Nation Building Lastlands: Pawns of Muurdaan (Process)

[Beckoncall]

T4 WEALTH GENERATION STATS VIA WORLD MARKET!:

ACKAY: 10 wealth + 15 movement of goods = 25 total
DELAVIZH: 7 Wealth = 7 total
BARIS: 12 Wealth + 5 movement of goods = 17 total
DEJAN: 16 + 6 movement of goods (.25 volume) + 6 = 28 total
OZNAH: 25 + 8 movement of goods +4 Foreign Trade (+ VOLUME) +25 = 62 total
ORTES: 13 Wealth + 2 movement of goods = 15 total
XION: 8 Wealth + 0 movement of goods = 8 total
ORHAN: 19 + 6 movement of goods (.5 volume) +12 = 37 total
WERNHARD: 29 WEALTH +6 movement of goods + (.25 volume) +6 = 41 total
DARIUS: 26 + 10 movement of goods (+ VOLUME) +25 = 61 total
FIRKIN: 12 Wealth + 0 movement of goods = 12 total
UL: 32 Wealth + 10 movement of goods (+ .5 Volume) +12 = 54 total (edited)


VOLUME (total wealth in sales and movement) = 272 = rounded to 25 volume bonus (roughly 10%)

Volume bonuses:
.25 for road offmap = 6
.5 for trade Artery = 12
1 for Trade Hub/Port = 25


DEVELOPMENTS FROM TRADE:
TECH LEVEL INCREASES! -- (coal and oil demand rising)
WEAPON/ARMOR QUALITY INCREASES! (magical and craft armor and weapons widely available) - can pay 8 wealth for +1 military influence.
Common and Noble Trappings/Fashion kicks off! -- can pay 8 wealth for +1 noble influence
REFIT UNITS: Potential to refit units to + str (but at high cost)

 

[Beckoncall]

Trektek :

Actions

Action 1: With the assistance of Alder, move 150 Half Plate Foreigner Infantry, 50 Paragon Heavy Cavalry and 1 Vaal Retributer into Sulpass to begin discussions of bringing In the Region under the banner of House Parsifal. Once the region is secured, land will be promised to the Foreigner Infantry to help boost their loyalty to the cause. With further land to be distributed once Estmarch is acquired for the House.

Action 2: Spend 3 Wealth to build a Grand Fortress to better train troops and secure future wealth. It will also have a lower section to help keep civilians and traders safe in the event of the region being heavily under attack.

Intrigue: Assist Alder and Ortes with the party, using military influence [5] to schmooze with high ranking officials and warriors to help boost Ortes and possibly Xion up to Martial 4


__________________________________

The VAAL RETRIBUTOR began and ended the conversation of the new stewardshop of Sulpass without a sentence. All the ruffians, the extortionists, the tollsters and the free-spirited and independent people of SULPASS came to kneel when they were given the option to allow Parsifal to reorganize and bring law to the province, or be smashed under the massive army brought to bear against the independents. Still, one group stood their ground -- The Huron Peek, a people native to Sulpass who despite seeing their doom upon them if they defied, demanded 3 WEALTH for the Muurdaan to Annex the province.

DECISION POINT:
A) Massacre the Huron Peek and set an example of them.
B) Pay the three wealth, and give the Huron Peek a voice and special place in the governance of the province.
(resolve on discord)

Either way, The Province of SULPASS FALLS TO HOUSE PARSIFAL. Xion's House's Volume access to market rises to .5

_________________________________________

Fortress on Aflil/Sulpass border is built, Simply named "FORT PARSIFAL" -- the fortress was great and terrifying to behold, partially shaped by the hands of the vaal retributor itself. Where the stations in SW Aflil and the Parsifal patrols once promised security for trade in the region and leading out of the lastlands, the new fortress of Xion DELIVERED on this promise. Foreigner Infantry, now petty landed lordlings in their own right, made a pagentry and rite of honor to make SULPASS a newly invigorated inroad to the Lastlands, and secured greater share in wealth and prosperity of trade for controlling such an inroad for the Empire. Constructed not just as a military fortification, it was a training academy as well as refuge for anyone in the region... Some said the first permanent bootmark in the east by the eternal empire with the exception of maybe Port Green Star, which was nowhere near as imposing.

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INTRIGUE: MILITARY WORD MADE FLESH, IRON, AND STONE.

With Fort Parsifal and a great leveraging of intrigue with the military -- the Capitol itself responded to the declarations and applications of influence house parsifal put out upon the military. Shortly after many difficult and complicated diplomatic maneuvers, promises and allowances, The Capitol ordered Port Cestus in the Interior East to Invade the Coast of the Lastlands in the name of the House of Chivalry.

Xion, Pick one Province along the Eastlands Waterfront coast and **CLAIM IT** for house Parsifal. Depending on the province, any reports of unrest, bloodshed or tribute will be handled, but the supreme muscle of Parsifal military influence gives the House a new province on the coast by Fiat.

**"?" FALLS TO HOUSE PARSIFAL** -- Choose province and map will be updated.

 

[Beckoncall]

Twist :

1. A Black Diamond will be created using Diamonds, Dejan's magic and Darkwood (Shadow/Envelop Descriptor used) (Arcana keyword used). Ritual will be performed at the Shadow Kurgen in Nerry. If possible further enchantment will be done by resident Gnomes.

The Black diamond's inclusion is a ray of stolen sunlight, the world will be forever, though indiscenably dimmer as long as the diamond exists. As such, the black diamond can grow plants in total darkness as if they were in direct sunlight, and no lightspell can exist in it's presence, and even holy radience dims before it. Coach sized, the artifact could not be priced in wealth, and had mysterious and confusing Unseelie powers. (Powers related in discord)


2. The Crater Pits within Nerry will be excavated to breed the Spider Livestock from Daris of Hakkon in the hopes of making a new strain. Thallid will unearth/ exhume anything of note before Spider Livestock is housed. 2 Wealth will be spent on the excavation and to implement necessary precautions for the breeding rituals. Bone Magic will be used to shroud the crater pit in hopes of adapting and obtaining a new strain. (Shadow Descriptor). Nature Magic will be used to ensure Livestock are kept well fed and ready for brooding (Consume Descriptor). Unseelie will oversee the process.

The new Strain "Rapacious Vorous Unfamiliaris" was for most points considered a success, although they were not suitable as mounts for any but the forces of Dejan and those in the folds of Wicca's magic. Hermaphrodidic and utterly ravenous, they were dangerous terrors if left unchecked, but fearsome mounts when trained to be so.


Scene
A Lost temple in NERRY emanates dark magics... the site must be pacified.

Intrigue
Criminal Retinue (5 Underbosses, 10 Taskmasters, 35 Outlaws) will be interviewed to determine their intent and for any useful and valuable intel. The Crown of Confusion once placed on Wicca's head will be used to ensure complicity. Hexen and Alps will perform the interviews.

All outlaws become one homogenous unit, called "The Aggrieved" -- 5 point units, they have fey truesight as they have torn away their mortal eyes from the nightmares of their conversion.

 

[Beckoncall]

ThatWhichShouldBe : TURN 4
Lord Ortes stood before the black Cenote. It was deep, it was massive, and it was fluid. The sounds of the wind that took him to this place were made as nothing in the face of this voluminous hole into darkness... and when Ortes stared into darkness, Of course the darkness stared back.

"It's black down here. You are not my master. A being of light has no business looking into the abyss. Take my gifts, fickle though they may be, and turn away from this place. My lord is a lord of blood, The one who is loose in a cage so small. I accept your sovereignty for the fear and death is brings. However you are not my monster, though a monster you may be."

Ortes turned his back on the deep pit and clenched his fist, unamused. Opening it, a single water spark pulsed in his massive gauntlet... and his mood lightened.

Every scene Ortes participates in, Ortes flips a coin (1d2), on a roll of 1, he gains a free water spark. (Max one per turn) He feels this is but a fragment of the Cenotes power... but he also feels to press whatever resides there is foolish.

Ortes somehow knew that only an archmage, and an unholy one at that, truly could unlock the power of the Cenote. But he knew also that these dark forces would rather capitulate something to him then stand silent or be adversaries. For now, For Ortes, that would have to be enough...

_______________________________

"Know my Name"

Ortes put his paces in at the party -- taking time from the festivities in green star only to participate in THREE duels, assassinations, executions.... whatever you'd call it. Vespasian, his master woodworker made a great chair for him he revealed at the last hour of the party, showing his deeds at the party itself. A mighty chair, huge enough for Ortes to sit in comfortably. Many nobles noticed the works of Ortes, the art telling the stories or begged their stories be told. Ortes' reputation as a monstrous killer for the empire were sung almost as loud as those poems that he could be a savior of the next period in history in the age of men. The "Chef Errant" champion Erik Ismael told the stories of several of Ortes' victories in the art of cuisine -- Crisp castles that crumbled with the slightest touch, Burning pastries that burned themselves out on bright tokens of parsifal's heraldry buried in cream. Some called the statements boorish, and arrogant. Others were highly impressed and amused.

"Does Parsifal hold this beautiful port, then?" a Noble from Lighton mused.

"No, This is their allies place of host, the Upstart Alders."

"You see, this is why the Cadet houses are best left in the provinces and frontiers. Such aspirations and achievements are merely grist for the mill in what the Capitol truly needs to run. They say the Alders have the ambitions to put forward an underlord -- when you can clearly see from all this 'spectacle' -- that the cadet houses are tools, great tools at that, that have no place in the capitol -- they hone the edge of the empires blade, and comb the vanquished into our holdings."

"The DEEDS of Ortes cannot be denied... but you need only look west to the province of WES to see the coarseness behind the glory. WES province is disjointed and barely controlled.... and I suspect, when every foe of Ortes is finally dead, the place will still be a stain on the border of the empire. Men with greater vision will come after him, however... See how Wernhard of Xyphon builds in his provinces the tent-poles that will make the pavillions of the future. A high house to a high houses job, you could say... of course no discounting Worthy Parsifal... but note that two Parsifals are on the border, and the border, short of this port -- still looks like hell. Estmarch and Sulpass are chaos, Wes barely tamed, and all the rest a patchwork of the newly loyal, the slaughtered and the crushed."

"Deeds can be forgotten... even if... carved on some chairs... what the empire needs is buildings -- edifaces that will grow cities of order around them."

"Come, let us speak of Wernhard of the high house Xyphon, and how their loremaster brings law to the countryside with a great courthouse."

"Yes. Let's."

Ultimately, the nobles of the high houses were not impressed by the displays of Ortes of house Parsifal... but the common people loved him for them. Ortes gains one populist influence, and the province of WES gains traditions of CHIVALRY.

Where Ortes sought a tutor to elevate him to power overwhelming... he found three potential mentors:

A) Krigshaldir -- "that which shall not melt" -- the most powerful northman of all the far provinces. A tower of a man and every bit still a barbarian save the Imperial cloak and sash that barely displayed with the rest of his trophies. "To be my student, you must understand... and demonstrate that which is implacable. You are a Reaper of the crops of war -- that there will always be a season for... but in war there is eternity also, and in the transcendence of mortal ugliness you will find the romance of what is permanent. When you are prepared to tell me the tools of permanence, and having used them, I might elevate you."

B) Ayena Mennu -- Battlemaster of the "Legion Nevermoving" (The Capital's Defense) -- Seldom seen outside the capital she came to the party to sample the tastes of the lastlands. "You are a killer, in a sea of killers. There is always a bigger Shark, Ortes... but the smartest killer will often feel, and stand alone. You have taken the first steps with your magic, Parsifal -- but you are not worthy yet of the 4th degree. Show your wisdom in your killing, and stand alive before that which even if you died would leave you a legacy. When you are a legacy that yet lives... I might train you."

C) "Perfectus Est" -- Holy champion of Xyphon, executing hand of the gods. -- He spoke to only a handful of people at the party, besides curtly thanking the Alders for their hospitality. Speaking only in the holy tounges of Xyphon, his translator introduced himself and translated for Perfectus when his host was introduced to the delegations of Parsifal and to Ortes himself. Perfectus croaked as if speaking was not of nature to him, a voice of dust... but he spoke to Ortes alone when he said:

"Rex Tremendae Majestatis."
(Lord of Tremendous Majesty)
"Qui Salvandos salvas gratis."
(Who freely saves)
"Salva de, fons pietatis"
(Save them, fount of mercy)
"Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando Judex est venturus"
(How a Tremor is, When the Judge comes),
"Damnata, invisus ubique"
(Condemned, hated everywhere)
"Ab Omnibus, ad infinitum"
(Of all the infinite.)

Snoring took hold inside the cold helm of Perfectus, and his stewards wheeled him on a kind of dolly to a dark place of repose. But the Holy champion's translator remained.
"There are two edges of the blade you wield -- there is an edge of wrath, and an edge of mercy. When you can embrace mercy as a tool as well as your wrath, perfectus may teach you. You have failed before, but you are reminded of the lesson. For you to be worthy of the fourth degree, they which face you must not simply be cast into flame, decay and death. They must carry your banner, and cleanse ever after your victory over them in your name."
_____________________________________________

Or talk of Xhazz, there was none to hear. Xhazz itself appeared briefly at the party however to indulge Ortes curiosity.

"Why am I cursed to be bound to you? Why are you a claw hammer, and every problem is a nail? You always drive the nail, when it can be just as easy to PULL IT."

"It is not for you to know why we are bound but only that it is a dire punishment upon me, and a small lesson for you."
___________________________________

The COURTHOUSE, bound of Xyphon AND Parsifal, was built and opened was a great boon to the lastlands... and from it's seat on the border East, Muurdaan district courts popped up in every province like market stalls at first, then proud buildings in their own right. Bringing order to the chaos, Justice to the disenfranchised and Law to the Lawless, Culture in the Lastlands improves across the board. Abstracty Wernhard and Ortes both grew more beloved by the people, for they were seen as the lawgivers... there was food, there was safety, but now finally there was LAW.

Wernhard and Ortes gain +1 populist influence, and Ortes may gain +2 church influence if he bars the separation of church and state. (Decision point)

 

[Beckoncall]

Abstracty :
WERHARD CESLAUS TURN 4

The Order of the Shining hand was built upon a catacomb filled with the purified bones of all who died, and were purged from undeath in Bluacia... though the location of it's construction was of strategic significance from the point of house Parsifal and Xyphon as an in-road to the Province of SKIY. While Muurdaan control of Skiy was still opposed by the "Cult of the Host" and the majority of the province, sympathetic movements began to form among the church and populists that pretty much decided that when/if SKIY was secured by the Muurdaan, it would likely fall to House Xyphon or House Parsifal.
Declared the most holy place to be buried in the lastlands, the catacombs of the Shining hand is where all nobles to be buried in the lastlands aspire to be interred and the dream of every devout commoner. A baggage train of bodies begins to roll towards the Fortress Cathedral, and the fame of the order, even so new, grows apace on the fortress completion.

Inquisitional oversight of the pilgrims road, (with no small amount of Vashnan agent and assassin support) kept security high relating to undesirable elements on the pilgrims road. while few if any new threats were uncovered, (which distressed some) -- a very valiant and effective grip was placed on the cultists of Hun-Cane moving into the region of Skiy as early as Esau and as far inland as Bluacia. Chivalric Police were borne out of the Order of the Shining hand, and alone and in numbers they preached their own brand of faith protecting pilgrims, putting down outlaws, and promoting commerce along the pilgrim's roads. ThatWhichShouldBe Sir Ortes found himself quickly holding new and interesting elements of influence as well as eyes and boots on the ground in the west, and Abstracty Wernhard gained Chivalry Tradition in all his provinces as well as the title of "Defender of the Faithful" by the Underlord of House Xyphon. As such, Church influence could no longer be used against WERNHARD, and his Church Influence is considered SIX for the purposes of determining or promoting effects of religious influence in the lastlands. Abstracty

The inquisition picked up numerous rumors along the pilgrims road as well:
An archmage is carrying a magical disease that is highly contaigous is to be released in Skiy... that makes people's souls unholy and spreads from proximity.

There is a large influx of Hun-Cane worshippers from outside the lastlands, but they don't seem extremist and cooperate with investigation as long as they still think they're going to be allowed to pilrimage to Skiy.

The "Host cult" in Skiy is WAITING for something, but it's still unclear what, and while some feared that Hun-Cane had awoken from his slumber interrogations of high priests and influential pilgrims seemed to contradict this.

Vashna Pat loaned great spy resources to make sure the inquisition was a success, though some would say it could have been more so.

____________________________________

The Holy Spark -- as the quest and project was called -- was a resounding success. The Lava Cave -- once devoted to the gods of industry and construction, yielded THREE FIRE AND THREE EARTH SPARKS drawn from the site by Wernhard's most powerful Theologians.

The Blackrose Tower, once restored, was built into a great beauty and station of security in the roads through Esau, and a great study for Twist Dejan of house Larislae was opened there, with his ultimate authority placed over it. So close to the border, magical educators flooded into the lastlands to create the first MAGICAL COLLEGE in the region, vast arrays of tomes and librams and other books both magical and practical were stored here, and it was said, for a price, that developing one's magical spheres -- or even unlocking a new sphere, could be possible for the right price. Wernhard's Theologians also garnered ONE NATURE AND ONE BONE SPARK from religious rites held at the site.

____________________________________

SCENE: Ortes and Wernhard isolate and track down the great bone archmage immigrating to Skiy through Bluacia. With his host of powerful "Helghasts" -- infernal undead, he will need to be confronted.

 

[Beckoncall]

TipToeToast :

House Ghur, TURN 4

Turn 4 Actions
Road Work Ahead: The dwarves of the sloop Cugona disembark and use their demolition skills to blow a road clear down to the bottom of Mount Crag. Elevators for cargo and people are built inside and outside the mountain. The Gaia worm can help by digging tunnels as needed.


The explosions of the powderstores House Ghur and the Dwarves brought constantly blasted at mount crag, and many landslides and avalanches were cleared away from more faithful and enduring rock. The landfill was used by the Gaia worm to make a massive span which served as both a bridge above and tunnel below between mount Crag and Mount Blom.
Treasures from the earth from the constant blasting, and a great many chambers of fortification and storage were built in the project. Numerous promising resources were assayed as potential commodities on mount Crag, but this left Firkin with a decision:
A) To attempt to obtain a special mineral from the depths of mount Crag
B) To find a vein of metal or gems to add as a resource for the province
C) To pan all the disrupted materials for copper/silver and gold (Gain 10 wealth)

Please give response to GM in discord and I will generate anything neccessary.


Scouting: Firkin and Rothca and the Wargs as well as the 20 Aaracokra Skydivers scout the province plus Mount Blom.

Searching the mountains, a far off site of philospher hermits was found on the side of a craggy cliff, guarded by a handful of fierce and tireless warriors. Under their protection, a clandestine school of pilgrimaged monks and hermits, now called "The order of Astral Philosophers" -- Firkin gains 10 Astral Philosphers from the greater number in acknowledgement of his sovereignty. The philosophers have 3 skills worth of expertise to share with Firkin and are each Astral 1 mages.
Also located was a cave of a long (perhaps eternally) hibernating monster... no more than a tiny rodent by comparison in the Beast age when it was born, it slumbers and grows evermore since, and is now twice the size of a mammoth. A tiny scavenger for the age of beasts, a ravening monster in the current age. Firkin would have to decide to leave it alone, slay it, or attempt to gain it's favor...

Movement: N/A

Intrigue: Firkin tries to negotiate with Krell for their joining Ghur's cause. He reasons that they know other cities have been overrun and disposessed by Muurdaan nobles in the West, but if they join Ghur they will gain legal protection and therefore shield all of their assets and positions.

The Krell hear Firkin's words which are extremely moving to them, and they respect and honor that he is a flier, if not by nature, than by force of will. 500 "Krell Warrion" (flying 4 point units with "Snatch" and "Drop Rock" descriptors join Firkin and ask to move into the great settlement of blom as it is hoped it will be...

 

[Beckoncall]

Crocodile :

ALDER TURN 4

Trektek -- With the move to take Sulpass supported so completely by House Alder, with a Parsifal force that might have already been considered overkill, SULPASS Fell to house Parsifal as was expected... What wasn't expected was how important Alder troops were in making the transition and reshaping of the province as bloodless as possible.

The Parsifal forces were content to perceive that fear and overwhelming strength was all that was needed -- but it was amelioration by Alders, who exercised "Right of Remedy" in their own Bastionic code, that kept unrest somehow within tolerances.

ISSUE: Popularity of House Alder's existing "Bastionic Code of Law" is already well rooted and spread in the east. It comes into direct clash with the Muurdain Imperial code that has asserted eminent domain over all provinces since the establishment of the great Courthouse of the lastlands. This event must be navigated by the end of TURN 5... there is no room for two laws of the land... and relations between parsifal and Alder houses, as well as Alder's relation to the empire, are at stake.


If situation in SULPASS is not navigated properly, Unrest may break out in SULPASS, SULPASS MAY DEFECT TO HOUSE ALDER,, or worse the province may destabliize and need to be conquered after all. (Address in Discord)

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SCENE: Alder's audience with the Icthyatids and Dwarfs of Estmarch (two separate meetings to be resolved in discord)

___________________________________________________

ACTION 1:

The central bank was established effectively in the east and great influence was exercised... at least it seemed so. Further popular support was needed it seemed to truly calm all potential unrest. Alder however excercised a great deal of influence getting nobles of all houses hyping the bank and "selling it's strength to the masses by example. If the banks were good enough for the nobles, the common folk could certainly depend on them.

Ripples of concern and unrest about speculated and projected fiscal trouble began to melt away.

Action 2
Create 9 Standing Stones for 3 Wealth for the Skiy Cult Issue.

These false menhirs, once teams of agents placed them surgically around Skiy, were fit into the network of standing stones in a way only the highest priests or astral experts could detect they were out of place or redirected blood energy in the region. The previous matrix of stones was some kind of ancient calendar, and a concentrating constellation on the buried domain of the Dormant death god Hun-Cane... While the stones would not prevent the god from being awakened in all situations -- Interested parties would witness how swiftly sacraficial power would be at the hand and whim of Oznah rather than the high priest of the Cult of Hosts... Oznah wondered what he might do with such power were it actually channeled with a province wide sacrifice... He'd better be ready to wield such power when it was his to command!!

 

[Beckoncall]

Femboy :
UL DYRIL TURN 4

Nature-Blessed Broodmothering:

The Pit of the Brood, home of the new spider strain, was turned into it's own ecosystem. Special breeds of insects, plants and flowers were introduced to the pit, enriched with bonemeal to enrich to the soil. Massive flowers of dark and heady scent were bred and allowed to come into being on their own -- and in the dark and strange biome the spiders as they hunted, they pollinated and cultivated greater and more beautiful and vital new flowers where the insects made their homes.

The Spiders split into two breeds, docile plant cultivators and the regular hyper-hostile purestrains that preyed on any animals that fell into the great pit or attempted to subsist on the beautiful and ever more glorious flowers that grew in each passing germination, and the flowers themselves became an exotic and luxury commodity.

New Luxuries Gained: Fabulous Flowers/Potpurri (magical base)

______________________

A Magical Place For You And Me:

The Agents of Narvik were found operating in Ul-Dyril's territory, but they were surprised to find that they were already hard at work producing narcotics under the noses of Ul's own agents in the furthest depths of Spriggan. Finding the agents was hard -- but populist influence lead to Narvik Clientele, which lead to the Narvik themselves. The lead agent of Narvik was one "Cosaglace Faust" -- who was quite embarrassed to be caught, but quite affable about the whole tension of the situation, so obviously operating in another houses territory but was quick with calm and defusing answers (and clouds of calming smoke) to those of Dyril's agents who demanded he justify his presence. Faust was a Tiefling of Infernal heritage, and to be a noble of his stature in Muurdaan told all one needed to know of his connections and value of their skills. Almost phermonally charming, he constantly pulled from a hookah that smoked when he inhaled, and played like a bagpipe when he exhaled.

"You didn't send agents to investigate DELECTI yet, have you? Oh well. Might as well win some currency with lady Ul helping to rescue them. Going into Delecti without an army is a BAAAD idea, friends. Those agents are not long for this world."

SCENE: Come to some negotiation and dealings with Faust and House Narvik. In the same scene, Resolve an encounter in Delecti -- where many valuable agents are already besieged by the very reactive and territorial undead.... However, Ul-Dyril's new mastery of necromancy would come in handy she thought...

Lastly, in addendum to this scene, Ul Dyril Communes will several different entities dormant or stirring in her and neighboring provinces. I will generate a list of 10 entities: 2 Fae, 2 Infernal, 2 Celestial, 2 elemental, and 2 undead - Ul Dyril can learn about 1d8 of these entities, and commune with half that number.

________________

So They May Return To The Earth (Use of an extra action) :

The Garden of Ancestors was completed in great time and with wondrous success. The Ancestor Thistle was acquired faster than was originally thought possible, and many of the dead of Nyreal were moved to the lastlands to be re-interred there. The Thistle was obtained, but the Burial site itself seemed to whisper the secrets of death and rebirth. (answer bargain on Discord -- offer wealth and commodities for Bone 5 sphere.) The great Burial Glades of Enchanted bone became the most favored place to be interred in the west -- peered only by the great catacombs of the Knightly Orders of the east. (+1 Church Influence)


Short Antisocial Druid Girl Goes Back To Her Room To Be Away From Everyone So She Can Text Her Friends :

Party Line! -- See above (commune added to scene)

 

[Beckoncall]

Pat :

Akcay Turn 4

Materia had certainly done her work in Wrun by the time Akcay arrived. The pension legionaires had arrived ahead of his bodyguard, and had done great business with the new "Freshcastes" of Lizardmen presently ruling Wrun. Nearly every lizardman native to Wrun was slain in the passing (and mortal passing) of Smyth Mason of House Kher. Materia had made her first move to poison all of the old breed of lizardmen -- the less than 100 that had survived the previous war in the region. All-too-willing and interested, the most powerful (and young and naive) of the Freshcastes took their places... Materia urging them, in their own language, that they needed Vashna guidance so that the lizardmen of Wrun were never humbled again.

Her golden shackles awaited Akcay's hand to pull... His pension legion had already invested in several promising industries and excavations in Wrun demonstrating that his troops would rather make everyone rich than to provoke bloodshed. Materia had been instrumental in the movement of scads of Ratkin into Wrun, which did not make natural bedfellows with the lizards... but instead a culture of sport would be established where Ratkin "scored" for stealing and eating the eggs of the Lizardmen, and the Lizardmen "Scored" for eating the most troublesome and largest of the Ratkin. Both cultures had their baser natures indulged and a channel for their emnity to their new neighbors that allowed them to conduct daily business without emnity and ailment.

Supposedly there were voices that would not have concurred with Materia's plans for Wrun and Akcay -- but they never saw the light of day.

100 more pension legionaires arrived to help "secure new investments and the frontier" and rallied soberly to serve the famiily of Yusuf and house Vashna.

Meanwhile Azar was stuffed to the point of methaphorical pregnancy with embedded agents, assassins and social engineers. Azar did not know at what mercy it was at the hands of house Azar -- but if they did, they would not be in a position, nor of an intelligent mind to expect anything closely resembling that of the aformentioned mercy. Azar was sown full of rumor of the worst jealousies and sins of wrath and averice among the paladins -- brotherhoods brought blood to boil, with mages projects and objectives pointed at one another instead of working in parallel and unison. Of the body of defense public, the bribed, the drunk and the misguided were moved into positions of strategic use and malign decision-making -- assassins impersonating those whom they could not sway once the preliminaries of death had been dispensed with. Azar, once a bulwark against the chaos around it, was now a house of cards waiting for Akcay to merely wish it to fall... Vashna would be proud had they known of what was in the works, but those necessary to report back to the captitol all put word through Materia... who said nothing, and quieted those that would carry word forward in whatever means were most expedient. Meanwhile the monsters and other dangers outside of the fortress city of Azar waited patiently for the moment to pounce....

___________________________

Akcay received the labors of Kher in great magnimity and volume - the wreckage of Oreste was pumped and dug away where it could be (though the region of swamp generally stayed the same size the rest of the ecosystem and fecund areas of settlement were restored and moved strategically) -- but it was here the fruits of house Kher were deployed to great effect. In Wrun, New Dens and breeding pits custom designed by Kher suited the lizards and ratkin comfortably and increased the forecast populations of the regions. The Dwarven survivors of Smyth Mason's Terrorism were given the plans to Khers improved dwellings and new villages began to form and crystalize into larger communities. (On turn 5 landscape of Oreste will change --- make note with GM to assure this happens) ...

...but the sum result was the same -- The dwarves were shown that the "bones" and "tools" of their former rivals would now be used to heal the region rather than to hack at it, and the dwarves fell in line. Less enthused were they with the huge waves of non-human northern lastland and interior immigrants Vashna brought, but overall this had great optics for Akcay and house Vashna. (+2 populist influence)

____________________________________________

ORESTE and WRUN FELL TO HOUSE VASHNA more or less bloodlessly... (gain these provinces and calulate commodities/materials/industries) and the province of Azar practically GLOWED in readiness to be set to BURN.

SCENE shifts from conflict in Oreste to diplomacy and Conflict in AZAR as and if desired.

INTRIGUE: "Operation Oolong" is successful. Darius of House Omnis is assassinated and Viridius is banished from the lastlands.

 

[Beckoncall]

TURN 4 SPHINXITES: Kent Cosmo Obsidian

TURN IS PROCESSED.

SPECTACULAR CONSTRUCTION OF GREAT WONDEROUS FORTIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE BORDER OF SPHINXITE TERRITORY.

DIPLOMACY WITH DRAGON OF DRAGON PASS = SPECTACULAR FAILURE. TO BE RESOLVED ON DISCORD.

 

[Beckoncall]

Obsidian :

Omnis had pulled out of the Lastlands, for Darius was no more. Plucked from this mortal coil in the spotlight and glory of their birthright, Cornucopia stood alone as a Testament to the glory of them and their house, and not for one moment did it's splendor flag, though all of it's banners were half mast in mourning for their lordship...

Darius' final orders were not refused. A great defensive wall, both magical and physical, surrounded cornucopia and bristled with rifles and cannons for it's defense.
The Chapel of the saints stood open and empty, full of solemnity for the vanished Viridius -- the god and friend of Darius in life, in death it was uncertain where he could be found - were they dead? did they live on? in shadow or light could viridius even be found? The faithful still pondered.

Meanwhile the knights of the Verdant spread to every corner known to the Amul Ranne, and over the coming year would kill each and every member of the cult's leadership, leading the faith headless, and doomed to dissolve. At the end of their long quest the Knights of the Verdant met in secret and compared notes -- books of names, all crossed out -- All them names of the Amul Ranne, all now dead. An unlit fire lay in the center of the secret meeting chamber of the large order of knights -- few of the original knights remained -- for many had died during the quest... but still more were found worthy and trained in Darius' name and the order of the Verdant was now strong and established in it's own right... though it existed in secret, it was now one hundred strong, each knight blooded with their mission. The chapter master uttered one phrase to the assembly before pouring a bucket of water on the pyre to which the books of the Amul Ranne were named.

"Our sacred quest is not over -- though the Amul Ranne, the eclipse, and the scourge it would unleash will all be forgotten -- But take one more name into your books and doff the mantle of knights and don a new mantle of the assassin for the last of our charge, Take the name of Akcay Yusuf, client of Vashna... only in his blood may we finally complete the pact and end Darius' quest... Dismissed."

_______________________________

Market Locked down until turn 10 due to Darius' final maneuvers and decrees.

Reilor remains the central market in the west, but Crocodile PORT GREEN STAR becomes the beating heart of trade in the Lastlands, surpassing cornucopia in it's rights and controls, if not in it's splendor and wealth...

 

[Beckoncall]

Heyitsjiwon : Turn 4

THE FLYING CASTLES OF ASH

They were Done. Three in total when all was said and done. The materials and sparks used were so voluminous that even after the first boulder-sized "flying ash castle" was done there was power -- especially from the circle of circles, to triple the number of flying fortresses to THREE... two flat like mesas with fortresses astride, and one "Boulder" flying castle, meant to represent the blocks of unworked stone worshipped by the Ghol... to terrorize the defenders upon their arrival in VEC.

The Castles could travel just below the cloud-line or hide within it for limited durations. Loose soil and rock was pulled up into the islands from the ground it passed over, raining down in black torrents with the moisture that condensed on the bottom of the fortresses. The rain could be controlled to only impinge on adversaries and the black storms themselves caused (Fear 10) wherever around and especially under an ash castle. These castles. pregnant full of offensive forces, moved swiftly to the middle of VEC outside the wall, where Trektek Lord Xion's forces would soon arrive to attack the wall.

It was uncertain to what degree the castles served as their own fortification barrier or as part of a larger assault on the wall, but one thing was certain... the battle between the sphinxites and Muurdaan was soon to be joined.....

______________________________________________________

2. PARLANCE OF TERROR - A STUDY OF GHOLS: Action to be processed on discord. Depending on muurdaan action and rolls, Ghols may defect, be subject to terror, or be enraged by the presence of the "Flying God" boulder ash castle. Time would tell.

________________________________________________________

BANKS, BARGAINS, AND BREUHAHA --

Orhan's maneuvers in Reilor with the influx of economists and non-aggressive personnel promoting and insinuating the bank into the regions economy averted a disaster they did not know was even brewing. A Partisan independence movement was taking shape in Reilor, asserting that the true hub of trade should be NEUTRAL in the absence of House Omnis and Lord Darius. Orhan's political, and non-martial maneverings won hearts and minds and reminded the reilorians of cornucopia that their first loyalty was to the capital of muurdaan, and not their regional clans and personal traditions and city pride. Orhan gains 1 populist OR church influence for navigating the potential disaster, and the final nail in the coffin of the economic instability in the region was finally driven and the matter laid to rest.

INTRIGUE: To be rolled on discord with Pat and Heyitsjiwon present, in the attempt to raise Akcay Yusuf's brother from the grave.

SCENE: In addition to any fighting in VEC, one flying castle arrives in WISP and establishes commune with the Granfalloon.

 

[Beckoncall]

Arnalia :

Looking over the middle of the Isle of Orin, the Varna fortress of 4 wealth surveyed every commanding angle, and exploited the islands natural contours to make siege of it an added trouble, especially during high tide or times of water magic enchantment, which made all but one approach chaotic and hazardous. Battlements bedecked with rubies and Void Sparkler beacons served as lighthouses, The towers burning eternal fires in testament to Varna's endless wealth. The gorgeous island beneath pulsed with life and noise of nature, a mix of jungle and temperate biome.

The beaches were full of Varna workers as well as rich citizens who sought their pleasure from the labor of the so-called rabble... but if truth be told, life on Orin was pretty pleasant for all... at least so far.

___________________________

Action 2: Reclaimation of WEALTH from pirates! (to be resolved quickly in discord)

______________________________

Commerce:

Oriana reveals some of the deeper secrets of water magic... and as magic often does... sparks seem to fly...

 

[Beckoncall]

TURN 4 IS OFFICIALLY CLOSED. TURN 5 Posting will begin Monday 26th. (two days from now, while we clean up scenes in discord)

 

[Beckoncall]

TURN 5 is OPENING and beginning process. Sorry for the long break, any questions or issues can be addressed in discord. Please stand by.

 

[Beckoncall]

mausedpotatos :

Delve: Delve into the dwarf fortress. Firkin hopes to repair it and integrate it with his city.

Elevators, ramps, lifts and vertical shafts make connection of the ancient dwarf fortress with the city on the surface simple enough. What complicates things is there is a lone dwarf Longbeard, impossibly old -- named Balin Yotianhand -- and he wages a perpetual one-man war with the ratkin who would otherwise take over the undercity. Skilled in artisanship, he repairs great numbers of broken dwarven mining machines and automatons to repel the ratkin -- constantly moving and hiding in familiar territory where he knows all the secrets -- it will be hard enough to find Balin, much less kill or negotiate with him.

*SCENE* -- Delve to find Balin. Once found, decide to parley or slay the holdout. The city cannot be annexed with it under the control of his guerilla army.
Addendum: Relations with Lohai improve. Brief discussion with Lohai monks and merchant chieftains in the region. After this parley there will be a +/- 1-20 modifier, with +5 for each wealth applied to grease palms. If successful, Lohai will join House Ghur as a loyal province.
________________

Industrialization: Independent of the dwarf fortress, New Ghur attempts to industrialize. Purchasing shipments of Lohai's plentiful raw resources will probably be important! Could the worm bore oil pipelines? Firkin doesn't know. He leaves the specifics of 'industrialization' to his minions.

7 wealth is spent on industrialization of house Ghur, bringing in an age of oil and steam with dwarven know-how. This industrialization effect will be DOUBLED when/if the dwarven fortress can be annexed. Great Oil and Oil-shale deposits are located by the worm, as are ancient fossils. Pipelines are burrowed by the worm, but the dwarf fortress must be pacified if actual pipes are to be laid.

Resources gained : Ancient Shell-Fossils (Luxury good), Oil (x2) if dwarf fortress is annexed allowing for processing of oil shale.

(If you cannot or do not wish to pay 7 wealth for industrialization let me know on discord and I will apply applicable penalties)
____________________________

Intrigue: The Astral Philosophers are gifted the Monk Statue and requested to greatly enhance the sentience of the Ratking -- the Mammoth Molerat. The philosophers may study the minds of consenting Ghur ratkin to better understand rat thought. Hopefully, the Mammoth Molerat Ratking will draw ratkin to help repair the dwarf fortress. If there is time, he would appreciate the Eurypatid Matriarch's mind being repaired as well but this is secondary.

The Monks work hard, but with care and dilligence in investing the Mammoth molerat -- dubbed the "RatKing" with the aid of studying ratkin intellect from Ghur volunteers and the power of the new statue and astral guidance. The RatKing gains FOUR positive mental traits and TWO negative mental traits. (To be chosen in discord from choices provided) -- once the traits of the RatKing are established the Creature, now sentient, will gain a "class" and potentially martial or other descriptors. Then a check will be made to see how much, if any, regular ratkin the RatKing can marshall to support House Ghur.

______________________________

 

[Beckoncall]

ThatWhichShouldBe :

Intrigue: (Changed to action)
Cleaning House
- Ortes will head to the Black Cenote and the unnamed tomb with the Myrdrall skulls in his province to completely cleanse Wes of any taint. He wants NO shady bullshit hiding out in his lands!

Ortes' potential for aggression is anticipated, and Ortes is attacked immediately by Gogiteth -- Horror of the Cenote, and two GUGS (Horror Giants) (illustrations provided -- this will be SINGLE COMBAT against the 3 monsters.)


Actions:
An Extended Hand
- Ortes will approach the people and government of Pommer to see if an agreement can be reached to bring them under the Parsifal banner. 7 Wealth will be allotted to smoothing over problems standing in his way, and any excess wealth will be devoted to developing Pommer's military infrastructure as part of a link of provinces leading to the Muurdaan Heartland so that Vec can be more easily reinforced, Vec being the frontline of the Empire's efforts against the Sphinxites. (Noble 4+, Military 4+, Church 3, Populist 5)

*SCENE or Rolls* : Negotiations with Pommer -
Locals have concerns about conservations of the lakes and the protection/reinforcement/Assistance of Fort Fathomguard. +7 on all d20s, +14 on d100s as applicable because of wealth applied.

Sweep The Homefront (changed to INTRIGUE)
- Ortes will put his efforts towards preparation for challenging Sukumvit in his arena, trying to acquire as much information as possible about Sukumvit's capabilities and the trial of champions he has put forth, so that Ortes can best it with foreknowledge and preparation as much as anything else. He'll spend 5 wealth on acquiring informants and investigators to do so. The loxodons of Wes too have long, and very good memories, so he'd be tapping their recollections as well as best as he could. Battles are oft won before they begin, after all.

The Loxodons are long versed in the history of Sukumvit and one rule with him seems to stand over all... "All is fair in love and war" -- always expect one more trap, and for the obvious or easy solution to be the worst. In addition, the following rumors are collected about Sukumvit's "Trial of Champions":

1) Gemstones, the more precious the better, are needed to exit the dungeon. Do not bring any gems INTO the dungeon however.

2) The Diamond is part of a larger piece of jewelry. It will not be found alone.

3) You only have 5 tries to open the exit.

4) The Trials are full of champions who can survive in there, but never escape. Put them out of their misery if you wish to prevail... as they may have parts of the puzzle you need.

5) Upon completion of the trial of Champions you are granted one request by Sukumvit. If you wish to defeat him, you must use this request to challenge him to a FAIR DUEL. Challenging him just to a fight will doom you, as he will cheat.

6) 1d4+1 "Hints" that you can use at any point during the trial of champions. used at your discretion in any puzzle/situation.



Movement through Pommer stops on the border of Skiy (reason TBD)

No IC embellishment is necessary in other thread.

 

[Beckoncall]

Twist :

Birch Shadow Trading Post becomes a City in it's own right, a mysterious city of light and shadow, and where the rules of the mortal world do not always apply...

....For it is here that Dejan and Princess Wicca's retinues and retainers from the faewild emerged -- each giving their own blessings and gifts in material, and in (un)natural works centered upon the city. Sprites and Fairies flitted in the streets as lamps were lit by will-o-the-wisps.... Fomorians skulked the darkness and shadow to bring inscrutable but swift versions of justice to mortal and Fae alike. The entire province bloomed with new trees, some fantastical versions of those known, some utterly alien to mundane nature.

It was here, Dejan, Lord of portals -- Had his domain flooded by Seelie and Unseelie forces. WRUN was utterly annexed, first assaulted by a modest army by Dejan, and then the entire AZURE WEALD of the Faewild poured through the portals and brought a single head, burned a single house, and brought a single gift flayed or looted from their victims in Wrun to the wedding of Lord Dejan. Great fecundities and verdencies sprung to life in the mountainous region -- and although the rock was rich with Steeliron -- an ore the Fae Feared and hated, they sacraficed many a pawn and beast to give the province to Dejan for his wedding. Pat -- Akcay's best agents were outnumbered, though not outmaneuvered in this conflict... but defending the province became a lost cause... Dejan now ruled WRUN, and Wicca blessed and cursed the land for centuries to come on mere thrill and whimsy that made the only capricious sense in the province.

It was here, at this point, that Dejan was invited to abandon the Empire of Muurdaan and Join the Unseelie Court. Wicca said that their union would never be respected, much less accepted -- and that if Dejan wished, all his lands and holdings outside of the tower of doors could be pulled into the Faewild and away from the prime material plane.

"Leave this bitter soil to the humans, the age is ending and civilization is dying -- love me forever in the wilds, Dejan -- The Underlords are not worth your loyalty when I can show you so much more wonder..." she curled a leg around Dejan Lasciviously as she urged him to bite a golden apple... upon doing so, all would be changed.


"The wolves are at the gates, Dejan -- and you are more loved and lauded by the Faewild and the Unseelie than ever you were as a simple man. BECOME with me, embrace twilight and leave this world for a world eternal. My husband, my Champion, My Lord."

Decision Point:

DEJAN can choose to end the game early by joining his realms to the Faewild. This locks him a place (uncertain though in form it may take) in chapter two, but shields them from enemies and Garners 3 Victory points per province Stolen into the faewild. If Dejan opts to remain a mortal with mortal realms, He gains 5 Victory points and 5 treasure rolls (the gifts of the Seelie and Unseelie) and the game continues as normal.

Negotiations in Nephilam fall apart when the center of emphasis for Dejan's power and attention shifts to the feywild. This action/intrigue bears no fruit.

 

[Beckoncall]

Abstracty :

So it was written, So it was done.

This season was not just a season of the stokes of pens -- this was a time of lasting legacies. Hun-Cane, as hoped -- was brought low with the single bravery of Ceslaus and the support of his divine allies. The Hospital of Lady Oriana in Kappelburg was a new bastion of medicine pushing natural cures, the seeds of science, and the best cresh of holy and magical healing all throughout the region and beyond.

The organization of the new inquisitorial army -- of well fitted pilgrims and towering crusader knights became the norm instead of the exception on the roads throughout the west, and spreading into the east. Where Pilgrims marched, the holy roads and shrines spread, and it would be seen in the decades to come that Religious military strength and constant faith were true tools for the annexing and anchoring of the lastlands.

more wayward provinces such as CHOSS saw their dangerous or fearsome tracks tamed and pacified... and the pilgrims roads grew like arterterial vessels into the hinterlands bringing first redemption by fire or holy symbol, then peace in solemnity.

+2 Military for Celaus/Xyphon from religious tradition being parleyed into military tradition. Ceslaus may also award (2) +1 military influence to players of their choice if they so wish, my adopting said nobles as "Heralds of the Pantheon"... if recipients already have military 5, they may elect to instead recieve Church +2.

The Terminus in the East: If any of the provinces of Osmau, Prax, or Pommer remain "Free" at the start of turn 6, the end of the pilgrims roads in the east are proclaimed there and the province is annexed by House Xyphon. If said provinces are contested by other player interests however, they are not elligible for this annexation, but if successful represents the success of the faith roads from the interior of the empire across the full east to west scope of the Lastlands.

 

[Beckoncall]

Arnalia :

ORIANA VARNA TAKES THE PROVINCES OF VERSE AND GOR. All other details on discord.

Long reign the richest!

 

[Beckoncall]

Crocodile :

The Sea King of Shiv was dispensed with, and the Great race of the Ichthiatids now took their ultimate form under Oznah Alder's greatest efforts and blood magic.

Oznah sweat, made delicate bargains with entities, realities and cosmic and magic balances but in the end, the HANZORI, before an exhausted Oznah and all his best retainers... were reborn to the world anew. Cultured, Disciplined -- appealing to the vanity of the Alders in their beauty, and yet still fearsomely almost abombinations to nature. His Abominations. HIS nature. Both a gift to the empire and loyal to him ultimately alone, the Hanzori bred like crazy, fought beautifully... and more than anything else knew their place. In an empire that resented the need for other races they were a terrible dichotomy -- The Hanzori would enable a new thrust of expansion into the seas and cementing the shores for the empire -- they were too valuable to refuse, too effective to deny.

..In truth, many feared the Hanzori would even survive the times of men, that in the face of calamity and apocalypse, the Hanzori would live on as the empire's... as the ALDERS, final legacy -- in the cold deeps where nothing could reach them they would ever rise again...

...and after the times of men, such woes and nightmares were justified. However that was a different story.

with the Onisho having broad and rich coastal interests, they rapidly fell in line with sponsoring house Alder for High Housemanship among the other Patrons Alder had mustered. The Hanzori could be worked with or against, and the Onisho wished to profit from this new marine race that was also a blood magic military technology.

And whilst this all took place, Oznah Alder took his seat on his new throne of godsbranch and rested his head upon one elbow... languidly surveying the logistics of his movement to the capital, to take seat as a True Underlord -- the Alders finally becoming a high house.

From his new position he was allowed one boon from the empire -- he could ask for anything and it would have to be granted. The assembled underlords wondered what vice, what treasure, what lust would be a whim to fulfill... but Oznah Alder was no fool. He chose his words carefully.

"I ask for forgiveness of all that is in the past, my peers. That House Alder be judged from this day forward and not by the crooked knives that conspired to stop me from getting here. Let those who take umbrage or grudge against my High house be punished heretofore, and let the knives of tomorrow be stuck where they belong -- and not in the backs of mine or my own."

And it was then the council of underlords knew who they were truly dealing with.


Alder House Ascends to a high house and takes a throne as Underlord over the Empire of Muurdan. Oznah Alder as a character is removed from the game and House Alder must substitute a proxy for him to continue his adventures in the lastlands.

While Alder may have a role in events to come, Oznah Alder's adventure ends here, in Glory.

 

[Beckoncall]

Heyitsjiwon :

SCENE -- "The Devoid Awaits"

__________________

The Machine roared to life. Prototype.

Then the machine roared to life. Factory.

THEN THE MACHINE ROARED TO LIFE: THE ARMY.

Endless they were, with the ancient base in Morthagi tech, though the design was undeniably Bavan's, with all the nuances of the most secret books supplied by Hegemon. Rounded armor pieces of Euxperaladite returned to their spheric shapes when deformed... moving by some fey and artificers miracle provided by Dawooite -- an element known as "Artificer's Friend" and Seeliehousite -- the fey metal of saying "yes to the mustn'ts." Indeed the new things shouldn't... must not exist... and yet they did. As any Hegemon crowning glory they took off the assembly line faster... and faster, and faster, unbreaking themselves to a rudimentary form before they even took to the assembly line. Miniturization miracles incepted by Naske saw true fruition in "Spyder Cogs" -- little mechanicals that wandered the surface of whole units of these creations -- fixing whole units of the constructs in real time. With every move they exceeded... excelled... surpassed parameters, and the machines broke in achievement only to be repaired for further victories. The very way they moved looked impossible. "Disturbingly Optimized" is how they would go down in history in the next wars of muurdaan expansion -- which is of course where they were pulled away after their testing in the lastlands. Each clank of the damnable weight of them upon the earth a cry of a hundred thousand who would not kneel or fit in the Empire of Muurdaan. Rising from the Deep to carry any resistance into eternal sleep beneath their feet and treads.

Orhan is offramped at the end of turn 5, his forces countless... he is recalled and promoted to the highlab of hegemon to plan the next war, and the wars after that.
Against the Sphinxites in the Final Battle Orhan's forces are merely expressed as "LEGION" -- effectively numberless.

_______________________________

The mountainside was investigated -- A archeological site who's name was discovered as "Xec Nua" -- In the language of the builders, the first giants... this meant "Vault of Death" ... or in simplified characters, merely "Armory" -- The world was once covered with these vaults, more than once ruining one nation or another, or even nearly or literally bringing an end to an age. The Builders -- The giants that filled these deadly vaults never used their contents... as they were not lost to any war they could prepare for, instead eaten by the greatest of the first Giants, Zaraneb.

But the vaults were few now, in the 17th age... and it's revelation was historical.

Orhan has 10 "Nua Relic" points. Each point is a 85+ treasure roll, or can be immediately converted into a 1.5 Victory points. VP must be generated BEFORE any treasure dice are rolled.

________________________________

Footnote: Province of "NOMINAE" flattened by arrival of autonomous legions. These lands fall to house Hegemon. (Updating Map -- victory condition achieved)

 

[Beckoncall]

Trektek :

The influx of suitable candidates for Paragon knighthood was deemed "Fair."

Only one suitable in ten thousand, some said...

But then the number of troops who rallied to parisfal's promise of land, redemption and riches were akin to the stars in the sky.
For the first time the interior recognized the Lastlands were at the tipping point of slipping into the empire -- and the shift in manpower drank lakes of beer, locusted stores of bread, and marched with a thunder than moved ever south and east until the provinces of Parsifal were nearly disordered by the bloody ranks and files of them.

Paragon Cavalry Doubles. *IF* 10 wealth and a thorough network of of diplomatic marriages can be made with House Xyphon, the best Religious Crusaders join Parsifal TRIPLING THIS NUMBER INSTEAD. (Ceslaus gains 3 VP and Parsifal gains additional paragons)

After this agree/deny to spend 10 wealth, House Parsifal's wealth shifts to ZERO in the lastlands. Every point of wealth becomes 1.5k elite mercenaries (6.5 point units) in the final battle, with thrice as much troops listed as "Fodder" (2 point units) -- if wealth of house parsifal is underwhelming (deemed by GM) House Varna will make up the difference in gifts.

2k "Goblin Knights" are loosed on the world, riding the best small-to-medium sized spider mounts bought from CHOSS. units are 5 points (+1d4) every combat round, to a max potential of 9, (but range down to 6)

The Vaal Retributor is boosted above maximum health in preparation for the final battle. It gains "Terror +4", "Trample" (* this becomes "Subsume" if unit already has trample, and it does), and +200 HP. (from 315 = 515)

ALL FORCES MOVED TO TRISTE FOR FINAL BATTLE. GLORY TO HOUSE PARSIFAL.

Theme: SVRCINA -- "Meet me on the Battlefield"

 

[Pat]

​

Time passed, and some deeds remained living inspirations, while others phased into the grey areas of "Recent Myth" and Legends of posterity. First we'll address the lost in the lastlands, before we regale with the stories of the victors.



——————————————————————————————

SMYTH MASON, Devoured by Lizardmen in the westlands, became a sort of religious figure to the swamp folk in the west. It was said his magic leached into the soil of the territory destroyed in his wars, and his powers intermingled with the flesh of the lizardfolk that consumed his flesh. The Lizardtribes of the west united under a new titleholder who called themselves "The first Ssssmyth" -- and these lizardfolk eschewed their fear of the muurdaan cultural invasion and embraced the new and inevitable order. Between this cultural movement, the rulings of the Parsifal courts, and the increasing citation of Bastionic law in the region -- these lizardfolk were not disenfranchised but instead ceded most of their dry territory to humans and lived in deep swamps and salt marshes where displacing them made no sense. Upon profiting from the laws and code, a priest class of the Sssssmyths established one of the few autonymous holdfasts in the bordering lastlands. House Kher embraced the new cultural oddities, and being the house of architechture designed new settlements that were both watery below and dry above so that the Sssmyths and their followers could conduct commerce and aid in warfare with the muurdaan in later chapters of expansion. While Smyth Mason was seen as overzealous and ill-fated, he would be remembered in time as a visionary cultural attache' from Muurdaan to the Reptile races... and eventually was enshrined as a Nomarch in the region when his story grew bigger than his impact during his life ever was....

BARIS DEMIR was subsumed by the machinations of the Chossian Witch-Spider Covens of Choss. Promised a Son, The witches delivered nothing but (extremely powerful) daughters -- more suited to tame and rule in Choss than to strengthen Haakon with a new Grand Noble, or crop of the same. Haakon, for all intents and purposes ruled Choss and was instrumental in the reconstruction and restructuring that started as a rash of interior loses by the house. From Choss, A mighty silk empire rose, and Haakon Muurdaan affairs outside of choss were largely unfettered by the plottings of the witches. While Haakon laid claim to the holdfast, it was undeniable that at the end of the day, Choss belonged to the spiders... Delavizh became part of the foundations of Haakon ownership of land in Choss, quite literally, when his head was laid into the cornerstone of the first residential area carved out of the spiderwoods. While in the oldest records he was listed a failure, the common people remembered him more fondly, and statues of Delavizh popped up from deepest choss to both ends of the Pilgrims road...

KARIM MALSA died as spectacularly as he lived, and became a lesser martyr in the annals of Parsifal and Narvik both. Eventually seen as a martyr to the pacification of the east, his family gained elevated status in the lastlands in the decades after his death. A fashion trend among nobles consisting of feather-fall rings were often called "Malsa's Memories" -- allowing nobles to fall from impossible heights just as Karim evidently and truly -- could not.

CAMUS was reincarnated as a Hippo and used for decades as an instrument of prosperity and execution in the province of ESAU. A colossal specimen, he was eventually, when it was too dangerous to contain him in the lastlands, was freed in the faraway nation of Lankha, where he became a monster pretender god in his own right. Long a pet of Peony in Esau, he regained sentience in Lankha and was constructed a Lavish Paradise Temple by the Atavi (monkey) people of The light Lankhan jungle. It was unclear was Camus' ambitions would be once he fully sloughed off the instincts and countenance of a monster hippo -- but oracles speculated his involvement in something called "The God Game."

NIKI met the judgements of the gods, and while her great monestery, and to a lesser extent, her name, was held high for the poorer seekers along the pilgrim's road, she was eventually forgotten as a real figure and catagorized as a "forgotten saint." A cult or psudo-religion used her mantle for about a century before her worship fell out of favor and was hailed as idolatry.

ORPHEUS AP GWYN died an ugly death, killed in ugly ways. His deeds, in the end, were unsung.

ALBWIN VAM HOLT failed to see the hound of Tinadalos out of the corner of his eye, and his screams and flaggelations while he was torn apart briefly became part of a summer dance craze, then rapidly forgotten.

DARIUS' name, perhaps unjustly, became synonymous with greed and financial over-ambition. Despite his infamy vast marketplatz were built in his name, and his name was used in the titular Darian Market Regulations which governed the Eternal empire to its latest eras. Darius was seen as a kind of Janus-Figure -- Holding all the cards in reserve in one hand, and playing markets fast and loose in the other. He was eventually crowned a Nomarch in the Lastlands, and a God of rich noble society cults for centuries. His knights hailed him as a saint long after his death.

ULRICH VON ERENWALD took over where Karim Malsa left off, and promptly vanished without a trace into the darkness that is the interior of PRAX. Most speculated he was eaten by giant bugs. They're probably right.

UL DYRIL was assassinated by Materia, high killer of house Vashna. While it was considered an essential but unfortunate outcome of the early lastlands conquest -- it was found Ul Dyril, and their house, ran their provinces well until they were subsequently carved up between Vashna and House Laereslae, by way of "Lord Dejan's" descendents and advocates.

DEJAN themselves died by Vashnan blades, but his wife and consort, the Fae Princess Wicca -- raised HELL in the coming centuries not only to right his reputation as a double-agent and not a traitor to the empire, but also a visionary and ex-mortal "Provident" in the Faewild. Blurring the lines between life and Death, Dejan continued to advise Laerislae in the Fae Territories beyond the empire's reach, and while unable to walk outside the feywild, became a wheeler dealer in the consolidation of power in the west middle lastlands -- a secretive but famous character in house laerislae long after his supposed demise. Likewise, Wicca proclaimed herself magically "Pregnant for life" with Dejan's sires -- and the Knightly order which rose from his issue -- "The Doors of Dejan" -- had both enduring tensions and famous team-ups with the knights of Parsifal in many campaigns where the faewild and otherplanar battlefields were key stepping stones to victory. In the Empire Dejan was remembered as a tragic figure -- but Dejan, if you had the capacity to ask him, would say he was living his best quasi-life with his bride Wicca and their endless burning passions...

THE VIRIDITES, with the loss of Viridius travelled deep into the lastlands interior, in a quest to collect the nine tails of the Kitsune god and restore him to power. They grew strange to the cultures of Muurdaan, and when they were re-encountered in the second stage of lastlands invasion -- relations with them were tense and a point of contention perhaps kept to the history books or legends yet unwritten. Did Viridius Rise again? Many say so -- and that their power and cunning was both a boon and a thorn to muurdaan in the subsequent stages of the further invasion of the lastlands.

THE SPHINXITES quit the field to fight another day, hoping to catch the Eternal Empire overextending itself in the next stage of Muurdaan's invasion of the Lastlands. Little did they know, as they licked their wounds, replenished their forces, and dug in, the Capital would send an unlikely vanguard of heroes and villains to prepare the way for the legions to come...

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OF THEY THAT LIVED, there was much more to say --

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LADY ORIANA was hailed a rising star of her Generation of Varna's most resplendent nobles. Her fusion with house Parsifal through wedding to Ortes, and Her Cousin also marrying Xion of Parsifal as well had great and unexpected alchemy and synergy between the houses. Varna, recently elevated to high nobility, first saw the parsifals as a liability -- a mixing that diluted the newly hardened titles of house Varna. But Oriana, amoung many other talents, was apparently wise -- delivering with her intractable loving marriage the loyalty and honor of legions of devoted knights, that were already proving to be the new darlings of the empire in the new wars of foreign expansion under "General Xion the Resplendent, who's footfalls make stone into sand." -- No longer needing to pay for peace and guardianship from houses like Touryan and expensive mercenaries, the alliance of Parsifal and Varna became insanely strong in the second war period of muurdaan expansion and the eras beyond. While never eclipsing the Housemen in infamy or broadness of use, the Honorblood were afforded by history an incredible amount of glory and regard, some of them, especially those who joined from the "Living Saints" -- became Nomarchs all over the world, local gods in the places they showed the greatest chivalry and kicked the most ass.Oriana and Ortes DID have six children, and each was famed for their own achievements, though long did they live in the shadow of Ortes and his cousin Xion, before their deeds spoke louder and for themselves. The honorbloods primary knightly chapel was in the paradise of ORIN, though they divided into countless orders with chivalric castles and conquests wherever they went. Varna's high house support of Parsifal, as well as their seemingly limitless resources, opened new doors for the humble house of knights. It took a long time, but ultimately Parsifal became a High house, with the help of House Alder, among others. "Sun of Five Wars" (by then Seven wars) was elected by the council of Parsifal to be the first underlord of the house, as acting regent until Ortes' first son was not only old enough, but worthy enough, to take the throne for himself. The deeds of "The first son of Ortes" are nothing but legend, and it is said his marks on the earth became the songs of legend in the ages after man's departure from the prime material... and a big honking surprise when they returned in the 20th age, with much of the muurdaan from sigil, a much changed empire mollified by the cultural and racial alliances that they needed (and earned) in the intermediate planes of existence while they waited for the age of sea, and the age of Cats, to conclude. Varna enjoyed ridiculous dividends from the conquests of Parsifal, and Parsifal never wanted for food or coin for anything on thier campaigns, however far flung or unlikely of success. Varna and Parsifal, like Oriana and Ortes, were like a fusion reaction that feed into each other and produced more than the sum of its parts.

Then there was the Story of the ALDERS. Close to Varna and Parsifal, they nonetheless needed and found distance in the politics of the capital, the pale alders coming to the lastlands to consolidate the holdings of Oznah Alder, and their near-diefied primogen, Leo Alder. The Hanzori, a race created by Oznah in the period before his ascention to underlord became the key instruments of the second and third periods of muurdaan expansion, their fame only eclipsed by the strange muurdaan alliance with the Fetch. The Hanzori never lost their faith or forgot their obligations to their creators, no matter how long in the tooth humanity became at the end of the age. When the age of men ended and the age of sea began, Humans... Or "Aldari" were the stuff of myth and legend, and temples were built high above the waterline to welcome humanity back to avecury when they eventually would, and did, return home. At the end of the age most of the muurdain houses fled to a layer of hell called "Sigil" and lived in that monstrous melting pot for the better part of two ages. Between the resurfacing and entrenched teachings of the bastionic code, and several other repairative alliances, as well as proximity with countless of the "other" in sigil -- the eternal empire, by the time it was ready to return to their home planet, had cast aside much of the edicts of purity and hate-wars that were so typified as the legacy of the underlords. Some saw this as a tremendous compromise to weakness, but the Alders didn't think so. Leo Alder, the house's First High Noble came out of hiding after the end of the age of man and singularly dueled and dealed his way into compromise and rights for many non-humans in what was forseen as the empire to come. Port Green Star became one of the richest territories in the eastern empire, and was eventually absorbed into the interior realms, and it's ruins were a site of great legend, questing, and mystery in the 18th and 19th ages after humans had left the world. Alders were remembered as the greatest thorns in the empire's side, and ultimately their saviors.

House Xyphon was not considered idle in the events of the lastlands and beyond, either -- WERNHARD CESLAUS had brought a pilgrims road, that with the complexities of Dejan unravelled, ran from west to east it's full length of the lastlands, and the joining of so many of the "Living Saints" liberated from the chains of undeath brought lost lore, knowledge and power back into the house of religion that was already seen as being at a Zenith. The restoring of the "moon of Samjir" was a great event for the end of the age, and enhanced Xyphons astral powers to grant great protections against horrors that were literally undermining reality at the time and eras forward. The artifact called "The Nine" was forever a symbol of Ceslaus, house Xyphon, and his progeny -- with great sacrifices maintained to keep it's power alive, and it's power alive being used to positively edit the fates of man, and a more enlightened future. Cornucopia became one of the three riches edifaces in the lastlands, After Port Green Star but before the Hegemonic Coinroads in the Northeast that brought the house of technology so much in wealth and knowledge. It was said the pilgrims road took religion and superstition east, and brought knowledge and wealth west to the empire. As pilgrims unlocked great mysteries, fabulous relics poured into house Xyphon assuring their prominance until the end of the age of man. Cornucopia, directly below the geosyncronous orbit of the Moon Samjir, was likewise a place of layline magical power, astral prominance, and great sanctuary of the whole empire from calamity and horrors.For his absolute influence over the church in the lastlands and eventually the interior, Wernhard Ceslaus was first given the title "Bishop of Battle" and then finally "Immortal lord of all faith" -- As wernhard aged his duties became more and more vast until he could barely be occupied with the business of mortals... but House Xyphon wielded his power just as Ceslaus wielded thiers. A god and diamond among men, a Rival to upstart gods and the bane of pretenders. Ceslaus' final mortal achievement was completing the test "The garb of Marig" -- and wore the mantle of the sleeping god until the end of the age of man.

Parsifal and XION could not be dismissed with simply a single footnote about them or house Parsifal. While they did not become underlords they delivered their house to spectacular heights and banished the title of "Cadet House" -- In song and war and credit to peace, few personages were spoken of so loud and frequent as the Cousins Parsifal, and their deeds became the basis of a whole new bar set for the knights and honorbloods of the rest of the age to come. It was whispered that ORTES' first son , or his issue, was fated to be the first new "Overlord" when the Muurdaan rebuilt their empire in the ages to come... and most scrying to this prophesy was hard to cast shadow upon. The legacy of Ortes lived long into the 18th age of seas with his unlikely comrade in the great Aboleth and those that followed him, and the monuments of Xion's conquests were some of the last ruins to fade from Avecury well into the 19th age.. with standing "Spires of Triumph" being an anchoring and series of guidestones in the chaos of the 19th age. The Hanzori spoke of them like lost brothers who would one day return to avecury. And return they did, precisely when they were meant to. Ortes was given the domestic title of "Lord Marshall Ultimate" after all, and had a say in the forging of law and order in the lastlands at every stage. Being friends with the Alders, Bastionic sympathies took root in the tough but fair law of the Parsifal, which resulted in a kinder, gentler empire eventually (after elven genocides and mass enslavements first spoke louder, and had their time of prominance.)

ACKAY YUSUF, hence called Ackay Vasha, ruled as underlord for an ungodly period of time. Quiet for the most part in the high council of underlords, his will was felt at the smallest levels with a kind of heuristic, almost omnipotent understanding of key players in events... and who to remove for the best outcomes for Vashna and the Empire.Surrendering the majority of holdings in the north lastlands, he placed House Vashna at the very cusp of the starting line for further incursions into the new frontier and his house and the empire profited tremendously from this as well. Much could be said of Vashna and Ackay, but good or bad, the facts were seldom truly known to few but Ackay himself. One of the most feared individuals at the end of the age, he spear-headed the human invasion/settlement in Sigil to wait for Avecury to be suited to a human empire once again... and was one of the few living beings of this era to still be politically active at that time... with over 7 million attempts on his life, and no successes.

FIRKIN OF HOUSE GHUR begat a strange legacy. While Hegemon were seen as the ultimate victors in the lastlands (of which I will speak soon) it was actually Firkin's early leaps ahead with spreading technology to the masses that laid a footprint for an elevated standard of living accross the empire, as visualized and accomplished by Hegemon. making common the steam engine, interior heatings, advanced plumbing and a variety of other creature comforts took root in the lives of the lowest populace, dispelling fear and easing adaptations of Hegemon's greatest works in the centuries that followed. Firkin of Ghur was hailed as a visionary, and Ghurs rise to prominance as needed purveyors of auxillaries in the 2nd and 3rd wars of muurdaan expansion secured his fame as a name all citizens of the empire would learn and remember. Likewise it was Ghur and Firkins vision and hopes for the ratkin that somewhat reshaped them from being the ubiquitous pests under every city until the end of the age to "separate and occasionally equal" parties in the eternal empire. While the quality of Ratkin troops were often questionable, given Ghur technology, weapons and armor made them a formidable contribution to the new asymmetry of warfare brought to the fore with Alder's Hanzori. "The Brood Comes!" was a statement that started, and often ended, many a conflict, for when the endless wave of ratkin auxillaries arrived at enemy holdfasts, it was often understood the end was near. It was uncertain where the ratkin went at the end of the 17th age, but they were well disposed to humans by the time coming to part ways. It was Firkin's visionary stances and schemes which left ripples in the empire even Hegemon had to acknowledge were vital.

Which brings us finally to ORHAN AND HOUSE HEGEMON -- Declared "Invictus Glorianus" for having the greatest footprint in the frontier of the lastlands, Orhan subsequently vanished into relative obscurity once he was declassified on all of hegemon's most secret projects. While his contributions to history cease at the end of this story, his contributions to science and the quality of living for the average human (and many other beings) were defined by his efforts in the late 18th age. Brining the flying fortresses of the long-ago famous Pasha Touryan back into favor and popularity, his houses second incursions into the lastlands, and subsequent wars of muurdaan aggression would be masterfully executed. Having the best route for land trade out of the lastlands made him rich beyond reckoning, and with that wealth ideas from foreign lands enriched his projects and hands in trade for the rest of the age. Perhaps the most unassuming (perhaps insideous) of players in the lastlands, he left his charge as second to nobody, and for his ultimate influence with the nobility Was declared "The maker of keys, and the interpreter of the possible." -- the highest honor house hegemon could ever bestow.

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Blessed am I to witness the stories you've spun in my world, and blessed are we to share a world together in memory. While we were all Pawns of muurdaan, the cream rose in this campaign, and you all cast off the yokes of those that would label you, limit you, and bring narrow conformity to a world so bright and varied. You all honor me playing my game. I salute every one of you.