>>4533170
IT IS TIME, SWAMP DENIZENS ARISE AND ASSEMBLE!

>>4533184
For the Lightning-Eye of Absol!
I'm still working on it, ok?

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>>4533170

From the rice paddies to the boardwalks to the foothills of the ancestral, this is OUR SWAMP!

>pic related for familial relationships.

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Sister Char crumples to the ground, sparks lighting the air as the spray of lightning from your throat drives the consciousness from her.

They called you a child.

They called you craven.

They called you untalented, a dabbler, a boy wearing a man's boots.

Perhaps before, you were, but you have passed through the fear. Your schemes, in both leadership and magecraft, have outdone theirs and you are in every way today's victor. You feel cool. Calm. The higher magics that once writhed against your control now serve you utterly, and the more you think on it the more you realize that they didn't do so sooner because on some level you gave more credence to Albeda's jibes than you should have. Sometimes power comes slowly, and you claw for it by laborous repetition and months of study. Sometimes, a revelatory improvement strikes like a thunderbolt, an instant of brilliance. When your body and the low, primate part of your brain were screaming at you that you were dead, and your response was to calmly take the several seconds needed to cast the spell that trapped the chima in its pit, something within you changed. You mastered the magic. Rode it. Made it your servant, rather than serving it. You won't forget that feeling, magic will never again be as difficult for you as it was when you struggled to prepare on the rooftop.

[Continue]

>>4533192

>forget to add mountains to the response.

Off to a cracking start.

>>4533192
LOL

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The air is thick with the scent of smoke and blood, and you realize, suddenly, that you're talking. It isn't anything spectacular, just a lot of whooping and “VICTORY IS OURS!” It doesn't matter. You don't need to make a speech. Your soldiers are cheering.

“HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!” They chant, the butts of their polearms drumming on the boardwalk, “AB-SOL! AB-SOL! JA-KOB AB-SOL! HAIL LORD JAKOB!”

You have earned the right to shamelessly bask in their adulation, although it's somewhat hindered as Arad lands and absolutely hugs you, the old man's usual steely composure shattered as he laughs wildly, “Brilliantly done!” You see tears in your mother's uncle's eyes as he claps you on the back, “If she could have seen this...”

You hug him back. Your mastery over smoke caught the Chimera, but it was flight and lightning that bested Sister Char. His magics.

When you disentangle, you spread your arms wide, and take wing enough for everyone to see you, “We will not cower! We will not flee! We will drive these pretenders out and crush them! This is OUR SWAMP!”

The Last Loyal cheer even louder, “HAIL LORD JAKOB! HAIL LORD JAKOB! AN ABSOL! AN ABSOL! AN ABSOL OF BRIARFAST!”

You point at the mess before you, “Dispatch the dying, transport the captives to the dungeons, clear the boardwalk of the corpses and...”

>[Give the dead funereal rights]
>[Hang the dead from your wall of thorns]

>>4533214

Funereal rites, not rights, but you know what I meant.

>>4533214
HANG THE TRAITORS

>>4533214
>[Give the dead funeral rites]

Don't want to look too savage and backwards to our soon visitors from Ryd.
Was down for hanging the chimera, but people? A little less so.

>>4533214
>Give the dead Funeral rites
These are naught but poor misguided fools lead to their untimely and unfortunate fate by the lies and delusions of the true traitors the Pentagram, these souls we give rites to, the Pentagram, they will hang like traitors.

>>4533214
>>[Give the dead funereal rights]
We have guests coming, and I'm not sure how long it takes for the wall to eat.

>>4533214

>[Give the dead funereal rites].

The human foot-soldiers get proper burials. The arch-traitors and monsters water the thorns. Even criminals who get the rope normally get a casket. No point in pissing off the villages that they are from. Plus, we do have the R*ds coming to think about

>>4533214
>[Give the dead funereal rights]

Give us back our Rights, Wong! What is dead may never die! Viva la Shre- *toaded*. No wonder the dead are revolting.

>>4533231
Besides, Brother Gloam is a Shadowbinder and the last thing we need to is to give him a army of zombiefiable corpses hanging onto pur castle to tamper with

That reminds me. Since that seems like a fairly decisive vote I'll leave the wall out, but I forgot a very valid option...

>[Give the dead funereal rites]
>[Give the dead to Grandmama]

>>4533260
>>4533231

>[Give the dead funereal rites]
I stand by my original vote and blurb

>>4533260
>[Give the dead funeral rites]

Cannonfodder is tempting, but let these ones rest.
Might be good to learn something from Grandmama later tho...

>>4533260
>[Give the dead funereal rites]

Still got the Ryds to deal with. And these are our people, however mislead and deluded. They deserve this much.

>>4533271

Fixing it for re-formatting and errors. Can't type for shit tonight.

>>4533260

>[Give the dead funereal rites]

We don't need zombies shambling around Yet, so may as well bury this handful. Anyone else who rises up against the Absol from this point on though, zombification at best and impaling on the wall at worst. Word can spread with the flyers and speakers going out to the villages to warn about the Pentacle in the coming weeks.

>>4533260
>[Give the dead funereal rites]

>>4533214

>>4533279
You make a good point. Support.

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You notice a few blue-feathered arrows sticking out of the chests of some of the dead, and snort, looking up to the top of the wall to spot Cailm there, unstringing his bow and looking very pleased with himself. As usual.

“Give them funereal rites. These are still our people, and have families in our villages. Misguided fools though they were, led to an untimely demise by the lies of the Pentacle.” Besides, Londo Ryd is still making his slow and merry way here, and you don't want him to see men in plain maille and villager attire dangling from your wall. “Let them rest as swamplanders.” Your word has been given, there is no more to it. “Tonight, we feast and celebrate. Break out the ale and wine, let boars be hunted and lambs slaughtered! Let no man fall into his bed hungry or thirsty!”

With, predictably, more cheers than ever, the Last Loyal set to the grim work of disposing of the corpses.

All things considered, that night is a splendid affair. Although you cannot help but be watchful, half-expecting Albeda to launch another attack while you're carousing, you let yourself get drawn into the spirit of it. Lilly is there, tuning up her lyre and singing songs, when Cailm slides into a seat near you, munching on a bun. For some reason, he's dressed in the uniform of a castle guard.

You look at him askance, and he shrugs, “I've been feeding the Night Hunters buns, mostly the girl in the straw hat. She's chatty.” He relays the conversation the Night Hunters had been having in the dungeon to you.

>[Good job Cailm]
>[DON'T fuck Straw Hat girl, Cailm!]

>>4533284
DON'T fuck Straw Hat girl, Claim!

>>4533284
>[Good job Cailm]

>>4533284
>[Good job Cailm]
>Just remember that you were killing her comrades earlier

>>4533284
>[DON'T fuck Straw Hat girl, Cailm!]

>>4533284

>[Good job Cailm]

Thanks for the info, try not to fuck the furries. Trying to tell Cailm not to fuck is a pointless endeavour.

Did we have any ideas of what types of sorcery we wanted to look into in the next while? Aqueous Divination may have ways to counter-act Albeda's divinations, and I want to try and pick up some of Dad's Esoteric Counterspell techniques from the Shattered Shackle before we trip into another heap of sorcerors to fight.

>>4533284
>[Good job Cailm]
Just don't let you dick lead you to betraying us Cailm, otherwise we'll have to toad you

>>4533300
I'm down for reading into our dad's books for his custom spell list. Counterspelling is one of the things we are good at, and anything that Albeda might not know we have access to could be a decisive edge.

>>4533300
Ye. Battle Prophet and Weather Control was mentioned previously. Plus I'd like to get into the specifics of Mirror Magic as well, since Albeda seems to have taken quite a shine to it.

So while we are still stuck in Nickname hell
May I suggest Jacob tje Eye of Steropes
Fun time, Steropes means Lightning, it's also the name of one of the Cyclops that made Zeus's Lightning bolts iirc
Just doubling down on the Eye and Lightning angle

>>4533311
>tje
...
The*

>>4533311
>Jakob the Cyclops

I must say, I do enjoy you suggestion, but I don't think our Mythology would translate well into a fantasy setting unless it's Greek inspired, in which case, do as the Romans did. Wait, wha-

>>4533311

Maybe. Jakob, the "Eye of the Storm" Absol works alright too, given that we used Stormtongue magic in both of our major encounters that had witnesses. Not point in trying to force the issue though, forced nicknames never take off. For better or worse.

>>4533321
I still remember the tragedy of the Whispering Eye...

I still feel the laughter to this day.

Oof, this headache is not going away. I'm going to need a bit, guys, probably at least a couple hours, that's how long it usually takes one of my migraines to pass.

>>4533347
All good man, you take care of yourself.

>>4533347

No worries Wong, trying to write through a migraine just makes it worse.

>inb4 headache is onset by withdrawals from lack of dice being rolled yet.

>>4533347
Take care of yourself. Migraine suck hard. Hope you feel better, mate.

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I will say, though, that for one point of exp (which you have currently), you can get the first technique of this. To explain Squishing, referenced in the final five-point technique, it's basically trading points from Height to Width or vice versa. Usually it's not unlimited, hence the stringent requirements (consider that a 2x2 with this technique can beat a 2x10 by squishing the 2x2 into a 3x1, which would resolve first)

>>4533361
Words of Iron is pretty good
1 bonus Might die for company actions if we give a speach the day we need to use it
Probably a solid use of a single exp point

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>>4533347
Health > Random questing commitments

>>4533361
I know I'm lacking in things to compare it to, but this is one hell of a way to make our might punch above its weight. Words of Iron seems good as a starting point, and even if the 5-point thing has a ton of conditions, it's powerful, and I want to buy it for the name alone. Very awesome for inspiring loyalty and winning the battle after an injury, or doubling down on 11th hour heroism like pictured. Just think plate armor and riding a swamp lizard, with a sea of smoke behind him instead of light.

Hell, we're already trying to do the 4 point thing on our own without the mechanical bonus.

This is one way of doubling down on our strengths, and trying to win our field battles better, something that I see us needing.

>>4533361
I'm down for it. Though I'm no RPG mechanic, I trust you lads to atleast understand the just of it.

>>4533380
>>4533382

Don't forget, our Might of 3 is already pretty high compared to everyone else. Being able to get a basically Intensity 3 ability on a 7d10 pool to jack it up to 4 temporarily for 1 exp is a fucking steal. Especially since we use Might for conventional attacking (Might+Treasure), unconventional attacks (Might+Influence), and defense (Might+Territory), which are all a bit on the lower side, it'll give us a leg up on helping Lady Galdynfyrgenbach snuff out her rebellion in the coming months.

Barring anything last minute game will continue TODAY

>>4533756
He's dead.

Right lads, time to pack it all up, someone give the man his funeral rites.
We'll meme in another quest in his honour.

>>4534161
It's rights, mate. Even the dead should have rights.

>>4534161
>>4534186
Oh ye of little faith...it is still today, I'm sure the quest will be back soon.
...Or Wong died on the way back to his planet.

Alright, starting up in just a minute. If I vanish I probably got banned for spicy opinions on whether or not communists are human.

>>4534896
>If I vanish I probably got banned for spicy opinions on whether or not communists are human.
MSPQ Wong ban flashbacks intensify
Next he's gonna post without his name and trip from having been posting about his gun collection on another board

>>4534896
Damnit Wong, you know the answer...

Of course they're not.

>>4534943
And to be fair, this is the opinion they themselves hold, so it's alright.

Well that sucked, net went down then doordash got my order wrong. Luckily I got the post typed up!

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“Unburnt and lit with sunset glow, the lord gazed down on supine foe. With blazing eye and shaping hand, Lord Jakob's peace spread 'cross the land...” Lilly sings.

“Good job, Cailm.” You remark as you take it in, “Just remember, you killed some of her comrades, and she can turn into a wolf in your bed.” You look down the table at Arad, who is eating a surprising amount for an old man with hollow bones. He catches your gaze and makes his way over to you.

“Young lord, fear not the evening, Lord Mihto's last ray anoints thee. Lift your voice into thunder, for beneath your gaze we are free.” Lilly's fingers dance across the strings.

“A wild thing she might be, Jakob, but I hardly think my throat is in danger of being torn out.” Cailm's voice loses his jovialty as he adds, “I'll be careful.”

“Good.” You turn to Arad, and relay to him what you just heard. He listens in stoic silence, munching frog legs as he considers. Finally, you ask the real question, “Do you think we can negotiate with Brother Grey and convince him to abandon the others?”

Arad sighs, “The old crone would wish you negotiated with her grandson, instead, but that doesn't sound possible. Wolves can be negotiated with. Not tamed, not easily, but negotiated with. If one chooses the correct tack. Do we know what he wants? Or have any idea?”

>[What do YOU think Brother Grey wants, and how would you negotiate with him? This is a write-in answer]

>>4535010

>[What do YOU think Brother Grey wants, and how would you negotiate with him? This is a write-in answer]

Honestly, given what we kinda of gathered with reports about him being nearly bestial in nature now and mainly ruling by strength, it's likely that his lieutenants are the ones with actual desires. He may want a rematch as a show of dominance and strength, since Dad kicked the shit out of him in the past, probably lowering his standing. If he is as feral as he is foretold, there's little that we can offer him beyond an ass-whooping to bring him back in line.

I doubt he's gone completely feral though. It's likely a front put forward to put people off their guard. He's either following Albeda because she got to him first, is offering him prime lands with no taxes, or something along those lines. If he is able to be negotiated with, probably letting the Night Hunters have a bit more inclusivity in the court will help. They come from one of the farthest villages out east (Dampmeade and area), so probably feel they have little say in the way the Swamp is run. Bringing them back into the fold as equals amongst the mostly Stormtongue, Shadowbinder and Smoke Sculptors in our court will help repair our relationship. Probably still gonna have to beat the shit out of or kill Grey though depending on his mental state, and work with his second-in-command. I know they work well with the Shadowbinders, and reminding them that they have a place in the Absol Swamps among us will at the least sow some division in the ranks. After all, given what we picked over from Straw Hat, Eyepatch and Braidbeard, a lot of the rank and file are mainly doing this because the higher-ups want it.

If the animosity ends with Grey, running the risk of splintering that faction with his removal is worth knocking out what is likely the bulk of Albeda's forces. We heard from Grandmama that Gloam only had a few apprentices with him, and Char seems to be working alone by personal reasons. If Shell doesn't have a sizable force either, pulling Grey away from the Pentacle will siphon off at least 25% of their forces, and possibly as much as 60% if he's their main source of muscle and bodies.

>>4535010
I really wanted to try and get more information from the prisoners before going for this, although it's doubtful that they would be too open to it because of Grey's viewing it as betrayal.

He would only respect personal strength in a face to face meeting. As long as we have leverage with the prisoners, and the pack thinks they will be released, we can probably negotiate a meeting by sending one of our prisoners out, with our request to be delivered alone to Grey, and for that prisoner to return with acceptance, and a potential place to meet. If we can get any knowledge on his other potential leaders, might be better to try and negotiate with them.

>>4535042
Damn good points. Besides pride, could there be anything he lost to our father?

>>4535055

"I need to talk to the prisoners for more info" is an option.

>>4535010
>Sorry Nucle Arad, I simply don't know enough to give you an answer without it being filled with speculation

>>4535042
I'm doubt he's here for a rematch, for what value is there in beating a cub?

I'm trying to think of a good way to meet without getting opened up to a ambush like we just did to them, and without operating through intermediaries. Perhaps giving an offer to meet in one of the nearest villages with one of his seconds? Would give us the benefit of more insight into whoever he views as expendable, or if he's confident enough to show up in person.

>>4535010
Oppertunism, probably. If he does feel slighted and left out of the fold, then that's an easy fix. It may be that his lieutenants are the ones pushing for the revolt, and if that's the case, i don't mind offering him a place on the winning table.

A face to face would simplify negotiations immensely, and I'm prepared to meet with him on equal footing with proper precautions of course.

>>4535061
Yes, please. Though we should separate our questioning between the to magi. Aka, keep Char out of the loop and vis versa.

Having some internet trouble.

>>4535069
Just tell them to meet us near our village here. If he wants to meet, he can come to us. Plus, it'll be a subtle reminder on what we did to the previous doggo who tried shit.

I honestly think it's a simple dominance trial for the young lordling. After all, who want to be lead by a weak welp who's in power because of his father? It's probable that he's wait for us to follow in our father's footsteps and fight him for pack dominance for all we know.

>>4535079
Rip, sweet prince.

>>4535061

Yeah, we should press more for more info. See who's one of the middling furries we nabbed, and send them back for negotiations. Nobody high enough to be useful, but not so low that he won't care.

>>4535069
>>4535071

Yeah, choosing to meet up for negotiations in a neutral village is likely the next move to take after pulling info from the prisoners. Not so close to Briarfast that it smells of weakness, not so far that we're in dangerous territory. Making sure to roll up with representatives of our magi and enough Last Loyal to keep it from boiling over will help too. Regardless, should probably have something kind of like a summit among the strong magi in the future. Even if it is just to try and ease off some tensions among our strongest assets

>>4535010
>I can only make assumptions, uncle, and all the information I have on him is what you and one of my prior captives said. There's what he personally wants, what the Night Hunters want, and what Albeda wants. I doubt that all 3 of those things line up together, but the only way to find the first two out is to get more information, and we happen to have another set of prisoners in my cells who might know more, and can act as decent intermediaries.

>>4535091
Remembering that the previous doggo who started shit was a low-level apprentice who got singletapped by a minor lightning stroke. I doubt his Elder would go down as easily.

>>4535104
Ye, but a simple reminder of our power would do enough even if we were lucky on several accounts.

There we go, probably the ATF tapping my wires or something.

>>4535103
Good idea on the summit, and we can try and bring Goalm back into the fold as well. After all, he has yet to commit treason and is probably the most dangerous beside the Night Hunters in the Pentagram. I also think he can be reasoned with, because we do understand what he's going through. I can easily imagine Jakob going through the same phase when his mother died, after all.

>>4535120
Good luck with Big Brother, Wong.

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“I'm not sure I know, nuncle.” You confess, “Perhaps he wants more representation in our court? Or a rematch against the Absol lord?”

The old man shrugs, “Wolves care little for representation. What I know is that he eats the flesh of those he kills, and wears a robe of scalps. Perhaps he desires battle again.”

You nod, “A plain rematch would earn him little renown against a cub like me. Maybe he desires the thrill of battle, or maybe he's more pragmatic than that. Maybe he wants land to roam on. Many of the Night Hunters live to the east, we know they've taken over Dampmeade village. Where the marsh becomes grassland, they find better prey and more room to course. Whether it is what he wants or not, I would have more of them to hand, and their loyalty besides. If we peel them off, what other forces does Albeda have? Char was alone, from what I can tell, Albeda has no army of her own, Gloam had only a few apprentices, so Shell and Grey must be providing the bulk of her armies. If we take away Grey, that's most of her strength just...gone.”

Arad gives you a sharp look, “You've forgotten something. Gloam is a Shadowbinder. Give him time and corpses, and he will have an army. Hundred by hundred, rank by rank, limited only by what bodies the earth can provide to him.” He shudders, “The Cheillan War is not the only one this nation has had. There have been others, many, enough to irrigate the swamps in blood, and when the battlefield is cold and still the Shadowbinders creep like insects out of their holes to drag away the bones, to make them walk and fight again in cruel mockery of living men. Do not assume Albeda has no further army. There is always the dead, and the dead fight implacably.” His voice is suddenly very old, and very far away.

“Nuncle, perhaps I should send one of the prisoners with him to a message, arrange a meeting? He is brave, or he would not be their leader, and if we both take precautions.” You bite your lower lip, seeing the look on the old man's face, “Albeda has twice failed to assassinate me. I shall not be easy prey.”

[Continue]

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“You are Lord Absol, not I.” His voice sounds like the clicking of a disapproving beak, the heron-winged Stormtongue picking at his food, “The flame woman lost because she relied on her power. She was young. The Ragged Elder is older than I, and far more terrible. He kills men with his own hand, and gnaws their bones. Or he does, if he was still alive. I'm still not sure I believe that.”

“Let's hope not. Then one of his lieutenants may be eyeing a lost cause and hoping for a means to extricate himself. There is room at this table, and I would seat more company at it.” You resist the urge to get up and start pacing, I can only make assumptions, uncle, and all the information I have on him is what you and one of my prior captives said. There's what he personally wants, what the Night Hunters want, and what Albeda wants. I doubt that all of those things line up together, but the only way to find the first two out is to get more information, and we happen to have another set of prisoners in my cells who might know more, and can act as decent intermediaries.”

Arad laughs softly, “So like your father. I'll tell you a secret, but only once. Many times, shame on me for it, I wished you weren't his son, that Lenida had married closer to home. You will never willingly attune to our magic permanently, but what a magnificent Stormtongue you would have been. Your eye is well suited to see things from above. I could have passed on everything to you, and I would have chosen you over any other. Not for your lineage, but for who YOU are. Let me give you a little advice, while the others drink and your captives grow restless, waiting to learn their fate...”

With that, he begins telling you war stories. Most of them are on rather a small scale. Border skirmishes, dealing with brigands or pirates, but his memory is sharp as a razor and he is very emphatic when it comes to what was said, and how. Bit by bit, he impresses on you things you had already begun to realize, ways of instilling steel in the spines of your men, making your soldiers fight with valor and fury. It is a sober way of command, crisp and efficient, devoid of melodrama but high on patriotism and martial virtue.

>[Spend 1 exp, learn the Esoteric Discipline “Words of Iron”]
>[Save it]

>>4535128
A summit is well in good in a time of peace, but after the rebellion has come, it is too late for grievances to be laid out.

>>4535148
>[Spend 1 exp, learn the Esoteric Discipline “Words of Iron”]
We're gonna need it.

add unbinding undead to the long list of magic techniques to research, alas, the backlog already has anti-divination, and better counterspells

>>4535148
>[Spend 1 exp, learn the Esoteric Discipline “Words of Iron”]
Thanks, Uncle. I do appreciate your support. And what he said about us really warmed the cackles of my heart.

>>4535148
>[Spend 1 exp, learn the Esoteric Discipline “Words of Iron”]
This whole tree of skills honestly looked pretty good to me, may as well start learning it, it's going to get used

>>4535159
The obvious solution to our exp problems are more Problems. Wait a minute...

>>4535148

>[Spend 1 exp, learn the Esoteric Discipline “Words of Iron”]

It's good for the shit we have planned now, and the stuff planned out for after this is pulled out by the roots.

>>4535159

The summit is more going to come into play AFTER the rebellion is broken, and it's leaders shattered. No point in treating these traitors as equals in influence and standing after all.

>>4535168
Clearly, we need more Hated Enemies.
there's these assholes next door in the mountains.....

>>4535178
I'm still holding out hope for the gal. Anyway, we got problems to the North, Plains, and Sea to help out with. (As the Forest or Mountain's problem have yet to be formally brought up.)

>>4535148

>[Spend 1 exp, learn the Esoteric Discipline “Words of Iron”]

Okay fine, another thing worth getting before Sorcery MD I suppose.

>>4535178
And an entire province of rebelling provincials being whipped into hysterics by what we could tell from our vision is a fake demigod

>>4535193
We got that when we defeated Sister Char iirc

>>4535193

You have it, my dude.

Jakob Absol, Swamp Lord

Unspent Exp: 0
Total Exp: 15

BODY: 2
COORDINATION: 2
SENSE: 3
Eerie: +1
KNOWLEDGE: 4
Counterspell: +3
Language (Vartynen): +MD
Sorcery: +3MD
Strategy: +2
Tactics: +2
COMMAND: 4
Haggle: +1
Inspire: +3
Intimidate: +1
CHARM: 2

ADVANTAGES:
Lucky 1 (one reroll per session on a roll where NO sets turn up)
Thick Headed 1 (one extra wound box in the head)
Status 3 (Lord of the Absol Swamp, FREE for plot reasons)
Followers 5 (10 Threat 4 Unworthy Opponents, the Last Loyal, FREE for picking Swamp)
Possession ? (Castle Briarfast, FREE for plot reasons)
Possession 3 (Well-Made Plate Armor)
Literate in Vartynen 1 (FREE for plot reasons)
Wealth 3
Spells (1)
Spells (1)
Spells (3)
Spells (3)
Spells (5)

PROBLEMS:
Hated Enemy (+1 xp whenever the Hated Enemy harms or inconveniences you)

PASSIONS:
Mission: Solidify your hold on the Absol Swamp
Duty: Be a lord your people and ancestors would be proud of
Craving: Find a worthy and powerful wife

ESOTERIC DISCIPLINES:
The General's Visage: Words of Iron

SPELLS:
Aqueous Divination (Sense): Weather Wisdom, Clearwater Oracle
Smoke Sculpting (Knowledge): Minor Smoke Form, Smoke Arrow, Minor Smoke Structure, Smoke Armor
The Way of the Wood (Knowledge): Blossom Freshness
Wings of Words (Knowledge): Soar, Words of Lesser Attunement, Minor Lightning Stroke

>>4535193
I, too, would love another MD. This anon knows what's what.

>>4535193

Pretty sure we got the Sorcery MD last thread when we were rolling in the bonanza of exp from foiling the assassination attempt, whipping Char's ass, and capturing the chimera without bloodshed.

>>4535200
Can't have 1 roll's pool have more than 1 MD, or a MD and an Expert dice in the same pool, so that's out.

it would be funny AF to just auto headshot with smoke arrow/lightning bolts every turn tho....

>>4535262

I mean, just roll a 10 or two, and use the MD to make the set wider than theirs. Can't counter-spell what is already cast after all.

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The night passes, one of the best nights of your life. Victory tastes great, and so does power. Deep into the night, the songs and praise are heaped upon you. Both the town's elders and youths cheer for you, and the greatest peril you have are the young women, who eye you like a ripe mulberry waiting to be plucked.

They should know better, you're above their station, but then again, your FATHER married a local girl...the fact that she was the daughter of the headwoman of Grand Crag doesn't seem to fit into their minds, but someone, thankfully, is there to protect your virtue. Her hair is fluffy and brown, her eyes are brilliantly blue, the tip of her nose just a little bit red, and her cheeks are dusted with freckles. Eyes modestly downcast, she sits on the corner of the high table rather than tempt fate by claiming a chair, and all night her lovely voice warms your ears. She sings old songs, favorite songs. War ballads, sowing-rhymes. She sings requests...namely the particularly ribald 'There's a Goat On my Boat' with just enough innocent indignation at the goat's antics to make the soldiers laugh uproariously. She sings the Lay of Ledo, and the tale of Hayward Fair-Arm. Songs of hope and songs of spring, and in her voice you can hear the snap of flags in the crisp breeze and the whickering of horses lined up for the charge. She sings the song of Arnveis the Mulberry Thief and his romancing of Lenida of Grand Crag, and you see Arad's eyes turn misty. Grandmama volunteers to sing, but the ditty she composes is so obscene, so vile, that she is promised an entire keg to herself if she remains a one-hit wonder. Finally, Lilly sings...about you. Just as she said, she sings the truth.

Her pink lips shape the words, telling of a boy with tousled hair, brave but uncertain, seeking to know his realm. Even though you know the outcome, you feel the tension as the strumming of her lyre grows sharper with the approach of the beast, and the young lord's preparation...and finally, your heart soars at her description of your triumph, of seeing you lit by the sunset flying down from your tower to defend your birthright and come home victorious. Her eyes shine, clearly proud of her work by the last note, and as she passes behind your chair for another piece of fried catfish she leans down and whispers in your ear, “Well done, my gentle muse.” She smiles at you and dances away.

>[Say something to her]
>[Let her go for now]

>>4535282
>[Say something to her]

Fuck if I know what though.

>>4535282
>[Let her go for now]

Lilly a cute, but I don't know what to say.

>>4535282

>[Let her go for now]

Lilly is indeed a cute, but we got better fish to fry, and other potential waifus down the road. No point in leading her on just to fuck it up later.

>>4535282
>[Let her go for now]
Damn you Floofy bard, your battering ram is breaking down the castle walls of my heart, but alas these walls must remain up till we've at least MET Hanna in person and the goat fucker spawn Lady R*yd

>>4535308
Hey! It's rude to insult them with the truth! Even if the goat spawn is accurate. Though you leave me confused, I thought Lendo was a Lord?

>>4535314
We were told the current lord of the mountain goat breaders has a very attractive daughter near our age

>>4533361
Newcomer to the quest, what kind of system is this? Doesn't look like anything I'm familiar with.

>>4535314

Londo R*d is indeed the current Lord Ryd so far. inb4 the delegation is Lady R*d arriving to try and mend fences after her dad got Cheill'd too.

>>4535323

It's run with the Reign system. Big take-aways is d10 dicepools, matching sets of numbers are good, with either high numbers, lots of the same or ideally both is what you're looking for in the rolls.

>>4535323
It's Reign, and the dice system requires us to roll d10s and get multiples of the same number to cast spells, and accomplish things.
Didn't get the mechanics too much when I started, setting and setup dragged me in and now I'm staying up to not miss threads.

>>4535325
>inplying the current lord isn't dickless and likes to dress like a maid in private

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You want to say something to her, but you're not sure what. Moreover...you're a noble, and she's a good woman, if you led her on, only to marry someone more to your station, would you ever forgive yourself for hurting her? You're still young, there is time. Still, the sweetness of her smile makes your heart beat faster and your wine taste sweeter.

There is, however, one thing that mars your evening somewhat.

You know something is wrong when you see Harvin hurrying down the steps from the floors of the keep that are your living space, his maimed face grey, his hunchbacked shuffling more frenetic than usual. He stifles a gag, stumbling to a window and retching noisily. “G-good Mihto shine on me...” He groans.

You sympathetically pat the steward on the back to help him get it all out, “Let it all out. Too much to drink? Take it easy tomorrow, I'll get you some water.” How many times, after all, has that kindest of human beings brought you water or soothed your brow when you were sick?

He shakes his head and grabs your arm, “No...in there...” He points a trembling hand up towards your room.

You gesture for your bodyguards, now a constant presence, to follow you. With billhooks in hand, they ascend the spiral stairs to the first of the top two tower floors, throw open the doors, and immediately make noises of disgust. Pushing by them, you immediately see why.

[Continue]

>>4535351
That's completely understandable seeing how much of a Chad our father, his closest neighbour was

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The chimera glares at you vindictively with its pale eyes, squatting on the floor in the middle of its prison of smokeglass pillars, their transparent bars making its form seem to waver. It looks battered, with several noticeable cuts and bruises, and you can only imagine its rage at finding itself trapped and unable to use its sheer strength to break free. However, it has found a means of revenge. The stench is awful as it adds yet another plop to the reeking, liquidy pile on the floor beneath it, “Ook.” It proclaims, eyes focusing on you as it rubs its snout with its tentacles.

There is no way you're sleeping in here tonight. The reek is unbearable.

“I believe it was drugged, my lord.” Harvin stumbles up the stairs, pale as a ghost and supported by two of your guards. “Nightscream, if my guess is accurate. A rather niche potion, but one Albeda would know the making off. It induces unconsciousness for roughly...I would say ten hours in a creature that size, but it is not a pleasant sleep, but rather a paralyzing, terrifyingly claustrophobic one, haunted by terrible nightmares. Upon awakening, as the imbiber's fiery humors arise as normal to shake off grogginess, the brew's second effect kicks in. Rage, and a loss of inhibition. It is, after all, a wild animal. Even if trained to kill and aggressive by nature, if it had found you surrounded by armed men, it would have wanted to flee otherwise.”

“LOOK OUT!” One of the Last Loyal shouts, thrusting himself between you and the beast. For a moment, your heart stops, expecting to see the prison shatter and the chimera leap at you but you are marginally less unlucky. What your bodyguard had seen was the chimera reach a tentacle between its legs, and arm itself with a missile most foul, which it whips at you with terrible force. The stool spatters across the guardsman's cuirass, but you remain unharmed. For a moment, there is silence, although the chimera claps its tentacles together and makes a deep-throated “Huh-huh-huh-huh-huh.” sound.

“Harvin. Reward this man.” There are no other words.

“Yes, my lord.” Harvin clears his throat with a phlegmy cough, “What do you mean to DO with it?”

“For now, I'll spend the night in my old room, but starting tomorrow...”

>[What do you plan to do with it?]

>>4535361
Train it. It'll make a wonderful pet and an insult to Albeda's foolish attempt at murder.

>>4535361
As absolutely tempted as a I am to say

>Tell Cailm I settled on a wife for him to train after all
>Move the Chimera into his room

Let's go with put it in the dungeon for now and we can put out a call to look for an experienced animal trainer for it

>>4535377
I absolutely adore your suggestion.

>>4535361
A wild animal, smart enough to spite us. Kill it and dissect it, then give the corpse to the walls.

I can't see a way to use it without a considerable waste of time and effort. Training it to do what, catch balls? Then we have a shit flinging octo-monkey. 8 times the shit flinging.

Not to mention the dangers to our men of attempting to move and train it.

Was hoping there was more to it when I advocated trapping it, but sometimes a beast is just a beast.

Dang Harvin, pocket expert herbalist. A worthy helper, indeed.

>>4535361

>[What do you plan to do with it?]

Put the damned thing down. We can always recruit some flesh-sculpters in the future Or get Grandmama's children to make zombified ones if we need monsters. As stand right now though, we got enough problems in the province as it is without having an octape with a hunger for manflesh in our dungeons.

>>4535377
+1, if only to see Cailm's face.

>>4535380
actually, I'll drop the dissect part. We probably wouldn't get anything out of it.

>>4535391

You've saved its life with that, since it was 2/2 between taming it and killing it. As an ape, it is actually fairly trainable.

>>4535408
Time to watch it learn sign language
Except with tentacle arms and no hands

>>4535410
I. Heart. U. Cail-*doorslams*

The perfect woman.

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“We're going to train it, I just need to find someone who knows how.” You glance at the chimera again.

“Hur-hur-hur-grokkkk-grokkkk.” It's doing that stupid chuffing laugh at you so hard that its throat is puffing up like a frog.

“Watch out, its tongue can grab you, it's at least five yards long.” You remark from bitter experience, “It can't stay here. We need to move it to the dungeon until we can build a proper enclosure for it. Outdoors is probably best, but it climbs like...well.” The thing is so made for climbing you can scarcely find anything to compare it to.

“I'll mix a sleeping draught into its food tomorrow.” Harvin suggests, seemingly trying to make up for his moment of illness in front of you. “After all, we can't get it out of there without you to undo your spell and remove the bars.”

“A fine plan.” You agree, pinching your nose. “...And I have a plan to make it finer.”

That night, you sleep the sleep of the glorious victor, and you dream of flight. You wake feeling incredibly refreshed and confident, with a vast weight off your shoulders. Harvin very carefully uses two billhooks tied together for extra length to push a big bowl of mashed apples, the leftover meat from last night's meal, and honey between the bars, and the chimera greedily snatches it up and gobbles it up. Although the squid and frog bits of it are carnivores, it's still mostly monkey, and while ghuls love meat even more than their smaller baboon and mandrill cousins do the sweet apples are just the thing to fill its empty belly with greedy hunger. Less than an hour later, it's curled up in a ball, asleep, and you turn the smokemass back into regular smoke, the released puff of incense-laden smoke helping to clear the air of the chimera's foulness. You're still not entirely sure you shouldn't kill it. The thing is wrapped in chains, put on a stretcher, and carried off to the most secure cell in the dungeons, for the time being.

You're all set to follow, when you hear a clamour from outside the window. Looking out over the castle town, you see a procession of carriages rolling through the open gate, and fluttering above them...the banner of a silver fox on a dark blue field.

>[Get to the great hall, and be there when the Ryd delegation comes in]
>[Tend to your business in the dungeon talking to the prisoners first]

>>4535408
That's good to hear. Hate to see such potential go to waste.

>>4535415
>[Get to the great hall, and be there when the Ryd delegation comes in]

Time to be a Lord.
Someone's got to set the example in the hall.

>>4535415

>[Get to the great hall, and be there when the Ryd delegation comes in]

Time to deal with some squatters come to chat. Don't want them to wait, otherwise they'll probably "find" something else to take home with them later on. It's only proper lordly manners after all.

>>4535415
Oh boy, to the Grand Hall we go!

>>4535415
>[Get to the great hall, and be there when the Ryd delegation comes in]

First impressions are important, as much as I want learn from the prisoners. Ryd knows our dad died, right? Half the letters didn't so that's why I'm asking.

>>4535415
>[Get to the great hall, and be there when the Ryd delegation comes in]

I wonder what gifts they bring...

>>4535415

>[Get to the great hall, and be there when the Ryd delegation comes in]

Damn and here we are without a fresh young goat to offer them for their bedroom

>>4535424

He should. The only ones who didn't were Galdynfyrgenbach who has the issue of distance, and Gwelm, who might not be as up to date with the current news. If Ryd is even half of the stories spread about him, he'd be able to pick it up by now just from spending some of our ancestor's gold on room and board and listening on the way to Castle Briarfast.

>>4535425
That reminds me, wasn't there an idea to carve a magical wooden necklace for Lady Hannah, one with a slight glow and warmth?

Just for fun, roll me some dice, this is a Sense+Scrutinize roll.

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4535449

Dice for the heap!

Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>4535449
Perception, my old nemesis

Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>4535449
Ouch so just our 3 for Senses since we have no Scrutinize eh?

Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>4535449
Oh no, the dice addiction starts again!

>>4535451
>>4535453

Still ended up with a 2x5 though. No cutlery going missing tonight!

>>4535451
>>4535453
Thank the Absol ancestors we got a pair

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>4535449
Well diced, good sir!

>>4535451
>>4535453

He can't keep getting away with it.

>>4535449
We need to up our stats/skills as well, lads.

>>4535459
Yea....Sense would help our divination magic, something that might be good to go into for more info.

but more unlimited power Proper Lightning Stroke.....

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>>4535458

>pic related.

We're just going to shit the bed hard from hubris later on, but I'll enjoy the benefits now while they're still around.

>>4535459

Yeah, those are priority now. Costs 10 to boost a stat though. At least all our shitty skills are relatively cheap (2-4 exp) to boost right now.

>>4535459
I don't know if we can get a md for stats
But, imagine if we had a MD for Knowledge

>>4535468
Plus side for stats, universal use when compared to skills.

>>4535472
That seems like the road to madness.

I love it.

>>4535472

No MDs for stats, but their limit is 6 instead of 5. Means the best you can get is a 9d10 with MD, even after losing a die from multiple actions.

>>4535474

Yeah, they're just expensive right now. Pretty sure we'll get potential skill packages to boost multiple skills though, Wong was talking about it in previous threads to try and balance out a bit from our slower exp gain due to being a Lord rather than a murder-hobo.

>>4535468
8-10 exp. for a MD(+1), per skill. Just saying...

>>4535479
That sound sweet for stats, lads.

And what's wrong with being a murder-hobo?

Sleep has come upon me rather suddenly, lads, and we'll all want to be sharp for this. I would say I'm running Sunday, but...Sundays are always iffy. If not, then Monday. Assuming I'm not catching a three day ban for "off topic" non janny approved opinions on /tg/.

>>4535485

No worries Wong, seeya then.

>>4535485
Well, good night Wong.

We really should look into at least some dodge skill for staying alive in fights we can't counterspell everything, at least while it's cheap.

I mean, if we're just picking skills. Still probably below some sort of diplomacy-based Charm for talking to people, and that's below some sort of anti-divination defense.

>>4535485
Night Wong. Don't go off the rails just yet especially if it's warrented.

>>4535488
We really need to create a system for deciding on what to spend exp. on. There's too many things on our wishlist currently, and I can see it growing exponentially.

>>4535361
>The chimera glares at you vindictively with its pale eyes, squatting on the floor in the middle of its prison of smokeglass pillars, their transparent bars making its form seem to waver. It looks battered, with several noticeable cuts and bruises, and you can only imagine its rage at finding itself trapped and unable to use its sheer strength to break free. However, it has found a means of revenge. The stench is awful as it adds yet another plop to the reeking, liquidy pile on the floor beneath it, “Ook.” It proclaims, eyes focusing on you as it rubs its snout with its tentacles.

I like this spiteful little shit.

>>4535488

Probably gonna hew less on Dodge and more on Parry since we're going Flying Tank with two layers of armour in the fight. For weaponry, probably Staff of some kind, since we can also attach the censor to it if we don't want to hang it from our belt in the fight.

Charm skills tend to be more inter-personal from what I see, with Command being for the masses.

>>4535490

Other things to remember is that Sorcery changes it's base stat depending on the school. Most of the ones we have are either Knowledge (4), or Sense (3), which is fine with the amount we have. It starts getting dicier if we wind up with something based off of Coordination, Body or Charm, since those are all pretty low.

Big shit I see to improve is as follows in no particular order:

>boost some Sense skills, since it saved our asses a few times, and the stat isn't super high.
>boost some Charm skills, to help persuade people when we start dealing with people of consequence
>boost some defensive skills, either Parry(Body), or Dodge (Coordination), probably Body ones since it'll mesh better with our equipment already.
>get some more spells like Shovel the Clouds, Lightning Stroke, divinations, etc.
>get some more MDs in other skills like Counterspell and Inspire to play to our strengths.
>boost some stats to fill in a few of our weak spots, probably Body, Charm, and Sense(mainly to improve our divinations and pick up on shit).

We don't really need much more Possessions yet, and we're probably going to stay Unattuned too, to take advantage of our wide range of spell choice. Our spells are pretty alright for now, so we should focus on improving a few more of our courtly and martial skills since we're probably going to the North in a few months, and we are probably going to need to deal with court life soon enough when us and the other provinces start getting our shit back in order.

Wish you guys the best of luck in your new quest, just remember the two key things for success.

1. Roll big constantly
2. Fuck veggies

>>4535501
So, what takes priority then? We need to figure out what's important to get first, and what we can hold off on. After all, we can't get everything from our wishlist in one sitting.

And I just realized that Hannah's stat potentially is 6 Body/Coordination, as she does have the lineage of an Amazonian Demi-goddess in her blood. Hot damn, no wonder she kicks ass at fighting, but has no practical skills beyond that (assumed, but it would make sense in context of an Amazonian struggling to rule her people effectively).

>>4535844

I'd say boosting a couple Sense skills (Scrutinize or Empathy to start since they're at +0) to a +2 or +3, Parry to at least a +2, and probably Vigor to a +2. It'll give us a couple of 4d10 or 5d10 rolls in our lower stats, and 5d10 or 6d10 in our rolls for reading people. We won't be stirring in trying to persuade people and kind of shit at hacking dudes up with a billhook, but we can at least put up a defense against martials while we cast and semi-reliably tell when people are trying to bullshit us. If I didn't fuck up the math, a +0 to +2 takes around 5 exp, which is around 20 exp total for four skills. 2 stat ups cost the same, but these skills are in 3 different areas that might be spreading that exp too thin with stat-ups. At least it'll give us at least 4-6 dice in our defensive skills rather than 2-4 in them plus a few other rolls. A lot easier to make sets that way, even if they're unlikely to be much good.

The skill cost might be higher to around 24 exp if I messed up the scaling, but it'll still be cheaper than 3 stat-ups. Plus, it'll make it cheaper in general to start looking at MDs and EDs in the future, since they will have already got a lot of the ground-work done up. Basing this off the fact you probably need a minimum skill level of +3 or +4 to get them

Oh dear, Lady Hannah is spectacular in a fight but has issues persuading the masses to accept her rule. If only she knew a friendly face that has high Command and skills to Inspire/Intimidate them as required to bring those chieftains back into the fold. :^)

>>4535874

>in 3 different areas.

Whoops, realized that both Parry and Vigor are Body skills. Makes it a bit cheaper to boost the stats we'll want in these since it's just 2 of them, but still overall cheaper to boost skills. Plus, since it's not big-ticket exp costs, we can pick up a couple of other skills that crop up along the way, since I doubt most anons will have the patience to wait for 10 exp all the time when chances to gain spells or Esoteric Techniques crop up, and it's easier to justify that way.

>>4535874
Considering our well-justified paranoia over magic and monster assassination attempts in the night, some more Sense stuff would be justified.

I do like the idea of idea of being good at spotting the BS from nobles with Empathy as a stopgap, and just calling them out on it, rather than trying to get very good at sweet talking them. Wouldn't make many friends that way, however.

I don't think we're allowed to "Learn" vigor, as it says it isn't a skill to be learned, but considering as long as we are wearing armor, we can parry with our armored forearms, would be good for putting some points into that.

Also depends on what people we have available to learn from, because I doubt we will get a good fighting tutor until we pick out a Master of Arms.

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I really like the detail that our personal guard uses billhooks over more famous polearms.
They fit the image of a swamp-dwelling army very well.

>>4535874
>>4535913
You guys make good points. We could probably also stat level charm, just to get a quick cheap boost in those related skill sets, and to atleast try to be competitive in that department. Dodge may also be a skill set worth potential investing in, just in case, but Martial skills like that would have to wait until we get a Master-at-arms, atleast. The real questions would be, do we invest in a greater advantage for stats we already have an edge in. I believe Sense would be useful, as it already saved our lives and helped us immensely, but what of Knowledge and Command? It may be expensive exp wise, but one would say well spent as well, if it offers us an even greater advantage in future conflicts.

I'm not very good at the mechanics of this system, so I don't know what would be optimal exp use, because we have to keep in mind the exp cost of spells and techniques as well.

God, I feel like a kid in a candy shop being told to choose a piece of candy.

>>4535959

Wong mentioned in previous threads that some Body and Coordination skills (Dodge, Running, Climbing, Swimming) are hampered by heavy armour like the Plate and Smoke Armor spell that we already went in on for our defenses. Parry is less affected as far as I'm aware, so we may as well boost it and Weapon Skill (whatever), since it'll be cheaper than boosting Coordination and Body for similar results on the defensive side. Most of the Body skills hampered are offset by having bodyguards around to pull us out of the bogs and rivers or flying with Soar rather than climbing a wall or jumping a chasm. Some of the Coordination skills are worth dipping into, but not really enough to spend 10 exp per die gained by raising the stat instead of going in skills. Charm skills are useful and boosting Charm will help with all of them, but it'll be from 2d10 to 3d10/4d10. We've got other shit to go for first.

Knowledge and Command are our strengths and we can play into them. Raising Intimidate is still relatively cheap, and can boost it to easy successes like our Inspire and Knowledge+Sorcery spells. Some of the Knowledge skills are interesting like Healing (probably herbalism shit), Lore (whatever), and boosting Strategy/Tactics, but even the unskilled ones are at 4d10 for now. I'd say we're still better off going with Sense boosting and Martial Defense skills first, to get them to something better than the 2d10 or 3d10 they're at now, since we need 2 matching numbers for a roll to count as a success.

Yeah, my brain's been reeling trying to decide on what to go with for building Jakob into a force to be reckoned with amongst the other nobility. At least we're not starting with sweet fuck-all to aim for.

>>4536383
Well, what we could do is pay the exp for some of the cheaper skills, then have the exp package help boost them though I don't know if this is a viable stat or not, since it seems exp packages are experimental and such. I figure it's best to try and point it out for us all though.

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>>4535950

Yeah man, I like the details in stuff like that. Especially since historical weapon billhooks adapted out from the agricultural tools used by the lower classes. Used the tool ones myself, and prefer them a lot over machetes because they sharpen nice, and work on grasses, thorny weeds, vines, bushes, and like 2" trees without needing other tools.

>I say Percival, what is that tool those peasants are using?
>A billhook m'lord.
>Fascinating. I wonder what it'll do to those blasted Frenchmen over the channel.
>Probably something nasty m'lord. I seent 'em chop through a thumb-thick branch in one swing afore even when it were dull as sin.
>Marvellous, simply marvellous. Get me 30 of them Percival, I've got an idea...

>>4536423
Kek.

>>4536383
Well, the easiest way to be a force at court is to be the man everyone wants to have on their own side. If we can pull off a few more military victories, and prove ourselves as an able commander, we can be the man with the army that noone wants to cross. We can lean on Intimidate and try to gain a reputation as a straight-shooter who wants to stay out of backstabbing, and Sense or Empathy to stop us from getting pointed at the wrong targets (Hopefully). Sense is also what our Clearwater Oracle is based off of, and if we go a bit further into those spells, would be useful.

Of course, this goes out the window when trying to deal with friends, because there's only so many times you can try and intimidate allies before those allies are gone.

I mean, there's also the traditional method of covering your weaknesses. Outsourcing. Harvin, for example, apparently has good Healing based on his identification of toxins. Our Last Loyal do try and cover for our weakness of body, also. Calim's already sort of serving as our Man in the Know with chatting up the prisoners. He's a little informal for being a diplomat, but hey, whatever works.


Wong, is it ok for us to look up some of the spells we might potentially learn, or do you want to hold control on what kinds of Esoteric Disciplines/Spells, etc. that the group knows about?

cuz I went looking and found a spell that solves our divination defense problem at not too high of an Intensity....It's even on the same page as Clearwater Oracle....

>>4536423
It's also an amazing weapon for dealing with cavalry and armor, as the hook could drag to the ground anything it didn't kill outright.
It's telling that they stayed in use long after pike formations became the norm in Europe.
I'm looking forward to seeing horsemen get yoinked while we put down this rebellion.

>>4536471
Well, I don't know if that's too mega-gaming or not. While I don't think so personally, I try to err on the side of if the character would know it or not IC. It sort of like trying to kickstart the Industrial Revolution as a murder-hobo, you know. It's sort of the same reason I'm hesitant to share an idea about a smoke structure, as it has the potential to ruin the setting, though I may be overestimating the idea's importance, or if it's even possible under in-setting knowledge or metaphysics.

>>4536491
In the North, the Billhook becomes the tool the Reaper uses to take the dead with him.

>>4536471
>>4536491
I think we definitely have some license to fish the rulebooks for good spells from an in-character perspective.
Maybe it would be different if we picked a different province, but as it stands we're the sorcerer king of the Witchlands and have an absurd amount of magical resources compared to the vast majority of the setting.
That said, I'd hold off on Jakob becoming a visionary smoke architect until he undergone the relevant training.

>>4535485
Wong's not banned yet, right lads?

>>4536637
Wong needs to step up his proxy game if he's going to use gamer words.

>>4536471

Froth? Why yes, certainly that's one that's available to you. I don't mind you looking that stuff up, although I might go, for example, "you've never heard of someone who eats eyes to get the ability to see through walls", but Aqueous Divination is something Jakob is proficient enough in to learn Froth from the library in his quarters. Keep in mind, though, it affects any spell that has to do with you. Even neutral or beneficial ones, like reading your own future.

>>4536668
So, one more hit on our Oracle, then we get Frothed? Atleast until it runs out, then we do both in the same order. I know Froth has a time limit, and I'd never commit to the Wirlpool tub one, so we can just do a Clearwater Oracle before a Froth spell? And do we have a diviner in-court to do the spell dor us?

Frankly, it seems all the spells are pretty useful, but that's with every spell.

>>4536687
I was thinking something along those lines, ya. Using our MD and trying to set our timescales. Although a 5 hour long cast time is a joke. What are we doing, stirring tea and casting while holding court on Mondays?

>>4536668
I'll limit my research to anything we've seen in-thread, or schools that we directly have access to already.

>>4536707
That why we need a diviner in our court. Someon who could do this ritual to us when we're asleep, or something easily as taxing. So it's doesn't waste much of our time.

Plus, I imagine the time limits is meant to be a problem to those on the run or want to be hidden. After all, why else would anyone want to prevent a divination on themselves (because there are benefits to learning your own future, if only for yourself).

Finally caught up to this thread, you fuckers better not have released any prisoners or fucked Lili yet.

>>4536786
No promises.

At the risk of being a massive meme, game will probably be Tuesday instead of today. I'm babysitting and while I can sometimes run and watch my niece at the same time, sometimes it's just impossible.

>>4537093
All good sir :) great games are worth the wait.

File: Spoiler Image (103 KB, 768x1024)

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Just caught up with the quest after realizing Mr. Wong was running it! It's good to see you back, and this quest has been great so far.
Mecha Space Pirate is in my top 5 quests so I got high hopes for this one and I haven't been disappointed so far, so please keep up that great work!

I'd never pick favorites, but please know that Karen is very much loved and holds a special place in my heart. They all do really, Roarke's harem is filled with absolutely amazing gals, but if all the girls are equal the lack of appreciation for Karen at times force me to give her a bit more love

>>4537093
What anime character does your niece best represent, if I'm not being too forward here?

>>4537093
See you tomorrow night Wong
>>4537830
Dude no, just no

>>4537093
Night Wong. Can't wait to see what happens next!

>>4537830
It's too forward, lad. It's always too forward.

Game will be a bit delayed. Both my little brother and I had our cars in the shop and took turns borrowing the pickup. Unfortunately...he left a loaded magazine or two in there, so I'm doing the responsible big brother thing and taking them back to him.

>>4539300
Your a better man than I, Wong.

Finders keepers is still a strong tradition in my family...

>>4536471
In preparation for the coming negotiations with the furries, should we up a Sense skill, Empathy, Scrutinize, or others?

I would also like to mention that Command skills may be of more use here, and not just because we're piss poor at Charm. I think the Big Bad Wolf would react better to Command on the basis that he's probably more animalistic in nature, and Charm would more likely work more on traditionally human nature. Don't really know though, this is just an assumption.

It could just be my brain going 'Bad dog!' And 'Stay! Rollover! Do the wolf-trick! Good boy! Here's a treat!'. I don't have to mention that this kind of treatment won't get us results. Probably.

>>4539317

I like the idea, a creative use of of Command might have more effect than Charm or even Empathy.

It could be something like issuing a drill style Command to whatever troops we have with us at the time while he can see. The Last Loyal must have some cool looking parade routines.

Alexander the Great, while fully surrounded by enemy armies on hills, once used this tactic to such great effect that the opposing forces just went home instead of dealing with his ridiculously well drilled army.

Our case would be much different but the main idea of making an impression using our Command skill is largely the same.

>>4539337
Ah yes, time to hold an impromptu drill parade in the grand Hall that just so happens to be going on while the neighboring lord shows up
I'm in full support of doing drill parades and mock battles against Nuncle Arad with the Last Loyal

>>4539342

I was thinking more for when/if we meet with Brother Grey, but yeah it might not be bad to include it with the R*dshit delegation.

>>4539317
Sounds like Intimidate to me. Runs off of command, also. I'm also a little more inclined to level Sense because I feel like we'll get a lot out of everything from Eerie to avoid magic assassins, to Empathy to help us not get BSed by diplomats or other lords, to Sight to just not get stabbed by random hired goons.

I may have a paranoia problem, but considering the motive and means are there, I think it's warranted. Getting shanked would be a shitty way to die.

>>4539337
The Last Loyal are a crack group of troops, but they're not a massive army. They're good, and loyal, but they're not a legion, and they aren't winning huge battles on their own. I see their first value in being unquestionably trusted, and then after that their prowess as bodyguards, and finally after all that their use on the battlefield. Remembering that most of our great Might score comes from having several strong mages, not a huge standing army.

It's a bit late to be doing mock battles right now, but keeping that in the back pocket for anyone else we want to intimidate or impress is something to remember.

>>4539367
FFS messed up my formatting.
There's definitely a case to be made for just banking xp, also, to try and expand our spell lists in the future.

>>4539367
Boosting up Eerie was on my list of important things to level up last thread
It's saved our butt and we definitely need to roll more than 4d10 for it in the future

And I was thinking doing Mock battles with Arad would be a good way to express why he boosted Tactics and Strategy in his monthly exp package

>>4539394
That is Assuming Wong still wants to do those monthly exp packages he was talking about or that they would even have the same skills as his examples

>>4539403
I assume it would work out like a loot box. You get some idea, but you don't know the specifics until you open them.

>>4539414
>lootboxes
Ah yes, time for Wong to shill us his Patreon to "boost tje value of our monthly packages" or "Get 2 exp packages for the month" or just straight up "hit a donation threshold to gain increased exp generations"
I kid, Wong is far from that evil probably

>>4539308

Yeah but I don't have an HK. I could've kept the bullets, but they're not the same brand as the jacketed hollowpoints I use.

>>4539422
>forgetting the Shinji-Jakob death scene was from the previous thread

>>4539430
'Tis life then. Hope your brother appreciated it atleast.

>>4539450
I mean, that's more sadistic than evil

>>4539457
Probably

File: Londo Ryd.jpg (27 KB, 296x290)

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You've never put on your armor faster. You also spot the fine cloak that you got at the same time, and on impulse, put it on. The otter fur really is high quality. With unseemly haste, you trot down the stairs, through the solar behind the great hall, and into the great hall itself, taking your seat with your thurible, a lit candle, and today's book of choice resting on the table before you.

Cailm makes it in ahead of the group, walks past behind your chair, and mutters, “He's been throwing silver into the crowd like chickenfeed on his way in.”

“Silver, not gold? Must've fallen on hard times.” You mumble back, but the great doors are opened wide by your guards, and Lord Ryd's march in.

“Lord Londo Ryd.” One of the guards calls out. It's the barest formality. 'Rightful Protector of the Ryd Mountains' is normally expected to follow, but that's a subject that sticks in many a swamplander's craw.

Their gear is of fine make. The Ryd war machine, on sheer funding alone rather than strength of men, is the only one in the Frontier Provinces that can rival the Absols. Naturally, you have the advantage in sorcerers, and they probably have more people. The puffy sleeves, elaborately decorated bec-de-corbins and gleaming armor of his retinue stand in sharp contrast to the dull maille and unadorned billhooks used by your guards, and you don't need to see beneath their visors to know that they're shooting each other some ugly looks. Lord Ryd, however, outshines them all. He's a big man, and that's something you weren't expecting, tall and still well-muscled despite having gone as silver as his family's totem. He's dressed in rakish velvet and furs, with long-spurred black riding boots so shiny you could see your face in them if you looked, matching his companionably roguish smile. He looks like he should have a hunting falcon riding on his wrist. The sword on his hip has a jeweled scabbard and hilt that should normally indicate mere decoration, but the sweat-stains and wear on the leather of the grip tell you that it's seen frequent use. A rich man can afford a very good sword.

“Lord Absol.” He booms out, looking around and spreading his arms wide. “You gave me an introduction, I see things are already off to a fine start.” He turns towards you, as amicable as a favorite uncle, “Damned shame about your father, he was a terror, and the Kingdom's worse off without him. I'll do you the courtesy of giving you the truth, I thought I'd be dealing with him until I reached Huskerly and heard the tavern-talk. Singing your praises, they were.” He smiles in a way that lets you know he's proud of you. “May we speak privately?” He looks around at the onlookers.

>[Allow him a private audience]
>[Deny him a private audience]

>>4539472
>>[Allow him a private audience]
we're a cut above them
better than the best

Rolled 8, 6 = 14 (2d10)

>>4539472
>Dismiss Cailm from the room
There as good as private
I jest
>[Allow him a private audience]
Damn you Goat fucker, I already like you

>>4539472
>[Allow him a private audience]

I should like him. He's paid his respects, he's a man who clearly has used his sword recently and often, but I'm getting vibes that he's gonna want something. After all, why so polite and friendly?

Wonder what rumors are flying around about our problems.

In before he's here to stab us and thinks Albeda would be more willing to help him with whatever issue he has

>>4539472

>[Allow him a private audience]

Don't need to have our guards and his guards getting antsy around each other, especially if one of us causes offence for some strange animal buggering accusations reason.

>>4539472
>[Deny him a private audience]

He's funny, but he's also shoving his wealth in our face. He's also being overly intimate. I would deny him the advantage of charming us out of our cloak in our home. He's trying to set a precedent here.

Paranoia, but why else does he come in full splender, passing out silver like it was chicken feed at our very gates?

>>4539472
What was our scrutinize roll btw? I feel like I probably missed it.

>>4539472
>[Allow him a private audience]
>>4539478
That's a good way to get headshot and I'm sure he knows it. Besides, as of now the terrorists are only common knowledge in our own province, so at the very least his original purpose for coming here must be unrelated.

>>4539500
I feel compelled to add we may lose our Command advantage if we agree to a private audience. Let him make his intentions known for all to hear, instead of hiding behind a lords curtsy.

File: Amaranthe Ryd.jpg (74 KB, 622x724)

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“Certainly, my lord.” You extend him the needed courtesies, even if you can't keep the wariness out of your voice. You should like him, he's paid his respects, and he is a likable sort of old rogue...but that's the problem, isn't it? Likable old rogues are the most dangerous rogues, and Londo Ryd is the only one your father was wary of.

You stand, and the two of you make your way together through the corridor behind your chair up the stairs to the solar. He looks around at the dark-paneled room and chuckles, seeing its stately, dark, wooden architecture and simple homeyness. It has a pair of reading couches near the hearth, along with a small table and chairs near the window. For family meals. Your father tended to hold audience during mealtimes, though, so after your mother's death you mostly ate in the great hall. He takes a seat on one of the couches, stripping off his riding gloves and warming his hands by the fire, “You know, you've already made me a profit.” He winks, then glances upward, “I had a bet with my sergeant, five silver on whether there would be any bats or walking skeletons or living gargoyles in here.”

“Not in here, but I may have a monster or two lurking around.” You respond, taking the couch across from him. It forces a slightly more informal setting than the table, but that's alright.

“I'll wager.” He chuckles, then sighs, “I'll be honest again. This would have been a lot easier if your lord father was alive. How he would have laughed to see me, hat in hand, on his doorstep, but...what I'm about to propose is always easier when the parents arrange it.” He takes out a small cameo, and tosses it to you. It's a picture of a girl. A beautiful girl. A girl with platinum hair, dark lips quirked in an inquisitive smile, and large, lovely eyes.

>[Oh no, make an excuse to get him out of here]
>[Don't panic, stay and listen]

>>4539520
>[Don't panic, stay and listen]
Oh, oh, oh, is he about to offer us his daughters hand in turn for slaying his dragon?

>>4539526
He must be truly desperate and have an actual dragon problem if he's will to part with what should be a rich father's most precious treasure if that is the case.

>>4539520

>[Don't panic, stay and listen]

"You know Londo, the traditional offer for the slaying of a dragon is the Princess' hand in marriage, rather than a Lady."

Play it off as nonchalant as possible. No need to let him know what kind of woman we're into yet.

>>4539520
>[Don't panic, stay and listen]

Fuck, that actually makes a lot of sense. Doesn't mean I like it, but it doesn't cost much to hear him out. Don't want to make too many assumptions, tho.

>>4539520
>[Don't panic, stay and listen]

A lord does not panic, especially in his own home.

>>4539520
>[Don't panic, stay and listen]

I agree with not making any assumptions for the real purpose of his visit. let him explain himself before we make an ass out of the both of us.

>>4539520
>[Don't panic, stay and listen]

>>4539520
>[Don't panic, stay and listen]

File: bec de corbin.jpg (52 KB, 500x500)

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You look incredulously down at her, but you don't panic. You keep your calm. You raise your eyebrows a fraction, and look back up at Lord Ryd.

“Amaranthe. Of all the jewels in the mountains, she shines the brightest. It is a terrible price for a father to pay, to give away a daughter like her. She is brilliant, witty, strong-willed, literate. She enjoys games of strategy, and has the respect of my soldiers and my money-men alike.” He exhales heavily, “I propose an alliance, Lord Absol.”

“For the slaying of a dragon? Traditionally, one receives a princess and half her father's lands.” You remark, rather regretting how crude the words are compared to his polished rhetoric. You're much better at speeches than one on one conversations.

“She's as good as any princess, and...” He leans towards you, and speaks each word very precisely, “I have no male heir.” He slumps back, and claps his hands onto his knees, “Thus my options are limited, if I want help with the monster ravaging my lands and eating my cattle. You, Lord Balam Ledo, or Lord Ralf Schwaltz.” He holds up three fingers, “Balam is notoriously hard to marry off, and I can't have her humiliated by being put second to his manure-spreading or his horse-brushing. Ralf...I don't like dealing with. He's oily, unreliable, he doesn't have enough army to muster the balls to march through your swamp in the midst of what sounds like a bit of a civil conflict anyway. As for you, you've got a problem of your own, and that's the history between our families, but you know why they call it history? Because it's in the past. Nothing can undo the bad blood, but it won't hurt YOUR standing to be married into the ruling line of the Ryd Mountains. As the husband of the girl I'm leaving it to. I don't propose you fight the dragon in single combat, I wouldn't even propose your father fight it in single combat, or any other man living. I propose an alliance. We merge our forces, and we have an army that can solve your problem and mine. Moreover, I have a plan to create enough good blood for our soldiers to tolerate the arrangement. Has Lady Galdynfyrgenbach contacted you, yet? The word from our border is that she's dealing with a rather nasty revolt. She won't come to me for help, her father owed me a substantial debt and she fears adding to it, but I have it on good authority her chief advisor studied sorcery in your lands and will likely encourage her to write to you for aid. If you decide to help her, I'll send some of my soldiers under your command as proof of our solidarity, and my daughter will accompany them to see how wars are won. What do you say? At least get a chance to know her.”

His smile gleams brightly.

>[Yes]
>[No]
>[I'll think about it]

>>4539561
>[I'll think about it]

After all, a Lord must learn of a Lady, and a Lady learn the Lord, before there is commitment.

>>4539561
>>[I'll think about it]

>>4539570
Plus, when he oils us up like that, making good points with the other Lords, it not like we can refuse him outright.

>>4539561

>[I'll think about it]

Commit to nothing, promise nothing as of yet. Londo is seeking us out for the strength of the Absol armies alone. Could also pointedly mention that if Galdynfyrgenbach's revolt is put down, an alliance of the North and the Swamps should be able to put paid to any dragon in the mountains. After all, she'll likely be willing to send forces in aid to help pay back the debts of her father. Therefore removing some of the R*ddish leverage over the Lady Hannah, and putting both of our rivals in our debts. Galdynfyrgenbach for the revolts, and Ryd for the dragon. Unlike them, we're making good progress into dealing with our Problem.

>>4539561
>[I'll think about it]
We do not rush into things.

But either way, I'm leaning towards no.

He wants to drag our people, our mages, away from our current war in our backyard into battle against a dragon, right before marching off to fight another revolt in the north? Not to mention, just how angry would our people be for marching off to help the province that we've got an ancestral feud with?

I don't want our aid to be bought with a girl, even if we do decide to help. We could probably wrangle a better price than marriage, anyway.

Either way, I'm also concerned that if we turn him down, he seems a bit desperate, and there's someone else very readily available with mages on hand. Could be opportunity, as long as we have someone keep tabs on him as he leaves.

>>4539561
>[No]
I have no issue forming an alliance to rid the realm of a monster that steals and eats fools by the dozen and then a poor dumb dragon trying to find its next meal.
But I outright refuse to agree to marry anyone I haven't met, last thing anyone needs is the swamp and mounts being even further divided by a poor marriage ending in divorce. I'd almost think it a ploy from the goat breaders to swindle more of our lands from us

>>4539576
I'd avoid the mention. After all, if Lady Hannah does decide to help us out with the dragon, it's not like the Ryds will say no to the debt relief.

And it'll be beyond debts with these actions. It'll be a full fledged positive relationship with us as the centerpiece. Hopefully.

>>4539579
>inb4 you met as children don't you remember? Flashback to some girl teaming up with Albeda to bully smol Jacob

>>4539577
>>4539579
I like your cynicism lads, even though I don't think it a Ryd plot to divide the Swamp or that we'd somehow get better terms than marriage. We need to meet with all the waifus before we make our pick.

Plus, it is our mountain. We'd just be leading our own troops, even if some of them are a bit confused as to their true lord.

Also, if the Frontier Provinces have problems, what of the Kingdom as a whole?

>>4539579
Also I take an immense amount of grievance with him say that we'd be marrying into his family line
Like wow
No
Fuck you
Anyone we wed will be marrying into OUR family line
I know that may seem like an odd thing to nit pick now a days, but that is immensely important when dealing with Noble bloodlines

>>4539582
>the children got mixed up in youth
Albeda was always a Ryd. Flashback plotting intensifies.

>>4539589
No, your entirely right. Nuances are significant when your high up on the food chain, and your dead on as to the framing here.

>>4539589
The Noble Line of Ryd? That's a big mouth.
He's undoubtedly playing up how WE are his best option for marriage, also, because that's negotiating 101, too. He might just settle for any of the other options he tossed out, to be fair. "Subjecting my daughter to Balam" isn't that much of a price when you get down to it. We're just probably the first option, because we're the closest and have the most Might.

>>4539598
Plus if we're not working with him, we'd probably be working against him. Especially at a time when his wealth is threatened by a dragon. This kills two foxes with one knife. And it adds a nice pelt when he final goes the way of the silver fox.

>>4539589

Yeah, he's buttering us up to see if we'll take the bait. After all, if we're married into HIS line, then good old Cassian Ryd's final con will be complete, having completely taken the place of the Absols who ruled over him. He needs us a lot more than we need him right now.

>>4539605
>inb4 Albeda was the Rydian long con all along

Well, while he's here, we can ask him for information about the dragon first, then lean into the soft No. Considering we've got the charm of a particularly intimidating steel brick, we might not have the diplomatic chops to pull that off, however.

>>4539612
You don't need the diplomatic chops of a brick to break you neighbor's window. Especially if it's your house he's squatting on.

>>4539589
My grievances with his offer aside
I'm 100% of the mind we should challenge lady Amaranthe to a long distance chess game
But be cheeky about it, since we would be the challenger she would get the white pieces and first move, but I say since he's here... We have her father make the first move on her behalf (especially since he's the one who came to us with the ofder for her hand, can't have such a meek lady who would simply marry whomever her father desired right?)
Basically, I suggest a way to prove thay she's anything like her father described to us.
Plus we may piss her off enough through our skills that she comes to finish the game in person.

>>4539615
Support, if only to piss off a Ryd with no diplomatic fallout.

>>4539561
wow just wow

>he offered us marriage TO HIS HOUSE and hinted we can combine HIS LAND to ours
>he spoke as if he is a KING
>he brushed off his THIEVERY

i can't even.
>[No]

>>4539621
Where's a Megumin when you need one?

>>4539623
i wish i can weaponize the rage i built up as i read that post lmao

that said he's an awesome character. an awesome scumbag character.

>>4539627
Nah man. We use the term Ryd for that. Awesome Ryd character. Just rolls off the tongue.

>>4539561
>[I'll think about it]
We need time to ponder and seek a better deal if we can, which I'm sure we can and people seem to have already done.

File: this is considered a 10 o(...).jpg (249 KB, 2220x1252)

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Frankly, you don't trust him. You caught how he said you would be marrying into his bloodline, for one. There is some careful wording at play here. For another, this whole offer is too convenient, it's too honeyed to lack any bitterness. You're in the middle of a protracted succession crisis and here comes Lord Ryd, offering you a convenient out, one that takes you out of your province for months at a time (even if you were leaning towards helping Lady Hannah anyway). Moreover, you don't know this girl, not one bit. You're leaning towards no, but maybe you'll fall in love at first sight, who knows?

“I will certainly give your offer due consideration, but for any happy marriage a lord must learn of a lady, and a lady learn the lord, before there is commitment.” You lower your head, simmering with resentment over him talking about his lands, speaking like a king, talking down to you.

“Of course.” Perhaps he feels like he stretched his luck, “I'll be here for the next few days, reprovisioning for the trek home, but think about it. It's spring down here, but farther north the weather is still nasty, it shouldn't surprise me if you have some time. Remember, we're stronger together than separately.” He smiles pleasantly, gets up, and strolls back downstairs, “Oh, right, if you need me, I'll be at the best inn in the castle town. I don't know which one that is yet, but I'll know presently, and I'm sure you already do.” He's on the verge of leaving when...

>[Suggest the chess game idea]
>[Don't suggest the chess game idea]

>>4539627
Despite the fuckery this guy is trying to pull on us, he's already become one of my favorite tricksters.
He reads like someone who is both friendly and reasonable, which lends a lot of believability to the character.

>>4539639
>[Suggest the chess game idea]
Yeeeah

>>4539639
>[Don't suggest the chess game idea]

Have it be anonymous. Better to play chess without his knowledge.

>>4539639
And we should atleast offer him a meal. Pump him for information on his problems. You never know what may be to our advantage...

>>4539639
>[Suggest the chess game idea]

This is one way to get a bit of a read on the heir of another province, even if I'm not too interested in marriage.

>>4539621
Congrats, you have made one loyal follower of the NO camp.

>>4539621
Ugh, anons, you are getting WAY too hung up on this and I'm pretty sure Wong is making Jacob irrational to match. The whole story with the mountains was generations and generations ago, right now Londo Ryd is a Lord, a Lord's son, and probably a Lord's great-great-grandson to boot. He hasn't personally stolen anything and he's entitled to as much as Jacob is.

That aside...
>>4539561
>I'll think about it.

His offer seems good, but there's probably a catch somewhere ans marriage without having seen the girl first just won't do.
[SPOILER]Also, improbable as it is I still want to at least try and waifu Alberta[/SPOILER].

>>4539639

>[Suggest the chess game idea]

Make Londo think that he's winning us over. If he holds Amaranthe back in the hopes of marrying her off to us and our army, mages, and neighbouring territory that borders all the other Provinces for trade and influence , he's not marrying her off to Ralf or Balam. When we crush Albeda's little book-reading circle and marry her off to Ralf in disgrace and petty revenge, that narrows his options down to us or Balam. Re-negotiations will be in order then, and much more in our favour then since we'll have a pick of 3 noble women to potentially marry while he only has 2 noble men without the risk of marrying downwards. He's not the only one who can play the long game.

>>4539648
I would like to +1 this, but it's more liable to end in a bar fight, and he'd probably get a better read on us than us on him.

>>4539649
I prefer a face to face conversation, but a chess match will suffice for now.

>>4539650
Ah, goddamit, I typed too much!
>>4539639
>Suggest the chess game idea

>>4539631
this Aussie song sums up most people think about the Ryd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0doSWS0Fj24

>>4539639
>[Suggest the chess game idea]

>>4539650
Your wrong here lad. The Ryd's did steal our mountain from under us. They even made a song out of it.

And Wong is probably writing our reaction to it as Jakob's.

There we go, my net went down.

>>4539658

Yes generally if there's a strong sentiment associated with the votes I write it in.

>>4539651
Frankly, marrying Ralf sounds like a Ryd headache in the making. But the only thing worse then having a Ryd on our mountains is fighting a based lord over it.

Many manly tears would fall that day...

>>4539660
Rip, sweet prince. May the Ryd's not skin you and present your pelt to a king.

>>4539661

No need to fight the most based lord of the lands. If he has a child that will marry well with our own, our bloodlines will become one in basedness and strength.

There are damn few less manly tears than those of the father at a wedding.

>>4539639
>[Suggest the chess game idea]

>>4539650
Nah, fuck the Ryds.
I'm not particularly invested in the waifuwars but I'd rather marry one of their goats.
She's still a better option than Albeda though.

>>4539650
Would be inclined to agree if they were a radically different culture from the one they were originally, but they still embrace the theft to this day and continue to venerate the Fox and Humter as their cultural progenitors.
Even their Problem is symbolic of their theft, as they are faced with a creature that seeks to claim the gold in turn, as the Fox did originally.
Same Ryd bullshit, different century.

File: chessboard.jpg (144 KB, 1254x1231)

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“There is...one thing, one way I could get to know her.” That's it, let him think you're being won over. “You say she enjoys games of strategy?” You walk over to the mantlepiece, and take down a rectangular piece of the wood, hinged in the center, and unfold it into a regicide board. You grab a box, and set out the pieces. The mammoths, the sorcerers, the knights, the infantry, the cavalry general, the infantry general, and the king. “As the lady, and the guest, I give her the first move...but as she isn't here, why don't you make it on her behalf?”

Londo Ryd chuckles, “So both of you can blame me if you lose? Very well then, I'll humor you gladly.” He moves one of the infantry forward one square, “She often starts with this one.”

You move a piece in turn, and he chuckles again, fetching out a scrap of parchment and a bit of charcoal and sketching the moves already made. “I'll make sure she gets this.”

“Thank you, my lord.” You smile and bow to him, and he returns the gesture, looking a trifle bemused as he leaves.

And that's all for tonight with the late start and the internet problems, game resumes Friday.

>>4539688
Night Wong. Can't wait until the next session!

>>4539688
thanks for running!

>>4539688

Right on Wong, next session sounds like a good one and looking forward to it. Time to visit the dungeons to listen to furriers, monsters, and barren women of ill repute. In order of precedent and value to the swamplands.

>>4539688
See ya Friday Wong

>b-but Wong, it's not Friday!

Who gives a shit? There are a few things I need to know that would help with my prewriting for Friday. Namely, do you want to talk with the Night Hunters or Char first, and what do you want to ask each of them? The more specific, the better.

>>4540622
Did Cailm bang the Straw Hat furry? Were there any embarrassing moments that can be weaponized? It is very important you all answer truthfully. I'm asking for a friend's misery.

>>4540622
Night Hunters. Talking to them first would probably drive Char up the wall.
I got no idea about questions themselves, I'll brainstorm something or just leave that up to the other anons. For now, here's my vote.

>>4540622

I'd like to ask them why they joined the Pentagram, if it was their choice at all. Maybe they're just being dragged along by the higher ups, no way to know except to ask.

Did they really believe a 1v1 assassination attempt and frontal assault would be enough?

Are they upset Albeda stays totally out of the actual fighting and sends her allies to do the dying for her?

I just want to know how they found themselves in this position.