- Location
- Staring into the void
We might need to get a stable supply of gold first.
Paths of Civilization
- Thread starter Academia Nut
- Start date
- Original
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Yay! More work!
I expect that normally if you have traits which CAN fuse you'd generally not have developed them 'naturally' because you'd just evolve the base trait instead of getting a new one.
CA allows us to import advanced traits from neighbors so they can be like "oh hey these two are basically the same thing".
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ehh.
Copper can work. So can other metals. Shells were a primitive currency.
- Location
- Huezil
Because that Arete is "excellence of any kind", nihilism is "is a philosophical doctrine that suggests the lack of belief in one or more reputedly meaningful aspects of life" and the purpose Ubermensch is "Zarathustra proclaims the Übermensch to be the meaning of the earth and admonishes his audience to ignore those who promise other-worldly hopes in order to draw them away from the earth".
This is what i can tell you right now because i'm going crazy on my philosophic spiral here...
EDIT: add Carpe diem - Wikipedia to the equation
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So what do people think our guy actually did this turn? As much as I'd like there to have been a library/temple duo, I suspect he just switched to progress or trade policy, likely trade, and spent the last secondary on something, maybe enforce justice (our cent stat, why!).
Probably a festival to deal with the continual migration from the Hath.
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Knowing him there is probably a secret synergy between absorbing a refugee wave and doing a festival at the exact same time. <- Rampant totally baseless speculation.
Umi-san
Procrastinating.
- Location
- ꙮ
I mean, from what I can tell it's essentially just emphasizing carnality as opposed to the world-denial root of the Abrahamic and (some) Buddhist lineages of spirituality.
The ubermensch is thus someone who strives within this world rather than rejects it.
Main Library, Secondary Festival + Enforce Justice
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- Location
- Huezil
It's not simple carnality, is giving meaning to your life, but nihilism serves as a tool to deny meanings of life, until you reach the "true" meaning of life, that is, life itself, and Arete enters here, because excellence of any kind is giving a "true" meaning to life, because you're striving to be the best in anything you do, carpe diem enters here too because you have to make your day counts, and even if you "nihilize" Arete, you come back to root, that is living, living to the fullest because it's the only meaning you have, life.
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BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Sounds like Nasuverse stuff with all the "return to the Root". Cool!
Umi-san
Procrastinating.
- Location
- ꙮ
The goal of the ubermensch is, theoretically, to better humanity.
Arete, effectiveness, is a way to support this goal. It is not, however, a "true meaning" of life. Excellence without a goal is being skilled at being pointless.
As a philosophy of action, carpe diem seems opposed to the "last man" that is the antithesis of the Ubermensch.
Carnality isn't simple, in my opinion. If spirituality is denied the body is all that remains.
- Location
- Huezil
The Shaman of Nothing
It was said between the shamans of Crow, that a Murder of Crows wasn't a choice, but a necessity, that it was intrinsic to the facet of Crow the Teacher, the despair, the negation, the "nothingness" that came from trying to peruse through the fabric of mortal world into the world of the spirits.
Even so there's was a single Shaman that lived on Valleyhome, sometimes called "Lone Crow", "Night Crow" and even "the Shaman of Despair", the nicknames were considerate harsh by some people, but by other they were truly justified, because every time the Shaman of Nothing spoke it was like Crow the Devourer and Crow the Teacher were in a single body but none of the witty or humor of The Trickster was present, only harsh words and brutal sentiments.
There's a tale when a chariot rider bumped the Shaman, and other than saying sorry, inflated himself like pigeon and looked down at the old man, the look of disgust on the eyes of the Charioteer was unnerving to anyone else, but no the shaman, the old man looked back, his eyes dark like the void of the night sky. Some people said that a spiritual war was wagged on that day, the others that it was a simple Stare Down contest, but the Charioteer lost the moment he spoke.
- What are you looking at "old-man"? – the snicker and scorn was palpable.
- Nothing – Scorned the Shaman back
- Nothing? – prodded the Charioteer, he was two head's taller than the "old man" but the Stare Down was so intense that they seemed to be of the same height.
- Yes, nothing – Croaked the old-man back, with a cruel smile on his lips – A huge piece of nothing, who thinks of nothing and does nothing.
- You're saying I'm nothing you crazy old fool!? I'm a Charioteer, I'm the elite of our people, and you say I'm nothing?
- If the only thing that turns you into a "Elite" – the "old-man" made the commas with his hands – is a piece of starmetal and wood, yes, you are nothing, you muscle-head lump of meat.
The charioteer was stricken with so much fury at that insult that he would have struck the old-man, if a bunch of black-birds hadn't appeared as covered the Shaman, from the might blown. One of the Black-birds protected the old-man with his face from the punch, the mask cracking in half and a little stream of blood seeping from the would on the forehead where a jagged part of the ornament cut deeply on his face. The Black-Bird remained mute, but stared the Charioteer down into compliance before escorting the old-man away.
- Old-Crow – Asked the Black-Bird, cleaning the blood of his face with a piece of fabric, the earring made with copper and black crow feather fluttering at the wind – Why did you say he was nothing? He's one of the protectors of our people, so you can't be serious about it.
"Old-Crow" raised his eyes to the Black-Bird, them looked at blood, them back to the Black-Bird.
- Why did you protect me them? Everyone says I'm a waste of resources, that the only thing I do is spread despair, them where comes the worth of hurting yourself for me, if I'm nothing too?
- You're aren't nothing "old-crow", why would you be nothing, if your job is to look at the world of the spirits for us, even if you're looking at the "nothing" between the lessons of crow.
- From where you think that looking at "nothing" is worth them, "Black-"Birdie.
The Black-Bird stoped on his tracks, looked at the old-man before letting the insult slide:
- Because "Nothing" Is where we are without giving meaning to life.
- Them what is the meaning of life?
- I'm a Black-Bird, that's the meaning of my life.
- Them you're dumber than that charioteer muscle-head – the old-shaman stared at the "boy" again before saying – Why you are a Black…"Birdie" ?
The old-man chuckled from the "steam" that was coming from the ears of the Black-Bird, but stayed still, he was aware of the crowd that was forming around them.
- I protect our people, I protect the knowledge of our people, I protect our people way of life! – beamed birdie back, them catched the eye of "old-crow" when the world life was spoken – wait! you're trying to say that, even if I return to nothing, there's something that even when I'm "nothing" I will have, that's… that's life?
- Caw Caw Caw "Birdie", Caw Caw Caw – A smile creeped on the face of "Old-Crow" on what some people tought was the first time in his life.
- Them "Old-Crow" what is the meaning of life? – Despair creeped back into the voice of "Birdie"
- It's up to you Birdie to say the meaning to your own life, mine is trying to open people's eyes to life itself…
- Mine is protecting the life of the people…
- Now you have your answer "Bird"
"Bird" was so struck on place that he didn't see "Old-Crow" disappearing into the crowd, but the sound of fluttering of wings from a murder and the sound of cawing said that someone had taught a lesson and another one learned a lesson on that day.
EDIT: @Umi-san @BungieONI
EDIT²: Was speed-writing sorry for any typos and grammactical errors.
It was said between the shamans of Crow, that a Murder of Crows wasn't a choice, but a necessity, that it was intrinsic to the facet of Crow the Teacher, the despair, the negation, the "nothingness" that came from trying to peruse through the fabric of mortal world into the world of the spirits.
Even so there's was a single Shaman that lived on Valleyhome, sometimes called "Lone Crow", "Night Crow" and even "the Shaman of Despair", the nicknames were considerate harsh by some people, but by other they were truly justified, because every time the Shaman of Nothing spoke it was like Crow the Devourer and Crow the Teacher were in a single body but none of the witty or humor of The Trickster was present, only harsh words and brutal sentiments.
There's a tale when a chariot rider bumped the Shaman, and other than saying sorry, inflated himself like pigeon and looked down at the old man, the look of disgust on the eyes of the Charioteer was unnerving to anyone else, but no the shaman, the old man looked back, his eyes dark like the void of the night sky. Some people said that a spiritual war was wagged on that day, the others that it was a simple Stare Down contest, but the Charioteer lost the moment he spoke.
- What are you looking at "old-man"? – the snicker and scorn was palpable.
- Nothing – Scorned the Shaman back
- Nothing? – prodded the Charioteer, he was two head's taller than the "old man" but the Stare Down was so intense that they seemed to be of the same height.
- Yes, nothing – Croaked the old-man back, with a cruel smile on his lips – A huge piece of nothing, who thinks of nothing and does nothing.
- You're saying I'm nothing you crazy old fool!? I'm a Charioteer, I'm the elite of our people, and you say I'm nothing?
- If the only thing that turns you into a "Elite" – the "old-man" made the commas with his hands – is a piece of starmetal and wood, yes, you are nothing, you muscle-head lump of meat.
The charioteer was stricken with so much fury at that insult that he would have struck the old-man, if a bunch of black-birds hadn't appeared as covered the Shaman, from the might blown. One of the Black-birds protected the old-man with his face from the punch, the mask cracking in half and a little stream of blood seeping from the would on the forehead where a jagged part of the ornament cut deeply on his face. The Black-Bird remained mute, but stared the Charioteer down into compliance before escorting the old-man away.
- Old-Crow – Asked the Black-Bird, cleaning the blood of his face with a piece of fabric, the earring made with copper and black crow feather fluttering at the wind – Why did you say he was nothing? He's one of the protectors of our people, so you can't be serious about it.
"Old-Crow" raised his eyes to the Black-Bird, them looked at blood, them back to the Black-Bird.
- Why did you protect me them? Everyone says I'm a waste of resources, that the only thing I do is spread despair, them where comes the worth of hurting yourself for me, if I'm nothing too?
- You're aren't nothing "old-crow", why would you be nothing, if your job is to look at the world of the spirits for us, even if you're looking at the "nothing" between the lessons of crow.
- From where you think that looking at "nothing" is worth them, "Black-"Birdie.
The Black-Bird stoped on his tracks, looked at the old-man before letting the insult slide:
- Because "Nothing" Is where we are without giving meaning to life.
- Them what is the meaning of life?
- I'm a Black-Bird, that's the meaning of my life.
- Them you're dumber than that charioteer muscle-head – the old-shaman stared at the "boy" again before saying – Why you are a Black…"Birdie" ?
The old-man chuckled from the "steam" that was coming from the ears of the Black-Bird, but stayed still, he was aware of the crowd that was forming around them.
- I protect our people, I protect the knowledge of our people, I protect our people way of life! – beamed birdie back, them catched the eye of "old-crow" when the world life was spoken – wait! you're trying to say that, even if I return to nothing, there's something that even when I'm "nothing" I will have, that's… that's life?
- Caw Caw Caw "Birdie", Caw Caw Caw – A smile creeped on the face of "Old-Crow" on what some people tought was the first time in his life.
- Them "Old-Crow" what is the meaning of life? – Despair creeped back into the voice of "Birdie"
- It's up to you Birdie to say the meaning to your own life, mine is trying to open people's eyes to life itself…
- Mine is protecting the life of the people…
- Now you have your answer "Bird"
"Bird" was so struck on place that he didn't see "Old-Crow" disappearing into the crowd, but the sound of fluttering of wings from a murder and the sound of cawing said that someone had taught a lesson and another one learned a lesson on that day.
EDIT: @Umi-san @BungieONI
EDIT²: Was speed-writing sorry for any typos and grammactical errors.
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BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
This is actually pretty good!
Clean up the grammar and spelling and it will be excellent!
- Location
- Huezil
No one said to you that a writer writes with his brain, not his eyes? Will have to cool-down before spotting any errors...
EDIT: If i sounded harsh, sorry, i'm on fel mood now...
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BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Not directly but I learned something like it on my own while mucking about.
Like I said this is very good. Enjoy your cool-down! *hugs*
Literally every direction
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] [Mission] Support new friends (Main Salt Gift - modified returns)
[X] [March] Alter status (Transfer 2 Econ, changes status from March to Colony)
[X] [Temple] Repair damage (-1 progress)
Gonwyllmyn considered all of the angles very carefully after consulting with the chiefs, before he issued his decree.
"The gods have shown their favour for our dedication to them and our acts of charity for all peoples. The test presented before us with this disaster at the temple is just that: a test. Should rains come and a hill collapse, is it the way of the People to say that we should not have built upon that hill, that the gods demand we abandon it, or that anyone swept away was a bad person? No, when the gods inflict such things upon us, it is their telling us 'Your work was incomplete, you must do better next time if you wish to farm here'. Thus I say that this was the gods telling us that it was not the idols they found offensive, but our work upon their meeting place that was unsightly in their eyes. Repair the damage and make it as it was, sans whatever defect lead to this collapse," Gonwyllmyn proclaimed, to the cautious nods of approval of the chiefs.
Once that had sunk in, he then said, "As to the status of the Western Wall province, I approve the request. In exchange for revocation of the right to deploy troops outside of emergency, I grant further rights of requisition."
"Thank you sir," the chief said.
"As for the request of the Stallions to explore the river systems to the north and west of your territory, I unfortunately cannot authorize the use of the kingdom's resources for this at this time, but I do grant you permission to organize your own expedition. Unfortunately, national resources are going to be needed to transport salt to our new friends so that we might cement our friendship and tell all of their neighbours that they have our support, which should also warn us of any other tribes with hostile intent," he explains, to which the chief in question nods in acquiescence. While clearly not everything he might have wanted, this decision is certainly acceptable to him.
And so the command goes out, and so the People seek to reorient themselves away from war in the north while keeping a wary eye on the situation in the south. Situations actually, although the People had grown somewhat numb to trade reports of fighting in the lowlands.
[X] Megaproject – Library
[X] Found Trading Post
Provinces – [Main] Megaproject x3
Stallions - [Main] Build Iron Mine, [Main] Sailing Mission – Northern Rivers
Western – [Main] New Settlement, [Main] Build Wall
Hatriver – [Main] Expand Warriors, [Sec] Expand Econ, [Sec] War Mission – Anti-Bandit
Legacy Gained
One of Each (Three): +1 Periphery State
It was thus not entirely surprising when it came out that the Highlanders had shifted their posture from one of offense in the east to a dedicated defense while they sent the core of their warriors west, through mountain passes that had previously been too well defended to bother fighting over and now were manned only by bandits attempting to extract tribute from anyone trying to cross. While not entirely successful in their bids for conquest as they soon enough had to wheel back around to deal with increased pressure in the east, the Highlanders most certainly were able to force more than one city to capitulate to their control via being able to strangle what little food supplies they had control over. From what the People could tell from traders and refugees, the conflict had certainly been worth it as the Highlanders seized numerous mines and experts, and would undoubtedly be able to start producing their own bronze.
Of course, for the People this was secondary to their own concerns, which were now growing increasingly mercantile as trade was better able to flow around the shores of the sea. In particular, the People felt that they would need better docking facilities on the far side of the sea at the mouth of the river that gave access to the Metal Workers, since while they had access to some metal the Metal Workers had a broader selection, deeper supply, and the exchange for the dye and salt of the People for silver and gold was quite favourable there. While obviously not all of the locals were entirely pleased with the idea of the People setting up buildings on their favourite fishing spot, the king ordered that anyone who had a problem was to be well compensated, and as per usual local food stores were to be established under the assumption that other groups from outside the People might seek aid in hard times. Significantly closer to home, the king ordered that the shamans begin compiling together and writing down the stories and knowledge of the People, so that the wisdom of elders might not fade with their passing. Somewhat fortunately some had apparently already been doing that in defiance of convention, so the project was already partially begun!
There was however a big question as to where to put the collection of knowledge and wisdom, of which there were two choices: Valleyhome, as an aid for the king, and in the Sacred Forest, as an extension of the new temple.
Location of the Library?
[] [Library] Valleyhome
[] [Library] Sacred Forest
And what a temple! Gonwyllmyn was pleased to see its completion within his lifetime, having grown somewhat worried about the damage in decades prior. After repair the artisans had realized that it was a sign from Crow, in that they marked out the area of the ceiling that had been open to the sky and painted it as black as they could, a ragged puncture wound in a blue sky of stars from where Crow had emerged from the Dark Beyond Dark at the start of the universe. While there had been some initial grumbling that there weren't stars at the time, the shamans agreed with the artisans that it was a certainly evocative image, to have the full alien glory of Crow emerging from a wound in the heavens upon the ceiling.
The centrepiece however was the dual statue of Fythhagyna and Crow, which had taken generations of dozens of master artisans in collaboration with the wisest shamans to make right. Truly massive, the statue had Fythhagyna's knees come up to a man's chest, and while they had had to compromise for the sake of structure by having her in a seated position upon a gigantic stone carved to appear like the stump of a tree, the overall construction was still a marvel. The king wasn't entirely certain how it had all been done, but the goddesses skin was of earthy clay glazed with wood ash and fired to a glossy, woody green. In one hand she held several stalks of wheat made from gilded wooden shafts, and in the other she held a tremendous sickle made from shining brass, the material imported at great expense from the Thunder Horse. Silvery teeth and eyes of gold and malachite smiled out enigmatically upon the world while hair like tangles of vines spilled down from her head to partially cover one breast and her groin, a compromise to the more prudish shamans.
And perched upon one shoulder was Crow in all of his terrible glory. Spider Eyed and weird, oversized even at the heroic scale of the statue, the multitude of eyes and beaks stared out enigmatically at all petitioners. Seemingly carved from a single piece of obsidian, the polish of the black stones very deliberately created odd reflections that made Crow seem to shift and flow as you moved around the statue, never seeming quite entirely there, as if the entirety of the statue could disappear if you blinked. In one beak Crow held one of the stalks of grain, the positioning of the statue very deliberately ambiguous as to whether Crow was taking the grain from Fythhagyna or placing the grain in her hands, a trio of Crow's eyes turned towards the goddess almost conspiratorially.
Despite knowing that the artisans had made numerous smaller pieces and then fit them together, Gonwyllmyn's eyes could find no trace of seam on any part of the overall statue, and he was fairly certain that it was not just eyesight failing as his hair went from silver to white.
Megaproject Completed!
Grand Temple
A place for universal praise and worship of gods and spirits, the grand temple acts as a centre for the faithful and a training place for priests and shamans. Opens up new social concepts, alters actions, and provides +1 Mysticism a turn until either destroyed or rendered obsolete by more sophisticated theology
Select a bonus
[] [Temple] Know that the gods are with us (+1 Stability)
[] [Temple] See to the spread of the techniques that went into making this place (+3 art, tech advance)
[] [Temple] Let the glory of your gods be known far and wide (+1 Prestige, Pilgrimage trade power increased)
As Gonwyllmyn was enjoying the temple, surrounded by idols personifying all of the greatest gods and spirits, he was somewhat alarmed to find a grey-bearded man of above average stature suddenly just walking beside him. Before he could protest the sudden intrusion into his space, the man leaned in and whispered, "I apologize, oh king, but I come to you with news of conspiracy most foul and fear for my life should my tale be told to the wrong ears. I pray to the gods that yours turn to the right, lest I be undone here and now."
Freezing, the king replied in a hushed tone, "Do then explain what you know quickly."
"I am a shaman who has worn many masks in life, and thus learned many things. I chose my retirement to help the sick in Valleyhome, but I know the signs of poisoning when I see them. I have spent the past year tracking down a conspiracy of murder and corruption, all with the intent of defying specifically your laws," the man explained.
The king was quiet for a moment and then said, "Go on."
"Your laws against the practices of splitting and lumping? Several of the leaders who preferred lumping decided to take matters into their own hands, and have been brutalizing others to get their way. Those within their own occupations who might pioneer new occupations are sidelined, marginalized, and ridiculed. Those outside their purview who might do the same for rival factions are poisoned with metals, their minds robbed from them, or if need be are more quickly disposed of via 'random' acts of violence. They spread creepers all throughout Valleyhome and have been progressively strangling out those in positions of power who think differently from them. And yes, of course I can direct your agents towards all the evidence I found to piece this frankly ridiculous story together," the man explained.
Gonwyllmyn found his face draining in shock both at these accusations, and as he ran over several reports that suddenly made a great deal more sense. Gesturing to some of his Blackbird escorts, Gonwyllmyn knew that he had a great deal of work ahead of him.
Two moons later and he was quietly drawing up what do about the conspiratorial cabals that had been quietly unearthed. He needed to dig out the social blight that can been festering among the roots of society in Valleyhome, but he also needed to be careful. The men behind this had enough power that if he did not act just right he could do just as much damage removing them as they were currently inflicting upon the People. He had enough evidence that he could use the dagger of the warriors and Blackbirds to cut them out, but he might also miss some and the king calling for the mass execution of occupational chiefs might send the wrong message and cause a panic. More bluntly, he could simply increase the enforcement of law in general and force more cases to be brought before his review rather than lower level chiefs and thus begin dismantling the conspiracy without the mass deployment of warriors... but while he knew that he could handle the workload, could his successors? He would be setting a potent precedent. Then there was the weapon of fire, of burning out the entire system that had allowed this corruption to settle in, sweeping away the current administration within Valleyhome. He could ensure he stripped the conspirators of their power and the incentives that had them act this way... at the cost of confusing and infuriating tens of thousands of people.
He supposed he could also do nothing... pffft like the gods would let him even consider that even in anything other than the most abstract sense. No, this had to be dealt with.
Corruption
[] [Corruption] Deploy force
[] [Corruption] Main Enforce Justice
[] [Corruption] Burn occupational administration down (-2 Stability, switches to geographic admin within Valleyhome)
AN: Deploy force is a bit complicated, but it is essentially a Main Restore Order where if you are successful you remain where you are but excise the corruption, but if things go sideways you lose stability and legitimacy
While still finalizing his plans for dealing within the sickness within his own home, Gonwyllmyn had three important missives arrive in relatively short order. The first was a message from the trading post on Greenshore, sending word that something catastrophic had happened to the Metal Workers and they had somehow opened a doorway to the Underworld. One of their important valleys was now apparently choked in poisonous yellow smoke, fire shooting from the earth as sinkholes opened up. While not their only valley, it was an important enough internal trade route that even if the disaster just sat there and did not spread it threatened to shatter the power of the king there, leading to fighting and conflict... and that was only if the demons unleashed were content to stay in that valley!
The king was getting the clerks to figure out a relief mission when the next important missive arrived for him. The traders had been told that for trade with the Thunder Horse, they could now go to Xohyr directly, the higher nobility and royal family having decided to move to the city due to familial relations and it being more centrally located for the administration of their territory and prosecution of the conflicts with the Highlanders. They were also pleased to announce that after a stunning series of successes, the Swamp Folk were now the vassals of the Thunder Horse.
Xohyssiri Golden Age ends
Xohyssiri now Leading Member in Personal Union with the Thunder Horse
You may now address the general over-polity as the Xohyssiri Empire if you wish
The king's eyes crossed as his imagination filled in what might come from the fighting in the lowlands with the centre of three significant powers now at Xohyr, versus the Highlanders now equipped with bronze weapons to match the Thunder Horse and reinforced with Hathatyn wealth and surrendered warriors... the rivers of the south would turn black with blood in the sun.
And then, just when it sounded like things could get no worse, the explorers from the Stallions sent north had returned early, unable to penetrate as far as they wanted due to hostile forces, and their stories confirmed by runners from Paltrulvi's tribes that a new chief had arisen in the far north, the descendant of a tribe driven off in generations past. With an ancestral grudge against 'the southerners' and promising the tribes under him that there was tremendous loot to be had in rapine pillage of the south, as well as the settling of grudges with the weak tribes of the east, this sounded like it was going to be like the wars of legend from centuries past, a storm of horseflesh thundering down from the north.
Gonwyllmyn was a genius at multi-tasking, but this was too much!
Wracking his brain for what to do, the best he could hit on besides launching an immediate attack to support their allies was to send delegations to the Metal Workers and Thunder Speakers, the other two groups likely to be threatened by this nomadic assault and hope that they weren't too busy... oh right, like with fighting in the lowlands or sealing a portal to the Abyss!
Which, again, Gonwyllmyn wasn't sure he could afford to ignore. If nothing else, the calamity afflicting the Metal Workers was going to leave them incredibly vulnerable to nomadic attacks, and if the chief could present his subordinate tribes with loot and bronze weapons taken from the mines and workshops of the Metal Workers, that would cement his reputation and strengthen the assault. Could the People afford to leave the Metal Workers out to dry? Could they afford not to attempt to rally as many people as they could? Could they afford to not attempt to disrupt this attack before it began?
Who to outfit?
[] [Diplo] Send aid to the Metal Workers (-2 Diplo, -2 Econ, -2 Art, -2 Mysticism)
[] [Diplo] Send delegations to the Metal Workers and Thunder Speakers (-2 Diplo)
[] [Diplo] Launch a Main War Mission - Northern Nomads
Policy change?
[] [Policy] Offense
[] [Policy] Defense
[] [Policy] No change
[X] [March] Alter status (Transfer 2 Econ, changes status from March to Colony)
[X] [Temple] Repair damage (-1 progress)
Gonwyllmyn considered all of the angles very carefully after consulting with the chiefs, before he issued his decree.
"The gods have shown their favour for our dedication to them and our acts of charity for all peoples. The test presented before us with this disaster at the temple is just that: a test. Should rains come and a hill collapse, is it the way of the People to say that we should not have built upon that hill, that the gods demand we abandon it, or that anyone swept away was a bad person? No, when the gods inflict such things upon us, it is their telling us 'Your work was incomplete, you must do better next time if you wish to farm here'. Thus I say that this was the gods telling us that it was not the idols they found offensive, but our work upon their meeting place that was unsightly in their eyes. Repair the damage and make it as it was, sans whatever defect lead to this collapse," Gonwyllmyn proclaimed, to the cautious nods of approval of the chiefs.
Once that had sunk in, he then said, "As to the status of the Western Wall province, I approve the request. In exchange for revocation of the right to deploy troops outside of emergency, I grant further rights of requisition."
"Thank you sir," the chief said.
"As for the request of the Stallions to explore the river systems to the north and west of your territory, I unfortunately cannot authorize the use of the kingdom's resources for this at this time, but I do grant you permission to organize your own expedition. Unfortunately, national resources are going to be needed to transport salt to our new friends so that we might cement our friendship and tell all of their neighbours that they have our support, which should also warn us of any other tribes with hostile intent," he explains, to which the chief in question nods in acquiescence. While clearly not everything he might have wanted, this decision is certainly acceptable to him.
And so the command goes out, and so the People seek to reorient themselves away from war in the north while keeping a wary eye on the situation in the south. Situations actually, although the People had grown somewhat numb to trade reports of fighting in the lowlands.
[X] Megaproject – Library
[X] Found Trading Post
Provinces – [Main] Megaproject x3
Stallions - [Main] Build Iron Mine, [Main] Sailing Mission – Northern Rivers
Western – [Main] New Settlement, [Main] Build Wall
Hatriver – [Main] Expand Warriors, [Sec] Expand Econ, [Sec] War Mission – Anti-Bandit
Legacy Gained
One of Each (Three): +1 Periphery State
It was thus not entirely surprising when it came out that the Highlanders had shifted their posture from one of offense in the east to a dedicated defense while they sent the core of their warriors west, through mountain passes that had previously been too well defended to bother fighting over and now were manned only by bandits attempting to extract tribute from anyone trying to cross. While not entirely successful in their bids for conquest as they soon enough had to wheel back around to deal with increased pressure in the east, the Highlanders most certainly were able to force more than one city to capitulate to their control via being able to strangle what little food supplies they had control over. From what the People could tell from traders and refugees, the conflict had certainly been worth it as the Highlanders seized numerous mines and experts, and would undoubtedly be able to start producing their own bronze.
Of course, for the People this was secondary to their own concerns, which were now growing increasingly mercantile as trade was better able to flow around the shores of the sea. In particular, the People felt that they would need better docking facilities on the far side of the sea at the mouth of the river that gave access to the Metal Workers, since while they had access to some metal the Metal Workers had a broader selection, deeper supply, and the exchange for the dye and salt of the People for silver and gold was quite favourable there. While obviously not all of the locals were entirely pleased with the idea of the People setting up buildings on their favourite fishing spot, the king ordered that anyone who had a problem was to be well compensated, and as per usual local food stores were to be established under the assumption that other groups from outside the People might seek aid in hard times. Significantly closer to home, the king ordered that the shamans begin compiling together and writing down the stories and knowledge of the People, so that the wisdom of elders might not fade with their passing. Somewhat fortunately some had apparently already been doing that in defiance of convention, so the project was already partially begun!
There was however a big question as to where to put the collection of knowledge and wisdom, of which there were two choices: Valleyhome, as an aid for the king, and in the Sacred Forest, as an extension of the new temple.
Location of the Library?
[] [Library] Valleyhome
[] [Library] Sacred Forest
And what a temple! Gonwyllmyn was pleased to see its completion within his lifetime, having grown somewhat worried about the damage in decades prior. After repair the artisans had realized that it was a sign from Crow, in that they marked out the area of the ceiling that had been open to the sky and painted it as black as they could, a ragged puncture wound in a blue sky of stars from where Crow had emerged from the Dark Beyond Dark at the start of the universe. While there had been some initial grumbling that there weren't stars at the time, the shamans agreed with the artisans that it was a certainly evocative image, to have the full alien glory of Crow emerging from a wound in the heavens upon the ceiling.
The centrepiece however was the dual statue of Fythhagyna and Crow, which had taken generations of dozens of master artisans in collaboration with the wisest shamans to make right. Truly massive, the statue had Fythhagyna's knees come up to a man's chest, and while they had had to compromise for the sake of structure by having her in a seated position upon a gigantic stone carved to appear like the stump of a tree, the overall construction was still a marvel. The king wasn't entirely certain how it had all been done, but the goddesses skin was of earthy clay glazed with wood ash and fired to a glossy, woody green. In one hand she held several stalks of wheat made from gilded wooden shafts, and in the other she held a tremendous sickle made from shining brass, the material imported at great expense from the Thunder Horse. Silvery teeth and eyes of gold and malachite smiled out enigmatically upon the world while hair like tangles of vines spilled down from her head to partially cover one breast and her groin, a compromise to the more prudish shamans.
And perched upon one shoulder was Crow in all of his terrible glory. Spider Eyed and weird, oversized even at the heroic scale of the statue, the multitude of eyes and beaks stared out enigmatically at all petitioners. Seemingly carved from a single piece of obsidian, the polish of the black stones very deliberately created odd reflections that made Crow seem to shift and flow as you moved around the statue, never seeming quite entirely there, as if the entirety of the statue could disappear if you blinked. In one beak Crow held one of the stalks of grain, the positioning of the statue very deliberately ambiguous as to whether Crow was taking the grain from Fythhagyna or placing the grain in her hands, a trio of Crow's eyes turned towards the goddess almost conspiratorially.
Despite knowing that the artisans had made numerous smaller pieces and then fit them together, Gonwyllmyn's eyes could find no trace of seam on any part of the overall statue, and he was fairly certain that it was not just eyesight failing as his hair went from silver to white.
Megaproject Completed!
Grand Temple
A place for universal praise and worship of gods and spirits, the grand temple acts as a centre for the faithful and a training place for priests and shamans. Opens up new social concepts, alters actions, and provides +1 Mysticism a turn until either destroyed or rendered obsolete by more sophisticated theology
Select a bonus
[] [Temple] Know that the gods are with us (+1 Stability)
[] [Temple] See to the spread of the techniques that went into making this place (+3 art, tech advance)
[] [Temple] Let the glory of your gods be known far and wide (+1 Prestige, Pilgrimage trade power increased)
As Gonwyllmyn was enjoying the temple, surrounded by idols personifying all of the greatest gods and spirits, he was somewhat alarmed to find a grey-bearded man of above average stature suddenly just walking beside him. Before he could protest the sudden intrusion into his space, the man leaned in and whispered, "I apologize, oh king, but I come to you with news of conspiracy most foul and fear for my life should my tale be told to the wrong ears. I pray to the gods that yours turn to the right, lest I be undone here and now."
Freezing, the king replied in a hushed tone, "Do then explain what you know quickly."
"I am a shaman who has worn many masks in life, and thus learned many things. I chose my retirement to help the sick in Valleyhome, but I know the signs of poisoning when I see them. I have spent the past year tracking down a conspiracy of murder and corruption, all with the intent of defying specifically your laws," the man explained.
The king was quiet for a moment and then said, "Go on."
"Your laws against the practices of splitting and lumping? Several of the leaders who preferred lumping decided to take matters into their own hands, and have been brutalizing others to get their way. Those within their own occupations who might pioneer new occupations are sidelined, marginalized, and ridiculed. Those outside their purview who might do the same for rival factions are poisoned with metals, their minds robbed from them, or if need be are more quickly disposed of via 'random' acts of violence. They spread creepers all throughout Valleyhome and have been progressively strangling out those in positions of power who think differently from them. And yes, of course I can direct your agents towards all the evidence I found to piece this frankly ridiculous story together," the man explained.
Gonwyllmyn found his face draining in shock both at these accusations, and as he ran over several reports that suddenly made a great deal more sense. Gesturing to some of his Blackbird escorts, Gonwyllmyn knew that he had a great deal of work ahead of him.
Two moons later and he was quietly drawing up what do about the conspiratorial cabals that had been quietly unearthed. He needed to dig out the social blight that can been festering among the roots of society in Valleyhome, but he also needed to be careful. The men behind this had enough power that if he did not act just right he could do just as much damage removing them as they were currently inflicting upon the People. He had enough evidence that he could use the dagger of the warriors and Blackbirds to cut them out, but he might also miss some and the king calling for the mass execution of occupational chiefs might send the wrong message and cause a panic. More bluntly, he could simply increase the enforcement of law in general and force more cases to be brought before his review rather than lower level chiefs and thus begin dismantling the conspiracy without the mass deployment of warriors... but while he knew that he could handle the workload, could his successors? He would be setting a potent precedent. Then there was the weapon of fire, of burning out the entire system that had allowed this corruption to settle in, sweeping away the current administration within Valleyhome. He could ensure he stripped the conspirators of their power and the incentives that had them act this way... at the cost of confusing and infuriating tens of thousands of people.
He supposed he could also do nothing... pffft like the gods would let him even consider that even in anything other than the most abstract sense. No, this had to be dealt with.
Corruption
[] [Corruption] Deploy force
[] [Corruption] Main Enforce Justice
[] [Corruption] Burn occupational administration down (-2 Stability, switches to geographic admin within Valleyhome)
AN: Deploy force is a bit complicated, but it is essentially a Main Restore Order where if you are successful you remain where you are but excise the corruption, but if things go sideways you lose stability and legitimacy
While still finalizing his plans for dealing within the sickness within his own home, Gonwyllmyn had three important missives arrive in relatively short order. The first was a message from the trading post on Greenshore, sending word that something catastrophic had happened to the Metal Workers and they had somehow opened a doorway to the Underworld. One of their important valleys was now apparently choked in poisonous yellow smoke, fire shooting from the earth as sinkholes opened up. While not their only valley, it was an important enough internal trade route that even if the disaster just sat there and did not spread it threatened to shatter the power of the king there, leading to fighting and conflict... and that was only if the demons unleashed were content to stay in that valley!
The king was getting the clerks to figure out a relief mission when the next important missive arrived for him. The traders had been told that for trade with the Thunder Horse, they could now go to Xohyr directly, the higher nobility and royal family having decided to move to the city due to familial relations and it being more centrally located for the administration of their territory and prosecution of the conflicts with the Highlanders. They were also pleased to announce that after a stunning series of successes, the Swamp Folk were now the vassals of the Thunder Horse.
Xohyssiri Golden Age ends
Xohyssiri now Leading Member in Personal Union with the Thunder Horse
You may now address the general over-polity as the Xohyssiri Empire if you wish
The king's eyes crossed as his imagination filled in what might come from the fighting in the lowlands with the centre of three significant powers now at Xohyr, versus the Highlanders now equipped with bronze weapons to match the Thunder Horse and reinforced with Hathatyn wealth and surrendered warriors... the rivers of the south would turn black with blood in the sun.
And then, just when it sounded like things could get no worse, the explorers from the Stallions sent north had returned early, unable to penetrate as far as they wanted due to hostile forces, and their stories confirmed by runners from Paltrulvi's tribes that a new chief had arisen in the far north, the descendant of a tribe driven off in generations past. With an ancestral grudge against 'the southerners' and promising the tribes under him that there was tremendous loot to be had in rapine pillage of the south, as well as the settling of grudges with the weak tribes of the east, this sounded like it was going to be like the wars of legend from centuries past, a storm of horseflesh thundering down from the north.
Gonwyllmyn was a genius at multi-tasking, but this was too much!
Wracking his brain for what to do, the best he could hit on besides launching an immediate attack to support their allies was to send delegations to the Metal Workers and Thunder Speakers, the other two groups likely to be threatened by this nomadic assault and hope that they weren't too busy... oh right, like with fighting in the lowlands or sealing a portal to the Abyss!
Which, again, Gonwyllmyn wasn't sure he could afford to ignore. If nothing else, the calamity afflicting the Metal Workers was going to leave them incredibly vulnerable to nomadic attacks, and if the chief could present his subordinate tribes with loot and bronze weapons taken from the mines and workshops of the Metal Workers, that would cement his reputation and strengthen the assault. Could the People afford to leave the Metal Workers out to dry? Could they afford not to attempt to rally as many people as they could? Could they afford to not attempt to disrupt this attack before it began?
Who to outfit?
[] [Diplo] Send aid to the Metal Workers (-2 Diplo, -2 Econ, -2 Art, -2 Mysticism)
[] [Diplo] Send delegations to the Metal Workers and Thunder Speakers (-2 Diplo)
[] [Diplo] Launch a Main War Mission - Northern Nomads
Policy change?
[] [Policy] Offense
[] [Policy] Defense
[] [Policy] No change
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BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
Wow the Dead Priests Truly ARE cockroaches. They somehow manage to become the rulers of the Thunder Horse from vassal to Leader.
Umi-san
Procrastinating.
- Location
- ꙮ
[X] [Library] Sacred Forest
[X] [Temple] Let the glory of your gods be known far and wide (+1 Prestige, Pilgrimage trade power increased)
[X] [Corruption] Main Enforce Justice
[X] [Diplo] Launch a Main War Mission - Northern Nomads
[X] [Policy] No change
Pilgrimage sounds pretty cool and will mess up the TS
Enforce Justice sounds less... abusive, for all that it makes fighting corruption harder.
Diplomatic missions sound cool but won't gain us anything, while a hardcore raid might.
Neither offensive nor defensive policies will greatly increase our resistance to the Nomads, while finishing up our Library would be better.
Also, how the fuck do the Xohyssiri always do this shit. We need to do a couple of Art Patronages so that we can pwn their gdamn trade skills and ruin their economy.
[X] [Temple] Let the glory of your gods be known far and wide (+1 Prestige, Pilgrimage trade power increased)
[X] [Corruption] Main Enforce Justice
[X] [Diplo] Launch a Main War Mission - Northern Nomads
[X] [Policy] No change
Pilgrimage sounds pretty cool and will mess up the TS
Enforce Justice sounds less... abusive, for all that it makes fighting corruption harder.
Diplomatic missions sound cool but won't gain us anything, while a hardcore raid might.
Neither offensive nor defensive policies will greatly increase our resistance to the Nomads, while finishing up our Library would be better.
Also, how the fuck do the Xohyssiri always do this shit. We need to do a couple of Art Patronages so that we can pwn their gdamn trade skills and ruin their economy.
Ghostdevil
The Devil of Ghosts
- Location
- United States
Uhh Academia, think this is kinda redundant
Umi-san
Procrastinating.
- Location
- ꙮ
A coal seam fire?
A second civ we know is now literally on fire?
And we've got a real what the fuck with the Valleyhome corruption. Blugh.