Rise from the Ashes IC

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to offend you. It's just that we don't know what you have to offer in exchange. It is difficult to make a deal if you don't know what the other person is offering. Thank you for your hospitality."

*A young women comes up to you and beckons you out of the room. Once you are out of earshot of the chief, she speaks.*

I'm sorry about that. Father is under a bit of strain, what with our scouts going missing.

*pause*

I'm guessing no one warned you, but you need to know: Be *very* polite to any of the menfolk. The curse still runs strong and being on edge makes it that much harder to control.

*Glancing around*

You really need to be talking to us, anyways. So....what things are you looking for? We have a few things we can trade: Crafted weapons and hides, tents, smoked meats. We also have that:

*She points at a lamp attached to the wall: Unlike the torches most people use, this seems to be burning some kind of liquid*.

We can also provide protection in your travels, if you don't mind having berserker rage prone warriors around you. They're usually pretty safe, but sometimes they lose control, especially in combat.

"What is this about a curse?"

[Krrth]

"What is this about a curse?"

Clean out your ears! We've already been telling you that: The Rage.

Don't make us angry. You wouldn't like us when we're angry.


BAck before the breaking, dark wizards meddled with our ancestors, trying to make better troops. The made us bigger, stronger, tougher, and longer lived. That part worked. They also tried to give us an uncontrollable blood lust that they could turn on and off at will. That part didn't. We got the blood lust, but it can't be turned off at will. When it hits, it has to run its course.

We've learned some techniques for controlling it somewhat, and us women aren't affected by it at all, but it's still there.

[Ipphli]

Children of Uso

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Hmm, I could have sworn I posted already. Guess the forum ate it...

Aceria

The Council decided that, with all the benefits gained by contacting the Order, the other allies of the Lady would also be contacted. Word had reached them of a new village in the mountains where both of the others could be reached. And so a group of triton rangers were gathered to go to this Midground and make contact.

And to aid them in their task, some of the Children had learned how to tame the dolphins and sharks to the point that they allowed themselves to be ridden. Devices made of strong kelp were created for use as saddles and harnesses, to make controlling the beasts easier.

But still the concern remained about how the tritons would survive away from the ocean so long. Then the Council came out of a closed session, bearing a dozen necklaces, each with a perfectly round piece of coral on it. These, they said, would allow the rangers to walk on land without harm. In time, other airbreathers would be created, but always with great difficulty and expense.

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Battle: Heal
Technology: Riding
Creation: Airbreathers
Exploration: Going to Midground!

[Raz_Fox]

Midground

After about an hour's talk with the bird-creatures and "They that do not exercise enough" - Baradans wasn't a fun enough name for the impish Elt'jel - the Danaoi managed to pick up enough of the language to tell them that their families were encamped several miles from the city, and that they would return with their full families.

True to their word, the entire families of Raths'jel and Arain'jel came to Midground by nightfall. The two leaders of the expedition came forward with Elt'jel and Trem'jel to translate for them, and told the Midgrounders of the Domnann Tribes of the south, and how they had decided to explore the north for new land for the Narjel. They requested that they be able to stay there for a short time and rest, learning the ways of these strange northern people.


Ardan ar Isath

In the lands of the Danaoi, the Prophet and his Hound began to unearth both greater information of the firjian and several more of the maidens of fire. Firedancing was slowly becoming a talent among the Danaoi and an eminent position.

The adding of the firjian into the Danaoi religion was not all that the Prophet did - he secluded himself alone in the desert for a score of days and a score more, then came out on the fortieth night into the Ruskall tribe bearing a branch of silver, with ruby pomegranates hanging from it. And when he planted this branch in the center of their encampment, the desert around them became bountiful and lush with fruits and animals to be hunted. He took it with him as he traveled on, allowing every tribe he visited to be blessed by the branch's magic. These lush areas did not fade when the branch was removed, and oases began to appear across the desert as a result of its magic.

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Creation - Artifact: The Silver Branch, a relic of bounty and nourishment. It creates wells, lush vegetation and prey animals in a quarter-mile radius wherever it is planted.
Research: Mysticism.
Religion: Bolster.
Battle: Heal.
Expansion: Continuing to expand north, as well as having each tribe's numbers grow.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"What is this about a curse?"

Clean out your ears! We've already been telling you that: The Rage.

Don't make us angry. You wouldn't like us when we're angry.


BAck before the breaking, dark wizards meddled with our ancestors, trying to make better troops. The made us bigger, stronger, tougher, and longer lived. That part worked. They also tried to give us an uncontrollable blood lust that they could turn on and off at will. That part didn't. We got the blood lust, but it can't be turned off at will. When it hits, it has to run its course.

We've learned some techniques for controlling it somewhat, and us women aren't affected by it at all, but it's still there.

"I see. Meddling with the ways of nature is only asking for trouble. Best probably not to talk about it anymore then. Now, on to the matters of trade. Hides and meat we have plenty of. These lights you use are intriguing though. I think the best offer you bring to the table however is your people's prowess. As you can tell from our...bodies...we are not as adept in personal combat as your people are."

[Archpaladin Zousha]

Midground

After about an hour's talk with the bird-creatures and "They that do not exercise enough" - Baradans wasn't a fun enough name for the impish Elt'jel - the Danaoi managed to pick up enough of the language to tell them that their families were encamped several miles from the city, and that they would return with their full families.

True to their word, the entire families of Raths'jel and Arain'jel came to Midground by nightfall. The two leaders of the expedition came forward with Elt'jel and Trem'jel to translate for them, and told the Midgrounders of the Domnann Tribes of the south, and how they had decided to explore the north for new land for the Narjel. They requested that they be able to stay there for a short time and rest, learning the ways of these strange northern people.

The Baradan ambassadors confide in the Accipitron leaders that the Danoi don't seem too bad, but that both they and the Baradans should perhaps be wary. They seem to be interested in expanding their territory, which might lead to conflict should they decide to encroach upon lands held by the allies of Dynean.

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Pardon me for saying so but these Danaoi don't seem as sexist as you made them out to be, Raz.

[Lord_Asmodeus]

Black Bastion

It was decided. The Black Bastion sent envoys of trade and diplomacy to the mysterious faction that had come to their doors, and sent an escort with the Naradian Sister that consisted of all the assorted the Black Bastion members, from wolfen and Deerish Frelgr, to insectoid Ensi, stony Dvergar, and even the implacable undead.

[Smiley_]

The Baradan ambassadors confide in the Accipitron leaders that the Danoi don't seem too bad, but that both they and the Baradans should perhaps be wary. They seem to be interested in expanding their territory, which might lead to conflict should they decide to encroach upon lands held by the allies of Dynean.

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Pardon me for saying so but these Danaoi don't seem as sexist as you made them out to be, Raz.

The Accipitrons were all for wariness, but Midground was meant to be a meeting ground for travelers and, even if these strangers were not allies of the lady Dynean, they would be welcomed for now until more of the allies set up a foothold in the village. The Danoi did not seem to be suited for the sheer cliff faces on which the accipitrons built their aeries, but they understood that the Baradans were also a "landbound" people. The accipitrons agreed that the Baradans should be able to protect their land as they saw fit, and the accipitrons would help them do so, but the Bird-folks' mountains would be open to exploration.

However, the accipitrons were quite interested in the Danoi and the secrets they might hold. In the night, several of the Accipitrons' aptly named "Ragers," (barbarians) Warriors able to fight with fiery emotions and pure ferocity, led by the Accipitron that greeted the travelers were sent to the Danoi encampments to glean information on this strange power they possessed. Perhaps the Danoi would also be interested in what the accipitrons had to offer.

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Creation: strengthen abstract class: Barbarians

[Johel]

Suncliff

The warning of the Spell Singer had been heard through the whole town. From the eastern hills, a large group approached. Some of them seemed to be dwarven but others looked like animals, even insects.

By the time they reached the short wall, a group of white guardians and sisters had gathered at the entrance, some of the best Spell Singers among them. And at their head was the new Matriarch.

"-Welcome to Suncliff, travelers. May you find peace inside our walls. But before I let you enter, I must ask : where are you from ? We've never seen dwarven like you before and..."
She saw the old lady Sister Sasha had become, the uniform from her youth thighly worn to show she was part of the Order of Narade.
"-...I think we better go inside and have a talk. Maybe around something to eat, Sister. You and your friends must be tired. Hum... No weapons inside, you should have tell them."
The guardians opened the way and the Matriarch waited for the delegation to disarm.

Shusi

It was an impressive sight for all around. twelve meters long by three meters wide, the Divinus Lumen was a true marvel. Well, at least that was the opinion of the dwarven who built it. For a critical observer, it was just four canoes which hulls were linked together by a upper deck, with about 10 oars on both sides for the propulsion.

Among the many mysteries of the sea, The tritons had taught the humans and dwarven how to swim, fish and ride the coastal tide. This knowledge had allowed the naradians to improve their daily life, adding some seaproduct to their meal. But it had also allowed new spell songs to be composed. And one of them was to be used here.

"-Ok, lads !! To ya oars and get to work !! I ain't wanna see any lazy scum while the lady's doing her thing, here !!" spoke the "captain", an old dwarf, once craftman, then fisherman, and explorator now.

At the front of the Divinus Lumen, a Elder Sister began to chant, her hands holding a orb of pure cristal, a pearl of unusual size found years ago among the reefs. Since then, the delicate structure of the little thing had been slowly worked. The surface was covered with small glyphs without real meaning except for those who engraved them and for those who spent days and nights whispering spell songs until it attuned to the magic of the chants.

Now, rising her hands high, the Elder Sister called upon the primal powers of water. Answering her voice, old magic awakened and the sea seemed to boil a the boat's rear. It took a moment for it to start but soon, the Divinus Lumen advanced on its own, as waves hit its rear, pushing it forward. The oarers began to work and the speed increased quickly.

By nightfall, the Divinus Lumen beached a few miles east, its crew resting. The test had met their expectation. The Shining Pearl would no doubt change a lot of things.

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Creation : the Shining Pearl
An giant pearl, about the size of tennis ball, has been worked to react to Spell Song. It somehow enhance the power of the user, allowing him to use something like a high level version of "Control Water".

[Krrth]

Hradani



Ah! You need warriors. That we can provide, although numbers may be a factor. There are only a few thousand of us, so what we can supply is limited.


Hmm.....how many warriors were you looking for, and for what duties?

[Archpaladin Zousha]

"Primarily we would need them to defend our emmisaries to other peoples. We are currently seeking to settle more lands, but we are able to protect our own homes through the power of the land, as Barada has taught us. But that protection can only extend so far, and in places where we do not have a home-ground advantage, even the great Barada's druidic magic may not be enough to protect us."

[Krrth]

Hradani


So it's guards ye be wanting then? Our Algai’d’siswa are good hunters, but they make rather good warriors as well.



*She thinks for a moment*

We can spare a hundred or so. Most will be young bucks just out of training, but one in five will be a veteran. Of course, the dog packs go with them.

*smiling*

It will be good training for them. So....what is their hire worth to you?

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If you would, pick from spear, one handed sword, two handed sword, axe, mace, or bastard sword. That will determine which "clan" will supply the Algai’d’siswa

[Kaiser Omnik]

Actions

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Baradans - Creation - Monster - Spirit of the Land - (creation+1/2 nature+1/2 fertility) (9d100)[405]
Baradans - Religion - Bolster - ({willpower+primary domain-creation strength}/2) (9d100)[422] - 347 /2 change to creation str = new devotion 384
Baradans - Heal - (10d10)[49] - 100 = -51 essence
Black Bastion - Creation - Monster - Bronze Golems - (creation+1/2 earth+1/2 protection) (9d100)[432]
Black Bastion - Religion - Bolster - ({willpower+primary domain-creation strength}/2) (11d100)[470] - 381 /2 change to creation str = new devotion 473 (reason: gained from Naradians)
Black Bastion - Expansion - Farmadrborg
Black Bastion - Heal - (9d10)[44] - 100 = -56 essence
Children - Creation - Artifact - Airbreathers - (creation+1/2 water (7d100)[220]
Children - Expansion - Midground
Children - Heal - (10d10)[71] - 50 = +21 essence
Danaoi - Creation - Artifact - Silver Branch - (creation+1/2 desert) (7d100)[272]
Danaoi - Religion - Bolster - ({willpower+primary domain-creation strength}/2) (9d100)[388] - 417 /2 change to creation str = new devotion 403
Danaoi - Expansion - Heading north
Danaoi - Heal - (8d10)[44] - 100 = -56 essence
Dark Father - Religion - Bolster - ({willpower+primary domain-creation strength}/2) (8d100)[477] - 401 /2 change to creation str = new str new devotion 439
Dark Father - Expansion - Areas outside new outposts
Dark Father - Heal - (10d10)[46] - 50 = -4 essence
Gyra - Creation - Class - Barbarians (strengthen) - (1/2 creation+1/2 willpower) +(3d100)[122] to creation str
Gyra - Heal - (8d10)[30] - 50 = -20 essence
Hradani - Creation - Relics - Weapons of the Ogre Lords - (creation+1/2 law+1/2 combat) (8d100)[474]
Hradani - Expansion - Hills
Hradani - Heal - (8d10)[43] - 50 = -7 essence
Narade - Creation - Artifact - Shining Pearl - (creation+1/2 water+spell song bonus) (9d100)[413]+(1d50)[10] = 423
Narade - New devotion 638 (reason: lost to Black Bastion)
Narade - Heal - (14d10)[55]+(1d5)[4] = 59 - 50 = +9 essence
Saradites - Creation - Abstract/Class - Wizard - (1/2 creation+1/2 willpower+magic) (13d100)[761]
Saradites - Religion - Bolster - ({willpower+primary domain-creation strength}/2) (17d100)[1167] - 907 /2 change to creation str = new devotion 1037
Saradites - Heal - (17d10)[106] - 100 = +6 essence
Glass Shelter - Creation - Creation - Abstract/Class - Worm Masters - (1/2 creation+1/2 willpower+chaos) (9d100)[417]+(1d50)[8] = 425
Glass Shelter - Expansion - West
Glass Shelter - Heal - (7d10)[33] - 50 = -17 essence

Technology (25% bonus to all loyalists)

Baradans - Crafting (traded from Naradians) - (59d10)[346] x 125% = 433 (Just letting you know you didn't research ancient chants. You only get one tech per turn, even if you get help from another player.)
Black Bastion - Bronze Working - (38d10)[235]
Children - Riding - (50d10)[265] x 125% = 398
Danaoi - Mysticism - (41d10)[220]
Dark Father - Seafaring - (40d10)[263]
Gyra - Agriculture (traded from Baradans) - (61d10)[348] x 125% = 435
Hradani - Ancient Chants - (39d10)[201]
Narade - Agriculture (traded from Baradans) - (88d10)[471] x 125% = 589
Saradites - Seafaring - [477]
Glass Shelter - Knowledge of the Ether - (45d10)[228]

P.s.: Longvin, you have already created death magic and shadow magic. I'm not sure what you wish to do with necromancy (unless you meant to make a class, Necromancer). Still, I would prefer if you researched more techs, such as Mysticism (if you haven't already), Knowledge of the Ether and others before developing more magic.

The Black Bastion and the Naradians have attained level 2! They gain one additional domain at 1.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Actions (one thing I forgot in the last post)

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Narade - Religion - Convert Black Bastion - ({willpower+primary domain-creation strength}/2) (11d100)[328] - 425 /2 change to creation str = new devotion of Black Bastion 473

[Kaiser Omnik]

Naradians

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The Burning Village
Four of the Lupines were standing still. Their long ears moved like those of a dog. Suddenly, they ran behind the huts looking for the other scouts. The other three drew their weapons and charged the group.

"We shall let none escape! They are plagued and will kill us all!"

Followers of the Dark Father

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The Ensi
The emissaries from the Crimson Claw thank the Council. Before leaving, they give Lotti the location of a desert stronghold where they will be able to meet. Obviously, their main base, Basalt Keep, has no fixed location...

The Myconids
Once the elder dark elf has breathed in the cloud, he is able to understand them. The myconid asks where they came from and what they are looking for; delicious fungi, maybe?

Black Bastion

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The emissaries from the Black Bastion arrive at a ruined city on the shore of the Naram-Suen. It looks like it has recently been taken by the forces of the Crimson Claw. Yet, the architecture of the ruined buildings is definitely of ensi origin.
They hear that explorers from "the Pools" have also arrived on site.

Glass Shelter

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Near the Heart
Grigal accepts the deal. The Ensi of the Glass Shelter are allowed to build their advanced outpost. The Crimson Claw will trade their relics for exotic items, magical items and a few vials of water from the Pools of Memory.

Furthermore, the Naradians, the Saradite, the Baradans and the Hradani all recover 50 additional essence. This bonus comes from location and/or artifacts.

[puppyavenger]

Assuming my expansion worked


The Narmen-Suen

The explorers, mostly humans here, are amazed at the huge amounts of water flowing around them. The quickly begin refilling their containers of water, seeing how well their sand-worms do in the new dirt*, and so on. Then they set up a camp and act like they've just walked into heaven.

After a few days small scouting expeditions are sent along the banks, looking for anyone else.

OOC anyone want to make contact with me now? if so, just do so.

The Crimson Claw

The trade outpost is set up, and traveling clans start regularly stopping there to trade for the relics and various other oddities (which are almost worth their weight in water when sold back in the "heartland"). Occasionally a few vials of Memory water are sent from the Pools, generally containing information on oasis' locations, and similarly useful things.

travelers usually try to buy some kind of map or something similar of the Eastern and Northern dessert from the Claw.

After about a year of this, a representative from the Pools (used in the same way the "London" is used to refer to the British government at this point) arrives at the post ,asking to speak with a leader.


*answer, if its loam or fairly fine dirt, their fine, if slightly slower. Rock=no go
more actions later.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Glass Shelter; The Trading Post

The leader of the expedition at the time, a slightly deformed ensi, greets the representative of the Pools.

[Kaiser Omnik]

At the meeting of the Danaoi in Midground...at the offering of the staff on the edge of Bevidia's forest...they were there. The Arbiters. They had arrived decades before and had remained with the people of the alliance ever since. They didn't talk much and didn't seem to like to mingle with commoners. They were present at some of the councils, unless the locals really insisted that they go, in which case they were frowned upon by Dynean's most loyal servants. The Arbiters did assist in ceremonies and give advice from time to time, but nobody is really at ease in their presence.

[Johel]

Order of Narade

The Burning Village

"-Shi-t..."
That was the last thought of the scout leader as the two lupins reached for his neck with their swords. So close, he could smell their breath and see their wolf-like face. One of the monsters impaled himself on the spears but the second smashed the frail weapons like mere sticks. And then the massacre began...

The adepts of Narade abored violence. Their only warriors were the White Guardians and even them were only suited for police duty. The scouts, being observers and hunters, had no formal martial training and were slaughtered. And all the while, the child kept screaming.

None would discover what dark evil had been working this night until many years...

Chelar

With the "incident", an investigation was set. A few deads were to be expected when exploring the tainted Western Lands but never had a whole scout patrol disappeared like that before.

Also, with the large food supply now available and the care of the Order, the population of the Blessed Oasis increased.

Memorial

The burned ruins of the cursed village were found a year after the massacre. What remains was hardly enough to make conclusion, though the pile of scrotched human skeletons hinted that something dark had happened.

Despite its dark history, the place seemed perfect for living, with fresh running water nearby, a fertile soil, some woods and even a natural quarry not far away. The site was sanctified and settled. In the following decade, the fortified village of Memorial became a major outpost, with about 50 resident families and that many travelers.

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Creation : Founding of Memorial.
The "fortified" part consists of two palisades of wood covered with dried mud, circling around the village, with a 3m deep trench between each. With the dirt from the digging of the trench, a mot has been set at the center of the village, where a pile of wood serve both as a memorial to the victims and as a watch tower.

The Great Journey

On this sunny day, the crew of the Divinus Lumen left the coast of Shusi, following the coastline to the East. The Matriarch had given them a mission : to investigate the Far South, from where came rumors of wise and powerful scholars.

Some said that these mystics were ruling over cities of gold, with hutts so high that, like the marvels of before the Divine War, they reached the clouds themselves. In this land of knowledge, the land itself was bend to the will of the mages who, while they shared the profits of their secrets with the locals, also kept said secrets with jealousy and defiance.

Even if only half of this was true, the Order of Narade had to contact these learned folks, as their knowledge had to benefit to all.

Everybody :

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Using the Shining Pearl and a larger-than-usual canoe, a group of explorers travel along the coastline toward the land of the Saradites. Feel free to interact as they pass by your shore (*wink* to Raz)

[Kaiser Omnik]

Memorial

A dozen men and women, all ogres, come to the village of Memorial one day in late spring. They seek refuge from the "wolf-men", who have returned in the mountains after an absence of several years.

[puppyavenger]

The trading post

The representative, a relatively well known Storm-Shaper, greets the expedition leader Hello, and thank you for meeting with us. Well to get straight to the point, I'm here for a few reasons. First of all,, when we first met some of your fellows, they mentioned something called "blade magic". We'd like to take up their offer to teach it to a few of us in exchange for some trade goods.

Secondly, At the last Grand Conference, there was a solid majority in favor of attempting to formalize the relationship between us and your people. So, I am entrusted with the responsibility of requesting a formal pact of cooperation and peace between our people.

Thirdly, I don't suppose you have any maps of the far West of North we could borrow?


City on the Narmen-Suen


The scouts, including two storm-shapers and a Worm-master (the worm waiting in some farm-land nearby) are slightly shocked at what they see.

They are all dressed in light armor with heavy cloths mostly designed to protect from the elements, but capable of stopping a sword-blow or two in a pinch., everything they have has water liberally applied to it.

When the Crimson Claw banners are spotted by one of the storm-shapers who had happened to be at the trading out-post a while before, he quickly starts communicating with the pidgin code he knows. Us Allies. Why kill/destroy town/city/camp/base? who other creatures? their town/city/camp/base?

[Johel]

Memorial

As with any travelers, the ogres are welcomed warmly, though the White Guardians at the gates ask for their weapons and told them the few rules that must be respected, as well as the punishements in case of transgression. The rules are the same as for Suncliff.

Free water, food and healing are provided to the ogres who need it. The ogres also receive help to build their shelters inside the walls. The Sisters wish to speak with their chiefs to know more about these "wolf-men" and about the ogres of the region.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

The Baradans

The Bountiful Grove

In light of the new discoveries made by bother her own scouts and those of her allies, Barada began to ponder what more could be done to improve the land. She decided that she herself would go with a party to explore the lands that had not been claimed by other peoples. She prayed to the spirits that she and her people would be kept safe, and they began their long journey. They soon left the Great Forest of Bevidia behind them, travelling southward to the Black Bastion. Barada politely requested asylum from them, noting that both the Black Bastion and the Baradans were both allies of the Naradians.

Midground

The Baradans at Midground were impressed at the power that the Accipitrons had developed, and pondered if perhaps they should consider learning the ways of battle themselves. After all, not all of nature was tame and quiet. There was the fierce. There was the savage. There was the predator. A group of Baradans spoke with their allies, asking if accepting training from the Accipitrons

Suncliff

The Baradans at Suncliff worked hard to gain the respect and favor of their Naradian hosts, tilling the soil and harvesting a bumper crop. One of Barada's ambassadors noticed the ancient songs and poems the Naradians used in their ceremonies, and soon the entire Baradan community at Suncliff began to wonder if they could learn this too.

Steppes of the Hradani

"Their hire is worth much. We Baradans know more about agriculture and the care of the land than anyone. If you will ally with us, and help protect us, we will share these secrets with you. You will not need to depend on the uncertainties of the herds or fear the claws of the predator just to survive. You will be able to have a steady supply of food each year, and can thus divert your energies to equally useful tasks."

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Johel, would it be possible to share Ancient Chants with the Baradans as well? And I believe I remember something about a monastery nearer to Baradan lands if we learned Crafting from you.

Omnik, you mentioned that you may only learn one tech per turn, but what about abstract things like classes? Say the Baradans wanted to form a group of barbarians to serve as elite guards. Would we be able to learn the ways of the barbarian from our Accipitron allies, or would we have to develop the class ourselves?

Krrth, I pick the bastard sword as the weapon of choice for the guards.

I'm going to hold off on things like Creation and Research until these questions are answered.

[Kaiser Omnik]

Glass Shelter

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The Trading Post

The ensi captain nodded.

"- We have swordmages here to train you. Be careful though. Sometimes, they don't know when to stop."

At that moment, the ensi felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground. But then he looked at the emissary and was able to maintain his composure.

"- Excuse me. It shouldn't happen again. What were we saying? Ah yes, your offer... This seems like a good time to formalize our relationship. However, only our Lord Akpe can strike such an alliance. May I organize a meeting between our Lord and your elders? Why not in the Heartland, a sacred site to our people...

As for the maps, we do have some of the ancient ensi empire. There are some desert landmarks on there, as well as the location of some outposts that belonged to the Under Kingdom."


The City on the Naram-Suen

Recognizing the storm-shaper as an ally, an officer of the Crimson Claw goes to talk to him in private.

"- This is the legendary city of Ninurta, the first ensi settlement on the river of life. It was like this when we found it and it was inhabited by vermins...some sort of berserk dwarves or halflings. Anyway, we cleaned the place. Those guys over there? Don't know about them. They just arrived."

Naradians

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The ogres thanked the Naradians for their generosity and began building shelters. As the men were sturdy and strong, they offered to help the humans with all sorts of physical labor. The ogres are a pretty stoic people, but they learn to get alon with the Naradians rather quickly. The leader of the refugees came to talk to the sisters. He was wearing a red mask and dark robes.

"- Greetings, sisters. You wish to know more about us and our enemies? Very well. We ogres were created by the old god Erothayce, the keeper Hel. He fought long against the Usurper...the dark lord Vesper, who wished to take all souls for himself and turn them into the Undead. And we left our isolation to fight with him, keeping the dark elves at bay. After the cataclysm, no dark elves were left in our homeland...but our god was gone, too. Fortunately, he taught us how to care for ourselves. And thus we remained in the hills. We have been busy trying to preserve the balance between the light and the darkness and keeping the borders between the worlds intact.

However, during the last century, everything changed as the Lupines, those we call wolf-men, entered our territory. We knew that the Lupines were once worshipers of the Light and the god Aresk Moonfell, so we didn't fear them. At first, they didn't attack us. They simply crossed the hills to get to the plains, around here. But then we learned of what they were really doing. They were there to purge a "plague". They were certain that an ancient evil had resurfaced and was spreading a disease to twist the minds of mortals...to turn them against the children of Aresk Moonfell and all that is good. They are surely the ones responsible for burning the village that once stood here.

Some of us fought them and they left. Now, they have returned to harass us. They are more violent than ever. When will their thirst for blood be satisfied?"

[puppyavenger]

The Trading Post

heh, I'll make sure to only get the guys who see how long they can ride sand-worms for fun try to get training.

Excellent, if you could tell us what time your Lord would be hear, I'll make sure that a delegation is here to take him to the Pools.

As for the map,s what would you like in return?


City on the Narmen-Suen

speaking normally now, the storm-shaper responds The River of life certainly seems like a goo description. I'm somewhat surprised to see you and your band here, we thought you only controlled sections of the desert. Anyway, now that we're here, we'll be happy to help and exchange some information once the current situation is dealt with.

[Smiley_]

[SIZE="5"]
Midground

The Baradans at Midground were impressed at the power that the Accipitrons had developed, and pondered if perhaps they should consider learning the ways of battle themselves. After all, not all of nature was tame and quiet. There was the fierce. There was the savage. There was the predator. A group of Baradans spoke with their allies, asking if accepting training from the Accipitrons

The accipitrons agreed to offer the forest children training in their predatory ways. The Barradans had helped them with the food problem, after all.

The Accipitrons were, in turn, interested in the art of Crafting that the Baradans had developed.

[Archpaladin Zousha]

The Baradans admitted that the crafting techniques they had learned were not their own invention, but rather a gift from the Naradians, but they were more than willing to share it.

[Ipphli]

Children of Uso

Suncliff

The Baradans at Suncliff were approached by an aging triton. Naming himself Sellus, he wished to speak to these strange people about who they were and where they came from. A messenger was sent to Aceria to inform them that another of their allies had been found and contacted.

Great Journey

The Divinus Lumen crew soon found themselves with company. The delegation from Aceria towards Midground, having heard of their journey, decided that a few of their number would go with the Divinus to aid them and make contact with the wise men themselves. They offered to bring the crew fresh food and be their forward scouts to keep the dangers of the ocean awa.

Midground

The small group of tritons struggled through the hills. While they knew of mountains from their home, they'd always been able to swim to whatever point they wanted to reach. Having to walk seemed to increase the difficulty substantially. They paused at the base of the mountains, deciding to set up camp there and wait to start the ascent the next day. Although there remained several hours of daylight, the leader decided it would be best if they spent the time resting.

[Johel]

Order of Narade

Memorial

The Elder Sister in charge of the village listened quietly. The oral tradition of the Ogres was probably rich in details from the past but also brought an moral ordeal to the Order.

For centuries, the naradians had always tried to remain neutral, to never involved themselves into local conflicts between tribes. It was easy back then, as the Order of Narade had held no political power. But things had changed, now. The Sisters weren't anymore this small band of fanatics which preached for deaf ears. There were thousands of people who depended upon their care. And even more who trusted the peace they brought.

But now, they had to protect people from a genocide.
"-These Lupins must indeed be talked out of their bloody ways. Or failing that, we will help all Ogres to settle elsewhere. I'll send a messenger to Suncliff about all this. Until I get an answer from the Matriarch, what do you suggest we do ? Right now, the Order has no army to fight against a determined enemy, let alone a whole people of fanatic murderers."

Suncliff

Suncliff had grown even larger but nobody would call it a city. Though one of the biggest community in the known world, it was still nothing but a large cluster of tents and hutts, all made of wood, bones, canvas and leather. Only the temple of Narade looked like a true building, even if it was just a big wooden house.

Humans, Dwarven, Dvegars and Tritons lived there in peace, some worshipping Narade while others just agreed with her ideal. Among the humans, the disciples of Barada showed great curiosity for the Spell Song and the rituals surrounding it. Some of their druids learn the ancient chants with relative ease. Maybe was the primal link that the Spell Song used the same as the one used by druids, with only more analyse from the naradians for what the druids had always done naturally.

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Help the Baradans to discover the "Ancient Chants".

Great Forest of Bevidia

When they heard that a large people lived in the hills, just North of the forest, the local mission of Sisters investigated the rumors. They learned that they were tall warriors of short temper, barbarians who enjoyed hunting and fighting, with little respect for life and no respect for women.

They decided not to contact them. But when messengers from Suncliff talked of the Lupin threat, the Elder Sister in charge of the Bountiful Grove's naradians decided to ask an audiance with Barada.

Spoiler

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The Order offers the Baradans to join their ressources in order to hire and equip a mercenary army.
Let's get warriors from the Hradani, bronze weapons from the Black Bastion, logistic from the Order and the Baradans.

Suncliff and the other naradians communities can pay with tools, cereals, vegetables, textile, alcool (we invented brewery a while ago...and we got dwarven !! ), magic from Spell Song, seafood (we don't got much of this but the Children of Uso can sure exchange a few fish for tools)

Great Journey

The tritons were met with joy. After all, what better guide to ride the waves than the sea-dwellers ? And so the journey continued, the Divinus Lumen beaching each night so that the crew could rest and supply.

Progress was slow but it was done on purpose, as the naradians, with their sphere of inflence already extending for hundreds of miles, had found the need to represent, to draw a picture of the lands. All land communities were working at it and the crew of the Divinus Lumen was doing the same.

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Technology : Cartography
What about giving a expansion bonus for this technology ?
Beside the fluff, the tech is useless but I find it important for rising nations to map their surrounding. We don't know how to write yet so it's mostly drawing but still, it's better than description and memory alone...

[Kaiser Omnik]

Glass Shelter

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The Trading Post

"- Lord Akpe should be able to be here within a week. As for the map, I will let him decide. Who knows, he may give you one as a gift."

(OOC: We will continue this a bit later.)

City on the Naram-Suen

The officer grinned.

"- We are more and more powerful. This belonged to Sesketh's children in the past. It is only normal that we take it back. Let's hear what the foreigners have to say. I wouldn't trust them...yeah, obviously you are also strangers. But at least you are Ensi."

Naradians

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Memorial

The ogre scratched his shin and then replied to the Elder Sister:
"- We ogres are adept at magic. We manipulate the shadow weave. Although it has become harder and harder to do so... Someone is interfering with our work. I fear that the dark elves have been using shadow magic again. Anyway...what this means is that we could cast a spell of protection. However, we need more ogre spellcasters and some help from you to succeed. Even if you don't know arcane magic...I am sure you faith and your willpower will be enough for the ritual.

Before I go, I would like to ask you a question. I have heard one of yours utter the name Dynean. Is this person the same Dynean who has supposedly reclaimed the world from the demons?"