File: provinceMap14.12.07.png (916 KB, 3024x1550)

916 KB PNG

>>36821904
Current Date and Time: Mid-morning on October 17th, 1953PC

Current FR Points: 1

The last week had felt surprisingly hectic despite the fact you don’t feel anything worthwhile or noteworthy happened. Normally the aftermath of conquering a city was handled by your more administratively minded subordinates but there was still a major military problem on the horizon. Combined with a general distrust of the mages who had split from the Magi League in the first place, you’d had plenty of reason to keep yourself involved.

That and Sarah had been snippy when you’d asked her if she’d help. From what Tsucchi had told you, a lot of diplomatic and administrative matters had come up almost immediately after you had left for the front. Most of those matters were ones that would normally involve you, given what they involved – embassies, broad representation over tax and property matters and far too much general interest in the canal for your liking. The timing was noticeably suspect and you wondered why they were all so keen to avoid you and consult with Sarah – she was far less reasonable when upset, after all. And she was very upset over the workload and the way the liaisons were trying to play her

Your main interest in the city had been keeping it under control while resuming normal activities. You’d redeployed most of your soldiers to patrol the city and keep the mage towers under guard while reopening the outer lifts to enable trade to resume once again. Even with the damage that had been done during the siege, the workers of the city were keen to resume their livelihoods and the upper class to get back to consuming their minds into obliviousness, which suited you just fine. Shropham had far more poorer workers than Vitria despite its ealth and the war had likely had an incredible impact on them. You needed the city’s economy flowing again and that meant reopening the markets and shops in the centre of the city and the upper platform.

>cont

File: worldMap14.12.07.png (370 KB, 3024x945)

370 KB PNG

>>36821924
As for the central tower, it remained secured under guard. You’d taken some of your close retinue through to ensure there were no nasty surprises left but had mostly just shocked them as a result. Only Gnome had remained unmoved, a testament to what she’s seen, probably in the Golden Age of Magic. If there was ever a single sight that could cement the Mage Guard’s reason for existence, it was this. Not that you were too keen to let them handle things – you’d called in your auditors from the empire itself to go through the mage towers with a fine tooth comb while you worked with the external experts on the central tower.

Marek had been certain that Raphael would know what had happened. You weren’t so sure. Firing off a detailed sending to the Last Retreat, you’d also tried to contact Basilii again, to no avail. Marek hadn’t felt his order was too interested in the cleanup, so you weren’t too surprised. You had also contacted…

>multiple votes incoming. Just a bunch of YES/NO prompts.

WARDEN-GENERAL IRLIN
>1. The leader of the nearby Mage Guard army. No need to make him antsy – his army had noticeably slowed down their march once you’d taken the city and had made clear they had no interest in a fight. It might also help you get his measure.
>2. No contact.

SYLVIAN
>1. The helldragon of the Mage Guard. She’ll likely be very upset if you don’t invite her, particularly given this sort of situation is her element.
>2. No contact.

ARCHMAGE ALYCE
>1. The Archmage of the Magi League and your close ally. She might be interested in the ultimate treatment of the mages but will also annoy any Mage Guard reps and they her.
>2. No contact.

Also, for those who missed it, the GDocs folder in the OP now has the new lore doco. It’s incomplete, very long and not required reading but probably answers a few questions you might have and provides additional detail. I’ll probably resume writing it next week once I feel less burnt out on it.

>>36821942
>NO
>YES
>YES

>>36821942
Was Irlin the moderate Warden or the super pious one? If he was the moderate.
>1
>1
>2

>>36821942
>>1. The helldragon of the Mage Guard. She’ll likely be very upset if you don’t invite her, particularly given this sort of situation is her element.

>1. The Archmage of the Magi League and your close ally. She might be interested in the ultimate treatment of the mages but will also annoy any Mage Guard reps and they her.

For now I feel like we should just work with our allies. The warden general seems pretty calm right now.

>>36821904
>AEQ
I missed you so much.

I read through the google doc (all 45 pages), some notes for QM:

Make sure you backup the google doc (by saving it locally as a doc file) just in case

>6.1.2 Sorcery
>churches of magic
what?

>3.2.1
>The Source itself appears to emit a significant amount of magical energy in the process, though nowhere near as much as a Place of Power.
wait, sources emit less power than a POP?

>As each Champion candidate dies, a comparison will be made and the most suitable of the current and the recently perished will have their spirit maintained by the Source going forward. Should the Champion currently be summoned when another candidate dies, that candidate will automatically be maintained by the Source, causing the summoned Champion to permanently move on from the world once unsummoned or slain. If no other candidates perish while the Champion is summoned then they can be summoned again, possibly by the same mast
phrasing is really messy and seems to be contradicting on some points
I don't get what this is saying at all

>Patterns
it doesn't mention it, but didn't you tell us in quest that pure elementals naturally occuring patterns?

>>36821942
>2
>1
>1

>>36821942
>1
>1
>1
Also, read the LoreDoc, wow that is a lot of Lore.
Also, I find it hilarious that we've built our entire military on the same pattern as a historical superpower without knowing it.

>>36822028

IIRC he's the zealot.

>>36821924
>That and Sarah had been snippy when you’d asked her if she’d help. From what Tsucchi had told you, a lot of diplomatic and administrative matters had come up almost immediately after you had left for the front. Most of those matters were ones that would normally involve you, given what they involved – embassies, broad representation over tax and property matters and far too much general interest in the canal for your liking. The timing was noticeably suspect and you wondered why they were all so keen to avoid you and consult with Sarah – she was far less reasonable when upset, after all. And she was very upset over the workload and the way the liaisons were trying to play her
We need to get a holoprojector for commonicating, one in vitria and the other in the field. This will allow our cabinet to convene from afar and discuss such issues even while in the field.

I dont see the benefit of bringing both Alyce and Syl. More than likely they would get at each others throats and put us in a bad position.

File: 002.jpg (494 KB, 980x572)

494 KB JPG

>>36822028
He's a moderate but represents the hardliner faction which oppose Sylvian(I really should name those...).

>>36822042
>churches of magic
Figure of speech.

>wait, sources emit less power than a POP?
The power that Sources emit is leakage. The PoPs are the emitters that are funnelled power by their Source.

>phrasing is really messy and seems to be contradicting on some points
I was trying to clearly explain how Champions work because everybody complains about how confusing it is. Clearly that didn't work out. Nothing is contradictory, just that the terms aren't clear.

>it doesn't mention it, but didn't you tell us in quest that pure elementals naturally occuring patterns?
They're considered similar. I might add some additional sections to the Patterns part to discuss the implications of them.

>>36821942

>2
>1
>1

It's only logical, I think, since this is former ML land.

>>36822084
>He's a moderate but represents the hardliner faction which oppose Sylvian(I really should name those...).
I'll change the forst vote to a 2 then

>>36821942
>Y
>Y
>Y
we should talk to them all
talk =! full disclosure.

>>36822066
>Also, I find it hilarious that we've built our entire military on the same pattern as a historical superpower without knowing it.
Which one?

>>36822084
>I was trying to clearly explain how Champions work because everybody complains about how confusing it is. Clearly that didn't work out. Nothing is contradictory, just that the terms aren't clear.

I'll never understand that. It's always been pretty simple to me. 7 PoP that magical beings automatically attune to. If one dies it can be summoned using the source as a form of familiar.

Also I have read all the lorebin twice and I have to say Aefir stronk. I also didn't expect them and Kushan to have such a cushy relationship.

>>36822084
>He's a moderate but represents the hardliner faction which oppose Sylvian(I really should name those...).

Yeah I'm just going to say the moment we bring this up to him it's going back to our foes in the mage guard and they will want to send inquisitors right into our new city.

>>36821942
>1
>1
>1
Try and get assurances that both Alyce and Sylvian will try and play nice before committing though.

>>36822084
>I was trying to clearly explain how Champions work because everybody complains about how confusing it is. Clearly that didn't work out. Nothing is contradictory, just that the terms aren't clear.
I think i figured it out. I was thinking "summoned" as in "the act of casting a summoning spell" instead of "the state they are in after the summoning spell was completed and until their death/banishment"
aka. Undine has been summoned since thread 1, she remains "summoned".

>>36822162
>Yeah I'm just going to say the moment we bring this up to him
I should point out that the vote is whether to talk to him or not. Not whether we provide full disclosure to him or not.

>>36822140
>reading how Kushan bitch slapped the continent by his lonesome

Kushan seems like a cool guy

>>36822136
Aefierla, the nation that was the dominant force on the continent for close to 1000 years. Their army was made up mostly of well trained humans supported by nonhumans (aefir specifically) as magical support and elite shock troops. Our military is largely made up of well trained humans supported by nonhumans as magical support (fluffy tails) and elite shock troops (our retinue, soon vamps and dragons).
I wonder if Talon has read about their military?

>>36822140
>If one dies it can be summoned using the source as a form of familiar.
it is far more complex than that.

>7 pops can be attuned to
>1 active champion slot
>1 prospective champion slot
>When a champion is summoned, it is removed from prospective and put into active champion slot. This is the the only time that prospective slot is empty
>If active champion dies, and prospective slot is empty. they become the prospective again and can be resummoned
>If active champion dies / unsummoned, and prospective slot is fully. They pass on for good and can't be resurrected again.
>If an attuned dies and prospective slot is empty, they become new prospective automatically
>If an attuned dies and prospective slot is full, the two are compared and the best one is kept.

File: 1413694950521.gif (981 KB, 250x250)

981 KB GIF

>>36821904
My body is beyond ready.

>>36822204
Dude needed a massive army of infernals to take the Aefir though. I wonder if there are any remaining books on their construction methods. Their fortresses were apparently awesome.

Aspir
Was that aspiring feldragon we killed attuned to the pop? because if so, that means that it is the new prospective champion and that if undine dies or is unsummoned by someone who sneaks into the source, she will pass on forever.
and if not, it is in our interest to make sure that the rest of the prospective don't get killed

>>36822312

He didn't /need/ them. He could have taken them himself, but that bloody nose was enough of a scare to necessitate the need for an army.

File: 003.jpg (247 KB, 1215x883)

247 KB JPG

Alright, vote is 2, 1 and 1. I find it interesting how the Warden-General was outright refused so quickly. I expected more debate over bringing Alyce and Syl to the same place.

Writing up now. Sorry I'm a little slow - a mixture of being rusty and tired.

>>36822343
>Was that aspiring feldragon we killed attuned to the pop?
It's possible but unlikely. There's probably a different being attuned to the PoP now, one far more powerful.

>>36822347
>The combined magicks of the Aefir and dragons were more than a match for Kushan himself.
Yeah, he explicitly needed an army.

>>36822312
Not quite. The dragons+The Aefir was enough to be his match. If it was just them vs Kushan I think he would win.

>>36822343
It's not a pure magic being for one thing and the attune is natural so I don't think anything like it could pull that off. It could bind the thing but not attune.

>>36821942
>1
>1
>1

Contact Alyce first, get her counsel but warn her that we will be dealing with the Mage guard for some time in the foreseeable future. Then get Sylvian's council. Finally, do the meet with Irlin.

>>36821942
>2
>1
>1
we need to continue cementing alliances and picking sides

also this thread we should talk about Aladria and whatshisnamethenewdaywalker we should have killed him. Aladria will betray us when she gets the chance
and th other guy has no personal loyalty and will clearly eventuallyn challenge us.
we should eliminate him somehow, they shouldnt be spending time together.

>>36822042
>>36822084
thanks for answers. I just noticed I missed two

>Mystic foxes
>Black tails are common to foxes outside of Gauron and extremely rare in Pharos
Should it not be common inside of gauron? since gauron is the name of our continent and where black tails occur?

I also wonder what effect Aether will have on the tail coloring of foxes who spend their first year in it. (aka, wasteland foxes)

>>36822387
>It's possible but unlikely. There's probably a different being attuned to the PoP now, one far more powerful.

Interesting. For one thing that means there is something far more powerful then a feldragon. For another it means that dragons can attune. I didn't expect that.

>>36822389
Yeah I kind of read that as it was one or the other it would be less likely and if they didn't have walls enchanted like they did a lot less likely.

>>36822387
>There's probably a different being attuned to the PoP now, one far more powerful.

Yay Talon!

This is primarily stuff for other posters:

>Unlooted undamaged untouched ancient installation is guarded by mage guard
Wow, I want to loot that!

>Dragons
Reading their history, it seems sylvian is blaming the feldragons when the fault was clearly with their king. Hubris of rulers seems to be a common theme in history

>Every race is extremely fucked up
so much to fix.

>As the number of tails a fox receives varies, this also makes for wildly varying lifespans. If a fox does not receive an additional tail they begin to age - by the time they would receive their next tail they have typically died of a heart attack or stroke from the magical strain of their t
This sounds a lot like how elves of finn caste die. I posit that perhaps if finn can grow his magic fast enough, he might "outgrow" his tattoos the same way foxes who keep on getting tails keep on living.

>Although almost all shadowbeasts are on the other side of the Barrier of Marie, there is a colony of them below the Sithran Mountains. Those shadowbeasts that crossed the Magi Line mountains flocked there for an unknown reaso
I had assumed that it was just that this particular infection was too difficult to root out. The fact that they were DRAWN there suggests that there is something very interesting there

>Places of Power are wellsprings of magical energy. They are often connected to Sources but there are other means that can create on
that is interesting to know

>Historically, the dwarves have made use of Places of Power as a power source, pulling in the excess energy to fuel forges for magical enchantment but those times have long passed.
that sounds like what we planned on doing in the source with the magitech

>Doomslayer
haha, I like it

>Doomslayer, anti magic blade
It occurs to me that both of those could end talon not matter how magically mighty he becomes. The solution seems to be to keep up his skills and not overly rely on magic.

>>36822444
>Yay Talon!
How is thi... oh you mean TALON is the new attuned being? hahaha.
I like it.

>>36822426
>and th other guy has no personal loyalty and will clearly eventuallyn challenge us.

Which is just fine by Talon. It's not like he is automatically going to anyway. So long as Ember is around and as long as Talon does what is needed. People these days have no risk tolerance.

>>36822443
Eh, they already proved that the helldragon kingdom vs kushain himself ended in the hell dragons winning, then getting arrogant and fucking off. The Aefir were stronger than the helldragons.

>>36822459
Finn is an elf not a fox
>>36822490
the longer we wait the stronger he gets. prudence dictates we help him get himself killed

>>36822426
>Aladria will betray us when she gets the chance
Aldaria is our primal familiar, she is incapable of betraying us. Also, she wasn't the waifu of blackwater, but of another vampire whom we personally killed (he was the one we killed before the quest, he went to try and enthrall us when we were still working for darlesia) and Aspir hinted that her relationship with him was fucked up and potentially disturbing to many readers. so he hasn't gone into it

>>36822559
Flow animation counters virtually all of his powers.

>>36822559
>Finn is an elf not a fox
I am well aware. I am saying that the principle might be the same. Since the causes of death for a fox who can't provide their tails with sufficient power are identical to an elf that can't provide their tattoos with sufficient power

>>36822513
That felt to me more like all the helldragons jumping him in all honestly. I"m talking more get all the elves and place them on one side. Kushan on the other side. All the helldragons of course is a different story.

>>36822559
>the longer we wait the stronger he gets
We get stronger massively faster than him, as we master astral powers as well as expanding our nation.

>>36822387
>I expected more debate over brining Alyce and Syl to the same place
I was under the impression that we were contacting them via sending. Oops.

>>36822579
>>36822584
She doesnt care particularly about us. And theyre highly likely and to and capable of scheming together.

they are the foundation for a potentially dangerous and seditious faction, so i think no matter what we either need to decide to win their loyalty definitively, or eliminate one or both of them. does anybody disagree?

>>36822614

He meant politically stronger.

>>36822387
>I expected more debate over bringing Alyce and Syl to the same place.
I thought we were contacting them via sending. (apparently not the only one)

>I find it interesting how the Warden-General was outright refused so quickly
The people who justified their vote of no, said that we shouldn't fully disclose things to him. Apparently the assumed "talk to him" meant "full disclosure"
then again. Since we are talking about bringing them in to here maybe they were right and I was wrong.

File: 004.jpg (931 KB, 1000x3750)

931 KB JPG

>>36822439
>Should it not be common inside of gauron? since gauron is the name of our continent and where black tails occur?
Oops, good catch. It should be 'common outside of Pharos but extremely rare inside.' which is a big hint in and of itself...

>I also wonder what effect Aether will have on the tail coloring of foxes who spend their first year in it. (aka, wasteland foxes)
If they had no other source of magical energy? They'd die, like everything else. Aether is harmless but lack of magical energy is lethal.

>>36822443
>For one thing that means there is something far more powerful then a feldragon. For another it means that dragons can attune.
Dragons can be claimed as familiairs like Aefir, foxes and vampires, so they can also attune. Basically, magical beings can do both. And that dragon wasn't particularly powerful compared to beings such as Gnome etc. Gnome could single-handedly defeat him at full strength, as could most other Champions (including Taira).

>if they didn't have walls enchanted like they did a lot less likely.
It was the incredibly powerful barriers and wards the Aefir had on their fortresses and territory that kept both the Fae and Kushan out, until the infernals tore through it.

>>36822592
The result is similar because what kills them is the same - too much magical strain. The Daerfir eventually run out of magical reserves and the tattoos draw on lifeforce (their soul, indirectly) and the foxes don't have enough fuel to maintain the extra tail (they could grow it over time, but not maintain it constantly).

>>36822614
a minor threat is still a threat. especially if hes close to other key characters, and the source, and the seat of our power.

>>36822636
Yes. Now shut up.

>>36822636
Yes. I see Ren hating anon has slightly improved his grammar.

>>36822636

Yes. A lot.

>>36822584
Pretty much this. Talon grows far stronger then he ever will especially considering he has to soul devour to get XP now.

Though speaking of vampires. I noticed something interesting on Finns sheet. Improvised Transmutation I and express power isn't a passive effect like everything else. Does that mean theoretically we could stick that on someone without it draining?

Thinking on it most of the drain comes from empowering and from Healing. But if you can bring your own of either then I think it should be possible to create a non-draining tattoo. Though it depends on if you can have one effect without the other.

>>36822636
>She doesnt care particularly about us
>I refuse to read the doc section about familiars

>And theyre highly likely and to and capable of scheming together.
If by highly likely you mean extremely implausible. How does he sneak into our stronghold? how does she contact him? why would she even contact him?

>they are the foundation for a potentially dangerous and seditious faction, so i think no matter what we either need to decide to win their loyalty definitively, or eliminate one or both of them. does anybody disagree?
No

>>36822646
>He meant politically stronger.
How the fuck does blackwater get politically stronger? we took down his nation. he has nobody to politic with, we made public his method of immortality, we killed the vampires that supported him, and we are reintegrating the vampires who remain into our society and this time with a blood substitute

>>36822672
different person man

>>36822661
>>36822672
not gonna harp. but letting those two have to long a leash is a bad move

>>36822709
>How the fuck does blackwater get politically stronger?

Anon I'm sorry I'm drunk and misread what comment you replied to.

>>36822655
>>I also wonder what effect Aether will have on the tail coloring of foxes who spend their first year in it. (aka, wasteland foxes)
>If they had no other source of magical energy? They'd die, like everything else. Aether is harmless but lack of magical energy is lethal.
Oh right, the wastelands are not JUST aether but also devoid of magic.
Ok, let me reprase that, I wonder what large amount of aether exposure would do to a fox that isn't born in the wasteland but in some place with readily available magic

>>36822709
not blackwater im talking about man
that kid who hates us who we turned into a daywalker
cant remember his name he was a general or something

>>36822759

Anon how the fuck do you forget Felix? Seriously you need to read up on everything and educate yourself.

>>36822759
Felix never hated us anon. You're drunk.

>>36822773
was blanking on his name. fuck you.

>>36822759
>>36822795
>I dont even know his name but I know that he will back stab us.

>>36822655
>The result is similar because what kills them is the same - too much magical strain.
Which is my whole point and the crux of my theory that if finn can grow his magic fast enough (like a fox does, through war) than he might outgrow the aging and death of the tattoos the same way that a fox who gets their 5th tail does.

>The Daerfir eventually run out of magical reserves and the tattoos draw on lifeforce (their soul, indirectly) and the foxes don't have enough fuel to maintain the extra tail (they could grow it over time, but not maintain it constantly).
I am not sure what that means for my theory. Does the daerfir's soul literally gets smaller/weaker over time?

>>36822784
Well he did want to go down in history. I don't think he ever could have said to hate us considering we talked him down so easily.

>>36822655
>Dragons can be claimed as familiairs

Time to attune lairos then?

>>36822728
to be fair anon said
>whatshisnamethenewdaywalker we should have killed him
I assumed that is "blackwater" and another anon seems to think that is "fenix/felix/I keep mixing those two up"

>>36822807
where can i read relevant info? npc pastebin isnt sufficient. pretty sure i remember him only joining up to get stronger, and him thinking that we were just pretty much evil
btw tone down the hostility

>>36822834
honest mistake. i meant felix

>>36822815
Basically, the Daefir's magic is naturally tied up in increasing its strength like a nightwalker and isn't meant to use magic, much less use magic constantly. The Fox's body is designed to take the strain, so it can.

>>36822836
That would be called reading the threads.
Also the current NPC bin pretty much covers everyone of interest right now.

>>36822815
Think of the Daerfir magic like a tank of water. Over large amounts time evaporation happens that would drain the tank. The tattoos basically give the tank a spout, that drains the magic faster.

>>36822836
You can read the quest. They're archives in the OP.
>was blanking on his name. fuck you.
>tone down the hostility

>>36822915
but daefir are supposedly immortal (unless killed) if they don't get tattoos.

>>36822901
>>36822915
read every single one. i think felix will be a problem at some point in the future. and this problem is avoidable

File: 016.jpg (454 KB, 1920x1200)

454 KB JPG

>2 & 1 & 1

When it came to pulling in a council for assistance on how to handle the mage problem in Shropham, you weren’t keen to involve Irlin in any way. You’d probably need to talk to him at some point but certainly not right now and not about this. Sylvian and Alyce would be useful, on the other hand. You just hoped that they’d keep from biting one another’s heads off.

Raphael was the first to arrive, a massive surge of power signalling his arrival via teleportation. You’d missed his arrival but had been told it was quite a sight – a burst of light, followed by him unfurling his enormous glowing wings to their full length around his intimidating figure. You had been working from the manor of a surprisingly helpful noble near the central tower, said noble having another manor he’d moved to in the meantime, and the archangel had been content to wait in one of the rooms while you’d been busy. Not that you stayed busy for long after that arrival.

The next day both Sylvian and Alyce arrived, separately. Alyce hadn’t had far to travel and you greeted her as she stepped out of her carriage. A few token knights and spellblades stood guard and Merce accompanied her. Her expression was somewhere between grim and amused, as though she had tried to school her expression into something suitable for the occasion and Merce had told her an amusing joke right before she stepped out.

“What was the joke, Mercenie?” you ask the Aefir, openly ignoring the mage, who scowls openly in response.

“Something about the central tower being symbolic of its new owner,” she says, smirking.

>continued

>>36822945
The well normally doesn't have a leak in that metaphor he used.

>>36822945
According to the new Gdocs they are long lived, not unaging.

>>36822962
Hate-anon plz stop

File: 019.jpg (266 KB, 793x1200)

266 KB JPG

>>36822986
You sigh, but before you can continue you pick up Sylvian in the distance. She seems to moving oddly fast and in a weird position, you think. Within a minute you realise why, as the edges of the winds she’s kicking up lick at your face. Staring up at her you can’t help but say…

“She’s a lot bigger than I expected.”

“She is rather old, even for a dragon. If she wasn’t a particularly special helldragon she would actually be dying of old age,” Raphael’s booming voice comes from behind you and you nearly jump, those annoying echoes of another language resounding in your ears.

“I’d like to say she’s just fat but from what I’ve read dragons simply get larger and stronger with age,” ALyce says. “Also, is it possible to not do that, Archangel?”

“No. Not if you want to understand me,” Raphael says, still watching the dragon above. You get the feeling he’s slightly tense, though you’re not sure why.

Sylvian’s dragon form is enormous and you finally comprehend why the main draconic race had never appreciated the helldragons – they were incredibly bestial in appearance. Almost as large as the keep at Harrowmont, Sylvian must have an incredibly amount of raw power in that body of hers, and her silver scales practically glow in the morning sun. Long bladed fins and spikes run across her body, providing protection from close attacks and her head looks like a true monstrosity in its own right, with long pointed horns protruding from the top of it and enormous fangs resting outside her mouth. She hangs in the air for almost a minute before suddenly she vanishes in a blink.

You catch her human form drop to the ground, mostly by the shift in her magical location and the fact she obviously uses some magic to keep herself safe upon landing. She approaches you, expression haughty and its obvious she wants a reaction. Heck, she might have been showing off to the Guard troops camped outside the city.

>How do you greet Sylvian?

>>36822962
Felix might be a problem, but is a risk we are willing to take. We have been trying to diplomance him and get him "on our side" so to speak
if we fail... well, he would be a worthy adversary

>>36822999
Unflappable "Did you have a nice flight?"

>>36822999
Formal but friendly. She was a military girl and we shouldnt be to out there with Alyce here.

>>36822999
>Heck, she might have been showing off to the Guard troops camped outside the city.
hehe, she probably was....

oh god I am so tempted to rib her about it

File: 021.jpg (265 KB, 1024x512)

265 KB JPG

>>36822815
>Does the daerfir's soul literally gets smaller/weaker over time?
A soul basically has a limited amount of power. The body slowly draws on this to keep itself running, which is why high rates of regeneration and magic can prevent death or aging. As it runs out, the risk of stroke or heart attack greatly increases as there's less magical 'slack' to absorb a shock to the system.

>>36822883
It's more that Daerfir have huge magical reserves but no natural magical ability or ability to replace lost magical energy, making any usage of that power dangeorus. Foxes basically convert the power they generate/draw in into their tails (which is how they use their magic) until eventually they wind up with more tails than they can support. The nature of their problems is different.

Also, clearly I need to add some more to these racial sections to illustrate this.

>>36822999
Like she hadnt arrived in such an ostentatious way.
Dont address her transformation

>>36822999
"What no awesome display of fire breathing and or roars, I think a few people in Vitarita didn't notice" Smile

>>36823067
>It's more that Daerfir have huge magical reserves but no natural magical ability or ability to replace lost magical energy, making any usage of that power dangeorus
So basically like vampires but without the ability to draw sustenance from blood?

>>36823085
>Vitarita

And the curse reappears. Will we ever learn to spell?

>>36823067
>A soul basically has a limited amount of power. The body slowly draws on this to keep itself running, which is why high rates of regeneration and magic can prevent death or aging. As it runs out, the risk of stroke or heart attack greatly increases as there's less magical 'slack' to absorb a shock to the system.
Interesting. that means that ANY and ALL beings who dies of old age, dies because their soul ran out of power. And the trick to immortality is to either regenerate the soul with magic... or to completely halt the process of drawing power from the soul to fuel the body, completely replacing it with an external fuel source (magic, or blood if a vampire.... or a particularly unscrupulous human wizard who lacks the power to do it via raw magic)

File: 022.jpg (362 KB, 899x950)

362 KB JPG

Gonig with an unflappable response. WIll hopefully not take an hour to write this time.

>>36823102
Pretty much, except with much larger reserves.

>>36823118
>And the trick to immortality is to either regenerate the soul with magic
This reminds me that the new lore doco doesn't mention the violent reactions of astral and sorcerous energy. Goddammit, way too much shit to add. I should probably talk about the magical planes, too...

Anyway, regenerating the soul with magic is crazy hard because using sorcery to tamper with the soul in any way is instantly lethal due to a sudden case of explosions. There's actually an ancient ritual which purports to grant great power by doing just this (the soul converts astral energy to sorcerous energy by definition of its ability to fuel to body, so having it pull in loads of energy would make a mage super powerful) but has killed every mage that attempts it.

>>36822999
"Impressive entrance there."

Talon is a man who can enjoy a fine entrance and we did score some points with the archmage so I Doubt she will try and start something so soon

>>36823067
>Foxes basically convert the power they generate/draw in into their tails (which is how they use their magic) until eventually they wind up with more tails than they can support.

Does that mean eventually Taira will die of old age?

>>36823067
>It's more that Daerfir have huge magical reserves but no natural magical ability
I have noticed that there seems to be a difference between the two. there are two "magical abilities" so to speak. One refers to the energy potential (which also provides resistance). The other refers to manipulation potential (of that energy)
Those seem to be completely seperate from each other.
Humans tend to have very low energy, 100% of humans have manipulation potential (transmutation) but it is usually pathetically weak to the point where most people couldn't even light a candle with it if were trained. Evokers cheat by using that insignificantly weak transmutation to direct external energy of the world itself for massive powah.

The daerfir have massive huge Energy, but complete lack of Manipulation. Not even the insignificant type humans have. All it gives them is a herculean physique, magic resistance, and longevity.

Finn incidentally seems to be a very rare exception, having actual transmutation ability. meaning he can actually manipulate. meaning he can and should start receiving proper training.

>>36823164
>but has killed every mage that attempts it.

So what you're saying is we need to give Mal a book about this?

>>36823188
if we want him to die yes
a less critical mage of comparable talent though could use it

>>36823164
>Anyway, regenerating the soul with magic is crazy hard because using sorcery to tamper with the soul in any way is instantly lethal due to a sudden case of explosions
Uh, what about feldragons? Pretty sure that is soul manipulation with sorcery.

>>36823218
>of comparable talent

You insult our best mage bro with the mere thought.

>>36823222
Oho! the lords (and the end game for kushan) was research on manipulating the soul to unlock astral power. The lords just beat kushan to it. They must have been great mages

>>36823306
We were straight up told they were by the Greatest Great Knight.

>>36823164
>but has killed every mage that attempts it.
I wonder if that specific ritual, once fixed of the flaw in it, is how the lords came to be.

File: 025.jpg (248 KB, 685x1024)

248 KB JPG

>unflappable response

“Was your flight enjoyable?” you ask her. “You certainly made good time to arrive her at the same time as Alyce.”

The flicker of disappointment is obvious to the trained eye and you realise she was mostly trying to impress you. She succeeded but you weren’t going to tell her that in this situation. You wanted to make it clear that you were in control of the situation – you wanted both her and Alyce as future subordinates and poor first impressions of how you would handle the two of them in just such a situation would be hard to break.

“Flight is surprisingly boring once you’re used to it. Tiring, too,” she says lightly, having recovered her composure rather quickly.

“I’d say finding it boring is more a character flaw than an inevitability,” Alyce says.

You kill the growing argument by drawing everybody inside to the meeting room you’d set up. Inside are Baelrus and Marek. There’s a brief moment where you can tell that both Bael and Raphael are sizing one another up, having avoided the other thus far. You find Raphael’s propensity to second-guess everybody’s intentions to be odd for such a powerful being. Was it just that he was always on-guard or was it actual fear? Or maybe something else entirely?

Nevertheless, you explain the situation briefly. “We put the mages down and cleared the tower. All the mages and knights within the tower were transformed, the mages having been warped in some way by whatever they’d done. The knights appeared to have disintegrated, their armour animated by an unknown force.”

>continued

File: 026.jpg (220 KB, 669x1024)

220 KB JPG

>>36823408
“The combat magisters, save their leader that Lord Talon fought,” Bael interrupts, his usage of the word ‘Lord’ getting a reaction from the gathered leaders, “were maddened even by comparison to their lesser compatriots. I believe their power to be significantly lessened by whatever had happened to them, likely due to their lack of the intelligence necessary to use. Their bodies had also been transformed in some way I don’t fully understand.”

“The case is clear-cut. The mages toyed with astral power they didn’t understand and destroyed themselves. Toying with the energies of Pharos without the same protections their magi use was foolish,” Raphael says.

Alyce gives you a look, frowning a bit. You don’t know what her dealings with the Archangel have been previously but it’s pretty obvious what’s annoying her. Sylvian and Marek appeared not to be bothered, nor Gnome who slipped in at some point.

“You know what happened?” you ask.

“I do. The precise happenings are of no concerns. You stopped it, understand that what they did was wrong and that will be the end of it,” Raphael replies, giving you an eerie look. The magical shadow of his hood may hide whatever face he has but you can tell when you’re being told to drop a topic. Sylvian sighs and tries to redirect the conversation.

“We know that it shouldn’t happen again. The question is how to ensure that and make sure that the mages of the city aren’t affected at all,” she says.

You…

>1. Push Raphael on exactly what happened.
>2. Let Sylvian redirect the conversation to dealing with the mages.
>3. Move to the topic on what precisely might have ‘affected’ the mages as a roundabout way of pushing the central topic of the cause.
>4. Custom

File: 028.jpg (104 KB, 550x825)

104 KB JPG

>>36823174
>Does that mean eventually Taira will die of old age?
She certainly doesn't think so.

>>36823178
>Finn incidentally seems to be a very rare exception, having actual transmutation ability. meaning he can actually manipulate.
Finn's transmutation is granted by his tattoos. He's different from most Daerfir simply because his reserves are extra large.

>>36823222
What makes you think the feldragons are modifying their souls?

>>36823400
Sorry, I shouldn't have used ancient. It's a Golden Age ritual. The Lords predate it.

>>36823423
i wonder if raphael is so tight with info because he fears we might get tempted by to pursue such powers once we are given hints.
then again, it might be less fear and more a policy of "if you don't tell them the first principles, they can't be tempted by it" so even trusted people are kept in the dark...

>>36823423
>“The case is clear-cut. The mages toyed with astral power they didn’t understand and destroyed themselves. Toying with the energies of Pharos without the same protections their magi use was foolish,” Raphael says.
wait... pharos magi use astral power? but with protections.... that makes them spiritualists, like monks and the wardens. Not sorcerers at all (despite being called pharosian sorcery)

>>36823423
>2. Let Sylvian redirect the conversation to dealing with the mages.
Ask him after the meeting. He might just not want to tell the truth to all the members.

>>36823423
>2. Let Sylvian redirect the conversation to dealing with the mages.

For now. Rapheal has reasons for this, and we should stay within his graces until a formal alliance is reached as he wishes.

>>36823423
>1
"It's important for this information to be shared. Enforcement will be difficult without understanding what exactly it is we are meant to be preventing."

>>36823423
>2. Let Sylvian redirect the conversation to dealing with the mages.

>>36823501
I bet like the wardens (taught by angels), the pharosian sorcerers were taught their astral techniques by whatever divine race held dominion over their continent.

>>36823423
>2. Let Sylvian redirect the conversation to dealing with the mages.

We can push for our points when need be.

>>36823501
Remember that Pharos never had Kushan to teach them evocation.

>2

>>36823423
>2. Let Sylvian redirect the conversation to dealing with the mages.

>>36823423
>1
Nobody pushes lord talon around
Raphael shouldn't expect us to do as he wants without understanding why. We are not his subordinate

>>36823524
I think they use fae/pandamonium influenced transmutation

Also just going to put this out there. Given the new info in the lorebin most likely Sarreg is a templar. Also Taira is confirmed as being created instead of born and she also wasn't the only one. Just wanted to bring that up to anyone who missed it.

>>36823423
>4. Custom
this is sorta like 3 but more open
>I am willing to drop it, but the thing is, I don't intend to execute every single mage in the city.
>This means instead searching the towers and notes and seeing who dabbled in the forbidden. Which means knowing what to look for when searching.

>>36823423

>2. Let Sylvian redirect the conversation with the mages.

We can talk to Raphael later regarding this.

>>36823532
I do remember. That is actually part of what it click in my mind.

>>36823567
Fae are not from pandemonium

5000 years ago, the world was invaded simultanously by 4 divine beings
>A) Angels from Heaven
>B) Infernals (demons/devils) from Hell
>C) ??? from pandemonium
>D) ??? from ???
C and D have been thoroughly destroyed. 2000 years ago in a great way

It turns out that either C or D had a race of divine servants which are
>E) Fae from Arcadia
The fae invaded this world about 900 years ago, transforming half a continent that they conquered into a new arcadia. Their armies were held back by the Aefir for 200 years before kushan invented a way to transform arcadia back into normal plane.

Also, there are shadow beasts which are a sixth divine race from ???

>>36823669
>It turns out that either C or D had a race of divine servants which are
>>E) Fae from Arcadia
oh, and to clarify, they did NOT participate in either the initial invasion 5000 years ago nor the cataclysmic war 2000 years ago.

>>36823669
>C and D have been thoroughly destroyed. 2000 years ago in a great way
>great way
great war

>>36823683
Actually, both of that is probably wrong. They participated in both while as vassals of a greater race, they just survived.

File: 031.jpg (488 KB, 1024x498)

488 KB JPG

>>36823578
>Given the new info in the lorebin most likely Sarreg is a templar.
I thought Gnome explicitly told you that at one point? Sala thought Talon might be a Templar, Gnome shot it down because she knows Saareg and mentioned he was the last revenant.

>2.

“I’ve got my own people for rooting out any corruption and connections to the central tower but I’m sure about the general ‘effect’ you’re talking about,” you say, carefully treading around the topic that Raphael clearly doesn’t want to elaborate on.

“Your foxes will be able to pick out any mages that aren’t right,” Marek says. “Particularly the black-tails. Pharosian energies twig them pretty openly.”

“That’s one thing but you’ll need to make sure that the knowledge and intent is cleaned out,” Sylvian says and you can sense an oncoming argument.

“By doing what? Going through every room of the other mage towers with a fine-toothed comb? The results were obvious – clean out any mages that might instigate the same rebellion that Grand Magister Smith did but going any further is an insult to all remaining mages,” Alyce says.

“I can guarantee that there’ll be other copycats,” Sylvian retorts. “They should be made an example of.”

“Plenty of mages have already been made an example of – there’s only three grand magisters of the seven great towers still alive, the rest died in that graveyard of a tower,” you say, trying to remain neutral. “I’m not sure the others were involved.”

Sylvian scowls and Alyce and her bicker over the rights of the mages versus the need to ensure that none of them attempt the same ritual. Your main concern is that the mages will clearly get incredibly upset if you were to go through the towers as closely as Sylvian suggests.

>continued

File: 033.jpg (513 KB, 1280x904)

513 KB JPG

>>36823747
“Those grand magisters might still need to be held to account – a disaster like this cannot remain as it is. Even in Taour you sacrificed a choice few for the sake of appearances – how is this any different?” Sylvian suddenly says, turning the argument to you.

With a scowl, Alyce attempts to counter the argument, “That was a clear case of abuse for years. This was a popularly supported split and it’s already ended poorly for them. There’s far more to gain through positive support for the mages than treating them all as enemies of the York Empire right out of the gate.”

That’s put you on the spot, though you’d have to make a decision anyway.

>How will you deal with the mages? Discussion followed by votes.

Also, something I'll note is that the Shropham foundry will be the next big topic. The big one was located in the central tower and was involved in replicating those spears. Your decisions here and there might be related.

>>36823747
>Sala thought Talon might be a Templar, Gnome shot it down because she knows Saareg and mentioned he was the last revenant.
Nope, Sala mentioned the Knights of Basette.

>>36823776
Hammer those we have proof of, and level massive fines on the seven towers. They are corporate entities liable for the actions of their members.

>>36823776

What do the three GMs specialize in?

>>36823776

Let Alyce and the Magi League deal with it? seeing as they originally were part of ML, they would be the correct force that would deal with it. Offer to police it, we make sure that they aren't soft in dealing punishments to the rebels.

>>36823776
I dont think we should comb through all their works. Publicly and forcefully reminding them we are watching with "interviews" should do the trick. Inviting black tails from the MG to talk to them in conjunction with our own agents would work.

>>36823845
That sounds like a terrible idea. Unless you mean turn over for prosecution those ratted out of the thralls.

Could we perhaps formulate a quick panel of judges? Allow the three magisters to state their case and then allow a vote to decide it?

>>36823776
Those who are guilty beyond reasonable doubt are to be punished. All mages are to hand over anything Pharos related and be checked by the foxes. If any mages do not comply remind them of the horrors in the central tower and that their colleagues may be infected as well.

>>36823776
I think we should handle this ourselves. not completely outsource it to either faction.
As for how to handle it. Well, we should probably bring in those grand magisters in on the discussion, as well as the potential successors for the other 4 towers.
We get them to assist and watch over the investigation. We don't treat the mages like enemies. But we do require going over it with a fine tooth comb, partially because they need to justify themselves to the public at large in case we decide to give an interview to the papers (because papers appear to be a thing) where we mention
"halim told me, before we fought, that he does not actually care for what the archmagisters were doing. because they know full well that their grabs at power could very well create a second wasteland, killing every last man woman and child in the city and surrounding lands. but they did not care"

>>36823821
I like this, maybe we could also throw in something along the lines of a semi-annual inspection done by TYE and an independent third party (I don't know who that could be atm but i'm sure someone will show up) at random to ensure that such atrocities do not happen again.

>>36823938
>as well as the potential successors for the other 4 towers.
well. 3 towers actually. the central tower had every single person in it die.

>>36823776
Oh, it's back! Is this the new run time now?

File: 035.jpg (267 KB, 720x1100)

267 KB JPG

>>36823777
Hmm, looknig over the old threads it seemed I forgot to address that. Just a plot thread I forgot about over time after Sala brought it up way back in Farun.

>>36823831
Channelling, like most GMs.

>>36823821
>>36823875
How are you finding proof of their guilt, though? The punishments aren't in question, just the extent to which you'll go to root out those who may have been involved, even peripherally.

>>36823963
I'm on break so will be running a few times a week until after the New Year.

>>36823821
The question currently seems to be about HOW to get proof.
... or whether to at all.

>Alyce
>Being too invasive in searching for proof is alienating mages and treating them like enemies
>Syl
>The 3 archmagisters need to be executed as an example regardless of proof. Then afterwards you must search the towers with a fine toothed comb for proof.

Personally I see flaws with both suggestions.

>>36823938
>Threaten mages with trial by media
>Watch them fall over themselves to submit to searches to show they did no wrong. As well as falling over themselves denouncing the perpetrators and claiming to be innocent and swearing loyalty.
kek.

>>36823973
Medium extend. Known associates of those who were involved in either the asteral thing or the Thrall business will be interviewed, and those that our investigators deem suspicious will be searched more thoroughly.

>>36823973
Can we track the traffic of Pharos goods purchased by the towers? That could be an avenue of investigation. I'm personally more inclined to be aggressive and thorough in the investigation. Bad juju isn't something to fuck around on.

>>36823776
The TYE has a general lack of mage leaders, and this limits the research we can do.

We need to make ourselves more attractive to mages

Lets give these guys an out, a way to promise no future invlovement in these magics in exchange for service to the empire.

I think we shouldnt regard the wishes of either faction while deliberating. Can offfer amnesty in exchange for a confession and an oath to not use again, a cursory search if one is received, or a more in depth investigation if they deny the use of these magics.

Whichever way give them a chance to atone through service to you.

We could bring the three magisters under the Tower of Harrowmont's direct control. Instilling new leadership within their old towers.

>>36824020
>>36823938
>>36823855
Sounds good to me

>>36823776
Personally I say we should look into them but in general as long as there isn't any proof of wrong doing we shouldn't do much more.

It has already backfired on them so we shouldn't do much directly other then watch them for a while and wipe out those we know did something.

>>36824087
Whoa there, we can't give people actually involved here amnesty. are you cracked? that would destroy our relationship with the monks, raphael, and syl and threaten war with the guard.
Besides which, they were actually in the wrong. even alyce isn't suggesting they are given amnesty. In fact, according to magi league rules they would be executed.

What alyce is saying is that we should show some level of restraint when searching for guilt. And only punish the actually guilty ones without making any examples of those who have no proof against.
I am a bit leery of her point about not digging too deep. We really should be thorough.

File: 036.jpg (182 KB, 1000x682)

182 KB JPG

MAGE INVESTIGATION VOTE
>1. Outsource it to the Magi League.
This will root out the instigators of secession but less so the researchers that caused the issue in the central tower. Will easily lead into an official alliance with the League, instead of the under-the-table deal with Alyce you have, but will alienate the Guard.

>2. Sylvian's suggestion. Make an example of the leaders who caused this and do a thorough investigation of all mage towers.

Will root out those who caused secession and the researchers, killing the Pharos experiment dead. Will weaken the mage towers and aggravate them. Good Guard relations, worse League ones.

>3. Thorough explanation under the guise of a panel of judges including the remaining Shropham Grand Magisters.
Won't deal with secession but will get rid of most research. Sylvian will be happy, Alyce less so. Hardliner Guard won't be and the Magi League at large will be neutral.

>4. Selective interviews and public relations handling of the affair.
Won't have a thorough impact on either the secessionists or the researchers but will raise order in the region and keep the mages happy. Guard and League will be positive but Alyce and Sylvian will be upset.

File: 037.jpg (289 KB, 1200x502)

289 KB JPG

>>36824154
Also, note that when I'm talking about 'researchers' I mean the ones who did illegal research under both yours and the League's currently laws, not all researchers.

>>36824154
>>3. Thorough explanation under the guise of a panel of judges including the remaining Shropham Grand Magisters.
>Won't deal with secession but will get rid of most research. Sylvian will be happy, Alyce less so. Hardliner Guard won't be and the Magi League at large will be neutral.

Honestly, this seems to be the only decent option at this point. Everything else pisses off one or both of our allies.

>>36824154
>>3. Thorough explanation under the guise of a panel of judges including the remaining Shropham Grand Magisters.

>>36824154
>>3. Thorough explanation under the guise of a panel of judges including the remaining Shropham Grand Magisters.

>>36824154

>3.

In the end, we would wage war with Mage Guard, right?

welp, cant contribute, but i'll archive skim when im off work, good to have you back aspie

>>36824154
Can you clarify a bit the difference between 3 and 4?

Also,
>those who caused the secession
so, those guys are potentially power hungry rulers who weren't involved in the illegal research, but just wanted war to further their own goals. They might cause us problems in the future... or they might not have. Could even have done us somewhat of a favor

>>36824154
>>3. Thorough explanation under the guise of a panel of judges including the remaining Shropham Grand Magisters.
Can we add in fines?

>>36824240
I don't see the point.

File: 039.jpg (194 KB, 1280x640)

194 KB JPG

>>36824205
The Mage Guard situation can be handled in many ways. You could just wage war against them, try to take advantage of a civil war between the hardliners and Sylvian's faction, try to take advantage of Irlin's moderate stance to make the hardliner faction more useful and bring Sylvian over to your side or a bunch of other things.

>>36824223
3 is an actual thorough investigation, the problem being that secessionists can't be dealt with because you've thrown them a bone in exchange for their cooperation with the illegal research investigation. 4 is mostly for show but picks out the worst troublemakers.

>>36824154
So, if I am reading it right. Alyce centric analysis
>option 1
we let her handle it, and she is happy. she will make an example of those who seceeded. but won't get the research
>option 2
we get the secessionists and the research... but alyce is unhappy
>option 3
we get the researchers, treat the mages well, but don't take revenge on those who wanted to seceede from the league. Alyce is unhappy
>option 4
we get neither, alyce is unhappy

man, alyce is really being unreasonable in this one. It seems that her priorities are:
>Don't let the guard get its way
>Get revenge on the secessionists
Without any regard to the removal of the forbidden research or the access of TYE to useful and friendly mages

I can almost think that she is just using us to reinforce the league and that she didn't really give up on it and throw her lot in with us.

>>36824154
3

>>36824257
thanks for clarifying.

>>36824257
just to be clear. 3 is just for finding them. We still have to seperately decide on what to do with them afterwards? (cause we kinda promised them to the guard)

>3 is an actual thorough investigation, the problem being that secessionists can't be dealt with because you've thrown them a bone in exchange for their cooperation with the illegal research investigation. 4 is mostly for show but picks out the worst troublemakers.
Can 3 involve some showmanship to help us win support with the general public for the damage we caused?
also, the whole "blood magic in vampire-taour" and their shropham assistance. while having the gull to tell people that talon would feed them to vampires.

>>36824154
>3

Reguardless of how this plays out, could we create a monitoring system for towers found to have dabbled in corrupting magic? Basically have some Mage and black tailed fox observers on cite and an ongoing audit of the tower's finances and assets for some period? Upside is anyone doing work that has results and has tangible benefits for the empire gets extra funding and support. Downside is most mages are going to be pissed at having people looking over their shoulders.

Would this be a good time to name Mal a Grand Magister? Shropham has a lot of job openings in that field at the moment.

>>36824421
Actually, looking back at things. the towers sorta ARE a problem. They are a social system is based around kushan's teachings and meant to espouse certain views. It would require some social engineering. But not through "keeping them down".

>>36824517
You can't name someone grand magister, he has to be one and then prove himself in testing.

>>36824517
Mal is the head of our tower in the capital right now and hates mage politics. So he would probably bitch at Talon for the thought.

>>36824517
IIRC that title is given by multiple towers acknowledging the Magister as such. It would seem awfully convenient of us for the entire city to suddenly support our right hand mage.

>>36824517
I want him to get the job in recognition of his work on patterns and summoning.

>>36824421

And then suddenly we turned all of the towers into Circles of Magi.

>>36824421
I think there has to be a better way than that.

>>36824537
I wonder what system the Aefir used at their height?

>>36824421

Pretty sure that would turn Alyce against us relatively quickly. And literally every tower that has worked with us would be instantly put off by the sudden restriction. That sounds like it would be more trouble then help.

>>36824421
>Corrupting magic

Kind of feels to me less corrupting more being a dick. Honestly as long as it's not dangerous to the world I don't think we should really care.

File: 041.jpg (456 KB, 900x569)

456 KB JPG

>3.

“The fallout of Shropham’s experiment makes it pretty clear that I can’t let that same research continue,” you say, and Sylvian grins triumphantly. “However, I’m unwilling to alienate the mages. Like it or not, they are the heart of Shropham’s economy and they’ve taken no small amount of damage. I imagine plenty of them have friends to grieve over. I plan on doing a thorough investigation but not a retributive one – I’ll request the close cooperation of trusted mages in the towers, who will have to be vetted themselves. If my Auditors and foxes work closely with the mages we can root out the illegal research and keep the mages firmly in control of their own lives and privacy.”

Sylvian gives you a curious look after your little speech to them before smiling. At least she seems happy, if not as overly so as she was earlier. On the other hand, Alyce is clearly upset, if not overly so.

“The mages you’re asking to cooperate in the investigation are the same ones who caused the mess in the first place. They’ll clearly hide any evidence as to their involvement in this whole disaster while ensuring that all the research is destroyed,” she says, tying herself in a bit of knot.

“You did just say that the mages must be trusted to take care of themselves, didn’t you?” Sylvian says with a vicious grin. “Or are you merely concerned that those who thwarted your plans might go unpunished?”

>continued

File: 051.jpg (148 KB, 708x965)

148 KB JPG

>>36824657
Surprisingly, it’s Gnome who steps in and ends this argument. “It’s certainly a better plan that what typically happens. We can’t reasonably expect to punish all the mages who caused the problem given how popular support of secession from the League was. Not if we want the towers to still be capable without external support.”

Biting her tongue, Alyce drops her argument once she realises how facile it is. She was a political animal overall but also an emotive one – her whole campaign was driven by those same emotions but you wouldn’t let them drive your policy.

“I’m going to have to pass on handing over any mages to the Guard, Sylvian,” you say. “Assuming the remaining Grand Magisters are cleared of any involvement with the illegal research. Most of the true ringleaders perished alongside the central tower in the disaster.”

“That satisfies me but you’ll have to speak to General Irlin about his thoughts. You promised him, after all,” she says, not resisting a chance to snap a little over your promise from weeks ago.

You work out the details of expected punishments but put off the actual panel design – you feel that it might get a little emotively charged. Raphael brings up the next topic.

“I am willing to cleanse the tower myself, as it is a trivial task, but the foundry will still be yours to deal with. The device that manufactures the corrupted spears must be destroyed but the others should be fine,” he says.

“Or perhaps they won’t be,” Sylvian says. “Shropham clearly was trying to use that magic in other places.”

>continued

File: 058.jpg (903 KB, 1024x766)

903 KB JPG

>>36824674
Raphael gives the helldragon a withering look, which is impressive for an expressionless, faceless being. “If the other factories are corrupted, I will tell you. Otherwise you are discussing a political matter. Do keep the two separate.”

Sylvian winces and you catch Alyce’s smirk. You’re not quite sure what happened there. Nevertheless, the foundry is still a problem, mostly because it’s almost entirely been retrofitted for production of catalysts and the spears. Apart from a single MMK factory, the entire thing is useless. You wonder if it’s better to take advantage of the convenient excuse of ‘corruption’ to move the foundry outside of the central mage tower. It’ll be pretty obvious to Alyce that you’re weakening the mages, though. Given how political she is being, you’ll need to do some fast convincing if you want her not to get upset.

>1. Keep the foundry in the central tower and simply rebuild the individual factories.
>2. Move the foundry to somewhere else in the city.
>3. Keep the foundry in the central tower but start constructing another elsewhere for new factories. An expensive way to keep everybody happy.
>4. Custom

>>36824702
>>3. Keep the foundry in the central tower but start constructing another elsewhere for new factories. An expensive way to keep everybody happy.

We do need to do it if we're going to take on the Guard. Might as well be in the new magical capital of the Empire.

Also a note, this is easily the most powerful meeting of entities upon the continent within recent memory. This is a pretty crazy big deal.

>>36824702
Everyone in the central tower is dead right? Seize the entire thing as York Empire property, and garison it with our own soldiers.

>>36824702

Why not destroy the foundry then? Is it because it's expensive to build another one?

>>36824702
>1
With the canal project I dont think we should be throwing money at everything to come up.

>>36824702
>1. Keep the foundry in the central tower and simply rebuild the individual factories.
Every single mage in the central tower is dead. I can't justify expending several hundred thousand TBY when we are already going into debt on any frivolity here.

Also, limit reconstruction at the moment to just the civilian factories. Again, due to budget

>>36824702
>>1. Keep the foundry in the central tower and simply rebuild the individual factories.
Ask Maloric to temporarily take over the central tower.

>>36824783
>Also, limit reconstruction at the moment to just the civilian factories. Again, due to budget
You need to reread the budget lines. We have quite a bit of money

>>36824702
>>1. Keep the foundry in the central tower and simply rebuild the individual factories.

>>36824763
>Why not destroy the foundry then?
that is option 2. You destroy the foundry after looting the 1 untainted factory from it.

A foundry is a building and equipment that feeds 5, 7, or 10 factories.
A factory is a device that produces a specific object.

>Is it because it's expensive to build another one?
yes, that is exactly why.

>>36824702
>3

>>36824702
>3. Keep the foundry in the central tower but start constructing another elsewhere for new factories. An expensive way to keep everybody happy.

Might it be possible to downsize the foundry in the central tower in exchange for replacing one part with the Prototyping Factory? That should decentralize the production while placating the mages with the availability of a factory line which is designed as a test bed, so more experimental research can be done...

File: 060.jpg (61 KB, 491x799)

61 KB JPG

>>36824763
That's what option 2 is?

>>36824750
This is possible, though the mages would get upset that you're acquiring a building that is perfect for mages and pretty unsuitable for general use. I suppose you could pack it full of battlemages or foxes, though. Maybe start your battlemage tower here or something (I remember somebody mentioned thta idea a long time ago).

>>36824783
I'll be handling the specifics of construction etc in another thread. Probably next week. Not going near that stuff yet. I'm slow enough as is right now.

>>36824806
That's because Shropham is filthy rich. Look at that goddamn tradeable economy and license income. Goddamn.

>>36824333
>1. Keep the foundry in the central tower and simply rebuild the individual factories.

>>36824702
Where exactly in the tower is the foundry? Because I personally have no qualms about rezoning a portion of the building as our administrative (and military, foundry included) headquarters in Shropham. But only if it makes logistical sense.

>>36824806
>You need to reread the budget lines. We have quite a bit of money
We have quite a bit of regular income.
However, so much of it is spent on "temporary projects" like:
>Rebuild taour
>Rebuild darlesia
>Upgrade harrowmont
>Build canal
>Build new foundries
>Upgrade new foundries
which are all "one time expenses". Those have put us in the red and cause us to actually have gone into debt.

Anyone concerned with the budget needs to look over the new figures. Yeah Shropham was worth a bit.

We can afford this, and it would do our army wonders.

>>36824702

>3.

>>36824860
We have a budget surplus in excess of 500 TBY

oh nevermind, i guess i was wrong in >>36824860

according to >>36824826

apparently we WERE going into debt, but shropham is so rich that now we aren't anymore. Good conquest!

1. The money issues an Alyces attitude are the main points.

>>36824887
>>36824892
>500 TBY surplus
Do you recall that it costs 250 TBY to build an empty foundry, then hundreds more to fill it with factories, then hundreds more to operate it?
With our most expensive being FMK costing us a whopping 640 TBY a year per single factory (not foundry, factory)

>>36824826
Is there any tower dedicated to training combat magisters in our empire yet? Because I'm thinking the central tower might have a few uses and an imperial academy of military magics would be nice if a bit far from the heart of our power.

>>36824923
>FINAL BALANCE
>1591.2

And that's only for the present year. Next year, in two months game time, will bring in even more. So... yes and?

File: 066.jpg (111 KB, 970x547)

111 KB JPG

I think 1 has just won out. I'll be handling what is actually built and expenses in another thread due to how that shit blows out. What is put in the tower atop the foundry can be investigated in that thread.

>>36824849
The problem with having government buildings underneath potentially disloyal mage towers was made evident in Ahm when Alyce could easily depose the king because she lived in the same building. The idea is that you would have control over the foundry but to think you control the building if there's a tower atop it is naive.

>>36824826
Starting our battlemage tower here sounds neat. If we could get Alyce to support the idea I'd back that over the other options. Other than that though I'll be staying out of most of this stuff. Too much minutia for my tastes.

>>36824950
I think we should make an imperial academy of combat mages. But I don't think it should be a tower.

Remember that towers are a political entity made by kushan to enforce his beliefs and are responsible for a fuckton of political issues, war, rebellions, etc over the years.

We need to come up with a new political structure for said academy. I am thinking making it a large complex that isn't tower shaped but castle shaped. The York Military Academy. With training in diverse fields, one of which being combat magic.

Luckily for us, mage towers look down on combat magisters so they PROBABLY won't take that as a threat for us to do so. The goal is to train war mages who are loyal to talon himself and the empire at large. Rather then a tower full of politicians who can fart lightening.

>>36824826
Might as well start our battlemage tower here. Along with our spellblade program of course.

Personally I would rather stick our battle mage tower in harrowmont. Where we can take advantage of the source. Instead of shropham.

>>36824954
>And that's only for the present year. Next year, in two months game time, will bring in even more. So... yes and?
And 50k troops are not even the full army of the mage guard so we have a ton of troops we need to outfit ourselves to be on par.
And we actually have empty slots in our existing foundries that we couldn't afford to fill
And we plan on expanding the canal to the entire of TYE which will cost a fuckton of money.

>>36825022
>Might as well start our battlemage tower here. Along with our spellblade program of course.
This is literally the worst city in the empire to start them in. considering how disloyal they are

>>36825048
that would be the ideal spot, yes. Also, we already discussed methods via which papa talon can accelerate their training via astral dominion, such as by making mana regeneration really fast within the area (thus they can train many more hours a day)

>>36825014
>With training in diverse fields, one of which being combat magic.

Wut. Why would you want the academy of Combat magisters and battle mages spread out?

>>36825070
Dear lord. We are going to need like 70-100K men for this. Though we should try and get a civil war going on here.

File: 067.jpg (239 KB, 1020x613)

239 KB JPG

>1.

“The foundry is still serviceable and the central palace and tower is the most heavily defended building in the city, even with the weakness of the central lift system,” you say, shaking your head. “I appreciate that you’ll clear you the tower, Archangel.”

There’s a slight shrug in reply and you move onto sorting out some lesser matters before a break. You’re amazed at how long it took to handle what seemed like a relatively trivial matter. Then again, most of that time was occupied by Sylvian and Alyce arguing.

“You have a curious was of bringing individuals together,” comes Raphael’s voice from beside you.

Looking up with some surprise you see the Archangel almost resting against the enormous window pane near you. You’d slipped off to the other side of the manor’s dining room, mostly because the women, including your familiars and Taira, were arguing about politics. Way too much of that in one morning for your tastes. Occupied by the superb view of the Marnn range in the distance you hadn’t noticed the Archangel come up next to you.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” you say. “How did you get so close without me hearing you, by the way?”

“I can move quietly if I feel the need. Theatre is not always necessary,” he says, gazing out the window.

In other words, Raphael was very aware of how ostentatious and intimidating he was. Probably a good thing in a being that powerful – things might be worse if he weren’t. It’s unlikely he’ll spend much time for small talk if you’re reading him right, but you might be able to get something out of him before he satisfies himself. You ask him…

>1. About previous interactions with Sylvian and Alyce.
>2. About the Pharosian energies he spoke of earlier. You worry this might be wasted effort, though. He might not want to talk at all.
>3. About what happened earlier with Sylvian and his harsh putdown of her bringing up the foundry.
>4. Custom

>>36825070
>And 50k troops are not even the full army of the mage guard so we have a ton of troops we need to outfit ourselves to be on par.

Doesn't that mean we should spend the extra cash on more foundries within the city?

>>36824971
Oh, I forgot to mention, but the ranger order section of the organizations tab doesn't sum its members currently. Granted, it only has one member so far, but I thought it might be worth mentioning

>>36825014
I agree with this so much. Towers all compete with each other, so make our equivalent not have to get into the politics. To make this work better, I think we should bring in people from all over the empire and have them surveyed (can't think of a better word) and have the most magic capable recruited
>>This is going to have so many grammatical and spelling errors

>>36825130
>2. About the Pharosian energies he spoke of earlier. You worry this might be wasted effort, though. He might not want to talk at all.

>>36825130
>>1. About previous interactions with Sylvian and Alyce.

>>36825111
Honestly infinite catalysts+Mana Regen sounds great. Another thing is we could have books that self write any research done there into a library as well.

>>36825130
>3. About what happened earlier with Sylvian and his harsh putdown of her bringing up the foundry.
Personally, I'd like to consult with Saerg about the templars. I wonder if we could found a similar organization.

>>36825130
>2. About the Pharosian energies he spoke of earlier. You worry this might be wasted effort, though. He might not want to talk at all.

>>36825130

>2.

Raphael best bro confirmed?

>>36825130
>>2. About the Pharosian energies he spoke of earlier. You worry this might be wasted effort, though. He might not want to talk at all.

>>36825130
>3. About what happened earlier with Sylvian and his harsh putdown of her bringing up the foundry.

I really don't think he'll answer 2 guys and if he does it'll just be cryptic.

>>36825168
>books that self write any research done there into a library as well.

I feel like that's a thing somehow. Mentioned it somewhere.

However, I do agree with the creation of a library. Something to compete with the one in Ahm. We have some slots to fill up in the Noble District still. And Talon does seem to like documenting history and writing himself. It would be a good fit. And an overly grandiose building is always welcome.

>>36825124
>Wut. Why would you want the academy of Combat magisters and battle mages spread out?
Are you saying that MIT is a poor school because it offers non engineering classes?

As for the logic, did you miss the part where towers are a political entity and the goal is to train combat mages who aren't tied to such a political entity? By going through York Military Academy you have our future generals, combat magisters, and a few other military related specialists form bonds of friendship and comaradrie with each other and loyalty directly to talon rather than exclusively to tower mages and towers as a political entity. Further the culture of the academy, differing from that of a tower, does not lend itself to politicking as much. as it is a military academy focus on personal excellence.

>>36825130
>3. About what happened earlier with Sylvian and his harsh putdown of her bringing up the foundry.

File: 068.jpg (223 KB, 1023x976)

223 KB JPG

>>36825175
Saareg's still in Pharos.

>2.

"So, now that we're not in an official meeting, are you willing to speak in more detail about exactly what happened in the tower?" you ask, hoping to get an actual answer.

Raphael turns slightly to look at you and you barely catch the edge of the shadow under his hood past his cloth and armour. He's looking in your direction but not really at you, given his bulk. Is his face actually where his sense reside? Or does he perceive the world in a different way?

There's almost a minute of silence as he stares in your direction and you try to meet it in your own way. You're being judged in some way.

[DC?? Judgement]

>>36825145
>Doesn't that mean we should spend the extra cash on more foundries within the city?
The very next line from the post you replied to:
>we actually have empty slots in our existing foundries that we couldn't afford to fill

We have empty slots in foundries, it takes 2,3, or 4 weeks to build a factory in an empty slot. This is VERY expensive (150 to 650 TBY depending on model) They can be done in parallel.
Furthermore, the foundry we captured here, once cleared of the corruption, is going to have either 4, 6, or 9 empty slots depending on its size.
And once we build all those factories in all those empty slots, we need to pay to run them (100 to 640 TBY per year, each, varies by type)

So, if we build 0 new foundries, and simply fill our existing ones to capacity with factories, we are going to burn a LOT of cash.

>>36825223
>I feel like that's a thing somehow. Mentioned it somewhere.
the pastebin of some email exchanges. http://pastebin.com/41KRHZ3Y

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>36825323

>>36825155
A big advantage here is we mostly want combat magisters and battlemages. Which aren't that known for being research hounds.

>>36825130
>2. About the Pharosian energies he spoke of earlier. You worry this might be wasted effort, though. He might not want to talk at all.

Didnt he once talk about us potentially being his ally is uncovering this sort of thing? If he cant speak of it in front of the group thats fine, but we need the information to rule and guide effectively.

>>36825155
>To make this work better, I think we should bring in people from all over the empire and have them surveyed (can't think of a better word) and have the most magic capable recruited
YES!

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>36825323

File: 1417633537148.webm (1.44 MB, 1280x720)

1.44 MB WEBM

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>36825323

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>36825323

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>36825323

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>36825323
>[DC?? Judgement]

No question, we will be found wanting.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>36825323
if it helps, I notice he let slip earlier that pharos sorcery was actually astral power, but protected? does that mean that the pharosian sorcerers are actually spiritualists like monks and wardens? only instead of being taught by angels, taught by whatever divine race used to inhabit pharos?

>>36825346
Thar's a terrible idea though. You teach the Agriwizards to have some sort of "detect magic" spell instead

>>36825323
>Raphael does a rare thing and comes from small talk
>We press him/her about an issue he doesn't want to discuss and is not really smalltalk
shame...

oh, and I really wanted to ask about angel gender thing. what with different people referring to raphael as a him or a her.

>>36825369
Too late...

>>36825393
How is it a terrible idea? It gives us the most capable mages as possible with only an allegiance to us

>>36825401
>oh, and I really wanted to ask about angel gender thing. what with different people referring to raphael as a him or a her.

Given the references to it I highly doubt biological gender is something of great importance to the Archangels, perhaps only taken to put people are ease. Hell we don't even if we know the way we perceive Raphael is how everyone else does.

>>36825417
He is saying that it is a terrible idea to do
>Step 1: Carry every person in the empire to harrowmont
>Step 2: Test them for magic in harrowmont
>Step 3: Send them back home if not magic

Because he is being too literal minded.
His suggested alternative is
>Have local agriwizards test everyone for magic, then have them send us the talent.
which if you want to get overly specific, has issues of its own. namely that agri wizards are not the best choice here. better to have traveling mages go from village to village and do testing.

>>36825417
Because it won't work? You can't have a centralized testing facility and expect to shuffle the entire empire through it.

>>36825460
yes, but don't you want to fluster raphael with that question?

>>36825493

No? Doesn't seem the type to waste such effort on.

>>36825475
The agri wizards probably could serve as a first line screening program.

>>36825477
You are being too literal, I just assumed that the anon who suggested it mistyped and meant to do field testing and then send the successes to harrowmont, rahter than sending people to harrowmont to be tested and then send them back if they don't pass.

>>36825547
That would be assumed, travel times for a mundane person is too great to have everyone come in. Have whatever mage is closest to a town/village conduct their own local searches, then send the best results from that to the next largest town/village to be compared against everyone else in the region, then send those results to Harrowmont to enter the final stage of selection and testing

>>36825602
Yes, but the anon who initially suggested it mist-typed and what came out in his post literally, said they should travel before testing. which is preposterous.

everyone just figured what he meant, but one anon argued that it would be better to do local testing and then only travel to harrowmont if you pass. then another anon got confused about what the confusion was about. and so on and so forth.

So, I hope we are all no longer confused here

>>36825677
I am that anon, and I realized how stupid that was.

File: 072.jpg (451 KB, 2000x1250)

451 KB JPG

>??????????????

“When you fought the strange beast below this platform what did you notice?” he asks.

“That it was obviously astral in origin. I attempted to read its flow but something about it threw me off,” you say, remembering that battle very vividly. Fighting that beast had been one of the most difficult things in your life – you’d pushed yourself very near to the point of death.

“What made you think it was astral in origin? That you couldn’t read its flow?” he asks.

“I… Kind of. I’m quite certain it was drawing on astral energy,” you say, frowning as you can’t quite recall what made you think as such. It was completely instinctive.

“That may be true, but that does not mean it is an astral being or even astral in origin. You are no astral being yet you use astral power in no small quantity. Sorcerous beings such as dragons still have souls which in turn use astral energy. The two energies are more interchangeable than many think,” Raphael explains. “Think on your experiences more closely and why you couldn’t read its flow and the answer should come to you with time and experience.”

A cryptic answer, great. Still, might as well ask another thing, “Gnome has told me that you are a master of guiding the flow of magic. Is it similar to hers or mine? How might I improve?”

There’s almost a chuckle from the archangel, a strange repetitive booming noise full of amusement. “I am not one to guide others in improvement, being unable to improve myself. I can control the flow because I am the Archangel of Life – the flow of magic is life itself and, just as Gnome feels the earth as an extension of her body so do I feel the flow of magic as an extension of mine. Yours and Gnome’s talents lie more in the ability to sense change than an intrinsic link with the world so my viewpoint is rather pointless. Just as it is for the Warden’s who try to emulate our Arts.

>continued

File: 073.jpg (160 KB, 800x1228)

160 KB JPG

>>36825773
“One question before I see to the tower and leave: I would expect you to take firmer command of those you draw to yourself. I am no stranger to some of their desires, yet you let them flit in and out of reach instead of merely calling them to heel. Why?”

Keeping your face expressionless, you think on the question. You’re not sure if Raphael is talking about your immediate companions such as Gnome, Undine and Aladria; leaders such as Alyce and Sylvian who you hope to make your subordinates in the future; or all of those under your rule in general. Or perhaps he simply means all of them? You’ve been a relatively soft touch so far in the empire department and personally, at least historically. You answer…

>1. [BALANCE] I merely need to control the ebb and flow of things at a high level, keeping it in balance. What they do otherwise will serve me in the end, even if it doesn’t always appear so.
>2. [LIFE] I already hold their fates, why do I need to control them if they don’t oppose me? What they do otherwise is of no consequence.
>3. [POWER] Because they reach their true potential in doing so, guided by me. If they choose to go against me then that simply means that they weren’t worthy and I know to deal with them.

Feel free to change exact phrasings, as they will matter in the end. Just note that I’ll reinterpret them to fit within the main paths (or possible as a blend).

>>36825788
>>1. [BALANCE] I merely need to control the ebb and flow of things at a high level, keeping it in balance. What they do otherwise will serve me in the end, even if it doesn’t always appear so.

>>36825788
>>1. [BALANCE] I merely need to control the ebb and flow of things at a high level, keeping it in balance. What they do otherwise will serve me in the end, even if it doesn’t always appear so.

>>36825788
>1. [BALANCE] I merely need to control the ebb and flow of things at a high level, keeping it in balance. What they do otherwise will serve me in the end, even if it doesn’t always appear so.

>>36825788
>1. [BALANCE] I merely need to control the ebb and flow of things at a high level, keeping it in balance. What they do otherwise will serve me in the end, even if it doesn’t always appear so.

>>36825788
>2. [LIFE] I already hold their fates, why do I need to control them if they don’t oppose me? What they do otherwise is of no consequence.

I am reading it right
1 = It just looks like that, but I am in control, I just manipulate things gently
2 = Freedom is its own virtue
3 = Freedom is a useful tool, and the rebels it can produce I will crush

>>36825788
>>3. [POWER] Because they reach their true potential in doing so, guided by me. If they choose to go against me then that simply means that they weren’t worthy and I know to deal with them.

Prove yourself dear mages.

>>36825788
>2. [LIFE] I already hold their fates, why do I need to control them if they don’t oppose me? What they do otherwise is of no consequence.

>>36825788

So basicly.

1=Just as planned.
2=Why do I need control when I already hold their fates.
3=They do at my whim if they go against me I will deal with them.

>>36825891 replying to myself here
In retrospect, while I personally most keen on 2. 1 is probably the most in character based on past behavior of talon.

>>36825788
>>1. [BALANCE] I merely need to control the ebb and flow of things at a high level, keeping it in balance. Their dispirate talents will blend and merge creating a nation more powerful than the sum of its parts. It worked once, long ago. I see no reason it could not work again.

>>36825961
>Guy who wants to change the world
>Stasis is the most IC option.

>>36825788
>2. [LIFE] I already hold their fates, why do I need to control them if they don't oppose me? What they do otherwise is of no consequence.

>>36825788
>>36825998

We really should clamp down on this a bit. Also teach Finn to take charge more often. Also talk to Lynn about her dad.

>>36825891
I wonder... would 2 have a chance of influencing raphael
supposedly raphael is unchanging and inflexible. But 2 is a path of life (like raphael) yet very different from raphael who prefers to maintain tight control... or is it actually different? or is raphael actually doing 2 and just question WHY talon does what he does.

>>36826012
The balance option is not stasis.
It is claiming that we ARE changing the world and we ARE in control. We are just capable of subtly when doing so

I had a flash of inspiration.
Raphael tells us how astral beings are inflexible mentally. Although that god knight said otherwise.

Well, I am reminded of the knight we saw in our visions during the fae episode, about how its all about what we believe, and how astral power is magic of raw belief making reality.

so, what if as an astral being we will grow rigid. but being FULLY AWARE of that we impose artificial flexibility via turning astral power in on ourselves (water? maybe life? both combined?) to enhance ourselves with an active mana consuming power of "flexibility and mental growth" akin to that of our human self?

>>36826085
Balance path is basically locking the world in a desirable and unchanging state so it always feels weird to me.

>>36825788
>2. [BALANCE/LIFE?] So long as I give them purpose and shape the direction of their efforts to suit my needs they shall of their own will remake themselves into the tools I need to pursue my aims. So long as they serve to serve my purpose they must be allowed the freedom to become what they must.

>>36826085
Yeah, but it also limits the world's potential.

>>36826127
>Balance path is basically locking the world in a desirable and unchanging state
You are throwing in your own philosophy, ignoring what is actually said. Also, in setting, water-balance is actually the one of most flexibility. You are thinking status quo, which isn't what balance is about either.

>>36825788
>1
Imagine a juggler who insisted on maintaining a hold on the first two balls to enter his grasp. He would by necessity forgo all others. I like to have my cake and eat it too.

>>36826140
well if we are gonna be mixing. We could go with
>power/balance (not sure if also life?)
>Everyone has their own directives, if I am too firm, then they will grow to resent me and turn against me. And then I have to destroy them, and it is a waste. So instead whenever I can I choose to control the ebb and flow of things at a high level, keeping it in balance. What they do otherwise will serve me in the end, even if it doesn’t always appear so.

>>36826201
ohohoh.
balance out of sheer greed. nice.

File: 074.jpg (112 KB, 610x900)

112 KB JPG

>1. With some gelling of the write-ins.

“Well, letting them do what they choose to underneath me is a method of control in and of itself. If they’re really doing something I disagree with then I can guide them away from it,” you say, not liking the suggestion that you’re not truly in control. “The things they do with their freedom are useful to me, even if they don’t appear to be.”

Nodding slowly, Raphael says, “It is somewhat disturbing that you say that with such complete conviction. I suppose it is that conviction that allows you to control your power, but such steadfastness is worrisome in a human. My own problems are kept at a distance due to our laws and rules, but what will keep yours in check? Should Sylvian decide on a path that is separate to yours, how do you prevent whatever partialness you feel towards her from interfering with the need to stop her from taking that action?”

“Well, wouldn’t my feelings towards her be what drives me to take action? If I didn’t care for her I wouldn’t take action. The opposite of love might not be apathy but action only comes from one of those,” you say, feeling like being a tad cryptic in reply to Raphael’s wordiness. Adapting to the mannerisms and behaviours of another was a bad habit of yours and it felt hollow to do before the archangel for some reason. “The separate ideals and means to achieve them are a benefit, not something to be quashed.”

>continued

>>36826177
>Balance - a general desire to maintain the world in a desirable and unchanging position. Respects the natural flow of things and seeks to prevent external change.

>>36826215
I like this one

File: 079.jpg (437 KB, 1280x720)

437 KB JPG

>>36826281
Raphael turns away at this, gazing out the window again. “Interesting. My only advice on the matter is that freedom can be a seductive lure to a greater trap. It can lead to unpredictability for its own sake, particularly when it is mistaken for individuality, and thus to a distinct lack of freedom and simple destruction.”

“In other words, don’t cultivate contrarianism,” you say flatly, feeling that you’ve deciphered the point.

That same chuckle occurs again, if slightly self-deprecating. “My apologies for being so long-winded. It is a bad habit. Until we meet again, Talon York.”

Raphael heads out you to clean out the tower and you find yourself wrapping up a meeting that is running overtime. It’s rather apparent that Alyce and Sylvian are pushing for more input in what you’re doing and you let them bicker and give you ideas without revealing your hand. It’s rather tiresome, even if it is helpful.

Later that night, you find yourself with some spare time. You visit…

>1. Tsucchi
>2. Alyce
>3. Sylvian
>4. Custom

>>36826284
Note that Talon first has to get the world into his desirable position, but it's typically one that's less radical than the other paths.

>>36826303
>2. Alyce

>>36826303
>2. Alyce

>>36826303
>1. Tsucchi

Best research fluffy tail that gets no play time.

>>36826303
>>2. Alyce

>>36826303
>1. Tsucchi

Haven't seen her in awhile.

>>36826303
>Note that Talon first has to get the world into his desirable position, but it's typically one that's less radical than the other paths.

True. I'm honestly not saying it's a bad path or anything but it always feels kind of weird to me for some reason.

>3. Sylvian

>>36826284
>Balance - a general desire to maintain the world in a desirable and unchanging position
>desirable
You are arguing that balance = status quo, it does not. The world is currently not "in balance" or "harmony". The status quo must be destroyed to bring about balance.

>>36826303
>>3. Sylvian

>>36826303
I am tempted to put in a custom for mercie.

>>36826303
>3. Sylvian

>>36826409
I'd second that actually.

>>36826409
>>36826447
Im going to third it because, fuck it why not? we can visit alyce afterwards anyways.

>>36826303
>2. Alyce

Since she runs on emotion and all and wasn't very satisfied with our choice.

>>36826409
>inb4 we walk in on her attempting to seduce Undine again

Sold. Supporting.

>>36826375
It's mostly just enforcing Talons desirable status Quo. Then using high level manipulation to make it stay there.

>>36826420
will change to Merce
>>36826303

File: 081.jpg (105 KB, 950x547)

105 KB JPG

Um, I guess I'll do a tie-breaker vote with that write-in?

VOTE
>1. Alyce
>2. Merce

I'm eating a late lunch right now so the next update will be a little delayed. I'll probably run til about 2am or so tonight.

>>36826526
Merce

>>36826526
1

>>36826303
>1. Tsucchi

We need those tails.

>>36826526
1

>>36826526
2

>>36826526
>1. Alyce

>>36826526
2

>>36826526
2

>>36826526
>1.Alyce

>>36826526
>2

>>36826507
1. that is the very definition of change. You replace the existing with a different
2. how are other paths different in that regard?
power is about enforcing talons desirable status quo (different from current) and then using raw power to make it stay there.
Life is enforcing talons desirable status quo (different from current AND different from what talon's vision would be had we gone with power or balance). And making it stay there by only eliminating those who are a clear threat to it.

Really, the only difference between the three paths is what talons "vision" is for his final empire. The current status quo, balance talon vision, power talon vision, and life talon vision are different.

>>36826526
2