>>5767163>>5767201>>5767239>>5767246>>5767264>>5767301>>5767687>>5767785The weight of leadership presses down on you. As the sun rises, casting its golden hue on the vast expanse of the steppe, you contemplate the previous events, your mind racing to piece together the puzzle. Remembering how the Baatar warriors waited in perfect formation, something feels out of place. This is how you scare off a minor cattle raid, not how you confront an heir to a Khanate marching right into your hands. They could've easily ambushed and captured or killed your entire party. But they didn't. The intent was clear: to humiliate, but avoid a battle with your vengeful father if possible. Why? You mull over the lieutenants who were present at the raid. Is there one among them who has a tenable claim to the throne if you were out of the picture? The unsettling notion takes root: what if this isn't about a single man with loose lips but rather an entire conspiracy to undermine your authority and disqualify you from your rightful inheritance? Perhaps all your spies remained loyal, and someone else tipped the Baatar off. Addressing this delicately is essential. Confronting suspected spies outright would only breed more dissent and treachery. Instead, you decide on a misdirection. Summoning all your spies, you reward them for their 'good service' while secretly putting them under strict surveillance. It's a game of patience and strategy, letting them believe they've pulled the wool over your eyes. Should any conspirators emerge, their false sense of victory might just be their undoing. Meanwhile you rake your brain, pondering over those who might profit from your failure. The obvious suspect is Jhaqo, your eldest half-brother, the most immediate threat to your inheritance. But no, it can't be him. Jhaqo, for all his faults, is as transparent as clear waters of the steppe. He lacks the guile for such deceit. Then your mind wanders to the women in your father's life. While your mother holds the title of his primary wife, six other women warm his bed at nights, serving him sexually as slaves or concubines. Could one of them hope to elevate her child above you? To place her son on the throne? And then there's Turag, your uncle, your father's younger brother. After you and your half-brothers, he's next in line. And you remember, he rode alongside you during that raid, didn't he? His presence then, so close to the heart of the action, fills you with unease. The answer may be closer to home than you'd like.
>>Jhaqo: Quietly assign a trusted aide to shadow your eldest half-brother.>>Daho: Increase the frequency of your meetings with her under the guise of continued "lessons".>>Riri: Assign a loyal attendant to serve your father's young concubine who was captured during a raid.>>Other Concubines: Observe their interactions, alliances, and any potential signs of collusion.>>Turag: Have a set of your most discreet warriors keep tabs on your uncle, during hunts or raids. 