Absolutely incredible work as always Dao. Take 10 XP for this masterpiece!
And for anyone that wonders, yes they collaborated with me on this, thus the canon bookmark. A lovely example of how even a single early choice you all made can have long-lasting repercussions.
Also if the village of Gauls can be found in this quest any of the villains of the region getting the potion (Frollo, Maleficent, Horned King) would be bad.
Last I checked the village of the indomitable Gauls wasn't true Disney property. Yes the first five films were apparently released in the US via Disney but they don't own the rights to it.
-Atlantis : honestly unless there a good reason against it, I think that once we gain a port and a navy we could start trading with Rourke, we could even make an alliance against Ursula. But we must be careful that they don't take the role of the British Empire in this quest, because I can't help but feel that's the kind of things Rourke would do. Might not happen for a while unless he has already territories in the Indian sea.
-Greece : Hades is a threat more because of the Titans than anything else, sure even without them he has access to army of monsters and demons but the titans are his ultimate weapons, frankly we need to send an elite force with carpet and take down Hades before the titans have the time to come back maybe we make a diversion somewhere where he sends the titans while we take him with assassins.
Hades is a bloody god (specifically a god of death). He doesn't need an army of monsters. Unless we have magic on the scale of Genie, we aren't going to be able to do much against him. However as you said, he's content with what he has so we aren't going to be threated by him speicifically. Yes, there are going to be monsters emigrating from Greece but that's all it is; critters moving around of their own volition. He's just not keeping them locked up to serve as Hero fodder.
Even though he's a zealot asshole that will burn us down for being an heretic to his belief, he's still the linchpin keeping most of Western Europe from being invaded from bigger threats, he's containing Maleficent, limiting the Horned King expansion and those are the biggest menace he's containing and his territory is full of possible allies.
More that Maleficent is living in X location and he's constantly attacking her. Maleficent is Fae. She's got her revenge against King Stephan for insulting her and lots of land for her court to do whatever. What more does she need? And if Frollo isn't kept occupied, he'll be prepping/launching Crusades at our region of the world to 'retake the holy city of Jerusalem from the heretics' etc etc.
More that Maleficent is living in X location and he's constantly attacking her. Maleficent is Fae. She's got her revenge against King Stephan for insulting her and lots of land for her court to do whatever. What more does she need? And if Frollo isn't kept occupied, he'll be prepping/launching Crusades at our region of the world to 'retake the holy city of Jerusalem from the heretics' etc etc.
Last I checked the village of the indomitable Gauls wasn't true Disney property. Yes the first five films were apparently released in the US via Disney but they don't own the rights to it.
Unknown. It would depend greatly on if Panoramix is willing to make the magic potion for anything other then the defense of the village. Also Frollo would be trying to convert/conquer them 24/7 because they're pagans contaminating France.
Unknown. It would depend greatly on if Panoramix is willing to make the magic potion for anything other then the defense of the village. Also Frollo would be trying to convert/conquer them 24/7 because they're pagans contaminating France.
The time period is also different for Asterix's village. They exist during Julius Ceaser's time, and consider themselves part of the Roman Empire when convenient, choosing to live as if they are not part of the empire. Best to keep them out of DVV, as while they may seem to not matter beyond their strength potion. The numerous threats in the world could see them try and do something about that. Which they actually might have a shot at doing without the strength potion? It's not like they are a village of pacifists.
The time period is also different for Asterix's village. They exist during Julius Ceaser's time, and consider themselves part of the Roman Empire when convenient, choosing to live as if they are not part of the empire. Best to keep them out of DVV, as while they may seem to not matter beyond their strength potion. The numerous threats in the world could see them try and do something about that. Which they actually might have a shot at doing without the strength potion? It's not like they are a village of pacifists.
No, they aren't pacifists. But they are very independent and normally only get involved after someone hits them first, or an ally is being attacked. They are also all the way in France so they literally can't help us even if they wanted to.
These past two months had been ones of intrigue and surprises around every corner, though thankfully they had been good!
[X] Plan: Inwards and Outwards
- [X][Martial] Reinforce Borders Set up extra guard posts and increase patrols
- [X][Stewardship] Expand housing district
- [X][Diplomacy] Send Envoys to the (East/West/North/South)
--[X] East: According to the maps you have the Hunnic States and the Silk Road lie in that direction. A good chance for profit! And to perhaps head off raids.
- [X][Intrigue] The Hills Have Eyes
- [X][Learning] Once and Future Prince
- [X][Learning]Assign Chiron to assist a Hero
--[X]Aladdin - Once and Future Prince
- [X][Occult] Tomes, Trinkets and Treasures
- [X][Personal] Correspond with Jasmine
- [X][Personal] A Cover is not the Book
The order to reinforce the borders goes out to Ababwa's forces. With Ahmed's logistical acumen coupled with the reports of surveyors and scouts along with Aladdin's own rudimentary knowledge of warfare, they were able to pinpoint the areas that needed shoring up most, and issued orders accordingly. Within a month's time new rough Guard postings and a revised patrol schedule had been implemented. By the end of the second month the wrinkles in the schedule had been fully smoothed out, as had any supply or garrisoning issues.
Martial: 54
Success!
Harder for spies to cross the border unchallenged, invading forces spotted earlier
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," seems to be an adage that Sinbad cleaves to. The man makes sure that the expanded housing districts include the same defenses as the rest of the city, expanding out midway between the forest and the lake. It ensures that enemies don't have an easy access point from the water, as well as keeping the beasts of the Forest from being an extra danger.
At one point there was an issue with the masons hired to supply the stone trying to demand extra compensation for the danger of transporting the stone from the quarry when the Mongols were on the move, but Sinbad had pointedly unrolled a map and jabbed a finger down on it. "You mean this quarry? Right there?" Peering at the map, Aladdin scowled. The area that was being indicated was to the west of Ababwa.
The stone merchant sputtered and scoffed, and by the end of the day a younger merchant had been handed the contract that his older competition had had first shot at, with an admonishment to make sure he didn't screw it up. From there the expansion hadn't seen any major holdups and had been completed on time.
Stewardship: 11+14 = 25
Success!
Gain +500 Revenue per turn
The envoys that had been sent east had been successful beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Not only had they made contact with several villages and towns outside of Ababwa's domains, but they had even managed to travel to the closest edge of the Far East along the remnants of the Silk Road. They had made contact with an independent polity know as Xiang-Wu; and had come back with samples of silks, teas and spices, along with a draft of a trade agreement.
They had also brought back a stranger. During their return trip, the caravan master had elected to take a much less traveled route in order to avoid the Mongolians. Along the route they had stumbled upon a small lake. One that wasn't on the maps. Even stranger, the entire lake seemed to be composed of salt water. Crusted nodules of the stuff stood at the edges of the shoreline, smoothed by rains refilling the lakebed and washing the salt back into the water.
At the edges of the strange lake they had come across a ramshackle hut, and a man there, pale of skin, dark of hair, and with heavy stubble kept in check only by the use of a broken sword as a razor. Along with a wiry-haired hound that seemed content to keep him company and help feed the both of them on small wild game. He spoke no Arabic, nor any of the other languages the trader knew; but when he saw their weapons, he pointed at his own broken blade and mimed the pounding of a hammer against it. Followed by drawing an anvil in the salty dust of the shore.
The Caravan master had gambled on this stranger, but it appeared to pay off. More fortunately, when they had arrived back in Ababwa; it turned out that Leah was able to speak the man's language, as was Cade surprisingly enough. The man's name was William Turner, and he was a blacksmith. When the world had broken he had been separated from his fiance, and without any idea as to where he was, had been trying to stockpile enough food and water to set out on his own. With Ababwa's status as a trade hub, he has requested permission to ply his trade as a blacksmith, or even teach any who wished to learn how to wield his style of blades. Given his earnestness, his request was granted, though much of his history still remains obscured...
Hero Found!
Will Turner in residence in Abbwa.
Does not know Arabic!
Serious communication issues!
If taken on adventure will apply only half stats.
Options Unlocked
Salt Lake found!
Options unlocked!
Prospective Trade Agreement with Xiang-Wu!
Options unlocked!
Diplomacy: 94+41=135 CRIT! + 61 = 195 SUPER CRIT!
Aladdin stared at Haroud, who was looking smug as he laid out the results his spies had gathered. Not only an accurate overall count of the small horde riding towards Ababwa, but also the number of women, children and elderly along with their able-bodied warriors. Of course, notes were also supplied that the women were equally capable of fighting and combat as the men, anecdotes of some of them practicing archery or even taking care of horses and livestock. If he attacked with his men, there was no doubt that the women would fight just as fiercely as their husbands and sons, and likely reap just as bloody a toll from soldiers not expecting female resistance.
The Mongolians seemed to be fractured on what to do. From what the spies had learned, posing as poor peasants giving them food out of fear to keep their homes from being ravaged; the camp was split into three factions. One faction was intent on attempting to conquer Ababwa and take it for themselves. They seemed to think that a lightning fast raid would allow them to take the kingdom. Aladdin wished them all the luck in the world in trying to hold it after that if they were foolish enough to try.
The second faction wanted to approach Ababwa peacefully, requesting passage, or even lands to settle in. They were more worried about the Huns and their brethren that had flocked to Shen Yu's banner than about trying to carve out a place for themselves by force of arms, and having Ababwa as a shield would serve them well. Not only that but they didn't wish to continue running from their sacred homelands, and Ababwa was one of the closest hospitable areas once they'd cut through the jungles to reach their current location.
The third faction, and the largest of the three, was merely waiting for their leader, the Ghur-Khan, to make a decision. Once he declared a course of action, they would move to follow it. The man himself was apparently weighing both options as carefully as he could, but with every mile they came closer to Ababwa's borders, the more pressure he was under. If something wasn't done soon, then something was going to give.
Horde composition:
1500 fighters
500 elderly
800 women
400 children
Total head count: 3200 souls and many more horses, sheep, goats and cattle
Intrigue: 99 CRIT + 52 = 151
DC for Martial lowered by 20
DC for diplomacy lowered by 35
---Chiron POV---
"So, trickle down economics is like what happens when that nice old lady gave out bread to all the street kids every month when I was younger! She'd pass it all to the older kids, who'd pass it off to the others." Aladdin grins widely, but then frowns. "Hrm. But that doesn't seem like it works very well, those older kids tended to hog most of the bread, and we'd be lucky if we got some crumbs from them."
You merely look on in a state of sustained disbelief as the apparent street rat seated across the table from your form seems to grasp yet another concept of economics that anyone else would require at the very least a week to understand, within seconds. And using nothing more than the most bare examples from his own experiences to do so, at that.
At first, when you'd heard your Prince, the leader of your magically formed nation, had lost all memory of his life as royalty, you'd resigned yourself to a long, arduous process of hammering the knowledge back into his skull, no matter how thick it might be. After all, you may be a somewhat failed trainer of heroes, but you are still a teacher nonetheless.
And, in the beginning, your prior thoughts may well have been prophetic. Aladdin was the very picture of a troublesome student, not paying any attention to your lecture in the slightest.
That changed the moment you used your first example. You'd given the classic instance of the two beggars who'd been given the same amount of currency, and the differences in the way they'd used it to attempt to rise through the ranks of society, with one eventually gaining high status and wealth, and the other doomed to crumble for his hubris.
The instant you mentioned the poor rising to eventually become the rich, Aladdin's eyes glittered like hidden gemstones, and like that, it became almost too easy to teach him. Far, far too easy.
"Hmmm, inflation, eh? Reminds me of the time that one merchant came to Agrabah and tried to sell off this weird grain everywhere he could. Rice, he called it." Aladdin sighed, leaning back in his seat and stretching, his rather ragged clothing pulling at the seams as he did so. You and the others had tried to make him change into more stately attire, but he simply refused to do so when he was not 'on duty'. As if being the Prince of Ababwa was something he could simply pick up and put down as he pleased.
You snorted in derision at the idea, while Aladdin continues on, oblivious to your inner thoughts. At the very least, he does seem to have an innate talent in dealing with economics. Perhaps something he inherited? "Yeah, the Rice was decent enough, I guess, but the guy seemed to think he was going to make a massive motherload with the stuff, cause he came back with like three full shiploads of it. Anybody who'd bought it the first time only really got it out of curiosity, and nobody else was stupid enough to get it when those people said it was disgusting. So after a month, the stuff was worth less than the sand he'd put his stall up on. He wasn't even able to keep the ships he sailed in on, last I saw of him he was on his way out of town on the cheapest camel he could get."
Finally, an opportunity for correction!
"Ah, but my Prince, I must correct you. For while that is indeed poor economic decisions on that man's part, it is not in and of itself inflation, but deflation you are thinking of." You say with pride. You feel vindicated that you were able to put your skills as a teacher to use, finally, besides merely introducing the concepts to your pupil.
"Hm? Oh, no, I got that. I was more talking about what happened AFTER he ran away that sounded like inflation." Aladdin says, and you merely cock your eyebrow in slight disbelief once more.
"Oh? And what happened, if you would pardon my casual question?" You say, a slight unease gripping you.
"Well, the stuff just blew up on the market. Turns out, you don't just beat the stuff into dust like you do with wheat, you gotta boil it before you eat it!" Aladdin chuckled and patted his stomach as it growled, seemingly remembering a good meal or two made of 'Rice' in the past. "At first it seemed like no one could get rid of it, then it started selling like premium livestock. Heck, some people used to say that a bag of rice was worth its weight in gemstones while it was still rare. Nowadays, there's a few merchants bringing in a steady supply, so the price is fairly constant. Or at least, it was."
Yes, the world was thrown into turmoil with all of the magical mishaps that had occurred. Your leg twinges in phantom pain as you rub the prosthetic that had taken its place.
"Now, tell me more about those 'investment' things. I kinda like the idea of being a shareholder at some places in particular..." Aladdin's eyes gain a dangerous glint to them as he leans forward, fixing you with a stare that, despite your impressive physique and mental acuity, still manages to make you shudder as you feel you are being stared down by a predator.
The boy may be a genius of sorts when it comes to money managing, but you can't say you relish the way he tends to be a touch more... Aggressive, with his economic policies. You're almost certain he has some moneylender ancestors in his bloodline that are looking down on the boy fondly, or perhaps a state treasurer or chief of finance.
Imagine if it were a thief instead. If it turns out to be the case that this young man's lust for coin comes from such a shortsighted and uncouth profession, you swear, you'll eat your shoe!
You'd rather not have to do that. It's made of metal, after all.
AN: All credit for this scene goes to my good friend Merc59.
Going through the library for tales and legends that could lead to items or places that could help his kingdom became something of a break for Aladdin while he digested the latest of the economic breakdowns and quizzes that Chiron was having him work through. Which is how he ended up paging through an abused copy of "Avians of the Ancient World". Spotting a familiar area on the map on one entry he stopped idly paging through and focused, before reading aloud.
"Rocs are gargantuan birds with wingspans capable of completely blotting out the sun for miles when they take flight. Their primary diet consists of whales, sea serpents and other massive fauna, including elephants. While Rocs very often nest near the coast in order to take advantage of the warm air rising off of the ocean's surface, they have also been sighted in mountains located relatively close to the sea. Given their ability to traverse entire continents in mere hours, 'close' is very relative indeed." Aladdin shook his head. It seemed the author had a sense of humor. He continued on, interested in what else they had to say.
"The last known inland sighting of Rocs was in the mountains of the Persian Empire, noted on the map on the opposite page. These creatures likely chose the area for nesting purposes, to lower the chance of their offspring drowning should they have nested by the sea. Rocs are fiercely protective parents, but the infants are hardly helpless. Even newly hatched they're nearly the size of a grown man with a razor sharp beak and talons already, and as they fledge they gain an even more impressive defensive ability. By beating their wings, infant rocs are able to cloak themselves in powerful whirlwinds. As they age and molt, these feathers still retain those properties, and as such are treasured items for use by thieves and bandits who may use them to disguise their thievery under the heavy winds. It is believed that adult rocs are able to cloak themselves in great banks of clouds as an evolution of this esoteric defense, allowing them to cruise above all, being viewed as merely a particularly heavy bank of high-flying clouds."
Aladdin closed the book gently, looking thoughtful, before opening it back up and looking at the map again. Yeah, that was definitely inside the territories Ababwa now controlled. If he could find the nest; even if it had been abandoned, a couple of remaining feathers would make for an incredible tool for use by his men. Haroud's spies could use them to travel quickly and disguise their movements as dust devils. Or his soldiers could use them to break enemy formations without fear of arrows. Now how to convince his advisors to allow it...
Adventure: "A Wing and a Prayer" unlocked!
Occult: 66
Bare success
Adventure unlocked
The letters between Aladdin and Jasmine continued to stream back and forth. Ater millenia stuck in the Cave of Wonders, Carpet was ecstatic to be getting so much flight time in. Aladdin wouldn't put it past the rug to be taking different routes under the guise of "security" just so it could see more of the world that it had been locked away from for so long. Not that Aladdin could blame it.
The letters with Jasmine were still coming through regularly. She was concerned when she'd heard about the Mongolians advancing, and had agreed with the rough plans he'd laid out that they were going to try and implement. One one level he knew that until she and he were married this was technically giving information away to a rival kingdom, but frankly he'd rather rebuild the trust between the two of them that he'd cost with his deception.
And so far that seemed to be what was happening. Jasmine's tone in the letters had been slightly aloof originally, wary even; but she'd begun to share more anecdotes and even a few of her worries from the new responsibilities her father was giving her. Aladdin reciprocated, by revealing his own mishaps and apprehensions. She seemed to find it funny how he'd flummoxed Chiron with figuring out how to apply what he'd experienced and seen in the markets of Agrabah as a street rat to large-scale economics.
She in turn let him know that after checking the palace from top to bottom (and then going to check the old foundations where they were still laid at the base of the mountain), all of Jafar's labs and stashes had been cleared out. The Sultan had cleared Iago of charges of conspiracy and treason for his assistance and cooperation, but the parrot apparently still felt like he wasn't trusted. He'd taken to frequenting the Bazaar, looking for someone willing to hire him on as a crier, a translator, even a messenger. Unfortunately the knowledge of his relationship to Jafar had gotten out and he'd only been able to find a few short-lived jobs before his temper sparked at his treatment and he clashed with his employer. The Sultan was allowing him to stay at the palace still, but Jasmine could tell that the bird felt uncomfortable there.
75; Relationship with Jasmine increases
Knowledge of Iago's fate gained, options unlocked
Aladdin nodded thoughtfully as he read the latest missive from the Sultan of Agrabah. He'd also begun to read up on the laws of Ababwa, to make sure that he understood them. As the Sultan had wryly pointed out, not knowing the laws intimately can lead to making decisions that are at odds with the health of the kingdom... or with the wishes of the people if a law was no longer needed or had become antiquated.
Thankfully the laws of Ababwa were not overly onerous to acquaint himself with; yet another thing that he owed the Genie for. But now Aladdin felt much more confident in his ability to render a decision if a judgement by a magistrate was called into question and he was called upon to render a decision.
68; +1 to Diplomacy
DC increased to 15
Turn Income: 8,000 Gold
Turn Expenditures: 11,000 Gold
Total Expenditures: -3,000 Gold
City Coffers: 28,000 Gold
Gotta admit. If you asked me what hero we might get from exploring EAST of where we are he would not have been on my list. Must be quite a story there.
Now then, let's integrate some Mongols, get some roc eggs for the menagerie, and hire us a parrot.
Thanks for update!
Well, now I'm not so pessimistic about our future. If we keep gettig rolls like that, we'll have chance to make a difference in that shithole of a world of DVV.
