Total War: Seas of Change IC

[GameOfChampions]

Total War Seas of Change

Turn 1

The priests tell tales of the days of yore, when land could stretch as far as the eye could see. When it would take months or years to walk from one ocean to another. Only the children and elders believe them now. These are the days of oar and spear, oceans spreading in every direction with more dangers every span rowed.

The world flooded and the gods rose with the waters, living among the rising tribes of men. The gods brought the mortal races to live with them in the Sea of Gods, a utopia where the evil spirits from the flooding and creatures from the depths dare not tread. However things grew tense as the gods started to fight.

Eventually the mortal races fled from the Sea of Gods as their utopian islands started to turn into nightmares of divine fights and disasters. They fled over the Chromatic seas and settled into the Middle Sea. Their new home had evil spirits and sea creatures, they worried about food and resources but there were no great gods.

The mortal races split into tribes living on their new islands. The new tribes made their islands into homes, after a while even finding new gods by awakening their island spirits. The tribes expanded and found their place in the world yet the gods never stopped fighting. It only grew worse.

After several centuries one night the dreamers of every tribe had a dream, they all woke in unison after seeing the same vision of a great god falling into the sea. The dreamers spread the word and the tribes attempted to prepare for a devastating event… but they didn’t prepare enough.

The Primal Storm devastated the islands of the middle sea. Seas and winds swept through the islands, ripping buildings and debris off the island. Villagers and Caste members alike were pulled off the island, dropped all throughout the Middle Sea and further. The storm raised wicked spirits from the depths, angered sea monsters, raised reefs, and changed the sea currents. The island gods barely survive after trying to protect their people and falling into deep slumbers.

Last night the priests managed to raise your Island God from its slumber. Though severely weakened, its gifts once more empower your tribe. The Great Gods remain, but they have grown reserved and restrained, the world is no longer their plaything. A new Age dawns - will your tribe survive it? Will your name be remembered forever in it’s legends? Or will you share the fate of the ancient men, forgotten deep below, as your Island is claimed by the ocean?

---

Middle Sea:

The surviving tribes all look to the skies, seeing the storm retreat and seeing to the survivors of the Primal Storm. Already the Dreamers were reaching across the seas to find other survivors, more importantly the other competitors to what they may need to rebuild.

Yet even as the tribes prepare, others in the seas ready themselves.

A tribe of hungry raiders eye the weakened islands, looking for an easy target. Their canoes slowly and silently moving through the sea so as not to gather the attention of the gods. Their eyes painted on the prows of their canoes are bright red with a deep black iris that looks to be a hole to the depths below.

A massive turtle slowly meanders its way through the sea, only flapping its flippers once or twice an hour. On its back several families move about, coming in and out of small lean to’s and only cooking on small sheltered fires built on top of piles of stone. On the head a small girl no more then seven tosses a fish to the head of the turtle that it lazily snaps up with a deep shell rattling rumble that has the adults yelling up to the girl on the head.

Finally a floating barge circles the center of the sea, never leaving its circular path, as a priest in ratty patched robes shouts to his congregation about the deeds of the Undying God below that will be their salvation. In the depths of the night when everything is darkest the priest and his congregation gather around as they sacrifice a lost soul to the god below. The blood of the sacrifice is not visible in the dark waters as the body sinks below into the depths.


Red Sea:

A hollow mountain filled with smoke yet no lava to be seen, only the occasional flash of red scales as something writhes beneath the smoke. As the wind clears and the rain stops the smoke gathers. In the depths of the black smoke an eye glowing with the radiance of a ruby filled with sun opens, looking to the clear skies.


Black Sea:

Massive burly tribal members row through the pitch black sea, no one able to see more than a few inches under the surface. The tribe members keep their weapons close by them and a hopeful eye on the waters to look for ripples, the members yell and carouse with each other in hopes of the noise attracting a foe. Yet none of the monsters of the sea are dumb enough to mess with this force as dozens of canoes are moving through the sea with hundreds of tribesmen.

Green Sea:

A group of nomadic farmers check their sea farm, the farmers dive to the shallow bottom of the sea to place the dirt they have gathered from the islands. The thick seaweed strands are being gathered to bake into a thick bread like substitute while they also pull up thick ropes covered in mussels. As they hear a bird of preys deep cry in the distance they pause before jumping into the boats and pulling up screens of seaweed to cover him.


White Sea:

A small party of humanoid bears run across the breaking half frozen sea, they jump from a moving ice floe to a flat stretch that is slowly being broken by a large iceberg. They sprint across the flat stretch to the other side and onto another iceberg. The large bear like humans huff as they gather their breath, one of them somehow pulling off a bear skin that turns them back into a human. After a moment they are ready and turn to look at the smoke in the distance.


God Sea:

In the depths of an unknown sea six ineffable beings watch from above while another being hungrily looks at the world above.

---

The seas calm after the storm and the new currents are still settling into their new paths. There is a brief window before the currents settle where the sailors of the tribes can still make some use of their previous knowledge of the currents. Yet the seas are changing, the benefit won't be around for long though.

Spoiler: Old Currents

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Every tribe gets a single free route to a 1 route distance island this turn for only this turn only.

The seas have been whipped up by the storm, islands and now dead tribes leaving all sorts of debris in the island. All sorts of debris is being washed up on the islands to be gathered by the tribes. However only the most mundane and multiple of items have been kicked out of the depths by the gods.

Spoiler: Dragging the Depths

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Every island has an additional one time only random Tier 1 Resource on it that can be gathered with a single villager. Tribes can gather from multiple islands.

EoT due Feb 3rd, 2024

[St. Justicar]

The Children of the Sun

The palace Xiyah’s children had built for them was a paltry thing, compared to their own overflowing glory. It swam across the surface of Semiramis as their children sailed Tamihiro’s seas – how could a paltry collection of wayward and stormwracked descendants hope to entice them to dive down and touch the world once more, with naught but a hut of mudbrick and bone to offer them?

And yet, what could they do but try?

The dawn saw the flower of the island’s manhood assembled atop Xiyah’s mountain, adorned with fearsome warpaint and gathered into their sacred brotherhoods. Each blooded warrior was marked the sacred scarring of their initiation, and wore a shard of bone from the great beasts their fathers and grandfathers had slain.

They howled and stomped their feet as the night sky reddened with Xiyah’s approach. Arrayed around their hut, priests beat drums and whistled into pipes to keep time and, they hoped, attract the favour of their progenitor.

And on a pane of smooth and shimmering black stone where Xiyah once touched the earth, Three Eclipse stood at the centre of it all, knife of sharpened stone in their hand and sacrifice splayed out upon the ground before them.

He was a small, weak thing – at least in comparison to the blooded warriors who had captured and delivered him. The initiated were one and all tall and broad, fast-healing and free of blemish; such was the inheritance of those in whom the blood of the sun ran thick – and had proven little trouble to bind and carry up to mountaintop. He was thrashing and struggling now, dimly aware of what was to come, but it was far, far too late for him now.

The music reached and crescendo, and then fell into a natural lull a moment before Three Eclipse began to speak.

“Once we were as beasts, as careless as the monkeys in the trees or the fish in the sea. We did not remember our fathers, or honour our gods. Each of use lived and died as if they were the very first who ever was.”

The assembled warriors feel deathly silent as they spoke – even chiefs and champions held a healthy fear of the strange, leathery mystic who slept each night at the door of the house of the sun. At moments like this, their voice was a conduit to the gods themselves.

“But each day Xiyah looked down upon us as It swam across the sky. It saw how we starved, and drowned, and slew each other over meaningless trifles. It saw how the blessings of the world were wasted upon us, and It took pity upon us.”

As they spoke, novices – youths who might one day be blooded and initiated into a warrior brotherhood – danced, acting out the myth as they relayed it. They did well on this occasion, their grace and athleticism obvious even as they performed without making a single noise audible over the steady and hypnotic beat of the drum.

“And so Xiyah dove through the sky, scorching the air and searing the water until it touched this, the highest mountain in all the world. It sang, and its voice echoed across the Middle Sea, calling all those who would be human to its side.”

It took three youths to lift and move the idol of Xiyah – future priests, well-prepared and spiritually cleansed in preparation of the great honour – but they moved in perfect time, swimming it through the air above their heads before bringing it down to touch the ground as a trio of pipers set up in each direction behind the assembled warriors played its beckoning song.

“Xiyah drew a claw across its side, and beckoned the assemble beasts to suckle upon its blood. Thus they drank down the essence of humanity and so, became human. Xiyah’s blood runs thick and thin among peoples and tribes, but in every man runs the essence of the sun”

It was for the best that the prisoner had been gagged with a thick length of rope – from how he struggled and attempted to scream through it, anything less and he might well have disrupted the whole ceremony.

“We are the true children of Xiyah, its favored and most blessed! But out blood has run too thin! We have fallen until we are once more barely better than beast or fish – how can the sun recognize us, when we disappoint it so?”

The drums began to pick up again now, as true dawn began to breach the sky.

“Come, my brothers! See how we have fallen – and see the blood of true humanity separated from the water of the beast!”

The knife came down and slashed across the prisoners throat just as the first light of day fell upon him. His lifeblood poured out onto the glossy black stone – but as the sun fell upon it, one part in twenty rose up into it, streams of red and vital light.

They arched from the sacrifice’s steaming corpse to the small bowls junior priests held out to accept them, each richly carved container quickly filling with a thick and softly glowing ichor.

And as the music once again rose, each warrior stepped forward in turn to drink from one bowl or another, and became one step closer to human.

[A_Dinosaur]

Kahealahana Holt

Twisting seagrass wove itself with deadly strength around his paw, pulling him deeper and away from the dappled glow of the surface. He reached for his dive knife, but his free arm moved so terribly slowly, as though the water had turned to tar. The slimy strands tightened further, and the dragging grew more insistent, darker shapes flickered among the tendrils, clicking merrows with teeth like deep eels circling with hunger. Struggling with terror, water eyes scrunching, he looked to the surface, the grass above was closing, almost dome like now, and darkness was beginning to reign. The last flicker of light allowed him to see the grasses below part and reveal a fleshy and muscular maw. An anemone then, a fear buried deep in his childhood, a fear that sapped his strength and devoured his will as it pulled him closer.

But then, a searing clean pain racing up his bound paw, the tendrils boiling away along with it. Mental clarity returned with a surge, all to warn him of the terrible, dreadful, real pain that promised salvation from the numbing death in this half reality. The pain traveled through his shoulder, up his neck, and as it touched his eyes, he opened them to the truth of the middle sea, pleasant, cool water cradled his back and warm sunlight drenched his belly. Without even realizing, Plumu snatched his paw away from the source of the pain, and looked down. Rua his float mate gripped the bloody pin of his earing and was searching his eyes with worry.

“The dreams are growing stronger, I had to stab thrice before you stirred.”

“Better a stabbed paw than death in Urgo's realm, thank y-”

“It is not about the stabbing Plumu! It's about what happens if the stabbing doesn't wake you?” Rua was already retrieving a roll of bandage from his pack, tail pumping to hold him high enough out of the water to keep them dry. “We have trouble enough with monsters without you turning yourself into a bane lure.”

Shaken by the dream and wincing at the pain Plumu chose not to argue the point. “I will be more careful, the currents were particularly drifting today.” The bandages were dry and coated in an acrid medicinal powder that made his paw itch. “I will have to take this dream to the smokehouse. I do not understand it.” A pin or blade driven into the quick beneath a claw was the traditional remedy for anyone trapped in a dream trance, necessary, but far from comfortable.

“Well you had better hope they can help you, I do not wish to see you dreaming like that again.”

He waved his bloody earing beneath Plumu's muzzle, before dousing it in the water and letting the last remnants of the dream fade into the waves.

Messages - Encryption 0

The Coral Singers

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Greetings fellow survivors of the Primal Storm, We of the Kahealahana Holt are pleased to see such craftsmanship has survived the recent calamity and that you are our closest neighbors in the middle sea. Trade is the lifeblood of my peoples, and if you are willing, we would be interested in engaging in such affairs with you. We seek traders, and can offer crafters, warriors, or even resources in future if you would be interested in a more longterm transaction.

The Alu’li Hunt

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Greetings to the most legendary of hunters, it surprises me little that your folk have weathered the Primal Storm. We of the Kahealahana Holt are interested in trade relations with our folk. Presently, we are interested in traders and craftsmen, and would be willing to hire out our warriors or priests, or perhaps even wayfinders should the trade be of interest to you.

The Endless Gaze

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Greetings seekers of the ancient faiths, you have survived the Primal Storms, and we of Kahealaha offer our relief and congratulations. With the seas open before us and yourselves there is much to seek on distant islands, but here there is much trade to be done. My people are seeking traders, and can offer a variety of warriors, priests, and other such resources in exchange. Would you be interested in such a bargain?

[Eldan]

The Coral Singers

Hawea smiled, in his sleep. The lagoon was perfectly still, as it was every night, and swirls of blue and green luminescence played around his hands and feet, his fingers, that sculpted as he dreamed. By the morning, the shapers would dive into the water, and there find the things they had imagined, carved for them by the merciful God from his own living flesh. Spearpoints and armour pieces, axeheads and beads, ship's keels and furniture.

But this morning, as the red and golden fingers of the dawn woke him, his heart was heavy. It was rare that the God returned new dreams to him. The beauty of the tide is immeasurable; its riches infinite. God was beyond want. But God had shown him the dangers they had gone through, the dangers to come. God's Island had been spared the worst of the great storm, but even greater storms would come. A council of the clan chiefs would have to be called, and preparations made.



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To the Kahealahana Holt

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Greetings to the Holt, from the Chosen People of the most Beautiful and Kind, who grants infinite riches, who sets the world in red and gold, who made land for the faithful, whose heart overflows neverending love, who is Greatest among the Great.

God smiles on you, who know the riches of his reefs and his deeps. God accepts that you may bring him and his chosen people gifts of resources and the beautiful things your crafters have made. And in his infinite kindness, God and his chosen people may bestow upon you the grace of our traders, dreamers and wayfinders.

-Dreamer Hawea

OOC: really could use more resources this turn, I plan to build. Crafters are also welcome. I would offer traders, but I only have 1. Are Dreamers, Wayfarers or Priests of any use?

GM:

Spoiler

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I wish to send 2 dreamers to Lazy River Island to explore it.

[St. Justicar]

The Children of the Sun

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Spoiler: Great Turtle Colony

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To those who traverse the Middle Sea on the shell of the placid leviathan,

May Xiyah look down on your voyage with overflowing benevolence,

The Sun has once again reached down to brush its tails against stone and water. We, its most favoured children, have the honour and the duty of preparing a house worthy of its endless glory. For this we have need of your scrimshanders and your craftsmen. Offer up their labour as a gift and a boon shall in turn be granted to you.

Spoiler: Coral Singers

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To those who dwell within and above the lagoon of reefs,

May Xiyah illuminate your works in its infinite mercy,

We have no feud with you, and no cause to seek one. In the spirit of friendship, let it be known that our canoes shall soon sail for Rolling Hills Isle, to claim its riches for the glory of the Sun. We make no claim on any other empty island in the Sea, and ask only that you respect this.

Spoiler: Hunt of Alu’li

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To the fanged and scaled hunters of the north,

May Xiyah warm your days and guide your spears,

We have no feud with you, and no cause to seek one. In the spirit of friendship, let it be known that our canoes shall soon sail for Rolling Hills Isle, to claim its riches for the glory of the Sun. We make no claim on any other empty island in the Sea, and ask only that you respect this.

[Writtensanity]

Kakili was a priestess, one of the fangless few that led the tribes in matters of spirit. How many moons had it been since she'd been out on the hunt? Too many. At least by her count. Sometimes the gods spirits spoke through warriors who were forced to abandon their spears in the face of their duty to the clan.

That was why she'd volunteered.

To call this a hunt almost felt like an insult, but the songs were clear. As long as there was a chase and blood in the end, then the hunt was sacred. That, and even the oldest songs took time to say that children needed to learn. Perhaps especially now. There were so few left.

The waves had consumed most of the island, leaving the pilgrimage as the only survivors of the clans. The first months had been spent tracking down the living legends that the other hunters knew were alive and out there. That was the thing about knowing something in your heart, the world always threatened to prove you wrong.

One of the Scaleings darted off the path and disappeared into the lush undergrowth. Kakili watched for a moment, cocking her head and tasting the air. Once she was sure that the child hadn't found prey she'd missed, she snapped her jaws in its direction. The violet Scaleling yelped and jolted back onto the protected path, to follow the Othare tracks.

Kalili waited for them to catch up with their peers before resuming her plodding pace.

These ones were still too young to know the noble tongue, and still too young to hunt. For now she would track them and treat them as they were, beasts who needed to rise above the rest to join the vaulted ranks of hunters.

Spoiler: To: The Children of the Sun

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The reply comes over the dreamscape late and rests of the mouths of the dreamers in the taste of burned marrow.

There is no spear pointed in your direction.

The current heads North. Stalwart and fast.

The Priests chant, a call for challenge.

A carcass on the beach. Slain for you, should you ask for it.

The simple images of the dreamers seem wrapped in song, like the Hunters understand that they must communicate, but they do not understand the languages of the other islands yet.

Spoiler: To The Kahealahana Holt:

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The reply comes over the dreamscape late and feels like scales rubbing against raw skin. Less painful than direly aware of your presence.

The insulated shore of an inlet, guarded from the waves.

A nest, guarded by eyes in the darkness.

An outstretched claw, hesitant, but open to possibility.

Its clear that the Hunters struggle with the language of the people, but their music of images is able to carve out a single simple phrase.

Not. Yet.

[Let'sGetKraken]

The Endless Gaze

A young Raxi swims through uncharted waters, dreaming… well, not dreaming. That is the purview of Sethrika. But he desperately wants to prove himself to the others. How many dreams must there be, across the Seas, waiting to be discovered? He imagines himself the pioneer, unaware that the waves upon which he skims have been witnessed for millenia. High above, pinpricks of light pierce through the night sky. If the Raxi had been gazing up, instead of outward, he might have noticed the glimmer of intelligence in the stars above. He does not, his mind occupied with the thoughts of discovery and renown.

The Warriors of the Sun rest in the shadow of their great mountain. They have watched and waited as their craftsmen and villagers have raised a grand edifice, bloodstained and glorious, to venerate It Above. They are blood-drunk, riding a wave of righteous glory from the sacrifice under the midday sun. Protected as they are during the day by the light of Xiyah, they never think to question what watches them while their god sleeps. They boast and tell tales of the essence of the sun to be reclaimed. Had they eyes for anything more than the glory of Xiyah, they might have seen the constellations above shift and observe their revelry.

The gray island twists and turns, more a hive than a landmass. It has only a single occupant, split between many shells of flesh and chitin. There is only the Opae. It grieves for the suffering of all that populate the Seas. If only they knew that true immortality waited for them, should they choose to sacrifice something that brings them only pain. It keens into the night as it works, split between a thousand drones, dreaming of a world in which all choose to be one. As it does, far above, another multitude, equally helpless to stop the suffering of mortals, watches in silence.

Under the vast expanse, a hundred different Holts sail forth with open paws, driven by the struggle for survival and the thrill of the horizon. They carry corals, precious stones, and items crafted by generations of families, who hoard secrets as freely as they trade their goods. On one small ship, a Wayfinder peers downwards, outwards, and upwards, ever-vigilant. There are many dangers across the Middle Sea, and not all of them are apparent, after all, and she has a duty to her people. But to notice the sliver of intelligence that watches her from above, she would need to set her sights much, much higher.

Across the Middle Sea, a song of reverence and pride resonates from a people that want for nothing, their desires made manifest in divine flesh. Yet for all the bounty they possess, they worry. A warrior, clad in elaborate armour of coral, paces anxiously up and down the rocks, next to the falling water. The Singers know that their place in the world, at its centre, but the ceasing of the storm has left them vulnerable. It brings opportunity, the chance to spread the glory of their God to all the seas, but there are threats to be dealt with too. He looks up, his eyes heavy, and for a moment he swears he sees hundreds of eyes peering down at him, the sky filled with watchful gazes. When he blinks, there are only the stars, unchanged.

They are a people of action, even after the setting of the sun. Complacency was how the tribe had lost so many. They sharpen their fangs, knowing now a single fundamental truth - there is only the hunt. The arc of the spear, the flash of the blade. Death given and received. One of them sits on the beach, scratching makings on leather. The Alu’li have entrusted her with guiding them in search of glory and salvation, and as she attempts to chart the skies, she grows frustrated. They do not match the rubbings she made the previous night. It is almost as if the stars have shifted in the sky. But that is impossible, of course. Even so, she cannot shake the feeling that she is being watched.

It is an endless tapestry of dazzling lights. Images and sounds flash before her, faster and faster. There is too much.She must leave, or risk losing herself forever. Faintly, she feels Them. Just a fragment of a fragment of a fragment of a fragment of a fragment of a -

She gasps, jerking back, her eyes wide, trembling, her awareness suddenly once again only her own. The woman beside her - elderly, her mentor, she dimly recalls - sits with a half-smile, pride and longing in one. “You did well, child, for your first time seeing through them. You lasted longer than most. Now, sit, and when you can, you will tell me what you saw, and I will in turn tell you what it means for our people.”





Message Encryption 0

Spoiler: To the Kahealahana Holt

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The Storms could not hold back the Gaze of the Gods above. So long as they persist, so shall we, in reverence of those who came before and those who may one day come again.

With the shift in fortunes, our traders - though not as skilled as yours - are occupied, as our our crafters. We would share our many dreams, but we see that you have no need of them. May the winds carry your people to safe shores; in the seasons to come, we may have much knowledge for your people to use.

[GameOfChampions]

Coral Singers

Spoiler: GM/Coral Singers Only

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The Dreamers of the Coral Singers weave their senses through the shells and corals surrounding the island. They sense the dark evil of a scaled beast hunting through the forest, thirsting for a flesh that its regular prey can no longer provide. Deep below the island is a cave leading below the Dreamers can see. Near the bottom they sense a dying spiritual energy of a sort foreign to their senses.

Spoiler

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There are two complications. The first and immediate concern is a powerful and vicious Lizard Monitor that has gained a taste for human flesh (2 Warriors to beat). The Second is the start of an Event chain, investigate the divine remnants of a dead island spirit for a branching choice outcome (5 Priests to complete).

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Great Turtle Colony

Encryption 1

Spoiler: Children of the Sun

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Greetings Sunborn,

We have need of our 'scrimshanders' and 'craftsmen' as you put it. Our Shell Shapers are needed every turn of the sun to make our travels safe for those survivors we have. We are open to trades and exchanges of equal value but you have not earned any gifts to be given at this time...

Maybe your sun will provide.

[A_Dinosaur]

The Kehealahana Holt
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The Opae

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Swarmborn folk of the deep below, we greet you as fellow survivors of the primal storm. The seas grow dangerous, but not yet so dangerous that trade has become impossible. We seek trade, or more specifically traders, and can offer much in exchange. Priests, dreamers, even wayfinders, should the need be dire and the price worthwhile. Would your folk be interested in such a barter?

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

The Alu’li Hunt

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Not yet then. We wish your folk safe hatchings and successful huntings.

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

The Coral Singers

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Well our tribute will have to be vast and beautiful to warrant such generous gifts of the Coral Singers, may our traders eyes not be blinded by the magnificence of your courts upon their arrival.

Wayfarers would be of great use to the holt, as we will surely seek other lands which could bear sufficient tribute to make worthy your Continued generosity. If you would gift the temporary use your singular trader to us as well as a pair of your wayfinder crews, we would be happy to send tribute of our finest shells and two kins of craftsmen to your halls.

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

The Endless Gaze

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Alas that they are otherwise occupied, but perhaps in future seasons trade will flow between our islands. We will return to Kahealahana in the meantime, though one of our wayfinders wished us to pass a message to your priesthood, you may find it enclosed with this letter.

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

The wonders of the seas never cease, and upon my journey here I had something of a vision. I’m sure I was meant to pass it to your people, but I am uncertain of how to interpret it. I was among a hundred trade ships, sailing through the dangerous seas, but when I gazed down at the water I only saw the lidless reflection of the stars above. No doubt they tried to pass me some message for your folk, but alas I am without knowledge of the meaning.

With wonders and regrets,
Wayfinder Muyara

The Raxithakra

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Enigmas of the deep, we greet you as fellow survivors of the primal storm. The seas grow dangerous above and below, but not so dire that trade is impossible yet. Would your folk be interested in exchanging talents for a season? Our people seek traders, and can offer priests, craftsmen, and warriors should there be need of them.

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

The Sunken Eye Raiders

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Greetings Warriors, we of the Kahealahana holt seek to trade with yours should you be open to it. Traders, and wayfinders are what we seek, and can offer the services of our warriors should mercenaries of the finest slingers be among your needs. Would you be interested in such a barter?

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

[bladescape]

The Raxithakra

"The first dream is taken once more."

The whispers slipped through the tides, echoing between the coral and reeds. In the darkness of the depths the Raxi stirred. Their Lady had been silent since the fall, and all the offered dreams of the high priest had found no purchase in the years since. It was disquieting to have their dreams to themselves, to have their sleep disturbed by fleeting desires and regrets. As the whispers crossed the linked webway of houses built into the cracks of their home, the surviving members of the Raxi gathered as one.

"Thesikathrix."

The whispers continued, The Path Manifest swam among them once more. Gliding softly between the others, the wend of their limbs touching each they passed, they took position next to the High Priest. None had seen the Path since the fall either, and the light withering around their gills spoke of their age. The Priest turned to the newest arrival in the centre, and spread their limbs around in obescience.

"Oh Path. Sethrika has seen fit to bestow upon you a dream." The hush quietened the tempest of the sea, and for a moment all was stillness. "You shall be Breezespeaker. The old paths will not long be seen, you must tame the breeze to map the new paths." There was a flutter of muttering as they watched The Path incline head in acknowledgement.

There was no further words spoken at that meeting. All instead listened as the tide itself told them the intents of Thesikathrix.

The Breezespeaker.

A title! For the first time since Sethrika's Slumber. This was a sign that they were blessed once more.



The seas stirred as the Raxithakra woke.

---

Encryption: 0

Spoiler: Response to the Kahealahana Holt

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Scavengers of the Seas, we hear you.

We seek no trade at this time, as the dream has yet to be made manifest to us.

Wait until the breeze changes and perhaps we will have interest in such a collaboration.

Spoiler: To the Endless Gaze

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Watchers. We see you.

Where below the waves we chart the seas, you follow your eyes in the sky above. Between us we could craft a map spanning all seas seen and unseen.

This is no suggestion for now, as the waves have yet to settle, but we hear of your prescience and would rather collaborate to see the ends of the oceans than to compete.

[Eldan]

The Coral Singers

The Council had gathered in a large circle in the meeting hall, an airy structure of pink and golden coral pillars and sheets of woven grass for shade. The large table at the center of the hall was coral too, twelve feet across, a polished midnight blue that reflected the sky above.
The warriors, the dreamers, the wayfarers had all come, in their coral armours, standing outside the hall in the burning sun. Seats at the table were reserved for the elder shapers, who could dream the coral into being, and for Hawea, who spoke to God. Today, he was grim.
"God made the land. He gave us houses, and plants, and crafts, and he gave us beauty. But even God must rest. And when god rests, his power wanes. A storm has come, to break the land and return it to the sea. It has come, and it has gone, and it has caused losses. And it will return, again and again, until its work is done and nothing remains.
As God sleeps, we must resist it. We must save the land. Not just this island. All of them. God has given us stewardship of his creation, his beauty, and we can not allowed to disappoint him."
He gazes at the gathered elders.
"It is not what we would wish to do, if we had a choice. But this work is beyond even us. God's beauty is too great for even the chosen ones to save alone. We must speak to the outsiders. They too, will have seen the signs. They must give us the resources we need to save the land, or we will all die. It is that simple."

Kahealahana Holt

Spoiler

Show

Sadly, we will need our trader to explore an island.

Would you trade either 2 wayfarers for a resource and 1 crafter, or 3 wayfarers for a resource and 2 crafters? We can also offer a priest, if that helps.

[bladescape]

The Raxithakra

The tribe had taken court.

The song of the air had spoken

The dream had been gifted.

Spoiler: GM only

Show

Sending Thesikathrix to plot path to Wildspring, with 2 Dream to discover any complications.

[A_Dinosaur]

Kahealahana Holt
Encryption 0

The Coral Singers

Spoiler

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1 crafter and a resource for two wayfinders, that shall be a trade most agreeable! Your willingness to make these dangerous times more bearable for folk like us continues to speak to the peerless quality of your courts.

The Undying Congregation

Spoiler

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Greetings most Spiritual Congregation. We of the Kahealahana holt seek to trade with your flock should you be willing and able. We seek a trader, and would be happy to trade the skills of our priesthood, such as they are, that both our peoples may better fulfill their purpose. Would you be willing to host such a trade?

[GameOfChampions]

The Raxithakra

Spoiler: GM Message

Show

Thesikathrix travels through the Middle Sea, finding a new current their people can use. While on route to Wildspring Island the intrepid explorer senses the currents to another island in the distant reaches of the sea with hints of many conch shells hiding in the depths around it.

The Dreamers sent along with their leader can sense many things on the island but primarily a sense of undeath deep in the heart of the tiny central island within the river. It is weak now but seems to be growing. They do not know when its growth will be sated, only that this undeath will be harder and harder to defeat.

Spoiler

Show

Route to Wildspring created. Dreamers discover a growing threat in the depths of the island (2 Warriors now, Cost goes up every turn by 1 Warrior until it goes off).

VIP Ability: Thesikathrix discovers an additional route to the Rolling Hills Isle and that there is also Shells 1 on the island.

---

The Sunken Raiders
Encryption 1

Spoiler: The Kehealahana Holt

Show

Greetings to you fine furry folk,

While Warriors are always welcome we would accept a trade of our trader for a warrior but our main concern is in resources, food, goods, resources. We will trade to get them but we aren't above raiding for our needs.

---

The Undying Congregation
Encryption 1

Spoiler: The Kehealahana Holt

Show

HEAR THE WORD OF THE UNDYING ONE BELOW AND PLEDGE YOUR LIVES TO HIM TO SURVIVE THIS CURSED EXISTANCE OF STORMS AND LIFE!

THE GREAT GOD BENEATH THE SEAS DEMANDS THE SACRIFICE OF THE INNOCENT, PROVIDE US THE FUEL AND WE SHALL CRAFT YOU MIRACLES, and that trader, TO SHAKE YOUR ISLANDS ROOTS TO THE VERY DEPTHS. PROVIDE US THE LIFEBLOOD OF THREE OF YOUR HOLT AND IT SHAAAAAAL BE DONE!

[St. Justicar]

Spoiler: GM Only

Show

Using my free route to make a path to rolling hills island

Spending 1 WAY to also make a path to the Great Turtle Colony

[A_Dinosaur]

The Kahealahana Holt
Encryption 0

The Sunken Eyed Raiders

Spoiler

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If it is food you are seeking, would you care to trade your traders for food in place of warriors? I could offer 10 food for a trader and a craftsmen, should that be of interest. Gods willing we could even make a lasting deal of some sort!

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

The Great Turtle Colony

Spoiler

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Greetings Titan Riders! Our people are seeking a few trades at this late hour, would you be willing to trade one of your fine traders in exchange for a priest or some other boon?

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

[GameOfChampions]

Children of the Sun

Spoiler: GM Message

Show

The Children manage to find their way to the Rolling Hills island and determine the route of the Great Turtle Colony with ease.

---

Sunken Eyes Raiders
Encryption 1

Spoiler: The Kahealahana Holt

Show

Greetings Holt,

We would take 10 food for a trader and another 10 food for a Craftsmen. We would also accept a resource in place of 10 food.

---

Great Turtle Colony
Encryption 1

Spoiler: The Kahealahana Holt

Show

Greetings Furred Ones,

We are willing to trade, we have a desire for resources at this time it is more difficult to gather them on the turtle. We would send a trader in return for a resource.

[Writtensanity]

Spoiler: To the GM:

Show

Looking to use the event: 'Dragging the Depths': To Make a route to the Red Isle

Looking to spend 5 Wayfarers on discovering the 'Red Sea'

[GameOfChampions]

Alu'Li Hunters

Spoiler: GM Message

Show

The Hunters use their old knowledge to map out a temporary route to the Red Isle for them to go explore among the lava pools and rock.

On the other side the Hunters band together and bravely set out to travel over the edges of the map and into the distant, and deadly, Red Sea. They know they have arrived when they feel the ever present heat surrounding them, steam clouds in the sky, and islands full of lava in the distance. They had done it.

The Boiling Sea, the Land of Lava, Dragonhome... The Red Sea. They found it.

Spoiler

Show

Gain 1 VP for being first to explore the Red Sea

[Let'sGetKraken]

Spoiler: Spoiler:to All

Show

WANTED

ONE WAYFINDER. MUST NOT MIND GAZING INTO THE ABYSS ABOVE. WILL RETURN MOSTLY INTACT.

OFFERING ONE VERY UNAPPRECIATED WARRIOR OR ONE SLIGHTLY UNNERVING TRADER.

Spoiler: To GM only

Show

Making free route to Coconut Island via turn event. Spending 2 Dreamers on identifying any dangers.

Spending 3 Wayfarers (Ruling Caste) on making a route to the White Sea.

[bladescape]

Encryption: 0

Spoiler: To The Endless Gaze

Show

Our wayfinders fear no path. We hear your request and find it amenable.

One warrior is what we desire. Assistance in dealing with annoyance.

Secret to GM:

Spoiler: To the GM

Show

1 Wayfinder + 2 Dreamers to path/explore Coconut Island. I'm assuming that all the Middle Sea is 2 or less given how the first search went.

[Let'sGetKraken]

The Endless Gaze

Message Encryption 0

Spoiler: To the Raxithakra

Show

Watchers Below.

Competition does not drive us. We wish to venerate the Gods Above. Should the opportunity to work together arise with any of the people of the seas, we will gladly accept. But we note your kindness and are appreciative.

Spoiler: To the legally distinct entity Bladescape

Show

Done. Though if my warrior dies or is injured on your watch I expect further compensation.

Spoiler: To the Kahealahana Holt

Show

We appreciate your kind missive. We kindly ask that you try not to interpret the will of Those Above - without a patron such as ours, that way lies only madness. Our priests will ponder this and see what can be seen beyond sight.

We ask, as our eyes look down, whether you intend to explore the island to your north. We would not see conflict where it can be avoided.

Spoiler: To GM only

Show

2 Wayfinders (Ruling Caste) + 1 Wayfinder from Bladescape to chart a route to the Green Sea.

[A_Dinosaur]

The Kahealahana Holt
Encryption 0

The Endless Gaze

Spoiler

Show

Wayfinders are precious at this late hour, would you be willing to trade both a warrior and a trader for the wayfinder?

Our own folk intend to seek succour in berry island and skull island, which I hope should be far enough away from your shores as to cause no friction.

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

The Sunken Raiders

Spoiler

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10 food for 1 trader will suffice for now, though I hope future season will see more commerce between our people. There may come a time when we raid together, should you be open to it.

The Urkit Council of Kahealahana

[Let'sGetKraken]

The Endless Gaze

Message Encryption 0

Spoiler: To the Kahealahana Holt

Show

Alas, the Raxithakra contacted us first. Our warrior goes to them.

We thought of Skull Island, but will respect your claim.

Spoiler: GM Only

Show

1 Wayfinder (Ruling Caste) to chart a route to Iron Rock Island, and 2 Dreamers to identify any dangers there.

[A_Dinosaur]

The Kahealahana Holt
Encryption 0

The Endless Gaze

Spoiler

Show

You show marked respect that we shall not soon forget. Perhaps in future seasons we can share what skull island has to offer.

The Great Turtle Colony

Spoiler

Show

One resource for one trader is a happily accepted deal. Safe waters to your titans travel.

GM

Spoiler

Show

Free route to skull island, 1 wayfinder to chart a route to berry island

[GameOfChampions]

The Kahealahana Holt

Spoiler: GM Message

Show

The brave Iliowai explorer manages to make their way to Berry Island with ease, extending the reach of the Holt one island at a time. They also pull their old knowledge of the currents to find a way to the Skull Island.

---

Raxithakra

Spoiler: GM Message

Show

The explorers of the depths make their way to another island safely. The acompanying Dreamers look around the island with no concerns found among the coconut groves.

---

The Endless Gaze

Spoiler: GM Message

Show

The explorers of the Endless Gaze brave the seas with their experience. They locate a new current to the Iron Rock Island and the accompanying Dreamers find an ancient tablet with godly energies coming off of it in an unknown writing though it seems to be a guide of some sort.

The Endless Gaze brings their old knowledge to bear as they remember a way to the Coconut Island and their Dreamers GAZE upon it and see that the island is as safe as they remember.

The Wayfinders of the Endless Gaze spread their view even further to the frozen north. As they sail they find the weather blowing icy air and the sea becomes littered with ice floes. They have found the White Sea.

The Icy Death. The Frozen Wastes. Yetihome. The White Sea.

Spoiler

Show

Gain 1 VP for being first to explore the White Sea.

The complication for the Deific Tablet requires research and mystical powers to unlock. (4 of any combination of Priests/Dreamers. Minimum 1 of each)

---

The Sunken Eye Raiders
Encryption 1

Spoiler: The Kahealahana Holt

Show

Agreed. We shall expect our payment. Loss of our Trader will have dire repercutions as well.

---

The Great Turtle Colony
Encryption 1

Spoiler: The Kahealahana Holt

Show

Deal. We shall send a letter of what we craft with our new bounty.

[mjorkk]

Opae

Message Encryption 0

Spoiler: To the Kahealahana Holt

Show

Unfortunately, of the complex drones that I can spare, the speakers for the hive... who you would call "traders" are not among them. We do, however, seek to maintain good relations with you and your many-minded hive. As a sign of good faith, we do have two complex warrior drones, and 2 simple drones who's services could be acquired at no cost: we wish your people to know us, and know that we are not monsters, and the best way to learn that is through direct cooperation (OOC, I literally have 2 warriors and 2 villagers just straight up unused this turn, if you want 'em.. genuinely no strings attached)

Spoiler: To ALL

Show

If anyone wishes to learn more of the Hive, we are offering a cultural exchange: 2 Warrior Drones and 2 simple drones, for the simple purpose of letting your people learn about ours and vice versa. As they reached out first, Kalena Holt has first refusal, but otherwise, we would be happy to lend our aid to any who need it.

Spoiler: GM Only

Show

Using Turn Event to find/remember route to Iron Rock Island

Sending VIP 2 Wayfinders, and 2 Priests (Using the VIP's ability) to try and explore the Green Sea.

Sending 1 Dreamer (Ruling Caste) To "forsee" any complications on my free-route island.

Using other Turn Event to add 1 extra unit of bone to the island for this turn only.

2 Wayfinders, 2 Priests, and 1 Dreamer already used in exploration
Free: 30 Food
3 Villagers: +30 Food
3 Villagers: +3 Bone
24 Villagers: Support Maintenance
4 Traders+2 Villagers: Migration
4 Priests+2 Villagers: Seeking Blessing of Ocean's Bounty
3 Dreamers (Ruling Caste) Investing 6 towards another dreamer.
2 Craftsmen (Depending on whether I can use resources immediately or not. If I can, they're creating 1 Tier-1 Bone Wand for "priests" If they can't, they're creating 2 craftsmen worth of storm shelters.)
2 Warriors Lent to Kalena Holt at no Cost as a gesture of good faith.
4 Villagers: SPAWN MORE SIMPLE DRONES (Make another villager)
2 Villagers Lent to Kalena Holt at No Cost as a gesture of good faith.

[Let'sGetKraken]

The Endless Gaze

Encryption 0

Spoiler: To All

Show

WANTED

1 DREAMER. WILL NEED SEVERAL WEEKS TO RESUME SPEAKING UPON RETURN.

WILLING TO PROVIDE 1 INCREASINGLY UNSETTLING TRADER. LIKE SERIOUSLY. THEY'RE STARTING TO CREEP ME OUT.

[bladescape]

The Raxithakra

Encryption 0:

Spoiler: The Endless Gaze

Show

Once more you grace our tide with an offer we can utilise.

Your Trader, as odd as they are, will be much safer. And perhaps Sethrika will help by taking its dream. The warrior we can make no promises but I assure you all precautions will be taken. And it is for the goal of besting a monster that could hurt those who rely on land in this Middle Sea.

[Let'sGetKraken]

The Endless Gaze

Encryption 0

Spoiler: To the Raxithakra

Show

Watchers Below,

It is done.

A noble purpose. Our position is unchanged - we want her back relatively unscathed, as we would any of our flock - but we will be flexible about compensation should something go awry.

Spoiler: OoC

Show

So I am providing 1 trader and 1 Warrior and am receiving from you in turn 1 Wayfinder and 1 Dreamer.