Professor Vesca
Good News Everyone!
*points to an infant*
CHILD. As a possible descendant of Kaspar, I dub thee...
LARRY
RISE LARRY, and realize your true destiny.
From Stone to the Stars
- Thread starter Redium
- Start date
- Original Alt. History
CHILD. As a possible descendant of Kaspar, I dub thee...
LARRY
RISE LARRY, and realize your true destiny.
Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
Still though i liked following the Kasper ----> Aeva line, I liked both characters so to see their line end is a bit sad. Even if we can follow another line from Kasper, but it'll be awhile before it'll be the same.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Anyway, in an effort to resolve the lingering tie between food tribute and megaproject tribute, then consider that delaying the settlement by one turn for the megaproject means that any hunt actions on that third turn will benefit from it, making it easier to tank the econ cost. Also, it's not like someone else can settle around our temple.
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16.1 Spirit-Touched
[X] [Party] Yes, Aeva ended up encouraging Peace Builder shaman to come.
[X] [Action] Trade (Pearl Divers) [Wondrous World] [Diplomacy] [Martial] LOCKED IN
[X] [Action] The Hunt 1/5 [Wonderful World] [Trial By Fire] [Flat Arrow Outlook] [Martial] [Admin] (5 Actions)
[X] [Art] Temple at the Cave of Stars
[X] [Admin] Expand Aquaculture (Fishing) LOCKED IN
[X] Tribute: Megaprojects (The Hunt 2/5, Expand Hunting)
With the final block of the of Temple laid down, the world seemed to stabilize. Weather that was once foul and icy began to warm. The heat was almost unpleasant after so many years of freezing winters, but it was a well welcomed change. It reminded Aeva of the stories her father told when he was young. The weather had been harsh so long that she could scarce imagine it else.
The Temple of Stars was, itself, beautiful. An enormous limestone edifice, it stood as high as the walls that surrounded each of the People's settlements. Each of the blocks was uniform, perfected, except for double sized blocks placed above each of the open windows that lined the walls. It was a new feat of construction, making a stable structure while having gaps in the middle, but it was one that Aeva was already beginning to appreciate. During winter, the windows would have to be covered by wood-and-hide panels, but that was only half the year.
The People's longhouses were always dark and dank, the only light coming from cook fires near constantly lit and the few beams of sunlight that streamed in from the smoke holes cut into the roof. The temple was the opposite of that. Large, regularly spaced openings allowed the sun to filter into the building, cascading across the whitewashed walls. A thin layer of crushed mica had been mixed in to make everything sparkle. Sunlight split, cascaded, sparkled, and shone across every surface. Arrays of amethyst, citrine, lapis luzili, and quartz, pleasing to the spirits of man, beast, water, stone, sky, and tree, were inlaid into the walls. At the far end of the temple, there lay a simple ivory door blocking off the lower caves. It had taken over ten years to collect enough ivory to form the double doors, but they were carved so intricately that they looked beyond the skill of any human craftsman. Only the knowledge that Aeva herself helped carve them dispelled that notion.
The carvings on them really were something she had thought deeply on. Now they were permanent and everyone could be captivated by their beauty.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of the Night, Sleep and Dream.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of a Surreal, Otherworldly Quality
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of People Talking, Whispering in Hushed Voice.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Elderly Individuals, Revered Gurus and Teachers.
Legacy Gained: Primordial Temple Builders!
Legacy Gained: Religious Authority Tolerance!
The Temple of Stars was everything that the People's construction was not. Grand, beautiful, well-lit... it was a fitting doorway to the spirit realm. It was a doorway that drew eyes for near, far, and wide. Other tribes from the Peace Builders in the west all the way to the Pearl Divers in the east, had sent shaman, traders, and other dignitaries to gaze upon the People's wonder. Without fail, every man and every woman who braved the Depths of the Cave of Stars came back changed. It wasn't always a big change... but Aeva could see it in their eyes without fail.
Quickly gaining in popularity after its completion, hundreds of the People and countless dozens of foreigners had visited the wonder. The Cave of Stars had soon gained enough notoriety that the Northlands had deigned to send their High Shaman. One of the most important figures in their entire culture, the High Shaman was the one that defined the changing of the seasons, blessed their hunts with bounty, and defended the tribe from spiritual misfortune. The Cave had seen Skalds and Medicine Men, holy carvers of lapis, and even one of the Pearl Diver's recalcitrant shaman, but that was different. The woman being sent by the Northlands sounded like they were someone important.
As befitting someone of that dignity, Aeva was present at the temple, flanked by two lines of the People's best warriors. They were a motley crew; Ember-Eyes, Fangs, Frost-Scarred, regular warriors; women and men; young and old. None could doubt that they were among the best of the People when it came to the language of violence.
When the High Shaman appeared, she was not what Aeva expected. As opposed to her own matronly age and creaking bones, the High Shaman of the Northlands was young, little more than a teenager. Likely to young to have even borne her first child. The girl was wrapped hear-to-toe in heavy furs, charms of bone and ivory clacking and cascading with her ever movement. Her eyes were hidden, deep behind a shadowed cowl. Two of her guards stood by her sides and helped her to walk.
"Greetings," Aeva said, bowing her head. She spoke in the guttural, stop-and-start tongue of the Northlands. She was by no means good at the language, but she had a trader coach her through the basics in the lead up to the meeting. "Please come and join us. Meals have been prepared and accommodations are available for your use." In truth, the food was simple fare, and the accommodations, a converted blockhouse that used to hold the workers building the temple. Compared to how the Northlands usually lived, it would be luxury.
"Honoured Matriarch." One of the guards responded with a bow. "On behalf of the Wisdom, we shall accept your gracious hospitality."
By evening, their guests had been feed, the moon had risen, and Aeva lead them down below. The girl had been insistent on entering the Cave, despite never uttering a word. Apparently, it was against sacred tradition for a High Shaman to be seen, much less heard by outsiders. Her silence and heavy covering of furs had been a concession to this practice.
There was something in Aeva that crawled, writhed like a worm, as they ivory doors shut behind their party. The Cave of Stars had only gotten stranger the more times she had entered it. How many times had she come down to see the grave of her father? A dozen? Two? Half a hundred? It didn't matter. Each time, the Cave found new ways to test and befuddle. Once, she had even been struck dumb, rendered mute and instantiate for days at the strength of a vision. Only the fact that the vision had been immediately scourged from her mind prevented her mind from snapping like a dry twig. Only a few steps in and she could feel the world start to run, colours swimming together.
Beside her, Aeva could tell that the girl-shaman felt it too. Her spine had stretched the second the doors shut behind them and she seemed to shiver. A few steps in, one of her escorts collapsed, almost sending the High Shaman to the ground. The warrior's allies didn't even stop to pick him up, transfixed as they were on slowly moving forward.
The group passed down beside the grave of Kaspar. Even after all of these years, he was immaculate, almost like he had slept instead of dying. Each time she came to see him, she expected her father to be rotten and reduced to nothing. But he never was.
When they finally came upon the Black Heart, the Void that formed the center of the Cave of Stars, the world stilled. Aeva had looked upon the Void enough times that the oily slickness browsing through her brain barely phased her. A second one of the High Shaman's warriors dropped, his eyes rolling up into his head while he dropped bonelessly to the ground. Gifts of ivory and smoked meat were stacked before the glinting, black shimmer. Aeva's vision finally started to waver, her resistance overcome.
The High Shaman screamed.
It was a high pitched, piercing wail, like red hot knives driven into tender flesh. She dropped, limbs unable to hold her up and she writhed. Her limbs cracked, snapping, bending. She twisted over herself like a worm, dread eyes settling on Aeva.
The Big Man of the Lake couldn't think. Her guest... there was no way she could be human. Her limbs collapsed into spindly thinness and bent far more than was possible. Stretching until knees faced forwards and elbows twisted backwards, the reverse of any rightful human. The screaming continued unabated for seconds that stretched to minutes, did the girl have no need to breathe? Writing in the dirt, fingers digging trenches deep enough that her nails shattered and fingers bled, the High Shaman of the Northlands curled up, wilting like a burned flower. Rising into a half sitting position, the girl jerked. Once, twice, and then no more.
Aeva didn't have to look to know, the girl was dead. She had been Next.
+1 Prestige
Pandemonium had broken out after that, the rest of the delegation from the Northlands had survived (though one of them had been completely robbed of his wits), and they were terrified. The further gifts that they had brought for the spirits, suddenly started being offered to the People! The whispers that called them spirits and demons weren't even subtle after that. There had been tales, drifting up from the south, where the People were feared and mythologized, but they were always a thing removed.
Now it was right in their faces.
While immensely positive, and something that had already caused the People to have a bit more swagger in their step, Aeva could see how fear quickly grew among those whom they dealt with. She could see it in the smiles of Skalds coming to play before her longhouse in Crystal Lake. She could see it in the lowered eyes of the Pearl Diver traders that visited them each summer. She could also see it in the distant glances given from across hill and dale by the Northlanders.
The merest glimpse of the People's wonder had killed the most spiritually inclined shaman of the Northlands. It had twisted her body, rendering her into something inhuman. A single glance at her corpse with its spider arms and smooth, mirror-grey eyes showed that she had seen Divinity and then had her life ripped from her flesh in recompense.
The Power of the People's Magic was undeniable. From the Peace Builders, to the Northlands, Arrow Lake, the Island Makers, and even the savage Mountain Clans all acknowledged it.
[ ] [Value] As was right, the People's spiritual might was the greatest. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits work in ways unknown, dappled in fear and blood. (Gain Spiritual Value)
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
Legacy Gained: Primordial Mystics!
+3 Prestige
All of the tribes had been very careful in the following years, stepping lightly where the People looked. When Aeva's trade mission returned, they had been taken to the heart of the Pearl Diver's tribe to speak to their leaders. It had been a strange experience, according to the traders. Anyone, from the youngest child, to the oldest elder, could speak at their gatherings. This frequently made their meetings last hours, or even days. In order to speed things along, they had implemented a system where everyone must provide gifts of value along with their word.
The belts of shells and necklaces of pearls were a currency among the Pearl Divers. In order to speak, one must provide a pearl to the gathering. To listen required a short string of seashells. Both of these gifts were then turned to enact the council's agenda, paying for work with the fruits of the sea gifted to them. The People's fee had graciously been waved, but just once. It was another custom among them to allow anyone to speak.
Once.
After that, one had to prove their resourcefulness or their wit in acquiring the necessary gifts to speak.
This reliance on pearls had actually started to become a hindrance to the Pearl Divers. Sourcing pearls was slowly becoming harder and harder. The weather had not done them any favours, but the big draw for pearls was the People. The ivory, lapis lazuli, mica, quartz, amethyst, furs, and half a dozen other goods were in high demand among the Pearl Divers and all they had that the People were interested in were salt and pearls. Of the two, the Pearl Divers, simply couldn't manufacture enough in the stone drying fields to offset the trade imbalance. Even with the People offering twice as many goods in trade as the Pearl Divers thought the salt was truly worth, the People simply had too many trade goods.
The situation was not critical, but it was untenable, the Pearl Diver's council argued. Something would need to be done. The simplest solution was some degree of reduction in trade on the People's end. It was painful for many of their councilors to argue, but fewer luxuries would mean that pearls would be in less demand. Alternatively, the People could try and find something else that they could take and trade in place of pearls. There was a kind of dubious thought to the notion; there was very little that the People could want to barter for.
One further idea was presented as the discussion was wrapping up. One of the Pearl Diver's speakers was a trader, a traveled man that had gone as far inland as Crystal Lake. He recalled the People's temple at the Cave of Stars and the skill of building that went into it. If that was applied to the Pearl Divers' saltern, they might be able to increase the yield. They weren't sure by how much, but if worst came to worst, the People and the Pearl Divers could continue building salterns until it evened out the People's demand for salt. Even if some of that salt was then traded on... the Pearl Divers would not be upset.
It surprised the People's traders that the Pearl Divers would be so willing to teach their magic of salt, especially in helping the People build since structures. The councilmen shrugged. All of the water southwest of the Pearl Divers' southernmost holding was sweetwater, not saltwater. For whatever reason, building a saltern there did not produce any salt. Knowing how to build such a place of magic would do literally nothing for the People in their view.
[ ] [Pearl] Nothing. How is this the People's problem?
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
[ ] [Pearl] Cap the amount of trade permitted to the Pearl Diver's traders.
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
The People's temple had also had interesting effects, one that was relatively small, but invaluable: it kept the People informed. The temple was a dominant draw, pulling traders and pilgrims from the great Veri Lake in the south, Rahu Bay in the west, or Valge River on which the Fingers lay. Not only did these traders and pilgrims carried goods, but they also carried information. Most of it was uninteresting dross, but there were three points of interest.
First, the Mountain Clans had aggressively assaulted all of their neighbours, searching for food, plunder, and land. They had fallen on the Bond Breakers, wounding them severely, and leaving them open for a devastating resurgence from South Lake. The Island Makers had pushed back the Mountain Clans with little effort. Arrow Lake has massacred a large war party. A group of Mountain Clans raiders had laid siege to the walled settlement at Arrow Lake. Futilely as it turned out, but they had stubbornly remained in place long enough that winter crept up on them. They were forced to retreat and Arrow Lake harried them all the way back into the mountains, reaping enormous casualties.
Second, the Peace Builders' war in the south continued to go extremely well for them. There had been seven tribes that competed for the lands to the south, but two of them had since been completely dominated by the Peace Builders. Their population and lands had swollen precipitously. This was not unprecedented, the wars of the south had occasionally had one tribe come out ahead, but they were always torn down by rebellion, or a short-lived alliance between the other tribes.
It was different this time. The Peace Builders had somehow managed to convince the region to a temporary truce. Time to recover from the ravages of the weather and the cursed sickness, scourge of the spirits' rage. This had given them time, time they were putting to good use. Their Skalds slowly taught the children of the captives they had taken during the war, turning them to the Peace Builder's side with their tales, teachings and values. The two tribes that they had dominated were slowly disappearing, rotting under the Peace Builder's dominion like a fugus would to a fallen log.
Third, another, unknown tribe had been found in the west. On the other side of Rahu Bay, a new tribe had moved into the area, dominating a small island at the confluence of three of the great lakes of the region. They were strange, completely unlike the tribes of the region. Truthfully, the only reason that they were relevant was because of their location. The rivers they operated on were perhaps a quarter moon's travel from the proposed site for the North Bay settlement. If the People didn't move on that soon, it may not be available much longer. If this new River Tribe took it, that would mean that Rahu Bay would become contested by three powers.
The influx of knowledge had just made Aeva's head spin. There was so much going on and the world seemed to becoming a larger and larger place. Since the world was no longer willing to make sense, Aeva focused on an area in which it surely did: the Hunt.
Hunting for their food had been a major source of sustenance in the last few decades. The long and freezing winters had simply prevented the easy growth of plants; agriculture had stalled. Many in the south had starved, but the People were prepared. Every adult could string a bow and every child knew how to set a trap. Agriculture was a new and untested source of food, something that no one could yet fully trust.
So the People hunted, again and again and again, for years on end. Combined with the weather, something strange happened: the number of beasts got smaller. Hunters suddenly realized that they were taking home fewer kills and the kills they did make were small, juveniles. The People had then started to range further and further in search of increased prey. Everywhere they looked, from the hills and valleys, to the trackless forests of the world, they were empty of prey. According to the elders, there was perhaps a tenth of the prey that there should be.
That information sent a shock wave through the People. What would happen the next time the weather turned against the People? With nine-of-ten animals dead, the People wouldn't be able to feed themselves. If another nine-of-ten of those that remained died, would there even be enough animals in all the world to fill it?
Even working with the People's long-time furred friends did little to help. Their sensitive noses simply couldn't pick up on trails that weren't there. The only possible bright spot had been with the orkers. The great ornery beasts were too tough to die. There was little the People had to do but set them out to pasture in the spring. By winter, they would come back to be fed and kept warm, usually with a few little ones dutifully following along. If the People completely held off on eating orkers until there was another weather crisis, there still would not be enough meat to go around. Something would have to be done to rectify the situation. The People had to rethink how they hunted.
Checking over the resources available, Aeva noted that she had the resources for two more tasks.
Pick two:
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Touch base with Arrow Lake. Maybe they could be helped with the Mountain Clans? (Promote Folk Wrestling)
[ ] [Action] Gather information to interfere with the Peace Builders growing hegemony of the southern lands (Trade: The South)
[ ] [Action] Learn more about these strangers to the west, the River Tribe. (Trade: River Tribe)
[ ] [Action] Smash into the Mountain Clans and make them pay for attacking Arrow Lake and the Bond Breakers. (Raid: Mountain Clans)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 2/2)
[ ] [Action] Stay home and farm. (Expand Agriculture: Quinoa)
AN: Vote is in Moratorium. I'll post an updated map, leader board, answer questions, and open the vote when I wake up tomorrow. The front page is mostly updated. Now that you have symbolic tally, I was thinking of turning the Civilization Statistics section into a tally with stylized indicators to show a bit of the math I use to keep track of things. Thoughts? Do people want to see a bit of that or focus exclusively on narrative?
[X] [Action] Trade (Pearl Divers) [Wondrous World] [Diplomacy] [Martial] LOCKED IN
[X] [Action] The Hunt 1/5 [Wonderful World] [Trial By Fire] [Flat Arrow Outlook] [Martial] [Admin] (5 Actions)
[X] [Art] Temple at the Cave of Stars
[X] [Admin] Expand Aquaculture (Fishing) LOCKED IN
[X] Tribute: Megaprojects (The Hunt 2/5, Expand Hunting)
With the final block of the of Temple laid down, the world seemed to stabilize. Weather that was once foul and icy began to warm. The heat was almost unpleasant after so many years of freezing winters, but it was a well welcomed change. It reminded Aeva of the stories her father told when he was young. The weather had been harsh so long that she could scarce imagine it else.
The Temple of Stars was, itself, beautiful. An enormous limestone edifice, it stood as high as the walls that surrounded each of the People's settlements. Each of the blocks was uniform, perfected, except for double sized blocks placed above each of the open windows that lined the walls. It was a new feat of construction, making a stable structure while having gaps in the middle, but it was one that Aeva was already beginning to appreciate. During winter, the windows would have to be covered by wood-and-hide panels, but that was only half the year.
The People's longhouses were always dark and dank, the only light coming from cook fires near constantly lit and the few beams of sunlight that streamed in from the smoke holes cut into the roof. The temple was the opposite of that. Large, regularly spaced openings allowed the sun to filter into the building, cascading across the whitewashed walls. A thin layer of crushed mica had been mixed in to make everything sparkle. Sunlight split, cascaded, sparkled, and shone across every surface. Arrays of amethyst, citrine, lapis luzili, and quartz, pleasing to the spirits of man, beast, water, stone, sky, and tree, were inlaid into the walls. At the far end of the temple, there lay a simple ivory door blocking off the lower caves. It had taken over ten years to collect enough ivory to form the double doors, but they were carved so intricately that they looked beyond the skill of any human craftsman. Only the knowledge that Aeva herself helped carve them dispelled that notion.
The carvings on them really were something she had thought deeply on. Now they were permanent and everyone could be captivated by their beauty.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of the Night, Sleep and Dream.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of a Surreal, Otherworldly Quality
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of People Talking, Whispering in Hushed Voice.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Elderly Individuals, Revered Gurus and Teachers.
Legacy Gained: Primordial Temple Builders!
The first to truly turn superstitions of the spirits into religion, the People have gained an appreciation for the finer points of training religious thinkers, building religious structures, and creating the weft and weave of religion in a positive and constructive manner.
Effects: Gain Legitimacy and Stability when constructing new temples.
Effects: Gain Legitimacy and Stability when constructing new temples.
Legacy Gained: Religious Authority Tolerance!
The People are used to having a powerful and influential religion. As such, they have been forced to develop tools to deal with troublesome and meddling priests.
Effects: +1 Religious Authority Tolerance
Effects: +1 Religious Authority Tolerance
The Temple of Stars was everything that the People's construction was not. Grand, beautiful, well-lit... it was a fitting doorway to the spirit realm. It was a doorway that drew eyes for near, far, and wide. Other tribes from the Peace Builders in the west all the way to the Pearl Divers in the east, had sent shaman, traders, and other dignitaries to gaze upon the People's wonder. Without fail, every man and every woman who braved the Depths of the Cave of Stars came back changed. It wasn't always a big change... but Aeva could see it in their eyes without fail.
Quickly gaining in popularity after its completion, hundreds of the People and countless dozens of foreigners had visited the wonder. The Cave of Stars had soon gained enough notoriety that the Northlands had deigned to send their High Shaman. One of the most important figures in their entire culture, the High Shaman was the one that defined the changing of the seasons, blessed their hunts with bounty, and defended the tribe from spiritual misfortune. The Cave had seen Skalds and Medicine Men, holy carvers of lapis, and even one of the Pearl Diver's recalcitrant shaman, but that was different. The woman being sent by the Northlands sounded like they were someone important.
As befitting someone of that dignity, Aeva was present at the temple, flanked by two lines of the People's best warriors. They were a motley crew; Ember-Eyes, Fangs, Frost-Scarred, regular warriors; women and men; young and old. None could doubt that they were among the best of the People when it came to the language of violence.
When the High Shaman appeared, she was not what Aeva expected. As opposed to her own matronly age and creaking bones, the High Shaman of the Northlands was young, little more than a teenager. Likely to young to have even borne her first child. The girl was wrapped hear-to-toe in heavy furs, charms of bone and ivory clacking and cascading with her ever movement. Her eyes were hidden, deep behind a shadowed cowl. Two of her guards stood by her sides and helped her to walk.
"Greetings," Aeva said, bowing her head. She spoke in the guttural, stop-and-start tongue of the Northlands. She was by no means good at the language, but she had a trader coach her through the basics in the lead up to the meeting. "Please come and join us. Meals have been prepared and accommodations are available for your use." In truth, the food was simple fare, and the accommodations, a converted blockhouse that used to hold the workers building the temple. Compared to how the Northlands usually lived, it would be luxury.
"Honoured Matriarch." One of the guards responded with a bow. "On behalf of the Wisdom, we shall accept your gracious hospitality."
By evening, their guests had been feed, the moon had risen, and Aeva lead them down below. The girl had been insistent on entering the Cave, despite never uttering a word. Apparently, it was against sacred tradition for a High Shaman to be seen, much less heard by outsiders. Her silence and heavy covering of furs had been a concession to this practice.
There was something in Aeva that crawled, writhed like a worm, as they ivory doors shut behind their party. The Cave of Stars had only gotten stranger the more times she had entered it. How many times had she come down to see the grave of her father? A dozen? Two? Half a hundred? It didn't matter. Each time, the Cave found new ways to test and befuddle. Once, she had even been struck dumb, rendered mute and instantiate for days at the strength of a vision. Only the fact that the vision had been immediately scourged from her mind prevented her mind from snapping like a dry twig. Only a few steps in and she could feel the world start to run, colours swimming together.
Beside her, Aeva could tell that the girl-shaman felt it too. Her spine had stretched the second the doors shut behind them and she seemed to shiver. A few steps in, one of her escorts collapsed, almost sending the High Shaman to the ground. The warrior's allies didn't even stop to pick him up, transfixed as they were on slowly moving forward.
The group passed down beside the grave of Kaspar. Even after all of these years, he was immaculate, almost like he had slept instead of dying. Each time she came to see him, she expected her father to be rotten and reduced to nothing. But he never was.
When they finally came upon the Black Heart, the Void that formed the center of the Cave of Stars, the world stilled. Aeva had looked upon the Void enough times that the oily slickness browsing through her brain barely phased her. A second one of the High Shaman's warriors dropped, his eyes rolling up into his head while he dropped bonelessly to the ground. Gifts of ivory and smoked meat were stacked before the glinting, black shimmer. Aeva's vision finally started to waver, her resistance overcome.
The High Shaman screamed.
It was a high pitched, piercing wail, like red hot knives driven into tender flesh. She dropped, limbs unable to hold her up and she writhed. Her limbs cracked, snapping, bending. She twisted over herself like a worm, dread eyes settling on Aeva.
The Big Man of the Lake couldn't think. Her guest... there was no way she could be human. Her limbs collapsed into spindly thinness and bent far more than was possible. Stretching until knees faced forwards and elbows twisted backwards, the reverse of any rightful human. The screaming continued unabated for seconds that stretched to minutes, did the girl have no need to breathe? Writing in the dirt, fingers digging trenches deep enough that her nails shattered and fingers bled, the High Shaman of the Northlands curled up, wilting like a burned flower. Rising into a half sitting position, the girl jerked. Once, twice, and then no more.
Aeva didn't have to look to know, the girl was dead. She had been Next.
+1 Prestige
Pandemonium had broken out after that, the rest of the delegation from the Northlands had survived (though one of them had been completely robbed of his wits), and they were terrified. The further gifts that they had brought for the spirits, suddenly started being offered to the People! The whispers that called them spirits and demons weren't even subtle after that. There had been tales, drifting up from the south, where the People were feared and mythologized, but they were always a thing removed.
Now it was right in their faces.
While immensely positive, and something that had already caused the People to have a bit more swagger in their step, Aeva could see how fear quickly grew among those whom they dealt with. She could see it in the smiles of Skalds coming to play before her longhouse in Crystal Lake. She could see it in the lowered eyes of the Pearl Diver traders that visited them each summer. She could also see it in the distant glances given from across hill and dale by the Northlanders.
The merest glimpse of the People's wonder had killed the most spiritually inclined shaman of the Northlands. It had twisted her body, rendering her into something inhuman. A single glance at her corpse with its spider arms and smooth, mirror-grey eyes showed that she had seen Divinity and then had her life ripped from her flesh in recompense.
The Power of the People's Magic was undeniable. From the Peace Builders, to the Northlands, Arrow Lake, the Island Makers, and even the savage Mountain Clans all acknowledged it.
[ ] [Value] As was right, the People's spiritual might was the greatest. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits work in ways unknown, dappled in fear and blood. (Gain Spiritual Value)
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
Legacy Gained: Primordial Mystics!
A great civilization, rich in Magic, the People have trained extensively in the mystic arts and the secrets of the spirits. It is a source of pride among the People to be skilled in the secret ways of the world and all put forward effort into ensuring that they understand.
Effect: Treat Mysticism as 1 higher for all purposes.
Effect: Treat Mysticism as 1 higher for all purposes.
+3 Prestige
All of the tribes had been very careful in the following years, stepping lightly where the People looked. When Aeva's trade mission returned, they had been taken to the heart of the Pearl Diver's tribe to speak to their leaders. It had been a strange experience, according to the traders. Anyone, from the youngest child, to the oldest elder, could speak at their gatherings. This frequently made their meetings last hours, or even days. In order to speed things along, they had implemented a system where everyone must provide gifts of value along with their word.
The belts of shells and necklaces of pearls were a currency among the Pearl Divers. In order to speak, one must provide a pearl to the gathering. To listen required a short string of seashells. Both of these gifts were then turned to enact the council's agenda, paying for work with the fruits of the sea gifted to them. The People's fee had graciously been waved, but just once. It was another custom among them to allow anyone to speak.
Once.
After that, one had to prove their resourcefulness or their wit in acquiring the necessary gifts to speak.
This reliance on pearls had actually started to become a hindrance to the Pearl Divers. Sourcing pearls was slowly becoming harder and harder. The weather had not done them any favours, but the big draw for pearls was the People. The ivory, lapis lazuli, mica, quartz, amethyst, furs, and half a dozen other goods were in high demand among the Pearl Divers and all they had that the People were interested in were salt and pearls. Of the two, the Pearl Divers, simply couldn't manufacture enough in the stone drying fields to offset the trade imbalance. Even with the People offering twice as many goods in trade as the Pearl Divers thought the salt was truly worth, the People simply had too many trade goods.
The situation was not critical, but it was untenable, the Pearl Diver's council argued. Something would need to be done. The simplest solution was some degree of reduction in trade on the People's end. It was painful for many of their councilors to argue, but fewer luxuries would mean that pearls would be in less demand. Alternatively, the People could try and find something else that they could take and trade in place of pearls. There was a kind of dubious thought to the notion; there was very little that the People could want to barter for.
One further idea was presented as the discussion was wrapping up. One of the Pearl Diver's speakers was a trader, a traveled man that had gone as far inland as Crystal Lake. He recalled the People's temple at the Cave of Stars and the skill of building that went into it. If that was applied to the Pearl Divers' saltern, they might be able to increase the yield. They weren't sure by how much, but if worst came to worst, the People and the Pearl Divers could continue building salterns until it evened out the People's demand for salt. Even if some of that salt was then traded on... the Pearl Divers would not be upset.
It surprised the People's traders that the Pearl Divers would be so willing to teach their magic of salt, especially in helping the People build since structures. The councilmen shrugged. All of the water southwest of the Pearl Divers' southernmost holding was sweetwater, not saltwater. For whatever reason, building a saltern there did not produce any salt. Knowing how to build such a place of magic would do literally nothing for the People in their view.
[ ] [Pearl] Nothing. How is this the People's problem?
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
[ ] [Pearl] Cap the amount of trade permitted to the Pearl Diver's traders.
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
The People's temple had also had interesting effects, one that was relatively small, but invaluable: it kept the People informed. The temple was a dominant draw, pulling traders and pilgrims from the great Veri Lake in the south, Rahu Bay in the west, or Valge River on which the Fingers lay. Not only did these traders and pilgrims carried goods, but they also carried information. Most of it was uninteresting dross, but there were three points of interest.
First, the Mountain Clans had aggressively assaulted all of their neighbours, searching for food, plunder, and land. They had fallen on the Bond Breakers, wounding them severely, and leaving them open for a devastating resurgence from South Lake. The Island Makers had pushed back the Mountain Clans with little effort. Arrow Lake has massacred a large war party. A group of Mountain Clans raiders had laid siege to the walled settlement at Arrow Lake. Futilely as it turned out, but they had stubbornly remained in place long enough that winter crept up on them. They were forced to retreat and Arrow Lake harried them all the way back into the mountains, reaping enormous casualties.
Second, the Peace Builders' war in the south continued to go extremely well for them. There had been seven tribes that competed for the lands to the south, but two of them had since been completely dominated by the Peace Builders. Their population and lands had swollen precipitously. This was not unprecedented, the wars of the south had occasionally had one tribe come out ahead, but they were always torn down by rebellion, or a short-lived alliance between the other tribes.
It was different this time. The Peace Builders had somehow managed to convince the region to a temporary truce. Time to recover from the ravages of the weather and the cursed sickness, scourge of the spirits' rage. This had given them time, time they were putting to good use. Their Skalds slowly taught the children of the captives they had taken during the war, turning them to the Peace Builder's side with their tales, teachings and values. The two tribes that they had dominated were slowly disappearing, rotting under the Peace Builder's dominion like a fugus would to a fallen log.
Third, another, unknown tribe had been found in the west. On the other side of Rahu Bay, a new tribe had moved into the area, dominating a small island at the confluence of three of the great lakes of the region. They were strange, completely unlike the tribes of the region. Truthfully, the only reason that they were relevant was because of their location. The rivers they operated on were perhaps a quarter moon's travel from the proposed site for the North Bay settlement. If the People didn't move on that soon, it may not be available much longer. If this new River Tribe took it, that would mean that Rahu Bay would become contested by three powers.
The influx of knowledge had just made Aeva's head spin. There was so much going on and the world seemed to becoming a larger and larger place. Since the world was no longer willing to make sense, Aeva focused on an area in which it surely did: the Hunt.
Hunting for their food had been a major source of sustenance in the last few decades. The long and freezing winters had simply prevented the easy growth of plants; agriculture had stalled. Many in the south had starved, but the People were prepared. Every adult could string a bow and every child knew how to set a trap. Agriculture was a new and untested source of food, something that no one could yet fully trust.
So the People hunted, again and again and again, for years on end. Combined with the weather, something strange happened: the number of beasts got smaller. Hunters suddenly realized that they were taking home fewer kills and the kills they did make were small, juveniles. The People had then started to range further and further in search of increased prey. Everywhere they looked, from the hills and valleys, to the trackless forests of the world, they were empty of prey. According to the elders, there was perhaps a tenth of the prey that there should be.
That information sent a shock wave through the People. What would happen the next time the weather turned against the People? With nine-of-ten animals dead, the People wouldn't be able to feed themselves. If another nine-of-ten of those that remained died, would there even be enough animals in all the world to fill it?
Even working with the People's long-time furred friends did little to help. Their sensitive noses simply couldn't pick up on trails that weren't there. The only possible bright spot had been with the orkers. The great ornery beasts were too tough to die. There was little the People had to do but set them out to pasture in the spring. By winter, they would come back to be fed and kept warm, usually with a few little ones dutifully following along. If the People completely held off on eating orkers until there was another weather crisis, there still would not be enough meat to go around. Something would have to be done to rectify the situation. The People had to rethink how they hunted.
Checking over the resources available, Aeva noted that she had the resources for two more tasks.
Pick two:
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Touch base with Arrow Lake. Maybe they could be helped with the Mountain Clans? (Promote Folk Wrestling)
[ ] [Action] Gather information to interfere with the Peace Builders growing hegemony of the southern lands (Trade: The South)
[ ] [Action] Learn more about these strangers to the west, the River Tribe. (Trade: River Tribe)
[ ] [Action] Smash into the Mountain Clans and make them pay for attacking Arrow Lake and the Bond Breakers. (Raid: Mountain Clans)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 2/2)
[ ] [Action] Stay home and farm. (Expand Agriculture: Quinoa)
AN: Vote is in Moratorium. I'll post an updated map, leader board, answer questions, and open the vote when I wake up tomorrow. The front page is mostly updated. Now that you have symbolic tally, I was thinking of turning the Civilization Statistics section into a tally with stylized indicators to show a bit of the math I use to keep track of things. Thoughts? Do people want to see a bit of that or focus exclusively on narrative?
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- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
[] [Dedication] Scenes of a Surreal, Otherworldly Quality
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 2/2)
in reverse order
I would prefer to make our defenses Unassailable for the time being, also the stone magic to allow the pearl divers to begin harvesting the pearls...maybe they can start oyster farms sooner or later? and next I picked the two that seemed to be matching each other and the peoples attitude, the surreal otherworldly quality and that they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle...we went through some damn hard times and came out on top. from being attacked to attacking, from dealing with the weather and finding ways around it, from finding and building wonders of the old world to THIS!
this shows our strength, as a people we grow in struggle and our spiritual nature shows itself! spirits in flesh! our defenses shall make others quake in fear of them!
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 2/2)
in reverse order
I would prefer to make our defenses Unassailable for the time being, also the stone magic to allow the pearl divers to begin harvesting the pearls...maybe they can start oyster farms sooner or later? and next I picked the two that seemed to be matching each other and the peoples attitude, the surreal otherworldly quality and that they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle...we went through some damn hard times and came out on top. from being attacked to attacking, from dealing with the weather and finding ways around it, from finding and building wonders of the old world to THIS!
this shows our strength, as a people we grow in struggle and our spiritual nature shows itself! spirits in flesh! our defenses shall make others quake in fear of them!
- Location
- United States
We need to maintain food security so I'd like one action to go toward farming. For the other action let's trade with the northerners. Perhaps we can get some domesticated mastodons.
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
hmm I have to ask, is it possible for us to make well made granaries? have we discovered that? also what about Jerky? smoked meat?
just some questions...
just some questions...
- Location
- United States
Increasing salt production should help with food preservation.
- Location
- United States
We should raid the Mountain Clans this turn. It'll be a good opportunity not only to blood our warriors, but earn goodwill with the Southerners while also reminded them of our strength.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
Reinforces/evolves our Wonderful World value?
Now that we're settled its going to be hard to improve otherwise.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of the Night, Sleep and Dream.
Focuses on dreams and probably placing a higher value on visions for guidance.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of a Surreal, Otherworldly Quality
Focuses on our new Mysticism stat.
Doubles down on the location being spoopy as hell.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of People Talking, Whispering in Hushed Voice.
Sounds like this references how the women negotiate and set up things behind the scenes?
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Elderly Individuals, Revered Gurus and Teachers.
Force of tradition and stability. Listen to the elders for they know much. Good for stability and knowledge retention, bad for implementing new stuff.
[ ] [Value] As was right, the People's spiritual might was the greatest. (Value Synergy)
Reinforces I Want To Be The Very Best.
Elitism is ueful as a quality, but we're at maxed development and overmax will...hurt.
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
Reinforces Trial By Fire
As with elitism, this is a great value, but overmax will hurt.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
Reinforces Stone-Skinned. Build! Build! Build!
We have room to improve here!
[ ] [Value] The spirits work in ways unknown, dappled in fear and blood. (Gain Spiritual Value)
This sounds like a blood sacrifice value. Personally leery.
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
A Spiritual equivalent of Center of Trade. This is handy for empire forming...but at the same time encourages...less than optimal activities when you're NOT the center.
[ ] [Pearl] Nothing. How is this the People's problem?
Weaken relationship.
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
This would teach them our Brick and Mortar techs in exchange for increasing the salt outflow. Naturally this is double edged.
We do learn how to build Salterns from this, but without a source of saltwater, as they said, this is useless knowledge and will be lost in a few generations without writing.
[ ] [Pearl] Cap the amount of trade permitted to the Pearl Diver's traders.
Put a tariff on to limit things, a potential lead in to primitive economic theory, but ultimately not that effective.
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
If they can't trade in salt, they can find something else. New trade goods are always good for us. This might lead to debt slavery, tech transfers, new trade goods, or it might lead to vassalization.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
Personal combo. We want to make Hills standard anyways...but the North needs to be checked to make sure they aren't too angry
Reinforces/evolves our Wonderful World value?
Now that we're settled its going to be hard to improve otherwise.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of the Night, Sleep and Dream.
Focuses on dreams and probably placing a higher value on visions for guidance.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of a Surreal, Otherworldly Quality
Focuses on our new Mysticism stat.
Doubles down on the location being spoopy as hell.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of People Talking, Whispering in Hushed Voice.
Sounds like this references how the women negotiate and set up things behind the scenes?
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Elderly Individuals, Revered Gurus and Teachers.
Force of tradition and stability. Listen to the elders for they know much. Good for stability and knowledge retention, bad for implementing new stuff.
[ ] [Value] As was right, the People's spiritual might was the greatest. (Value Synergy)
Reinforces I Want To Be The Very Best.
Elitism is ueful as a quality, but we're at maxed development and overmax will...hurt.
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
Reinforces Trial By Fire
As with elitism, this is a great value, but overmax will hurt.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
Reinforces Stone-Skinned. Build! Build! Build!
We have room to improve here!
[ ] [Value] The spirits work in ways unknown, dappled in fear and blood. (Gain Spiritual Value)
This sounds like a blood sacrifice value. Personally leery.
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
A Spiritual equivalent of Center of Trade. This is handy for empire forming...but at the same time encourages...less than optimal activities when you're NOT the center.
[ ] [Pearl] Nothing. How is this the People's problem?
Weaken relationship.
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
This would teach them our Brick and Mortar techs in exchange for increasing the salt outflow. Naturally this is double edged.
We do learn how to build Salterns from this, but without a source of saltwater, as they said, this is useless knowledge and will be lost in a few generations without writing.
[ ] [Pearl] Cap the amount of trade permitted to the Pearl Diver's traders.
Put a tariff on to limit things, a potential lead in to primitive economic theory, but ultimately not that effective.
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
If they can't trade in salt, they can find something else. New trade goods are always good for us. This might lead to debt slavery, tech transfers, new trade goods, or it might lead to vassalization.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
Personal combo. We want to make Hills standard anyways...but the North needs to be checked to make sure they aren't too angry
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- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
you make a good case for this @veekie
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
you make a good case for this @veekie
Two things here.
Perfect timing on the Temple, as the weather turned right when we finished it. Luck on our side.
Second thing is figuring out how to build windows in stone/brick structures, which should improve health with the better ventilation in summers. The bigger boon is that knowing how to build windows and chimneys leads to better kilns, which means with our Ember Eyes, Glazed Pottery is a bigger possibility.
Man we put glitter everywhere!
Also the door blocking off the lower caves has an effect...I'll mention it later when it shows up.
Legitimacy boost source! This is quite huge, since its the first way to deliberately and reliably raise legitimacy.
Sounds like they've taken to a Sibyl type religious leader?
And here is the thing: The Cave of Stars is powered by invisible fumes. We built a door over the entrance, thus dramatically elevating the concentration of fumes within while lowering oxygen concentrations further!
The darkness further amplifies the hallucinations due to the low lighting making everything much more suggestionable.
...and so the North shaman is an elipetic and the low oxygen triggered a massive and fatal fit.
Hopefully they figure out the times of day for the cave's operation soon to cut down on...accidents.
Blind huh?
So sort of a plutocracy, but everyone gets to speak once, if they wanted to.
Interesting.
Keks. The brick walls we built sure as hell stopped the raiding.
Come back in the bronze age if you want a go
And the Skalds are doing culture conversion quite effectively. Thats a tradition I kind of want to steal, but would be hard to.
Guys take note. We want to snag the North Bay site next turn barring something upsetting.
Want a map to peg where exactly things are though.
As mentioned before, the transition from Semi Nomadic to Settled has the main issue that the environment's resource is no longer limited by manpower. Carrying capacity has been set.
The Orkers help, as they do. Pigs do a great job at converting waste and marginal food into high quality protein and fat.
- Location
- Canada
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
This, we should get this!
Now let me tell you why~
It should bring everyone together as well as make mistakes. Now why do I want to make such mistakes? cause those mistakes are gonna teach the people of the future, when people learn that they aren't the center of the world, by those who have proven this fact with math or science and the like.
If everyone thousands of years ago thought that the sun revolved around the earth, then be proven that it doesn't, it creates a concept, even if its a mistake its valuable down the road.
Also, by starting an early age empire, we are likely to unit pretty much all the tribes in the whole region with such a mentality, and evidence to back that up. Likely to start up religious debates and, believe it or not, but open the field of science.
Science was funded by the church, just that the church of old had the habit of censoring knowledge they didn't like, or went against what they knew.
Science doesn't progress till fresh new minds join the ranks of researchers, after the old ones are retired or died.
Take a look at this video.
This, we should get this!
Now let me tell you why~
It should bring everyone together as well as make mistakes. Now why do I want to make such mistakes? cause those mistakes are gonna teach the people of the future, when people learn that they aren't the center of the world, by those who have proven this fact with math or science and the like.
If everyone thousands of years ago thought that the sun revolved around the earth, then be proven that it doesn't, it creates a concept, even if its a mistake its valuable down the road.
Also, by starting an early age empire, we are likely to unit pretty much all the tribes in the whole region with such a mentality, and evidence to back that up. Likely to start up religious debates and, believe it or not, but open the field of science.
Science was funded by the church, just that the church of old had the habit of censoring knowledge they didn't like, or went against what they knew.
Science doesn't progress till fresh new minds join the ranks of researchers, after the old ones are retired or died.
Take a look at this video.
The problem is more that it puts us square in the sights of whoever breaks through to Bronze first. In which case we're going to eat it to the face. We're geared around Build Tall, so going with Center of Faith is going to hurt when the Bronze transition arrives since we're poorly built to expand rapidly enough to secure bronze sources before the breakthrough.
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- Location
- Canada
Maybe if we adopt tribes and trade for bronze, due to the unity I talked about with the surrounding regions of us we would have a crazy amount of trade goods, its really all about slowly integration and trade.
The problem is that our Build Tall strategy is good for weathering a Bronze Age expansion(we're just difficult enough that a would-be conquerer would be open to diplomatic assimilation rather than violent), but that on expanding our current infrastructure heavy settlements become impossible to maintain connectivity with, so it becomes a lot more vulnerable to war.
Theres ways around it, but personally, improving Stone-Skinned is a pretty nice deal for our build!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[ ] [Value] As was right, the People's spiritual might was the greatest. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
Because boosting values that are already at max development has NO POSSIBLE DOWNSIDE.
[ ] [Value] The spirits work in ways unknown, dappled in fear and blood. (Gain Spiritual Value)
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
We have filled all our value slots already. Since no-one wanted to drop wonderful world before, I doubt they will now.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
The one remaining choice. I'll discuss the other bits later.
[ ] [Value] And they've revealed themselves as spirits of reward but also vicious struggle. (Value Synergy)
Because boosting values that are already at max development has NO POSSIBLE DOWNSIDE.
[ ] [Value] The spirits work in ways unknown, dappled in fear and blood. (Gain Spiritual Value)
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
We have filled all our value slots already. Since no-one wanted to drop wonderful world before, I doubt they will now.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
The one remaining choice. I'll discuss the other bits later.
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- Location
- Queensland, Australia
I'm just going to talk about the different Action votes.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Touch base with Arrow Lake. Maybe they could be helped with the Mountain Clans? (Promote Folk Wrestling)
[ ] [Action] Gather information to interfere with the Peace Builders growing hegemony of the southern lands (Trade: The South)
[ ] [Action] Learn more about these strangers to the west, the River Tribe. (Trade: River Tribe)
[ ] [Action] Smash into the Mountain Clans and make them pay for attacking Arrow Lake and the Bond Breakers. (Raid: Mountain Clans)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 2/2)
[ ] [Action] Stay home and farm. (Expand Agriculture: Quinoa)
My thoughts?
We need to check on the Northlands. We're friends with them, and this sort of thing is the thing that's liable to cause... big problems. Even with friends. ESPECIALLY with friends. Which leaves one choice.
Okay, going to throw out first 'Talk with River Tribe' and 'Finish Finger's Hill' as less important than the other choices... or impossible. I also think that Raid Mountain Clans is probably not one of the choices we want to take. People are already looking at us with fear, due to the ferocious legend around us. The fact our new Temple Wonder likes to kill people... doesn't help. Especially as we're isolated from the others, so the 'mysterious' aspect to our legend doesn't give us many people who are willing to tempt the 'Mysterious Ferocious Spirit Humans' anger by not fearing that if we piss them off, we'll call down the blood spirits on them. This is great for being the Religious leader of the area... right up until someone goes 'I think I'm 'Ard 'Nough to take em!' and starts raiding us. When they don't have hell happen to them immediately (sure, the raids back and forth are probably going to be bloody, but no more than usual. It's just they have more difficulty actually hurting our population centres due to brick walls), then we're probably going to see a lot of the region rise up to attack us. Because we'll be 'the feared spirit whispers' who it turns out... maybe shouldn't be feared that much? I'm sure we all know what happens when a group that fears someone discovers their fear isn't necessarily something that is based in reality.
But yeah. No raiding the Mountain Tribes, because that'll probably reinforce the idea of us being scary mysterious warrior-spirit whisperers, rather than just scary mysterious spirit-whisperers.
Which means we've got Trade: The South, Promote Folk Wrestling, The Hill: Fingers 1/2 and Expand Agriculture: Quinoa left to do. Of these, I think we can immediately drop Expand Folk Wrestling as the least useful of the four. And as much as I hate to say it, we can probably then drop Expand Agriculture: Quinoa. I'd love to get large scale cultivation of Quinoa started... But due to the weather improving, it's no longer such a desperate need.
So we're left with Trade: The South and starting on Finger's Hill. I actually think that of these two, trading with the South is more necessary than the Hill. Why? Because if we're not careful, then we're likely to see the Peace Builders becoming the hegemon of the local area. And we border them. And the Peace Builders have values that I suspect are going to cause problems with us, considering the view of us as 'Mysterious Spirit Whispers who know how to obtain the Spirit's help, through the shedding of blood and should be feared'. Or at least, that's the view I'm getting that people have of us. We're also unlikely to bow to their leadership peacefully/convert to their ways willingly... Especially as we now have the temple giving us dominance of Mysticism in the region.
Remember, these are the Peace Builders Values:
Social Values:
Speaking Circle: consensus is extremely important.
Protective Justice: the purpose of justice is the protect the community.
Honour Values:
I Want To Be The Very Best (equivalent): this trait was home grown in them.
Hand or Fist: a hand is offered in friendship, but the other is clasped as a fist.
Spiritual Values:
Sacred War: War is a sacred struggle, not only between groups, but between their spirits.
Do it Or Die: If it's worth doing, it's worth dying for.
I suspect if we don't work to ensure that the Peace Builders don't become the hegemon of their region, we're going to discover that once they have hegemon of the people actively a threat to them, we're going to start pinging their values to make us the next target. And unlike them, we don't have anyone we can easily conquer to build up our population and number of warriors over the next few generations.
By pinging their values, I mean we're probably going to ping Protective Justice because our 'scary' legend might harm their community, and then when they try to make us 'friends' aka, convert to being of their culture/them gaining culture/diplomatic advantage over us, we're not going to be particularly happy to do that. Which would probably then ping Hand or Fist, Sacred War and Do it Or Die as being a potential threat that needs to be put down, as they've refused the 'peaceful' methods of becoming a non-threat.
I could be wrong here... But I think right now, we probably will gain more benefit from Trade: The South in order to figure out just what the hell is going on down there, so we know if the Peace Builders are likely to become a proto-empire, and thus a potential serious threat to us. Or whether we can safely ignore them for longer, like we've been doing basically the entire time we've been dealing with the deal to the direct sout hof us, rather than south-west.
... Simplified, I'm saying we should take Trade: Northlands to keep those guys friendly to us, and Trade: The South so we figure out just what's going on down there, and whether or not we need to start (more or less covertly) intervening in the situation, to ensure the Peace Builders don't develop to the point of becoming a threat to us. Or at least, a threat larger than we can handle.
We can wait on giving Fingers a Hillmound until later.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Touch base with Arrow Lake. Maybe they could be helped with the Mountain Clans? (Promote Folk Wrestling)
[ ] [Action] Gather information to interfere with the Peace Builders growing hegemony of the southern lands (Trade: The South)
[ ] [Action] Learn more about these strangers to the west, the River Tribe. (Trade: River Tribe)
[ ] [Action] Smash into the Mountain Clans and make them pay for attacking Arrow Lake and the Bond Breakers. (Raid: Mountain Clans)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 1/2)
[ ] [Action] Reinforce the People's defenses. (The Hill: The Fingers 2/2)
[ ] [Action] Stay home and farm. (Expand Agriculture: Quinoa)
My thoughts?
We need to check on the Northlands. We're friends with them, and this sort of thing is the thing that's liable to cause... big problems. Even with friends. ESPECIALLY with friends. Which leaves one choice.
Okay, going to throw out first 'Talk with River Tribe' and 'Finish Finger's Hill' as less important than the other choices... or impossible. I also think that Raid Mountain Clans is probably not one of the choices we want to take. People are already looking at us with fear, due to the ferocious legend around us. The fact our new Temple Wonder likes to kill people... doesn't help. Especially as we're isolated from the others, so the 'mysterious' aspect to our legend doesn't give us many people who are willing to tempt the 'Mysterious Ferocious Spirit Humans' anger by not fearing that if we piss them off, we'll call down the blood spirits on them. This is great for being the Religious leader of the area... right up until someone goes 'I think I'm 'Ard 'Nough to take em!' and starts raiding us. When they don't have hell happen to them immediately (sure, the raids back and forth are probably going to be bloody, but no more than usual. It's just they have more difficulty actually hurting our population centres due to brick walls), then we're probably going to see a lot of the region rise up to attack us. Because we'll be 'the feared spirit whispers' who it turns out... maybe shouldn't be feared that much? I'm sure we all know what happens when a group that fears someone discovers their fear isn't necessarily something that is based in reality.
But yeah. No raiding the Mountain Tribes, because that'll probably reinforce the idea of us being scary mysterious warrior-spirit whisperers, rather than just scary mysterious spirit-whisperers.
Which means we've got Trade: The South, Promote Folk Wrestling, The Hill: Fingers 1/2 and Expand Agriculture: Quinoa left to do. Of these, I think we can immediately drop Expand Folk Wrestling as the least useful of the four. And as much as I hate to say it, we can probably then drop Expand Agriculture: Quinoa. I'd love to get large scale cultivation of Quinoa started... But due to the weather improving, it's no longer such a desperate need.
So we're left with Trade: The South and starting on Finger's Hill. I actually think that of these two, trading with the South is more necessary than the Hill. Why? Because if we're not careful, then we're likely to see the Peace Builders becoming the hegemon of the local area. And we border them. And the Peace Builders have values that I suspect are going to cause problems with us, considering the view of us as 'Mysterious Spirit Whispers who know how to obtain the Spirit's help, through the shedding of blood and should be feared'. Or at least, that's the view I'm getting that people have of us. We're also unlikely to bow to their leadership peacefully/convert to their ways willingly... Especially as we now have the temple giving us dominance of Mysticism in the region.
Remember, these are the Peace Builders Values:
Social Values:
Speaking Circle: consensus is extremely important.
Protective Justice: the purpose of justice is the protect the community.
Honour Values:
I Want To Be The Very Best (equivalent): this trait was home grown in them.
Hand or Fist: a hand is offered in friendship, but the other is clasped as a fist.
Spiritual Values:
Sacred War: War is a sacred struggle, not only between groups, but between their spirits.
Do it Or Die: If it's worth doing, it's worth dying for.
I suspect if we don't work to ensure that the Peace Builders don't become the hegemon of their region, we're going to discover that once they have hegemon of the people actively a threat to them, we're going to start pinging their values to make us the next target. And unlike them, we don't have anyone we can easily conquer to build up our population and number of warriors over the next few generations.
By pinging their values, I mean we're probably going to ping Protective Justice because our 'scary' legend might harm their community, and then when they try to make us 'friends' aka, convert to being of their culture/them gaining culture/diplomatic advantage over us, we're not going to be particularly happy to do that. Which would probably then ping Hand or Fist, Sacred War and Do it Or Die as being a potential threat that needs to be put down, as they've refused the 'peaceful' methods of becoming a non-threat.
I could be wrong here... But I think right now, we probably will gain more benefit from Trade: The South in order to figure out just what the hell is going on down there, so we know if the Peace Builders are likely to become a proto-empire, and thus a potential serious threat to us. Or whether we can safely ignore them for longer, like we've been doing basically the entire time we've been dealing with the deal to the direct sout hof us, rather than south-west.
... Simplified, I'm saying we should take Trade: Northlands to keep those guys friendly to us, and Trade: The South so we figure out just what's going on down there, and whether or not we need to start (more or less covertly) intervening in the situation, to ensure the Peace Builders don't develop to the point of becoming a threat to us. Or at least, a threat larger than we can handle.
We can wait on giving Fingers a Hillmound until later.
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- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
I don't see where the problem is. Pearl is isolated, us being their only trading partners. The nearest tribes they could possibly contact is Arrow, which already has been shown actual wall building, and Northlands, who are nomads and aren't gonna threaten us with walls any time soon.
And it is isn't as if we should fear for our magical impressiveness and legitimacy just because we throw around stone magic generously either. We are literally the most magical people in the known world. We downright sparkle.
So the only fear I can see is that we will want to raid their towns soon and don't have siege weapons yet. But why would we even do that, given that if we increase their salt production they are going to become our most lucrative trading partners by far. We'll be able to trade everything to them for salt that they don't value much and trade said salt for anything we want with everyone else.
We're talking about a time period where salt was literally used as currency in many regions of the world.
Questions for @Redium :
Could you elaborate on these? I am assuming that they would modify the values we have, not just increase their influence and importance.
How does this express itself in character? And how did it spread among the People over a generation?
Also, how long do such legacies last?
Is international realpolitik and proxy struggles based on future hegemony worries already a thing then?
What is this and where did we get it from? And what does the (Three) mean?
And another HO question: Our holy orders are the closest to scientific researchers we have. So before it bites us in the ass I wanted to ask if they have developed any practices that they deem necessary to the magic process that to modern eyes would look pointless or even downright stupid? And if yes, did any of them get to the point where they are considered traditions so vital to pleasing the spirits than any evidence of the contrary would be condemned as heretical?
Edit: Two more.
When we make an action automatic, is it still possible to double down on it? Like with Arrow Lake for instance, could we increase commercial contact even further or widen it out to something more if basic trading caravans being sent their way is already something we always do routinely?
Also, is there a limit to how many actions we can have on automatic? I mean, just because we always plant new rice farms (or whatever Expand Aquaculture (Rice) means exactly) doesn't mean that doing so doesn't require manpower anymore. Otherwise that would be a definite confirmation of magic.
Or are the actions actually the limit of how much our government can convince and drive our population to do new things while automated actions are things that the People do on their own now? For "personal profit" if you will.
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Himmelhand
Giant Sinkhole 2020
- Location
- Midwestern US
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Gather information to interfere with the Peace Builders growing hegemony of the southern lands (Trade: The South)
These would be my picks. I was really tempted to do quinoa, but we have a serious need for diplomatic information.
Improving our stone-skinned value will help us in construction, defense, and possibly land management?
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Gather information to interfere with the Peace Builders growing hegemony of the southern lands (Trade: The South)
These would be my picks. I was really tempted to do quinoa, but we have a serious need for diplomatic information.
Improving our stone-skinned value will help us in construction, defense, and possibly land management?
- Location
- Somewhere
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of Mountains and Natural Geography.
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Touch base with Arrow Lake. Maybe they could be helped with the Mountain Clans? (Promote Folk Wrestling)
Arrow Lake is almost ours. Don't want Kaspar's efforts go to waste. Why would we want to stop the Peace builders?
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Pearl] Encourage the People's traders to find something else they can trade for.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Touch base with Arrow Lake. Maybe they could be helped with the Mountain Clans? (Promote Folk Wrestling)
Arrow Lake is almost ours. Don't want Kaspar's efforts go to waste. Why would we want to stop the Peace builders?
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- Location
- Europa, Jupiter Orbit
Since everyone is writing up what they are planning to vote on, here's mine:
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of a Surreal, Otherworldly Quality
At least when it comes to the birth of our religion I want to go for flavor over pure metagaming in the hopes of increasing Wonderful World. Though I can be persuaded to change my vote once there is an actual head to head race.
[ ] [Value] As was right, the People's spiritual might was the greatest. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
I actually like the idea of us going empire mode at this point, what with Redium already having said that we are in a very metal-poor region anyway, meaning that any Bronze conquerors may well not be seen till they sail over from off the continent. It would be risky though, so maybe I'd just follow Veekie's advice here. I'll see how I feel once the moratorium is over.
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
This seems a really easy choice to me and I don't see the risk some of you are talking about. It would be great for our diplomacy, for getting the Pearl Divers used to a division of labor and for, ultimately, peacefully assimilating them. And that's just the potential benefits directly related to our relations with the Pearl Divers. It doesn't even take into regard how we would be the salt distributors for the whole region, giving credence for the "The People are the center of the world" thing.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Learn more about these strangers to the west, the River Tribe. (Trade: River Tribe)
[ ] [Action] Stay home and farm. (Expand Agriculture: Quinoa)
Food is always good. But also boring. So I'm between that and finding out more about the new tribe.
The Northlands should definitely be checked on though, since we don't want them to decide that our temple is a portal to hell that must be sealed as soon as possible or something.
[ ] [Dedication] Scenes of a Surreal, Otherworldly Quality
At least when it comes to the birth of our religion I want to go for flavor over pure metagaming in the hopes of increasing Wonderful World. Though I can be persuaded to change my vote once there is an actual head to head race.
[ ] [Value] As was right, the People's spiritual might was the greatest. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits of land and stone have since been bound by mortar and wrought stone. (Value Synergy)
[ ] [Value] The spirits have put the People at the center of the world, all orbiting around them. (Gain Spiritual Value)
I actually like the idea of us going empire mode at this point, what with Redium already having said that we are in a very metal-poor region anyway, meaning that any Bronze conquerors may well not be seen till they sail over from off the continent. It would be risky though, so maybe I'd just follow Veekie's advice here. I'll see how I feel once the moratorium is over.
[ ] [Pearl] Expand the Pearl Diver's salterns with the People's Stone magic.
This seems a really easy choice to me and I don't see the risk some of you are talking about. It would be great for our diplomacy, for getting the Pearl Divers used to a division of labor and for, ultimately, peacefully assimilating them. And that's just the potential benefits directly related to our relations with the Pearl Divers. It doesn't even take into regard how we would be the salt distributors for the whole region, giving credence for the "The People are the center of the world" thing.
[ ] [Action] Check on the Northlands. The Cave of Stars did kill their High Shaman. (Trade: Northlands)
[ ] [Action] Learn more about these strangers to the west, the River Tribe. (Trade: River Tribe)
[ ] [Action] Stay home and farm. (Expand Agriculture: Quinoa)
Food is always good. But also boring. So I'm between that and finding out more about the new tribe.
The Northlands should definitely be checked on though, since we don't want them to decide that our temple is a portal to hell that must be sealed as soon as possible or something.