Total War: Broken City

[ArcaneStomper]

Sausage Guild

Guild's Row: The Bloody Guildhall
When most people looked at Urso Bloodhand they focused on his massive size, his intimidating presence, his bloodstained clothing, or if present his worryingly large cleavers. In short they focused on the fact that he looked like a massive bruiser. The epitome of a Guild strong man who ran their guild by muscle rather than brains. Since Urso hardly ever came to the surface it was hardly a surprise that they neglected to realize he had controlled the Sausage Guild for decades at the very least, perhaps far longer. Which wouldn't have been possible if he had been all muscle and no brains.

In fact Urso did rely on his muscles to get the job done. The difference was he thought of his brain as just another muscle. Although not formally educated he was well read and had a keen mind which he normally applied to solving the Guild's various logistical difficulties. And right now the part of his brain that read histories for fun and the one that reviewed the guild's more shady finances were both telling him that these con men were not acting like con men. They were acting like professional spies who had just been found out by the government and were frantically trying to hide their activities.

He had expected to deal with a bunch of tricksters and confidence agents who would try to bluster their way out, but that didn't mean he wasn't prepared to change tactics as the need arose.

"Smokebeard get up there and put out whatever it is I smell burning, Harold run back and tell Shaper Goraz that I want Big Bertha and Spot putting cordons underneath all the guild houses and I want them here yesterday. Jenkins take a squad around the back and catch anyone who comes out. The rest of you are with me. Let's see if we can't catch one of these imposters. I want to have a little chat with them."

And with Urso ran further into the house. He didn't need to look back to know that his guild members would be scrambling to obey his orders.

To the Council

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We can give you food reports. But if you are expecting a sudden influx of refugees we need to know as soon as possible so we can increase the speed of our operational expansion.

To Dr. Vasari

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Have your evidence sent over. We will see if any Blood Magic was involved or not.

[Ragnar Lodbroke]

The meeting [PM]

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"Agreed, then!

One last thing: We should all retreat from the neighbourhood after killing the Librarian. The Party troops mst certainly will.

That will generate further confussion.

It will be easier to put the magic district under government control if we allow the enemy to fight amongst itself. With the Librarian dead, we can plan what to do [next turn], and have no need to stay in Dogma."

OOC:

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What I mean, that is what I instructed in the EoT.
Should someone have a different idea, talk to me and I will change my EoT.

[oblivion6]

mercantile's guild

to doctor vasiri

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i was wondering if you would be interested in setting up a small clinic in the stocks district next month. i have been losing dozens of men and caravaneers patrolling the trade-routes and i believe a clinic in the stocks could help stem that tide. it also has the added bonus of being able to assist foreigners who might choose to visit the city once our diplomatic corp is up and running. i can of course provide the funding as long as you supply the staff.

[Zemalac]

Turn 5 Results
October, 1032 DR

The Sav Altulas Standard
We're Back, Bitches

Sponsored by the Bookbinder's Guild

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What follows is the month's contents of the Standard, summarized in reports on your desk, with occasional excerpts included for context.

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Fighting has broken out in the Gear among members of the machine-cult operating there, with the compound of the Gear's Chosen being destroyed by fire. Afterwards a massive, shining thing could be seen moving through the streets, traveling across the city to the Smokeyards, escorted by fanatical cultists.

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Excerpt from the Standard

The Breaking Point

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The Gear’s Chosen have shattered. By October most of the cult, lulled by Mercantile’s Guild gold and promises, had effectively become part of the Guild hierarchy, but a vocal minority still viewed this imposition of Guild operations as detrimental to the greater goals that they strive for. Working at night, and in seclusion from their fellow cultists, this splinter group made plans for what to do when their fellows succumbed to temptation and join the Guild in full.

On October 12, 1032 DR, the Gear’s Chosen officially accepted the sponsorship of the Mercantile’s Guild, with much fanfare, buying of expensive drinks, promises of great progress and an invitation to tour the Chosen’s compound and see what they have been working on.

On October 13, 1032 DR at noon exactly, the Gear’s Chosen tore themselves apart. Those members of the cult who were loyal to the Guild were in the entry hall, greeting their distinguished visitors, which left the discontented conspirators free reign of the workshops. By the time the alarm bells had started ringing they had already stolen most of the blueprints and the holy books, and were busily burning the rest. The representatives of the Mercantile’s Guild on the scene were blinded by the light of the battle that followed, so most witness accounts have had to rely on more distant observers. The splinter group members of the cult had seized the Gilded Pyramid, a device that is equal parts holy idol and weapon of mass destruction, using its mirrors and planes of burnished gold to reflect and refract the sun of this chilly autumn day into a burning apocalypse. They burned the workshops, they burned their fellow cultists for their traitorous love of gold, they burned the walls of the compound and drove steam-powered engines over the rubble.

The path that the Gilded Pyramid left was not subtle, and nor were the actions of the hardcore fanatics who went with it. At about the same time as the Chosen compound was burning, on the other side of the city a small army of recently-hired factory workers threw off their work gloves and drew weapons. By the time the Pyramid reached the Smokeyards, Factories South was already under the control of the fanatical machine-cult. By the end of the month the neighborhood would be almost unrecognizable as the cult priests reconfigured the factories to suit their own bizarre designs. Those cultists in the Gear who survived the leaving of the fanatics have joined with the Mercantile’s Guild, but the cult lives on, reborn in fire and the fanatic, diamond-hard faith of its new Grand Designer, Marius Van Ryan.

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The construction of the Council Road, funded largely by the Mercantile’s Guild, begins to snake its winding way through the city. Construction is not completed this month, but it does manage to get quite a ways, with the vanguard currently working in the Chain Run.

The new (and rather small) diplomatic corps consists mostly of members known to be working for either the Mercantile’s Guild or Doctor Vassari, decked out in finery provided by the Silversmith’s Guild.

Mercantile's Guild agents in the Shattered Lands have successfully counter-ambushed and killed the leader of the Stone Wolves bandit group when the warg-riders tried to raid one of their caravans. Most of the information about the raid that has been feeding the rumor mill comes from the Guild agents involved, when they were spending their share of the bounty in the taverns and other dens of sin.

The Shipwright's Guild has produced the first of many merchant-marine vessels for the Mercantile's Guild.

A massive collaboration between the Mercantile's Guild, the Heladuit Court, the Silversmith's Guild and certain disreputable parties in the Triphage Untima has brought an influx of warlords' men to the city, intent on acquiring the luxuries offered by those parties.

Rumor has it that the Mercantile's Guild has begun making friends who know how to get in touch with the warlords spread throughout the Shattered Lands.

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Excerpt from the Standard

The False and Rightful Kings

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They call themselves soldiers, but no army under the sun would accept them as such. Many of them might have called each other enemies in the past, but that is behind them now. Their warlords are dead or they themselves are fled from the constant fighting in the Shattered Lands.

Still, some of them still know what’s going on, out there in the big bad world, and some of them still have friends out there who might be interested in what an Altulan with coin might have to say…

Warlord Contacts trait discovered in the Traveler's Quarter.

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The second Blackfist football tournament sees a slightly smaller turnout than the first, and is once again won by the Technists Guild, as they have continued to fill their team roster with professional military personnel. Rumor has it that the Empty Blood Gang has sworn to see the team captain's head on a pike.

Blackfist Brotherhood cells are spreading throughout the city.

The Fist of Neposh and the Militia of Order and Justice have driven the Esoteric Order of Uncorrupted Designs from Lead Ferrow. In the aftermath the Order's workshops have been seized by High Watchman Kos, and Militia troops are digging into defensive positions in the neighborhood. Rumor has it that Richard Hearthfeather, commander of the Fist of Neposh, has taken the Militia's claim to the neighborhood as a personal insult, and has vowed revenge.

Harvey Hashawk, leader of the Church of Neposh, has been seen both with the wizard Delathion in Annosus and at the Dancer of the Wool Street Gang one neighborhood over.

The Mouth of Neposh has been spending a lot of time in the Bleak Cathedral of late.

A school focusing on healing and enchanting magic has opened in Pews.

A massive operation rumored to be orchestrated by both the Order of the Wren and Doctor Vassari of Bloodhaven has ended with the complete destruction of a building in All Gods' Hollow by a sizable amount of explosives. The Order is evacuating the area around the wreckage as a poisonous cloud expands from the rubble, telling anyone feeling anything out of the ordinary to go to the Bloodhaven Clinic in Tragic Court immediately. Many in the area are complaining of feelings of numbness, light-headedness and watery or stinging eyes as blood begins to flow from tear ducts.

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Excerpt from the Standard

Explosions Rock Runner's City!

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They never even saw his face. The apartment where they thought they had him trapped was filling with mist as they opened the door, drifting fumes coming from the room where they had found the Judge last month. The Doctor had given them cloths to put over their faces, soaked in some kind of antivenin that was supposed to counter the poison, but even with that and with no inch of skin showing the toxin still had some minor vectors to invade their bodies. Already, moving down the hall towards the target, they could feel the numbness beginning in the tips of their fingers.

When they kicked open the door and flooded the room with swords, their quarry was nowhere to be seen. The only light came from the smouldering fire, from which smoke poured like mist into the room.

"You moved the judge," said the shadows in the corner, in a voice as dry and soft as sand, a note of irritation tinging the words. "Everything back the way it was, so exact, but you needed to treat the dead with respect. Did you think I would not notice?"

The swords turned, the man stepped out of the shadows casually lighting a fuse that snaked away under the floorboards, and it was then that everything went to hell.

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Conflicting rumors abound in Runner's City. Skeeve Redeye has been sighted. Redeye has been killed by the Order of the Wren, or by Doctor Vassari. Redeye is alive, but wounded. Redeye killed the Wren, or Doctor Vassari, or both. Redeye killed the sorceress. Redeye is an ancient god of death come back to the mortal world to punish us for our sins. Redeye has already killed everyone in the city, and this is actually purgatory, where the gods will observe our actions and judge us for all time.

The painted elf gangs in Orange Crown have been suppressed by Warden police forces, led personally by Commander Tarmin.

The lunatic Dragonhead Vendetta has been removed from the city by Warden forces under the command of Malcolm Exarn, ex-head warden of Gatehouse Prison. Rumors of the Hath Poisoner's Society still being active in Sav Altulas are unconfirmed at this time.

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Excerpts from the Standard

Far Down South

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It is said that all painted elves know each other on sight. This is not true; they only act like they do, in order to confuse outsiders. That said, there is no practical difference between two jungle elves who have been blood brothers since they were born and two who have just met. The jungle tribes are split into a thousand different fragments, each with their own clan traditions that change with the moon and the tides, but all of them are united in treating the dull world outside their brightly-colored home as a joke where only they get the punchline.

Here in Sav Altulas, in this pleasant tavern on the southeast corner of the markets, you may find elves who have friends who have friends who have friends that stretch all the way back to the Sunset Jungles, where (if asked in the correct manner) tribal shamans might brew up some strange and deadly jungle magic and send it back north, just for the laugh.

Wear A Mask, Wear A Face

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The Emporium of Masks is a strange building. There is no decoration on the outside, not even graffiti, nothing but a set of large green-painted doors with clear crystal windows that must have cost a small fortune. The interior is poorly lit, with shadows forming artistic murals on the walls. The Emporium is never robbed, and the only people who go in and out are furtive, and often hooded or masked. Here are sold strange toxins and their antidotes, medicines for conditions that do not exist this far north, hourglasses where sand falls upward, and, of course, the masks. Dozens of them line each wall. Painted, plain, ornate or blank, in as many sizes as anyone might ever need.

The owner knows each mask by name. Each has meaning to him, and each has a story behind it. Listen carefully, and he will tell you. Listen more carefully, know the hidden phrases and barbed-needle etiquette of Arun, and he might tell you more.

Jungle Contacts discovered in Orange Crown.
Arun Contacts discovered in Dragonhead.

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Kylar DePoche, feared Ensigarim assassin from Dragonhead, has been put on retainer by the Wardens.

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Excerpt from the Standard

The Man From Arun

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Kylar DePoche, when he arrives at Warden HQ in Imperial First, is a strange looking man. His skin, hair and eyes are all very pale, which contrasts starkly with the loose black clothing he wears. Baggy pants, loose shirt, black cloth belt tied neatly in front; the only speck of color is a couple of red beads on the ties holding his sandals to his feet. The only weapon he carries is a short glaive (shaft painted black, of course), which has clearly not been sharpened to Warden standards. To the Wardens on duty, he does not really look like he could possibly be worth what they are paying him. They have heard stories about Ensigarim assassins, campfire tales of them moving like lightning and floating through the air and slaying demons with a touch, but aside from his admittedly unsettling paleness DePoche does not really look the part of a mystical Arunian killer. His clothing is rumpled, his hair wild, his face unshaven. To the disciplined and orderly Wardens, this disheveled man appears no better than the civilians they guard. Only his eyes betray him as anything beyond the ordinary. One of the more eloquent soldiers compared them to the eyes of a wolf, and not without reason, though it would be a strange and savage wolf indeed that looked at the world through the flecks of ice set in DePoche’s expressionless face.

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The economy in White Market has recovered completely from Deplorian's operation moving elsewhere, with MecLochire and Kerriglass Messenger and Delivery both setting up permanent operations in the neighborhood.

The Librarian of the Elements has, with limited success, defended Dogma from the largest army raised in the city in recent memory. Forces from the ESGE (along with their Blackjack Boys), House Wallen, the EBSA, and the Champions of Sovereignty attacked intending to drive out the Cult of the Librarian and draw wizards out of the Dead Campus and into antimagic screens (a force from the Ram Revolution was delayed en route by negotiations with local watch forces to let the armed body of men pass through other factions' territory, and ended up never making it to the battle). In this they succeeded, but the arrival of new and unexpected allies for the Librarian prevented complete victory. Little is known about the events of the battle except that Dogma has been completely destroyed. Those parts of it that are not actively on fire are rubble, the locals are living like war refugees, and civilization in general has broken down.

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Excerpt from the Standard

Sifter, Shaker, Soldier, Storm

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The hero with the magic sword
Strode the mountains high:
Where three dark men
In three dark cloaks
Walked a path of lies.

The hero met the three dark men
(Dark cloaks, dark staves, dark mien)
And now the hero burns in flame
And now the Mages walk again
For all the world they claim.

-The Mages Walk

Common children's rhyme from the mountain tribes, generally regarded as being about the Mages Ubiquitous; specifically, about their habit of seeking out ancestral, magical relics from those same tribes and taking them by force.

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The Librarian's alliance with the Mages Ubiquitous, combined with extensive infiltration and subversion efforts on the part of the coalition fighting her, has seen mages deserting her side in record numbers.

Lord Founder has been seen up and about in Old Face, well on the path to recovery from his injuries in September.

The Commerce House in Guild Row has been destroyed by controlled demolitions set up by unknown parties. The Sausage Guild is rumored to be investigating.

The Ansigaris are now a part of the Sausage Guild, as inseparable as the carvers themselves.

The Ram's Revolutionary Army has moved into the Pits and begun clearing out the gangs there.

A new school has opened in Rot's Borough, constructed by the Ram and assisted by the Technists Guild, intending to give the locals a basic education.

Revolution-sponsored "Freedom Arches" have opened in Annosus and Dozen Dancers. These restaurants and bars have quickly become a meeting ground for democrats and other radicals.

Flintlock weapons have begun appearing in the hands of the Militia of Order and Justice, as well as Lodstrom Party Guard forces.

Lord Henry Wallen has been in seclusion for most of the month, writing a political manifesto for his Party.

New EBSA field offices have opened in Icy Mont, Fat Tippest, Mains, Fractures, Milford, Artisans, Smithway, the Druegar Grounds, Old Jack's Run, and Frostcap.

The Bookbinder's Guild has been releasing propaganda praising the EBSA, especially their actions against the Librarian and her MU allies.

The Archer Houses in Dappled Court have been completely destroyed by the Heladuit vendetta.

The Silversmith's Guild has been quietly expanding operations, with a focus on forges in Dappled Court.

House Laurier troops have spent the month engaged in war games within Lomb Circle.

It is rumored that the Lauriers have brought in a foreign expert to train their intelligence arm.

Connections have grown between the Laurier mercantile empire and contacts in Merdallan and Elsinier.

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Excerpts from the Standard

The Old School

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There have been Merdallan merchants in Royal Court ever since the Pretender King fled across the mountains and brought his followers to Sav Altulas. Since then the Kingdom has forgotten that ancient pretender to the throne, and those who wanted to return to Merdallan have done so. Those who remain are still of Kingdom stock, though, and they still have friends and family back in the old country. Swords are sold here, old tapestries and armor and enchantments in the old style. You will not find any modern magitech in Royal Court, but you will find flaming swords and inexplicable magic and the best steel in all the world.

I Was Frozen Today

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Ice elves, as a rule, do not like the south. There are many reasons for this; the heat, the lesser races blighting the landscape, the reminders of the empire they have lost, that sort of thing. Those who do leave the frozen castles of Elsinier tend to be a more open-minded type, hardened to heat and strife. They are, generally, mistrusted.

Frost seeps out the edges of this doorway every time it is opened, causing a quiet murmur of complaint from inside as the quiet drinkers feel the brush of warmth. No one but the elves visits this tavern, partially because of the cold and partially because of the clientele, which makes it a perfect location for those who want to do business without blunt ears overhearing—or for those who want to talk to these creatures of frost and snow that are so elusive elsewhere in the city.

Merdallan Contacts discovered in Royal Court.
Elsinier Contacts discovered in Broken Arch.

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The Technists Guild have successfully flown a primitive airship around Gaspar's Folly on a brief maiden flight.

The bodies of several men identified as employees of the Blackthorne and Exodus Carriage Houses were discovered nailed to the side of Traitor's Bridge. Thus far neither House has offered any comment on the matter.

There has been some sort of disturbance on one of the islands in Brecombe Lake commonly used by smugglers.

Fighting between the warlords Maximilian Greeves and Cord Witchbrother has lulled as both sides recruit more troops and rearm.

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Bounty Board
All prices listed are in t.WEL unless otherwise stated, and will be paid out immediately upon confirmation by the bounty poster.

Skeeve Redeye: Poisoner, serial killer, alchemist, dollmaker and rumored demon.
2 from Agia Lonecutter, 6 from Illarym Empire

Unknown Raiders: Whoever stole the Imperial weapons meant for the Wardens from the caravan delivering them to the city.
2 from Imperial Trade Ministry

Blackfist Press
1 from Bookbinder's Guild

Technist Press: 4 to anyone who destroys the press blueprints designed by the Technists Guild.
Posted by Bookbinder's Guild

Unknown Murderer: Whoever killed the people found dead at the opening of the Wallen Wing at Bloodhaven Hospital last month.
1 from Doctor Vassari

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Turn 6 Begins
November, 1032 DR

[puppyavenger]

The Gears Chosen

ESP-D 8

Marius Van Ryan was a happy man, or at least as close to it as he ever got. His face was warmed by the fires of industry as he surveyed his new domain. The resurrection of Factories South as a place fully dedicated to divining and enacting the Supreme Will was almost complete, and soon the district would once again begin booming with the efforts of industry.

With his current workshop situated right next to the current resting place of the Golden Pyramid, Van Ryan had an excellent view of the cause for the Chosen's current success. But now that a new, pure Temple had been created, it was once again time to look to the city at large.

Soon masses of messages were being sent to neighbouring factions, carried either by Runner or clockwork contraption

To the Necromancers of the Mendicants Fields

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Greetings. Currently we have no use for the flesh of men once it has expired, but we always have need for more workers ,especially those who wouldn't complain about endless hours or the occasional injury. We realize you have problems with the false priests in the Fields, and for a small but regular contribution of workers, we'd be happy to put it in your hands.

Joshua

To the Techsmiths Guild

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Your doctrine is full of heresy and corruption, but recent events have shown abundantly that our structure was deeply imperfect as well. We would like to propose a conference of sorts, in order to attempt and divine a more perfect understanding of the Will and Way of the future

Grand Engineer Marius Van Ryan

Ram Revolution

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Although you have deeply offended us by attempting to despoil the Divine Will and its most recent incarnation, you failed as was ordained and at the moment we have no great quarrel with you, and hope to come to some sort of understanding and peace

The Mercantile Guild

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You are the avatar of depravity and corruption, the mire dragging down those who seek to enact the divine will. I and all those around me, demand that you turn over those traitors who would have sided with you over their professed religion, or we shall not rest until your works are ash and dust

Marius Van Ryan

[Eldan]

The Blackfist to the Chosen [6]

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It seems we have new neighbours. It's only polite to introduce ourselves and perhaps bring a gift.

The gift is a warning.

You offer to give away the bodies of dead workers to necromancers. You have proven to be ruthless and careless in your destruction of your enemies, endangering bystanders. We will have an eye on you.

Though for your kind words for the Mercantile guild, we might almost like you.

The Middle Finger

[ForzaFiori]

Ram Revolution

TO: Gear's Chosen

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Our apologies for our errant action. We were attempting to repay a debt - I'm sure you can understand how matters of honor can occasional require one to commit deeds they'd rather not.

[puppyavenger]

To the Blackfist (6)

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We appreciate the cordial welcome, but we must ask why you disprove of the use of necromancers to reanimate a workforce? Surely you would prefer that to the quick and living risking life and limb every day? Even if you would consider a corpse more then a sack of meat once the soul departs, surely the desecration of a corpse is preferable to the death of a man, who might have done works more grand and virtuous then being merely a cog of industry?

To the Revolution (7)

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Our old masters were weak and faithless, as has been proven, so we shall not hold grudges for actions against them. Some sort of recompense would be greatly appreciated, however.

[Eldan]

Blackfist to Chosen [6]

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And did you ask these men if they wanted to serve?

[Grimsage Matt]

Technists Guild to the Gears chosen

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Sure, we could have a meeting. Preferably out of range of that pyramid you've got. Nothing personal, but superweapons tend to cast a bit of a cloud over talks.

[ForzaFiori]

Ram Revolution:

TO: Gear's Chosen

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We would offer you a form of compensation, but are currently spread as wide as we can. When we get a hold of things, we will be better able to show our sorrow. If you would like it to happen sooner, you could always help us out a bit.

[puppyavenger]

To Blackfist (6)

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The Living? Of course. they rose up in arms to welcome us after all, they would hardly fight in order to be enslaved.

to Techsmiths Guild (5)

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Fair enough. Perhaps in your hangers? Your new airships seem to almost equal the Pyramid in achievement.

To Revolution (7)

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We are, I'm afraid, rather ignorant of the byzantine politics of the slums. In what ways could we aid you?

[Nyrt]

Esoteric Society of Gentleman Explorers [6]

EBSA, House Wallen, Champions of sovereignty, Ram Revolution (I think)

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It is good to see how successful our efforts were! While The Librarian barely defended against our forces, her forces are greatly diminished. [OOC: her Morale has hit 0!] Firstly, I would like conformation of your continued support, and secondly, I would like to speak of plans for when the MU threat is taken care of. I would like to re-establish the University as a center of learning for the city. While schools have been appearing as often as plentifully as spring flowers in recent months, the University could become something more. I would like to gather patrons for this endevor, as well as for an opera house who's profits would go towards rebuilding Dogma and the university.

In addition, we cannot let the people who have been displaced from dogma go without shelter. I propose that we find temporary shelter for these people until their homes can be rebuilt.

[ForzaFiori]

Ram Revolution

TO: Gear's Chosen

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You may have noticed the cesspit of criminal activity to the south of your neighborhood, in the area commonly called "The Pits". It's a quite apt title for the region - it's home to numerous gangs and criminal alliances, all constantly competing for dominance and generally walking over the civilians. The Revolution is here to support the rights of the people of this city, we find it our duty to rid the neighborhood of the gangs. We're currently in the process of doing so, though the natives know the area better, obviously. If you could lend us physical aid in dealing with the gangs, or provide some sort of technology that can let us find them in the mess of streets, we would be grateful, and willing to help you in a problem of your choosing.

OOC: My economy isn't great, but I'd be willing to help out with a military or espionage activity you need done, both in repayment for my previous activities, and in payment for your help if you give it.

TO: Esoteric Society of Gentlemen Explorers

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First, our apologize for the tardiness of our troops - the Library is on the opposite side of the city. We will continue to provide what we can to the efforts, but we are currently removing dangerous criminals much closer to our own people, which has priority over events across the city, of course.

As to the people of the area, Runner's City has long been the home of refugees and those with no place to go. Should no better option be found, I would expect many could find some place to stay here.

[puppyavenger]

To the Revolution

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although we obviously are not exactly flush with cash ourselves, we would be happy to provide some small support

[Eldan]

Blackfist

To the Society of Gentlemen Explorers, Ram Revolution and everyone else who wants to read it, really:

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We are working on a project to house such refugees, actually. you can soon send them over to us.

[ForzaFiori]

Ram Revolution

TO: Gear's Chosen

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Monetarily is not the only way you could help us - Military, Espionage, or Technological help would also be appreciated. Anything that would help the people throw off the yokes of the criminals.

[puppyavenger]

The Revolution

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we would most likely be to supply some armed help at leader then /

[oblivion6]

mercantile's guild
morale:4

to gears chosen

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i have not done anything wrong so i will not give up the gains i have made from their merger with me. . all i did was fund their weapon...which i really should demand as payment from you. however i will not, but i assure you they had the option to continue working as they were.

if you insist on pressing the issue then i must insist that we meet and discuss this privately.

the Trader

to the house laurier

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so i have a propisition for you. i believe you have contacts within the city of bells? i was wondering if you would be interested in helping me hire the mercenaries there and performing a joint series of war-games in the shattered lands with us.

house laurier/technists guild

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i heard about the test-flight of your airships. i believe i can finally supply you with a bit of money to help fix any last bugs. after that who knows? these could prove very beneficial to our trading with foreign powers.

to warlords

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i would like to meet with a representitiveif you are willing.

to GM

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so gerald nielson has already made inqiuries about the deck-guns so all i have to do is send him 3 temp wealth and he'll ship them to me?

would gaining MIL throug training go toward my stat-cap? i figure it might not since technically its not like it would take up any space since it just represents better trained men.

i realize this will likely take a long time but how feasible would establishing defensive outposts along the trade routes through the shattered-lands be? if those are possible then i might also try to establish "hostels" at set intervals along the route. basically small guarded inns and enclaves where people rest and stay at night.

[puppyavenger]

To the Mercantile Guild (4)

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Very well, if you believe some conversation can somehow absolve you of your sins, I would love to hear whatever offers and proposals you will try to buy our soul with. You are personally welcome to come to the factories at your own leisure.

[Grimsage Matt]

To the Gears Chosen

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How bout we meet at one of our offices? We don't use 'em much, but I think there was a confrence room built a few years back.

[puppyavenger]

To the Technists Guild (5)

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Ah, I think you misunderstand. I mean a full conference, of the sort with multiple delegates and full debate. Unfortunately I am already occupied for this month, and I feel that such an event requires my personal attention.

Van Ryan

[oblivion6]

mercantile's guild

to gears chosen[PM]

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as a merchants guild, all we want is too be left in peace with our riches and our trading empire. i did nothing to force the faithful to join us, of that i promise. nor do i wish to have a never ending feud on my hands. what do you desire as compensation? as long as you are reasonable we can work this out peacefully.

[puppyavenger]

to the Mercantile Guild (PM)

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As the trader arrives, he is met by Joshua, the tall Ice Elf attache to Van Ryan. hearing the Traders argument he says You say you just want to be left in peace, yet you control one of the largest fiefs in the city, and continue to grow apace. Where are the borders of this trading empire you seek to enjoy, hmm? It certainly seems to have enough swords around to appear as an Empire of a different nature. And all the mercenaries coming to your call like vultures to a fresh battlefield certainly don't speak of peace.

So you understand we are skeptical when you talk of peace and diplomacy. And you ask what we wish as recompense. Personally I would rather we just go our separate ways and let the miles of gangs and toughs keep us apart, but that is not possible, and you seem bent on connecting the city even more. So the Designer names three prices, for mind body and soul. The Heart cries for blood, the mind craves knowledge, and the soul yearns for enlightenment. The blood of those who betrayed God, any and all texts and books that survived our flight, and the coin to incarnate the designs of the Supreme Will into this fallen world. Would that be "reasonable"?

To the UAL

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My apologies for our dramatic entrance and redemption of what I have learned you considered your territory. The Chosen truly have no quarrel with you, you make no claims on the spirit and enact no heresies or desecrations. In fact, I would hope we can achieve some working relationship of a sort, as we are ever in need of more factory space and certain designs of the Supreme Will would require the use of the drydocks and warfs you have command of. If you are amenable, I would like to meet in person and discuss some sort of commission or arrangement.

Joshua

To the Dreumont of Icy Mount

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(Written in fluent Ice Elven)

Hail! It is good to find those who embrace a real culture in this sadly fallen city. I am a recent arrival from the North and if it were possible, I would very much like to come and converse with those who have knowledge of artful things. I represent a religion of great force, and I would like to ensure that civilized peoples such as yourself are destroyed by the violent barbarians rampaging through the City.

Joshua

[Thelonius]

Medico Guild Announcement

Dr. Vassari pledges to establish a Medico Guild in the Sav Altulas. ''The Shattered Lands have been a hotbed of plagues for far too long. I intend to change that.''

Silversmith's Guild, Mercantile Guild, Sausage Guild, Technist Guild, Heladuit Court [5]

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''Guildsmen. Nobles. Cultists. I act here as a representative of the Medico Guild, and address you as craftsmen and makers. We are the lifeblood of the city. We bring work, trade, progress and food to the people of Sav Altulas. In our cooperation, we are strong, as recent opening of the new markets have shown. Yet at the same time our wealth inspires envy and greed, each our success makes us more lucrative target. I propose that we join forces in promoting trade and prosperity, and in defending our gains.
Let us form Sovereign Guilds of Sav Altulas Association

[If Guilds agree, I propose we hold the first meeting, with Vasari's guards posted at all entrances to prevent any spies from listening in.]

Private Meeting [PM]

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Guild's Raw

I propose, that Guilds return to their rightful place at the Guild's row. We can invest together to rebuild our presence there, increasing our prestige and making it easier for prospective clients and business partners to reach us. Additionally, a Guild Hall can be established, where regular meetings of the Association can be held, without danger of spies.

[OOC - I think we can make Guild Hall, that will allow us to send PMs to each other without spending VIPs or stats.]

Airships Fleet

The airships of the Technist Guild are the project, that will bring us the most profit at the moment. A fleet of large cargo transports would allow us to expand volume of trade, avoid criminals on the roads and reach markets beyond the Shattered Lands. Each of us can contribute something in return for a share of profits.

Guild Defenses

I believe, that to protect our interests we need some force to intimidate anybody, who would seek to attack us. Now, it can be a military strength. We can make an agreement, by which our guards would aid each other, if one of us is attacked. This will require a good system of communications and roads. If Sausage Guild is attacked, our reinforcements would need to rush through the whole city. As of now, the Council Road will at least connect the Heaven's Gate and Triphage Untima to Mercantile Guild, once it is finished.

Another way would be to create a shadow organization to protect our interests. It can be simply spies, but I fear against determined opponent, only the blades of the Assassins would serve as an effective deterrent.

We can also try to rely on the power of others - Council, Warlords or put a mercenary force on retainer. It can be the cheapest variant, especially if nobody attacks us, but also the least reliable, as it depends on trustworthiness of others.

Sovereign Guild Association of Sav Altuals: Budget Proposal

[These are numbers I propose, but feel free to contribute more, if you wish. We'll have the profits depend on the amount of contribution.]

Main Project: Airship Fleet
Technist Guild:
? MAG/WEL in Airship Construction
2 MOR: Train Mechanics for Airships [aided by School]
Heladuit Court
2 WEL, 2MAG: Fabric for Aerostats
2 MOR: Train Airship Officers
Medico Association
Verdan Contacts: Technist Guild will be able to order components and experts to aid in Airship development.
2 WEL: Investment in Airships
2 MOR: Train Ship Doctors
Silversmith Guild
3 WEL: Hiring Birdmen of Shattered Lands to serve as Sailors with jewelry [Will use Mercantile Guild Warlord Contacts].
Sausage Guild
1 WEL, 2 MAG: Blood-Magic Preserved Rations for Airships
1 MOR: Train Ship's Cooks
Mercantile Guild
? WEL: Investment in Airships
Warlord Contacts: Hire Birdmen & start arrangements to accept our Airships shipments.

Secondary Project, Guild Row Restoration:
Everybody, except Sausage Guild: 1 WEL
Sausage Guild: Pledges to protect Guild's Raw, 1 MIL Ansigaris as Honour Guards.

Secondary Project, Council Road:
1 WEL, Medico Guild
1 WEL, Mercantile Guild

Secondary Project: Sovereign Guilds Representatives (former Diplomatic Corps)
Under consideration by Medico Guild.

New Products, Iron Rations:
Sausage Guild
Uses WEL & MAG to develop Iron Rations, that don't spoil, weight little and easily transportable.

We'll pool our resources to expand production and start supplying them to the armies of the warring warlords, war profiteering all the way.

New Products, Guilders:
Silversmith Guild
Uses MAG in cooperation with Exchange to develop a way to produce coins, that can't be counterfeited.

Then we pool our wealth and issue a lot of new coins, declaring, that due to risk of fake coinage, the Sovereign Guilds of Sav Altulas would accept only ''Guilders'' as a valid payment method for purchases above certain amount. You can exchange other coins for Guilders at the Changer's Row. Naturally the rate of exchange will be favourable to us.

[Exchange should be contacted. If Sausage Guild has influence with them, it can be used].

Spider Web

I propose we pool our ESP resources to create a Spider Web - a network of informants and spies, that tell us of all important espionage actions happening in the Sav Altulas, and give us a bonus to ESP actions.

[Ragnar Lodbroke]

To EBSA, Esoteric Society of Gentleman Explorers, Champions of sovereignty, Ram Revolution [6]

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We'll continue support. It's too bad we couldn't get her, but she'll go down eventually.

As for rebuild plans, we will wellcome refugees ni our neighbourhoods. But we believe we need to start to profile them to prevent subvertion from Mages Ubiquitous.

Lodstrom Party Internal Council [PM]

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Madame Beteoui was adressing the Council that day.

"We need new members, specially in the Magical district, as well as in Heavensgate.

I shall start to look for friends there. In the meantime, the refugee situation in Blacksgage needs to be adressed. I propose we do our part, and receive some refugees in our own lands."

[HerbieRAI]

The Church of Neposh

Champions of Justice (DESP 7)

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I feel we need to have a disscussion about Leads Farrow before things get out of hand. We are not upset you are trying to gain influence in the area, after all you did a lot of the fighting, but we did spend a good deal of time and money in the area, and we should come to an agreement before this gets uglier.

[razovor]

The Champions of Sovereignty

To Doctor Vassari [4]

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"I would like to meet with you in private, that I might discuss an issue with you. If that meeting is successful, I would also broach the issue to the Sovereign Guild Association of Sav Altulas."

To the EBSA, House Wallen, the Esoteric Society, and the Ram Revolution [4]

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"We will continue to provide our full assistance against the Librarian."

To House Wallen [4]

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"As the rightful king, I desire permission to send an observer to all meetings of the Party Inner Council."

To the Heladuit Court [PM]

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"I apologise for the delay. What has Javier told you of the discussions we had earlier in the year?"

[Grimsage Matt]

Sovereign Guilds of Sav Altulas Association meeting (PM)

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On the budget, 8 of our 10 WEL is already tied up. However, only 3 of that is fuel costs for our engines. The remaining 5 are in a deal with Gerard Neilson, and we currently have 9/14 WEL in payments to go. In two months time, we'll have Blackpowder Weapons IV, so we could help with defences.

We also have plans reguarding Fat Tippest and the underdocks, and there is one thing we feel we have to mention about our airships. They still have quite a ways to go. We're planing on spending 12 Tech to improve them this month, and probobly next month as well. We'll also send the 1 WEL to rebuild the guild hall. We need the rest for the next three months.

[Imperial Psycho]

The Order of the Wren Morale: 5

To the Gears Chosen

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Greetings to the Gears Chosen.

Your arrival to the north of our territory has not gone unnoticed. Nor has your correspondence with the both the Ram, and the Blackfist.

First, as neighbours, I wish to offer my greetings, and hope that our relations will be friendly. In this vein, I feel I must enlighten you on the 'politics of the slums' as you call them.

The Ram has offered you wealth in exchange for an attack on 'gangs in the Pits' has he not? I feel I must warn you, that the situation is not so simple. In truth, the Pits are the site of a long and continuous gang war, between those who support the Blackfist, and those who support the Ram. By undertaking in an attack on the Pits, know that you are declaring yourself against the Blackfist.

I offer you this information in good faith, and without comment, so that you may make an informed decision.

The Wren.