Help writing/playing chess-master wizard

[FortuneX]

Long time lurker finally posting. Warning- long and relatively dense post ahead, TLDR at the bottom.

I’m going to be playing in a solo campaign soon, as a very old, Neutral Evil wizard re-incarnated as a young man. He’ll be involved in a lot of politicking and manipulation behind the scenes, so i though I’d ask for some help in making believable schemes.

The situation is this: for...reasons (aren’t too relevant now) this wizard wants to overthrow the resident semi-evil empire. It’s ruled by a rather draconian, but very powerful empress who has expanded the nation rapidly. She’s just generally into authoritarianism, has a heavily stratified cast system...et cetra. Most of the other powers in the region are in no position to challenge the empire’s military.

However, the empire is wracked by the whispers of revolt. A foreign noble, nephew to the former emperor eventually appointed prince of a now-independent imperial colony has landed on the continent and is trying to stir up support in regions that are under more or less impending threat of invasion for a coup. Some have pledged aid, others have sided with the empress in the hope of leniency, and still others are solidly neutral. Due to suppression of information and recent “bread and circuses” campaigns, support in the imperial heartland is thin, either due to contentment in bondage which offers safety or ignorance of the foreign challenger.

On the other side of the continent, a young but beloved, and shrewd, half-elven queen is also forming an alliance against the empire. She’s only tepidly tolerant of the foreign nephew, and instead wants local powers to overthrow the old dynasty ( installing her as empress, of course.) she is geographically far away from nephew, and has several buffer states- they’re recruiting in different areas, but Queen and Nephew still compete for support, and both would sabotage the larger conflict with the empire if it meant depriving their rival the throne.

With all that out of the way- enter the Wizard. After recalling awareness of his true self post-reincarnate, he is regaining his power rapidly- the other faction leaders are casters, but can only equal him perhaps (in the case of the empress, a sorcerer) raw power- he has by far the most skill with magic. Due to various prophecy related reasons, it is vital that the wizard overthrow the established order, and ensure that he is the true power behind the throne. He is highly cunning and ruthless, although he finds the current overt authoritarianism distasteful and would prefer a powerful government who allows a good degree of personal freedom (it’ll make things easier for the wizard later on.). Nobody knows who the Wizard is, how adept he is at magic, or even really that he exists. Everyone who would have known him is dead or otherwise out of the picture- however, protracted research into the subject could compromise his identity. All these things in mind...

How would you, as a cunning spell caster, go about best playing these factions, overthrowing the established empire while setting up a candidate whom you can easily manipulate? Keep in mind that both candidates proposed are highly wilful and generally clever, if a bit arrogant- the second part might be more difficult than the first. A new candidate could be established, but there are no obvious or strong individuals who come to mind. You’d need to build them up from scratch.

Also, tips to role play a manipulative wizard are also much appreciated. Sadly, I have no real life experience pilling the strings of international politics. Yet.

Advice?

Also, since I’ve heard a certain fellow specialises in these matters...

Red Fel

Red Fel

Red Fel!

TLDR: Shrewd wizard wants to overthrow big bad (tm) empire, and rule the newly minted not quite so blatantly bad empire (tm) from the shadows. What to do?

[tistystf]

Agree with the young queen, you can seduce her. :smallsmile: They love her, which means that she will be a good leader for her part of the army. The nephew established strict conditions, either with us or on his own.

[FortuneX]

Unfortunately, they’re already engaged. Though, you do make a good point about the army. Maybe I could try to become vizier or something? A bit cliche, but one must respect the classics.

[Quertus]

Unfortunately, they’re already engaged.

What kind of Chess Master would let a little thing like a preexisting engagement slow them down? Simply get an agent to convince their rival that assassinating their fiancé might well shake their resolve for the worthiness of their cause. Or use a love potion, plus a series of Greater Curses (I'd suggest nymphomania and Necrophilia, personally) and clever use of Modify Memory, to gently drive a wedge in their relationship.

[FortuneX]

What kind of Chess Master would let a little thing like a preexisting engagement slow them down? Simply get an agent to convince their rival that assassinating their fiancé might well shake their resolve for the worthiness of their cause. Or use a love potion, plus a series of Greater Curses (I'd suggest nymphomania and Necrophilia, personally) and clever use of Modify Memory, to gently drive a wedge in their relationship.

Erm, Quertus? Don’t take this the wrong way, but....I really wouldn’t want to meet you in a dark alley.

The plan is...well, it’s amoral as all hell, but lawful evil....but still pretty solid. Although, 10 charisma might throw a wrench in it...and even for an evil wizard, marrying someone at dominate/charm-person point is a bit much.

There is always the option of binding an incubus on my behalf, though.

[Quertus]

Erm, Quertus? Don’t take this the wrong way, but....I really wouldn’t want to meet you in a dark alley.

The plan is...well, it’s amoral as all hell, but lawful evil....but still pretty solid. Although, 10 charisma might throw a wrench in it...and even for an evil wizard, marrying someone at dominate/charm-person point is a bit much.

There is always the option of binding an incubus on my behalf, though.

Lol :smallbiggrin:

Important point: you're not Charming/Dominating "your beloved" unless you absolutely, positively have to, no other possible alternative (EDIT: and let's say that the first rule of being an evil mastermind is that there is *always* another way). You don't want your schemes to be noticeable - and, if they are noticeable, you want them to be misinterpreted (you want the most obvious explanation to be wrong).

[Calthropstu]

No, don't go after her directly. Go after her betrothed with a bound succubus, with evidence pointing towards the empress.
Next, have similar happen to the other guy as well. Start rumors that the empress has begun to consort with demons to further cling to power.
Work from within the empire itself and from without (because teleport is a thing) weakening the empress' position.
Next, enlist in both the opposing camps. Work just enough to gain their attention. Gain their occasional ear and whisper sound advice.
Work to make a massive scale revolution possible, locating someone of high rank that people would rally behind.
Convince both factions to attack at the same time. Once they go to work, convince both that the other will be more weakened by the attack and that they need to strike towards the imperial palace with all haste.
Finally, use the confusion of the large scale attack from 2 sides to trigger your own attack. Kill the other 2 faction heads, kill the empress, impose puppet on throne. GG.

[KineticDiplomat]

First things first, establish your own information network. Hard to be the chess master if you can’t see the board. How you do that is up to you, but actually knowing what the hell is really going on beyond gossip and biased reports from others is.

Second, find a quiet claimant to be able to put on the board as one of your pawns later. If you put any of the major powers in play, they will never feel beholden to you for their power, and will continue to rule in a manner they see fit. You’ll be one supporter among many, and your position will never be completely secure.

The claimant must be native, and attractively regal, to retain the loyalty of the commons. Optimally you want a degree of nobility, but not associated with any of the great houses. Enough that the elites think they’re getting one of their own without it being a previous rival to fight or ally they think owes them.

Other than that, the more tabula rasa the better. Eventually when you cement this claimant in place, you want all potential backers to think they might gain or at least negotiate a superior position with this man.

It may be necessary to fabricate certain aspects and create some stories about the legitimacy of his bloodline, but that’s what you do right?


Don’t put this claimant in play yet. You need things to get crappy in the empire first. Put yourself in the empresses court, and use this time to feel out the major power players in the interior. You’ll need them later, and you’ll know what they want.

Advocate a forceful response to the foreigner, establishing your credentials as a patriot. Secure your claimant a command, and ensure he does well in the coming fighting while other powerful lords/generals sent that way succeed only at great cost. Besides weakening the empire, your man looks like a hero - and you get rid of a competitor who has foreign ties and is likely influenced by people beyond your immediate ability to affect. You also look good for picking the right horse.

Go with him, of course. This is your time to feel out the power centers of the exterior. The rebels, the reformers, the firebrands who want pure justice - let the empresses forces purge them for you. You don’t need malcontents when you rule, and if someone else takes the PR hit for ridding you of undesirables, excellent. You deal with the moderates (and your man crushes a few who disagree with you), sheltering them from the fury of the empress and building support in clemency from your claimant.

Hopefully this has given time for the far side of the continent to get its **** together. More to follow...

[Calthropstu]

First things first, establish your own information network. Hard to be the chess master if you can’t see the board. How you do that is up to you, but actually knowing what the hell is really going on beyond gossip and biased reports from others is.

Second, find a quiet claimant to be able to put on the board as one of your pawns later. If you put any of the major powers in play, they will never feel beholden to you for their power, and will continue to rule in a manner they see fit. You’ll be one supporter among many, and your position will never be completely secure.

The claimant must be native, and attractively regal, to retain the loyalty of the commons. Optimally you want a degree of nobility, but not associated with any of the great houses. Enough that the elites think they’re getting one of their own without it being a previous rival to fight or ally they think owes them.

Other than that, the more tabula rasa the better. Eventually when you cement this claimant in place, you want all potential backers to think they might gain or at least negotiate a superior position with this man.

It may be necessary to fabricate certain aspects and create some stories about the legitimacy of his bloodline, but that’s what you do right?


Don’t put this claimant in play yet. You need things to get crappy in the empire first. Put yourself in the empresses court, and use this time to feel out the major power players in the interior. You’ll need them later, and you’ll know what they want.

Advocate a forceful response to the foreigner, establishing your credentials as a patriot. Secure your claimant a command, and ensure he does well in the coming fighting while other powerful lords/generals sent that way succeed only at great cost. Besides weakening the empire, your man looks like a hero - and you get rid of a competitor who has foreign ties and is likely influenced by people beyond your immediate ability to affect. You also look good for picking the right horse.

Go with him, of course. This is your time to feel out the power centers of the exterior. The rebels, the reformers, the firebrands who want pure justice - let the empresses forces purge them for you. You don’t need malcontents when you rule, and if someone else takes the PR hit for ridding you of undesirables, excellent. You deal with the moderates (and your man crushes a few who disagree with you), sheltering them from the fury of the empress and building support in clemency from your claimant.

Hopefully this has given time for the far side of the continent to get its **** together. More to follow...

I agree with a lot of this, and is just a little more in depth than what I suggested. But using the other 2 claimants as a distraction is an absolute must if you are to succeed. It is essential that you choose someone people want to follow, someone who has the people's best interests at heart. The people need to be assured that their lives will improve if this person takes the throne.

This means working with someone who is not evil. Possibly even good. You may also need to find a way to convince some members of the heavenly hosts to assist him (or her) to contrast directly with the demon summoning empress. If you can spin it right, it will have a huge impact. Meanwhile, you can continue summoning demons to "do the work of the Empress" and continue spreading misery in her name.

With angels openly supporting your candidate, and demons apparently supporting the empress, it will seem a battle between good and evil. In fact, you could even make an offer of marriage to the opposite gender's faction in order to cement their support (Having that faction head assassinated of course during the final battle.)

It is imperative that none of these schemes be traced back to you of course. It will require a lot of work, a lot of intrigue, and most importantly adaptability. Your schemes will have to change many times before the end.

[Hellpyre]

First off - do these prophecies preclude gain power over the current empress and subverting her empire within its own framework? Generally, the easiest way to avoid scrutiny is to maintain buisness as usual, and getting her to name a chosen sucessor and then succumb to a wasting sickness is the most stable way to transfer power.

Assuming that is off the table, I'm going to echo the majority sentiment here and say that you want to invent a new candidate, wholecloth if you must, and use them as a proxy. I'd go even further, in fact. Create multiple candidates, three is probably a good place to start, and establish them in different regions. Gain them political leverage (I recommend working for the current rebellious elements, and then providing the information your patsy needs to fatally disrupt their plans, gaining political capital with the established government) and work to improve their public image - you don't want to have your nation suffer another coup d'etat after you take control. For these proxies you create, maintain leverage and pressure, blackmail, hostages, whatever it takes to ensure loyalty, and watch how they interact with thier power bases in the region you set them up.

You want to know how they deal with a taste of power before you try to install a new regime, because finding out they are arrogant enough to believe they can survive without your support is much worse when you are at the end stage of your manuevering. Figure out which of them will make an appropriately malleable puppet, and have your other candidates swear fealty to them, in exchange for power/freed hostages/politcal marriage/what-have-you. It's vital that you follow through on promises made, because a reputation for honesty will keep your other pawn motivated to recieve the reward promised them, and the discarded ones represent a threat to your secrecy.

Speaking of: you'll want your newly minted super-candidate to gain popular support one way of another, so now is a good time to leave them to kiss babies and open soup kitchens. You have loose ends to clean up. As soon as possible after power is consolidated to a degree where it won't be lost with the former candidates, you should arrange accidents. A vial of performance enhancing potion overconcentrated to the point of bursting their heart, a freak lightning strike, an assassin clearly tied to the empress you want to dethrone - you need it not to trace back to you, but you can't afford to let people who know your role wander free and unattended.

When you feel your proxy has enough support, and you have them tied as tightly to your apronstrings as possible, it's time to roll over an empire. The empress trafficks with the lower planes - someone has a hold on her soul. Offer to collect, in exhange for her soul now, and the soul of the next imperator to follow. If you can negotiate the transfer of command of her infernal armies following her 'untimely' demise, then you can end her life. Into the power vacumn steps your puppet, calming rampaging outsiders with a single gesture (the rampage having, naturally been your orders as well as the token submission). Make both those who staked their careers on the empire, and the citizen on the street, beg for your mouthpiece to take formal control. And never let your proxy forget that the demons guarding the throne room dance to someone else's tune.

I'll try and get into specific magic in the thread you made in the edition forum later. Mostly just make sure not to magically influence anyone you want to maintain power. It's too likely to reveal your influence.

[FortuneX]

@Calturopsu, that’s a very good plan. I have access to various binding/summoning spells, and I believe I could strike a deal with a high ranking devil, getting him to lend me some do his forces in exchange for a promise to help undermine good churches and aid underground evil cults once I’m in power. I’m not entirely sure how I’d get a good person on board with someone who summons devils and demons, let alone the heavenly host, though. I guess undetectable alignment and illusion magic will have to do a lot of legwork.

@kineticdiplomat, I agree that making my own candidate will help control things later, even if it makes the initial revolution harder. As mentioned earlier, I can strike some deals with devils, and create iron/gold to sell for the services of spies. Zone of truth could mean they’ll find it hard to betray me.

I’ll try and have my wizard search for destitute young nobles, naive but with some degree of regal presence. Once I have a spy network, I can spread my search out, and I’m sure there’s at least somebody of that description on the continent. Modify memory, alongside perhaps setting up a fake prophet or two (feeding them “prophecies” via divination) to praise their virtues, will help me establish their pedigree.

I am however, leery about supporting the empress, even in short term. She’s very powerful and savvy- If I do help her, then I want to have schemes in place to harm her at the same time. If I get my devil backing, then raids/false flag attacks to ferment dissent will be vital, I suspect. I could also discreetly cast contagion on troublesome nobles, and perhaps drum up fear of poison/ a plague.

@hellpyre, It’s not strictly speaking required that I overthrow the empress, but heavily preferred. The prophecy stipulates that a contract forged by an ancient dragon will be discovered in a set amount of time, entitling the ruler of the empire to a great deal of their power, which my wizard needs for various interplay and shenanigans. Unfortunately, the dragon was wise to the fact I’d try and interfere in future, so they added a stipulation that I could never claim the power, before promptly trying (and succeeding) to murder me. Thank goodness for reincarnation. So, the reason I want someone else to have the power is couched in the fact that the empress is powerful and clever enough to discover who I really am, and too autonomous to be guided by anyone, even if they seemingly have their best interests at heart.


Major intrigue/blackmail to establish local rebellious elements is a good tack to take. Magic means I can mostly travel about with impunity, and the main point will be ensuring nobody traces these schemes back to me.

I’ll also make sure to vet my political candidates very carefully. Would you suggest setting myself up as a mentor figure, or something similar, to try and mould them into the kind of ruler I’d want? That would give me a great deal of influence, but also draw attention eventually- people will look into the hooded figure whispering into the to-be emperors ear.

I suspect demons will play a big part in getting things done. I’m confident I can establish a deal with a high ranking infernal being, offering them a gate to another continent when I’m strong enough to cast the spell again (should be soon.). The main issue will be, I suspect, warding off scrutiny from mortals and from celestial entities. My char already dislikes the good churches, so attacking them is a must.

‘Accidents’ can be easily arranged, at my leisure. Nobody except the empress herself has the magical ability to detect foul play if I’m smart about hiding it.

Specific spell recommendations would also be really helpful, thanks!

[Personification]

I suggest a different tack: Choose one of the two current usurpers, or choose both and use the in/succubus plan to remove their current fiances and set them up, then insert yourself as a wise all-knowing wizard who will guide them on their quest to victory. You have to make sure that whoever you are working for stays in a relationship though, because the key to this plan will require a legitimate crown prince/princess to use as a puppet. You see, once you have fully established yourself as the advisor to the head of the Resistance, you put all your efforts towards toppling the regime (using your network of spies and other questionably aligned associates to help, of course, though without letting anyone in the Resistance know where the help is coming from). If all goes to plan, you should be the most trusted advisor to the happy young newlyweds who just took control of the highly unstable former-Evil Empire. Soon after the birth of their first child, whichever parent is most likely to be suspicious of you will suffer an... accident. Then, make sure that you act as a major parental figure for the young prince/ss as they grow up. Maybe a year or two before the child is old enough to inherit, the remaining monarch will also suffer an... accident. As the young and very unstable kingdom grieves, your young charge and monarch turns to you to help them lead, and you, regretfully, relent.

Bam! Instant shadow government: just add romance and lots of time.

[Hellpyre]

@hellpyre, It’s not strictly speaking required that I overthrow the empress, but heavily preferred. The prophecy stipulates that a contract forged by an ancient dragon will be discovered in a set amount of time, entitling the ruler of the empire to a great deal of their power, which my wizard needs for various interplay and shenanigans. Unfortunately, the dragon was wise to the fact I’d try and interfere in future, so they added a stipulation that I could never claim the power, before promptly trying (and succeeding) to murder me. Thank goodness for reincarnation. So, the reason I want someone else to have the power is couched in the fact that the empress is powerful and clever enough to discover who I really am, and too autonomous to be guided by anyone, even if they seemingly have their best interests at heart.


Major intrigue/blackmail to establish local rebellious elements is a good tack to take. Magic means I can mostly travel about with impunity, and the main point will be ensuring nobody traces these schemes back to me.

I’ll also make sure to vet my political candidates very carefully. Would you suggest setting myself up as a mentor figure, or something similar, to try and mould them into the kind of ruler I’d want? That would give me a great deal of influence, but also draw attention eventually- people will look into the hooded figure whispering into the to-be emperors ear.

I suspect demons will play a big part in getting things done. I’m confident I can establish a deal with a high ranking infernal being, offering them a gate to another continent when I’m strong enough to cast the spell again (should be soon.). The main issue will be, I suspect, warding off scrutiny from mortals and from celestial entities. My char already dislikes the good churches, so attacking them is a must.

‘Accidents’ can be easily arranged, at my leisure. Nobody except the empress herself has the magical ability to detect foul play if I’m smart about hiding it.

Specific spell recommendations would also be really helpful, thanks!

I wouldn't recommend being a mentor per se (unless you go with the whole 'evil regent' ploy mentioned a bit upthread), since it ends to put you a bit in the public eye. What you want, ideally, is to present yourself as a 'fixer'.

You find someone (either a displaced noble or someone who can be passed off as one is ideal) who is desperate for something, and you offer it to them. Depending on how big of an expenditure of effort it entails, your initial contact may be of the 'first taste is free' variety or may instead be done in exchange for a promise to listen to your proposal at a later date. It is important not to ask anything of value be given in exchange for your help at the start - you want them to play along, so you don't want them to eye the pricetag until it's too late to turn back. Once you've given them what they wanted, you let them stew a bit; if they can enjoy an improved standard of living for a bit, they'll be more likely to bite when you offer them more of the same. The next time you approach, offer them more power, and promse that they will have it if they listen to your strategic directions.

We still want to play things straight here. Make it clear that you know what you're doing, and that you can deliver on promises made. After this second interaction, it is finally time to bait the hook. You've given them power already, but now you offer rulership. Lie your teeth out about the why if you must, but let them know you have them in mind to replace the empress. Promise them legitimacy, because that's where you can start placing the barbs.

You procure or create documentation that presents a legitimate claim on the seat of empire. Why? Because both of you know it is fake. You put it into their hands, and in doing so attach a string to them. You can strip it away with a breath. Now is when you can start pushing more morally questionable actions on your pawn. Each act they commit ties them more closely to you, all without needing to appear to anyone but they themselves. A lesser wizard might have given them a way to make contact, but you are better than that. You want to leave something monitoring them (a great job for a hidden familiar) so that you can appear when you are needed, but make sure that only you can initiate contact.

When it comes time to start doing in dissidents, anything that needs to be subtle, you should handle, if at all possible by a means that leaves no trace of magic. For deaths meant as a warning, advise and prepare your proxy, so that they acquire the reputation, and so the more clean deaths are never connected to your candidate.

As far as destroying churches, the easiest way is to incite a riot. Use your magic to spoil or poison all the food in a town, and then form the illusion of a multi-course meal being eaten by the clergy. Alter your appearance, and spread the word of this...atrocity. Let the people see for themselves the food hoarded away from them, and let human anger and jealousy do the rest. Sow distrust, reap disharmony.

[Red Fel]

Also, since I’ve heard a certain fellow specialises in these matters...

Red Fel

Red Fel

Red Fel!

Yo. Let's get started.


Long time lurker finally posting. Warning- long and relatively dense post ahead, TLDR at the bottom.

I’m going to be playing in a solo campaign soon, as a very old, Neutral Evil wizard re-incarnated as a young man. He’ll be involved in a lot of politicking and manipulation behind the scenes, so i though I’d ask for some help in making believable schemes.

The situation is this: for...reasons (aren’t too relevant now) this wizard wants to overthrow the resident semi-evil empire. It’s ruled by a rather draconian, but very powerful empress who has expanded the nation rapidly. She’s just generally into authoritarianism, has a heavily stratified cast system...et cetra. Most of the other powers in the region are in no position to challenge the empire’s military.

However, the empire is wracked by the whispers of revolt. A foreign noble, nephew to the former emperor eventually appointed prince of a now-independent imperial colony has landed on the continent and is trying to stir up support in regions that are under more or less impending threat of invasion for a coup. Some have pledged aid, others have sided with the empress in the hope of leniency, and still others are solidly neutral. Due to suppression of information and recent “bread and circuses” campaigns, support in the imperial heartland is thin, either due to contentment in bondage which offers safety or ignorance of the foreign challenger.

On the other side of the continent, a young but beloved, and shrewd, half-elven queen is also forming an alliance against the empire. She’s only tepidly tolerant of the foreign nephew, and instead wants local powers to overthrow the old dynasty ( installing her as empress, of course.) she is geographically far away from nephew, and has several buffer states- they’re recruiting in different areas, but Queen and Nephew still compete for support, and both would sabotage the larger conflict with the empire if it meant depriving their rival the throne.

So, in short: a military dictatorship, a possible heir seeking a possible coup, colonies in revolt, and a general populace losing faith in the administration. With you so far.


With all that out of the way- enter the Wizard. After recalling awareness of his true self post-reincarnate, he is regaining his power rapidly- the other faction leaders are casters, but can only equal him perhaps (in the case of the empress, a sorcerer) raw power- he has by far the most skill with magic. Due to various prophecy related reasons, it is vital that the wizard overthrow the established order, and ensure that he is the true power behind the throne.

Stop here. These are two separate goals - overthrow government, and become power behind the throne. You describe them like you need them both to happen. But just for sake of argument, if you could only have one, which would be your priority? This will be important later.


He is highly cunning and ruthless, although he finds the current overt authoritarianism distasteful and would prefer a powerful government who allows a good degree of personal freedom (it’ll make things easier for the wizard later on.). Nobody knows who the Wizard is, how adept he is at magic, or even really that he exists. Everyone who would have known him is dead or otherwise out of the picture- however, protracted research into the subject could compromise his identity. All these things in mind...

I feel like I've read isekais like this one before. But you have my attention.


How would you, as a cunning spell caster, go about best playing these factions, overthrowing the established empire while setting up a candidate whom you can easily manipulate? Keep in mind that both candidates proposed are highly wilful and generally clever, if a bit arrogant- the second part might be more difficult than the first. A new candidate could be established, but there are no obvious or strong individuals who come to mind. You’d need to build them up from scratch.

The fact is, the nephew is the more valuable piece, but the queen is the more useful one. I will explain.

The foreign queen has established power, her own armies, buffer states, etc. She has all the resources needed to lead a conquest, and with the nation in the state it's in, she'd probably be successful.

What she isn't, however, is locally grown. The people won't truly accept her. I mean, sure, if she sweeps in and turns the land into a utopia, they'll be better off than they were, but the chances of that are slim, and even if it happens, they're still serving a foreign conqueror, not a local ruler. It will take generations for that to settle, if it does at all.

By contrast, the nephew has legitimacy. His ties to the prior ruler - the good old days - are priceless. Putting him on the throne means that the people are happy, full stop. The challenge is getting him there.

The solution is obvious: Do both. Play kingmaker for the nephew, but put him in the queen's pocket. Operate through catspaws and intermediaries. Make it clear to both sides that there is an extremely influential, extremely clever, and extremely discrete individual or organization arranging the pieces. The nephew will feel indebted to both you and the foreign queen for putting him on the throne, giving you power over him. The queen will feel indebted to you for giving her a foothold in the reborn kingdom, and some influence over its ruler, giving you power over her. And both will be convinced that you brought greater forces and tools to bear than you actually did in order to make it happen, convincing them that staying on your good side remains in their best interest.

Want more detail? Sure. Step 1A is to gain the ear of the foreign queen. Not directly. Advise an aspiring courtier on how to get her attention. Here's how: Give this aspiring courtier tips on the revolts brewing in some of the colonies. Give him advice he could give her as to how to play this to her benefit - supplying them with weapons and resources, better enabling them to revolt successfully. Queen gains an ally and the empire has a fire to put out. As the courtier's standing in the queen's court improves, you start pulling strings. Point out that you now control him - after all, if anyone finds out that he was colluding with foreign powers to get his information, his position could be in jeopardy.

In the meantime, you work on step 1B - gaining the ear of the nephew. This is easier - enter the ranks of his forces and perform well. Not so well that you become some kind of legendary hero, but demonstrate consistent competence until he invites you into the upper ranks of his coup. As your standing with the nephew improves, help coordinate successful strikes on the empire's infrastructure. You can do this because you have knowledge of multiple angles - you know where the queen's forces will move, and where the nephew's forces will strike. This means you can burn the empire's candle from both ends, guaranteeing successes by attacking targets the queen has already weakened and further earning the nephew's trust with your exploits.

This leads us to step 2A. Having secured the nephew's admiration and trust, work more on the foreign queen. Through your mole in her court, reveal that the nephew is aware of her involvement (whether he actually is isn't relevant) and that a more formal alliance might benefit both sides. At this point, the queen may well suspect her courtier, so it may be time to step in directly. Do not claim to represent yourself - simply say that you speak on behalf of an "interested party" who believes the arrangement would benefit everyone involved. The queen may be aware of the nephew's exploits, but as of yet she probably doesn't trust a fledgling rebel leader to take the capital.

Now, at this time, you will likely have determined that there is a very vital, and very well-fortified, target. Say, a major tradepost or armory. One that both factions' attacks have been dancing around for some time, but has yet to be pierced.

Inform the queen that, if she will provide a small detachment of soldiers as observers, you will send reinforcements from your "interested party" who, along with the nephew's forces, will successfully take this target. Given the low risk and high reward, she'll probably take the bait.

Concurrently, step 2B. Inform the nephew that you've been approached by an "interested party" associated with the queen. This party has been observing the rebellion with some interest for some time now, and has proposed to the queen that an alliance would be valuable. However, this individual understands that trust must be earned. So the proposal is a strike at this fortified target. The interested party will bring a detachment of the queen's forces, with the intent of taking the fortified target alongside the nephew to prove their loyalty. Given the importance of the target, he'll probably take the bait.

On to step 3. The nephew's rebellion and the queen's soldiers line up to attack. You stay back and out of sight. Give them some time to flail uselessly against the perfect defenses of the target.

Then you go full cheat. Completely unload, crush the walls and slaughter the defenders, from your hidden position.

Each side will know it wasn't their actions that did it. Each will assume the other side, assisted by the mysterious "interested party," was responsible. The queen will be suitably impressed with the victory, and throw her full support behind the rebellion. The nephew will now have the formal support of a foreign ruler, and his rebellion will be entirely underway. And the empire will be in disarray as one of its most vital defenses has been captured.

Step 4. Allow the rebellion to proceed apace, offering aid sparingly, so as not to draw attention to yourself, and deflecting both sides' interest in the "interested party." Some mystique is a very good thing. Eventually, the empire will fall. As the parties celebrate their victory, you approach each - privately - in turn. Remind the nephew that he owes his throne to the foreign queen, and while the empire is his, he would be wise to maintain careful peace and beneficial trade. Remind him also that the "interested party" is still out there somewhere, and assure him you will investigate this matter fully to figure out who this person is and what he wants. Likewise, remind the queen that she would be wise to let the nephew rule, as it would be better to have a neighbor indebted to her than to try to expand her reach, and suffer the same fate as the recently deposed empire. Remind her also that the "interested party" rather likes this present state of affairs, which should cause her both relief and concern.

In the end, you have the ear of the nephew, contact with the foreign queen, your candidate on the throne, and peace in your time, all without revealing yourself.

It's that healthy mix of respect, debt, and fear that I love so much.


Also, tips to role play a manipulative wizard are also much appreciated. Sadly, I have no real life experience pilling the strings of international politics. Yet.

Advice?

Short version? Be honest, but incomplete. Tell people what they want to hear - not flattery, but what they expect. If they see you as sneaky, be sneaky. If they see you as menacing, be menacing. If they see you as a trustworthy counselor, be that. Letting them stereotype you means they will never look deeper into your game - they'll just write you off as one-note and be done with it.