Yup. These tables are going to be something else! Well they're just going to kill each other, you're going to kill everyone around you.
So some of the officials you might want to meet with, once Oskar arrives:
Duke Marcus: the second most powerful man in the kingdom, after the king. His family has always been strong supporters of the king, and is explicitly barred from the succession. He is apparently the man responsible for your opportunity here.
Duke Killian and Duke Stefan: the other two dukes of the kingdom. Neither currently have a secondary title (like Marcus's Lord High Steward's)
Count Patrick: Theodor's father
Count Reginald, the Lord High Treasurer: the other noble in the audience chamber when your grant was announced.
Magister Franc, the robed man in the room with the King.
General Alfonz: the commander of the armies of Wodmarch
You probably won't have time to meet with everyone before you'll be expected to get going.
I'm going to give y'all some time for this preliminary planning before Oskar arrives with more information.
Sorry for not posting, I've been sick the last couple days.
Ok, so we are going to be using the kingdom building rules, yes?
We'll immediately be jumping into kingdom building as soon as we set out? I don't think we can really start picking our leadership roles until we see what sort of NPC's we have available to help us fill out the roster.
Will each meeting be giving us a list of contacts?
Will we be bringing others with us besides Theodor or will we be working with the locals?
I think the first person we should meet with is the treasurer, Count Riginald. Knowing how much financial backing we have will affect a lot of our decisions.
I'm rather content, should keep you two out of the more important affairs :P
Killing is a way of life for both of us, I just have principles...and am not a sadist. lol.
Can't give an in depth response today. Visiting my sister and my new nephew.
But some quick answers, yes, jumping into kingdom building rather early -- (probably with a bit of emphasis on town building) I probably won't enforce all the "vacant" positions rules for a while to give you time to make contacts, etc.
Most of these meetings are setting up some contacts, possibly gaining access to additional resources,, learning more about who may be on your side and who might be hoping you fail, etc.
The "creating an NPC" thing can be used to help shore up a perceived missing roles in leadership position or for a resource you want to make sure you have access to (for instance a priest/ess healer type for the town). Not going to require it, and it might trade off against some of the other freebie resources you'll be getting.
A healer type for the town might be extremely useful, what sort of trade off would we be looking at? I'd say someone with at least 2nd level spells would be prudent.
Ok, so as we move forward I'm curious, what role do you all see yourself playing in the kingdom itself?
Sylas is naturally looking towards the position of Magister, hoping to promote an open minded, somewhat morally unbound sort of academia free from the confining traditions of the empire.
Also working on integrating alchemical practices and tactics into the military.
It does occur to me though that we seem to be profoundly lacking in a strong candidate for the position of actual Ruler seeing as charisma is the only applicable attribute. Thoughts?
I think Willem would be the most natural choice, given he has some nobility running in his veins.
I was thinking much the same, from a roleplay perspective he's our strongest choice. I'm simply annoyed the rules don't especially agree.
That said, I'm sure we will get by. What are your thoughts Willem?
Ooooo how about religious leader?
O_O Terrifying. Truly Terrifying.
Willem himself would hate being put in a position like that, but I agree he is the natural choice from a roleplay perspective. I also think that no one who has met Willem in person would seriously consider him for an important leadership position, given how he flinches each time Saturday moves too quickly :P
Willem himself would prefer a role of treasurer. He might even function as the Grand diplomat, with a strong ruler at his back, using his own noble bloodline to smooth diplomacy with neighboring nobles.
I also think that building a temple to Saturday's lady would be a quick way to garner resentment from the nobility, leading to complaints and us failing the challenge. Not saying it won't happen, just not until the year is up.
Edit: @GM_Eric: Will we use the ruler or viceroy positions? Since we are technically vassals to the king.
I'm planning to still use Ruler, you're being given a lot of leave to run things how you want, so I think that makes more sense.
Positions that will need to be filled (ie leaving them empty triggers the vacancy penalty)
Ruler, Councillor, Marshall, Warden, Treasurer
The other positions won't trigger vacancy penalties until the kingdom is size 25 or greater. So you have time to groom NPCs for those roles, etc.
Hm, that might not be so bad. Despite his being a whiny little shit, Theodor is likely a solid fit for Councillor.
I fully understand Willem will be reluctant but we seriously lack anything close to a more suitable candidate for ruler. The rest of us shall simply have to do our best to support you.
I suppose Sylas will be well suited to the role of Treasurer until such time as he can train a replacement.
Marshall and Warden should be easily filled by our four more martially focused members.
Ong'rag for ruler! Because who doesn't want a half-orc samurai in charge?
It would help if we had a little more of your backstory/stats, no?
That said, even without much info I'm not certain I'm up for living in the newest branch of the iron empire...:P
Oh sorry! I totally didn't notice that I hadn't filled out his profile stuff.
Also vassal of the Iron Empire is all you should aspire to!
Though maybe, Ong'rag will get a big head and start his own empire as Shogun and take the fight back to his homeland.
"I'll start my own Iron Empire, with blackjack...and hookers!"
Right! updated my base stats but for your viewing ease,
STR: 18
DEX: 10
CON: 15
INT: 7
WIS: 10
CHA: 15
Hm, personable but dumb as a post...sounds like rulership material to me!
Unless the Iron Empire is a seriously terrible place, you just might have my vote!
Its like feudal Japan but with orcs!
Hey! What's he got that I don't?
Non-psychopathic tendencies?
Its like feudal Japan but with orcs!
Ugh, that's what I thought, all that military class, "honor unto death" stuff.
It's a painfully rigid thinking...how do you feel about scientific advancement?
So long as it doesn't bring capitalistic abandonment of morals or the social loss of honor.
Ong'rag believes in winning, if you can do it with science fine, just don't expect him to pick up a gun....
Its like feudal Japan but with orcs!Ugh, that's what I thought, all that military class, "honor unto death" stuff.
It's a painfully rigid thinking...how do you feel about scientific advancement?
I think I can deal with that.
I'm hoping to tidy up my maps of the region and post them for y'all tonight, but that might get delayed. If it starts taking too long, I'll at least move the story along with the next appointment, etc. If you have other questions for Oskar, he can pop make in and "forget" the maps if I'm not done and you have questions, etc
So long as it doesn't bring capitalistic abandonment of morals or the social loss of honor.
Now, when you say "morals"?
Read more into order than "right" no rampant crime, no mudering, hell Ong'rag would okay with a psuedo caste system, warriors, artisans, farmers, nobles, beaurecrats, peasants. Think like order and politeness, no crazy evil stuff.
Sounds pretty good to me, the caste system isn't actually that bad an idea.
Count me in!
Sure Saturday, there can be bordellos. A necessary part of any militant country, soldiers need to spend there money somehow.
If you hadn't already seen this:
Overland map
Voyllr plains comprise the area between the northern road and the east-west river. Daelsend is on the western end of the lake. The east/west extends of the plains are the little mountain river in the east to an ill defined point near the coastal city.
I'm trying to also get a hex map, zoomed in of the plains.
Sure Saturday, there can be bordellos. A necessary part of any militant country, soldiers need to spend there money somehow.
Or in your case, a giesha.
"With the end of the war, all the old squabbles are starting back up. Troubled succession for some of the nobles houses. Everyone knows about the fabled wealth of the Voyllr plains; and while many are too scared of the supposed 'curse' to brave it themselves, they'd happily interfere with those brave enough to try. Most of the malcontents are lazy oafs and for them out of sight is out of mind. I know Count Patrick and Theodor are unahppy, but they're smart enough to know if they let you do most of the work, it benefits them in the long run if you fail, so I think they won't hinder you outright. I'd keep your eyes out for minor nobles... any baron who offers to help or to send his sons...."
Why did the Spartan vs Ninja episode of Deadliest Warriors come to mind when I read this?
I just sent him a PM.
Posting enthusiasm seems to be drying up. Do y'all want less talk, more fight, do you want to handwave over meeting some of the powers of the kingdom. do you want to split up and meet people separately to try to speed through it?
I'm just waiting for the guy to answer Sylas's questions..
Indeed, I think in situations like this the most important thing is just getting as much information as possible. If we have a question that's not asked we jump in, if not there's time nearer the end of the meeting for us all to weigh in on what we've learned.
Of course, the more martial types may well just be bored out of their overly thick skulls :P
Sorry, been busy.