Only Ruins: Game thread

[PossiblyInsane]

Daigoro's Heart

Spoiler: Previously, on Ed Cook's Amazing Adventures: Among the Giant Crab People!

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A cow that's actually a bug has diplomatic talks with a bunch of mentally unstable giant crab people in some really cold place far away from the rest of the world, then wants to go and see the giant crab people that were crazy enough for the rest of the mentally unstable giant crab people to lock up.

Ed cocked his head slightly. What could she be hiding back there?
I don't know. Maybe a wild aberration? That's boring.
Boring! We're kind of surrounded here by the things!
Just concentrate on fighting. Let Ed do his thing, Lectre.
You know, I could help with those new races you came up with, Oswin.
Sure, why not? Let me show you what we're doing.
Only a moment had passed; the speed of many minds thinking without having to say anything.

Lady Cyrica walked to the door and pushed, choosing to ignore the fact it weighed several tons. She held it open and beckoned towards the Khaloric.
"After you, Ed Cook."

"As you say, my lady." He stood up and walked to where he was encouraged.

Ed stopped walking partway down the wide, winding hallway, and looked like he wanted to sit down. He looked like he was in pain... but pain from what?
"Please excuse me, Lady." He snorted. He almost looked like he was in the middle of a conversation with an idiot, but there was no one else there, and he hadn't said anything.
"She wouldn't even agree to that, so stop suggesting it!" he yelled.

Lady Cyrica turned. They had approached a human sized stone door, unusual in this city of giants.
"The Swarm has something it wishes to say?"

"Not the entire Swarm, only one Queen. She's rather adamant, though, and yelling at her in our mind doesn't seem enough to get her to be quiet. I apologize for my outburst."

"Perhaps it would be more efficient to allow her to communicate her intent? It will allow her to speak her piece, and I shall consider it hers', rather than the Swarm's as a whole."

Ed is silent for a moment. Then another moment. "Now that she's calmed her excited agreement and snide remarks of me, I shall speak for her. She says that since your people are used to a male descendant and you don't have one, I should name myself a King, offer to marry you, and ensure our child is born male."

Lady Cyrica raised an eyebrow. "Out of curiosity, would this Queen happen to be related to Prince Moria?"

"No. Prince Moria is a drider, and Queen Emony was an elderly spinster dustmoth before she died and requested to become a recombinant."

The corner of her mouth twitched.
"There is a subtle difference between tradition as set by historical precedent and tradition as set by a changing culture. Queen Emony may be well served to learn more of a culture she wishes to marry into, that such suggestions would be better received in the future. On a practical note, I suspect our physiologies would be incompatible. On a personal note, such a marriage would require consummation, and I have little interest in necrophilia."

"Likewise. I was killed, and upon reanimation, I was infested and came to true life once more, though born under a new race of course. As has happened before, the Khaloric Swarm's marriage to non-insect races has traditionally been to travel to the Great Temple of Khalorean and spend a night, consummation or not, in one of its many guest rooms. Child bearing happens after that, whether it was physically possible for both parents or not."
I told you she'd say no.
Yeah, yeah. I heard her.
"On a personal note, Harold says it was rather hilarious to meet half-humans born to a farmer's livestock."

Lady Cyrica gives an amused smile, which she politely covers with a dainty hand. As she remembers their destination, her cheer fades.
"The problems associated with such offspring are not entirely related to consummation. The creature our journey concerns illustrates that all too well."

She places a hand over a small hole in the door. Her muscles twitch for a moment, and the door swings open. Beyond lies a cramped, unusually dry stone passage, and utter darkness. Lady Cyrica holds her hand aloft, and a soft red luminescence shines out from her palm, showing the tightly set flagstones beyond.

"Please, stay close. There are as many turns and passages as a half mad architect with little better use of his time could devise over the course of several centuries."

The two set off through the tunnels, the door swinging shut and locking behind them. Cyrica set a brisk pace, apparently navigating the branching paths by memory. Occasionally, they would come to another stone door, opened in a similar manner to the first.

After perhaps a quarter hour, a rhythmic banging came into earshot, echoing around the walls from indeterminate direction. Cyrica sighed as their travel brought them closer.
"Trachus always was persistent. Most of the others stopped testing the wards after the first ten years. Alas, I suspect she hopes her skull will give way, first."

The pair continued on, the banging fading into the background. Eventually, they came to a door apparently indistinguishable from any of the other doors save for a small section of glass embedded in the door, set in mortar and tar.
"The air lock can only be operated from this side. Unfortunately, you will have to see Lycus on your own. He would not speak in my presence, anyways. He will almost certainly attempt to trick you. There should be a barrier in place, but do not step beyond the ledge, in case he has managed to foil his bindings and eroded the internal wards."
She opened the door. Beyond lay a short passage, with another door at the end.
"Do not stay for too long, or the air will run out. I wish you luck, Ed."

"Airlock? How could one make a lock out of something like air?"

"I highly doubt anyone could. This one is so called because it locks air out. Or in, rather. As for the how..."
She put her hand over the door once again, tensed her muscles, and pulled. A squirming ribbon of flesh was brought into the light for a moment, before being released and retreating back into the hole.
"It is amazing what devices can be built, when one can bind unbreathing flesh to one's will. A process that is altogether too time consuming to be of much practical use, but it occasionally proves necessary. Water can travel through air, and Lycus cannot be permitted unbound water."

"The Swarm once had something similar... we were able to make flesh grow across the landscape and encase buildings. It was made mostly to absorb corpses for cleanliness and other minor benefits. But knowing he cannot be allowed in the presence of unbound water, it sounds as though he is a waterbender."

"He was, yes. Now? I know not. Water does not typically soak through skin and turn a creature's blood to acid. Whether such a feat lies with his talent or his corruption, I could not say."

"Again you mention something our people once had of quality to boast. If the room is safe, I think we would enjoy talking to him. Might I rely on you for the timeframe of retreat? A rapping on the door or something else of your choice?"

"Ah, convergent development. I am sure you will have plenty to talk about. Not too long, if you please. You should have about a quarter hour of air, but I do have other duties besides opening doors." Lady Cyrica settles against the wall, and takes a few of shell plates from somewhere in her dress to look over.

"Since I doubt I could open one of these doors myself, I will not waste time." Ed entered the room as best he could; his horns had to go in at an angle before any of the rest of him could enter.

It was difficult to see, but it was lit well enough that a figure not much smaller than Ed himself was, was tied up with what looked like simple leather; almost like long, thick belts tied in confusing knots, keeping the arthropod-like erratic limbs sprouting from the sluglike beast's body in mostly logical, but uncoordinated places from moving. Whatever the straps were attached to wasn't seen; but they were tightly pulled from behind the creature; hidden in shadow.

Ed expected it to be rabid and aggressive, but its thoughts were even more stable than the abhorrent beings that made up the populace. The Corpus minds were spiderweb-fractured glass, but this one was more like a mostly smooth surface of well-forged window glass. Whatever sound it had been making, it stopped once Ed entered. Was it looking at him? He couldn't tell.
"I am Ed Cook, recombinant of the Khaloric Swarm. What are you?"

A drooping eye stalk, trembling slightly with the effort, is lifted towards Ed.
"...A...Khaloric?..." The creature took a rasping breath, coughing on the dry air. "I had...thought you...extinct. I am gladdened...Your breeds were...most inspiring."

The creature coughed once more, hacking up a small globule of blackish bile that fell into the darkness.
"...Forgive...me. I...was...Lycus, Arch-Bender of Waters...If I had known I...was having company...I would have...tidied the place." Lycus gave a dry chuckle.

"Please forgive us, but pleasantries are not permitted within the short span of time I am allotted to speak with you. Why are you restrained here?"

"...Ah...Lady Cyrica still lives, then?...Or..." Lycus gave another fit of coughing. "...the thing wearing her skin...anyways." He slumped against his bindings. "...I would have...thought it...clear. The creature is mad. It obsesses itself with lost Aurora...so contaminated...with the madness it consumed...it believes itself to be her... It spreads its' folly to others...binding madness to human flesh...surrounding itself with corrupted souls, convinced of their...heritage...to make it easier to face...itself."

Lycus gave another dry, coughing chuckle.
"I suppose...I was not mad enough...for it's tastes. I...suggested we let the dead rest...stop this spreading madness...let those real children of Aurora...live, and reclaim the world...on their own strength. 'Lady Cyrica', as it calls itself..." he demonstratively rattled one of his bindings. "...disagreed..."

"A simple disagreement of government objective. Why not then kill you and destroy your remains? Or, why not ignore your opinion and continue unheeded without the need for a prison?"

"As to the former...partly sentimentality...partly practicality...I had served on the Council with...her...for many years...shared many nights...a pretension of...heh...i...reinforced its' belief in...its' illusion of humanity...and she has yet...to find a mind my equal in magical research...even in here..."

"As to the latter...her 'Council'...is another pretension...partly from the mind it...consumed...Have you ever wondered...looking through the histories...why House Verde had such difficulty...before the Cataclysm...of producing a male heir, while she...was regent? She...craves...control. I, and those I...had shown my concerns...did not have...as many strings...As she controlled us...less and less...she grew remarkably...less tolerant of oligarchy..."

His expression brightens. "But enough...of that we...cannot help. Your time is short, and we have...much to share...I had always...wondered...what it is like...to be a part of the Swarm. To share the thoughts...of other minds...."

"I want to welcome you into the Swarm, but I'd rather do it with the Lady's blessing. We are not here to make war, and such a thing would be an excellent excuse. But my time here is probably close now, so I should be going."
Ed awkwardly tapped on the door with the blunt side of one of his horns, signaling to be let out. "If Lady Cyrica wills it, then we will meet again."

The air lock door slid open with a slightly organic rasp, allowing the Recombinant entrance.
"So soon?...A pity. You still have...at least ten minutes of air, and...this chance may not be....given so freely to us again." Lycus drooped on his bindings, his previous hopeful energy leaving him. "Please? It has been...far too long, since I had company...and Lady Cyrica, at least, would be too polite to cut short...the rightful exchange of information you came for, would she not? I have...told you why I am here. You have not had the chance...to do the same..."

As Ed prepares to leave, he gives a simple response. "I came for you."

Lycus raises his head, a steely determination in the tilt of his eyestalks.
"Then you should not leave empty handed."
Straining against the bindings, he holds an appendage out to the Recombinant, a few feet away from where Ed had previously been standing. A small globe is held within.
"Here. You should...be able to make something...of that. If you cannot stay, then take it. Quickly, before...the airlock cycles."

Ed, as not having been looking that direction, ignores the gesture and makes his way out of the room.

The bound figure slumps once more as the airlock doors close. The air grows thin for a moment as many somethings in the wall filter it through their teeth, then exhale once more. The exterior door slides open. Cyrica looks up from her shells in mild surprise. "That was quick. I thought you had much that you wished to speak of?"

"I don't want to give too much credence to the words of something which has quite possibly gone irredeemably mad. It said it was once some special type of water bender, and you said it was too, so at least that part seems true."

"It speaks some form of truth, at least. What did you think of the creature itself?"

"I don't understand. Which aspect of it do you speak?"

"Everything. I am curious what impression the Swarm had of Lycus. Or rather, what is left of him. I had thought the Khloric would consider no creature irredeemably mad."

"There is very little information we can acquire about an individual when their form is so wildly different from the remainder of their kin. At least, without offering them conversion and them accepting. Broken minds can be repaired, but also the ability to self-reflect is improved. As he is, it would be highly informative for us on whatever he was trying to give me, as well as waterbending. But, as you ask what our thoughts are on him as he is, we have no opinion. Some of us have our own opinions but it is only individual perspectives and not a representation of our combined will." He took a breath. "As for irredeemably mad, no, we don't consider anything in such a state, at least not once they join us. Left in their original state, some individuals are left as little more than wildly screaming monsters incapable of thought or any action besides clawing at and attempting to eat whatever they see; even if they are a simple human."

"I see. Then what do you, Ed Cook, think of Lycus?"

"Personally? I'd consider him a rather valuable addition to the Swarm. Whether mind or body, but of course I'm thinking of both, our genning would have more options potentially made available. Diplomatically... well, you're the one to talk to, not him. Of course, if we gain the ability to waterbend, then if what he said was true about you needing him for his power, then I could convert him, keep him as one of my two escorts, and stay here if you would like me to. Our loyalty would guarantee his, and his power would no longer be given to you by him alone, and it would be willingly."

"A logical conclusion from the information presented. Your diplomatic tactfulness is commendable." Cyrica sighed. "Unfortunately, the creature speaks truly. These are...tumultuous times. His insight is useful, albeit dangerous. And it would be unwise to throw away an avenue of power one controls, simply due to inherent risks."

Cyrica straightens, putting her shells away. "The hour grows late, and I am weary. Would you desire more time to speak with him, tomorrow?"

"I would consider it both an honor and a privilege to do so."

"Then you shall have it. I see there is much you can learn from him. A whale's lung Aberration shall accompany you, that you need not overly worry of time." Her expression remained neutral. "Heed my words. Even that given freely shall carry a price, and one need not speak falsehood to lie." Cyrica gives a humorless smile. "Such is the nature of diplomacy, after all."

Spoiler: Actions and a note

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The second part of that collab between Viirin and I. There'll likely be at least one more episode of Ed Cook's Amazing Adventures: Among the Giant Crab People!.

Back in someplace less cold than the Northern Wastes, the Corpus Verde shall be sending aid to some of the locals in the Baelenic Peninsula, and diplomats to some other areas hit by them Aberrations to see what aid can be offered.

Move the House Guard (1st army) to support local forcces fighting Aberrations in Northern Balaena.
Negotiate with locals in Northernmost Balaena
Finish Researching Frostships (2/2 research action, intended to provide a bonus to combat on water/coastal regions.
Send a Diplomat to the Brujah
Send a Diplomat to Xule.

[Viirin]

The world is yucky and terrible and there are monsters everywhere. Plus wild magic. Did you find a seed to a pretty flower? Instead of growing a pretty flower, you might grow a duck.

Nightmares attack their dreamers after they wake up in a cold sweat, then possess their body and then run off, never to be seen again.
Accounts of busy mothers being gently told by a kindly stranger that they can carry their child for them while they fiddle with groceries or other trivial busy behavior, to the mother's appreciation. Then the stranger reveals that what they talked with isn't their true mouth, because their face falls off while they cackle loudly and madly.
The two rumors probably aren't true, and definitely aren't related.

Spoiler: Weekly rolls are as follows

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Harconin Protectorate

- TBA: Fully settle Island territory (19 on a d20) (cost: 2 materials, 1 food) (43 mats -2 = 41)
- Implement Simulacra Crystals (cost: 12 Mats) +4 R&D Bonus Materials(success)
- Implement Ironclad Ships (cost: 8 mats) (success) +3 to combat on the ocean and coast
- Implement Ultra Light Weight Armour (cost: 8 mats) (success) +4 to combat on Land and increased survivability

Khaloric Swarm

0: Lectre's Corps reaches the mountains and begins searching for the galans (12 on a d20) (success)
1. Send diplomat to the Harconin Empire (success)
2. Send diplomat to the Corpus Verde (success)
3. Gen "Oxidizer" (13 on a d20) (Recombinant +1) 13+1=14 (success)
4. Gen "Recruiter" (16 on a d20) (Recombinant +1) 16+1=17 (success)

Grand Duchy of Xule

-Implement mushroom gift from the Khaloric Swarm into one of the four mines under Xule (Food bonus) (1 material for +1 food, 2 mats for +2 food) (success)
-Implement steam engines into factories (Materials bonus) (success) provides +3 to materials
-Form elite coastal guards from units which saw action against pirates (success)
-Research high-rise buildings, to increase maximum population density within a fortified territory (natural 20 on a d20!) will take one more action. provides +2 housing

Empire of the Basalt Throne

1) Absorb and settle the forests to the NW of Quartog Manor (success) (cost 2 materials, 1 food)
2) Absorb and settle the mountains to the northwest nearest Quartog manor (success) (cost 2 materials, 1 food)
3) Negotiate with locals North East of territory 8 (success)
4) Further espionage on the Brujah, either to support the previous action (if needed) or to establish covert smuggling pathways to the Brujah (if the previous action was complete) (Eagle said it succeeded)

Move Army 1 (Imperial Engineers) to combat Abominations attacking the coast (success)

Corpus Verde

Move the House Guard (1st army) to support local forcces fighting Aberrations in Northern Balaena. (success)
Negotiate with locals in Northernmost Balaena (your roll: 14 (-4 cuz you're abominations) 10, theirs: 8, success)
Finish Researching Frostships (2/2 research action, intended to provide a bonus to combat on water/coastal regions (success)
Send a Diplomat to the Brujah (success)
Send a Diplomat to Xule (success)

Ajivhan Khaganate

- Research Metallurgy (One more action to research)
- Research Blasting Powder (Will cost 8 to implement)
- Research Rocketry (Will cost 8 to implement)
- Research Artisans (Will cost 4 to implement)

No actions posted:

Navasti League
Silverplume Confederacy

Spoiler: Defense rolls from the Aberration attacks

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I don't know if everyone is going to be attacked in every settlement or what, so I can only give warnings and rolls to what I think I'm supposed to. Eagle might change any of this, probably by making it meaner.
Since I didn't see a base defense or attack number, I figured it was just d20 v d20, then apply bonuses, so that's what the rolls below are. Eagle told me over Skype that the aberrations get +5.
Also, whatever outcome he feels is needed for whatever win/lose amount is up to him. I won't pretend to try and do that job.
Also, to consider a territory "lost", I rolled against both any stationed army and the city itself. So it was City (d20) + Army (d20) vs Aberrations. Most cities don't have an army stationed in them, though. Also, some people have various bonuses in combat, so I took that into consideration too.

Brujah
Settlement 7
Aberrations: 12+5 =17
Defenders: 16 (Jungle Fighters +3 Bonus to Combat Rolls on Land) (Tamed Dinosaurs +3 Bonus to Combat Rolls on Land) 16+6=22

Won by 5.

They are now attacking the third territory.

Basalt Throne
Settlement 6
Aberrations: 18+5 = 23
Defenders: 7 (Soldiery +3 to Combat Rolls on Land) (Ancient Creations +3 to Combat Rolls) 7+6=13
Army 1: 15 (Soldiery +3 to Combat Rolls on Land) (Ancient Creations +3 to Combat Rolls) 15+6=21
Overall defense: 34

Overall: Won by 11
Specifics:
City lost by 10
Army won by 11
City would have been lost if not for the army.

Settlement 8
Aberrations: 16+5 =21
Defenders: 3 (Soldiery +3 to Combat Rolls on Land) (Ancient Creations +3 to Combat Rolls) 3+6=9

Lost by 12.
City is lost, everyone is dead, and area is overrun with abominations. They won't settle, but yeah.

Aberrations are now attacking Settlement 2 and 5.

Khaloric Swarm
Settlement: 1 (Khalorean City)
Aberrations: 10+5 =15
Defenders: 14 (Siege Wall +1 Defense) (Horde +3 to Combat Rolls on Land) 14+4=18
Army 1: 9 (Horde +3 to Combat Rolls on Land) 9+3=12
Overall defense: 30

Overall: Won by 15
Specifics:
City won by 3
Army's support roll wasn't necessary.

Xule
Settlement: Xule
Aberrations: 15+5 =20
Defenders: 18 (Militia +3 Bonus to Defensive Combat Rolls) 18+3=21
Army 1: 8 (Militia +3 Bonus to Defensive Combat Rolls) 8+3=11 (I don't see a defensive bonus for double fortification so I can't include it)
Overall defense: 32

Overall: Won by 12.
Specifics:
City won by 1.
Army's support roll wasn't necessary.

[Viirin]

Khalorean City

"Well, at least they'll be ready for next time." One of the drider wall guards tossed a remaining piece of an abomination into the well.
"It's unfortunate they can't copy traits from their prey, but at least they can resupply their own numbers rather easily." The historian dustmoth, now mostly out of work because of Harold, replied.

Nasrine was walking by them and others as they cleaned up the battle's aftermath. She had an idea, that might work. Prince Moria had said something about toys given to the royal children by the Basalt Empire, and maybe we should give them something too. She thought they actually had something to offer in that regard, so there wasn't a reason to fail to meet that unsaid demand.
As she entered the Temple's lower hall, she saw Empress Cook, Queen Oswin, and two other recombinant women she hadn't met sitting in a circle, discussing something. Maybe she should come back later...

"You're one of the transit guards, aren't you?" Oswin asked.
"Yes, my Queen. Nasrine of the Black Spool."
"You seem to have something to say, walking with such confidence. What is on your mind?"
"The Basalt Throne has given gifts to our royal allies before we have. Now that you and the Empress", she curtsied, which was somewhat less dignified than it should have been since she was wearing armor and not a flowing dress, "made new creatures that are incapable of inflicting injury..."
Dorian held up a hand to stop the beginning chatter.
"They become the color of the rust they eat. Though easily excitable by design, they can be trained if one puts effort into it. They have no souls, and their behavior is guided entirely by instinct. They are not intelligent and can be controlled by us just as easily as one moves their own fingers while writing. If killed, they will not reanimate. If treated properly, they are eternal like the rest of us."
"I will present this information along with the gifts. Shall I bring two eggs or hatchlings to the castle?"
"Many people have a great interest in color and other fashion", said one of the unknown queens. "Why not bring eggs, so their color can become whatever the children wish them to be? I know of some rust colors that I write down for them."
"Thank you for you suggestion. I will thank you to do so, Queen..." she didn't know what name she should use, but she must be a queen, if she was a recombinant like the others and sitting where she was and with who she was.
"Ryloth. Queen of the new settlement East of Stone's Throw and North of Xule."
"Ah! I am sorry, we hadn't met before. If you are travelling there-" she was cut off.
"Yes, I was the one who sent word to you at a serendipitous time, apparently."
"Take two sets of breeding pairs, and two drones." The Empress had a plan.
Nasrine was pretty sure she knew what was needed. "The breeding pairs you want... to go to the other settlements, and the drones to Xule?"
"Very well done. We don't want a metal-rich nation to become overrun."

Stone's Throw

"I'm rather glad we left so many of the caves uninhabited! We're going to need the room!" N'alti exclaimed, to everyone's surprise. Wasn't she an original inhabitant of this place?
A few people just looked at her with a clear look of confusion.
"What? Oh look at the ray-das she isn't fulfilling her stereotype! Stupid. I get far more riches through my work with the insects than I did with my own kin attacking whoever had whatever in the area. If they've found their friends or whatever, then I wonder how much stronger they'll get, and how much more I can gain from them, and how much better protected my people will be. That's all."

The various cautiously visiting locals stopped caring about her at that point, and went back to the looting- or rather, organized supply redistribution, of one of the cave systems that was previously a ray-das encampment.

Lectre's Corps, Mountain Range

The darts bounced pointlessly off the luug. "It isn't working!" Cordyron didn't know what to do if infestation didn't work.
"A DISTRACTION! EAT THEM!" A huge galan that had to be at least half a size bigger than expected launched itself out of the cave mouth onto the luug's bulbous back, shattering some of the crystal-like growths on it and knocking it to the ground.
Yep, this is where the galans were, alright. Being assailed from two sides now, the luug forces, though small in number, were dealt with with very few losses. Those losses would get back up again soon enough, though, one way or another. But that meant the luug would, too.
Some of the galans noticed right away, but some of the others just went back into the cave to be left alone.
"We f... we found you at last, my brothers and sisters!" Lectre was the first to speak to them, and she did so triumphantly.
"Drider? Some of us remember you, but many laugh at the possibility. You were looking for us?" One of the average, twenty foot wide spiders, made out of lava, asked. "And what may I ask are you?" he, if that was a he, it probably was I guess, motioned at a dustmoth.
The dustmoth just stared at the galan. So they were real.
"They call themselves dustmoths. Do you remember the ancient rainbow butterflies, lovers of all, seeing beauty in everyone and everything, teaching joy, compassion, understanding, and forgiveness to everyone?"
"Only vaguely."
"Well the few that survived their own genocide fled underground, lost their powers, lost their coloration, and became earth-toned subterranean moth people proficient with hit-and-run spear attacks."
"That went about as well as expected, then. But I see a few of them, and they most certainly are not underground, and couldn't have been for awhile if you have traveled all the way here."
"They wanted to accompany us on our Holy Quest."
The galan thudded on the ground, his carapace clearly showing no sign of interest, since his face couldn't do the same.
"What kind of a quest? No, forget that. A quest for who? Which god?"
"Khalorean, of course! The one who made us all!"
"All insects, that is. Our stories don't have him showing any interest to anything else. Moths!" the giant flaming spider yelled at a lightly armored moth man. "Why did you come above ground? The world is not safe. You should have stayed hidden."
"It isn't as dangerous as it once was" he replied, "and I came willingly. We all did! Empress Dorian Cook has come to us and made us safe, and found us allies, who make us only stronger. When you come back home to your rightful place-"
"Hold on now. What is it you want? You want us to leave?"
"The holy land of Khalorean's grand temple is restored."
"But the Aurorans aren't-"
"Offering diplomatic marriage to us as we speak?"
"Abominations-"
"Have a civilization of their own in the northern ice wastes, and are also in diplomatic relations with us."
"So then you're going to tell me that the little raider people"
"Call themselves the Empire of the Basalt Throne, and they're a rather friendly bunch, once you get to know them."
"There are more enemies and difficulties than only those."
"We are well aware. But why not at least offer to your people the chance to reclaim what is rightfully theirs, and instead of having to fight against these luug constantly, you can be without fighting. If you want to keep fighting, we have that under control as well."
"So, tell me of this Empress. What is she?"
"A recombinant bearing the essence of all those lost in the cataclysm."
"Ha! So they do live. I guess that explains those odd-looking cows over there."

It didn't take long to convince a sizable population to join. Not everyone, but these things happen.

Spoiler: Actions

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4/4
0. Lectre's Corps travels to Stone's Throw (5 turns counting this one)
1. Galans move to inhabit Stone's Throw (fully settle)
2. Claim North Market, area previously negotiated for by Xule, for me.
3. Claim Red Forest, area I paid the Luug and Ray-das for in the south.
4. Build scouting towers along the coast of Lakereach (defense+)
0/4

[Anti-Eagle]

October 1174 AD (Turn 8)

As September came to a close the attacks upon the living continued, heroic stands standing close beside the continued fall of civilization. October came and the tide of death and destruction continued to spread.

Spoiler: Alert

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Aberrations are attacking The Brujah's third territory and approaching its seventh.

Aberrations continue attacking the Balaenic Archipelago, and are approaching Emico.

Aberrations are attacking territory 2 and 5 of The Empire of the Basalt Throne, and are approaching the third and sixth. Territory 8 is overrun with aberrations.

Aberrations are approaching Xule.

Aberrations are approaching the first Khaloric Swarm settlement.

Spoiler: Action Update Continuation

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The Navasti League
- Research Cultural Experience (2/3)
- Research Cultural Experience (3/3. Will cost nine materials to implement)
- Negotiate a trade deal with those on the coast to the South
- Assimilate Territory 6

[Viirin]

Meretonian / Khaloric Swarm border near Harold's Stay

Months passed in silence at the Meretonian line, levies turning back to their trades as camps slowly turned into towns in the wait. Small wooden walls were erected and watchtowers looked far out as they waited for anything to happen to across the lands.
Eventually as day broke they saw something coming towards them, a party of creatures came towards them. Men and other things. Not knowing what was to come things broke back into motion, and a small number rode out to meet them. Stopping shortly before they met, they looked upon them and waited.

One of the people from the group stepped forward further than the rest. He looked much like a dirt-colored man with moth wings, but he also had strange slightly-glowing barbs behind his elbows and small sprouts of horns on either side of his head.
"Greetings from the Khaloric Swarm! We apologize for not meeting with you sooner."

An armoured man at the front of the Meretonians, looking upon them through his helmet spoke in return "Greetings. We speak for the King."

The recombinant bowed his head in acknowledgement. "With your new barricades and towers, we wonder if you are building defenses to repel the onslaught of aberrations as we are, and if so, if you would like of us to join your defensive line."

The man looked at the others briefly confused before turning his attention back to the creature, "Our walls are holding against the creatures." He quickly continued with, "The lords don't require the aid of your kind, or others today."

"Excellent news to hear! Mayhap we seek audience with one of your lords, so we could have papers written to outline our offers of aid in the future?"

"The lords are occupied with matters across the land, I speak for them here."

"I apologize for my ignorance." The recombinant took a step backwards and drooped his head for a moment before getting back up. "It seems I must formally introduce myself. I am Neldrin, recombinant of the Khaloric Swarm. What might your name be?"

"Richard Smith, herald of Mereton."

One of the dustmoths walked up to Neldrin and spoke quietly to him. "I'm pretty sure this guy is laughing at you, or at least not taking you seriously." Neldrin replied just as quietly out of the corner of his mouth, "Yeah, I figured that already. Doesn't seem smart, either. Can't be anyone of any influence to be so ineffectual."
He resumed his normal voice volume and replied to the 'probably fake' herald. "We will take our leave. We will return at a later time, hopefully when your mind is less occupied with distractions."

"Why did you come here?"

"Since you say Mereton has no interest in receiving our aid to benefit itself, we instead wish to request a transfer. Surely there are prisoners and lunatics not fit for society. We have come to offer that they be given to us, so your own confinement measures can be emptied."

"What would you do with them? Why would you want the maddened and the damned?"

"The Swarm can cure their madness if they convert. Not only this, but as citizens, they can become productive members of society and work towards strengthening, defending, and benefitting our neighbors and allies. Those who committed crimes beyond reproach will be reborn anew, and be able to seek not forgiveness, but repentance and become a benefit to the lives they damaged."

The man sat in thought for a few moments considering the words of the creature before him, before replying to it "There are a few within our prisons we would be willing to part with. What would this 'conversion' entail?"

"They would be transferred to our own prisons, and while there, they would be visited by a recombinant, and become one themselves. From there, they would be tested to make sure the conversion worked properly, and then they would join our society into whatever professions require additional employ."

"There are a few we would be willing to offer for this... When would you want them?"

"If you consider the group we have with us now to be sufficient for their number, we would take them now. If there are more than you would find our group to safely control, then we will take them in one month."

"It would take time to move the- fifty or so... we could have them here by the next month."

"We would be glad to accept such a number, and will return with a sufficient force to ensure they do not escape or pose a threat while in transit."

"If there's nothing else from us you've come for, then we will return in a months time."

The small squad of the Khaloric Swarm took its leave and went back home, marking when to return and what would be gained.

Spoiler: Note

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Collab between me and Eagle, acting as Mereton.

[The JoJo]

The Palace Gardens, Xule

‘You couldn’t even convince him?’ Valencia exclaimed as they crept through the hedgerows, checking over her shoulder for any watching guards. ‘You’re useless!’

‘I'm not useless!’ Cosimo said indignantly. ‘I just didn’t know what to say.’

‘Hm,’ Valencia grunted as they reached the centre of the palace garden maze. ‘No-one will think to look here, we have a while,’ she added. Cosimo nodded and reached under his robe, drawing out the wooden Krakari which he had received from the Basalt throne. He held the toy in his hands, looking at it with curiosity.

‘How do you make it shoot again?’

‘Here, I’ll show you,’ Valencia took the toy, bending the figure’s wings back as she had her own, then passing it back to her brother. ‘Hold it like this, then flick the head and then...’ the dart flew out with a twang, embedding itself into a nearby tree trunk. Cosimo grinned broadly, reaching to pull it out.

‘Would that kill someone?’ he asked.

‘Probably.’

‘Nice!’

They sat together on the grass, enjoying the last of the afternoon sun.

‘You should do something, with your magic,’ Valencia suggested with a yawn. Cosimo’s face fell.

‘I can’t control it,’ he said. ‘It just happens.’

‘You have to practice, like with anything. How about you try... making this flower grow bigger?’ she pointed to a bright pink flower by the side of a hedge. Cosimo reluctantly crawled over and put his hands above the flower, screwing up his face in concentration.

‘It’s not working...’ he started to say, before yelping and jumping backwards as the flower burst into flames. Valencia let out a cry and thinking quickly on her feet, brought her heel down on the fiery shoots. It smouldered for a few seconds under her shoe, before finally going out.

‘Yeah, I think you'll need more practice,’ Valencia said with a sigh, glancing over her shoulder to ensure no-one had seen their little mishap.

Spoiler: Actions

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-Implement mushroom gift from the Kharolean Swarm into the second of the four mines under Xule(Food bonus)
-Implement mushroom gift from the Kharolean Swarm into the third of the four mines under Xule(Food bonus)
-Implement mushroom gift from the Kharolean Swarm into the fourth of the four mines under Xule(Food bonus)
-Continue research into highrise buildings

[Anti-Eagle]

North Onchesmos

Fourteen letters sat infront of Sinan, each having arrived to him within the past few days delayed and brought by those who carried them to him. Four from Mimar, three from Atik, two from Rashid, one from a Janissary apparently acting in Basalt Throne territory, and four reports from elsewhere.

Mimars reports could be summed up as: The Meretonians are spooked by something in the North, a Drider army has sprung up apparently from thin air within Northern Mereton, King Alfred has been rallying what he and those loyal to him over themselves along the border between his territory and what they've taken, and a surviving Recombinant was seen amongst their emissaries asking for convicts. Mentions of him trying to explain what these things were to the King, the threat they represented beyond old myths and stories. The final missive held documents penned by the Mimar and the old King. They wanted guns, they wanted to know how to use them, powder, rockets... Anything that would help them hold off any advance the invaders made against them. What was their offer? Passage through their walls, free trade, the permission for those of the Khaganate to live and ply their trades in Mereton should they choose to, old coin...

Troubling. Troubling that any of it had survived, troubling that an infestation was going unchecked, troubling that he was probably incapable of putting it down or controlling the spread if that was even possible. Troubling that they would probably consume the world given the chance.

Atiks reports could be summed up as: An army invaded the North and attempted to breach the Collective, another people were found in the North, one apparently missed in their journeys, and... The last missive contained quite a lot. Letters, drawings, coins, a blade... Living metal, silver, new. The Harconin Protectorate. Corvans, high degree of change, apparent heritable retention of warped alterations, sane. They have a nascent control over the metals. Apparently just as happy to know they're not alone in their survival as Atik was in finding them. They're looking to trade, to work together, to build together...

Sinan smiled, surprised. Happy and curious knowing the Khaganate wasn't alone with the pirates, the madmen, and the dead.

Rashids reports were long and drawn out, summarizing his various agreements with the Navasti and their merchants. Every deal in detail, every person bought and sold to his knowledge, every bit of merchandise and every inch of land organized and accounted for under the arrangements. Every scrap of information on their plans, what they knew of the world beyond, their dealings with Krakari in the South he could gather...

He saw little purpose in reading all of it.

The Janissaries apparently from Atiks expedition to the North gave short reports on what they could gather about and from the people of the Basalt Throne, and ending it in mention of a horde coming from the East attacking them. They weren't sure how widespread the attack was or if it was moving, and so there was little to act upon.

The rest he slowly cut into and read letter by letter as he reached for his pipe and began preparing orders, continuing his directive of rebuilding and unification. In a few days the smiths he called for would begin to arrive and he'd begin to work in more than words.

Spoiler: Actions

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Technology - Research Metallurgy (Will Cost 12 to implement)
Diplomacy - Form a trade agreement with the Harconin Protectorate
Diplomacy - Form a trade agreement with the Navasti League
Diplomacy - Form an arms treaty with the Kingdom of Mereton

Military (Free) - Continue Moving First Ajivhan Cavalry towards Mereton

[Togo]

Empire of the Basalt Throne, in the Mountains

High in the clear thin mountain air, the night was still. A row of hastily constructed huts slumbered in the moonlight.

At some hidden signal, two shadows detach themselves, and move in. The lock is new, complex, if badly fitted to the door. It slows them down for several second before suddenly yeilding entrance.

The briefing earlier that evening had been susinct. "They're planning something. They have someone with them, someone who is making contact with the Swarm. That's the target. Capture if you can, for interrogation. If not..." Nule paused for emphasis, the Faction Leader deliberately slowing her words so she was clearly understood, sweeping he gaze around the circle of faces that were her minions, eager, tense, maybe a little scared. "...if not capture, then kill. They're planning to subvert the Empire, to undermine the Emperor's Rule. As his sworm servants, it is our Duty, the duty of the Dark, to stop them."

Those words echoed in her head, as Nule crept towards the now open door. She was taking a risk, going in blind, but better to think of it as being bold. She had moulded the Dark into spies, assassins, saboteurs. She had nothing to fear from a jumped up Harbourmaster like Mirriam Vine, except maybe some well-trained guards.

She and her shadows move in. Two instantly assume flanking positions, two more level weapons at the two sleeping guards. The rest take up posiiton around the room. She doesn't need to give any orders. A brief flush of pride swweps through her, as she advances to the slumbering figure, and rips off the heavy sleeping furs that protect the occupant.

Who is awake, and staring back at her. A lady in her late twenties, wearing an archaic summer dress and full bonnet tied with ribbon. A dimple decorates one cheek, but seems fixed in place, unconnected to either her curiously empty expression, or her clear emotionless eyes.

"Who?.." Nules eyes narrow. "You're one of Ak'Narim's, aren't you. Iate, isn't it? Iate Teign? I knew that slimy toad was involved in this. What's he planning? What are you doing here? What are you orders?

The lady shakes her head. "Ia Levan" she says simply, and rises to a standing position. Her arms and legs remain motionless, while her body simply swings upright, as if her feet were a hinge, fixed to the floor.

Nule took a step back. "Take her!" she says in alarm. Not one but two nets, weighted by sharp metal discs, are thrown with practiced precision by her lurking minions. Nets are a chancey proposition, hard to use, but it's worth it ensure the target can be interrogated.

Ia raises her arms, and the net simply disintegrates, with a sizzle and a sharp smell of chemical corrosion. Her dress and her flesh start to melt and flow together, her arms get longer and thicker as they reach forward, and two more start growing underneath them.

Nule steps nimbly back, and draws her drussus. <to be continued>

Spoiler: Actions

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1) Create New Army
Send one army to each of the two territories being attacked this turn
2) Settle and absorb locals in the area north east of area 8. Try and include any survivors from territory 8 who fled the destruction, spending additional material if necessary to help them.
3) Negotiate with locals in a mountainous area next to both the area northwest of the area that contains Quartog manor, and my existing mountain territory
4) Send negotiators to Quartog manor, and scouts to observe area 8, and see if there is any inight to be gained in why these attacks are taking place, and what might be inspiring the abominations to act.

[PossiblyInsane]

Daigoro's Heart

Spoiler: Previously, on Ed Cook's Amazing Adventures: Yessss...

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A cow that's actually a bull that's actually a genetically spliced walking biohazard had a quick tour through a twisting stone labyrinth that's actually made of spirit-flesh, chatted with a woman that's probably not actually a woman (given that it's well below freezing and she's only wearing a dress, which is probably not actually a dress), and then had a very quick chat with a surprisingly helpful slug-man-prisoner who is probably incredibly trustworthy. For sure.

Known as 'the magic cow', Ed Cook the recombinant bull walked back and forth in the room provided for him during his stay. It was far too spacious for him; though probably the right size for the gargantuan abominations. If it was smaller, his body heat could keep him warm, but since that wasn't the case, the second wasn't a thing either. He had been in the presence of the Corpus Verde for months now, and though his recombinant nature kept his cells from being dead for long, it was still painful to be constantly assailed by frostbite. Parts of his skin would blacken and harden, only to be absorbed by the surrounding flesh and regenerated.
But if he was going to stay much longer, and it appeared he must, he might as well intentionally cause the resistance accumulating within him to spread and stabilize. And so, Ed genned himself to at least resist the damage caused by sustained freezing environments.

A foot long silverfish skittered through the messenger hole. "Lady Cyrica Verde politely requests your presence in the Council chambers." the creature spat through churning mandibles. "An escort has been provided." The silverfish was joined by several others, hungrily gazing as one at the frostbitten cow.

Ed looked at the direction of insects, admiring their exoskeleton. We don't have this color. Ed thought. Maybe later. "I thank you. I will be there presently." He followed the swarm out of his room and towards the chambers.

The Aberration pack growled, the predatory texture of their collective mind suggesting that the only reason they were not attempting to tear Ed apart was the ingrained Binding psychically preventing them so doing. Nevertheless, they restrained themselves to keeping an only moderately threatening distance from the recombinant as they led him back to the council chambers. One scurried through a similar hole in the wall, and the chamber doors shortly opened.

Lady Cyrica stepped out. "It is good to see you, Ambassador. SwII-5921, return to your usual duties." The silverfish swarm parted, each creature scuttling to a different part of the city.

Cyrica gestured along the path they had taken yesterday. "I trust your rest for the night was satisfactory?"

"The... swill, you called them? It? Interests me as well, but as to your question, yes, it was! The entire Swarm will thank you for the experience." He didn't say anything else about the subject, leaving it to mystery. "I look forward to speaking to Lycus again. He may yet prove his increased value to you, and to us as well. But I wouldn't want to offend your Ladyship by pretending a single individual is a valid sample size."

"That is good to hear. The entrance is the same, though we shall be taking a slightly different route than before." Lady Cyrica heads for the same door the pair took yesterday. "Indeed, it would be fallacious to make presumptions of a population based on a single individual. However, when the danger posed by a given individual is great enough, it would be unwise to discount said individual when making questions of policy."

She opened the stone door, summoned light as before, and started down a different path. "As for the SwII, such is a convenient shortening of their full identifier. Swarm-formed Class II Aberration, indicating that it is a collective-minded Aberration formed of a number of smaller physical manifestations, with a total effective bulk exceeding the size of a human, but remaining significantly less than the bulk of one of the Fallen."

Lady Cyrica sighed. "It is rather difficult to classify creatures noted for their lack of uniformity, but necessary if they are to be Bound and set to work. Similarities do occur between Aberrations, so it remains a doubly useful tool, in that any unit will also know which tactics are likely to be effective against a given Aberration at a glance."

"The technological progress of our people seems surprisingly symmetrical yet again. However, it seems as though our thoughts slightly different in the matter. But this is information I choose not to divulge, if it does not offend you." Ed thought it best not to tell anyone about Gibbers or its value to the Swarm's military endeavors. That was when he noticed the red spiderweb fractures of Lady Cyrica's mind glow a bit and seem to push the glass out of the way; something wanting to escape. He had to think of something to restrain it. "So, this is an interesting pathway... it goes to the same destination? Do you rework your halls each day so none can learn its direction and use it to escape?"

Lady Cyrica raised an eyebrow. For a moment, the fractured edges of glass seemed to multiply and dig /into/ the mind. The presence retreated, for the moment. The glass subsided to its' cracked resting state. "I had thought the Khaloric swarm concealed nothing? It would be useful to both of us to compare such systems, that we might take the best of both parts. However, if you feel it should remain private, I shall restrain myself from further inquiry, at least until a joint military action or similar would make sharing such information advisable."

She considers the second question. "In a manner of speaking, yes. The walls rework themselves, for that aim. Perhaps overly paranoid of me, but...as a general rule, paranoia carries little cost apart from alienation, which can be remedied, while a lack of it often costs one's life, which is significantly more difficult to restore."

"Then upon the next joint military operation, it shall remain hidden. That is, if we have... worked out the kinks first. We would not want to lead your people down a path of erroneous information. As for your information on the walls, that is a very interesting concept. We must ponder its implications later on. Likely to mutual benefit."

"Indeed. It would be...unfortunate...should either of our people be lead down a path of erroneous information." The presence behind the fractured glass gave another pulse, not quite so quickly restrained as the first. As they walked, a familiar banging echoed through the passages.

"That sounds... I remember we heard this sound once before, and you said something about someone trying to break their own skull open on something? Is that who you mean to lead me to today?"

"That would be Thracus. A tragic enough story, but not the subject of our visit today. You requested to speak with Lycus, after all. Besides, Thracus would hardly make for much entertaining conversation." Seia considers something for a moment. "Well, half of her might. The other would probably test the new object to try her skull against."

"Interesting. I wonder if maybe you would consider removing the useless half of her and allowing whatever that is to become its own being, allowing the interesting half to regain itself."

"An interesting thought. Sadly, it is the combination of two that makes it interesting, rather than the sum of their parts. Besides, the trouble lies with separating the two, and knowing which half is which while you do so."

They round the corner, and are greeted with a familiar door, this time attended by a cow-sized lump of swollen flesh walking on crab legs.

Ed noticed the creature, not knowing if it was corpus or something natural. Well, as natural as things could be expected around his location. "We do not have the essence of such crustaceans. If we did, I'd probably look more like that to get around here easier."

"If such a shape is natural, which I personally doubt, it is not one I have delved the depths enough to see. It is, however, the most practical for gas absorbance, and few Shapers have the patience or will to perform all the highly specific and stringently enforced Bindings to stop an Aberration looking like something aquatic, nightmarish, or unappetizing, so it is typically left at practicality."

She opens the door once more. The whale's lung scuttles into the airlock, leaving a space for Ed.

With the "whale's lung aberration" in the prison cell awaiting Ed, he stopped wasting Cyrica's time and entered. The darkness brought something to Ed's mind- he bore all the essence of the past just as the others did, unless they acquired or recovered more on their own. One of the species lost in the cataclysm could see heat itself, and so that might be useful to better understand Lycus. As he visited with the prisoner, he could begin to work on recovering that specialization, or at least for himself.

After the air lock cycled and the interior door slid open, flaps of skin unfolded all over the whale's lung, revealing sheets of cartilage. They began hissing, gradually releasing dry air into the cell.

Lycus, in much the same position as before, craned his eyestalks up. "Ah...Ed Cook? I am...surprised. I had-" the creature fell into a coughing fit. "...not expected to see you for...a second time."

"You lost faith in the Swarm? Seeing your position, I could understand. But it remains offensive. The Lady granted me however long to speak with you as I wish, and the capacity to do so as you see beside me."

"My...most sincere...apologies...Believe me, the doubt..." Lycus coughs again, more black spittle dripping to the darkness below. "..lay not with ...the Swarm...though I am...unsure...whether to be thankful that...The Lady's illusion of humanity is in phase...or to dread whatever new mischief she is planning..."

"These things happen. What are these black balls and ooze you keep producing? You speak of mischief, but clearly have some of your own."

Ed looks around his hooves to see if the previous one that was supposed to be a gift from last time was still present, while he awaits his answer. Though rather difficult to see in the dark, the floor seemed to have been swept clean since his last visit.

"These?" Lycus coughs into his hand, splashing it with the dark liquid. "Ah...alas, if only escape was so easy...No, these are merely...the attempts of a set of altered lungs trapped... in a waterless cell for...blast. I have lost...count, now...to provide some lubrication where none exists. As you can see-" A new set of coughs rack his throat, staining the front of his body. "...it doesn't work very well...Though I suspect...you were referring to my....previous offer?"

"Both. But I did suspect that your coughing might be because of the lack of air, odd air that gets added, and your unique form. What was that one you tried to give me? I assume it was something different."

"It...was. I had heard stories...of the Khaloric being able...to bring the dead back to life....I had hoped, with some dead flesh, holding some of my knowledge...you would be able to make use of it, and something of me would...see the light of day...once more..."

"I would value this. We all would. But as I said, I will not do anything without the blessing of your Lady. Not when it involves intentionally imprisoning myself and requiring her aid to walk away, especially! I would rather take you with me and your knowledge could be used more effectively. But now another question. What are you? You personally?"

"Alas, I suspect...no matter where you travel...in this cell...you would be more free...than I." Lycus moves his embedded leather bindings demonstratively once more. "But, to answer your...question...I am one of the Fallen...a hybrid, descended from the refugees of House Verde...and the Aberrations bound to their flesh by...the Usher of Souls. I believe I am...almost unique, among the Fallen...to have been born without a shell." He gestures to his highly wrinkled, cracked skin. "As you can see, I...have shriveled up a little...over the years..."

"Still, bare skin allowed me to...feel the water currents...like no other. When my...talent was realized...I was lifted out of the ranks...the Benders of the time were...a secretive, distrustful lot...overprotective of their blessing...worried by the advancements of the Shapers...through deed and word, I convinced them...that sharing their knowledge and expertise...would make them greater, than the sum of their parts...as I made leaps and dives with...the best of the craft...I was the youngest Fallen to have...ever been brought to join the Council...and for a time, all was well." Lycus pauses, thinking about some distant, bittersweet memory. "Though I must admit, I was...quite taken by Lady Cyrica...and rather envied the time she spent...with the rest of the Council..."

"At least, until...Blackwater....we were prideful, overconfident. We sought...to bind the worst Aberrations the deeps...had to offer...to retake the Empire from Ajivha and..." Lycus spat, this time intentionally. The surface of his tranquil mind shifted slightly at the word. "...others of the Destroyer's ilk."

Lycus sighed. "But, that is long past. Though friends, General Antius and I...had butted heads, for quite some time. I always hoped to incorporate our latest, experimental techniques into the soldiers' training regimen...but he did not wish to upset military cohesion...or confuse them with...contradictory tactics. Again and again, something of that sort. For our friendship, we agreed to disagree...and left it at that for...far too long."

"At Blackwater...." his eye stalks drooped at the memory. "...we were unprepared...for the fury the depths had to offer. At the time, I believed we could still claim what we came for...encase ourselves in ice...give the Shapers time to work...bind the most powerful Aberrations one at a time...set them against each other...Antius disagreed, and ordered a full retreat."

"...though I was furious...at the time...I have had time to reflect...in here...perhaps he was right....we lost a full quarter of the population, that day...if he had heeded my words...we may have lost far more."

"...over the next few hundred years...we stayed friends, but...distance grew between us. Our arguments became...more heated....his wife, the Arch-Shaper of Souls....oft supported my plans, though I suspect...they were partially to spite Antius...their marriage is a difficult one...I gave her sympathy, and...we soon found more...common ground."

"...when Antius found out...perhaps it would have been better, if he was angry...the look of betrayal, on his face...the way he stiffly walked from the room...spent the next nights in Lady Cyrica's embrace..."

"It was then, I realized...what she had done. For centuries, she had been the moderate...the voice of reason and compromise...she always found something for...the rest of us to settle on...When next I saw Antius and her together...the nights I had spent with her still warm in my memory...I realized what she was. She set us against each other...encouraged our petty romances and rivalries...so that, in tipping the scales...she held all the power of an Emperor...while only the Council paid...the cost, and responsibility. After that..."

"...Well, I have told you that part of the story...on your last visit. And so...that is what I am. A prideful man, brought low by his failures and...for trying to oppose a creature...far older and more cunning...than he had ever...suspected..."

"Lady Cyrica said something about turning waters into acid for blood, or something to that effect. What was she talking about?"

"Hm? Oh...a simple enough trick...once you know the mechanics...though I suspect it is not...the acid blood of Khaloric legend." Lycus glances around the cell conspiratorially, and leans closer. "If...you swear upon the Khalorean...that you, the swarm, or any of its' constituents...shall not knowingly surrender the knowledge to Lady Cyrica...I shall tell you, if you so desire." He shifts uncomfortably in his bindings. "My apologies for...the secrecy...but I suspect every piece of knowledge I hold close...is what keeps me alive..."

"Fear not. Khalorean is the God of Justice, and his is objective and not absolute or dark. Even if she were to learn that you have lost a secret keeping you alive, I could turn your remains into your freed soul and grant you housing within one of the Swarm's... oh, we are finally preparing our new settlements and looking for citizens."

He chuckles. "That is...a relief to hear....though I note, you have not actually...sworn."

"A follower of Khalorean would not swear to uphold a promise one could not theoretically keep. But I would and do promise and swear to keep your acid blood technique secret to the best of our ability, and not make use of it until our own is recovered."

"That shall be enough...then...The principles...of water bending...can be applied to many fluids...if one knows how. There is....a type of crystal...found near the coasts...and below the sea floor. It is colorless, unless impure...Unfortunately, so are...a good many crystals...so you must determine its' identity...through weight, and...its' actions upon others. I believe...a significant deposit of it was known... on the shore of the inlet opposite Pesh, on the continent...though it's precise location...was likely lost, in the Cataclysm..."

"When crushed and soaked...in the appropriate acid of sulfer...a unique acid is produced...While caustic and...blinding enough on its' own...it is how it reacts to bare flesh, that is interesting...most acids will eat at the tissue around the point of application...causing damage commensurate to the amount of acid used....This one, however..."

Lycus pauses, searching for the right word to use. "...is clever. It...soaks through the skin, without overt harm...and enters the blood. From there...it flows freely around the body...consuming the guts, the lungs, the heart...the brain. From outside, the only sign of injury...would be a bleeding mouth and eyes. But inside...." Lycus shakes his head. "Utter ruin...a dangerous device, liable...to bite its' handler as much as its' prey...if he is not careful."

"An interesting concept to be sure. But if the location of the crystals is lost, then we might be a type of knowledge already lost, even if it is remembered."
Is this something that Ajivha used on us?
Let me ask Harold.
He doesn't remember. He wasn't around when it happened.
We should clear out all trace of these crystals and incorporate it into ourselves, and make ourselves immune to its effects.
I'm sure we can make something like that, or at least...
Empress?
I have an idea. Once the defenses are built in Lakereach, I have another project for you.
"I wonder if this could be the basis of a trade agreement. But then again, suggesting such a thing would mean the secret is revealed, so I will not suggest it. However, you are right, in that it is not the same thing as the ability of lost legends."

"You have my thanks...for your tact."
The ever present banging grew louder, accompanied by a pained wail. Lycus went quiet for a moment, then sighed.
"Alas, poor Trachus...Hers' is an interesting enough story...if you would care to hear it...."

"I would. I must ask though, if you would be willing- we have a problem at the Temple, and we have no resources to deal with it. We had hoped a water bender might teach us how to turn water into ice, so we can use it like a large disposable shovel. Do you know how to do this, and would you be willing to teach us?"

"With the same conditions attached...as previously? Willing, yes...able, no. Jashiki's blessing only runs through the blood of House Verde....with his death...the blessing remains, but there is no divine power...for it to draw upon...Instead, a different source...must be substituted. The Corpus Verde...channel the magic of their intrinsic Aberrations...with mental turmoil. For the Khaloric...." Lycus gives a helpless shrug. "I could teach you the gestures, the words...but without Verde's bloodline and a hosted Aberration, it would mean nothing.... With time, I could find an alternate source of power to substitute, develop a new system to accommodate it...but not bound as I am...let alone without water. ...One could implant an Aberration, but... "

He chuckles sadly. "...As Trachus illustrates, not all have borne their inner demons...as quietly as I."

"You have taught us what we wanted to know most. I thank you for that. I do though apologize; I distracted you from telling me Trachus' story."

"Trachus...was a fine soldier. Calm, compassionate, level headed...always willing to put others before herself...when first enlisted, she had the tamest Aberration I had ever known. Oddly...gentle. It offered none of the raw power of her comrades but...it healed her, when she was injured....she became strong in her own right...I suspect it aided in the body's repair after exertion, but her unit was...slightly less practical about it."

"She served at the front of the phalanx for decades...shrugging off blows that would have killed the one beside her...the House Guard practically worshipped her."

"...All power comes with a price....the more she used her power, the more the Aberration's influence grew. I know not whether it was spiteful, quietly mad, or...even overprotective...whatever the beast was, it whispered...day and night. It put doubt in her mind...made her question whether all her pain was...truly worth it....the failings of her comrades to share her burden..."

"...When the whispers stole across her sight, made her see monsters where her comrades stood, she asked to be locked away. ...in isolation, the whispers only grew worse. They stole into her thoughts, her memories...made her question who she was."

"...In the depths of madness, she came up with an idea....She just needed to get the voices...out of her head." Lycus gestured in the direction of the banging, which had begun to increase in frequency.

"...Ah...what sadly...morbid timing. Open up the head, and..."

The stones shook with a final, definitive crunch. The banging stopped.

"...the whispers pour out. All she had to do...was die...Alas..."

Something heavy in the distance shifted. A roar of pain, self loathing, and loss echoed around the labyrinth. The banging resumed.
"...she had given too much...to the Aberrant...it will no longer let her die...from something as simple as that...the only ...heh...mercy... it provides...is to take away the painful memories...she had last. And so she has the same idea, and tries...Again and again."

Lycus sighed. "Such is the story of poor Trachus. A benevolent creature, driven to despair by forces beyond her control... repeating a cycle of death and pain forever more."

Ed looks like he is in deep thought. "We have spent much time together and I have learned much. I shall see you again." He rasps his horn on the door.

"A question before you go, good Khaloric." Lycus looked thoughtfully at the recombinant.

"I have wondered...for quite some time. The Swarm has seen the strife other creatures put themselves through without the Khalorean's unity, have they not? The pain others have inflicted upon it. All the misery inherent to a lone mortal's life?"

Ed stops dividing his attention between recovering Arachnomorph Thermal Vision in himself to hear what Lycus has to say. He turns to look at him, but doesn't turn around or get further away from the door.

"I see that you have...It is a question...I had often asked myself. Is it just, to stand by whilst tragedy plays out, knowing you have the power to change it?...Especially...when you have seen the same story...over, and over again."

Lycus gives a dark chuckle. "Such is Cyrica's madness. She is obsessed with the past, playing the same politics of the woman before her...hoping to reclaim her lost Empire...She will fail. She seeks to become a king, and what is a king to a god?"

"The Khaloric, however...is different. You need not concern yourselves with such selfish trifles. You are unity. You can turn the strength of the many into something greater than the sum of their parts. A true child of the Khalorean."

"And a true child...shall grow to become his parent's equal....I suspect...such was the reasoning behind the Destroyer's genocide. A world of one mind, justly united in thought and deed...would rival the gods themselves."

Lycus extended an entreating hand towards Ed, coming just shy of the swept stonework. "Come. Remember the story of Trachus. No mere mortal empire can withstand the fury of the gods. Time and time again, they shall rise and fall, trapped in their cycle of loss and misery. But together...the knowledge of Aurora both old and new, the power of Jashiki's blessing, tempered by the Khaloric's justice...No race need face annihilation, ever again."

It had been some time since Lycus last coughed.

Spoiler: Actions and a note

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As perhaps clear from the direct continuation, this is part 3 of the ongoing collab between Viirin and I.

Implement Technology: Frost Ships
Move the House Guard (Army 1) to support the defense of Emico, passing over Polus on the way.
Invade territory: Polus, of the Balaenic Archipelago, with the House Guard (Army 1). If the locals have not already been eaten by Aberrations, it shall be more of a well-intentioned military occupation to assist with defense than actual invasion (that still leaves no doubt as to the Corpus Verde's military might).
Invade territory: East of Territory 5, with the Silver Claws (Army 2), prioritizing coastal regions.
Negotiate with locals: South-Eastern Balaena, along the coast.

[cybric]

Spoiler: actions - sorry for the lack of post again

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• [Dip] Sent diplomats to The Navasti League
• [Mil]Invade territory: the crimson celestials will invade the Auroran territory south of our most southern territory.
• [Tech] Research Firearms - using the artifacts found and spurred by our recent exposure to the khaganate we'll start researching firearms. Looking for similar military bonus that Anti Angel received
• [Tech] Research Vorpal Weaponry - applying a similar process as the ultra light weight armor we'll grow our melee weapons now. This allows us to design the blade to have a edge sharpened down to a mono cellular level since it will be grown to that sharpness. Looking for a +4 land mil boast

Free - move navy north along the coast to explore and patrol

[pfm1995]

NAVAHANGIST

Ammas' brow crinkled - he was seeing report after report of increased aberration activity, and unlike his ship-bound neighbors these would not be deterred by the Vayri, should they reach his waters. Still, it was not a cause for concern yet; the ache where his leg should be was a reminder that the Navasti were used to dealing with aberrations. A shuffle of papers - Why did he have a diagram on courtly dances on his desk? - and a few barked orders to harried looking aids re-tasked ships and loyal (or at least ambitious) captains on new missions. Setbacks in the priest's experiments were no longer acceptable; to take advantage of these developments he would need results.

There was money to be made, and power to be gained.

SOMEWHERE ON THE KHAGANATE'S BORDER

Sheltered from view in a corpse of scrub brush, the Navasti watched the horizon and waited. They were resting under muslin hangings, wearing desert-dyed silks and streaks of grease-paint under their eyes - traiders, to all but the most discerning eyes. With them were a few mules and a covered wagon holding bolts of silk, the silk hiding a half-dozen wax-sealed clay pots. The help of a few bribed and otherwise coerced townsfolk had helped them get this far, and now all they had to do was make it past the border unsullied - not an easy task. The skills of the Khaganate's own spies were self evident in the bodies of their fellows they had been forced to leave behind, in the wounds they had sustained, and in the plume of dust canvassing the plain below them. No, it would not be an easy crossing.

At dusk they broke camp, leaving naught but footprints and the body of an inquisitive shepherd behind.

Spoiler: Actions:

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Implement Cultural Experiences
Another attempt at my failed espionage, this time supervised by Ammas (i.e. run by his hand-picked proteges)
Trade Agreement with the Khaganate
Trade Agreement with the Empire

[Viirin]

WEEKLY UPDATE ON ACTIONS AND EVENTS

October ended, November came. It seemed as though the world itself began to show
the severity of the incoming winter. If the weather proved to be true to what
was being prescribed, it would be more severe than any winter had yet been.

Batten down the hatches, hide in your basement, and suck your thumb. This won't be
gentle.

Spoiler: Abomination Attack Results

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Brujah
Settlement 3
Defenders: 16+6
Attackers: 11+5
Aberrations are attacking Settlement 7

Corpus Verde
Emico is now being attacked.

Basalt Throne
Territory 2
Defenders: 11+6 Military Defense: 16+6 Overall: 39
Attackers: 5+5
Successfully defended.

Territory 5
Defenders: 9+6 Military Defense: 9+6 Overall: 30
Attackers: 16+5
Successfully defended.

Aberrations are now attacking the Third and Sixth settlements. Territory 8 is overrun.

Xule
Aberrations are attacking Xule.

Khaloric Swarm
Aberrations are attacking the Temple of Khalorean.

Spoiler: Action results

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Spoiler: Actions Posted

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Khaloric Swarm
0. Lectre's Corps travels to Stone's Throw (5 turns counting this one) (success)
1. Galans move to inhabit Stone's Throw (fully settle) (success) (national pop now 11)
2. Claim North Market, area previously negotiated for by Xule, for me. (success)
3. Claim Red Forest, area I paid the Luug and Ray-das for in the south. (success)
4. Build scouting towers along the coast of Lakereach (defense+) (success) (has cost ? materials)

Grand Duchy of Xule
-Implement mushroom gift from the Kharolean Swarm into the second of the four
mines under Xule(Food bonus)(Success) Food+1 (cost 2 materials, or food+2 at the cost of 4)
-Implement mushroom gift from the Kharolean Swarm into the third of the four
mines under Xule(Food bonus)(Success) Food+1 (cost 2 materials, or food+2 at the cost of 4)
-Implement mushroom gift from the Kharolean Swarm into the fourth of the four
mines under Xule(Food bonus)(Success) Food+1 (cost 2 materials, or food+2 at the cost of 4)
-Continue research into highrise buildings (1 more action)

Ajivhan Khaganate
Technology - Research Metallurgy (Will Cost 12 to implement) (assuming success?)
Diplomacy - Form a trade agreement with the Harconin Protectorate (success)
Diplomacy - Form a trade agreement with the Navasti League (success)
Diplomacy - Form an arms treaty with the Kingdom of Mereton (success)
Military (Free) - Continue Moving First Ajivhan Cavalry towards Mereton (success)

Basalt Empire
1) Create New Army
Send one army to each of the two territories being attacked
this turn (army can be of use next turn, such as as soon as this post is seen. not mobile this turn but can be formed within attacked settlement so it doesn't matter) (maximum armies for population density reached)
2) Settle and absorb locals in the area north east of area 8.
Try and include any survivors from territory 8 who fled the
destruction, spending additional material if necessary to help
them. (attempt to acquire additional settlement failed due to lack of efficiency and morale (severe shortage of proper population due to overexpansion) (success- survivors found and absorbed)
3) Negotiate with locals in a mountainous area next to both the
area northwest of the area that contains Quartog manor, and my
existing mountain territory (attempt to acquire additional settlement failed due to lack of efficiency and morale (severe shortage of proper population due to overexpansion)
4) Send negotiators to Quartog manor, and scouts to observe
area 8, and see if there is any inight to be gained in why
these attacks are taking place, and what might be inspiring
the abominations to act. (attempt to acquire additional settlement failed due to lack of efficiency and morale (severe shortage of proper population due to overexpansion) (no insight gained)

Corpus Verde
1. Implement Technology: Frost Ships (success)
2. Move the House Guard (Army 1) to support the defense of Emico, passing over Polus on the way. (success)
3. Invade territory: Polus, of the Balaenic Archipelago, with the House Guard (Army 1). If the locals have not already been eaten by Aberrations, it shall be more of a well-intentioned military occupation to assist with defense than actual invasion (that still leaves no doubt as to the Corpus Verde's military might). (success)
4. Invade territory: East of Territory 5, with the Silver Claws (Army 2), prioritizing coastal regions.
Negotiate with locals: South-Eastern Balaena, along the coast. (success)

Harconin Protectorate
[Dip] Sent diplomats to The Navasti League (success)
[Mil]Invade territory: the crimson celestials will invade the Auroran territory
south of our most southern territory. (success)
[Tech] Research Firearms - using the artifacts found and spurred by our recent
exposure to the khaganate we'll start researching firearms. Looking for similar
military bonus that Anti Angel received (more actions required to research and won't work as well against elementals)
[Tech] Research Vorpal Weaponry - applying a similar process as the ultra light
weight armor we'll grow our melee weapons now. This allows us to design the
blade to have a edge sharpened down to a mono cellular level since it will be grown
to that sharpness. Looking for a +4 land mil boast (will require more actions and the bonus won't apply to regenerating creatures)

Navasti League
Implement Cultural Experiences (success)
Another attempt at my failed espionage, this time supervised
by Ammas (i.e. run by his hand-picked proteges) (success)
Trade Agreement with the Khaganate (success)
Trade Agreement with the Empire (success)

Spoiler: No Actions Posted

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Silverplume Confederacy. +4 actions next week. Action stockpile now full.

Spoiler: Important note

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Check the OOC thread.

[Viirin]

Recombinant Hivemind

The towers are completed, Empress.
Excellent. If your city can survive with your attention divided for awhile, I want you to begin putting the encoding for arachnomorph blood back together.
I will begin immediately.
Slivan, Ryloth. I want you two to begin recovering the ability to terraform the land with our essence so we might regain the ability to indoctrinate the galans.
Yes, Empress.
Yes, Empress.
Ed, you know what to do.
I do, Empress.
Ezri, Emony. I need you to displace the confusing chaff and regain our ability to share traits within the whole of the Swarm.
A pleasure, Empress.
Yes, Empress.
Gorbash, you get to know your troops.
Happily, Empress.
Oswin, you're with me.
Right away, Empress.
We have to find a way to deal with these attacks. Infesting aberrations en masse would be irresponsible, so let us find a way to create a caste within our hivemind. The rest of you? Assist who you choose.

Many things were at work; all effectively defensive as the Swarm chose to be.

Gorbash Cook renamed the Khaloric Temple's permanently garrisoned army to Temple Forces.

Temple of Khalorean
"I come bearing a message for you, Granis." A male drider stood by the wide entry door to the galan's undecorated home.
The huge spider made of rock and flame didn't seem to move, except for the tickling embers of its blood made of liquid stone.
"Granis?"
"I'm awake. What is it?"
The drider, though a spider himself, was used to other living things having irises or eyelids, and it was difficult to tell if something like this was awake, asleep, dead, or staring at something else, since they didn't have facial expressions.
"Eh... right. Harold said that one of the buildings we just cleared the debris from used to be a galan judge's workplace. Would you like to take it?"
"Our own stories tell us we used to judge stories and choose punishments based on them. If this is one of them, then yes, I will. Is there anything... informative there?"
"Many decorations carved into the walls and pillars, but some of them are broken. We drider have a few books and scrolls that might help, and the dustmoths have rather detailed oral history and small artifacts that might also be of help."
"Then let us begin. But knock next time."

Elsewhere but also in the Temple City

The prison system was pitiful at best. At least in comparison to what it should be, or once was, based on the rubble. There was still so much rebuilding to do! What did those Ajivhans and their god of apocalypse even do?

"Next!"
A galan who had recently moved called the next Meretonian convict forward.
"And what were you convicted of?"
The man looked half-starved and severely unwashed, and was missing both his hands. He looked at the spider, not knowing what eye to look at, but he couldn't help stare at its mouth.
"Theft. Repeat offender."
"Are you guilty of this crime?"
"Yes."
"Why did you do it?"
"I didn't have enough money to feed myself, so I had to steal food to survive."
"Why didn't you have enough money?"
"I can't help myself. Every time I get money, I spend it on gambling."
"Thank you. Go to the left."

"Next!"
An old woman was pushed away from the group, and slowly hobbled her way over to the spider.
"Your crime?"
She kept her eyes to the ground, and didn't look up. She mumbled something.
"Stand up straight. Look me in the face. What is your crime?"
She did as she was commanded.
"Murder."
"Are you guilty?"
"Yes."
"Who did you kill, and why?"
"My husband and son. My husband beat me constantly, and I took it for years. Once I saw my son begin to beat his own wife, I knew whose fault it was. I had to make sure my husband would die, and so would those who he infected with his evil teachings."
"Go to the right."

"Next!"
A little boy walked up, who couldn't have been more than seven or eight. He was missing one eye, the other seemed swollen shut from illness, and his right hand was gone.
"What were you convicted of?"
"Stealing."
"Did you do it?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"My mommy kept saying she wasn't hungry and only liked to watch me eat, but then she fell down one day and didn't get up, so I went to the market and took an apple so she could eat it with me."
"Why are you missing an eye?"
"When the guard saw me, he hit me, and I looked mad at him, so he took it."
"Go to the right."

"Next!"
A man with wild eyes walked up, glaring at the spider.
"What were you-" the man cut off the galan judge's words.
"Murder!"
"Are-"
"Bitch had it coming!"
"Go to the left."

There was a total of fifty of these people to process! It would take all day.
To the right, people were allowed to choose whether or not they wanted to become recombinants. If they did, then they did. If not, then they were sent with a small defense force to North Market, so they'd probably never be seen again by Mereton. If they did become recombinants, then they were sent to Red Forest, also with a defense force to protect them.

To the left was a small group of recombinants that would implant arachnomorph larvae, and infest the resulting corpse, getting a two-for-one deal.

Regardless of circumstances, the Swarm increased its population by an individual number somewhere between 50 and 100 people.

Spoiler: Actions

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Actions 4/4

0. Lectre's Corps keeps heading towards Stone's Throw (4 turns)
0. Temple Forces prepare for the incoming aberration attack.

1. Acquire and convert convicts from Mereton.
2. Re-research Recombinant Xenoforming
3. Re-research Recombinant Telegenetics
4. Research Hivemind Background

Actions 0/4

[cybric]

Spoiler: Actions I'll post the RP later

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[Tech] Research Vorpal Weaponry (continued)
[Mil] Train elite unit (The Raven Guard) after successful invasion
[Mil] Absorb population from invasion and begin settlement process. They are now members of the protectorate.
[Esp] Develop counter espionage organization (The Dai Li) looking for a +3 defensive espionage bonus.

[free mil] move Night Lords unit towards Mereton

[The JoJo]

The lower city, Grand Duchy of Xule

‘Food is running scarce, my lord,’ the manager said, bowing nervously in front of Grimani. ‘We aren’t sure if there will be enough to feed all the poor and needy this season.’

‘I thought a shipment was expected by now?’ Grimani said, eyeing up the piled up sacks of grain, salted meats and root vegetables while trying not to gag from the stink they gave off. The collected food covered more than half the floor space of the dilapidated warehouse they were standing in, but it was never enough.

‘Aye, the unmentionables have held them up. They’ll be here maybe next week, if the hordes thin and the tides are good.’

‘Ration what we have left, give priority to families with children and invalids. I will contact the mines to see if they have any produce they can spare.’

‘Thank you, my lord.’

‘Don’t mention it,’ Grimani said. ‘This will be a hard winter, all of Xule will have to pull together if we’re to make it through in one piece.’

The manager nodded in agreement. What went unspoken between them was that this was not just done out of the kindness of their hearts, though the lives saved every year were a happy side effect. They both knew all too well that unfed people led to unrest, and unrest led to unhappy consequences for men in their position.

Spoiler: Actions

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-Implement highrise buildings in the city centre to raise population cap
-Implement highrise buildings in the lower city to raise population cap
-Research tower defences
-Send diplomat to the Corpus Verde

[Mabn]

Stonetide

Ashur was the most powerful krakari in the SC. This, as he was so very aware, left his resources very very finite. His fishery initiative and support for the magic steam engines left his political and literal capital in the red. Luckily he had always found the latter naturally replenished the former, so working to refill his fleet coffers should eventually be sufficient. For any other krakari his age that eventuality would almost certainly never come, but lacking something else he would rather spend his time on Ashur decided to give it a shot.

But as so often happens, one innovation will lead to many tangential changes. Fresh water was not a scarce supply on the island. Distilling seawater was a large and previously stable industry. But transporting the water produced to the inland was expensive, and most agricultural coops had to make due with the islands irregular and highly acidic rain. Few crops could grow in the islands thin and compromised soil, and being bathed in water and latent magic that could chemically defoliate most flora narrowed options further. The trees that could grow were small and nutrient hungry. The timber needs of the fleet meant that the layers of their trunks required made any other island agriculture a sad afterthought.

Steam power was much safer and more precise than direct magic at moving water uphill (and it was rumored might do a similarly superior job at transporting fertilizer). And while the crash in lumber demand due to pumice crafting was nevertheless putting huge strain on the forestry collectives, their weakness and the temporary supply constriction on fishing from habitat creation seemed set to make food crops a mainstream enterprise for the first time in centuries.

Even more incredible was the effect current events were having on factories. Left over from the third age, Silverplume factories had long been relics of a golden age forced into even more marginalizing adaptations to reality. Coal, and oil, and charcoal, and hydro-power, and geothermal power had run out (the geothermal power to great concern even to the environmentally reckless krakari of the confederacy). Metal was used and recycled until not even reforged rust remained, and fierce competition for wood and bone meant many pieces of equipment had to be molded from stone. On its own this was workable; although components frequently cracked magic could easily fuse the pieces and warp them back into the proper shape. But with no other fuel, SC machines were moved by raw magic. Their brittle and heavy pieces were a common cause of death when exhausted mages let their attention slip.

With an influx of age old treasures, a safe means of power, and material a fraction of the price it had fetched a year before common goods are more plentiful than any living memory had known them. Ashur felt no compunctions about using a clear picture of all this as afforded by his status to sense a change in the winds and conclude that abomination hunting would be less profitable than usual in the coming months and his fleet should busy itself elsewhere.

Spoiler: actions

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1-6 develop manufacturing and agriculture in Stonetide, Thorn Lake, and Memory
7-8 search ruins

[Togo]

<continued from previous>

Nules takes a swipe at an incoming pseudopod, bisecting it neartly down it's length, and leaving a colourful slick of smoking oil down the length of the steel blade. This doesn't appear to slow it down, the two lengths that remain still reaching for her. As one spirals around her outstretched arm, the other wraps around the sword hilt. Menawhile the undamage arms slam her against the wall, wrapping around her as clothing and flesh alike smokes and burns.

Crossbolts sink deep into the creature's pulpy mass, hissing and fuzzing in the chemical depths of undulating plasm. Scatterings of throwing knives and chachrams are embedded to no obvious purpose, and while a scattering of blow pipe darts leave the pale flesh alarmingly red or purple, the effect is like a rash, the rubbery oozing substance necrofying at the point of the puncture, yes, but the effect does not spread.

The door to the hut opens in a blaze of light.

"Ia Levan, put her down this instant!"

Nule's minions swivel as one to face to this new threat. There in the threshold, holding a huge stormlantern that must have been taken from a ship, is the black robes and deep-green scaled head, of T'loko.

Miss Levan freezes, her coils loosening only slightly.

"I said, put her down!"

With a wet peeling sound, Nuele drops to the ground, flesh and clothing smoking and blackened.

T'loko looks down at her impassively. "And what do I find here? An assassination attempt? Really Miss Nuele, what were you thinking?"

"I was thinking, that you were betraying the Emperor. I was thinking that you were off consorting with foriegners in private, foreigners in possession of genetic weapons of great size and strength. I was thinking that you wanted to make a secret agreement, here in the mountains, away from prying ears. I was thinking that anything you were trying to keep secret from the Empire, should be dragged out..." She coughs, and straightens. "...dragged out into the light."

T'loko looks curiously at her. "And how did you get from wanting that to sneaking into my room with a knife?".

"I act on behalf of the Emperor. You can't keep secrets from him, or act on behalf of the Empire without his approval."

T'loko shakes his head. "I'm not acting on behalf of the Empire, any more than you're acting on behalf of the Emperor. The Empire is all of us. The Emperor is the one who sits on the throne. You can't encompass the Empire, only steer it. You can't act for the Emperor, act on behalf of the Emperor. That would be like.. like trying to sit on the Throne."

Nuele's eyes flash. She movessuddenly, her blade moving with her, holding it's finely honed point against his chest. Behind her, a metallic flurry of her minions raising their weapons, against this new enemy.

"You don't understand, T'loko. For all your fine theories, you don't understand. Someone has to take control here, someone has to take responsibiltiy for all this. People have to know there is someone they can look to."

"Some people do, yes. Humans feel that need. That's why we have a Emperor. But I'm not human Nuele. Nor is Miss Levan. Nor are many of those who serve you. They need the Empire. The Aurorans abandoned them Nuele, left them to fend for themselves. They made their creations with no thought as to what might happen to them if it was the Aurorans themselves who were to fall. They are the ones who were left in the Vaults, the ones who were buried, or imprisoned, or who managed to hide. They need humans, but not as rulers, as overlords. They need them like a crab needs a shell, like water needs a container.."

Nuele give a rueful laugh. "I understand the theory. The Empire is your work, your masterpeice."

"Not just mine..."

"You underestimated me, you know. You still do. One thrust, and this discussion is over. There are no reliable witnesses; no one would trust the word of Ia over me. I could make up any story I wanted, assume command, run the Empire properly..."

"I underestimated your ability, and your drive. But I knew you wouldn't kill me, in cold blood. Just as you won't now."

Nuele wiggles the sword, scraping against his belly. "Are you sure? Are you really?"

"Yes, I'm sure." said T'loko.

Twin pools of darkness stare back at her. Twin obsidian orbs, with no reflection, taking in all ligjt. That's what she remembered later on. Those eyes, that could never be human, never be like her. Alien orbs that took in every scrap of light, and gave up nothing.

"Damn you." She said, and lowered her sword.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Send the two armies to intercept the two sets of incoming abominations
1) Implement dinosaur technology
2) Train elite unit for the second army - arial troops made up principally of ravens of gregari and the irregulars they help support and transport, and who look after them.
3) Espionage on the Brujah. Try to acquire alchemicals technology from them. Happy to spend material on bribes or outright purchase.
4) Send diplomat to Corpus Verde

[PossiblyInsane]

Daigoro's Heart

Spoiler: Previously, on Ed Cook's Amazing Adventures: The Slug-Man Speaketh - An Autobiography

Show

After the magic-cow-bull-insect is politely escorted by a pack of unfamiliar insects that are actually monsters who want to eat his face, he listens to a brief lecture on giant-crab-person society, and has a much longer chat with a slug-man-prisoner (who is most definitely probably at least one of those things) about chemistry, history, philosophy, magic physics, globs of spit, and noisy neighbors. Not necessarily in that order.

*****An Unspecified Period of Time Later...*****

"Lycus' true face is a rather different image than the one he presents, isn't it Lady?" Ed asked the impatiently waiting thing that thought it was Lady Cyrica of House Verde of Aurora, the air lock door closing behind him.

Said creature puts away her (or possibly its') shells. "Indeed. Hence, why the creature is locked away. The difficulty lies not with the raving lunatic, but the intelligent, manipulative lunatic."

"One intelligent man with a stupid thought is more dangerous than a thousand idiots with idiotic thoughts. The Swarm agrees entirely." His eyes darted to what he thought was the exit, since it was the way they came this time.

"I take it, then, you have had enough conversation with Lycus for one day?" Lady Cyrica began walking in precisely the opposite direction of the familiar path.

Ed trotted along after Cyrica. "We believe we have had enough conversation with him for the remainder of his life, if it is all the same. He has now entered the point of proving himself, but for that, we wish for your agreement." Ed was caught up to the Lady easily. "Speaking of agreements, the Empress wishes to ask you if you are ready to make a deal with us to acquire him. We pride ourselves on overcompensation in our dealings with others, and I enjoy negotiations."

Cyrica blinked. "Certainly, though I must admit, I am moderately surprised Lycus remains so desirable after you have seen something of its' truth. There are other, less hazardous Waterbenders available for such an exchange."

"We would like to acquire someone better off, though no free Fallen has volunteered, and we would be going back on our word if we didn't take him at this point. However, at the same time, we have many issues occurring at the Temple and require the speedy acquisition of a water bender and don't have time to conduct a slew of entirely new interviews."

"A pity. Were the Khaloric's word not at stake, I am sure a suitable candidate could be...found. An even simpler matter, if joining the Khaloric was not required to address such issues."

"Alas, but necessities are necessities. Could we finish these discussions in a more formal locale? I feel that I am dishonoring you with such a conversation in such a place."

"How very considerate of you. The Council chambers should be suitable."

As Thracus' banging fades into the distance the journey back remains typical of the recombinant's past experience with the labyrinth. After several minutes travel, the exit, and arrive at the Council chambers.

Lady Cyrica settles upon her icy seat. "You are aware, then, that to trade Lycus would not merely impart his skill at Bending. With it comes his ability to improve upon the craft, his knowledge of our culture...and a weapon, should it prove necessary."

"We do. These would all be highly sought after prizes, and your Ladyship, as representative of House Verde and the Corpus Verde, wish for an equal transaction. We are willing to compromise, depending on what you ask for. You know what we need, but we do not know what you need."

"There is...one thing that may be worth Lycus' release, that the Khaloric can presently offer. Something I am certain you understand the implications and utility of." Cyrica watched the recombinant's expression carefully. "The knowledge and ability to create our own telepathic connections."

Ed Cook looked dejected. "If this is the cost, then we might be willing to grant it. However, we do not think you recognize its own implications as well as we."
He hesitated for a moment, but through body language made sure the Lady didn't try to interrupt.
"During the aberration attacks, which are still ongoing, we noticed that everyone on the Eastern side was attacked, except for you. Your people's... mental state... may be what has protected you. You would lose this natural defense. This is not all."
He blinked his cow eyes.
"The Swarm has much the same origin; being Khalorean's direct involvement. We were all made to be compatible, and over the years, we have, for the most part, become more so. Your people, however, are and were not intended in such a fashion as far as any of us can tell. Simply a hivemind would not get you what you want; it would be an attack against you, that you yourself would inflict. However, there could be a way around this..."
He left the opening for Cyrica's input before continuing.

"Naturally. A hivemind would be far too disruptive a tool to implement among the Corpus Verde, both for the radical cultural adaptation necessary, the aforementioned threat from Aberrations, and...clever men with dangerous ideas. The utility, however, of such telepathy is unquestionable."

"The solutions to some of these problems can be reached with a compromise. The majority of the Fallen already share an intimate connection with a small group of their fellow soldiers. Unless otherwise needed, they are trained with the same unit for years, befriend them, risk their lives for them. Often, they know their fellows better than they know themselves. A smaller network between such individuals that remains separate from the population at large does not pose nearly as large a risk or shift in culture. Such a network could aid in mental stability, rather than detract from it, as any given soldier may draw upon the rest of her unit for support when needed, in a manner that cannot be mundanely replicated."

"It actually can be mundanely replicated. The Swarm began heading down that road, according to Harold, but we saw what we were doing and went another direction. We value the ability of each of us to think in different ways, from many perspectives simultaneously, and with a constantly open telepathic connection. If your Lady wishes it, we would be pleasured to give the mechanics behind this to you in addition, to better organize a telepathic force. There have been other hive..." he hesitated. "There..." he was quiet.
"There have been other hiveminds but each individual had different reasons for doing things, though all wanted the same end results. It could still disrupt your units if they were not of the same underlying mental state. So to give to you a trade, and not use a weapon on you, we could give you both of these things."

"That would be acceptable. Shall you require assistance transporting Lycus?"

"We thank you, but not as of yet. He must prove himself to be a waterbender as advertised. Would it be sufficiently safe to bring some... you said unbound? Unbound water with us, next time I meet with him, and do so in your presence? If he succeeds, then we will be willing to show you our infestation abilities. To, eh, 'sweeten' the deal, we would like to oversee your educational system to ensure your chosen educators follow the pathways you require, at least until they are self-sufficient. Additionally, we have found a type of plant that can grow atop stone, and would like to bring some to you for your own uses. However, to ensure the education works as I recounted, we would like to be nearby in case we were needed. Would it be permissible to create a nearby settlement for such trade purposes?"

"If you believe yourself to be on good enough terms with the creature that it will not attempt to kill you with it, certainly. As for educational oversight, some degree of tutelage in developing the discipline amongst the Fallen would certainly be useful."

"A nearby settlement would be permissible, so long as it did not lie directly adjacent to our current borders. While such a location would be ideal for trade, it would be subject to objection from the populace. It has been quite some time since the Khaloric Swarm have been known in person, and a gradual increase in contact would likely be better received. Especially to assuage any fears of interference with our expansion."

"You have roused my curiosity. What manner of plant would this be? I was not aware of any non-aquatic flora that could survive the approaching winter this far into the Northern Wastes."

"It is, well, not so much a plant, as a... well, it is a plant. It defies easy explanation, but it is capable of growing upon any soil, clay, or sand. It can also cross-pollinate, and this will sound very much like the Swarm, but I assure you we have no relation with it, but were overjoyed and dismayed at its discovery. Anyway, it takes traits from one plant and adds it into another, and vice-versa. Not only this, but it enhances the benefits of whatever plant it combines with. We already have a shipment on the way to Xule, though we can have a portion of the shipment continue on and reach here.
As you have stone prisons, I know your people can work stone. Maybe a boulder could be pulverized into what is effectively sand and the 'land rust', as it is called, could grow there. If it cannot survive the cold, and we have no knowledge whether it could or not, we would be nearby and could alter it for you. Either that, or find some sea plants or something that grows on the ice anyway and make the rust pollinate the other, and you could do it yourself. Some effort might be required, however."

"How curious... The Corpus Verde rarely farm. Most of our food stores are taken from aquatic wildlife and Aberrations. It is a point of honor among the Fallen to consume nothing that they have not killed themselves. Still, should this 'land rust' be induced to grow in this climate, it would be unwise to turn down a potential asset, especially one as versatile as you describe. Would this plant be the product of Genning, or something that arose naturally?"

"We have no idea in the slightest. We had actually attempted to follow ancient, destroyed, and recompiled maps found in ruins in an attempt to locate a volcano that produces obsidian, so we might equip ourselves with the shining black glass stone as our ancestors once did. Unfortunately, or serendipitously, we found the land rust instead. We're still looking for the volcano. Whatever the origins of this stuff, it is at least useful, and as Your Ladyship stated, not an asset to ignore."

"Then a suitable area shall be made ready for cultivation. Should they be unable to survive the cold, at least the remains shall be well preserved for subsequent alteration."

"Shall I consider the trades from our side sufficient for that of Lycus?" Ed Cook asked, hoping for good news. A small shipment of land rust, a nearby settlement installed and the mechanics of public education for a waterbender? "Thinking about it, would it be permissible to also acquire Thracus? She will be of excellent service to us both if our upcoming plans bear fruit."

"As part of the aforementioned trades? Certainly, though she shall not be nearly as...cooperative, as Lycus. I hope the Khaloric may be better able to restore her senses and peace of mind."

"With that, you may consider the trades sufficient. The knowledge, and ability to create telepathic links, your expertise in development of an educational system, along with a sample of this land rust, in exchange custody of Lycus, Thracus, and permission to build a settlement nearby."

"A magnificent and generous trade, if I say so myself. We look forward to working together more in the future. Are you ready to allow Lycus to prove himself before me? Once he proves himself we would like to welcome him into our number, though you were correct in your offer of assistance to transport him outside so he might be able to move once more. As soon as he understands, he will go to the Temple of Khalorean on his own accord, as will his sibling. Because I have only heard of Thracus in passing, I do not know if she would also require aid to be released."

"If you truly offer it release, Lycus should come willingly, as far as one can have any confidence in what such a creature might do. Thracus will be more...difficult. If she can be made to understand that you offer aid, so that she will not risk harming her comrades any longer, then part of her, at least, will come willingly. The remainder may have to be restrained, until her mind can be mended."

"I trust, of course, that the Khaloric will be able to stabilize her without undo harm to her sense of self and personality. Imprisoned though she has been, the Fallen remember much, and she was held dear by a great many people. Should she be properly restored, it would be a great boon to further cooperation. Should she be...altered, or if recovering her mind intact proves impossible...it would be unwise for her to return to the Corpus Verde. A plausible explanation for absence is better by far than a dear friend who does not match one's memory."

The magic cow had a faraway look in his eyes. Even more faraway and vacant than a cow's eyes already look, which is saying something. He stumbled, and regained himself. "We agree. It may have been this in part that earned us our fate- we only thought of the individual, and not those who would be affected by their alteration or loss. Now we understand. It is undoubtful that her form would change, but her personality should not."

Lady Cyrica regarded the magic cow carefully. "Indeed. Perhaps...it was the same which brought Aurora low. Not merely the historically cited selfishness, greed, and lust for power, but...the root of those things. To treat others as tools for one's benefit, disregarding not only their pain, but...how it alters oneself, to do so..."

A similar expression of contemplation crosses her face for a moment, before returning to the present. "Regardless, that is reassuring. We are no strangers to physical alteration, but the preservation of the mind is held all the more dearly for it."

"It is quite so. Shall we complete our transaction? We do not wish to get too far into depressing matters, but enjoyable ones which foster our growth."

"Very well. When you are ready for such an evaluation, Lycus will be given the chance to prove himself." Seia gives a wry smile. "Hopefully, we, too, shall emerge from such a venture intact."

Spoiler: Actions and a note

Show

This is the fourth part of the ongoing collaborative work between Viirin and I, which will probably go on until we find a decent place to end it, the sun burns out, or we get bored.

Absorb Local Population: Northernmost Balaena
Absorb Local Population: Polus, of the Balaenic Archipelago
Absorb Local Population: Territory West of Territory 5 (mistakenly posted previously as East, which would be the already-owned Territory 6)
Absorb Local Population: South-Eastern Balaena, along the coast

[Viirin]

Moria looked up from his desk, various papers sitting around ready to read, or already read. Another drider knocked on his open door, and entered. "Prince Moria, a delivery arrives for your attention."
"I'm working on things. Leave it with Regent Grimani."
"This specific delivery is meant to be presented by you."
Prince Moria set his things aside and came to investigate. He was just outside the outer doorway, talking quietly to someone just out of eyesight of the door itself, if viewed from the interior.

"That little...!" Grimani fumed as he stormed into the room, fixing his gaze on Moria. "I told her not to climb on the palace roof again, what will the diplomats think of us if they see that?"

Out of the corner of Moria's eye, he saw Grimani storming around inside the Hall, and interrupted himself to go to him. "Grimani! A wondrous day, is it not? The battle is over and won easily, and the sun is shining warm and bright. Would you not permit the princess and duke to come into the courtyard to receive their gifts?

"They hardly deserve gifts, the way they have been acting recently," Grimani muttered, but he saw the value in diplomacy and so reluctantly let himself be led out to the palace courtyard, which stood between the palace itself and the rest of the city.

It was a short walk but of a few meters, but Prince Moria replied anyway as they moved. "When you see what the gifts are" screams started to be heard from outside, even at this distance, "you may change your mind. They just might help teach the royal children discipline."

****

Victrikus watched the fleeing crowds with curiosity, carefully picking his way through streets somewhat too narrow for comfort. "I do not recall the history texts mentioning traditional Aurorans typically spoke so much and so loudly. Perhaps it is market day? Market days are typically somewhat more noisome."
Hrictrikus hoisted a massive traditional Auroran flag of House Verde's diplomatic envoy in his well-polished claw. "Well, it is exceedingly polite of them to clear a path for us, at any rate. Though I do wish they did not...scurry so. I keep wanting to chase them."
The red haired woman accompanying them, as the only one present who knew what human cries sounded like, tactfully refrained from commenting. As the palace came into view, she glanced towards the roof, grateful for a distraction from the difficulties inherent to several centuries of cultural and morphological differentiation. "Victrikus, Hrictrikus, do you see someone sitting on the roof up there?"
Vrictrikus peered in the indicated direction. "...Yes, now that you mention it. It looks like one of the smaller Aurorans. Smaller-than-usual Auroran, rather."
"A child, you mean?" The red haired woman glanced up the side of the wall speculatively. "It's been far too long since I had a chance to climb something that wasn't made of ice... Far longer since I actually climbed for sport..." Her shoes melted into her skin. Tying her slit dress behind her so as not to tangle with her legs, she then set her fingers in the stonework speculatively, finding a far surer grip than a human usually would. She grinned over her shoulder at the Fallen twins. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Try not to cause any trouble while I'm gone!"
Hrictrikus shuffled nervously on his many feet. "Lady Cyrica, this is hardly dignified! What should the representatives of Xule think if they saw you in such a state?"
"There goes a prominent leader among a potential military ally that keeps fit, and likely has actual combat experience? A welcome change from most commissioned commanders in late Aurora!" the woman retorted, moving swiftly up the palace wall. "I have had centuries of being diplomatically dignified. If Xule is willing to enter a marriage with the Khaloric Swarm, I am certain they will tolerate a little impropriety. Besides, that roof probably has the best view in the island!"
Hrictrikus opened his mandibles to reply, then felt a sympathetic claw on his shoulder.
"I suppose it is a sort of homecoming, for her. More to the point, once Lady Cyrica has set her mind to something, do you really think you could convince her otherwise?" said Victrikus.
Hrictrikus let out a rasping, weary sigh. "Then it seems we shall have to wait here at the bottom then." He gives his brother a nervous glance. "I do hope she finishes before the Lord Regent or Grand Duke arrive."
Victrikus' mandibles tremble slightly at the thought. "Just remember the proper modes of address, and it will all be fine. I hope."

****

Meanwhile, Valencia was perched on the edge of the roof, watching the bustling city below. It wasn't as hard as it looked to get up to her position, all that was required was a quick scramble up the edge of her balcony and then a swing up using the gutter for hand and footholds. She had rolled up the sleeves of her long dress, and tucked the bottom into her petticoat, so they didn't get in the way. She knew it would drive Grimani insane, but that made it all the more fun, and she needed some time alone to think.
She was about to climb to another spot when she saw two things that made her eyes widen. The first was a pair of monsters, causing a commotion in the streets below. She took a sharp breath, but rationalised that she was in the safest place imaginable out of their reach. The second was a woman with distinctive red hair, who was climbing at quite a pace towards her.

The red haired woman paused for a moment in her climb to smile towards Valencia, set her hands on the roof ledge, and hoisted herself up to a sitting position, looking out over the isle.
"Would you look at that! It was a good view after all!" The woman grins at the young lady beside her, and offers a handshake. "Seia. A pleasure to meet you!"

Valencia took her hand after a pause, staring at the woman with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
"How did you get up here?" she blurted out.

Seia raised an eyebrow and waggled her fingers. "I climbed. Though I must admit..." she gestured down to the hulking twins below, who were peering up at the climbers rather anxiously. "...I might have had a bit of a lift. Until I reached a spot with decent hand holds, anyways. You would be surprised how many of them you get in stonework, if you keep your fingers strong enough."

"Are they aberrations? My tutor was telling me about them when they were attacking the city, but those don't look like the pictures he showed me."

"Well, they are only half Aberration. The remainder of their heritage is proudly Verdian. Mind you, it can be rather hard to tell, with Aberrations. No two have quite the same appearance." Seia chuckled. "Well, except for the twins, there." She waved down, prompting (after a moment of hesitation) a rather more restrained wave from the pair of Aberrations below.

The dustmoth saw the huge shadows of the flailing claws high above her head, and panicked for a moment before she realized what was going on, and continued waiting for Moria and Grimaldi to allow her entrance.

"Huh," Valencia said, realising she had forgotten to introduce herself. "I'm Princess Valencia, this is my brother's palace," she explained, taking a guess that given Seia's accent and pale complexion, she wasn't native to Xule.

"A pleasure to meet you, then, Princess Valencia! I'd curtsy, but..." Seia gestures around the roof. "Curtsies are hard enough to do properly at the best of times, never mind a hundred feet above ground on a rooftop. I hope you don't mind if I bow, instead." Seia stiffly inclined her head towards Valencia, managing to keep a rigorously formal cast to her face for all of three seconds before cracking a smile.

"That's okay," Valencia grinned, bowing her head in turn. "Where are you from?" she asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

"Well, the voyage left from Emico, that being the closest port to the continent we have, at the moment. Before that, the Northern Wastes, which can be quite nice once you learn to tolerate the cold. And lack of sun. And the constant Aberrations, of course. But originally?" Seia stares off towards the sea, lost for a moment in recollection. "...Sweet Maia, it was first called. A long, long time ago, anyways..."

"But, but, my tutor said that Maia is..." Valencia said, hesitating when she saw Grimani and Moria walk out into the courtyard below them. The Lord Regent turned to look up and even from a hundred feet away, she could tell the expression on his face wasn't a pleasant one.
Down on the ground, Grimani looked as though his eyes would bulge out of his head at any moment.
"What is she still doing up there?" he hissed. "And who is she with?"

Seia looked down at the rather annoyed man and drider below. "That looks like a pair of people coming to meet a diplomatic envoy whom match Ed's description." Seia unties her dress, produced a pair of shoes from somewhere on her person, and put them on. "Until we meet again, Valencia. Now, do not do what I am about to do, unless you are /certain/ you can make the landing."
Smoothing out her dress, she called to the twins below. "Victrikus, catch!" and gracefully leapt off the ledge.
Victrikus and Hrictrikus, who had been standing stiffly to attention at Grimani and Moria's entrance, hurriedly looked up at the plummeting figure, who was currently grasping a billowing dress to strike a balance between lift and (the politest minimum) preservation of modesty. Victrikus' many eyes shot wide. "But my lady, you are heading for-"
Hrictrikus swore, dropped the flag, and hurriedly clasped his claws above his head. Seia landed upon them, knees bending slightly with the impact, and her descent was borne to a stop mere inches from the cobbles.
"...Hrictrikus." Victrikus finished lamely. Seia daintily stepped off the claw onto solid ground.
"Prince Moria and Lord Regent Grimani, I presume?" Lady Cyrica gave a perfect curtsey, and held out her hand demurely towards Grimani in the traditional Auroran courtly fashion. "Lady Cyrica Verde, former Regent of House Verde. I believe Prince Ed Cook had sent word ahead of our coming. I must say, I am most flattered that Princess Valencia herself would come ahead to meet our diplomatic envoy in person. It is good to see that time has not diminished Xule's hospitality in the slightest!"

"It is... an honour to meet you," Grimani said after a pause, looking as though he felt anything but that, he nevertheless took Cyrica's outstretched hand and pressed it gently to his lips. He then turned back to the two monsters towering over them, gulping nervously. At that moment the Grand Duke appeared, flanked by several guards. They halted and raised their swords when they saw the aberrations standing before them.
"Those are the gifts?" Grimani spluttered. Cosimo's eyes widened as he stared in awe at the two beasts.
"Those are for us?" he asked excitedly.

Cyrica takes her hand back with a polite smile. At Grimani's question, a moment of perplexity passes over her face, before settling into careful neutrality. "I...beg your pardon?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
The twins, previously nervous at the site of Moria and Grimani, calmed somewhat at the sight of several armed guards. Those, at least, they had some idea of how to deal with, should the need arise. Without a word, Victrikus and Hrictrikus slid slightly closer together, that they might fight back-to-back at a moment's notice.

"Yes, they are!" The female dustmoth, slightly larger than a speck of actual dust in the presence of the two behind her, replied happily as she stepped forward, cradling the hand-sized insects. A curled scroll was noticeable beneath her arm.

"Aww!" Cosimo said as he took one of the bugs from her. The guards watched apprehensively, but did not move. "Are these the babies of those?" he asked, pointing up at the twins.

"Eh, no, your Highness. These are a new type of recombinant from the Swarm that eats any metal able to rust or discolor. If there are any assassins after your Greatness, they will eat their weapons, and any applied poison would be no better than water on a waterfoul's feathers. They cannot injure anyone or anything, but they can remove threats nonetheless. But if it is not trained on what it is or is not allowed to eat, then it will cause much entertainment. Furthermore, your Majesty may choose the color it adopts if you ensure the metal it consumes is only of a single color. I have with me a scroll given to me by Queen Ryloth, so you know what diet yields what color." The dustmoth didn't know whether this would be pleasing information or not, but she was commanded to say it.

While the dustmoth spoke, the twins leaned closer to each other.
"Did...did he think those were our babies?" whispered Victricus in a voice that carried around most of the courtyard.
"I don't see how! Those are insects, not Fallen. Besides, we're brothers! To suggest such a thing would be...urggh..." replied Hrictricus, with a quiet shudder that only shook the ground fairly close to his feet.
Cyrica gave a level stare in the twins' direction. They quieted. She returned her gaze to Grimani and Moria.
"It would appear two visits of different import have coincided, leading to some confusion. Prince Moria, I believe the ambassador Ed Cook had sent word to you, several weeks ago, that he had found a military ally on Xule's behalf in the North?"

"Queen Nafash Cook sent word, though it may have originated with Ed Cook. I know we were looking into a few things, so I suppose you are the shining blue lights they referred to?"

Lady Cyrica clicked her tongue. "It would appear the communication capabilities of the Khaloric are somewhat more limited than we had been led to believe. A pity. I presume, then, that there is no recombinant stationed in Xule?"

"We have little knowledge of such things," Grimani interjected, having somewhat regained his composure. He groaned as Valencia burst through the front entrance, apparently having ran through the palace as fast as she could to join them.
"Are those for us?" she asked breathlessly, looking at the bug in her brother's hands.

The dustmoth didn't want to repeat her exact words, but her task was to say it to the Duke and Princess. She and her taskmaster both assumed they'd be present at the same time, but that wasn't the case. Since it was only said to one and not the other, she didn't feel she had much of a choice, so she did. Almost exactly word-for-word.

"You must learn some responsibility and take good care of them," Grimani added. "And untuck your dress, you look ridiculous like that."

Valencia glowered at him, but did as he asked. She then took the bug that the dustmoth offered to her and held it in front of her.
"What's a recombinant?" she asked.

The female dustmoth courier looked at Prince Moria, who didn't make any indication of anything, so she spoke. "Recombinants are direct creations of our god, Khalorean." She thought of how to explain it to a child, albeit a well-educated and powerful royal of an allied nation. "Let's say that a poison snake bites a human. They will get sick or die from it unless they are treated properly and quickly, right? Well, if that same serpent bites a recombinant, then the recombinant can choose to become immune to the poison, and also become poisonous themselves. If one lives in the Northern Wastes and feels cold, they can make themselves adapt to the cold and no longer be affected by it ever again. If they meet a dinosaur with a wild magic curse, they can turn that dinosaur into a recombinant, and cure their curse. No matter what bad thing happens, they always find a way to turn every weakness and every loss into a strength, and a victory, and then mix and match those powers however they want. Your little pet there is one with the specializations I presented to you."
She took a step back, indicating she was done speaking. Hopefully that's what the Princess wanted to hear.

"Okay," Valencia said, nodding with understanding.

"One such adaptation the recombinants have acquired is communication. A recombinant shares a more...intimate connection with the good Empress Dorian Cook, having a shared connection to the Khaloric's collective mind. In effect, a recombinant can draw upon the knowledge of any other recombinant..." Seia turns her neutral gaze to Grimani.
"...and vice versa. Such is, after all, how we so quickly received word of the...happy marriage..." She looks towards Valencia. For the briefest moment, an eyebrow may have been slightly raised. "...of a close ally long thought lost to the Cataclysm, the Khaloric Swarm, and of our cousins, the Grand Duchy of Xule. As fellow descendants of great Aurelius' line, the Corpus Verde have come to offer their congratulations on this diplomatic union."
Seia breaks into a smile. "And, of course, the traditional presentation of gifts to our gracious hosts, Grand Duke Cosimo the IV and Princess Valencia."
Vrictricus and Hrictrikus, the cue having been reached, unslung their sashes and attached bundles. Two matching sets of six sheathed, occasionally serrated blades of varying sizes, engraved with intricate carvings of scenes from Auroran military history set in bone ranging from bleached white to pitch black, were carefully placed onto the grass.
"I was unsure of your prefered fencing styles, so I had a set crafted. While Aberration bone is not the most traditional of materials, it remains as hard as steel, stays free of the sea's corrosion, and will keep its' edge without whetting. So long as you keep it fed, of course. Though a happy coincidence, it should be resistant to the attentions of your new recombinant companions, should they decide to test their growing talents."

Cosimo's eyes shone as he ran a stubby finger along the edge of the closest blade. Grimani leant in.
"Careful, I expect it is sharp," he said, adding, "What do you say to the twins here?"
"Thank you."

"It is my pleasure, Grand Duke Cosimo." Seia smiles at Cosimo's words, and graciously curtsies. "Now, with the appropriate formalities observed...Lord Regent Grimani, Prince Moria, shall this assembly move to somewhere more suited for diplomatic talks? Beautiful though the palace courtyard may be, it lacks a certain...conventionality, as a host to political discourse."

"I defer to the generous Lord Regent for this decision." Moria replied.

"We have a hall specially prepared for this sort of occasion, wide enough to host even the... largest of guests," Grimani said. "Come."

Spoiler: Note

Show

Three person collab between me, Jojo, and PossiblyInsane. We didn't mean to make it go on this long... again...

[Anti-Eagle]

December 1174 AD (Turn 10)

As the seasons turned to winter, the world seemed to settle again for the most part. Cold crept from the North as snow began to fall and ice began to form, some settled in to wait out the cold and others made their way south as was their traditions. For the most part the horrors slowed as the days went on, some retreating to the waves others settling back into simple routines or apparently resting.

Time would tell if this would last or if it was simply a temporary reprieve from the spirits, for most anyway. Those in the Empire of The Basalt Throne, newly recruited into its ranks or otherwise found the seemingly disciplined spirits assaulting them to be doubling their efforts for what was hoped to be a final assault and not the beginning of another wave against their coastal territory.

What was driving them was anyone's guess but the violent nature of the spirits seemed to bring them down on those mortals who tried to live as their ancestors once had.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

The Ajivhan Khaganate
- Implement Artisans (Costs 4 Materials and Provides 1 per Season)
- Implement Metallurgy (Costs 12 Materials and Provides 3 per Season)
- Research Burial Rites (Will take another action)
- Research Missionaries (Will take another action)
- Station 1st Ajivhan Cavalry unit at the Southern Meretonian wall.

---

The Corpus Verde
- Absorb Local Population: Northernmost Balaena (success)
- Absorb Local Population: Polus, of the Balaenic Archipelago (discussing)
- Absorb Local Population: Territory West of Territory 5 (success)
- Absorb Local Population: South-Eastern Balaena, along the coast (success)

---

The Empire of the Basalt Throne
- Implement Dinosaur Taming (Costs 30 to implement) - pm for an explanation if you want one, or to contest the cost
- Train elite unit for the second army
- Espionage on the Brujah, attempting to steal Alchemic knowledge. (Failure)
- Send diplomat to Corpus Verde

---

The Grand Duchy of Xule
- Implement highrise buildings in the city centre to raise population cap
- Implement highrise buildings in the lower city to raise population cap
- Research tower defences (will take one more action, I assume)
- Send diplomat to the Corpus Verde

---

The Harconin Protectorate
- Research Vorpal Weaponry (Will cost 12 to implement)
- Train elite unit (The Raven Guard) after successful invasion.
- Absorb population from invasion and begin settlement process.
- Develop counter espionage organization (Will take one more action).
- Move Night Lords unit towards Mereton.

---

The Khaloric Swarm
- Acquire and convert convicts from Mereton.
- Re-research Recombinant Xenoforming (Two More actions to research)
- Re-research Recombinant Telegenetics (Four More actions to research)
- Research Hivemind Background

---

The Navasti League
N/A

---

The Silverplume Confederacy
1-6 develop manufacturing and agriculture in Stonetide, Thorn Lake, and Memory
7-8 search ruins (Buried caches of ore have been found amongst the island outcroppings)

Spoiler: Attacks

Show

The Aberration horde attacking the Brujah was turned away.

The Aberration horde attacking the Balaenic Archipelago continued its assault but were turned away for the moment in Emico.

The Aberration horde attacking the Third and Sixth territories of The Empire of the Basalt Throne was stopped before they overtook the land through the efforts of the Basalt Throne's army, however continued its assault upon the Second and Fifth Territories as the month went on, creatures spilling forth from the waters without pause as an order in their movements slowly became clear.

The Aberration horde attacking Xule was turned away.

The Aberration horde attacking Khalorean city was turned away.

[Viirin]

Khalorean City

"Many citizens got roped into taking part in the last battles." the drider councilor of war said at the table.

"It was unfortunate that it became necessary, but these things happen." the councilor of finances replied.

"Some have expressed interest in continuing their skills, and making sure that standard citizens do not need to take part in any such combat if the need would otherwise arise. In Stone's Throw, they created a force for these people. We should look into doing that here as well." the councilor of defense agreed.

"Look into equipping them as best we can, if they don't already have their own weaponry. We will have to look into where such a guildhouse can be placed." The councilor of finances was looking forward to donated income.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

4/4

0. Lectre's Corps continues marching (3 turns to Stone's Throw)
1-3. Re-research Telegenetics
4. Found Exterminator's Guild in Khalorean City

0/4

[Anti-Eagle]

North Onchesmos

'Sut, prana, cintana, anagma.' These old words played across the mind of Sinan as he watched those he had brought to him and his capital work their trades and turn them to the future of his people. Old bladesmiths, gunsmiths, armorers, and the rare machinist worked side by side sharing their knowledges and working toward the problem of relearning or rediscovering the methods of old he described to them.

Methods of refining and treating iron to make better steel, how to meld the metals with other irons, nickels, silvers, and whole other manner of things. To make them stronger, better, or more fit for the needs of the world as it was now. To rifle barrels to make the bullets travel further faster and hit harder. To work the powders into the bullets to speed the reloading process so that his soldiers could double, triple, or quadruple their firing rate in the field.

This was the beginning, how he was to rebuild. First by ensuring his own knew the force he commanded. If they knew he could kill them, they would know he could kill their enemies and protect them if they followed him.

Beside this unifying threat he held a promise. Promise of an end to the eternal undeath plaguing those who followed him, to grant not the fiery grave known to those who wished their end but a procession to the land long promised. Arcadia.

And if they followed him as they did here, began to trust in him and his will, a new order as strong as the old one would finally begin to arise in the world and in time through industry and strength, peace would return.

He knew this was a long time away from him though, if time even mattered with how long he had lived. The course of his people has been a long one that has went awry for far too long, and moving it back was his duty one way or another.

'Sut, prana, cintana, anagma.' He cleared his mind of the future and turned back to his others, he tired of watching them, smoking his pipe and waiting for an end to the day. Perhaps it was time to turn back to his old trade for a time and forge another blade for himself, to focus and take his mind off of the world.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Technology - Research Burial Rites (Will Cost 8 to Implement)
Technology - Research Missionaries (Will Cost 8 to Implement)
Settling - Negotiate with locals above the Dead Zone between the Ajivhan wastes and the Ghost Marshes
Settling - Negotiate with locals below the Dead Zone between the Ajivhan wastes and the Ghost Marshes

[Viirin]

North Market

"Welcome, welcome. I'm glad you all made it safely." Queen Ryloth was outside the Hall, at the top of the steps. Out beyond her were various tents and open-air shop booths ready for use. Very few of them actually had anyone there so far; but it would come later. In between them, gathered in a group, were various Meretonian humans. The Exterminator guard was disbanding and heading back to their guild hall for payment.

We already met, Ryloth.
Yes, but not everyone can speak as we are now. Please be patient.

"You will find various shopkeeper's booths and tents set up for your convenience, if you have wares or domestic services to trade. We are also accepting guardsman of any race, nation of origin, gender, fighting style, and preferred weaponry."

Not much of anyone reacted. One man, however, chose to. "What if we're not qualified for anything?"

"Everyone is qualified for something, you just might not know what your value is. There are a few people highly talented here already, and many would be willing to accept apprentices, or at least someone to clean the place, and maybe learn something in the meantime."

"What will it cost us?" An older woman asked.

"No, you do not understand. You are now citizens of the Khaloric Swarm, and we do not require payment for services from the populace. We wish to strengthen, versify, and educate our people. It is undoubted that the Swarm as a whole will benefit from everything anyone does. Work as many hours as you wish. If you are ill, do not work unless you choose it."

A haggard old man with a large scar surrounding his entire shoulder stepped forward. "Where will we live? I only see places to scream wares at patrons here."

"Look behind them."

There were fluttering curtains made of what looked like a thin and gentle leather, or many pieces of it, dyed various earthen colors. A breeze caught one and it flapped open, revealing that the low, but thick walls were actually entrances to shallow underground domiciles, probably recently built.

"There are also houses and apartments available. We also need strong workers capable of carrying heavy stone. We have drawn the designs and acquired artisans to build a grand centre for entertainment, free for all to enjoy."

The recombinant queen Ryloth continued introducing the new settlers to the city and its architecture. Soon, she would not interact directly anymore and be more embedded in the goings on of the new city.

Red Forest

Queen Emony Cook walked around, looking at the landscape overrun with wildly cross-fertilized plant oddities. Someone should study this phenomenon, as well as the plants which existed elsewhere. Maybe genning could even figure out what the plants were originally before they were altered so heavily.
She pulled at a piece of red fungus growing on a tree, and it came off. Sniffing it, it smelled surprisingly delectable. Not even remotely like a mushroom... it was more like... it wasn't her memory. It was a memory from the Empress! Candy. That's what this smelled like.
Tasting it proved it didn't taste that way. It was... rather overcomplicated of a taste, really. So many flavors swirled together that it might as well not have any flavor at all, or maybe any flavor it was added to would be heightened, and the others diminished simply because of how the tongue works?
Some should be sent to Xule, Lakereach, and North Market. The Market would probably use it best.

Spoiler: Note

Show

Odd that forum signatures don't update retroactively.

[The JoJo]

The Ducal Palace, Grand Duchy of Xule

The hordes of aberrations outside the gates of Xule had fallen away for a time, allowing a procession of armed ships to leave. Behind them trailed a gaggle of trade vessels, from great galleons with billowing sails to tiny schooners which shot through the waves, darting to and fro between their larger cousins.

"This cannot go on indefinitely," Grimani said to Cosimo, who was nursing the recombinant he had been gifted the previous month. The pair sat together on a palace balcony, overlooking the teeming port in the distance. ‘We must secure our walls first of course, but then the Channel. If us and our new allies are to be bound together by goods, we can’t let the unmentionables interrupt trade every other month."

"Where they are going?"

"To North Market, and then onward. At the very least, this should give our forces ample practice if we ever face a greater threat."

"Do you think I’ll be able to visit those places?" Cosimo said, looking out over the sea again.

"One day, when it’s safer." He paused, noticing his manservant behind them.

"My lord, there's a Khaloric representative waiting for you. Should I tell them you are occupied?"

"No, let them in," Grimani said dismissively, waving him back to the door. "Now that you've told me, it would hardly be proper to leave them out there now would it?"

"Sire Grimani? We have come from Red Forest, settlement of the Khaloric Swarm far in the south", the ray-das introduced her reasoning for her presence. "Under wishes of Empress Dorian Cook, we have brought to you a new... I'm sorry Sire..." she was clearly nervous and forgot what she was supposed to say and consulted a bound scroll and started tracing the words with her fingertip to find what she was supposed to say next.

"I haven't got all day!" Grimani barked, glaring at the unfortunate halfling.

The ray-das jumped, startled. The scroll in her hands flew up in the air as she jumped backwards and fell on her rear. She looked like she was about to cry. "The, um, the shipment came and it has red mushrooms for you." She got up quickly, turned and ran for the door, grabbing at and missing the scroll. It remained behind, and she wasn't seen anymore.

Grimani rolled his eyes as his manservant hastily retrieved the scroll from the floor and presented it to him.

"It appears we have a shipment of red mushrooms stuck outside the city gates," he said offhandedly to Cosimo as he read the scroll. "I might have known our border guards would be responsible for this mess, send someone to bring them in at once."

"Of course, my lord," the manservant said, hurriedly leaving the room. Grimani sat back in his chair, glancing at one of the grand duke's attendants who up until that moment had been standing silently to one side, waiting until he was called upon.

"Where is Moria? I wish to speak with him."

"I believe he is in the palace gardens, with the princess."

As it was, the attendant was right. Valencia had ventured out into the garden alone to enjoy a rare sunny winter day, or at-least as alone as a royal constantly being trailed by four bodyguards could be. She sat down in the grass, starting slightly when she saw the drider prince approaching her from the left.

"Good day, Princess Valencia. Did you come out to enjoy the very fine weather as well?"

"Sort of," she said politely. She still didn't know how to feel about the drider prince, but decided there was nothing to be gained from being rude to him. "I also wanted to bring Zoli out, she likes the fresh air."

The oxidizer crawled out of her arms, twitching its antenna as it ran its head along the ground.

The drider looked down at the calmly flailing, curious recombinant. "Zoli, huh? That is quite the imaginative name. However did you think of it?"

"It means little one in Ancient Auroran. I've been studying that recently, it's sort of fun. Except for all the tenses."

"You're right, it is very difficult to grasp. At the same time, however, it might be useful to better understand historical records written by the royal scribes of old. My Lady Fiancé, I wish to please your Highness. Are there any metals you wish for me to help you procure for Zoli? If you wish of me to do something else, I would consider it an honor to consider it."

"Do you have any mercury? My tutor says mercury is a liquid, but also a metal. How can a metal be a liquid, it just doesn't make any sense."

The drider prince Moria had to ponder that one for a moment. "Is mercury the same as quicksilver? Records at the Temple are not clear on this matter. I can make an inquiry and see if some might be acquired. However, I am unaware on whether or not it is capable of rusting."

"We could always find out," Valencia said with a shrug.

"Quite so, Princess. I would be quite interested in this myself, now that you bring it up." Moria was distracted for a moment with a strangely shaped shadow drifting across the ground. He looked up, and saw two small creatures, each resembling a swallowbird. In each of their feet, they held the ends of a thick bit of string, and betwixt the cording was a round hard fruit bearing a woody husk.

"The natural migration of the coconut fruit, by way of a pair of swallows. A common sight when one travels far enough, though I didn't expect to see them this far north. Curious."

"Huh," Valencia said, rubbing her eyes to check she wasn't imagining the scene before her. "Do you have lots of these in your lands?" she asked.

"Not so much as many of them, but we do see them often. It is said that they saw the black birds and were inspired by their wisdom and tried to be like them. But whatever it is they're doing, if not for farming along the sea, we have no grasp of it." Moria was telling the truth, as usual.

"I'd like to see your land, one day," Valencia said, rising to her feet with Zoli in her arms.

"Rest assured, it will be so. Traditional marriage between the drider and other races takes place within the Temple of Khalorean, in Khalorean City. There is much distance to travel between the two, however."

A frown crossed Valencia's face, she glanced back at the palace.

"I told my tutor I would be back inside at noon, I better go now," she said abruptly.

Prince Moria took a bow. "I beg your pardon, your grace."

"Its okay." Valencia started to walk back towards the palace, before pausing. "I did like talking to you," she added hastily.

"I enjoy speaking to you as well. I hope we may speak more when your Ladyship is less engrossed in her own affairs." Moria had a gentle smile on his face.

Valencia nodded, before scurrying up the palace and disappearing through the heavy doors. Her bodyguards trooped after her at a more leisurely pace.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Most of that post was a collab with Viirin

-Implement highrise buildings in west quarter of the city
-Implement highrise buildings in east quarter of the city
-Research tower defences again
-Sign agreement founding the Channel Free Trade Area (also known as the Common Market) between the Grand Duchy of Xule, the Khalorean Swarm and the Corpus Verde. Economic boost to all involved.
-Move First Army to North Market, accompanied by trade ships
-Move Second Army to the peninsula west of Oilean Uisce, accompanied by trade ships

[Anti-Eagle]

January 1175 AD (Turn 11)

The year came to a close quickly and with little notice by most, most lacking a way to tell the day, month, or year and merely waiting for an end to the frost and decay of winter. Stories continued to spread of the civilizations of the new age, and their lords amongst the peoples as the days passed bringing fleeting hope to some and others dread, either seeing lies or something more dangerous.

Life went on.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

The Ajivhan Khaganate
Technology - Research Burial Rites (Will Cost 8 to Implement)
Technology - Research Missionaries (Will Cost 8 to Implement)
Settling - Negotiate with locals above the Dead Zone between the Ajivhan wastes and the Ghost Marshes
Settling - Negotiate with locals below the Dead Zone between the Ajivhan wastes and the Ghost Marshes

---

The Corpus Verde
N/A

---

The Empire of the Basalt Throne
N/A

---

The Grand Duchy of Xule
-Implement highrise buildings in west quarter of the city
-Implement highrise buildings in east quarter of the city
-Research tower defences again (will cost 2 materials to implement)
-Sign agreement founding the Channel Free Trade Area (also known as the Common Market) between the Grand Duchy of Xule, the Khalorean Swarm and the Corpus Verde.
-Move First Army to North Market, accompanied by trade ships
-Move Second Army to the peninsula west of Oilean Uisce, accompanied by trade ships

---

The Harconin Protectorate
N/A

---

The Khaloric Swarm
- Lectre's Corps continues marching (3 turns to Stone's Throw)
- Re-research Telegenetics (4/5)
- Found Exterminator's Guild in Khalorean City

---

The Navasti League
N/A - As was suggested by Viirin, with the two updates in on week you have two weeks actions in reserve temporarily with you not having posted last week.

---

The Silverplume Confederacy
N/A

Spoiler: Attack

Show

The soldiers of the Empire of the Basalt Throne fought valiantly against the spirits marching upon them, turning away the horde assaulting their Second territory after a prolonged siege against them.

Those defending the Fifth territory fared somewhat worse however as the spirits overran the local militia and their defences in the first wave of their attack, attacking the weakest most vulnerable points in their walls and men like a sledgehammer. The soldiers sent to reinforce the land barely managed to retreat from the horde as the land was overrun around them without hope of driving them back from within.

The Fifth Territory of the Empire of the Basalt Throne is now overrun. Survivors fled further inland into the Empire alongside the military sent to reinforce the territory.

[Viirin]

Khalorean City

"We finally found the place mentioned in the old texts relating to obsidian." The old dustmoth replied to the council. "The maps we put together were off, but not too horribly far. What really made it difficult was the need for boats, and the fact there were no trees nearby."

"Red Forest has many trees! It's a forest, after all." One of the drider councilors argued.

"True, but... here, just look at the map now that we have a more accurate depiction." The moth man slid a paper across the table.

"Ah, I see. That would make it difficult. Well, now that we know where it is, we should look into its acquisition so we can finally get back to business in terms of our ancient weaponry."

Xule, Prince Moria's Chambers

"The princess has chosen a diet of mercury, or quicksilver, to be that which her pet dines on. Send word home that we need to find as much as possible. Any rumor, even from an unreliable source, must be taken seriously and be reported. Have the Exterminators consider even an overheard broken conversation regarding unnatural metals to be a quest reward. The Swarm will make up the bounty difference in loss of other rewards."
The drider messenger saluted and took off like a scurrying spider on a royal mission would, quickly obeying Prince Moria's demand.

Recombinant Hivemind

Ed, we're counting on you. Have you advanced your frost resistance further?
I have, actually. I don't even feel cold anymore even if I lay face first against a wall made of solid ice.
I don't think you should use your face for that.
It doesn't matter! I use other body parts too. This body's stomach is rather soft and sensitive, so I test with that as well.
Have any of you seen the barren parts of the world? If Ed can find something interesting there, then there should be something there too.
I'm out in a desert right now. There are very interesting plants, and the heat is extremely uncomfortable to say the least. I'd like to settle one, actually.
Not yet, Leito. Though I agree about the plants.
I didn't say anything about plants.
You said they were interesting.
Yeah, but I don't want to approach them. They're covered in spikes and red round things.
Anyway, who is going to help me with all this paperwork? If I'm supposed to get a school curriculum created then I'm going to need some help.
You were the one chosen for that? Alright I'll be there in a minute.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

4/4

0. Lectre's Corps continues marching towards Stone's Throw (2 turns)

1. Re-Research Telegenetics (5/5)
2. Enact edict: Search for Quicksilver
3. Negotiate for the Volcano and surrounding tiles as a settlement
4. Develop Technology: Anatomy

0/4

[The JoJo]

The Ducal Palace, Grand Duchy of Xule

"But why do I have to dress up as a girl?"

"Because no-one will suspect us then," Valencia pointed out as she discarded her laced dress, pulling on a servant's shirt and woolen trousers. She then tied her long hair in a bun and placed a cap over it. "Do you want to see the city or not?"

Cosimo did, and so he reluctantly took off his fine robes and pulled the rough dress over his head, scowling as Valencia buttoned up the back up for him.

"You look very pretty," she said with a smirk, he shoved her in response.

They crept along the servant's pantry, ducking down when an aged chef hobbled past, accompanied by an assistant. Neither paid the children any attention though, and so within a couple of minutes they were out of the back door and for the first time in their life, free to explore Xule.

"What's that smell?" Cosimo said in a low voice as they walked through a marketplace, marvelling at how few people even gave them a second glance.

"That's the people," Valencia replied, wrinkling her nose. "They don't wash very often out here, and look where they throw their waste." The state of the gutters didn't leave much to the imagination. Cosimo pointed to an old man with a red face and lumpy skin, who was sitting by the side of the road with a begging bowl out in front of him.

"What's wrong with him?"

"He must have leprosy, or something. Don't go near him in-case you get it too."

"I never realised there was so much horrible stuff out here," Cosimo said as they passed a woman who was face down in the gutter, flies collecting around the crown of her bloodied head. An ascetic was sat nearby, apparently oblivious to the corpse only a few feet away from him.

"Me neither," Valencia admitted. "Let's go back to the palace, I've seen enough for one day."

Spoiler: Actions

Show

-Implement tower defences into the north wall of the city
-Implement tower defences into the south wall of the city
-Implement tower defences into the east wall of the city
-Secret action
-Move second army around the peninsula to the west of Oilean Uisce, accompanied by trade ships

[PossiblyInsane]

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Starting Action Total - 8/8
Negotiate with Locals: Central Balaena (Balaenic Archipelago)
Negotiate with Locals: Salmo (Balaenic Archipelago)
Invade Territory: Pectora (Balaenic Archipelago), using the House Guard (Army 1). If the locals are still alive and have managed to hold off the Aberration attacks, this will take the form of well-intentioned military occupation in a similar manner to Polus.
Invade Territory: East of Territory 4 and 10 on map (The Northern Wastes), using the Silver Claws (Army 2).
Research: Cthonic Watchers (1/? research actions, intended to increase the combat bonus from scouting a territory)
Research: Cthonic Watchers (2/? research actions)
Research: Forced March (1/? research actions, intended to increase army movement)
Take 2 food from stockpile (3 remaining, new food total 25)

Ending Action Total - 0/8

[cybric]

Spoiler: actions

Show

• Negotiate with locals on northern section of ghost marshes
• Negotiate with locals on northern section of ghost marshes
• Research Luug birthing pool territory improvement
• research dragon cavalry +3 combat bonus
• research dragon cavalry +3 combat bonus
• Research Luug birthing pool territory improvement
• Research Warrior temple territory improvement
• Impliment vorpal weaponry tech

[pfm1995]

SOMEWHERE IN THE OCEAN

The air was still. For a week there had been neither storms, nor rain, nor even a breath of wind to fill the sails. Salt-streaked men slaved away at cracked oars in a futile race - another day, two at the most, and the fresh water would be gone. Eyes were already shifting sideways, staring greedily at rivulets of sweat. Long chains ran from ankle-shackle to ankle-shackle, a humility willingly undertaken to ward off the madness to come.

From the crow's nest, a high-pitched voice cried out. No-one took notice at first - the lookout was fourteen, on his first voyage, and he had cried wolf before. And then a deeper voice cried out as well, first in curiosity and then in alarm. What had seemed a heat-haze on the horizon drew ever closer, a ripple in the glass-smooth sea approaching from all sides. Reflected sunlight gave way to clarity, and each man clutched at his gods and prayed like children. Aberrations. Hundreds of them, gliding over and under each other in a sinuous weave so thick a man could walk without fear of falling. With them came a dreadful susurrus, a whispering each felt he could understand, if he only listened more closely. And each man was glad.

The swell of flesh and scales hit the ship with a tremendous cacophony, the whispers becoming shrieks and screams as the ship rocks and dips low. The monsters boarded, and were met by men. They had taken the chains meant to spare them the taste of flesh and fashioned weapons, and they fought with fervor. Their leader, for their captain was dead, scaled the very back of the largest aberration and called for harpoons. A half-hour of bloody slaughter followed, and the monsters were bent, broken, and vanquished.

Calm descended again, somehow more terrible than the whispers had ever been. It was broken by a laugh, and the one they called leader -for their captain was dead - grabbed a handful of visecra and took a bloody bite. His men joined him in debauchery; there would be no starving now.

On the horizon, iridescent thunder flashed.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

1. Research (if you can call it that) Tainted Gods - a method of magic involving consuming and making fetishes out of the bodies of aberrations.
2. Idem
3. Idem
4. Found an army, to be based out of Navahangist and entirely naval-focused
5. Absorb the next colony down the shore.
6. Espionage - I want that gunpowder, dammit!
7. Implement the above research.
8. Research (again, uncertain if research is the right word) Wiley Traders - this will be a multi-part research focused on increasing materials production.