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Tales of History - A Civ-Builder Quest

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Real-Life has rather rudely interrupted my writing-time, so no chapter today.

But since there was more then enough time for this, the vote is closed. Jolly Cooperation is the winner.
Adhoc vote count started by Azel on Sep 2, 2018 at 4:36 PM, finished with 5250 posts and 41 votes.
  • [X] Plan Jolly Cooperation
    [X] Accept the deal. Instead of raiding Brushcrest, the Valley People will march with them against the People of Makar.
    -[X] Brushcrest will bend the knee and become a tributary of the Valley Peoples. A tributary payment will be sent every turn from Brushcrest to the Valley, with exact terms to be negotiated later. In return their chieftain and council will gain the right to represent themselves before the Council of Three, but not a voice in the succession, and the other rights expected will be withheld. Though, should Brushcrest ever become a village of the Valley Peoples, said rights will be accorded.
    -[X] Brushcrest will give up the right to make alliances, declare war or raid other powers without Council approval, but smaller things are fine. Current alliances will be respected unless broken.
    -[X] Brushcrest will allow the Speaker and Bone tenders to preach freely in Brushcrest, and will see to it that no harm will come to them.
    -[X] The Water Maidens will not be allowed to preach in Greenvalley or to the Clans. They may send expeditions up the Gentle River, but they must not set foot on Greenvalley soil under penalty of summary execution. They may, however, request help from river dwellers if necessary.
    -[X] Members of the water faith will not be allowed to settle in the Valley or amongst the Clans.
    -[X] Brushcrest will not build north into the lands of the Valley People, or attempt to block passage down the river. They may expand east or west or try to cross the seas, if they wish.
    -[X] In return Brushcrest will be under the protection of the Valley People, and the Valley People will see to it that they are not destroyed.
    -[X] Explain that they are asking us to turn from an enemy to an ally on basically nothing but their word. Tribute might seem a steep cost, but the benefits will be worth it; no more raiding from all sides, destroying their every effort. Without raiding taking its toll, they should easily be able to pay tribute and continue to grow. A few shells is a cheap price for safety.
    [X] Refuse the deal. Raid Brushcrest as planned. Whoever these People of Makar are, they are no danger to Greenvalley.
    [X] Plan Acceptable Cooperation
    -[X] Accept the deal. Instead of raiding Brushcrest, the Valley People will march with them against the People of Makar.
    --[X] Brushcrest will allow Speaker to Preach in Brushcrest.
    --[X] Water Maidens are allowed access but are NOT allowed to preach.
    --[X] Brushcrest will not build another village or outpost along the river of the Valley People.
    [X] Accept the deal. Instead of raiding Brushcrest, the Valley People will march with them against the People of Makar.
    -[X] A Portion of the loot as well as allowing Speaker to talk in Brushcrest.
    [X] Refuse to send warriors to assist Bushcrest. However, offer a truce. You will agree not to attack or raid Bushcrest for an entire generation, and in turn Bushcrest will not attempt to secure Lakefort, and will allow Greenvally to build their own fortifications there unimpeded.
    -[X] Offer to buy some of Bushcrest's goods peacefully by establishing trade ties.
    [x] Plan Loot and only loot
    -[x] Clarify the war goal of Brushcrest. If it is defense without raiding Markar then we ask for 4 units of seashell in exchange. If it is counter raid then we ask for 1.5 unit of seashell and at least 2/3 of the spoil of war.
    -[x] Maintain that Greenvalley will be the sole commander of GV force, but our chosen commander will try to work with Brushcrest.
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This quest is back! Huzzah! Time to go about aggressively securing our interests!
 
Y'all turned a temporary military advantage into a turn or two of tribute instead of a lasting political reordering, smh right now.

natruska said:
We enforce these terms by kicking the crap out of them if they back out. What's your alternative plan? I doubt we can directly rule them from all the way up in the valley if we take over in a raid. This is an opportunity to get a tributary who'll actually feel protected and grateful, which is pretty valuable. If they deny it, we kick the crap out of them. If they back out, we kick the crap out of them.
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Well they can just accept the terms now and tell us to buzz off once they are no longer threaten by these raiders, we can't actually enforce these terms without a ruinous war at this point, and within a couple of terms it won't be enforceable at all.

This plan is an insult worse than killing their messenger, shows no respect for them or their influence as a populous growing polity that has already fought us to a standstill at their advance fort succeeding in their objective of protecting their main village from a raid.

I hope Azel is nice and this doesn't directly lose us the game such as in other neolithic quests (@Usotsuki Megami) , a time where survival was quite difficult anything could wipe out a clan, that bear almost wiped us out were it not for the hero.
 
Ritos said:
I hope Azel is nice and this doesn't directly lose us the game such as in other neolithic quests (@Usotsuki Megami)
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That is not exactly fair. The players took some bad decisions, like trying to farm at roughly Scandinavian latitude and at a place with a penalty for farming to boot, keeping two camps while they could be barely supported and so on. I would not say dying afterwards was the QM's fault.
 
Well, I will not kill you off for a single bad choice, unless it's a stupendously and glaringly stupid one.

That being said, neither do I believe in plot-armor. If you maneuver yourself into a corner without any way out, then I'm not going to pull the punches. As the early history of the tribe has amply shown.


Mind that this is not a statement related to the recently closed vote, just in general.
 
I'd agree with you except the QM explicitly stated that she killed off the quest because the players choice was sexist and didn't like the path the quest tribe was taking so she just killed it off. Because who hasn't heard of all the neolithic tribes with 21st century social norms.
 
Ritos said:
I'd agree with you except the QM explicitly stated that she killed off the quest because the players choice was sexist and didn't like the path the quest tribe was taking so she just killed it off. Because who hasn't heard of all the neolithic tribes with 21st century social norms.
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Some people just can't separate actions in a game from reality, let's leave it at that.
 
Azel said:
Well, I will not kill you off for a single bad choice, unless it's a stupendously and glaringly stupid one.

That being said, neither do I believe in plot-armor. If you maneuver yourself into a corner without any way out, then I'm not going to pull the punches. As the early history of the tribe has amply shown.


Mind that this is not a statement related to the recently closed vote, just in general.
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that's not reassuring...but then again lets go father and see what happens...because I'm not sure how long we can keep this up.

the only way I see us even getting more settlements going is to have hunters spreading out, which requires us to study traveling in order to keep them supplied.

frankly I don't see how this is going to benefit us in the long run if they decide to reign on the deal and diplomatically push the other peoples to attack us in our valley, it can happen.
 
I can assure you that your morals or lack thereof have no impact on the likelihood of success or failure beyond their logical IC effects.

If you want to rule over thousands of slaves, I won't stop you. Rapine and slaughter? Sure. Go ahead.

This is speculative, historical fiction, so it would be highly disingenuous to penalize you for using the means of the period.
 
To be honest the way I see it, once this war/raid is done, the best course of action is to just spam preachers every turn at Brushcrest. If we can get them following our religion, they will a) not want to attack us as much as the religion's founders and b) will be eventually annexed by the mandate once we're large enough. Nothing says we can't expand out of the valley once we have the pops for it. Besides, this relies on them actually accepting the deal, which, need I remind you, was negotiated by a single guy. Do you really think the Brushcrest as a whole would accept the deal?
 
Raping and slaughtering sounds fucking stupid, i mean don't get me wrong if it had tangible rewards to doing so then MAYBE i'd think about it, but being lolevul for lolevul's sake is not where i want to go. Being evil because it provides the best rewards for our situation is ok, being Good because the same is also fine.
 
Ghostdevil said:
Raping and slaughtering sounds fucking stupid, i mean don't get me wrong if it had tangible rewards to doing so then MAYBE i'd think about it, but being lolevul for lolevul's sake is not where i want to go. Being evil because it provides the best rewards for our situation is ok, being Good because the same is also fine.
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pretty much the pragmatic anti-hero/anti-villain in this case then...because frankly being LOLEVUL is wasteful in my opinion.
 
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The Red Rivers - 1
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plan Jolly Cooperation
    -[X] Accept the deal. Instead of raiding Brushcrest, the Valley People will march with them against the People of Makar.
    --[X] Brushcrest will bend the knee and become a tributary of the Valley Peoples. A tributary payment will be sent every turn from Brushcrest to the Valley, with exact terms to be negotiated later. In return their chieftain and council will gain the right to represent themselves before the Council of Three, but not a voice in the succession, and the other rights expected will be withheld. Though, should Brushcrest ever become a village of the Valley Peoples, said rights will be accorded.
    --[X] Brushcrest will give up the right to make alliances, declare war or raid other powers without Council approval, but smaller things are fine. Current alliances will be respected unless broken.
    --[X] Brushcrest will allow the Speaker and Bone tenders to preach freely in Brushcrest, and will see to it that no harm will come to them.
    --[X] The Water Maidens will not be allowed to preach in Greenvalley or to the Clans. They may send expeditions up the Gentle River, but they must not set foot on Greenvalley soil under penalty of summary execution. They may, however, request help from river dwellers if necessary.
    --[X] Members of the water faith will not be allowed to settle in the Valley or amongst the Clans.
    --[X] Brushcrest will not build north into the lands of the Valley People, or attempt to block passage down the river. They may expand east or west or try to cross the seas, if they wish.
    --[X] In return Brushcrest will be under the protection of the Valley People, and the Valley People will see to it that they are not destroyed.
    --[X] Explain that they are asking us to turn from an enemy to an ally on basically nothing but their word. Tribute might seem a steep cost, but the benefits will be worth it; no more raiding from all sides, destroying their every effort. Without raiding taking its toll, they should easily be able to pay tribute and continue to grow. A few shells is a cheap price for safety.

    Then and there the Council of Three knew that this was no choice that should be made lightly. For generations, there had been strife between the people of the mountains and of the low-lands and though the Valley People never carried a grudge against Brushcrest, it would still be hard for many to accept that said enmity would be no more. Especially among the older hunters who had lost kin of blood and vows in the fierce battle of the Lakefort, few would willingly march together with the lowlanders. Yet was this not a chance to honor the blood spilled already by putting an end to the fighting? To see the lowlanders finally brought under the wise guidance of the Council?

    For a day and a night, they retreated into the White Halls. The debates were fierce and many time were the ancestors called upon, asking advice from anyone from the Great Three to the lowliest warriors that had come before. There was doubt if the lowlanders would truly abide by the terms of any deal struck and worry that they would turn their spears upon Greenvalley once their foe was vanquished and the great host of the Valley People diminished from the struggle. But the ancestors were firm in their advice. Always had the tribe endured any hardship. Always had it triumphed. Only the oldest tales of the Days of Blood told of stalemate as the strength of the people was turned against itself. But outsiders? Lowlanders? They would perish, should they contemplate treachery.

    To find terms for the agreement took long, yet the Three were generous. Brushcrest had came in peace to request aid against a great foe and thus they would not be treated as defeated foes. Though what they asked for was a great deed and thus the price was set in accordance. If they wished to be protected by Greenvalley warriors, then they would have to bow before the council. A token of subjugation would be expected from this day forward and that the lowlanders would submit to the councils will. Nothing less would do. Nothing less was fair.

    When the council emerged from it's deliberations, Broken-Shell calmly expected their response. He must have thought his mission already failed, for he showed surprise and elation when told that the Three would accept, but his mien turned solemn when he heard the terms. It was, he told them, better then he had feared, yet less then he had hoped. He had come alone without sanction from his chieftain to make this proposal and what was asked of him was thus beyond his words to grant. So he returned to his home, promising to send an answer by a runner and that he would expect the Valley Peoples warriors. One way or another.

    The preparations in the valley carried on as if nothing had happened. Warriors trained with each other, those departing wishing to instill their skills into those who stayed. Just in case that they might not return. Parents shared wisdom with children they might not see for a long while, if ever again. Half a moon it took for the answer to arrive, yet when the runner told the council what the Chieftain of Brushcrest had decreed, there was elation mixing into the grim mood on the eve of battle. They had accepted. If the Valley People vanquished the People of Makar, then Brushcrest would bow to them, the stern hand of a master resting easier on his mind then the promise of rapine and slaughter by man who had become as animals in their madness.

    Together with these news, the runner also carried the knowledge about their foe. And the foe was mighty indeed. Four villages set in the Land of Three Rivers as the lowlanders called it, where Brown River, Clear River and Cold River flowed close to each other. There the People of Makar had made their home and from there they struck at all who lived in the world. Three lesser villages, built where two rivers were so close that one could easily drag a boat from on to the other and one great village in the center of their lands. There these people that Makar still lived, guiding his people to ever greater deeds of depravity to bring him glory. Many warriors answered to his mad whims, their lives dedicated to fighting and raiding alone, often from the time they could walk.

    But likewise, Brushcrest had not sat idle. More allies they had gathered from the other villages near the sea. They all knew the terror of the raids and the brutality of their enemy. Thus they all had come together to oppose the Makarites as one, hoping for success where they would know only defeat if they stood alone. And with the Valley People on their side? They dared to dream. They dared to imagine a world where they had not to fear what came from the river. Of a world were it would be only fish again that drifted through the waters, not the mutilated corpses of those less fortunate then them.

    It would be true war. Glorious war. And in the hearts of every warrior of the valley welled up hope and anticipation. The tales of these days would be told forevermore. It was their chance to become heroes, venerated in the White Halls for all eternity.


    With Greenvalley and Brushcrest allied, the lowlander alliance is going on the offense and attacking the Makarite villages. Brushcrest will march along the Winding River and then further north along the Cold River with some of it's allies. The other villages will gather around the Brown River to march north. What will Greenvalley forces do?

    [] Join up with Brushcrests forces and form a great host to crush the Makarites.

    [] Cross the Winding River and march close to the mountains. Greenvalley will become the eastern flank of the great assault.

    [] March through the mountains and strike from the north, where the Makarites will never expect an attack from. (Minor chance to pick up further White Clans Mercenaries on the way. Greenvalley forces will be cut off from all allies.)

    [] Write-In

    Greenvalley Forces:
    1x Heavy Infantry (Veteran)
    1x Archers (Veteran)
    1x Light Infantry (Regular)
    2x Hunters (Veteran) - White Clans Mercenaries

    Brushcrest Forces:
    2x Hunters (Veteran)
    3x Hunters (Regular)
    2x Hunters (Elite) - Allies
    4 to 6 Hunters (Veteran) - Allies
    2 to 5 Hunters (Regular) - Allies

    Estimated Makar Forces:
    2 to 4 Hunters (Elite)
    6 to 10 Hunters (Veteran)
    10 to 20 other units of unknown quality

    AN: I would suggest to get some popcorn ready, for this will most certainly become memorable.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Staff Notice: Rule 2: Don't be Hateful
    This is going to become an epic legend or tale someday; it has all the makings of a legendary battle. But a legendary victory, the stern men of the mountains vanquishing rabid animals...or great sorrow, the world itself being plunged into chaos and anarchy?
     
    At max this means that they have THIRTY FOUR POPS, dedicated SOLELY to hunters. Fucking a.
     
    [X] March through the mountains and strike from the north, where the Makarites will never expect an attack from. (Minor chance to pick up further White Clans Mercenaries on the way. Greenvalley forces will be cut off from all allies.)

    This could be an epic win.
     
    Azel said:
    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    You've agreed to pick a fight with the local raider-proto-kingdom. What else did you think did become of the River People and the River Nomads?
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    Wait a minute.

    These guys mulched the River Nomads? They chewed up and spit back out the boogeymen we were more worried about to begin with?

    :facepalm: I don't know if we'll make it through this one.
     
    Duesal said:
    Wait a minute.

    These guys mulched the River Nomads? They chewed up and spit back out the boogeymen we were more worried about to begin with?

    :facepalm: I don't know if we'll make it through this one.
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    No, they are the successor entity to the River People and the River Nomads. The latter gobbled up the former entirely and later settled down at the rather neat locations where the rivers are withing spitting distance of each other.

    As you can see from the pop numbers, they've been very busy little bastards.
     
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