Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 3 [Wednesday, Period 2]

[atreideslioness]

"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare," Ghanima said cheerfully as the students arrived. "So speaks both Sun Tzu, and history. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with the evils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way of carrying it on."

"Which is to say you want to come out of it with more resources and people left than your opponent," Tahiri added. "Because what happens if you win, but you've depleted your treasury, you have no food production, and a only fraction of your troops survived? You'll have to rebuild, and you're in a vulnerable position where you could lose everything you've got left, if someone takes advantage of that."

"And someone will try to take advantage of that," Ghanima promised. "Either an outside force, or even someone from within your own circle who thinks they can use the moment to their advantage. Maybe not even an outright coup, but what will you owe them if they 'find' extra grain for your stores? Or offer free troops? Or maybe they held back on sending as many soldiers as they could have, and now have an army that's not battle-weary ready and waiting."

Tahiri nodded. "To apply that to a non-combat situation: you only have so much time and energy in a day. Generally speaking, when you're tired you're not at your best, right? Maybe fatigue slows you down, or keeps you from thinking too clearly. Someone might take advantage of that and get you to agree to something you'd know was a terrible idea if you'd been clear-headed. Or you might just --" she waved both hands in a slashing motion -- "burn out completely. I know we don't always have the luxury of down time, and some of us might be expected to go above and beyond as a matter of course, and even want to, but . . . Well, know your limits, is what I mean. Recognize when you might be getting to the point of having too much on your plate."

"Part of that is delegating," Ghanima continued. "Or as the pi'en says, 'using the conquered foe to augment one's strength.' Use the resources that are available to you: whether it's capturing enemy chariots or cartloads of supplies. Tzu also advocates that 'the captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept.' Not only because they're probably just unlucky draftees, but because it's always possible to turn even a high-ranking general against his own king. And then you've got one of the greatest resources of all: a new viewpoint with which to see things, and an extra pair of hands to help carry the load."

Tahiri grinned wryly. "And believe me, having a new viewpoint with which to see things is invaluable. It could help you win the war, or find the most effective way to convince someone to come to an agreement. But that brings us to today's activity. You'll be splitting up into groups: some of you will be the conquerors, and some of you will be the conquered foe. Conquerors, it'll be your job to try and sway the conquered foes into helping you out."

"Just remember, bribery is a perfectly acceptable tool of statecraft!" Ghanima, no.

[OOC: Please wait for the OCD is ready to negotiate!]

Comments

Sign-in (AoW 3)

[atreideslioness]

Strategically!

Re: Sign-in (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

Lucille Sharpe

Re: Sign-in (AoW 3)

[good_for_six]

Isabela

Re: Sign-in (AoW 3)

[sciclone]

Cosima Niehaus

Re: Sign-in (AoW 3)

[seeks_truth]

Cassandra Pentaghast

During the Lecture (AoW 3)

[atreideslioness]

Do that thing you do! Only do it resourcefully!

Activity: Conquerors and Conquered! (AoW 3)

[atreideslioness]

The RNG Teachers have split the class into three groups! The 'Conquerors' must convince the 'Conquered' generals to turn against their kings and work with their former enemies of their own free will.

Have fun!

Group One
Conquerors: Isabela, Eric Bittle
Conquered: Cassandra Pentaghast, Laura Kinney

Group Two:
Conquerors: Lucille Sharp, Rey
Conquered: Ringo Noyamano, Raven Queen

Group Three:
Conquerors: Cosima Niehaus, Mara Jade
Conquered: Kathy Li

Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

[atreideslioness]

Conquerors: Isabela, Eric Bittle
Conquered: Cassandra Pentaghast, Laura Kinney

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

[good_for_six]

"Your king's actually a mage. A bloodmage, even." Isabela thought that was a brilliant opener as far as Cassandra was concerned.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

[seeks_truth]

"Silence," Cassandra growled.

... wrong opener. Going by the look in Cassandra's eyes, so the wrong opener.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group One (AoW 3)

[good_for_six]

That look might deter a normal person. Unfortunately for everyone... "Haven't you ever wondered why your kingdom has no goats? It's because he sacrificed them."

Isabela, no.

Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[atreideslioness]

Conquerors: Lucille Sharp, Rey
Conquered: Ringo Noyamano, Raven Queen

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

Lucille offered a deceptively sweet smile to her conquered classmates. "It hurts me to see you in this condition, it really does. I wasn't the one who started this war, you know. Regardless of what you may have heard, your king was persuaded by his advisor - you know the one who everybody hates - who thought he would benefit from the war."

Narrowing her eyes, she added: "And he really did. My spies report that he his counting the money and laughing. We have conquered your king and we will conquer him too."

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Well, I can see that happening," Ringo allowed, frowning slightly as she tried to imagine a situation like that back home. AT teams did get into major feuds sometimes, and they weren't always pretty.

So, yeah, that scenario Lucille was setting up made sense to her.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Two (AoW 3)

[crimson_sister]

"So you'll join us?" Lucille's smile turned slightly predatory. Clearly naive classmates had their uses.

Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)

[atreideslioness]

Conquerors: Cosima Niehaus, Mara Jade
Conquered: Kathy Li

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)

[sciclone]

"Hi," Cosima said, trying to sound sympathetic. "So, before we talk, can I get you water or coffee or anything? I know you've had a rough couple days."

She was trying to be the Good Cop, here.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)

[giveherahand]

"Or we can kill you and all of your family."

Mara, no.

Yes, that's how it worked at home, but no.

Re: Conquerors and Conquered!: Group Three (AoW 3)

[sciclone]

"What my, er, partner is trying to say," Cosima said from under raised eyebrows because damn Mara had gone there fast, "is that we just want to end this war. If we can't, people might die -- it's kind of happening a lot right now. But you want to help us make sure your family's safe, right?"

[OOC: Forgot to it post.]

Talk to the Teachers!

[atreideslioness]

Or just sulk at them for the groups.

Re: Talk to the Teachers!

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima was there, and happy to answer any questions that people might have.

Re: Talk to the Teachers!

[crimson_sister]

After the class, Lucille approached Ghanima, doing her best not to look nervous.

"Lady Ghanima? May I speak with you?"

Re: Talk to the Teachers!

[atreideslioness]

"Of course, Miss Sharp," Ghanima said. "How may I be of assistance?"

Re: Talk to the Teachers!

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri was here too, and perfectly prepared to get sulked at if anyone felt the need. Or to discuss anything else.

OOC

[atreideslioness]

We looooooooooooooooooooooooooove you!