- Location
- Greece
I know this probably means an Australian kelpie dog, but I choose to imagine this as Boney having tamed a mythical shapeshifting horse that tries to drown you instead.
It Belongs to a Museum
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy
I know this probably means an Australian kelpie dog, but I choose to imagine this as Boney having tamed a mythical shapeshifting horse that tries to drown you instead.
Puts all the talk of binding Apparitions in Divided Loyalties into perspective...
It is hardly anything special among aistralian wildlife.
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
I'm now imagining that he tamed it by shotgunning a XXXX Gold, turning into a superhumanly muscled gilded man, and punching it's lights out.
- Location
- A Pit Of My Own Making
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Random fact I want to share - having seen a kangaroo up close, they're more like horses than you expect...
Been doing some thinking about how to go about the next few years with the undeath exhibit in mind, which has grown into something of a chaotic mess that I'm going to try to make into something meaningful here lest the growing morass in my brain result in complete burnout!
First thing's first: having an exhibit dedicated to the history of vampirism, necromancy and undeath in general is all well and good but what's the message it's trying to convey? I think we need to bear in mind that this is the exhibit, thus far, whose subject most directly runs up against the narrative of Noctilus' rise as a challenger to the Vampire Coast. He wants to present the Galleon's Graveyard as a rival inheritor of the traditions of undeath, which means that our exhibit on this topic must address it, whether directly or indirectly.
I would argue, therefore, that the exhibit's message needs to hit where Noctilus is weakest and the Coast is strongest: longevity. There have been plenty of attempts to create stable homes to undeath over the centuries, most of which were destroyed spectacularly, burned out to become husks or could only exist on the margins of society. The Vampire Coast has been a rare success with flying colours, maintaining strong traditions of undeath for over a millennium. The Galleon's Graveyard, on the other hand, could be another flash in the pan.
How do we convey that message? After a fair bit of thought, I actually don't think that stealing artefacts from the Galleon's Graveyard is the best way to go about it. Any such display in the same place as representations of the Vampire Coast gives oxygen to Noctilus' legitimacy, regardless of the intent. Far better to deliver the message through subtext - offer comparative examples that anyone aware of the context will connect to the nascent Graveyard without needing to show off their cool stuff for them.
We've already got the artefacts for one such comparison on their way: Mousillon, clinging onto the edge of Bretonnia and riven and battered by conflict between the forces of life and unlife. What else? I've suggested previously that we might send the Tide after artefacts from Arkhan's Wars of Death against Araby, a similarly destructive and ultimately ineffectual conflict, though I don't know the degree to which that reached to the coastal areas where the Tide would be most effective. A glance at the wiki suggests that Neferata may have been involved in some subterfuge and plotting on Araby's coast before being driven out - in older canon that may not apply. Apparently 4e has made mention of Sudenburg facing down an undead siege, too? And, of course, there's Maatmeses and his bloodline possibly somewhere in the Southlands... Mind, this might be an action better used on Amos' new options, given that he's already in the area; have to see when it becomes clearer what he has to offer!
In any case, the reason I focus on all of these 1-year Tide options is that we've got a pair of very compelling 2-year options on offer (leaving a single year to do something with before the exhibit). The first is, of course, Lahmia, which becomes especially appealing if it turns out that Amos' available artefacts are more relevant to dark magics in Araby than they are to the origins of undeath in Nehekhara. This would offer an obvious beginning to the story, an original peak for the Vampire Coast's vampirism to rise past and beyond.
The other option is Strygos, arguably the fallen undead polity, once a grand kingdom, now swamp-drowned ruins - i.e. the perfect terrain for the Tide! This becomes more appealing either if Amos can offer artefacts relevant to the beginnings of undeath or, alternatively, if we decide to leave that for a later expansion of the exhibit and focus purely on the vampiric and necromantic diaspora for now.
Bringing things back to the Vampire Coast, we now have two excellent leads on their necromantic traditions - but, well, that's only one side of the story. To be thorough, conducting an investigation into one of the bloodlines of the Vampire Coast seems apt - either the Depth Guard, which would be a lovely counterpoint to the Mousillon artefacts given the ambiguity around Abhorash, or the Undead Admiralty, as the more encompassing bloodline and a nice complement to our lead on the Lore of the Deep via the Cult of Stromfels. Not sure if focusing on one of these or going for a broader 'Investigate (Bloodlines of the Vampire Coast)' action would be better.
All of this is, of course, going to need plenty of AP, especially if we want to hire on a necromantic expert to cover that base (which will need that Adjust Exhibits action to gain the Goodwill to do so). In particular, I'm looking at the Palace of Defilement lead... The question, for the purposes of this exhibit, is whether it produces an artefact(s) that will need something exemplifying Nagash's original necromantic study to properly frame it or whether the artefact(s) will already come with that framing, given that Luthor's time working with the Ark was driven by his curiosity over the origins of Nagash's art. May just have to hope!
With all that in mind, then - have some very, very tentative suggestions of plans for the next four (ye gods) years...
These will very likely need to adapt with our evolving understanding of the situation and the opportunities it presents. We still don't know how much we can expect from the Tide of Skjold on an excursion that suits their capabilities but looks to acquire relics outside their usual wheelhouse; nor do we know exactly what Amos is going to bring to the table just yet.
In any case - thank you for reading and apologies for the general incoherence! Would welcome feedback to critique, refine and improve all of this, as ever. I am now going to try to avoid thinking about any of it for a decent length of time!
First thing's first: having an exhibit dedicated to the history of vampirism, necromancy and undeath in general is all well and good but what's the message it's trying to convey? I think we need to bear in mind that this is the exhibit, thus far, whose subject most directly runs up against the narrative of Noctilus' rise as a challenger to the Vampire Coast. He wants to present the Galleon's Graveyard as a rival inheritor of the traditions of undeath, which means that our exhibit on this topic must address it, whether directly or indirectly.
I would argue, therefore, that the exhibit's message needs to hit where Noctilus is weakest and the Coast is strongest: longevity. There have been plenty of attempts to create stable homes to undeath over the centuries, most of which were destroyed spectacularly, burned out to become husks or could only exist on the margins of society. The Vampire Coast has been a rare success with flying colours, maintaining strong traditions of undeath for over a millennium. The Galleon's Graveyard, on the other hand, could be another flash in the pan.
How do we convey that message? After a fair bit of thought, I actually don't think that stealing artefacts from the Galleon's Graveyard is the best way to go about it. Any such display in the same place as representations of the Vampire Coast gives oxygen to Noctilus' legitimacy, regardless of the intent. Far better to deliver the message through subtext - offer comparative examples that anyone aware of the context will connect to the nascent Graveyard without needing to show off their cool stuff for them.
We've already got the artefacts for one such comparison on their way: Mousillon, clinging onto the edge of Bretonnia and riven and battered by conflict between the forces of life and unlife. What else? I've suggested previously that we might send the Tide after artefacts from Arkhan's Wars of Death against Araby, a similarly destructive and ultimately ineffectual conflict, though I don't know the degree to which that reached to the coastal areas where the Tide would be most effective. A glance at the wiki suggests that Neferata may have been involved in some subterfuge and plotting on Araby's coast before being driven out - in older canon that may not apply. Apparently 4e has made mention of Sudenburg facing down an undead siege, too? And, of course, there's Maatmeses and his bloodline possibly somewhere in the Southlands... Mind, this might be an action better used on Amos' new options, given that he's already in the area; have to see when it becomes clearer what he has to offer!
In any case, the reason I focus on all of these 1-year Tide options is that we've got a pair of very compelling 2-year options on offer (leaving a single year to do something with before the exhibit). The first is, of course, Lahmia, which becomes especially appealing if it turns out that Amos' available artefacts are more relevant to dark magics in Araby than they are to the origins of undeath in Nehekhara. This would offer an obvious beginning to the story, an original peak for the Vampire Coast's vampirism to rise past and beyond.
The other option is Strygos, arguably the fallen undead polity, once a grand kingdom, now swamp-drowned ruins - i.e. the perfect terrain for the Tide! This becomes more appealing either if Amos can offer artefacts relevant to the beginnings of undeath or, alternatively, if we decide to leave that for a later expansion of the exhibit and focus purely on the vampiric and necromantic diaspora for now.
Bringing things back to the Vampire Coast, we now have two excellent leads on their necromantic traditions - but, well, that's only one side of the story. To be thorough, conducting an investigation into one of the bloodlines of the Vampire Coast seems apt - either the Depth Guard, which would be a lovely counterpoint to the Mousillon artefacts given the ambiguity around Abhorash, or the Undead Admiralty, as the more encompassing bloodline and a nice complement to our lead on the Lore of the Deep via the Cult of Stromfels. Not sure if focusing on one of these or going for a broader 'Investigate (Bloodlines of the Vampire Coast)' action would be better.
All of this is, of course, going to need plenty of AP, especially if we want to hire on a necromantic expert to cover that base (which will need that Adjust Exhibits action to gain the Goodwill to do so). In particular, I'm looking at the Palace of Defilement lead... The question, for the purposes of this exhibit, is whether it produces an artefact(s) that will need something exemplifying Nagash's original necromantic study to properly frame it or whether the artefact(s) will already come with that framing, given that Luthor's time working with the Ark was driven by his curiosity over the origins of Nagash's art. May just have to hope!
With all that in mind, then - have some very, very tentative suggestions of plans for the next four (ye gods) years...
Turn 10
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Adjust Exhibits
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Pursue Lead (Temple of Stromfels, the Tide of Skjold)
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via the Tide of Skjold
-- [ ] Excursion - Tide of Skjold (Araby, ???)
OR
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via Amos Dimitisissim
-- [ ] ???
Turn 11
- [ ] Spend Goodwill
-- [ ] New Museum Staff
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Investigate (The Depth Guard / The Undead Admiralty / Bloodlines of the Vampire Coast)
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via the Tide of Skjold
-- [ ] Excursion - Tide of Skjold (Lahmia, Artefacts of Undeath / Mourkain and/or the Marshes of Madness, Artefacts of Undeath)
Turn 12
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Pursue Lead (Palace of Defilement, New Staff Member)
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Pursue Lead (Depth Guard/Undead Admiralty Lead, Skald Fjolnir / New Staff Member)
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via Amos Dimitisissim
-- [ ] ???
Turn 13
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Create Exhibit
- [ ] Maybe make a mask for Harkon the Sorcerer, if Boney permits it to be added to the exhibit on the same turn as an exception to the usual rule on the grounds that Paht's making it himself and thus knows more or less exactly what he's getting and when?
- [ ] Think we could probably send off the Tide of Skjold, too, in preparation for the next exhibit - possibly to Norsca for the Kraken Sea beasts. Chimeraguard will have been waiting far, far too long at this point.
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Adjust Exhibits
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Pursue Lead (Temple of Stromfels, the Tide of Skjold)
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via the Tide of Skjold
-- [ ] Excursion - Tide of Skjold (Araby, ???)
OR
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via Amos Dimitisissim
-- [ ] ???
Turn 11
- [ ] Spend Goodwill
-- [ ] New Museum Staff
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Investigate (The Depth Guard / The Undead Admiralty / Bloodlines of the Vampire Coast)
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via the Tide of Skjold
-- [ ] Excursion - Tide of Skjold (Lahmia, Artefacts of Undeath / Mourkain and/or the Marshes of Madness, Artefacts of Undeath)
Turn 12
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Pursue Lead (Palace of Defilement, New Staff Member)
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Pursue Lead (Depth Guard/Undead Admiralty Lead, Skald Fjolnir / New Staff Member)
- [ ] Acquire Relics - via Amos Dimitisissim
-- [ ] ???
Turn 13
- [ ] Develop Museum
-- [ ] Create Exhibit
- [ ] Maybe make a mask for Harkon the Sorcerer, if Boney permits it to be added to the exhibit on the same turn as an exception to the usual rule on the grounds that Paht's making it himself and thus knows more or less exactly what he's getting and when?
- [ ] Think we could probably send off the Tide of Skjold, too, in preparation for the next exhibit - possibly to Norsca for the Kraken Sea beasts. Chimeraguard will have been waiting far, far too long at this point.
These will very likely need to adapt with our evolving understanding of the situation and the opportunities it presents. We still don't know how much we can expect from the Tide of Skjold on an excursion that suits their capabilities but looks to acquire relics outside their usual wheelhouse; nor do we know exactly what Amos is going to bring to the table just yet.
In any case - thank you for reading and apologies for the general incoherence! Would welcome feedback to critique, refine and improve all of this, as ever. I am now going to try to avoid thinking about any of it for a decent length of time!
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