1.3
OOC: 1.4 will be the last Mini-turn before Turn 2. Turn 2 will include the start of the second wave of factions.
As he thought of this, he remembers that some of his people are building their forces and some are settling. Eventually after much thinking, The Vicar asked, "And what is your king? Don't misunderstand, while I like to make an alliance, I wuld still like to know more before agreeing or disagreeing." he said, making some gestures similar to a drunk.
The Knights collectively facepalm and yet the Priest acts as if nothing was amiss.
"The King is The King." he answers, "He is Master of New Egypt and Chosen of our Gods. He rules man, beast, and spirit as our Immortal Lord and rules wisely and just. Only by merit can mortals be Lords in his reign and be gifted with power. I and my order were chosen as such. By being a Vassal you will of course be granted favoritism in trade and a pact of mutual protection. Buying this island will require something in return."
"Price?" you ask.
"I sense you are to to your core human if not for Light-Element and Demonic Matter making your form. For this island and free range of the lands around it the price will be your research and samples."
==
While you are busy negotiating Credo reports that the boats have come through the portal with building supplies and equipment. Your camp has less tents and more pre-fabbed structures made from panels of wood, plastic, and metal. They aren't anything special, just bought from mainland europe using the funds of the Official City-State of Fortuna.
Hohenheim though has established a basic Workshop and both he and Credo are feuding over whether they should work on creating more demon troops or enlisting more men for Ascension.
From the moment the sentries sound the alarm and warn of the approaching horde of beasts , Azula readies herself for war.
There is nothing good to expect from someone who dare to kill a Fire Nation scout and march in arms after it , and the unnatural rain which is far from the abilities of Water benders give weight to the opinion.
Frantic orders were given all around , the majority of her forces having already landed but lacking space and preparations ; it amounted to ranks of fire benders perching themselves upon the walls and tanks moving in front of the closed gates ready to intervene , and little else on such short notice.
Drenched and flanked by Mai and Ty Lee as well as ranks of fire benders upon the wall , Azula patiently and attentively listened to the creature talk , showing outwardly no emotion and nothing but perfect politeness.
The rain was heavy after all , and she needed to be sure of her shot ; sound would be a good clue as to the position of the beasts master , and as the eagle-headed priest finished his speech , she took great efforts for it to be his last words , firing her lightning straight at him without warning , using her full mastery of bending.
Her troops took the hint easily enough and started raining down fire upon the beasts: the battle had started.
The Priest's staff catches the bolt like a lightning rod and he throws it back, your guards form a protective shield wall to absorb ... to their dismay they are blown back by the raw force and groan dazed.
Massive Tank-sized Scarabs rush toward the walls as the Tanks and Firebenders spit out fireball after fireball. Mass and Momentum allow them to reach the unsupported tanks, flipping, crushing, or tossing the first ranks of tanks aside, with some going so far as to rush past the second rank to try and break through your gate. Those that did die but not without taking more with them. In their death throes their blood sprays out like a green geyser, those nearest to the gates on the wall and a few unlucky tank crews scream in agony as acidic blood melts through armor and flesh. To your dismay even the gate was sizzling from the splattered blood.
The next wave comes and this time armored crocidoles and massive winged-snakes slither forward. The former stopping every so often to fire beams of light that sliced off one too many heads off while the latter was to your dismay spitting both acid and poison and trying to swarm your vulnerable tanks.
With a sigh, she looks at the Eagle "We of the Rabbit Clan have had our fill of another ruling over us, but I thank you for this offer nonetheless, I would be most interested in buying this island from you with the hope of continued relations between our people and yours." she turns to look at Amber "Amber if you would kindly get my quill and parchment, and the financial record book as well, we have a matter of trade to be done." Amber nods and runs off the wagon they rode in to recive the requested materials.
The Eagle Priest looks at your various proposals and tells you that they already have their own form of Nature Magic. What does interest them are your magical artifacts, namely the rings. He is willing to sell the island if you give him a boxed set of 15.
---
Adding to the wooden palisade Hargrave orders a layer of defensive earthworks around your settlement namely to give freshly forged cannons good firing positions and firing zones.
Eventually an officer with knowledge of Plato's stories came forward and proposed taking the name for this great hidden landmass in the Atlantic, yet Atlantis was thought to have to many negative donations regarding the wrath of the heavens. Instead British Atlantia was selected as the name for the larger colony. As for the name of the city itself, it was thought that the first British city outside of this world would be named after the Briton to circumnavigate the previous world in it's entirety. Thus was the first settlement Christened Drake's landing.
The Diplomat to your surprise is a colored man. A very, very tall colored man clad in Bronze and Steel Armor of a thickness that should be enough to shrug elepahnt guns yet impossibly heavy for any normal man.
You greet him warmly enough in your new office situated to overlook the natural bay. The more reserved of your officers eye him suspiciously. He approached the walls of Drake's Landing with the Priest and he dismissed the Priest to come here alone. Even surrounded by Britain's finest he is not intimidated. His eyes bore into your soul and he speaks:
"I sense you are Good-Hearted men ... but commanded by an Expansive Empire. You may have this island and move as you wish. I have already asked the Priest to move his temple."
"...Move?"
The earth shakes and rumbles and to you shock you see out of your window the Temple
flying away. Your men are as shocked as you are.
"How-"
"Goa'uld Imposters." he muttered, "Their technology and magic didn't save them for their blasphemy against The Gods they tried to impersonate. But that is another matter. The
Aegeans have taken an interest and The King says our interests here are at an end."
He then presents to you a rich Vellum Scroll with the apparent contract in ancient egyptian, latin, and greek declaring The British Empire the owners of this island.
"Sign and our business is complete."
Drug the Robed man Secretly with mind-altering substance and question him endlessly don't let him sleep and drug everything. If he refuses to eat use a syringer rifle to do it.
Once he has said everything he knows. Ghoulify him.
"B-BOSS! H-HE's DEAD!"
What!?
You rush over to his cage to see an inexplicably withered husk that crumples to ash the moment you poke him with a stick.
Huh... now what?
OOC: The island is yours. For this Mini-turn you may build up your settlement & army
(**This is a way to get the envoys talking - if they agree, Ruben and one or two trained negotiators will use the opportunity to fish for information on the surrounding players over a pleasant meal. For example, if the envoy were to mention the military strength of a neighbor and also mention whethery s/he considers them "strong" or "weak," this would tell the NCR a lot about the military strength of the polity the envoy represents. Of course, it's to be expected that the envoy will try to do some subtle information fishing of their own. All is fair in diplomacy and war.)
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Military orders (for when they become relevant):
- Scouting by the biplanes and gunboats, over the land and across the coasts.
- Scouts are looking for:
- Defensible locations appropiate for military bases.
- Lands appropiate for grazing Brahmin, or which can be cleared to create such land.
- Local settlements and military forces.
- Other islands.
- Anything of interest, really.
- Establishment of a fortified camp at a defensible location, along with clearing of the trees for some distance around to provide sightlines.
- Establishment of Brahim-based supply lines back through the Rifts.
- Geologists are to look at the rocks and ground and stuff. This probably isn't the sort of place one can find uranium, plutonium, or fossil fuels...but you never know, one might get lucky. (The NCR does have geologists, right)?
You learn that you are surrounded by ruined islands of a fallen 'undead' empire. Ghouls? Can't say for sure. Regardless the 'Empire of Nazarick' was destroyed, struck by multiple natural disasters from storms and earthquakes to even meteor impacts by The Gods. Although you are skeptical about it the planes and boats and you had ordered to scout the island see that the islands nearby are for the lack of a better word 'pummeled chunks of grassland'. They point out what looked to be the remains of old vehicle wrecks that may have some salvageable technology.
Besides that the Envoy says they are willing to sell the island in exchange of a trade deal, especially Pre-War Technology. He offers food and medicine at a discount. Most noticeably is a 'Health Potion' and you are witness to how splashing it upon a cut healed it instantly. The Treaty is already written up by the end of the meal and it is up to the diplomats to decide on whether to go through with it or not.
After dinner you receive further information of the island and well ... the early scouts were right. So much fertile land for crops and livestock, massive veins of useful metal and traces of nuclear material and fossil fuel deeper down below, the forests were rich in game, furs, medicinal herbs, and strong lumber. You recieve requests from various politicians in bed with one industry or the other to get rights for exploitation alongside side the first few settlers, skilled workers like engineers and doctors and their families.
With their help a floating bridge has been established connecting the bay to the portal, simple enough to be moved aside in case the boats need room, hardy enough to handle the weight of dozens of Brahmin and Trucks moving material in and out.
Lastly the men have built a defensive outpost on a hill overlooking the bay settlement. Artillery Guns have been stationed there to provide fire support for any would-be attackers.
OOC: You may choose to sign the deal or make a counter-offer.
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