[EMPIRE 2] IC Thread

[Dracolon]

Round 1 - The Preeminence of Hortis
280

Fluffy Stuff

Spoiler: News

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• Humans on the far side of Blackspire Pass tell tales of the Wandering Clans building a city on the far side of the mountains. Hope is strong that the mines of this great city may be the answer to the lack of regional metal.
• With the increased activity around central points of worship the leadership of Conlarbores has dispatched several members of the ruling Tufted Ears to act as the voice of the king. For the most part these nobles seem to focus of establishing peace between the religion folk and the locals as well as making sure peace and justice continue despite the influx of travelers.
• The king is to be wed! The eldest daughter of his great aunt’s third son has matured to a fine lady and is said to be one of the most beautiful ladies of the land. The wedding is scheduled for the spring of 103.
• Rumor of another sizable city to the southeast have prompted the king to send scouts, sightings along the border tell of another breed of Nitent’oculis

Spoiler: Elacervus

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In the northern part of Conlarbores is wide valley known for its abundant game, the trees here grow tall but with sparse foliage and the grassy forest floor feeds many herds of deer and elk. The locals called it the sunlit woods, the nobles called it the summer hunting grounds, and the elders called it the shrouded forest. Every morning the woods fills with a dense mist that rolls down the mountain sides and hides the grazing game before the abundant beams of sunlight burn away the fog and hunters issue forth from local villages to gather food for their families.

It was on one such morning just after the day had burned away the last of the ground clouds that a young Plain One set forth with bow in hand. During his hunt he found a majestic deer with antlers that towered like frosted ice spikes above the small trees and shrubs and was larger then the shaggy cows wandering the hills. He swore to all that would listen at the tavern that night his arrows had been true and the beast had bolted unhindered by a killing blow. Most took him for a touched fool or a man so deep in sorrow from a poor hunt that he had meet the cup hard that night.

As the days turned into weeks more and more hunters spotted the beast and the local shaman declared the animal an avatar of Elacervus, high spirit over prey. The deer was here to test the hunters and see if they were truly worthy of the hunt. Whether true or not the news spread and soon other shamans came to the area looking to spot him and pass their own judgment on what was hiding in the woods. Along with the religious shamans more hunters came to test their skill against the mythical game inhabiting the area which is now called more and more often Elacervus’ Run.

Spoiler: Arborealis

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Redwoods have long been the center of faith for the Ceratogaulus druids they believe them to be the aspects of the great mother tree, Arborealis, which once grew on top of the world. Few of these giants grow in the lands of Conlarbores and they are all well documented by the faithful. In the south there was a fire started by a storm of light and sound. One of the great mother’s trees fell to the mighty storm and the local druids mourned its loss.

After ceremonially burying a seed from the great tree in the burned out grove the druids departed to travel and pray at the nearest brother to their lost aspect. Two weeks later they returned home from their pilgrimage and found a mighty tree sprouting from the seed. The soot choked ground around the great redwood was riddled with tendrils of life and flowers bloomed in the snaking lines of grass adding color to the gray of death.

Tending to the grove they were stuck between awe and alarm at the speed with which the tree grew and soon sent for an arch-druid. After studying the tree for a month the arch-druid declared the tree to be an avatar of the great mother tree which had blessed the entire area with new stronger life. Soon many druids made pilgrimages to the Arborealis’ Grove to see this wonder of life given to them by the great mother tree.

Mechanics Stuff
King Adriendel Sharpclaw
Diplomacy: 3
Military: 2
Curiosity: 3
Faith: 5
Luck: 3

Spoiler: Round Actions

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1. [Faith] Local taverns begin to maintain lists of great white deer sightings. Hunters and shamans flood the area for a chance to see the rare game. Elacervus’ Run (1/5)
2. [Faith] Druids flock to the south and set up a makeshift camp surrounding the great tree. Arborealis’ Grove (1/5)
3. [Curiosity] A clowder of Nitent’oculis scouts is dispatched to the southeast of Conlarbores, they are tasked with helping a trio of Ceratogaulus cartographers with exploration of the area. Roll
4. [Curiosity] Elder Ceratogaulus start to list local plants and their uses in a codex. They are aided in this by a few Nitent’oculis hunters skilled in herb lore and trail plants.
5. [Military] Raise 1,000 Ceratogaulus Shield Bearers in Conlarbores to protect the region. (1 Land Unit in 280)

Spoiler: Non-Actions

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• Send emissaries to 281 (Western Aladar) to establish peaceful contact.
• Attend the The Fantastic Masquerade

Spoiler: Expected Stat Gain

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Faith: +1
Curiosity: +1
Luck: +1