City of IF

[OldJoe]

I reckon yer should drive ahead, full gallop and break through any ambush. Yup.

[Chinaren]

This story will lurch into life soon, along with my others. I have just been too busy with RL to write lately.

However, I did finally manage to start a map off, which I have posted at the start of this thread here.

My workload is beginning to ease, so I should have time (and energy) to write again by next week, maybe before. :-o

FYI. Being an artistic clutz, I have been searching the internet for a map generator. I haven't yet found something that will draw it for me ;) but the one I am trying out here is Authorealm which doesn't seem to be too bad, though it's a bit unwieldly.

[solus.serpen]

um, ok, i wasn't expecting him to send out his scouts as it was the option with only one vote...
but, albeit that, it was a good chapter. I'll think about the poll and come back when i have any ideas.

[Chinaren]

solus.serpen wrote: um, ok, i wasn't expecting him to send out his scouts as it was the option with only one vote...
but, albeit that, it was a good chapter. I'll think about the poll and come back when i have any ideas.

The vote was to go through the forest, which he did. :? The scout bit seemed only sensible. Should that option have won, it would have had a different outcome...

[solus.serpen]

ah, ok, i see.
nice avater btw chinaren :D.

[JezSharp]

Yep F5 solus on your avater China :). With reference to the vote Quote: The vote was to go through the forest ...The vote was tied (he said, still feeling a little annoyed the future King chose such a reckless route...mutter...grumble...mutter) but I guess you used an author's supreme power to make the choice :( .

Anyway swiftly moving on and focusing on this dp...I'm going to go through and throw out a ream of ideas to alleviate my frustration :) .

First: He could attack the gaurds with his band of bedraggled men. This would not be a good idea, it could start a civil war, certainly not endear himself to his people and there is a very good chance that he may be killed in fighting. Particularaly as he has lost most of his fighting men in the forest - essentially he is travelling with a band of scouts and nothing more after all the knights were forced to retreat. Definately a no-no.

Second: He could try to negotiate with the gaurds. So far though this doesn't seem to have worked too well and the the gaurds seem to have a rather rigid approach to keeping gaurd - although it really doesn't help that they have wound them up the wrong way to start with.

Third: They could try to entertain the gaurds, if they have any wine on them they could share it with the gaurds and perhaps some of them have some talents (such as low level magic tricks etc) to distract the gaurds, then slip through.

Fourth: If they have some wine they could drug it and send all the gaurds to sleep. If there is a protest about their actions later they could always claim they were testing out the city's security systems.

Fifth: They could try another gate. This seems a more attractive option...surely not all the gaurd posts can be as rigid and unhelpful as this one...add to that that they have already annoyed the leader of the gaurds at this point.

Sixth: Perhaps some of the gaurds know of secret passages or hidden enterences to the city that they could use, unlikely but nonetheless a possible option that could easily bypass the problem.

Seventh: He could just go back to mage school :) , why bother being King...it's proving to be much too dangerous and tiring. Having lost so many men in the woods though :-x he may as well try and get to be King, so this option really isn't that viable now.

Eighth: He could wait for more travellers to come to the City and rob them of their money to pay the toll. Obviously they'd have to do this out of sight of thegaurds and there may not be many rich travellers coming within the next few days...so this is a fairly large risk - as well as having the potential for all sorts of problems (e.g the person they rob is famous, a diplomat from another state etc).

Nineth: He could try and slip over the city walls by night. As he is with a group of scouts they ought to know better than most the quietest way to slip in unnoticed, plus they have inside knowledge of how the city is gaurded, maybe there is a weak spot?

Tenth: He could request an audience with someone who knows him and is loyal to him from within the city, if there is anyone matching that description. The gaurd leader may well refuse the request though (in which case he could try a different gate.

Eleventh: He could try to bribe the gaurd...but as they don't appear to have much to bargain with this option isn't looking to promising (and kind of goes back to robbing a fellow travellor).

Twelveth: He could waylay some travellers and try to convince them that he is the King of the land and that he will reward them richly if they will pay the fee in...in fact he doesn't even need to say he is King, just promise that he will pay them back double once they are within the city and that he won't leave their sight until he has paid the debt back.

Thirteenth: He could use some of the stuff he used at mage school to frighten the gaurds into letting him pass - it's doubtful that this would work with these gaurds.

Fourteenth: He could ask the gaurds to escort him unarmed to whoever sent the note asking him to take over the Kingdom. In fact he could just produce the note if he still has it to further back up his claim.

Fifteenth: He could work on creating some sort of diversion at night, perhaps have the other scouts release fire arrows into the air near the city gate then slip through whilst the gaurds are investigating. The worst that could happen is that he is arrested (well I suppose they may decide to shoot him) and thrown into jail within the Kingdom from which he ought to be able to prove who he is. However if the news of this gets out (as it surely will) it would be rather awkward for him.

Right I've finished for now :D , am feeling much better ;) .

[LordoftheNight]

Quote: I own, I brought no money with me

I'm not sure if that's what you meant - it didn't seem to make complete sense in the context. And Jez - Guards is spelt u before a, you managed to get it wrong every single time.

As for the decision point, surely he'd have some piece of identification, or at the very least some trinket which could be worth something. He could try bribing the guard with that - if he has it of course.

[JezSharp]

Quote: Jez - Guards is spelt u before a, you managed to get it wrong every single time.

Well that's some sort of acheivement :( , I remeber looking at it briefly as subconcious alarm bells sounded in my head but foolishly chose to ignore them...nvm, hopefully I won't make that mistake again.

[Chinaren]

Quote: Fifteenth: He could work...
Fifteen? Is that all you could manage? ;) :lol: Thanks Jez, I don't think anyone has managed to give 15 options to one of my* SGames before! I think some sort of award could be in order for that one...

Oh, and the 'cut through the forest' vote beat the 'go around' one by two votes, 6 to 4.

lordofthenight wrote: Quote: I own, I brought no money with me

I'm not sure if that's what you meant - it didn't seem to make complete sense in the context.


Admitedly I am not 100% certain, I but I am reasonably sure it is an olde English way of saying 'I admit'. I have seen it around, and I liked the cut of it's jib.
[Edit] From dictionary.com:
To admit as being in accordance with fact, truth, or a claim; acknowledge.

Quote: nice avater btw chinaren
Thanks SS, though it is actually an old avatar, recycled.


*Or anyone elses for that matter.

[JezSharp]

Quote: Oh, and the 'cut through the forest' vote beat the 'go around' one by two votes, 6 to 4. Oh ok my bad - I must have mis-read it at some stage then...unless it was beacuse me and solus voted too late...hmm that might of been the case as we both went for the longer route.

Anyway looking forward to the poll and next chapter...in the meantime I'll see if I can think of any more ideas ;) .

[Edit]

Yey :D , have come up with a few more ideas:

Sixteenth: He could try and suggest a duel to prove that he is the deserving King of the land. If he wins he gets to pass through - allbeit alone and escorted by the guards. Hopefully his fighting skills are reasonable...Actually he could try an issue any sort of challenge - brains, chess (or whatever their national game is) with him getting to be escorted into the city as a prize for winning.

Seventeenth: If he learned powers such as hypnotism at mage school he could now use them here to good effect.

Eighteenth: They could attempt to build a light glider and fly the King over the walls into the city. Or build a set of them, coasting in under the cover of darkness, assuming they know how to make such contraptions.

Nineteeth: They could attempt to escape paying such a high toll by getting rid of their horses...in fact only the King has to pass on through by himself in which case they need but one gold coin...if that. Alternatively (assuming they all wanted to pass) if some animals like cows can pass through free of charge (as a gift to the Kingdom for example) they could go away and kill some cows then dress up in their skins and be led through by one of the lower ranking scouts at a different gate.

Twentieth: Theycould go for a more interesting array of disguises. A bizzare one would be to dress as wild animals...large foxes etc and slip through at night...but far more realistic is an attempt to slip through dressed as shrubbary and bushes at night...a long shot but incredibly funny to watch :D .

Right I am definately going to stop at 20, as it's a nice round number :) ...and I'm starting to run low of remotely feasable suggestions. Like to see what the next poll is going to look like China :lol: .

[Chinaren]

I like the horse one. :cool:

The polls here can only fit in 10 options, so I am going to have to choose I think!! :D

Plus, I am awarding you my GOLD Idea award! Congratulations Jez, this comes with a 500F prize, donated by me! Your full size award will be in Chinaren Hall Hall of Heroes.

[LordoftheNight]

Thing is, there's suggestions, and suggestions. For instance - dressing up as animals? Is that really likely to work?

However, offering to trade him one of the horses, as opposed to disguising it, would be more likely to work than building a glider.

[JezSharp]

Well the animals one wasn't entirely serious (although two men inside a sewn up cow skin at dusk may still work quite well)...shrubbary would be slightly more likely to work (although the gaurds would have to be fairly poor at best).

I F5 Lordy about trading the horses - if they trade all six horses then they have to pay six less coins and ought to get at least six coins to pay their own entry fee. He will have all the horses he wants when he is King...I'm surprised I missed that :shock: ...a glider wasn't a bad plan if they had the ability to make one ( the others are scouts so there is some chance that they could - actually as they are mainly scouts they ought to be good at dressing up and moving as bushes :) - althougth the King probably won't be quite as adept) - still not as practical as the trade idea.

Wow I won an award :) . Thanks China :D :D , much appreciated.

[Jack_D.Mented]

He should just offer them Taral as a slave. He's useless.

[Alegria]

Nice story Chinaren, I liked the reference to the (at least around here) little-known lost world of Ys.

Try another gate, as Jez said.

[Argonaut]

I suppose he dosn't have any sort of royal identification like a ring or medalion or something. That would be too easy I guess :)

Paying the toll with trade sounds most feasible. If the horses aren't enough, maybe even give their armor and weapons.

If there is some loyal nobleman they can send for to identify them, perhaps they can use the bit of money they do have to pay someone to take a letter in to the city.

All types of sneaking in ideas seem foolish. Since we've already got men killed in an ambush just to be here on time. Besides, sneaking into your own city like theives, just because some dumb guard dosn't believe you is hardly a good way to start your rule.

[dinranwen]

How about any vaulable item as a seal to their word that they will pay?

Like a really good sword worth twice the poll offered. These are knights we are talking about here, there must be at least one good blade amoung them.

If not, the whole trade thing seems the best option.

[JezSharp]

Quote: These are knights - not sure they are, I thought they were scouts with the King. All the knights were used as a diversion to protect the straw King.

[Smee]

No royal tatoo's or birthmarks? ;)

Clearly the man will know the King is dead.

He should also know that one of the Princes was training to be a mage. With the loss of the King and his brother, it would make sense that we'd be called to take our throne.

Agree to leave our men outside and ask to be escorted to the Palace. If we're lying, then we can be arrested. If we're telling the truth, then we'll agree to pay the full 12 Crowns on reaching the palace. With so many men on the gate (enough to outnumber us) then it can hardly be an issue of leaving the gate 'unmanned' if a couple of them escort us.

I'm still enjoying it - keep it coming (and give us another Garden chapter too ;))

Happy Writing. :)

[Chinaren]

Good comments all, and don't worry Smee, I am working on the next chapter of Garden. Expect it soon!

:D

[Chinaren]

I have filtered the (many) suggestions and put up a poll with the ones I thought the most likely.

Thanks for those, now all you have to do is click and... click. :D

[JezSharp]

:lol: Well having made most of the suggestions, I think I'll now try and tear some of them apart :) .

1) Attempt to distract the guards and slip through. Slim chance of working assuming the other scouts can put on some sort of fire show at night and only the Prince slips through - If he's caught there could be great embarressment for him. The risk is too high and so this option is not advisable.

2) Try another gate. Not a bad option - in fact I'd say try it. Surely they can't annoy every guard at every gate as much as they have annoyed this one. If they do...well then barter and trade the horses.

3) A secret passage...would be great if there was one but with no clear existence of one...still if it's in the options presumably one will exist if it's voted for...this option starts to look quite tempting...

4)Attempt to slip over the wall at night. Assuming the Kingdom employs guards who have more than half a brain and aren't blind this strategy is destined to fail.

5) Try and borrow money (with double payback once inside). Might work if the right traveller comes along...could take a very long time and negate all the loss of life they endured to get here quickly.

6) Barter. Works well, however I'd argue that it's negated by trying a nother gate first ( or several gates) to see if they can pass through without selling anything. If they can then that is clearly a better way to go (plus headlines about the King having to sell his ponies to enter the City isn't going to look great.

7) Another incredibly good option if he can get the guards to agree - again it would be best to try another gate then ask to implement this.

8 ) Steal some money. Better time wise than asking for a loan but fool hardy and reckless. It could cause all sorts of diplomatic tensions and bad headlines - definately a no - no.

That leaves then 2,3,6 and 7...Time wise a secret passage may be slower or faster depending where it is located, slightly more risk - however the fact that it is (royal) suggests that it enters directly into the main palace where he'll be recognised. And it negates any would be assassins in the crowd. If he isn't to take the passage he should take options 6 or 7 (7 first then 6) at another gate (option 2). Therefore it's between another gate or a secret passage. Based on assuming such a royal passage exists and that as it's secret it will either be deserted or gaurded by those who implicitly know the King (or would be willing to take him to someone who does anyway) I'm going for the secret passage :) .

[LordoftheNight]

I decided that voting for a secret passage that may well not exist is really a fool's plan, and went for bartering instead.

[JezSharp]

Quote: I decided that voting for a secret passage that may well not exist is really a fool's plan, and went for bartering instead. ...I'd agree wholeheartedly if there was no evidence it existed...however if it was to win the poll then in writing in the next Chapter it would almost certainly have to exist otherwise there would be no way that the Prince and scouts would go look for it. Clearly the Scouts either know it exists or don't know of its existence currently - if the secret passage were to win the vote the chances are that one of the scouts knows of such a passage and so they would go look for it.

Perhaps that's looking at it from the wrong point of view...anyway yes if we assume that they would be searching blindly for a passage they clearly need to go to a new gate and then attempt to first ask for an escort into the castle and then bartering if that fails.

[OldJoe]

Ah made it a three way tie. Yup.

[LordoftheNight]

Assuming that simply because Secret Passageway made the poll means one exists seems foolish to me. The Prince and party could spend their time looking for a passageway that doesn't exist, only to be spotted by the guards and arrested for loitering (or some similar innocent crime).

The time they'd waste could allow his step-mother to gain control of the throne, and time isn't something they have to spend - bartering would be quicker than searching for a possibly non-existant passage.

[JezSharp]

Quote: Assuming that simply because Secret Passageway made the poll means one exists seems foolish to me

I'd still disagree - if it wasn't a serious option that they were considering then it wouldn't be in the poll and for them to be seriously considering it they must know the whereabouts of the passage.

Anyway the bog standard safer option is to just barter their horses (although I still say they should do it at another gate) - they then still have to negotiate their way to the palace and get in their which could lead to the same ID problems with the gaurds their. A secret passage would lead directly into the palace and the fact that they knew of it would almost be certain proof of his Kingship.

[Smee]

Hey Chinaren,

*grins* Haven't had first post for a while.

Good chapter. I enjoyed it. A nice catch up of the situation, and unlike the Turkey without cranberry sauce, not too dry either. ;)

A couple of technicalities...

Quote: but it has been appearing hear and there, slowly moving south over time.

Quote: Byrold took a deep draught of his wine, oncentrating on Sterling's words


And this one is me not understanding...

Quote: “I suspect she intends to hold you here until after the coronation, when she can mount a legal challenge for the throne.”

Why would she need to mount a legal challenge if she's had her son coronated? Without a Prince of some form then there is no coronation to wait for - it just can't happen? :confused:

~

As for the decision point. Head to the Mages. We don't need political power right now, but protection. Within the protection of the mages we can garner the time to appeal to more politically useful allies later.

Happy Writing :)

[Argonaut]

I have to agree with Smee, mostly because I like mages. Plus, while others may not like Eldra, we know the mages actually like Byrold. After getting mage protection it looks like the patriarch is the next most likely supporter. Then with some magical insurance he can look for some military support.

[dinranwen]

A note is slipped into your hands by a heavily cloaked figure, and before you can notice more, they slipped way. The note reads...

Treachary! It is to be suspected I guess, as it was once said; "An oppentent underestaimated is ten times as deadly as a oppenent overestimated."

Clearly the Prince made that mistake, he doesn't need to make again.

I agree with Smee, and Argo though, seek out the mages. Even people who dislike ones oppenent can betray oneself if they have other interest, such as promoting their own interest towards the crown. The mages like the Prince, and while they are a minority, they will be able at least to provide temporary protection.

One thing though, Eldra will probably expect the Prince to go to the Mages headquarters so it will probably be watched. Personally instead of going to the main headquaters for the mages, which as I said may be watched, I would have the prince head towards a mage's personal home. Perhaps go to a powerful mage friend who is not to powerful, noticable, or otherwise infutional, someone who might live in a small apartment on a side street or a cottage perhaps.

Right now, the smaller the better. Big moves such as going to Powerful members who are against Eldra is an obvious move, and therefore dangerous. The same thing goes for the Main Mage Headquaters. Eldra knows the mages like him, and knows that the prince if and when in trouble would probably go there first. So...pull the unexpected, heads towards the small not the big.

Remember it is a whole lot harder to find a handful of common people in a big city than it is to find an army in the woods, or even to find one nobleman in a large city.

[size=x-small]**Out of curiousity Chinaren, may I ask where the other countries and rulers you asked for volenteers come in? Just curious on when or if we could expect to take part in this story also.[/size]

Until my next apperance, I lurk in the shadows.

The note has been signed,

[Chinaren]

Smee wrote: Hey Chinaren,

*grins* Haven't had first post for a while.

Good chapter. I enjoyed it. A nice catch up of the situation, and unlike the Turkey without cranberry sauce, not too dry either. ;)

A couple of technicalities...

Quote: but it has been appearing hear and there, slowly moving south over time.


Aha! Already caught that one. :D

Smee wrote:
And this one is me not understanding...

Quote: “I suspect she intends to hold you here until after the coronation, when she can mount a legal challenge for the throne.”

Why would she need to mount a legal challenge if she's had her son coronated? Without a Prince of some form then there is no coronation to wait for - it just can't happen? :confused:

Ah yes, I see what you mean. I will have to sort that one out.

What I meant, I mean, what Sterling meant is that she could wait until he didn't show for the coronation, and then she could mount a challenge, as mentioned before somewhere.

Didntrunwell wrote: Out of curiousity Chinaren, may I ask where the other countries and rulers you asked for volenteers come in? Just curious on when or if we could expect to take part in this story also.

I don't want to make the same mistake as I did in Garden and introduce too many characters/countries all at once. Hence this story will start up 'slowly' with the 'set player' nations coming in a little later, and over time.

Initially we will follow Byrold and his struggles for the crown. When (if??!) he makes it to king, then he will be concentrating more on affairs of state, and that shall be when things shall start getting interesting. ;)

Fear not though, the game has already begun. I just need more time to build up the political map more completely, and work out all the factions.

This one will get complicated down the line I think!! :shock: This story is probably going to be a long one!

[dinranwen]

Another note has been slipped into your possession, this time it was slipped under your door. Curious once again, you read...

Completly understand Chinaren! It is better to start of slow rather than fast, it keeps things changing and guarentees an interesting plot.

The real reason why I was asking was simply what I said it was curiosity. I'm really do enjoy this story, I can't to find out who and when Bryold will become King. If I didn't know this story didn't have anything else coming down the line, I think I would still be interested in reading it, and that is a good thing.

However, I do know, and I await eagerly for both Bryold's possible crowning and the plot to thicken.

If you need any help with the political landscape, let me know, I'm very good at creating fictional histories. If there is anyway I can make your job easier, let me know, I would be glad to help. Things are kind a slow on mine end, so I need to be keep busy before I do something crazy like start a new storgame. ((And we all know I do Not need to do that.))

[q]This one will get complicated down the line I think!! This story is probably going to be a long one![/q]

Complicated and long....ah my two favorite words in stories. As an ex-bookworm addict (I can stop reading anytime I like really!), to me a good book means nothing less than 1000 pages, or if I most sacrifice I can do no less than 500. Anything less in my opinion isn't worth reading, unless of course it's by a good author who's nice enough to make it a series.

But I progress in the dangerously off topic, to finish this little note of mine, let end by simple saying: I can wait, no matter how long it takes, and that my friend is saying much of the quality of your story.

The signature at the bottom reads,

[Jack_D.Mented]

Perhaps if all other options fail, he could persue a foreign ally...

Or he should just go with Marshal Ren. He's a good strong fighting man. If you have the armies behind you, you own the state. That simple.

[Smee]

dinranwen wrote: A note is slipped into your hands by a heavily cloaked figure, and before you can notice more, they slipped way. The note reads...

One thing though, Eldra will probably expect the Prince to go to the Mages headquarters so it will probably be watched. Personally instead of going to the main headquaters for the mages, which as I said may be watched, I would have the prince head towards a mage's personal home. Perhaps go to a powerful mage friend who is not to powerful, noticable, or otherwise infutional, someone who might live in a small apartment on a side street or a cottage perhaps.

I have to disagree here. If we're quick, it can be assumed that Eldra won't be wasting resources watching the mages as she will be convinced she has us locked up. Head straight for the main tower/base and quickly.

Going in to hiding will be to Eldra's benefit as much as us being locked up. She just wants us out of sight until she can put in her claim on behalf of her son. We need to maintain as much public view as possible once under the mage protection.

[JezSharp]

I'm not so sure about going to the mages as he does need to be gaining public liking/momentum on the run up to the coronation - it sounds as though he does have the majority of the support and so hiding until the coronation would only play into Eldra's hands as Smee suggested.

Perhaps he should initially go to the mages for protection then have them escort him about the city to various fractions, gaining their support. Actually that sounds like the best plan for definate - he gains protection and support.

[The White Blacksmith]

I F5 Smee. Mages, Partiarch, Military.

[Chinaren]

Interesting. Looks like the mages are the majority choice so far. I will wait another day and then put up a poll, so any more ideas get them in quick!

[Edit] I have also updated the synopsis at the start of this thread with another map. It's slowly coming together people.

[JezSharp]

Well I'm fine with the mages as long as he ensures that he makes many visits and appearences before his coronation to gain much needed momentum.

Alternatively he could ensure he is in the public view constantly, surrounded by loyal bodygaurds - surely Eldra wouldn't go as far as a public assassination.

Or how about he arrests Eldra on charges of high treason until after the coronation :D :D :D (perhaps using the mages if she is well gaurded) ...that has to work (assuming she can be found). It doesn't matter if there is no proof of course, she can be released with no charge after the coronation and besides he has complete authority on what goes on in his Kingdom. It's a bold and origional move worthy of a King and will make the run up to his coronation much safer and allow him time to be in the public eye at every opportunity.

[Chinaren]

Poll is up then. Choose who to head for now. After the initial choice, when he is (hopefully) safe, he will try and stay in the public eye and garner support from the other factions.

[D-Lotus]

I voted for going to Marshall Ren. We need strength of arm to win this tussle. Yet another nice story, China.