Heroica RPG - Quest #89: Reclaiming Glory

[Scubacarrot]

Guts influences Marga in a Good way. "Do you realize that there are tens of thousands, maybe more, whose ancestors had nothing to do with the war. To the south, the war never reached those places. You're condemning a whole race for the actions of a fraction. Surely Tarok wouldn't think that's a battle worth fighting." Guess Chaotic Neutral.

Guts influences Jaret Lawfully. "Yet, here you are. If it'd benefit your employers to throw the orcs into disarray, would you do it? Thousands of lives would be lost, on both sides." Guess Lawful Neutral.

Same negotiations order.

Edited December 28, 2013 by Scubacarrot

[Scorpiox]

Bastala's face stretched into its own thin pink smile at Haldor's words.

"Of course not! Superiority is all relative to what you are, though in any case I respect all races - those that interest me, anyway. If by enthusiastic you mean one great big clusterfuck of misplaced glory and age-old grudges, well, again, this is relative. Compared to today's Clanmeet? No. Tempers are simply exploding over this whole bridge nonsense. Few here have their arms open wide as mine to other races. If they want to be idiots about it, fine, let them. I'm not responsible for their clans. Avoid Marga. This is the first Clanmeet I've attended where she's yet to bitch about my color. Really now, do you find any fault with it? It's better than that hideous murky green leather she calls skin. You know Nord, we've been talking here for less than a minute and you already seem more pleasant than everyone else here. They're just a stuck-up lot of elitist snobs. But you, I like." Bastala winks at Haldor and sips her wine.

Haldor keeps trying to influence Bastala, this time lawfully. He also guesses that she is a true neutral.

"Sounds as though you know what's what in these parts, I appreciate you helping me out, I really do. You see, this is my first time in Baltarok, but it looks as though I couldn't have found a smarter guide to show me the ropes. This bridge, though, everyone seems to think that it'll bring more harm than good, that's it's all just a High Kingdoms plan to kick folks in the teeth once again. What about you? What do you think? Something tells me that your word means a lot more than half of the rabble shouting about in here."

He looked around to see that no-one was watching him and grinned.

"In my humble little opinion, some expert that I am, that Marga don't have a clue what she's talking about. Call me blind, but I can't see nothing but a smooth green sea, hell, I could lose myself there. There ain't nothing wrong with you. Well, not that I can pick out from this far away, unless you want me to take... a closer look, miss."

Haldor smiled playfully.

[swils]

Thormanil replies to Karstaal, expressing an appreciation for his lawful views, "I suppose you have a point. Even the greatest of armies can still lose a war of attrition. And to wish to be able to engage in war rather than pillagin', now that I can respect."

He guesses True Neutral for Karstaal.

And then, back to Tarvalk, "Not to say I don't have great respect for a strong battle sense, either. I can't see you 'n Karstaal agreein' here, but between you 'n me, I'm a fan of the show-of-strength approach. Lettin' em finish the bridge then makin' yer move, that's brilliant. They'll have just given your hordes a golden ticket into their lands. If you limit your conquest to the bridge, you might even be able to win Karstaal over to your plan. Worst case a true war breaks out, and in a better scenario you've got one hell of a bargaining chip on your side. And all this not for glory, but for the well being of your people." Thormanil gives Tarvalk a hearty pat on the back, commending his good intentions.

He guesses Chaotic Good for Tarvalk.

I'm only guessing for Karstaal to check it off the list... I think I know his actual alignment, but can't get there this turn, heh.

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"A lot are getting Chaotic, we need to calm some down....... Anyone want me to guess someone or influence a certain way?"

[Scubacarrot]

"Play on your suspicions and guess accordingly. We can control the situation."

[The Legonater]

I guess Garohn is true neutral and influence him lawfully.

Indeed. However I am curious, is your duty to your clan-leader, or to your people? You say you are unsure of Bastala. If, theoretically, she were presenting a danger to the orc kind, what would you do? Which duty is more important?

[Capt.JohnPaul]

Alexandre tries to gleen Helrack's intentions. He tries to influence his chaotic side.

"So, have you any distaste towards human? Are you tired of oppression? It is alright to admit you want to fight, it proves you have a strong heart." Alexander guesses Helrack to be Chaotic Good

Edited December 29, 2013 by Capt.JohnPaul

[CMP]

It's been about a day now. Can I get an action for Alexis, Scuba?

[Scubacarrot]

Alexis influence gor chaotic- guess chaotic Neutral, influence Tarknal lawful - guess lawful neutral.

[CMP]

Round Two of Aggressive Negotiations

Guts influences Marga in a Good way

Guts guesses Marga is Chaotic Neutral

Guts influences Jaret Lawfully

Guts guesses Jaret is Lawful Neutral

Thormanil influences Karstaal Lawfully

Thormanil guesses Karstaal is True Neutral

Thormanil influences Tarvalk in a Good way

Thormanil guesses Tarvalk is Chaotic Good

Dyric influences Garohn in Lawfully

Dyric guesses Garohn is True Neutral

Alexis influences Gor Chaotically

Alexis guesses Gor is Chaotic Neutral

Alexis influences Tarknal Lawfully

Alexis guesses Tarknal is Lawful Neutral

Alexandre influences Helrak Chaotically

Alexandre guesses Helrak is Chaotic Good

Haldor influences Bastala Lawfully

Haldor guesses Bastala is True Neutral

No influence

All guesses Incorrect

Current Atmosphere: Lawful

Bastala: True Neutral

Garohn: True Neutral

General Gor: Chaotic Neutral

Helrak: Chaotic Good

Jaret: Lawful Neutral

Karstaal: True Neutral

Marga: Chaotic Neutral

Tarknal: Lawful Neutral

Tarvalk: Chaotic Good

Guts influences Marga in a Good way. "Do you realize that there are tens of thousands, maybe more, whose ancestors had nothing to do with the war. To the south, the war never reached those places. You're condemning a whole race for the actions of a fraction. Surely Tarok wouldn't think that's a battle worth fighting." Guess Chaotic Neutral.

Guts influences Jaret Lawfully. "Yet, here you are. If it'd benefit your employers to throw the orcs into disarray, would you do it? Thousands of lives would be lost, on both sides." Guess Lawful Neutral.

Same negotiations order.

"No. Your kind are not worth fighting at all. If it were up to me, we would take the bridge and tear it apart, brick by brick, show your filth exactly what we think about stronger relations. You've done enough harm to my kin. Much as I would like to see your Kingdoms razed to cinders in the fires of vengeance, for our thousands whose ancestors had nothing to do with the war yet were imprisoned and enslaved, burning bridges is by far the best course of our action for our race. And for yours," she added threateningly.

Jaret shook his head.

"I have no intentions of doing such. I'm simply here to build stronger bonds between my organization and theirs. Nothing more, nothing less. The loss of lives here is irrelevant to us. Having good relations with the victor is far more important and beneficial."

Haldor keeps trying to influence Bastala, this time lawfully. He also guesses that she is a true neutral.

"Sounds as though you know what's what in these parts, I appreciate you helping me out, I really do. You see, this is my first time in Baltarok, but it looks as though I couldn't have found a smarter guide to show me the ropes. This bridge, though, everyone seems to think that it'll bring more harm than good, that's it's all just a High Kingdoms plan to kick folks in the teeth once again. What about you? What do you think? Something tells me that your word means a lot more than half of the rabble shouting about in here."

He looked around to see that no-one was watching him and grinned.

"In my humble little opinion, some expert that I am, that Marga don't have a clue what she's talking about. Call me blind, but I can't see nothing but a smooth green sea, hell, I could lose myself there. There ain't nothing wrong with you. Well, not that I can pick out from this far away, unless you want me to take... a closer look, miss."

Haldor smiled playfully.

Bastala giggled.

"They're at least twice as wrong about Nords as they are about me. You're far from the uncivilized raiders they like to claim you are."

"Oh, you've been listening to Tar-whatshisface and Marga, haven't you? At least Karstaal can understand what they want...the Kingdoms have some high and mighty idea about nobility. To the public, anyway, this is disregarding the mess of politics they have going on behind the scenes. They wouldn't deceive us in such a manner. They would sate their egos with a big show of declaring war, perhaps tear up some fringe villages, heads on pikes as a warning, yadda yadda, you get the idea. We're lesser than they are, in their eyes, and on the whole, quite unstable. Declaring war on us would not be unlike declaring war on, oh, I don't know, a pack of rabid dogs. No, an army of rabid dogs, they know we pose some threat. My point is that they wouldn't screw around, they'd just march in here and kill us all."

She sips her wine again.

"They'd try, anyway."

"I don't doubt their motives. But I think they're going about it all wrong. There's going to be violence on both sides about it, that's the sad fact of the matter. The Kingdoms, noble and lordly as they are, are remarkably indecisive when it comes to orcs. We've been sitting here for two and a half centuries after killing, like, a gazillion of them, just building up our strength. They're united when it comes to orcs, but, well....really, it's not that different from how we are now!" Bastala waved around at the Clanmeet. "We know something has to be done, but we don't know what. It's the same with them. They can't just leave us alone, but they don't want another invasion. What to do? Improve relations! Make sure we're all on the same side. But that's not going to work, is it? They'll botch the job, or worse, one of the clans will declare war at some point, and the bridge becomes exactly what everyone fears it's meant to be. A tool, for war. The only logical answer?"

"We take control of the bridge."

Thormanil replies to Karstaal, expressing an appreciation for his lawful views, "I suppose you have a point. Even the greatest of armies can still lose a war of attrition. And to wish to be able to engage in war rather than pillagin', now that I can respect."

He guesses True Neutral for Karstaal.

And then, back to Tarvalk, "Not to say I don't have great respect for a strong battle sense, either. I can't see you 'n Karstaal agreein' here, but between you 'n me, I'm a fan of the show-of-strength approach. Lettin' em finish the bridge then makin' yer move, that's brilliant. They'll have just given your hordes a golden ticket into their lands. If you limit your conquest to the bridge, you might even be able to win Karstaal over to your plan. Worst case a true war breaks out, and in a better scenario you've got one hell of a bargaining chip on your side. And all this not for glory, but for the well being of your people." Thormanil gives Tarvalk a hearty pat on the back, commending his good intentions.

He guesses Chaotic Good for Tarvalk.

"Precisely. A balance must be struck between culture and military strength; only then can we have peace. I'm simply working on the cultural side of this issue."

"Freeing our kin, enslaved two hundred years before their birth...that is what I want out of the Kingdoms. What we destroy on the path to that goal is the recompense for this crime. The well-being of our people - all our people - this is the only glory I need, whether I live to see it or no."

I guess Garohn is true neutral and influence him lawfully.

Indeed. However I am curious, is your duty to your clan-leader, or to your people? You say you are unsure of Bastala. If, theoretically, she were presenting a danger to the orc kind, what would you do? Which duty is more important?

"If she posed a threat to orc-kind..." Garohn trailed off. "I could not imagine. No, to betray our kind...it would be a crime to our race to let such a thing pass. But it's not worth speaking of. Nobody here would do such a thing. The leaders of Clan Irlaz, of any clan, have a commitment to our race as a whole. So long as they do, I would defend them to my death. Div muzr anh iln, div kahr anh iln, div zar anh iln."

Alexandre tries to gleen Helrack's intentions. He tries to influence his chaotic side.

"So, have you any distaste towards human? Are you tired of oppression? It is alright to admit you want to fight, it proves you have a strong heart." Alexander guesses Helrack to be Chaotic Good

The hulking ogre turned to Alexandre, tiredness etched on his face.

"No, human, I have no ill will towards your kind. I don't share the oppression of ogres in your lands simply because we are the same race. Humanity has not wronged me, so I do not wrong them. I have no interests in fights that are not my own. If it is merely my appearance that makes you ask such questions, you may not want to speak to the clan leaders. Their answers may not be so mild."

[Capt.JohnPaul]

"Ah.... so I assume you want peace more than anything? Do you trust the humans to use the bridge for good intentions?"

[Masked Builder]

I was waiting to see if I was going to get a response. I would have posted earlier but I was on my phone, sorry.

[CMP]

I was waiting to see if I was going to get a response. I would have posted earlier but I was on my phone, sorry.

I can't respond if you don't say anything. Sorry.

[Scubacarrot]

Guts influences Marga in an evil way, assisted by his intimidation: "It was the humans that hurt the orcs, huh? Never have I heard such ignorance. The war started with Tarokai, and ended with Tarokai. For all your words, you need a history lesson or two. And it's not my kingdoms." Guess Neutral Evil.

Guts influences Jaret Chaotically: "Must be a pretty dumb organization, to have someone spew such nonsense."

Same Negotiations Order.

Jaret hasn't got a guess yet this turn, he's probably Chaotic Neutral. We can't guess that this round, anyway.

[Scorpiox]

Bastala giggled.

"They're at least twice as wrong about Nords as they are about me. You're far from the uncivilized raiders they like to claim you are."

"Oh, you've been listening to Tar-whatshisface and Marga, haven't you? At least Karstaal can understand what they want...the Kingdoms have some high and mighty idea about nobility. To the public, anyway, this is disregarding the mess of politics they have going on behind the scenes. They wouldn't deceive us in such a manner. They would sate their egos with a big show of declaring war, perhaps tear up some fringe villages, heads on pikes as a warning, yadda yadda, you get the idea. We're lesser than they are, in their eyes, and on the whole, quite unstable. Declaring war on us would not be unlike declaring war on, oh, I don't know, a pack of rabid dogs. No, an army of rabid dogs, they know we pose some threat. My point is that they wouldn't screw around, they'd just march in here and kill us all."

She sips her wine again.

"They'd try, anyway."

"I don't doubt their motives. But I think they're going about it all wrong. There's going to be violence on both sides about it, that's the sad fact of the matter. The Kingdoms, noble and lordly as they are, are remarkably indecisive when it comes to orcs. We've been sitting here for two and a half centuries after killing, like, a gazillion of them, just building up our strength. They're united when it comes to orcs, but, well....really, it's not that different from how we are now!" Bastala waved around at the Clanmeet. "We know something has to be done, but we don't know what. It's the same with them. They can't just leave us alone, but they don't want another invasion. What to do? Improve relations! Make sure we're all on the same side. But that's not going to work, is it? They'll botch the job, or worse, one of the clans will declare war at some point, and the bridge becomes exactly what everyone fears it's meant to be. A tool, for war. The only logical answer?"

"We take control of the bridge."

"You clearly know more about it than me, or the other clan leaders here for that matter. You seize the bridge, makes it clear to the kingdoms that war ain't what you're looking for, but that you're not going to let them walk over you from then on. But what about these other leaders? Would they just roll over and let you do it? A internal conflict could really screw things up."

He sighed.

"Never had politics like this back home. People died, but here, there's so much more too it. Don't reckon I could cope in your position, it takes some smart thinking to run this kind of show, I don't know how you do it. You've got strength like no other, miss. You know what needs do be done."

The nord smiled.

"With respect, miss, I like you too."

Haldor tries to influence Bastala in a good way, whilst also guessing that she is lawful good.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Scorpiox

[Capt.JohnPaul]

Alexandre guesses Helrack to be LAWFUL GOOD. He also influences him in a Lawful Neutral way, just in case he is wrong.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Capt.JohnPaul

[Masked Builder]

Alexis goes over to General Gor. She takes a seat next to him and puts her arm around him. "So General, you've been quiet today, what do you want this meeting to result in?"

She turns to Tarknal. "You are the wise elder here surely you have some influence?"

Alexis influences Gor Lawfully, guess Chaotic Good. Alexis influences Tarknal Lawfully, guess is Lawful Good.

I can't respond if you don't say anything. Sorry.

Well my first post had some.

[The Legonater]

I guess Garohn is true neutral, and influence him Chaotically.

Let me suggest a hypothetical. If most of the clanmeet manages to come to a single peaceful decision, but one leader - say Bastala - stands directly opposed to that decision. Would that classify as such a threat?

[swils]

Thormanil slips over to Alexis' side. "I may be mistaken, doll, but aren't you about to sway Tarknal so lawfully that he walks outta the clan meet in an uppity fashion?"

[swils]

Not wanting to hold up the deliberations, Thormanil guesses:

Karstaal - Lawful Neutral

Tarvalk - Neutral Good

[CMP]

There's no need to guess the same alignment twice, Legonator. And you're right Masked, I must've missed it, sorry.

Round Three of Aggressive Negotiations

Guts influences Marga in an Evil way

Guts guesses Marga is Neutral Evil

Guts influences Jaret Chaotically

Thormanil guesses Karstaal is Lawful Neutral

Thormanil guesses Tarvalk is Neutral Good

Dyric influences Garohn Chaotically

Alexis influences Gor Lawfully

Alexis guesses Gor is Chaotic Good

Alexis influences Tarknal Lawfully

Alexis guesses Tarknal is Lawful Good

Alexandre influences Helrak Lawfully

Alexandre guesses Helrak is Lawful Good

Haldor influences Bastala in a Good way

Haldor guesses Bastala is Lawful Good

Everyone influenced Lawfully

Tarknal leaves the Clanmeet

Marga Pointed-Crown is Neutral Evil

All other guesses Incorrect

Current Atmosphere: Chaotic

Bastala: Lawful Good

Garohn: True Neutral

General Gor: Lawful Neutral (Current Guess: Chaotic Good)

Helrak: Lawful Good

Jaret: Lawful Neutral

Karstaal: Lawful Neutral

Marga: Neutral Evil

Tarknal: Lawful Neutral

Tarvalk: Neutral Good

"Ah.... so I assume you want peace more than anything? Do you trust the humans to use the bridge for good intentions?"

"Of course I want peace. At the same time, I'm not optimistic about it. Humans and orcs have had friction for thousands of years, the last few hundred especially violent. Our best chance to maintain peace is to make sure each clan is fully prepared, then to band together and solve the issue. I'm still working on that. Clan Aj-Kahr is in a bit of a mess right now, I'm too busy cleaning that up to worry about what Gor has planned for the bridge."

Guts influences Marga in an evil way, assisted by his intimidation: "It was the humans that hurt the orcs, huh? Never have I heard such ignorance. The war started with Tarokai, and ended with Tarokai. For all your words, you need a history lesson or two. And it's not my kingdoms." Guess Neutral Evil.

Guts influences Jaret Chaotically: "Must be a pretty dumb organization, to have someone spew such nonsense."

Marga's mismatched eyes narrowed.

"Your kind has been hurting ours long before the Invasion. Countless centuries we've lived in squalor fighting over scraps while humans built up their glorious cities. Tarokai tried and failed to even out the score. Do not speak of things you cannot know, sarkuun."

She spat at Guts' foot.

"This discussion is over. Now I'm only curious to hear what such ignorant cretins like you will say to the rest of the clan leaders. Will Karstaal be bowing before your 'greater culture', or will Tarvalk smite you where you stand?"

The matriarch of Clan Aj-Kahr leaned back against the wall, watching the other heroes. Olmstyr muttered in the raider's direction.

"Well-handled."

Jaret raised his eyebrows.

"Our organization is ten times as old as the combined age of each of these clans. We have not existed so long on idiocy, but on knowing our purpose and never straying from it."

"You clearly know more about it than me, or the other clan leaders here for that matter. You seize the bridge, makes it clear to the kingdoms that war ain't what you're looking for, but that you're not going to let them walk over you from then on. But what about these other leaders? Would they just roll over and let you do it? A internal conflict could really screw things up."

He sighed.

"Never had politics like this back home. People died, but here, there's so much more too it. Don't reckon I could cope in your position, it takes some smart thinking to run this kind of show, I don't know how you do it. You've got strength like no other, miss. You know what needs do be done."

The nord smiled.

"With respect, miss, I like you too."

"I've been clan leader for a matter of only months, yet I already know a damn sight more about our situation than these crusty idiots. Yet they refuse to see all reason I put forth. Claim the bridge, kill what few humans are around it now, make a statement. That'll give the Kingdoms something to think about. If we don't give them a show of force, they won't be scared, but we don't follow through, they'll just think we're weak. Show off our power, and use it. And when all's said and done, we make a nice tidy profit off anyone wanting to pass into Baltarok. No war, only a little bloodshed, and money in our pockets."

Bastala slides one narrow arm around Haldor's shoulders.

"Now you tell me that's not at least twice as smart as whatever the other clan leaders are suggesting."

Alexis goes over to General Gor. She takes a seat next to him and puts her arm around him. "So General, you've been quiet today, what do you want this meeting to result in?"

She turns to Tarknal. "You are the wise elder here surely you have some influence?"

Alexis influences Gor Lawfully, guess Chaotic Good. Alexis influences Tarknal Lawfully, guess is Lawful Good.

The sallow-skinned hobgoblin looks sideways at Alexis as she lays her arm about it, then his cracked lips break into a grin, a dry, low cackle echoing around the room.

"The hum-an thinks Gor has been quiet to-day. Heheheh. She did not see or hear the words I gave my men, though, no."

He licks his lips.

"Don't care what the orcs think. Don't care what they say. Marga asks me to do this thing, and so Gor does it, yes? Gor prepares war for the orcs. For the hum-ans. None of these pol-tics to stop it. Gor does not do it from hate or ignor-rance. But he knows. He knows what hum-ans mean for orcs. They mean war. Best way to stop war? Keep war from coming."

Tarknal coughed loudly through his beard at Alexis.

"Who are you to question my word? My wisdom? Is your goal here but to find those who would bend knee to your influence, to take control of my country? Bah....here Olmstyr had me thinking you were here only to help, not meddle in our affairs."

He weakly pushed himself up off his seat with his walking stick. Tra-Serral, the silent orc girl of Clan Tarokin, came forward without so much as a word, helping out of the room, a few eyes on them as they left. Olmstyr rubbed his eyes tiredly.

Let me suggest a hypothetical. If most of the clanmeet manages to come to a single peaceful decision, but one leader - say Bastala - stands directly opposed to that decision. Would that classify as such a threat?

"No. Of course not. That's how the clans work. If they all at once agree on a decision, it's usually a small one. Big ones like this....they need thinking. Discussion. Then, one way or another, they reach a solution. It's beyond my duty to judge my clan leader's decision. Just to keep them alive long enough to make it."

[swils]

Thormanil influences Tarvalk in an evil way, twice. Guess Tarvalk - Chaotic Evil

[The Legonater]

Woops, misread the true alignments don't change discussion.

I influence Garohn Lawfully, guess Lawful Neutral.

Of course, of course. Yet this decision in particular could easily effect your culture, your way of live. If someone like Marga had their way, there would be war, a war that could potentially tear Baltarok apart. Would that not be a threat to your kind?

[Scubacarrot]

Come on guys... Check what the alignment is going to be at the end of the turn. I'm pretty sure Helrak is supposed to be Lawful Neutral, Legonater, that won't be a guess you can make this turn.

Guts influences Jaret Chaotically, guess Chaotic Neutral. "Hostile words, but I can't help but notice that you didn't answer my implied question. What organization?"

He then influences Helrak in an evil way.

Same negotiations order.

[swils]

Hey Scuba, you got that Beholder's Eye back from Grogmas, you could re-run that round if you think it'd be worth it. Keep everything the same but use my actions to keep Tarknal around.