This thread is for all things in regards to Yves. Ricther needs to develop a long term plan for dealing with Yves. I had contrived several plans on the previous site that included dealing with the Count and his closest of friends, spying, and acquiring goods. I steal believe that After Randy trains Burk and Hanso a bit more they should be sent with some support to set up a thieves spy ring in Yves. My Plan would be to help facilitate the theives in Yves liquidate hard to move items. They would also work to take over or create a new more powerful theives guild. Meanwhile the would be functioning as a information hub for the Mist Village. They could acquire secretive information and pass everything along to their spy master.
Richie needs to use his main advantages. 1) He is full human. This is an important advantage in Yves, it means he will get better treatment and certain protections. A little like being white. 2) He has access to mid-to-large scale production facilities and a variety of enchantments. He may not be able to match other professed enchanters who have worked their way up, but there should be plenty of takers for his wares amongst the low-to-mid tier adventurers and mercenaries. This means money. 3) So Richter or a standin should establish himself as a wealthy businessowner who employs nonhuman workers in facilities in the countryside looking to make connections to other businessmen. Hafiz may be willing to introduce Richter or his standin to the movers and shakers in Law. Grease the right palms and soon Richter will have access to the market for indentured servants. With a standing offer to take nonhuman filth off of the hands of the good humans of Law - of course with the understanding that they'll be treated "fairly" in the factories - and buying the contracts of those they can at auction, they should be able to get quite a few workers. Alternatively, since Hafiz seemed to be involved with Terrod and the plan to get the nonhumans out he may be willing to put himself on the line. Depends how deeply he is involved with the conspiracy. I don't like paying exploiters, but sometimes its better to swallow your misgivings and do whatever is necesary. Money for lives is a good trade. 4) From there, start looking for dissenting or greedy dukes. That would be a randolphus job. If they can find one, they should be able to gain their hands on at least some of the intellectual property of the guilds as well as some Yvesian technology. 5) Redirect the kings attention somewhere else for a decade or two while the forest of Nadria is unified.
We know the sacrifices in Yves are being used for the benefit of the Exiles and others in Yves. 1. Who or What do you think is benefiting from them in Yves? 2. What do you think the sacrifices are for blood, soul, spirit, or life energies? 3. Do you think they are powering something of pure magic or something more sentient?
1) Their exile masters are. I believe that was a quartet of exiles. 2) Faith of some sort. Desecrating their own souls may be a part of it. Its possible they also get part or the entire soul of those sacrificed. 3) Neither.
I imagine it strengthens them somehow, what with the Bloodstone being created long ago to collect power from blood to send to it's master.
Cruelty for the sake of cruelty. Power for the sake of power. Greed for the sake of greed. Evil can be its own reward, just like kindness or love. The exiles likely use the souls of those sacrificed to them for power, but we know they enjoy tormenting others so its possible they would be doing the same even if it wasn't rewarded.
Very true but it isn’t the Exiles making the sacrifices. People making sacrifices have their reasons. In this world it seems mostly about power.
Oh I thought we were about why the exiles want them. Their worshippers are likely being paid in baubles and pieces of knowledge. Something close to worthless to the exiles or something they get to keep (knowledge), but invaluable to their servants. Eldritch magic and other forms of corruptive magic would be a big one. The worshippers gain great power in the short run, regardless of the longterm consequences.
So you think there might be another practicer of eldritch magic in Yves? That could go badly. Even that knowledge would make the HM want to do something about it. I’m still not so sure people are worshipping the Exiles. I think the might be using them more like summoned demons. Then ultimately cutting deals for power.
Maybe. Eldritch users are supposed to be rare, but not unheard off. Knowledge of how to perform it and new spells would be highvalue information that it wouldn't cost the exiles much to share. We don't know much about the requirements for eldritch power users but there has to be enormous advantages to make up for the drawbacks. Worshiping evil entities is usually done for either power or to placate them. Neutral and good gods are the ones that receive most of the true believers.
Yeah but this is the Exiles and the courts. Do we have any record of them having worshippers? Isn’t that what separated them from the Gods?
No the gods required worshippers to maintain their power. The exiles do not need them for that, but having someone worship their glory even as they abuse them should stroke the ginormous egos of the assholes that almost destroyed the universe. They also use souls for something.
I am very eager to see Ricther return to Yves. There are so many covert types of thing Ricther could do its insane. I know some of you recall my desire to see Ricther use the Counts ring In order to purchase items for the mist Village and ruin the good Counts credit. Ricther could also use the Counts signate ring along with an acquired prison wagon to expedite prisoners placed in the Counts local jails. What other uses could you put the Counts Signate Ring to use for?
Good idea on a little economic fraud. You'd want such fraud to be belivable for the loangivers, or the count will claim it was an obvious fraudster even if they had his signet ring if the loan is granted at all. With that in mind, I could see the count being in need of financing to hire more mercenaries, expand his economy, build up infrastructure or help cover the hole in his finances from the time Richter robbed him but being unwilling to lose face by openly asking for money, which makes it somewhat belivable. Loans and gifts traded in return for political favors as the good name of the count should be able to raise several thousand gold pieces if "the count's representative" clandestinely seeks out the right loansharks and merchants. Perhaps another five thousand from the white pearl company in return for the count's ring as security (said money never actually changes hands, but they pretend it did). If the count pays them off, great, free money. If not they have his signet ring as security, which will destroy his good name. Other than that, lord's are granted extensive credit on the basis of their good name in most places. Use that to buy up materials and wares while he pays. Longterm contracts would be harder. Perhaps they can hire Yvesian mercenaries with a falsified letter from the count proposing to hire them. The mercenaries would still be paid, but they would be less inclined to turn on a major noble who has the ear of the most powerful king around on account of them possibly losing access to the Yvesian market.
Why would you go straight to loan officers? A signet ring is like a lords name empowered. It’s basically his stamp. Why wouldn’t you buy stuff using his ring? It seems you might not be that familiar with signet rings. It gives a person to the ability to bind contracts. A merchant agrees to sell a quantity of goods at a specific price. Once a contract is written out hot wax is poured on to the contract and the ring is stamped into the wax leaving the rings mark. The purchase is done. At a later point the contract is returned for the sum of money owed.
Wares can be tracked, merchants will know what was bought. From that alone much can be learned. Gold on the other hand is cold hard cash. Hard to deduce much from that. Its also hard to imagine they could get wares for thousands in gold without rousing suspicion, for a count that is a rather large sum.
We wouldn't want to use the White Pearl Co. Do not need the count discovering the relationship. Better to use a new one. Perhaps even better, use the seal to make a deal with a builder/architect guild or perhaps a smith for weapons schematics.
Why would you use anyone else to do your dirty work? No way anyone with good sense would ever use the white pearl company for something like that! An anonymous figure with perhaps a couple of anonymous guards dressed for the occasion. You might even want to employ your own outfitted wagons. Implicating a good associate would be insane! A Count having authority over a county or three wouldn’t here of anything happening until they came in asking for their gold payment. Then he would be faced with his own wax seal stamped approvals. If Ricther was good he would have agents sent out with “blank Checks” to purchase everything possible at the same time by couriers. The couriers would need to have the shipping arranged as well.
Seals were used as stamps like checks. The holder of the contracts would redeem them for gold either at a bank or from the Counts court.
