>[Intrigue/1d10] Collect the evidence for blackmail purposes.

>>1476713
>>[Intrigue/1d12] Hand the evidence over to Prince Haul for his investigation.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>1476759
1
>>1476775
2

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>>1476713
"Acquire the evidence. I can think of several uses for it. The Crown Prince already has everything he needs to bolster his reputation."

"I'll get it right away, your highness," Nimue says.

How long she's been there is a complete mystery, but you're too busy to worry about that now.

>Roll 1d10, best of three.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>1476797

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1476797

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1476797

Rolled 6 (1d10)

>>1476797

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>>1476797
Nimue disappears behind a bookshelf. This is a delicate mission, but you have full confidence in her abilities.

"We can decide what to do with it later," Myrddin says. "For now, we should focus on this little trinket."

Myrddin takes out your uncle's seal and puts it on the table. On its own, it isn't worth much. However, it does represent your uncle's princely authority, and can be used to forge documents in his name.

"What are your suggestions?" You ask. "Fabricate evidence to implicate some of his other business associates? His children, perhaps?"

"That would be standard procedure," Myrddin says, "but what if Prince Aled decided to add his nephew to his will in order to support his efforts to become Crown Prince?"

That would be a very convenient way to seize your uncle's assets before your cousins can absorb them.

"That does sound interesting," you say. "I assume you can replace the real will without issue?"

"Naturally."

>[Intrigue/1d12] Fabricate evidence to get rid of some of Prince Aled's more troublesome allies.
>[Intrigue/1d10] Fabricate evidence to get rid of Prince Aled's children.
>[Intrigue/1d8] Forge a new will so Prince Aled's assets will be inherited by Prince Haul.
>[Intrigue/1d6] Forge a new will so Prince Aled's assets will be split between you and your siblings.

>>1476857
>[Intrigue/1d10] Fabricate evidence to get rid of Prince Aled's children.

Money is all well and good but I'd rather burn the nest before it spreads anymore roots. Odds are good that at least one of his kids will be both competent and threatening.

>>1476864
Seconded

>>1476857
>>[Intrigue/1d10] Fabricate evidence to get rid of Prince Aled's children.

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>>1476857
"Remember when I said I would wait a while before I decided what to do about my cousins?" You look at Myrddin and smirk. "My mind's made up. It's time to drag them down."

"In that case," Myrddin says, "let's see what we can pin on them that the Crown Prince will take offence to."

>Roll 1d10, best of three.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1476914

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1476914
Come on dice, daddy needs a new pair of shoes. Oh, and to implicate my cousins for treason.

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1476914

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>>1476914
You write a few letters, tracing from samples of your uncle's writing as an additional precaution, and sign them with Prince Aled's seal. It's nothing explicit, but they're dated to coincide with a number of suspicious incidents and there's enough innuendo to lead the Crown Prince to a few conclusions that would have escaped him otherwise.

Myrddin promises to indirectly deliver the letters to the Crown Prince and to return the seal to Prince Aled's belongings so no one suspects your actions. Afterwards, you decide to return to your room. It's late - or early, depending on one's perspective - enough that sleeping will just be more frustrating than anything, so you decide to power through.

You realize your decision is a rather moot point as soon as you open the door. Rhein's crying, Aislin's crying, and Reagan is looking quite put-upon.

"Your timing is rather excellent, your highness." Reagan gives you Rhein so she can coddle Aislin. "Did things go well?"

"My uncle is deceased, his associates are about to fall under my control, and his children are about to lose their positions barring a miracle." You'll say this about wrecking havoc across the battlefield and dooming hundreds to unsightly deaths: it makes changing diapers look like a mundane task. "I just need to set my brother a little straighter and we'll be able to return to Degfford in the spring. We can go to Olstren after that."

"That is excellent news," Reagan says. "What do you have in mind for your brother?"

>"A working lunch, I think. You and Mair can accompany us."
>"Another party to help him relax. Eleri can escort me."

>>1476981
>>"A working lunch, I think. You and Mair can accompany us."

>>1476981
>"A working lunch, I think. You and Mair can accompany us."

File: Meirion2.png (163 KB, 500x281)

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>>1476981
"A working lunch, I think." You change into lighter clothes for the night and sit at your desk to catch up on some reading under the moonlight. "You and Mair can join us."

"That's fine." Reagan curls back in bed. "Tomorrow?"

"No, I expect my brother will be too tired," you say. "I might have to deal with my father as well. I don't even know if he's been informed of Prince Aled's death yet."

"Ah, yes, I imagine would be upset to learn about a sibling's death," Reagan says. "In hindsight, it's a good thing I was born an only child. Siblings would have made things so much more difficult for me."

Reagan drifts off to sleep while you work. Sunrise comes after only a few hours. You yawn and think about who you're going to spend your time with for the moment.

>Mom and dad.
>Big brother.
>Wife. And consort. And concubine.

>>1477081
>Mom and dad.

>>1477081
>Wife. And consort. And concubine.

>>1477081
>Mom and dad.

We're going to be spending a lot of time with Haul soon enough, and then the rest of the year with the missus(es?). Might as well help soften the blow about Aled.

>>1477081
>Mom and dad.

>>1477081
Mom and dad

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>>1477081
You briefly check up on the children to make sure they're fine and quietly leave the room to visit your parents. It's a little after the crack of dawn, but your father has always been a fairly riser and there's no way he'll be sleeping in today.

The throne room is empty, as is your parents' room. That just leaves your father's office. The door is shut, but your mother is sitting just outside, smiling brightly. That's as good an indication as any that your father's inside.

"You did very well last night, Meirion," your mother says. "I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, mother." You glance nervously at the door. "What has father been told?"

"He knows his brother is dead, but that's all for now," Queen Margrete answers. "I don't think his mood will improve once the rumours - and the evidence - come in. Haul should be here soon to talk about what he's discovered. I've been waiting for him, but if you want to take the lead…"

This is not going to be pleasant, but your father going to have to hear about it eventually.

>Wait for your brother first.
>Go on in.

>>1477156
>Go on in.

>>1477156
>Wait for your brother first.

>>1477156
>Wait for your brother first.
Eh... the whole plan more or less resides on Haul being more independent.

What I want to ask her while we wait is what her plans are as soon as we head north for Degfford/Olstren.

>>1477156
>>Wait for your brother first.

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>>1477156
You sit by your mother and wait for your brother. In the meantime, you don't hear a single noise from your father's office. He definitely isn't taking this well.

Your brother drags himself in a few moments later, haggard, tired and beaten. He cut a heroic image when you last saw him in that restaurant, but that image is gone now. This might very well be the first time he's had to deal with such a difficult situation.

"Good morning, mother, Meirion. I imagine you heard?"

"Just some rumours about uncle. I had hoped to ask father about it, but…" You look towards the door. "I didn't want to disturb him."

"I didn't want to disturb him during the night, so I sent a message to him in the morning," Prince Haul says. "Unfortunately, the situation has… changed since I wrote it."

"Well, waiting outside won't move things along," you say. "Brother, will you go first?"

Prince Haul nods and slowly opens the door. You can finally hear your father's quiet sobbing. Your mother enters first to put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I know this is difficult," she says, "but Haul has something important to report."

>[Dilettante/1d12] Try to cheer your father up.
>[Sovereign/Autosuccess] Tell your father to straighten up.
>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Feign ignorance.

>FYI, Crits aren't applied to this roll. The autosuccesses are there by default.

>>1477262
>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Feign ignorance.

>>1477262
>>[Intrigue/Autosuccess] Feign ignorance.

>>1477262
>>[Dilettante/1d12] Try to cheer your father up.

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>>1477262
"Brother, do you know what happened? I only heard uncle had passed away."

"There was an altercation at a restaurant," Prince Haul says. "Prince Aled and Prince Celdwyn were both killed. I immediately arrested as many of the suspects as I could, but some of them escaped. More importantly…"

King Gerad sucks in a deep breath and lets out a heavy sigh. He pushes his body back against his chair and looks at your brother.

"Go ahead," he says.

"The men I assigned to investigate the matter have found evidence that Prince Aled was involved in… illegal activities. Smuggling, extortion, blackmail and illegal loans are the most common, but there are rumours of… darker things."

Your father's shoulders sag and his gaze loses his focus. "I said I'd protect him," he mumbles. "I said I'd keep him straight. In the end, I couldn't do anything for my own brother…"

Queen Margrete slowly rubs her husband's back to comfort him.

"No one can blame you for this, father," you say. "We all know you did your best in all your endeavours. Ultimately, Uncle Aled was responsible for his own actions."

"Just as I am responsible for my inactions," King Gerad says, "and since I can no longer act, there's no need for me to be king anymore. Haul, you will take the throne once this matter is settled."

That's not necessarily a bad idea, although you're not sure if Haul is ready to be King, or if it's more beneficial for you; your mother can't "coach" Haul to the same extent as she does your father. It might be better if your father remained King for a few months, or perhaps even until Olstren is firmly under your lineage's control.

>[Sovereign/Autosuccess] "If you think that's for the best, father."
>[Sovereign/1d12] "Perhaps it would be best to wait a while longer.
>[Sovereign/1d10] "Will you really run away from your responsibilities, father?"

>All options but the first include a crit.

>>1477361
>>[Sovereign/1d10] "Will you really run away from your responsibilities, father?"

>>1477361
>>[Sovereign/1d10] "Will you really run away from your responsibilities, father?"

>>1477361
>[Sovereign/1d12] "Perhaps it would be best to wait a while longer.

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>>1477361
"Will you really run away from your responsibilities, father?" You ask. "We all know you were already going to step down in a few years. Why do this now, before everything is in place?"

Prince Haul doesn't raise any objections. You expect he'll follow your father's decision.

>Roll 1d10, best of three.

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>1477415

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1477415

Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1477415

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>>1477415
"Meirion's not wrong, dear," Queen Margrete says. "You'll set a bad example if you quit so impulsively. There's still work for you to do."

"Hmm…" King Gerad closes his eyes and sighs. "You do have a point." He opens his eyes again. "Haul, I'll increase still increase your workload in the future. I am getting too old for this."

"Of course, father."

That's one small weight off your back. While you're confident you could talk your brother into supporting you, things will be much easier in the near future if your mother has your back. Allies you can trust to act and react on their own are often more useful than those that needed to be micromanaged.

"What about the investigation?" You ask. "Will you need help, brother?"

"I have things well in hand for now, Meirion," Prince Haul says. "I will inform you should I require additional assistance."

"That will be fine," King Gerad says. "I will expect regular updates."

All the pieces are in place. Soon, the cogs will go into motion and your biggest problems in Gwyrddarfordir and you'll finally be able to focus on securing Reagan's throne.

Rolled 2, 4, 1 = 7 (3d6)

>>1477463
And now, for the XP.

Rolled 1, 7, 7 = 15 (3d8)

>>1477467
Round 2.

Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>1477475
And that's all for today. As usual, Beleaguered Prince Quest will return on Friday May 26th at 7PM EDT. You can follow me on twitter @BeleagueredQM for updates.

Until then, goodnight and thanks for playing.

>>1477482
Thanks bossman

>>1477482
Very nice session! Thanks for running!