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Knowing these Vogel games they must have several sub-factions: I'll be very surprised if we don't find out that the core of the rebellion are actually reasonable but powerless to stop the more extremist elements because the imperial representatives are just too corrupt to sit down and negotiate.
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Apr 8, 2024 05:32
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| # ? Jun 10, 2024 00:03 |
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Chapter 31: Liam  It’s almost peaceful. You wouldn’t know about the rebellion. Until you try to talk to someone.  Speaking of. Hail the caravan! C’mon, Zeke, we never find anything in these shops. Someday we will. Not today!  Warriors to our south. Hmm. I don’t like their look. They’re on the same side we are. And it’s too late to move now. I say we run. They are rude. And their armor looks thin. I could take a couple of their minds before they react. Calm words and cool heads, everyone. Let’s just answer their questions. “Stay clean?” I’ll clean him! No wonder the Empire is having troubles here. You think they talk like that to everyone? We’re armed and we’re on their side. I suspect that other people would have a much worse time than we did. More farmhouses! These buildings are newer than the others we’ve seen. Bad time to start out. Hail the farm! Hill giants? We have not had the pleasure of fighting them yet. That vampire in the vale summoned some giants. We handled them well enough. Summoned creatures tend to be disoriented. The real thing will be a harder fight. So this is Liam. Shall we split up? Let’s. I’m much harder to notice on my own than with you three. We should all be together to talk with Canizares. Of course. We’ll meet outside his place. Wherever it is. Alright everyone, how’d it go? I met a rude sage. But you repeat yourself.  This town actually has a library! It doesn’t look like anyone’s allowed to use it, though. Then it’s not a library. That’s a warehouse. A warehouse with a librarian. She didn’t like how dirty I was. Let her go on the road, and see if she stays clean. That’s what I’m saying! She was studying the natural magic of this island. Does everywhere have natural magic? Some places have a lot more. Usually places settled more recently. Which direction is the causality there? We think that organized human presence reduces ambient magic. But we haven’t worked out the formulas yet.  I almost don’t want to tell you all this, but she wanted us to collect geodes from a swamp cave to the east. Ew. Did she say why? Nope. Like I said. Rude. That’s where we’ll go next, then. Do we have to? I’ve waded through enough acid. And miss out on reward money? I do like money.  Jeffogel, why is there a library here?  Orders from Volpe. Of course. To attract a higher class of settler. I get the feeling she’s not well-liked. Did she have any thoughts on the rebellion? Some?   Real estate? That was her theory. I’m just glad to be out of academia. What did you guys find? I saw the temple. It was clean. And the priest? He was an earnest man. You would like his spell catalogue.We blow about 5000c on Zeke and JV.  He was strangely prejudiced against brutality. I assume the idea for the temple came from- -Lord Volpe, yes. The idea is one thing. The money is another. He was above such worldly concerns. So what did an honest priest think about this island’s troubles? That the situation is bad. That the Empire is just. That the serfs are correct in their goals but not their methods. Hmm. They don’t have many options. We saw what happened to Chelsea. I don’t think we, of all people, should moralize about this. We’ve done a lot of killing. And we will do more! Amen. After Selathni, I’m just glad they have a real priest. What did you see, Zeke?  Why, I met the mayor, Houlihan. Was he any better than Forbes? Maybe? He seemed preoccupied with crushing the rebellion. That’s understandable. They probably want him dead. The hall was very well-appointed.  If it weren’t for the rebellion, he’d be in a plum position here. I have not seen any such trees. It’s an expression. Like eating a plum. So there is a risk of choking? Yes, actually.  He knows Volpe personally. Just like Forbes did! And he had a hand in removing Lord Brosterman.  Who might still be on the island. Interesting… Now that is someone I’d like to chat with. There’s another thing he and Forbes had in common.  Punishment cells. These are bad people. I remind you all that you kill regularly. Yeah, for personal profit! That’s noble! We do not torture. And we’re not slimy about it. There’s a reason you like us and not him. Sometimes I wonder. But you’re right, I do not find your actions reprehensible. Even if I don’t partake. That’s what I like about you, Zeke. You don’t try to tell other people how to live. Or how to die! Hm. Houlihan was a smoother operator than Forbes. But not better, not really.  I saw the cells. No one is in them right now. But they were recently occupied. What did you get up to, Gwen? Do you even need to ask? For your information, Zeke, the first thing I did was explore the serfs’ housing.  How was that? You know how all the places that you guys saw were well-made, clean, decorated, et cetera? Not the barracks. Barracks? Really? Yup. Cramped, smelly, drafty. Made of cheap wood. What is wrong with a barracks? That’s the old way of doing things. Usually when an area is first settled and struggling. To still have them, with this much wealth around… No wonder there’s a rebellion. They’re being treated very poorly. I hate to say it’s not surprising. Anyway, then I broke into some buildings. I knew it!  I think I found that sage’s back room. How could you tell? Scroll collection. And I found some guy’s herbs. Huh. Wonder whose. Does it matter? Look at all this: Well done!   I’ll admit, one door stumped me. You? I know! There’s some serious padlocks in this town. There’s been a lot of money spent here. The peasants’ money. On a library they can’t use, a big hall for their boss, and a temple. At least the peasants are allowed in there. You guys ready? For anything. Oh. His herbs. Greetings, sir! What trade are you in? Alchemy, obvi- Let us see those recipes! Excellent! I’ll take two! Why are you being weird? All business! All above-board! Yeah, yeah. Invisible. Enslaved world… Dead in the night? You are bold! Okay, I’ll bite. Tell us of the Hill Runners. Uh… Any level of ruthlessness is justified. Right. Hand, throat, we’re on the same page here. Don’t, uh, doesn’t anyone who fights the Empire…die? Quickly? I see. They died because they were weak, you live because you are strong. Very simple when you put it that way. What are these techniques? Right. Of course. Why contact us? Well, uh, you can hate the Empire and still. You know. Work for it. Who…does not…but… That’s a toughie. He’s saying, everyone who works under Empire hates it. So if we opposed the Hill Runners… Which we don’t. Oppose you, I mean. Yeah. Love your work. Uh-huh. How do you justify that? Right. Makes sense to us. We looove ruthlessness. We do not have any ruthnesss! Canizares, you want something from us. What is it? Happy to. Veeerry happy to. Go to a fort, get some papers, deliver them into a crack. Easy. Then we’re done here. Good talk! Where’d Gwen get to? Ooooh… Gwen, he’s right there. Fine, fine. Okay. That was- That was awful. Zeke, what was all that talk about business? I am uncomfortable treating with someone who is actively rebelling against the Empire! Get used to it, chief. I suppose you’ve done it before. I grew up around them. And they’re all dead or in hiding. The same thing will happen here sooner rather than later. But these rebels are strong. For now. I did alright though, didn’t I? You laid it on a little thick. Yeah, you did alright. You were pretty quick there. Do you really believe that? Any level of ruthlessness is necessary? It’s what he wanted to hear. If we showed any hesitation, he might not trust us.If you say you’re not sure the Empire should be fought:  If you say the Empire should be fought, but that doesn’t justify any action:  But do you believe it? What does it matter? True or not, we’re here to fight for the Empire. Ruthlessly. Canizares needs to stay ignorant of that. You’re a frightening liar. Thank you, Gwen. Let’s settle for the night. Somewhere outside this depressing town.  Before we get tangled up further in this war, let’s get stronger by exploring and completing small jobs. Zeke won’t say it outright, but he wants us to wade through a swamp cave to find rocks. Geodes, Gwen. Well, that changes everything. I’ll buckle on my boots and dance all the way there! Hooray!Next time: Swamp City!
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May 12, 2024 21:36
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Thanks for the update! I find these avernum games quite interesting. The world isn't quite unique but it is different enough, and the writing seems above average.
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May 13, 2024 15:45
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Honestly if they just got rid of this serfdom nonsense then there wouldn't be any problem. But this does make me wonder if this is the full story.
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May 14, 2024 01:04
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The local lord is just building infrastructure and allowing the feudal market to thrive. Nothing bad here 
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May 14, 2024 02:23
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Tombot posted:Honestly if they just got rid of this serfdom nonsense then there wouldn't be any problem. But this does make me wonder if this is the full story.
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May 14, 2024 13:02
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Love two sides that both think it's warcrimes o'clock somewhere. e: the only solution is to murder the hill runners and empire and set Zeke up as interim head of a parliamentary republic.
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May 15, 2024 02:31
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| # ? Jun 10, 2024 00:03 |
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habeasdorkus posted:Love two sides that both think it's warcrimes o'clock somewhere. Hasn't this LP made Zeke suffer enough yet?
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May 15, 2024 08:17
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