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>>37139283
Current Date and Time: Early afternoon on January 16th, 1954PC
FR Points: 1

You had spent the last few years believing a rather frustrating lie – that when you had encountered the mystic fox Arisa you had nearly married her. Instead the truth had been you had spent a rather fun week being healed by her in body and soul after an extremely dangerous experience, only to nearly get the two of you killed. You had been saved by another force and your memories modified – and Arisa’s too, most likely.

Then again, you didn’t know much of memory modification. Mal had said it was extremely difficult and the reason why they’d concocted such a simple story in your modified memories was likely because they were having difficulty matching the fake memories to your emotions. If the modified memories differed too much from you’d felt and understood then they would be questioned and the spell broken. Apparently a wedding for a man with no wishes to be tied down was believable enough to create the sort of apprehension, adrenaline and tension you had experienced and you’d never questioned it. Arisa on the other hand…

>continued

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>>37139291
The fox had gone missing and you hadn’t even found out what she was at that shrine for. Then she jumped back into your life, pretended to be Tsucchi for a day and left you feeling more enraged than you’d been for a while. When Karise had confirmed the identity of the Eastern Winds fox you’d been shocked, particularly to find out that she’d been at the shrine in Blacktaffe to help the company smuggle goods across the RSK and League borders during the war. For her to go out of her way to heal you when it would have been far easier to just let you die reminded you of your obligation to her. So you’d had Karise attempt to get Arisa to visit you. Now she was in the keep and you weren’t really sure what your emotions towards her were.

>1. Anger. No matter your history, she had still betrayed your trust during her dealings with the EWTC. You wouldn’t stand for that.
>2. Love. Your feelings towards her were surprisingly strong – perhaps not ‘true’ love but a caring emotion of enough strength to make you want her by your side.
>3. Regret. It was difficult to be upset with Arisa given she was doing her job and you hadn’t tried to help her in any way. You could have tracked her down and done more if you’d paid a little less attention to other matters.
>4. Custom

This may be a shorter thread as I’m having difficulty sleeping lately (even with alcohol involved). I’m not certain – I’m just going to play it by ear. The plan is to finish up the EWTC stuff then move onto the Terrnaine arc.

>>37139308
>1

>>37139308
>4. Custom
Annoyance. We do not know the memory's she has, so frankly getting upset is a rather pointless endeavor.
Still would have been nice if she had saw fit to visit without an illusion first time around though.

>>37139308
>3
Regret what we lost due to memory mod. Who knows what would have happened if we hadn't thought we were running away from a shotgun marriage?

>>37139308
>4. Disappointment. It would have been nice to reconnect with an old if brief friend, but that bridge has now been burnt.

>>37139308
1

>>37139308
>>4. Custom
Anger and Love

>>37139308
>2. Love. Your feelings towards her were surprisingly strong – perhaps not ‘true’ love but a caring emotion of enough strength to make you want her by your side.

>>37139308
>4. Anger that you had to meet her like this instead of more peaceful terms. Regret that you never once looked into her before.

So did we come up with any plans on how to respond to the EWTC shenanigans? Given Ren's info on them I favor mostly letting the whole issue slide except for some minor hassling. We could just do some stepped up inspections of their ships in the name of security. Honestly I was pretty pissed when we got swindled earlier but now I'm just taking it as a learning experience.

>>37139577
personally? I'd like to wait til we have another meeting with what's his face and make it perfectly clear that our first meeting was a test for him/the EWTC, and if so much as a messenger tries to cheat the TYE out of a single copper we will Astral Arrow him and anyone else who works for him into dust. All with a smile

>>37139577
The EWTC isn't wholly responsible, but that guy who instigated it thinks he's gotten one over on Talon and that will not stand in my book. I'd either want him gone from the picture entirely or get some dirt on him and get him in the TYE's pocket

>>37139577
>>37139673
Wait until we next talk to a rep or they try something, then bury them under inspections for a few months/until they complain.

We can happly keep the status quo until they try something, then apply time consuming pressure until they return to said status quo.

For going behind our backs from the off, they have lost all autonomy in our lands (they just don't know it yet), we should reflect this until they gain our trust back.

>>37139752
You're assuming what they did isn't either standard operating procedure or something that Arisa pitched herself.

>>37139673
Alternatively we could follow Ren's advice and not attempt to strong arm them with heavy threats of violence.

The guy was doing his job, he's no more responsible then a soldier is for the war he fights.

>All this lack of subtly

Jesus might as well ask to get screwed over.

>>37139308
>1. Anger. No matter your history, she had still betrayed your trust during her dealings with the EWTC. You wouldn’t stand for that.
>3. Regret. It was difficult to be upset with Arisa given she was doing her job and you hadn’t tried to help her in any way. You could have tracked her down and done more if you’d paid a little less attention to other matters.

Not cool mang,
Not cool

>>37139834
they started it, they chose to use shadow games on their first meeting with an empire building super emperor and expected no backlash. subtly is for the cowardly and weak

>>37139766
Eh, I'd rather just start making use of them as smugglers. Get them to bring us technology and resources (fuck silk, see if they can get us live silkworms) that we wouldn't otherwise have access to. If they refuse, then start laying on the redtape.

>>37139888
Well i am all for that, but they need to know we will not tolerate such shenanigans from the off, and sure as hell will come down on them like a ton of small rectangular building things if they believe they can take us for a fool for Scott free.

>>37139308
>Anger but do not pursue it. What's been done is done, we will seek to avenge from EWTC. This meeting is not about it.

>>37139820
>The guy was doing his job, he's no more responsible then a soldier is for the war he fights.
his grandfather founded the company, its not just doing your job when you're the boss
>>37139816
>You're assuming what they did isn't either standard operating procedure
in which case they should expect repercussions for trying stuff like this
>or something that Arisa pitched herself.
all the more reason, she at least should know how Talon would react

>>37139834
I know right? That's /tg/ for you though.

>>37139949
>it's not just doing your job when you're the boss
It is when you're accountable to shareholders.

>>37139834
For real. Talon is even going out of his way to ask for expert opinions. Formulating the best possible long game plan.

But nah, let's blow them up.

>>37139834
>Jesus might as well ask to get screwed over.
>get screwed over by their subtle backstab
>obviously we must play their own game to get back at them
subtly is for keeping things civil, when your opponent spits in your face on your first meeting the time for civil is gone

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>>37139308
>even with alcohol involved
That should have been without, obviously.

Also, I don't like saying this but people should remember that Arisa is speaknig her own mind and isn't my mouthpiece or anything silly.

>1. Mostly

It was difficult to contain your fury at being played the way you were by Arisa and the Eastern Winds Trading Company. You would have to keep a lid on the worst of it if you hoped to accomplish anything by meeting her, however. That meant showing more tact than you clearly did when she slipped into your study, your anger spiking as you reconcile her figure with the betrayal. It hurt a bit, particularly because you also felt a pang of longing, remembering the nights you’d spent with her. You had really enjoyed your time with her and wished that you were meeting again under better circumstances.

Giving you a cautious look from the entrance to the study was Arisa, her ears and five brown tails standing upright and alert. You have no doubt that she’s aware of your anger and is wary of getting closer. Not exactly the best way to open the meeting but it at least set the tone.

“I hope this meeting doesn’t become a ‘how dare you do that’ lecture, for your sake,” she says, her voice as sharp as you remember it being. “I came to see you, Talon. Not get lectured by somebody who should know better.”

“Know better? You betrayed my trust,” you say, your voice deepening from your restrained anger. “That’s not exactly a small matter.”

“Your trust? What trust? It’s been years, we work towards different purposes and so there was never much trust to be lost,” she says, slinking towards you a single slow step at a time.

“And what purposes would those be? We could have been working together,” you say.

>continued

>>37139977
>It is when you're accountable to shareholders.
>implying the shareholders know how he runs things behind the scenes
or they do know, in which case the whole EWTC is accountable for payback

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>>37140033
Arisa slips into the chair on the other side of the coffee table, giving said table an approving nod. At least she approved of something in the room, even if it was only the exceedingly expensive table you were gifted. She crosses her arms, not even pretending to think so much as just consider you. It makes you wonder how much what she’s saying is genuine and how much is confected. She had done a poor job at imitating Tsucchi’s mannerisms but that may have just been because she didn’t know the older fox. She knew you and she knew what you’d like.

“Oh, so you’d rather a woman who does actually betray the trust of those she works with? I work for the Eastern Winds, Talon. Just like you worked for the RSK,” she says. “Assuming that I’d have a place in your little kingdom here, which I was barely aware of, was a bit much given our relationship was mostly a short one revolving around lots of sex. Once I was here, to do anything but follow through with Legate’s, and the company’s, plans would make me an actual traitor. My old clan understands that honour and principles still apply even to spies and assassins – they’re what allow us to be trusted by those we care about.”

You scowl at that, your emotions running hot and you respond with…

>1. “I don’t trust you, Arisa.”
>2. “Why did you even bother coming here if you weren’t going to apologise or regretful?”
>3. “Fine. Let’s just talk about whether you really want a place in ‘my little kingdom here’.”
>4. Custom

>>37140056
3

Be the bigger man Talon.

>>37140056
>>3. “Fine. Let’s just talk about whether you really want a place in ‘my little kingdom here’.”

>>37140056
Big sigh.
>3. “Fine. Let’s just talk about whether you really want a place in ‘my little kingdom here’.”

>>37140056
>3. “Fine. Let’s just talk about whether you really want a place in ‘my little kingdom here’.”
>4. Still, a an apology wouldn't be unwelcome.

>>37140056
>2

>>37140056
4. "Fine. Why are you here now Arisa? I assume the EWTC sent you with a proposal?"

>>37140056
>>4. Custom
"I did care about you Arisa, if anyone had walked up to me and asked if I trusted you before it would have been yes. But YOU decided what was more important than that trust not I, but fine. Let’s just talk about whether you really want a place in ‘my little kingdom here’.”

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>>37140131
You asked her to come here, given you'd known her in the past.

>>37139577
I thought a long term hostile take over would be possible.

First, feign respect for the ruse. Play it up, get Legate on our side, etc. Figure out a way to buy into the company, get some Shares. Put them under the Empires name.

Get Karise's spies on finding majority shareholders, minority, everyone. Start back door bribing them, buttering them up, marrying a few the important people. Get a good solid base going. Make it seem like the Empire is embracing the EWTC, play the fool, let them think they're winning. Then buy everything at once, all from the Empire. Obtain majority share, and fire Legate, turn them into a respectable Empire owned business, expand, kick back and make dish.

>>37140169
Well that seems rather foolish on our part. Fair enough though.

>>37140230
as hot blooded as I am for revenge, this isn't a bad plan either

>>37140230

I thought the entire company was family owned and mostly based in Pharos and has deep ties to the Pharos Imperial Court. We've grown a lot but it will take a while before we can tangle with them...

This all boils down to how things are going to play out from here on in really.

She is obviously not on the same page as we were, that ship is long gone.

Its a case of how we deal with the company, for now just keeping a close eye on them should do.

>>37140230
I doubt that will work. Reliant on the company being partially for sale, one that's been in a family for three generations is easily enough time for them to consolidate control.

>>37140169
Oh, remind me, does Legate have any kids? Long lived ones I mean?

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>>37140243
There were quite a few people who wanted to talk to Arisa before the EWTC, and I assumed that (given past behaviour) any vote about the matter would simply result in people saying 'talk to Arisa before the EWTC proper'.

>>37140230
>>37140294
A lot of the founding families from 1840 still hold large shares and are deeply involved. Legate's grandfather was a co-founder, and there's been large players introduced. Many important figures in Pharos also have large sums invested in the company, indirectly through catspaws and the like. It would be very difficult to take majority control of the EWTC without snapping up some of the bigger, more involved investors or Pharosian stakes. You'd also need to be wary about upsetting other nations by taking control of one of the only sources of Pharosian merchandise.

>>37140316
>Long lived ones I mean?
What?

>>37140294
Thus the long term idea. Nothing wrong with lifetime spanning revenge.

>>37140304

Easily the biggest issue. But if we get in with the right people, they can be bought. Even if we match we could just road block Legate at every turn and run them into the ground. Forcing his hand

>>37140316
not for much longer
mostly kidding

>>37140365
>You'd also need to be wary about upsetting other nations by taking control of one of the only sources of Pharosian merchandise.
not if we make Pharos part of the TYE, then its ALL York Empire merchandise

We could just simply use Manure and a decrepit old inn and it'll fix all our problems

>>37140365

I mostly suggested it for grand long term scheme counting on those being the issues.

>>37140365
>long lived ones I mean?
>What

Potential heirs. He isn't going to start relying on offering that wont survive passed their fist century. I'm looking for a faction we can support to usurp him in the company, but don't know enough about the structure and personal make up of EWTC to know where to look for soft spots yet.

>>37140056
I don't get what we are trying to accomplish here. Honestly, I don't want to offer her a place here. We can't exactly blame her for fooling us, we have only ourselves to blame about being fooled.

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>3.

“Fine,” you say, trying to sound like you’re ending an argument rather than being petulant. “Let’s just talk about whether you really want a place in ‘my little kingdom here’.”

“I think a better topic is whether you actually want me here. I still care for you, Talon, but I’m not some young, dumb fox. It’s going to take more than blind love to make me get involved with you, given all I’d get would be sex and lingering mistrust,” she says, and it’s clear your anger is rubbing off on her.

Part of you wishes that you’d kept a better lid on your anger. It was difficult to move towards reconciliation given how confrontational Arisa was. It was pretty clear she had no plans to be subservient in any way, even if she was claiming to be interested in you. Still, at least you were slowly moving onto a productive topic, even if it was by means of feuding.

“The topic is whether you want a place here because you have to want one to give me a suitable reason to trust you,” you say. “Why should I trust you, Arisa? You just said that there’s little trust to lose, so give me a reason.”

“Because we know each other, Talon. It may have been a short time together but we were close. We could have a better rapport than you have with others, if you look past your setback and consider what I’ve done and can do,” she says.

“I have considered what you’ve done. It doesn’t exactly make me trust you,” you say.

“Then you clearly aren’t as good at thinking as anybody working for you. They manage to look past the shit you’ve shovelled on them in the past,” Arisa spits, her ears flat and eyes narrowed at you. “I wonder why they’d do that when you’re not willing to do the same. Because you’re the ‘Imperator’? That’s not an excuse to be a terrible person, Talon, just like being a king didn’t help Fenix of the Seraphs.”

>continued

If we bought into the company could we do what they did to us and make it look like a take it or leave it thing? Butter up Arisa enough to write the papers up now, spring it on him and just bluff the hell out of him

>>37140653
I agree with you. Whatever Talon and Arise had...that ship has long sailed. She's on their side and we're not. We've got a billion fluffy tails to keep happy already. Let's just move on...

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>>37140687
“I’m not the one who did the deception and pretended to be somebody else,” you say, biting back any bile you might want to launch in return.

“No, you’re just the one who killed countless friends and loved ones of people who still work you,” she says.

You rock back at the accusation but stay silent, mind running to think of what the hell she means.

“You don’t get it? I know you’ve got a couple of elemental familiars that used to be in the League. You killed the master of one, I understand, and probably countless friends and loved ones of both. Heck, you recruited one of their spellblades to be a commander in your military and the EWTC knows you killed her lover in battle. Your best friend, Maloric, how many of his friends and colleagues did you kill in the war?”

“Stop,” you say, your anger bubbling to the surface.

“And the archmage?” she questions you, pressing the point as she grows more upset. “How many mages that she’s known, befriended or loved have you killed or caused the death of? How does any mage in the League trust you, given you worked for their bitter enemy and killed so many of them?

“So tell me, Talon – please tell me,” she says, voice emotional, “are you actually willing to try to trust me? Or are you going to let this bridge stay burnt?”

You answer with…

>1. “Yes, I trust you.”
>2. “Yes, I trust you.” (lie)
>3. “No, I think you burnt this bridge and I can’t rebuild it.”
>4. Custom

I’m not going to revisit this, unless Arisa was to do something to bring up the topic again. If you say yes meaningfully then that’s it – Talon forgives her, or tries damned hard to.

>>37140713
>1. “Yes, I trust you.”

>>37140713
Wow, that talk went off on a weird tangent. I still don't get why we are angry with her.
>3. "No"

>>37140713
>3

>>37140713
>3. “No, I think you burnt this bridge and I can’t rebuild it.”
I cant believe her if she is still with the EWTC

>>37140713
>1. “Yes, I trust you.”

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>>37140713
>3. “No, I think you burnt this bridge and I can’t rebuild it.”

>>37140713
>1. “Yes, I trust you. For now. What you don't understand is that all of those instances involved both parties doing something to seek redress."

>>37140713
>2. “Yes, I trust you.” (lie)

>>37140713
>1. “Yes, I trust you.”

We can give her the opportunity to prove that our faith is not misplaced. Having someone on the inside of the EWTC should give us an edge when dealing with them...

>>37140713
3

Damn son that got personal.

The fact she knows all this means she has been spying or keeping tabs on us the entire time.

>>37140713
How does she expect us to just trust her? She just said all we did together was to spend some time together. And she just burnt that trust by tricking us. I mean, how the fuck does she think Talon can just trust her now and gives an all or nothing ultimatom?

>>37140713
>1
But she will have to do something to prove herself.

>>37140713
>4.
Give me time to think. Too much time has passed since what happened back then and the revelation that I now have to consider. Yes, I'm angry with you. I'm too emotional to give you an answer right now. If you want to make amends, then give me time to clear my head because I don't want to make the same mistake like back then if you do happen to have ulterior motives. I'll give you an answer by sunset.

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>>37140788
Because people are upset she pretended to be Tsucchi during an important negotiation and took it as a betrayal, which she claims was just her doing her job. A lot of Talon's emotions here are what players have been posting in the past.

>>37140811
wut.

>>37140852
She works for the EWTC, you know. You think they don't have a dirt file on you?

>>37140851
It was always personal, simply because the players took it personally.

>>37140788
>Wow, that talk went off on a weird tangent. I still don't get why we are angry with her.
Because we had a confused plurality.

>>37140713
>3. No, I think we're done here. It was good to see you again Arisa, to know where we stand.

>>37140713
>>1. “Yes, I trust you.”

>>37140919
Sure why not

>>37140713
1

>>37140892
Ah, were her memories replaced with ones of us killing her friends?

>>37140892
Well, players are idots and during that whole believing fake Tsucchi thing people got particularly retarded so I hope we can move on from this and it doesn't keep coming back to cause more stupid shit. Some stupidity episodes are fine and makes things interesting in the end, but I don't want Talon to turn into an indecisive emotional retard.

>>37140951
This is a great point actually. And a good chance to steer conversation from this point. Ask what she remembers.

>>37140892
Guys, we're really too emotional at the moment. Our Judgement might be clouded if we give ann answer now. Lets try and reassess the situation from a calm standpoint.

>>37140713
>1. “Yes, I trust you. If you give me a reason to”

>>37140999
*Our Judgement is clouded and we could fuck things up if we give an answer now*

>>37140919
This.

"I do not trust you, but frankly, I don't need to. Fulfill your side of this trade relationship honestly and we will have no problems."

>>37140713
>4. "I trust you to do your job, but on a personal level? I trust you to act in your employer's interests. As you said, you are bound by honor and custom to do nothingn less."

I want to establish that we think of her as a friendly rival/enemy, someone we can understand and "trust", but certainly not rely on.

>>37140996
>>37140951
I second this notion

Can't we at least try to suborn her? We were told OOC that it was a smart idea.

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Alright, contentious vote.

OPTION 1:
Trust Arisa, or at least try to from the perspective of a ruler.

OPTION 2:
Tell Arisa you can't trust her.

Rules for voting are to make a post with a link to my post declaring the vote and the number you are voting for. No other text, no greentexting the number. All informal votes will be discarded. Voting window will be five minutes after the first vote.

To the people voting one you guys really trust her or just want to use her?

Cause if it's the later wouldn't you lie in this case?

>>37141084
1

>>37141084
2

>>37140713
You where only doing your job, fine. I'll expect only an professional relation between us from now on, that means "Imperator" is the name you should adress me as now on.
Know that your stunt have placed your employers under the scrutiny of my cabinet yadayada or something.
Shoulda go with utter contemp instead of anger.

>>37141071
I'd rather find an agent that isn't historically connected with us. Besides, OOC knowledge is a horrible justification for any action.

>>37141084
2

>>37141084
1

>>37141084
1

>>37141084
1

>>37141084
1

>>37141084
2

>>37141084
1

>> 37141084
1

>>37141084
1

>>37141084
Telling her we do not trust her does what exactly? Telling her we do does what for that matter? Does it effect our relations with EWTC? Does it concern the contract? Does it affect her staying/leaving?

>>37141084
2

>>37141084
1

>>37140713
>>1. “Yes, I trust you.”

>>37141084
2

>>37141177
Nigga it's how you feel about her

>>37141084
2

>>37141084
1

I really only trust her to further the interests of her company. If something comes up in the future that requires us to trust her in regards to the EWTC, I cant see myself voting to put my faith in her.

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1 wins.

>>37140972
For what it's worth, I'm not trying to play him as indecisive. Instead this builds towards cementing a character flaw of Talon's - namely that he takes it personally when people he knows do things to undermine his interests (which might apply if, say, Alyce did something to further her ambitions at the cost of Talon's) and that he flips out when they people get confrontational over it. This has happened before (Merce's first meeting, possibly another) so it'll be a thing that might show up in scenes in the future. With trusting her having just won, Talon will be a little more able to control himself at least.

>>37141177
Did you read the above posts? The ones where she says that she won't have anything to do with you if you won't trust her?

I'm amazed at the number of times I've been asked 'why we doing this'. She's an old friend working for an enemy with whom you're about to try to renegotiate a contract with and she was the reason you're in this mess.

>>37141321
>an enemy with whom you're about to try to negotiate a contract with

What? We already failed personally dealing with them the first time, why are we the principle negotiator going forwards? It's time for Taln to hire a decent solicitor and learn not to try micromanaging the things he isn't good at.

>>37141321
>I'm amazed at the number of times I've been asked 'why we doing this'. She's an old friend working for an enemy with whom you're about to try to renegotiate a contract with and she was the reason you're in this mess.
I wanted to suborn her, but it looks like that plurality in the first vote screwed that one up permanently, god dammit.

>>37141321
>Sylvian Is being unreasonable!
>proceed to act almost exactly like her in personal situations

The irony amuses me

>>37139291
>FR Points: 1
out of curiosity, would a successful production of vampire blood substitute grant an FR? since it was talon who came up with the principles behind that research

>>37141479
The problem is that I don't think Sylvian was being unreasonable (which is why I suggested we apologies to her). I recognize this is a failing on my part and try to avoid situations in which it will inevitably screw me over. Unlike Talon who seems a glutton for punishment.

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>>37141413
>why are we the principle negotiator going forwards
Because if I do things off-screen then people will complain anytime something bad happens about why they didn't have control over it - or people will simply blame everything bad that happens on the dice if I use those. I'm not going to stop doing things that Talon should be involved in (like high level political negotiations) just because players sometimes pick the 'sub-optimal' choice.

Also, it's pretty clear that people are going to renegotiate with the EWTC, even if it's not directly (e.g. by trying to undermine their trade operations).

>>37141422
Pretty much. You never had a good chance of avoiding a confrontation once you chose to be angry, though exactly what it was about changed a bit.

>>37141543
Are we even still doing Tsucci research projects? I don't remember us voting on that during the last empire micromanagement thread.

>>37141572
>Pretty much.
I am so annoyed. Oh well, hopefully we can suborn her later.

>>37141572
I'm not saying we shouldn't be in the room, just that we should have counsel that we work through.

>>37141572
>Pretty much. You never had a good chance of avoiding a confrontation once you chose to be angry
You, I am a bit sad I missed that vote. we could have gone with a neutral "regret" and be at a much better position here.

>>37141572
>Pretty much. You never had a good chance of avoiding a confrontation once you chose to be angry, though exactly what it was about changed a bit.
what? how Talon is the only one in the wrong and her listing his faults makes what she did some how okay? cause that's the attitude she came at us with
also that first talk seemed focused 100% on angry even though it was pretty damn split vote

>>37141741
Because the vote ended with the majority being angry? Maybe thats why we were angry?

>>37141741
>what? how Talon is the only one in the wrong
He didn't say talon is at the wrong, he said "avoiding confrontation" is torpedoed by being angry at her.

>>37141616
Hopefully, we'll work in all the references some people made to how most of that forgiveness involved recompense.
Its true to. Talon brought undine back to life and assembled her sisters. Protected Raza, is helping protect Alyce's dream, He and Mal have saved each other's lives on dozens of occasions, ect.

>>37141741
>also that first talk seemed focused 100% on angry even though it was pretty damn split vote
Don't split the vote. A lot of people put in custom stuff that was completely unique and didn't gel with any of the other opinions. so ultimately it was 11 votes, 3 for pure anger, 2 for mix anger and another one. And that was enough to make anger the majority with how people were voting.

>>37141776
>>37141792
>1. Mostly
why add the mostly if he's just gonna write for angry, there was enough votes for less confrontational ways of doing this even if we were still mad while we talked

>>37141741
This isn't about who's right or who's wrong. It's about emotions and trust between two people who were briefly very closes and now are staring at each other from opposite sides of a battlefield. This isn't about logic, we were NEVER going to convince her we had the moral high ground.

Was she angry? Probably, we never made an effort to find her after all. Could this whole situation have gone better if we hadn't been defensive? Yes, because people never react well to that unless they can exploit it.

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>>37141631
Then all diplomacy gets reduced to another part of management threads, rather than ever being a separate and interesting element of the quest. I've considered going down that path but it will completely change the way relations work and I'm hesitant to strip out an important character interaction part of the quest. I'll try to have other characters more involved in them, but it's still going to be down to Talon.

>>37141741
>also that first talk seemed focused 100% on angry even though it was pretty damn split vote
Plurality has always worked this way in the quest. And most quests, period. The 'mostly' was because Talon wasn't blowing up in her face.

>>37141857
That was the second vote. You know, the one that let you choose between outright attacking her and trying to move on. Arisa's character archetype is confrontational - choosing angry meant she'd be angry in return.

>>37141847
I actually try to read customs in as regular votes when possible. Stuff like 'annoyance' comes across as Regret and the way the 'Disappointment' write-in was written made it count as 'Anger' because it would have triggered Arisa's confrontational side.

Are we gonna bring up the memory manipulation anytime soon?

Also, her accusations of killing friends of our friends... those are all things that happened in wars long before we met them. And didn't we lose friends in those wars too?

>>37141927
>bring up the memory manipulation

Why? She doesn't seem to be acting as if hers is still intact.

>>37141927
Ya that would be nice Also bringing up about how we have been a part of we bring a lot of those people together.

Undine was dead. We not only brought her back to see her loved ones (Alyce and Merce). But gathered all her sisters. We killed Rayza's lover, but introduced her to a life of acceptance she could never have known (and a cute elf boi to boot). Without us Felix would never be able to achieve his ambitions (even if they do come at a sacrafice).

>>37141927
>bring up the memory manipulation

Do you want EWTC to know (if they don't already) that we are empowered by a shard of pandemonium that somehow hasn't killed us? I really don't want them selling that information to literally everyone.

>>37142053
Thats what I get for not proof reading.

>>37141916
honestly, from my current point of view at least, it seems more that the first vote set the rail for how the conversation was going to end regardless of later choices, and the other half of the people here who didn't get to vote just got to sit back and watch what the 9 or so voters wrought because of it. was/am I still angry with her yes, but I know I would have voted for something other than anger but by the time I got here it was set in stone. hard to decide if its more annoying or infuriating at this point

Boy, arguing with the QM again. This is going so well.

>>37142053
>Undine was dead
that is currently a secret. a lot of people assume she just wasn't actually killed.

>>37142094
Yep. tg is pretty awful in predicting the obvious consequences of their behavior. I am still mad at how we accidentally fucked over sylvian twice.

>>37142053
So basically you want to tell her that we care more about a bunch of people that used to be trying to kill us than we do about her when Arisa legitimately saved Talon's life back in the day. Not the best plan given her personality and current level of anger towards Talon.

>>37142089
Are you sure that part was mentioned during that scene?

>>37142126
Yeah I really wish things had gone better with syl

>>37142157
Pretty sure.

>>37142126
Side effect of having lots of random people who don't follow a clear set of goals really. Not to mention the sheer number of people who seem to have the reading comprehension of a 5 year old.

>>37142126
>accidentally
meant to put that in quotations.

>>37142157
Yeah.

>>37142139
Not my plan at all. I was commenting about how those accusations aren't exactly based. Sure we did those things. But now we are working with them to build something better.

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Yeah, I've spent too much time arguing with (probably) the same people. I really should know better. FYI, longstanding policy has been to prevent people from revoting earlier choices because otherwise why bother ever holding votes.

>1.

“Yes, I trust you,” you say after a short period of reflection. “Or at least, I’m willing to try. I’ll look past this – you’re right that I took it a little more personally than it warranted. Particularly given what others have overlooked and what I need to overlook as Imperator.”

Arisa sighs and seems to slump back in her chair, looking a bit exhausted. She has a tired and worried look on her face. “For what it’s worth, Talon, I am sorry that we ended up working against each other. You have your ambitions and I have my pride. I hope that those parts of us can work well together and we can… become close again.”

You nod slowly at that, thinking that personal trust is a ways away. It’s one thing to understand her perspective on not betraying her word and the trust of her employer. It’s another to think of her as a friend whom you can trust to do what is best for you. Then again, given your inaction over her, perhaps it goes both ways. She certainly implied as such earlier.

“I take it this means you’re going to work for me?” you ask her.

“That’s what this was about, wasn’t it? Having a place here? I don’t mind the EWTC but a change of pace would be nice, particularly if it’s with you,” she says, a shadow of a smile on her face. “I’m not going to give you anything really personal on my old employer but I’m happy to help you with the broad strokes of dealing with them. I also like to think I’m better at what your little fox clan thinks they’re so good at – I did fool a lot of them, after all.”

>continued

>>37142164
Me three.

I'm really hoping we can find an excuse to meet with her solo soon to start working out ways to better support her position within the guard and undermine the other factions, but for some reason that hasn't seemed to be a priority since the time skip.

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>>37142213
You nod at that – Karise had explained that Arisa was formerly of the Garrotte clan, having likely left due to isolation caused by having a non-white tail. Having normal tail colourings was a rare occurrence among the clan, and supposedly impacted their ability to be capable spies and assassins (due to affecting their affinity with the physical illusions that they used to hide their nature as foxes). Clearly Arisa was just as good, probably because she had to prove herself even more than her fellow clanmates.

“You could start by talking about what the EWTC hoped to achieve in the negotiation?”

“That’s easy – they wanted a good deal in your territory and also to test how good you were at detecting subterfuge,” she says. “You can probably expect them to try that sort of thing more often. It’s a tactic they’ve gotten good at, thanks to dealing in Pharos where the Imperial Court is so cutthroat it makes the RSK look like a children’s playground.”

“They realise I’m not going to honour that deal precisely, right?”

“Of course. That’s the next step – they get to see how you react to being cheated. They’ll then react in their own way, then read your move and so on. Legate was bullshitting when he said the company is short-term – his family has been involved in it for one hundred and ten years. They’re willing to sacrifice short-term profit for long-term empire building, particularly as the interests in Pharos appreciate the extension of power.”

“In other words, this is going to be a long and constant battle?”

>continued

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>>37142243
Arisa laughs. “Of course. Don’t get too mired in the details. Make a canvas and an outline and just adjust it every time they change tactics. Good trade relations with other powers is useful, too. The easier it is for you to negotiate good terms with other nations the harder it is for them to embargo you or increase the prices of goods. Nobles get very, very unhappy if they’re denied their spices and luxuries.”

You talk strategy a bit more – similar to Ren’s advice, Arisa believes that it’s smarter to attack the EWTC’s powerbase. Prevent them from controlling docks, transportation and distribution as much as possible – let them sell their goods with low tariffs but limit their profits to what they can sell at the docks, rather than every other step of the chain. It’s an interesting tactic, which is mostly aimed at preventing the EWTC from claiming you’ve wronged them by breaching the spirit of the contract while keeping their profit advantage from the deal low.

Before Arisa leaves, she suddenly turns to you and says, “Say, Talon, how did we part last time?”

An odd question, but you have a hunch about why she’s asking it. If her memories are incorrect, you’re not sure if now is the time to correct them, however.

>1. During a battle (real memories).
>2. Breaknig off an engagement (fake memories).
>3. Question her about why she’s asking.
>4. Custom

>>37142220
The timeskip hasn't actually happened yet. There's some scenes with Syl planned and I'll try to cover them before the next big event (thoguh she'll appear during that too).

>>37142271
1. During a battle (real memories).

>>37142271
>1. During a battle (real memories).

>>37142271
>1. During a battle (real memories).

>>37142271
>1. During a battle (real memories).

>>37142271
>4. Custom
with fake memories

>>37142271
>1.

Hey, can we cut the crap and just fully recognize the EWTC as an independent nation and treat them as such? It'd probably be easier than creating a corporate law framework for our empire just to deal with them.

>>37142171
>>37142192
Alright, that does make it more significant. That being said, we haven't exactly been hiding this much and many people and organizations already know. In particular the ones we need to worry most about (angels, demons, fae, god knights, and monks... and most if not all the foxes). Although how far that information spread within each group from those who initially found out is uncertain.

>>37142271
>>1. During a battle (real memories).

>>37142271
>1. During a battle (real memories).

since we are trusting each other...

>>37142271
>1. During a battle (real memories).

Also reading the Lore bin, more specifically the Items of Power. Now Bloodguard, the blade of sacrifice. What would happen if we gave it to Felix?

>>37142344
Thing is, that corporate framework would be highly useful for dealing with other trade entity's.

We can use this to lay a foundation and framework. We should still assign a dedicated team of economic advisers from aspiring and talented people though.

>>37142403
corporations are not unheard of though, they are just rare and due to something specific.
Also, how is treating them as a nation rather then a corporation make any different at all to our dealing with them?

>>37142271
>2. Breaknig off an engagement (fake memories).

>>37142483
Maybe, but I like the idea of needing them to negotiate for work visas, a border treaty (we have leverage there), customs, immigration...and maybe I just want to be able to legitimately declare war on them when they make their inevitable power grab.

>>37142271
>3. Question her about why she’s asking.

>>37142588
>inevitable power grab.
Could you elaborate?

>>37142609
Well, that wasn't meant seriously. I suppose the only real circumstance I can think of would be if EWTC was hired to run espionage and sabotage missions against our empire. Pretty unlikely I hope. Still, it'd be nice if we could treat their fleets as foreign navies rather than traders.

>>37142588
that goes against what everyone has been telling us about them.

>>37142710
Hence "pretty unlikely."

Still, they look like a multinational just waiting to develop a paramilitary subsidiary to protect their investments to me.

>>37142564
Why 2?

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>1.

“During a battle,” you say.

Arisa eyes your face for several moments before scowling. “Metaphorically or literally? You’re hard to read sometimes.”

“Literally.”

Sighing in relief, Arisa smiles at you. “Oh. Good. You do remember. I only shook those fake memories off recently so I wasn’t sure.”

“How recently?” you ask.

“Recently enough. Don’t worry – the EWTC doesn’t know. Not that I’d have told them if I had known. Garynth modified our memories to hide what happened and if the EWTC started selling that information I bet he’d come looking for us,” she says, waving it off.

You let her know to talk to Karise immediately while you reflect on what happened some more. You don’t have very long to do so before Karise slips in.

“Are you sure about trusting her?” she asks you, tone and posture neutral.

“Professionally, yes. Personally… I want to but it will take time. I take this sort of thing a little personally,” you say, shrugging.

“I see. In that case I’ll put her to work but keep her close. With her skill with illusions she’ll be excellent at gathering information from the ambassadors,” she says. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad you looked past what she did for duty. It must have been lonely for her in the EWTC – being clanless is hard and you can’t trust any other fox there, because you don’t know if they’re spying for somebody.”

Karise gives you a smile before slipping out. Still looking out for members of her clan, even if they had left it. It made sense that a spymaster wouldn’t see anything wrong with another spy but you had difficulty seeing it the same way.

You call up a meeting the next day over the EWTC. You end up with three Tsucchis in the same room – which is pretty obviously a joke as they’re all moving in sync, even to the point of their tails swishing in the same way. You wonder if it’s possible to tell the difference between them?

[DC16/17 Illusion Detection]

>>37142824
Probably why the advice of keep them on the doorstep and not in the living room (proverbially) was given.

If anything they will probably turn merchant republic.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>37142864
>that DC
Fuck.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>37142839
I was very interested in her response

>>37142864
Okay they can eat several dicks

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>37142864
The second one also isn't Tsucchi.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>37142864
We're fucked.

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>37142864

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>37142864

>>37142910
>>37142916
>>37142917
My heart can't take this much emotion.

>>37142917
And neither is the third.

>>37142917
>Beat me by a second!
Thank you anon.

>>37142917
NOICE

>>37142864
>3 tsucchis
I wonder if this is a shell game (the marble is in the dealer's palm, all 3 shells are empty). aka, all 3 tsucchis are fake

>>37142917

The joke is that Tsucchi is disguised as the representative...

>>37142981
Or.....All 3 Tsucchis are solid.

>>37142917
Clearly we can tell the difference in reaction when we're the one stroking the fluffy tails.

>>37142997
YES make it so that we figure out who's the real Tsucchi by stroking their tails!

>>37142995
The "joke" is that Tsucchi isn't in the room.

>>37142995
We are Tsucchi who has been confused to her identity. Talon is actually one of the Tsucchi's in front of us.

>>37142864
Instead of piercing the illusion could we just overcome their tail insensitivity spell?

>>37143039
And then we wake up and it turns out Talon fell asleep watching Inception.

Or did he?!?

Are we going I keep the Shadow Govermemt model forever?

I always wanted to have a more active role to me it kinda feels like we don't do much

>>37142864
>Sighing in relief, Arisa smiles at you. “Oh. Good. You do remember. I only shook those fake memories off recently so I wasn’t sure.”
I wonder if this was during the same time as talon did. What if the memory manipulation thing was linked such that if one broke through they both get back their memories?

>>37143312
I think so.

>>37143312
After we conquer enough we would have to take a more active role.

>>37143312
I was actually hoping we move more to some kind of parliamentary model...As the empire grows trying to micromanage issues becomes more and more unwieldy. Especially since most regions become more unlike one another...

>>37143312
>Are we going I keep the Shadow Govermemt model forever?
Its not really a shadow government, we just delegate a LOT.
We have decided to keep it when it came up, but create methods for getting directly to talon for certain things.

>>37143365
quite the opposite, as we conquer more there will be more and more to delegate and fewer people important enough to deal with us directly instead of with a governor

>>37143390
You guys flipped the fuck out when I suggested one, even though literally half the people would be appointed by talon directly or indirectly.

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>Higher target met

You’re amazed at how hard it is to detect the illusions. You’d assumed that if you knew to look for an illusion it would be easy. The problem was that none of them appeared to have any active magic. All you could sense was the general power sitting in them, which was clearly disguised as Tsucchi. You ask Mal how the hell this is happening.

“Because the illusion spell isn’t actually active. It’s kind of similar to when Gnome makes rocks as ephemera – they’ll vanish but they’re not actually magical. Illusions are usually similar – this is what made that trapper back in the caves near Undine’s lake so dangerous. You can’t sense the active illusion at a distance. The second part is that it’s possible to emulate the magic signature of another being, at least well enough at a distance. I’ve never heard of anybody doing so well enough to trick a sending, however. I imagine you can probably tell them apart by touching them,” Mal explains.

“Hang on, if you send Tsucchi a sending will it go to the correct one?” you ask.

“Maybe. Maybe not. They’re pretty good so what might happen is that the sending goes to the wrong one, I wouldn’t be able to tell which, and they can’t read it,” he says.

You decide to take Mal’s advice and lightly grip each Tsucchi in turn on the shoulder. They all watch you as you do so, showing no real reaction. You’re pretty sure you can tell them apart – Tsucchi’s frame is different enough to the other two that you can pick out the tactile element of the illusion against your hand as you rub her shoulder. The other two foxes, Karise and Arisa, feel just different enough to the real Tsucchi for you to tell. It’s probably a good thing you ran your hands all over her the other night. There’s also a slight difference in their magical signatures but you don’t know Tsucchi’s well enough to tell which is the real deal.

>cont

>>37143390
Constitutional monarchy style would work well as the next step.

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>>37143436
You have one more test, however. “I’m going to write down my guesses, Mal. Then I’m going to do another test. Involving stroking tails.”

The Tsucchis freeze – damn, you’d hoped they’d each react differently. Still, you follow through. You lightly stroke each tail of every Tsucchi – it doesn’t take long. In the end, you know exactly who is who – both from the fact that the tactile element of the illusion is present in the extra tails they’re showing and the fact that they react differently. Karise was simply surprised and stiffened. Arisa mewled a bit. Tsucchi blushed and relaxed. You point out who is who, and Mal confirms they match what was written. Then they drop the illusions and you’re chuffed to see you were right.

“Ha, so I can tell the difference!” you say.

“Never do that in front of others again,” Tsucchi warns you, tails flicking about dangerously.

The other two foxes mostly look a little embarrassed. Personally, you’re damned happy you not only got to stroke Karise’s tails for the first time but also saw through the illusion. Your enthusiasm wanes as the rest of the cabinet enters and you discuss the EWTC.

>Discussion time

So I’ve got three real ideas to handle them. Force them into a meeting and basically nullify the old contract (due to subterfuge) and renegotiate under (possible) threat of force. Bury them in red tape and (possibly) fines, but this will surely provoke a reaction of some sort. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely. Not sure if there were any others. I’ll post cabinet reactions once people narrow down the ideas, if necessary.

>>37143390
>I was actually hoping we move more to some kind of parliamentary model
Why would we? it has been an abysmal failure when alyce tried it in the league.
Also, it doesn't add anything of value to the empire over a system of states with governors all answering to talon

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>>37143436
>>37143465
Also, I apologise for my massive abuse of em dashes today. Dunno what's come over me.

>>37143465
There was one that involved us setting up or framing them for attempted murder, possibly by thralling one or more of their staff. Then using the public outcry to revoke sanctions and seize assets.

>>37143465
I would prefer option 3. Option 1 would have them try and undermine us via the commune thing Arisa saw. Option 2 would just make them inflate prices.

>>37143532
Which doesn't really change anything about the fact that they're still the only suppliers of their stuff, they'd no we were at fault and would react appropriately to shit like that and we don't need a justification to do whatever we want anyways.

>>37143465
I am 100% for Arisa's recommendation. I know that people aren't really ready to trust her yet, but her suggestions line up with Ren's, which makes me think that they are on the level. Just like before with Arisa, we can't afford to throw a tantrum the first time someone pushes at us a little. Let's not burn any bridges but make sure we stay wary of the EWTC in the future

>>37143465
First, I would like to remind something aspir said last time, this deal we made DOES make us money and improve our economy, its just that they were willing to give us more and we missed out on goodies.

I think we should not threaten force at all, as we were warned against that. Well, at least not for trade stuff. Maybe on things like selling our state secrets.

So, I think we SHOULD bring them back to the negotiation table, congrats on a well executed trick. Say you are willing to extend certain amount of credit because they did put one through you, but you do wish to do some renegotiating. Not under threat of force but under threat of actions not prohibited by the deal. such as threat to
>prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount
or threat to
>Cut tariffs on everyone else, not enough to trigger the 0% clause. Reducing it by 3%p so that the new rates are EWTC 4%, license 5%, general 9%

>>37143612
The thing you seem to be forgetting is that while they're offering us some interesting luxury goods, right now they aren't offering anything we actually need.

>>37143532
>There was one that involved us setting up or framing them for attempted murder, possibly by thralling one or more of their staff. Then using the public outcry to revoke sanctions and seize assets.
that is a horrible idea for many reasons. it will completely ruin relations

>>37143465
I would prefer to go with Arisa's suggestion.
It allows a good ideal of management without cutting off any avenues of response later should the need arise. It is a very sensible suggestion.

>>37143474
Parliament has many advantages, mainly concerning how the people perceive the government and keeping other powerful minor groups in line more. It also blocks factions like the farmers union from gaining traction outside of our control, since the system should funnel any group into itself.

>>37143465
Leaning towards the third, though that does somewhat stem from the fact that I don't know much about this stuff and the third seems both superficially most sensible and is the one that has NPC support.

Am I understanding correctly that the reason we basically have to go through them to get to their stuff is that due to the RSK being locked down there aren't even any second hand traders on Gauron we can reliably reach?

>>37143762
>The thing you seem to be forgetting is that while they're offering us some interesting luxury goods, right now they aren't offering anything we actually need.
Luxury goods are a thing we need, as is money in general. Aspir confirmation that we are profiting from the deal as it currently is, we are just not profiting as much as we could have

>>37143762
Except that they're luxury goods the foxes are very keen on, may even see as a cornerstone of their lifestyle and all the rich and noble people would be pissed for not getting them/having to pay extra.

>>37143801
No. We do not NEED their stuff, but accepting and sorting out a trading relation gives us lots of cash, and lets us keep a face for relationship with those we trade with that is at least freindly-ish without having to commit to anything.

So looking at the deal we originally made with them, it gave them a tariff discount and a place in Viteria... From what I can tell, no-where did it say anything about expanding beyond the original property in Viteria... so going with Arisa's advice, it shouldn't be too hard to confine the majority of their interaction with our empire to Viteria... which is likely to result in the Viterian Nobles offering their 'services' in distributing the goods though-out the empire... meaning that EWTC has to lose most of it's 'savings' to the Viterian nobles to get their products though the empire, otherwise their business would dry up and they'd see a noticeable loss in revenue...

>>37143783
>Parliament has many advantages
name them
>mainly concerning how the people perceive the government
elaborate
as far as I can tell those perceptions are all things we don't want
>and keeping other powerful minor groups in line more.
False, it makes those groups far more powerful and far more of a nuisance. This power, once given, cannot be easily taken away
>It also blocks factions like the farmers union from gaining traction outside of our control
false, it is an avenue for them to gain traction and power and control
>since the system should funnel any group into itself.
funneling groups into parliment does not give us control over them, the whole point of parliment is that you don't control it.

seriously, what is wrong with
>Emperor
>Underneath emperor are states
>Each state governed by a governor assigned by emperor as an employee

>>37143801
>Am I understanding correctly that the reason we basically have to go through them to get to their stuff is that due to the RSK being locked down there aren't even any second hand traders on Gauron we can reliably reach?
Its not that we can't get those things second hand, its that it is more profitable for us to get it first hand and everyone else to come to us for it second hand

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>>37143713
Oh shit, the commune. Forgot to mention that.

Arisa didn't tell the EWTC about it, mostly because her job was just to get you to sign the EWTC deal. Plus she was angling for something with you.

>>37143762
Luxury goods are important. They're pretty much the sole supplier of a lot of things the nobles enjoy and use. Heck, even the merchant class does. Basically, not having luxury goods will result in huge Order hits in cities plus penalties to economic growth. Having expensive luxury goods does both to a lesser degree.

>>37143801
The EWTC mostly trades at ports. The RSK has a ton of tariffs. Also, if the EWTC wants to jack up prices, they're the sole shipper from Pharos and control a lack of the inland distribution too. Plus, if it's known that the EWTC wants to charge you higher prices or has an embargo then merchants are going to know that supply is lower and will jack up the price (particularly if the EWTC starts penalising merchants who then trade with the people under embargo).

Having lunch right now, so a bit slow to respond. Also, this will be a shorter thread as I need to take a nap soonish. I'll probably wrap up the EWTC, do a Sylvian scene then discuss what people want to do in the south-west of the Gauron

>>37143465
what does marcus thinks? so far he seems to always be right (and yet we rarely listen to him)

>>37144014
>Arisa didn't tell the EWTC about it, mostly because her job was just to get you to sign the EWTC deal. Plus she was angling for something with you.
Ah yes, I meant to ask arise whether she told anyone and whether she intends to blackmail us with that

>>37143843
But they're still things we could acquire through other sources. Look, I'm not saying blow up the deal, I'm just saying you should recognize the actual strength of their bargaining position is much worse that how it's been inflated. The canal gives us leverage. Access to dwarves wares gives us leverage. The fact that we own the ports they'll be operating out of gives us leverage. They have access to limited goods and resources, abso-fucking-lutely yes, that doesn't mean...

There's a reason I walked away from the EWTC debate last time, it just makes me angry, guess it's time for me to do that again.

>>37143921
At that point it becomes more like Feudalism.

We are really going to need a major inland trade hub at some point, Vitra is becoming a little too much of a requirement on its own

>>37143921
1. Representation of the people will increase order. Constitutional monarchys have been some of the longest running government types in history, and some of the most stable.

2. Shadowy government that is hard to get in touch with or influence to the common man makes our subjects less loyal to the empire as a whole.

3. The minor groups i am talking about here are the nobles. Currently, one noble can collude with a bunch of his friends and suddenly you have half the empire in open revolt. With representation the lower class's are not wholly tied to their land owner, and certain citys like vitra were a few nobles might want to revolt would be drowned out by the merchant class who want to stay loyal as an example scenario (example being the English civil war and cromwell, london chose to side against the nobles). There is still a danger if the balancing act between the groups is not managed however, which is why proportional rep is a good idea.

4. Power and control within the system, helping to keep it aloft, instead of acting as an outside power. You have seen enough political parties try to keep the status quo for their ends.

5. wrong, there is lots of different levels of parliamentary control. Modern ones are hard to control, but the one we should establish would be allot like the earlier English parliament whereby the head of state wielded exec power and the parliament was mainly there to help steer his decisions, not make them on their own.

Plenty, look at the holy roman empire for the definition of slow implosion. Its not a concern right now, but it will be given time.

>>37144097
>At that point it becomes more like Feudalism.
That system as describe has nothing to do with feudalism. There are no noble titles involved with inherited positions. The governors are employees of talon. That is it.
And technically, the entire world is feudal, we are just making it a little less feudal. The question is do we go with a monarchy/dictatorship style government, or democracy. So far the democracy guys are claiming that it will give us more control and authority which is utterly ridiculous thing to claim. It does not "contain" or "diminish" the authority of others, it does not put it under our control. Heck we have seen how it tore apart the mage league.
Talon as a sole ruler who appoints people to manage the empire for him is max control and authority in our hands.

>>37144202
Not advocating modern democracy, more along the lines of some of its older variants.

>>37144169
>1. Representation of the people will increase order.
False. There is no such causal link and aspir never said it would.
>Constitutional monarchys have been some of the longest running government types in history, and some of the most stable.
1. Very, very false
2. Constituional monarchy and a parlimentary monarchy are two different things
3. IRL stuff that has little to do with the quest where there are literally immortal kings and peasants rebellions are irrelevant. Rebellion is dialed up to 11 in this setting, but its all done by powerful individuals, vampires, dragons, arch mages. Never peasants

>2. Shadowy government that is hard to get in touch with or influence to the common man makes our subjects less loyal to the empire as a whole.
How easy is it for you to talk to your president or senator? I am betting you never actually spoke to him.
Also, we are not a shadow government, that was a JOKE. Also, we already FIXED the problem of "hard to get a hold of" by creating an office specifically for getting a hold of us and creating several fast lanes for it

>3. The minor groups i am talking about here are the nobles. Currently, one noble can collude with a bunch of his friends and suddenly you have half the empire in open revolt
How? And parliment makes that WORSE not better.

>With representation the lower class's are not wholly tied to their land owner
Talon owns all farmland in the empire.

>and certain citys like vitra were a few nobles might want to revolt would be drowned out by the merchant class who want to stay loyal as an example scenario
How and WHY would parliment do this?

>4. Power and control within the system, helping to keep it aloft, instead of acting as an outside power.
False, parliment is the exact opposite of this compared to current system

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EWTC VOTE
>1. Force them into a meeting and basically nullify the old contract (due to subterfuge) and renegotiate under (possible) threat of force.
>2. Bury them in red tape and (possibly) fines, but this will surely provoke a reaction of some sort.
>3. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely.
>4. Custom

>>37144169
>5. wrong, there is lots of different levels of parliamentary control. Modern ones are hard to control, but the one we should establish would be allot like the earlier English parliament whereby the head of state wielded exec power and the parliament was mainly there to help steer his decisions, not make them on their own.
FALSE!
A parliment that only helps you steer your decisions is called advisors, we already have a cabinet that does exactly that.
Furthermore, its false to claim that the early english parliment had no power.
Furthermore, you require us to micromanage it and closely overlook it for signs of misbehavior. completely defeating its purpose.

>>37144246
>Not advocating modern democracy, more along the lines of some of its older variants.
Then you should actually EXPLAIN how SPECIFICALLY you want it to work instead of just saying "lets go democracy guiz"

>>37143969
>3

And now sleep.

>>37144401
>3. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely.

>>37144401
>3. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely.

>>37144401
>4. A mixture of 3 with the red tape of 2

>>37144401
>3. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely.

I kinda regret asking that question about Government knew I should've saved if for after thread talk

>>37144401
>3. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely.

>>37144401
>3. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely.

>>37144401
>3. Or do what Arisa recommended and leave them be but prevent them from buying anything to help them control trade or make additional profit from their tariff discount – the agreement doesn’t say you have to let them act freely.

Play it slow. No need to increase the tempo when we have other affairs.

>>37144430
Emporer at top who has final say
Nobles who do most of the governing of individual places and day to day running
Not-quite comman man, but mainly educated administrators and elected officials whos duty is to get the meat of the matter written down for the nobles to vote on. Final say goes to Emporer. Both houses have the right to appeal to the emperor on anything the houses disagree on so he can resolve the issue.

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Alright, so that's a pretty clear 3. Sorry I didn't do the cabinet comments but it looked like most people just wanted to do 3 even before the vote.

So as I'm pretty close to crashing out (probably shouldn't have run but felt bad about delaying yesterday) I'm going to do a Sylvian scene. Two ways to make her happier were proposed in another thread, so people can vote on which one.

>1. Meet with Sylvian outside of Harrowmont and ask her for advice in regards to your empire. She likes to feel needed you figure.
>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).
>3. Custom

>>37144653
>1. Meet with Sylvian outside of Harrowmont and ask her for advice in regards to your empire. She likes to feel needed you figure.

>>37144653
1

>>37144653
>1. Meet with Sylvian outside of Harrowmont and ask her for advice in regards to your empire. She likes to feel needed you figure.

>>37144653
>>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).

>>37144653
>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).

>>37144653
>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).
She knows. Remember, that the foxes know, and things that their leader knows they need to know. Plus, she damned well knows about Talon's power source, so the idea that he would bind two familiars without source assistance is ridiculous..

>>37144653
2.

>>37144653
>>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).
If she does not already know, i dont see any reason to keep it from her anymore. It would only bring trouble if we tried to keep such a thing from her.

>>37144631
The only way this differs from our current system is that the day to day administration is done by inherited noble positions rather than appointed governors whom talon can explicitly fire. (who are often nobles)
Furthermore, it unfairly promotes noble bloodlines over merit, mages, knightly order, and nonhumans (vamps, fluffies, dragons) who are all now cut out.
What you describe is literally exactly how the RSK works and how darlesia, vitria, and termina worked before talon took over

>>37144653
>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).

Any thing we can buy her as a gift?

>>37144653
>3. Custom
Outright tell her about the source.

I am going to say that 1 is potentially worse. with 2 we reveal a secret to her. With 1 we will kinda be forced to implement what she tells us to avoid further degrading the relationship by ignoring her advice.

>>37144793
>Any thing we can buy her as a gift?
the heads of her enemies.

>>37144631
Where is the parliment? the fourth line mentions "houses", what houses? you said nobles are local governors. houses of parliment means NON local governance via voting on empire wide laws

Dangit, I only just got here and got caught up. I could've offered what I think are some pretty good custom choices with Arisa too...

>>37144829
I literally said that to myself as soon as I finished posting

>>37144653
>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).

show her we are serious about a merger...

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>>37144914
> show her we are serious about a merger...
The innuendo is strong in this one. But I support it.

>>37144653
>2. Time to trust.

>>37144762
Noble land titles are already inherited, so that is a false premise. do they not already dictate individual law in their own lands so long as it does not conflict with ours? If they do, then this would allow unified law across the empire without the nobles getting pissed off at us dictating them all.
What we can count in the nobles house can include mage tower leaders alongside, though i would keep all mainly military organizations swearing loyalty to the emperor and outside of politics.

Those who govern is a fair point, but that is meant to be counteracted by having the lower class as an second house with the main writting of any laws as their main duty.

>>37144872
My pardon, the nobles would be in one house, the not-so-commons in another. Equal standing between the two as entity's as a whole, but required to work together if they want anything done.

>>37144653
>2. Invite Sylvian to Harrowmont to make her feel trusted. This will let her know about the Source (assuming she hasn't worked it out somehow).

>>37145005
>Noble land titles are already inherited
We nationalized all the land anon. A while ago, it was the sarah plan (different from the undine plan which was basically the same as RSK)

>so that is a false premise.
No, it isn't a false premise. There is a huge difference between inheriting political position and inheriting wealth. At the moment in TYE nobles inherit wealth, not political power. Everyone can get political power by buddying up to talon or his existing underlings rather then it being automatically their right of birth and bloodline.

>do they not already dictate individual law in their own lands so long as it does not conflict with ours?
No, this is was the first thing we changed. There is now unversal law instead of each noble dictating his own law in his own little fief.

>If they do, then this would allow unified law across the empire
already done

>without the nobles getting pissed off at us dictating them all.
Vitria nobles got their own little in state parliment, mainly because many of them joined us willingly (sarah). With most power going to the nobles who supported us most, but also a lot of power in hands of knight orders and mage towers. Which are non nobles.
Darlesian nobles were destroyed by taur vamps, we did not see fit to replace them with new nobles, taur didn't really have non vamp nobles, we did not see fit to replace them with new nobles. Lypph has been crushing his own nobles before we even met him. Avinou was a merchant republic set up after they usurped their nobles. Farun nobles murdered their own king since he wanted to surrender and fought us tooth and nail and were obliterated. Shropham was a magocracy and we had to kick their ass anyways to conquer them. Fluffy rulers are based on age no bloodline.
The vote on the issue was that we are open to giving existing nobles some power if they join us willingly (ex: vitria). but if we gotta conquer them, well tough luck.

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>2.

You figure that the most effective way to rebuild trust between yourself and Sylvian is to bring her to Harrowmont and show her what you’ve been doing here. Between the fortress, the military and the Source, you figure that she’ll see enough to know how serious you are and to hopefully trust you. Your suspicion that she already knows about the Source only makes the decision easier.

It didn’t take her long to respond to the invitation, though she didn’t arrive as impressively as last time. Instead she gave you a rough time and day, which enabled you to chase away some of the more troublesome members of your retinue. You didn’t want any of them making things difficult by annoying Sylvian or being lewd, which a particular few were wont to do. You meet her at the front gate of the fortress where Undine and a few engineers are considering possible moat designs. You’re not really sure how she got here but she approaches on foot and you didn’t see a gigantic dragon in the distance at any point.

“You’ve certainly been hard at work,” she says, eying the extended wall. “I’ve seen Harrowmont before but it was never this large.”

“It’s the seat of my power so it makes sense for it to be majestic,” you say, not bothering to be modest. “We’re planning further expansion but this will do for now.”

The upper walls and Order of the Griffin guildhall are visible even from the bottom of the city and you’re rather happy that you’re here to show Sylvian from the outside in. She has a very bright-eyed look to her face, something you haven’t seen on her before. As you escort her through the streets to the keep she only grows more interested in her surroundings. She stops you by one of the bridges across the canal, watching one of the new docks unload goods from Vitria as a passenger ferry passes through.

>continued

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>>37145504
“I’d heard very briefly about the canal you’re constructing. From Vitria to Ahm – it’s the longest built, if not the largest in volume,” she says. “Gnome must be enjoying herself. I think this means she’ll have created the top three now, instead of just the top two.”

“I plan on extending it to other cities, producing a network of canals,” you say, feeling prideful that you’re being praised by Sylvian. Not quite the reason you brought her here, but it’s a nice feeling to be praised by such an old and powerful figure. You’ll just have to try to keep your head small enough to fit through the gatehouses.

“I’m curious why you feel the need to make such a huge canal,” she says, fixing you with a curious gaze. It’s a rather cute look on her face, though you try to keep your eye on the prize. She’s an ally, not a bedwarmer.

>1. Military. I can relocate troops across my empire rapidly once constructed and expanded, particularly to and from my mustering points such as Harrowmont.
>2. Economic. The sheer amount of wealth and trade that will accompany the canal will form a solid beginning to my empire that I can build off.
>3. Symbolic. Building something so majestic and impressive as one of my first feats will cement my empire in the world as a major and growing power.
>4. Custom

>>37145531
>2. Economic. The sheer amount of wealth and trade that will accompany the canal will form a solid beginning to my empire that I can build off.
It's not really, but let's not trigger her militaristic side.

>>37145531
>1. Military. I can relocate troops across my empire rapidly once constructed and expanded, particularly to and from my mustering points such as Harrowmont.
Military girl military matters.

>>37145531
1 and 2.

Lets not bullshit a bullshitter. We've already decided to get into bed with her (metaphorically) so bite the bullet and be honest.

Being clever and sneaky fucked us over last time.

>>37145531
1 and 3
Though 2 is the obvious bonus.

>>37145531
>She’s an ally, not a bedwarmer.

Come on Talon you know better. You fucking know better.
15 Social Threads and at least two time skips. Within that time we will have conquered the dragon. Mark my words you heard it here first.

>>37145531
>1. Military. I can relocate troops across my empire rapidly once constructed and expanded, particularly to and from my mustering points such as Harrowmont.

>>37145362
Fair does.
It seems we have next to no real problems to address concerning that sector then.

Though note false premise was answered with nationalized the land answer you gave.

>>37145531
>2. Economic. The sheer amount of wealth and trade that will accompany the canal will form a solid beginning to my empire that I can build off.

>>37145531
>>4. Custom
Military and economic, we built it mainly for those reasons

I could hardly see her caring about the economic side of it. 3 would just make her think were boasting.

>>37145605
... I'll take that bet. I'm with this Anon

>>37145531
Military and economic. Both have value, and having two pure earth and one pure water elemental makes it much cheaper than it appears.

>>37145531
>1. Military. I can relocate troops across my empire rapidly once constructed and expanded, particularly to and from my mustering points such as Harrowmont.
>2. Economic. The sheer amount of wealth and trade that will accompany the canal will form a solid beginning to my empire that I can build off.
Both.

>>37145531
>4. All of the above.

Seriously, the canal is a huge multipurpose project, why would we minimize it's utility?

>>37145531
>2. Economic. The sheer amount of wealth and trade that will accompany the canal will form a solid beginning to my empire that I can build off.
>1. Military. I can relocate troops across my empire rapidly once constructed and expanded, particularly to and from my mustering points such as Harrowmont.

It was initially a long term infrastructure improvement to make the transport of bulk goods faster and more efficient, however, It does hold a good militaristic value as it would allow me to transport my forces faster than marching would allow, and in larger numbers than teleportation magic would allow. And with Undine we can turn sections of the canal into impromptu defensive line and to entrap any invading forces attempting to use the systems themselves...

>>37145663
>"I'll have the biggest Canal. So therefore I'll have the biggest dick" - Talon York

>>37145531
Of course there are many reasons, militarily and economically, to construct the canal. However the true reason is to indulge my passion for kayaking [straight face]

>>37145603
> 4
"A mix of Military and Economic Reasons. Mostly to give the girls, Gnome and Undine, something to do and be proud of. The Symbolic power and pride of constructing a project this big is merely a bonus."

>>37145531
>1. Military. I can relocate troops across my empire rapidly once constructed and expanded, particularly to and from my mustering points such as Harrowmont.
>2. Economic. The sheer amount of wealth and trade that will accompany the canal will form a solid beginning to my empire that I can build off.

>>37145680
Also, can we elaborate that
1. it will pay for itself over time and turn a profit
2. we plan to build a lot more. After the canal is built we plan on doing mass irrigation too.

I guess add a bit of a custom
>Why wouldn't I improve my lands?

>>37145732
>Mostly to give the girls, Gnome and Undine, something to do
1. That is insulting them, they don't need busywork
2. You don't finance the greatest construction project in the history of the world to "give the girls something to do"
3. This wasn't actually why we did it.

Oh, hey, random question, but I wonder if Slyvian would be willing to help us negotiate a trade deal with the MG. It would drop tariffs in the MG on York empire goods to basically nothing, in return for us promising to intervene if Ember launches an offensive against them. That would make us have more order, mean that the MG has less to spend on their military build up, that more of the military would be on Sylvians side.

Only possible downside is how the Magi league would react, though we could offer them the same deal later.

>>37145531
already vote but... can we throw in a "this is just the beginning, I plan for much more" in there?

Speaking of, I am reminded of my plan for reclaiming northern gauron from the shadow beasts. Do it by extending the barrier of marie in a non linear fashion to create hexes which can then be individually cleansed.

>>37145531
>>1. Military. I can relocate troops across my empire rapidly once constructed and expanded, particularly to and from my mustering points such as Harrowmont.
>>2. Economic. The sheer amount of wealth and trade that will accompany the canal will form a solid beginning to my empire that I can build off.
>>3. Symbolic. Building something so majestic and impressive as one of my first feats will cement my empire in the world as a major and growing power.
all three, Talon does things big or not at all

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Where da griffins at doe?

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The joke response was actually inspired by ancient China.

>1 & 2

“Well, the truth is I just wanted to get some use out of my party barge,” you say, keeping a straight face. “I figure I’ll start in Ahm every year with lots of food and women and just sail down the canal until we hit Vitria. Some years I’ll do it the other way around. I will be known far and wide as the greatest ruler as a result.”

Sylvian gives you a flat look. “The sad part is that I could almost imagine that happening. You’d sail down a canal with a barge full of naked women. I also suspect that you wouldn’t wear your clothes much. Now, what’s the less cute reason?”

Biting back the urge to ask her an inappropriate question about her mental image, you answer, “Military and economic. With the full network I’ll be able to transport my troops rapidly across my empire with obvious benefits. The trade and wealth benefits will then forge a strong base for my empire.”

Sylvian nods, smiling broadly. “A very long-term plan. You are dedicated plenty of resources to the canal, so perhaps it’ll be a little shorter term but it will take decades for the economic benefits to take root. One of the worrisome things about ambitious rulers is that they forget that they need stable footing for their conquests and don’t spend enough time building it. The areas you’ve conquered have seen enormous building efforts to help them and I suppose this project is just an extension of your thinking.”

>continued

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>>37146387
You follow the road uphill, Sylvian eying the enormous terraces that you’re ascending next to. It’s the enormous Crown Wall design that stops her and you find yourself being dragged about the walls to show her the ins and outs.

“I’m surprised you used sally ports – they can be dangerous if compromised,” she says, having moved into the clearzone near the walls, trudging through the grass to get close to them.

“Perhaps. They’re rigged to collapse using mechanisms and the doors are enchanted steel with thick stone frames embedded in the cliff faces,” you explain. “There’s another gate inside, too. They’re not easy to penetrate and we can collapse them if necessary. I think it’s an acceptable risk for the additional options it offers – should an enemy get into Lower Harrowmont we can launch more subtle raids than opening the gates.”

“And what about the diamonds? What’s the point of these, beyond offering somewhere for them to mount troops?” she asks, pointing at the big, low-lying flat diamonds of stone that sit between the points of the crown.

>continued

>>37146387
>The joke response was actually inspired by ancient China.
what joke response?

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>>37146411
“They’re another place to put troops, with retractable staircases that can only be deployed from the top. They make for easy sortieing and, if the enemy seizes them, they’re a nasty trap as we can still easily fire at them from the bastions. There are no blind spots on them.”

“Bastions?” she asks, looking around. “You mean the big points?”

“That’s right. The city extends into them but the shape of the walls means we can cover the deadzones inherent to most wall designs,” you say.

This goes on for some time, with Sylvian drilling you for information on the design of the fortress. It’s late afternoon before you actually get into Upper Harrowmont and then she eyes the stalls that are still set-up. You have a pretty strong feeling you’re going to be stuck with the dragon for a few days – you saw her eying other parts of the city, such as the gates at either end of the canal in the city, but she had turned away. She seemed to be trying to drill down into the way you think via the design of the fortress. Or maybe she just has a thing for castles – given how heavily fortified Balkarin had been, the latter is very possible. You wonder what her thoughts behind that steel plating on the walls were. You don’t have a huge amount of time, sadly.

>1. Start asking her about her designs in Balkarin and whether she might use them here.
>2. Let her wander about as she will. It’s kind of cute to see her acting like a tourist – even if she is a very military-minded one.
>3. Take her shopping before night falls and try to buy her something nice. Butter her up a bit before showing her the Source.
>4. Custom

>>37146412
The one I wrote and is literally in the opening content line of the update.

>>37146427
>Or maybe she just has a thing for castles
heh. sexy castle makes for a happy dragon... is this some sort of dragon instinct?

>>37146427
>3. Take her shopping before night falls and try to buy her something nice. Butter her up a bit before showing her the Source.

>>37146427
>2. Let her wander about as she will. It’s kind of cute to see her acting like a tourist – even if she is a very military-minded one.

>>37146427
>2. Let her wander about as she will. It’s kind of cute to see her acting like a tourist – even if she is a very military-minded one.

>The one I wrote and is literally in the opening content line of the update.
Ah, I thought you meant a previous joke rather then the one that comes after that line.

>>37146427
>2

>>37146427
>>2. Let her wander about as she will. It’s kind of cute to see her acting like a tourist – even if she is a very military-minded one.
>>3. Take her shopping before night falls and try to buy her something nice. Butter her up a bit before showing her the Source.
I'm sure we can find something she'll like while giving her the tour

>>37146427
>2. Let her wander about as she will. It’s kind of cute to see her acting like a tourist – even if she is a very military-minded one.
This option, but add some bits of >3. to make it look like a date. A TOUR Date!
Cute Sylvian is a go!

>>37146427
>>2. Let her wander about as she will. It’s kind of cute to see her acting like a tourist – even if she is a very military-minded one.
>3. Take her shopping before night falls and try to buy her something nice. Butter her up a bit before showing her the Source.

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>>37146387
>>37146411
>>37146427
Also, I've attached the latest Harrowmont if people want to compare what she's talking about with what is on the map.

>>37146580
I gather Harrowmount is rather novel compared to other fortress designs.

>>37146427
>2. Let her wander about as she will. It’s kind of cute to see her acting like a tourist – even if she is a very military-minded one.
>3. Take her shopping before night falls and try to buy her something nice. Butter her up a bit before showing her the Source.

>SmallMexicanGirlAskingRevoulutionaryQuestion.jpg

You're going to work for that nap Aspie

>>37146427
Combine 2 and 3.

Don't suck up but chaperone her through our City. Let her go and see what she wants but provide company and commentary as needed. Maybe something small and personal to give her at the end, that way she can appreciate it more?

>>37146657
>Maybe something small and personal
do you have an idea as to what?

>>37146580
Turn it into a tourist map and we're golden. Add some map boards around the fortress with YOU ARE HERE -> marks and it will be like a quirky cute novelty.

>>37146686
She mentioned liking some kind of thing like books or chocolates once, didn't she?

>>37146580
Always impresses me

>>37146915
.... a book made out of chocolate that you can eat?

>>37146948
a book filled with chocolates shaped like the heads of her enemies?

>>37147104
No, a book filled with chocolates with fillings made of the heads of her enemies.

>>37147104
>a book filled with chocolates
wouldn't that spoil the book?
>chocolates shaped like the heads of her enemies?
I wonder whom you would hire to make lifelike copies of a person in chocolate.
.... oh god, chocolate talons
or worse, chocolate talon's penis. from the company that brought you talon's smut books

>>37147184
So, Mal inc?

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>2 & 3

You decide it’s not worth interrupting her fun so instead decide to try to buy her something on the sly as she wanders about. Sylvian mentioned earlier that she’d seen Harrowmont before, so you’re not surprised that she’s not that interested in the outer courtyard. Still, the stalls keep her distracted long enough that you manage to pick out a few things she might like. Lynn has become rather popular, as have dragons in general with the public knowledge of Rayza. Somehow this turned into an odd fad involving dragons crafted out of precious metals and gems, followed by figures of famous individuals. You dropped a small amount of money on a vendor from Darlesia that you’ve seen before and from whom you usually buy things to keep the kits distracted.

“Which beast is this one for, Imperator?” the vendor asks you as he packs the figurines into a padded wooden box.

“A dragon who appears to have become a tourist,” you say as you pay and accept.

If Syl is interested in the box you’re now carrying around, she doesn’t show it. Instead she focuses on the fountain in the middle of the merchant district. She watches it turn for some time as she wanders to other stalls.

“I thought I was imagining it but it moves, doesn’t it?” she points out, nodding at the griffin in the centre of the enormous fountain.

“I thought it made a good centrepiece. Gnome and Undine seem to like it,” you say, eying the chocolates she’s nibbling on. Or scoffing down, really. The box of them is vanishing awfully quickly despite how dainty she manages to appear while eating them.

“I imagine they do, given they probably helped build and design it. The only thing elementals love more than the things they make are probably their masters,” she says, eying a young fox darting across the plaza. “They really just wander around, don’t they? The foxes I mean. It’s interesting to see.”

“There’s no reason why they shouldn’t,” you say.

>cont

>>37147206
>Mal inc?
ohahaha.
>YFW mal is actually the author of some of those books, writing using an alias.

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>>37147227
Despite her huge interest in the guildhalls, she keeps her curiosity at bay as the sun begins to set and you cross the roads towards the keep. At any second now she should feel the Source. There’s no real reaction that you can see, however. Eventually you find yourself at the reflection pool as she stares across the enormous expanse of shallow water at the keep.

“What do you plan to do with the unworked cliff face?” she asks you, pointing at the unworked area of cliffs that jut out into the fortress.

“Build a staircase halfway up, cut it flat to that level and then build a huge academy fortress,” you say, explaining the details more.

“An interesting idea. It’s probably a good idea to try to put an established tower or two there, too. Or start your own. I imagine that teaching magic will go faster with experienced mages to excite their interest. I have to say that I really like the idea of dedicated training for the more elite forces – it removes your dependence on the mage towers. The same can be said of expanding your knightly orders – don’t be afraid to make them very large or to make several. The nobles will frown and make noises but it’s much more reliable.”

You and Sylvian banter a bit about the benefits of centralising military power. If there’s one thing you can tell the dragon approves of, it’s you approach to conflict. A huge fortress, elite armies, a focus on training and industrialisation and complete control over your own armies. Part of you wonders how much of Sylvian’s dissatisfaction with the Guard comes from how disparate it now seems compared to when she controlled the entire faction. Now that you’re inside the keep, she must have sensed the Source. Instead she simply looks around the interior of the keep, nodding approvingly. You…

>1. Leave things be. If she doesn’t sense the Source, then it’s fine.
>2. Show her the Source.
>3. Ask her if she can sense anything special.
>4. Custom

>>37147251
>3. Ask her if she can sense anything special.

aren't the hotsprings right next to the source?

>>37147251
>1. Leave things be. If she doesn’t sense the Source, then it’s fine.
She knows it and knows Talon knows she knows it, but everyone is going to pretend anyway.