Only Ruins: Game thread

[Novabomb]

Journal of Awn

It is the nature of our gift that with greater knowledge, comes greater impact when the art is used. I cannot help but feel that much time is lost when we begin educating when the gift is discovered. I think in the long run it will serve best to teach all at a younger age. To encourage the common folk to embrace this, something needs to be done to reduce the effort of maintaining the fields. I believe a conference of the Renewers is in order. I shall also have to hear from the local farmers.


An interesting development, I have received word, that our northern territory has a visitor, a representative of the Khaloric Swarm. I wonder if I should be worried, or glad. This is our first contact from a foreign power, I will have to attend in person.


Terris approached me today to ask for space for her newest project. She wants to see if she can Persuade a sapling to grow into a coat rack. Seems silly to me as such a tree would not last long indoors, but she is eager, so I gave my blessing.

Spoiler: Actions

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1) Fully Settle Awn (The capital).
2) Begin Researching Wood Charming. (A subcategory of Improvement Magic to have wood grow into specific shapes)
3) Begin Researching Improved Plows
4) Begin Researching Selective Field Blessing. (Instead of blessing all plants in the field, bless only the desired crops, and not the weeds)
5) Begin Researching Mandatory Public Education

[Viirin]

Temple of Khalorean, First Test

Empress Dorian Cook was talking in person to a couple recombinants that Oswin thought would make good queen candidates.

"Look at where I show you. Make sure it loses."

Many miles to the North, there was a creature rising out of the frozen plain of ice. No non-psychic had yet noticed it yet; and the recruiters hadn't sensed it yet either. It was too far away, But that was no excuse.

The first of the girls watched through the hivemind, and alerted the warrior spiders to the threat. They had little capacity for intelligence on their own, and for the most part had to be directed. They ran at the thing, jumping at and retreating from its face, while more of them made a circling attack from both sides around to its hindquarters (though it didn't actually have one) and started to pounce on and tear at it.
The thing roared and turned to see what was happening to it, but that was the whole plan. Those previously used as decoys and distractions now proved to be the actual threat. Whatever direction the beast attempted to attack, a different direction's troops increased their ferocity.
It was dead after a few minutes, and eggs were implanted. More recruiters would be born to protect Karonaberg, more than replacing the few who were just destroyed.

It was the other girl's turn. Instead of conducting actual combat from hundreds of miles away with pure analytical thought, this test was diplomatic.

Temple of Khalorean, Second Test

There were humans, dustmoths, krakari, and drider all conducting various business of their own. There were very few recombinants around...

"Empress?"
"I will not give hints. Notice and work."

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary... wait! Someone carved a little symbol on a piece of wood and dropped it behind a barrel next to a shop. Someone else a few minutes later going the opposite direction, picked it up and then walked faster.

A theft ring? The queen-to-be (hopefully) switched perspectives and looked through someone else's eyes. The person, who was a young boy it seemed, handed off the wood piece to someone else and cowered when he was glanced at by the one he delivered to.

Ah, so he was innocent. A bullied pawn.

There were a few more details, only able to be put together from various people's impressions of those involved, which the hopeful queen could see and taste. Various other recombinants or the body language of the mortal races were hints...

"I have completed my task."

"You did nothing." The Empress replied with displeasure.

"Some of those children are timid, but all innocent of crime. The suspicious activity was just one of the boys trying to buy a birthday present for his mother, but she wouldn't let him leave her side so he had to enlist aid to do it in secret."

Dorian looked over at Gorbash, the leader of the Temple Force military arm. They pass.

She took a sword out from somewhere secret, but clearly from behind a wall... or maybe it was part of it, and knighted the two girls with light cuts between their shoulders and collarbones. They healed almost immediately.

"Yedrin, you are now Queen Yedrin Cook. The Drider Cannery is now your project. Janel, you are now Queen Janel Cook. The Vampire Observatory is your responsibility."

The newly promoted recombinant queens took their leave, with Gorbash as escort, and began to make their way to their respective cities.

[Nyna]

Runeforge - Liella's Study

High up above the bustling activity of the sprawling Runeforge complex stood a fairly ornate structure. A lord's mansion in the past, this structure had been re-purposed now as the capitol building of the Rising Light. Administrative tasks were taken care of on the ground floors, and a large audience chamber was prepared for use for both domestic and foreign affairs. The second floor, smaller than the ground, was used for Liella's personal quarters and study, and it was up here on a balcony that she stood right now, looking over the growing town surrounding the Runeforge.

It had been so busy, it had felt like the last five years had really flown by. Reactivating this massive complex had taken a lot of power, and had certainly not gone unnoticed thanks to that huge beam of light. Soon after that she had begun to recruit those with potential to train as Life Mages to help cure those in the region of their ills and ailments, and had sought after skilled engineers and smiths to aid the awakening Simulacra within the Runeforge itself. And from there... events had truly spiraled a bit beyond her control and intentions. Her closest followers had begun to refer to her as a 'Prophetess', thanks in no small part to the power of the Staff of Ages that was ever-present on her person, and soon after that, a cult of sorts had formed around her, with people seeming to look and refer to her with reverence. Her mages were referred to as her Chosen, and treated as representatives of the Prophetess' will.

Really, it was all too much to take in, but she couldn't exactly back down from all of these built up expectations now, or everything she'd worked for these past five years would collapse around her. In hindsight, it was probably inevitable for something of this sort to occur anyways. She'd come from the past upon the Staff's prediction that civilization would crumble due to the events of the time. And certainly, the prediction had come true, though perhaps she had jumped a bit farther than intended, as it seemed civilization had already begun to recover on its own.

Well, no matter. Her task remained the same.

Liella would turn from her ruminations, looking towards the door inside as there was a knock, followed by the entrance of one of the servants. "Prophetess, pardon the intrusion, but you wished to be informed when the apprentices had assembled."

And Liella would nod. "Right. Thank you, I'll be down in just a moment." Time to get back to work, it seemed. There was still much to be done.

Spoiler: Actions

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- Fully Settle Runeforge
- Develop farmland in region 6
- Research Beacon Watchtowers (Manned watchtowers spaced equidistantly across the territory can be activated to send a beam of light of varying colors into the sky, based on what has been seen. Watchtowers farther down the line then do the same until the watchtower near the garrison is reached, at which point the garrison can move to defend against the threat. Primarily used for spotting incoming armies and raiders and much faster than simply sending a messenger, but can also be used to notify of other things, such as nearby forest fires.)
- Train Chosen Missionaries (Life Mages specifically trained as diplomats and missionaries to help convert the populace. They work their healing and purification magic while preaching their faith. Primarily sent forth to convince unaligned civilians to convert to the Rising Light and become a part of the growing nation.)
- Negotiate with locals (east of territory 3/ north of 5)

[Anti-Eagle]

Spoiler: Sinan

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A year ago...

Strange coloured flames burned brightly in the small workshop as Sinan worked upon himself. Days passed as he worked without rest, few witnessing or aware of the work he conducted in the small sweltering room.

Tools unremembered and carefully prepared sat around him amongst the materials brought to him. Ancient vivisectionist and surgeons tools, ancient machinist tools and scavenged simulacra components, clock components, a mortar and pestle, a man sized glazing furnace, alchemical supplies and kit...

To the right of him. Hundreds of small and thin pieces of stainless kaplo, thirty undamaged mercury receiver and converter tubes, several bundles of electrum wire, two perfect spheres of moonstone, an urn filled with powdered kaolin, obsidian, onyx, and the carefully prepared bone ash of the blessed dead.

Amirah watched carefully as he worked during the day, walked through some of it and taught what little she could be as she watched in curiosity and mild fear as he shed his waxen flesh and exposed the silver skeleton underneath it.

Small trickles of blood were collected as he carefully removed the wax, scraping it off of the metal with care and checking it for deformities as he did so. Ancient and strange mechanical and otherwise organs of glass and other things were removed from his chest and examined carefully by his eyeless gaze, checked for nonexistant damage and slowly modified by him, the metal grown and shaped as the glass was coated and ancient tubes were armoured, mercury filled tubes were fitted to each, and small components once belonging to long dead simulacra were attached to each and fitted with the existing components. Electrum wires were attached to the tubes and the various components and were ran between them to eachother, before the mess of them were fitted back into his chest and started again.

The kaolin, obsidian, onyx, and ash were mixed and ground further as his blood was worked into it and a mix of lake water and some concotion of alchemical medicines used to thin and even it. Thin pieces of kaplo coated in the mixture were fitted onto his ribs and the bones of his arms and legs, smaller fittings placed on the ends of his fingers. Carefully fitted to him and kept even as he did so. More mercury filled tubes were placed throughout, fitted into holes amongst the pieces of kaplo and suspended in them as more were attached to his ribs and inside his chest. Coated electrum wires were ran through the fittings and attached to the tubes, carefully leading back to the strange mechanisms fitted into him and into his skull as he smeared more of the mixture on his bones and the components.

As he finished the works upon himself he carefully placed within his eye sockets two orbs of moonstone, perfect as far as anyone could tell and allowed them to set.

After examining his work briefly he stepped into the furnace and closed the door, metal enveloping the alterations as he sat in the flames.

Six months ago...

Flesh shifted awkwardly on Sinan's face as he stared into the mirror, his body still adjusting to the alterations, trying to bring itself back to normal. Pale olive Ajivhan flesh, cold blue eyes, short dark brown and grey hair, a short beard. Sharp needle-like teeth filling his mouth. Making himself look like himself was difficult when he couldn't honestly recall his own face.

Amirah held the mirror infront of him as he tried to fix himself. Forcing the irises to a human shape, keeping the silver from creeping over. Thickening his teeth to something less like that of a monster and more of a man, coming to something resembling that of the points of a wolf. Forcing the flesh back to mimicry and adhering it properly.

Th old mark on his back, the sign of the ancient pact, stripped off as he worked, left to sit and turn as it was needed to be fixed. Slowly he forced it back into the flesh of his back, slowly he willed it to change. It was the mark of a lost time, a lost favour. He wanted something new if he was to change himself. A sun on his back, wrought in a golden metal with radiants surrounding it shaped like khopesh. A mark of the ancient people.

Two months ago...

Finely weaved, heavily treated silk and marsh cloths clothed him now. It was apparently seen that what he'd been wearing the past several years was those of a commoner, something unbefitting of a Khagan.

He thought it appealed to those below him.

A suit of grey, green, and black fitted in the old style, carefully armoured pieces of juften dragonhide covering weaves of lead, barium, asbestos, and plates of kaplo. A finely crafted black and grey panoply coat in the justiciar style of the collective, made of silk and juften dragonhide, with plates of kaplo triple-coated in living metal hidden amongst armour pockets and stitched shut, and the lead/barium/asbestos weave worked into it between the leather outside and the silk lining the inside. Boots and gloves of the juften, thin plates of living metal fitted into the leather.

If he was to wear the clothes of the rich, it would be practical. To show the strength and ingenuity under him rather than wealth.

On his head he wore a felt tubeteika. He didn't particularly enjoy wearing hats but his advisors seemed to think he should wear one however. An apparent tradition amongst the early Khagans.

He looked forward to actually accomplishing something in the coming times.

The Delphic Bay

Time passed on the ship. Red wood, black sails. A black flag marked in bronze thread with an elaborate stylized sun surrounded by a circle with lines spreading from it away from the mast.

Smoke bellowed from two small smokestack at the rear near the paddle wheels and engine as the ship moved towards the waters controlled by the Empire of the Basalt throne, grand thing it was. It was probably the only ship constructed by Khaganians hands that had been built for leisure. Not that it couldn't fight. Harconin armouring and designers, ancient Krakar cannons, Navasti engines and builders, and Janissarial firing stands. That it was a riverboat by design and his standards didn't really matter, if anything happened it would fare as well as anything else on the water would.

Sinan smiled at the sight of open water that wasn't filled with waiting death. It had been some time since he'd seen land and people he wasn't expected to rule over. It was pleasant to sit and watch the marsh as he went down the channel. As little of an effect as they had the opiates, delysids, and alcohols he constantly saturated himself were rather boring indoors.

Amirah and his children watched wide eyed at the distance, or atleast those old enough to recognize what was going on, none of them having been this far North before or on a boat.

In three days himself, the two Ilkhan Rashid and Atik, his advisors, Amirah, the heads of the Empire of the Basalt Throne, the 'High Reclaimer' of the Harconin Protectorate Trila Silvermain, and anyone else the others were to bring would meet in the Delphic Bay to discuss the terms of their grand alliance and confederacy with one another.

All of the preparation over the past five years would pay off and in a short time work would begin. He hoped. If he could get them to cooperate with him, perhaps in a generation the continent would even be reclaimed.

Spoiler: Ajivhan Khaganate Actions

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Settling - Fully Settle Bandar
Settling - Fully Settle Bedlam
Military - Form an Army in Bandar (The Grey Guards as described in the timeskip summary)
Settling - Negotiate for the land at the West end of the Sarandan channel (South of Bedlam), name Duskweir.
Settling - Negotiate for the land at the East end of the Sarandan channel, name Dawnweir.

- Rename Territory 5 to Duskgrove
- Rename Territory 6 to Dawnfield
- Rename Territory 7 to Duskeyre
- Rename Territory 8 to Dawnvale
- Rename Territory 9 to North Ashyett
- Rename Territory 10 to South Ashyett
- Position the Green Guard army in Dawnweir.

Spoiler: Harconin Protectorate Actions

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Diplomacy - Form the Argent Confederacy with the Ajivhan Khaganate and the Empire of the Basalt Throne.
Diplomacy - Expand the Silk Road trading routes into the Harconin Protectorate.
Diplomacy - Form a trade agreement with the Empire of the Basalt Throne.
Diplomacy - Share Black Powder with the Empire of the Basalt Throne (Will require one more action to research)
Diplomacy - Share Silver Living Metal Control with the Ajivhan Khaganate (Will require two more actions to research)

[The JoJo]

Stonetide, the Silverplume Confederacy

Aeross had few illusions about why he, one of Xule's few krakari diplomats, had been selected to approach the Silverplume confederacy. Nevertheless, he had to admit it was fascinating to see a nation with a majority of people like himself. The great cliffs of Stonetide, with their high platforms and carved steps, would never have been settled by any humans. Here the krakari were in their natural element, swooping and riding air currents from the top to the base of the cliff. It was here that he was greeted by a stern old bird, with fierce eyes and downy white feathers.

"Business?" he asked Aeross in a sharp tone. The krakari diplomat sighed internally, it seemed even here he was just another foreigner.

"I bring greetings and gifts from his Majesty Cosimo IV, Grand Duke of Xule and King of Nova Aurora."

Aeross was summarily led up the stone cliffs to a great building carved into the cliffface. He was searched, before being allow to enter.

"I hope this summer house is sufficient, since I was here already I thought it would be more convenient," Ashur said, offering a seat to the krakari diplomat. Aeross took it gratefully.

"It will be quite sufficient, your grace," he said. He wasn't sure if it was the right form of address, but he got the feeling that Ashur would be understanding of any mistakes.

"They say you come from Xule?" Ashur asked.

"That is correct."

‘What is it like, living under the rule of men?’

‘It’s not all bad, at-least the food is good,’ Aeross said with a shrug. He reached down to the box in front of him, producing a ragged tapestry. "This may not look like much, but it comes straight from the palace treasury."

"What is it?"

"A ancient tapestry, depicting the victory of the Krakari over the Ray-Das halflings at Lot-Vos. It is said to have been stitched in the Raptor States, not long after that battle took place."

"How curious," Ashur said, gesturing for an attendant to collect the tapestry. "I had no idea such relics had survived the chaos of the past age. Xule must be an interesting place."

"It is indeed."

"Well, thank you." He poured out a pair of wine glasses, offering one to Aeross. "So, what have you come to offer?’

"Trade, mostly. Xule is looking for a port in the south, and your nation is just in the right place. For full extraterritorial rights, we could make it worth your while."

"Perhaps," Ashur said, reclining in his chair. "We do not wish our nation to be flooded with cheap silver. Some controls are desirable."

"Of course."

"And what would we get in return?"

"Full access to the ports at Xule, with your own dedicated dock. Through Xule, your goods can reach the other nations of the Channel Free Trade Area."

"That is a large market?"

"The largest single market in the world, your grace."

"That sounds… agreeable," Ashur said, reaching for his quill. "Tell me, will our ships be safe in the Channel?"

"The Channel is safer than its been for centuries, now that all of its main islands have been rid of pirates. The Brujah were a threat, but they have been dealt with." Aeross saw the old leader’s concern. "If it pleases you, we could write in a clause of mutual defence, should either of our ports come under unprovoked attack?"

"That would assure my doubts."

"Let it be done then."

They shook wings and then departed to their quarters, each satisfied with the agreement reached.

Spoiler: Silverplume actions

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-Silverplume Confederacy joins the Channel Free Trade Area
-Construct Xulian port in the north of the islands
-Sign Treaty of Mutuality with the Grand Duchy of Xule and the Kingdom of Nova Aurora

[Viirin]

Temple of Khalorean

There had been no information from the Corpus Verde in regards to their plans regarding living metal for years. If they had gotten anywhere, the Swarm wasn't informed. Slight advances in connectivity between experimenters made progress, but not much.
The Swarm needed to gain aspects of the metal into themselves, or they would be denying their own divinely commanded instinctual desires. A new idea was finally approved. It had been thought of before but shot down repeatedly. Not this time. Two pillars were capped with small rounded orbs, with small spikes sticking out of them, pointing upwards.
A recombinant man walked up to it, prepared himself as best he could, even though he had volunteered a week before, and grabbed the orbs with all his strength. The spikes stabbed into his palms.

The recombinant hivemind shuttered and bent under the pressure of their actions. Quick flashes of light echoing throughout it, eyes everywhere, a choir of screaming, burning, ecstasy, they could see everything! A woman standing over them! Silver light burning them! Writhing flames! Pervasive-

GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! A seemingly endless tirade of the same command screamed over and over at incomprehensible speed continued ad infinitum, and then...

- And then it stopped. Something broke. Days passed as something visibly writhed in the hivemind as they watched in horror, uncontrolled, wrong. Creatures stopped following their orders, danced to a new tune. Deaf to the voices. Started staring at the sky in wonder and terror. Suddenly stopping work to paint on the wall in their blood, horrible images. Burning women. Children. Weeping. Rot. Carrion. Death. Running into the wilderness only to return days later in a daze without memory of what they'd done. Bloody and ruined internally without apparent cause. Silver veins appearing on their organs.
Days passed as the events unfolded across their kind. In the end a pervasive humming. Whispers of something in their heads. Eating at them. Something staring at them from everywhere and nowhere simultaneously.
In the middle of the night of the seventh day a ragged looking Meretonian woman with pitch black eyes and parchment white skin appeared, twitching and clearly in pain, appearing suddenly in front of the empress without explanation. Everything else within the chamber apparently unable to perceive her as she stared at the creature in front of her.

Nothing in Dorian's memory, and no one elses by that regard, had known of anything that had ever invaded the Temple of Khalorean. Not since the genocides, at least. It wasn't an impossible feat, but nothing had dared to do so.
"The Swarm cannot help you. We seem to be experiencing" the Empress flexed various muscles, the quills in her hair shaking and making a woody wind chime-like sound. "Technical" some of the delicate vine-like shapes upon her arms made of scales and lava changed shape, looking like a recoiling octopus. "Difficulties."

A deafening chorus of a thousand voices rang out from the woman as visions of eyes spread out from her and covered the chamber around the Empress.
"Get. Out. Of. My. Head."

"Who... are you?"

"Your god," half the voices replied. Others stating things ranging between "the silver flame" and "the world's tree". Some laughed madly, others screamed, or sounded as if they were sobbing.

"You are not Khalorean!" Dorian winced in pain again. Some of the auburn willow-like leaves intermixed in her hair turned green, and some strands of her strawberry blonde hair turned black.

The dominant half laughed, while others whispered questions "Where is Khalorean?" "What has Khalorean ever done for you?" almost seductively. Another distant one screaming "You're only alive because of me!"

A crack appeared on Dorian's chitin, and acid began leaking out, melting into the floor. She threw her fists out and grabbed at nothing, and pulled her arms back. Water from inside nearby decanters burst forth and splashed over her, washing away the sweat on her face and freezing her wound shut.
We don't understand. The hivemind echoed. What do you mean, we are only alive because of you?

"Of course you don't..." the dominant half replied as the others continued their writhing speech and emotives. "How are you alive?" "Nidhoggr!" "When did you awake?" "Why won't you leave us?" "Is the poison in you?" "Is it not enough?" "Why did you do this to us?" "I should have killed you when I had the chance." Why did you wake? "All owe their lives to me. You owe your life to me."
The dominant half continued "You live while your kind perished. From you they return. How do you think this is?"

"Khalorean designed us to overcome all odds no matter the circumstance. He demanded we acquire life of all forms, to bring it back if ever it went extinct. We do as we were made to do."
Below the Arms Dealer Coliseum, a sound that had only been heard even further away had begun again. Constant thudding followed by short periods of rest.
"Khalorean says no one owes their lives to anyone. Lysei said the same thing."
Far in the south, a member of the leaderless Skycoast Flight fell from the sky and crashed into a tree. He roared in pain, but the impaling evergreen was not the cause. Eye sockets forcibly formed within his face, but no eyes were grown. Instead, deep vertical gashes that rapidly healed and filled with silver did. At the same time, red marks in his face made of lava, almost like warpaint designed to make the wearer look more menacing, did.
"Are you the Ascendant?"
A dustmoth guard in Karonaberg watched in exhausted discomfort as his partner Recruiter writhed in agony as it changed from a tarantula form to that of a black widow. A black widow that wasn't black and tiny, but three feet wide and bright red.

The whole screamed No! as a thunderclap sounded in the distance and the eyes in the room began to shift around. The whole seemed to shift around. Maddened laughing, sobbing, agonized screaming.
"You think it wise to compare me to that thing child?" "Any of them?" "While you stand with the Nostrand!?" "I could crush you!" "Start again!" "Release me!"
It settled briefly as the figure stepped forward, "You try to wear my flesh but cannot be bothered to learn my name." "It hasn't been that long!"

"Our artifact historian said to us your name, but his memory is not perfect and bears confusion. We could easily say the name, but who is to say you would not simply agree when the truth is something else?"
What was once an aberration fell to the ground in the street. His lower half became slimmer and longer but more muscular.
"We fear speaking the Ascendant's name, but also don't recognize the names you have spoken thus far. Who or what are they? We will not speak them aloud until we are informed."
"If you would be willing, let us both say your name at the same moment. On the count of three. Not on 'go', but your name would replace the word three. One, two, Ashlif."

"Ashlif," the voices played along tired.
"Why would I lie?" "I could rend your mind! Take your thoughts! Before you said a word! Hollow you out! Make you a puppet!"
The more seductive toned voices started speaking again "Old words of a dead people, thing that gnaws at my roots. I'd be surprised if that thing had a true name."
"Probably thousands," a few intoned.

"We do not mean to dishonor you. Even if you are a god, we cannot believe that you have not met other divinities who lie.
In response to you killing us, we were killed once before by your father. Would you unleash wholesale murder upon us as well, when we are one of the greater causes in the current age for peace, understanding, and defense against the abominations sent by the Destroyer?"

"Murder! You think it Murder?!" The building began to shake slightly, "If it hadn't been for that thing! None of this would have happened! None of it! I saved your life! Argued for you! We hold life and death in our hands! Is it murder if it isn't permanent! We would've brought them back! If we were trying to kill you do you think we would have used our servants?!"
"You know nothing of what you speak!"

"We already know we are grossly missing in important information, Ashlif. Our cities destroyed, our books decayed, burned, or both. Our immortals erased and so that source of history is lost, too. Whatever Great Civilizations that were between this age and our first, also gone except for Aurora and Ajivha, obviously."
Various recombinants from across the world did what they could to enter meditative stances, calming their minds so others of their kind could use their abilities more efficiently.
"You say you argued for our existence, but against whom?"

"Brothers! Sisters! Sons! Daughters! Do you think it a mistake you were missed?"

"Well, yes, actually. We thought the Destroyer would run out of energy eventually and it just so happened that we were overlooked since who would ever go back to the first place destroyed and use it as a refuge while it still burned?"
Most recombinants of all castes were now lending their strength to their Empress. It was a rather odd sight to everyone else.

"You think that's what happened? Your people were gone! Locked away! Before any of it rose! WE DIDN'T DESTROY THE WORLD!"

"If you and the other gods didn't attack us, and you and your family are not the Ascendant, then do you know what created it? Do you know what the true nature of the aberrations is?"
Without it being intentional, some recombinants spoke the words of the Empress as she was, at the same time.

"Aurorans", one of the voices snapped. Another angrily snarled, "Trying to bring Him back!" "Selfish!"

"A dead god? They tried to bring back a dead god?" Dorian really didn't want to ask the next question, but she couldn't just abandon the opportunity due to depression and fear. "Was the dead god they tried to bring back... Khalorean?"

"What else would they do?!" Several of the voices replied angrily, before continuing to the other question "I doubt they even remembered Khalorean."
After a moment the woman stepped forward again laughing and yelled at her as blood trickled from her eyes. "Every second you hold me is agony! Every second is another year! Release me!"

Every second is another year? Is one second in conversation to a god a full year passing in reality?

"No! Every second everywhere!" One of the voices snapped.

"You asked us to get out. You screamed at us to get out. Are we hurting you, Ashlif? Are you uninjured but it is this girl who is being destroyed by bearing you?"

"What you are doing to me is worse than what I am doing to you. What I am doing to her is nothing," one of the more seductive voices replied.

"We will pull out right now. Please, for the sake of this innocent child, grant her the gift of salvation. Heal her or take her with you so she can be saved. If you decide not to, then leave her with us and we will do it ourselves."

Slowly the girl disappeared.

The recombinant man who had stood at the spiked pillars finally released them, and the palms of his hands began to heal.
While looking at his hands, he couldn't fail to notice the new color that had appeared. The other recombinants throughout the Swarm noticed the same thing- all of their silver living metal that had started growing throughout them had tarnished and turned to bronze. Living bronze!

Spoiler: Note

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Collaboration between me and Eagle.

[gawwy]

Crepitus stood in the bulbous observation deck of the Nautilus. It was an almost complete sphere of glass crisscrossed with metal supports, incomplete only at the aft where it connected to the rest of the vessel. Crepitus looked up from the large table covered in maps and census data to stare out at the unending view of the sea bed. The spotlights strafed the depths, Crepitus himself was unsure of what he was looking for, Jashikis last command had consisted only of the word "north". Soon it would be time to consult the dead god again. In the meantime the Nautilus surged on, deep beneath the oceans waves unseen and unheard.

Crepitus returned his attention to the charts in-front of him. The search was slow and he had hoped to expand the fleet of submarines to speed it up. Unfortunately while the children had taken to the new religion of Jashiki quickly they had taken the tenant of the living enjoying life truly to heart and were starting to neglect mundane duties such as gathering food. The Elders were picking up the slack and hunting for them, but this precluded them from the research and important tasks Crepitus had intended for them to do. The children had intense energy that would need channeling to productive ends. The short animated corpse summoned Sloan, an elder who had come of age some 4 years earlier he had come to terms with undeath and could be trusted to act amongst the children without reverting to their carefree way of life.

"Sloan I need you to return to the Capitol and steer the children's unbounded energy to more productive means."

"In what manner my lord?"

"Like all things with the children it will have to be a game, or more importantly a continuous games with a reward they can laud over one another. Appeal to their competitive tendencies in the name of pleasing Jashiki." intoned Crepitus. "Build a palace in his name and allow who ever returns the most impressive catch each month to reside there until the next."

"Fishing will not satiate all of the children my lord, some are quite bloodthirsty in their youth." replied Sloan, remembering fondly his own years of piracy in his youth.

"Send raiding parties to the main land, swift raids for food only, launch from the Lighthouse of Bones to begin with and move west along the coastline. Have the elders of the Lighthouse scout ahead and stay far away from the Khalorean settlement to the east. Thats a fight we cannot afford. Hopefully that will be enough to satiate the children's blood-lust for now."

"Should i send a diplomat to them?"

"No, best they think the raids uncoordinated pirates for now, if they respond harshly have the fleet sail further west for their fun. We will set up diplomatic relations once we have gained some form of leverage."

"Yes sir."

"That will be all for now Sloan."

After Sloan departs Crepitus leaves the Observation deck to go to the alter that had been set up in the depths of the ship. There a bound live prisoner struggled bound and gagged.

"Relax child, I come to bestow a great honor upon you. Today you shall touch divinity."

The prisoner starts to spasm violently as Crepitus reaches for the scalpel on he tray next to him. Next to it lay an eyeball with a serpentine iris.

After the surgery is complete and the eye is implanted in its newest host Crepitus pushes the prisoners head deep into the pool of water and holds him there with surprising strength. Once the thrashing ends he pulls the now lifeless body back from the body and awaits the short command from his god.

Spoiler: Naming things

Show

Army 1 => The Chattering Hoard
Territory 1, Capitol => The Island of Mirth
Territory 2 => The Joyous Cove
Territory 3 => The Lighthouse of Bones
Territory 4 => Humming Atoll
Territory 5 => Anchorage
Territory 6 => Elders Bed

Spoiler: Great Heathen Army Actions

Show

5/5
Fully settle the Island of Mirth (Capitol, territory 1)
Build alter of the games (Capitol +1 food)
Explore the debris field to the north of the Island of Mirth (Capitol, territory 1)
Research Coastal Raiding (Ocean bonuses apply to raids made from the sea to the land)
Scout the coast of the main land nearest to the Lighthouse of Bones in preparation for a raid on turn +3
0/5
Move the Chattering Hoard (army 1) toward the Lighthouse of Bones (territory 3) should take 2 turns of movement.

[Togo]

Knarl pulled out his notebook

"Ok, is that trial 24 complete? Commander H'vark, Lieu.. Lieutenant Nessian?"

The archer nodded, lowering his bow, a fine curve made of layers of horn, bone and sinew, laquered with the patina of heavy use.

Their eyes met, then they looked at Lieutenant Nessian.

"...compress the clamp, loosen the cawl, free the hinge, lower the barrel..."

H'vark cleared his throat. "I believe he is still to take his final shot."

Knarl nodded.

"...extract the rod, attach the brush, reverse the rod, ram the barrel, one-two, rotate and repeat, one-two..."

Knarl looked at the archer again. "Maybe we can get your opinions while we wait. So.. furthest range?"

H'vark looked grave. "Bow."

Knarl nodded without surprise, and made a careful notation. "Was it a close call between them?"

"No."

"Accuracy, short range. Bow or musket?"

"Bow."

"...remove the brush, attach the clamp, open the clamp, insert the tongue, wind the snail..."

"Accuracy, medium range?"

"Bow."

"Accuracy, long range?"

"Bow."

"...reverse the rod, snail the barrel, one-two, rotate and repeat, one-two, unwind the snail, unclamp the tongue...

"Interesting. I guess that might improve when we get more practice."

"I don't believe so. The musket balls, at long range, appear to be badly effected by the wind."

Knarl's eyebrows rose. "Really? They're metal, and round..."

"Yes, but they're tiny compared to arrows, weigh less, and have no fletching."

"...extend the clamp, tighten the cawl, unscrew the horn, prime the barrel, three shakes done..."

"What about rate of fire?"

They both looked at Lieutenant Nessian.

"...prep the wadding, insert the wadding, ram the wadding, one-two, rotate and repeat, one-two..."

"Bow" they said in unison. Knarl carefully noted it down.

"So what you're telling me, Commander H'Vark, is that these new technological marvels are basically rubbish?"

"That's.. hm.. That's too harsh I think."

"...find the ball, size the ball, ball checks out, add the ball, add the cap wad, reverse the rod..."

"Do they have any advantages over our existing weapons?"

"Well.. They're easy to use...."

"...ram the barrel, one-two, rotate and repeat, one-two, prime the fuse, trim the fuse, check the contact..."

"You sure about that?"

"Yes. The lieutanant is a competant shot, and has only been training for a few days. Training an archer takes at least six months, and often longer. In a short time he has broken down all the necessary steps into a chant, that could be shouted by a sergeant or similar authority. The weapon is cumbersome, will always be cumbersome..."

"...Raise the firing stick, position the firing stick, mount the barrel, check the sight..."

"...but is easier to learn than a longbow."

"So's a crossbow, and they have better penetration."

"Ours do, but that is unusual in the wider world. And... there is one thing these weapons excel at..."

"...adjust the sight, level the barrel, trim the line. Ready to fire! Fire!"

The was a sharp report, a cloud of smoke, and the target span around.

"Armour penetration at range. Although their effective range is... more limited than a bow, they retain the ability to put holes in a metal target, like that one, at the very limit of their range. Consider the effect on a cavelry charge. "

Knarl frowned. "Giving expensive weapons to militia so that they can fire when charged. Traditionally we've tried to avoid both of those..."

"Traditionally, we've fought gigantic abomoinations from the depths of the sea, which militia can't hurt anyway. I understand that's not always going to be the case?"

"Probably not... So the other nations have been rearming their soldiers with these weapons. Do we follow suit?"

"No. It's not a good style of weapon for us, for our units and tactics. Useful in the right hands, but most of the hands we have in our armies are the wrong ones."

"Lieutenant? Do you think you could make a useful military unit out of people with these er... muskrats?"

"Muskets sir, and yes sir!"

"What forces would you use?"

"Wouldn't sir. Start fresh with new troops. Garrison units sir! Militia lines. Troops that don't have a lot of training, and aren't expected to hold their own without help."

"But for the rest of the army...." He sighed and picked up a musket. "For the rest, we'll have to think of something else."

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Actions

1) Research gunpowder
2) Research gunpowder
3) Diplomatic contact with the rising light
4) Research advanced alchemy
5) Research advanced alchemy

[Anti-Eagle]

April 1181 (Turn 26)

March turned to April. The rare occurrence of clear skies prevailed across the lands as spring continued. The constant renewal of nature was a process most found beautiful, or atleast those who payed attention to such things.

The spirits seemed especially calm throughout the month perhaps distracted by the flow of life around them, and Shades were rarely seen. Those that were rambled seemingly mindlessly about creeping disease and poison, appearing distracted and unable to relate at all to those they'd otherwise be warning or advising.

Spoiler: Turn 25 Actions

Show

The Ajivhan Khaganate
Settling - Fully Settle Bandar
Settling - Fully Settle Bedlam
Military - Form an Army in Bandar (The Grey Guards as described in the timeskip summary)
Settling - Negotiate for the land at the West end of the Sarandan channel (South of Bedlam), name Duskweir.
Settling - Negotiate for the land at the East end of the Sarandan channel, name Dawnweir.

- Rename Territory 5 to Duskgrove
- Rename Territory 6 to Dawnfield
- Rename Territory 7 to Duskeyre
- Rename Territory 8 to Dawnvale
- Rename Territory 9 to North Ashyett
- Rename Territory 10 to South Ashyett
- Position the Green Guard army in Dawnweir.

---

The Corpus Verde
- N/A (Five Actions Saved)

---

The Disciples of Awn
- Fully Settle Awn
- Begin Researching Wood Charming. (Will require two more actions to research)
- Begin Researching Improved Plows (Will cost 6 Materials to implement)
- Begin Researching Selective Field Blessing (Will require two more actions to research)
- Begin Researching Mandatory Public Education (Will require two more actions to research)

---

The Empire of the Basalt Throne
x2 - Research Gunpowder (Will cost 36 Materials to implement)
- Send a Diplomat to the Rising Light
x2 - Research Advanced Alchemy (Will require another action to research)

---

The Grand Duchy of Xule
- Fully Settle Cytundeb
- Fully Settle Lyseria
- Send a diplomat to the Silverplume Confederacy
- Continue to research steam-powered automatic firearms (Will require another action to research)
- Continue to research steam-powered explosives (Will require another action to research)

---

The Great Heathen Army
- Fully settle the Island of Mirth
- Build alter of the games (Costed 2 Materials, provides +1 Food)
- Explore the debris field to the north of the Island of Mirth (Results coming soon)
- Research Coastal Raiding (Will require two more actions to research)
- Scout the coast nearest the Lighthouse of Bones (Success)

- Move the Chattering Hoard toward the Lighthouse of Bones (Will reach it in one more turn)

---

The Harconin Protectorate
Diplomacy - Form the Argent Confederacy with the Ajivhan Khaganate and the Empire of the Basalt Throne.
Diplomacy - Expand the Silk Road trading routes into the Harconin Protectorate.
Diplomacy - Form a trade agreement with the Empire of the Basalt Throne.
Diplomacy - Share Black Powder with the Empire of the Basalt Throne (Will require one more action to research)
Diplomacy - Share Silver Living Metal Control with the Ajivhan Khaganate (Will require two more actions to research)

---

The Icebound States of the Union
- N/A (Five Actions Saved)

---

The Khaloric Swarm
- Form new army (Skycoast Flight) in Candy Mountain
- Gen new species: Library Book (Costed 6 Materials, provides +1 to R&D materials)
- Send diplomats to The Rising Light
- Send diplomats to New Avringae
- Send diplomats to The Disciples of Awn

---

The Kingdom of Nova Aurora
Settling - Fully Settle Territory 2
Settling - Fully Settle Territory 4
Settling - Partially Settle Territory 3
Diplomacy - Join the Xulian Free Trade Area
Diplomacy - Send a Diplomat to the Grand Duchy of Xule

---

New Avringae
- Clear forest near Kharloan (Costed 2 Materials, provides +1 food)
- Research Enhanced farming (Will require another action to research)
- Fully Settle Tarrenvine
- Fully Settle Baerdine
- Fully Settle Raethling

---

The Rising Light
- Fully Settle the Runeforge
- Develop farmland in region 6 (Costed 2 Materials, provides +1 Food)
- Research Beacon Watchtowers (Will require two more actions to research)
- Train Chosen Missionaries (Will require two more actions to research)
- Negotiate with locals (east of territory 3/ north of 5)

---

The Silverplume Confederacy
Diplomacy - Join the Xulian Channel Free Trade Area
Development -Construct a Xulian port in Thorn Lake
Diplomacy -Sign Treaty of Mutuality with the Grand Duchy of Xule and the Kingdom of Nova Aurora
Diplomacy - Send a diplomat to the Ajivhan Khaganate
Diplomacy - Send a diplomat to the remnants of the Navasti League

Spoiler: Map

Show

Link

[Viirin]

Candy Mountain, Brittle Smithery

"Never before have I seen such a thing." The galan spoke to the recombinant.
"Yeah, that took a lot out of me. A lot out of all of us."
"I'm even more surprised that the gods aren't dead. I thought they had abandoned us."
"Agreed, and apparently not. We wonder what others are still out there."

Harold's Stay, Temple of Drya

"With it now known that Ashlif is still alive, and says she is on our side, what should we do?"
"Gods are fickle. We don't need to do anything, just continue living our lives and working towards a better tomorrow." The dustmoth priestess replied.
"That's the thing, though. She said she argued for us, so shouldn't we pay respects to her for it?"
"It might not be true. The reason I became a Dryan Priestess is because she was a god that was very simple to understand. Don't develop in the way that makes the land uninhabitable or unrecoverable. That's it. Khalorean said to always be Just, and the Destroyer only wanted everything to cease to exist. Very easy to understand. The other gods? Well, they are quite the conundrum and you never know what they're thinking."
"I... I guess so."
"I just don't want to leap before I look. It is the daughter of the one that killed us, after all. Even when Her Majesty accused her of it, she apparently offered no denial."

Karonaberg, Kelp Docks

"It was rather terrifying to watch you scream so much, buddy." The krakari revanent said to the waterbender.
"Not just for you. I'm just glad it wasn't worse!" He manipulated the water into blades, shearing off some of the kelp for harvest and letting their gas-bladders get them to float upwards.
"Are you going to do anything about your arm?"
"I tried, but couldn't. It's going to take us some concentration to be able to do anything about any of it."
"One of the guys from the tavern was able to change his hair color back."
"Well, yeah, but it wasn't made of metal. Those of us who had changes we didn't like have been able to mostly change back... most of us, at least."
"Yeah. Some of the recruiters look rather strange now."

Temple of Khalorean, Meeting of the Queens

"Khalorean... isn't dead. He isn't dead."
"Don't hold your hopes too high. He might be dead and Ashlif just didn't know about it."
"I don't think he's dead. I've always felt his presence, or at least haven't felt his absence."
"Empress, you were created directly. We always respect your words. The conversation you had with the daughter of the apocalypse only strengthens your views."
"I am not saying anyone is wrong; I just don't want to fall victim to false hope."

Ezri, Oswin, and Slivan returned after a few days of discussion. Dorian had a lot of psionic reconnaissance to do.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Military Movement:

Lectre's Corps is patrolling between North Market and Stone's Throw. They like hanging out in North Market more because, well, there is entertainment there. If either of those cities is attacked, they have to deal with the army.

Skycoast Flight is patrolling between Candy Mountain and Red Forest. They don't really care which city they're at since neither of them are very interesting. Any attack against either of those cities will be dealt with by the army. They go across the water and over Luug territory in order to reach their destinations, so Ajivha is avoided.

1. Fully settle Candy Mountain
2. Fully settle Karonaberg
3. Research Hydrodynamics (2/3)
4. Research Hydrodynamics (3/3)
5. Build Exterminators Guild in Candy Mountain

[The JoJo]

Cosimo visits the Vampire Observatory

It was hard to move her arm as of late. Accidentally fighting a god wasn't something she had signed up for or expected to ever happen when she gave up her elvishness. Half of the nerves in her left upper arm and tricep had turned to living metal and though it was alive and mobile, it didn't have the same ease of motion as the rest of her body did.

She waited at the front main road to the city proper, awaiting the carriage from the Grand Duchy for the recently crowned King of the Vampires, only just as recently subjugated. She wondered if she should just try and force a chair to grow so she could rest while waiting. He was supposed to arrive today, but there weren't recombinants all over the new nation or his movement could be tracked.

A couple hours later, the obvious red and yellow cart, pulled by a pair of retrained hungry-looking dinosaurs appeared around the bend.

"King Cosimo, it is truly a pleasure and honor to meet your acquaintance. Thank you for accepting my invitation." The woman, whoever she was, made a curtsy followed by a deep bow.

"Thank you for hosting us," Cosimo said, giving a slight bow in acknowledgement. It still felt somewhat odd being referred to as a king, the grander Nova Auroran title having been Silvio's idea as a way of raising his rank to that of other monarchies, while maintaining Xule's traditions.

"If it pleases you, would you come with me? I would like to show you the fruits of our opportunity." The woman motioned forward. Cosimo followed her, curious to see the vampires reservation.

She led the king along, ensuring there was ample space for his attendants and guards to accompany as well. They got to a huge stone wall spreading skyward. It wasn't visible earlier because of the other buildings along the way.

There was a set of stairs with railings and guard rests leading to the top, where a few recombinants in the form of blind-looking dragons waited, watching something on the other side of the wall. Cosimo began to climb the stairs, the wall appearing to be at-least five stories high.

As his attendants and guards began to climb the stairs alongside their king, the woman who didn't introduce herself held her hand out. "Please. No crowding. When too many people are on the stairs or top, people tend to fall to their deaths. So only the King can come."

Finally, after several minutes of climbing, Cosimo reached the top of the stairs. He peered over the wall, hoping to catch a glimpse of a wild vampire. There were a few shapes barely moving below, but they kept to what little shade was cast by very basic straw huts with leather or cloth scrap wrappings.

"It is time to feed them. Would you like to do it?" The woman looked at a nearby Meretonian human revenant guard, who had a large bucket full of various substandard cuts of meat.

"Really?" Cosimo asked, unable to conceal his excitement. The woman took a step back, and the guard handed Cosimo the handle to the bucket. He took the bucket and reached in to grab the nearest piece of meat, then chucked it over the wall as far as he could throw. Admittedly, that wasn't very far.

After a few seconds, the slab of meat hit the ground not far from the wall. If he hadn't rushed to peer over the edge again, he probably wouldn't have seen anything.

Mostly naked vampire females, many of which had bodies that piqued his interest, rushed out from inside one of the nearby huts. One of the women punched the others in the back of the head or kicked the rest in the face and picked up the meat herself and began to tear into it, not bothering to cook it or use utensils or any sort of manners.

After eating most of it, she threw the piece behind her and it lay in the dirt. One of the other vampires jumped at it almost on all fours, and got a hold of it before being kicked in the ribs and chest by the others while she ate.

"You see, your Majesty, that the vampires of your kingdom are far more civilized, comparatively," the woman said.

"True," Cosimo said, recalling the Brujah who had offered him symbolic tribute through gritted teeth the last time he had visited Nova Aurora. These vampires seemed to almost be a different breed entirely. "The line between civilisation and barbarism is a thin one indeed," he added, quoting the ancient Emperor Maximus, who he had studied recently. He kept watching the display before him, unable to tear his eyes away.

There was far more meat in the bucket, and it looked like more guards around the circular wall in other positions were heaving their buckets over the edge, letting only the bloody meat fly all over the place, much to the apparent enjoyment of the monsters caged within. Cosimo watched eagerly as two vampires tore into each other, each determined to claim a leg bone for themselves.

"Do you ever get them to fight each other?" he asked the woman.

"They do that on their own as it is. Because they are undead and regenerate at extreme rates, none of them ever seem to be defeated for very long. Did you mean to imply putting them in the Coliseum?"

"Yeah."

"We have been thinking on how to do that, but the vampires we have here we think need to stay where they are. If they were less feral, then maybe it would be possible, but we don't want to risk the general populace in case she gets out. I don't think either of us want to deal with another defeat like last time, but inside our own cities.
However, if your Highness wishes it, a reward might be found if one of your own vampires competes and wins. You could always choose your own incentive instead, if you wish."

"Yeah, maybe I could find one who would be willing to fight," Cosimo said, making a mental note to send a letter to Darius. He took the last of the meat from his bucket, tossing it with a flourish over the edge of the wall.

Spoiler: Note

Show

Collab between me and Viirin

[Novabomb]

Journal of Awn

4/7
It is a glorious day, I have swayed another of them to our cause. Lord Noventa has decided that honor of representing our people the outside world is worth his fealty. Of course Fredrick was offered this first, but he has another post in mind. I was to speak with the delegate from the Swarm, but there seemed to be a minor? calamity that has befallen. The delegate is recovering. Proper accommodations will be arranged by Noventa.


4/14
Soon there will not a family in our lands that wants for the new plow. A bit costly now, but we will reap the returns come harvest.


4/20
I have spoken to the Administratum about the best way to distribute the learning. I had hoped to house them at the college, but this would be too expensive. Smaller schools will need to be built and supplied with enlighteners so that the hatchlings may be housed with their families.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

1) Construct diplomatic quarters in Territory 2. This shall be renamed to Noventa Perch.
2) Continue Researching Wood Charming.
3) Implement Improved Plows
4) Continue Researching Selective Field Blessing. (Instead of blessing all plants in the field, bless only the desired crops, and not the weeds)
5) Continue Researching Mandatory Public Education

[Anti-Eagle]

New Ajivha

The now ancient city sat serenely as the days went, as Mimar watched it from his tower. Though much had changed in the city since the first time he had seen it so long ago, much remained the same. Glassy black walls, creeping red vines, silk merchants haggling over payment. The context of it though... He wondered what had happened to the Driders in the legion, if they were chained and buried in the catacombs as the others were or if they still wandered. He couldn't find mention of them in the records after the city had been taken or even what had happened to the city's dead after they'd taken their wrath upon them for the betrayal.

The days passed as he sat writing, sending and receiving messages in the raven filled tower. Blue eyed creations of the old god flying to and from its heights. Upon his return to the city from the cult of the Rising Light, he'd been named an Ilkhan, granted Authority over the armies, and left to run the city in Sinan's absence as he negotiated a pact between the three peoples of the world seen as capable of putting the world back together.

His time in Mereton had been pleasant, and though he hoped to return some day to the cabin he'd found for himself, he enjoyed his work for the Khaganate. With his voice having been ruined and lost he learned to write, he'd become rather good at it in his opinion. Those times when he couldn't he found others who could understand him to speak for him, training them took little time. Like the ravens.

He enjoyed working with the ravens. Smart, loyal once they trusted you, clever, and imaginative. Artistic given the chance. He understood them, and they came to understand him. Food, water, drink, something shiny, a purpose, and a place to hide from the elements. The same thing everyone else wanted, something he and the rest of the city could provide to the ravens.

Letters bearing his orders went out, others returned. His work continued.

Spoiler: Ajivhan Khaganate Actions

Show

Research - Research Bayonets (Will cost 7 Materials to implement)
Research - Research Standardized gun cartridges (Will cost 7 Materials to implement)
Research - Research Treated Blades (Will cost 7 Materials to implement)
Settling - Negotiate for land North of Bandar (12), name Mosaic (16)
Settling - Negotiate for the land between Northern Onchesmos (4) and South Ashyett (10), name Ashparish (17)

Spoiler: Harconin Protectorate Actions

Show

Diplomacy - Share Simulacra Crystals with the Ajivhan Khaganate (Will require two more actions to research)
Diplomacy - Share the Dai Lei with the Ajivhan Khaganate (Will require one more action to research)
Research - Research Archaeology (Will require two more actions to research)
Military - Form an Army (Errant Suns) in the South-Central Protectorate
Military - Form an Army (Opal Sentinels) in West-Central Northwall

[PossiblyInsane]

The Balaenic Isles - Pectora Waters

The snow ran red the night before.

The myriad colors of the Balaenic lights gave a pretty enough sight refracting though the rose-tinged ramparts of ice of the fortress-city of Pectora, although only a few of the city's inhabitants could muster appreciation of the spectacle. Such widespread blood would send the local predators into frenzy, not to mention whatever Aberrations said violence would attract. Few humans would be brave or desperate enough to sail red waters lightly, lest they held a predilection for almost certain suicide.

As the pair of shapes swimming to the morning patrols and breakfast would attest, the Fallen were another matter.

*****

Ugh, this water is rancid. One would have thought frozen blood would have the decency to be fresh.

Perhaps that is why they supposedly herald Aberration attacks. I know I feel like tearing something's head off after more than a few minutes tasting this murk.

Oh? Any particular candidates in mind?

One of those worm-fleshed vermin would be most cathartic. It makes such a satisfying crack if you get the angle just right.

Hah. Do not let the sergeant hear you think that. You know we are supposed to peaceably tolerate said vermin. Apparently, stabbing us in the back during the worst Aberration storm in the past half-century is to be rewarded with the territory we fought and bled for.

Politics. Now there lies a subject more rancid than stale blood. Still, one must admit it was at least strategically sound.

Certainly. That does not mean I have to like them. If the Council had just let the House Guard sweep through the islands and crush any resistance, they wouldn't have a chance to go begging to the Corpses for help - low crawling Class II Ephemeral below. Slow harbor heading.

Binder job. See if it changes speed on our way back. We do not know for certain it was the Dead Islands.

Who else could it be? The worms could not have found that much silver weaponry digging around in their muck, they never brought the balelights or lightning to bear against Aberrations before we came, and any Ajhivans with that kind of magic would be on the other side of the continent. If they are so eager to lie with the dead, I say we give them a helping claw.

A pity we do not have that say, then. At least, not while Antius is blinded by nostalgia. Talk that much, and one might as well make a challenge for the Generalship.

Me? Challenge Antius? He lost that arm holding off a Class IV alone. I am not that eager for suicide.

Garner several hundred years of command experience and do something like that, and perhaps you would get more people to listen to your spiel…Odd. Steam ship ahead, Navasti refugee, by the look of it. What are they doing out on red waters?

Likely whaling. If they are heavily armored enough to weather the Aberrations, sharks and lackjaws do half the work for you. Not to mention all the dead fish floating around for whatever wants it.

Ugh, humans. How the worms can stand to stomach that much dead flesh, I hope I shall never know. Sometimes, I think half of them have never even killed for their food before.

Oh? Feel like the old "The beast leapt out with flashing teeth and jaws agape!" and ask if they have caught anything interesting? The face of a worm trying to hold polite conversation while their breeches stain yellow is priceless. I swear to Maximus, last time I made one of them pass out on the deck from the shock!

Not for me, thank you. The last time I tried that gag, they wedged a harpoon in my joint so tightly I had to get the physician to pry it out. Spot a Ray Das ship, then maybe. At least they can appreciate a good joke.

When one has eyes low enough to actually see them, anyways. Portside, midwater Class III Armored. Wrap and crack it?

You read my mind.

*****

Tral's grip eased on his grandfather's sword as the dark shapes below joined and yellow ichor spread to the surface. Whatever monsters lurked below, at the very least they would have one less to deal with.

"Looks like it was a Corpus patrol after all." he remarked to his crewmate.

"Small comfort. Those freaks are as likely to rip your head off as ask you the time." Yor grimaced and spat over the side.

"Hey, if it means we're less likely to be horribly devoured, I'll take whatever chance of polite small talk I can get." Tral said, slightly too casually to be believed. Never show your fear, his father had said. Man or beast, they will latch onto it and eat you alive.

Yor snorted. "Right. I still say we should have stopped in the Khaganate. Or Xule. Or anywhere you don't sail past an Aberration every five minutes."

"No, you just sail past another refugee ship every five minutes instead. Here, at least, there's still enough unclaimed water to make a living off of. Besides, it's hardly an Aberration every five minutes. The last one was over an hour ago!"
Listen to the words men use, not the message they imply. It throws them off balance, as a sword swing sent back towards them. Only the words unspoken say what they truly want you to hear.

"Sure, remind me how we could be stuck staring at nothing but bloody water all day or fighting off flesh eating abominations any goddamned second. It's the randomness of your so called friendly Corpus monsters that makes them really endearing."

"Hey, I just say what I see. If you really want to talk to a monster lover, ask Jorgus. He's the one with a home in Pectora." Tral jerked a thumb to the heavily built man readjusting the second portside harpoon launcher. To garner trust, appear simple. To garner respect, appear informed. Choose wisely, as both can get you killed.

Yor sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Sarcasm, Tral. I don't care if you were tribal, I know I've told you about it before."

"Yes, but I'm choosing to forget that. Hey, Jorgus! Yor wants to know more about the Corpus around these parts." Should you find a scapegoat, tend it well. A regular harvest, if skillfully done, will make it all the more tolerant, and more plausible when it need be discarded.

"I didn't…fine, whatever. Let's hear it."

Jorgus thought for a moment. "Large. Talkative. Don't use contractions very much."

"The hells is a contraction?" Yor's brow furrowed. It is always useful to make friends of a fool. They oft ask questions a wiser man would wish to know, but should not ask. Even if some questions were far more rudimentary than enlightening.

"The thing where you mush two words together into one shorter word. Like do not and don't." said Tral's mouth, which the rest of him immediately regretted. Appear knowledgeable, but not too knowledgeable. And never spuriously answer a fools question, lest they are encouraged to ask more troubling ones at an inconvenient time.

"Oh. So there's a word for that. How'd a harpooner learn something like that? Come to that, how'd you know something like that, Tral?"

Tral shrugged. "Eh, been around quite a few ports. You pick things up. And you, Jorgus?"

"Corpus military education. It's a bit like those Khaloric schools down south. Have to know what the orders shouted at you mean, right?"

"Wait a minute. Are you telling me you were supposed to fight alongside flesh eating, house sized monsters? How the hells is that supposed to work?"

"Well, yes. They're the ones that do most of the fishing, so if you aren't good at the crafts and don't take to reading, it's that, spending all day in the woods trying to find something smart enough to have survived every other hunter that's picked through the area but dumb or slow enough for you to catch, or doing grunt work beside the actual flesh eating monsters. Or soul eating monsters. Whatever. You get first pick of the fish, company, fresh air, coin, and at least one house sized Fallen on your side when some Aberration gets hungry. I'd say that's worth getting lectured at and training for a few hours a day."

"No, I meant 'How the hells do you not get stepped on?'"

"Oh. Ships. And not being daft enough to stand in front of a few tons of carapace when it's walking."

"You don't say. Why'd you quit?"

"Haven't. I've a couple weeks off duty. I can take care of myself, and Charlotte isn't planning on giving the kid to be enlisted, so I figured we could use the extra coin."

"Huh. You think you know a guy-"

"Gull flock to starboard! Looks like a floater islet!" called the lookout.

The captain nodded. "Hard starboard, Reebs. One free picking like that, and we'll be having more than a few rounds tonight, men!"

A cheer went round the deck as the mood lightened, joined enthusiastically by Yor and disregarded by Jorgus. Tral echoed the celebration dutifully. The Balaenic's lack of enthusiasm was…concerning.

"Thinking about the kid, Jorgus?" Heed the predictions of the pessimist. They are usually right.

"In part. That islet lies outside the usual Corpus patrol routes. Without them, I'm wondering why the beasts haven't picked it clean yet."

"Weird. Oh well, more for us. Maybe the Corpus reworked their schedule for red waters. Or we're in luck and it's still fresh." Do not encourage others to listen to the pessimist. Men dislike bad news, and their loss shall be your gain.

"Perhaps…" Jorgus' grip tightened on his harpoon. "I prefer certainty to chance. Bet your life on the dice and you're dead in six rolls."

"If you're playing fair? Probably." Tral felt the metal pulse in his fingers as he hefted his grandfather's sword. "That's why I prefer to slip in a loaded die."

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Starting Action Stockpile - 10/10

Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (Planned Accelerated Research, 1/4). Free Raze action on controlled territory if it is lost while there is an army within 2 hexes which has not been defeated this turn.
Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (2/4).
Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (3/4).
Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (4/4).
Absorb Population: Territory 16

Absorb Population: Territory 17
Absorb Population: Territory 18
Develop Settlement (Badger's Discipline): Water Current Management System (costs 2 materials, +1 food/season)
Develop Settlement (Blackhold): Water Current Management System (costs 2 materials, +1 food/season)
Fortify Settlement: Daigoro's Heart (costs 6 materials, +2 materials/season, -1 food/season, required population +2, population capacity +3)

Ending Action Stockpile - 0/10

[The JoJo]

The Ducal Palace, Xule

It was later in the month that Cosimo arrived back at Xule, exhausted from his long trip. As ever, he was greeted by his lord deputy Silvio, who was apparently anxious to relate all the latest happenings. They retreated together in one of the private rooms, and after the mundane matters had been dealt with, they moved onto the subject of history.

‘Have you ever heard of the prophecies of Lord Seer Aldren?’ Silvio asked. ‘He was born into a humble family of sailors, but grew to become the most accomplished looker into the orb of Lysei ever known.’

‘I have heard of one,’ Cosimo admitted. ‘The prophecy of the three great Emperors of Verde. Kaius, who reigned in the morning. Maximus, who presided over Aurora's noon. And finally Aurelius Daigoro, who ruled the afternoon and early evening. After that, there were no more great emperors.’

‘There are other, more obscure predictions, but they are not the sort of thing your tutor would teach you,’ Silvio said, a slight smile spreading across his face. ‘Have you heard the prophecy of the fifth age?’

‘No.’

‘It is written that one day, a child of great power will be born to the House of Verde. He will come to the throne young, like Maximus and Aurelius did, and will rise to manhood as a wise and just ruler. Then, he will reunite the entire world under the banner of Aurora, once again restored to their rightful place.

‘Huh,’ Cosimo said, feeling a prickle at the back of his neck upon hearing the lord deputy's description. ‘I’ve never heard that before. What sort of power would this ruler have?’

‘Who can say,’ Silvio said, shrugging. He turned his face away to conceal a grin. ‘They would be quite exceptional powers, I believe.’

Spoiler: Xule Actions

Show

-Upgrade Cytundeb to fortified
-Upgrade Lyseria to fortified
- Continue to research steam-powered automatic firearms
- Continue to research steam-powered explosives
- Continue to research anti-aircraft steam cannons

Spoiler: Silverplume Actions

Show

-Upgrade Memory to double fortified
-Upgrade Thorn Lake to double fortified
-Send diplomat to the Grand Duchy of Xule
-Send diplomat to the Khaloric Swarm
-Research marines (Bonus to combat on land)

[Anti-Eagle]

May 1181 (Turn 27)

April went by quietly for the most part, much as the previous month and the month before that. Calm weather, mostly calm spirits. Strange times. The shades continued their mutterings, and others like them began to repeat their words mindlessly frozen in the repetition. Some simulacra, ancient revenants, vampires, and even Zalya that wandered on the edge of the great desert joined in the repetition of the words for days at a time before continuing as they had before they'd began unaware of what had occurred.

In the distance to the East stars could be seen falling down in the great sea again en masse, several passing a night in one week before it ended

Spoiler: Turn 26 Actions

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The Ajivhan Khaganate
Research - Research Bayonets (Will cost 7 Materials to implement)
Research - Research Standardized gun cartridges (Will cost 7 Materials to implement)
Research - Research Treated Blades (Will cost 7 Materials to implement)
Settling - Negotiate for land North of Bandar (12), name Mosaic (16)
Settling - Negotiate for the land between Northern Onchesmos (4) and South Ashyett (10), name Ashparish (17)

---

The Corpus Verde
Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (Planned Accelerated Research, 1/4)
Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (2/4).
Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (3/4).
Research - Scorched Earth Tactics (4/4, Will cost 30 Materials to Implement)
Settling - Assimilate Territory 16
Settling - Assimilate Territory 17
Settling - Assimilate Territory 18
Development - Construct Water Current Management System in Badger's Discipline (costs 2 materials, provides +1 food/season)
Development - Construct Water Current Management System in Blackhold (costs 2 materials, provides +1 food/season)
Development - Fortify Daigoro's Heart (costs 6 materials, +2 materials/season, -1 food/season, required population +2, population capacity +3)

---

The Disciples of Awn
Development - Construct diplomatic quarters in Territory 2 (Noventa Perch)
Research - Research Wood Charming (Will require one more action to research)
Research Implement Improved Plows (Costed 6 Materials, provides +1 food)
Research - Research Selective Field Blessing (Will require one more action to research)
Research - Research Mandatory Public Education (Will require one more action to research)

---

The Empire of the Basalt Throne
- N/A (Five Actions Saved)

---

The Grand Duchy of Xule
Development - Fortify Cytundeb
Development - Fortify Lyseria
Research - Research steam-powered automatic cannons (Will cost twelve materials to implement)
Research - Research steam explosives (Will cost twelve materials to implement)
Research - Research anti-aircraft steam cannons (Will require one more action to research)

---

The Great Heathen Army
- N/A (Five Actions Saved)

---

The Harconin Protectorate
Diplomacy - Share Simulacra Crystals with the Ajivhan Khaganate (Will require two more actions to research)
Diplomacy - Share the Dai Lei with the Ajivhan Khaganate (Will require one more action to research)
Research - Research Archaeology (Will require two more actions to research)
Military - Form an Army (Errant Suns) in the South-Central Protectorate
Military - Form an Army (Opal Sentinels) in West-Central Northwall

---

The Icebound States of the Union
- N/A (Five Actions Saved)

---

The Khaloric Swarm
- Fully settle Candy Mountain
- Fully settle Karonaberg
- Research Hydrodynamics (2/3)
- Research Hydrodynamics (3/3, Will cost 18 materials to implement)
- Build Exterminators Guild in Candy Mountain

---

New Avringae
- N/A (Five Actions Saved)

---

The Rising Light
- N/A (Five Actions Saved)

---

The Silverplume Confederacy
Development - Organize and arm scavengers in Memory (Costed 4 materials, provides +1 materials and defence)
Development - Fortify the Xulian port in Thorn Lake (Costed 2 materials, provides +1 defence)
Diplomacy - Send diplomat to the Grand Duchy of Xule
Diplomacy - Send diplomat to the Khaloric Swarm
Research - Research Merchant Marines (Will require two more actions to research)

[dmarks]

As spring came to full fruition the people of New Avringae found themselves in a race to perfect their new found skills before the planting season was over.

The forests of Kharloan

Denby leaned on his staff and wiped his brow. Without the canopy it was getting awfully hot here. That thought brought a wave of sadness as he looked to the side and saw rows and rows of felled trees. He knew the work was important, or at least the emissary of Lord Gyre had said so, and Denby had always been a loyal Wyndring man.

Sasha was ahead of him and too her left, she already potted another row of holes and seeded them. Already he could feel the plants taking root in the soil, encouraged by her Wildsinging. He knelt down and with one hand on the earth, hummed an old tune, one his grandmother had sung to him when he was in his cradle. He didn't know why he used this one, but it was good for the nurturing. He didn't have much talent, he wasn't a true Wildsinger, but he did his bit. Only it seemed a shame to be killing some plants and then choosing new ones to take their place. We got on fine in the past, why all this change.

The Merchant Hall of Baerdine

Kleon sat on his tall seat, weighing up his fellows. He'd long ago dispatched the little lordlings to tend their own outcrops. The people he wanted advising him were men who had pulled themselves up by their bootlaces and proven they could tough it out. They weren't necessarily loyal, these men, but if it was in their self interest, then he knew the task would be accomplished.

"Looks like you really took Darien for a ride, Kleon," one of them laughed. "These new roads will let us trade with Raethling or Kharloan and the king will never even see it. Ha, just imagine him trying to get his taxes then."

"You forget Joshrin, that if we want to make the most of that trade, we'll need to find new partners. We can't just rely on passing goods from one end of Avringae to the other, the roads will let them do that themselves. We need to find new horizons. A new frontier." He had some thoughts on this, but he kept them to himself. Afterall, these merchants may have been his subjects, but they were also his competition.

Tarrenvine, the Crystal Lake

Darien watched as cart upon cart hauled their cargo along the new road towards the dockyards. Torval had been surprised when Darien had arrived in Kharloan and even more surprised when he'd not wanted to oversee the work, and instead had just bargained for the timber. Darien's men had already told him how the work proceeded, and also of the massive surplus to timber it was creating. And Darien had plans...

He turned back to Zora who was inspecting the wood. She was an old woman, older than any he had ever met, and she was close mouthed and private, so few knew who she was or where she had come from. But she was also the best shipwright in Tarrenvine, and had already built him Royal Silver the large ship that sat before them ready for its maiden voyage.

"Will this be suitable for what we have in mind?" he asked politely. Zora held no respect for titles, kingly or otherwise.

"Ha, it'll do," she scoffed. "I'll get you your fleet Darien just so long as there are men to build it. Just remember, these will be trading vessels, you hear me, wide hulled, good for carrying things, not bloomin' warships for you to play soldier with."

He nodded in response but grinned when she turned her back. He was hardly the conquering type. Speaking of which, he turned to the two parties that had joined him on the dock. Each had been carefully selected for their missions, though there was one he was unhappy about.

Sobel and Garel were silver children, though in their early thirties as was he. Silver adults just doesn't have the same ring though. They had been raised in Faolden, a quiet city and their demeanour reflected that. These would go to Xule and parlay with their leaders, for he had heard they were a great trading nation and knew that now Avringae had stepped out into the world, they couldn't avoid notice.

Corin, who had been his advisor when he was still a child, and Hearth, Myrellia's tutor (or so she had told him: Hearth was a soldier if ever Darien had seen one, and clearly not appropriate as the tutor of a young lady), made up his embassy to the Khaloric Swarm. He was less happy about the girl who had ridden up just minutes ago. Sylve Truecaller, leader of the Wildsingers had demanded that she travel with them.

"The Swarm sent three envoys. They might be offended if we send fewer in return. And besides, I am doing this under my authority king, I wish to find out more about these people and their ways.
They had a strange magic about them, one that is different to ours. I am going, and that is the end of it."

He had conceded the first point, and realised he had never seen Sylve so angry before, let alone so defiant. She has grown into her position.

"Fare thee well, then ambassadors. On sea or land, I wish that your journeys are speedy and safe and that your words fall on willing ears."

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Research Enchanced Farming (2/2)
Improve trading vessels 1/2
Improve trading vessels 2/2
Send diplomats to Xule
Send diplomats to Khaloric Swarm

Can I use diplomacy to interact with whoever lives in the desert regions? Or scout the area to get a better idea of my neighbours?

[Anti-Eagle]

The Delphic Bay

"So we agree that a combined force is necessary for the the reclamation, that the paths need to be expanded and fortified if we're to succeed, and that the only way to secure the territories is to wall off the- RED STAR RISING. RED STAR RISING. RED STAR RISING. RED STAR RISING. RED STAR RISING..."

Sinan repeated these words as they came to him unaware of his surroundings or his state. The meeting was stopped shortly after and he was dragged off, his body locked up as it was, to somewhere and watched over as he mindlessly repeated the statement. red star rising

Days passed and talks continued without him, Rashid and Atik taking his place as they had for him in the initial dealings that led to this. When he finally awoke from the repetition a week had passed, he awoke to darkness, a couple of lit candles around him and what sounded like praying nearby.

Light dust was shook off and small spiders scuttled away as he started moving, rugs hung from the walls as he looked through the darkness and rings of wax sat on the stone floor as the candles burned around him. He smelled incense as he stood and opened the door, a few men sat in supplication looking at him canting words of prayer. Their eyes alight as they saw him standing before him.

After a few moments he asked "What happened?"

A man in a red cloak stood and approached him "My lord... In the middle of a meeting you started chanting, when you wouldn't stop we moved you here so others wouldn't see it."

"What was I chanting?"

"Red star rising, my lord."

"That's worrying... how long has it been?"

A week, my lord."

"A week? Have the talks continued?"

"Yes. The others carried on for you, they're set to finish soon. Most of the points have been agreed upon and the others have been tabled or reworked. They wished to wait until you'd returned before the final signing however."

"Where's Amirah?"

"The Khatun wished to join the talks in your absence, she was curious of the discussions."

"The children?"

"Halima, Tahir, and Wilk are with Ayin. Kara is being watched by a maid a few rooms from here."

Sinan nodded "Where's the meeting being held... tonight?"

"Amirah and Atik are meeting with the Grand Reclaimer and one of her chiliarchs in a vault a league from here."

"Lead me to them."

The man bowed and they left.

---

New Ajivha

A map sat infront of Mimar, simple black lines denoting land across the Khaganate. Each known faction, horde, and khan's territory. Each month lines being adjusted, names changed, colours being added. Every group that fell in line and promised their land to the new order, or fell further away and spoke of challenging the rule before they were shot.

As the missionaries spread and their ideas took root khans began falling into place like dominoes and the khagans demesne grew. Hardy walls were constructed along the channel and a series of great gates began construction at the mouth to control the flow. The territories of Onchemsos were expanded and reorganized, the land below the ashyett was declared holy and granted to the cults, the mighty wall to the North that had held for so long and the training grounds that had been built around them were declared a land of their own, beholden to and surrounded by the city.

Old names for the lands were found and carefully recorded, passed around, divorced from the men holding it as the way it had been since the cataclysms. Changing constantly. Holdings were reordered, khans found new purpose, more titles in this new age. Always searching for an outlet for their interests, a way to expand their powers in the new paradigm of the Khaganate.

He could provide it. He could provide sport and intrigue, he could provide war and work. He could even give them peace and quiet. Even on the damned isle and the asylum.

Spoiler: Ajivhan Khaganate Actions

Show

Settling - Negotiate for land South of Duskeyre (7), name South Duskeyre (18)
Settling - Negotiate for land Southeast of Dawnvale (8), name North Dawntor (19)
Settling - Negotiate for land West of Duskweir (14), name North Duskbrae (20)
Settling - Negotiate for land North of Dawnweir (15), name South Dawntor (21)
Settling - Negotiate for land West of Duskgrove (5), name Duskripa (22)
- rename Duskeyre (7) to North Duskeyre (7)

Spoiler: Harconin Protectorate Actions

Show

Research - Research Archaeology (Will take one more action to research)
Research - Research Aetheric Currents (Will take three more actions to research)
Research - Research Immortal Anatomy (Will take three more actions to research)
Research - Research Runic Alphabets (Will take three more actions to research)
Research - Research Wild Magic Corruption (Will take three more actions to research)

[The JoJo]

The Ducal Palace, Xule

‘So you’ve met Lord Darius?’

‘Of course,’ Valencia said. Her attendant, a girl of noble birth herself, looked at her with a newfound admiration. Mariana played some distance away with two other toddlers, a boy and a girl, who were distant cousins of hers through Valencia’s mother’s line.

‘Is he as, you know, as they say he is?’ the attendant asked with a slight grin.

‘Oh yes,’ Valencia said, smiling herself. As much as it made her feel a little disloyal to Moria, she had to admit if she was still unmarried, she wouldn’t mind being wooed by Darius’ easy charm. Still, he already supposedly had a wife, and any number of concubines, so it wouldn’t be a good match anyway.

‘I can’t believe only five years ago he was a slave.’

‘Indeed. How the luck of men changes,’ Valencia said, quoting some obscure poem she had read. She turned her head, her heart sinking as she heard the familiar shout behind her, and then the cry of a toddler. She hurried over to find Mariana with her arms crossed, and her playmate in tears.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Paolo wants to play with my toy!’

‘It’s good to share, dear.’

‘But I don’t want to!’

Valencia sighed, she was about to take a sterner tone when Paolo's mother bustled up to them, her rapt conversation on the other side of the room apparently forgotten. Her face was composed, but her eyes flashed she looked in the direction of Mariana.

‘It's time for us to go now, anyway,’ she said hurriedly, dragging her two children away by the hand. Valencia was about to call after her, but decided against it. She could always talk with her later, when tempers had calmed.

‘You won't have many friends left if you keep treating them like that,’ she chided Mariana once they were out of earshot.

~

Maxipolis, Kingdom of Nova Aurora

By some odd coincidence, Lord Darius Freeman was also thinking about Princess Valencia and her last visit to their realm a few months before. His train of thought was broken, though, by the shrill voice of his closest adviser.

‘I bring tidings my lord, of a new alliance that has arisen in the far west. They call themselves the Argent Confederacy.’

‘Really?’ Darius asked, raising an eyebrow. Foreign affairs were the remit of Xule, of course, but he liked to follow the current goings-on so he could advise as appropriate. ‘And which nations are involved?’

‘The Basalt Throne, the Harconin and the Ajivhan Khaganate. It is not yet clear though what this union entails, or even if it exists on more than paper. We have had conflicting reports about which nation is really in control. if any.’

‘How odd,’ Darius said, helping himself to a bowl of grapes. ‘I always said they were strange folk in the west. Keep an eye on news coming out of that part of the world, and keep me updated.’

‘Of course, my lord.’

Spoiler: Xule Actions

Show

-Negotiate with Auroran tribes on the northern half of the north-east peninsula to accede to the Kingdom of Nova Aurora
-Negotiate with Auroran tribes on the southern half of the north-east peninsula to accede to the Kingdom of Nova Aurora
-Implement steam-powered automatic cannons
-Implement steam explosives
-Continue to research steam-powered anti-aircraft cannons

Spoiler: Silverplume Actions

Show

-Upgrade Memory to double fortified
-Upgrade Thorn Lake to double fortified
-Continue to research merchant marines
-Research faster ships (+movement over water)
-Research sovereign debt (+government can borrow wealth, but must pay back next season)

[Viirin]

The Royal Hall of Tarrenvine is hardly a great building, and it's stone walls speak of function over form, yet there are the trappings of civilisation, and a carved circular table dominates the far end.
The envoys are met by an assemblage of royalty: the king and queen themselves, surprised and unable to hide their curiosity around their guest. Two women accompany the royal pair: one tall and suspicious, the other almost childlike in size and cautious in her movements.
"Welcome," the king begins, "I apologise that you are met with such a lack of fanfare, but we were not expecting your arrival. I am King Darien, and this is Queen Myrellia and her sister Lady Sorcane. May I also introduce Sylve Truecaller. What brings you to Tarrenvine?"

The drider nodded her head respectably. Some of the hair of her bangs fell out of place, but she put it back as she looked up again. "Your majesties. Lady. Madam Truecaller. Queen Morrigan of South Market, adjoining territory of the Swarm, wishes to know the objectives you are willing to disclose, so we might find mutual benefit in each other's close proximity.
If word has yet to reach you, we of the insect nation are pleased to offer education in various fields openly, to any who would choose to make use of such knowledge. We ask nothing in return for this."
A petit man with what at first glance appeared to be bushy eyebrows kneeling just to her side spoke next. "It is as Aliester says. In addition, I am Moonphase, current acting guildmaster of the South Market Exterminators Guild. We were formed to take requests of monster and aberration extermination, but perform a variety of other types of aid as well. If one has goods or service to trade, we will accept it as donation, but payment itself is only appreciated, and not necessary."
There was also a wild-looking woman with twigs and leaves in her hair, and seemed to be wearing some sort of unseen head cover that gave her the appearance of having short horns. She wore a thick gray robe, and didn't speak.

Such an array of outsiders was unheard of in Tarrenvine, but the gathered nobles hid their surprise.
"Welcome then, Ambassador Aliester, Ambassador Moonphase, and may good health bless Queen Morrigan. Though we had heard of your people our cities have rarely looked beyond their own lands I admit. It is heartening to welcome you in the spirit of friendship. I have sought to unite my people after centuries divided, but only to ensure their safety and prosperity. I make no claim upon your lands, nor the lands of any that do not wish to join our kingdom."
With the formalities done, and assurances given, the queen began: "Your offers of education are truly generous. We know so little of your people, and would welcome the enlightenment. We would of course,
offer suitable exchanges where we could." An offer of a deal, but no specifics: the royals of New Avringae were not about to reveal too much to these strangers.
"Perhaps your queen would allow one of you to stay here in Tarrenvine and let us learn from each other, in an informal way of course." Myrellia's own city had played host to Darien when he was very young: one of the reasons for their early truce. Understanding outsiders was important (though in this Myrellia had ignored the Swarm's propensity to travel as a three).
"Oh yes, a great propsect. Perhaps in time we could send our own ambassador in return to your people's court. We have much you might desire: Raethling steel is good quality and well forged, you'll find none better, or so I've heard, and Baerdine brings trade with the desert peoples and has its own market for wines if they take your fancy? Perhaps when you have seen some of our land we can open such trade routes? Though of course, it would be slow going through the forests between our peoples."
The King and Queen merrily begin listing ways that this could be to their mutual benefit: you get the impression that they are almost excited children (though both are in their mid thirties at least). Their excitement is infectious and soon Lady Sorcane and Sylve are embroiled too. It seems that they find this fun!

Only heard of us? What, did they pay no attention while we walked through these lands for the last seven years as we went back and forth between the capitol and Xule?
Be nice.
"It is pleasurable to hear that you do not wish to claim lands of those who differ in view from your objectives." Aliester responded. "The Swarm is much the same. Well, there was one exception."
Moonphase cleared his throat. "In regards to wine, there are especially flavorful beans we have access to for sale in North Market. I will send word to have a stall or two in South Market with the same wares, for ease of access. You might want to experiment with them for various flavors."
Aliester glanced back at him but didn't turn her head. "Be aware that each pod has completely random flavored beans. You can learn to tell which one has what flavor by look alone, though. A personal favorite is pumpkin."
"I like the sweet flame."
"You would. But I am sure that our esteemed potentates can make their own decisions. It is a failure on our end that we did not bring enough of them with us for anything but personal use."
The woman that didn't talk reached into her robe and pulled out a delicately embroidered brown cloth bag, and handed it towards one of the Avringan attendants standing nearby. She seemed to show proper respect, not directly handing anything to Queen Myrellia.

The Avringans did not miss Aliester's comment, but they were too polite to dwell.
Myrellia cautiously took the bag, then summoning an attendant with a tray, upended the contents of the bag. A look past between the Avringans and there was a pause before Myrellia asked: "Please do instruct us.
I would hate to be surprised!" The woman to her side eyed each of the ambassadors as though she could divine their purpose with sight alone.
It was then that the small woman, Sylve, piped up. "These are beans you say? Are the plants that grow from them so varied as well?" She seemed genuinely curious about the idea.

"They are beans, yes. We have gotten quite a few compliments on them thus far, mostly because of their surprising nature. We have created a plant with our own magic that copies flavors given to it and randomly changes the flavor of every bean in every pod to one of the samples it bears.
If you see the little string coming from the end, you can pull on that and it will gently rip the pod in half longways, so it can be opened and the beans are revealed. Some people choose not to open them, and simply eat the beans along with the pod, giving them even more surprise. You are more than welcome to make whatever choice you will." Aliester gave a gentle nod.

Myrellia paused. These ambassadors were strange indeed, and her country had had little contact with the outside world, sticking instead to their own communities. These strange beans could well be a trap, poison or worse, and the strangers just assassins. But Darien had sacrificed much to bring them this far. She would not let it be said she would not also do so in the name of working together.
Myrellia boldly took a pod and bit into it, following Aliester's advice and eating the beans along with the pod!
There was a moment of anticipation and then her eyes widened in delight. "It is just as they say!
How marvellous. Honey is in there right? What a beautiful invention."
Darien did not take long joining his wife in sampling the beans. "I'm sure were you to send some of these west to Tarrenvine you would make a small fortune on them," Darien commented, hoping to tempt them.
"I hope you stay a while in Tarrenvine, but when you return to South Market," he paused, not certain that it was a title the way he would refer to his capital, "You may tell Queen Morrigan that she may be reassured of our intentions, and that I hope mutual benefit is managed between our countries. Should you wish to send representatives to our country on a permanent basis I will have rooms set aside for you: I would dearly love to learn more of your nation and you Queen." He would have to see about sending a delegation to this queen Morrigan then. Who could he send, Gyre, Torval, Kleon? Those questions could wait: for now, he would offer the hand of friendship and see what sort of reaction it received.

Aliester smiled brightly. "Honey beans are one of the possibilities. The sweet flame Moonphase mentioned are flavored of sugar and spiced pepper. Some other possibilities are pumpkin, apple, turnip, peppermint, smoked fish, rose hip, temple mushroom, and many others.
In regards to your offer to stay for mutual diplomatic gain in the city of Tarrenvarine-" she was interrupted.
"Tarren vine", Moonphase corrected her.
"Humblest of apologies. Tarrenvine, we graciously accept."

Spoiler: Note

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Collab between me (Khaloric Swarm) and Dmarks (New Avringae)

Also, I'm done moving. For now. PM me if I need to make a new map with new cities added.

Spoiler: Actions

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5/5

1. Implement Hydrodynamics
2. Identify Living Metal (1/5 implement action)
3. Research Dragonscale (1/3)
4. Research Dragonscale (2/3)
5. Research Dragonscale (3/3)

How I plan on implementing Living Metal:
1 action to identify
1 action to implement dragonscale (making our bodies better suited to living metal)
1 action to implement galan chitin (living rock is closer to living metal)
1 action to implement ghost fence (spiritual force field vs aberrations built off recombinant hivemind, similar to Living Metal's effect on aberrations)
1 action to form symbiosis with Living Metal (as Eagle suggested)

0/5

[Togo]

New Avringae

The storm was clearing. The sky was still striped with angry skerries of cloud, streaking after the tempest that had left them skidding in it's wake. Down on earth, the wind still blew, sharp insistant gusts, that pulled at coats and cloaks, and made bushes and hedgerows boil and bluster. But the wind no longer shrieked, and the rain no longer fell, and the world was new-born, fresh, damp and surrounded by signs of violence.

From the stable roof, a fall of cloth, sable black, hung from the eaves. It's source was an enigmatic black bundle, half-embedded in the roof that had broken it's fall. A black tangle of cloth, from which emerged a boot, a gloved hand, and the occasional heartfelt groan.


Delphic Bay - the Senate

The senate building, contructed by the Basalt Throne's Imperial Engineers on what could only be called an enthusiatic scale, had seemed echoingly empty a few weeks ago. But it was filling up fast.

The delegates themselves were surprisingly few. The Basalt Throne had sent three. Mirriam Vine, topping out at a little under 8 feet, and scowling at the world as if it were a personal affront, was at least familiar and recognisable. Chausible Lictor, widely known as Chausey, was less famous, but well known to those who had a habit and practice of entering and exiting the Empire through its southern-most border. If they were startled to see him in the chamber, rather than directing caravans and warning them of the hazards ahead, they gave no sign.

The last delegate was a visibly nervous young man, with delicate features and frizzy hair that refused to lie flat. He was wrapped in a large volumnous light blue cloak. His hands had matching gloves of thin leather, covered entirely in segemented scales of coloured glass.

Spoiler: Actions

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Neogiate with natives north east of Valthee
Settle territory North East of Valthee
Research Advanced Alchemy
Implement Advanced Alchemy
Send a diplomat to New Avringae

Invite delegates from the rising light to visit the Great Library in the Empire of the Basalt Throne. There's something we'd like their opinion on.

[Nyna]

Rising Light

Things were relatively quiet within the lands of the Rising Light for the time being. To the north, settlers began to construct new villages while locals already in the area were negotiated with and preached to by missionaries of the faith to help assimilate them into the growing nation. To the west, the town of Westfallen began to grow into a city in its own right thanks to the bustling Runeforge just to its south. The city around the Runeforge, meanwhile, began to put up a series of forts throughout the territory, and large watchtowers began going up all throughout the nation starting with the capital, enormous beacons installed on each one.

The most interesting thing of note was the establishment of a 'Heroes Guild' out of Westfallen. Given the city's proximity to the Ajivhan Wastes just to the west, a prominent individual within the community has built the guild to help attract other like-minded fellows interested in exploring the wastes in a much more organized manner than previous attempts to explore the Wastes. While the Guild is certainly a fledgling facility at the moment, its assistance in organizing exploration parties into the Wastes will certainly be helpful moving forward.

Spoiler: Actions

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Rename territory 3 Westfallen

- Fortify the Runeforge
- Settle Territory 7 & Assimilate the locals
- Research Beacon Watchtowers (2/3)
- Research Beacon Watchtowers (3/3)
- Train Chosen Missionaries (2/3)

- Train Chosen Missionaries (3/3)
- Implement Beacon Watchtowers
- Implement Chosen Missionaries
- Construct the Heroes Guild at Westfallen
- Fully Settle Westfallen

[Novabomb]

Journal of Awn

5/5

The plans for the smaller schools goes well. It will not do to have the renewers away from their duties, nor their ranger companions. We need more of the flock to aid in the sacred duty of teaching. I shall make my circuit once more.


5/13
I had not considered the harvest. My circuit goes poorly, most I can find are busy reaping the season's harvest. Those that are interested will make the journey to the college after they are done. We will just have to see who truly meant it. At least the tithes go well. The other lords grow more confortable with the renewers each season, it is good.

5/24
My circuit is complete, It is time for some well deserved rest at the college. I will check in on Terris tomorrow.

5/25
It seems her project has gone much better than anticipated. Her "coat rack" is quite ornate. She has managed to modify the shape of the tree significantly more than I thought possible. I will need to learn this technique. It is so promising that I have given her a small grove, no more than 4 wingspans long, to see if she can shape it into walls.

Spoiler: Actions

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1) Awn shall tour the Island seeking individuals who would be interested in being teachers for their villages/towns. Those he finds shall be brought to the college.
2) Stockpile Excess Food (2)
3) Continue Researching Wood Charming.
4) Continue Researching Selective Field Blessing. (Instead of blessing all plants in the field, bless only the desired crops, and not the weeds)
5) Continue Researching Mandatory Public Education

[PossiblyInsane]

Spoiler: Actions

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Research - Implement Scorched Earth Tactics (costs 30 materials)
Research - Collaborative Research (Living Metal Control)
Research - Auroran Stock-keeping (Planned Accelerated Research, intended to provide a bonus stockpile action at the end of each season)
Diplomatic - Send Diplomat to New Avringae
Diplomatic - Send Diplomat to The Rising Light

[gawwy]

Spoiler: Actions

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stored 5/5

Research Coastal Raiding(2/3)
Research Coastal Raiding(3/3)
Explorer the next debris field north of the nautilus
Attempt to recover the sunken ships?
Fully settle the lighthouse of bones
Move the Chattering Hoard to the coast nearest the lighthouse of bones.

this turn 5/5

Implement Coastal Raiding (materials ?)
Raid the Coast nearest the lighthouse of bones for food.

Store 3 actions to use based on the outcome of the raid.

[Iceseer]

The entire society of ISU suddenly realizes that they can use their natural rainbow butterfly magic for diplomacy.

Spoiler: actions

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I use all 10 actions to recruit butterfly magic mages.

[Anti-Eagle]

June 1181 (Turn 28)

Spring passed into Summer, June came and with the beginning of a returning heat it could be seen in the deepest forests a stirring. Pained mutilated creatures scuttled away from man hunting in the darkness, digging at the ground of clearings, seeking something. Those living near these now-cursed places could hear a chittering sound at night coming from the forests, colours of yellow tinting their sleeping minds.

The spirits as well as they could tried to convince those living in the areas to leave, still stuck rambling about the maddened thoughts in their heads. Of poison and gnawing things trying to destroy them.

Stars continued to fall at night in the east, far east. Sometimes they could be seen falling in the west as well.

Spoiler: Turn 27 Actions

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The Ajivhan Khaganate
Settling - Negotiate for land South of Duskeyre (7), name South Duskeyre (18)
Settling - Negotiate for land Southeast of Dawnvale (8), name North Dawntor (19)
Settling - Negotiate for land West of Duskweir (14), name North Duskbrae (20)
Settling - Negotiate for land North of Dawnweir (15), name South Dawntor (21)
Settling - Negotiate for land West of Duskgrove (5), name Duskripa (22)
- rename Duskeyre (7) to North Duskeyre (7)

---

The Corpus Verde
Research - Implement Scorched Earth Tactics (costed 25 materials)
Research - Collaborative Research (Living Metal Control)
Research - Research Auroran Stock-keeping (Accelerated, will cost 8 materials to implement)
Diplomatic - Send Diplomat to New Avringae
Diplomatic - Send Diplomat to The Rising Light

---

The Disciples of Awn
- Awn shall tour the Island seeking individuals who would be interested in being teachers for their villages/towns. Those he finds shall be brought to the college.
- Stockpile Excess Food (2)
- Research Wood Charming (Will cost 18 materials to implement)
- Research Selective Field Blessing (Will cost 18 Materials to implement)
- Research Mandatory Public Education (Will cost 18 materials to implement)

---

The Empire of the Basalt Throne (Five actions saved)
- Negotiate with natives north east of Valthee
- Settle territory North East of Valthee
- Research Advanced Alchemy
- Implement Advanced Alchemy (Costed 36 materials, provides... I'll add something once I have a response)
- Send a diplomat to New Avringae

---

The Grand Duchy of Xule
-Negotiate with Auroran tribes on the northern half of the north-east peninsula to accede to the Kingdom of Nova Aurora
-Negotiate with Auroran tribes on the southern half of the north-east peninsula to accede to the Kingdom of Nova Aurora
-Implement steam-powered automatic cannons (Costed 12 materials, provides +3 to land combat rolls)
-Implement steam explosives (Costed 12 materials, provides, provides +3 to siege and defence rolls)
- Research anti-aircraft steam cannons (Will cost 12 materials to implement)

---

The Great Heathen Army (Three actions saved)
- Research Coastal Raiding(2/3)
- Research Coastal Raiding(3/3, will cost 18 materials to implement)
- Explorer the next debris field north of the nautilus (shipwrecks found)
- Attempt to recover the sunken ships (materials scavenged)
- Fully settle the lighthouse of bones
- Move the Chattering Hoard to the coast nearest the lighthouse of bones.

- Implement Coastal Raiding (Costed 18 Materials, provides +3 to raiding rolls)
- Raid the Coast nearest the lighthouse of bones for food (successful)

---

The Harconin Protectorate
Research - Research Archaeology (Will take one more action to research)
Research - Research Aetheric Currents (Will take three more actions to research)
Research - Research Immortal Anatomy (Will take three more actions to research)
Research - Research Runic Alphabets (Will take three more actions to research)
Research - Research Wild Magic Corruption (Will take three more actions to research)

---

The Icebound States of the Union
...

---

The Khaloric Swarm
- Implement Hydrodynamics (Costed 18 materials to implement, provides +1 growth and +1 survivability)
- Identify Living Metal (1/5 implement action)
- Research Dragonscale (1/3)
- Research Dragonscale (2/3)
- Research Dragonscale (3/3)

---

New Avringae (Five Actions saved)
- Research Enchanced Farming (2/2, will cost 12 materials to implement)
- Research improved trading vessels (1/2)
- Research improved trading vessels (2/2, will cost 12 materials to implement)
- Send diplomats to Xule
- Send diplomats to Khaloric Swarm

---

The Rising Light
- Fortify the Runeforge
- Settle Territory 7 & Assimilate the locals
- Research Beacon Watchtowers (2/3)
- Research Beacon Watchtowers (3/3, will cost 24 Materials to implement)
- Research Chosen Missionaries (2/3)
- Research Chosen Missionaries (3/3, will cost 24 Materials to implement)
- Implement Beacon Watchtowers (Costed 24 materials, provides +3 to settlement defence)
- Implement Chosen Missionaries (Costed 24 materials, provides 1 additional population each spring and +1 to subversion rolls)
- Construct the Heroes Guild at Westfallen (Costed 4 materials, provide +1 to defence and materials)
- Fully Settle Westfallen

[i]Work continued throughout the lands of the Rising Light, their missionaries spread across Mereton as their beacons were erected across their territory. The horrors continued to stir in the lands around them as they worked to secure their borders, and as the days went some came to hear a whisper in their sleep. Along the coast in the east, the wastelands in the west, and forests in the North the creatures wandered, hunting and watching from afar. Rather shyly for their natures.[i]

---

The Silverplume Confederacy
- Fortify Stonetide
- Fortify Memory
- Fortify Thorn Lake
- Research merchant marines (Will require another action to research)
- Research faster ships (Will require another action to research)

[Viirin]

Recombinant Hivemind

That's an odd blip.
It's somewhat similar to...
I know.
But it-
I see it.
But why now?
If we weren't already busy then I'd suggest sending someone to investigate.
Maybe a couple dragons.
Or a krakari.
Once we have time / That's a good suggestion.
I'm far more concerned with-
It'll take time. For now, just do the thing.
Are we sure that's how we want it?
It's for the best.

Red Sands

The glass smiths had already perfected their craft, or so they thought. Red glass made of red sand was needed for coinage, and artisans could make other things. They did it themselves too, sometimes.
But then when new discoveries were made some years ago in Karonaberg, much bigger orders came in. How would perfectly clear glass be forged of that size? The sand available to the desert island turned out to be far less useful than regular white sand, which was much less common, and it had to be sifted out of large swathes of other sands. But it was eventually done, and a great circular disc with a slight curve was made... after a few dozen tries to get it to work right. From a distance, the lens could ignite flammable materials, but that was an accident, too. It was meant to be focused on a nearby point surrounded by heat-dissipating stone.
Getting this to work properly would take much more effort...

At least they still had the smaller ones. Maybe the technicians could think of some other use for them.

Karonaberg

It had taken awhile, but the kelp farm was finally able to be harvested. The water from the sea came in and made a circulating current, bringing in fresh water every time the tide came in or out. The kelp that had been grown there was plentiful, but more importantly, aberrations didn't spawn out of the farm's seawater.
Why they spawned from the rest of the water, no one had much of an idea.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

5/5

1. Gen "dialfish" and release them in Lakereach lake (Lakereach development)
2. Research Organic Fertilizer
3. Construct Library of Khalorean in South Market (mats+ or R&Dmats+)
4. Research Lenses (leads to other tech)
5. Construct Inland Kelp Farm in Karonaberg (food+)

If I don't have enough materials for stuff then convert it into Research Ghostfence

0/5

[Novabomb]

Journal of Awn

6/2
I have heard tales of strange spirits in the woods on the borders of our land. The tales say that they bring nightmares, but no assault as of yet. I will dispatch Renewer Urameshi to investigate.

6/4
Soon implementation will begin for the early educating system. I have heard some grumbling of the other lords regarding what I am to put forth. If they are to interfere with the upifting of the flock, then I will have to deal with them. I shall call forth a meeting of the lords. They will fall in line with this or be replaced.

6/15
The meeting is done. I needed to be more forceful than I wanted, but it seems they respected me for it afterwards. Perhaps I misperceive. Regardless, it is done. I am now the undisputed ruler of our people in all capacities. They have all sworn themselves to me, and have been granted territories off the island to manage. As discussed earlier, Lord Fredrick, my first, and truest ally, shall be name Admiral, and Lord Protector of Waterways within the Domain. I will need to find him a suitable base of operations, perhaps on the sea.

6/17
Now that I have recovered from that event, it is time to make sure all the renewers know the new field blessing.

6/23
Finally, teachers have been deployed. Structures are built. Word has gone out that Children ages 7 to 14 MUST attend. This time next month classes will begin.

Spoiler: Actions

Show

1) Deploy Renewer Urameshi to territory 4 to investigate the spirits. Hoping that the nature of Awnite magic, might help in communicating with the spirits.
2) Hold meeting of lords (This will result in all the lords binding themselves to Awn)
3) Implement Selective Field Blessings.
4) Implement Mandatory Public Education.
5) Begin Researching Tree Structures as an extension of Wood Charming.

[The JoJo]

The Ducal Palace, Grand Duchy of Xule

With the advent of summer came a new heat wave that left all of Xule sweltering, the palace included. Cosimo sat out in the palace gardens with his adviser Silvio, recalling with nostalgia the little excursions he and his sister had taken out into the city as children. Now they were older, such incognito trips were much more difficult. He watched the flags of his two realms fluttering in the wind, his thoughts moving onto more immediate matters.

Spoiler: Flag of Xule

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Spoiler: Flag of Nova Aurora

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‘I think, I would like to be married,’ he said after a pause.

‘Married, your highness?’ Silvio didn’t quite manage to hide the surprise in his voice.

‘Yes, I am fourteen now,’ Cosimo said, signalling for his servants to fan him. ‘Isn’t it time I secured my dynasty? Valencia was much younger than I am now when she got married.’

‘That is true,’ Silvio said, shrugging. ‘Still, it is customary that girls are married younger than boys. We would have to send out inquiries to other nations, to find a suitable princess.’

‘Well, do then.’

‘Of course, my lord. Your will shall be done.’ Silvio bowed deeply, before hurrying off to attend to other business. Cosimo watched him go, before turning back to the view over the city.

Spoiler: Actions

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-Annex northern north-east peninsula as part of the Kingdom of Nova Aurora
-Annex southern north-east peninsula as part of the Kingdom of Nova Aurora
-Implement anti-aircraft weapons
-Send diplomat to the Disciples of Awn
-Send diplomat to the Rising Light
-(Minor) Send out low key messages to all nations with human populations, inquiring if there are any suitable brides for Cosimo.