Tower of Babel: A Bronze Age Space Civ Quest

[Sa'kage]

I have an idea for a new project we could undertake. A god of Memory, placed in the mirrored halls of the Promises of Rightful Harvest.

Such a god would have a wide array of utility. For one, the ability to potentially alter the memories of Mundanes and Philosophers has great promise for the seat of Harmony and for Mental health. (Simply put, the Seat of Harmony is effectively our secret police, and therefore I think most people could see how the ability to access and edit people's memories might be helpful for them, if perhaps a bit dystopian in application) For another, it would add great utility to our communications network, adding a god capable of storing and retrieving information within itself to our communications network, and therefore relaying past communications or things specifically entered into itself.

This would have a number of notable beneficial effects. The main one, IMO, would be the way it would allow for discussions to become... Extended. Instead of a conversation happening once, over the course of maybe a day, members can take time to gather thoughts and respond, especially helpful now that we're spread across an entire planet and will have timezone issues. For another, it will allow any Keeper of Harmony or Philosopher to access collected wisdom within the God's memories, potentially greatly aiding treatment by Keepers, and also easing the efforts of our Philosophers to enact workings.

There would also likely be other benefits, though these would be more dependent on the specific personality of the god, which is something of a concern to be fair. I suspect a librarian or archivist esque personality to be best for the role.

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Can we do that though? Closest project we got to direct hand in God-creation is God-ships, were we can input domain. Lesser temple Gods, where we can also put the Domain and Gods for the Order in the theogony action, and that seems to be more of a start.

Honestly, if we are going to make memories like that, there kinda exist a God we can allready call upon that, for what is written history except memories upon paper. Xipe Topec is allready a half-dreaming God after all, with Philospher-historians calling upon him. Of course, that would seemingly be more aimed at remembering conversations and old wisdom, and less about helping the Keepers of Harmony.

Gods for the Order, does seem like the closest action for opening up something like this though. That being said, we probaly want to start with a Gods of the Voids first or God-speakers, before we just fling a God into one of our Towers, while the muse actions also seemed more aimed at what you'd want out of helping memories and thoughts.

 

[dgr11897]

Gods for the Order, does seem like the closest action for opening up something like this though. That being said, we probaly want to start with a Gods of the Voids first or God-speakers, before we just fling a God into one of our Towers, while the muse actions also seemed more aimed at what you'd want out of helping memories and thoughts.

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Fair enough. I do want to do Gods for the Order eventually though. The living tower already basically has one, when you think about it, what with its animate nature, but granting it a Spawn or Life domain would likely be helpful for the Tower. Sundial tower meanwhile... I almost want to see if we can make a god that inhabits/is based on those mechanical computers we just invented. Something of clockwork and precision to help them in their task. And I've already spoken on what a God for the White Tower might look like.

Also, random question. So I think I'm actually going to write up my idea for a Mundane Warrior Hero, but I need to decide what kind of weapon to have them use. I'm split between having them use a spear and having them use no weapon at all, using the teachings of precision, Inspiration from that time we did Invocations of Intellectual Excellence, and possibly some of the Mojo from our planet's new state in order to craft a disproportionately effective Unarmed Combat style, perhaps one which weaponizes the user's Anima to an extent. Weaponized Anima taking the form of either a sort of Killing Intent, weighing down on an Opponent's anima and thus restricting their movements and attacking their will to fight; some form of Ki like effect, an Aura of Motion that surrounds a person and grants them increased strength and speed, as their anima is enhanced and merged with their flesh to create a force beyond body and Soul; or something a bit like a Stand, a separate force that is exuded from the body and can be moved to do combat with someone from a distance.

As for how they learned to do this? Well, I have a few ideas. The first is just Inspiration and the help of a God during the time of the Invocations of Intellectual Excellence. The idea being that these allowed for the creation of an enhanced Psuedo-Philosophical combat style, an Idea that was made More, stronger, Weightier, while still being able to be shared and taught. Another is that they went out into the world to study, delving into many ancient ruins and retrieving knowledge and insight from them, particularly from some of the Progenitors of the Tower that Thinks, and perhaps also some lessons from the Tower of Chains and its foe the Tower of Heaven. For context by the way, the inventor of this style would be at least like, 60 by this point given the Invocations of Intellectual Excellence happened 48 years ago, and he needed to be old enough to be able to meaningfully benefit from that for this to make sense. The actual Hero might instead be their Protege.

 

[Sa'kage]

Fair enough. I do want to do Gods for the Order eventually though. The living tower already basically has one, when you think about it, what with its animate nature, but granting it a Spawn or Life domain would likely be helpful for the Tower. Sundial tower meanwhile... I almost want to see if we can make a god that inhabits/is based on those mechanical computers we just invented. Something of clockwork and precision to help them in their task. And I've already spoken on what a God for the White Tower might look like.

Also, random question. So I think I'm actually going to write up my idea for a Mundane Warrior Hero, but I need to decide what kind of weapon to have them use. I'm split between having them use a spear and having them use no weapon at all, using the teachings of precision, Inspiration from that time we did Invocations of Intellectual Excellence, and possibly some of the Mojo from our planet's new state in order to craft a disproportionately effective Unarmed Combat style, perhaps one which weaponizes the user's Anima to an extent. Weaponized Anima taking the form of either a sort of Killing Intent, weighing down on an Opponent's anima and thus restricting their movements and attacking their will to fight; some form of Ki like effect, an Aura of Motion that surrounds a person and grants them increased strength and speed, as their anima is enhanced and merged with their flesh to create a force beyond body and Soul; or something a bit like a Stand, a separate force that is exuded from the body and can be moved to do combat with someone from a distance.

As for how they learned to do this? Well, I have a few ideas. The first is just Inspiration and the help of a God during the time of the Invocations of Intellectual Excellence. The idea being that these allowed for the creation of an enhanced Psuedo-Philosophical combat style, an Idea that was made More, stronger, Weightier, while still being able to be shared and taught. Another is that they went out into the world to study, delving into many ancient ruins and retrieving knowledge and insight from them, particularly from some of the Progenitors of the Tower that Thinks, and perhaps also some lessons from the Tower of Chains and its foe the Tower of Heaven. For context by the way, the inventor of this style would be at least like, 60 by this point given the Invocations of Intellectual Excellence happened 48 years ago, and he needed to be old enough to be able to meaningfully benefit from that for this to make sense. The actual Hero might instead be their Protege.

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Yeah, the action of saving more time for the Order to focus on their stuff seems really good.(Though, we will have to watch out on not making to too easy, since an important part of the difference between Philospher and Sorcerrer is the degree to which they've bound themself with duty and such. Removing too much of that duty, might see a slower change towards more Sorcerers thinking.)

Also, warrior hero should absolutely use a weapon, i feel! The core foundation of mundane society for about a century, the precise, the spawns of the Shepherds are all based on the art of crafting right?

So, i think any kind of warrior would absolutely take and use weapons, I'd expect unarmed combat to be frowned upon in fact as disrespectfull or someone having lack of faith in smithing skill. There's probaly a lot of focus on making elaborate and decorated weapon that are as sharp as possible, with leather and cloth woven in faithful prayers to the God and metal engraved with runes of the Towers.

And anima, is more spesifically the Tower that think right. While I'm unsure if a style like that is possible(but glorious renactment of combat with Past-dwellers seems like an option for it), I'd expect it to be one based upon "repeating" the moves if legend, essentially striking with the strength of Herecles, the cunning of King David by acting in certain way. Almost like a performer making a play for an audience.

But as the inventor. You could kinda tie into how wisdom is spreading right? The first has his strike of thought when the intelligence ritual was cast, and upon that he starts to refine his idea. At the same time, the secrets of the Tower are making root within the mundane society, so the Protege is one that is more firmly routed in "Philosphical thinking", and can actually follow through where the inventor of the style couldn't quite. With the inception of it going from an mundane style to something else upon the eve of Cradle ascending, perhaps. The act of Higher realms drawing closer.

 

[dgr11897]

Also, warrior hero should absolutely use a weapon, i feel! The core foundation of mundane society for about a century, the precise, the spawns of the Shepherds are all based on the art of crafting right?

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Makes sense, I guess I'll go with a spear style then, or perhaps a style which is rooted in no particular weapon, being more akin to a Philosophy of combat than a strict art.

And anima, is more spesifically the Tower that think right. While I'm unsure if a style like that is possible(but glorious renactment of combat with Past-dwellers seems like an option for it), I'd expect it to be one based upon "repeating" the moves if legend, essentially striking with the strength of Herecles, the cunning of King David by acting in certain way. Almost like a performer making a play for an audience.

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The reason I had the idea of having the Warrior weaponize their Anima is because it's basically their soul, right? That's why I thought it might be reasonable for someone with admittedly only vague knowledge of Anima, to attempt to use it as a weapon. I do think you're right about Glorious Reenactment of combat working like that, but I don't think that's the only way to weaponize Anima. To be honest my favorite style of weaponization is probably the Killing Intent version, since it's the closest to being mundane, it's "just" being so intimidating the enemy is struck still.

But as the inventor. You could kinda tie into how wisdom is spreading right? The first has his strike of thought when the intelligence ritual was cast, and upon that he starts to refine his idea. At the same time, the secrets of the Tower are making root within the mundane society, so the Protege is one that is more firmly routed in "Philosphical thinking", and can actually follow through where the inventor of the style couldn't quite. With the inception of it going from an mundane style to something else upon the eve of Cradle ascending, perhaps. The act of Higher realms drawing closer.

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I do really REALLY like this idea. I think this is the route I'll follow.

The Second Weaponmaster as a title?

 

[dgr11897]

A philosophy of Combat.
In Gjalfmarr there was a strange lineage of Precise.
Not a Lineage of Blood, but one of Thought and Skill.
It dates back to the Invocations of Intellectual Excellence, in the Third Quarter of the Cycle of Growth. There, in Gjalfmarr there was a man who pursued mastery of the Spear, the Art of Combat.
The man dreamed of a way of combat, of an idea for superior way of fighting, of the Best way of Fighting with a spear. This dream drove the man to be one of the First of the Precise, and one of the few Combat Precise. Honing his motions until each one was Precise, exactly the same, exerting as much strength and speed as his body could handle. Practicing his aim till he could strike the wings off a fly with his spear. And yet, even as he reached the limits on what the Teachings of the Precise and his own body could do, the Dreams whispered to him that there was more.

There were Higher Peaks to be sought, Greater Arts of combat. Ways of fighting that could go beyond the Physical. Those dreams lit a Spark in the man, one that would blossom into a grand fire. This fire would continue to burn well after the Invocations ended, driving the man to go Higher, be Stronger. And so, Following those dreams, he sought to continue to be better. Striking out on his own into the wilds of Cradle the man delved ancient ruins and hidden depths of the world, when the things he found tried to kill him, he fought them. For 3 quarters would he journey, wandering the world, fighting many beasts and challenging other Masters of the Art of Combat in order to learn their ways of fighting and combine their insights with his own. He would grow immensely in this time, but eventually, time began to catch up to him.

His body began to slow, his muscles tire, as age began its terrible onslaught. And so the man, now a Master of Combat, would return to the city of his birth, and begin to write of all he had seen and experienced, that his knowledge not fade with a single generation.

At this time, in Gjalfmarr, a tragedy had taken place. One of a similar type to those happening across the world in a thousand places across cradle. For the Age of the Order may be an age of many wonders, but some things never change. Sickness is still a fact of life, in cities so large. Quarantine and the aid of Philosophers keeps the number of casualties to it down, but it's never zero. And so would a young child lose their family to disease, and become orphaned. Without family, the child was left directionless, and sought to join the Doomed, however the Doomed would never accept someone so young.

It was a mere chance that caused the two to meet, an old master with everything to teach, and a young girl who'd lost her entire world. The master saw something in her though, something similar to him, a Drive. And so he would take her in, and begin to train her as a Successor to him, a new Master of the Spear, someone who might be able to take the art even higher.

The orphan would take well to the spearmaster's teachings. But she was a child of a different Era from him, from a time when the arts of the Philosopher were steadily bleeding down into the Mundanes. Parts of his dream which were but minor details, notes on patterns in the ways fighters thought and moved, there were many parts of his teachings that he, lacking the insight of one with even some limited knowledge of Philosophy, and with his view of the world rooted almost solely from a Mundane perspective, couldn't comprehend. But his apprentice could, and so she took his way of fighting yet Higher. Traces of the Philosophical beyond just Precision beginning to mingle with it. Still mundane, but on the edge of something greater.

Time would go on, and after many years the Old Master would pass on, leaving behind the girl as his Heir. She would win every informal tournament in Gjalfmarr she entered, an uncontested Champion. But she was uncontent. She could feel how close her Style was to transcending the mundane, and constantly sought something to push it over the edge.

And then, Cradle ascended. And with a world now closer to heaven, she was able to progress, like some great wall was removed from her progress. The Glimpses of Higher worlds and the touch of the heightened cradle's matter on her body and mind would push the spear style over the edge.

The Second Spearmaster was brought to the Attention of the order thanks to a member of the Sundial tower, who was pursuing a minor side project. A project to improve the Doomed by seeking out better teachings of combat for them. Of course, upon seeing the style of combat used by the Second Spearmaster, all that went out the window.

 

[OldShadow]

A philosophy of Combat.
In Gjalfmarr there was a strange lineage of Precise.
Not a Lineage of Blood, but one of Thought and Skill.
It dates back to the Invocations of Intellectual Excellence, in the Third Quarter of the Cycle of Growth. There, in Gjalfmarr there was a man who pursued mastery of the Spear, the Art of Combat.
The man dreamed of a way of combat, of an idea for superior way of fighting, of the Best way of Fighting with a spear. This dream drove the man to be one of the First of the Precise, and one of the few Combat Precise. Honing his motions until each one was Precise, exactly the same, exerting as much strength and speed as his body could handle. Practicing his aim till he could strike the wings off a fly with his spear. And yet, even as he reached the limits on what the Teachings of the Precise and his own body could do, the Dreams whispered to him that there was more.

There were Higher Peaks to be sought, Greater Arts of combat. Ways of fighting that could go beyond the Physical. Those dreams lit a Spark in the man, one that would blossom into a grand fire. This fire would continue to burn well after the Invocations ended, driving the man to go Higher, be Stronger. And so, Following those dreams, he sought to continue to be better. Striking out on his own into the wilds of Cradle the man delved ancient ruins and hidden depths of the world, when the things he found tried to kill him, he fought them. For 3 quarters would he journey, wandering the world, fighting many beasts and challenging other Masters of the Art of Combat in order to learn their ways of fighting and combine their insights with his own. He would grow immensely in this time, but eventually, time began to catch up to him.

His body began to slow, his muscles tire, as age began its terrible onslaught. And so the man, now a Master of Combat, would return to the city of his birth, and begin to write of all he had seen and experienced, that his knowledge not fade with a single generation.

At this time, in Gjalfmarr, a tragedy had taken place. One of a similar type to those happening across the world in a thousand places across cradle. For the Age of the Order may be an age of many wonders, but some things never change. Sickness is still a fact of life, in cities so large. Quarantine and the aid of Philosophers keeps the number of casualties to it down, but it's never zero. And so would a young child lose their family to disease, and become orphaned. Without family, the child was left directionless, and sought to join the Doomed, however the Doomed would never accept someone so young.

It was a mere chance that caused the two to meet, an old master with everything to teach, and a young girl who'd lost her entire world. The master saw something in her though, something similar to him, a Drive. And so he would take her in, and begin to train her as a Successor to him, a new Master of the Spear, someone who might be able to take the art even higher.

The orphan would take well to the spearmaster's teachings. But she was a child of a different Era from him, from a time when the arts of the Philosopher were steadily bleeding down into the Mundanes. Parts of his dream which were but minor details, notes on patterns in the ways fighters thought and moved, there were many parts of his teachings that he, lacking the insight of one with even some limited knowledge of Philosophy, and with his view of the world rooted almost solely from a Mundane perspective, couldn't comprehend. But his apprentice could, and so she took his way of fighting yet Higher. Traces of the Philosophical beyond just Precision beginning to mingle with it. Still mundane, but on the edge of something greater.

Time would go on, and after many years the Old Master would pass on, leaving behind the girl as his Heir. She would win every informal tournament in Gjalfmarr she entered, an uncontested Champion. But she was uncontent. She could feel how close her Style was to transcending the mundane, and constantly sought something to push it over the edge.

And then, Cradle ascended. And with a world now closer to heaven, she was able to progress, like some great wall was removed from her progress. The Glimpses of Higher worlds and the touch of the heightened cradle's matter on her body and mind would push the spear style over the edge.

The Second Spearmaster was brought to the Attention of the order thanks to a member of the Sundial tower, who was pursuing a minor side project. A project to improve the Doomed by seeking out better teachings of combat for them. Of course, upon seeing the style of combat used by the Second Spearmaster, all that went out the window.

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Upward go the paths, from many ways and many directions, toward one Goal.
Endless paths, among them, thoses of Combats.
Choose
A Mundane hero dedicated to Combat.
A locking-in and enhancement of one, combat related action.

 

[dgr11897]

A Mundane hero dedicated to Combat.
A locking-in and enhancement of one, combat related action.

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As much as I kind of want to go for the Mundane Hero dedicated to combat, the Enhancement of a combat related action is probably the better choice. Before I make that choice can I ask which action would get "Locked in" what "Locked in" Means in this context (Just that it won't go away or will it be automatically be completed next turn, I assume the former but I feel it's prudent to ask), and finally how it would be Enhanced, if that's not a spoiler at least.

I do think that despite my gut telling me the combat action is probably the better choice I'll end up going for the Hero. Since Heroes also improve the results of actions, and a mundane hero might also incidentally shape the choices of the Conclave, due to being a person of great power and presumably also some influence, if through their fame influencing the desires of the people if nothing else.

 

[Sa'kage]

As much as I kind of want to go for the Mundane Hero dedicated to combat, the Enhancement of a combat related action is probably the better choice. Before I make that choice can I ask which action would get "Locked in" what "Locked in" Means in this context (Just that it won't go away or will it be automatically be completed next turn, I assume the former but I feel it's prudent to ask), and finally how it would be Enhanced, if that's not a spoiler at least.

I do think that despite my gut telling me the combat action is probably the better choice I'll end up going for the Hero. Since Heroes also improve the results of actions, and a mundane hero might also incidentally shape the choices of the Conclave, due to being a person of great power and presumably also some influence, if through their fame influencing the desires of the people if nothing else.

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If i had to make a guess, the locked in action, is the establisment of a combat school of some kind. Where the Second weapon master ends up becoming a kind of Teacher passing on the art to students, and establishing it as a Guild, or empowering the Doomed with it. But, since it essentially "ties" her up with teaching, she does not become aviliable as a combat hero.

While the hero is more obivious in what it would be, functioning like our other hero's in changing and empowering various different actions. Is what my guess would be here.

 

[OldShadow]

As much as I kind of want to go for the Mundane Hero dedicated to combat, the Enhancement of a combat related action is probably the better choice. Before I make that choice can I ask which action would get "Locked in" what "Locked in" Means in this context (Just that it won't go away or will it be automatically be completed next turn, I assume the former but I feel it's prudent to ask), and finally how it would be Enhanced, if that's not a spoiler at least.

I do think that despite my gut telling me the combat action is probably the better choice I'll end up going for the Hero. Since Heroes also improve the results of actions, and a mundane hero might also incidentally shape the choices of the Conclave, due to being a person of great power and presumably also some influence, if through their fame influencing the desires of the people if nothing else.

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Enhanced depend on the action.
Locked in mean the action will be available from turn to turn beyond the limit of Interest.

 

[dgr11897]

Enhanced depend on the action.
Locked in mean the action will be available from turn to turn beyond the limit of Interest.

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Yeah I think I'll go for the Mundane Hero then. She's still a precise so she'll probably be applicable to things beyond straight combat.

Edit: This will probably also shape our plans for the next few turns since Mundane heroes are uh... Limited, in lifespan.

 

[Sa'kage]

Yeah I think I'll go for the Mundane Hero then. She's still a precise so she'll probably be applicable to things beyond straight combat.

Edit: This will probably also shape our plans for the next few turns since Mundane heroes are uh... Limited, in lifespan.

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To an extend. She'd most likely be tied up with the past-dwellers at the moment, if i had to make a rough guess right now. We know that those are dangerous action(The Eye being most noticable), and the other various exploration actions having other dangers.

And i don't think we've discussed too on what kind of expiditions we've wanted there however. We could do Forgotten violence in order to empower the Past-Dwellers even more, and she'd probaly end up acting as a teacher there.

But, personally, i do kinda wanna start actually exploring stuff. Though which, i'm not fully sure on yet.

 

[dgr11897]

But, personally, i do kinda wanna start actually exploring stuff. Though which, i'm not fully sure on yet.

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The Summoners one or seeking the Egg. Summoners because I want that tower, A LOT. Angels just seem like they'll be incredibly helpful in a wide range of ways, plus their residual traces feel likely to be useful and less likely than the Devils to be, well, actively hazardous. The words and wisdom of angels feels like it could be useful even with the angels themselves long gone.

And i don't think we've discussed too on what kind of expiditions we've wanted there however. We could do Forgotten violence in order to empower the Past-Dwellers even more, and she'd probaly end up acting as a teacher there.

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I would like to have her pass on her knowledge first, yeah, which limits our choices to forgotten violence or the Arenas, and I don't think Arenas would quite do what I want. I want her to do at least a little teaching so we don't fully lose her capabilities with her death. Though given her whole... Shtick now that I think about it she might end up having a lifespan longer than most mundanes due to her transgression into the realm of Philosophy. Excellent physical fitness, and a combat style that specifically pushes beyond the mundane, she might be a bit longer lived than would normally be possible.

 

[Sa'kage]

The Summoners one or seeking the Egg. Summoners because I want that tower, A LOT. Angels just seem like they'll be incredibly helpful in a wide range of ways, plus their residual traces feel likely to be useful and less likely than the Devils to be, well, actively hazardous. The words and wisdom of angels feels like it could be useful even with the angels themselves long gone.

I would like to have her pass on her knowledge first, yeah, which limits our choices to forgotten violence or the Arenas, and I don't think Arenas would quite do what I want. I want her to do at least a little teaching so we don't fully lose her capabilities with her death. Though given her whole... Shtick now that I think about it she might end up having a lifespan longer than most mundanes due to her transgression into the realm of Philosophy. Excellent physical fitness, and a combat style that specifically pushes beyond the mundane, she might be a bit longer lived than would normally be possible.

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Hm, let's take a look at the expiditions then, and why i think we should do an expidition first! So, we've had options for expiditions for a while, but haven't done them because we wanted to build up stuff. We have allready done that, with founding the past-dwellers, creating Xipe Topec as well as a temple to bring him into the world of matter. The past-dwellers are also, despite mostly being a mortal Guild, still filled with Philospher-historians(Mostly from the Tower that Think, is my guess), and we got the Hive Knights with the Singing Shepards.

I think, while we could still do more preperation, we are at the cusp of the cycle of discovery, and we've made alot of preperations. We should do an expedition, and find out what it entails. I'll also note that

New actions will be unlocked after at least one successful expedition

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There are actions locked behind actually completing one, which i think we got a decent shot at doing, with the Temple-Maze, Philosphers, Singing Shepards and Past-dwellers! So, i'd heavily recommend doing one now, even without the Second Weaponmaster or not(If we're putting her on something else as an example.

[] Constructive Rebirth of Forgotten Violences [Sundial Tower] [Path of History] [Mundane] [0/1] NEW

Amongst the more martial inclined Mundane trained as assistant and historians by the Past-Delvers, an idea as spread to restore forgotten ways of battles, from the stories of long-dead warriors and the traditions carried by line of soldiers once sworn to fallen Kingdoms.

Increase martial capacity of the Past-Delvers, trigger a roll on a prepared loot table.

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So, looking at the action here, it's noted as restoring forgotten ways of battle from ancient kingdoms, right? I think, this action would probally get better if we did some of the kingdom battle delving first, so the history that would be restored would be more complete when we are doing this action. While martial capacity is good, i also think we got enough that we can start poking at the smaller exeditions first.

Also, thinking further on it, in terms of Second Weaponmaster, i think this would primarly work as her training them to be better at violence, rather then passing on her art, since this action is spesifically about "restoring" old martial traditions, rather then passing on a new one. I'd suspect we'd need to do the arena or something else, if that's the goal rather then this. Either way, i don't think this is the path, if that's the goal.


Now, as for the actual expiditions themself, they are generally sorted into three categories.

Those that destroyed themselves
Before the Order could be founded, two lesser orders, one of angel summoners, one of demons binders, destroyed each other in a senseless war, turning themselves into Sorcerers in the process. Ruins of their works remain, carefully quarantined by the Order. We could dare delve into them.

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The First category, which is about other tower's outside the order. I'd suspect these are amongst the more dangerous one, due to fact that it would contain works of Philosphy, and Philosphy the Order wouldn't be as familiar with. This one is probaly more about the Order learning how other tower works, and using that as a basis into establishing those Tower. I think, that would be the primary benefit here, and we'd not expect much else from it(But, a Tower is an immense reward).

[] Fallen Chains [0/1] [Path of Binding]
Once, in the northwest of Cradle, there was a land of mountains and dark forests, filled with hatred, wars between neighbors, poverty and plagues. Then one hermit from a burned village found the names and faces of the demons that plagues this land, and began the work of binding them.
Years laters, his successors binded all the evil of this land into one Tower of Chains, and the sun once again shone into scarred, but free people.
Now the chains lie broken on the ground, in a land lifeless, devils bound and blinded whispering their pains on the wind. Shall we dare explore those Chains ?
Explore the ruins of the Tower of Chains, home of the Binders.

[] No longer Holy [0/1] [Path of Summoning]
Once, in a kingdom of mountains ruled by one King, there was a temple on a mountaintop, and a person in it. The person prayed so that the King and people would be guided by virtues and not ambitions, that workers would build road and terrace fields for the people and not the King's conquering armies. Then, prayers brought a light into the world, and this light was an angel called Rightful Rule.
From one person and one angel, many others were birthed, until beings of virtues guided the weak and strong toward felicity, and faithful summoners Worked without vice.
Now, the temple of light is a ruin, and the angels have left this world, shamed and disgusted. Shall we dare delve into the ruin of fallen virtues ?
Explore the ruins of the Temple of Light, home of the Summoners.

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So, we got both the Tower of Chains, and Tower of Heaven, both being Theurgy type Towers, if the First Work post is accurate to this. Which it might not be to the Order that stands today.

That being said, i do think we actually want to wait with doing these. We know there are some degree's of rolling with this, and while we do want to do expidtions now, we probaly want to complete a few expiditions first, so the Order can unlock actions towards improving the Past-Dwellers and understand more how it works, so we can make sure we are doing these properly.

I also think, we've spend an entire turn poking at the Tower of Mountains, and while getting more Tower is always great, we don't want to mono-focus on that. I'd really like us to turn our attention to other stuff first, so doing this later would fit more into that. My conclusion, is that we'd want to get a few expiditions, and their releated results under our belts first.

Our precursors
Those who inspired the Order, those we still honor. The ruins of their success and failure wait for us.

Click to shrink...

The second category, one that focuses on the precoursers for the Order. We'll probaly expect to find relevant Tower upgrades here, for the differnet Towers, while probaly still dangerous because Workings(Even if lesser), this is Philosphy the Tower should be a lot more aquinted with, and so i think while dangerous this is a lot less then the Chain and Heaven Towers action might be. This could be a good starting point.

[] Once a Garden [0/1] [Path of History]
Once, in the Southwest of Cradle, between two lakes, there were wise users of herbs, healers of men, beasts and crops. They built a garden of the world as it should be, free from pain, all the bounty offered, and some of their numbers , seeing signs of coming doom, left and joined a young Order.
Now, the garden of those that once healed King and slave is an overgrowth island filled with monsters and poisons. What happened ?
Explore the garden of those whose legacy live in the Living Tower.

[] Valley of the Nameless King [0/1] [Path of History]
Once, in the great land fed by the greatest river of Cradle, there was a King, lord of a dying land. For the desert was growing, and the great river's water turned slowly into a blood-colored poisson. The King sought a way to save his Kingdom, to make it survive poisson and drought, in texts forbidden, bounty of long-slain Sorcerers.
The King learned much, faster than all could expect, and soon he took on a new name, and inscribed it on every building of his Kingdoms, and his subjects that could see it were bound to him, obeying and working despite hunger and thirst.
The King, with his army and knowledge, enslaved every wise one he could find, binding them to his name, and filling their dreams with orders and painfull learning. Soon, subjects and wises worked on one grand project, in an auspicious valley, to build a grand tomb-palace complex, of pyramids and tunnels, all in the name of the King, so that once build, the King would persist beyond death, and with him his Kingdom, and all is subjects, bound even as dried corpses.
But a few of the wises he enslaved worked against him, and with a subtle act of cunning, altered the work, by weaving two concepts together. The King became the Kingdom, the Kingdom the Palace-tomb and the Valley, and all beyond became beyond the reach of the King, all the engraving and amulet of his name fading to dust, for his name was now the name of the Valley, and the Valley had no name in the tongues of man.
So the wises fled their deathless lord, to join a young Order.
Now, the Valley and the Palace and the King still are, untouched by time.
Explore the Valley of the Nameless King, whose legacy live in the Tower that Think

[] The Perfect Fallen City [0/1] [Path of History]
Once, there was a land under an Emperor, field with feuding noblemen, where unity did not bring peace. In it walked a Philosopher, who shared a dream. Of a land bound by impartial laws and perfect infrastructure, where the evils of men were contained by the work of mind like a river tamed.
Many listened to his message, and built a city according to his teachings, where each law and each building was ordered.
In this city of perfected order, however, all punishments were the same. Death for murder, death for thief, death for being late. For the Philosopher desired to reach his visions at all cost.
He ruled and punished until those once loyal rose against him, and a few left, guided by a woman who vowed to guide and never force.
Now the city is ruined, perfect order and laws turning to dust. Shall we dare face fallen dreams of impossible Order ?
Explore the city of one whose legacy lives in the Sundial Tower.

Click to shrink...

The Garden, is between two lakes, and sounds remarkable similar to the healing city. We'd probaly uncover herbs and healer techquies here, and it would serve to help us with the foundation and creation of Health actions, and maybe into how to create monsters(Spawn-improvements?) and poisons. So, this could be really good, given we are getting a Alchemist Hero soon, and are probaly going to start poking at the alchemist actions.

The valley of the king, is hmm. We talked about how a God of memory might contain the shards and knowledge of the Order beyond their lifespan. This actually sounds somewhat similar to that, in creating an undying idea/concept. It's also noted as being sorcerrours in origin though, so the extend to which it's going to be usefull to us is also in the air.(Also, it might trigger the flaw of the Tower that think, so we'll have to consider this one carefully, when we are doing it)

The perfect city. This one would probaly unlock heavenly city upgrades, or something along those lines. But, it's one that goes really heavily into the flaws of the Sundial Tower, but we've allready(espesically with the latest update on straightening the World), made the Sundial Tower learn to the extend which their "perfection", isn't always clearsighted. I think this might have been dangerous for us once upon a time then, but now should a lot safer to explore. So, i'd put this one tentatively high. It might also come in relevant for the Havens actions, we are doing. Since those are about creating a perfect society right? So, it might give us a lot of clues on how to handle that.

Beyond Philosophy
Theirs are ruins and secrets beyond those that inspired our Order. There are many secrets worthy of being undiscovered, there are many threats worthy of being destroyed.

Click to shrink...

So, here are the more mundane expedition actions and the third category. Ones that don't concern any of the tower's super peticulary.

[] The Lessers, the Unfound [0/2] [Mundane]
There are many ruins on Cradle, buried in the desert, isolated on mountain's peak, or under the seas. Ruins almost untouched by greater ills and deeds, but still filled with the past, ready to be uncovered.
+1 Reliques

[] Seek the Egg [0/1][Path of History]
Neter nature nor a merciful creator brought humanity to Cradle, but a cruel Egg, creating and destroying in service of one vision. Thanks to Fate, the Egg now lies broken in the depths of the seas, and our kind was able to grow without the Egg's presence and cruel judgements.
Like a boy wounded by his father, and now a man, it is time for us to seek the Egg, reach it, and demand answers.
Why were we made ? Where do the Egg and our kind come from ? Why was the reason for the Egg's cruelty ?
Seek the Egg, and extract answers from it.

[Second Circle of Divination]

Even wounded, the Egg can still destroy. Be prepared.

[] Into the Deep [0/?]
Below the World-Spine lie lands unseen and creatures undiscovered. Life that seems not kin to us. The secrets of Cradle's own past. Shall we dare face the deep ?
Explore the depths of the Underworld and seek the first lives.

Click to shrink...

The lesser seems more like a generic exploration action. It might be repetable? But, it does cost two points to do, so it's not exactly "free" so to speak. Gives us a reliques, which does unlock variation of actions(Like we saw with the Storm one). Also potentially destroyable for an AP, so if this is repeatable it might be consider a way of trading in 2 MAP for 1 AP. I think, a reliques is all we're getting from this though, so no other actions unlocked.

The Egg. The egg is a mysterious lootbox, what will we learn, how will it affect us? Who's to say! I think, we might consider doing this on the last turn of the Second Weaponmaster. We should have hopefully done a few exploration, and gained experience at that point, and since this seems to be a combat expedition, with the Divination warning, the second weaponmaster would probaly help a lot here. So, on the last turn of the Second Weaponmaster is when i'd want to do this.

Into the Deep. This is probaly one that might unlock really weird stuff, since we'd encounter things that doesn't have a "Human" origin so to speak. I think, this is one that's going to have a really large and wide impact, on what it could potentially unlock, but one that we are not fully sure on what exactly it's going to unlock. It's also a mystery action at (0/?) in progress.

So then, what do i think we should do. I'm currently leaning towards us doing one of the precourser tower actions. The Tower of Chains/Heavens can wait a bit, and untill we are more prepared, while the precourser would be easier to start poking at.

I think the Once a garden, is the most promising of those. We are getting an alchemist Hero, the City of Health, has a health releated action, and this is probaly going to be more options(upgrade the actions there) for that. It's one that's relevant, we are most likely going to be spending actions on anyway, so it fits a lot of what we'd want. So, this is what i'd recommend as our first expeditions, and what we should start on doing next turn!

The perfect city, is a good second option. Since we are doing fortress-city and the Havens, and this might be relevant in terms of those. And leaves us with more to do in terms of actual City-Building and understanding.

The third potential option, is into the Deep. The reason why it's only third, is because of the ? progression required, and while that isn't super terrible. We want to actually do one sucesfull expedition, since that is noted as having actions locked behind it. So, we'd want to do something [0/1] first, before we start going into the Deep. But once, we've done one or two, i'm gonna start debating for this.

Honestly, if we had some mundane kingdoms, i might have wanted to do that first, but we don't(or more accuratly, it's probally part of the "lesser and unfound" action), but since we don't, i think the Garden should be our first goal. A problem, with unlocking actions, is that it cost AP, and we kinda need to do a lot of space actions, but since we are most likely going to be pursuing health/alchemist actions anyway, this is going to slide in nicely there. Though, i suppose there is an argument to be made for waiting, so we can put our Alchemist action on the Garden exploration. Even if i think, that argument isn't enough for delaying it!

 

[bioticgrunt]

I wonder what new options are unlocked for future and how colonization would go once we get started

 

[dgr11897]

I wonder what new options are unlocked for future and how colonization would go once we get started

Click to shrink...

Early colonization is probably going to be... WEIRD because of our capabilities. It's more about getting Workings set up than proper colonization with us. As long as we can ensure a large enough population to set up a God City exists, and as long as the planet can support Spawn we can colonize the place, at least initially. But also for us terraforming is definitely much more possible and probably something we'll engage in a lot more than technological civilizations, for goodness sake we already basically terraformed our destroyed planet once.

 

[Sa'kage]

Storm's unbound and unleashed


Six quarter ago, the Philosophers of Cradle had bound the storm of Doom. Sealed away within hidden valleys and obscured by the Workings of the Order. Such it was, that none save the oldest of Philosophers could remember a time where the wind and clouds gathered across the skies of Cradle. Only told of in tablets of Stone, and stories around the fire.

Now, by the hand of the Dawn Watcher, the winds are blowing once more across Cradle, unburden by the chains of Doom that had held them shackled for so long. Now, all whom live upon Cradle gaze up towards skies, seeing and feeling for the first time the wind upon their skin, the clouds bringing rain upon the land, and golden thunder strikes in the distance.

--

Within the Order, the Philosophers of White unearths ancient tablets of stone from their storage, as the God-speakers of the Tower that Thinks calls upon the might of Xipe-Topec to recall knowledge of the past. The Living Tower, dredge up laws of the sky, as the Sundial Tower measures the heavens above.

For Workings of wind and storm's, are required once more for the Order's duties. Unneeded for a century where the skies of Cradle carried nothing, now the Order must remember old Workings, and forgotten skills.

Workings to guide the winds as the Order commands, Workings to call upon the rain for their fields and Workings of war, to call godly might in the form of thunder to smite ones the foes. That and more, is what's brought forth by this call for knowledge. Workings created by their predecessors.

And yet, they not stop. For as the ancient Workings are gathered, the Philosophers turn their attention to the future. For these are Workings of the past, and not sufficient for the Order. For they are no longer a single Philosopher, but a Tower build upon by a dozen Philosophers. And so their task is clear to transform archaic tools of Philosophy into tools of fate. For the path laid by the Dawn Watcher is clear.

--

Within the God-city's, chaos and uncertainty remain, as wind and rain fall upon the stone bricks of the City. For while olden Philosophers may remember a distant time where the storm's of Doom reigned in the sky. There exist no mundane from that time, with their fledgling lives as it were. They know only of the sky-weather, in tales told from their ancestors, of a world that once was. Before the sky had burned with the three-star symbol of Doom.

And so, when the wind blows through the streets, the mundanes panic, as wares, clothes and pottery are thrown asunder. For they do not recall the gale of the winds, and they do not recall their practices on how to deal with it.

When the rain crashes upon the roofs and roads, it is with annoyance and complains the mundane answers. Used only to the refreshing wind that the God-city brings, they do not know how to deal with rain that sinks through one's clothes, and makes their bodies weak. Their ancestors must have been fool, is heard upon more then one street in the days following the Order's purification.

And when the distant sound of thunder resonate through the streets, men and woman fall upon their knees praying to the God-City for protection. For they are sure it's the fury of the Doom that must surely be so loud, and strike with such suddenty. For surely only the Philosophers and curse could master such power!

Many Philosophers might scoff at their reaction, call them weak of spirit. Such responces are lacking to their mindest that sees only a change to be directed. But perhaps one could not fault the mundane as such. After all, none of them had ever seen or felt the effects of the weather before, and soon that stream of fear, turns into curiosity.

And so, when the wind blows through the streets once more. It is with the laughter of children, weaving with dragons in the air formed from spawn-laiden silk. And explorer's being pushed ever onward, Citalee's prayer upon their lips as the wind pushes them beyond the next hill.

When the rain crashes upon roof and roads, it is with sighs of relief, as gentle rain washes away the labours of work, and cools the body.

And when the distant thunder resonates through the streets, the God-cities seems to shine ever so brighter, as all the mundanes feels the protective calm from their patron Gods. The God-cities already changing, as wards are crafted and remade. Untill only the gentle wind is allowed, the rain that refreshes and the Thunder is deflected. As long as it's inhabitants lives within the fortress, they shall protect them.

---

In the temple workshop, the clang of hammer upon metal, scratching of cittin blades upon wood resounates through the streets. For there is a wave of inspiration crashing across the craftsmen.

The Gods in their aspects as lords of Weather are crafted, as statues, as symbols and jewerly. Priest hold great celebratory feasts, as craftsmen compete to produce the symbol worthy of their Gods.

Poets write stories of the Storms, words inspiring further, and some even bringing people to tears. All the while, people paint markings upon their body, from the plants that now spring across all of Cradle.

All the while the Story-weavers wander the streets. Eager to taste the anima floating through the air.



--
In halls of tool, the Precise observe, note and plan. Of the rain, and how it falls upon their buildings of stone and marble. How the thunder strikes, bringing ruin with it's awe-inspiring power, and how the wind shapes the world gradually over centuries. The mundane might not notice, but theirs is a guild born from the Sundial Tower, and so even such things are noted down.

For they must account for everything, and so plans are redacted and updated. And in great groups they go out, each knowing precisely what to do. Years of works lie ahead, the mundane might grown weary at such a thought, but they are the Precise.

And so, over months the God-city changes, as channels and fountains are carved into the city. Untill the rains do not hinder anyone, but instead flows through the city peacefully and elegantly. The tallest spires of the City are reinforced, with metaltic ore carved with the symbols of the God-City.

For the Precise will broker no less. Precision is their duty.

--

In white halls, the Keepers of harmony gathers. There, they whispers of chaos and fear within the hearts of mundane. Unused to the changes as they were. Of how it might disturb the Order's harmony. Rippling across the rivers of fate, bringing ruin to their master's design. Such a thing, would be unacceptable, and so the Keepers speaks words of serenity to any and all. For there shall be peace, and for those whom resist even this, calling for action against the Philosophers whom has brought "the doom back". Their blood is washed away in the rains.

And yet they do not stop there. For through their masters, the Philosophers of Fate, they learn of the weather and divination what is to come. And so, in places where only gentle rain fall is destined to fall, they craft chambers of peace. Untill the rain becomes like a beacon of tranquility. Where memories of pain are soothed, and the mundane can focus beyond their limit, ever more usefull to the Order.

For The Keepers shall ensure that even the storm and rains would become in tune with the harmony of the Order.

--

Few are as active as the Navigator guild. In the volcano city, craftsmen starts in the halls of the God-city to weave fabric once more, as many takes pilgrimages to the City of Xipe-Topec, to learn the wisdom of the Spawn-Historian. Ready to dig through text of how past Navigator sailed the seas. So they may use their insight.

For old stories tell of ships given speed, not by the might of the oar, but by the winds. For the Navigator's, used to men and Spawn through hard work given power to a ship, such a thing sounds fantastical. And yet! Is the lords of Cradle, not master of magic. Does not the other guild call upon arcane might- Though not blessed with any secrets, the Navigator's will not be found faltering, and so like mad-men they cast themselves into experimentation.

There are failures, ships crashing, sails that get ruined after mere hours. Winds driving inexperienced Navigators afar from their course, even as their sails improve. But their excitement is strong. They are one of the first mundane guilds, and failure will not be accepted! And eventually, with pride are ships driven not by men but by the wind shown to the Philosophers, as great sails being to slowly spread to all the ships. With the markings of Citalee upon them, for whom is better to bless their sails then the Goddess of the very air itself.

Once, the pillars of Eldier of Gaps transformed the way one travels upon Cradle. Now another great change has befallen it, even as the world ascend to higher realms. This time, brought forth by the mundane hands, of the Guild that carries not a singular secret of the Tower.

--

In gardens, farmers are taught of the rain, by apprentices of the Living Tower, so their bodies born with impure spirits know what to do. So the plants are not given too much water, and are planted so Storm's won't tear them asunder. All the while The Sundial Tower casting minor workings of Time on the fields. So rain shall always come when the time is right.

And in their laboratories, Gardner's, Flesh-weavers and Alchemist grow ancient plants from seeds planted in the deepest of vaults. Seeds of plants that spread not by the power of animals, but rather that of the Winds. Plants that had mostly died, when there was only the Storm's of Doom, that saught to destroy all life. For over three centuries, seeds had been not been planted by the wind, but by Hive insects that would visit each plant.

And so, they were here to debate what should be changed to account for this new variable. For the task of carrying seeds across the world is one a strenuous one upon the children of the Hive Empress, for the plants are many and growing more plentifull by the day. If Cradle herself would like to plant the seeds once more herself, it would spare the Order the time consuming task of having to do it themselves.

There is a new power in the winds gracing Cradle, and the Philosopher will not be taken unaware. And so, laws are crafted and burned as new plants are formed for a new Cradle within the Living Tower.

--

All of this, from the mundanes to the Philosophers are written and recorded down, gathering within the tallest peak, where a house crafted from the embers of every city, the leaves from every plant and the rain from all the lakes stands. Within member's of the White Tower and the Sundial Tower, each whom is harbouring a vision of a Tower that shall one day be where they stand.

For the Dawn Watcher's, or Storm Lord as some of them whisper between themselves, have planted the seeds for fated storm. And the mythical energy once used to bind the Storm, still lingers within them, ready to be called upon by the Order.

There, they prepare their Major Workings. There, upon the tallest peak, the Order awaits. For the Conclave to gather once more. For the order's and resources required to cast their Workings.

Such, as the Dawn Watcher has said. They, whom are the disciples of the Prime realm.

---

The world is restored to what it once was, may have been on the lips of her children. But the dreaming God, that did not yet exist but who's material temple was vast beyond measure. Cradle knew such was not the case.

By her second children's hands, the world had been molded and changed. Three hundred years, since the light of the Second Doom had begun to shine upon her surface. Since her limb-storm's had been twisted into tools of destruction and ruin.

The wise Philosophers read their history, of how the winds rained, how they snowed, and how they howled with thunder. And so, like children they assumed the World was like it once was. For they remembered only a time when the winds howled with Doom, not before.

They were mistaken, but Cradle could not fault them so. None of them had seen that world with their own eyes after all. Now, none save perhaps herself, the accursed rage-filled cradle of steel that dwelled in the depths of her and that half-slumbering God-insect whom even now was peering upon her past, knew how the world was once truly.

The world had ascended to higher realms. And even now the Storm's coursed with the Order's mythical commands. It was theirs to command, loyal to a fault now, even if the Order did not know how to call upon the winds yet. They would learn in time, she had faith in their abilities.

Some worlds may have blamed them, for not being able to restore everything to how it once was but she did not. It was in nature's way to change, and this was merely another one change. More would come in time.

The second Doom had been defeated in full now. Her limbs was once more hers by right, for her Children to grow upon.

For the first time in centuries, Cradle breathed

---

Author note:

So, been re-reading the quest past few weeks. And i really wanted to write some reactions to the Storm being changed. How the mundane society might react, how the guilds would change and the Philosphers as always thinking. Also, Cradle the sleeping Goddess, because while i was writing and thinking upon the reaction of Society, i also realized that like. We bound the Storm's like a century ago, before that the Storm's were cursed by Doom for like 2 centuries.

There's nobody alive that remember how the winds would actually work, they'd just have fragmented texts, and i'd assume writing "This is how the weather feels", would be semi-low on ranking of texts that Order would priotize to preserve at the time, given how pressed they were for just everything. So, Mother Cradle coming in at the end for commentary.

It's just interesting to think about how one might so easily forget what once was.

Also, been doing a lot of Dawn Watcher actions in regards to this stuff, so i felt like him becoming akin to a sort of pesduo-precourser to the Elemental Tower made sense(Hence Storm Lord given the fated storm and purification), given his work is setting up a lot of dominios for later. Even if, he is to be purely of the White Tower. IT's sorta something, we'd never have with the current 4 towers, but would become more common as the Order gain's insight

Hope it was enjoyable, and felt like i got the tone of Cradle and it's society right! I wanna get out a few more. Though, i'm stuck between too many ideas between writing the healing city-God, a chain of craftsmen being unlucky-stupid enough to attempt to crafting with the cursed bark to bad effect or a more radical keeper of harmony mundane hero type(one which is very anti-mundane, beliving a lot more in Order-suprmacy).

 

[dgr11897]

more radical keeper of harmony mundane hero type

Click to shrink...

Bronze age 007. Because the keepers of harmony are also our spies.

 

[Sa'kage]

Bronze age 007. Because the keepers of harmony are also our spies.

Click to shrink...

Oh, When i say radical, i mean radical. Like, she'd be extremly "why are we letting the mundanes have council and goverment instead of glorious Philospher lead goverment". The kind where if we put her on Haven's, i'd be compelled to write her dying in a self-destructive attempt in order to shut it down, because she sees it as a utter waste, instead of spending resources on something like the universities in order to spread the Philosphers Wisdom. She'd be one that belives every single person should dedicate themself towards learning the secrets of the Tower's and becoming like the guilds, if they cannot become a Philospher.

The maindraw is that i'm sorta unsure, if it might properly work in story. but i'm really interested in the idea. I like making hero's engange in the cultural system that is going around. Like my Living Tower hero Aralu, being one of the three factions. I could have made her be netural, but to me that doesn't feel like it would been part of the current story of the Living Tower. It does mean they are slightly more messy people as a result, but for me that's really interesting. Yeah, we got a pottioner whom might favour her own faction even when that might not be the wisest choice, because they are people that is a part of this world.

 

[Lord_Abaddon]

this is an excellent omake, sa'kage. you got the tone down pat and i love the way you showed the knock on effects of us bringing back the weather. i don't know how to feel about the dawn watcher being seen as the pseudo-founder of the tower of elements, but the way you presented it just makes sense... though i think he's the most visible to the mundanes, the order likely sees the abandoner of distance as another due to her contributions from the fires of the earth.

i'm also working on an omake after re-reading the quest, though it's purely meant for fun and will have absolutely no bearing on canon

 

[OldShadow]

Storm's unbound and unleashed


Six quarter ago, the Philosophers of Cradle had bound the storm of Doom. Sealed away within hidden valleys and obscured by the Workings of the Order. Such it was, that none save the oldest of Philosophers could remember a time where the wind and clouds gathered across the skies of Cradle. Only told of in tablets of Stone, and stories around the fire.

Now, by the hand of the Dawn Watcher, the winds are blowing once more across Cradle, unburden by the chains of Doom that had held them shackled for so long. Now, all whom live upon Cradle gaze up towards skies, seeing and feeling for the first time the wind upon their skin, the clouds bringing rain upon the land, and golden thunder strikes in the distance.

--

Within the Order, the Philosophers of White unearths ancient tablets of stone from their storage, as the God-speakers of the Tower that Thinks calls upon the might of Xipe-Topec to recall knowledge of the past. The Living Tower, dredge up laws of the sky, as the Sundial Tower measures the heavens above.

For Workings of wind and storm's, are required once more for the Order's duties. Unneeded for a century where the skies of Cradle carried nothing, now the Order must remember old Workings, and forgotten skills.

Workings to guide the winds as the Order commands, Workings to call upon the rain for their fields and Workings of war, to call godly might in the form of thunder to smite ones the foes. That and more, is what's brought forth by this call for knowledge. Workings created by their predecessors.

And yet, they not stop. For as the ancient Workings are gathered, the Philosophers turn their attention to the future. For these are Workings of the past, and not sufficient for the Order. For they are no longer a single Philosopher, but a Tower build upon by a dozen Philosophers. And so their task is clear to transform archaic tools of Philosophy into tools of fate. For the path laid by the Dawn Watcher is clear.

--

Within the God-city's, chaos and uncertainty remain, as wind and rain fall upon the stone bricks of the City. For while olden Philosophers may remember a distant time where the storm's of Doom reigned in the sky. There exist no mundane from that time, with their fledgling lives as it were. They know only of the sky-weather, in tales told from their ancestors, of a world that once was. Before the sky had burned with the three-star symbol of Doom.

And so, when the wind blows through the streets, the mundanes panic, as wares, clothes and pottery are thrown asunder. For they do not recall the gale of the winds, and they do not recall their practices on how to deal with it.

When the rain crashes upon the roofs and roads, it is with annoyance and complains the mundane answers. Used only to the refreshing wind that the God-city brings, they do not know how to deal with rain that sinks through one's clothes, and makes their bodies weak. Their ancestors must have been fool, is heard upon more then one street in the days following the Order's purification.

And when the distant sound of thunder resonate through the streets, men and woman fall upon their knees praying to the God-City for protection. For they are sure it's the fury of the Doom that must surely be so loud, and strike with such suddenty. For surely only the Philosophers and curse could master such power!

Many Philosophers might scoff at their reaction, call them weak of spirit. Such responces are lacking to their mindest that sees only a change to be directed. But perhaps one could not fault the mundane as such. After all, none of them had ever seen or felt the effects of the weather before, and soon that stream of fear, turns into curiosity.

And so, when the wind blows through the streets once more. It is with the laughter of children, weaving with dragons in the air formed from spawn-laiden silk. And explorer's being pushed ever onward, Citalee's prayer upon their lips as the wind pushes them beyond the next hill.

When the rain crashes upon roof and roads, it is with sighs of relief, as gentle rain washes away the labours of work, and cools the body.

And when the distant thunder resonates through the streets, the God-cities seems to shine ever so brighter, as all the mundanes feels the protective calm from their patron Gods. The God-cities already changing, as wards are crafted and remade. Untill only the gentle wind is allowed, the rain that refreshes and the Thunder is deflected. As long as it's inhabitants lives within the fortress, they shall protect them.

---

In the temple workshop, the clang of hammer upon metal, scratching of cittin blades upon wood resounates through the streets. For there is a wave of inspiration crashing across the craftsmen.

The Gods in their aspects as lords of Weather are crafted, as statues, as symbols and jewerly. Priest hold great celebratory feasts, as craftsmen compete to produce the symbol worthy of their Gods.

Poets write stories of the Storms, words inspiring further, and some even bringing people to tears. All the while, people paint markings upon their body, from the plants that now spring across all of Cradle.

All the while the Story-weavers wander the streets. Eager to taste the anima floating through the air.



--
In halls of tool, the Precise observe, note and plan. Of the rain, and how it falls upon their buildings of stone and marble. How the thunder strikes, bringing ruin with it's awe-inspiring power, and how the wind shapes the world gradually over centuries. The mundane might not notice, but theirs is a guild born from the Sundial Tower, and so even such things are noted down.

For they must account for everything, and so plans are redacted and updated. And in great groups they go out, each knowing precisely what to do. Years of works lie ahead, the mundane might grown weary at such a thought, but they are the Precise.

And so, over months the God-city changes, as channels and fountains are carved into the city. Untill the rains do not hinder anyone, but instead flows through the city peacefully and elegantly. The tallest spires of the City are reinforced, with metaltic ore carved with the symbols of the God-City.

For the Precise will broker no less. Precision is their duty.

--

In white halls, the Keepers of harmony gathers. There, they whispers of chaos and fear within the hearts of mundane. Unused to the changes as they were. Of how it might disturb the Order's harmony. Rippling across the rivers of fate, bringing ruin to their master's design. Such a thing, would be unacceptable, and so the Keepers speaks words of serenity to any and all. For there shall be peace, and for those whom resist even this, calling for action against the Philosophers whom has brought "the doom back". Their blood is washed away in the rains.

And yet they do not stop there. For through their masters, the Philosophers of Fate, they learn of the weather and divination what is to come. And so, in places where only gentle rain fall is destined to fall, they craft chambers of peace. Untill the rain becomes like a beacon of tranquility. Where memories of pain are soothed, and the mundane can focus beyond their limit, ever more usefull to the Order.

For The Keepers shall ensure that even the storm and rains would become in tune with the harmony of the Order.

--

Few are as active as the Navigator guild. In the volcano city, craftsmen starts in the halls of the God-city to weave fabric once more, as many takes pilgrimages to the City of Xipe-Topec, to learn the wisdom of the Spawn-Historian. Ready to dig through text of how past Navigator sailed the seas. So they may use their insight.

For old stories tell of ships given speed, not by the might of the oar, but by the winds. For the Navigator's, used to men and Spawn through hard work given power to a ship, such a thing sounds fantastical. And yet! Is the lords of Cradle, not master of magic. Does not the other guild call upon arcane might- Though not blessed with any secrets, the Navigator's will not be found faltering, and so like mad-men they cast themselves into experimentation.

There are failures, ships crashing, sails that get ruined after mere hours. Winds driving inexperienced Navigators afar from their course, even as their sails improve. But their excitement is strong. They are one of the first mundane guilds, and failure will not be accepted! And eventually, with pride are ships driven not by men but by the wind shown to the Philosophers, as great sails being to slowly spread to all the ships. With the markings of Citalee upon them, for whom is better to bless their sails then the Goddess of the very air itself.

Once, the pillars of Eldier of Gaps transformed the way one travels upon Cradle. Now another great change has befallen it, even as the world ascend to higher realms. This time, brought forth by the mundane hands, of the Guild that carries not a singular secret of the Tower.

--

In gardens, farmers are taught of the rain, by apprentices of the Living Tower, so their bodies born with impure spirits know what to do. So the plants are not given too much water, and are planted so Storm's won't tear them asunder. All the while The Sundial Tower casting minor workings of Time on the fields. So rain shall always come when the time is right.

And in their laboratories, Gardner's, Flesh-weavers and Alchemist grow ancient plants from seeds planted in the deepest of vaults. Seeds of plants that spread not by the power of animals, but rather that of the Winds. Plants that had mostly died, when there was only the Storm's of Doom, that saught to destroy all life. For over three centuries, seeds had been not been planted by the wind, but by Hive insects that would visit each plant.

And so, they were here to debate what should be changed to account for this new variable. For the task of carrying seeds across the world is one a strenuous one upon the children of the Hive Empress, for the plants are many and growing more plentifull by the day. If Cradle herself would like to plant the seeds once more herself, it would spare the Order the time consuming task of having to do it themselves.

There is a new power in the winds gracing Cradle, and the Philosopher will not be taken unaware. And so, laws are crafted and burned as new plants are formed for a new Cradle within the Living Tower.

--

All of this, from the mundanes to the Philosophers are written and recorded down, gathering within the tallest peak, where a house crafted from the embers of every city, the leaves from every plant and the rain from all the lakes stands. Within member's of the White Tower and the Sundial Tower, each whom is harbouring a vision of a Tower that shall one day be where they stand.

For the Dawn Watcher's, or Storm Lord as some of them whisper between themselves, have planted the seeds for fated storm. And the mythical energy once used to bind the Storm, still lingers within them, ready to be called upon by the Order.

There, they prepare their Major Workings. There, upon the tallest peak, the Order awaits. For the Conclave to gather once more. For the order's and resources required to cast their Workings.

Such, as the Dawn Watcher has said. They, whom are the disciples of the Prime realm.

---

The world is restored to what it once was, may have been on the lips of her children. But the dreaming God, that did not yet exist but who's material temple was vast beyond measure. Cradle knew such was not the case.

By her second children's hands, the world had been molded and changed. Three hundred years, since the light of the Second Doom had begun to shine upon her surface. Since her limb-storm's had been twisted into tools of destruction and ruin.

The wise Philosophers read their history, of how the winds rained, how they snowed, and how they howled with thunder. And so, like children they assumed the World was like it once was. For they remembered only a time when the winds howled with Doom, not before.

They were mistaken, but Cradle could not fault them so. None of them had seen that world with their own eyes after all. Now, none save perhaps herself, the accursed rage-filled cradle of steel that dwelled in the depths of her and that half-slumbering God-insect whom even now was peering upon her past, knew how the world was once truly.

The world had ascended to higher realms. And even now the Storm's coursed with the Order's mythical commands. It was theirs to command, loyal to a fault now, even if the Order did not know how to call upon the winds yet. They would learn in time, she had faith in their abilities.

Some worlds may have blamed them, for not being able to restore everything to how it once was but she did not. It was in nature's way to change, and this was merely another one change. More would come in time.

The second Doom had been defeated in full now. Her limbs was once more hers by right, for her Children to grow upon.

For the first time in centuries, Cradle breathed

---

Author note:

So, been re-reading the quest past few weeks. And i really wanted to write some reactions to the Storm being changed. How the mundane society might react, how the guilds would change and the Philosphers as always thinking. Also, Cradle the sleeping Goddess, because while i was writing and thinking upon the reaction of Society, i also realized that like. We bound the Storm's like a century ago, before that the Storm's were cursed by Doom for like 2 centuries.

There's nobody alive that remember how the winds would actually work, they'd just have fragmented texts, and i'd assume writing "This is how the weather feels", would be semi-low on ranking of texts that Order would priotize to preserve at the time, given how pressed they were for just everything. So, Mother Cradle coming in at the end for commentary.

It's just interesting to think about how one might so easily forget what once was.

Also, been doing a lot of Dawn Watcher actions in regards to this stuff, so i felt like him becoming akin to a sort of pesduo-precourser to the Elemental Tower made sense(Hence Storm Lord given the fated storm and purification), given his work is setting up a lot of dominios for later. Even if, he is to be purely of the White Tower. IT's sorta something, we'd never have with the current 4 towers, but would become more common as the Order gain's insight

Hope it was enjoyable, and felt like i got the tone of Cradle and it's society right! I wanna get out a few more. Though, i'm stuck between too many ideas between writing the healing city-God, a chain of craftsmen being unlucky-stupid enough to attempt to crafting with the cursed bark to bad effect or a more radical keeper of harmony mundane hero type(one which is very anti-mundane, beliving a lot more in Order-suprmacy).

Click to shrink...

Canon as hell
Come as the winds, and the rains, and the thunder,
Freed anew in a world changed,
Let by them new paths be open, for the enlighteneds and mundanes both.

 

[Sa'kage]

this is an excellent omake, sa'kage. you got the tone down pat and i love the way you showed the knock on effects of us bringing back the weather. i don't know how to feel about the dawn watcher being seen as the pseudo-founder of the tower of elements, but the way you presented it just makes sense... though i think he's the most visible to the mundanes, the order likely sees the abandoner of distance as another due to her contributions from the fires of the earth.

i'm also working on an omake after re-reading the quest, though it's purely meant for fun and will have absolutely no bearing on canon

Click to shrink...

I did actually spend some time thinking upon that. Because, all of the three hero's have been to various degree involved within it. They'd not be a direct founder, since the founder's would be the Philosphers struck by the visions of the elemental realm, but something close to that. Yeah

I think, what ultimatly, made me go with Dawn Watcher for it, was actually your own words on how the Philospher hero's true power might not lie in how they just make actions better, but in how they can change and direct the Philosophy of the Order.

Because the Dawn watcher, is the one that planted the seeds for new actions through his omake, compared to the Other two. The Elider of Gaps, was the one that divined how the earth worked, but she didn't change the action, as much as perform it to perfection. In the same way the Dreaming Aritecht, mostly warned the Sundial Tower of the path they were heading towards.

Meanwhile, the Dawn Watcher, is the one that changed the actual actions and opened up new ones. So, he felt like the most natural person, to be considered along those lines!

 

[dgr11897]

A philosophy of Combat.

Click to shrink...

Hey I think you forgot to mark this @OldShadow

 

[OldShadow]

Hello everyone, I am getting back from a few months where I had no time to spend on writing.
As my time is still limited, I have opened up a vote to see witch quest I should work on with the free time I have.
Follow the link.

Try to survive the Winter: A planquest in Fantasy Colonial America Fantasy - Alt. History

Hello everyone, after three months of absolute hell, I finally have some free time coming up for writing ! However, with clear limitations still present in my free time, I will not be able to work on many quests at the same time as I once did, and will have to limit myself to one or two quests...

forums.sufficientvelocity.com

 

[dgr11897]

The Vanished Kingdom of Fae
The Time of the Doom was a chaotic one. And there are many holes in the modern understanding of that time. One such hole is that of the Vanished Kingdom. An entire kingdom, an entire people, Gone in the span of a few years, all that was left empty castles, and at the center, a circle of standing stones, tinged by strange and alien power.

The story of this place is remembered vaguely by the Philosophers of the living tower, as a tale from some of their progenitors.

Once upon a time as the doom just barely dawned upon the world there was a kingdom with a group of proto-philosophers operating within it. As the Doom came they saw what was coming and attempted to avert it. With strange magics and harnessing the power of the very thing destroying them they opened a gateway. The Gateway lead to a strange place, of energy and distortion, a higher realm than our own, where the powers of Philosophy could be greatly amplified. A place without the Doom.

The doom would come swiftly to that kingdom, and so, desperate, the people turned to the philosophers, who turned to the place they had discovered. They recruited wandering philosophers for aid, including some who would go on to be among the progenitors of the Living Tower.

Humans wouldn't fit in that new realm though. Not as they were. Their skin would be flayed to pieces by the energies of the place. The pressures involved would cause their eyes to explode. There would be no food, little ordinary matter at all. So they began to apply Philosophy, harnessing the very power of the place they sought to enter to reforge their bodies. Skin adapted to absorb the ambient power of that realm as food. Lungs shifted to recycle air rather than needing external input. Digestive system repurposed to allow them to process the thin pieces of matter of that realm into matter to repair their bodies and grow new individuals. Grand gossamer wings to allow them to soar on the currents of the realm. Ears re-attuned to the song of that universe, picking up on the subtle shifts of the forces involved.

Their minds couldn't understand that place, where time was an ocean rather than a river, flowing in waves forwards and back and sideways in countless dimensions. Couldn't understand the extra spatial dimensions and the way reality warped under Lies and deceptions. They couldn't understand the maze of warped time and folded space that was that place. So they adapted. Philosophers of the mind learned from the place and adapted their minds to understand it. They developed ways to communicate in places where sound couldn't easily travel and light was distorted and changed. They printed maps of the place into the minds of the people so they could navigate. They warped their minds into the shape of their new home.

But not all those who went through this process were changed equally or the same. The process was a work in process, so the vast majority of subjects died, some before, some after being hurled through the gate to their new home. Their bodies would all be deposited beyond the gate, alongside vast quantities of food and livestock and stone, to fill up that mostly empty void and provide the materials for the new life of those who would live.

Once these changes were done the survivors weren't human anymore. They couldn't live in a world so afflicted by the doom and so denied of the powers of the place they had found. So the philosophers on both sides shut the door behind them. And so the gateway became a mere empty circle of stones. And all that was left were those too old to make the transition, and those philosophers who had helped but chosen not to go through the process.

It's been hundreds of years since then.

And now tales are coming in from the edges of society, after cradle's ascension to a place closer to the higher realms. Of strange circles of Mushrooms, of gates of light glowing in the air. Of Strange lithe forms with gossamer wings. Of strange items of materials not borne of this world. Of the children of the Lost Kingdom. Of the Children of the Land of Fae.

 

[bioticgrunt]

Title: The Weaving of Fate: Time and Precision as the Threads of Destiny

Introduction: The Instruments of Fate

In the grand loom of existence, Time and Precision are the fundamental tools wielded by Fate. They are the twin forces that stitch together the tapestry of life, guiding its threads into an intricate design that shapes destiny. Time grants progression and unfolding, while Precision carves the path with meticulous care, ensuring every moment finds its place in the greater whole.

I. Time: The Flow of Progression

Time is not merely a passive observer, but an active force that propels the world forward. It is the engine of creation, driving all things from birth to death, from inception to completion. Time unravels the complexities of existence, pushing every life and event toward its destined end. It does not rush, for haste disrupts its careful rhythm. Instead, it moves with relentless persistence, giving every action and consequence its due course.

To understand Time as a tool of Fate is to see that nothing happens without reason. All occurrences, whether seemingly random or deliberate, are part of a larger pattern. Time allows the unfolding of potential, and in its steady passage, it grants the opportunity for growth, change, and fulfillment. Without Time, life would remain stagnant, a mere echo of possibility without form or substance.

II. Precision: The Blade That Carves

While Time grants life the ability to move forward, Precision defines its path. Like a sculptor's chisel, it shapes the raw material of existence, ensuring that each moment fits perfectly into the broader tapestry of Fate. Precision is the force that determines the subtle nuances of life—the exact timing of an encounter, the precise action needed to shift a course, or the critical decision that alters a future.

Precision operates in harmony with Time, refining every event with deliberate care. It is not concerned with perfection but with purpose. Every detail, no matter how small, serves a role in the larger design. Through Precision, Fate carves out the destinies of individuals and civilizations alike, ensuring that the weave of life is both intricate and intentional.

III. The Tapestry of Life: A Synthesis of Time and Precision

Together, Time and Precision work in concert to weave the tapestry of life. Time provides the movement and context, while Precision ensures the order and structure. The two forces are inseparable, as one without the other would result in chaos or inertia. Fate, as the master weaver, relies on both to stitch the threads of existence into a coherent whole.

In this tapestry, each life is a thread, and every event is a knot tied with care. The interconnectedness of all things is evident in the way threads cross paths, intertwine, and diverge. Fate uses Time and Precision to ensure that no thread is wasted, no moment without meaning. In this way, destiny is not a predetermined outcome but a crafted journey, where every choice and consequence plays a vital role.

IV. Carving Destiny: The Role of the Individual

Though Time and Precision are the tools of Fate, individuals are not passive recipients of their designs. Each person has the power to act, to make choices that affect their place in the tapestry. Time grants them the space to grow, while Precision offers the opportunity to act with purpose. In embracing these forces, individuals carve their own destinies, shaping the course of their lives within the framework of Fate's larger design.

To live with awareness of Time and Precision is to understand that every moment carries potential, and every action has weight. It is to recognize that one's path is not random but shaped by both internal will and external forces. By acting with intention and embracing the flow of Time, individuals align themselves with the greater tapestry of life, becoming co-creators of their destiny.

Conclusion: The Eternal Weave

Time and Precision are the eternal tools by which Fate shapes the universe. They are the weavers and carvers of destiny, working in harmony to craft the intricate and purposeful design of existence. In recognizing their influence, we gain insight into the nature of life itself—a delicate balance between the flow of time and the precision of action, where every thread has its place, and every moment contributes to the greater whole. Through this understanding, we become active participants in the weaving of our own fates, shaping the future with deliberate care as we follow the path laid before us.