GURPS Fantasy Warriors Session 23: The Imperial Council

Characters:

Granmarg The Striking Vanguard, The Boulderstruck, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate
Pomegranite The Treefallen, The Spymaster

Mielikki The Field Marshal, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate

Thicket The Grandmaster Terramorpher, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate

 

The Wrost Question

Curzo, now Grand Magister after his appointment by election had been finalized that morning, was the last to enter the council chamber, just as Crown Prince Tye of Baronde was leaving to put down the rebellion that had broken out in the north of his kingdom.  Those present took their seats around the 8-sided stone table had been raised from the floor, and the imperial council was called to order.  Mielikki laid out the earthling position of distributing the power of the Emperor to three lesser co-Emperors, a type of governance that had been proven to work in the Highland Forests over the centuries.  Grand Magister Curzo chimed in to point out that this would also offer the provinces much more autonomy, a concession which would hopefully allow everyone to unit against the crises of the Void Beast and looming Demonwar that the Empire now faced.

 

Dimitri of Wrost began to voice their approval, but was cut off by King Neville Tallfellow of Baronde who claimed that they first had to determine if the new Republic of Wrost would actually be recognized as the rightful rulers of the province, or as usurpers.  Unsurprisingly, the monarchy of Lumene didn't want to recognize them, while the city states of the Segretan League were fine with a republic.  Uthemar of the elves was able to sway Queen Edelina by advising that it would be best to avoid a lengthy civil war now, before the end times.  The King of Baronde was still unswayed, citing the rebellion in his homeland that, according to him, had clearly been incited by the orcs of Wrost, despite their claims of innocence.

 

The earthlings knew for a fact that Wrost had been fomenting dissent in the College and the Highland Forests all the way across the Empire before they'd caught their spy, so it was extremely unlikely that they'd done nothing in the Kingdom of Baronde, which was on their southern border.  Mielikki suggested that Wrost cooperate and raise an army, to be commanded by Baronde, to put down the rebellion.  Despite their reservations at putting down a rebellion that was likely very close to them ideologically, Dimitri took the position that it was more important to show they could cooperate with the monarchies in the Empire.  King Tallfellow was still unpleased, but seeing that Wrost would be recognized regardless of what actions he took, and with Baronde on the back foot with the Path of Prophecy gone, he ultimately agreed to the plan.

GURPS Fantasy Warriors Session 22: A Sense of the Divine

Characters:

Granmarg The Striking Vanguard, The Boulderstruck, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate
Pomegranite The Treefallen, The Spymaster

Mielikki The Field Marshal, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate

Thicket The Grandmaster Terramorpher, Member of the Earthling Triumvirate

 

What Makes A God

The Triumvirate sent a messenger to inform Ulrich of their goddess problem, and then decided to screen their advisors for those who were true believers.  Most of them were in the clear, though several were unsure what difference it made whether she was truly their god or a "only" a being capable of all the same feats.  Mielikki's all claimed to not believe, but he had his suspicions that they were just saying what he wanted to hear.  They finally found a single sympathizer in Groutite, one of Granmarg's men, though even he was hardly a zealot, and when questioned as to where his loyalties lay, suggested that they could work out their problems with Terra if they went and talked to her.

 

Granmarg didn't accept this fencesitting and they escalated into an argument about Terra killing the priests.  Eventually, this was settled by Granmarg stating that in the event of a hypothetical civil war in the Highland Forests, he would surrender to the people rather than kill earthlings, even if that would result in the earthlings he was supporting being put to death, because at least he wouldn't be personally responsible.  After a bit more discussion with the other members of the Triumvirate, due to his insistence that he wouldn't send "anybody else to go die", Granmarg went to meet with Terra.

 

The crystal sphere, or New Temple, as it was coming to be known, had been readily adopted by the priesthood, and many of the faithful packed the outer ring of chambers.  When Granmarg announced himself to an attendant priest, the man bowed and led him in to the heart of the geode where Terra's personal chamber lay.  On the way, Granmarg asked if any more people had been killed by Terra, or if that had been a one-time thing, and the priest replied that only the one group of heretics had been smote.  They arrived at the doors to Terra's chamber, and the priest ushered Granmarg in.