File: peasant_lord_quest.pdf (789 KB, PDF)

789 KB PDF

>>2683491
PDF contains threads 1-5, also added a table of contents for quick navigation

“No, no my boy. Look at it again, knight to king-bishop six, then I capture with my pawn, now the king’s knight file is open, do you see?”
“Yes. I see that.” You play the move out on the board and look at him. His eyes are closed, and his hands are gently placed on his folded knees, the same position they’ve been in for the last three hours.
“And then?” He whispers. “What is the cardinal rule of war my boy?”
“All war is habit.” You say, automatically.
“No, no, the other one, relating to actual battle. The whole objective.”
“Strike with the greatest force at the weakest point by the fastest route.”
“Exactly so. And if there is no weakness?”
“Create one.” You look back at the board. “Ah, I see. Queen’s rook to king’s knight one, check.” You slide the piece into the square and the Count smiles.
“Very good. And the rest?”
“The king moves, Bishop captures knight-pawn, checkmate.”
“Good.” He nods, which is the signal for setting the pieces up again. “The lesson here is to always force your opponent to react to your own maneuvers, never the other way around. Always maintain the initiative. Control the flow of battle from the beginning and you will win most of the time. Control it even before the game begins and you will never lose.”
“But my lord, all we’ve done so far is play this game and read military reports. I enjoy Eastern novelties as much as the next man,” And you think back to the pendant in your bottom drawer and feel a pit inside your stomach. “But is this really going to help me lead men into battle? What about training the men? Or field exercises?”
“In due time my boy, in due time. Those other things are merely dressings. The battle is fought here.” He taps the side of his head. “And won here.”
“Yes my lord.”
“Are the pieces ready?”
“Yes my lord.”
“Good. King’s pawn forward two spaces.”

And the games continue. It has gone this way for the past week and a half. You’ve barely even had time to see Miriam. She tells you she doesn’t mind but she never looks you in the eyes when she says it. You burn your candles studying games and military manuals and there’s been no encore performance of your nuptial night.
Living under the same roof as Ophelia doesn’t help matters either. When the announcement was made she looked like a dead body fished out of the ocean, pale, rigid and swollen. She’s been avoiding you; but you’ve also caught her spying on you at night, in the study, and have said nothing. To her credit, she’s displayed a sisterly affection toward Miriam, keeping her occupied throughout the day, showing her around the town, even teaching her a little about statecraft and diplomacy and the maintenance of the household.

Cont.

>>2683501
One day Miriam handed you a scarf that she had “knitted by sweet Ophelia’s guidance”. It smelled of Ophelia, of lavender and coral and you knew her hands had mingled with the thread and you wanted to burn it in the fireplace and at the same time put it on and never take it off. It lies in the last drawer, held there by the excuse that it is too hot now to wear. These small issues push you further into your work. Into your guilt. For now, you begin to feel a slight anger toward Miriam, a granular hatred that lacks both basis and reason, yet accumulates like a concretion of calcium in a diseased kidney.
You try and suppress it. More than once you’ve been short with her. In every case, she was completely innocent, but she took it all in great stride, with great love and with great patience, always searching for faults within herself rather than in you, always working diligently toward some unreachable perfection. She wants so desperately to be a wife worthy of you—whatever entails in her own mind—yet her efforts provoke only ire and annoyance. The purer she makes herself, the greater becomes your resistance. It is a disease without cure; a madness without end.
…
“My lord, Sir Kay has just arrived.” Stewart bows as he enters your study and then searches for you among the stacks of books and open scrolls. You are lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling in silence. He almost steps on your arm before he finds you. “What are you doing down there? Is everything alright?”
“Fine.” You sit up and massage your neck. “What news does Sir Kay bring?”
“I don’t know yet, he’s only just arrived.” Stewart offers his hand and pulls you up. “I can take his report in your place if you want.”
“And what news of the Lemurian delegation?”
Stewart scratches his forehead. “They’ve sent back our dispatch.”
“What? Why? Was anyone hurt?”
“No. Which believe me, is progress on their part.” Stewart circles to the table and pours himself a glass of wine. “They want you to go.”
“Me?”
“Apparently they’ve heard of you. They want to, and I quote, ‘Meet the two-leg who bested Sir Ulrich’.” Stewart drains his glass and looks at it. “My lord Count has good taste.” He mutters. “Anyway, I think you should go. The Centaurions respect martial prowess over everything else, they won’t even accept ordinary delegates but if it’s you, then they might be open to negotiations. Of course, I suspect they’ll want a spar or two before that.”
“What about my duties here?” You take the glass from Stewart’s hand and pour some water for yourself. “My studies?”
“I can take over your duties for the interim. As for your studies, I’ve already gotten permission from the Count for a temporary leave. You could use it, my lord, you’ve been looking like a grave robber these days. Have you been sleeping?”
“On occasion.”

Cont.

>>2683506
“Well, you haven’t gone anywhere with your new wife yet. This is a good opportunity. A honeymoon trip up-river and then a pleasant ride into the plains. Very romantic.”
“This isn’t some pleasure cruise.” You say and slump down on your chair.
“Well it’s up to you. But Lady Miriam was quite taken with the idea and will be most disappointed if you refuse.”
You snap to your feet. “You told her already? Why! Who told you to do that!” You slam the glass on the table and a hairline crack appears on its body.
“Well she would have found out eventually, my lord.” Says Stewart, examining his nails.

>Take her with you, it’ll be good to spend some time with her
>Leave her, you’re heading into a nation of barbarians, it could be dangerous

>>2683507
>>Leave her, you’re heading into a nation of barbarians, it could be dangerous

Unless you guys want her to die and her dad to rain hell fire on us.

>>2683507
>Take her with you, it’ll be good to spend some time with her
Im voting for this purely on the basis that I dont trust ophalia not to fuck with her.
Fuck ophalia
Im waiting to put her in the ground man.

>>2683507
>>Take her with you, it’ll be good to spend some time with her

I want to take her purely on the basis that it means more chances to fuki fuki.

>>2683491
>a former peasant elevated to nobility by an accident of fate
Wut?

>>2683507
>>Take her with you, it’ll be good to spend some time with her

>>2683507
>>Leave her, you’re heading into a nation of barbarians, it could be dangerous
I'm voting purely to spite this guy's >>2683558
raging hateboner for Ophelia. Chill the fuck out already.

>>2683507
>>Take her with you, it’ll be good to spend some time with her
William needs to resolve his issues with her to a stable discontentment at least.
Own his baggage and remove that grain of hatred.
Plus, she deserves a honeymoon.

>>2683812
We killed an enemy lord with a stray arrow and got a lordship in reward. Pre-quest backstory.

>>2684295
>killed an enemy lord with a stray arrow
Who would accept such a pussy as their lord?

>>2684310
Everybody thinks it was an expert shot, and that we're a big dick hero. Plus peasants think we're a man of the people, too, so they like us.

We should just get it over with and fuck Ophelia already.

>>2684350
Impossible. William heart will not agree. One day his dick will do the talking.

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Miriam best girl, pure and innocent. Why QM is so obsessed with Ophelia?

>>2684310
And we have proved to be a good lord, so far. We won a tournament too, we are married to an important lady, we have learnt many things, given many helps and trained by a legendary General.

William is not such a "pussy"

You start snapping books shut, imagining that Stewart’s head is between them. “This isn’t funny.” You say.
“I’m not laughing.” Says Stewart. He leans in and whispers. “You promised you would make her happy. I see her sulking at breakfast, eating alone like the new girl in school. She deserves better.”
“What do you want me do? I’m too busy.”
“Is that why you wouldn’t let her help you with your studies?” He hisses. “She came to me with tears in her eyes asking me if she had done something to wrong you. And yet when that woman sneaks into your study, you make no effort to remove her.”
You swallow and look away. “How did you know about that?”
“Always assume I know.” He says. “Have you done anything with her?”
“Of course not.”
“Good.” He touches your shoulder and turns you. “My good lord, I know your heart. But I am only looking out for you. I only want the best for you and our people.”
“I know.” You say, quietly. “I’ll take Miriam with me.”
“Take me where?” Miriam comes bearing a tray of food (which she must’ve taken from the servant following her) and looks between you and Stewart.
“Ask him yourself.” Says Stewart. He squeezes your arm and flees while Miriam looks for a place to set down the tray. You set aside some books and nod at the servant to leave you.
“D-did I interrupt something?” She asks.
“No. You have perfect timing, come and sit. Have you eaten?”
She shakes her head and her bangles ring. “Eat with me. I can’t eat all this.” You sit at your chair and as there are no other chairs in the room unoccupied by books, scrolls or maps, you have her sit on your lap. You always marvel how small and delicate she is, her head reaches only to your chin and it feels as though you could break her with a strong touch.
She begins to feed you and herself. “Do you want to come with me to Lemuria?” You ask. “I know we haven’t had a formal honeymoon.”
She stares at the food. “I don’t care about that.” She says. “I know you’re very busy so—”
“Well it’s already been decided.” You say. “You’ll be coming with me, we’ll go upriver and then take a carriage to the Plains.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. We’re setting off tomorrow, so you had better start packing after this.”
“Oh!” She wraps her arms around your neck and starts kissing your cheek. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise I won’t be a bother. I’ll be very good, you’ll see.” She settles back down and starts to giggle. “I can’t wait! Are the Plains really as empty as they say?”
“The greatest nothing you’ve ever seen.”

Cont.

>>2684656
She starts to bounce in your lap. “This is going to be so great! Oh, thank you husband.” She kisses you again and this time, overtaken by a sudden tenderness, you hold her fast to your chest, squeezing her into you. “W-William? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Your voice is broken, but you don’t release her.
“Oh” She starts to run her hands through your hair. “Well, you know you can tell me anything.” She says. “I’m your wife. To be married is to share one soul.”
“Mary.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you happy?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course I am! Happier than I’ve ever been.” Then realizing the true nature of this question, she adds, quietly. “Aren’t you?”
You cleave from her and stare at the face which has only gotten more beautiful since the union. You brush a lock of red hair across her brow and kiss her gently in the center of her forehead.
“It is enough.” You say and try to smile.
…
There are still some matters to resolve before you leave for the Plains. The lumber trade needs to be consolidated and both Meaville and Olmsville need someone to lead them. Currently the unofficial head of Meaville is the shrewish creature, Rufus Dare. He owns most of the farmland there and presides as a kind of mayor. Despite his detestable nature, he’s so far done a good job for the Count. He’s ensured steady taxes for the past four years without a single missing payment. Reports from the peasantry aren’t as encouraging. More than once he’s pressured the fathers of pretty village girls to relinquish their daughters in exchange for favor. This is not uncommon (though generally confined to nobility) but Rufus Dare likes his girls younger than most. He’s repulsive but he’s also industrious and diligent and you’ll be hard pressed to remove him without a costly buyout of his lands.
As for Olmsville, Kilkain is willing to step up and take charge. Sampson, the Miller who once tried to kill you in your sleep, also wants the position. Finally, Wilkain has come with you to Silvale to join in recruiting and training the influx of volunteers from the surrounding lands. You’ll need those men to settle in Crawford Barrow but Wilkain has been riding them so hard that many of them are deserting.

>Roll 1d20 for the lumber trade/contracts

Who will you appoint as mayor?
>Choose two (one for Olmsville, one for Meaville)
>Kilkain
>Sampson
>Rufus Dare
>Write-in

What will you do about Wilkain?
>Have a frank discussion with him, he needs to lay off
>Reappoint him to recruitment efforts in more distant lands
>Nothing, you don’t need weak-willed men in your kingdom

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>>2684658
>She starts to bounce in your lap

>>2684658
>Rufus Dare for Meaville.
He may be a scoundrell, but one that keeps knows his work. He may be detestable, but he won't become a traitor. He may be pressuring people, but they are rumours. There is only so much you can do, and this is NOT a sacrifice. This is the desition of a Lord.

>Kilkain for Olmsville. He has suffered, he is just a hunter, but above all, he has been with you since the begining. What other man can say the same?

>Reappoint him to recruitment efforts in more distant lands. Wilkain must be kept busy, lest he gets depressed again. Let him be as intense as he can, but send him to bother other lands, where recruits are not fed up with him. However, I'd like to appoint someone else to keep the volunteers together, training and what not.

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>>2683495
>PDF contains threads 1-5
nice effort man, my friend salutes you

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>2684658
>Who will you appoint as mayor?
>>Sampson
He owes you for his place in the village and we already have hurt him by our decisions. He might be a dedicated follower.

>>Rufus Dare
Any wrong doing in the past was under the Count. The man does the job well.
We need to meet with him and let him know that we are more concerned with the well being of our people.

>What will you do about Wilkain?
>>Reappoint him to recruitment efforts in more distant lands
Like Anon said, keep him working.

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>2684658
>Kilkain for Olmsville
>Sampson for Meaville
>Have a frank discussion with him, he needs to lay off

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>2684658
>Sampson for olmsville
>Rufus dare for meaville
>Reappoint him to recruitment efforts in more distant lands

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>2684672
I never rolled my dices!

You decide to appoint Kilkain as the governor of Olmsville and leave Rufus Dare alone. Kilkain has been with you since the beginning and you don’t want to deal with Rufus Dare right this minute. As for Sir Kay, the caravan and the lumber trade, it seems that the news of the assassination has finally broken throughout the kingdom and piracy and robbery are so rampant in the roads that few are willing to engage in any kind of trade. Indeed, your own caravan was robbed on the way back. Thankfully you were able to break even thanks to the quick thinking of one of the boys that went with the Caravan. He hid some of the gold in a false compartment that the bandits did not find.
Sir Kay tells you that there are some interested parties to the East (in the secretive Basara Kingdom) but that these are merely rumors he’s heard and besides there are no reliable trade routes to Basara except by circumnavigating the continent by sea. It’s hard news to hear but gives even more reason to settle Crawford Barrow as the purchase of weapons and equipment be conventional means has become an impossible endeavor.
…

Cont.

>>2686452
“M’lord you wanted me?” You haven’t seen Wilkain since you got his report about the Othercreature and the elves. The report was sparse. Wilkain escaped the elf ambush, survived in the wilderness on his own skill and strength, tracked the Othercreature and when the Count showed up, joined him in a combined assault on the Shrike. After that the Elves just left. You’ve always suspected he and the Count are hiding something from you, but you assume that whatever it is, they’ll tell you when you need to know.
Wilkain has only been invigorated by the harrowing trial, despite losing an eye and three fingers. He wears an eyepatch and a black leather glove filled in with pieces of wood where the fingerholes would otherwise go flat. Since you’ve appointed him as head of the militia there's no more of his sulking manner left.
“Yes, do you know anything about watercraft?” You’re at the river docks in Silvale, trying to negotiate a good barge to take up river with Miriam.
“Fraid not, m’lord. More of a riding man myself.”
“I suppose I am too.” You say.
“You want I get someone who knows them? There’s a lad—comes of fisherman stock, three generations, more fish than man, I tell you. Could swim upriver in a flood.”
“No, I wanted to discuss something else. Walk with me.” He follows, and he holds his hands behind his back in the way he surveys the ranks of his men. “It’s come to my attention that some of the volunteers have been deserting.”
There’s a pause. “Cowards m’lord. Don’t need ‘em anymore than a cow needs milk. We squeeze ‘em out, that’s what you hired me for.”
You sigh. “No Wilkain, I hired you to train them, not work them so hard they flee for their lives. I’m reassigning you to recruitment efforts further out.”
“And what about the lads?”
“I’ll find someone else.”
“Is this a punishment?”
“No, it is not. Frankly I agree with you, we don’t need lilylivers but these volunteers will be settling Crawford Barrow. Quantity is more important than quality. What I am tasking you with now however, is the latter.”
“Got it. When am I out?”
“Immediately. I leave the details to you, just gather me the best soldiers you can. I’m sure you’ve heard the news.”
“Kings dead.” He says, then mutters “Long live the king.” He stops and bites the wooden bit of his glove. “I got full reign on this m’lord? Do it my way?”
“Within reason, but yes. Do as you like.”
He salutes. “Count on me m’lord. I’ll get her done.”
“Good. And on second thought, do send over that lad you mentioned. All these boats look the same to me.”
“Will do. Gods keep you safe.”
“And you.”

…
>Roll 1d20 for Lemuria trip
>Take a scenic route to the destination with frequent stops, it’s longer but Miriam will enjoy it
>Take the quickest route possible, time is of the essence
>Go all the way upriver to inspect Crawford Barrow before riding south

Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>2686458
You want us to choose between traveling to Lemuria and advancing the story to inspect Crawford? You dammned... aaaargh is too hard to decide!

>Take a scenic route to the destination with frequent stops, it’s longer but Miriam will enjoy it. Let's try to enjoy the gentle repose. We will need these memories... also,

Can we pack some partchment to write in? books too. Not to continue to study war and all, it would boooring for mirian, but rather, books about poetry or theatrical plays.

Books and stories that Mirian would like. She can read them to us. We can also startgaze during the night and she will tell us the constelations. Both of 'em, resting in the grass to the side of the road after a lovemaking sesion, looking to the infinite black sky, dotted with twinkling dreams... how romantic.

Also, we can try to teach Miriam some swordplay. Nothing serious, but she will probably like the idea. What else can we give her? Everything seems small compared to all she's given us.

Also! We need some people to travel with us. We ain't traveling in a small convoy are we? We at least need two servants, guards and a scout on a horseback. And gold. And trinkets and gifts.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>2686458
Im gonna roll before I choose. Because I forgot if our earlier decisions leading up to this were critical

>>2686504
>>2686510
Ain't this trip a beatiful one. Wait is this a critical sucess?

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>2686458
>Take a scenic route to the destination with frequent stops, it’s longer but Miriam will enjoy it

>>2686504
>>2686510
>>2686637

>>2686512
It is now. This crit may have just changed the course of the story and averted disasters I had planned for several years down the road

>>2683491
When will we get a sigil for our house btw? All nobility have heralds and sigils to identify themselves (lions, wolfs, dragons, roses, etc...)

Should we get something like a sheep since our house name is Shepard?

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>>2686720
Were you saying?

>>2686648
Pffff. I can just imagine a neckbeard tossing a notebook across a room onto some trash pile filled with soda cans.
>>2686795
I wouldn't mind this sigil personally.

>>2686458
Also sure ill go for
>Take a scenic route to the destination with frequent stops, it’s longer but Miriam will enjoy it

>>2686504
sounds nice, supporting

>>2686648
Ahh, this is a Pleasure Barge. Minus the boat. And the water. But lotsa pleasure indeed. Please let William forget the pendant at home please please its a crit success, pls William you can be happy, have sexss with Miriam

>>2686971
And no. QM is a tall blonde big shaft man with a stable source of income, a waifu, two kids and a dog

>>2686458
>Take a scenic route to the destination with frequent stops, it’s longer but Miriam will enjoy it

>>2686458
>>Take the quickest route possible, time is of the essence

>>2687642
Kinda happy to lose this vote.

taking the scenic route arent we? We gonna have passion in the field right? right? RIGHT?

GOD DAMN IT WILLIAM PLEASE STOP YOUR BLIND LOVE WITH FUCKING OPHELIA MERIAM IS BEST GIRL GDI!!

We aren't going dressed really fancy and rich are we? Ought to bring a sword and a guide along with us.

>>2688678
>>2688542
According to the critical failure, we are going to get drunk with Miriam, ending naked in the forest during the night with no provisions but a bottle of brandy.

We will walk down the road, tumbling and singing songs about past glories, avoiding all sorts of dangers and fending off evils. We will discover an ancient tomb filled with riches and wake up at Lemuria dressed as mummies, upholstered in jewels with a terrible hangover.

>>2688699
I mean critical sucess ekks d. Also I got dubs.

The morning of the trip, the sun is shadowed by summer rain. You ride through mud and deserted streets because Miriam did not want to wait and “Anyway the boats will be covered, and the rain will die in the afternoon and it’s only a little water.” Miriam’s meteorological forecasts are suspect but you’re no stranger to rain and time is short and so you arrive at the docks three hours before noon when the lightning is beginning to crackle like woodchips in the flame.
The barge is more of a canoe, tapered on both ends like a leaf with a curved roof made of straw and packed mud that shelters its middle. It’s manned by just two men on either side who row not with oars but with two long sticks carved and lashed together with fishwire. A second and third barge carry the rest of your train, three servants and two bodyguards (on Stewart’s insistence), four pieces of luggage, a barrel of preserved meat and another of barley wine for the Centaurions and a calico cat that snuck on board that Miriam instantly named, fell in love with and refused to get rid of.
It’s only you and Miriam (and the two rowers and Mr. Ruggles, the cat) in the boat. Above and below you the waters rage. Rain drips steadily through the gaps in the straw and from the rims of the roof water falls in sheeted waves. One of rowers occasionally stops his meditative smoking to cast a bucket dump the excess back to its source.
There are few sounds among these things. Miriam has your head in her lap and reads from a book of Eastern poetry. It’s written in their language, but Miriam is fluent and she translates only for your convenience but reads both because “You just have to hear the music of the original”. She will pause to add her own commentary about the meaning of certain words, or her interpretation of some metaphor or a tidbit about the background history of the author or the place or the thing discussed and in all this her voice will be steady and regular like the rain, so that you marvel at the depth of her knowledge but also at the softness of her voice and softness of her thighs and the still fragility of her like the thin spiderwebs in the armpit of a tree.
Then you wonder how you or anyone could hate such a pure blameless creature. May well hate a birdsong or a rose. She reads and strokes your hair and as though she milked the weights off your soul, you fall into a deep pleasant sleep. She wakes you hours later with a gentle whisper at your ear. “We’re here husband.”

Cont.

>>2689075

You rub your eyes and rise. She falls because her legs have fallen asleep. You catch her and carry her out in your arms, which delights her. “You should have woken me if you were uncomfortable.” You say.
“I don’t mind. You looked so peaceful, and I know you haven’t been sleeping well.” She clears her throat, knowing she has touched on something that she should not have. “A-anyway I’m fine now, you can put me down. “
“It’s muddy here. Your dress will get ruined. Let’s go to the carriage first.”
The other servants and even the guards grin at this spectacle but say nothing. It’s a mere mile to where the carriage is waiting. The rain has stopped, and the sun is out, though burning quietly in the distant mountains and soon gone.
“You don’t have to carry me the whole way.” Says Miriam, playfully kicking her legs. “Aren’t I heavy?”
You laugh. “About as much as a sack of feathers. I could carry you for forty miles without even feeling winded.”
“Oooh, such a big strong man.” She says. “And yet, when he sees a tiny little leech…”
“That is very different.”
“Isn’t it the husband that’s supposed to kill the spiders?” You wince. She gasps. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of spiders too!”
“Of course not.” You mumble.
She giggles. “Is it all insects then? Do you fear grasshoppers too? What about butterflies?”
“Hilarious.”
“Don’t be cross.” She says, laughing. “Don’t worry I’ll protect you from all the big bad bugs.”
“I’ll drop you. Right in the mud.”
“Ok, ok.” She reaches up and kisses your cheek. “A weakness is not a bad thing.” She whispers. “It makes you human. Easier to love.”
“And what about you? What quakes immortal Mary’s heart?”
“Oh, this and that.”
The carriage comes into view and you lose the opportunity to press her on it. You ride through the night, your positions reversed as Mary now falls asleep on your lap and you make idle conversation with one of the bodyguards. Near dawn of the next day you stop for breakfast and a little sight-seeing. You are not out of the woods yet, but the driver says that you should be in the border of Lemuria by midday.

Cont.

>>2689078
The servants prepare breakfast and Miriam watches them. The bodyguards request a quick instructional spar in the meantime and you decide it’d be a good way to work up an appetite. But they last less than a minute. The battle with Sir Ulrich has elevated you to a position of skill that few can match.
You see your wife staring at you throughout and at first you take it as the usual affectionate worry of a spouse, later however, she comes to you with a practice sword that she forced from one of the guards and asks you in total seriousness, to teach her how to fight.

>Absolutely not, a woman does not need to, nor should know how, to fight. It’s unseemly.
>This is a side you’ve never seen of her. But fighting is serious business, you won’t pull your punches.
>This is probably just a passing fancy; teach her some of the stances but no need to go beyond that

>>2689082
>This is probably just a passing fancy; teach her some of the stances but no need to go beyond that
She is pregnant. Let's not make her miscarry.

>>2689082
>>This is a side you’ve never seen of her. But fighting is serious business, you won’t pull your punches.
>>2689085
The punches help build the fetus's character.

>>2686720
>Should we get something like a sheep since our house name is Shepard?
Yes.

>>2689082
>>This is a side you’ve never seen of her. But fighting is serious business, you won’t pull your punches.

Hahaha, Miriam I didn't knew this side of you. First lesson: You have to hold the sword from the other end.

>>2689082
>This is a side you’ve never seen of her. But fighting is serious business, you won’t pull your punches.

>>2689082
>Absolutely not, a woman does not need to, nor should know how, to fight. It’s unseemly.
Let's not have a miscarriage

So I meant to do this last thread but I forgot.

Just wanted to poll you guys on your thoughts for the quest thus far. I know the threads have slowed down to one-post-per day (nothing I can do about that unfortunately) but contentwise?

After this brief Miriam interlude we'll be moving past personal drama (the Miriam-Ophelia issue will be resolved one way or the other) into more political/management stuff. Things are going to escalate soon.

I'd like to know if there's anything in particular you want to focus on (or focus away from). I know we've lost a significant portion of readers (or maybe they're just lurking) but this is actually a pretty comfy middle ground and I'd like to now start building the quest around your preferences.

>>2689409
Focus away from William's insufferable obsession with Ophelia.

>>2689461
See
>the Miriam-Ophelia issue will be resolved one way or the other

>>2689082
>>Absolutely not, a woman does not need to, nor should know how, to fight. It’s unseemly.

>>2689409
>>2689461
Increase William's undying devotion to Ophelia tenfold.

>>2689409
The personal drama works because you make it flow quite nicely, although I'm sure we all would like to see more being-a-lord stuff going on.

>>2689082
>>2689398
>>2689472
>Absolutely not, a woman does not need to, nor should know how, to fight. It’s unseemly.
Switching to this. I really don't want to risk a miscarriage.

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>>2689082
>>This is a side you’ve never seen of her. But fighting is serious business, you won’t pull your punches.
Metaphorical punches, right?

>>2689281
>The punches help build the fetus's character.
This made me laugh hard.

>>2689409
I want more city management, personally. I really appreciated those early portions, where our sole focus was improving Olmsville as best we could. I understand that this isn't a Civ game, but I feel like, even if we're not directly involved in the building and construction of the town's betterment, we should be dealing with its infrastructure and tribulations regularly.

Focus away from one-on-one combat. It was a slog before. I imagine, with the coming war, things will turn more towards general strategy and broad battle plans. But don't make us fight individuals save someone of note.

I'd like to send some diplomats to far off lands, if at all possible, to exchange ideas and goods. There's at least some contact involved between the differing cultures, given we have a poetry book from the East, but I'd like a more direct relation with them. Maybe we'll get a centaur to hang out with us for a while, I don't know.

>>2689409
Also don't focus away from the character driven and medieval soap opera aspect. I went to this quest expecting it to be just another civ quest where the character are just spreadsheets. I was pleasantly surprised when it didn't to be that way.

>>2689082
Ah shit. I completely forgot she was pregnant. Changing my vote to
>This is probably just a passing fancy; teach her some of the stances but no need to go beyond that

>>2689307
>First lesson: You have to hold the sword from the other end.
Heh
This reminds me of some copypasta I wrote once

>>2689494
>where the character
Characters*
Typo

>>2689494
This is fellow of black skin has the wisdom most sages dream of.

>>2689082

>Teach her some stances. Position and such. She may be pegnant.

>>2689082
>All these miscarriage-metagamers

I want Miriam to be able to defend herself if need be and I trust William to not treat his fragile, petite, fragile wife like a burly recruit.

So I'll change to
>teach her some of the stances
if
>>2689488
>punches
Doesn't win.

>Absolutely not
This just is us preventing Miriam from rewriting her story and growing despite our having encouraged her to do just that.

>>2689082
>>2689085
>>2689082
>This is probably just a passing fancy; teach her some of the stances but no need to go beyond that
Switching back to this.

>>2689622
>I trust William to not treat his fragile, petite, fragile wife like a burly recruit.
William can be a dumbass sometimes anon.
Did you forgot how he chimped out at Stewart and threatened to kill him simply for implying that Ophelia might be a whore?

>>2689409
>threads have slowed down to one-post-per day
One three-post sized update a day is reasonable for a slow paced quest.
It's fine.

>moving past personal drama
See
>>2689477
>The personal drama works because you make it flow quite nicely

>more political/management stuff. Things are going to escalate soon.
Yay!

>>2689409
>I'd like to know if there's anything in particular you want to focus on
>>2689492
>more city management
But
>>2689494
>don't focus away from the character driven and medieval soap opera aspect.

>I know we've lost a significant portion of readers
I blame the slow down.
Long waits between updates scare away the skittish and confuse some as to when they should be checking for updates.
If you can update at the same time regularly, if not more often, that might help.
I dunno.

Basically, I like the granular lordship management and sudden surprises we've seen so far and am glad the Ophelia issue will be tabled for a while.

>>2689645
Fair point.

>>2689685
This guy more or less has the exact thoughts I've got. I'm happy to keep following this quest and more or less content with its level of content.

>>2689082
>This is probably just a passing fancy; teach her some of the stances but no need to go beyond that
If shes serious then we can punch the belly like
I punched that women who hid a basketball under her shirt when she said it was a baby!

>>2689409
>>2689461
This, and I aint a hater for either of them.

Back to the old management and growing the village. I liked how things were at the start, stocking food and supplies, having bountiful surplus, making Olmsville great again, etc.

>>2689409
Im lurking. I like it, and it seems you realize the personal stuff is getting a bit excessive. It's a fun thread, and I look forward to it, it's just that parts of it felt a bit hamfisted or railroaded. Not overly so. I really appreciate that you dont let us off easy with the rolls, and that if we get a bad roll we get fucked. It' adds to the intensity and makes it feel like we aren't overpowered, which I mean we kind of are, but it brings us down a bit.

>>2689685
>Long waits between updates scare away the skittish and confuse some as to when they should be checking for updates.
If you can update at the same time regularly, if not more often, that might help.
Also this. Maybe make a twitter or something so people can be alerted when you update or when you have a thread going.

>>2689409
To be honest. I didn't even know you were running. I was waiting for this quest to come back but I didn't see it. I would have participated. Do you have a twitter or something that you can let us know when you're running so we can go on?

>>2689685
>If you can update at the same time regularly
I've been thinking about this. I think what I'll do is update every evening at (exactly) 8 PM PST and advertise that at the start of the thread so people know.

At this point the quest has already reached ~70k words so I doubt we'll get any new readers either way (I'm still editing the pdf btw, I find typos and bad writing everyday and bear my cross) but at least the regularity will establish a habit on both sides.

Also the consensus seems to be: keep the opera, add back the management aspects but cut the Ophelia. I think in that spirit we'll focus the drama on some of the minor characters (which reading back through the pdf seem rather bland and could use some characterization).

>>2690206
I approve of everything except you running when my rolls will never be counted.
Boo hoo to me.
Party on , QM.

>>2689409
I have been lurking since thread 1 and i really enjoy the quest.I like the personal drama but a bit more of exploration/world lore and city management would be good.Apart from that everything else is great,keep up the good work

>>2689488
>gif
My sides. What's the context of the gif?

>>2690206
Sounds good.

>>2690677
>context
Don't know, just found it.
Sorry.

>>2690677
>context
Some guy whose power it is to have a pretty lady's face on the back of his head is punched because the attacker realized everything else about him was backwards before he could pull anything.

>>2689082
>This is probably just a passing fancy; teach her some of the stances but no need to go beyond that
With an add in of PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T KICK THE BABY. Some type of parental worriedness for the child to help show WHY we're sorta not taking it super serious, learning some footwork and stances are alright, but not live contact while she might be with child.

We're a peasent lord, the heck would we know about child birth?

>>2689409
I got caught up and read through the pdf, very nice work on that by the way, I'd love to see more content if you had the time for it.

You ever consider opening a tip jar?

I like the dynamic going on with the Ophelia and Miriam thing, though I am strongly beginning to suspect that the whole pendant thing was magical bullcrap that makes the two become entranced with each other, but the way you've managed their backstories muddies the water up just enough to make it seem viable that it could be genuine or simply magic. Good on you there.

Miriam a qt3.14 and should be kept safe.

For terms of content that would be great to see I'd say that having a mix between comfy personal improvement with noble land management would be great.

Honestly if Paradox had managed to include some form of increased events for the characters you play or even a rts function to combat for armies they would have a golden game of the year right there.

That said taking crusader kings and taking it to its best conclusion is the type of thing I love to read about, Warhammer: A dynasty of Dynamic Alcoholism is a great example of that though the long periods between posts kill me inside.

Going through sword stances is like tai chi/yoga.

>>2692132
>We're a peasent lord, the heck would we know about child birth?
Good point.
Also:
We, that is William, literally don't know that she's pregnant.

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I've decide on the following schedule, starting Monday: posts 8 PM PST every weekday. Nothing on the weekends (except maybe an occasional bonus chapter unrelated to the main plot).

I'm closing the vote now because people going back and forth and changing their votes is starting to confuse me.

Here's the tally:

>Teach her your favorite positions
>>2689508
>>2689595
>>2689622
>>2689628
>>2692132


>We Æthelflæd now
>>2689281
>>2689307
>>2689488


>Back to the kitchen
>>2689483

Looks like the stances win.

>>2692214
You know I've never actually played Crusader Kings or any paradox game. I will say that I can't wait till we get to the 2nd generation arc. I recently got into "I, Claudius" and it spurred some ideas.

>>2692498
>Teach her your favorite positions

the keks

>>2692498
CK2 is fun if only because you can build a giant family tree and can manage them with either marrying into emperors or finding land for your cousins, 2nd cousins and so forth.

It also runs into some neat situations with Aztecs coming to invade europe ina what if scenario as well as having the ability to try and save Nordic culture from the White Christ.

It's also got this neat mechanic of introducing your son to the realm that helps your next character aka your son with dealing with vassals and the like.

I just wish you could resolve combat a lot better than just send army and hope its got enough bodies than the other dude or you've got heavy equipment.

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>>2692542
That sounds like it would destroy my life if I got into it desu. A game that had that kind of overarching management + Total War battles + RPG like mechanics for the governors would be amazing (hence, this quest). Though it's probably better that a game like that doesn't exist.

>>2692564
Haven't had a chance yet to check that game out myself, It looks interesting but man are there a lot of negative reviews on it for some reason, I am a touch concerned that It'll dissolve into this weird game of pump out more units than the other guy.

>>2692498
I just wanted to say that I just binged the archive and I'm loving this quest, it takes me back to the days of the LordQuest of old (does anyone else here remember that?). The duel with Sir Ulrich may have been a knock-down-drag-out affair but I couldn't help thinking of the time Lord Green rolled a 100 and we killed a dragon with one blow.

Speaking of which, while echoing the recommendations everyone else has made, I would suggest revamping the personal combat mechanic entirely. Don't shy away from a good fight, a classic showdown with a dastardly villain is always a good way to cap off an arc, but you really need a combat mechanic that keeps the action flowing. I would suggest a simple d100 based system, those tend to work best for these sorts of things. Apart from that. regular updates and a twitter to alert quest regulars would be the best way to keep interest up, and don't worry about there being too much drama, the drama is what's bringing people in.

>I recently got into "I, Claudius" and it spurred some ideas.

I will say that all this time I've been imagining Count Lazar being played by Brian Blessed's Augustus, so your choice of reference material gets my vote.

>>2691811
kek. Thanks.

>>2698391
>Speaking of which, while echoing the recommendations everyone else has made, I would suggest revamping the personal combat mechanic entirely. Don't shy away from a good fight, a classic showdown with a dastardly villain is always a good way to cap off an arc, but you really need a combat mechanic that keeps the action flowing. I would suggest a simple d100 based system, those tend to work best for these sorts of things. Apart from that. regular updates and a twitter to alert quest regulars would be the best way to keep interest up, and don't worry about there being too much drama, the drama is what's bringing people in.
I agree.

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>>2692498
>starting Monday: posts 8 PM PST every weekday.

>>2699934
oh yea

“Why?” You grab the practice blade, which she is holding on the wrong end, and right it.
“Because.” She says. She looks up toward the trees. “I want to be able to defend myself.”
You frown and touch her cheek. “From what? I’ll never let harm come to you.”
She smiles. “I know.” She shakes her head. “That’s not really why.” She says, quietly.
“Then why?”
She picks at the earth with the blade. “I want to be strong.” She says. “Like you. For you.”
You want to ask her if this is a jest, but when she looks up at you there is nothing in those eyes but steel. It may only be a passing fancy and you’re not so foolish as to forget she is a woman and moreover your wife and so her hands need not be calloused by the wood, but you can at least teach her the stances. The strength she seeks is a subtler kind anyhow, and though she may say otherwise, it is not for you.
This is a side of her you have not seen, and you wonder if it was always there or brought out by your proximity.
“Will you not teach me?” She asks. “Am I no good?”
You step back. “Take a stance.”
She smiles and holds the blade in front of her like a fishing pole. There are many, many, small imperfections. This will take time. You slide behind her and begin the necessary adjustments.
She giggles. “Where are you touching husband?”
You don’t hear her anymore. “Hold still. Stare straight ahead.” You say. “I need to get this skirt off, it’s too long and it will hamper your movement.”
“B-but what if someone sees?”
“It’s just you and me here.” You unfasten her belt and slip the skirt away, revealing the thin lace gown and her bare thighs beneath. You adjust her legs slightly just above the knee and take a step back to check the whole. “Good. Don’t move.”
“This is mortifying!”
“Next time don’t wear such risqué underwear.”
“Well, it’s our honeymoon.” She mutters.
“You moved.” You go and adjust her again.

You run her through the basic routines. The movements are not as slow as the Count had them, nor as punishing on the body, nevertheless by the end of it Miriam is panting, and her body shines with a layer of sweat. Her red hair sticks flat to her forehead.
“Alright. I think that’s enough for today.”
“Really? I can keep going.” She says. She tries to keep the blade aloft but you lower her arms and her knees buckle and her whole body leans upon you and her wetness leaves a mark on your tunic. She maintains the aroma of white calla even now and it only grows stronger, as though it were her naked scent and not something applied.
You are overcome.
“Give me my skirt back.” She says. And when she reaches for it, draped upon your shoulder, you grab her wrist and gently force it behind her back.
“Not yet.” You say.

…

Cont.

>>2700248
Hours and hours upon the road.
You emerge from the straight tree rows into flat desolation. Stretches of golden grass that blow on the soft curves about like fresh hair on a newborn head. Miriam spills out of the carriage window like a child, her whole head out and laughing and when she sees a novel thing in the grass, a herd of bison, a Lemurian fox with its golden-red fur and milky tail, a pair of orchuk eagles screaming high above like quarrelling lovers, she will pull on your sleeve and point and explain how the fox has whiskers on its legs that help it read the winds and the orchuck eagle mates for life and hunts with her spouse and dies from grief if the other cheats and “isn’t that just so amazing?” and you will nod and watch her. Her only, and not the thing she gestures to and you will say “Yes, amazing” and some resistance within you will cave.

You ride for 14 days into the plains, stopping many times to make camp and rest. You spend the mornings drilling Miriam and the afternoons and evenings on the steady march. Your guards and servants ride beside you on their own carts and horses and they are all delighted with their Lady, infected by her enthusiasm for stories and history and poetry. At night when the campfire is drawn they gather to her and beg her to read to them, to tell them of the hot Eastern sands and of the tragedy of Jabreel, the fallen angel, who’s empire gathers dust in that desolation. And you too sit by her skirts, made a little boy again, and marvel at the depths and breadth of her as though she were an oracle of all the world.

On the afternoon of the 15th day, you make first contact with the Centuarions. You spot their fires even before the driver does. Their tents are primitive, of hide and bone and woven grass and as you draw near, two centaurions, tall and noble from the waist up and all horse from the waist down, shout an ululating greeting and circle your train so that you must halt.
Your translator attempts to parley with them and is beaten over the head with the blunt end of a spear. Not dead but bruised and bleeding. They shout something at him and there is a back and forth and to the translator’s credit he maintains his ground even as he nurses his head. But the terms appear non-negotiable. The translator runs over to your carriage and wipes a bead of blood from his eyes. “My lord, they want only you to enter.”

Cont.

>>2700252
You sigh. You had expected this, the Centuarions are a stubborn race. “What about the gifts?”
“They will take it in themselves, so they say. We are to remain here outside of the camp until you and their master have spoken. They will admit none of our lowborn into their camp.”
“But how I will speak to him, I don’t know their language!”
The translator picks a splinter from between his ears and offers no solution.
“But I do.” Says Miriam, squeezing your hand. “And I am not lowborn.”

>Absolutely not, who knows what they’re planning? You’ll go alone and figure it out somehow.
>It’s a little unorthodox, but why not? If she stays close there shouldn’t be any problem.
>You’ll go with everyone or you’ll not go at all, diplomacy be damned

>>2700255
>It’s a little unorthodox, but why not? If she stays close there shouldn’t be any problem.

>>2700255
>>It’s a little unorthodox, but why not? If she stays close there shouldn’t be any problem.

>>2700255
>It’s a little unorthodox, but why not? If she stays close there shouldn’t be any problem.

That said, we are totally bringing some type of weapon for our defense because frack trying to get ntred by giant horse dong

>>2700255
>>It’s a little unorthodox, but why not? If she stays close there shouldn’t be any problem.
Have the translator introduce Miriam, have her explain that she is NOT lowborn and will accompany William to translate.
Insist that it is our custom that by their honor she is to remain UNTOUCHED and will be allowed to leave unharmed no matter what happens, otherwise they can simply accept the gifts, William and his people will leave, deny them the Great Opportunity, and they shall never see more of him than his carriage leaving their land.

Puts what they want (to see him) on the line while ensuring (as best as we can hope) her safety.
I'm not leaving any doubt here.

Downside: Broadcasts that she is a vulnerable weakness to us, but that was inevitable.
They hurt her, we start breaking Centaur knees. (That's what you do, btw, target their knees.)

>>2700487
Supporting this.

>>2700252
I loved this.
Better romantic scene than most intellectual thrillers I've read, wherein an opposing set of genitals is obligatorily introduced and kept I close by.

>>2700255
>It’s a little unorthodox, but why not? If she stays close there shouldn’t be any problem.

Also supporting >>2700487's approach.

>>2700252
>Her only, and not the thing she gestures to and you will say “Yes, amazing” and some resistance within you will cave.
>Her only,
?

>>2700688
It's referencing the end of the last sentence, we were watching her and her alone, not the things she was pointing out. I would've used a semi-colon in that instance but it's valid grammar.

>>2700487
Will they be taking arrows to the knee?

>>2700708
Eh, you'd want to use something that applies blunt force, shattering the legs.

>>2700736
>you'd want to use something that applies blunt force, shattering the legs.
Maybe something like a nice old meme, blunted from years of overuse?

>>2700255
This doesn't seem safe. I'd almost say go alone and imagine they themselves have a translator.

>>2700487
Ill go with this.

>>2701669
I get such a bad feeling Miriam is gonna die.

>>2701772
Yeah. I really hope QM's solution for the Miriam/Ophelia issue isn't to have Miriam eventually killed and leave us no option, but to hook up with Ophelia. That would make me despise Ophelia even more.

>>2701799
lol I doubt it. I think he just meant he was moving on fromt heir storylines.

The camp is divided into two parts. The greater is a parcel of field with a square fence of rope and bone that guards it on every side. Centaurions patrol its perimeter and wild horses graze within. No males among them, just mares. The rest of the camp consists of a dozen domed tents whose enormity is like the shadow of a cloud.
The Centaurions are all male and most wear skins and hides to protect their human halves from the elements. Their horse parts are left bare, but some have braided their tails or adorned them with talismans of horn and ivory. A great pyre burns in the middle of the camp where the pieces of a bison lie lengthwise steaming in fat and herbs. The smell alone intoxicates you.
The faces are of many kinds. Young children with foal horse-bodies chase each other in quite literal horseplay. Older Centuarions with white beards and small suspicious eyes watch the two of you trot beside your hosts and your gifts. You wonder whether they take offence to your riding a horse. Miriam sits behind you, clutches your waist and scans the crowd in silence. The smile is still in her eyes.
The horsemen stop before the pyre and speak. You dismount. You hear your name and Sir Ulrich’s.
“They are introducing us to their people.” Whispers Miriam. “They’re reminding them that you defeated Sir Ulrich in combat.”
They gather and form a broad ring around the fire. The sun is nearly set and the stars rising in their black tomb. The crowd now shout things to the hosts and the hosts reply and sometimes there is laughter and sometimes nothing. “What do they say?” You ask. Miriam does not answer. “Can you not understand them?”
“N-no, I can.” She clears her throat. “They’re laughing at you because you brought me along.” She says, quietly.
“Well of course I did. How else would I understand them?”

A voice cuts through their laughter and there is instant silence. Their master approaches. He circles the pyre and the ring of horsemen and they lower their heads before him.
“He is admonishing them for being inhospitable.” Says Miriam.
Their master’s flanks are white and speckled like sea foam and his body bronzed and mighty beneath the bison furs. His eyes are the color of steel and have a quiet intelligence beating within them. His scalp and face are hairless, and he wears the hollowed out headskin of a Lemurian fox for a hood.
“I know a little of thy tongue two-leg. My name is Jin and this is my harras.” He has a way of speaking with strange cadence, as though he measured the sounds of his words on a scale.
Miriam speaks for you before you can answer him, in their own tongue, which seems to impress him. They carry on a quick private conversation, at the end of which Miriam is red and Jin is laughing with his head thrown back.

Cont.

>>2702857
“What? What did he say?”
“Nothing.” Says Miriam, burning even hotter. You raise a brow at her. She taps her fingers together. “He asked how many times we…you know. In a day.”
“How did that come up in a simple greeting?”
“Well I said I was your wife and he mentioned that it was unusual for a man to bring his wife to a diplomatic trip, so I said that we were on our honeymoon and, well, it came up. It’s how they measure their worth. Endurance in...that is commensurate with endurance on the field.”
“And what did you tell them?”
“Like I could I tell him something like that!”
“Tell him three times a day.” She stares at you. “What? That’s the truth. Conservative even. I mean just yesterday it was at least fi—”
“Don’t say it!” She covers your mouth with her hands. “And don’t make it sound like I’m some kind of pervert. You’re the one that started it.”
“Well, I think your choice of undergarments deserve some of the credit.”
She slaps your arm. “That wasn’t even my idea. It was Lady Ophelia’s and I’m terribly embarrassed about it and I’d appreciate it if you never mentioned it again.” She folds her arms and huffs.
You feel as though you’ve been struck in the face. Ophelia’s idea? Your Ophelia? What does that mean? Briefly, you lose sight of your objectives, the whole camp disappears, but there is no time for rumination. The earth shakes with the beating hooves of a hundred Centaruions. They stand in place and stamp the earth together. A ritual. Jin speaks to his harras in his tongue and gestures and a horseman bows and presents him with a thin curved knife and a pair of goblets made from the skulls of orchuk eagles. Jin takes the knife and makes a slit in his side and fills the cups with his own black blood.
Another horseman bows and his body is naked and covered in patterns of scars whose geometry is sacred and congruent. He crushes a cluster of grass in his hands and runs their juices into the cups and then they (and some words) are offered to you.
You take the cup and sniff its contents. The stench of iron is hot in them and something else, something pleasant and sweet-smelling.
“They want us to drink it.” Says Miriam, staring at her cup more with interest than disgust. She is truly strange.
“I know.” You say. “It is their way.” The blood ritual is acceptance of a profound nature. It is recognition, respect and friendship all in one.
But once the cup is drained, it must be refilled. You glance at your little wife and she is rubbing the spot just above her wrist, where below the dress there is a scar she will not tell you of.

>Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon
>Drink from your own cup. The matching scars will serve as an unorthodox memento of this trip
>These are barbaric rituals are suited only to the godless and neither you nor your wife will partake in them. Politely decline.

>>2702864
>>Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon

>>2702864
>Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon

>>2702864
>>Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon

>>2702864
>>Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon

>>2702864
>>Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon
Hopefully the act of refilling each cup ourselves will be seen as an act of endurance and Miriam's not drinking or bleeding will not be seen as an insult.

>staring at her cup more with interest than disgust. She is truly strange.
That is, if she doesn't drink it up first.
She's brave and might strive to overcome her mysterious trauma.

>>2702864
>Drink from your own cup. The matching scars will serve as an unorthodox memento of this trip
I'll say this first, tho ask if Miriam would be up for it at least?

>>2702864
>Drink from your own cup. The matching scars will serve as an unorthodox memento of this trip

I wouldn't want to chance the possibility that they may be insulted by Miriam not drinking. On the other hand, they seem to be an incredibly patriarchal culture (perhaps even monosexual, do they breed with regular mares?) so perhaps they would be even more insulted if Miriam drank.

>>2702864
Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon.

>>2702864
>Drink from your own cup. The matching scars will serve as an unorthodox memento of this trip.

They gave us two cups, and they will get two cups back.

>Drink and refill both cups, you’d like to avoid permanently scarring your wife on your honeymoon

>>2703133
I'm going to give Miriam the benefit of the doubt and switch to
>>2702864
>>Drink from your own cup. The matching scars will serve as an unorthodox memento of this trip

Not that it matters.

You snatch the goblet from her hands and drain it and then your own. The taste is bitter and with the sweet tang of blood. It leaves your throat and tongue numb. Perhaps it’s too much for one man, but you would not scar your wife. You promised no harm would come to her.
The curved knife is placed in your hands. The herbs addle your mind and your vision blurs. You drive the blade into your arm and draw out blood to fill both cups. You grow faint and weak, and your wife struggles to hold you up and Jin takes the cups from you. He drinks them both and there is a great cry and the great ring of horsemen begin to wheel around you faster and faster in a frenzy.
The scarred horseman rubs grasses into your wound and it closes instantly. You are taken to Jin’s tent to rest on a bed of wildgrasses and feathers. You sleep for many hours and your dreams are strange. You see a mustard seed burrow into Miriam’s belly and its roots devour her from inside. A thin stalk sprouts and grows into a mighty tree and Ophelia, your Ophelia, chops it down with an ax.
You wake to daylight and you are in your wife’s tender grasp, braced against her chest. She’s snoring softly into your hair and you lie there a moment and hold her, as the images of the terrible dream fade back into the ether. She wakes on her own and seeing your eyes, she springs up and checks your wound. “How do you feel?” She asks.
“A little drained.”
She kisses your brow. “Very funny. You should have let me drink, the cup was meant for me.”
“Such things must men bear.”
“And women?”
"They have their own burdens."
"Like what?"
“Like children.” She flushes. You kiss her lips but do not go further though the impulse is in you again. You get up and dress. The Centuarions have prepared breakfast for you, bison flesh rubbed with thyme and cumin seeds and roasted in butter of horse milk. They are more welcoming now and bow or nod their heads as you pass.
They eat standing. They sleep standing. They have no beds or chairs, even that which you slept on was an accommodation they made for you, Jin’s tent had nothing else in it. They do not use plates but eat from the bone like true savages. Jin alone eats at a high table, with fork and knife, as strange a spectacle among his heathen train, as fresh water in a desert.
After breakfast you and Miriam are invited to ride with Jin in his morning walk. He is interested in the manners and fashion of your people. He speaks at length with Miriam about your customs, about your king, about the system of governance which has now failed you. Once the pleasantries are over with, you move to actual business.

Cont.

>>2704956
“I want his assurance that Crawford Barrow will be safe.”
“He says, he has no desire to raid human lands, neither the Gelderlands nor ours. But he has a proposition.”
“I’m listening.”
“First he wants to know what your objective is.”
“Why?”
“He says, he knows the man you serve and his history. He would know your motives first. What does that mean? Is he talking about the Count?”
You’d rather your wife not be privy to these conversations, but Jin does not know your language well enough for such sensitive dealings and you do not know his at all.
“Yes, he is. Fine. Tell him I plan on contacting the Formicons.”
“He says, he knows that. He wants to know your reasons.”
You pause. Only yourself and your close council know your true motives. Even if the king is dead, declaration of one’s own kingdom is an act of treason.
But you can’t be treasonous in an anarchy. “Tell him that I will build a kingdom for myself.” Miriam gapes.
“Is that—is that true?”
“It is.”
She bows her head in thought until you prod her to relay the message. “Y-yes.” She takes a moment to collect herself. It was a greater shock to her than you expected, though it does not appear unwelcome; perhaps she had her own plans.
Jin pauses at hearing the news and stares at you. He says three words to Miriam, without once leaving your face. “So, will he.” Says Miriam. The Centuarion master continues. “He will unite the scattered tribes of Lemuria into one nation. And then he will to conquer the East and find a cure for his people’s affliction.”
“And what affliction is that?”
Jin speaks for a long while and Miriam listens without interruption, her frown deepening with every word. “His race has no females. They are forced to lie with beasts. He will make the wizards of the Eastern Sands fashion like companions for his people.”
You’ve had your suspicions about the Centaurions. Some believe they sprouted out of the ground like trees, but it never sat well with you. Why do they herd the mares? Now you know. You wonder what cruel god lies behind their thoughtless creation.
“He says he wants to civilize his harras and that he finds the idea of laying with a brute creature disgusting.” Miriam sounds like she finds it even more so. “His proposal is a non-aggression pact. He has one with the Gelderlands; he wants one with us.”
Jin takes off his foxskin cap, revealing the smooth dome of his head. The sun burns within it like a halo. His expression is neutral, impossible to read, but the proposal speaks for itself. Historically, the Centaurions have always been scattered and weak. Ceaseless internal warfare—which you now realize must have been over the mares—as well as outside pressure from Aldamar and the Gelderlands, prevented any kind of unification. But if the watchdogs are distracted, the sheep will conspire.
It may be that the only thing holding Jin’s plans in check, is your cooperation.

Cont.

>>2704958
>Deal, it’s what you came here for in the first place
>In exchange for what? You have the leverage, you should use it. [+optional write-in for what you want]
>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead

>>2704960
>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead

>>2704956
>You sleep for many hours and your dreams are strange. You see a mustard seed burrow into Miriam’s belly and its roots devour her from inside. A thin stalk sprouts and grows into a mighty tree and Ophelia, your Ophelia, chops it down with an ax.
wtf?

>>2704960
>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead

>>2704981
Ophelia will kill our kid most likely.

>>2704960
>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead
>>2704995
Not if we kill her first.

>>2704960
>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead
I like the cut of his jib, sides which I find that the ways he's trying to better the lot of his to be some thing of a good thing. Heck we've gone through our own troubles with trying to do well by the people we care for ourselves, wasn't our goal by the end to create a kingdom where everyman was able to speak up and choose their own fate as it where?

>>2704960
>>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead

>>2705016
>I find that the ways he's trying to better the lot of his to be some thing of a good thing. Heck we've gone through our own troubles with trying to do well by the people we care for ourselves
Basically this

I doubt he would, as yet, break his non-aggression pact with the Gelderlands for us, if it came to it.
But they seem like a strong people with an honorable leader striving to lift his people up. Jin should find us a more compatible ally than others.

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>>2704981
>wtf?

>>2705008
>Not if we kill her first.
"I had to kill her! She was going to chop down the tree child that burrowed it's way into my wife's belly with devouring roots!"

>>2704960
>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead

Tell him we will let him and his people have some of the weapons from Crawford Barrow if they agree to reinforce our war effort. We will not have then break their pact with the Gelderlands, but there are other factions whom we would appreciate assistance against.

>>2704960
>>Deal, it’s what you came here for in the first place

We might want to consider opening some trade. If we can start breeding horses, we can ship them mares in exchange for shit.

>>2704960
>>A pact is easily broken—propose an alliance instead

yiss!

>>2704958
Alliance boys. But maybe not a military one at first. Perhaps suggest the trading of materials and a defensive pact.
What resources do these guys have? Perhaps even just horses, as I'm sure their herds are chosen for strength, etc.
For a civilization wanting to become more situated, perhaps we can offer lumber and some of our experts in building to show them construction techniques.

>>2705753
If the time arises, and it's viable, we can assist them with their quest for companionship and ask them to fight with us, creating a ridiculously strong friendship between our races.

>>2705755
Also it's clear to me that their leader, Jin, really likes our culture. Perhaps we should befriend him personally.

A pact is good. A pact is exactly what you came here for yet knowing now Jin’s ambitions you feel that it’s somehow lacking. If Jin accomplishes what he has set out to do, the Centaurions will be a powerful force. There are few things in the world that can stand a Centaurion charge, or a volley of arrows from their darker skinned kinsmen to the East. You must look three moves ahead, consider all the forcing variations, as the Count taught you. Jin conquers the haras of his kinsmen, moves East—for a time, for the East cannot subjugated. The land itself conquers its invaders. The wizards of the East are mighty but there’s no guarantee of success in the search for his “cure”. Even if he finds the cure, invariably his eyes will return Westward, for the Plains offers no material to build cities. And pacts are easily broken.
“What should I tell him husband?”
“Tell him I refuse his offer. Tell him I want an alliance between our people.”
“An alliance?” Says Miriam. Her nose crinkles up as when she eats vegetables she doesn’t like (she especially hates Wafeld sprouts).
“Tell him.” She tells him and the Centaurion master calculates his own moves in silence. In the end he walks up to you and offers his hand. You take it and he grasps it hard and brings it to his own chest.
“He said yes.” Says Miriam.
He releases you and you finish your walk and return to the campsite. Jin breaks the news to the others and not all of them are pleased, but none dare oppose him. You wonder if you’ve made the right decision here.
Time will tell.
…

Cont.

>>2707185
You spend the remainder of the month in Jin’s camp (your servants are finally allowed inside). You observe their strange heathen rituals during your stay; their elaborate hunts, the distasteful barbarism of their “heat”. They confuse themselves with the burning of ancient herbs. Intoxicated by that smoke they rile themselves into orgiastic frenzies that would make the Flower of the Waters blush. Even you and Miriam were not immune to its effects and your own inexhaustibility pushed the matter even further. Miriam stayed in bed all the next day.
Jin spends most of his time with you and Miriam, making his best effort to improve himself in your language. He carries a keen interest in human culture simply for its association with civilization. He’s also a fast learner and by the end of the trip he’s able to carry out conversations with you without Miriam’s help. You learn that his people have no concept of the nuclear family. The collective herd is the smallest unit. Every horseman is a brother. The young are raised by all. He tells you of Sir Ulrich, how they jousted when they first met years ago. Sir Ulrich was only 13 then and challenged Jin as soon as they had met. He fought bravely and almost bested Jin. It was for that reason alone that Jin agreed to their pact, though Ulrich was beaten severely by his father for the transgression.
More than anything, Jin wants companionship. He frequently compliments your relationship with Miriam and teases her about her affections. By the time you finally leave, it’s as if you’re leaving the home of a dear friend.
You return to Silvale and find everything running smoothly. Stewart is more than capable of handling the day-to-day affairs of your modest empire. He does complain to you about “Not being able to get out and enjoy the city.” You hope he hasn’t fooled around with any of the maids while you were gone.
With the alliance now in place you can begin preparations to resettle Crawford Barrow and contact the Formicons. This is a major undertaking and will require both resources and manpower, a premature failure will set you back several months especially with the winter looming. Armies are starting to mobilize further north. Lord Eleison and his son, Sir Keres, have already formed a faction with several other lords, including Sir Trunbull (the imbecile who was on your team during the tournament games) and Duke Fastbender (technically the current Martial). A second faction has formed with Duke Harrington, the remnants of the royal family and Sir Nigel II (son of the late Sir Nigel, who you killed), further north. The Gelderlanders hold the capital and are currently in the seat of power, but things may turn quickly.

Cont.

>>2707190

>It is now the month of August, Year 768
>What will you do?

= Locations (LOC) =
== Olmsville ==
# Lord: You
# Stats: MIL 2/0 WLT 3/1 PPL 1/0
# Assets: Hunting grounds (+1 WLT), Lumber camp (+1 WLT), Town Militia (+1
MIL), River Docks (+1 WLT), Volunteers (+1 MIL, +1 PPL, -1 WLT)
# Resources: River, Forest
# Obstacles: None

== Meaville ==
# Lord: You
# Stats: MIL 0/0 WLT 3/0 PPL 0/0
# Assets: Farms (+2 WLT), Cattle (+1 WLT)
# Resources: River, Farmland, Forest
# Obstacles: None

== Silvale ==
# Lord: You
# Stats: MIL 5/1 WLT 4/2 PPL 1/1
# Assets: Smithy (+1 MIL, +1 WLT, -1 PPL), Gendarmes (+2 MIL, -1 WLT), Market
(+2 WLT, +1 PPL, -1 MIL), Docks (+1 WLT), Walls (+2 MIL, -1 WLT)
# Resources: River, Forest
# Obstacles: None

>>2707195
Apologiezes in advance, I'm not all that aware of what the stats mean as I read the pdf version, but it seems like we'd best get to starting on the resettlement of Crawford Barrow as well as training up some our militias to muster am I getting that right? It be best to try to get the basic infrastructure set up during august and september, have a cache of food delivered to last them the winter over october and november and go from there yeah?

>>2707603
Perhaps build a training/Staging ground in Olmsville as well as Expand our Docks or Lumber Camps

>>2707195
Have a shrine built in Olmsville.

>>2707195
> Order the construction of a large mill in Meaville to store grains and other long lasting fruits and vegetables, making use of the extra manpower currently in Olmsville and Meaville's own wealth. If the chance arrises, test Rufus Dare's skills with the ordeal, to see if he can make it economical and to see it being in operation quickly.
------

> Make use of Olmsville's wealth to hand out loans for villagers to start new trading posts and to adquire raw materials to work in trades, such as cloth for clothing or leather for boots. If this investment is not too taxing, the excedent should cater to adquiring spears and helmets to arm the Town Milita.

> Expand the patrol and scouting of Olmsville's Milita, effectibly doubling the effort of protecting the roads in this time of upheaval and to make us of Wilkain's training.
------

> Make use of of Silvale's wealth to subsidize apprentices at the smithy, to increase it's output and obviously, to have more smiths.

> Much like in Olmsvile, expand Silvale's patrol and scouting of it's area. Not a large portion of the Gendarmes should be employed with this but still a considerable one, since times are unsafe.
-------

I think this makes use of the resources we have laying around and to see how Kilkain, Rufus and Stewart can manage this orders. Another reason is to select at a later date the people to colonize our new settlement.
The best scouts and milita, smith apprentices and whatever spouts of the subsidy.

Of course, it makes sense that the idea of loaning money won't work or won't be implemented (we are medieval and all), but it's a chance to have skilled labor and more tools to work with. The idea might atract more smallfolk, manufacturers and merchants.

In the end, this is to be prepared for winter, to increase our chances of a succesfull colonization and to do stuff lmao ekks d.

>>2707195
>>2707603
>Prepare for the resettlement of Crawford Barrow
>Improving our militias
I agree that these are our most important priorities.
Establishing a his colony is a huge step in our future.
Defending ourselves in the meantime is also important.
Meaville is woefully under protected.

>>2707611
>build a training/Staging ground in Olmsville
I like this.
Could we do it in Meaville as well or instead?

>Expand our Docks or Lumber Camps
As far as expansion, I was considering that mill that Sampson wanted.

>>2707644
>makes use of the resources we have laying around
>Gauge Kilkain, Rufus and Stewart as leaders
>Recruit and select the best scouts and milita, smith apprentices and people to colonize our new settlement

>Loaning money won't work or won't be implemented (we are medieval and all), but it's a chance to have skilled labor and more tools to work with. The idea might atract more smallfolk, manufacturers and merchants.
I'm not sure about this, but I don't have a better idea.

>be prepared for winter and increase our chances of a succesfull colonization
Being ready for winter should probably be our first priority, but it's not the most daunting of our top three concerns.

>>2707631
>Have a shrine built in Olmsville.
Shrine to what and for what purpose?

>>2707748
I'd like ot know the general location of the villages, but that may be a better idea to have it in Meaville. I was thinking Olmsville because we would be able to establish Olmsville as a military town. That said it may be better to have it near our docks.

>>2707762
We should also see if we can utilize some of our fields in Meaville for horse herds for eventual cavalry. Perhaps the centaur would be willing to work with us, though we'd have to be careful not to offend them.

>>2707750
>Shrine to what
To whatever deity the people of Olmsville believe in.

>for what purpose?
For worship.

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>>2707762
>I'd like ot know the general location of the villages
Cartography!

>>2707776
>Horses
A fair idea.
Useful in trade, daily life,and warfare.

>>2707777
>deity
>worship
Actually, they seem to be a fairly secular people, concerned with food, health, prosperity, and not getting murderfucked by elves. You know, the usual.

We might want explore religious beliefs sometime.

>>2707798
Not true. Go read the previous threads. People in Olmsville are quite religious and superstitious. Just because they have other things to deal with doesn't change that.

Read the pdf, William visited a temple to the fist of the northern star

>>2707798
I was talking earlier about maybe trading some of our lumber for permanent settlements to the centaur in exchange for some horses. I dont know how they'd take the offer though, as IDK if centaur are overly protective of their mares.

So far, as construction projects go we have.

Olmsville

1) Staging ground for military training
2) Expand Docks
3) Expand Lumber Camps
4) Build a Shrine

Meaville
1) Large Mill
2) Herding grounds

Silvale

1) Expand Smithy
---------------
More stuff would be upgrading milita and that's a common feeling. How? So far only buying weapons and armor.
More stuff would be getting mares from Jib
---------------
Come on guys! Come up with more ideas!

>>2708654
Start breeding horses.

>>2708654
Horse pastures in Meaville, and the Dock expansion would be in Silvale

I wanted to add some of my own thoughts to the discussion:

>>2707603
RE: stats, I'm considering rehauling the whole management system. It adds a bunch of numbers and bookkeeping but doesn't really feel like it's adding anything substantial to the quest.

However after the combat system fiasco (which I think is OK now) I want to share my proposal and vet it by you guys first--suggestions and critique is welcome. Here's what I'm thinking:

>First off, take out the month to month stuff and replace it with events; time flows automatically in the background
>Rather than micromanage every settlement, we let the assigned governors do their job and have a periodic council (annual? biannual?) for long term plans.
>Governors have traits that affect how they govern
>We replace all the numbers with tiers for three categories: Wealth, Culture and Military. A given settlement's tiers must all sum to 3 and the highest tier is 3 (so specialization is encouraged and some settlements will be better suited so some things than others)
>You unlock the next tier by building the set of appropriate assets (which your governors will suggest for you in your councils)
>Wealth determines how much tax you get from a settlement (1 to 3d4)
>Military determines the strength of the units raised from that settlement (1 to 3d6)
>Culture acts a modifier to many rolls (generally related to laws, population happiness, health, tech etc.)
>Taxes are used to pay for military upkeep and the surplus goes to your coffers to be used as you see fit (upgrading assets, events, governors, etc.), operating on a deficit will result in problems
>Everything else is determined by common sense and imagination. The councils will give you a taste of what's going on in each settlement (I'll hold formal sessions for these to make things easier) and the tiers will tell you at a glance what kind of settlement it is. Events will be created around the flavor of the assets in the settlements and the governors you assign.

As an example, if we were to implement this right now (suppose you held the council), you'd get 3d4 - 2 taxes into your coffers and could raise units of 1d6 strength from Silvale. Governors Kilkain and Rufus Dare would advise you on stuff their settlements need to continue to grow and prosper which you could act on using the surplus (if any) in your coffers, or by other means. Then you'd sketch out a long term plan for the governors to follow till next the council. All this would be done over a (ideally) single, live session with lots of back and forth. This avoids slowing down.

The rest of the time you'd be dealing with events as they come, personal or otherwise.

>>2707777
>>2707798
>>2707803
RE: shrines and worship, people are indeed very superstitious and religious. Most people worship Ama, the Flower of the Waters

I also don't think I'll be able to update today--or ever again just kidding, I'll be back on Monday, probably with a fresh thread.

>>2708848
Interesting take on it I think, if you want you could try tying the whole thing by seasons as they come along or by the whole yearly thing and go from there so move time along in a faster clip on what you want to do.

That being said I like what I see here, would we be seeing settlements that produce good military units if we spec a township towards that while another would be a commerace center that grants a boat load of coin if this system was used?

>>2708654
>>2708667
>>2708675
I'm liking what you guys are selling here, maybe we could also get some of those horses from the centurions, maybe after they get done doing their business in the east because it sounds like trying to take a prize mare from them is liable to rent asunder our alliance with them.

That said I am curious as to how the Centurians even came to be if they have that breeding problem of theirs.

>>2708848
I like that idea a lot. If we could solidify all of the rules and mechanics also into a pastebin, that would really help a lot.

>>2708897
I think yearly (say during the harvest festival or thereabouts) should work nicely. Otherwise you might visit the settlement personally during some event.

>would we be seeing settlements that produce good military units if we spec a township towards that while another would be a commerace center that grants a boat load of coin if this system was used?

Exactly. The system would encourage specialization and based on the unique traits of the settlement itself certain specializations would be easier to achieve than others or can add flavor to the kind of specialization (e.g a coastal town could be a trading hub and be a tier 3 Wealth settlement, or it could also be a naval base with tier 3 Military, but it'd be harder to make it a place for recruiting soldiers). The flavor of the assets then determines what kinds of events might happen there (embargo in the coastal town, famine in the farming settlement, great work of art in the cultural center etc.)

>>2708968
Cool in that case would there by chance also happen to be special resourse at certain towns that while taking up a slot for what they can do provide a kingdom wide bonus or something simalair to the area like say a source of ironwood trees allowing for units with shields to have a 20% increase in armor or something because the iron wood is quite literally as hard as iron or something?

>>2708848
Excelent ideas you've come up with. It's meaningful to reduce the assets to wealth, culture and military so it's easier to manage the three.

I also enjoy if we have scheduled meetings to decide what to do with the towns, rather than "sometime" have you asking us what to do next. This can be evidenced by the few ideas we've come up with, regarding the towns. It also gives numerical value to whoever rules the town, rather than just fluff.

See you by monday then

What fire emblem class are we? Lord?

>>2708848
>>2708968
Please don't streamline the management system too much. It will feel stripped and hollow.

>>2710331
I want an ActRaiser style of management.