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>>5159270
Past Threads: https://lws.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Sun%20Belt%20Crusaders
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=sun+belt+crusaders

Starter guide/refresher qm made: justpaste dot it/sbc-refresher

>>5159270
Also, you should archive the previous thread if you haven't done it already QM.

>>5159276
Holy shit, I totally forgot to archive. Thank you for reminding me before it was too late. That, and posting this amid the technical difficulties. I've been awfully scattered recently, regardless of how much I've been able to write. The thread is archived now, which I am thankful for.

And on the topic of writing, I am the one who will (probably?) be doing most of the writing. For reasons lost to history and liquor, I am bound to not posting OPs and must rely on a convoluted set up to keep it running. But rest assured, I will not disappear into the night without saying goodbye to buy cigs. I'd say this is what the true QM of this quest did, but I'll give him a pass since he made a funny picture. Anyway, actual update coming soon, I can't quite post it yet.

In the meantime, I'll address some stuff from the end of the previous thread that I was going to get to, but just barely missed (the nightmare scenario of 2 quests being posted real quick did indeed happen for once):

>>5156006
First, I could just be fucking around with you guys with the [Obscure Reference] thing! Always a possibility! It will probably become obvious as things progress, but it's not something the Messenger or anyone would necessarily know IC. I did notice I forgot some spoiler tags that may have made it seem more serious than it actually was. All I'll say is that it isn't based on remembering some random, obscure detail from thread four or something. That, and also the fact that I mentioned it when I did makes it really, really obvious it had to do with the late vote (how to get Saul on board)
And by the way, I did not forget about those random wacky Nazis that showed up from the desert, said they'd come back for meth, and were never seen from again. That was not an oversight or mistake. I'm saying that because I'm pretty sure it was mentioned by people multiple times in off-hand ways that made me think that people assumed I may have forgotten about them.

Re: Caravan Guard vote. That vote was up for a long time, and I had to post an update at some point. The debate on the vote didn't look like it was going anywhere, and at some point if you don't vote you're going to be left behind. Sure, there could be potential voters out there who would swing things if counted, but that could go in both directions.
As for what I'll do, I think I've already said it. I will not reverse the vote by rewinding time. It will be dealt with in character in a vote in a coming update. If you choose to 'reverse' the vote, it won't be the exact same as if you did something different in the past, but that's part of any course reversal.

>>5152237
It sounds like you might be confusing the intimidation and blackmail choices. I can see a similarity, but threatening to release an embarrassing video (blackmail) is different enough to threatening to break kneecaps (intimidation) to warrant being different options.

>>5159467
Don't tell me that Saul knows Bob, and that that would've affected the autofail to not be a total disaster.

Ah, fresh smell of new thread. May God bless us with good rolls and terrific outcomes this time through, Amen.

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Warning: Xbox sized update with multiple parts.

You return to Mobile with the bulk of the Crusader forces at your back. You are greeted with the familiar sight of your faction's home intact and without a single one of your crusaders so much as scratched. Some of the more bloodthirsty crusaders may be disappointed that this was resolved peacefully and arguably at the advantage of the POZ. Some are glad that they now have a chance to focus on some of the more immediate threats and opportunities in the Badlands.

As fun as it may have been to meet the proverbial rogues' gallery at Maricopa, there are a number of updates and issues you have to get through here at home.


Update #1 :
>Bound Freemen
You have heard back from the Inquisitors who were working on extracting information out of the prisoners-turned-raiders known as the "Free Men of Red Rock," or the Freemen. Apparently they were fiercely resistant to any kind of 'enhanced interrogation,' but the Inquisition did manage to produce a report detailing the general situation of the Freemen and the general area east of Casa Grande and south of San Tan.

According to the Inquisition, the Freemen are not a coherent faction but a collection of different prison cliques. They nominally have some kind of leader selected through what the report describes as "ritualistic hand combat" who is put in command of dealing with outside threats such as the ongoing war with Eloy. In practice, it's mostly a marker of which clique is in ascendance and thus able to cajole others into following. There is such an emphasis on being 'free' and autonomy among the cliques that it's mostly a chaotic mess. It's vaguely implied that if they could get their act together they would be a significant power in the region, but that could just be bluster.

The general region is similar to Maricopa in its general size and agricultural focus. Based on pre-War information, its population is larger but more spread out over a number of towns. In terms of farming, it is plagued by political instability and the constant threat of raids. Many of these raids are from the Freemen cliques. Despite this, there seems to be a movement to develop some kind of broader defense agreement among the various towns based on a story one of the prisoners told...

[1/???]

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>>5165001

[2/???]

Recently, there were raids into the general area from "those fuckin' reds!" during some kind of prolonged battle. The Head Inquisitor's notes say that this could mean either POZ aligned Natives to their northwest (i.e. Maricopa's northeast) shifting their raiding efforts to this area or refer to the POZ themselves. Yuri speculates that this was part of the "San Tan Offensive" the POZ Hardliners spoke of, and that "reds" likely refers to Hardliner probing strikes. Apparently, more 'enhanced interrogation' will be necessary to know for sure. In any case, various factions from the region sent aid to San Tan. In the case of the Freemen, this meant volunteers from the various cliques. This included a captive's "blood-brother" who was, if the story is to be believed, dismembered by some kind of blast (artillery?) and sent home in pieces. In the end, the offensive took the San Tan Valley and stopped just short of Florence.

More will be coming as the Inquisition 'coaxes' information out. You are told that investments into infrastructure at the Sierra Estrella will help with this and future Inquisitorial actions. Cardinal Yuri seems to especially recommend constructing a dungeon and the use of hallucinogens, for some reason.

And on the topic of the Inquisition...

Update #2 :
>Foxes and Ice Fiends
The insane vagrant addicts you chose to court have been a growing source of problems. The usual method of working them half to death for their daily drugs does make them productive and too tired to wreak their usual havoc, but it's not perfect. You've tasked the Inquisition to find some way of dealing with this.

The Inquisition does not seem to favor the outright cracking of skulls, like you imagine most of the Crusaders would. Even if he was a subversive figure, the Italian diplomat was right to say that leaders must act as "foxes and lions," referring to rule by cunning and rule by strength. You are told that Yuri will try for a "fox" approach of some kind involving some kind of manipulation and trickery (maybe with the occasional "disappearance") over the truncheon and bayonet.

How it will manifest or how effective the Inquisition will actually be remains to be seen.

Update #3 :
>Sidewinder
After the conclusion of Mueller's adventures in the Reservation, recruitment from that region shot up. Many of these were enthusiastic about joining the Crusaders out of a respect for the faction's strength. Earlier, you made the choice to allow them to form their own kind of fighting unit instead of trying to fit them into the crusader mold. Now, you are starting to see what they are forming into...

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>>5165002

[3/???]

The Native unit, which names itself the "Sonoran Sidewinders" after an encounter with a sidewinder snake during training, has taken shape. Most of its founding stock is comprised of Natives who led rough lives in the rural deserts and grew up doing outdoor activities their entire lives. Their experiences with the Crusaders, meaning their training in pre-emptive strikes and Musella's mission out in the Santa Cruz Flats, have encouraged a mentality of avoiding direct combat. Their focus is instead on recon, ambushes, and stealth. Tasks like general defense or attacking static positions are things they are (unlike many Crusaders) unsuited to, whereas they seem to like the idea of extended operations in the open desert with minimal supervision.

Unlike the crusaders, who take their inspiration from the zealous fanaticism of their namesake, the Sonoran Sidewinders are significantly less religious. Instead, they lean heavily into their culture and the stories their people have handed down. Cardinal Mueller, or Peace-Walker as he was later nicknamed, preached a sort of syncretic message. While not compromising on core principles, Mueller stressed how Christ is a god of all nations and how their traditional ways should be preserved. Some may consider such an approach to be soft or even subversive, but Mueller's record as a 'raging badass' who has even been brutally maimed taking bullets for the faith makes him utterly immune to such comments. Mueller is in fact such a respected figure that this unit has signaled that it would strongly prefer to not be commanded by any other cardinal.

In any case, you now have a new unit to add to the growing ranks. They are still inexperienced and not yet at full strength, but nobody would fault you for putting them to use even in such a state. Such are the realities of the War.

>Gain 1 Full Strength Sidewinder Platoon
>Gain 1 Half Strength Sidewinder Platoon

Update #4 :
>Continued Hrtvatski Sabbatical
Trkulja's situation has taken a turn for the strange. During your mandated 'sabbatical' he has taken towards a deep study of the Faith. While some in your faction tend towards systematic theology, Trkulja has gone in the direction of mysticism. He has almost completely stopped eating as part of a fast designed to bring his soul towards God and has been 'meditating in prayer' alone in the deserts. You believe he's gotten it into his head that he is a type of "John the Baptist," the famous prophet who baptized the Christ and was eventually beheaded...

>>5165004

[4/???]

This is, in a sense, progress. He's not constantly seething about the Warden. He still seethes, but in a more subdued form. He has been saying that he has prophetic dreams about a great battle to come between the Warden's host and a large force of Crusaders, a precursor of the apocalypse. He still speaks of his previous "prophetic nightmare" of the Crusaders being destroyed and the Anti-Christ taking over America, but it's not as bad as before. At least you think so.

Whether this is just a new problem, an improvement, or even genuine prophecies from God, he is not yet in position to return to his temporal duties as cardinal. You will keep an eye on him as the week progresses.

Update #5 :
>Artillerists' Progress
The artillerists, now allowed to train with actual shells, took the chance to go to the vast empty desert and see how they fare in a more practical situation. The exercise first involved observing their surroundings (i.e. making sure they weren't being watched while operating extremely valuable hardware nobody would expect your faction to have) and attempting to calculate values like ranges. Then, they got to actually firing.

Apparently, they're quite poor shots. Even having read up on the instructions multiple times (you assume), they needed multiple attempts to hit a static target at a favorable range. Accurately hitting moving targets or targets either too close or far is well beyond their abilities. Attacking where their targets are close to allies (i.e. not multiple football fields away) also seems like a fantastically bad idea and something even professional military forces would try everything to avoid having to do. You get the feeling that if you ever employ them on the battlefield in the near future, it should be either against static defenses or against pre-planned locations in ambush. This is about what you'd expect from green artillerists using live ammunition well before most militaries would trust them with it.

At the very least, their morale is high and they are enthusiastic about their jobs. A little too enthusiastic, in fact, since they used more shells than you would have liked in their initial run. You rebuke them, that in the future they'll limit themselves better. Mortar shells don't grow on trees, especially these high quality ones produced in actual weapons factories as opposed to whatever homemade explosives Badlands locals might produce.

>1 dozen mortar shells used in total up to now (original stock was about two dozen dozens)

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>>5165012

[5/???]

Update #6 :
>Mysterious Donation
Earlier, the Pontifical Guard caught a mysterious person, apparently an influential figure in Maricopa, having carnal relations with a mysterious woman, likely a prostitute. This mystery man promised a "generous donation" in exchange for silence, and he has made good on it. One of the guards found a note on his vehicle leading to a location in the desert where a stash of supplies were found. They were a mish-mash of useful things the faction could use, from copper wiring to ammunition to bags of cement. You haven't quite figured out what's going on behind the scenes, but you're happy to take any windfall.

>Gain 20 W.P.

Issue 1:
>Mobile Calls for Aid
The recent envoy to Maricopa has secured the support of the Church of the Co-Redemptrix. The priest leading the church is already at work bringing the few other clergy in its associated bloc on your side, and your faction enjoys the (slightly) increased legitimacy. But this is not the only form of support you can expect.

You have the choice of selecting what kind of aid you would like from them. Based primarily in Stanfield and the vast agricultural tracts, food would be the logical choice, but not the only one. You could ask for wealth or some specific service.

What kind of aid do you call for?

>Food from the vast fields of Stanfield
>Wealth from whatever they can scrounge up and produce
>Manpower from its vagrants and junkies [Unavailable: Already Siphoning Manpower in Region]
>Services of some kind, within reason, to be specified [Write-In] [Always Encouraged]

Issue 2:
>Muscular Catholicism
You've noticed a trend in the Badlands. First it was the Warden, then it was Raven, and now it's Red Scorpion. For some reason giant, muscular men are overrepresented as faction leaders. Each of these men are able to command respect with their very presence, even the socially awkward Chicago Communist. Is this a sign from God?

You may not be a two meter tall giant, but you're pretty sure you're five eleven, which makes you an honorary tall person. Your frame isn't particularly large, but it's not too small either. And even if you're too old to become a bodybuilder, you're not too old to start hitting the weights. It won't be easy, but what worth pursuing is? Christ bared the heavy cross, and you will bare the heavy weights...

>>5165014

[6/???]

You've thought of some of the advice Red Scorpion gave about fitness. You're really not sure about this, but it's hard to argue with the communist's results. Some of your Crusaders recommend using a more traditional diet and training regimen. And for what it's worth, the only qualified doctor in Mobile recommends starting slow, citing potential damage to joints and ligaments.

Messenger, how will you walk the path of Muscular Catholicism?

>On second thought, this sounds too hard. You won't even lift
>Test the waters slightly with cardio and light exercises on doctor's orders
>Go with whatever strength training regimen the kids do nowadays and try to get a lot of protein in your diet.
>Fuck it, go all in! Eat copious quantities of fermented dairy with organ meats while doing kettlebell swings whenever possible! You WILL get swole!
>Go with a custom training plan [Write-In]

Issue 3:
>Small Pharma
Construction of the Advanced Pharmaceutical Workshop upgrade to the factory is almost complete. Maricopa has promised to reimburse half of the cost of construction and has already press-ganged skilled personnel you can train to manage it. Once it's up and running, you will be able to synthesize a variety of advanced pharmaceuticals. These may not be very useful for military operations, but they are still highly valued and difficult for most to produce, especially with most pre-War production being overseas.

The Maricopans have made it clear that they are mostly helping you construct and operate this because they believe they will benefit from it. They expect a certain amount of goods to be provided to them at favorable rates. Now that production is about to begin, you are going to have to set expectations.

As a basic law of economics, the less you supply, the more you can get per unit. As a basic law of politics, a client should remain on good terms with his patron (or have a good reason for doing otherwise.) Committing a high percentage of production will mean less you can sell to other markets, but production without a market can be a nightmare, as you've experienced with the meth situation.

Roughly dividing up your production into three segments, how much will you devote to Maricopa?

>None of it [Likely to anger Maricopa]
>A third [Below Maricopan expectations]
>Two thirds [Meeting expectations]
>All of it [Exceeding expectations]

Issue 4:
>Get Back
During the talks with Preis over the coming POZ-Maricopa trade, you refused to act as the guards of the food being sent by Maricopa to the big city. When Preis accepted your refusal, he seemed to have some idea forming in his head. Now, Preis has confirmed this...

>>5165017

[7/7]

He has contacted you and said that he has an idea for how to "get back" at the POZ for their unfavorable deal. The POZ has a loose alliance with the Natives just northeast of Maricopa that technically aren't part of their faction. This lets them raid food convoys headed north from Maricopa and there's 'nothing' the POZ can do about it, despite them almost certainly having a hand in it. If security and goods are the 'carrot', then this is the 'stick' in getting Maricopa to willingly join the POZ. Preis thinks he has a way around this.

Preis says that he cannot risk aggressive actions against the POZ aligned Natives himself without risk of causing escalation. He can, however, get around this by having a proxy of his go against their proxy. Non-defensive actions by the MMP can risk escalation, but if a nominally separate group from the desert (i.e. his proxies) were to assault the Natives while their forces are out on a raid, then that would be different. Successful counter-raids mean either scoring a fine prize in loot, or forcing the POZ to get their proxies to stand down.

This Cold-War styled game of proxies and power politics is strange reality of Civil War America. While this is a week away, it's an important event that will lock up valuable manpower while setting the tone for future POZ interactions.

Will you accept Preis' request?

>Yes, you will organize a Crusader counter-raid [Lock in Raid action in 1 week]
>No, ask Preis nicely if you can have the old offer of guard duty back instead [Specify acceptance/rejection if Preis says no]
>No, tell him you will not commit any Crusaders to anything going on between Maricopa and the POZ (or its proxies) [Will displease your patron]
>It's complicated [Write-In]

Sorry for the wait! I went back and forth on splitting this up into two parts, but I eventually settled on doing it in one. Next time I'll probably split it up if it's like this length again. I feel like that exposition dump with the Freemen and the region east of Casa Grande. Despite not really planning much, I did (still do, ofc) have an idea of what's going on with the various regions and what happens if you guys don't interact with them. It's already come in play. Anyway, as the Crusaders develop, this updates/issues section on dealing with minor things is growing, which is expected. Not everything is going to get in-depth scenes.

Btw, last second addition/clarification. You can only produce a certain amount of advanced drugs, think of it as 3 slots. The vote for that is about how many slots you want to dedicate to Maricopan trade, if that makes sense. Anything unused is going to lie fallow, if that makes sense, since you don't know what the potential next customer would want. There will be more on this later going into some specifics I think people will have in mind, but this update's gone on way too long as is and doesn't need more bloat (if you guy don't want to put votes for all issues, that's fine, I get it)

>>5165014
>Food from the vast fields of Stanfield, and some wealth
I ain't expecting them to run their pockets dry for us, but some wealth would be appreciated until we getting our other avenues of cash flow going.

>>5165017
>Test the waters slightly with cardio and light exercises on doctor's orders
I ain't expecting to get massively buff quickly, but I do want others to be surprised by our musculature eventually.

>Two thirds [Meeting expectations]
I would adore going full meme and giving it all to Maricopa, but given our other promises to the Patriots, I feel it prudent to keep something in stock for our favorite Boomer faction.

>>5165023
>Yes, you will organize a Crusader counter-raid [Lock in Raid action in 1 week]
>Ask if we can also attach an Envoy to the caravan, if and when we wish it
Frankly, as much as I want to guard that caravan ourselves, asking to do it immediately after we refused that honor will likely confuse the Mayor as to our intentions. I think having a caravan spot permanently reserved for us as an envoy will be a decent middle ground for our interests, as I do think raiding the POZ Natives may ingratiate ourselves with Preis even more than the caravan guarding would've.

>>5165023
Now, assuming we don't shit the bed again and outright refuse Preis like we did with the caravan situation, I think we should organize our raids into overt and covert operations. We should organize an overt raid when we're directly protecting the convoy, especially when our envoy is attached to them. When we're going after them for loot or otherwise punishing them for trying to raid the convoy, we should organize it covertly, and make it seem like one of the raiding Freemen cliches did it. I make the differentiation only because I want to limit our negative associations with the POZ Natives to defending against their raids instead of a tic-for-tac response, and because reminding them of the other dangers in the Badlands might persuade them to the negotiating table with us, at least to work out a non-aggression pack when it comes to the convoy.

>>5165023
>Services of some kind, within reason, to be specified [Write-In] [Always Encouraged]
ask if they know any pilots for our pilot program. more importantly ask if they know any doctors or scientists so we can get a medical program up and running. i dont see why we are training new pilots but not new doctors. it sure would be helpful to have a ton of doctors to help us sell these drugs. food would be nice if they dont have alot of doctors in their flock.

>Test the waters slightly with cardio and light exercises on doctor's orders

>Two thirds [Meeting expectations]
under the conditions that they give us enough doctors to help start said medical program. explain that this will benefit them, helping us improve our medicine.

>Yes, you will organize a Crusader counter-raid [Lock in Raid action in 1 week]

>Ask if we can also attach an Envoy to the caravan, if and when we wish it

>>5165001
>having to wait 4 more hours to read the update

Life is cruel

>>5165077
>>5165101

Support.

Depending on how much food we get, I suppose we could always attempt to sell the excess.

>>5165023
>>5165101
+1 for asking for help in keeping an eye out for specially skilled people. other jobs we could be looking out for would be architects, radio engineers and DJs, and army veterans, amongst others

>Test the waters slightly with cardio and light exercises on doctor's orders
Staying safe for now, but when the caravan starts going to the PCR, I would love to ask them to help deliver a message to Red Scorpion asking him to suggest a customised, detailed training regiment and diet for you to get ripped from. Red Scorpion as a pen pal would be so cash.

>>A third [Below Maricopan expectations]
Going against the grain on this one. The way I'm reading this part, this is the dedicated, "locked-in" minimum amount we will be handing out to Maricopa in perpetuity, not just what we are giving them currently. If this interpretation is valid, don't see why we can't reserve just one-third of production while also giving them the other two-thirds while we're "idle" without other customers to think about. Please tell me if I'm wrong on this.

>>5165077
>>5165101
+1 on Preis raid, don't have much to say about it really

>>5165440

You know what, im going to switch to 1/3rd here>>5165283

Just thinking, if we have 2 slots to sell thats one for the patriots and one for pcr.

I'm thinking selling some goods to the PCR might help swing the balance back after POZ getting their food.

>>5165440
>>5165562
This will make us seem incompetent in Maricopa's eyes. We can always upgrade pharmaceutical production later on lads.

>>5165610
>incompetent

I mean, it would be reserving less for them than they want, that's hardly a matter of competence on our end. My line of thinking on it is that we'll get more WP coming in trading with outsiders, injecting outside capital into our area will be to both our benefits, allowing us to grow faster. Perhaps even increasing production quicker.

>>5165620
My problem with that is that we don't have any other markets open to us. If we don't devote at least 2/3rds of our production to Maricopa, all we'd really be doing is hoarding our pharmaceuticals like our meth while shooting our patron relationship with Maricopa in the foot. I'd rather we just devote a majority of our production to Maricopa's large market to get some easy WP and relationship points, rather than trying to find other markets (like with our meth) while soiling our relationship with Maricopa when we need a better relationship for our subversion efforts. Exceeding expectations is always better than going below expectations, and we are tied by the hip on the relationship with Maricopa's people and leadership for Mobile's survival.

>>5165648
1/3 for maricopa, 1/3 for the patriots, 1/3 for another market. I say that we make another trip to Goodyear and this time with a viable trade good that we can sell them without issue.

I wouldn't disagree with selling 2/3 of it to maricopa until we do find another buyer of course. I don't see a reason to hoard it, but I think we could benefit by keeping our options open.

>>5165610
>We can always upgrade pharmaceutical production later on lads.
See that's actually kinda why I prefer reserving one slot instead of two to Maricopa for now. We'll pass it off as an investment, and when we get rich enough to build upgrades we'll give them more of the shares. We just need more to get ourselves off the ground for now.

The thing is I'm thinking about this as the "locked-in" production option. I have no problems with giving Maricopa 2/3rds of it while we don't have any other customers to consider, it's just that we'll only be promising them 1/3 as what we will be continuously providing. To visualise it would something like
>1 slot for Maricopa [LOCKED IN]
>1 slot for Maricopa [On EXTRA PRODUCTION while factory is otherwise idle]
>1 slot free
So that we would have one slot that's always going to be for Maricopa and have two that we could change if we need to, if that makes sense.

I'll give it some more time since there's some discussion going and the last post went way long. I'm kind of surprised that this topic is the one you decide to go back and forth on instead of the one you were going back and forth on before, but I'll wait all the same

>>5165440
I'll clarify that how much production you devote will not be locked "in perpetuity." Obviously stuff can happen to change that. If you guys, for some reason, decide to declare war on them then you won't be exporting to them, or if the POZ shows up with everything the Maricopans could need to make your production worthless, or if you just decide out of the blue that you really, really don't want to export. You would need some time to switch production (half to a full week), so there's a cost to switching, but it's not a daemonic pact bound in blood (of course not, that would be heresy).
That said, the reality is that however much you supply will be considered to be the 'standard' and will be what they expect to get going forward. The less you supply to a market, the higher the price per unit you can get, so there's a natural incentive to try and supply as many markets as you can (you cannot sell goods if you have no market to sell to, as with all goods)

Also, I'll emphasize that these aren't just generic, fungible goods. This means you can't 'stock up' on production unless you specifically know what you're going to be making for whom. And at that point, it's not really stocking up but just normal trade, if that makes sense.

>>5165077
This seems fine to me. Just try
>No, ask Preis nicely if you can have the old offer of guard duty back instead
before we accept the ambush idea.

>>5165671
>>5165853
Putting my two cents in, isn't our focus not WP generation or opening markets, but subverting Maricopa in general? I fail to see why we wouldn't give 2/3rds or full production to Maricopa in order to grease the wheels and politick with the locals. We ain't running a business, but trying to get our claws into Maricopa and work our way up from there. I honestly think we should focus more on Maricopa than previously, nail down the churches and the power structures before we start looking elsewhere for more shit to do.

>>5165873
>I'm kind of surprised that this topic is the one you decide to go back and forth on instead of the one you were going back and forth on before, but I'll wait all the same

In all honesty, trying to walk back on our decision over caravan guarding just seems like it'll just piss off everyone already involved (the Mayor and the MMP), and if anons are trying to shortchange Maricopia over pharmaceutical production, Preis would likely torpedo that option anyway. It doesn't help that I do think the 'ask to caravan guard again' option is one of those trap options you like to sprinkle in there and lambast us for picking later. It's a bit why I would've preferred you simply changed it retroactively, I can't trust if your intentions are pure or if this will be another 'lol, no' situation.

>>5165873
>however much you supply will be considered to be the 'standard' and will be what they expect to get going forward
And that's kind of what I was thinking, initially placing low expectations on what we can give to them so that they could be extra grateful if we end up giving more when we don't have other buyers and that they won't ask questions if we change production to accommodate those new buyers. It's promising to provide a shipment of equipment each week, but shipping out an extra as a "bonus", if that makes sense. Basic marketing!

>>5166179
>isn't our focus not WP generation or opening markets, but subverting Maricopa in general?

Think about it this way, with more WP we'll be able to expand quicker, the stronger we are the more able we will be to reverse our relationship with Maricopa. Building a relationship with other communities will also ease binding them to us further down the line, as well I think it would strengthen our position to not be entirely reliant on Maricopan patronage.

Trying to set up trade with PCR elements can only be beneficial go us, and we're pretty well locked in on setting up a trade deal with the patriots.

>It doesn't help that I do think the 'ask to caravan guard again' option is one of those trap options you like to sprinkle in there and lambast us for picking later.

I get the same feeling.

>>5166210
Agreed

>>5166179
Retroactive changes are something that I try to avoid and do not generally expect in quests outside of some kind of extreme situation. I don't count people not submitting their intended votes in time for an update that was already running late to be extreme enough for that. I said from the start that walking the choice back would be an option, which it now is, but that it would have to be done in character. Preis bringing this issue up is the logical opportunity for the Messenger to change the Crusaders' role in this affair, if he (i.e. you guys) want to.

I consider "trap options" to be choices that you can make, but which are really stupid and at best are reliant on nothing short of a miracle to work out. It's not about personal intentions but about what is appropriate for the situation. They tend to be pretty obvious, like revealing you're secretly a federal agent the entire time or trying to convince a devoted anarchist that the Catholic Crusader faction is secretly some kind of far left terrorist group. If you want to consider walking it back as of those, then so be it.

>>5166210
>It's promising to provide a shipment of equipment each week, but shipping out an extra as a "bonus", if that makes sense
I'm not really sure it does. As it stands, it sounds like is sending two, but trying to use some kind of rhetorical trickery to retain all of the benefits of one anyway? That is, it sounds like you want the income and reputation from 2 (1+1??), but still keep the flexibility and efficiency of 1...
Or is this as sending 1, but promising you'll send 1+1 later (which would presumably then cause per unit prices to act as 2)? In that case, I'll interpret that as voting for 1/3 with a promise that you will turn that into 2/3 later.
Production in that situation would be something like:
>AP Workshop
[Maricopa]
[Free]
[Free]

With a promise to turn one of the [Free]'s into a [Maricopa]. As a reminder, you can't really stock up production the same way you can with meth since these aren't fungible goods.

I'll hold off on updating until we can get this cleared up since I'm not sure what I'm reading or what you're describing is in line with your intentions here

>>5166786
>As it stands, it sounds like is sending two, but

I think what that anon was saying, and i agree with, is that should we lack buyers we would sell extra to maricopa but only guarantee them 1/3 as a locked in amount.

While maricopa wouldn't be happy about not getting the lions share guaranteed, we would retain flexibility. I guess it's something of a neutral compromise?

>>5166210
>>5166388
This sounds like vague plan backed up by loose logic. Maricopa isn't going to be more grateful for less product anons, and low balling expectations will just lower the effectiveness of our faction in Maricopa's eyes, which will make our other subversion efforts harder, not better. Add to the fact that we don't even have an additional market lined up yet, I think we ultimately lose out on opportunity cost alone, since we're effectively lowering Maricopa's expectations without any WP benefit in the meantime, meaning we lose out on the WP we would gain if we just met expectations. We should use our full production immediately to invest our profits into our faction, not cut out 2/3rd of it on the vague idea that we may get more from other markets that we haven't investigated.

A better play would be fulfilled Maricopa's expectations, then hopping over to Goodyear to pitch the idea of them investing to expand our operations to suit their unmet needs. That way we face no short-term loss in profits, Maricopa is satisfied and can put in a good word with us if Goodyear asks them about our business deals, and we may gain another investor to expand our pharmaceutical operations. Doesn't that sound like a better plan?

>>5166990
Anon, I get what your trying to do, but you can't switch production on a dime, it needs to be planned out. If we don't have other buyers lined up, then we should default to the Maricopa market instead wasting our production capacity by doing nothing. We already made diplomatic overtures to the Boomers, so it makes sense to keep some production capacity in reserve for them. We haven't established diplomatic contact with Goodyear or the PCR, so it doesn't make sense to reserve production capacity for them at our own opportunity cost. I think it would be better to utilize all of our production capacity, then make diplomatic overtures to Goodyear for an investment in a larger pharmaceutical production capacity, using our reputation with Maricopa as additional leverage to getting that investment.

>>5167048
>>5167198

I also see where you are coming from on this, either way we are looking at increased WP income. I prefer using this as an inroads to relations with other factions, specifically PCR. If we weren't already locked in with the boomers I'd be fine with 2/3 to Maricopa. Sure, attempting to get funding from them to expand our production might be viable, but it might also get us the cold shoulder. If we show up ready to take orders thats a far better bargaining tool in my book.

I'd also like to reiterate that 1/3 to maricopa is below expectations, whereas 0/3 is what would anger them. If we start off with lower expectations we can also afford more leeway if shit happens.

>>5167344
Anon, our reputation as a reliable supplier of pharmaceuticals is a better bargaining chip than lowballing Maricopa and saying that we totally have the capacity to fulfill Goodyear's demand, because Goodyear will ask Maricopa if their demand is being settled and if we have excess capacity to help out. Our reputation as a reliable supplier will lend more weight to our bargaining position for an investment opportunity and subsequent shipments to Goodyear rather than lowering Maricopa's expectations and having them eventually realize that we given them a false Return on Investment when Goodyear come around to talk shop with them.

>>5165101
I agree with these set of options.

I do not agree that we walk back on the caravan deal. That just steps on the toes of our constituents.

I also believe that undercutting Maricopa on the pharmaceuticals is not a good idea. It is a better idea to get our WP from Maricopa first before we go full hog on other ventures.

And besides, the more we make in Maricopa from W.P. to manpower first, the more likely slots for supplies increases, which we can then use to sell to the other factions that are agreeable to the general cause of being 'Not a Leftist crony'.

>>5166786
I'll admit that it's definitely a "having a cake and eating it" situation. I think it's more about tempering Maricopa's expectations by saying that 1/3s is the minimum of what we will/can provide, but since we don't have anything else going on here's some extra production for now. This anon >>5166990 has the right idea, and I suppose either 1+1 or 1 to be upgraded into 2 would be fine.

For what it's worth I definitely agree to giving Maricopa 2 slots in the long run when we do get an upgrade on this. Maybe it's more like an option of saying that the 2/3s production isn't guaranteed, and as much as we appreciate that you helped us build the factory, since we are just starting out we don't know if this is sustainable or if there's going to be changes we won't be able to see moving forward. That being said I'm also alright with giving 2/3 production to Maricopa like the others and getting all the returns from doing so, it's just that I prefer setting their expectations to be lower than that in case of unforeseen circumstances.

>>5167572
We could always just say we were raided and some of our production was affected. It's not like we're opening up to let Maricopa find out what's really going on themselves.

>>5166990
I'm not sure if you read through the rest of the post, but there is no 'locked in amount' as a mechanic or anything like that. It's about flexibility and expectations. Whatever you send now will be what will be expected going forward.
There is no 'compromise' in the sense that you either devote a share of production or you don't. There is no such thing as a "locked in" vs "bonus" unit of production. They're both goods entering the market. If you want to send them less or more later on, that is something you would have to deal with then.

If you want to supply 2 units and include some kind of message that you will cut off supply later based on your faction's whims/desires or alternatively that you're not sending 2 units but 1+1 units (which is again exactly the same as 2, "1+1" is the exact same thing as 2 rhetorical bullshitting aside), then it is either way supplying 2 units. In both cases, the hospital(s) and practicing medical professionals will purchase medications knowing that your faction produced them in the workshop Preis bankrolled for the express purpose of you selling to his people.

>>5167572
>it's definitely a "having a cake and eating it" situation
Well, yeah, it's sort of the reality of trade-offs.
Again, I will stress that no amount of rhetoric can turn the number 1 into the number 2 (or vice versa) in such a way that you perfectly get everything you want. If I were a player, then I'd go into detail explaining why you can't use rhetoric to magically invoke some kind of quantum superstate where basic laws of reality don't exist until convenient. Since I have to stay neutral (and in the interest of keeping it civil) I'll say that this is just a choice between fixed options of how much to send. There was not even a [Write-In] option provided for this exact reason.

This is going on for way too long. I'll provide a little extra time for you guys to put in last words, figure out things for some of the other options, or make decisions/swaps for the contested vote (where, again, the only options are 0, 1, 2, or 3) but I'll have to tally up votes soon and move forward.

>>5168028
Regarding last comments, I believe 2/3rds ultimately won. I also believe that the anons talking about reserving 1/3rd production, then saying any excess production would go to Maricopa, doesn't full understand the reality of what they were advocating for was really 2/3 going to Maricopa, with some mental gymnastics to try and justify them to only expect 1/3rd going forward with some sort of meme flexibility deal with the PCR thrown in. I think they thought that 2/3rds production to Maricopa was permanent, 'set-in-stone' type of deal rather than something that can be changed if the situation necessitates it. Granted, I don't want to lower Maricopa's expectations for multiple reasons, one of which is an added incentive for the MMP to protect Mobile is the Warden sets his sights East, which didn't come up as an added side-benefit of keeping on Maricopa's good side. I also think they put to much emphasis and importance on quantifiable WP gain instead of our more abstract Reputation and Relationships, which I consider more important than WP generation for the simple fact that we can't outcompete the bigger factions in WP generation and manpower, so we'd do well to develop our reputation and connections as our leverage to greater influence in the region.

>>5165014
>Services of some kind, within reason, to be specified [Write-In] [Always Encouraged]
Replacement and repair parts for automoive, industrial equipment, or electronics.

>>5165017
>Test the waters slightly with cardio and light exercises on doctor's orders

Production
Half to 3/4 or just half 50%

>>5165023
Find a way to guard but like maybe we can get to bohie boyz to false flag raid it or something and we take over duties

>>5168787
>Replacement and repair parts for automoive, industrial equipment, or electronics.
Anon, these are farmers, not skilled industrial workers.

>Half to 3/4
Isn't that just 2/3 anyway?

>>5168893
>Anon, these are farmers, not skilled industrial workers

Lol do you even know how farming works these days?

>>5169039
They use farming equipment to produce food, they do not produce automobiles, industrial equipment, or electronics. Your plan would've sabotaged our food production insead of anything meaningful. At best they probably have more crop dusters we could press into service, but we should probably use them for crop dusting until we have something more useful for them to do (or until we can put machines guns on them for strafing runs).

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>>5165077
>>5165101
>>5165283
>>5165440
>>5165562
>>5168787

ISSUE 1 OPTION SELECTED:
>[Write-In]: Aid in recruiting skilled personnel
>Food from the vast fields of Stanfield
You ask for help in finding skilled persons needed to grow your faction. The Crusaders may have a relative surplus of bloodthirsty fanatics ready to kill and die for the faith, there is a relative dearth of specialized professionals needed for things like industrial expansion. Malvolion and those in his orbit have skilled seminarians (lovingly referred to by some in your faction as theological autists), so perhaps they have other professionals.

Unfortunately, you are told by Father Malvolion that he cannot help with this. The more rural, peripheral area of Maricopa doesn't have many such individuals. Most intelligent, contentious persons in the community that aren't involved with agriculture and its supporting ventures have left for more central Maricopa. Those who remain are mostly concentrated in commercial agriculture or are religious exiles like Malvolion. You could get some crop duster pilots or theologians, but experts on things like bomb manufacturing or nuclear engineering will have to be found elsewhere.

In light of this, you settle for food. Stanfield, as it turns out, has a massive agricultural surplus that they really have no idea what to do with, so you are promised more faction that your faction will realistically need for a while. You learn that part of this has to do with recent events.

The emerging POZ-Maricopa trade means that Stanfield's agricultural output has come to prominence. Nominally, the Maricopan government will just be playing middle-man between the local farmers and Phoenix. Still, there are rumors floating around that this is the start of Maricopa being subsumed into the POZ, which will eventually forcibly collectivize agriculture and steal all of their stuff. Apparently some of them have been reading the histories of the 30's Soviet Union. And according to Cardinal Yuri (who isn't actually Soviet), their plan is something out of the 80's Soviet Union.

The farmers of Stanfield plan to collectively misrepresent their total output through a number of shady practices. In addition to the standard underreporting, they will be making 'generous donations' to local groups, including yours. Mobile will of course get a kickback. While this is mostly a way to squirrel away supplies for a theoretical communist takeover, some of that food will make its way to your stores. This will not interfere with the trade (they would be fools to pass up on the material benefits) but it will act as a buffer in case things get worse. You pray they don't.

>+120 food per half week from Stanfield...

[1/???]

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>>5169703

[2/???]

ISSUE 2 OPTION SELECTED:
>Test the waters slightly with cardio and light exercises on doctor's orders
As much as you would like to be a musclebound adonis able to dominate the Badlands through his sheer presence, you don't want to destroy your plumbing with some insane organ meat diet. And really, you don't even (want to) lift. The doctor said something about your tendons not being in perfect shape with your age and to take it slow. You'll gladly take that advice and start slow.

For the time being, you'll try to get in some jogging and minor bodyweight exercises. You probably won't get ripped with half-bridges and brisk laps around the meth-lab factory, but it will have to do, for now. Maybe you can find a way to get in contact with that communist and get personalized advice that can take you to the next level? Or maybe it's best to just keep running...

ISSUE 3 OPTION SELECTED:
>Two thirds [Meeting expectations]
Despite reservations and concerns over flexibility, you settle on providing the lion's share of output, two thirds, to the Maricopans. There are several good reasons to do this, the foremost one being that this is in no small part funded by them, mostly staffed by them, and largely undertaken for them. There really isn't much good reason to hold out other than the idea that maybe in the future you might have some kind of new market open up and that they might react slightly better if you shortchange them from the start rather than do it later.

As it stands, Maricopa is by far the best place you have to offload production. They are in the process of rebuilding their damaged medical infrastructure and replenishing their stockpiles after having to burn through them with the destruction of international trade. They have a large population that can consume pretty much anything you can output, albeit still subject to the almost iron-clad law of diminishing returns. The only other market that may be available is Arizona City. This is some small town in the Sun Corridor that, to quote Cardinal Musella's account, "got taken over by insane boomers," who apparently are all diabetics that surely have various ailments.

Other than that, you're really not sure who else you could sell to. The POZ probably isn't an option, since if anyone in the Badlands can do large scale drug manufacturing it's probably them. The PCR is difficult to get in contact with (to put it mildly) and can't be counted on for absolutely anything. And the rest of Arizona nearby is an absolute crapshoot. Despite being in this area for about two months now, you really don't have the clearest picture of your surroundings with regards to who you would or wouldn't be able to sell things to.

You will hear more about how much you're able to get from this market later once production's truly online and trade begins...

>>5169707

[3/???]

ISSUE 4 OPTION SELECTED:
>Yes, you will organize a Crusader counter-raid [Lock in Raid action in 1 week]
You accept the request to organize raids against the Native proxies of the POZ and choose not to ask for the previous offer of caravan guard. While your relations with Preis and Maricopa are good enough to where you could probably get away with it (you think,) a 180 might nonetheless cause confusion and send the wrong message. Besides, the role as a proxy might be a lucrative one.

The Native territory to the northeast (unrelated to the Natives in Greater Maricopa) are part of the buffer between Maricopa and Phoenix, which otherwise consists of natural features. They have been launching raids into the northern Sun Corridor for a while and will with near certainty launch attacks on whatever food Maricopa sends north to the POZ. The plan is to have the MMP guard keep an eye out and notify your Crusaders whenever the attack starts. With their forces busy, their home community will be an easy target. That's not to say that they will be completely undefended, but you should be at a relative advantage with most of their forces away as long as you don't stick around for long enough to get pincered by the raiders returning.

You're not sure what exactly they have, but at the very least it will make them think twice about their raids and consider coming to the table. At the least, it'll give you the opportunity to score some loot.

And with these selections made, the week comes to a close.

[END OF WEEK 8, HALF 2]

>>5169708

[4/???]

[START OF WEEK 9, HALF 1]

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED:
>Improved Housing: Continue improving housing to support a larger population - 60 W.P.
Over the past week yet work still has been done on building yet more housing. Quite a bit, in fact. Conditions still aren't great and still a concern for potential arrivals. Still, it's getting better to a degree. Sure, the housing is of poor quality owing to hasty construction, but it's better than nothing. And sure, the former vagrants are still housed up in literal tents, but a combination of exhaustion and meth takes care of that. The situation isn't worsening too much more, and besides it's a good problem to have.

>Advanced Pharmaceutical Workshop: Allows for the production of advanced drugs. - 550 W.P.
The country is in a state of war. The entire planet, for all you know, is in a state of war. Supply chains are in shambles as everyone vies for dominance in the ruins of America. Industry is being retooled towards the war effort as security becomes the single most important service in the entire Badlands. But unfortunately, health conditions wait for no war.

While producing guns and bombs during war is the natural choice, producing pharmaceuticals could be a surprisingly lucrative venture. Many people need to take certain pharmaceutical products daily to just live, and the stores built up from the Wuhan Viral Pneumonia crisis can only last so long. While some would call it unethical to bankroll a war effort by price-gouging essential medical goods, that's of secondary concern. After all, if you are providing people with the opportunity to live, then wouldn't such high prices be justified? If somebody would die without blood-thinners, then isn't the mere price of an arm and a leg a bargain compared to the cold embrace of death?

Upon completion, the Maricopans arrive with the promised W.P. to reimburse much of the construction. In addition, they arrive with the skill crew, fresh from the press-ganging and ready to start working.

>Receive 275 W.P.

Some would say that using rare, life-saving medication as a way to fund a war effort or as a bargaining tool is not Christian. Such persons are unqualified to tell you what is or isn't Christian. You are the Pope, so that is your job...

>>5169710

[5/???]

>Manpower:
2 full strength Mechanized Infantry Platoon
1 full strength Sidewinder Platoon
1 half strength Sidewinder Platoon
1 half strength Pontifical Guard Platoon [LOCKED WITH THE CASINO]
1 half strength Inquisitorial Platoon [Mountain Base]
1 half strength Support Platoon [Priority: Artillery Section]
Full Platoon Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mountain Base]
Full Platoon Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mobile]

~580 followers (non-combatants)
~70 prisoners

>Wealth:
640 Wealth Points
+120 WP per half-week from followers
+30 WP per half-week from Maricopan patronage
258 Food Units
-61 Food from consumption per half week
+40 Food from 6 farms
+15 Food from Maricopan patronage
+120 Food from Stanfield support
36 Meth Units
+7 M.U. per half-week

>ACTIONS AVAILABLE:
2 Construction Actions
1 Diplomatic Actions
1 Flexible Action

>Construction Actions Possible: Unless stated otherwise, assuming 1 week to complete:
Farm: Restore some abandoned farmland. Makes more food. - 40 W.P. [Takes only half a week]
Chemical Weapons Lab Level 1: Allows for the production of basic chemical weapons. - 400 W.P.
Machine Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic weapons and ammunition. - 300 W.P.
Explosives Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic explosives. - 500 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]
Broadcast Tower: Sends messages far and wide to anyone with a car or receiver. Massive boost to propaganda. - 150 W.P.
Oubliette: Dungeon like room for basic interrogation/conversion. Unlocks conversion (brainwashing) oriented construction options. - 100 W.P.
Improved Housing: Continue improving housing to support a larger population - 60 W.P.
Hallucinogen Manufacturing: Create a variety of mind altering substances. - 150 W.P. [Synergy: Oubliette]
Basic Seminary: Decreases penalties for multiple simultaneous [Missionary Outreach] actions and slightly boosts effectiveness. - 300 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew]
Nothing: Save the W.P. and forgo construction
[Write-in]

NOTE: ALL CONSTRUCTION COSTS WILL BE INCREASED BY +10 DUE TO [LOGISTICAL PINCH] PENALTY

>Special: Can use a one time 50% discount on a factory upgrade if desired
>Have access to rare electrical gear for currently unknown projects or other uses...

>Toggles
Purchase advertising for Maricopa's radio to help with recruitment/outreach - 5 W.P. per full week [CURRENTLY ON]
Send Cardinal Mueller out to the Reservation to preach. - Free [CURRENTLY ON]
Crudely "preach to" prisoners at the Sierra Estrella location (i.e. brainwash) - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]
Grant Yuri his stipend to supply the Inquisition and fund its various activities - 15 W.P. per half-week [CURRENTLY ON]

>>5169711

[6/6]

>Diplomatic Actions Possible:
Envoy: Send a diplomatic envoy to a location to engage in trade, propagandize, or make agreements. Better at getting deals than scouts, but has no stealth and is worse if a fight breaks out. Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Maricopa, Goodyear, or a [Write-in] and note what you specifically want them to do.
Scouting: Have the group organize a scouting party and explore a location. Stealthy and decent at a fight, but not very good if diplomacy is needed. Select from the Lewis Prison, Gila Bend, Maricopa, or a highly-encouraged/recommended [Write-in] and specify what you want them to do.
Raiding Party: Send forces out to a location and attack them for loot and dominance. [Where?]
Missionary Outreach: Send missionaries to a location to recruit people into the totally legitimate religion. Could anger the locals if you don't have permission! Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Lewis Prison, Goodyear, or a [Write-in].
Side Ops: Do mercenary work [CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE]
Nothing: Forgo a diplomatic action.
[Write-in]

>Select two construction actions, one diplomatic action, and one extra of either category for this half-week (and optionally, toggle changes)

Also:

>Roll three d100s for events

Yep, 120 food per half-week. No, that's not a typo, that's how much you guys are getting per half-week. As it turns out, you guys cozying up with Stanfield in the situation they're in (i.e. the Stanfield Cattle Incident choice selected, going straight for 'their' Church community, and especially the situation with the POZ) counts for something. This area has a massive amount of agriculture, a lot more than what you guys could possibly hope to produce in Mobile when taken as a whole.

Also, forgive me if I've forgotten anything. End of half-week updates always have a lot going on, and I always get the feeling that I'm forgetting something. I very well might be, so I won't explode if such things are pointed out... Granted, that may just be the alcohol really kicking in, but I swear I'm not drunk enough to DWI! I mean, maybe it's enough to risk a public intoxication charge (is that what they call it?) but it's not like I'm Druk or anything!

>>5169039
>>5169618
You guys both have good points here. Modern farming is not just peasants with scythes and hoes, but is a skilled profession. They're not retarded hicks out in the middle of nowhere. At the least, they're skilled hicks in the middle of nowhere! But the kinds of things they provide, like maintaining vehicles and fixing up equipment, are things that Maricopa is already providing you guys as part of the patron-client relationship (they're the entire reason you guys aren't worrying about a complete logistical nightmare in expanding your military) so it's not too impactful here. But there's the point that you won't find too many industrial engineers working in massive rural car factories or rural professors of nuclear science working there either.

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>5169711
>400 W.P.
>Machine Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic weapons and ammunition. - 300 W.P.
>Explosives Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic explosives. - 500 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]

With the discount on the explosives factory, that comes to 570 WP. Let's get our lads properly armed, and gets some proper improvised war machines!

>Envoy

Lets go to goodyear and see if we don't have better luck at some diplomatic overtures. Send bob again?

>Scouting

Lets send the sidewinders out and have them do some recon in preparation for our upcoming raid. Perhaps we can even embed some of them in the area for support. I know they want Mueller to lead them but he's still recovering, ideas?

Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>5169711
>Explosives Workshop Level 1
>Basic Seminary

We need to focus on proselytizing and getting mortar shells for our crews to train with, I'm not wasting anymore of the good shells until we need them.

>>5169714
>Envoy Maricopa
Have Bob find our skilled Explosives Crew and shoot shit with Saul.
>Missionary Outreach Maricopa
Have the Actor Cardinal talk with the Burning Heart about bringing them into the fold, and maybe visit Redfield to advocate for our religion.

>>5169746
>Have the Actor Cardinal talk

You keep pretending that's a thing we've voted on.

May as well i go on about the killdozer cardinal doing things.

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>>5169731
>Rolled 16 (1d100)
& as a reminder, not every diplo action needs a cardinal/POV to happen. This happened earlier during the situation with the Mobile Infantry scouting the Sierra Estrella, if anyone else rembers that


>>5169746
>Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>5169767
Clearly we are moses reincarnated.

Well sure, they don't need a cardinal I guess.

>>5169749
>>5169770
How this- you support the Actor and the Envoy/Outreach on Maricopa, and I'll support the Killdozer Cardinal and the Machine Workshop instead of the Seminary. We do have two cardinal slots after all.

>>5169767
Yes, this half-week isn't going to be fun for anybody. Paxton must be marching into Hell right about now.

>>5169731
As it relates to Goodyear, we need another diplomat, since Bob was officially barred from entering the Mayor's office from fucking Bertha, and John the Baptist is religiously indisposed of at the moment.

>>5169770
>moses
I'd think it'd be Job, what with that guy's terrible luck. Although there were a lot of people in those scriptures who had garbage luck. Moses, too, I guess you can say, if... ah screw it, I'm reading too much into it!

>>5169787
Hey, that's not necessarily the case! Rolls won't necessarily dictate everything that's going on, and even terrible rolls can be salvaged from! There was a situation not too long ago where I thought for a brief moment you guys would dodge a terribad roll into a good outcome, and while it didn't happen there's always the hope! Ah, but that may just be my jolly drunk optimism.

Btw, I noticed you mentioned "two cardinal slots," which I'm kind of confused at. Not so much for the "slots" but for the "two" phrase.. 5 originally came from Californian exile, and if I'm counting right we have Mazur, Mueller, Trkulja, and (Yuri) Romanov. That would leave 1 remaining that wouldn't be a newcomer from Arizona. Anyone from Arizona would have to be a character that you guys met/recruited since the quest starting in earnest (i.e. someone like McCoy, Malvolion, Mahoney, etc) instead of some person you make up retroactively. At the start, there were 5 and only 5, so this is absolutely firm.

Also, it should be pretty clear that major factions will have their global events rolls staggered out. I'm pretty sure the Paxtonites were recent (last few ones I'm sure) so they won't have another one so soon. IIRC their roll was pretty damn high so they're already probably butchering through their competition (which obviously isn't good for other factions, plucky Badlands upstarts included!) although I do suppose the statement's vague enough to go any which way.

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>>5169787
I could be tempted on that.

I think it's vital that we do our prepwork for the raid, but I'm certainly willing to swap my envoy vote to to your actor vote in return for the killdozer and machine shop. If nothing else, we can quit squabbling about cardinals.

Also, I think in a weeks time we should have WP for the seminary just from our income. That and the radio tower are my next priorities.

Picrel actor cardinal? Bruce is quite charming in his many roles.

>>5169811
>5 originally came from Californian exile, and if I'm counting right we have Mazur, Mueller, Trkulja, and (Yuri) Romanov. That would leave 1 remaining that wouldn't be a newcomer from Arizona. Anyone from Arizona would have to be a character that you guys met/recruited since the quest starting in earnest (i.e. someone like McCoy, Malvolion, Mahoney, etc) instead of some person you make up retroactively. At the start, there were 5 and only 5, so this is absolutely firm.

Well shit... can we "meet" some killdozer fella when building the machineshop?

>>5169817
As in not a cardinal that came with us but some local that we've met yada yada new character. I could be fine with him not being a cardinal right off the bat, though we do need another combat leader, and someone skilled with vehicles and engineering/fabrication/mechanics would be nice.

>>5169817
I'd say I've been pretty damn lenient about letting you guys pull random individuals out of your ass on a moment's notice, lol. You guys have had the chance to get a decent number of conveniently (convolutedly?!) skilled individuals when needed. Yea, the 5 cardinals thing is set in stone. I'll say the following though. The machine workshop on its own won't let you build improvised heavy death tanks. It's needed for those, but you'll need a little more. Think of it like the factory upgrade that let you guys make basic medical supplies (& form a medic unit) didn't let you guys produce immunosuppressant drugs (fun fact btw, the Hardliner POZ faction did have said improvised death tanks if you paid attention to the update introducing them) so you might be jumping the gun as it were. Also, and don't treat this as a spoiler but more of a tease, but there are such individuals with those skills out there and potentially more, if you but muster the courage up to search them out among the Badlands (some posters in previous threads were actually pretty close though, I will say)

Anyway, I've probably gone on enough, so I'll fade into the shadows for a bit

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>>5169812
I would prefer Aaron Paul for the meme of it, but I can settle for an older actor-turned-addict. What was Bruce in btw?

I think the raid prepwork can be accomplished next half-week, just to get the most recent accurate information on the region. Also slightly worried about finishing the Explosive Workshop without a proper crew, but it isn't deal-breaking.

>>5169817
>>5169822
Why not have him be one of Father Malvolion's exiles?

Also, we could always recruit that Native Marine Colonel later on.

cool quest just finished catching up. You guys think it's possible to take over that abandoned village with the agriculture that we discovered when we went on the scouting trip where we found that village of diabetus?

>>5169829
>The machine workshop on its own won't let you build improvised heavy death tanks

Well no, I didn't think that it would. Realistically we could make some improvements to our current vehicles tho, up armoring them, MGs, maybe big guns of some kind or rocket launchers combined with the explosives factory right? Its a step in that direction at least.

>>5169834

Isn't "jesse" supposed to possibly have been left behind in cali when we fled I thought tho?

And you don't know Bruce Campbell? Evil dead, Bubba HoTep, Sam Axe from burn notice, tons of low budget movies. Guy was fantastic.

>>5169837
>Why not have him be one of Father Malvolion's exiles?

Might be a good idea right there, plausible at least. A member of the co-redemptrix that wishes to lend his skills to us. Fleeing with the rest after engaging in some rather extreme bulldozer related escapades, he's resigned himself to repairing combines and other such farm machinery. But perhaps he feels his skills might be put to better use under the crusader banner?

That colonel from the rez would be a good fit with our natives I would expect. I'd support trying to recruit him if Dolores doesn't have dibs on him.

>>5169848
Welcome friendo

>>5169848
As far as that abandoned village, I don't suppose there is much stopping us, other than being spread a little thin by doing it. I'd support establishing a presence there, I dont know when a good time would be for it, though I do think it might help with fighting the freemen.

Anyone have the balls to roll that third wall?

>>5169848
Nice to see more Newfags here. We could do that, but it will require protection. Maybe we can cut a deal with the Freemen, get a non-aggression pack while we peddle our faith.

>>5169850
>Isn't "jesse" supposed to possibly have been left behind in cali when we fled I thought tho?
Was he? It's been so long that I'm honestly unaware if that's ever been mentioned.

>Bruce Campbell
Ah yes, I remember him now. Loved the earlier Evil Dead stuff, Army of Darkness was too campy to really be an honest spiritual sequel though. Yea, I'm fine with Bruce.

>dibs
Hey, we talk with the marine first about him joining the faith! That's our dibs!

>>5169859
I do if you want me to.

>>5169869
Yeah. Hope your luck is awesome, bro.

>>5169714

Supporting
>>5169731

Let's start getting the infrastructure for artillery up and running. Never know when you need a lot of HE for a swarm of ex-cons or POZ. Also, theoretically, if we collected a bunch of propeller planes and retrofitted for bombing, we could firebomb Pheonix and delay POZ expansion.

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Rolled 18 (1d100)

>>5169714
>>5169871
Alrighty. DEUS VULT!

>>5169746
>>5169879
Hey, I doubled my roll! Truly, this must be God's will.

>>5169869
>Freemen
Might not be a bad idea there. Might be easy to preach to them and turn them into crusaders, who knows.

Well, heres to hoping we can still nab him.

>>5169875
Care to comment on the compromise we discussed?

Hopefully qm will allow us to bs killdozer guy into the mix.

>>5169869
>Was he? It's been so long that I'm honestly unaware if that's ever been mentioned.

I have a vague recollection of it

>>5169714
Changing my vote >>5169746 to

>Machine Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic weapons and ammunition. - 300 W.P.
>(Discount) Explosives Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic explosives. - 250 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]

>Envoy Maricopa
Have Bob find our skilled Explosives Crew and shoot shit with Saul.
>Missionary Outreach Maricopa
Have the Actor Cardinal talk with the Burning Heart about bringing them into the fold, and maybe visit Redfield to advocate for our religion.

>>5169883
Want to make the deal official then?

>>5169887
I know we left people behind, I'm just not sure if it was 'Jesse' specifically mentioned as one of those left behind.

>>5169906
I guess we can send scouts out next go around, I'd really like to get some recon in so that we can minimize fuck ups on that raid.

I'm 99% game, I'd like to see qm comment on killdozer as a local though.

As far as "jesse" goes, i really don't remember for sure, some clarification would be nice I guess.

>>5169731
>I know they want Mueller to lead them but he's still recovering, ideas?

I think let them, having the Sidewinders turn into a bunch of Rambos is too good of a meme to pass up. Besides
>whereas they seem to like the idea of extended operations in the open desert with minimal supervision.
indicates that they're probably fine on their own for the moment.

>>5169911
I agree that some recon before the raid would be beneficial, and I'm not exactly opposed to sending them now just to have a look around, I just honestly worry than we will forgo other Outreach actions to the other churches just to get another Scouting action going. At the rate Father Malvolion was courted to our cause, it'll likely take in-game months to get everyone to our side, and I'd like to start hacking away at it now rather than a week or two later (a couple months in RL).

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>5169714
Machine Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic weapons and ammunition. - 300 W.P.
Explosives Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic explosives. - 500 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]
>Special: Can use a one time 50% discount on a factory upgrade if desired

Scouting: Have the group organize a scouting party and explore a location. Stealthy and decent at a fight, but not very good if diplomacy is needed. Select from the Lewis Prison, Gila Bend, Maricopa, or a highly-encouraged/recommended [Write-in] and specify what you want them to do.
1 full strength Sidewinder Platoon
1 half strength Sidewinder Platoon
have them scout the area we plan on raiding, purpose the idea of embedding some force as over-watch and a potential reinforcement flank.

>Missionary Outreach Maricopa
Have the Actor Cardinal talk with the Burning Heart about bringing them into the fold, and maybe visit Redfield to advocate for our religion.

going with this for my bonus action. i think an actor could be helpful as a diplomat. seeing as actors turned politician is common at this point he could be our clear choice as our mouthpiece for most political dealings(saving us the need for traveling outside the holy land). Honestly at this point we might as well double down and make this cardinal a woman. liberal types eat that shit up and it seems we will need to deal with them alot in the near future.


i wanna say i absolutely love the killdozer idea. but think it sounds more like someone we meet or seek out rather than have known for a long time. can not wait for our Patton worth tank fleet.

>>5169976
>Honestly at this point we might as well double down and make this cardinal a woman.

This will just be retreading the nun nonsense from before, and as much as I was for the Sisters of Battle meme, this will just lead to more autism over the fear of waifuing.

Nice to know the Chinese Joan of Arc would've hit all the right spots for the Burning Heart, goddamn simps that these Modernists are.

>>5169906
For the sake of expedience i am going to switch to actor cardinal outreach with ya now instead of going to goodyear and hope that qm sends the killdozer our way sooner rather than later.

I really think that we should go ahead and send scouts now, the more we know the easier it'll be launching the raid.

>>5169976
>liberal types eat that shit up and it seems we will need to deal with them alot in the near future.

They can kneel at the cross or be put upon it. Once we're strong enough, anyways.

>>5170004
And waifu autism is a very real fear to have.

>>5170096
The only autism with waifus was it's fear of them. You lads needed to lighten up, the Joan of Arc reminded me more of the Sisters of Battle, not that latex nun shit you all kept harping on about, and with the POV switching and the faction focus of this quest, I doubt there would've been any waifuing of the BattleNun. Either way, I don't want to retread old autism, so I'll let sleeping dogs lie and pray to God that he won't screw with us too hard.

>>5169711
Question: are Toggles something we need to activate during the events that happen within the week, or are we allowed to Write-In new toggles? Not that I have any to suggest, I'm just curious

>>5170326
I imagine it's flexible, according to the idea.

>>5170865
Well that's what I would think toggles meant, but I was talking about putting in new ones

>>5171245
I imagine that it would depend on the write-in, but I think it's safe to assume that if we have the ability to do it in-faction, you could do it immediately, and if you require outside assistance, you'd need to acquire it with our actions first.

Heres to hoping we can score some good loot on the upcoming raid.

So by the time we launch the raid I think we might have just enough WP saved up to build the seminary, afterwards I'd say we should try and build the broadcast tower and some more housing if anything.

Whatever we decide to do on our path to the raid, anon talking about that abandoned village got me to thinking. The freemen, sure we could try trading with them and being diplomatic, but we could also attempt to crush them.

Thing is, they are a thorn in everyones side, and just the kind of people to end up getting absorbed by the warden or becoming his allies.

What do anons think about trying to establish a forward operating base in that village and start taking action against them? Perhaps we could convince Preis or Dolores to lend some manpower to help remove the threat? Isn't Eloy in a state of conflict with them? Maybe we can make a joint effort out of it.

I suppose we could attempt sword point conversions and kill or crucify those who resist. Maybe rescue some slaves? Definitely secure some loot.

Although I suppose it depends on how involved we get with fighting the POZ aligned natives, I think this might be an intermediate goal of a threat in the region that we might be able to deal with.

>>5171541
We really need to get the Hallucinogen Manufacturing and the Oubliette up and running, and maybe some a Chemical Weapons lab just in case we need another trick up our sleeve against a bigger faction.

As for the Freemen, I don't see any point in crushing them. Maricopa and Moble act as barrier to them meeting, and the Freemen may just be opposed to the Warden anyway if they meet. With the Freemen actively sending volunteers to San Tan against the POZ, I just don't see the point in crushing them with force. I think controlling them by dealing meth and subverting the with religion should be attempted first before we start getting militarily involved in the region.

Besides, we haven't even met Eloy yet. They could pull a Bertha on us, or be less likely to be diplomatic with us than the Freemen may.

>>5172078
>Construction

I'm not opposed to those options at all, though seminary&broadcast tower I think are more important at the moment, and housing will continue to haunt us at mobile.

>Freemen

I'm not opposed to trying to convert them at all, and trade would be nice. I agree that attempting a diplomatic could be a good idea, though I think that we should be prepared to crush them. I expect they might respect strength, and the Warden could well take charge of them without much fuss I fear. Them fighting in San Tan is promising though. Maybe we could also sell some of our food excess to them?

I think we can agree that making a base out of that abandoned village could be beneficial in either route. Could be made into a combination of a trade/relay/military outpost I suppose. Though I hate to lock down more of our men, I think we could benefit greatly by expanding there.

And yes, Eloy remains a mystery, perhaps we can squeeze in some diplomatic ventures in the area to both Eloy and the Freemen soon?

>>5172154
I'm not opposed to those options at all, though seminary&broadcast tower I think are more important at the moment, and housing will continue to haunt us at mobile.

Agreed, though hopefully we'll have a WP injection soon to get construction done on the more costly projects.

>Freemen
I think food trade might be alright, and maybe we can even sell off some excess food to the POZ/PCR or the isolationist Casa Grande, considering they're more industrialized and less farm producing that Maricopa.

As it related to the village, I think it makes sense to put some Sidewinders in the area, and maybe to the south of Maricopa as well to check out the small homesteads and villages.

As it relates to Eoly, we'll need to contact Casa Grande again anyway after we've upgraded our pharmaceutical production, but we can't forget the homefront of Maricopa either.

I do have an idea with the Freemen though. When the Boomers come to finalize our pharmaceutical trade deal, we can use them to pass the message to the Freeman of a raiding opportunity against the POZ Natives when the trade caravan come around (though we'll omit the caravan part and just say they be distracted and out of position to respond). Whether or not they take us up on it or not, we don't really lose anything by them not taking us up on it, but we may be able to leverage them taking us up on the opportunity to our benefit in multiple ways.

>>5172244
>Agreed, though hopefully we'll have a WP injection soon to get construction done on the more costly projects.

On housing, perhaps taking over that village might alleviate some of that?

Your idea on a joint raid might just be pretty good. As we know it, the freemen are factional. It stands to reason that the ones who fought in San Tan have issue with the POZ, if we can buddy up with them we could use them to overtake the freemen. I think its a fine idea. Perhaps by supporting them we can turn mist of them to our cause.

>>5169711
Oubliette: Dungeon like room for basic interrogation/conversion. Unlocks conversion (brainwashing) oriented construction options. - 100 W.P.
Explosives Workshop Level 1:

Wtf happened with caravan guards?

>>5174005
None of the anons voted to change it. I sort of understand, it would've been weird IC to change it. Frankly the whole caravan guard shenanigans was autistic as all hell, I'd just be happier when we can move past this and forget how two anons effectively fucked up such a lucrative deal.

>>5174030
What I wished we asked from the Hardliner leaders was what other groups the POZ was made of.

The only groups we got were The Anarchists, The Hardline Communists and some unnamed POZ police force giving these groups military training.

>>5174139
The Phoenix Mayor and the Police also defected to the POZ, and you have the Native Raiders siding with them as well.

>>5169829
Done sulking in the shadows QM?

I remember the glorious days when there was a update daily from the QM. Where have those glory days gone?

>>5177986
At least the updates still happen. Longest running quest i follow, only other long running quests I follow are on hiatus.

>>5177999
True dat.

>>5169731
>>5169746
>>5169875
>>5169879
>>5169906
>>5169976

CONSTRUCTIONS SELECTED:
>Machine Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic weapons and ammunition. - 300 W.P.
>Explosives Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic explosives. - 500 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function] [One-time discount invoked]
The recent expansion of the Faith caused a mad rush to expand civil infrastructure in Mobile. Now, with recent constructions and new ones finishing up (God willing,) you believe the faithful's industry should turn towards war.

You first order the further renovation of the factory to produce basic weapons and ammunition. This machine workshop, where your faction can make small arms and other small metal items, probably won't be of immediate use. Currently, your patron provides your faction everything that this workshop could. They provide all of the small arms, ammunition, vehicle maintenance, and the myriad other things that let you operate a crusader force without being in an unending logistical nightmare. Still, you have other things in mind that require this construction as a stepping stone. The Hardliners aren't the only ones to have considered using super-heavy armored vehicles in battle.

The second order is to build a workshop where you can start making explosives. Small arms can only carry you so far, even with the military having relocated all of the heavy weaponry in the Badlands out to the east. Explosives could help make up for your faction's lack of raw numbers, especially outside of Phoenix where damage to critical infrastructure is not as much of a concern (i.e. where anyone trying to do so won't be immediately ganged up on and exterminated.) You feel that this is important enough to your long term goals to use some of the special materials your faction had looted a while back. But you'll need more than just special building materials and "meth enhanced" labor for this project.

As it stands, you currently are the only person in the entirety of Mobile you would trust to handle the creation of explosive materials, an extremely dangerous job that can have disastrous consequences. To make the most of this factory upgrade, you would need people who are at the very least highly skilled in chemistry and who ideally have worked on bomb manufacturing pre-War. You have no idea where such people would be. You guess somewhere in central Maricopa, although there is no reason to assume everyone you need would be so conveniently close to Mobile. Until then, you will have to settle for producing minor amounts of explosives alone while also managing a meth super-lab, a war effort, the Papal Throne, and more...

[1/???]

>>5178218

[2/???]

GLOBAL EVENT: 9
>UNKNOWN
In the days leading up to the complete collapse of the American government, the matter of its overseas military forces became a prominent issue. As the guarantor of what some called "Pax Americana," the presence of the American military was seen as a key element in the seemingly ubiquitous conflicts that emerged as the world superpower descended into chaos. Few places had as much of an American presence as Eastern and Central Europe.

During 2020, the number of American troops there numbered in the tens of thousands, a significant number in a region known for its understaffed, underfunded militaries. Spread out over three digits of bases, the expectation was that any kind of defensive (or offensive) actions would largely be reliant on the US, especially in the critical early days of any offensive. In the chaos of the early Civil War, when major military operations were being conducted on domestic soil, the reality was that many of these remnants of the Cold War may have been needed elsewhere.

The details on what happened with the military in Central and Eastern Europe is totally unknown to you. There were endless rumors and scant facts in the last days before global telecommunications went totally dark. Some said that American troops completely pulled out of the region early on, leaving behind much of their hardware in the mad scramble to concentrate forces on the Eastern Seaboard. Rumors floated around that these troops started conflicts that sparked large conventional wars in lands that would tear Europe apart. Or perhaps the troops had all left well in advance amid a massive coverup? It all could even just be misinformation.

As a humble Californian meth cook turned Pope warlord, speculating on geopolitical matters half a world away is not your concern. Whatever happens there and whatever happened to the servicemen there is something you suppose you'll figure out when it becomes relevant...

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>>5178220

[3/???]

LOCAL EVENT: 16
>Act of God
The past weeks have been busy, to put it mildly. With the influx of new arrivals comes the need to build up and expand Mobile. This represents a moment of vulnerability where the many threats and concerns of the Badlands are amplified, often to existential levels. You have put in a significant effort towards preparing yourself, at least when it comes to threats like enemy invasions, food insecurity, or rampant homelessness induced instability. Unfortunately, as many in the Old Testament found out, God always has a way to remind man that He is ultimately in control. In this case, it is a literal act of God.

The deserts of Arizona are among the hottest, driest regions in the country. Outside of brief periods during the winter and summer, rain is rare. Yet rare events do occur. Recently, there has been a surge of rain, seemingly from out of nowhere and with an emphasis on surge. Flash floods, an unavoidable consequence of such rains in this environment, wreak havoc. Arizonan infrastructure, even pre-War, was ill-equipped to handle such events. The hasty construction that is an unavoidable reality of rapid expansion, is especially vulnerable. All of the machine gun nests and readiness drills in the world can't stop nature.

Mobile is forced to take whatever last second action possible and simply hunker down. The resulting damage is significant. Attempts at building new constructions are completely halted for the duration of the half-week, and possibly even reversed. Regular work needed to build wealth is either halted or diverted towards dealing with immediate consequences.

The rains subside and the floodwaters recede almost as quickly as they appeared. Taking stock of the damage, you find that Mobile is mostly in one piece. The main exception is some of the vagrants' "housing" (a euphemism for tent encampments) that was washed away into the deserts along with some of the unfinished housing that was being finished up. The factory is mostly unharmed, the Sierra Estrella site is in good condition, and bizarrely the electrical infrastructure is totally intact and undamaged. That last one is very strange given a prolonged power outage during the storms, but it's hard to complain about not having to deal with difficult, and expensive repairs to electrical infrastructure.

You're not happy about this, but in all reality things could have gone a lot worse for what an insurance company would deem an act of God.

Effect:
>-100 W.P.
>W.P. generation halved for current half-week
>Lose construction actions next half-week
>All constructions delayed by at least 1 half-week
>1 level of housing construction negated

With the floodwater receding into the sands, conditions clear up enough for the first diplomatic action of the week...

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>>5178221

[4/???]

DIPLOMATIC ACTION SELECTED:
>Missionary Outreach [Maricopa]
Earlier, you secured the support of the more rural remnants of Catholicism in the neighboring town and felt out the other remnants. The 'blue-collar' remnant, headed by the most openly corrupt priest you have ever seen in your life, was not receptive to your demands. Apparently, you'll need more than just rhetoric ("bullshitting" as you believe Saul put it) and bluster. The remaining group, the Cathedral of the Blazing Heart, looked so hopeless you didn't even try. Before you even walked through the front door you could tell that there wasn't much 'ideological compatibility,' to put it mildly.

Based on some educated guesses, you expect them to be on the side of the False Pope and, if Maricopa wasn't isolated from Phoenix by the desert, would expect them to lean heavily towards some POZ faction or other. Getting their support won't just be a simple matter of walking in and telling them to kneel, but it would be valuable nonetheless. They not only are the largest and most legitimate remnant in town, but also a hub for skilled and influential people. You really aren't sure how you're supposed to get them to support you or your faction, but you would like to have power and influence over them.

Luckily, you can offload this responsibility to someone else.

CARDINAL UNVEILED:
>FATHER "JESSE" PAUL
Fuck yeah, you're getting your break! You feel like you haven't been doing shit these past weeks. Well, sure, there was that one time you apparently led a bayonet charge against those fucking raiders from the mountains (apparently since you don't remember it, you were high as fuck and apparently acting as a Civil War officer, fun shit) and you did sell some meth to some weirdos that popped up weeks ago. And you were a big part of the exodus from the Golden Shithole, but this is the first time you've gotten the Messenger to let you go on one of those big "diplomatic actions" that get all the attention, time to fucking go!

You say a quick prayer and accept the holy blessing via your lucky "flute." You got this a long time ago back when the State was handing them out for free. You didn't need the hand-out, but it was too funny to pass up on. Good times.

>Trait [Addict]: To not go insane, you need to constantly take meth (which can also make you act insane...)

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>>5178223

[5/???]

Good times they were. You remember being a hot shot actor back in Hollywood. Sure, you weren't at the top A-list level, but you got yourself some good roles. Most people know you for your work on the silver screen, where you got your nickname "Jesse," but you've done more than that. Your favorite was that one racing movie where you got to race a bunch of sick cars. Good shit. You were high as kite for most of it, but people liked your performance and energy. Except the critics, but fuck movie critics. Those fart sniffing assholes think everything has to be some kind of high class (i.e. boring ass) art thing. By God, when you retake the country you're going to find those degenerate haters dragging down your career and bayonet them. Deus Vult, bitch!

>Trait [Hollywood Star]: Your skills as successful Hollywood actor grant you a minor level of fame and bonuses to diplomacy
>Trait [Crusader Rage]: Your insane devotion to the faith (emphasis on insane) can grant a massive bonus to crusaders under your command and encourages 'extreme' options (with certain choices auto-locking if said options are consistently not acted on...)

You get the boys together and ride out to Maricopa where apparently the people at the big fancy church there have yet to hear the good news. From what the Messenger says, they're "just like the people from Hollywood," which sucks. These guys probably believe in whatever demonic garbage they teach in universities. You never went to university, never had the time or "scholastic aptitude" for that. You just went straight into the hustle, and you'll probably have to hustle if you have an ice crystal's chance in an encampment of getting these losers on board (you're proud of that one, you came up with it after hearing the Messenger use the "snowball's chance in Hell" phrase one time.)

>Trait [Holy Fool]: You are not very smart. Suffer penalties to anything involving understanding complicated subjects like theology or electromagnetism. Unlock options relating to eccentric ideas like superheavy death tanks and paratroopers...

>>5178225

[6/???]

It's not long before you get to the place. Looking at the thing, it's huge and real nice with those big windows you see on the history tv shows. It's a lot better than the damn shithole of a church you guys have in Mobile, even that one in Stanfield's a crackshack compared to this. And of course it's those fucking stuck-up Hollywood types who can just throw their money around and get all of the shit they want. As you hang out back with the Crusader boys and pull out your flute to get a little pep in your step you think about what these assholes deserve. Maybe they'd be humble if they saw some of their kind nailed to a cross. Or maybe they don't actually deserve the worst? Maybe you go too far with the bravado, sometimes. You've worked with these types back in SoCal, and they weren't all bad. Not saying you won't put on whatever act you need to, hell, not even saying you won't pull out the bayonets if you need to. But Jesus found a way to make it all work in the end, even when he was betrayed and tortured and killed. Maybe, it'll all work out in the end.

>Trait {Heart of Gold}: Despite your rough exterior, stupidity, and borderline insanity, you really do have a heart deep down, whether it survives the War or not...

>>5178228

[7/7]

"Hey, boss?" one of your boys asks. "So, what are you planning on doing with these guys exactly?"

"Planning? Oh right," you respond. "Yeah, about that..."

What kind of plan do you have?

>"I'll just make some shit up about the Messenger being about peace and love and they'll believe it. I mean, it's not like these guys are going to listen to the radio broadcasts or keep up with the news."
>"I'll go in there, whip out my fat bayonet, and tell them that if they don't take up the Messenger's cross, I'll nail THEM to the cross! That's theology 101!"
>"I don't really get the theology debate stuff, I was planning on coming here to party. Maybe set up a rave?"
>"Yo, I'm just going to wing it, come up with something on the fly..." [Write-In]

Also:
>Roll 2d20...
... if you all can gather up the necessary courage to roll (with some of these dice, I'm not sure I would myself!)

>>5170326
>>5171245
As the guy responding to you said, you can turn them on/off pretty much at will. Making new ones out of whole cloth is kind of a weird area, since they are a way of trying to represent things happening in universe. I guess you can always make a suggestion, but I won't necessarily approve it since it might not make sense with what's going on.

>>5169850
>Bruce Campbell
I find you mentioning him hilarious, although for reasons that won't make any sense until (possibly?) later.

>>5174005
People got cold feet on that plan and settled for accepting the raid, even accounting for that one vote I allowed early due to the unfortunate circumstances of an anon. Hoping all's better...

>>5175398
>>5177986
Ah, glory days indeed. I'm not going to give some BS excuse about "omfg, it's freeee conteeent, pls no complain!!1" I'll just try to give some insight into why this update took longer than usual.
In addition to the usual waiting for votes thing (and some tech issues) which I don't count, I wasn't sure whether to do diplo-lock->leader-selection or to just go straight with a leader since that's pretty much what you guys spent this entire time going on. I decided to go for the later, if only to expediate things long term. Then, I wasn't actually sure how to write " Cardinal Jesse" out. Keeping with the usual IC-inspired descriptions would pretty much mean writing like an insane meth addict with an IQ that's barely a cut above the average McNamara's Moron. That's a radical shift I was going back and forth on.
And now, as I was about to get this update out, apparently the Global Event, of all things, is channeling real world geopolitics or something. I had it written out before the current hostilities broke out despite them being on similar topics. But at this point, I'm not going to make you guys wait further on something that's not even IC. Just putting that out there for clarity.

Anyway, I've talked enough...

>>5178229
>"Yo, I'm just going to wing it, come up with something on the fly..." [Write-In]

"These Hollywood types gotta recognize me. These guys live and breath movies, after all! Maybe I'll break out that cursive handwriting that nagging bitch of a teacher forced us to write in 3rd grade for an autograph."

Make sure to grab a sharpie marker.

Rolled 6, 2 = 8 (2d20)

>>5178239
Support. Also,
>"Charm offensive. Had to kiss a lotta ass in Hollywood, I think a little honey will catch well with these Hollywood types."
>"I don't really get the theology debate stuff, I was planning on coming here to party. Maybe set up a rave?"

Given theological debate isn't our our strong suit, leaning on personal charm and charisma would be better I feel.

>>5178330
Ok, this isn't the worst in the world. I ain't expecting miracles, but our minor celebrity status and charisma may just salvage this into something approaching ambivalence, which is decent for the first stage of diplomacy.

On an unrelated note, I think Jesse talking to Saul and Redfield would be a riot.

>>5178239
>>5178330
Actually, thinking more on this, I think we can use this Act of God to our advantage probably, solicit some sympathy and aid from our fellow Catholics. What do you lads think?

>>5178221
>>Act of God

Well there goes that, i guess.

>>5178239
Sure, support

This endeavor is doomed.

>>5178360
Yeah.
Though, how much sympathy will these Lavender types give us depends on if they subscribe to the 'Love thy neighbor' mantra.

Also, next time roll 1 d20 at a time. I notice that we have better odds if the dice are split between posters.

>>5178595
>Also, next time roll 1 d20 at a time.
Will do.
>I notice that we have better odds if the dice are split between posters.
Like with the 3d100s?

>>5178229
>>5178239
Fuck it, +1

>>5178360
Not really a big fan of this especially as the Hollywood guy because it feels like one of those fake celebrities coming over to take pictures with Haitians, but sympathy is fine I guess

>>5178882
Well, at least then we can spread the blame instead of just one person

>>5179066
>Not really a big fan of this especially as the Hollywood guy because it feels like one of those fake celebrities coming over to take pictures with Haitians, but sympathy is fine I guess

So these Lavenders will totally fall for it right?

>>5178229
>>"Yo, I'm just going to wing it, come up with something on the fly..." [Write-In]
it would be good get a feel of how to appeal to them, Addicts are master manipulators so we should play into that. we should start of by being friendly and explaining that we are new intown and looking for friends. we should also bring up the flood. "We had a flood, im not gunna lie it was bad man. when it rains it pours .But dont say the big man doesn't have a good sense of humor. but we could really use some help demoing some buildings with bad water damage, yall dont know any demolition experts or architects do you? Hey, you know what? We could have a Church festival as a fundraiser, that would be dope! Either way we could use some help right now."

>>"Charm offensive. Had to kiss a lotta ass in Hollywood, I think a little honey will catch well with these Hollywood types."
>"I don't really get the theology debate stuff, I was planning on coming here to party. Maybe set up a church festival?"
these also.

>>5178239
>>5178330
>>5178498
>>5179066
>>5179159

OPTION SELECTED:
>"Yo, I'm just going to wing it, come up with something on the fly..." [Stratagem: Bullshit Schmooze Barrage]
"So you're just going to walk in there and start BS-ing?"

"Yeah pretty much," you tell him as you put your meth pipe in your pocket. "How hard can it be? Just go in there, like, 'Yo mister church man, nice place you got,' and shit. Kiss ass."

"You think it'll work?" he responds.

"Messenger said they're like, Hollywood types. Yo, these Hollywood types gotta recognize me. These guys live and breath movies, after all! Maybe I'll break out that cursive handwriting that nagging bitch of a teacher forced us to write in 3rd grade for an autograph." You remember that bitch of a 3rd grade teacher, Miss Bachoulli or whatever her name was. God damn Italian New Yorkers with their accents.

"Take my sharpie!"

With that, you march past the signposts about racial whatever. You walk up the steps and face the doors with their postings about masks, which you don't bother reading (besides, reading is for nerds.) You walk into that church triumphant, defiant even, like Martin Luther but not evil and actually based (i.e. you're freebasing meth.)

"Uh, sir?" asks a confused young looking guy sat behind a table at the entrance. He observes you with a cocked head and squinted eyes. You recognize this look. "This church is a mask o-"

>Event altered by trait [Hollywood Star]

"You don't recognize me?" you ask with a smile. You're unconsciously tapping your feet from the excess energy you have.

"Yea, I kind of do? Uh, have we met before?" This is exactly the kind of response you were hoping for.

"Let me jog your memory: 'Yo, that's basic SCIENCE, bitch!' Or how about this one: 'YEAH! MAGNETS!'" With the stimulants in your system, your acting is especially loud and forceful.

"Oh wow, you're actually Jesse," he says while chuckling.

"The very one! But you can call me Paul. I'm down with Jesus, got that 'Holy Spirit' energy, all that good shit. Yo, I want to talk to big bossman at this church here, see what's up man."

"Hey, can I get a selfie? I mean, if it's not too much trouble I don-"

"Yea bitch!" you say as you immediately hop over the table with reckless abandon. "Yo, take off that mask and get that phone out!"

The fan fumbles around for his phone and clumsily takes his mask off, revealing he probably can't grow a beard if he wanted to. Either he's really anxious or just a putz. Maybe both. You take some pictures with him, doing some funny poses from the TV show you were in.

"The head priest is busy, but you know, I-I'll try to pull some strings!" he tells you. "But, look, you got to wear a mask. If you don't I'll get crucified. I mean, not like that, but-"

"Yo, that's cool. I'll do the mask thing." You can tell that there is literally no way of doing this without having to wear a mask.

>Passage to Blazing Heart: Secured

[1/???]

File: Priestly Autograph Duties.jpg (108 KB, 634x624)

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>>5180070

[2/???]

He runs off to get the priest. You pick up a prayer card that fell on the group and sign the back of it. You then try your best to very carefully write in cursive "BITCH" by the signature. Seriously, which biznatch thought it was a good idea to make some kind of second letter system where all of the letters look fucked up? Might as well make a letter system where all of the words look like coc-

"May I help you?" an older man asks with the guy from the entrance.

From the guy's dress, you figure this is the big church man dude. Time to do the thing.

>Diplomacy Engaged

You meet the big man, who isn't really big but he looks a little old, in the entrance past the table. This time you make sure to go around the table instead of hopping over it.

You go over to the two and first hand off the autograph to the young guy.

"Yo, I thought I'd hand you this," you say giving out the barely legible sharpie autograph. Cursive is not your strong point. In this moment, you remember that this guy really specifically told you to wear a mask and put one on before the old dude can mention it. "The Sun Belters send their regards."

"Thank you! I had the box set and since the War I've watched the series like fifty times by now! I loved that one scene in the Mojave where you-" He stops himself. "Sorry Father Altadonna, I got a little excited."

"Not a problem, Giovanni. And you," he says looking right at you. "I'm glad you put on that mask when you did. We would have had some problems if you didn't. I would like to maintain that you remain five feet away at all times. You know, Viral Pneumonia really is a great issue of our times. It's right up there with rigid thinkers and structural inequalities, although those issues really are all intersected."

So he's complaining about people being "rigid," something about buildings, and something you think might be a bad cold virus (or maybe a bio-weapon based on a few Internet documentaries you saw.) Yep, this is about as you expected. But you did get an 'in' with your bullshit schmoozing earlier. You feel like you'll need every bonus you can get with this guy.

>+5 bonus for [Hollywood Star] use
>+2 bonus for favorable NPC
>Mask malus avoided

Alright, you're going to keep this schmoozey. You're going to win their support by leaning on personal charm and charisma. The exact way you're going to do this... you really don't know. From what you've heard from that one nerd the Messenger was talking to for a while, these guys probably hate the idea of a hard-edged crusader faction and even just siding with the farm boys means this is a moonshot...

File: Dominican Beaches.jpg (248 KB, 1000x667)

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>>5180071

[3/???]

"Not sure if you already heard from-" oh shit, what was that young guy's name. "you know, heard from our mutual friend here, but I'm a big name in Hollywood! You remember me as 'Jesse' if you've seen the TV hit of our generation, or maybe you've seen me behind the wheel in a recent big-name racing movie!"

"Ah, I think I heard of that show you were in. Wasn't it the one where you guys-" he pauses. "You guys were selling something, I think. Smuggling? I don't know, I didn't watch it, really. It was too violent for me and some of the themes in the show were, I think a little problematic." God damn it, these Catholic priests and their aversion towards violence. Actually, wait, you are a Catholic priest. Ah screw it, you'll let him continue. "And I don't really watch racing movies. I think there was one, but I heard it got some bad reviews."

Fucking critics. God damned fucking critics. You had so much fun filming that movie, you got to drive some nice cars. It was like being in a theme park of exotic supercars, call it Lambo-Land or some shit. They probably would have made a sequel if the critics didn't review bomb the movie. Once the Crusaders take back the country you'll make sure you purge these fuckers with fire and bayonet, personally if you need to!

You take a deep breathe and stop yourself from seething.

"Well, it happens. You know, I can talk about movies all day! But I came here for something else," you say.

You're really not sure how to continue. The transition from "hey, I'm fancy Hollywood man" to "please support and legitimize my crusader faction mister flower power priest" is a tough one. You're just going to grasp at straws and go for the sympathy angle.

"You know, Father, I'm from the Sun Belters," you say as a tactical move to avoid saying the word crusaders. "We're from Mobile, you know, like that way. We had some bad flooding recently, you know, we could use some support. Like, would you happen to know of any bomb experts. Like, people really good at making explosives. I mean, uh, you know, for like the- clearing out stuff, controlled demolitions, uh, definitely that sort of thing. You know, like in the TV shows. You know, it's like, we need more money for the community!"

Even with the mask making it harder to read his face you can tell that this guy thinks you're insane. To be fair, you kind of are.

>-1 malus for bizarre Crusader desire/goal for this venture

"Okay, so let's break that down a little. So, first of all, we've had flooding here too. Maricopa is I think about twenty minutes from Mobile. Also, explosives? That's- um, oddly specific. Actually, I have some questions for you."

"Alright, let's hear it," you say eager to move on from that.

"I want to ask if you're the kind that lean more towards Dominicans or Franciscans, if you get what I mean?"

What? Is this guy thinking of taking a vacation to the Caribbean during a civil war...?

File: Dominicans and Franciscans.jpg (175 KB, 1000x1013)

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>>5180072

[4/???]

"Well, honestly I'm more cool with the Dominicans. You know, the beaches are great and the weather is exactly what you'd expect. The ladies are nice, I mean, not in that kind of way since I'm a priest but you know, it's good. Got some good rum too. You know, Francisco is overrated. Sure the bridge is pretty and you can get some clam chowder, but it's a let down. Weather sucks, hills making walking a b-, bother, everything's overpriced. Honestly, if you're in the Bay Area, you'd be better off going to Oakland. Maybe go to Berkeley if you want a more, shall I say colorful, experience. But I've never been good with the Franciscans myself. I'll stay with the Dominicans."

>-3 malus from [Holy Fool]

"I see," he says nodding his head, his face hard to read with the mask. You hope he approves of your choice of vacation destination. What else could "Dominican" or "Franciscan" mean?

"I'll cut to the chase: what I've heard about your faction seems highly problematic. I've heard about Crusader involvement with the attack on innocent people in the Reservation." Wait, attack on innocents? The Crusaders helped remove a hostile regime right next to Maricopa that was loading up with weapons and part of a broader plan to destroy where this guy lives. What, did he just expect Dolores to wait until everything was in ruin before doing anything to claim some kind of moral high ground? Before you can press on anything, he continues. "And I've also heard that there was the use of problematic, racially charged language and dangerous rhetoric. I have heard your faction has associated with that boorish, stupid, misinformation-peddling shock jock." Is he talking about Redfield? You love that guy. That one bit he does with the chimps, man, that's some of the funniest shit. "The mayor may be partial to you people, which may count for something, but the

>-3 malus for general reputation among these types from Crusader actions (e.g. participation in the Reservation coup)

"And last, but not least" he says, clearly trying to wrap this up. "I have seen your faction cozying up with the rigid people of the Co-Redemptrix. They are rigid, divisive figures seeking to subvert the Church with their extreme rhetoric. It would be one thing if your leader was a misguided figure believing himself to be the Pope due to a mistake of some kind, but allying with that rigid 'traditionalist' and his equally despicable ilk, that's a bridge too far. Unless you have very good reason to assume otherwise, I am not keen to support your faction..."

>>5180075

[5/5]

>-9 from status with Co-Redemptrix
>FINAL RESULT: 6 - 9 = -3
>EMBARRASSING FAILURE

"Oh," you say, not really sure how to immediately react to this. You knew that getting close with the Stanfield types meant that these guys, their polar opposite, would be a tough sell. You were hoping you could pull some kind of Hollywood magic here, but it looks like these guys simply aren't having it. On one hand, it's a bummer, since there were rumors that you guys could somehow find bomb experts from here. On the other hand, you're kind of pissed off. This guy's dissing your faction, like, yo! Where's the respect?!

You need to make a choice fast, the way any good meth-head would. How do you react to this?

>Try again, maybe using a different approach or just trying to use some kind of other rhetoric? [What approach?]
>Offer this priest man something in hopes that it'll make some magic happen [Offer what?]
>Pull out your bayonet and hold this fucker at bayonet point! Show these shits you mean business! [Why?] [To what end?] [Option granted by Crusader Rage]
>Apologize and spend the rest of the day in prayer, writing this effort off as a failure
>Leave this place and do something else in town [What?]
>Forcefully demand permission to host a rave party
>React in some other, more creative way [Write-In]

And the usual:
>Roll 2d20

See, I can make an update that doesn't take a week (of mostly not writing) to get out! Sure it was a "day late" but... ah, whatever!

Rolled 17 (1d20)

>>5180079
>Try again, maybe using a different approach or just trying to use some kind of other rhetoric? [What approach?]

Nah, that's cool. I understand where you're coming from. I do think we're of two minds- err, different perspectives about the Natives, considering a bunch did join up with us and I have mad respect from them. With the Redfield thing, it's just unfortunate that he's the only radio station in town from what I know, but hey, God works in mysterious ways, am I right? We're still new to the area, fresh from Cali baby! Maybe after getting to know us a little better, you'll realize we ain't as rigid and divisive as you seem to think we are, eh? Mind if we pray for a bit? It's quite a lovely church you got here... [Get him talking about himself, his beliefs, and his congregation, Hollywood types love talking about themselves after all.]

>Apologize and spend the rest of the day in prayer, writing this effort off as a failure

Moses did not free his people in a day lads.

>>5180079
>>Apologize and spend the rest of the day in prayer, writing this effort off as a failure

We'll have to convert these people by force, not sending some bumbling idiot to try and be "diplomatic" with them. What a waste of a cardinal.

>>5180111
Nah, I think we can try a mix of both worlds. You want to roll btw? I think praying and getting him to talk about himself is the key here.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>5180112
I should never have compromised on this, we need to put faggots like that priest up on a cross. And fine, I hope its a 1.

>>5180122
Don't be such a downer, we can still do this diplomatically!

>>5180112
I mean, basically the plan you have is to pretend we aren't who we are in order to win him over? About as bad a plan as sending the village idiot to do negotiations with people who are on the opposite end of the spectrum from us, as has been demonstrated by our dressing down from QM.

>>5180127
Eh, maybe, maybe not. At least we can bond with Saul at being Holy Fools!

>>5180079
>>Try again, maybe using a different approach or just trying to use some kind of other rhetoric? [What approach?]
>Appel to his Liberal Acceptance
"oh thats cool man, no hard feelings for rizzel. but we have alot more in common than you might think. like we both love Jesus man, can we find some coman group and talk?

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5180368

>>5180368
common ground and talk.*

>>5180104
>>5180368
Supporting both of these's
>Try again, maybe using a different approach or just trying to use some kind of other rhetoric? [What approach?]

>>5180368
Support.
We just have to give it another shot to see if this germophobic can at least let us talk about things.

Apologizing is just an omission of guilt on our part. I wouldn't do that.

>>5180104
>>5180111
>>5180368
>>5180701
>>5180750

OPTION SELECTED:
>Try again, maybe using a different approach or just trying to use some kind of other rhetoric? [Acceptance Appeal]

This dude is giving you mad disrespect. Seriously, this is embarrassing and if your boys were with you, you might give this guy a piece of your mind. But you're going to pull a 'turn the other cheek' move here. If this guy isn't just going to just roll over and give up the bomb experts (that you hope that maybe he could possibly do, assuming they exist) then you can at least get a better idea of what these guys think.

"Oh, that's cool man, no hard feelings. For rizzel," you say, channeling the energy of some of your 'brothas' from South Central. "But we have a lot more in common than you might think, like, we both love Jesus man. Can we find some common ground and talk?"

While talking you must have unconsciously moved forward because Altadonna noticeably moves back. "Five feet, remember government guidelines say we must be five feet distant at all times. Ah, that also reminds me," he says while he takes off his mask, revealing another mask, which he replaces. "Anyway, I would like to say that I am a believer in universal dialogue. In tolerance, diversity, inclusion. We are all made in the imago Dei, and anyone promoting division is doing the work of the Evil One. The Pope was doing the great work of removing such rigid figures within the Church and promoting unity, not just of the Church, but of the world."

This dude sounds exactly like the Pope from way back. You can't comment on the specifics, since you never really paid attention to that stuff, but this guy's obviously loyal to the previous pope.

"Yo, for real, I don't think that makes sense though," you ask, genuinely confused. "Isn't removing people, like, not tolerant though? If you joined up with the Messenger, we'd be all one. You guys, the Sun Belters, your bomb experts, everyone! Tolerance yo!"

"Ah, you see, in order to be tolerant and inclusive, you must constantly be vigilant for any threats, which you must resist and oppose with everything you have." Hold up, does that make sense? You really don't know. Before you can ask, he continues. "It's a paradox. Just like how we are united in our separation from one another in fighting one of the greatest threats of our time, Viral Pneumonia. Our congregation is a vibrant, diverse community united in our devotion God in all of faiths and to justice in all of its forms..."

[1/???]

>>5183269

[2/???]

This is kind of confusing and boring, you feel like changing the subject. "Yo, so then what do you think of the Natives then?"

"About their faith? Traditional spiritual religions are filled with great truths, as all faiths, and we must look to them for guidance. But politically, they are under a great terror. Their current leader is a strongman, a thug! He spreads this narrative, complete propaganda, that he was liberating the area from 'subversives,' whatever that means. He killed people, civilians! I fully support liberating them with immediate military action and have sent a strong message to the current government on my community's behalf." Wait, propaganda? Didn't Dolores have and release undeniable proof of his findings while he was doing this? You don't know. But at this point, you really don't think you'll get them on board, so you'll just try to get and idea of what he's saying.

"So, with recent events, what do you think of the POZ? Like, their situation with the regime and, uh, what's going on you know!" Fuck it, this is the best segue you can think of.

"As the rightful authorities in the region, I would naturally tend towards them. But I have heard of human rights abuses happening in their territories." Huh, you weren't expecting that. "I'm especially concerned with what I have heard about labor rights abuses, mistreatment of marginalized communities, and being insufficiently democratic in structure. But the actions of a few bad actors aside, I would still consider them a natural ally."

You have no idea how to respond to any of that. Really, you think you're doing a lot better just staying quiet and letting him talk about, uh, whatever this is.

"I think you've been pretty hard on us, you know. I get the feeling you're not exactly down with the Sun Belters, you feelin' me?"

He pauses for a moment. "Well, no, we're not. Didn't I already go over this? We are completely at odds on every single issue. Really, I find it strange that you'd even come it, as our groups have totally differing views on everything from the Pope, theology, the Natives, even about the idiot on the radio. As a Catholic, I'm obliged to ask that you not feel offense."

"Nah, that's cool. I understand where you're coming from. I do think we're of two minds- err, different perspectives about the Natives, considering a bunch did join up with us and I have mad respect from them. With the Redfield thing, it's just unfortunate that he's the only radio station in town that would accept advertising from what I know, but hey, God works in mysterious ways, am I right? We're still new to the area, fresh from Cali baby! Maybe after getting to know us a little better, you'll realize we ain't as rigid and divisive as you seem to think we are, eh? Mind if we pray for a bit? It's quite a lovely church you got here..."

>>5183270

[3/???]

He cocks his head. "No, I have other things to do. Perhaps against my better judgement, I will allow you to stay here and pray as you wish. Make no mistake, your faction is deeply evil and I do not see us ever being on good terms. Anyone who would raise himself to Pope is nothing short of an egomaniac, especially while a Pope sits the throne. Doubly so when he is one of the most hopeful figures in recent memory." For mister nice church guy, he's pretty brutal. " But, honestly, at this point I don't consider you personally evil as much as a fool. You are with the wrong people. If what I'm hearing is true, the Messenger will lead you into hell. Strongly consider turning back while you still have a chance."

And with that, he turns back and starts to leave. The awkward young guy left at some point earlier, you figure. You didn't see him leave. Anyway, you're starting to come down a bit. Not itching for the next hit, but you're feeling it. You've been keeping dosage lower to avoid building up tolerance, but that only mitigates it so much.

OPTION SELECTED:
>Apologize and spend the rest of the day in prayer, writing this effort off as a failure

"Yo, church man," you call out to Father Altadonna, who turns around. "Sorry," you say. You're not sure why, but you felt like it's the right thing to do...

>>5183273

[4/???]

Now alone here, you take the opportunity to enter the real part of the church. You walk past the pews and to the center part (you think it's called the crossing, but you could be wrong) closer to the altar. You take a moment to sit down and just contemplate things...

You consider your previous life as an actor. You consider if, just maybe, that priest was right. Are you really in the right here? You know that Christ is the way, that you must be part of His original Church, and that the Sun Belt Crusaders are that. But sometimes, you doubt. Would God really make the triumph of His Church so brutal? You know that this isn't new. You know what was needed to clear out the Promised Land, and you know that the Church will have to conquer all (indeed, it is prophecy that the gates of Hell, the world's defenses, will not prevail). It all makes sense.

But if it all makes sense, then why doesn't it feel like that? You know rationally that this is the right thing to do, but part of you still wonders if you would have been better off just staying behind in Hollywood. You had what most people would dream and left it all behind to join what most outsiders would consider an insane cult. Again, you know you're right, but it's one thing to be able to rationalize your decisions. Sticking a bayonet in someone's gut like something out of the Pendleton Incident is another thing entirely. You would know, since you've done it before with glee.

Sometimes, it really is confusing. You guess everyone has his cross to bear.

"Hey, Cardinal, is everything okay?" a voice calls out. It's one of your men, with a nervous young guy behind him. "It's been a while. Didn't want to disturb you, but I think we should be heading back."

"Yo, let's fucking go!"

>END OF JESSE POV

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>>5183274

[5/5]

While Jesse is off in Maricopa and Mobile is busy as ever, you've given the Sidewinders their first task. Leading up to the raid you've accepted, you want a good idea of the surrounding territory, their defenses, possible weak points, and other such details. With recent rains having caused the dry arroyos to become real rivers (if only for a time) in the general area, this is more important than usual.

There are two main choices you have to make. First, you have to decide on the details of this operation such as numbers, approach, general plan, and other things (or to let them decide it on their own.) Second, you have to decide who will lead them. As the Messenger, you have the final say, although they have mentioned how they do not want to be led by anyone from outside their tribe except for Cardinal Mueller (who is currently recovering from grievous wounds.)

Select how you want this scouting action handled.

>Select Plan [Write-In] [Freeform] [Similar actions from before may provide structure]
>Let them come up with something on their own [???]

>Select a leader for them
>Allow one of their own to lead them [Skip POV]

Sorry for the delay. I'd blame Internet shit, but really, it's just that things have been wild these past few days. I probably should've seen it coming, but, ah, such is folly. Thankfully, I was planning on making this a shorter thread from the start, so it's not a huge deal.

>>5180127
>sending the village idiot to do negotiations with people who are on the opposite end of the spectrum
Hey! I'll have you know, Jesse is NOT the village idiot! That would be our friend Mahoney here! Although Jesse doesn't exactly have qualifications in astrophysics... or theology... or really much other than cooking up crazy ideas (meth too) and fucking people up on the battlefield. Even if him being not-a-genius did give him some leeway someone else might not have gotten

>>5183275
>>Let them come up with something on their own [???]
>>Allow one of their own to lead them [Skip POV]

They know what information we need, we should leave the details to them.

>>5183275
Can we put our airforce out to scout with them, or would that be a bad idea that sends signals that something's coming?

>>5184510
I imagine it'd be likely to give away our intentions

>>5184535
Fair. Was thinking that we did do drills for our pilots so maybe it wouldn't be as suspicious, but you've got a point

>>5185328
Well they are crop dusters, maybe one day we can get some better aircraft.

>>5183275
>Let them come up with something on their own [???]
>Attach Cardinal Bob to help with surveillance equipment
>Allow one of their own to lead them [Skip POV]

I didn't know you updated QM.

>>5186660
I like this plan. Support.

>>5185328
>>5185354
Hey, we can still test out that paratrooper idea, it might be viable with the Sidewinders now.

>>5187152
Paratroopers for a scouting mission? That doesn't seem to make a lot of sense

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>>5187152
>>5187522

I mean parachuting scouts is a viable strategy, but we have neither the highly trained specialists nor the planes to do it with. Of course, this is usually done in far off lands not with next door neighbors.

I feel like there is some confusion about what we have for an airforce. More than likely we don't even have modern crop dusters like this, i imagine we have some old bi planes.

We could make better use of them by slapping on some high caliber machineguns and some dumb bombs and rockets. Not perfect but they could light up a convoy on a road nicely.

I too would love to have some paratroopers, but I think its a pretty far off goal, they require very specialized training and equipment.

>>5187791
>old biplanes

Oh please, we ain't living in the 1900s. My bet is, beyond the occasional private plane, we have a decent amount of crop dusters and a handful of dedicated skydiving planes and relevant equipment. I ain't expecting miracles here, but the potential to cause confusion and panic we could cause with a general night insertion, to be followed by a general assault? I think it's at least worth looking into as a potential trick up our sleeve.

Speaking of our general Air Force, I think you're generally correct. Our ad-hoc bombers will certainly deal some damage in a bomber and ground support role.

>>5187838
Its been a very long time, but I thought all we had were crop dusters?

And we are not exactly in an agricultural center, its likely that we dont have the latest and greatest. Biplane crop dusters were used for a very long time by the way.

Supposing we do have sky diving planes, we don't have people trained to do it, much less something like a night jump. You're just asking for a bunch of off target splats.

I like the idea and would like to work towards it, it's just not realistic at this point.

>>5183275
>>Allow one of their own to lead them [Skip POV]
>Let them come up with something on their own [???]
tell them they are over watch

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>>5183444
>>5186660
>>5187152
>>5188121

OPTION SELECTED
>Let them come up with something on their own [???]
>Allow one of their own to lead them [Skip POV]
You are the Pope, not an NCO. Your job is to focus on the big picture. You don't need to micromanage your underling's actions, you just need results.

With that in mind, you give them very simple orders. Stay back and keep an eye on the enemy in the Casa Blanca area, gathering whatever information they feel is pertinent to the future raid. How much they want to commit, methods of approach, equipment, and other details are up to them (within reason, of course, you're not going to let them bring mortars to a stealth mission or anything stupid).

As for who will lead them, you allow them to be led by one of their own. Mueller's busy recruiting and they could use the opportunity to build real leadership experience among their own. Mueller grants his blessings, both literal and figurative, to one of them and they spend some time planning out their operation.

They head out of Mobile on their ATVs, some of which were theirs pre-War, with a variety of small arms and utility items. They prefer to not have any aerial recon done citing concerns that it might tip people off for what might realistically be little practical info. As they disappear into the desert, you realize one addition benefit of this arrangement. They have little directly linking them to the Crusaders. In the worst case scenario that they're spotted and fighting occurs, you would have a level of plausible deniability. In a sense, they're your proxies, while you yourself are a Maricopan proxy, in what is developing into a kind of convoluted Cold War story. Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction.

>Results: To be seen...

[1/3]

>>5188607

[2/3]

As the half-week comes to a close, you sit down to consider the various minor issues and r-

"Messenger!" a voice calls, interrupting your work. It's Musella. "The Arizona City Patriots have arrived."

Arizona City Patriots? You had almost forgotten about them. You're pretty sure they were supposed to arrive earlier than the very last hours of the half-week, but if they're here you might as well talk.

You and Musella head out to meet the Arizona City Patriots, or 'the Boomers' as Musella calls them. They've been stopped by the outskirts of Mobile, where efforts to rebuild and resume constructions is still underway as the sun sets. The "Boomer" delegation is unsurprisingly made up of older gentlemen with a few former law enforcement types in the mix hanging out back by their vehicles.

"Quite a shabby operation you upstarts have here," says an old, noticeably obese man walking towards you. "But you know, buster, if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything, that's what we used to say back in the day." You're starting to understand Musella. "I'd like to see some of your manufacturings for that deal from a week ago. Your buddy there promised me, mister, ah, what was his name, Mazulla-"

"Musella! It's Musella!" a suddenly nervous and sweating Musella says. "Anyway, we'll show you enough to prove we can make your insulin or whatever you guys need." Looking at girth of who you presume is their leader, you fully believe this faction over-indexes in diabetes.

You allow this Patriot and some of his fellow seniors to take a look at the advanced pharmaceutical workshop. You're lucky that construction completed before the flash flooding began, as the workshop has just barely began to operate. The Maricopans working it have already managed to finish a small batch of anti-parasitical agents used to treat cattle in Stanfield as well as being used for certain infections in humans.

The old folks gawk at the chemistry equipment for a bit, clearly not understanding what's going on but doing their best to pretend that they do. They don't seem to have much interest in the factory and readily accept your excuse of "flooding" and "remodeling" as reasons why they can't see certain parts of the factory (especially the meth super-lab)...

>>5188609

[3/3]

"As you can see, by fermenting the precursor and then dehydrogenating the result, we can produce the desired compound with an eighty percent efficiency. The remainder can be separated and synthesized into other useful materials. For your desired insulin, however, the most efficient way would be to selectively introduce the genetic code that allows for the mass production of the chemical by microbial organisms in controlled cultures. With their high rate of reproduction, the output can be more than enough to supply whatever needs you have once the correct conditions are maintained," you say off hand. It's all really basic stuff, the kind of thing you did back in your university days. To think, you almost became a head of a multi-billion dollar biotech firm. But as God gave Job back what he lost and then some, you too will eventually take back what is yours.

"Uh," the old man stammers. "Yep. I agree. Sure. It definitely is what it is. So, drugs for wealth it is, then?" he says, hand outstretched.

If you shake hands, the deal will be locked in. One third (or 'slot') of advanced drug production for a regular 40 W.P. a half-week. You could, however, try to change what you're asking for last second, or even try to haggle for more.

You choose to:

>Shake hands and accept the deal [1 slot locked in for 40 W.P. per half-week] [Ignore Roll]
>Ask for something else instead of W.P. [What?]
>Try to haggle on the price [Can change in either direction depending on roll]
>Ask the Arizona City Patriots something [What?]
>Think outside the box [Write-In]

And
>Roll 2d20

For clarification, having Musella "attached" to them would pretty much invalidate having them lead themselves, since he's just that high up in the org as a cardinal that he would realistically be the one calling the shots. The selected option was more of a mystery-box type of thing where you're not really sure what the result's going to be and will have to just make some educated guess. Sort of like the choice to let them form their own kind of unit which resulted in the Sidewinders.

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>5188610
>Try to haggle on the price [Can change in either direction depending on roll]

40 WP for a third of production? That's decent. And for that final idea.

>Think outside the box [Ask them to sent word to the Freemen that there will be a raiding opportunity against the POZ Natives in the coming half-week]

Don't give them any details on the convoy.

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5188610
>Think outside the box [Write-In]
ask them all to come visit, and try to persuade them to join(they wouldn't need to pay for medicine anymore) or at least lay the ground work for them joining us in the future.

i think we should get to know them and convert them. we should try to figure out more about their faction, i thought boomers loved religion. at this point i think we could really use all the converts we can get. networking and find bomb experts, doctors, scientists, pilots.

>>5188610
>>Shake hands and accept the deal [1 slot locked in for 40 W.P. per half-week] [Ignore Roll]

Lets not fuck this up.

>>Think outside the box [Ask them to sent word to the Freemen that there will be a raiding opportunity against the POZ Natives in the coming half-week]

>>5188643
I think we would be better served by establishing a mission in that abandoned village and doing missionary work out of it in that area.

>>5188610
>Ask for something else instead of W.P. [What?]
>Try to haggle on the price [Can change in either direction depending on roll]
Reduce our WP gain to 30 in exchange for letting one, if not some of our men to preach there

>>5188623
>>5188824
Anyone can remind me where the POZ natives are again? I thought they were north of us and the Freemen on the east, so their raiding company would have to go through us and nearby settlements to reach the natives

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>>5188879
>Anyone can remind me where the POZ natives are again? I thought they were north of us and the Freemen on the east
You're not totally off with your memory, but your latter point doesn't really reflect that. I'm not sure why you would think that anyone choosing to go along that path would have to go through you. Mobile is very much out of the way, almost completely in the middle of nowhere.
I'm pretty sure I've posted such maps a few times before, but here's a """quality""" rough map showing general areas I quickly cooked up in Paint.

Also, I'm pretty sure this is what you meant, but the Natives aren't directly under the POZ, at least these. Others may be in Phoenix (bigger than your region by well over an order of magnitude) but you haven't met them, should they be out there.

>>5189339
Oh, sweet, thanks a lot. I thought the POZ-aligned Natives were somewhere directly north of us, so that the Freemen would need to trek all the way past Casa Grande and Maricopa to get to the area. The map made it a whole lot clearer that this isn't the case, though I'm still not too big on the idea of playing Chinese whispers with a faction we just met.

>>5188610
>Shake hands and accept the deal [1 slot locked in for 40 W.P. per half-week] [Ignore Roll]

>>5188643
I think networking with the Boomers would be a smart idea, maybe we can set up a deal with former/current bomb squad and chemists on getting a skilled crew to work on our Explosives Workshop. I'd support a general inquiry on it, just to test the waters on the idea.

>>5188879
I think we can probably convince them on letting us preach without sacrificing our WP generation. Besides, we don't even have a Basic Seminary to get more preachers to expand our influence.

>>5189438
Way I see it, I figure at least some of the Freemen cliques will bite, which will help us draw the POZ Natives to the negotiating table and possibly improve relations/establish contact with some of the Freemen. If they don't bite, it's no skin off our backs really (just make sure they only know about the POZ Native raiding opportunity, not the fact that we'll be taking part).

>>5190551
this.
>>5189339
i thought the warden was west of us

>>5188610

editing this
>>5188643
>Shake hands and accept the deal [1 slot locked in for 40 W.P. per half-week] [Ignore Roll]
also
offer to let them stay for while. ask more about them. try to convert them and get them hooked on Adderall.

>>5188824
>>5190551
>>5194516

There are a number of ideas you have for this. Maybe you can try to manipulate them into getting the Red Rock Raiders to attack your enemies. Sure, the Arizona City Patriots are a completely separate faction and the odds of the Freemen deciding to launch a significant attack on a target so far away on a rumor of a rumor is low, but it may possibly work. You could also just tell these guys to all convert and willingly join you. Sure, their faction outnumbers yours by something like an order of magnitude and has essentially no real reason to do such a thing, but stranger things have happened in history! Maybe you could settle for offering a reduced price in exchange for missionaries.

OPTION SELECTED:
>Shake hands and accept the deal [1 slot locked in for 40 W.P. per half-week]
Or maybe you can just take the deal. You'll actually go for that.

"A pleasure doing business with yer," the senior says squeezing your hand. "You know, buster, the King would always talk about business, persuasion, wheeling-and-dealing. When the King returns, I'll make sure he knows the Patriots were continuing his legacy in the meantime."

"Yes, of course," you nervously say. You have no clue what on earth he's talking about, but you're happy to take whatever source of W.P. you can. "Hold up your end of the bargain, and we can provide the insulin and whatever miscellaneous healing items you need." You elect not to add a last second comment about schizophrenia pills.

He chuckles. "Of course we will! Us Patriots are in control!"

These strange folk leave, satisfied at having closed the deal and thankfully uninterested in snooping around. You can finally get to the matters of the half-week...

Update #1:
>Freemen Situation
The Inquisition gives you a brief update on the situation with the captured Freemen raiders, emphasis on brief. Very little was done with the prisoners and nothing new has come from them. Cardinal Yuri blames this on other matters taking attention away from this, notably complications from recent flooding, dealing with crime ("wrangling the junkies" were his exact words), and preparations for an upcoming raid. He recommends putting more resources into the Sierra Estrella site and expanding the general power of the Inquisition.

Whether these are understandable delays or excuses, reasoned suggestions or sly attempts at extracting hand-outs, you will have to wait to get more about the Freemen.

Update #2:
>Mortarists
The mortarists continue training, although focusing less on target practice, unlike last time. While they do fire off a few shells over the course of the half-week, the main focus is on finding good fits for their unit among the new recruits and on more basic skills like aiming (a task more complicated than "basic math") in a world without global telecommunications back up.

>Lose a quarter dozen mortar shells

[1/3]

>>5195255

[2/3]

Update #3:
>Sabbatical Break
With recent events with Maricopa and Phoenix becoming more active, you weren't keeping up with Trkulja's strange situation too closely. You had sort of expected he would just sulk around for a while until he got over himself. For a while, that's certainly what it looked like.

That changed when the flooding began. Trkulja, who you had ordered to stop work as the main person in charge of logistics, took a break from his proverbial exile without your express permission to help with things.

>[Logistical Pinch] averted for current half-week

As someone with actual training in this area, his help is very much welcome. In addition to providing guidance on how to allocate supplies and labor, he chose to give impromptu spiritual guidance. In particular he saw this as apocalyptic symbolism, hearkening to the Great Flood, the concept of the Church as a living version of Noah's Ark, and to the idea that the Crusaders must steel themselves for battle to come. That the Crusaders will have to prepare for some kind of overwhelming force of pure chaos that will wash over the lands and bring ruin unless prepared for. The subtext is obvious.

Again, you can't tell if this is Trkulja merely concealing his unbridled seething at the Lewis Correctional Protectorate or if this really is mystical insight gained through prayer and trust in the Lord. At the very least, a number of your followers seem to be thinking it's the latter. People are being convinced by what they see as strong arguments from symbolism that may or may not aligned with their existing views on foreign policy. What comes of this remains to be seen.

Update #4:
>Sidewinder Skulking
The Sidewinders you sent off to scout for the upcoming raid have not returned yet. But they have reported back.

They claim that with the recent rainstorms the lay of the land has changed. The Gila River and its tributaries, previously a region of dry riverbed, came to life. As the waters receded, it left behind a mess of new vegetation. While the blooming flowers may be pleasant to look at, the Sidewinders assure you that they're difficult terrain to drive through, concealing God-knows-what hazards might have been deposited in the rains. Apparently, one of their number found out driving through such terrain was a bad idea the hard way (pre-War).

They have identified a route into the heart of enemy territory by the river, where they suspect most using some backroad of an abandoned farm. They assure you that this will avoid both natural hazards as well as their existing defenses.

>Special Approach Option Unlocked

With their mission accomplished, they should be returning back to Mobile. But they might not be...

>>5195257

[3/3]

Decision #1:
>The Watch on the Gila
Instead of returning to Mobile, the Sidewinders are making a request to stay in the area until the raid. While you really don't understand why anyone would want to stay in the middle of a desert for almost a week and live in tents, they apparently don't mind. They claim that from near their current position they can stay undetected and engage in some kind of daring pincer movement or simply help pillage if need be.

You're not sure if this is some attempt at gaining glory as a new unit or genuinely what they see as the best way going forward. It's a risky plan with plenty that can go wrong. If spotted before the attack, then they could be in for a bad time. Even putting that to the side, it could cause needless overconfidence by encouraging the main force to rely on such a daring maneuver instead of remaining flexible. But there is the potential upside of having unexpected reserves that can turn a potential defeat into a crushing victory.

What do you order them to do?

>Let them stay camped out and have them ready to move when the main force comes in
>Tell them to return to Mobile where they'll join up with the main force when the time comes
>Tell these hotheads that they've already done their job and to return to Mobile
>Something else? [Write-In]

Decision #2:
>Sonoran Whispers
Soon, the Maricopans should be sending their first convoy of food to the Phoenix Occupied Zone. As requested, you will not be a direct party to this and will instead be attacking another 'third party' faction involved in this. While you (or a Crusader representative) won't be directly able to speak to them, you can at the least try to tell the M.M.P. to pass along a message to them, if you so choose. You of course will be limited in what you can realistically do, since you can't expect confidentiality in this regard, but the choice is still there if you wish to take advantage of it.

>[Write-In] something within reason to have passed along to the POZ (example: send a letter to Red Scorpion asking for fitness advice for out of shape middle-aged men)

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Thanks for being patient with that outrageous wait. As I said, this will be a shorter thread where this vote should be the penultimate one of the thread. Well, at least the penultimate "normal" vote of the thread, since I plan on having a special one to close it out in earnest.

Pic related, by the way. Although in truth, it's nearly a year old, that one. The recent delays haven't been purely due to side projects, but also things that ought not be posted in /qst/ threads. Ah, one can hope it will all sort itself out, as if by magic. What is such a thing called - a miracle?

>>5194126
>i thought the warden was west of us
Holy shit, I typo'd east into west and west into east. Yea, you're 100% right on that. I guess I shouldn't have rushed that out. In my defense, that thing in the corner was a last second add-on, but still...

>>5195264
>Let them stay camped out and have them ready to move when the main force comes in
>[Write-In] something within reason to have passed along to the POZ- Send a letter to Red Scorpion asking for fitness advice for out of shape middle-aged men

Beyond this, I don't really know what we should ask of them without pissing off Maricopa. Was there another idea beyond muscle building tips that would warrant a write in to the POZ?

>>5195298

Support

Shit happens QM, glad you're still here as always.

>>5195298
+1, also ask him if he was always ripped before the war and ask how he kept it along in this war when food is so hard to come by, therefore subtly asking him about his history and how food is rationed in the POZ
We'll pitch in a gallon of milk as goodwill

>>5195298
>>5196033
Y'know what?
If this will establish good relations with R.S. and possibly open him up to being up to defect to our cause in the future, I'm for it.

I don't think the fat slob of a leader the Hardliner is is all that inspiring. If we take interest in what R.S. does to exercise, it might give him that thought at least.

R.S.'s personality type seems to suggest that if you present a strong case for your cause - showing why it's just, it could change his outlook on what is the more virtuous option.

>>5196330
Eh, right now I'm just focused on making a friend and not subverting anyone. To me, so far RS came off as a reserved intellectual kind of guy who can't or doesn't want to be a leader, but is still loyal to the cause. This is all speculation because we haven't seen him enough to know him well, of course.

>>5195298
>>5195459
>>5196033


OPTION SELECTED:
>Let them stay camped out and have them ready to move when the main force comes in
If they think this is the correct strategic decision, so be it. It's not your life on the line, and in the absolute worst case scenario of them being caught out and annihilated you can distance yourself from the affair. If they are right, however, then they could prove incredibly. It seems like a limited risk, high reward move. Now, you just have to hope these green, newly trained fighters have good instincts.

>Sidewinders locked up by the Gila

OPTION SELECTED:
>Send a letter to Red Scorpion asking for fitness advice for out of shape middle-aged men
You can't send some kind of request for a secret meeting or a backroom deal with the M.M.P. guards. You need to consider your relations with your patron, as well as considering the multi-factional situation within the P.O.Z. you are only starting to understand. This is not a good opportunity to advance your political aims. What you can advance, however, are your gains.

You've only just started working out with some minor exercises and cardio. You don't want to blow out your joints or your heart, but you're not going to become the ripped Muscle Pope before whom the entire Badlands kneel doing glorified yoga. Back when you were buying time in the sauna, Red Scorpion seemed to know what he was doing. You seek his wisdom once more.

You write a proper letter, cursive and all, asking for advice. Mostly, you ask about diet. You wonder how it is that so many people in the Badlands seem to maintain awesome physiques when pre-War stats showed that Arizona was a food importer and needed large supplies of fertilizer and other materials to maintain its agriculture. The POZ, in particular, is a dense urban region that should be experiencing constant food shortages. You don't know the details of the San Tan Offensive, but common sense tells you it had something to do with its farmland. Maricopa itself was threatened with being crushed if it didn't open trade relations, a threat that clearly wasn't empty.

Who knows, he may develop a respect for or even the seeds of sympathies towards the Crusaders. He seems like a principled person who could be reasoned with, something you cannot say about most radicals in the Badlands.

And on that note, the half-week comes to a close.

[END OF WEEK 9, HALF 1]

[1/3]

>>5198795

[2/3]

[START OF WEEK 9, HALF 2]

Note: No constructions finished this time. Constructions delayed due to Local Event [Act of God]

>Manpower:
2 full strength Mechanized Infantry Platoon
1 full strength Sidewinder Platoon [LOCKED ON THE GILA]
1 half strength Sidewinder Platoon
1 half strength Pontifical Guard Platoon [LOCKED WITH THE CASINO]
1 full strength Inquisitorial Platoon [Mountain Base]
1 half strength Support Platoon [Priority: Artillery Section]
Full Platoon Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mountain Base]
Full Platoon Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mobile]

~575 followers (non-combatants)
~65 prisoners

>Wealth:
60 Wealth Points
+120 WP per half-week from followers
+30 WP per half-week from Maricopan patronage
372 Food Units
-61 Food from consumption per half week
+40 Food from 6 farms
+15 Food from Maricopan patronage
+120 Food from Stanfield support
43 Meth Units
+7 M.U. per half-week

>ACTIONS AVAILABLE:
0 Construction Actions [Temporarily lost from event]
0 Diplomatic Actions [Raid: 'Gila Indian Faction' Already Locked In]
1 Flexible Action

>Construction Actions Possible: Unless stated otherwise, assuming 1 week to complete:
Farm: Restore some abandoned farmland. Makes more food. - 40 W.P. [Takes only half a week]
Chemical Weapons Lab Level 1: Allows for the production of basic chemical weapons. - 400 W.P.
Broadcast Tower: Sends messages far and wide to anyone with a car or receiver. Massive boost to propaganda. - 150 W.P.
Oubliette: Dungeon like room for basic interrogation/conversion. Unlocks conversion (brainwashing) oriented construction options. - 100 W.P.
Improved Housing: Continue improving housing to support a larger population - 55 W.P.
Hallucinogen Manufacturing: Create a variety of mind altering substances. - 150 W.P. [Synergy: Oubliette]
Basic Seminary: Decreases penalties for multiple simultaneous [Missionary Outreach] actions and slightly boosts effectiveness. - 300 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew]
Nothing: Save the W.P. and forgo construction
[Write-in]

>Have access to rare electrical gear for currently unknown projects or other uses...

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>>5198796

[3/3]

>Toggles
Purchase advertising for Maricopa's radio to help with recruitment/outreach - 5 W.P. per full week [CURRENTLY ON]
Send Cardinal Mueller out to the Reservation to preach. - Free [CURRENTLY ON]
Crudely "preach to" prisoners at the Sierra Estrella location (i.e. brainwash) - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]
Grant Yuri his stipend to supply the Inquisition and fund its various activities - 15 W.P. per half-week [CURRENTLY ON]

>Diplomatic Actions Possible:
Envoy: Send a diplomatic envoy to a location to engage in trade, propagandize, or make agreements. Better at getting deals than scouts, but has no stealth and is worse if a fight breaks out. Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Maricopa, Goodyear, or a [Write-in] and note what you specifically want them to do.
Scouting: Have the group organize a scouting party and explore a location. Stealthy and decent at a fight, but not very good if diplomacy is needed. Select from the Lewis Prison, Gila Bend, Maricopa, or a highly-encouraged/recommended [Write-in] and specify what you want them to do.
Raiding Party: Send forces out to a location and attack them for loot and dominance. [Where?]
Missionary Outreach: Send missionaries to a location to recruit people into the totally legitimate religion. Could anger the locals if you don't have permission! Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Lewis Prison, Goodyear, or a [Write-in].
Side Ops: Do mercenary work [CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE]
Nothing: Forgo a diplomatic action.
[Write-in]

>Select no construction actions, no diplomatic actions, and one extra of either category for this half-week (and optionally, toggle changes)

I put that example there mostly because I remember seeing it mentioned off-hand earlier, but I guess we really are going for the Muscle Pope arc. And overall, this last one's not much of a choice with a low W.P. total and most of your actions gone due to prior circumstances, so I guess it is a "last and least" kind of scenario. What can I say, just roll better numbers! That's always solid advice on /qst/

>>5198798
Wait, the Gali raid is this week? Damn, I thought we had another half-week for a Goodyear envoy, maybe potentially get the Boiz to help us out. Now I don't think we have the time for it.
>Envoy Maricopa
Send Bob to get in touch with the MMP or the Mayor, maybe he can work out a deal with some of their bomb squad experts and a potential ride-along into Phoenix sometime soon. We can also hit up Saul to test the waters and Redfield to shot out for some chemistry experts.

I figure we can also work on the Burning Heart in a non-POV fashion in later actions, just to chip away at them while not getting the quest bogged down on a long-term project. I'm hoping we can get another diplomatic/flexabile action soon, just to start getting more shit done.

>>5198798
>Envoy

Let's send bob to the Freemen and sell some meth.

>>5198987
this

>>5198987
>>5200537
If you want to sell some meth, you ain't gonna get much from the Freemen, you need a big place like Phoenix to offload production. Besides, I think Jesse would be better at dealing with the Freemen.

>>5198798
>Envoy Maricopa

>>5198798
>Scouting: Have the group organize a scouting party and explore a location. Stealthy and decent at a fight, but not very good if diplomacy is needed. Select from the Lewis Prison, Gila Bend, Maricopa, or a highly-encouraged/recommended [Write-in] and specify what you want them to do.
Let's see what The Warden is up to.

>>5200585
I wouldn't put that mouthbreather anywhere near any negotiations with anyone.

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Rolled 35 (1d100)

I was wondering why there weren't any rolls for the local/global/??? events, until I saw that I had, in my continued insobriety, botched the copy-paste and not asked for them. I'll try to get the update out as soon as I can once I get those rolls, and as an extra penance of sorts, I'll roll a d100 myself for the local event (the one that you guys probably care about the most) and use that value in the event it's "better" than what you guys get. I'm normally a stickler on rolls, but I've been abnormally sloppy, so I can at least do this in your favor

Also, we have a tie between sending Musella to the Freemen to try and find exactly where the Freemen are to sell drugs and sending him to Maricopa to do... something about bomb people and Phoenix? If not resolved, I'll have to just make the location "up to Musella," that is to say leave it until next thread

>>5198812
>Gali raid
I cannot comment on the status of Gali, the region in the frozen conflict state of Abkhazia, at least not within the context of the Sun Belt Crusaders. As for the Gila situation, I'm pretty sure the first shipment was a week from the deal. That was W8H2, and this is for W9H2, meaning 1 week passed and it would be during this half-week (assuming assumptions about the food shipment raid are correct)

Yes, I know that was a typo. I'm just having some fun(??) with it

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>5202708

>>5202708
>another low local roll

You're killing me here QM.

>>5202744
>high global roll

This could've been our local roll! Why must you punish us so, RNJesus?

Rolled 69 (1d100)

>>5202708
Also the ??? Roll

>>5202708
>and use that value in the event it's "better" than what you guys get.
>>5203022

That 93 is the local.

>>5203022
Luckily, I absorbed the 35 (I wouldn't call that shit, btw, it can easily be worse) since I felt kind of bad about unending delays and made that one "with advantage" to use 5e terms. It's a 93 as >>5203042 pointed out.
The global result is pretty high too (one might even call it nice) but that won't have an immediate impact in the Badlands.

>>5203042
Ah, my reading comprehension is killing me. First thinking a week meant two turns after the current one, and now thinking that the QM was rolling the local situation.

>>5203065
Meme numbers are always interesting. We waiting on a 3rd anon to roll the ???, right?

>>5202151
Eh, I think Jesse would do well with the prisoners. In all honesty though, it’s probably smarter to have him leading one of the Crusader platoons for the raid. I wonder where Bob will choose to go, it’s bound to be interesting.

>>5203065
The gesture is very much appreciated, as always delays or not I'm just happy that the quest is still going.

Would you like me to roll again to get things moving?

>>5203110
I do think he would be well suited to leading a charge, thats for sure.

>>5203110
>Ah, my reading comprehension is killing me
In hindsight, I can see why there would be some confusion with what a week exactly means. The idea was that it would be enough time for both sides to get their stuff ready for the trade, but otherwise there's not much reason to delay. You'd time to do some scouting/prepwork as either guards of the shipments or (in this case) the proxy raiders.
Also, I was rolling for the local situation. It just wasn't the only one. If you guys would have rolled, say, a 7, then I'd pretend that never happened and let you take the 35.

>>5203389
>Would you like me to roll again to get things moving?
Yeah, that'd help. I actually already have the update mostly written out and can move with this last update of this thread. I'll go with the "end on cliffhanger; resolve tie on episode 13" thing I mentioned earlier (Messenger tells Musella to "do something" instead of having a defined purpose.)

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>5203800

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>5203389
Actually, I'd preferred a new anon roll, but I would've relented to see if you luck held out. Ordinarily it's me who rolls twice for ???, often poorly. Let's see if I stole a bit of that luck...

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>>5198812
>>5198987
>>5200537
>>5202104
>>5202744
>>5203024
>>5203887

DIPLOMATIC ACTION SELECTED:
>Envoy [Musella's Choice]
This is shaping up to be a busy week. Most of the faction's energies are focused on either fixing things up after recent flooding or the counter-strike against the anticipated caravan raid. You're not sure what to do with the remainder, but you do know someone you can trust. Cardinal Bob Musella is by far the most reliable, least shady, and unfailingly trustworthy person in your faction. Not to say you doubt the others, but Musella is simply on another level.

You authorize Musella to take whoever he wants from what remains from after the raid to do whatever he feels best for the faction.

Local Event: 93
>A Prayer Answered?
As you make preparations for the upcoming raid and Musella's mission, you are greeted by a strange sight. Cardinal Trkulja comes to you, haggard in appearance but strangely smiling.

"Messenger, Messenger, my prayers have been answered!" he shouts.

You know his mental state has been volatile, but you weren't expecting him to just barge in looking like he had just walked across the Sonora. "Trkulja, what is it?"

"My prayers! My prayers! Every day, every night I have been praying for God to help me, to lift the veil around peoples' eyes and let them see the truth of the struggle to come! Of Antichrist and Apocalypse! God has answered!"

"Trkulja, what are you talking about?"

"As John the Baptist cried out into the wilderness, I have been trying to spread my message as the Saints did. God, Christ, has heard me! He has raised up a man to aid in our struggle, and soon the Crusaders shall be able to cleanse the Holy Land as the Chosen of Joshua's time had done so before!"

As the Pope, you're all for reading the Bible, but you think Trkulja may have gotten a little too into things, even for a Cardinal. It's one thing to emulate the virtues of the saints, but wearing rags and screaming into the deserts may be a bridge too far. Still, he's not one to lie or make things up from whole cloth. "Christ has raised up a man to aid us in our struggle? To help crush our enemies? May I know more?" This better be good...

[1/???]

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>>5204862

[2/???]

"Ah, Messenger, all shall be revealed! But I cannot be too hasty. Soon, soon I assure you. I will not disappoint!"

You notice by now he looks afflicted with the tell-tale signs of dehydration as well as rapid weight loss. You know he's been fasting, but this is perhaps a bit much. "Trkulja, I appreciate the piety, but if you have nothing to show me this moment, I must ask you to leave."

"Soon, soon Messenger!" he says, nodding his head with a wild look in his eyes. "I assure you, just a bit more time, I simply cannot confirm this. I may appear mad, but I speak the Truth!"

"Yes, yes Trkulja," you say as you gesture him to go back. "I don't doubt you, but I have other matters to attend to."

"Ah, yes! God be with you!" he says as he makes for the exit.

"And one more thing: visit Leonard, will you? We fast to strengthen our spirits, not to weaken our bodies."

He nods one last time and exits. You're really not sure what's going on with him. But you don't think he's so delirious that he would make up a story like that, at least not without something to base it off of. But in any case you are going to have to talk to him, mysterious meeting or no.
>Effect: To be seen...

GLOBAL EVENT: 69 The meme numbers are truly unstoppable
>UNKNOWN
For months now, you and your faction have firmly planted roots in the Badlands. Your faction is now easily majority-Arizonan at all but the very highest levels. But the memory of Golden State is still strong. Exiles such as yourself look to the west with longing while legends swirl of a Californian lost Crusader state comprised of the "Lost and Damned" who could not make the Exodus. Even without personal connections to the Golden State or tall-tales about a modern Kingdom of Prester John, everyone feels some connection to the neighboring state.

Last you were aware, the vast majority of the state's territory is firmly under de facto Chinese control. All that could remain would be the Southern California mega-region, which is probably taken by now. You didn't stick around for long enough to find out. Their territory is essentially unassailable. The mighty Rocky Mountains make any kind of invasion for most of its border nearly impossible, and even the "opening" along the southern deserts is little better. Harsh deserts, only slightly less harsh mountains, and the Colorado River ensure that whoever attempts to launch a direct invasion would have to pay a horrifying butcher's bill if it was even the slightest bit fortified. And from what you remember of the Exodus, moving assets to the Colorado was one of the first things they did...

>>5204864

[3/3]

You have no idea how the Crusaders could possibly manage to take on California. Even a completely united Badlands would be totally outmatched. Even a totally united America could have to engage in warfare on a scale not seen since the Eastern Front with a similar level of casualties. With enough men and matériel, things you know the Chinese have a nigh inexhaustible supply of, it would take nothing short of a miracle to seize the Golden State. Yet as a Christian, the Christian, even, you must believe that miracles are possible.

From what you remember and could pick out amid the chaos, the new state of Tian Yi is not without its supporters. After all, Californians themselves were the ones who invited in the Chinese. With communications still down, you have no way of knowing what exactly is going on, but you don't see this relation as being totally hostile. It's very possible that there is some love between the two, especially when one can point just across the Colorado to the war-torn desert hellscape...
>Effect: Unknown

Yet this is now your desert hellscape, and it is your God-given mission to bring it under the aegis of Christ. It is the mission of all Crusaders, after all. These are the feelings you have as you watch the Crusaders head off east along the 238 to war...

>NEXT TIME.

>END OF THREAD TWELVE [S02E06]

>POST-THREAD DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS, SHITPOSTS, AND OTHER MISCELLANY ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED

>THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING...

>BUT WE ARE NOT DONE

Sincerely, thank you for sticking through this muddled mess. This past month or so has been particularly bad. Yet the show must go on. I did promise a sort of "special episode" based off of my abortive attempts at running a quest during the post [Bad End] season break. That will be the next thread as a sort of 'mid-season break' to Sun Belt Crusaders...

>>5204866

[4/3]

So, here are the options. It's pretty much random stuff that came to mind, some of which were from a while back (that one teaser pic I posted a bit back was from the season break). They're structured to be finished in one thread as short side-stories that may or may not actually have any relation to anything going on. I guess pic-related would be an example.

There are a few different options you can go with, most of which are intentionally quite different from Sun Belt Crusaders in most ways. Some are [Locked] and unavailable (votes for them won't count) and would have to be [Unlocked] through the Sun Belt Crusaders doing things and moving forward as a faction (in unspecified, but easy to figure out ways). Anyway:

Reckon your Second U.S. Civil War Gaiden:

>Escape from the Valley: LA burns! The nation is about to break! Things are closing in, and this is your last chance out. Will you be able to ride out of the city with your V8, or will you die burning rubber?! [Racing] [Action] [Prequel] [Unlocked]
>Energy Daybreak: A horror rises in the doomed Badlands. Subjects fear the war-torn lands will be plunged into total devastation. Nightfall looms. You have had enough. You must do something. Can you unite the disparate factions to stop the madman, or will it be lights out? [Coalition Building] [Apocalyptic] [Bad End] [Locked]
>American Crypto: Markets! Finance! Memes! While everyone's worrying about "international crises" or whatever, you're hustling! Safe in your little corner of the Big Apple, you're going to be the highest earning trader in the company's newly established crypto department! [Finance] [Crypto] [Trading] [Unlocked]
>Sons of San Tan: In a forgotten corner of the forgotten Badlands, war rages. The San Tan Valley is consumed by an endless battle between its motley defenders and a determined force from the north. As a lowly grunt, you're not going to change the course of things, but you still take up arms for San Tan. [Gunfights] [Action] [Predetermined] [Locked]
>Beef on the Streets: In 2017, Big Slice ratted you to the po-po and fucked your bitch while you were in prison. Now you're out, and now you're going to get your revenge. You're going to settle this beef thug style: by splitting his wig. You didn't do 1000 push-ups a day in prison for some stupid "civil war" shit to stop you. [MMA] [Action] [Thug] [Unlocked]
>The Carl Redfield Experience: As the country disintegrates, the FCC has stopped functioning. Finally, you can finally unleash the beast! On-air alcohol consumption, unfiltered call-in shitflinging, and animal fights! Look, have you ever SEEN a shaved chimp!? They're God-damned killing machines!!! Tune in today! [Radio] [SoL] [Shitflinging] [Intrigue] [Locked]
>No, fuck you! I hate all of these! In fact, I hate this very idea! I do not want some shitty side story! I would literally rather go to some other thread and play Generic Isekai Harem Weebfest Quest #XXX!!!

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>>5204867
>Escape from the Valley: LA burns! The nation is about to break! Things are closing in, and this is your last chance out. Will you be able to ride out of the city with your V8, or will you die burning rubber?! [Racing] [Action] [Prequel] [Unlocked]

>>5204867
>>Escape from the Valley: LA burns! The nation is about to break! Things are closing in, and this is your last chance out. Will you be able to ride out of the city with your V8, or will you die burning rubber?! [Racing] [Action] [Prequel] [Unlocked]

I guess?

>>5204867
So, this Gaiden will be a full thread? As in, run until page 11?

>>5205112
>So, this Gaiden will be a full thread? As in, run until page 11?
Almost certainly. With how slowly /qst/ goes, it could in theory be sooner, but with how things have been recently, I doubt it.
It could theoretically go long due to something unexpected happening that prevents updates or something, but I want to do it as a proper one shot. Not as some of the "one-shots" I've seen people run for multiple threads. I like the idea of doing a shorter, self contained thing at a faster pace instead of the usual long stuff you get from /qst/. Even it means rushing through things or having to crank up lower quality posts to keep up pace, I want to keep it contained to a single thread, as is the spirit of a one-shot.

I plan on doing this sort of thing once in a blue moon, preferably after a major point of progress for the faction. Obviously, I know it's not something most people will want, since people going to X thread will want X quest to unceasingly continue at the expense of others, but I nonetheless want to do this. I could make up something about "needing a break" or "wanting to develop my skills," but in all honesty I'm not over getting rejected during the involuntary bad end hiatus, when I offered to run a one-shot in an abandoned thread and got told no. If it incidentally gives time for others to catch up on archives or angers people or otherwise has some kind of impact to SBC, that is not the intention.

>>5204867
Personally I'd rather us continue the main quest, but I don't mind giving you a break and trying something different for a thread.
>Escape from the Valley: LA burns! The nation is about to break! Things are closing in, and this is your last chance out. Will you be able to ride out of the city with your V8, or will you die burning rubber?! [Racing] [Action] [Prequel] [Unlocked]

>>5204867
If we choose the prequel, would it have any bearing on the official canon or would it just be loosely based and non-canon? For example, let's say in that quest we meet a new character who we end up being very, very indebted to. Would he be retroactively added to the main quest as a future plot point?

In any case, I'm voting for American Crypto. if I had the choice I would've gone with a quest about the Chicago siege though.

>>5207624
Sons of san tan sounded cool to me, oh well i guess.

>>5207927
Energy Daybreak would've been my choice if it was unlocked

>>5207624
I wouldn't mind America Crypto desu, I just chose Escape from LA because of the movie meme. I think it would be low key kino if we could do both one-shots at the same time, because undoubtedly some of the [Locked] ideas will be unlocked in the future, and those look to be more interesting desu.

>>5207927
>>5208296
The Carl Redfield Experience would've been epic as well, not gonna lie.

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Alright, so Escape from the Valley is locked in. I happen to have most of the opening already done (that image from earlier should prove it) so it should be ready soon. I think I'll do the standard JPI post in thread (obviously with Escape From The Valley instead of Sun Belt Crusaders) and the first update of character/mode selection soon after. In the case this thread gets rapidly bumped off in the span of a day, I'll figure it out.

>>5207624
It's not a direct prequel in the sense that you wouldn't be playing as Walter White in a muscle car or something. The kind of scenario you're outlining shouldn't be possible, although it should be canon to the extent where that could matter. They are all intended to act as stand alone pieces that anyone can go through without needing to go through backstory.

It's mainly a spin-off, with the prequel thing referring to it being as a earlier time and similar place as Sun Belt Crusaders (pre-Exodus SoCal) so there's an element of that. In the event of inconsistences, they are presumed to go in favor of the primary work and written off as just weird spin-off stuff. Hope that makes sense. Maybe think of pic related? (Although I would hope the quality would be better, hopefully something more like Code Veronica than this shit, lmao)

Also, the beat 'em up one-shot would be set in Chicago (1 quest is in LA, one is in New York, so it makes sense that a 3rd is in Chicago). The "2nd US Civil War" part doesn't matter as much for the quest as you'd think, since the protag is so fucking angry he doesn't give a shit what's happening around him. There could be tank battles, artillery bombardments, hell even nukes, and he wouldn't care as long as the asshole who snitched on him and fucked his bitch is still alive and able to eat a knuckle sandwich or get choked out.