SACQ RIDES AGAIN: BEADS AND BRASS EDITION (SV ver.)

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Genial Precis said:
The sustained exertion is actually an issue. When we go on campaign, presumably our maids will be doing some amount of marching. If they overheat in the process, it makes our army less mobile.

Actually, I've had an idea, or possibly been struck by the Good Idea Fairy. It seems to me that bicycle infantry might be a good fit for our forces. Especially if we can get some bicycles out of military aid funds.

I see you like to live dangerously.
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Yeah the maids are basically filling in the same role as Eunuch guards would, so they don't really go on campaign as a whole (individuals are a different story.) Yrcen are present in other formations however.

Bicycle troops will make sense when you have more suitable roads, but most are presently trails or otherwise made for pedestrians and packhorses and frankly dangerous to put anything wheeled on. There is at present one good road built to something resembling American standards between the Capital and Metella.

It's not like you don't have the wheel or otherwise can't make chariots, it's just everything is some combination of mountainous, marshy and forested.
 
[X] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
-[X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
-[X] Everything should have a standing collar.
-[X] We can vary Color and have distinct rank insignia on dress and service uniforms.
-[X] Sleeves and Collar Only
-[X] Service Dress uniforms should be flexible, and vary based on season, weather, and skin type.
 
Chariots are not great unless you're fighting on a lot of flat ground, but a well-trodden footpath is perfectly reasonable for a bicycle. If your infantry only move somewhat faster than marching pace, but don't tire out as much from it, and can carry much more supplies (mainly food, I suppose), it's a significant advantage.

Out of curiosity, if our kingdom fights in marshy terrain, does that cause trouble for fuzzy Yrcen, what with their fuzzy foot-bits getting waterlogged? Do Yrcen who plan to hunt in the marshes shave their lower legs?
 
Genial Precis said:
Chariots are not great unless you're fighting on a lot of flat ground, but a well-trodden footpath is perfectly reasonable for a bicycle. If your infantry only move somewhat faster than marching pace, but don't tire out as much from it, and can carry much more supplies (mainly food, I suppose), it's a significant advantage.

Out of curiosity, if our kingdom fights in marshy terrain, does that cause trouble for fuzzy Yrcen, what with their fuzzy foot-bits getting waterlogged? Do Yrcen who plan to hunt in the marshes shave their lower legs?
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Yeah, a bicycle would be a huge advantage there, when the situation develops to that point.

Honestly, I don't think anyone intentionally fights in the marshy bits except from a canoe, as opposed to the dryer areas. As for hunting, I'd imagine you'd just wash the mud off and dry your feet later. It's not like the area isn't lacking for water to do it with. Maybe you'd shave otherwise if you lived in a marshy area, but the Yrcen are by and large hill people, being ostensibly the children of the goddess of the forest and hunting (basically your standard Potnia Theron, who should never be under any circumstances called the Potnia Thernyan.) In the lowlands, they're maybe half a percent of the total population, but are either traders, effectively mercenaries or are the servants and/or (very high status) slaves of normal human leaders who keep them around as guards and muscle.
 
Like by high status, I mean Cirta is in practice like the fifth most important person in government, after Crytus, Kirte, whoever is acting as the PM/Grand Vizier, and the Queen (Step)Mother, since she's more or less responsible for the day to day care of the royal family and the physical security of the royal household. Wyta would be up there but she's more a religious authority when she isn't basically some combination of the Meledli commissioner for Metella, an investor and source of ongoing scandal and dread for the administration (realistically congress should've murdered everyone for all of the scandals Metella generates, but that wouldn't be as fun to write.)

Most of the people in the area who can afford to support Yrcen don't have them attain as much power, but ones who were actually raised in civilized society can still rise pretty far even if they're normally not allowed to attain formal independent authority.

This gets worse in areas that aren't as rich in natural resources as the Meledli lands are (where to a large extent grain is a supplement to a broader base of foods,) and supporting the dietary requirements of a human shaped big cat becomes proportionately more expensive. But we're also not going over the mountains for a while so...
 
Interim tally to see where we stand, but I'm realistically leaving this open for at least a few more days.
Adhoc vote count started by NothingNow on Jul 13, 2020 at 12:45 AM, finished with 13 posts and 5 votes.
  • [X] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
    -[X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
    -[X] Everything should have a standing collar.
    -[X] We can vary Color and have distinct rank insignia on dress and service uniforms.
    -[X] Sleeves and Collar Only
    -[X] Service Dress uniforms should be flexible, and vary based on season, weather, and skin type.
    [X] Uniformly Uniformed
    - [X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
    - [X] We should go with ties for service dress.
    - [X] We should only vary color on dress and service uniforms as there will be enough to remember already.
    - [X] Sleeves and Collar Only
    - [X] Uniforms need to be mostly uniform. Outside of maternity wear we can and should just handle everything with a coat.
    [X] The Youth Will Thank Us Later
    -[X] Putting the maids in maid uniforms would actually be cute. Especially Sjo.
    -[X] Everything should have a standing collar.
    -[X] Sleeves and Collar Only
    -[x] Uniforms need to be mostly uniform. Outside of maternity wear we can and should just handle everything with a coat.
    [X] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
Click to expand...
 
What the hell, throwing my hat in the ring with

[X] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
-[X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
-[X] Everything should have a standing collar.
-[X] We can vary Color and have distinct rank insignia on dress and service uniforms.
-[X] Sleeves and Collar Only
-[X] Service Dress uniforms should be flexible, and vary based on season, weather, and skin type.
 
Genial Precis said:
[X] Uniformly Uniformed
- [X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
- [X] We should go with ties for service dress.
- [X] We should only vary color on dress and service uniforms as there will be enough to remember already.
- [X] Sleeves and Collar Only
- [X] Uniforms need to be mostly uniform. Outside of maternity wear we can and should just handle everything with a coat.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Ah, glad to see my Standing collar ...preference made it to the thread
 
[X] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
-[X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
-[X] Everything should have a standing collar.
-[X] We can vary Color and have distinct rank insignia on dress and service uniforms.
-[X] Sleeves and Collar Only
-[X] Service Dress uniforms should be flexible, and vary based on season, weather, and skin type.
 
A Rough Timeline of the (Pre)History of the Meledli.
  • Informational
    • A Rough Timeline of the (pre)history of Wonderland and the Meledli.
    (Which will be expanded as I feel like it.)

    Dates are in Before Wonderland Present, which is used primarily for carbon dating and is dated from 2013. This is comparable to Earth's Before Present dating system used for radiocarbon dating, which is fixed to 1 January 1950 CE. Later dates are given in Common Era, Before Wonderland Present/Wonderland Present and the Dynastic Epoch/GhS for the sake of convenience.

    Defining the transition from the. Paleolithic to the Wonderland Neolithic and then to metal working is somewhat difficult, as like peoples in other areas mature techniques were often imported, and as happened in the Jōmon period and some parts of the Americas, pottery may developed before the adoption of agriculture.
    (Out of universe explanations are in italics.)

    Paleolithic Period Pre-8000 BWP
    Pre-23000 BWP - Archaic Human populations are present from other colonization events, including assumed H.heidelbergensis or descendant population, given some variance from Denisovan and Neanderthal Archaic DNA. No human remains from this period have been discovered at this time.
    23000 BWP - Arrival of Anatomically Modern Human population to Wonderland, Ancient North Eurasians defined mostly by mt Haplogroup X and Y Haplogroup Q-M242. Proto-Dogs also likely appear about this time.
    17,000 BWP - First known cave paintings in surveyed territory.​
    Pre-State Neolithic Phase 8000 BWP - 2400 BWP
    8000 BWP - Sedentary Phase begins, Megalithic structures begin appearing (primarily Dolmen and Menhir construction,) as the proto-Meledli begin modifying the environment to suit their needs. Winemaking begins in stone vessels.
    7000 BWP - First known Variant Human, a 30 year old Yrcen man, is buried in a bog. He is later discovered during road construction in 1 WP/174 GhS/2014 CE.
    6500 BWP - Estimated age of the earliest known phase of Metella, surveyed through ground penetrating radar.
    5000 BWP - Lowest stage of Tells indicative of city building.
    4000 BWP - First evidence of grain agriculture.
    3400 BWP - The Hill 220 Complex, an underground city, begins construction. The process will continue well into the Early Dynastic Period.​
    Early Dynastic Period 2400-170 BWP
    2400 BWP - Dynasty I established in Antenella.
    2200 BWP - Introduction of Writing in Antenella, using Cuneiform borrowed from the southern kingdoms.
    1900 BWP - Royal Archive established by Axau I in Antenella, oldest extant library accessible to Earthicans, mostly composed of government records, with some other documents added as literary culture developed.
    1600 BWP - First mention of bronze working occurring in Meledli lands.​
    Dynasty XI/ Kkuirrostanae( Transmarian) Dynasty. 173 BWP/1 GhS/1840CE - present
    173 BWP/1 GhS/1840CE - Dynasty XI established by Aede I Kkuirrostanae( Aede Transmarius) after Menyes adventurers capture Antenella. Under Dynasty XI, Antenella conquers the other cities over the next fifty years establishing the Kingdom of the Meledli. Some flee the conquest to become the Nokli people over the next century.
    48 BWP/125 GhS/1965 CE - The Plague of Rixnor cuts the population of the area in half, and vastly reduces the reach of the Kingdom of the Meledli.
    29 BWP/144 GhS/1984 CE - Crytus Aedetheir, first born of King Aede III is born. Joseph Bear is born on Earth.
    25 BWP/149 GhS/1989 CE - An-Wyta Aedetheir, and Kirte are born.
    1991 CE - Timmothy Walker is born on Earth.
    18 BWP/155 GhS/1995 CE - Euenia Aedetheir is born.
    0 BWP/173 GhS/2013 CE - First contact between the United States and the Kingdom of the Meledli. (Beads and Brass begins here.)
    1 WP/174 GhS/2014 CE - Crytus I is crowned king. (Quest begins here.)​
     
    Last edited:
  • Informational
    • It's been long enough, I'm calling this. Update tomorrow hopefully.
    Adhoc vote count started by NothingNow on Jul 18, 2020 at 12:14 AM, finished with 18 posts and 7 votes.
    • [X] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
      -[X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
      -[X] Everything should have a standing collar.
      -[X] We can vary Color and have distinct rank insignia on dress and service uniforms.
      -[X] Sleeves and Collar Only
      -[X] Service Dress uniforms should be flexible, and vary based on season, weather, and skin type.
      [X] Uniformly Uniformed
      - [X] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
      - [X] We should go with ties for service dress.
      - [X] We should only vary color on dress and service uniforms as there will be enough to remember already.
      - [X] Sleeves and Collar Only
      - [X] Uniforms need to be mostly uniform. Outside of maternity wear we can and should just handle everything with a coat.
      [X] The Youth Will Thank Us Later
      -[X] Putting the maids in maid uniforms would actually be cute. Especially Sjo.
      -[X] Everything should have a standing collar.
      -[X] Sleeves and Collar Only
      -[x] Uniforms need to be mostly uniform. Outside of maternity wear we can and should just handle everything with a coat.
      [X] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
    Click to expand...
     
    Uniforms Three
  • Threadmarks
    • [5] ONLY SLIGHTLY CLOWNSHOES
    -[5] Catgirls in suits? Catgirls in suits.
    -[5] Everything should have a standing collar.
    -[5] We can vary Color and have distinct rank insignia on dress and service uniforms.
    -[5] Sleeves and Collar Only
    -[5] Service Dress uniforms should be flexible, and vary based on season, weather, and skin type.

    "We should probably give my husband an out, and I'm hesitant to put so much emphasis on color when so many of the maids are colorblind."

    "We're not that colorblind." Sjo responds.

    "I know for a fact Cirta and Yrlia can't see blue." You counter, "And you mix up thread occasionally."

    "It's thread, it all looks black to me." Sjo says. "Doesn't mean I can't see it once it's thicker though."

    "That said, I agree with Sjo about pants and trying to avoid anywhere where someone can grab onto a uniform, including ties. So pants and standing collars should happen for everyone who can wear them for all uniforms unless it looks bad. However," You say as you look at your maid, who now looks concerned. "I still want to see her in a maid outfit."

    "No you can't make me." Sjo says as she scoots away from you, forgetting who she reports to for a moment.

    "It'll be cute on you. Maybe it'll even help you find someone to work out some frustration with, or at least give you a child." Wyta says, joining in. "You can't be single forever. Unless you're sleeping with Crytus and not telling us."

    "But I'm not interested, and I'm not sleeping with the king. Someone has to keep an eye on your kids at night since you kicked them out for Floppy." Sjo says. "And I like what I already have. Even the gods aren't married."

    "I am." Wyta says.

    "Okay, the widely recognized gods." Sjo replies, you feel like she would've said important if she didn't know how that would go for her.

    "Corn Woman is a sex addict, the Mother of Cats has a thing for turning her exes into tigers, and the less said about She of the Hearth and Forge the better." Wyta replies. "I'm the functional one."

    "And that's terrifying." MacCulloch says. "Can we please get off this topic, and back to work?"

    "Actually, it'd be nice if you slept with Crytus occasionally. I've been wanting to see someone get spitroasted, and Rhoa isn't going to go along with it." You reply, blowing right past the uncomfortable PR guy because it's girltalk time.

    "Rhoa would kill me if I fucked another woman." Svatafa says. "So I'm not going to do it. Find someone else."

    "Fine." You reply, having been shot down once again. "Back on topic we go. We need a more flexible uniform, since quite obviously a single cut isn't going to work for everyone. At a minimum we need something Cirta would wear regularly without modifying. Having separate layers sounds nice too. At a minimum, a couple different outer layers seems good."

    "Did Cirta even say she'd agree to wear a uniform?" Wyta asked.

    "Did you tell Cirta we're adopting uniforms?" Sjo asked.

    "…She's probably heard by now? It's not like she can refuse an order from me anyway." You offer. "Anyway, for a dress uniform we definitely need everything embroidered on the sleeves and collar. Seeing someone with embroidery from wrist to elbow would definitely create an impression without going wildly overboard."

    "That's a lot of embroidery." MacCulloch says, as he looks at everyone else. "That might be too much. Most dress uniforms are fairly subtle by comparison."

    "Until you get to the ribbons and medals." Wyta says. "And a white uniform is just flashy anyway. Besides don't you want us to look like a respectable monarchy?"

    "Well yes, but."

    "A ton of gold or silver embroidery is going to do that job." You reply. "Anyway we should probably think about colors too."

    "I'd rather focus on the cut first." Svatafa says.

    "What is there to focus on?" Sjo says. "We know there's going to be pants, and we know what the collar is like. And there's going to be all sorts of versions of the service uniform. So does it really matter now if we decide whether a jacket for a full dress uniform is hip length or goes to the thighs or whatever else we'd possibly do?"

    Svatafa leans back a bit, but doesn't really have a response.

    "I'm going to go with black." Wyta chirps as she picks her daughter up. "It's a good color and with all the dyes available on earth why not go all out instead of doing something we could do before?"

    "A light blue jacket would look pretty nice with a white leather belt." Sjo says as she glances at Wyta. "Everything I've seen from earth isn't colorful enough. We should pick something bright that'd go well with gold or polished bronze, and I think a lighter color would do it."

    "I'd recommend not going too far outside the norm for Earth, and maybe you should consider adopting something close to an American uniform?" MacCulloch replies. "You do want to be taken seriously, right?"

    You nod.

    "Then you should probably stick to something like Blue, Green or maybe Red if you're going for an actual color, and then black grey or white if you're not." MacCulloch continues. "I'd talk color theory at this point but it doesn't matter just yet. But just to check, have you ever heard of the color wheel? Because otherwise explaining complementary colors is going be a bitch."

    "What the hell is with you guys and wheels? Everything is a wheel or a circle with you." Sjo says. "Color wheel this circle of life that, it's ridiculous. I hadn't even seen a wheel that wasn't on a toy before you came here and now they're everywhere."

    "I'll take that as a no then." MacCulloch says, as you lean over to give Sjo skritches to calm her down.

    "I have." Wyta says. "Besides, black goes with everything."

    "What about a really bright yellow?" Svatafa says, "or a purple, since we can do that cheaply now, and it would look really nice with white or black leather."

    "That might work for Full Dress. Service Dress needs to be more muted however, since it does have to be worn regularly and wash easily." MacCulloch says. "Some sort of green, blue or tan is probably going to go over best though, since it doesn't run into issues with connotations. But that also varies depending on the location, so it's entirely possible you might wear green here and tan in the desert if you go there."

    "What's a desert?" Svatafa says, asking the sixty four thousand dollar question.

    "It's that hot sandy place with the weird trees you see in movies." Wyta says. "Americans like to invade them for whatever reason instead of fighting somewhere civilized."

    MacCulloch just looks at you in confusion. You shrug.

    "Let's just focus on full dress for now." You say. "I'm thinking we should go with..."

    Blouse and Jacket Color Selection. This will probably be a major determining factor from here on out, since I'll try to make this not look completely horrible.
    WRITE IN ONE. Primary/Secondary/Tertiary colors with a light/dark modifier only. Highest vote wins.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plum
    [X] Dark Purple

    Preferably with dark grey pants (lighter than charcoal, darker than medium grey) and silver embroidery, but we'll get to that when we get to it.
     
    I have been informed that Svatafa was misinformed and Dark Purple is hideously expensive to make fade-resistant.
     
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