Legend of the Hunter: Chapter 4 - [S] Fight. Talk. Don't die.

[Professor zobot]

There's a target that is quite simply much more convenient for our purposes:

That merchant guy is clearly the traitor you seek! It makes sense: He was clearly seen consorting with the brothers at several intervals during their plan, no doubt delivering intel to them under the guise of "taking their money". Merchants tend to go everywhere there's money, and this they go everywhere in a big kingdom like this. Everyone, from smelly peasents to high level priests, patronize them after necessity, and no one really questions they do stuff beyond that they want to make money.

PLUS, he sells stuff for money! WHAT ELSE MAY HE HAVE DONE FOR MONEY?!? Clearly untrustworthy, love of money being the root of all evil and all that.

>Merchant: Find out about this, decide to leave town and become a traveling merchant, further torment the Bros.

[Mibbs]

Helmstrom: blame it on your usual target
King: actually consider it this time

[Godbot]

blame it all on father Lamard cause that would actually make sense

That's true! Sebastian was awfully protective of Father Lamard when Gwydian was about to punch him out, and Father Lamard very publicly provided the brothers with advice, equipment, lackeys, and room and board. They met up numerous times at various stages of the plan, too.

It also would've been easy for him to convince lots of people that Sebastian was an exorcist - after all, anyone would trust a priest. Not to mention, he sure seemed against the whole fire-Gwydian-out-of-a-cannon thing, but he never actually did anything about it - he just told a lot of people that he was against it. Perhaps he was setting up an alibi in advance?

[Chaos Waltz]

I say we set up a list of people that can possibly be used, so that, not only do we have other scapegoats should our plans go awry, but it'll also make it easier on our part later, so we can choose whoever on the list is easiest to assassinate at that point in time.

Father Lamard, The older St. Howitser priest who came in, the merchant, Ava, and the Bartender that attacked our men all need to be on this list. Additionally, we need to be prepared to shift our plans a little if we are able to capture one of the brothers. We can say they broke under torture, and skip having to kill one of our own.

[Professor zobot]

(Edit: Removed for me being whiny)

>The "Traitor": Be some background character we never really saw much of without a stated name.

>Team Aaron: Be joined by some new person with an axe to grind against the brothers. Or that merchant; Gwydian stole a murder chair from him.without paying! (How else did he obtain it?)

[Oven]

>traitor: Be arthur's twin brother.

[Armok]

Dragon summoning spell: Summon a Tarragon (which also goes by the name dragon) plant.

There's a target that is quite simply much more convenient for our purposes:

That merchant guy is clearly the traitor you seek! It makes sense: He was clearly seen consorting with the brothers at several intervals during their plan, no doubt delivering intel to them under the guise of "taking their money". Merchants tend to go everywhere there's money, and this they go everywhere in a big kingdom like this. Everyone, from smelly peasents to high level priests, patronize them after necessity, and no one really questions they do stuff beyond that they want to make money.

PLUS, he sells stuff for money! WHAT ELSE MAY HE HAVE DONE FOR MONEY?!? Clearly untrustworthy, love of money being the root of all evil and all that.

>Merchant: Find out about this, decide to leave town and become a traveling merchant, further torment the Bros.

This!

[Wessolf27]

There's a target that is quite simply much more convenient for our purposes:

That merchant guy is clearly the traitor you seek! It makes sense: He was clearly seen consorting with the brothers at several intervals during their plan, no doubt delivering intel to them under the guise of "taking their money". Merchants tend to go everywhere there's money, and this they go everywhere in a big kingdom like this. Everyone, from smelly peasents to high level priests, patronize them after necessity, and no one really questions they do stuff beyond that they want to make money.

PLUS, he sells stuff for money! WHAT ELSE MAY HE HAVE DONE FOR MONEY?!? Clearly untrustworthy, love of money being the root of all evil and all that.

>Merchant: Find out about this, decide to leave town and become a traveling merchant, further torment the Bros.

Thirded

[Wandering One]

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GWYDIAN! IN OUR SPOILERS! Is nothing safe!?

>The Clown: Is there not already a conveniently dead soldier who fell from a high place? Perhaps use him.

Otherwise: The bartender openly opposed the guards to aid Sebastian's flight. I hate to offer him up, but he makes too much sense as a target.

seconded

[Kocel232]

The Clown: Hey, why not blame some poor sap who's already dead? As it happens, there was a guard who clued you into all this before the exorcists ruthlessly murdered him. You believe his name was... "Arthur." HINT HINT

[Torquemadras Trump]

Legend of the Hunter - 125

blame it all on father Lamard cause that would actually make sense

You begin crafting your precious STRATEGIC FIGURINES. You will have to be very careful about where your players are going; no tactic can ever guarantee where UNWITTING PAWNS end up. You'll need people ready to intervene at a moment's notice whenever things might turn awry... But first - who shall be the first PAWN TO BE SACRIFICED?

I suggest Father Lamard, my Lord.
He is a liability. And he had more than enough opportunity to work against us.
I wouldn't be surprised if he really DID betray us all!
That is true.
He is widely known for his... antics. He'll make a suitable sacrifice.
But his death could make the rest of the clergy distrustful -
and I need their full cooperation.
Hmmm...

The Clown: Hey, why not blame some poor sap who's already dead? As it happens, there was a guard who clued you into all this before the exorcists ruthlessly murdered him. You believe his name was... "Arthur." HINT HINT

My Lord, can I speak openly?
I don't know. Can you?
Hrm.
This whole idea of killing one of our own does NOT sit well with me.
I've got fucking loyalty, y'know? That thing goes both ways.
I get that it has to be someone from this kingdom. Gives us an excuse to sidestep all internal opposition.
But it can't be someone who's sworn loyalty to you!
We should rather pick this old Howitzer guy. Or blame that dead bloke we found this morning.

That merchant guy is clearly the traitor you seek!

Or, hell, that merchant dude who was running around last night!
Nobody knew him, he appeared, made a shitload of money with his affordable prices, and vanished.
We still have those shitty murderchairs of his lying around on the plaza!
I know you too well to believe you're questioning my authority, Mantikor.
So let me say this: it was not me who threw the first stone.
The exorcists are to blame. It is their fault I have to justify myself, in my own kingdom!
So, unfortunately, we need someone whose betrayal will make a huge impact.
Some dead nobody won't do, as much as it pains me to say that.

Here goes the NEXT FIGURINE. This will make a fine strategy map for starters.



I MUST PROTEST AS WELL, MY LORD!
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES,
BUT IT IS DISHONORABLE TO SACRIFICE AN INNOCENT!
Cut it with that honor bullshit.
You know what's at stake, blockhead.
I don't like killing one of our guys either, but it's for Arael, dammit!
YOU SOUNDED AS IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND KILLING SOME OTHER INNOCENT!
AM I WRONG, MANTIKOR?
I AM TRYING TO PREVENT WHAT MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE A FATAL MISSTEP!
WE MUST NOT RETURN TO THE OLD TIMES!
Wuss in a metal coating, yeah.

The bartender openly opposed the guards to aid Sebastian's flight.

For someone so big on loyalty, you understand remarkably little of honor, Mantikor.
MY LORD.
SINCE WE HAVE NO CHOICE, MIGHT I SUGGEST ANOTHER... 'TRAITOR'?
THE BARTENDER OF THE FALTERING HORSE IS WELL KNOWN, AND HAS, IN FACT, BETRAYED US.
HE HELPED THE BROTHERS ESCAPE. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY INJURIES AMONG OUR TROOPS.
BLAMING HIM WOULD NOT REQUIRE HIS DEATH, SINCE HE IS ALREADY KNOWN TO BE A TRAITOR.
IF YOU MUST CHOOSE A SACRIFICE AMONG THESE PLAYERS OF YOURS...
PLEASE CHOOSE WISELY.



Once again, these words would have been an intolerable insult out of anybody else's mouth. The General is an exception. He is allowed, no, REQUESTED to speak his mind. Literally no-one else understands the situation with Arael better than he does. And he has a point: the bartender really did betray you, for whatever reason. On the other hand, his betrayal is already known - many people have talked to him, many people would doubt it. But perhaps that is still manageable?

The choice is tough. Tough choices are what you deal in, after all.

Your courage is admirable, General.
But I have already decided. The 'traitor' must die.



I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS, MY LORD!
IT IS MY DUTY TO WARN YOU OF MISTAKES LIKE THESE!
IF YOU INSIST, I WILL HAVE NO PART IN IT!
Dear General, calm down.
It's a necessary death, surely even you can see that?
You ARE serious about this, aren't you.

This is what you hoped to avoid. The GENERAL'S MORAL COMPASS just passed over the magnetic pole of politics, where moral goes every way imaginable, and now the needle's SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. The General is by no means a fool and essential for this to succeed.

If only it weren't for that PESKY HONOR STREAK of his. Now how to get this armored titan to cooperate?

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There we go, folks. The King has decided... We'll see soon enough for what, exactly!

GWYDIAN! IN OUR SPOILERS! Is nothing safe!?

HOLY FUCK HOW DID YOU GET IN MY SPOILERS?!
Uuuuuhm I mean
Of course I knew that
I mean, you can read this and all, you obviously can enter spoiler territory as well
I'm unsurprised as shit here
Uuuuhm carry on

[Wessolf27]

>General: If you have no choice but to agree, do so, but only in a way that you can access a plan in which you can save the persecuted and run from the city. You will not dare to have an innocent killed by your watch.

[Malrone]

>Skal & co: Remind the general of a few basic facts. Remind him(?) who he is sworn to. Remind him about the greater and lesser Goods. Remind him just who is providing and maintaining his armor. He cannot be allowed to forget about the armor.

[Mibbs]

King: lie to the general. He is strong but simple minded. Tell him there will be no deaths.

[Chaos Waltz]

The General's trust and cooperation are necessary. We can't lie to him, even by omission.

Tell the General that you will try to find another way, but that this may very well be the only one.

[Kocel232]

Skal: Threaten someone close to the General, someone you know he wouldn't risk. But do so in a very passive, vague manner. One that he will pick up on, but barely just. You don't want to give him a reason to outright oppose you, after all.

Skal: And then, reveal your MAJESTIC PLAN. The traitor shall be... YOU. YOU SHALL EXECUTE YOURSELF. No, wait, that's stupid. You're killing one of the older Howitzer priests. After all, they're not important in the least. It's not like this action will INSPIRE A HEROIC YOUTH TO STAND AGAINST YOU FOR THE MURDER OF HIS MENTOR or anything. No, that's just silly. That stuff only happens in stories.

The Clown: At some point, exposit on why you and THE GENERAL hang around this dump. You seem too independent to let some old fart of a king run you around by your balls and THE GENERAL seems to heroic to be working for someone who, let's be honest here, is turning out to be kinda Lawful Evil. You two could totally be livin' it up in some tropical paradise, or you could be living as rich mercenaries, why stick around here?

[Godbot]

> Remind him that sometimes, there's a difference between what's good and what's right. Slowly transition into bullshitting him about why he should do what's wrong for the sake of the kingdom.

[Professor zobot]

Yeaaaah... I got nothing this time. No idea how we're going to get the General to cooperate. Just a few ideas for joke commands:

>King Skal: Idly consider replacing the General with some sort of... G.E.N.E.R.A.L for a few moments, wondering if it would be easier to work with. Then realize this idea is stupid and dismiss it.

>Spoiler-Gwydian: (As opposed to the regular flavor of Gwydian) Welp, as long as you're down there, you may as well continue hammering on the fourth wall and mock your creator mercilessly. Surely nothing bad could come of that...

[suomynonAyletamitlU]

...

You know, the General's face isn't well known, because he always wears the helmet. You can always pretend that the general was a traitor, and use the armor to execute someone else--while keeping the real general around in the shadows. In effect, you're executing the general's reputation, but not his person. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

EDIT: Or claim he was temporarily replaced or something similarly feindish and complicated. You know. Plotting.

[Godbot]

...

You know, the General's face isn't well known, because he always wears the helmet. You can always pretend that the general was a traitor, and use the armor to execute someone else--while keeping the real general around in the shadows. In effect, you're executing the general's reputation, but not his person. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

EDIT: Or claim he was temporarily replaced or something similarly feindish and complicated. You know. Plotting.

He's a total badass, he's fiercely loyal to you, he's literally one of the only people whose advice you trust, and he's quadruple-wielding flamethrowers and a spear.

[distainfulCatalyst]

>Since you're going to frame the guy anyway, make the framing so convincing that even the General will accept it to be true. You know, go all Nineteen Eighty-four on your records of the guy. Rewrite history so it conveniently suits the present!

[suomynonAyletamitlU]

He's a total badass, he's fiercely loyal to you, he's literally one of the only people whose advice you trust, and he's quadruple-wielding flamethrowers and a spear.

I'm not saying actually kill him. But who better if you're going for shock value?

All that needs die is a name.

[smuchmuch]

Oh... yes, if the execution isn't public and really no people who aren't in the know know his face... that could actualy work. And the genaral as a 'traitor' would certainly carry a lot of weight, BUt...
there is two problems with see with that, though:
-How to promote his 'replacement' from thin air without raising two many questions. (I mean if no one even seen the dude and know what he's done, his promotion as new genral might raise some objection)
-It would make you look foolish for having a traitor so close to you for so long.
Besides general is known to be rather loyal and genraly awesome, 'executing' him would be a terrible blow tot heir morale, even if his replacement happen to feel oh so very similar for some reason Only situation where it could be benficial is if you want to purge the ranks of your military before making your move.

[Wandering One]

Maybe he works like a robot would? Try something like a logic paradox: an ethics trap!

If the entire nation isn't behind King Skal on this, there might be resistance. Rebellion. And as the General, it would be his responsibility to deal with this rebellion. That's a lot of lives that will probably have to be killed by him and his men. A lot of lives that can be spared by just convincing everyone that the enemy's out there and not on the throne. Is the General's honor such that he'll sacrafice the many for the few? Thousands of potential lives ae at risk for this one measely real one. His honor will be tarnished either way, may as well choose the way that involves the least blood on his hands.

[Armok]

> drunk programmers: overextend Moral Naviggation metaphor into an entire minigame.

> Skal: counter with a MORAL SEXTANT.