Total War: Broken City, Book 2

[ForzaFiori]

RSA (PM)

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Well, bloodhaven has insulted your divine creation, and we're planning on using the temples as part of the pressure on them. Might be appropriate if you did.

[puppyavenger]

RSA

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Very well then, to the council and public, or just file a notice to the EBSA first?

[oblivion6]

SGA

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For my own benefit, I'm just going to put down a breakdown of what I have defending me...Overall I think I am fairly well off, so the Wardens may walk into a slaughter...

Military Portion
7 MIL from me.
2 MIL from Technist's Guild
??? from Sausage Guild(5-6?)
??? from Lord Wallen
2-5 MIL from City of Bells(counts as about 8-11 MIL essentially but they are not the most loyal of troops...)
2 ESP watching enemy movements to position troops accordingly
4 MIL of Hosts-watch in Travelers Quarter

ESP Portion
4 MOR from me(depends on my negative trait...)
4 ESP from Technists
2 ESP from me(maybe 4...)
0-??? from Sausage Guild and Lord Wallen
??? from Bloodhaven/Medico Guild

to GM

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Did you get my message for the warlords?

How much MiL does Market-guard have? 4 I assume?

If I were to put a couple ESP towards watching my borders to get a better idea of enemy troop-movements, would I recieve a bonus to the military portion? representing the fact my troops were able to position themselves accordingly.

[Ragnar Lodbroke]

To SGA [PM]

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I added my own forces to the list. My spies will be looking for spies, attempting to create confussion or problems in your territory

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Military Portion
7 MIL from Merchants.
2 MIL from Technist's Guild
??? from Sausage Guild(5-6?)
4 from Lord Wallen
2-5 MIL from City of Bells(counts as about 8-11 MIL essentially but they are not the most loyal of troops...)
2 ESP watching enemy movements to position troops accordingly
4 MIL of Hosts-watch in Travelers Quarter

ESP Portion
4 MOR from me(depends on my negative trait...)
4 ESP from Technists
2 ESP from me(maybe 4...)
0-??? from Sausage Guild
4 from Lord Wallen
??? from Bloodhaven/Medico Guild

[Imperial Psycho]

The Order of the Wren

RSA [PM]

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As for our espionage, perhaps we can disrupt the relationship between the Mercantile Guild and their mercenaries? Spread dissent and fear, then offer them wealth not to fight?

[razovor]

The Champions of Sovereignty:

To House Wallen: [PM]

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King James laughs, more so at himself, than Ser Wallenstein.

"You... aren't even close to understanding the significance of this."

"Lets do this... as true men of honour"

James places his hand on his heart.

"I, James, Leader of the Champions of Sovereignty, Heir to the throne of the kingdom of Sav Altulas, do pledge on my life, on the gods, on everything that has significance in this world, to discuss this topic with absolute honesty, to represent truthfully the views of my house and myself, holding back nothing for any reason."

James takes his hand away from his heart, holding it out for Wallenstein to shake, after he has pledged the same.

[Ragnar Lodbroke]

To the Champions of Sovereignity PM

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Ser Wallenstein straightened himself in the chair, and put his hand in his upper abdomen (it was common of Dwarves to put their hands on the liver when swearing, so the King was not surprised):

"And I, Ser Wallenstein

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(ooc, forgot his lastname, will edit later)

, Paladin before the Old Gods of the Dwarven Way, do pledge on my life, on the gods, on everything that has significance in this world, to discuss this topic with absolute honesty, to represent truthfully the views of my house and myself, holding back nothing for any reason."

"And now I will add that I'm honestly worried, since this oaths are inevitably followed by dark topics"

[Eldan]

RSA (PM)

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OOC: Okay, someone please list all our plans for this turn. Because at this point, I have no idea what we are doing, or what I should use my stats for.

[Nyrt]

ESGE

Council

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Not at all.

Does anyone seriously object to a center for the arts, sarcastic implied insults aside?

[razovor]

The Champions of Sovereignty:

To House Wallen: [PM]

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"The Wren has been my ally, my closest ally, for the past ten months. When the RSA formed, I asked him to take a leading role in it. To control them, such that they destroy themselves, while significantly damaging the SGA in the process."

"I think the SGA, with it's current leadership, is a danger to the city. I would see it remain, but remove it's most active political players; the Sausage Guild and Mercantile Guild."

"The plan, this week, was for the RSA to attack the Sausage Guild. The Wardens, on my request, are providing a distraction, luring SGA forces to 'defend' the Mercantile Guild. What few forces the Sausage Guild leaves will be easily crushed by the combined might of the RSA."

[ForzaFiori]

Ram Revolution

RSA (PM)

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Alright, lets see if I can remember. The people who I believe were going to actually execute the action are in parenthesis.

1) Cause racial riots in Merchant's Guild territory, to obtain a causus belli. (Blackfists, with a tiny help from Revolution)

2) attack the southern territories of the merchant's guild, eventually trying to take the bridge and the other areas their wealth is concentrated. - (Revolution, Wren, and some from Gears, especially the pyramid)

3) plant false information claiming #2 is a feint, and the real attack will come against the Sausage Guild (from the Wardens) and Vassari (from the RSA) - (Revolution and anyone who wants to help to make it go better. My spare ESP is a little low this turn.)

4) Defend the Celestial Network from saboteurs and any hostile forces - (Spare blackfist and Gears Mil/Esp)

Did I miss anything?

[Eldan]

RSA (PM)

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Should I keep all my MIL to guard our territories, or send some on the attack as well? I don't have that much of it, really.

[Imperial Psycho]

RSA [PM]

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As much military as can possibly be sent, should be sent. We must not let ourselves be lured into undercommiting.

[Ragnar Lodbroke]

To the Champions of Sovereignity PM

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"By the gods!! We are sending man there! I was to lead them!! Your Majesty, we can't possibly call this off now. While most of the SGA will provide little help, I am investing a large portion of our forces to help the Merchants. My men will... No."

Ser Wallenstein reflected in silence for a minute.

"But this... Could work. The Merchants don't need to be destroyed completely for the plan to work. Only to be mostly destroyed (Which, given the odds, can't be stopped anyways). However, we could use the chance to show this little anarchists who is the King. I propose this: I will set a trap, and try to lure our enemy forces to a suitable area by harassing them. When the time comes, you charge from behind. Not only the Merchants will be out of the way as intended, but the Ram andd Blackfist will suffer great losses, while failing to gain sizeable territory.

No matter the outcome, you will be hailed as the hero of the day, and most of my men will survive."

[razovor]

The Champions of Sovereignty:

To House Wallen: [PM]

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James seems... relieved? Ser Wallenstein has made no objection to the kings goals, only his method. Perhaps there was nothing to fear?

"You're sending forces to defend the Sausage Guild? That is who is being attacked, not the Mercantile Guild. The Wardens are just pretending they intend to attack the Merchants."

"The RSA themselves are actually fairly weak. Just the Ram, Blackfist and Gears. Once the Sausage Guild and Merchants are out of the way, the rest of us can defeat them with ease."

[puppyavenger]

RSA

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Well, lets itemize, shall we?

Attacking the Gear I will have
7 Mil
3 Mag
The gilded Pyramid

And the Blackfists will have
??? (7?) Mil
Wild Magic?

Attacking The travelers quarter will be

Ram
??? Mil

Wren

??? Mil

If either force is successful we will then joining up with the other to aid them, and if both succeed then we will move on to the Caravansai.
As well, in terms of distractions

The Blackfists will cause a riot in the Caravansai over racial tensions in order to disrupt any defensive preparations there and give us a reason to attack

The Ram will pass along false intel that the main axes of attack will be into the territory of the Sausage Guild, and the Untima. To make it seem plausible, I'll have the Dreumont launch a feint into little zachnar and spend the rest of the month menacing Bloodhaven.

Is that everything at the moment? And could everyone give full lists of the stats they can commit?

To Council (Public)

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Good morning and salutations to all of the Councilors of the city! Today I am acting as a representative of both my faith as well as all traditional faiths and temples of the city. Over the last few months, the opium dens of Elfwatch have been consolidated and reorganized under the control of the Everdie gang. This confederacy of wretches has been pumping the poisons they sell into the Lower City in the way that only a monopoly can, and they are greatly endangering the moral and social fabric of it, as well as individually ruining hundreds of lives through their wares.

As such, I would like to bring a suit against all members of the Everdie gang, as well as their patrons and benefactors the Peacocks of Painted Court. This is a matter of some importance, and the ancient temples of city have all agreed to provide the forces needed to seize Elfwatch and arrest all those members of the gang that hide there, as well as begin hunting down their suppliers. All we ask for is a legal judgment regarding the issue.

[Eldan]

RSA (PM)

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List, please add to it:
Attack on the Mercs:
7 mag, 3 mil, Pyramid (Chosen)
4 mag, 3 mil, Wild Magic (Blackfist)

Cause Riot:
4 mor, 4 esp (Blackfist)

Home Defence
4 mil, 4 mor, 4 esp (Blackfist)

The council, Public:

A young man in a slightly dusty brown coat and battered top hat speaks up, swinging a cane.
"Oh, yes. The peacocks. Such vile purveyors of drugs and debauchery. They must be stopped, must they not? In fact, I would like to accuse them in court, now that we finally have a proper one.
The gang known as the Peacocks are a blight upon our beautiful city. The drug dealers they support lower the productivity of our workers, drain their money and recreation time and they destroy lives and families. Many, many have been addicted. It can be said that in some areas, Opium has become the people's religion, and they go to worship in its temples every day.
What remains is simply to gather a jury and determine guilt and sentence."

[puppyavenger]

RSA

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My mistake, I made a typo, should be 7 Mil and 3 Magic, not the other way around

So,
the Gear
7 Mil, 3 Mag, Gilded Pyramid (Chosen)
4 Mag, 3 Mil, Wild Magic (blackfist)

Disruption and riot causing
4 Mor, 4 Esp (Fist)

Home Defense
4 Mor, 4 Esp, 4 Mag
4 Mor, Lainheim VIP, 5 Mil (contingent)

Feint
3 Mil, 3 Mag (IIRC)

[Imperial Psycho]

Order of the Wren

RSA [PM]

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Mercantile Guild attack
7 Mil, 3 Mag, Gilded Pyramid (Chosen)
4 Mag, 3 Mil, Wild Magic (blackfist)
9 Mil, The Wren

Disruption and riot causing
4 Mor, 4 Esp (Fist)
11 Esp 4 Wel (Wren) to attempt to turn Mercs.

Home Defense
4 Mor, 4 Esp, 4 Mag
4 Mor, Lainheim VIP, 5 Mil (contingent)

Feint
3 Mil, 3 Mag (IIRC)

[Murska]

Negotiations in Trebon (PM)

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"I feel that as spring approaches, the raiders will be acting up more. In addition, the mines we just seized are hardly under permanent control yet - I feel that some of the denizens of the Wastes may intend to dispute them.

I'll send troops for the Inner Circle, but I would be grateful of some assistance in fortifying (Wealth/Morale, I'll provide lumber for it) or protecting (Mil) the area until permanent guard lines have been established. As you've noted, there's some tension within the City and I will require plenty of troops there for the time being.

Also, I intend to provide ownership of a small portion of the output of the captured Copper mines (25% of Copper, nothing else) to the Gears Chosen in exchange for significant payment, as I require that Wealth in order to keep my force effective. If you do not have anything against this, I will proceed with the deal and expect the mines to be taken out of the Warden portion of what we have. If you wish to provide workers for those mines immediately, which will entitle you to a portion of the income (I'll give you t.Wealth next turn or the next sale's profits will go to you, whichever), that would be grand - otherwise we'll rely on the workers there right now supplemented by Gears specialists and Warden labourers."

Wardens to Gear's Chosen

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We will provide you half of our share of the Copper output of the entire region in exchange for 1 p.Wealth. If you can provide additional funds for the expansion of the facilities and workers (Mor), that portion may grow as you'll of course have equal rights to what you build. But that's your call. (OOC: Checked with the GM, the amount is enough to help you but the costs won't drop to zero.)

[Ragnar Lodbroke]

To the Champions of Sovereignity [PM]

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Ser Wallenstein erupted with laughter.

"Gods!! I must be growing old! I misheard, misunderstood.

I understood that the Merchants were being attacked, not the Sausage.

All is fine then. The ruse will be an unfortunate one, but we will not have bad losses.

I have arranged troops to move to the Merchants neighbourhoods to help them defend, and feared that they might come under the attack of a combined army. Thank the gods.

You must trust the Wren very much, to allow him to ally with the Blackfists and the Ram.


Can I ask for a favour? As much as you trust the Wren, I do not. Should the Merchants come into attack; will you support us? You would be hailed as the hero of the day, just like I said before.

Are you sure the Wardens are not attacking the Merchants?"

[razovor]

The Champions of Sovereignty:

To House Wallen: [PM]

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"That depends how good you are at convincing the SGA. The Mercantile Guild would actually be a much better target, if only because there's no easy way for RSA forces to reach the Sausage Guild."

"I made something of a mistake asking the wardens to annoy the Mercantile Guild. Should really have had them do it to the Sausage guild"

"Could you move your forces out of the mercantile guild, maybe convince a few others of the SGA to do the same? The Wren assures me, he has time to change the RSA's plans."

"Attacking the Mercantile guild would make for a much easier first assault."

[Ragnar Lodbroke]

To the Champions of Sovereignity PM

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No, don't change anything, leave everything as it is! This is even better.

The proposal to make an ambush was an attempt to make the best out of an unavoidable battle. This will be better.

I will send my men to the Merchant's territory, and make the best security guard this city has seen as well as the most usseless one. We'll let the enemy take the Sausage down, and we'll have the perfect excuse to counterattack next month.

We will have the perfect excuse not to help the Sausage, and we will not lose a single man in the process.

So I urge you, don't change the plan.

If you can, make sure the Wardens attack the Sausage Guild. It will be quite a show to see what they do when they find the Blackfist men attacking at the same time.

However, don't feel too sure of the Wren. Lord Wallen briefed me about them. Do you know what they really want? We don't.

I still request that you include instructions to help, at least with spies, should something go wrong and the merchants be attacked.

Better safe than sorry, I say.

[razovor]

The Champions of Sovereignty.

To House Wallen: [PM]

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"I will add a contingency to prepare in case the Wren betrays us."

"But, Ser Wallenstein. Look at a map of the city."

"To reach the Sausage Guild, the RSA have to go through House Laurier, the Church of Neposh, the Militia of Order and Justice or the EBSA. None of them will grant them access. They literately can't reach the Sausage Guild."

"It was a badly thought out plan."

[Thelonius]

Council (Open Session) On Gear's Chosen's Moral Crusade

''I would like to ask Gear’s Chosen for any evidence of their accusations in this suit, before it is considered by ESBA. If no such evidence exists, I’m prepared to assist in an investigation to verify these claims.''

''I would also like to point to the fact, that respected community leaders in the Runner’s City, such as Blackfists and Ram, has stated, that the personal choice of the people is what matters, and as such, I’m sure they would be as quick to defend the personal choice of the people in their leisure activities as in defence of people using electricity for heating and light.''

''It appears that Blackfists are a little confused on the issue, so I remind them their own words:''

"Alcohol harms the people, and yet, there are bars throughout the city. The people can choose for themselves whether they want heat and light or not, and at what cost. So we are truly grateful to Doctor Vasari for revealing this."

''Shutting down bars and our trade in Merdallan wines, whorehouses, fighting in the Harrowing Fields and Hobbespot Games, opium dens and maybe restaurants in Little Zanchar, since their food is a little too spicy. That would hardly concern men, deriving their pleasures from the cold machines, but for the good people of Sav Altulus, the life would get somewhat dull.''

Church of Neposh

''Gear's Chosen claim, you support an aggressive action in Triphage Untima. Is that true?''

[Eldan]

The Blackfist in Court

"No, you are mistaken, Doctor."
The man whirls his cane around dramatically.
"We are all for choice. We aren't even opposed to drugs, as such. But we are opposed to the way the Peacocks use them. Do they want to bring joy and recreation to the people? No.
It is about power and wealth, for them. They addict people, they hook them, and then they put pressure on them, pressing every last copper out of them. We can not stand for that."

[Thelonius]

Blackfists

''Ah, I see. So the Blackfists are not against opium, and would in fact favor its distribution, if it wasn't controlled by Peacocks. I apologize for misunderstanding you. I was wondering, why Gear’s Chosen even mentioned the issue about Peacocks’ monopoly, in their accusation. If this monopoly is removed, you’d be able to supply the people of city with opium at very low prices or for free, as you seek neither wealth nor power.''

To Zemalac [PM]

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I'm uncertain what Blackfists Mistrusted Trait does, but perhaps it would make people think that their motives in supporting acting against Peacocks are to seize monopoly on opium trade.

[Eldan]

Blackfist

"Oh no. No. You misunderstand. We don't deal in drugs, and we won't. I find the entire idea repugnant myself, on a very deep level, but that won't enter my politics. If someone wants to plaster their head full of pretty lights and visions, they have the right to.
But what I am also opposed to is the idea of some drug lord addicting people and then stringing them along for all their money and goods, then leaving them starving in the streets. That can't happen.
So, no. We are not taking control of the drug trade. We are... deregulating it."

[Thelonius]

Blackfists

Assuming that’s the truth, I must say you have a certain track record with ''deregulation''.

The Gatehouse Prison, when you released the scum of the Shattered Lands that Wardens and ESBA worked to deal with afterwards. I fear there are still unaccounted prisoners, who threaten Sav Altulus or murder in Shattered Lands.

Then you killed the Factory Overseers, destabilizing the entire economy of the Smokeyards, as workers were left without anybody to pay them their wages, to feed their families. But of course Technist Guild, Ram and Gear’s Chosen invested in keeping the factories going and disaster was overted.

Then in Fat Tippest, your careless invitation resulted in many people starving and homeless. But fortunately, they survived the winter with assistance of Bloodhaven and Gear’s Chosen.

You make a mess, after mess, like an untrained puppy or misbehaving child. And there is always somebody to clean it up afterwards, asking nothing in return. I envy your charmed life, but I fear that your luck would run out sooner then later, and those caught in your latest mess would suffer for it.

[puppyavenger]

RSA

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Oh, my mistake, I forgot to mention we will be able to provide 2 Wel towards subversion efforts as well.

Peacocks/Bloodhaven

First, as a slight correction, I was quite clear that we represent the Traditional faiths of the city. That is, the temples in the Mendicant fields to whom the masses entrust their dead. Although I would hoep that the Nepo****es support our case, I do not speak for them and do not presuppose their support.

Anyway, onto more substantive points. That certain members of the city would fall into vice and take up drugs on their own is unfortunately inevitable. Life is imperfect and people fallible, certain specimens much more-so then others. But what the Peacocks' and their pets gang do is push their wretched wares on those despairing, struggling or vulnerable, or even trick them into taking it. They spread the sickness of addiction through the lower city like a cancer, ruining lives and destroying families for nothing more then some easy money for themselves and their benefactors. Why should they be allowed to drag the city into sin and wretchedness through their lust for lucre? The towers of Elfwatch are of sturdy construction and could be put to good use, but instead they a font of depravity that slowly corrupts and weakens the fabric of the city. I implore the Council and the Grandee's of the city to take action against the Peacocks, or we will be forced to do so ourselves.