ourselves seem to be a mystery

>>32784953
Gotta catch em all

>>32784953

That's because fluffy tails are the best.

Vad's also been really useful and Taira blows Vad out of the water in terms of power

>>32784953
>>32785032
Honestly, I just wanted her to stop being so shit. I don't much care with whom.

>>32784288
We really need to sleep with this chick. 9 fluffies people 9. Though we really should laugh at Vad for a second for not figuring out who she was.

Rolled 2

>>32785093
mate she is much stronger, older and wiser than we are, no shit she is cocky towards us when she knows nothing about us, for her we are just another retard claiming to be special, thats where we have to prove her wrong. All more powerful beings will think of us that way, we just cant ask everyone to like us or fall into our harem without any proof of our wirth. She is a cool fluffy and will be an awesome part of our harem.

>>32785093
Honestly if I was a thousand some years old I would want to chill out for a few decades baking too. Not like everyone is a workaholic and eventually after saving doing everything so much you would get bored of it. Magic discovery great. But after the first dozen times things get boring.

>>32785183
No, I mean she has creativity and initiative in the negative numbers. She's like the incarnation of funless horribleness. I honestly don't care if she joins us, as long as that literal black hole of boredom does something other than THIS.

>>32785258
Sure, if that was what she really wanted. But it isn't.

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I hadn't actually intended for Taira to actually fight alongside you, but you guys targeted her weak spot so I might as well go with the flow.

>Lower target met; write-in >>32784916 boosted it to upper target

“You clearly knew what excitement was in the past, Taira,” you say. “You brought Vad back to Pharos. United and governed your race. You once knew what it meant to change the world. You once knew the excitement of that.

“Now you squander all of your potential,” you continue, injecting as much passion into your voice as possible as your words echo around the chamber. “Your presence in this world is so minor since you left the alliance that not even footprints remain in the sand you trod on. I abhor this, if not you. I impact the world by being and do it deliberately and to the best of my ability. I build, rather than abide. You are stagnant but you were not always so. I can see that old spark within you still.”

You pause for a moment, letting the words sink in. Taira is meeting your gaze steadily, her ears and tails holding still as she listens attentively. You’re striking at a chord within her. You wonder, briefly, what caused her to cease what was likely a once-relentless drive. Would you have to worry one day about the same?

>continued

>>32785258
if your getting bored discovering things, your in the wrong field of research.

>>32784597
We should totally try and convince her to bake for us now.

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>>32785301
“You can join me, and my comrades, as we shape the world. You have the potential to create so much more,” you say, dropping your voice so that you’re almost whispering. Power thrums throughout the room once more, nearly drowning out your next words but you see her straining to her you.

“If you are as unambitious as you appear now, and you wish to remain as such then at least step aside and do not let your own lack of drive impede mine,” you say. “But if you truly desire what you once lost, then join me. Not just as a chef or a lover, but as a comrade and friend.”

There’s a long silence. The runes light up on the Place of Power once more and for several long moments there is little beyond the majestic sight and sound of it. Then, you get your response.

“I-I am not unambitious!” Taira shouts at you, eyes tearing up at the edges. “I am the oldest and most powerful fox there has ever been. I’m not stagnant – I’m just taking a break. And I’ll show you! I’ll beat all the others you’ve attracted to you. This conquest of yours? I’ll show you how you really do conquest and then I’ll have you apologise to me.”

For a moment you thought she was challenging you, then you realise she’s just being haughty in her acceptance of your offer. You shake your head slightly in exasperation. You can claim the PoP now, but what will you claim it for?

>I’m going to pause for a moment for you guys to discuss what you’ll claim the PoP for.

You can either bind the PoP to yourselves, giving you the godlike domain in Harrowmont (with all the limits discussed and in the Q&A bin), or you can bind it to Undine and make her more powerful. You could also leave it alone and attempt to claim it later for something else.

>>32785336

Undine, we promised it to her

>>32785336
Undine

>>32785336
Bind it to Undine.

>>32785304
When you do a dozen things eventually even that would get boring. Just because it loses it's excitement once you've done it enough times. After a point you just need something exciting to happen to get the burn out over with.

Rolled 1

>>32785336
Undine, she deserves it and we owe her

>>32785336
Should probably pull it to ourselves this time. Dominion over a strong core region is an excellent deterrent to invasion, and great staging point.

Did you expect us to go all out fox mocking?

I'm pretty sure it's been a foregone conclusion that Undine was getting this PoP.

>>32785336
Undine, shes Talon's champion and a fantastic ally, lets give her a boost

>>32785385
again, if your research is boring you, your in the wrong field.

research is not a repetitive process, it will never be the same way twice.

>>32785301
I'm so proud right now guys

Normally I'd vote for Harrowmont, but I really want to build Undines character some more. Undine

>>32785336
>I'm not stagnant – I’m just taking a break.

>I-it's not like I'm stagnating, you baka!

>>32785336

For Undine.

Circumstances haven't changed so the intended usage continues to be Undine upgrade

>>32785336
Undone who we constantly neglect
Unless there's a better option


Also what are we doing with inheritance?
Elective Monarchy?
Pure Meritocracy?
Last time I check you guys are saying fuck bloodlines.

>>32785476

Tsundere fluffy tails best fluffy tails

>>32785466
It's okay, I put in the token Harrowmont vote for you.

Can't have Undine thinking we're unmanly or something.

>>32785496
Meritocracy all the way down sounds pretty good.

I'm pretty sure it's been a foregone conclusion that Undine was getting this PoP.

Also I find it hysterical that we just railroaded Aspirational again.

>>32785336

>“I-I am not unambitious!” Taira shouts at you, eyes tearing up at the edges. “I am the oldest and most powerful fox there has ever been. I’m not stagnant – I’m just taking a break. And I’ll show you!

Oh sweet god in heaven. I'm in love now.

does the fact that we're sleeping with Undine, who was brought back from the dead, necrophiliacs?

>>32785496
Leadership will default to monarchy until we make a different declaration/system change.

>>32785553
If she's not actually dead, then no.

>>32785496
fuck all bloodlines EXCEPT OUR OWN

>>32785553
Speaking of Undine and death, we need to teach her how to into melee.

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Alright, I'm not going to bother with a vote as it's pretty obvious it's going to Undine.

Have her char sheet while I write up the scene itself.

UNDINE'S NEW CHAR SHEET
Greentexted lines have been changed.

Name: Undine
Class: Pure Water Elemental
Title: Champion
Magic Type: Sorcerous
Equipment: Expensive clothes
Place of Power: 1 / 4
Personality: Well-mannered and pleasant
Sub-personality: Jealous

STATS

>Strength [3]
Endurance [3]
>Speed [5]
Intelligence [4]
>Magic [6]
>Resistance [5]
Charisma [1]

SKILLS

Martial Arts I – proficiency in a variety of martial arts and in combining them.
Battlefield Basics I – proficiency in all general battlefield skills (dodging, blocking etc).
Sorcery (Water Element) III – ability to use complex water sorceries. Undine is exceptionally skilled even if her power is currently limited.
Knowledge (Sorcerous) III – extensive knowledge of sorcery and sorcerous magicks.

ABILITIES

Empower Self I - you use magic to increase your physical attributes by one point for one hour.
>Water Control II – you may manipulate or create anything of the water element (water, ice etc) within a moderate radius. You may control a maximum volume of 50m^3. With extended concentration, you may control a much larger amount of water over a greater distance.
>Imitate Sorcery II – you may imitate the effects of a sorcery not within the water domain with more or less equal effect with some concentration. Many complex sorceries can be accomplished now but those with more permanent effects are still out of reach.

>>32785496
I personally like nobility and royalty. That said, we need heirs first.

>>32785555
>>32785586
We should probably not do any sort of blood line inheritance in this case.

There may be the potential for some Dali Lama reincarnation shit for us, though.

Failing that, we could try to establish republic to take effect should we die.

>>32785447
Nah but anything loses it's meaning and edge after a time. Seen friends of mine get burned out after a decade of it. Wasn't saying it wasn't all different just that doing it all it the time would be so tedious burn out would last for god awfully long of a time. Actually why don't we take her sky diving with Salamander?

>>32785496
Most likely "I'm not going to die so why bother?"

>>32785536
>>32785555
>>32785586
So when we have Talon spawns what the hell are they going to do? Unless Talon has a worlds greatest dad chest plate laying around somewhere there might be some problems.
People might see talon kids and go fuck yeah put them on the purple chair
Then there's the people who hate Rule by Bloodline who's going to start shit.

>>32785628
Shouldnt be that hard to manage

>>32785647
Are you talking about like, the job of working at a research firm?

That's not what we're talking about. You don't get bored of raw DISCOVERY. (Unless you're perhaps terrible, like a certain fox.)

We're perhaps talking about, you know, the fun in life.

>>32785663
Let them go off and become knight/generals/archmages on their own power?

That's what we did, after all.

>>32785625

Our adventure party is going to be pretty fantastic now.

Upgraded Undine, Gnome, Sal, Lynn, Fluffy Tailsx2, Mal, and Finn

>>32785663
Most likely all we would say is something like. "Oh they are my kids but why would that make them equal to me? If they want the throne they better prove they deserve it."

>>32785634
>Failing that, we could try to establish republic to take effect should we die.
Eh, I don't really like the idea of just porting our modern sensibilities into the setting. Especially since "born equal" is such obvious horseshit in this setting.

>>32785721
It's not really about 'morality', it's about having a stable government going forward.

Imperial Monarchy is basically you get one bad heir and everything goes to shit.

>>32785663
>Then there's the people who hate Rule by Bloodline who's going to start shit.
And there are more people who do like Rule by bloodline. As long as we don't call it a monarchy we'll probably be fine.

>>32785663
I think Talon will be a good dad. kids will probably be finn type characters at least in relationship to Talon

that said, who knows if asprirational will qm for that long

>>32785721
That's why I'm backing meritocracy, Talon clawed his way up from the peasantry on pure personal power, he can appreciate that form of governance.
Besides, the demi-Talons will have no small amount of power themselves, which would stand them in good stead to climb the ranks.

>>32785747
>Imperial Monarchy is basically you get one bad heir and everything goes to shit.
Not really. It usually requires several bad hiers actually.

>>32785703
Sure you do you can only learn so much before everything becomes "Oh, As I guessed." The more you discover the harder shit gets to discover more and the more crazy things have to get for interesting things. Not like a good thing or anything but in the long term stagnation is pretty much certain to happen sometimes once a few centuries start passing. Just takes something interesting to snap you out of it.

>>32785784
I prefer a combination of meritocracy and inherited positions. That is, there is substantial turnover amongst the nobility.

>>32785747
>>32785750

As a point too, representation makes people happy. Keeping local customs makes people happy.

A senatorial council would probably help us during rule, and preserve imperial unity should we die, provided we set out the standard for provincial inter-cooperation.

>>32785785
Pretty much this it's mainly harems that are unstable as shit. Which luckily-oh wait. Unless everyone got something out of it.

>>32785810
That's demonstrably untrue. You'd probably have to know everything perfectly. That likely takes more than "a few centuries".

Really, this "life gets boring" cliche is just a shitty cliche from authors who themselves had boring lives.

Personally i back having a constitutional monarchy.
Then have the heirs assigned tutors from each house.
Royal tutors, tutors from the nobles, and tutors who are chosen to teach them from the common man.
So each has a say in the education of the heir.

Then its a case of monkeying around with the succession rules so they have to compete for it, all the while the normal government gets on with day to day ruling.

>>32785845
>Pretty much this it's mainly harems that are unstable as shit
Not really. Its unstable when there are many competing claims for the throne. Which can happen in harems, and outside of them. After all, plenty of Chinese emperors had multiple wives, and we all know how unstable that society was

>>32785872
Even tutors don't protect you from dicks.

It needs checks and balances. Even aside from modern notions of being nice to be, that's perhaps just flatly the most stable long term government.

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>Claim PoP for Undine

As Undine prepares the ritual to claim the PoP she asks you, “Are you certain, Talon? You could claim this for yourself, instead.”

“I’m certain, Undine,” you say, giving her a smile. “Having my Champion be able to use more of her own power matters more than being able to play God in a castle.”

Undine nods, but her expression indicates she’s not going to hold you to that. She doesn’t seem that convinced. The ritual is as short as you remember it being last time and you trek back to where Corrfax is, with Taira in tow.

“You know, I’m your superior now,” Taira says to Vad in a mischievous tone.

“Wouldn’t it be the other way around?” Vad says dryly. He had simply stared at you in disbelief after Taira swore allegiance to you earlier. Some things are hard to comprehend even for those who are one-hundred and ninety years old. Or eight-hundred in the case of Gnome, who had been similarly flabbergasted.

“Talon,” Taira sings out to you, “I’m in charge of Vad, right?”

“Sure,” you respond. “You just have to compete with his girlfriend

Taira begins to badger Vad, who she treats as something between a child and an old lover, when you enter the room where Corrfax remains.

“Ah, so you do return,” the metal chimera says as you enter. “And with one more in tow.”

There’s a round of introductions and some discussion. The real issue is how to get Corrfax out of the labyrinth and back to Harrowmont.

“I can just teleport him,” she says. “Then I can jump back and pack up my things.”

“It’s a fair distance,” you say. “And you’ve never been there.”

“It won’t be a problem,” she says.

>Any problems with just having Taira port Corrfax, the metal chimera you recruited last session, back to Harrowmont?

>>32785937

No problem, she's an ancient fluffy tail with immense powers.

Hopefully the guards at Harrowmont won't hassle her for their own sake.

>>32785937
the other room, with the R&D stuff?

>>32785937
Kind of. What's his power source?

Does Taira want to power him and have her own pet (metal) cat?

>>32785937
Do we have a seal or can we write a note for her to take with her just so people do realise that yes this sort of thing is condoned by us.

>>32785937

Yeah sounds alright.

Good God this was a fruitful trip.

>>32785937
>>32785979
nope. but it'd be good to give her some token to get her past the guards.

if she wouldn't need it we need to update our security

>>32786006

Fluffy Tails, Chimera, 2 Machinists is a pretty sweet haul

>>32785991
no he's our toy

>>32786025
>we need to update our security

Anti-fluffytails patrol. People who hate cuteness with a fiery passion and ride on blood red wolves.

>>32785937
>Any problems with just having Taira port Corrfax, the metal chimera you recruited last session, back to Harrowmont?

The only problem I can see with that is the fact that our soldiers there will witness an unidentified fox lady teleport into the castle with a gigantic goddamn metal chimera in tow walking straight towards the extremely powerful Source that they're supposed to be guarding.


We should probably use sending to warn them that that's going to happen.

>>32785852
There is only so much you can do anon. It's even worse if you don't have perfect memories because in that case there is no way in hell you are remembering something from 5 centuries ago. Infinite progress just doesn't happen that easily as much as people wish it did there has to be a break at some point. Though personally after so long I would probably just start fucking with people in that situation. Just because I think that would be the most entertaining thing possible given how much things change in 20 years let alone 100.

>>32785937
Other then the possibility of the guards wondering what the fuck is going on not really.

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>>32785991
Taira wouldn't be able to power him herself. She's not a mage.

>>32785987
I'm going to pass on doing more in the labyrinth. You still have things to do in Ahm before heading back.

>>32786025
>>32786077
You will be warning your soldiers first, yes. They'll likely comment on it when you return.

>>32786092
You're only saying that because you're personally in Taira's situation. Not seeing the possibilities.

You've got five centuries of discovering the secrets of the universe? You better be ascending to become a living planet, peering into multiversal portals, and perhaps expounding the meaning of life.

There's no way you can possibly personally claim "there's only so much you can do" without you personally having seen it all. The data of possibility is quite present.

I think we should go with if possible.

Either way though, don't forget to give her a warning to brace her mystical senses. We got some loud complaints from the other two foxes last time, remember?

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Sorry guys, I need to duck off for a little bit. Next post in about 30-40 minutes.

Think about anything you need to do in Ahm. There's not much left to negotiations beyond a few meetings I won't detail (formalities etc). Mal wants to raid the library. I'm not sure if there as anything else you guys wanted to do.

>>32786156
Aspirational how much prestige does it give us to have Taira swear alleginance to us? If Gnome was dumbfounded it must be pretty big.

And what's the level of her obedience? Does her loyalty to us trump her loyalty to the foxes, at least nominally?

>>32786231
We probably want to raid the library, too.

Research our own particular condition.

Maybe see how foxes interact with it, too.

>>32786231
Let's raid the library and visit some mage towers, see if we can attract some mages to do research for us

>>32786231
I wonder whether we can scope out some of the local mage towers and their research to build on in Harrowmont, or if we'll simply be turned away. Chating them up for war ideas to build on might be a good use of time.

>>32786231

Are there any goods unique to Ahm that we can't find in our own territories? Like magic armor? If so, that would be a fun thing to do.

Otherwise library raiding sounds fun.

>>32786231
Anything Sarah wants?

>>32786297
Speaking of, we should probably ask our party if they'd like us to pick up things here for them.

They'll probably want to do their own things while here, though.

>>32786231
Undine is mad at us. lets spend some alone time with her. But not in an "im sorry way" just to do it

>>32786325
No she isn't she just has self esteem issues.

>>32786325

And we just got her a PoP, I think it will be alright

>>32786356
still we should try and fix that a little bit

>>32786380
>>32786356
His motivations sound a little more... sexual, than that.

>>32786325
She's not mad, she's just concerned that we aren't using the PoPs like they're traditionally used and giving ourselves ultimate power. Which is a fair point, but we're prioritizing her, and she doesn't agree with that.

>>32786380
she didn't seem satisfied. we bought her some jewelery, lets take her dancing too

>>32786405
On the other hand, it does put us personally a little more under the radar, and gives us quite skilled field agents.

>>32786405

Better to invest in our adventuring party so we can clear future PoPs easily

I mean our party is fucking stacked right now

>>32786405
good point. nevermind

>>32785816
>I prefer a combination of meritocracy and inherited positions. That is, there is substantial turnover amongst the nobility.
Same here. The face of our empire is aristocratic, but the machinery behind it is meritocratic. They need each other to function, as the nobles are bred to lead and take responsibility, while the bureaucracy draws from the educated and wealthy middle classes.

>>32786452
thirded.

>>32786452
Voting against.

>>32786452

This would gradually make the nobles an obsolete class so I support it

>>32786452
I think it should be a mix of aristocracy and meritocracy. The process starts with it being in the blood, but if, through whatever machinery we come up with, somebody is declared not competent enough for their job, they're sacked and replaced with whoever's best qualified. They then become the new bloodline, and the cycle starts again. It encourages nobles to stay on top of their game and not get complacent, which can only be good in the long haul.

>>32786231
Thank Merce for the look at the archmage before we go.

>>32786250
1000+ year old fox dude. We have someone older then fucking Gnome and powerful enough to fight Merce one on one.

>>32786452
>They need each other to function,
You see, there's a reason it tends not to work out that way in real life.

Aristocrats are accorded non-merit power, carried in their social ostentation. That makes it very easy for them to usurp positions, especially as far as their mystique with the populace goes.

It's just not a competent war machine, since aristocrats never truly have to prove themselves.

>>32786452

Disagree with bred to lead. You can't just train a leader absent other abilities.

You take individuals who show promise and talent and then groom them for leadership. You can't tell who's talented just because of the circumstances of their birth.

If a noble happens to be capable, then he should be selected for leadership. If a common happens to be capable, then he should be selected for leadership instead.

Talon would likely embrace this idea in the long run considering his background as commoner.

>>32786503
>somebody is declared not competent enough for their job
See, you guys are confusing Republic representation mechanics for aristocratic holdings.

Unless there's an actual peer-voting system in place, "declaring someone incompetent" means "beginning a civil war or family feud or war of assassins".

>>32786612
The british army got around this by having leadership roles require time spent in previous ranks before being able to get them.

>>32786612
Exactly. Has to be open to everyone to make sure we get the actual best.
Any bloodline shit in this case honestly just gives people an excuse to be lazy and pretentious.

>>32786502
>This would gradually make the nobles an obsolete class so I support it
Over three generations or so, yes.

It would be similar to Europe in the 18th century, where strong centralized states still had medieval 'knights' as aristocratic military officers. However, as wealth creation changes from land cultivation to trade/industry, the landed nobility will fall behind the nobles in wealth. Then, they will demand access to the ranks of the nobility in exchange for money, buying the titles of bankrupt Lords and Ladies. Eventually the distinction will become entirely ceremonial - but that's not the society we have now. I

t's too unstable to create right away, the peasantry needs the continued existence of the nobility to demonstrate tradition and normalcy.

>>32786616
I'm not saying that the people get to decide they're incompetent. That's a stupid idea. It's all in the bureaucracy and the Emperor. It would also be a useful way of using that inquisition/auditor thing, if we decided it.

Personally I'm just looking for an excuse to purge the Vitrian nobles who look down on us.

If they rebel, that would be a perfect opportunity to replace them with those who would be more amendable to us.

>>32786659
WW1 says that the British Army didn't get around this at all, only reduce the problem.

>>32786677
>It would be similar to Europe in the 18th century, where strong centralized states still had medieval 'knights' as aristocratic military officers. However, as wealth creation changes from land cultivation to trade/industry, the landed nobility will fall behind the nobles in wealth. Then, they will demand access to the ranks of the nobility in exchange for money, buying the titles of bankrupt Lords and Ladies. Eventually the distinction will become entirely ceremonial - but that's not the society we have now. I
With the exception that magical might and other qualities tend to be inherited (an absurd % of the nobility have magical bloodlines vs the rest of the population), which will give the nobility far more staying power.

>>32786698
WW1 was more a war were no one really understood the advances in technology on the battlefield than a comprehensive failure of leadership.

well, for the first three over the top charges, the rest was sheer stupidity.

But before WW1 the british army was considerd one of the stronger sides. And thats the system they used to keep the nobles in check from being totally incompetent.

>>32786695
No. Bad despot. Don't go purging people who don't like you unless they've put actions to their words. Convince them to our side, or give them enough rope to hang themselves on treason accounts. If we go purging people we don't like, we're no better than a banana republic.

>>32786659

Automatic promotions after slumming with previous ranks is just as bad.

You shouldn't be promoted because of your family name in a meritocracy. You should be promoted because you've proven youself capable.

If the nobles are capable after spending time in previous ranks, yeah sure promote them. Otherwise drum their ass out.

>>32786731
Or you know a pretty average king who doesn't want to die in his sleep after the same people rebel a dozen times.

>>32786731

That's why I said if they rebel. It would be a mistake to purge them without having a valid reason obviously.

I suspect they will rebel at some point or another though. Especially if we absorb the merchant-republic peacefully.

>>32786744
who said it would be automatic? the british had the system were the promotion was either earnt or bought. Though earnt was rarer depending on the guy at the top.

>>32786761
>Especially if we absorb the merchant-republic peacefully.
Assuming we do that

>>32786755
>>32786744
Really, the only way to deal with all the shitty nobility intrigues is pure representational meritocracy.

If they've got a magical bloodline, they can keep breeding for that on their own, and demonstrate the merit of it.

We're not precluding personal or family wealth and holdings. Only that they gain political power just for stating their name. It's pretty much always been a bad policy.

>>32786769

>bought

Surely, you can see how that might be construed as borderline automatic if the nobles belonged to the monied class?

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Back. Writing up next post.

For those wondering, I'll be posting Taira's char sheet at the end. I'm not sure how long this thread will go for. I want to close off Ahm at least. That may mean the thread will be a bit shorter than normal (7 hours or so total, rather than the usual 8-9) as I've been distracted by a few other things.

>>32786320
I'll probably have the party do some things off-screen.

>>32786295
I'll do a quick trip to the Tower of the Moon's shops.

>>32786287
>>32786293
Visiting mage towers that aren't Alyce's isn't a great idea - it could cause issues and maybe some paranoia on her part. Trying to poach her mages might freak her out a bit given she's promised to send them to you after you sign an agreement.

>>32786250
>Aspirational how much prestige does it give us to have Taira swear alleginance to us?
Loads. The Six-Star Alliance are going to be very interested.

>And what's the level of her obedience? Does her loyalty to us trump her loyalty to the foxes, at least nominally?
Her loyalty to you is personal, rather than professional. Basically, keep her happy and she won't have any problems. As for her race, well, that could be complicated.

>>32786755
Again, hang themselves on treason. All it takes is one fuckup, and they're out. But we need proof first. If we go ousting any person who whines about us, it reduces the legitimacy of our rule and the rule of our successors.

>>32786761

Yeah, there's trouble brewing there. I don't know whether we should try and appease them or push them over the edge so we won't have to worry about them being a powder keg later down the road.

>>32786802
>Only that they gain political power just for stating their name. It's pretty much always been a bad policy.
Now this is a fundamental misunderstanding of history.

>>32786769
I've seen enough Sharpe to know the problem with bought officers, earned only.

I imagine the nobles would still have an advantage in getting there, due to a mixture of family wealth to get them good tutors and their magically powerful bloodlines.

>>32786721
>With the exception that magical might and other qualities tend to be inherited (an absurd % of the nobility have magical bloodlines vs the rest of the population), which will give the nobility far more staying power.
Fair point, I overlooked that.

With that in mind, the non-magical nobility (or the incompetent ones who slander their inherited money and estates), would likely be weeded out over a few generations; while the competent and magical families cling to power.

Hopefully technological development can bridge the power gap between magical and non-magical citizenry. But then again, these are problems for roughly 50/100 years down the line, not now.

At the end of the day, if we wee to void nobility now in favour of a meritocracy, I doubt it would work. The nobles have the majority of the land and money, they tend to have personal military forces, they represent stability to the presents and I'm not sure if our pan-imperial middle class is strong or large enough to take their position - yet. So we go with the imperfect, hybrid model.

>>32786814

We just need to be sure that we retain the loyalties of the Knight Orders, Vitrian Mages, and the common people.

Sarah's house would obviously be on our side.

Any rebellion would be doomed if we have all the real powers on our side.

>>32786802

having power just for stating their name is completely misrepresenting the power of aristocracy. The whole point of bloodlines ruling countries is because they've been educated on what needs to be done and know how to do it. A dirt-farmer isn't going to know how to run macroeconomics or how to make sure they don't push the austrians out of that sweet trade deal they want set up. Bad personalities may ruin things every once in a while, but that's why you force them into humbling situations like slumming it with the peasants.

>>32786833
It certainly isn't. Names, houses, and the respective breeding trees were very important historically. They did grant power just by stating them, especially in the eyes of a commoner.

It's shit. Even the Romans didn't use it (much). But in the middle ages, your House was actually a ticket to free respect.

Honestly, we should just use the Roman system of republic with named successors, potentially merit-vetoable.

>>32786810
Funds the war effort, and the noble can be put under someone else's supervision and then demoted when they do something stupid.

The point is, if they have to spend time in the lower rank each time they buy up, they have to scrub in with everyone else, so they at least have some idea what they are doing rather than coming in from nothing. It also keeps the nobles happy.

>>32786896
>It's shit. Even the Romans didn't use it (much). But in the middle ages, your House was actually a ticket to free respect.
And you're overlooking that that system kept countries more or less stable for long periods of time. The family ties and promises of inheritance were the glue that held society together.

>>32786893
Bloodlines were according a sort of quasi-mystical respect during the middle ages. It's ironic, because that's perhaps the very reason for the "magical bloodline" fantasy cliche now.
You would actually gain political and command power just by displaying your House and Coat of Arms, regardless of your actual education.

Aristocracies TRIED to maintain good education, but other systems do that much fucking better. See: Renaissance onward.

>>32786864
That's why the Nobles would bring in serious Mercenary companies. They have the money for it, being merchant nobles and all. Plus, we also need to worry about collateral damage. saying 'we'd win because we have da powa' completely ignores if the peasants say 'fuck it' and go Tienanmen square. We don't want to kill off our workforce.

>>32786991
Simply because a system works does not mean it works as well as the alternatives.

>>32786907

I'm fairly sure that I would prefer having my generals and ranking officers to have gotten there through their own merits rather than questionables who might fuck up at critical moments.

The money's probably not worth it here.

>>32786991
Let me put it to you this way:

The military, political, and technological might of the middle ages were behind Rome by a massive degree. It's called the "dark ages" for a reason.

The Roman Army could actually defeat most of the knightly orders with ease, and even Roman medical technology was superior until World War 1. It's fucking hilarious when you examine historical military and governance.

You're basically saying "duct tape technically holds steel together instead of welding". Sure. Welding is usually better.

>>32786896
>It's shit. Even the Romans didn't use it (much). But in the middle ages, your House was actually a ticket to free respect.
Being a member if the Roman patrician class was exactly the same.

Rome wasn't a meritocracy. It was an aristocratic oligarchy during the Republic. While you may enter the nobility with wealth, a shorter noble family history was heavily looked down on.

>>32787063
Yeah. But in a vast empire were not going to have the luxury to vet everyone, and the nobles will supply the troops, so they will demand the right to lead them. Fact is, this system only came about due to the nature of a fractured domain into many pieces over a vast area.

>>32786996
>Renaissance
>Good education
>Laughing historians.

Pretty much that was "Suck the greeks dick and don't question it" The age. There honestly wasn't nearly as much advancement as people think.

>>32786996
Wasn't the renaissance the exact aristo-meritocracy we're discussing here? I'm not entirely certain if you're actually endorsing my point or not.

>>32787088
Wut. The high middle ages where massively more advanced then Rome. It's just no one had the resources Rome did to pay for all the shit they did.

>>32787092
That is actually untrue. It was an appointment thing. You could be a patrician and still no one would care for you. They were more cohesive at citizens for a unified imperium, and considered service and skill to be more worthy than blood.

In essence, it did not matter if you were a senator's son per se: only that you were recognized favorably.

>>32787088
>The Roman Army could actually defeat most of the knightly orders with ease,
Well, yes. Because they had a much larger standing army, due to being a much larger state. Now ask yourself a question, why did the eastern roman empire abandon the the legionary system eventually and adopt a system closer to that of the western Europeans.

>>32787180
>5000 guys using swords that are 1000 years out of date and lightly armored.

Yeah assuming a equal sized army the metallurgy and the war horses of the middle ages would dominate.

>>32786855
>Fair point, I overlooked that.
The other thing you overlooked is that manufacturing REQUIRES substantial magical ability in this setting, which again ties into the mage nobility. The nobility won't be kicked out by the new rich because to a large degree they are required to participate in manufacturing for it to work. With ALL the mages becoming nobility in our empire, this trend will only be reinforced.

>>32787157
It is even the case in armies of equal size, since the Romans were a trained and tactical standing army, rather than disparate fractious levies with poor tactics and cohesion.

>>32787180
The East was not Rome. It's probably not pointful to type out all the political bullshit they had to lose the former military strength. Suffice it to say, they were perhaps fractious aristocrats rather than united imperials.

>>32787169
>imperium
An excellent roman concept! The favour of the gods grants the ability to give orders and command others.

If we're looking for an alternative to divine bloodlines for our heirs, this may be it. Replace Rome with Harrowmont and state that ownership of the castle and good governance of it is a display of divine favour - granting the leader of Harrowmont imperium. With this power, the leader can legitimately rule the empire and subjugate others.

>>32787277
That had to be tricked into following orders half the time. The roman version of discipline was "Stand still and don't charge like an idiot into the foes front line."

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You provide Taira with a token that bears your griffon seal and magical signature – that way your mages will at least give her a glance before trying to blow her up. Maloric fires off a sending to both Harrowmont and Alyce, and you leave explicit instructions for Taira to wait for a half-hour before teleporting. The sending might take a while to filter through your troops and you don’t want to return to Harrowmont to find that your own soldiers blew half of it up.

It’s well past dawn when you come back up the passageway leading into the Tower of Stars and you run into a pair of unfamiliar faces guarding it. A pair of women, each with swords at their hips and wearing a plate breastplate with magically reinforced clothing. You slow for a second, their stances worrying you that they may attack, but then relax when one greets you.

“Ho, Imperator,” sings out the right-hand woman, a brunette with a ponytail. “General Mercenie said you wouldn’t be back before dusk and yet here you are. You’re a reliable man to bet on.”

“You’re betting on me, are you?” you ask as you approach them. Your eyes narrow slightly as you recognise her – the spellblade, Rayza Staarn, if you haven’t missed your mark. She nearly killed you a few years ago. A mage who isn’t quite a mage, the Ahmnian towers like to take on talented soldiers with magical talent and make them into killing machines just a step below a combat magister.

“I made the mistake of betting against you in Farlou, a couple of years back, and nearly lost my head,” she says, giving you an easy smile. “The labyrinth? Hardly trouble for you.”

>continued

>>32787295
So, it's the actioning of rule that grants the right to rule. If they get a civil war and lose, then they clearly had lost the divine right to rule.

Isn't this how the chinese emperors worked? I recall something like that, and they didn't have many probems while there were strong bloodlines.

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>>32787338
You greet her properly and are introduced to her companion, a woman almost as tall as Gnome with pale skin and short black hair, done up in a short spiky ponytail.

“I am Moonblade,” she says and you recognise a Pharos accent. Vad tenses up at the name and gives her a wild stare to which she raises her palms in a peaceful gesture. “I have no quarrel with you, fox. My allegiances to the Empress are suspended for the duration of my stay with the Tower of Stars.”

You frown at that. That sounded like she was a notable warrior from Pharos. You wonder how ‘suspension of allegiance’ works in reality as you bid them farewell and head out of the tower, leaving them to guard the entrance behind you. Presumably Merce or Alyce will need to return and seal it properly later.

It is early morning and shops are probably beginning to open now. Your companions have some things they want to take care of, too. You…

>1. Visit the library with Mal to read up a bit more on astral power (or something else if you write-in).
>2. Head to the tower’s shops with Caitlyn and Finn to see if there’s anything interesting to buy, including armor and weapons.
>3. Head back to your accommodation to introduce Taira to Tsucchi when she returns.
>4. Custom

>>32787295
Divine Mandate was popular everywhere. It's just a roundabout way of saying if you do shit that works, people should listen to you.

More related to Rome would be the tenet of centralized governance of protectorates and states such that we coordinate large scale unified efforts while maintaining local self-determination.

>>32787295
We don't really need to claim legitimacy from a higher power on account of the fact that we are a higher power ourselves, as would be anyone badass enough to make their way to the Imperator spot in a theoretical meritocracy.

>>32787365
3

>>32787277
>The East was not Rome.
Yes it was. It wasn't called the Byzantine Empire at the time. Guess what they, and everyone else called it?

>>32787365
>>2. Head to the tower’s shops with Caitlyn and Finn to see if there’s anything interesting to buy, including armor and weapons.

We need to reward Finn for being such a good squire

>>32787365
>3. Head back to your accommodation to introduce Taira to Tsucchi when she returns.

This sounds amazing.

>>32787365
>2

>>32787365
2
if there is ever gonna be aplace where we can buy something game changing, it'll be in Ahm

>>32787365
>>2. Head to the tower’s shops with Caitlyn and Finn to see if there’s anything interesting to buy, including armor and weapons.

>>32787365
>3. Head back to your accommodation to introduce Taira to Tsucchi when she returns.

I'd really like to spend more time with Tsucchi than we do. I feel like she could be a really interesting companion if we allow her to be.

>>32787250
I was assuming that non-magical methods of production would eventually be developed to utilize the greater non-magical labour pool in increasing the productive capacity of society. The RSK is the most likely candidate for this innovation, long wars tend to spur unorthodox innovation.

If it doesn't happen though, the Mage nobility will be strong indeed. As they are required, as you say, for bit only manufacturing but a whole host of other important imperial duties - I don't think they'd like us taking their noble stats away.

Even if we did abolish nobility formally, there would still be an informal Mage/ non-Mage prestige and power divide in society. Anew aristocracy would simply develop without technological progress bridging the gap.

>>32787365
>2. Head to the tower’s shops with Caitlyn and Finn to see if there’s anything interesting to buy, including armor and weapons.

Three of my favorite things

>>32787365
>>3. Head back to your accommodation to introduce Taira to Tsucchi when she returns.

>>32787365
2

>>32787388
Eastern Rome or Nova Roma, with some others. It was still not Rome. At all. They merely called themselves that, like the Sultanate of Rum.

They were aristocrats and theocrats prone to infighting, with very low central loyalty. Thusly they perhaps could not maintain as cohesive an army.

>>32787365
Library!

We can make introductions later. Finding information is a fairly high priority.

>>32787365
222222

>>32787365
>2. Head to the tower’s shops with Caitlyn and Finn to see if there’s anything interesting to buy, including armor and weapons.

You know guys come to think of it why don't we just let Undine decide if they are worth being king? Not like she is going anywhere anytime soon and she is connected to what would be the seat of divine power once we finally boost Talon into godhood in harrowmont.

>>32787450
Well, the point in aristocratic abolishment is that mages are then held fully to their skill.
They may certainly still have more power than a non-mage, but internally all that matters is whoever can do shit.
Honestly, the mages would probably like it, since the ones not from a prestigious bloodline who are still powerful get bumped up.

>>32787464
>Eastern Rome or Nova Roma, with some others. It was still not Rome. At all. They merely called themselves that, like the Sultanate of Rum.
You do realize that one of the roman reformations split the imperial crown in two right? And that the Emperor in Constantinople could trace an unbroken governmental succession all the way back to the republic?
>They were aristocrats and theocrats prone to infighting, with very low central loyalty.
You do realize how frequently Rome had civil wars, attempted coups, assassinations and other such things right? I don't think a single dynasty lasted more than 3 generations. Hell, by your logic Mexico no longer exists. There's just some poser hanging around after the US stole more than half their territory.
>Thusly they perhaps could not maintain as cohesive an army.
Actually, it was the result of a deliberate reform in order to increase responsiveness and ability. They actually conquered back some lost territory.

>>32787365
>4. Custom
See what's up with Undine. She seemed a little off earlier, and considering how heavily we rely on her in and out of combat that's a bit worrying.

>>32787601
Actually, they'd revolt because you just disenfranchised their in-laws. You do not fuck with the nobility casually.

>>32787643
lets go shoping with her! and only her!

>>32787618
You are sorely misinformed of The East's politics. Their origin does not matter, nor their succession. The discussion is of their culture, and were you familiar with it you would realize that it is almost completely disparate from The West.

Justinian unified a front of reconquest, but as it goes The East's lack of internal cohesion overall prevented centralized military structuring and forced increased reliance on mercenaries and perhaps imports from Northern Europe.

Their own troops were simply not loyal enough.

But that is perhaps enough history lesson, there is yet a Quest on.

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>2.

Caitlyn and Finn trail behind you, chatting about what they would like in terms of equipment. You’re pretty sure the toys they want are both expensive and custom-make. Still, you’ve got money and they’ll be worth it – if the tower will sell them to you.

“Ah, Imperator Talon,” greets the clerk in central arms and armour store. He’s an older looking magister and the markings on his robes indicate that he’s an enchanter. “The Archmage indicated you might come here. I’ve been instructed to sell you any items you wish or take down any orders you wish to make, so long as you pay the full price.”

“You sound like that’s special,” you say, raising any eyebrow.

“Even in times of peace custom-made weapons and armour would be limited to close allies of the tower. I’m going to take this as a positive sign,” he says, with a slightly strained smile.

You explain the particular needs of your equipment and he nods sympathetically. “It would take approximately four weeks per suit of armour, if you want it to the standard of your armour. Or close, really, as I’m not sure whether I could reproduce anything quite like it - we lost our best armorer a year ago to an assassin and it was always a hobby for me before.”

>continued

>>32787724
>The discussion is of their culture, and were you familiar with it you would realize that it is almost completely disparate from The West.
Incorrect. It was a gradual evolution. True, it was vastly different several centuries later, but what society doesn't mutate beyond recognition in that time. Also, the point isn't culture. The point is that they had Legions, and they DIDN'T abandon the equipment and tactics of the roman legions because they forgot how to use them. They abandoned them because they stopped working, due among other things to vastly improved metallurgy, the invention of the stirup making heavy cavalierly possible, and improvements in missile weaponry such as crossbows and longbows.

>>32787618
>>32787724
I understand your need to wank over how much you more knowledge you have over the other, but please stop.

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>>32787829
“There aren’t any other enchanters capable of producing magical armour?” you ask, sounding dubious.

“Plenty, particularly in the Tower of the Moon, but hand-enchanting armour is a lost talent. Magitech is just too efficient at it and the only specialised demand comes from warriors such as yourself. The rest want more ordinary custom-armour and the spellblades here eschew armour in general,” he says.

You watch Finn and Caitlyn test out some of the weapons in the store as you debate costs and timing. The armour is expensive – full price for a set of custom-armour by a magister doesn’t come cheap, particularly given the expense of the materials. Luckily, you can change the quality of it slightly.

>What sort of armour and weapons are you looking for?

Ask some questions and I’ll answer as best I can. Base cost of the armour is 10TBY per suit (you have 395 left) but would rapidly increase if you add more than the basic features (physical protection, silent movement, voice projection).

Weapons are up to you guys, though remember that Talon’s currently using ordinary swords.

>>32787857

Finn and Lynn and can buy whatever they desire, but should we also buy 3 extra pairs of basic armor for our other bodyguards?

A magical sword sounds awesome, but what kind of features are available?

I'll let others think about the features I suppose

>>32787857
I think we should order a ultra durably and sharp greatsword for Talon.

>>32787857
We need a bigger, swordier sword

>>32787679
I like this idea, nothing wrong with spending time with our champion

>>32787857
Would it be possible to enchant Finn's armor to take in ambient magical energies to simulate the effects of him activating his tattoos? If we can find a way to help him not use his stores all the time in a fight, it would be good.

>>32787857
let's get custom armour for Finn and Undine

for Undine something slippery so it's hard for attacks to hit directly

for finn something light that improves his speed but will make it so he has to heal at least his extremities- forearms, feet, face

>>32787844
Even the early residency of Byzantium had an extremely different culture. The people were mostly Greek, in ethnicity and practice. The East mostly lost the ability to use a well-trained standing army due largely to disloyalty and infighting. Period. You can look it up.

There's a reason modern nations use more Roman tactics of discipline and fieldwork than Eastern Rome did.

>>32787948
>Undine
>Armor

Actually if we could enchant normal clothing that might just work.

>>32787857
>Asking /tg/ for weapons/armor ideas

I wouldn't we will be here all night.

>>32787947

This is good if plausible. Anything to help him with his tattoos would be a valuable addition.

>>32787857

Is there a way for the armor to have an illusion or something to conceal Lynn's dragon nature to most people?

>>32787857
Hmmm. Special properties?

Well, Finn does need armor. And he should probably have the best.

Swords? Are there anti-magic spell-cutting swords?
Could be useful.

>>32787679
Isn't she too well known here and still supposed to be "dead"?

>>32787857
Swoooooords!!

The idea of a custom suit of armour for Finn, Lynn and Undine sounds good as well! Breastplates with large golden gryphons on them anyone?

>>32787951
I have looked it up, you're fundamentally wrong in holding up Rome as some sort of shining example for a multitude of reasons, just as you are incorrect in calling the Eastern Portion of the Roman empire some sort of fundamental break from what came before it. Period.

>>32788035
>>32787951
You know, you'll never come to an agrrement if neither of you are willing to provide anything approaching proof.

>>32787857
Out of curiosity, is there anyway we could incorporate something like a Mana battery into Finn's armor that he could run his tattoos off of or just replenish his personal stores of power from in a pinch?

>>32787951
>Rome
>Anywhere near modern day discipline.

People really wank Rome too much.

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>>32787948
>for Undine something slippery so it's hard for attacks to hit directly
I'm not sure how this would be achieved with armour.

>for finn something light that improves his speed but will make it so he has to heal at least his extremities- forearms, feet, face
Light is easy-ish but magical speed increases can't be done because it conflicts with his magic.

>>32787947
Finn can't actually use magic without his tattoos. The tattoos are literally what is casting the magic which is why his spells automatically reactivate, even if he's sleeping.

>>32787983
>Actually if we could enchant normal clothing that might just work.
That can be done but it wouldn't be as durable as full armour.

>>32788018
It's possible to hide somebody's 'magical signature' but it's also very obvious. It's like walking around in public with a big cloak with your hood over your face - everybody knows you have something to hide (and some can penetrate the illusion). Also, it wouldn't help against spiritualists like the foxes or monks.

Not really possible for her wings and tail if you meant the physical parts of her.

>>32788021
>Swords? Are there anti-magic spell-cutting swords?
THere's one but it's very special so no, not really. The only other anti-magic explodes on contact with magic and is highly illegal in Ahm.

>>32788111
It was a comparison to Eastern Rome, which was notoriously fraught with disloyalty and the perhaps resultant reliance on mercenaries.

>>32788069
It's not even a debate. The Byzantine theocratic fractures and mercenary military ware well known. He's just being silly.

>>32788130
>THere's one but it's very special so no, not really.

Now you're just fucking TEMPTING us.

Ask him about it.

>>32788130
Alright. If he's not using magic without the tattoos, then can't there be an enchantment to suck in the abient energy to supplement? half tats, half residual? Or maybe recycling the stuff he's already used. Any way to not have to push his inner energy to the breaking point like he did during the PoP.

>>32788130

Yeah, then the illusions wouldn't be useful then, dropping that idea.

>>32788160

We should probably spend time coming up with badass armor and weapons instead of unrelated subjects.

>>32788130
I"m thinking we should get some regeneration armor for Lynn just because regenerating dragon girl sounds pretty painful. Though personally I would rather get some powerful weapons. Something Like a LMK weapons to cut though everything.

>>32788130
>>32787948
.for undine
think like a slipstream around the armour. a current that forces weapons more to the edges so they hit at an angle

>>32788187
Well! Are there weapons which could interact favorably with the elements of Gnome and Undine?

Potentially we could have some elemental synchronization going on. But anti-magic weapons and armor seem very useful, too.

>>32788226
>Anti-magic
>It explodes the moment Gnome or Undine uses it.

>>32788261
For us. The QM also mentioned a non-exploding one. Magic defense can be quite useful.

>>32788130
The important question is:

Do they sell The Dagger of Time?