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Kingdom: Fear and Loathing in Emporopolis (Updated June 20, 2013)
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<blockquote data-quote="The Shadow" data-source="post: 6146468" data-attributes="member: 16760"><p>[Sorry for the delay, work was crazy.]</p><p></p><p>[And now it was JoJoz' turn to create a new Crossroad! This intro blossomed into a full-blown scene.]</p><p></p><p>The arrival of a full Ambassador from the Chrysian Empire had set the city all abuzz. Up to this point, the Imperials had maintained the polite if threadbare fiction that the Western Provinces were still under their authority; now it seemed that fiction was at an end. What could it portend? Full diplomatic relations? A treaty on issues of mutual concern? ... War?</p><p></p><p>The Governor and his court received the Ambassdor with all pomp and circumstance. By convention, his own identity was submerged for the nonce in his office, so the herald announced him simply as, "The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of His Imperial Majesty, Philos IV of Golden Renown!"</p><p></p><p>Milos rose from his throne to greet him and strode forward to handfast with him in peace. He bowed only his head as he did so, making a subtle claim for at least limited sovereignty.</p><p></p><p>After the interminable greetings were done, business was at last entered into, to the relief of the onlookers. The Ambassador stated in the flowery language of diplomacy, "It has come to the attention of His Imperial Majesty that his dear subjects in the Western Provinces have been afflicted by a plague of vile sorcery. Noble blood has been spilled by murderers sent by a felon known to engage in foul rites of Betrayal and Murder. Priests and prelates of the Divine Logos have been threatened and their peace troubled by those who bear allegiance to the demons, and the stench of sorcery surrounds such dealings as well. Therefore, His Imperial Majesty desires to aid his subjects to win free of such oppression by sending investigators skilled in such matters."</p><p></p><p>Milos, eyes wide, protested, "Lord Ambassador! We of course welcome the brotherly concern of His Imperial Majesty... but we of the Western Provinces have not been accustomed to receive the blessings of his rule for some years now. Nor, surely, does a monarch send embassy to his own nationals? Emporopolis is now of right a Free City, and we can enforce our own laws."</p><p></p><p>The Ambassador inclined his head. "His Imperial Majesty acknowledges that his claim over the Western Provinces has... lain fallow, and thus he has shown your court all due courtesy. Nevertheless, he must insist that you accept his aid in curbing this scourge of sorcery. He will not tolerate that this poison should brim over to other provinces; and if he must sow the seeds of his claim once more to stem the tide, so indeed he will."</p><p></p><p>The court erupted in a buzz of concern, outrage... and fear. Milos heart fluttered nearly as much as his hands as he said, "Lord Ambassador, I hardly know what to say! Sorcery is not a crime in Emporopolis, though it is certainly true that murder and threats are, and we are investigating already with all due speed and earnestness. Surely His Imperial Majesty should indulge the patience which all gracious monarchs cultivate, and allow us to enforce our own laws with all resolution?"</p><p></p><p>The Ambassador again inclined his head. "His Imperial Majesty is a wise and patient monarch. He will grant you three days to give him your answer."</p><p></p><p>[And he laid out the question, "Will Emporopolis allow the Empire to send in the Graycloaks?"]</p><p></p><p>--------------------------</p><p></p><p>Milos went into a frenzy of 'hearing all voices', but there clearly was not going to be enough time to hear them all. Funding and extra manpower for the City Watch appeared like magic, and certain among the Eumanioi were heard to ask waspishly if martial law would end up being declared after all.</p><p></p><p>The Patrikios too was growing bolder. He openly challenged Milos, asking if he personally would welcome the Imperial investigators and armies in with open arms. It was all Milos could do to contain his flush - yes, he wanted to see a free and happy Emporopolis back in the Empire, but not like this! He wanted to see it done in peace and with honor, not in response to threats!</p><p></p><p>He poured out his heart to Fylakas in one of their tete-a-tetes; the strain was clearly wearing on him. "Oh, my friend! What am I to do? If I bow to the Emperor's demands and let him enforce our own laws, surely we are his subjects in all but name? And yet, if I should refuse, surely it may come to war? Can it be borne? What of the suffering of my dear people, even if we should win?"</p><p></p><p>[Prediction: "If we do not allow the Empire to send in the Graycloaks, the Empire will attack."]</p><p></p><p>Fylakas himself had been shaken by this turn of events. While he could shield many of his doings from wizardly notice with the power of Secrets, it was truly only a matter of time. Eventually one of the thrice-cursed Logite wizards would get lucky, and then his doom would come upon him.</p><p></p><p>He replied, "Friend Milos, even that is not your most pressing concern. The Eumanioi and many other nobles are growing very restless. If you should yield to the Empire's demand, I fear they will seek to replace you, by force if necessary."</p><p></p><p>[Pending use of Authority: If the Graycloaks are allowed in, the Eumanioi will replace the governor. SuentisPo said, "Oho! Playing hardball, are we?" "Yup. This is important to me." "Okay. I can play hardball too."]</p><p></p><p>Milos searched his heart for some time after hearing that, holding his head in his hands. Turning everything over in his mind, he came to the agonized conclusion that, much as he desired to be a man of the people, to hear every voice, to strive with all his skill to keep every ball in the air... that wasn't what his city needed. Emporopolis didn't need a man of the people at this juncture; it needed a man of decision. A man who could make his own voice heard, and let the balls fall where they may.</p><p></p><p>[SuentisPo: "I'm seizing Power from you." Me: "Do tell. How are you going about it?" "Milos is going to stop caring what everyone thinks and just do what he sees needs to be done." "Okay, that explains how you're changing Roles to Power, but it doesn't explain how you're taking mine away."]</p><p></p><p>[He grinned. "In this air of crisis, you think anyone has time to listen to a blackmailer? You can only get things done if you can get people to sit still long enough to listen to you. What are you going to do, release everyone's secrets at once?" "Oy." SuentisPo turned to JoJoz. "So what Price do I have to pay?"]</p><p></p><p>["Hmm. I'm open to suggestions." I said, "Well, if you're not going to be Milos the Mild any more, there's bound to be a lot of pissed-off nobles. Supposing a mid- to high-ranking family goes into open rebellion?" Cautiously, "...Just how high-ranking are we talking about?"]</p><p></p><p>[An idea came to me and I grinned wickedly, "Why, the Eumanioi, of course. You've already slighted them twice, and they're making noises." "Ouch! Yeah, much as I hate to say it, that makes way too much sense." JoJoz: "Sounds perfect! That's your Price." After a moment's thought, "Okay, done. Oh, and Fylakas? Your use of Authority just went bye-bye." "Yeah, yeah." I had the choice of changing Roles to Perspective or Touchstone; I elected for the former - since Fylakas knows all the secrets of the city, he has great insight into where it's heading.]</p><p></p><p>Milos rose to his feet, firm for once in his life with decision. "You must excuse me, my friend. There is much work to be done."</p><p></p><p>---------------------</p><p></p><p>[At that point, the Crisis level of the game overflowed. (We now realize we had misinterpreted the rules, and it probably shouldn't have at this point. But it all worked out okay.]</p><p></p><p>The Eumanioi, fed up with their weakling Governor, raised their banners in rebellion against Milos, saying that he would capitulate to the Empire's demands without protest. Other noble families joined them.</p><p></p><p>Milos was consumed with the irony of it - they were rebelling against the very course of action he had just made a firm decision against! Nonetheless, his newfound decisiveness did not desert him. He ordered his page, "Bring me my armor." The bewildered youth said, "My Lord?!" He hadn't worn it in years. "Since I have not yet appointed a Strategos, it falls upon me to lead the men myself. Go."</p><p></p><p>Fylakas met with Maldark and ordered him coldly, "I desire for the Patrikios of the Eumanioi to suffer a convincing heart attack." The idiot, starting a rebellion right in front of the Ambassador! Maldark nodded just as coldly. "I'll do it myself."</p><p></p><p>Kerdizo battened down the hatches, organizing the Merchant's Guild to weather the storm. Whatever happened, the trade would flow, lest the city starve.</p><p></p><p>[At that point, we voted on whether or not Emporopolis would survive the Crisis, at any rate in its current form. The vote came out unanimous: Yes, it would. There followed the aftermath.]</p><p></p><p>Milos' men clashed with those of the rebels, the Governor himself leading the charge. The rebels, disheartened by the sudden loss of their leader the Patrikios to an untimely heart attack (doubtless brought on by stress...) quickly folded and sued for peace. The Patrikios' brother, the former Strategos, died in the battle.</p><p></p><p>The two surviving sons of the Patrikios were hustled into the Governor's throne room and dumped on their knees before Milos. He was still wearing the scarred armor he'd worn while defeating their father's army.</p><p></p><p>He told them coldly, "I am giving you a chance to save your family's lives." He paused to let that sink in, and a shocked silence spread through the court. Then he said, "Swear eternal and abject fealty to me now, and instruct all your father's followers to do the same." He looked to the elder son. "Now, please."</p><p></p><p>The young man stammered, "What assurance do we have that-" Milos quelled him with a single glance, then looked expectantly to the younger son, still in his teens.</p><p></p><p>This one said earnestly, "We and all our house pledge our undying fealty to you forever, Governor!" Milos nodded. "Congratulations. Your family will live, and you have just inherited the title."</p><p></p><p>At this point, the court began emitting a shocked buzz of talk, mostly to the effect of, "Can he really do that?!"</p><p></p><p>Milos gazed around the room with authority, and it fell silent. He stated, "Nonsense. The second son always inherits if the first son is dead. ... I prefer to think of this as mercy."</p><p></p><p>[SuentisPo's portrayal of Milos was masterful. He was clearly the same man, yet he had somehow gone from being Milos the Mild to, as we joked, Milos the Frickin' Terrifying! In-game, he quickly got dubbed with the more flattering sobriquet of Milos the Mighty.]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The Shadow, post: 6146468, member: 16760"] [Sorry for the delay, work was crazy.] [And now it was JoJoz' turn to create a new Crossroad! This intro blossomed into a full-blown scene.] The arrival of a full Ambassador from the Chrysian Empire had set the city all abuzz. Up to this point, the Imperials had maintained the polite if threadbare fiction that the Western Provinces were still under their authority; now it seemed that fiction was at an end. What could it portend? Full diplomatic relations? A treaty on issues of mutual concern? ... War? The Governor and his court received the Ambassdor with all pomp and circumstance. By convention, his own identity was submerged for the nonce in his office, so the herald announced him simply as, "The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of His Imperial Majesty, Philos IV of Golden Renown!" Milos rose from his throne to greet him and strode forward to handfast with him in peace. He bowed only his head as he did so, making a subtle claim for at least limited sovereignty. After the interminable greetings were done, business was at last entered into, to the relief of the onlookers. The Ambassador stated in the flowery language of diplomacy, "It has come to the attention of His Imperial Majesty that his dear subjects in the Western Provinces have been afflicted by a plague of vile sorcery. Noble blood has been spilled by murderers sent by a felon known to engage in foul rites of Betrayal and Murder. Priests and prelates of the Divine Logos have been threatened and their peace troubled by those who bear allegiance to the demons, and the stench of sorcery surrounds such dealings as well. Therefore, His Imperial Majesty desires to aid his subjects to win free of such oppression by sending investigators skilled in such matters." Milos, eyes wide, protested, "Lord Ambassador! We of course welcome the brotherly concern of His Imperial Majesty... but we of the Western Provinces have not been accustomed to receive the blessings of his rule for some years now. Nor, surely, does a monarch send embassy to his own nationals? Emporopolis is now of right a Free City, and we can enforce our own laws." The Ambassador inclined his head. "His Imperial Majesty acknowledges that his claim over the Western Provinces has... lain fallow, and thus he has shown your court all due courtesy. Nevertheless, he must insist that you accept his aid in curbing this scourge of sorcery. He will not tolerate that this poison should brim over to other provinces; and if he must sow the seeds of his claim once more to stem the tide, so indeed he will." The court erupted in a buzz of concern, outrage... and fear. Milos heart fluttered nearly as much as his hands as he said, "Lord Ambassador, I hardly know what to say! Sorcery is not a crime in Emporopolis, though it is certainly true that murder and threats are, and we are investigating already with all due speed and earnestness. Surely His Imperial Majesty should indulge the patience which all gracious monarchs cultivate, and allow us to enforce our own laws with all resolution?" The Ambassador again inclined his head. "His Imperial Majesty is a wise and patient monarch. He will grant you three days to give him your answer." [And he laid out the question, "Will Emporopolis allow the Empire to send in the Graycloaks?"] -------------------------- Milos went into a frenzy of 'hearing all voices', but there clearly was not going to be enough time to hear them all. Funding and extra manpower for the City Watch appeared like magic, and certain among the Eumanioi were heard to ask waspishly if martial law would end up being declared after all. The Patrikios too was growing bolder. He openly challenged Milos, asking if he personally would welcome the Imperial investigators and armies in with open arms. It was all Milos could do to contain his flush - yes, he wanted to see a free and happy Emporopolis back in the Empire, but not like this! He wanted to see it done in peace and with honor, not in response to threats! He poured out his heart to Fylakas in one of their tete-a-tetes; the strain was clearly wearing on him. "Oh, my friend! What am I to do? If I bow to the Emperor's demands and let him enforce our own laws, surely we are his subjects in all but name? And yet, if I should refuse, surely it may come to war? Can it be borne? What of the suffering of my dear people, even if we should win?" [Prediction: "If we do not allow the Empire to send in the Graycloaks, the Empire will attack."] Fylakas himself had been shaken by this turn of events. While he could shield many of his doings from wizardly notice with the power of Secrets, it was truly only a matter of time. Eventually one of the thrice-cursed Logite wizards would get lucky, and then his doom would come upon him. He replied, "Friend Milos, even that is not your most pressing concern. The Eumanioi and many other nobles are growing very restless. If you should yield to the Empire's demand, I fear they will seek to replace you, by force if necessary." [Pending use of Authority: If the Graycloaks are allowed in, the Eumanioi will replace the governor. SuentisPo said, "Oho! Playing hardball, are we?" "Yup. This is important to me." "Okay. I can play hardball too."] Milos searched his heart for some time after hearing that, holding his head in his hands. Turning everything over in his mind, he came to the agonized conclusion that, much as he desired to be a man of the people, to hear every voice, to strive with all his skill to keep every ball in the air... that wasn't what his city needed. Emporopolis didn't need a man of the people at this juncture; it needed a man of decision. A man who could make his own voice heard, and let the balls fall where they may. [SuentisPo: "I'm seizing Power from you." Me: "Do tell. How are you going about it?" "Milos is going to stop caring what everyone thinks and just do what he sees needs to be done." "Okay, that explains how you're changing Roles to Power, but it doesn't explain how you're taking mine away."] [He grinned. "In this air of crisis, you think anyone has time to listen to a blackmailer? You can only get things done if you can get people to sit still long enough to listen to you. What are you going to do, release everyone's secrets at once?" "Oy." SuentisPo turned to JoJoz. "So what Price do I have to pay?"] ["Hmm. I'm open to suggestions." I said, "Well, if you're not going to be Milos the Mild any more, there's bound to be a lot of pissed-off nobles. Supposing a mid- to high-ranking family goes into open rebellion?" Cautiously, "...Just how high-ranking are we talking about?"] [An idea came to me and I grinned wickedly, "Why, the Eumanioi, of course. You've already slighted them twice, and they're making noises." "Ouch! Yeah, much as I hate to say it, that makes way too much sense." JoJoz: "Sounds perfect! That's your Price." After a moment's thought, "Okay, done. Oh, and Fylakas? Your use of Authority just went bye-bye." "Yeah, yeah." I had the choice of changing Roles to Perspective or Touchstone; I elected for the former - since Fylakas knows all the secrets of the city, he has great insight into where it's heading.] Milos rose to his feet, firm for once in his life with decision. "You must excuse me, my friend. There is much work to be done." --------------------- [At that point, the Crisis level of the game overflowed. (We now realize we had misinterpreted the rules, and it probably shouldn't have at this point. But it all worked out okay.] The Eumanioi, fed up with their weakling Governor, raised their banners in rebellion against Milos, saying that he would capitulate to the Empire's demands without protest. Other noble families joined them. Milos was consumed with the irony of it - they were rebelling against the very course of action he had just made a firm decision against! Nonetheless, his newfound decisiveness did not desert him. He ordered his page, "Bring me my armor." The bewildered youth said, "My Lord?!" He hadn't worn it in years. "Since I have not yet appointed a Strategos, it falls upon me to lead the men myself. Go." Fylakas met with Maldark and ordered him coldly, "I desire for the Patrikios of the Eumanioi to suffer a convincing heart attack." The idiot, starting a rebellion right in front of the Ambassador! Maldark nodded just as coldly. "I'll do it myself." Kerdizo battened down the hatches, organizing the Merchant's Guild to weather the storm. Whatever happened, the trade would flow, lest the city starve. [At that point, we voted on whether or not Emporopolis would survive the Crisis, at any rate in its current form. The vote came out unanimous: Yes, it would. There followed the aftermath.] Milos' men clashed with those of the rebels, the Governor himself leading the charge. The rebels, disheartened by the sudden loss of their leader the Patrikios to an untimely heart attack (doubtless brought on by stress...) quickly folded and sued for peace. The Patrikios' brother, the former Strategos, died in the battle. The two surviving sons of the Patrikios were hustled into the Governor's throne room and dumped on their knees before Milos. He was still wearing the scarred armor he'd worn while defeating their father's army. He told them coldly, "I am giving you a chance to save your family's lives." He paused to let that sink in, and a shocked silence spread through the court. Then he said, "Swear eternal and abject fealty to me now, and instruct all your father's followers to do the same." He looked to the elder son. "Now, please." The young man stammered, "What assurance do we have that-" Milos quelled him with a single glance, then looked expectantly to the younger son, still in his teens. This one said earnestly, "We and all our house pledge our undying fealty to you forever, Governor!" Milos nodded. "Congratulations. Your family will live, and you have just inherited the title." At this point, the court began emitting a shocked buzz of talk, mostly to the effect of, "Can he really do that?!" Milos gazed around the room with authority, and it fell silent. He stated, "Nonsense. The second son always inherits if the first son is dead. ... I prefer to think of this as mercy." [SuentisPo's portrayal of Milos was masterful. He was clearly the same man, yet he had somehow gone from being Milos the Mild to, as we joked, Milos the Frickin' Terrifying! In-game, he quickly got dubbed with the more flattering sobriquet of Milos the Mighty.] [/QUOTE]
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Kingdom: Fear and Loathing in Emporopolis (Updated June 20, 2013)
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