5?
I think, the creative juices are flowing.
I'll tire-out sooner or later.
Hopefully not before others have picked up your mantle. In the mean-time, it's perfectly fine to comment on events that I describe in my updates. Speaking of which...
Civilization Quest
Soninke 304 AD
Your wife seems to be distracted by a cat. You try telling her that she's seen one before, but she just goes on and on, even makes up new words for it. It's… painful for anyone, especially you, to see a grown woman attempting and failing to form syllables to describe something that already has a word. Your thoughts are interrupted however, by an elder who asks you to come to the daily meeting with your advisors. After making sure your wife is cared for, you turn away never once turning your back.
Decisions: Choose 1 from each category. Domestic and Research categories are now available.
Military: The military has recovered greatly since you allowed Berbers to join your military, but you still have a ways to go before you can exceed prewar strength. The military also has lots of problems. In addition to the natural tension that exists whenever two cultures are forced to work together and be like brothers, there is also the matter of death's curse…
Organize your forces: As you were enforcing discipline upon your troops a thought occurred to you: Shouldn't the people who are in charge do this. Then you realize that there are no people in charge, not really. Yes there are elders, but that's all there is, and they command forces as a whole. Wouldn't it be better to have a system where young men are assigned to veterans for their leadership needs?
Record Death's Curse: You have no idea exactly what Death's curse is, but you know that it usually happens to soldiers who have witnessed some form of death on the battlefield. Some have suggested using your new writing system from the Berbers to record the shared experiences of those afflicted by death's curse.
Train Camel Archers: Normally, the practice of Camel riding and archery is a luxury available only to the most upper echelons of society. However, you have suggested that perhaps the training should be made available to veterans of all classes.
Warfare: The Berbers who stole your land so many years ago are now under your control. Your people are tired however, and need to rest. If you really want to, you can choose to send your people to war, but…
Attack a tribe (specify which one): You are in a very dangerous position right now. In order to eliminate your potential rivals, it would be better if you struck first. Of course, some of your allies might not agree with your actions.
Explore (specify which direction): Your life was saved by exploration. The Cisse tribe might be saved by it as well. On the other hand, exploration is dangerous, and very few people seem in the mood to fight right now (You will not be completely undefended if you choose this action).
Stay put: Your losses were huge, and your people are tired. It would be morally wrong as well as foolish to fight right now. Which is not to say that if you were attacked you would not defend yourself. You just wouldn't attack anyone else right now.
Diplomacy: You are currently surrounded by friends, but if you are not careful, they could quickly turn into enemies. The Cisse tribe has long been the envy of the other tribes, and even though you are stronger now, if the other tribes ganged up on you…
Marry a woman from another tribe (Specify which one): Marrying a woman of high status in another tribe would certainly improve relations between your two tribes and the other allied tribes in general. It might not be a popular domestic move though.
Talk of integration: Soldiers from different tribes have fought together, and they are closer because of it. Now that you are the talk of the town with other tribes, perhaps it would not be a bad idea to try your luck at unification with some of them? With you as the leader of course.
Send gifts: Gifts to each of the tribes would signify your (official) trust in them and help improve relations.
Domestic: Now that you have conquered the formerly Berber territory, you suddenly have more time and resources available to you. Perhaps some of this time and these resources could be used to better the lives of your people?
Declare Kingdom of Ghana: Now that you have conquered the Berbers and restored the land of the Soninke's ancestors, it would not be seen as inappropriate to declare the kingdom of Ghana. It will certainly increase your prestige in the eyes of the other clans.
Write down your clan laws: The Berbers have occasionally claimed that they were unaware of certain clan customs and laws. In order to remedy this, you want to write down your clan's rules and give them to the few Berbers that can both read and are to be implicitly trusted with such things.
Teach the Hooru how to read: It would be beneficial for all of the movers and shakers of society to know how to read important texts. In order to make this dream come true, you must have your trusted advisors go to the houses of known Hooru and teach them. It will be a long and arduous process but you hope it will lay the foundation of knowledge for your people in the centuries to come.
Research: Now that you have conquered the formerly Berber territory, you suddenly have more time and resources available to you. Perhaps some of this time and these resources could be used to better the lives of your people?
Introduce monetary system: A young Hooru child came up with the idea to his parents, and it quickly spread to you through your advisors. The idea is this: What if, instead of trading cattle and other resources, people gave metal objects for cattle and so on. Some of your advisors laughed at the idea, but for you the idea is intriguing for some reason…
Horse riding: You notice the Berbers have horses. A lot of horses. If your people could learn to ride them like they ride camels, you could have many different uses for them. So don't delay, ride a horse today! Let's just hope that it's not too difficult.
Intrigue: All warfare is based on deception. This thought came to you with the word east and some strange arrangement of syllables such as Son and tsu. Strange. But it holds some weight. How can you look at things from the shadier side of life?
(Continue) Establish a Shadow group: Some of the people who did so well in hiding your preparations these past two years have suggested that you make a cabal of "shadows" that would assist in your rule. It would take some time to train its members though.
Info gathering: You've got allies now, but how much do you really know of their plans? You could send some of your more… Mischievous clan members to gain some information from your allies under the guise of being another wayward exile like yourself.
Passing the blame: Although it's a bit mean, you could have some of your clansmen travel around and spread rumors about the non-allied clans. That would stir up support for some future conquest down the road, right?
Kill your wife: Your wife can't produce any children and can't even talk to you or satisfy your needs. You can of course marry again, but it wouldn't suit a king to just forget about a wife once he's moved on to the next. Although you feel bad for even considering it, perhaps you could send one of your advisors to secretly poison her while she slept?
Other:
Marriage : In order to reinforce your leadership, it would be advisable to marry another one of your councilman's daughters. That way, you would be looked at as a powerful and influential individual. Which you are, but an official proclamation of it wouldn't hurt. Please specify whether your new wife shall be Soninke or Berber.
Establish Polygamy: While polygamy has been a thing of rich men since time immorial, you feel as though if you want to get your population back up, you must make polygamy more accessible to the lower classes. You can do this by eliminating marriage dowries, although this might make some of the more traditional members of your tribe angry.
Mourn: Your wife is now useless to you. You remember her on her wedding night, so excited to be married and bear the children of a king. You couldn't help but smile at her sheer enthusiasm. However, when the situation demanded it, she was calm and reserved, as a proper queen should be. She… You might need to mourn a bit. It would certainly make you look human to your peop- Dammnit! She wouldn't be like this if it weren't for you! All you bring is suffering to both Soninke and Berber alike! You- you need some time alone.
