The Demon King has won. The reach of his dominion extends far, and where it doesn’t, all that’s left for the unconquered is to despair and live out their bleak lives in obscurity. Demons and monsters live alongside humans, elves, dwarves and other races now, taking their tithe of blood to sustain the King’s and nobles’ immortality and oppressing the regular people of the world for their entertainment.You remember when things weren’t like this. When noble adventurers and avaricious sellswords alike assembled into parties that destroyed armies of the Dark, leading their brethren in an existential struggle the likes of which this world has never seen.Your army was one they defeated as well. A pivotal moment in your life that led to you getting relegated to the court instead of the battlefield. From a general to a minor noble pushing papers, all day every day.It makes you sick.So sick, in fact, that you’d rather bring back human rule than suffer like this any longer. Maybe they’ll send you back to Hell. Maybe they’ll kill you. Maybe they’ll let you live in exchange for help.Either way, it’ll be more FUN than whatever you’re doing right now.But where do you start on this project? You need to remain covert in your endeavours lest you get exposed and executed.You could consult the Hero Register under a forged order. It lists all the exceptional individuals that surface around the Kingdom. Not comprehensive, and many of them are in hiding, but it is a clue.You could also establish friendly contact with a governor of some province. Granting a blood tax cut through some inconspicuous paperwork for their own lifespan’s benefit could get someone on your side. You’d still have to come up with a reason for whatever you do later, though - the demons probably wouldn’t look kindly on trying to overthrow their rule.Preparing a backup plan in advance is an option as well. Buying property somewhere far under someone else’s name to retreat and hide in case shit goes south would be a good idea.Of course, there are other options to lay the foundation of your revolution…You think about all the possibilities while absentmindedly signing yet another document:>Write-in name (*you're male)Actions>Consult the Hero Register.>Establish friendly relations with a governor. Default approach: Blood tax cut. Optional: Write-in another approach.>Set up Plan B. Default approach: Buying property under someone else’s name to repurpose into a hideout. Optional: Write-in another approach.>Write-in.You can also ask me questions. I’ll be honest, I’m mostly improvising, but I’ll answer to the best of my ability. Puts some meat on the world lore as well.
>>6283966>Write-in name (*you're male)John Manuel Constantine.>Set up Plan B. Default approach: Buying property under someone else’s name to repurpose into a hideout.No reason not to play it safe while we’re still starting out.
>>6283966>NameAnoni Anonus>Action>Set up Plan B. Default approach: Buying property under someone else’s name to repurpose into a hideout.Considering back then there was a hero, surely there's a potential hero in an orphanage somewhere who we can kidnap and/or groom
>>6284023+1 can't beat the classic anon naming convention
>>6283966>NameJohn Constantine>Establish friendly relations with a governor. Default approach: Blood tax cut.A bit risky but there's no way we can overthrow the demons alone.
>>6283966>Name: Kragold of Greymarch>Action:>Set up Plan B. Default approach: Buying property under someone else’s name to repurpose into a hideout. then>Establish friendly relations with a governor. Default approach: Blood tax cut. We're the least worst!
>>6283979>>6284023>>6284239>>6284275>>6284306Calling the vote for>Anoni Anonus (decided to pick this one in the end, more fitting for a demon than John, and classic naming, as another anon said)>Set up Plan B. Default approach: Buying property under someone else’s name to repurpose into a hideout.Writing.
"Inspector." you greet your superior with a small bow as you enter his study."Ah, Anoni. Need something?" the demon puts down his pen and calmly looks you in the eye. You feel uncomfortable under his stare. You can never get used to the authoritative magic sight of higher demons. Well, truth be told, it's not MEANT to be something you get used to... You know how it works all too well, from back when you had it as a general. Not anymore..."I remember you offered our section an assignment in the Aeulida province. I'd like to volunteer for it.""Hm. I didn't think you, of all people, would want to go there. Well, if you're eager, let me explain you the specifics..."Inspector Chron explains that the administration is investigating a scheme of illegal property trading. You knew the basics, but you barely manage to conceal your eyes lighting up from this opportunity.Soon, you depart for the province. The way is quick, the post offices giving you fresh horses every 20 miles or so. Staying there to rest yourself, you find it's a far cry from the comfort of the capital. You got your idea to hold onto, however.In a few days, you arrive at your destination. Aeulida is a province of humans. It's not densely populated, but it's got a few cities specialised in different trades. Many blooming fields, too. Makes you appreciate how beautiful this land is compared to Hell. Ah well, it's not relevant to your mission.What follows after your arrival is a month of work. Checking records, you see housing being sold at minimal prices to a group of humans. A few arrests and torture sessions later, working with the local clerks and militia, you find some middle-echelon officials being behind it, and an abduction business carried out in exchange for blood tax immunity for the humans' families, and these low prices being thrown into the deal.As you finish up the investigation, reclaiming a few dozen houses, towers, workshops and whatnot in favour of the Kingdom, you write off one of them as being bought quickly and legitimately by a new demon landholder, Gibar Skvark.This is, of course, you.The house was a mage's study, with some magic lingering in its walls. Should be useful for wards and concealment of its true purpose. Otherwise, it's pretty much a clean slate which you can repurpose to anything you like. You hire some workers with the money you saved from years of work to refurbish it and get some furniture in. Books and plenty of paper to write messages, a few concealed weapons to defend in case of invasion, and a couple backdoors to escape in case you're found. You ponder if you should add anything else...>Write-in additions to hideout?>No, it's fine for now.(1/2)
"Good job, Anoni." Inspector commends you after you give him a report of your assignment. "We have more assignments from around the Kingdom coming in sometimes. Let me know if you'd like any of them.""I will." you say, intending to never ever take any more unless you need it for your plan.With this, the first stage is over. Not only have you gained a hideout, you also laid down the foundation for friendship with Inspector Chron. You remember he's quite strict and just, so he most likely won't overlook your deals or help you out directly, but maybe impressing him will leave you with more space to maneuver since he'd be confident in you? Then again, demonic rule isn't just either, and perhaps he can be convinced...You consider what to do next.>Consult the Hero Register.>Accept another assignment and check out some local orphanages for talented humans.>Accept another assignment from Inspector Chron. Maybe you can learn about his past or convince him to help you. Optional: Suggest an alternative approach to get friendlier with him than going on assignments.>Wait for a mission to a province with strong magic presence. You wouldn't mind getting those wards set up at your hideout.>Establish friendly relations with a governor. Default approach: Blood tax cut. Optional: write-in approach.>Write-in(2/2)
>>6284354>Write-in additions to hideout?Underground basement with an escape tunnel. Lead it out somewhere in the middle of the woods or something.>>6284355>Wait for a mission to a province with strong magic presence. You wouldn't mind getting those wards set up at your hideout.
>>6284355>Write-in additions to hideout?I vote the same about the basement>Accept another assignment and check out some local orphanages for talented humans.
>>6284355Maybe reinforce the doors and add bars or something to the windowsAccept another assignment and check out some local orphanages for talented humans.
>>6284354>Write-InWe would probably want a decent stockpile of preserved food or seeds and various things to use for trade. Wouldn't be against more reinforcement of the building, secret passages (for spying and escape), or escape tunnels. >>6284355>>Accept another assignment and check out some local orphanages for talented humans.If we have to wait to be sent to a magical region we might as well be productive in the meantime. And the best bet to get close to a strict boss is no nonsense efficiency anyway.
>>6284439>>6284557>>6284808>>6284848Hideout>Underground basement with an escape tunnel. Lead it out somewhere in the middle of the woods or something.>Reinforcement>Stockpile of trade goods and foodAction>Accept another assignment and check out some local orphanages for talented humans.Give me 3 1d100 rolls, anons.
Rolled 10 (1d100)>>6284885
>>6284966RIP
Rolled 35 (1d100)>>6284885
Rolled 46 (1d100)>>6284885
>>6284966>>6284976>>6284977>46"It's a far away province, Anoni." the Inspector frowns, checking something as he sorts through the papers stacked on his deck. "Amazonia is far to the south, a month's travel by horse - that's if you use the post offices - and 2 weeks by jungle road to its regional capital. Are you sure you want to take up this task?""Yes." you say.Truth be told, you can't say you're excited about this particular assignment, the taste of road life still sour in your memory, but you've heard that Amazonians are some of the strongest warriors the Kingdom has faced - particularly their women. If the rumours are true, then you may pick up an exceptional native to aid your scheme while you're there."Well, I can't say I don't respect the eagerness. Let me tell you the details..."...The journey is exhausting. Spending all day riding is not something you're familiar with after all those days in the palace. You once were - a day's march and a battle right after was nothing to you back when you were a general, but comfortable life does take its toll on your resilience.The heat as you go deeper and deeper south is nothing compared to the blazing air of Hell, but the humidity is disgusting. The insects buzz and crawl around even inside post offices which grow more neglected the further you travel.At last, after making your way through the jungle, you arrive in the capital of the province, Zelet. You get your Kingdom-mandated lodgings, which are at least befitting an official of the Court, and get to work the next day.You recall your mission being investigation into missing shipments of goods, late data on the latest census, disappearing investments from the central administration - just suspicious happenings all around.As you sort through the documents in the archives and offices, the local clerks regarding you with something akin to awe, you grow more surprised and exasperated, a realization dawning on you."Unholy fucking shit." you mutter, leaning back on your chair after having finished you inspection a few days later. There's no malicious intent, no covert scheme behind these problems.It's just utterly, HORRIBLY mismanaged and unorganised.And it's only you and those idiots that allowed it to get into this state in the first place here to get it all into order. Amazing.The next 2 months pass by excruciatingly slowly, especially with all the rain this area is getting. You essentially assume the role of the governor of this province, dispatching an admittedly small corps of cowed clerks to account for every single coin, where it's coming from, where it's going, the number and flow of goods, how many and what kind of people populate the villages, and a billion other things.At the end of the day, you leave about a fifth of the most useful administrators, firing the rest for inefficiency, and send a request to the Capital, Endra, for a replacement force. Seriously, you're not getting paid enough for this.(1/?)
For a few days, you even begin doubting your ultimate goal, but a bit of rest reinvigorates you. You spend some time walking the streets of Zelet, getting to know it. The locals are a resilient and surprisingly laidback people. Pleasant to talk with. You've talked in your life to some deranged ones that looked at demons as if you wanted to eat them and drink their blood - which is not entirely wrong, but that's beyond the point - and those you meet here are for the most part wary, but at least capable of respect. You thought they'd be poor, inefficient rulers - for all it's fault, the Kingdom did conquer all those people - but maybe they make up for tenacity and ruthlessness in other ways. You'll just have to see.With these thoughts, you visit some local orphanages, asking around if there are any youths that exceed in combat or otherwise. You compile a list of candidates, but you hear there's a single girl that's supposed to go on the Hero Register once she's of age. You travel to the orphanage where she's being educated and request a meeting. The teacher leads you to the inner courtyard, where a girl is practising on a beaten training dummy with a wooden sword.She's tall and strong, with tanned skin. Not as tall as you - you're 2 metres, like all demonic generals - but a teenager, if not older. She has auburn hair falling down to her back."Triss." you call her with the name you learned from the teacher. She turns to face you. Cute face as well. Not succubus-tier, but pleasant for a human."Mister..." she bows slightly in greeting."My name is Anoni Anonus. You may call me Sir Anonus." you pause. "Are you practising?""Yes.""Very well." you say, picking up another sword from a nearby stand. "Might as well test you." The teacher has left by now and seemingly warned other kids from approaching you."Um... Okay." she says, assuming a battle stance.You swing the sword around a few times to get a feel for it. It's short, meant for kids, but it's still great to hold a weapon after all this time. It's calming. Such a small thing, but bringing back so many memories."Try to hit me." you say, preparing for her assault. Triss lunges.The next few minutes are spent in the fight. The girl tries various tactics, various stances to try your defences. She doesn't manage to hit you, but puts up a decent fight. As you deflect her blows, you barely manage to keep a straight face, not allowing a dumb smile to creep on. It's refreshing to fight a skilled opponent. Such a shame you're stuck with this fucking job..."That'll be fine for now." you say, lowering your weapon. Triss stops as well. "You're good enough. Tell me - how did you end up at an orphanage?"She hesitates for a bit, then looks at you with fiery eyes. "My mom and dad got taken for the blood tax. I had no relatives, so...""How old are you? They said you'd be included in the Hero Register soon.""I'm turning 16 next summer."(2/?)
"Hm. I see. Well, I may have a proposition to you. A mission, so to speak, at the end of which there will be no blood tax.""How is this possible?""I'll tell you the specifics as we ride." you say, putting the sword back onto the weapon stand. "Pack up your stuff. We're going to Endra."...You don't tell your new servant much. Just the general idea that you'll be "reforming" the Kingdom to a more benevolent one. You'll need to test her loyalty and reliability. Then you can tell her the entire truth.The post offices refuse to give fresh horses to humans, so the way back takes about 3 months. At last, you're home.Inspector commends you for your work and pays a bonus to your wage. Chron mentions that the Capital's civil servants have dispatched replacement clerks to Amazonia. Things should be fine there. Inspector grants you a 3 week-long vacation. You appreciate the gesture - some rest wouldn't be unwelcome.As you check your mail, however, you find stranger news."To: Gibar Skvark.From: Uldan Parzod, Chief Scourge of Aeulida.Please report to the administration of Aeulida for an investigation."So you depart there, leaving some coin for Triss to live on...."It has come to our attention that you're making some kind of tunnel leading to the woods not far from the town of Leon. The workers we contacted reported you're also reinforcing the doors and windows of the house you bought. Would you mind telling me why?" Uldan, a big demon with scary eyes, asks."Fuck." you think.What reason do you come up with?>"The humans that previously owned the house may come for my head. Mister Anonus, my acquaintance, did reclaim the building from some of them, and with buying it, I may have attracted their ire.">Write-in. It better be convincing!
>>6285085>"The humans that previously owned the house may come for my head. Mister Anonus, my acquaintance, did reclaim the building from some of them, and with buying it, I may have attracted their ire."
>>6285085>Write-in. It better be convincing!Hm. Did we ever come up with a good backstory for Gibar Skvark? Assuming record keeping is as extensive as our job suggests it's probably not a good idea to claim to be a soldier with bad experience in the war (unless aliases are part of demon culture somehow)... so let's play the paranoid card: The same reason any demon with good sense would! To survive! The world may be out to get us but I intend to leave no more openings! Then insert a bunch of random details that make us look crazy/paranoid but harmless. Ways we prepare our food because otherwise it'd kill us. Alterations to our wardrobe because this way it won't kill us so easily. Roads we don't take because we nearly got run down there once. Maybe a valiant story about how we once survived the reckless assassin attempt by a fried egg. Maybe something about trying to disrupt mind control mana waves from the nearest evil wizard.
>>6285137>SupportJust lay on all the thickness Maybe let us look like a coward.
>>6285137>>6285112It’s crazy enough to work. Changing my vote.
>>6285112>>6285137>>6285166>>6285225>Paranoid ramblingOk, this is pretty convincing. Claiming to be a soldier would probably work as well, but schizo talk it is. 3 anons roll 1d100.
Rolled 90 (1d100)>>6285469
Rolled 5 (1d100)>>6285469
Rolled 38 (1d100)>>6285469
>90You decide to play the paranoid card."The same reason any demon with good sense would." you say with the straightest face you can muster. "To survive! The world may be out to get us but I intend to leave no more openings. Not after that time an assassin disguised as a human beggar almost killed me as I was going down Serpent Street. Cursed murderer tried to get me to set off a trap in his begging bowl, but I was smarter! I escaped with my life intact. Never going to take that street again. Or that time they almost got me with eggshells. Did you know that brown eggs are toxic? I learned that from an acquaintance of mine." You're getting really into the act now. "I've since been on the watch when purchasing them for my cooking. There's been some attempts at my life with...""That will be quite enough, Mr. Skvark." The Chief Scourge rubs his nose ridge for a moment, sighing and muttering something. "You're free to go. Do whatever is necessary to... ensure your survival. Just, please, make sure your workers don't cause any cave-ins in neighbouring buildings.""Thank you. It's rare to find someone understanding the danger we're in." You give your interrogator a smile, which Uldan awkwardly returns, then march out of the office.(1/2)
..."Frozen Hell, finally I'm home." you say to yourself as you unlock the door and disable the wards on your apartment. You've inspected the human labourers' work while in Aeulida. In the time you were away, they managed to finish all the building, and buy and sort all the goods you requested. You settled your debt to them and let them go. With that, your hideout should be ready.Triss meets you in the hallway as you take off your shoes."Hello. Welcome back.""Hi. Good to be back." you stop talking while you're taking off your outdoors clothes. Even with demonic energies around, winter has come, and first, wet snow has already fallen. Like any demon, you hate it."How are you holding up?" you ask after a couple minutes. "How are you liking Endra?""It's... strange." Triss says awkwardly, dropping her gaze. "It's so cold, and the people here are different. Less... kind. Stricter. Always in a hurry.""The cold won't last forever. And the people - that's the Capital for you. No time to lose. We don't have any to lose either." you say, glancing at her. You've purchased her some clothes for outdoors so at least her foreign dress doesn't attract attention, but she sticks with her own at home.You consider what you may do with her in the 10 days remaining in your vacation, and in the future as well.It could be a good idea to teach her demonic etiquette and customs. It's not that different to human in the Capital, but for someone from far away, there may be some aspects that are different. Blending in, as much as possible with her looks, should be a valuable skill.You could also continue her combat training. She's got a good base already, and while authorities would monitor humans exercising in combat closely, you should be able to shape a warrior of rare strength out of her.You could also educate her in the sciences. From your previous talks, on the road and in the Capital, you noticed her learning new things surprisingly quickly, memorising and recalling facts accurately.Really, you could shape her into anything you like - at her age and with her talents, she is as malleable as clay in your hands.>Write-in how to develop your new asset.
>>6285571Teach her demon etiquette and customs. We’re still trying to be as discreet as possible.
>>6285571>Demonic etiquette and customs>Continue her combat training but secretly>Ask her if she's interested in science>Make her try some magic incantation to see if she has potentialWe're still very early, need to plant some seeds first before we can sow 'em
>>6285617+1Not much of this can be accomplished in 10 days but we can lay foundations and build habits
>>6285617Support
No update today. In 12-15 hours maybe.
I have no excuse for taking so long to post the update. Wouldn't be surprised if everyone left the thread already.>General mentorship without specialisation>Secret training for battle>Etiquette...A few days pass as you try to recall things that are natural to you, yet must be new to your new apprentice."Alright, let's review." you say as the evening turns into night one of these cold days. Triss sits across from you at the table in the guest room. "Tell me everything you remember.""Don't stare at horns. Don't praise cold weather. Never ask how much blood a demon receives from blood tax. When arguing, match your opponent's tone, even if it's aggressive - except when talking to superiors. When dining with a demon, eat at least a bit of meat..." Triss goes on listing some minor things that make up common demonic knowledge. It's not a lot, and it wouldn't be that bad to miss them, but it's just that bit contributing to trust and understanding."Alright. You got everything right." you say, stretching and leaning back on your chair. Triss is a quick learner. It's not just customs, but education in science that you've given her. Truth be told, you don't know much about the world yourself - you're no alchemist, engineer or mage, but you do lay down the foundation with what you know. Initially shy, the Amazon got used to you after some time. You notice her sometimes looking you in the eye with something akin to anger.Training her in fighting secretly is a bigger issue. You have to leave the city and go to the forests, instead of the training grounds, while concealing your weapons, and exercise there. It's a long way, and you feel like it takes more energy to get there than to actually train her.You test her magical aptitude with a simple magical incantation that creates a lick of flame - every demon knows it. She doesn't seem to get it. Perhaps with more practice, she could do it, but you don't see any exceptional talent in that field.And like this, 10 days pass quickly, the winter hardening its grip on the capital. With a thick layer of snow now perpetually covering everything, the cleaners try to clear the streets in futility.You return to work, however much you may disdain it. It's time to get more things done.>Consult the Hero Register for more assets to acquire.>Wait for an assignment to a magical province to get some enchanted items or wards.>Build rapport with demons in your department and those in adjacent ones.>Write-inPick something for Triss to do.>Continue her training in a specific field. (pick: battle, social, intellectual, write-in)>Give her a test mission. Ask her to get acquainted with humans of some area and inspect the social mood there.>Give her a mission to test her loyalty. (write-in how?)>Find temporary work for her. It won't be as much as your salary, but it's a bit more funds for the plan. Your own savings have been dealt a blow by the house purchase and refurbishing.>Write-in
>>6287595>>Build rapport with demons in your department and those in adjacent ones.While we:>>Wait for an assignment to a magical province to get some enchanted items or wards.>>Continue her training in a specific field. (Intellectual)Give her a bunch of books to work through; history, philosophy, math, science. When we're home we can test and train her strategic thinking with war or strategy games.We're going to have to do something about her anger aimed at us; it suggests she doesn't trust us and isn't loyal at the very least.
>>6287595>>6287600+1>have to do somethingGib her love and affection :DDd
>>6287600+1
>>6287595>Build rapport with demons in your department and those in adjacent ones.>Give her a test mission. Ask her to get acquainted with humans of some area and inspect the social mood there.
>>6287600>>6287621>>6287638>>6287986>Build rapport with demons in your department and those in adjacent ones.Secondary:>Wait for an assignment to a magical province to get some enchanted items or wards.Triss:>Continue her training in a specific field. (Intellectual)I'll gradually update on all of these points. First, we have the network-building......"How's everything going?" you ask for what must be the 20th time this week, placing the papers on the desk."Fine." the demon answers without lifting his head from the page he's writing on. You think his name was Cuzal.You've been going around fetching and delivering documents and records for some time now, using the opportunity to ask your co-workers about their troubles. It has, thus far, yielded you a bunch of not particularly useful acquaintances and a whole lot of useless conversations."The treasury doesn't approve enough funds for our architects." he continues as you turn to leave. Cuzal puts down the feather. "And of course I'm the one who gets blamed for the lack of funding just because I was observing some of them a while ago.""I get you," you say."Another praise for our scribes, here we fucking go," you think."Think you could do something about it?" Cuzal continues, and your attention is refreshed. He says some keyword, and the spells in the study around you power down. "I shouldn't be saying this, but... I heard the scourges have been paying a bit more attention to you. You know, since we're sometimes sorting info for them and all that. Nothing too bad, just some doubts for now." he leans back on the chair. "So how about a deal. You authorise more coin for architects, and I convince the scourges to drop your case completely - for now, at least. Sounds good? Well, if you don't wanna, I thought I'd at least tell you. As thanks for when you listened to me about my wife that time."You honestly didn't expect this kind of deal so soon, but you don't let this show on your face. Getting on the good side of a person working with the scourges is good, but he may as well take what you give him and laugh at you when you expect reciprocity. You know this well - before starting planning the rebellion, you've kept your head low, rarely interacting with anyone. It was a great vantage point for all the scheming that happens in the Court.Risk or wait for something else?>Risk and agree to the deal. Cuzal may be a good source of info on scourges in the future.>Wait for another, safer opportunity. Dealing with someone so close to the scourges is too dangerous. You got the tip already - that's enough for you.
>>6289395>>Risk and agree to the deal. Cuzal may be a good source of info on scourges in the future.
>>6289395>Risk and agree to the deal. Cuzal may be a good source of info on scourges in the future.
>>6289395>Risk and agree to the deal. Cuzal may be a good source of info on scourges in the future.If not, he can be a perfect first target for the terrorist we're training.
Rolled 2 (1d3)>>6289410>>6289440>>6289513>>6289635>>62896664 days passed already, holy shit. Maybe I should just write an epilogue. Inspiration doesn't come often and I've got no discipline or update stability to speak of.>Risk and agree to the deal. Cuzal may be a good source of info on scourges in the future.Rolling for success of the deal.1 - Cuzal doesn't hold up his end of the deal. 2 or 3 - he does.Writing after the roll.
"Fine." you say. "Send me the documents about the architects. I'll make sure they're signed.""Great. Thanks." Cuzal says, and just like that, the deal is struck.He proves to be an honest ally - you can't verify his work fully, but from what he tells and shows you, the scourges have been assured of your credibility. You're free to act as you see fit - for now....Triss' education goes smoothly. She pores over books most of the day, soon eclipsing your knowledge, but you see her getting more worn out as winter nears its end."You know," she says one evening as you test her knowledge once more, "back when you took me from the orphanage, you told me you wanted to reform the blood tax. To remove it.""Correct.""I don't really understand how I fit in this. All I'm doing every day is..." she scowls, "study these fucking books. I've learned more useless facts in these three months than in my entire life. And I still don't get what you expect me to do. Do you want me to somehow convince every demon to reject human blood with my knowledge? Do you even want that?" the Amazon pauses, looking down. "First dad and mom got taken from me, then... a demon shows up and takes me from all the friends I made just as I was thinking it wasn't so bad. I just..." tears appear on Triss' eyes, "want to lead a simple life somewhere with no demon in sight. Fuck all this endless studying. Fuck all of this. Damn it.""...I thought you'd be excited about the idea," you say, "since you lost your relatives to the tax.""I'd be happy if it was removed. I just don't want to do it myself."It's honestly baffling to you that she would reject the idea. Maybe you judged her wrong. Maybe you judged humans wrong.What will you do?>Attempt to convince her to remain. But how? (write-in)>"You can go back if you wish. I'll arrange for a safe journey." With that level of motivation, she'll probably be useless to your plan anyway.>Write-in
>>6291101The rate of updates matters far less than the certainty that the next will eventually come. A set schedule is usually better, though.>>6291122>Attempt to convince her to remain. But how? (write-in)Heroic speech time. Talk about a time from the war, about losing someone we cared about... even just a little. About how, if we could go back and fix what we let happen through weakness or foolishness or bad timing or distractions, we would.Now imagine being our age (in relative human terms), if she doesn't help. How will she feel with all those human lives lost and blood on her hands? Knowing she could have toppled the blood tax long ago by helping us infiltrate, manipulate, and occasionally assassinate the bastards most responsible for it... and then gone on to live a normal life, or even better-than-normal, in a world free from this tyranny. How would she feel, to miss out on all that, all for fleeting fear?
>>6291101Would be nice for this to continue on even with irregular updates and what not >>6291122>>6291131+1
>>6291131>>6291288>update rateWell, I'm glad anons want to continue playing even like this.>Heroic speech time + further write-inGreat effortpost. But there's still a measure of luck playing its role... Please roll 1d10, 1-2 she doesn't listen, 3-10 she's convinced. Just a single die, not Bo3.
Rolled 4 (1d10)>>6291798
>>6291843Whew, close one.
Caught up. Enjoying the quest.
>>6292498Glad to hear that.>>6291843>4For a few moments, you let Triss cry, thinking of how to answer her worries."I was a general once," you slowly begin your story. "A good one, if you ask me. But still, I made plenty of mistakes. I had a friend. We lived in Hell together, spent our days toiling under the Lords, trading stories in magma pools and going after succubi we fancied. When the invasion occurred, and I rose through the ranks to become a general, he served under me as a shock soldier. First and bravest among those storming the strongest forts and breaking the most solid lines of humans.It was my mistake that led me to losing him. I didn't send enough scouting groups, thinking we were in a safe area, slackened my grip on my demons' patrols and watchmen. We were suddenly attacked, and the shock warriors were the first to gather their spirit and equipment and try to deflect the assault. My friend was among them. He died in that battle. The vision of our camp in disarray in the middle of the Spider Woods is still in my mind, clear as day."You pause, noticing Triss has stopped crying and is listening to you intently."We all make mistakes like that. In the future, we see how to avoid them, but in the present, we are guided by emotions, limited information, distractions - a lot of things. Still, if we stop to think just a little, we may be able to prevent them. That's what I'm asking of you. Think of how you would feel in the future if you return to your previous life now. Of all the human lives lost to the tax that you could've prevented. Of all the girls, just like you, losing their parents... I'm not asking you to be a hero forever. Once our mission is done, once this land is free from the tyranny of blood tax, you can very well go on to live your life calmly, as you wish. But this opportunity, right here and right now, will not appear again if you go back. So... I ask that you help me in this endeavour. Even if it will be a long and hard journey, I think you will see it is worth it in the end."Triss looks at you for a solid minute. You let her gather her mind."Okay... I will try to keep up," she finally says."Good," you say, letting yourself smile. Both at her response and at understanding humans more, even if just a little......(1/2)
The magical province assignment comes in the beginning of spring, as snow begins to thaw and the accursed cold loosens its grip on the land. The elven woods of Eranduene have been a hard conquest for demonic armies, and they still maintain a degree of independence greater than that of regular, human territories, paying less taxes and fielding their own militia rather than a demonic garrison.You travel southwest for a solid two weeks before you reach them, then get to work immediately. Not enough magical resin - an important material for magical foci and mana storage - and magical lantern fuel, have been provided in the past year, so you are investigating that.The elves are a proud people, looking with seething, concealed arrogance even at demons. You find them hard to work with, but the investigation goes on, even if not very smoothly. As you spend time getting acquainted with the records, you also think of how you could further your goals. The elven wards are some of the strongest, but you heard they also bear a trademark energy signature that any decent mage can identify from afar. Well, with a temporary carte blanche to fortify your hideout as you please, you shouldn't worry about that.You could also pursue other goals while you're here...>Acquire an asset. (specify) *Assets: for example, you could get friendly with an elven official, or recruit an elven mage to your cause. An asset can also be an object, like a covert workshop making weaponry just for you under the false premise of rearming the militia with better weaponry. We'll ignore that elven equipment is built to last...>Focus on work and get friendly with the demonic administration of the area. This may avert eyes from your ward purchases here.>Obtain magical item. (specify)>Write-in
>>6292504>Acquire an asset. an elven mage
>>6292504>Acquire an assetLet's take a "promising" mage student not officially recorded in the book of daggereared heroes.I think we should focus on doing our job really well and build an army of undercover ragtag of misfits we'll put in the hideout. Would had voted and argue for Triss to start building social connection because I think we need to weave a web of strong and influent but appearing not hero-strong people is our way to go for a REEAAAAAALLLLY long-term play - centuries long.
>>6292504>Acquire an assetLet's see if we can find a small magic school that suits our needs
>>6292504+1 to >>6292508 and >>6292527. Personally, I'm thinking a tutor for our amazon-in-training.
>>6292508>>6292527>>6292690>>6292753>Acquire an asset>Promising elven mage studentThe Academy of Magic is somehow both a quiet and busy place. Built near the city centre of Undolorei, the capital of the province, it is the most prestigious magical educational institution in the neighbouring lands, and, really, even the whole Kingdom, rivalling the universities of Endra for the most powerful mage graduates and esteemed professors.You arrive at night, after another exhausting day of work, yet even at this hour the students quietly hurry about in the light of magical lanterns from one tree-building to another. You aren't here to talk to them - you have a meeting with someone quite a bit more powerful - the rector of the Academy. As you ascend the steps to his office, you can't help but be thankful for your position as a Court noble and dispatched investigator - it affords you more weight in deciding whom to meet and when......"We've got many promising students that are expected to go on the Register, or even are listed already. However..." the old elf's voice is full of mocking glee, "it is our policy not to reveal their information unless it is explicitly needed in the investigations of scourges or high-ranking officials."You exhale with exasperation. Rector Sildail Coldin, a blue-haired elf with inquisitive, intelligent eyes, looks at you with patience, awaiting your response. It is true you're not a scourge, nor an official of a particularly high rank, even with the authority of the Capital behind you. You'll have to come up with a reason for "doubting" the students. Or perhaps reveal your plan to the elves, however risky it may be... Either way, it'll be more of a pain than taking a girl from an orphanage in the backwater of Amazonia.>Tell the rector you want to check the students' history since one of them may be implicated in the losses of mana lantern fuel and resin shortages. There's information suggesting someone in the Academy has been the endpoint of its illegal accumulation and smuggling.>Risk it. Reveal that you wish to "get rid of the blood tax" and watch his reaction. Perhaps you can gain an ally much greater than a mere student here.>Write-in? Another reason, another approach?
>>6293470>Risk it. Reveal that you wish to "get rid of the blood tax" and watch his reaction. Perhaps you can gain an ally much greater than a mere student here.
>>6293470>>Tell the rector you want to check the students' history since one of them may be implicated in the losses of mana lantern fuel and resin shortages. There's information suggesting someone in the Academy has been the endpoint of its illegal accumulation and smuggling.Lay low. Get assets while thoroughly being careful. Play the really long game. Too much risk for now. We can spin things around once we have a couple town under control - maybe even a whole town/province of "Unregistered".At that point we can thoroughly scam the blood tax system - and we'll let Headmaster Whats-her-name in the greater plan to send away in "exchange" or having "field trip day accidents" of promising student.We can't flip the established order only with 1 kiddo and local school provisor after all
>>6293470>>6293476+1
>>6293470>Tell the rector you want to check the students' history since one of them may be implicated in the losses of mana lantern fuel and resin shortages. There's information suggesting someone in the Academy has been the endpoint of its illegal accumulation and smuggling.Let’s be prudent.
>>6293470>Tell the rector you want to check the students' history since one of them may be implicated in the losses of mana lantern fuel and resin shortages. There's information suggesting someone in the Academy has been the endpoint of its illegal accumulation and smuggling.They'll probably throw us a troublemaker with this framing, which is perfect, since we're planning to make trouble.
>>6293470>>Tell the rector you want to check the students' history since one of them may be implicated in the losses of mana lantern fuel and resin shortages. There's information suggesting someone in the Academy has been the endpoint of its illegal accumulation and smuggling.
>>6293472>>6293476>>6293606>>6293636>>6293718>>6293859>Tell the rector you want to check the students' history since one of them may be implicated in the losses of mana lantern fuel and resin shortages. There's information suggesting someone in the Academy has been the endpoint of its illegal accumulation and smuggling."If you must know the exact reason," you say, "it is that information from the archives suggests the Academy is an endpoint of mana lantern fuel and magical resin smuggling. Now, I do not want to say that any of the great professors are conspirators, but students may very well be. That is why I need to take a look at their history. And if you were to point me to someone suspicious, I would question them right away."Sildail scrutinises you for a few seconds, then speaks. "Very well. There are a few students that work with resin and mana distillate. But even with their troublesome character, I am confident they're innocent. Let me write down their names. You can find their documents in the archives yourself."...(1/2)
With the archives closed at night, you take some time to walk around the campus. It is a strange place, different from the spires and urban sprawl of the Capital. Buildings are embedded in the trunks of gigantic trees, with multiple floors, the upper ones connected by branch-bridges. Mana lanterns, durable as they are, illuminate the area in a cold light. Through some windows, you see students practising spells, through others - study areas where they pore over thick tomes.The night passes by quickly once you return to your Kingdom-mandated dwellings. You come back to the Academy in the early morning, and the archivist grants you access to the archives. You browse the dossiers of students which the rector wrote down, and one of them catches your attention.Elrond Ion is known to be a thorn in the side of both the professors and the demonic administration itself, with numerous insubordination incidents. His grades, however, are good enough to remain in the Academy. The older records mention him being a critic of the Kingdom's dominion over elves, but a visit to the scourges healed these tendencies. Perhaps the old fire still smoulders.You find Elrond in the dorms."Hello," you greet him after being allowed inside. Looking around the room, you find it pretty messy. Papers, books, journals strewn about the tables, unfolded clothes, miniature magical items that you know no purpose of."Make it quick," he says without turning away from his work, "I've got plenty of material to go through without a visitor taking my time.""I saw it mentioned in your dossier that you wanted to overthrow demonic dominion.""Key word: wanted," Elrond says, standing up and turning to face you, "I no longer do.""That's a shame. And here I thought I could find an ally here...""Make a better excuse for turning me in. A demon wishing to end the Kingdom? Rarer than a firefly in winter. Which is to say, one doesn't exist.""You may have met someone impossible, then."Elrond crosses his arms."I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear you out. Maybe I'll be the one turning you in."You grin and start explaining your vision, however basic it may be......With Elrond on your side, you focus on the investigation. Assisted by the scourges, you identify a smuggling ring selling the resin and mana fuel to other provinces at a discount. It takes a couple of weeks to bring the legal shippings to previous levels, but at last, you are done. However, this presents another opportunity. With the lost resources restored, you find the shippings are exceeding the norm. That's good for the province, but you find yourself thinking that maybe you could be the one accumulating them. Just a bit - not enough to bring production lower than the necessary, but shearing off the excessive top.>Start accumulating resin and mana fuel for your needs.>Finish the mission and return to the Capital with a report.>Write-in
>>6294468>Write-in>accumulate only something like one third of the excessive productionKeep our "laying-low" approach to the maximum
>>6294468>Start accumulating resin and mana fuel for your needs.
>>6294475this
>>6294468>>6294475 +1
>>6294475+1
I forgot my trip fml.>>6294475>>6294547>>6294551>>6294846>>6295175>accumulate only something like one third of the excessive productionYou spend a couple weeks more in Eranduene, negotiating with warehouse owners, clerks managing the resin production, and logistics teams. At the end of it, you have a working supply chain shipping and storing the magical materials of the province for you. Not a lot - just a bit of excessive production, but over time, it should amount to enough for additional projects.You appoint Elrond to oversee this operation. The elf scoffs at the task, pointing out his grades will take a hit, but you assure him that unless something happens, most of the process should be automated.It is a bit tough saying goodbye to the elven woods - they are a place of beauty, just like legends tell. Still, with your mission finished, you return to Endra in the middle of spring. Snow has disappeared, and warmth is starting to creep back into the Capital...."It was my birthday last month," Triss mentions a few days after you return."Congratulations. You're 16 now?""Yes.""An adult, then," you say.This brings to memory the question of her living situation. Suddenly bringing an Amazon home was hard to explain to your neighbours. Most of them think she's your concubine, some consider her your apprentice. Either way, keeping her in the same apartment raises questions.You have considered purchasing a room for her. However, in the Capital, even with the generous salary of a Court noble, it's hard to find a reasonable price except in the outskirts. But there's a large number of vagabonds and rogues there, as is expected of folk flocking to the gates of a prestigious city, but unable to enter it.Perhaps settling her in another province and providing for her studies from a distance would be a better idea, but that would deprive her of immediate access to the vast libraries of Endra.As you prepare to go to Aeulida once again, this time to strengthen your base with wards, you also consider simply taking her with you and leaving her at the hideout.What will you do about this?>Spend a lot to buy an apartment or room in the Capital. In the future, you can send a couple other trainees there as well.>Purchase a house in another province's capital city. Access to the conveniences of civilisation, but not on the level of Endra.>Send her to the hideout. It's nice to also have a person there to respond in case of emergencies.>Write-inYou also think about your next step. Perhaps doing something with the trickle of magical materials in Eranduene would be reasonable. Put them to use immediately. Maybe doing assignments in other provinces, using the opportunity to recruit more people? Set up covert workshops for weaponry? Recruiting agents and doing grassroots work, spreading discontent among the common population? A lot can be done, and plenty of time to do it as well.>Pick focus for the next year or so.
>>6296180>Send her to the hideout. It's nice to also have a person there to respond in case of emergencies.>Next year or so.>Continue training Triss, gather relations, and all the things aboveMight as well do it all, we got time, discreetly of course
>>6296180>>Send her to the hideout. It's nice to also have a person there to respond in case of emergencies.Also,>Get her a job like guard/ranger to hone her fighting skills and start getting her liked by the locals.>Next year or soHelp Triss settle down, including training and mental wellbeing.Arrange for Elrond to "inherit" a workshop of magesmith or something - we'll turn the guy into our ArtificerScout for a Rogue and Bard prospects
>>6296180>>6296191 +1
>>6296180>Send her to the hideout. It's nice to also have a person there to respond in case of emergencies.
>>6296191+1
Rolled 17, 59 = 76 (2d100)>>6296182>>6296191>>6296210>>6296226>>6296463>Send her to the hideout. It's nice to also have a person there to respond in case of emergencies.>Get her a job like guard/ranger to hone her fighting skills and start getting her liked by the locals.>Help Triss settle down, including training and mental wellbeing.>Arrange for Elrond to "inherit" a workshop of magesmith or something - we'll turn the guy into our Artificer>Scout for a Rogue and Bard prospectsI'm going to roll for 2 things, then write the update itself. Don't want to delay it because of waiting for rolls.1st roll - Elrond magesmith workshop scheme2nd roll - Agent searchAlso let me see if I remember the trip after all.
>>6297498Elrond, not off to a great start.
An announcement. Mostly been improvising so far, and I still want to write for this premise, but I've got no idea what to write about. Or, rather, I've got a few ideas for scenes, some world lore, and one small arc kicking around in my head, but they don't seem exciting or valuable enough to write about. Same for challenges that you may face.I'm abandoning this quest because of this. If anyone wants to pick this up - you have my blessing. Thanks to everyone for playing so far, it's been a pleasure, both the discussion and the write-ins were great. Like I've said, I'd have continued if I had a solid, meaningful plot in my mind. As it is, the quest would be a chain of random, boring posts if I did.I need to stop starting and abandoning quests fml.If you have any questions, I'll still be checking the thread to answer them.
>>6298136Thanks for the annoncement.Yo ucan definitely keep improvising. I liked the semi-random events and felt like a good "slice-of-life" quest, despite no "solid, meaningfull plot".Also, I won't feel like a chain of "random, boring post".However, you do you. Maybe our small story can act as a recurring NPC slowly and carefully accumulating ressources and power
>>6298136Well, that's a shame. Thanks for running, though might I suggest if you really don't want to keeo dropping quests, yous atrt with at least a vague start-to-end outline?
>>6298206Yes, that makes sense. It's just that whenever I work on a particular idea, planning and writing down the various paths, characters and lore of an arc or thread, I tend to lose motivation to run it in a couple weeks or so and switch to another one. There's a lot of preparation required even for a oneshot. I guess I simply need to overcome this hurdle and persevere until motivation returns.
>>6298577>Planning and writing down the various pathsOn a quest with write-in allows, this tends to be harder. I usually create "rough outlines" and let the flow carry me
