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Strange Tides

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Part IV: Watchers In The Woods
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    • Watchers In The Woods​

    When the leaves had turned yellow and red, the hills had become beautiful. It was as if a sea of gold had descended upon the world, mighty waves crashing over the land. And amidst it all, three rocks of brown jutted out of the yellow. The hills had become crested with huts, simple things and far removed from the sturdy stone of Orchomenos, but homes nonetheless. All of this Isidoros beheld from the terrace of his palace, sitting on the hill closest to the river and having been named Lofo Tou Palatio by the people once the structure had been built. It too was a simple affair, made from what few logs had been gained from the forest and the stones cleared from the fields. But while it lacked in splendor, it was still a palace. A sign of a city. A symbol for the people to rally around. As young as Hyphyria was, it needed such a place perhaps more dearly than a city that had stood since the days of the Titans.

    Alas, no matter how nice the vista was, he still worried. Winter was close, and the fields already lay fallow. Isidoros did not know if Demeter had spent her wrath entirely or merely not yet found their new lands, but the harvest had been decent and the granaries stocked quite well. Yet he knew it was too little. Less grain went into them than out, and while they would last the winter, there was no chance that they would last another. More land needed to be tilled, and this might yet become a problem.

    Gained 11 Supplies from farming and Population consumes 15 Supplies.
    Current Supplies: 22

    His gaze wandered to the forests to the south and east of the hills, the marshy land between dotted by farmers digging for onions and other roots. Beyond them, he should have seen the logging camps he had ordered to be erected, but there was nothing. A few trees still lay where they had been felled or stacked yet no man was going close to them anymore. They had seen to it. It begun shortly after the first trees had been felled. The workers swore up and down that they felt watched whenever they stepped into the forest. Then they began to see strange lights and some of them had gone missing. Tools began to go missing, axes and saws disappearing if left out of sight for just a moment. Soon enough, all of Hyphyria spoke about these strange events. Some saw the wrath of the gods returning, others guessed that people might live there. They were all right and yet all wrong as it turned out, though it was not the loggers who had found out the source of these events, for they had refused to go near the forest after a while.

    Establish Logging Camps: Major Failure
    Lost tools and equipment worth 4 Wealth.
    Current Wealth: 6

    One way or another, Isidoros needed to know what was going on. Was it just baseless fear? Were the people seeing things that were not there? Or was there truly a danger lurking in the woods? So the soldiery was sent out, half the spear bearers and archers of the young city marched, not as a single pack for this was no war to be fought, but as small groups of scouts and explorers. For days the combed the forest, finding no sign of people or strangeness, but then one group came upon jagged hill, deep in the woods. They tried to climb it to see what lay beyond, but before they reached the summit, they found the source of the loggers troubles. Or more accurately, they were found by it.

    Two men and a woman had stopped them on their path, appearing from among the trees without a sign of how they got there. But as the men drew closer, they saw that these three were different from them. Their hair was almost like filaments of silver and without a speck of dirt despite the brambles woven into it, their cloth made from grass and ferns yet spun in dizzying patterns that even the greatest weavers of Orchomenos could not have achieved. If they were the gods of these strange lands or merely touched by them, the scouts did not know, but they erred on the side of caution. So they kept their distance and spoke in calm tones and polite tones who they were and why they had come into the woods.

    At first, the strangers answered in a strange tongue that none of the men could understand or even describe. Then, when they had noticed that they weren't understood, they spoke again, but now in proper Greek as flawless as that of any orator. Their names they did not give, and amused they were by how easily the soldiers had given theirs. Woodfolk they wanted to be called, and as the name implied, they claimed dominion over the whole forest. Despite coming so deep into their domain, they weren't offended at the scouts presence, but no further could they allow them to pass. So they talked for a while, uneasily and fearful on the men's part and with slight amusement on the Woodfolk's side.

    It had been the Woodfolk that had been trying to scare away the loggers, for they saw it as an attack that they had felled trees that belonged to them. When they had persisted though, they came stronger in their warnings, and a few who had found and attacked the Woodfolks people had been lured further into the forest. To what end, though, they refused to elaborate. Had another group of soldiers stood there on this day, there might have been a fight right then and there, though these men remained calm and accepted to hear what they could not change.

    If it was the chill of winter approaching or just the dread of the story creeping along his spine once again, Isidoros did not know. Slowly his gaze slid back towards his palace and he went for his study. They were not enemies, despite what had happened. The Woodfolk took the tools and possessions of the loggers, apparently intrigued by the fine bronze work and foreign craftsmanship. It was restitution for the felled trees in their eyes and so they held no rancor, even permitting the Hyphyrians to hunt on the edges of the forest as long as they did so sparingly. Not that Isidoros had any intention of having anyone doing so. These people, whatever they were, were not enemies, but they might become such if another unwritten rule of theirs was broken. So he made it an official order that the forests to the south and east were off limits.

    Exploration: Critical Success
    Found Woodfolk and established mostly peaceful contact.

    Another offer they had made, to speak 'from lord to lord', though he had no intention of taking up this one either. A scholar Isidoros might have been, but not an orator. He always had preferred the written to the spoken word, getting tongue-tied all too easily. Mayhaps the next king of Hyphyria might make that journey, or maybe he would find someone else who could do this in his stead. For now, though, other matters needed addressing. A city did not rule itself, especially not one still so haphazard.


    Winter approaches, but it is mild in these lands. What should be constructed in the coming months?
    [] [Construction] Woodcutting Camps
    The forests to the east and south may be off limits, but to the west, beyond the river, also stand many trees. It will be harder to establish logging camps there, but the wood from the ships is growing sparse and there might be soon no material left to build with.
    Check: Rulership - Trade, -1 FD due to circumstances

    [] [Construction] Temple of Hephaestus
    Not all gods had turned their back on Orchomenous in its last days, and so would it not behoove the people to offer thanks to their patron for his protection? Someone must have sent the strange woman after all, and convinced Poseidon of guiding the fleet's voyage.
    Check: Learning - Mysticism

    [] [Construction] Temple of Demeter
    Here in this strange earth was a chance to start anew. The people would give due reverence to the Lady of the Harvest so that her wrath was quenched. The fall of Orchomenos would not repeat itself.
    Check: Learning - Mysticism, -1 FD due to ongoing enmity of Demeter

    [] [Construction] Palisade
    Of soldiers the new settlement had many, yet there was no telling what dangers lurked beyond the hills. Even though a palisade was no true wall, it would have helped greatly to see the people safe.
    Check: Rulership - Administration


    What should the soldiers do during winter?
    [] [Military] Stay at home to defend Hyphyria in case of attack.

    [] [Military] Try to explore some more. (Pick up to 2 options. Can double down on one option.)
    -[] The mountains to the east.
    -[] The southern shores.
    -[] The northern shores.
    -[] The northern forests.


    With the people slowly settling in, Isidoros has some time for other projects.
    [] [Isidoros] Try to organize the artisans. They are currently spread all over the city instead of being clustered around the palace as it is proper.
    Check: Rulership - Administration

    [] [Isidoros] Organize the cults. Even though no proper temple has been built yet, it is well past time to resume proper worship, lest the gods grow angry for this slight.
    Check: Learning - Mysticism

    [] [Isidoros] The wet valleys between the hills are very fertile. Though no work can start yet, winter would be a good time to take measurements and plan how to drain them.
    Check: Learning - Sciences

    [] [Isidoros] You need a proper court. As it is, you need to do everything yourself and beside the day being hardly long enough to do so, it means you have no one to delegate tasks to that you are less suited for. Try to find some promising men to aid you.
    Check: Unknown


    AN: This could have gone better, but it could also have gone a lot worse. Had you met them under different circumstances, the Woodfolk could have been a major threat to the young city, but as it stands, they are fine with your presence as long as you don't make a mess of their home.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • What're these guys? Are they elves? Does Greek Mythology have elves? At least they're friendly. Hopefully they let us cut some wood on the other side of the river, we're in pretty desperate need.

    Regarding the ruler actions, we really need some people to delegate to. The old man is getting grumpy and overworked.
     
    [X] Plan "Not dying in winter"
    -[X] [Construction] Woodcutting Camps
    -[X] [Military] Stay at home to defend Hyphyria in case of attack.
    -[X] [Isidoros] Organize the cults. Even though no proper temple has been built yet, it is well past time to resume proper worship, lest the gods grow angry for this slight.

    We still need resources, but every month without bro-god of ours takes us farther away from our much wanted industrial revolution.
    Also lack of worship brings more random events of bad kind, and these are the last thing we currently need. Way too little resources to allow for gods being assholes.

    Without Palisade we'll need soldiers at home too.
    And it's not like there can be much exploration done in winter.
     
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    [X] [Construction] Temple of Hephaestus
    [X] [Military] Try to explore some more. (Pick up to 2 options. Can double down on one option.)
    -[X] The mountains to the east.
    -[X] The northern forests.
    [X] [Isidoros] You need a proper court. As it is, you need to do everything yourself and beside the day being hardly long enough to do so, it means you have no one to delegate tasks to that you are less suited for. Try to find some promising men to aid you.

    That sounds like fae...

    Going to want to recon the OTHER forests to make sure theres no angry natives there before we try logging
     
    [X] Plan "Not dying in winter"
    -[X] [Construction] Woodcutting Camps
    -[X] [Military] Stay at home to defend Hyphyria in case of attack.
    -[X] [Isidoros] Organize the cults. Even though no proper temple has been built yet, it is well past time to resume proper worship, lest the gods grow angry for this slight.

    Well with a name like that, what other selling point do you need?

    I'm also somewhat disappointed setting up logging went so poorly the previous turn. Could have gotten started on that temple.
     
    [X] Plan "Not dying in winter"
    -[X] [Construction] Woodcutting Camps
    -[X] [Military] Stay at home to defend Hyphyria in case of attack.
    -[X] [Isidoros] Organize the cults. Even though no proper temple has been built yet, it is well past time to resume proper worship, lest the gods grow angry for this slight.

    Yay! Another greek quest!
     
    Fey were a thing in Germanic lore (which is under a similar umbrella as Scandanavian fare).
     
    Duesal said:
    What're these guys? Are they elves? Does Greek Mythology have elves? At least they're friendly. Hopefully they let us cut some wood on the other side of the river, we're in pretty desperate need.

    Regarding the ruler actions, we really need some people to delegate to. The old man is getting grumpy and overworked.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    its the fucking fae
     
    [crazy rant]
    I can't believe an Azel quest is deliberately including fucking Fey.
    He professed his hatred and disdain for them so much in the past!
    Is there no depths he will not steep to to make his poor, poor questers suffer?

    Or is he simply offering us a good target for eventual genocide? Civ quests always end up advocating for genocide. This could be a way to get SV to release those tensions AND a way for Azel to screw with players illogically IC AND for him to watch the Fey die en masse.

    [Enfin rant]
    More seriously, this means that there are probably no major cities as the Greeks know them in the area. Expect humans to live elsewhere OR be weird as hell.
    We're going to be needing some Diplomats who can think on their feet in the future!
     
    [X] [Construction] Temple of Hephaestus
    [X] [Military] Try to explore some more. (Pick up to 2 options. Can double down on one option.)
    -[X] The mountains to the east.
    -[X] The northern forests.
    [X] [Isidoros] You need a proper court. As it is, you need to do everything yourself and beside the day being hardly long enough to do so, it means you have no one to delegate tasks to that you are less suited for. Try to find some promising men to aid you.
     
    TalonofAnathrax said:
    [crazy rant]
    I can't believe an Azel quest is deliberately including fucking Fey.
    He professed his hatred and disdain for them so much in the past!
    Is there no depths he will not steep to to make his poor, poor questers suffer?

    Or is he simply offering us a good target for eventual genocide? Civ quests always end up advocating for genocide. This could be a way to get SV to release those tensions AND a way for Azel to screw with players illogically IC AND for him to watch the Fey die en masse.

    [Enfin rant]
    More seriously, this means that there are probably no major cities as the Greeks know them in the area. Expect humans to live elsewhere OR be weird as hell.
    We're going to be needing some Diplomats who can think on their feet in the future!
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Do you think we're in France or Britain, maybe?
     
    [X] [Construction] Temple of Hephaestus
    [X] [Military] Try to explore some more. (Pick up to 2 options. Can double down on one option.)
    -[X] The mountains to the east.
    -[X] The northern forests.
    [X] [Isidoros] You need a proper court. As it is, you need to do everything yourself and beside the day being hardly long enough to do so, it means you have no one to delegate tasks to that you are less suited for. Try to find some promising men to aid you.

    I say we call this:

    [X] Plan "Gods and Kings"
     
    Nicholas Brooks said:
    Do you think we're in France or Britain, maybe?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    If britain we could be in irland and have meet the tuatha. If in france i don't know, maybe creatures from celtic mythologie. Maybe same if in spain, because there were migrations of celt in this area. But maybe not in this time.

    [X] Plan "Not dying in winter"
    -[X] [Construction] Woodcutting Camps
    -[X] [Military] Stay at home to defend Hyphyria in case of attack.
    -[X] [Isidoros] Organize the cults. Even though no proper temple has been built yet, it is well past time to resume proper worship, lest the gods grow angry for this slight.
     
    [X] Plan "Not dying in winter"
    -[X] [Construction] Woodcutting Camps
    -[X] [Military] Stay at home to defend Hyphyria in case of attack.
    -[X] [Isidoros] Organize the cults. Even though no proper temple has been built yet, it is well past time to resume proper worship, lest the gods grow angry for this slight.

    It's not building a temple, but it's something. Fingers crossed that Hephaestus is understanding that we needed to survive before we could worship.

    Also... since we're dealing with different mythology here... @Azel, are we beyond Demeter's influence right now? If so, I'm so glad we didn't build a temple for her.
     
    Guys, am I missing something or do you all want to butts head again on a useless action? The woods are pretty much enemy territory and another woodcutter camp is all but assured to start a war. We need to bide our time until our city is more than a bunch of wooden huts and a few scared spearmen.

    [X] [Construction] Temple of Hephaestus

    Time to (start) bring(ing) in the big guns. I'm feeling thoroughly naked without any sort of supernatural protection, and we can later greet the wood folk with some Greek Fire flamethrowers courtesy of Hephaestus.
     
    Last edited:
    Ah, just read the new woodcutting option more thoroughly, guess that could work. A quibble @Azel , I thought the exploration action would obviously go before we we sent our loggers. That was the whole point of the thing, to establish if the forest was safe for the woodcutters.
     
    1) Winter approaches and we might not be the only people in the region who will go hungry. Better to use the time to build proper defenses to protect the city from raiders than risk yet another woodcutting camp failing during the winter. We lost a huge amount of our remaining wealth in valuable, virtually impossible to replace tools with the first failure. If the next fails as well, we're fucked.
    2) Winter is a terrible time for a military to be on the move. You burn far more calories in such conditions simply to stay warm, on top of what you expend through additional activity and the cold and lean rations can lead to weakened immune systems and the spread of disease. By keeping the military at home, they consume less supplies, are less likely to become sick or injured, and will be present should the city come under attack.
    3) Isidoros is only one man and we're going to want to be able to delegate additional administrative actions sooner rather than later. Winter is the ideal time for him to find and train subordinates among the populace. Things are slow and people have the time to invest in activities non-critical to the community's immediate survival. When Spring comes, Isidoros will be too busy with important tasks to form a functional court.

    [X] Plan "Fort Up"
    -[X] [Construction] Palisade
    -[X] [Military] Stay at home to defend Hyphyria in case of attack.
    -[X] [Isidoros] You need a proper court. As it is, you need to do everything yourself and beside the day being hardly long enough to do so, it means you have no one to delegate tasks to that you are less suited for. Try to find some promising men to aid you.
     
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