GULGALLANA & HENWEN

[soulping]

You find yourself in a grand throne room, with large, ornate thrones enough for your number to sit. Stringed puppets hang from the high ceiling, dressed and looking like the "citizens" of Ombrie. ...they're all faceless. The singular door that you walked through creaks shut at the beginning of the game.



The kingdom is in shambles. With the death of the most beloved king and your stepson not yet of crowning age, you alone must fight for the right to the throne. In your way stands your adoptive family members, who intend to take the crown for their own greed, though your stepson seems to be supporting you, as does his fiance. With the three of you working together, there's nothing that can stop you. But you must work quickly—these next few weeks are crucial to securing your kingdom.

Comments

ROUND 1

[soulping]

Your husband's funeral was last week. Your kingdom is currently in a state of turmoil. You have 0 popularity and you have 0% political sway.

COURT

[soulping]

It has been one week since your husband's funeral. Your uncle-in-law has offered his assistance to you with financial matters and matters of the nation—of course, because you yourself are not a native of this land but of another, and so do not know the history or politics of Ombrie as well. Not to worry, though. With his help, you will have nothing to worry about.

Do you accept his offer?

Re: COURT

[debate_avenger]

We'll appoint our uncle-in-law to an advisory role, pertaining to matters of the nation, though not necessarily financial matters. We will of course, also make a point of subtly double-checking his advice through other sources of information, with an emphasis on books and records available to us. Particularly, I want us to be on watch for signs of a history of embezzling court funds. If it turns up that he was embezzling funds, we'll remove him from his position and covertly release the information to the public.

SOCIAL EVENT

[soulping]

While your husband's funeral has finally passed, many people of the castle are still grieving. The atmosphere is depressing and the dull decor doesn't help. Your stepson's fiancée suggests doing something to lighten the mood.

Do you try to lighten the mood of the castle, and if so, how do you do it?

Re: SOCIAL EVENT

[hardertheyfall]

To help cheer up the castle we will be updating decorations and throwing a small celebration for our uncle-in-law to congratulate him on his new role. An invitation will be sent asking our uncle-in-law to be the guest of honor and letting him know about the party in his honor. We will, however, keep it a relatively small affair and not make a ball out of it.

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

Hm... There are some advantages to having the uncle-in-law's assistance, but at the same time, his goal will be to use us as a puppet to further his own agendas.

Re: DISCUSSION

[hardertheyfall]

Clearly we should throw a party. A ball or something.

Re: DISCUSSION

[hardertheyfall]

Wait, I'm confused, are we dead or not?

Round 2 Discussion

[debate_avenger]

Now then, putting the situations into other words...

We basically have three choices when it comes to the foreign country: We can invade, we can accept the peace treaty which would maintain the current relations, or we can attempt to improve the relations. Each one will have advantages and disadvantages.

The main question with the social event is whether going to it is worth risking our lives, and what we can do to minimize the damage.

ROUND 2

[unredeemed]

Your kingdom is currently in a state of turmoil. You have 10 political influence and 20% popularity.

A neighboring country in the south has sent an envoy to negotiate with you. Perhaps it's a sign of war?

COURT

[unredeemed]

An envoy of the neighboring country has arrived. It seems their intent is not to rekindle war, but you have learned that until recently, Ombrie and that country have had high tension and bad history. It was only with your late husband's peace treaty that peace began to settle in the south, but now that he has passed, the Queen of the southern country wishes to re-establish the peace treaty between the two nations, to ensure that peace would be held for generations more.

You know that the southern country is a small one; it is prosperous because of its location next to the sea, and thus its imports. However, in terms of firepower, you have the upper hand. It would take a lot of effort and sacrifices on your part, but you're likely to be victorious. Plus, because of its harbor, you'll most certainly net more income as the years go on.

What do you do?

Re: COURT

[letstalk]

We should keep being peaceful!

Answer

[debate_avenger]

We'll take the opportunity not only agree to the peace treaty, but also take advantage of our charisma to improve relations and work on setting up some trade agreements. We will of course, be trying to make some trade routes slightly more advantageous to our country than the one we're dealing with, counting on our charisma to try and smooth over the fact that we're getting a better deal than the other country. We won't try to get too excessive, however: That always turns out badly for everyone.

SOCIAL EVENT

[unredeemed]

You have been invited to a party across the country. Your stepson's fiancee will be attending and accompanying you, should you choose to go. Of course, it's all the way across the country, and there is danger in the countryside.

What do you do?

Re: SOCIAL EVENT

[letstalk]

We shouldn't risk something like that, right?

Answer

[debate_avenger]

We will of course, be going to the social event. We'll bring a complement of guards, however, and do our best to get their unharmed. We're be bringing along our stepson, too, since his fiancee is already coming along.

It goes without saying that at this point, any travel outside the castle comes with a complement of guards. Of course, since we have little in a way of political influence, we'll have to hire from outside sources for the time being. Mercenaries are more trustworthy than our military at this point, to be honest: A mercenary that betrays their employer isn't going to be able to maintain their livelihood, after all.

ROUND 3

[soulping]

Your kingdom is beginning to recover and get back on its feet. You have 110 political influence and 50% popularity.

It has been recently discovered that your husband was, in fact, poisoned. This was no natural death or the plague, but rather, murder—and your guards may have found the perpetrator.

COURT

[soulping]

It's no shock to find the Underground Kingpin on her knees in your court. The most wanted criminal in existence, of course she would reach this place eventually. But her? Killing the king? Is that really the action of an ingenious criminal mastermind?

Whether she is your late husband the King's killer or not, she is still responsible for the deaths of many good soldiers and many good citizens. You're obligated as the Queen to kill her, though perhaps you could make use of her. . . ?

Re: COURT

[debate_avenger]

Obviously, as she's the most wanted criminal in the kingdom, we can't go without punishing her. However, the previous King was also a person who believed in forgiveness and peace. As such, rather than go with executing her, we will go with what the king would have wanted: she will be imprisoned several years for each person whose death she's responsible for. In essence, we're giving her a life sentence.

That's the official story, at least. Of course, we need a Spymaster we can trust, and there's nobody in this kingdom who's a greater mastermind than her. She can remain off the record, while still being able to exert influence and help us eliminate the corruption within the kingdom. She'll get a stipend and a place to live befitting her status as spymaster, as well. Of course, we'll have to fake her death to do so, but that can be arranged easily enough. If we're careful, we shouldn't even need a body to do so.

SOCIAL EVENT

[soulping]

Your to-be daughter-in-law's funeral is this weekend. Your stepson is reclusive, not leaving his room . . . it seems he doesn't even care to be interested in the current murder case of his father, your husband the King. Not only that, but your late husband's birthday also happens to coincide with your daughter-in-law's funeral. . .

You can likely only participate in one of these events. The morale of the kingdom is low, but your stepson's morale is even lower. What will you do. . . ?

Re: SOCIAL EVENT

[debate_avenger]

While we will attend our late husband's birthday ceremony, we will remind everyone that this is no sign of disrespect for our late daughter-in-law -- in fact, we'll refer to her as our daughter-in-law, as though our stepson was already married to her, but rather out of respect for her and her belief in what the previous king was trying to accomplish. We will continue to strive for our late husband's beliefs, and make the country a place of peace, a place where people don't have to fear corruption, or bandits taking their loved ones from them.

DISCUSSION

[soulping]

Re: DISCUSSION

[debate_avenger]

...And there's my daughter.

[Siiigh.]

END

[unredeemed]

Your kingdom is standing tall and proud; although it's had its hardships it's returning to its mighty glory days.

You have 180 points and you have 85% popularity.

Proceed to endgame.