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Choose your path to greatness, obscurity or death. A multiple choice LP

Monty

Arcane
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Messages
1,582
Location
Grognardia
1,2,5,7 (7 first)
D
 

Smashing Axe

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
2,835
Divinity: Original Sin
6, 3, 7, 5

D

I think we should choose books that will aid us in our mission. So heraldry, etiquette, history and myths/legends. Etiquette especially would help us right now. I disagree with those pushing healing and herbs, save that for later, the soldiers should know how to address wounds, and while herbs have their uses, we're in greater need of the above currently.
 

Curufinwe

Learned
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
271
Location
Italy
4-5-6-3

They seem to be the books that might be useful during this particular mission.

D for the other choice.
We might fail, but if we succeed everyone will be impressed.
 

Vernydar

Learned
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
579
Location
Italy
Very well, for books 6) got 12 votes, 1) 11 votes, and 2), 4) and 5) got 9 votes. Since I did say earlier that you could carry 5 books, and we have a tie here, you will have all of them. Guess there was some extra space in the saddlebags......
Also, regarding the first book to study 6) was the most voted by far. So you are now studying etiquette.
Second choice was won by D with 12 votes against 3 for A.
To hoodoo: not really, he has already been to both villages last year for preliminary preparations. They know he's not literate.

Also, an important specification.
The year is 1237 AF, about halfway through the second month of the spring. (AF = After the foundation on Eskal)

32 – A solution, an enemy and a choice of interest

You decide to take part in the conversation. After all, it's one of the reasons for your presence here.
You speak up and suggest that both carpenters and merchants should be part of the caravan. After all they all have their own competences, and so each side can take care of the respective tasks. You try to make the most of your natural charisma. However, things do not go as planned.

Lord Tilash and Kalz immediately back you up, and so you find yourself at the center of the conversation. However in the heat of the discussion you slip up and make some careless, less than courteous statements. Also, your arguments feel somewhat flimsy and inconclusive. You realize with a start that you cannot just hope everyone will be enthralled by your every word. Courtesy, the ability to talk well and solid arguments are a must if you want to be able to convince people.

As it is, in the end Lord Tilash and Kalz manage to force this solution upon the two bickering men. The caravan will have a mix of merchants and carpenters. But none of them seem happy about this. You can only hope that they will be able to work together without making problems. Then you look at their sour faces, and think that unlikely. The carpenter is particularly angry, and looks at you as if he wanted to hit you.

After the meeting Lord Tilash thanks you all again and shows you your quarters. You will stay here in the two-three weeks necessary for the preparation of the caravan, and supervise it while making sure nothing slows the entire thing down. You wonder what's in store for you here...

-------------------------------------------------
Excerpt 1 : Etiquette – The merchants of Dabil
...
The merchants of Dabil are famous for their good manners. They always seem to know how to behave in order to avoid offending anyone they talk to. They also seem to know all the various differences in ranks between nobles, soldiers and civilians. This incredible knowledge is somewhat eerie. It is as if they studied our nation very well. Even more peculiar is the fact that the same can be said for every nation that borders the Sea of Broken reefs.
This is very disconcerting because while it is plausible that the Kingdom of Dabil has indeed studied us all, this does not explain why all the merchants seem to know so much.
Some scholars think that the Kingdom of Dabil has all its merchants study foreign etiquette before leaving for other nations. But general consensus is that this view is paranoid and excessive....
--------------------------------------------------

A couple of day pass as you and your group get used to life in Strok. You are incredibly busy, checking warehouses, inspecting carts, talking to merchants and carpenters. This will most likely continue for the entire period of your stay here.

At the same time you continue to study your book on etiquette, and when possible you keep practicing the sword with the soldiers. You are very busy, but feel somewhat happy about this. You are busy yes, but you feel you are doing something useful and at the same time you are learning many things. This will help further your desires to accomplish something.....

The afternoon of the second day at Strok, while you are going back to your own quarters from work, you meet the representative of the carpenters guild while walking along a small road. You greet him, but he looks at you with anger. As he passes you, he spits on your face. Completely taken by surprise you look at him as if he were a madman.

"I will make you PAY " is all he says, and then he leaves. It seems you made an enemy today, though you can't understand why he would be so angry for all this, and especially so angry at you. You will have to think whether or not to tell this to anyone....

-----------------------------------------------------
Excerpt 2: Etiquette – On the ascension of the Thorsov dinasty
....
Most scholars do agree that the ascension of the Thorsov dynasty to the throne of Eskal was mostly due to their excellent diplomacy and impeccable etiquette.
The Thorsov were a noble family that ruled the town of Vegam, related to the current dynasty that ruled the kingdom. However, they had no clear claim to the throne.
It was Mark Thorsov who started the process that would make house Thorsov kings of Eskal. In year 637 AF he started to weave a tight web of dynastical marriages. The turning point of this process was his alliance to house Walkas, rulers of Palek. Though enemies, they could not resist his diplomatic overtures and ended up marrying their eldest daughter into house Thorsov. Pivotal in this was Mark Thorsov exceptional skill with etiquette, that allowed him to force the Walkas to accept the marriage lest they appear as coarse as the barbarians on the north.
His nephew was deemed the first in line of succession once the old king died without direct heirs and was crowned king of Eskal...
--------------------------------------------------------

The next day after work you consider you options. You wonder whether you should talk about what happened to someone or if you should keep it to yourself.

Will you tell this to anyone?
  1. Talk about this to lord Tilash, he will surely be able to rein in this fellow
  2. Talk about this to Kalz, he should know that there could be problems down the road
  3. Do not tell anyone. You do not want to appear as whiny, immature boy.
  4. Other. Make a proposal and put a number on it.
Also, after settling in you realize you will always have a couple of hours for yourself in the late evening.

What should you do in this free time?
A) Go to the tavern, have fun with the villagers
B) Go to the tavern, and try to find some... romantic companionship
C) Go to the tavern with Kalz and his men, best to make some friends here
D) Go to the tavern, try to investigate your "enemy"
E) Study some more! There's no time!
F) Other. Make a proposal, put a letter on it.
 

Kz3r0

Arcane
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
27,017
4 Ask the carpenter to excuse himself or you will ask for reparations, with your sword.

C)
 

Curufinwe

Learned
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
271
Location
Italy
2
C

The good captain should be informed about potential trouble.
And C, we're just passing through here. We're outsiders, it's unlikely we'll be able to learn anything from the tavern. Now it's not the time for romantic interludes either, we're on a mission.
 

Kashmir Slippers

Magister
Joined
Apr 23, 2011
Messages
1,018
Location
Here, obviously
2C

Telling Captain Kalz about our enemy while we are in the tavern with him anyway could lessen the impression of us running off to him like we were a child and help build some camaraderie with the group.
 

Random Word

Arbiter
Joined
Mar 14, 2012
Messages
320
MCA Project: Eternity
4 Ask the carpenter to excuse himself or you will ask for reparations, with your sword.

If we had a sword skill of 5 or 6 instead of 2 I would support this, as it stands even if the Carpenter hasn't the faintest how to use a sword his superior size and strength would likely prove decisive. Instead I propose:

5: Inform the Carpenter that if his aim is to make an enemy of Lord Medah, insulting his chosen representatives is an excellent start. Further, should anything delay the flow of supplies we will be sure to inform Lord Medah of his threats to sabotage the project. At that point it would be advisable to quickly distance ourself before he decides he wants to start a fight, and promptly inform the Captain of what transpired.

D, at this point it's quite clear there is something more to this arrangement than meets the eye, and we have yet to properly establish the situation. Under ordinary circumstances, this man shouldn't care nearly this much about who walks the goods to Bitak.
 

Stygian Lurker

Liturgist
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Messages
577
2
C

The good captain should be informed about potential trouble.
And C, we're just passing through here. We're outsiders, it's unlikely we'll be able to learn anything from the tavern. Now it's not the time for romantic interludes either, we're on a mission.
This.
 

Smashing Axe

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
2,835
Divinity: Original Sin
3
D

I want to know what's going on, although comradeship would be nice, this guy seems suspicious as fuck. We need to know what his deal is.
 

Zwist

Learned
Joined
Jun 6, 2012
Messages
236
2D

First investigate, then share what we found. And try not to sound as if we ask for protection, as the overseer of our little venture Kalz should be interested in what feuds are ongoing.
Although he might have an idea already, he was present at the meeting after all.
 

Vernydar

Learned
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
579
Location
Italy
Ok, going to write the update a bit later tonight. Was buys once again with UEFA euro 2012 :P

Vote closed btw
 

Vernydar

Learned
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
579
Location
Italy
Overwhelming victory for 2). Second choice, C beats D 6 to 5 votes.

33 – A proposed meeting....

You decide to tell captains Kalz about this encounter. At first, he's somewhat skeptical. You must admit, what happened seems truly unreasonable. However after a few minutes he relents.

"Very well, I believe you Kyoss. You have no reason to lie to me and besides, I think I have seen enough of you in this week. You really do not strike me as someone who would lie to me about something like this anyway. All this is just plain weird. I think it would be better though if we did not stir up things even more. I will inform privately Lord Tilash, and ask him to investigate this. In the meanwhile we will try to behave as if nothing happened, but I will make sure you do not go around alone. One of my men will always be with you. You'd better include this in your report to Jacob though, you'll write one in about a week right?"

You agree to Kalz's proposal, though you're not entirely happy with it. Surely you came to tell him, but you'd prefer not to always have someone watching over you. But then again, you suppose it's for the best since you're not exactly what could be called a machine for war.

You also decide to pass your evenings with Kalz and his men in the tavern. After all a soldier is going to follow you anyway, might as well befriend them in the meanwhile.

And so your days pass, between working for the caravan, studying etiquette and the sword and drinking with the soldiers in the evening.

---------------------------------------

Excerpt 3: Etiquette – The proper way to greet a Werag noble
...
Most people do not understand the proper way to greet a Werag noble. Having little experience with Werag, they consider them the same as nobility elsewhere in the world and as such, they try to behave as they would in their own nation. This usually results in bowing, respectfully greeting them and generally being quite obsequious.

This because they do not understand what it means to be a Werag noble. In Werag, nobles are individuals and families who did extraordinary services to the people and to the kingdom. As such they are rewarded with noble status, riches, and all manners of rewards. They are also said to be especially favored by their god, Krawalsav.

However this is as far as the similarities go compared to other nobles. Nobles in Werag are in fact expected to continue to serve the people and the Kingdom. They are extremely respected, but not deferred to. In fact they are supposed to agree to any request for help, as long as it is sensible.
Being obsequious is as such considered a grievous offense, a complete disrespect to their dedication
....

------------------------------------------

A week passes by as you and captain Kalz's squad works to secure the caravan's preparation. You also managed to make a good start on your friendship with the soldiers and Kalz himself, and to exercise quite a bit with your sword. It is however in the field of etiquette that you feel you made the most progresses. Though you still have a lot to study, you feel that you made some progress and are now able to avoid committing some serious offenses.
(You have gained skill: Etiquette 1 (Very Basic))

You have not seen the carpenter around, and hope you won't for the rest of your stay here. Still you decide to be on your guard, better safe than sorry. Since it's been a couple of weeks, you also write the first letter to Jacob and entrust it to one of the messengers who work for the crown and are stationed in every big settlement in Eskal. He assures you the message will be delivered in four days at most. As per Kalz's instructions you made sure to mention in the message both the bickering between the two guilds, and the threats of the carpenter. Jacob will decide if something needs to be done.

The next afternoon though something happens. During a customary inspection to a warehouse, one of the merchants passes you a small note, and ask you to read it alone. Perplexed you do so later as the occasion presents itself. Here is what it says:

"Kyoss Vackel, I would like to talk to you in private about the carpenters. I assure you I can give you some information which will provide beneficial in this task of yours. If you are interested, tomorrow one of my men will make an excuse for you to come to meet me, ditching your escort. You will recognize him by a red cloth tied on his wrist. Don't bother thinking of questioning him, he doesn't know anything anyway.

If you tell someone about all this, you will never hear from me again."

There is no signature, nothing you can use to pinpoint who wrote this.

What are you going to do?
A) Pretend you did not see this. Better safe than sorry, you won't go and nothing will happen.
B) Pretend you did not see this, but do tell Kalz so he knows something is amiss
C) Don't say anything to Kalz, go to this meeting. You want to know what is happening here.
D) Tell Kalz about this note, but insist you want to go to the meeting. You want to know what is going on, but he needs to know what you're doing.
E) Other, make a proposal and put a letter on it.
 

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