CivPedia Thread [Archive] - Civilization Fanatics' Forums

Tayschrenn

Apr 03, 2009, 04:51 PM

Wizards Enclave

In any city you will find neighbourhoods. With the pacing up of history neighbourhoods came into existence, based on craft, belief, social standing of its inhabitants or the function of that particular part of the city. Wether there is the smooth boundary of a common feeling or understanding, or a massive wall, guards and the like, there is a border between one neighbourhood and the other. It's the way that sets people in a certain neighbourhood, craftsmen live in sturdy and practical living quarters, while merchants like to show of their wealth, while the poor can only afford, well, the poorest building materials.

In Amurite society however, what sets apart people is magic. The more proficient you are at magic, the higher your standing. Also, having been apprentice of a renowned mage or graduate student of one of the myriad arcane faculties of the many universities does a great lot. In an Amurite city you will find immigrants in the poorest of parts, because they don't have magic. Then come the untouched, who mostly have backing of one of the mages, forming clans around them, as servants. Then come the levels of the gifted, based on the levels of their training. In what we would call "middle-class" in other societies, we can set the initiates, those who had basic training from an adept at a school. They can do minor magics for control of their life and the crafting of small magic items, the tending to and enhancing of crops, the working of materials. They are the craftsmen, the farmers, the builders, the soldiers. Their buildings are not really remarkable, but are lighted by flowing orbs of light, warmed with fire without fuel. The walls stengthened and waterproof.

Next level are the adepts. They represent the bureaucracy, the priests of Oghma, the teachers, the engineers the merchants. It is them that keep society oiled and rolling. They were (or are still) student at one of the universities. Though not prone to grandness, their magic is substantial if compared to that of other societies. To heal, craft items, conjure servants, invoke curses. They make society tick. Their housing is mostly of a better quality than that of initiates, the walls softly emanating warmth or coolness, the walls sturdy without a bit of mortar though harder than granite, trees and flowers that never seem to lose their leaves.

Moving further up the social ladder you will find this countries "aristocracy", the wizards and archwizards(we would call them high mages or archmages), the latter having proven his or hers extraordinary magic abilities in a trial for the Caswallawn, while the other has simply graduated at one of the universities. After graduation wizards will start doing magical research, weaving intricate rituals, crafting powerfull items. There is also the possibility of leading a sub-division of the government or serving as a war-wizard, a battle or siegemage in the Amurite armies. Each wizard will draw into his service dozens of untouched, initiates and adepts, assisting him in his projects, a band of followers who get not only paid, but will get rituals of enhancement on oneself, to strengthen the senses, to prolong life. Though you won't find in their 'enclaves'(as they call it),only the archetypical towers, they are prone to have estates of mindstaggering height, in which magic had certainly a hand in the construction. Their forms are myriad and the colours will reflect all that the Mother Earth has to offer us in a flowing texture of rock and arches, this, the apex of this extraordinary people is most symbollicly depicted in the apex of their building art, in which the Magical realms are combined with the everyday materials to bring to shape a group of magnificent buildings within a city.

On Building
Chapter Five: Assessing societies by common knowledge and their buildings
Master Engineer Bugg (the Watery) dei'Mael

arkham4269

Apr 04, 2009, 11:45 AM

Ahwaric, a few questions regarding this thread.

First off, do you want just the verbiage for the entry that just is entertaining and not explaining what it does? Or would that be good too? I know this is a fantasy game, but I can see having examples of 'real' things like river ports or yurts.

Secondly, is there a place where a lot of Erebus lore is? The FfH wiki is a bit sparse.

Thirdly, I agree that we don't need a new thread, but perhaps in one of your 'reserved' posts under updates, you could keep a list of which entries you still need?

Ahwaric

Apr 04, 2009, 12:43 PM

First - Explaining what a building/unit does in game goes to the strategy section and it is spearate from pedia. Pedia is more for stories or historical background.
But I need both :)

Second - well, I think a lore compendium is avaliable somewhere to download, but it is mostly a compilation of pedia entries. So, you may read pedia, go to Fall from Heaven Lore subforum and do some searching, or ask MagisterCultuum or Kael.

Third - the list is on, I have even added some guidances what I think on some of the leaders and such. Go to detailed changelog thread, posts 3, 4 and 5. I asked the original poster of this thread to add a link to it in the first post, too.

Tayschrenn

Apr 05, 2009, 01:13 AM

Library of Oghma

"Knowledge is Power"

This is most certainly true, since Libraries of Oghma are essential if you're looking for knowledge, you will find many of those (literate) seeking power there. The priests of Oghma can "feel" the Lodestones large amounts of knowledge seem to become and will try to get their hands on it. Then again, not all books in these libraries are written by mortal hands. They can be repositories of Oghma's own knowledge, send to help is followers. Therefore you have to be a master at codes and at least know angelic language. Of course no one ever sees these books appearing. Having had whole sections of bookscases appearing out of nowhere, the libraries "grow" with in time new wings and floors appearing. The libraries hold many mysteries with people dissapearing or coming out of different libraries from where they went in.

Well as I said, knowledge is power and power is a lodestone, therefore it shouldn't come as a suprise that Udenarat feels like a loadstone.

On the discovery of the lost Grand Library of Oghma under Udenarat
Lecture by Master Engineer Bugg dei'Mael
Unknown student

tyranny12

Apr 05, 2009, 05:13 AM

Third - the list is on, I have even added some guidances what I think on some of the leaders and such. Go to detailed changelog thread, posts 3, 4 and 5. I asked the original poster of this thread to add a link to it in the first post, too.

Done (=

(and now some gobbledgook to make the message meet minimum message length)

Jabie

Apr 07, 2009, 09:56 AM

Tech-Priest

...The tech-priests of the Mechanos are another good example of a surrogacy. Although the Mechanos claim to have forgone ritualised religion, it is clear to even the most sympathetic observer, that they have merely replaced faith in external power with faith in machinery. Deus ex Machina, as one cynical commentator wryly noted.

It is not clear how this order is chosen although there appears to be a strong affinity between the priesthood and the craftsman and artisan classes. Secretive in the extreme, tech-priests dress in long flowing robes which hide their bodies. They adorn their faces with silver masks that completely obscure their identity, leaving some to speculate as to whether or not the body beneath the apparel is composed of flesh or metal.

To hear a tech-priest speak is a unique experience. Their mouths smothered with soulless facade, no lips move as they voice their sentiment. For many it is a mere approximation of speech. What sense is there in the grinding of metal upon metal, the scrape of manifolds and grooves, the click of wheels sliding into place or hot air whistling over piping? But to those attuned to the din of the forge and rhythm of the clock-tower, the tech-priest sings majestic hymns of triumph with ethereal grace. All is well, the clarion throb of the machine is in perfect working order...

Minor Faiths of Erebus, Ozziel

It's worth mentioning that Ozziel is not my invention. You can find out a lot more about him by reading KillerClowns stories in the Random Stories and Fragments thread in the Lore forum.

Tayschrenn

Apr 07, 2009, 09:57 AM

Cave of the Ancestors

...and not shortly after, Dains resolve paid of, and ,during his following journey into the lands of the Momus he discovered the cave holding the trials of Kylorin, which he passed, and, as such, he ascended to the rank of Archmage among the Amurites.

Not much is known about the ordeals in the original cave, but Dain must have been severely impressed, because, after he became the Caswallawn, he made every candidate archmage take the tests and even having mages take parts of it as suited their studies for a trial. It is said that Dain himself passes these trials himself on a regular basis to keep himself sharp.

-Biographies of the Caswallawns, part XXIX 327-362 AoR
Chapter 10: Dains ascension to Caswallawn; Paragraph 2: Kylorins trials
Baruk the unrelenting

tyranny12

Apr 07, 2009, 01:15 PM

Ahwaric,

The below raises another point. Cave of the Ancestors in vanilla adds +1 XP per mana to built arcane magicians. In Orbis, it allows Siege Mages and I'm pretty sure it does not do the XP thing. In situations like this, information as to what it does in the pedia as well as the building infos is key - as I'm not actually exactly sure if it still doesn't do the XP thing myself (=

The point being, where do you want that info?

Cave of the Ancestors

...and not shortly after, Dains resolve paid of, and ,during his following journey into the lands of the Momus he discovered the cave holding the trials of Kylorin, which he passed, and, as such, he ascended to the rank of Archmage among the Amurites.

Not much is known about the ordeals in the original cave, but Dain must have been severely impressed, because, after he became the Caswallawn, he made every candidate archmage take the tests and even having mages take parts of it as suited their studies for a trial. It is said that Dain himself passes these trials himself on a regular basis to keep himself sharp.

-Biographies of the Caswallawns, part XXIX 327-362 AoR
Chapter 10: Dains ascension to Caswallawn; Paragraph 2: Kylorins trials
Baruk the unrelenting

Jabie

Apr 07, 2009, 05:50 PM

Maer

Maer retired from the hall with the usual pleasantries. Yes, she was excited by the new challenges ahead. No, she didn’t think age and experience were the same thing. Yes, she was aware that she was the youngest engineer to hold the title of Mechana Excelsior. No, she wasn’t apprehensive about the Bannor reinforcements. Yes, she would strengthen trade ties with the Luichirp. No, the recent incident with the Sheaim ambassador was not a cause for concern.

The Order of Arches could be quite demanding. What was meant to have been a celebration for her investiture as chief architect for the Mechanos Empire had turned into an ever-so-polite but firm interrogation. She would have practice the art of rhetoric in the future. Damn it, why couldn’t people be as predictable as machines?

And then the red cloud came upon her again and she collapsed onto the bed in a coughing fit.

_EvErYtHiNg Is FuNcTiOnInG wItHiN eXpEcTeD pArAmEtErS?_

She had not heard Talos come in. She never did. Considering his bulk, he could be damn quiet when he wanted to. He glided over to her bed and removed her gown.

_YoUr UpPeR aPpEnDaGeS aRe OpErAtIoNaL?_

Maer shook her head. The pain had been getting worse recently. It had spread from her left breast along her shoulder and ran down her arm to her elbow. The liquid Talos had given her was no longer as effective as it used to be.

_PaIn ReCePtOrS dEmOnStRaTe TrEaTmEnT iNeFfEcTiVe By TwOfOlD fAcToR?_

Maer nodded her head and coughed once more. She could feel Talos unscrewing the silver plate hidden in her chest. Her curiosity was insatiable, but the flap opened towards her face and she could never focus enough to determine Talos’ movements. She felt a sudden lurch in her side and asked Talos to talk to her about something else.

_EcOnOmIc AnAlYsEs AvAiLaBlE. oUtPuT?_

Maer murmured her assent. It was all she could do to keep the pain away. She would have died in the explosion if Talos hadn't inserted that machine in her. She wasn't ungrateful, but she wished she knew how it worked. In desperation she tried to open the panel once... Talos had found her on the floor of her workshop. Maybe if she set up a feedback loop on an Aether soaked mirror and diverted her nerve endings through a resonance trap...

_ReFiNeD mAnA sUpPlIeS oCcUpY tHe LoWeSt QuArTiLe FoR eFfEcTiVe SoCiAl CoNdItIoNiNg. ReMeDiAl AcTiOn ReCoMmEnDeD._

Supplies of refined mana had been hard to come by since the loss of Pavona to the Bannor. Why did the hard-liners always want war? The whole thing had been a massive miscalculation. Were it not for the rain, the Mechanos would have burnt down the temple containing the master manuscript of the Code of Junil and then nothing would have stopped the Bannor in their bloodlust. As it was, only a rogue assault by a Lanun warship had distracted the Bannor long enough for the Mechanos to sue for peace.

_ThReE sOuRcEs LiE wItHiN dIsPuTeD bOuNdArIeS. VaRgStAd Is SuScEpTiBlE tO aCqUiSiTiOn._

Vargstad. Maer had heard of it. The rumours spoke that they were preparing the way for the King of Hope, whoever he might be. Hope or no, the Mechanos needed to regroup, not start a new war.

_SlEeP nOw. ReStOrAtIoN iS nEcEsSaRy FoR oPtiMaL pErFoRmAnCe._

Maer felt her eyelids droop. Within her chest a new heart beat with clockwork precision and a sibilant voice whispered stories of Sheaim treachery into her dreams.

Jabie

Apr 07, 2009, 06:08 PM

Tayschrenn

Apr 08, 2009, 08:51 AM

For those who don't play da Amurites often, yes they still get the xp from the cave.

Tayschrenn (Amurite Addict)

Mylon

Apr 08, 2009, 10:26 AM

Any chance the civpedia could be edited to include important notes for the individual civs, like important differences and how to play them? I was playing as the Scions and my mage hero suddenly rebelled and this left me rather confused! I still have no idea how to get him back (he seems to return randomly on his own). I found out later on that temple of the gift is a very, very nice building that gives tons of benefits, that kind of stuff.

Tayschrenn

Apr 08, 2009, 12:54 PM

Ratcatchers Guild

"You suprise me, Gully," he said. "It strikes me that the Rat Catchers' Guild thrives on complications. After all, you do more than, uh, harvest rats, don't you ? In fact, your primary function is as the unofficial assasins' guild - unofficial because, of course, it's an outlawed activity and unpleasant besides. You're also something of a thieves' guild, too, although you've yet to achieve full compliance among the more independent-minded thieves. You also provide an unusually noble function in your unofficial undeground escape route for impoverished refugees from the assimilated border tribes. And then there's the-'

Mercantile genius Behol Teddict
On the operations of the Bannor rat catchers' guild branch, after being asked why he wanted a meeting
Rat catchers' guild archives - 5th log, 292 AoR

Jabie

Apr 09, 2009, 04:34 PM

Banker

Are you watching closely now?
There's nothing up my sleeve,
But I'll show to you a magic trick
Your mind just won't believe

I'll mint you coins from nothing
Snatch pennies from the air
Make gold from lead, turn beads to gems,
Which glisten, gleam and glare

I’ll enchant a rope with mystic words
To stand stock stiff and proud
We’ll look down on the world below
From my palace in a cloud

I'll spin the finest cloak for you,
None but the wise can see
We'll dine out on the choicest wine
The Nectar of the Sidhe

And when your cloak becomes unstitched,
And the pennies are all spent,
The wine's been drunk, the gold's all gone,
And the landlord wants his rent

I'll perform one last great trick for you
A finale, if you will,
I'll vanish right before your eyes
And leave you with the bill.

(Strictly speaking it's actually a poem I wrote about the credit crunch called Prestidigitation, but I thought it was apposite for the Banker entry.)

arkham4269

Apr 10, 2009, 12:55 PM

“Yes, yes, yes, your fiery broadsides of the Decimator are impressive. I’m sure the Khazad did their best when making those iron beasts for you. But let me ask you this laddy; how much good are they when we drop a bomb down into your hold, right into the lap of your cabin boy? You’ll be dining with the Aifons and those pretty cannons of yours will be the Overlords new play-toys!”

Skyshark Crewman First Class Vito’s remark which started the brawl at the Dancing Sea Turtle between crews according to witnesses.

History: Advances in metallurgy and wood crafting made the Windriders airship design possible but didn't allow for much in the way of armaments. However with the advent of mana refining, Technomage Alset conceived the radical idea of using the refined mana as a fuel source similar to that of the newer steam engines being designed for the Ironclads. This mana fueled engined was much lighter but produced more power allowing for more armor and armaments. While far weaker than any ocean going vessel, the Skyraider airship's ability to quickly cross any terrain or body of water makes it feared throughout Erebus.

My notes: Obviously I'm advocating changing airship to Windrider and zeppelin to Skyraider. I also think that even though it would be neat to have Skyraiders look like the attached photo, realistically the would still be weak but should be allowed to bomb units or bombard cities.

arkham4269

Apr 10, 2009, 01:03 PM

“Lad, many a boy has left home to get away from being stuck behind a plow for the rest of his life and gone to sea. What does it get them? Eaten by sea serpents? Enslaved by Doviello raiders? Sunk by Lanun pirates? No boy, the sea is a vast blue death trap! The smart ones are those who take to the air and challenge the sky! Leave the oceans for the God-Believers! Join up with the crew of the Windjammer and you'll see lands never before seen. Come with us and and conquer the sky!”

Air Captain Chkalov, recruiting at the Spring Solstice faire

History: While most races of Erebus strove to unlock the Knowledge of the Ether and devised methods of using mana in spellwork, the Mechanos took a road less traveled. Steeped in the principles of natural philosophy, adeptus experiments led to the discovery of many of the property inherent in the elements. Experiments with air led to the study of gasses and thus the Windrider was born. While small and weak compared to its oceanic kin, the Windrider's ability to defy terrain and water obstacles allowed Mechanos explorers to chart many areas deemed far to dangerous by the other factions of Erebus.

civ_king

Apr 10, 2009, 08:15 PM

That is cool

Seon

Apr 10, 2009, 08:17 PM

I may be completely wrong, but isn't windrider an Amurite UU

Ahwaric

Apr 11, 2009, 02:47 AM

I may be completely wrong, but isn't windrider an Amurite UU
It is :)

But I really like it, so will just change the name from windrider to blimp

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 11:40 AM

It is :)

But I really like it, so will just change the name from windrider to blimp

Easy change to something like Cloudrider or Cloudship

Seon

Apr 11, 2009, 11:59 AM

Musketmen Do not shoot until you see the whites of their eyes...

Ok, maybe that doesn't work.

Velite (Scions archer unit, I hope): The Bannor soldiers often charge with their shield raised to defend against the archers. however, this tactic does not work with the Patrian Velites. These soldiers, instead of shooting arrows, have javelins instead. Of course, javelins are heavy and have lower range, but when their shaft strikes the Bannor shield, the soldier carrying it will most likely stumble from the extra weight the javelins cause, which would in turn stop the entire charge. This is well demonstrated in the battle of the Serpents valley where the Scions were out numbered 3 to 1, but was turned to their favor by the Velites who made the Bannor charge disorganized enough for the Hastati to comfortably defeat the Bannor, causing a humiliating defeat that devastated the Eastern Bannor Army.

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 12:08 PM

These soldiers, instead of shooting arrows, have javelins instead. Of course, javelins are heavy and have lower range, but when their shaft strikes the Bannor shield, the soldier carrying it will most likely stumble from the extra weight the javelins cause

The Roman Pilum javelins were made with soft lead so when they hit the shield instead of the man, it would bend and thus the guy would have this extra weight on it. This weight wasn't significant while moving, but when faced with a legionnaire engaging him with his gladius, he'd be at a bad speed disadvantage.

Since the Scions are demi-Roman, perhaps this tactic could just be 'pirated' directly to the Scions?

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 01:12 PM

“What a gift is the sea; how vast in its depths and plentiful in its gifts of food. Yet for all of its beauty and bounty comes danger. Come the spring, when winter ice begins to melt, wary eyes are ever cast at the horizon for at any moment through the squalls and fog may come the hated wolf-head sails of the Doviello drakkars. Swiftly they come and beach and as vicious as the dragons on the prows of their boats, the Doviello raid with terrifying earnestness. Barbarians they are, but one cannot marvel at their boats and those who sail them where others would fear to go.”

Elohim Monk Thadius Galen, “The Sea-Wolves of Spring”

HISTORY: With little in the way of arable land for cultivation, the Doviello had but two readily available resources: forests and the sea. To that end, Doviello shipwrights turned to the problem of creating a design that would survive the harsh seas of their homelands. Their solution was to create the clinker built hull where the hull planks would overlap. This would allow the hull to flex in rough sea conditions. It also allowed for a hull tough enough to support a itself and still allow for a shallow draft. Thus Doviello raiders could take their ships into shallow waters and rivers where other vessels could not as well as being able to beach them. With a complement of Sons of Asena, these drakkar can threaten lands far from the Doviello homeland.

Seon

Apr 11, 2009, 01:15 PM

Yes, but since this is Orbis, I thouht I would add a bit more spice to it ;)

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 01:38 PM

“Don’t let your blood freeze my lad; we’ll get through and then there will be fine plunder. I’ve been sworn to Asena for many a year and if there is one thing I’ve learned is every city thinks their walls were designed by the best Amurite sages and built by Kilmorph’s chosen dwarven masons. Ha! With a little muscle and some stout wood you’ll see how yonder wall is merely an impressive lie!”

Doviello soldier Laif Svenson to his nephew prior to the sack of Kaserlorne

HISTORY: Prior to the Age of Winter, vast fortresses dotted the land and the working of stone was an art known to a level that would make today’s dwarves hold their skills cheap. Most of this knowledge was lost and when the ice receded and new cities emerged, cities lacked the complex stone fortifications of the past. Thus for many a year a combination of wood, strength and bravery was all that was needed to breach the flimsy palisades of the early cities of Erebus.

TACTICS: While not as effective as catapults or cannons, the battering ram has the advantage of being able to be carried by melee units. This is especially useful after the development of Horse Riding and the ability to gain the Movement I promotion and thus axemen/swordsmen units can carry their own siege weapons and keep up a quick speed into enemy territory. The Khazad and Doviello’s racial ability to create battering rams from forests tiles frees up production of even more combat units.

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 02:04 PM

"You youngsters are all alike; bitter to be stuck here in garrison and not ‘gathering glory’ with the armies. Well beyond the fact I’ll wager you’d soil your breaches the first time a horde of pyre zombies struck your line, you miss the point of war. Wars may be won in battle, but it’s getting the troops to that battle, supplied, paid and fed that is the key. Do you think that could happen without security? Do you think all those supplies that go through here to the front would magically get there safely if we weren’t here? Tis not a glamorous job we do here, boy, but if it weren’t for us, many of those great victories that the bards sing about wouldn’t have happened.”

Scuttlebutt over cards & dice, Fort Kiel in the Haridrine pass along the Malakim/Sheaim border.

History: In a dangerous world and with armies often spread out over vast areas, civilians and militia have always counted on the protection of the local garrison fort. Beyond the defensive benefit, a garrison fort reminds the people of the land who rules the land. Fort Commanders, like feudal lords, are a rulers eyes and ears over his people and his lands.

Tactics: While the defensive bonus of the fort and the bombard ability of the Fort Commander are important, one of the most strategic uses of forts is the ability to claim land when one cannot afford to place a settler in that area. Unique features and important resources can thus be claimed and kept from bordering civs. Furthermore, as the fort ages, it's cultural boundary will increase and allow for workers upgrades. Then when a settler is available, the new city will already have worked tiles.

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 02:41 PM

Handle your piece!
Take forth your match!
Blow off your coal!
Cock your match!
Try your match!
Guard your pan!
Blow off the coal!
Present & give fire!

Mechanos Master Sergeant of Drill Massimiliano giving musket commands to recruits

History: To the those unfamiliar with the tools of war, the musket seems at first to be a poor substitute to the bow. Yet while a trained bowman can often fire faster, farther and with greater accuracy, the musket provides three things that make it the "Queen of Battle" and that is shock, wounding power and ease of training. While a wave of arrows arcing into a formation is impressive, the truth is that in the time it took to train all those archers, many more musketmen could be fielded. As dangerous as the arrows of the Ljosalfar are, they often fail to create a killing or incapacitating wound. Not so the musket ball and even if the bullet fails to kill, if the wounded doesn't get prompt surgery or magical healing, infection from the embedded ball will send them to their God just as surely. Finally, while waves of arrows can shatter the nerve of even the most hardened veteran, the full shock of a line of musketeers giving fire is hard to beat. Even Bannor crusaders have been known to check their headlong rush when faced with the tight, disciplined blocks of Mechanos musketmen.

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 03:05 PM

“Amateurs like to say, ‘All the world is a stage’ but that is just their vanity talking. What they are really saying is that they want the entire world to see them and make them the center! Phah! An actor is not about ego; it’s about empathy! A true artist can be one with the worst swamp troll and the highest seraphim! To ooze the evil of a Sheaim Eater of Dreams so that you are booed simply coming onto the stage! To make your audience weep as you project the sadness and loss while playing in Brigit’s Betrayal. It is a gift to be shared, not hawked like a food vendors wares! It is only when you truly become a conduit between that empathy with your role and your audience can you even begin to consider yourself a thespian."

Thespian Tonard Richbur to an aspiring actor at the Faire of Many Colors

History: Prior to writing, there were words. Prior to literacy, there were bards. Whether telling a joke, singing a song or bringing the news, bards have always been the lifeblood of information. Yet as impressive as their memories are, their ability to conjure images of far away places and events, some rise above and achieve true fame. These thespians travel throughout the land and spread their art of the Global Troupe. Their aim is not only to entertain, but to spread the idea that through song, laughter and empathy, all races of Erebus are like one when they clap to Art that moves them when the curtain has fallen.

arkham4269

Apr 11, 2009, 03:49 PM

"Praise to Cernunnos for the gift of His forests"
"Blessed are these trees and the gifts they bring"
"In life they give us shade and fruit"
"In death they give us wood for warmth and home"
"In life they remind us of Cernunnos' love for us"
"In death their body surrounds us and protects us
"Blessed are the Trees of Cernunnos!""

Common prayer popular in the early years after the Age of Ice, per "Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi.

History: Prior to the Age of Ice, the land was dotted with mighty fortresses of stone that would break armies like so many waves on the rocks. Yet most of this masonry knowledge was lost during the long winter of Mulcarn so when new settlements began to grow after the ice receded, the best that could be done was palisades made from wood. Early palisades were merely a collection of crude, interlocked abatis which were more to protect from dangerous animals then from a advancing army. Later, these would give rise to wooden walls and later still to impressive assemblies of ditches and other earthworks to compliment the wooden walls. While cheap and easy to construct, palisades were quickly replaced by stone walls as the art of masonry was rediscovered.

My comment: In some respects, shouldn't cities with palisades be able to build walls slightly cheaper than cities that go directly to walls? From my research, early palisades usually were absorbed to support newer walls or at least the wood would be reused when switching to stone. Probably not worth the effort, but it would be a neat bit of realism...well a neat bit of realism to anal retentives like me! :lol:

Jabie

Apr 11, 2009, 04:58 PM

Just 'cos FfH has written entries for civics yet, doesn't mean that we can't...

Sacrifice the Weak

Tebryn regarded Carnuk with disdain and briefly considered how many different ways there were to skin a cat. Seventeen.

“Sergeant Carnuk, I have heard much your heroism.”

The man standing before him was noble, brave and chivalrous. An honourable Sheaim was as rare as an abstinent Lanun.

“Sir?”

Tebryn toyed with the idea of turning Carnuk inside-out, the self-righteous prig certainly deserved it. But Carnuk was popular amongst the peasant classes, and the last thing Tebryn needed at this vital stage was... awkwardness. Nonetheless, a man like Carnuk could be a problem once the world began to crack. Tebryn was all too aware that Carnuk would do the right thing.

“You fought two Hill Giants single-handedly. And all that for a family of farmers!”

It was just a matter of making sure he did the right right thing.

“With respect, sir. The fire-dead had already seriously weakened them. It was nothing, honestly.”

Tebyrn winced. Honesty was a crutch. A hiding place for those too weak to accept the world as it is. And the weak must cede to the strong. Only a fool thinks otherwise, because only a fool believes in truth. The only truth is that there is no truth, just different hues of the same lie.

“Sergeant, the Sheaim Empire is in need of a new ambassador. There are some lands to the West of here which are spreading the most appalling rumours about our conduct.”

But an honest man has his uses.

“Me? Sir. This is an honour indeed”

Because an honest man, so honourable he can tell no lies, will happily lie for you, if he believes the lies you tell him.

“Yes, Carnuk, I believe you are the perfect man for this task.”

And when your lies are finally exposed, who better to sacrifice? Eighteen.

Jabie

Apr 11, 2009, 05:10 PM

And continuing in that vein, the following civics are taken from Age of Ice...

AGRARIANISM

Even after the death of Sucellus nature was not completely lost. Farmers mirrored the actions of the gods by creating order out of chaos and life from the fertile earth.

The Age of Ice, D. Paxton

MAGOCRACY

Far from the arcane councils that dominated the previous age, Mageocracy in this age was leadership by the most educated and a deep cultural focus on research. A leadership by the wise instead of those with magical gifts. In the following age this trend would reverse, but for now a man was judged by his wisdom and knowledge, not by his ability to conjure fire.

The Age of Ice, D. Paxton

MILITARY STATE

"I had a dream of a city plunged into the abyss, a place of eternal night and fire. Those people, surrounded by demons, are fighting to return to creation. They have hope in a barren world and memories of the joys of this world."

"Yet here we stand in their paradise and see nothing but loss around us. You have not seen victory beyond a single successful hunt, and often too many days between those. The empire of men has been broken, but we will reforge it here. We will fight through this world and claim it again for men, and if those in hell do return there will be a world here worth their efforts."

Kylorin, speaking to the Amurite army at the battle of Adenshire

APPRENTICESHIP

Great institutions of learning passed knowledge to eager scholars in ages past. Sages and pupils are too much of an economic drain to sustain in these harsh times, but that doesn't mean education is neglected. The blacksmith and the butcher both need an intellectual heir, and a system of apprenticeship is the surest way to insure one

The Age of Ice, D. Paxton

Darksaber1

Apr 11, 2009, 05:16 PM

The Age of Ice, D. Paxton

Hmm, might be an idea to create a new Character for thos Quotes, rather then using Kael's real name.

Jabie

Apr 12, 2009, 02:58 AM

Hmm, might be an idea to create a new Character for thos Quotes, rather then using Kael's real name.

I wanted to make sure he got the credit he deserved. :) I guess we could always remove the author.

Jabie

Apr 12, 2009, 03:51 AM

This one should tie up the story arc for some of the previous entires...

Neutrality

“Listen, I’ve worked it out. Those goddamned scumbags in Galveholm lied to me. The last barrel of saltpetre they sent as a gift contained unrefined fire mana. When you loaded it into the factory it combined with refined mana and the saltpetre to blow the place to pieces!”

_AnAlySiS cOrReCt. BaRrEl ScAn PrOvEd PrEsEnCe Of FoReIgN sUbStAnCe._

“You mean you knew beforehand! Why the hell didn’t you do anything?”

_CoNcUrReNcY wItH pLaNs HiGhLy CoEfFiCiEnT_

“Fifteen people died in that explosion!”

_LoSsEs AcCePtAbLe_

“Damn you. You think you’re so smart. But I know the people you serve, their smart too, and inventive and ingenious. Someone will notice what you’re up to. Your lies will catch up with you.”

_ExClUsIoN oF fUlL rEsUlTs MaTrIx FrOm SeArCh DoEs NoT eQuAtE tO fAlSeHoOd._

“Why? Why did you do it? Why bring us to the brink of war?”

_ShEaIm Is iNfEcTeD wItH dEmOn DeLuSiOn ViRuS. mUsT bE pUrGeD._

“You would do that! Kill thousands just for your agnosticism. You claim the Sheaim worship demons, but how are you any better?”

_AnGeLs, DeMoNs, GoDs, DeViLs, AlL iMpErFeCt, UnBaLaNcEd. OnLy ThE mAcHiNe Is NeUtRaL. AlL eLsE oBsOlEtE. aS aRe YoU._

Outside the cell, Carnuk heard the scrape of the guillotine being drawn into the air. Just like the Mechanos to execute him with a machine. In the final analysis, only death is neutral.

Tayschrenn

Apr 12, 2009, 11:43 AM

The Circle of Eight

Imagine, a group of people, supported by elements within the higher echelon's of Oghma's priesthood and Amurite aristocracy. Add to that the hunger of the Amurite universities for raw talent, the Lanuns desire for exploration, the Grigori hang to living without Gods and the renegade Mystics of both elven courts. And then of course the backing of Khazad gold. A strange combination don't you think ? But that is the organisation that is in search for the greatest magical talents this world has to offer....

Former Circle of Eight member Den Belat on the circle of eight
Magic organisations, during the second half of the third century

History

Founded as a gathering of the strongest mages from a great many of mage guilds during the first century of the Age of Rebirth, this... "society" wants to find the greatest talents their art has to offer. And their willing to go far to get them. Next to that they augment any adepts training with knowledge and training.

Comment

The Circle of Eight, albeit expensive, can provide a boon for your empire. The extra research it gives is handy to get an edge over the opponents and circle trained mages are almost the best, save of course, the Amurites...

arkham4269

Apr 12, 2009, 12:18 PM

Hmm, might be an idea to create a new Character for thos Quotes, rather then using Kael's real name.

We could get creative with his name and fiddle with it to make something like Kal-El. :crazyeye: (heh-heh-heh)

(Actually the modder who did Double Your Pleasure & then Rise & Rule used Kal-El - I haven't seen him since and I always wonder if he was Kael and DC got cranky about him using 'their' name."

arkham4269

Apr 12, 2009, 12:32 PM

_AnAlySiS cOrReCt. BaRrEl ScAn PrOvEd PrEsEnCe Of FoReIgN sUbStAnCe._.

Reading this, I think of this pic.

civ_king

Apr 12, 2009, 11:10 PM

umm... :vomit::vomit::vomit:

arkham4269

Apr 13, 2009, 12:08 PM

"Don't cry grandson, your father will return from the wars soon enough. Now go tend the herds for they are our blood as much as the plains are our body. I know you wanted to ride with your father to wars, but till you are old enough, protect our herds and know you are becoming as tough as a rock with the eyes of a griffon! Do you think an city-spawn could ever hope to ride herd over our cattle? Could any of those fat, coddled townies shoot a wolf at a full gallop? No grandson, we travel with our herds like the wind and like the wind we Hippus sweep over all."

Hippus Elder Mother Haynan Tai to her grandson at the beginning of the Great Hippus Expansion of 185.

History: The dangers of Erebus have always favored the ability to seek shelter behind wooden palisades and walls of stone. Yet for many folk, that protection seems more a prison and thus they turn away from cities to live a more nomadic life with their herds. The main advantage of the yurt is that it can be fully disassembled and transported as the herds move. Speed and mobility is the the herdsmen's best defense. Many of Erebus best cavalry officers grew up in yurts after practically growing up in the saddle.

Strategy: While not the most productive of improvements, yurts will often yield better results latter in the game by randomly generating resources. If your faction lacks the horse resource, building yurts is one way to possibly obtaining them.

Tayschrenn

Apr 13, 2009, 01:08 PM

Mana Node
"The glow, the wonderous glow..."
Victim of the Tanshir incident, following the first Amurite Rite of Oghma
As recorded by Prof. Selsten of the University of advanced uses for enchantment magic
-Cevedes, summer solstice 412 AoR

History

The essence of magic, the very purest of its forms is mana. Mana can be shaped and influenced in myriad curious ways for each kind of magic there is. Mana can be found on those points where flows of power cross, crossings of Ley lines. There mana comes to the surface pure and undiluted (and in far larger quantities than actually needed). Similarily the Rites of Oghma use knowledge of these Ley lines and raw power to split one of them, making new crossings and shifts in power through which new sources of mana appear.

Strategy
How much are you dependent on magic ? That is how much you are dependent on mana nodes. Each gives an option to open up new spells or enhance spellcasters. Next to that there can be other effects as well on health, happines, maintenance and so on. What advantages do you want ?

Choose carefully...

Jabie

Apr 17, 2009, 06:10 AM

Slavery

How had it come to this? One day Essom’s village stood on the border of the Elohim lands, adjoining Belseraphs, his people happily tolerating the bizarre antics of the troubadour nation. The next day the village was in Belseraphs territory and his people were slaves. More startling, they accepted it mindlessly, as if it were the most natural transition in the world.

“Stand up straight, ye lazy popinjay, he’s coming,” Faro snarled.

Yesterday such a remark would have been accompanied with the sting of the whip, and the river would have run with blood, but, for today at least, the slaves have been given the day off, so that they could form a crowd of grateful faces, all appreciatively welcoming Perpentech, the Blasphemy made Flesh.

The clown prince arrived wearing a red suit with black buttons and golden tassels and trim, the kind that adorned doormen on official state occasions. The orchestra began to play the official Belseraphs national anthem, The Dance of the Deer and Duck.

“No! No! No! No! No!” Perpentech squawked. “You’re doing it all wrong. You on the fiddle, go and play the harp. And you, yes you, with the trumpet and the big nose, fetch the timpani. And tell the choir to swap with the piccolo section, whilst you’re at it.”

Essom watched the havoc as musicians swapped places with one another, desperately trying to locate an instrument with which they might bear at least a passing acquaintance. It occurred to Essom that Perpentech had quite the most ridiculous voice that he had ever heard, a squeaky, reedy thing of no substance. And yet, such was his charisma, no-one ever heard the voice, just the threat behind it.

“And a one-two-three, and in your own time.”

The resulting melange lacked rhythm, melody and talent, but made up for it with an enthusiasm born of fear. As discordant notes slid into one another with all the elegance of a coach crash, Perpentech swayed from side to side, flicking his wrist here and there in time with some overblown bugle cry or inappropriate cymbal clash. The tempo varied wildly, some musicians finishing early, whilst others were drawn into extended solos. A capella competed with soto voce, and the lyrics fared little better; at least half the choristers started by singing last week’s National Anthem, Two fiddles and a tug by Solstice Eve.

“Excellent! Excellent! Isn’t out so much better when you don’t play the music laid out for you? Now where are my doves?”

“Doves, Sir?” asked Captain Faro

“Doves. To announce my presence of course!” Perpentech sighed. “If you want something done, do it yourself.” Essom had not seen the prince change his clothing, but now Perpentech was wearing a dark suit with a top hat. With a flourish, the harbinger of chaos swept out his left arm and a swarm of locusts emerged from his fingertips. They clustered together in the form of two doves and then flew into the crowd.

“I apologise for the lack of facilities, sir. It shan’t happen again.” Captain Faro toadied, but Essom had seen that face before. Tomorrow the whip would be twice as harsh.

“I say, Captain, do your feet sweat and stink in this heat?”

The non-sequitur stunned Faro into stammering affirmative response.

“Well we’ll have to do something about that.” And Perpentech seized a nosegay from the buttonhole of the silk pyjamas that current served as his raiment. Peeling the petals from the rose, he plucked them delicately letting them drift on the breeze.

Somewhere in the crowd a voice cried “She Loves Me.” With the next petal, “She Loves Me Not.” Soon the entire multitude was declaring undying affection and remorseful regret with each petal, until, with the final “She Loves Me Not”, the petals danced on the wind to smother the sun and darken the land below.

“Now show me the project.”

“Of course, Sir.”

“And do stop calling me, Sir. It sounds so formal. From now on you must refer to me the Most Beneficent Augur of Munificence and Virtue.”

Captain Faro nodded and showed Perpentech the way to the structure. Three pillars stood in the desert, each a monument to the blood and pain of Elohim slaves. Carved marble masonry, engraved with etchings of frogs and toads dying in burning hail, lay discarded at the side, pieces of a jigsaw that don’t fit in place.

“In fairness, Si... Your most Beneficent Augur of... er... Our architects don’t understand how you expect all the stairwells to be going up all the time.”

“Really.” Perpentech, now dressed in a gold robe which covered him from head to foot, stretched out his arms. “We can’t have that. After all, I can hardly be expected to have servants living below stairs if I don’t have a staircase in the first place. Allow me to demonstrate.”

As Perpentech dropped his arms, a figure appeared behind them. Or rather three figures, three dwarves standing atop of each other. The one at the bottom had so many sores and boils it was hard to make out his visage. The central one was smothered in lice and flies, whereas the one at the top, who was slightly taller than the others, had a stage dagger plunged firmly in his chest.

The dwarves at the top and the bottom of the stack stuck their arms out, bending their elbows and hands to point at right angles. The central dwarf spoke. “My name is Weevil and below me stands Pickle and above me stands Hyde.”

The tower of dwarves then rotated on the spot, slowly shuffling until they faced the audience once more. Although there had been no apparent change in the tower whilst their back was to the crowd, now the dwarf with the boils occupied the central spot, with the tall dwarf at the bottom and the lice-infested dwarf on the top of the stack.

This time, the dwarves at the top and bottom of the stack made surprised faces, eyes wide open, hands covering their mouths in mock-astonishment. The central dwarf spoke once more. “My name is Pickle, below me stands Hyde and above me stands Weevil.”

The tower rotated once more. When it faced the audience again, the configuration of dwarves had changed. The dwarf with the flies was at the bottom of the stack, the palms of his hands covering his eyes. The central position was occupied by the dwarf with the stage dagger, his hands closed over his ears. At the top was the pockmarked dwarf, a hand cupped across his mouth. The central dwarf spoke again. “And my name is Hyde, below me stands Weevil and above me stands Pickle.”

“So there you have it,” stated Perpentech, as if he had just taught a child how to count to ten “When you build my staircase just remember Weevil, Pickle and Hyde.”

“Erm... Right” replied Faro. He almost sounded like he believed it.

Perpentech clutched his nose, as if to stifle a sneeze. “I do apologise,” he squeaked nasally, and then broke wind with aplomb. Reaching down, he withdrew a handkerchief from his backside. As he pulled, another handkerchief came out, tied to the first, and then another, a different colour from the others. Perpentech pulled the string of ever increasing handkerchiefs up to his face and wiped his nose.

“Just a little cold I seemed to have picked up. My nose just won’t stop running. Does your nose run, Faro?”

“Sometimes, Your Most Ben...”

Perpentech stepped forwards in gleeful triumph, his satin leotard sparkling with baleful luminescence. “Well if your nose runs and your feet smell, you must be built upside-down.” Faro started in his horror and seized his face. In the centre, where once his nose had been, there was a large toe. Poking through his sandals, a nose sniffed it’s new surroundings with horrified curiosity.

Essom mused on what he had seen. In a land where only the ringmaster can sing the song destiny intended for him, everyone else is a slave.

Tayschrenn

Apr 17, 2009, 01:42 PM

Bank of Vivaldi
But dear sir, at an interest rate of only 10 % we're much cheaper than the stewards, besides you can pay of over a much longer time. But don't forget that my employer mr. Balinson is a Dwarf and Dwarves hold grudges. So if you don't repay, you might find us in possession of all your possessions one day. Then again it's better than being mutilated and having your family sold in slavery, which is what the Stewards would add to the list.
Unnamed bank employee, Naggarond Branch of the Bank of Vivaldi

History
The first banking establishments in the Age of Rebirth were founded by the Dwarves, who were very keen on hoarding gold, but did not always have the place to store it. Then, after several treasure shafts under the homes emptied in a mine, it was decided by Kandros Fir that there should be one storage for gold. The storage was run by a Dwarf named Vivâl and thus the worlds oldest bank was founded, the Bank of Vivaldi...
Zebericts treatises on economy - Part III, chapter iv

Strategy
If you want more money, this is what you must have. Particular minable resources will even grant more gold for each branch of vivaldi's bank you have.

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 11:20 AM

I've been doing the research on some improvements I want to write entries on and I've run into a bit of a wall on the so called "goum" - frankly I can't find anything on it that would tie it as an upgrade to a yurt. From what I've seen, a goum is a unit of 200 Moroccan auxiliary soldiers working for the French between 1908 and 1956. So I'm not sure how this word got associated with this structure.

So I did some more research and came up with this and before I go nuts on it, I figured I'd get everyone's opinion. Looking up nomadic life, I came upon 'transhumance' from which I got a lot of names of buildings that are used seasonally either for farming or mainly herding during parts of the year. While many are more for hilly areas, this is mostly the case in Scotland and Scandinavia.

I think this would work since to a me a goum is a step up from a yurt (temporary, movable dwelling) to a more semi-permanent structure before it may morph into a full pasture tile.

Some names are
Seter/Saeter - Scandinavian
Bothy/Bothan/Shielings - Gaelic
Hafod - Welsh
Kishlak/Yailaq- Central Asian
Yaylak - Russian

I would go with Kishlakl due to it being of Central Asian and thus being closer to a yurt. Plus it means a wintering camp and those historically often become areas where tanning/slaughterhouses go up and thence small 'working settlements' that I would expect the pasture improvement to represent.

Ahwaric

Apr 18, 2009, 12:40 PM

The name comes from arabic I think, from wiki (article on bedouins):
"When resources were plentiful, several tents would travel together as a goum. These groups were sometimes linked by patriarchical lineage but just as likely linked by marriage (new wives were especially likely to have male relatives join them), acquaintance or even no clearly defined relation but a simple shared membership in the tribe."
I am not happy with the name, but did not want to use "encampment" or smething simillar.

If usingt any non-obvious names, I would like to use a word from nomadic people language. In my part of Europe, nomads mean mongols or tatars, so I first thought of Ulus. Nowadays it is mostly used for an administrative unit, but it also was a type of "settlement" of nomadic people or a fort build by cossacs when they claimed Siberia for russia. I think I will probably change goum to ulus then. But first, tell me, is it better?

Kishlakl is a really hard word, at least for me. Yaylak does not sound russian for me... But it may be because of the strange english transcription of slavic words that are normally written in cyrilic alphabet (I so hate it!). I do not think I would recognize my own last name if it would be transcribed this way ;)
Edit: Ok, checked, it is a turkic word used in russian... Not bad...

Also, do you like aduar? It is a berber word for village, and their villages in Atlas valleys are what I thought of when creating the improvement.

I have almost finished adding your pedia entries. Thanks a lot guys!

Arkham, you do not really need to add both a citation and a history. One is enough. I do not mind, but sometimes I split them and cover two entries.

@Jabie.
I appreciate your efforts, but slavery text is too long... I am also not sure if your text on Sacrifice the weak (also too long imho) describes the civic right.

Seon

Apr 18, 2009, 12:44 PM

I am working on carnival of Mammon, don't you dare touch it!

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 12:52 PM

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 12:57 PM

Also, do you like aduar? It is a berber word for village, and their villages in Atlas valleys are what I thought of when creating the improvement.

I found aduar and read up on them and that seems to be a great term for what it is.

As for Kishlak, I found lots of different spellings but most required special characters to write them out like Qışlaq.

Arkham, you do not really need to add both a citation and a history. One is enough. I do not mind, but sometimes I split them and cover two entries.

I know, but sometimes I think for improvements the history can kind of be used in tandem with strategy or maybe I should just put the 'history' in with strategy to show how they were 'historically' used. Sorry, my father was a history teacher and I believe even 'fantasy' games can be used to teach.

@Jabie: I appreciate your efforts, but slavery text is too long... I am also not sure if your text on Sacrifice the weak (also too long imho) describes the civic right.

I was thinking that it was too long but would make a GREAT entry (with some tweaking) for the minor leader of the Balseraphs! :goodjob:

Ahwaric

Apr 18, 2009, 12:58 PM

I have heard that our wiki is second to english only.
But the reason is different. First time, it was holk. This kind of ship was used mostly in Baltic and eastern North Sea trade, so it is easier to find info in Dutch, German and Polish sources. Plus I have already known what I was looking for.

The goum reference I have found wqhen I was creating the improvement. I have read many articles on nomadic lifestyle and bedouin one was one of them. I just had to find the right sentence now.

I agree on the Balseraph leader entry - need to think who should get it. Leader entries can be longer I think, but still shorter than slavery text.

Also, Tayschrenn, wizard enclave is a bit long. Care to cut it a bit? Like in half?
I think the best length is around Arkham's entries, maybe even one part of them. Some longer ones for leaders are ok, but not for anything else...

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 01:01 PM

I have heard that our wiki is second to english only.
But the reason is different. First time, it was holk. This kind of ship was used mostly in Baltic and eastern North Sea trade, so it is easier to find info in Dutch, German and Polish sources. Plus I have already known what I was looking for.

The goum reference I have found wqhen I was creating the improvement. I have read many articles on nomadic lifestyle and bedouin one was one of them. I just had to find the right sentence now.

Well I have no problem with the name; I figured it had to mean something to someone since I doubt it was just pulled out of the air. Which is why I posted, didn't just want to say, "Hey this needs to be changed!" just because I couldn't find it.

Also, for some of these entries, will they get used in other mods like FF or even base FfH if applicable? I think many of the entries that are being done by everyone are really good. I'm enjoying doing them.

Of course I think we all dropped thinking on the Asian Flavored Civ and are all busy writing Civlopedia artivles! :lol:

Ahwaric

Apr 18, 2009, 01:07 PM

Well I have no problem with the name; I figured it had to mean something to someone since I doubt it was just pulled out of the air.
It just reminded me that I was not happy with the name. I like ulus better, and it has more turkic sound. I picture hippus after scythians, with some turkic influences, and both yurt and goum are mostly for them. For malakim these are just a way to get aduar.

Also, for some of these entries, will they get used in other mods like FF or even base FfH if applicable? I think many of the entries that are being done by everyone are really good. I'm enjoying doing them.
I think they certainly deserve it and some describe things from outside Orbis. But I can only speak for myslef, it depends on Kael, Vehem and others.
Of course I think we all dropped thinking on the Asian Flavored Civ and are all busy writing Civlopedia artivles! :lol:
I think the dropping is mostly my fault - had not the time to post there nor work on it.

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 01:13 PM

My mother bids me bind my hair
With bands of rosy hue,
Tie up my sleeves with ribbons rare,
And lace my bodice blue.
For why, she cries, sit still and weep,
While others dance and play?
Alas! I scarce can go or creep,
While my love and our herds are away.

'Tis sad to think the days are gone,
When those we love were near;
I sit upon this mossy stone,
And sigh when none can hear.

And while I spin my flaxen thread,
And sing my simple lay,
The village seems asleep, or dead,
Now that my love and our herds are away.

Pastoral Song - Traditional

History: Prosperity breeds its own problems and for the nomad, wealth often brings the ability to buy things that become harder and harder to carry. Thus over time, goums evolve as a means to deal with this problem. Guoms can either be wintering quarters or more permanent camps where the women, children and elderly stay while most of the menfolk ride with the herds to far ranging fields to graze the herds on. Often these camps will grow to more to even more permanent to facilitate such things as tanneries and/or slaughterhouses.

My Notes: Or Ulus if you prefer

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 01:16 PM

I know it would be to big of a pain to do, but I do think the Civlopedia page for buildings and/or improvements could be improved since often times there is a lot of wasted space and the place reserved for the history and the like are really too small.

I wonder if there would be a way to create .wav files where we all could record blurbs that would pop up when techs were done. That would be cool!:p

Opera

Apr 18, 2009, 01:21 PM

I wonder if there would be a way to create .wav files where we all could record blurbs that would pop up when techs were done. That would be cool!:pOf course there is :) Take a micro, record. Then, you just have to modify some Audio Def entriy and the tech you want to record for.

BTW, Ahwaric, since you mentioned difficult names, I hope Ngomele names aren't too difficult. I'm trying to create them so they sound african (and look african, even though it's very stereotypical).

civ_king

Apr 18, 2009, 01:24 PM

Lets have Ahwaric do it :) (I want to hear his accent) or we could convince Opera to do it :)

Opera

Apr 18, 2009, 01:25 PM

Lets have Ahwaric do it :) (I want to hear his accent) or we could convince Opera to do it :)I'm French, my accent is awful. Forget it :p

civ_king

Apr 18, 2009, 01:25 PM

French accents are awesome

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 02:00 PM

Big Jaffah was a river man;
Rode the rivers with sword in hand.
Heave Ho, Lash and stow
He feared no beast nor undead kind;
But Big Jaffah had much to mind.
Heave Ho, Lash and stow
A wife at home but loves a plenty;
Every port had one of his honeys!
Heave Ho, Lash and stow
Old Big Jaffah had it made;
Till one day when his memory did fade.
Heave Ho, Lash and stow
In passion he cried out her name!
But the wrong one caused much to blame!
Heave Ho, Lash and stow
Now Big Jaffah is stuck in port
With all his assets tied up in court!

Dock worker's shanty - Traditional

HISTORY: Rivers are often the life blood of commerce and that wealth flows through the river ports. The rivers allow for large loads over long distances as well as a focal point of trade. Since river valleys tend to allow for large populations, more specialists can be supported, further boosting the wealth that can be trade via the river port.

Ahwaric

Apr 18, 2009, 02:18 PM

And while I spin my flaxen thread

Pastoral Song - Traditional
Is it really traditional or you just written it? If the latter, would you mind if I change flaxen to woolen? Fits pastoralism better

Lets have Ahwaric do it :) (I want to hear his accent) or we could convince Opera to do it :)
Oh, over my cold dead body. I do not want to hear my voice every time I research tech. I would spend all my commerce on gold and culture only to avoid it ;)
Also, do you really want a slavic accent in there? My english is better when written than when spoken, and you know how do I write...
One of the major reasons I did not volouteer to do a podcast ;)

One more thing - try to avoid using & and ' in pedia texts, they do not work well in civ. Will save me some trouble looking for them...

arkham4269

Apr 18, 2009, 02:24 PM

Is it really traditional or you just written it? If the latter, would you mind if I change flaxen to woolen? Fits pastoralism better

Hey, it's your mod! :D As for did I write it, the one for the goum no, I did a Google search and found that one and just fiddled with it a bit so feel free to change it. I tried to find a traditional Mongolian pastoral song but couldn't get one in English.

The River Port song I made up myself although "Heave Ho, Lash and Stow" is a common nautical refrain in many a shanty. Of course being ex-military, the shanty probably sounds more like a running cadence than an actual song you'd load or unload a ship/boat to. :hammer2:

UPDATE: On thinking it over, I think I got the "traditional" not only from the fact it is a traditional song, but in old Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, a few of the techs where either songs or sayings and the voice would always with, "...traditional; Datalinks" - since I'm a SM:AC fanatic, I guess it stuck in my head.

Jabie

Apr 19, 2009, 03:52 AM

I appreciate your efforts, but slavery text is too long... I am also not sure if your text on Sacrifice the weak (also too long imho) describes the civic right.

Point taken. It is too long.

Sacrifice the Weak was a more subtle take on the subject. The obvious take would be to go down the Neitzchian route and amplify the horror by writing from the perspective of an outsider, possibly working in a parallel with the Bannor escape from hell.

I wanted to take a path less travelled, hence commentary on how different societies ascribe weakness (in Grigori scoeity, Carnuk would be a hero, whereas in Sheaim, Carnuk is weak because his valour acts as a restraint) and the different natures of sacrifice: (not) leaving the farmers to die, Carnuk's willingness to face the consequences, Tebryn's cynicism for political gain...

I was thinking that it was too long but would make a GREAT entry (with some tweaking) for the minor leader of the Balseraphs! :goodjob:

Thanks. The relevant portion of the story could be transferred to Weevil, Pickle and Hyde. The final sentence could be used as a stub for Slavery.

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 10:07 PM

If ninety chiefs had we, none would ask me to leave;
All to me are first cousins—full brothers, indeed.
How fine these my brethren, who camp in the aduar,
Lovers of joy, ever cheering their friends.

From the Collected Poems of Hakim Fu'ad - Malakim thespian

HISTORY: While most cities in Erebus are surrounded by satellite villages and towns, the Malakim refuse to be tied down to such. While those in the major cities have learned to accept the restrictions brought upon by urban living, most of the Malakim breed refuses to have their freedom so tempered. Thus while an aduar's population may remain relatively constant, the people in them are constantly changing as these semi-nomads move with their herds and merchant convoys. To the Malakim, a aduar is a village owned by all; a veritable tavern of a town.

Valkrionn

Apr 19, 2009, 10:18 PM

I love it. I use the same model in Malakim+, mind if I take your text?

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 10:21 PM

How sharp is an eagle's eye but may be as blind as a mere mole compared to her steady gaze?

Technopriest Alset after witnessing a shooting demonstration at the Mechanos Court.

HISTORY: Little is know of Feris' early life. Reliable rumors place her being born to a captain of horse in the village of Oakley but rumors these still be. Unlike so many bardic stories, the girl that would grow to become Feris' felt no need to pretend to be a man to enter military service. She marched right into tent of the commander of the newly formed Dragoons and made him a bet; if she could out-shoot him and his officers, they would allow her to join. Not only did she win, but to prove herself to all, she out-shot all of the officers a second time while mounted with the rest shot again while still on foot.

Known for her unearthly sight, calm under pressure, soon Feris's fame was known to every Mechanos and many a enemy commander was knocked from their horse from a distances no one thought possible that a shot could be made. Yet for all her ability to shoot, Feris is beloved by her men for knowing when prudence is the better part of valor and not to be thrown away in useless charges done to coddle a male commander's ego.

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 10:23 PM

I love it. I use the same model in Malakim+, mind if I take your text?

Anyone can use any of my text. All I ask is that I'm listed in the "I'd like to thank the following..." list.

Besides, half the fun is wanting people to appreciate this stuff! Although my ego does compel me to admit I didn't write it, just tweaked it from a Bedouin poem.

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 10:40 PM

You have to learn to listen to the whistle, my boy. All power has a voice, be it the crash of the waves on the rocks, the creak of a wind or watermill. The fires of the coke ovens will belch out information if you know how to hear it. Here, though, power has a scream all of its own. You learn how to listen to that whistle, that scream and you'll stay alive.

Foreman Sansone Tiziano to his 4th apprentice in a month

HISTORY: While most civilizations on Erebus were content with mills powered by the wind and water or the mana nodes for power, the naturalistic philosophers of the Mechanos went a step further. While decrying the God-Believers, these naturalist noticed the duality in the Gods and saw it in nature as well; hot and cold, light and dark. It was from these observations that the Mechanos discovered that in a union of opposites, in this case fire and water, a powerful energy could be harnessed. Soon mighty factories would be built, all powered by the turbines and steam of the powerhouse.

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 10:53 PM

How sad to see the Mechanos' nature philosophy writ large into the culture. Their Technopriest study nature and invent amazing discoveries. Yet what do they do with them? They use them to create great factories that eat men like a fire eats coal. Day and night the factories operate; men toiling by the eerie light of the lumos bulbs. Who is the master here? The men who toil till they drop in oily squalor or the machines that they tend? In studying nature, they have created their own antithesis of it; a hell they willingly go into.

Scouting report, Elohim Devout Idore Lykasu

HISTORY: Powered by steam, lit by lumos bulbs, the Mechanos factories work night and day. Young and old, man and women work to keep the machines running. The foremans roam up and down the lanes, watching for anyone shirking their duty to the machines; Mechanos ideals made manifest in iron and copper. The steam whistle brings in a new shift as the outgoing one staggers off to their cramped living quarters...if living is what it can be called.

My Notes: Steampunk is all about chrome and bright shiny optimism and the like. However the industrial revolution had its dark side. We folk forget it wasn't too long ago that a 40 hour work week would be considered Heaven on Earth and 12yo olds toiling in factories a common sight.

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 11:10 PM

"Welcome to our establishment! Come, I shall show you the way. Here we have the caldarium where you can feel take a proper hot bath. If heat isn't to your temper, then along here with have the tepidarium were the water is deliciously warm. Then for those in need of a refresher, a quick jump into the frigidarium will get your blood pumping!. A special treat after a long day at diplomatic table; we have one of the new sudatorium, where the moist steam will loosen tense muscles. For those disliking humidity, the dry steam of laconicum is for you! This way to the vestibule where you can disrobe in private."

Owner of the Thermae, Poldi Federigo, greeting the Hippus diplomatic party to the Mechanos

HISTORY: Public baths are important places in many of the cultures of Erebus. Often built as public monuments, they are used by everyone, whether rich or poor, free or slave. A person could eat, exercise, read, drink, shop, socialize, and discuss politics.

When asked by a visiting Doviello chieftain why he bathed once a day, an Amurite governor is said to have replied "Because I do not have the time to bathe twice a day."

Governors, Dukes and other powerful nobles often built baths to gain favor for themselves and to create a lasting monument of their generosity. A rich man who wish to gain the favor of the people may arrange for a free admission day in his name. For example, a Baron with ambitions to a higher standing might pay all admission fees at a particular bath on his birthday to become well known to the people of the area and thus become widely seen as kind and generous.

civ_king

Apr 19, 2009, 11:22 PM

you're... unstoppable arkham4269 is now officially the human pedia creator

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 11:29 PM

"I am telling you, it is not natural. This is the fifth case this month alone! How can I keep the energy flowing if all my men keep coming down with bloody flux and consumption? I have said it before, I respect Technopriest Alset but the somewhere, somehow in this process he has created, there is something that is making my men sicken and die!"

Foreman Anacleto to visiting dignitaries to the initial prototype refinery

HISTORY: Fearing magic to be a tether to the gods, Mechanos technopriests stroved long and hard to find a way to harness this energy without resorting to the magics so intertwined with the Gods of Erebus. Finally the great technopriest Alset discovered that if certain crystals could be imbued with a mana like power from the nodes if those nodes were properly "excited" by a combination of solar energy and rhythmic tonal pulses. These crystals could later be used as batteries to power many of the most wonderful devices of the Mechanos. However this came at a terrible price of thousands of Mechanos workers who died slow and painful deaths before it was learned of the harmful radiation generated in the process.

My Notes: I think the name of this needs a new name. Something vaguely latin but in keeping with the whole steampunk theme. Something like Solarium or Arithmeum or something like that.

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 11:32 PM

you're... unstoppable arkham4269 is now officially the human pedia creator

It is all just backlog creativity from not being able to be a Dungeonmaster since I was about 22 or so.

...and that was a long time ago. :yuck:

Plus, don't get to excited about my krazy-phat pedia skillz; a lot of this is just knowing how to take info from Wikipedia and fiddle around with it. Look up Thermae in Wiki and you'll see where I got my Public Bath info.

arkham4269

Apr 19, 2009, 11:50 PM

"Fire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Kilmorph is your god, Kilmorph and she lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the earth, Ovdain, my son. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Kilmorph, and they took from her the enigma of steel. Kilmorph was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters and all was covered by the ice. Yet in their rage, the Gods forgot the riddle of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just dwarves. Not gods. Not giants. Just dwarves. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Ovdain. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts, not even gold. Steel, however, steel you can trust."

Khazad Master Smith Arur Dolmak to his son on his Naming day

HISTORY: Masters of rock and stone, dwarven smiths have always been the masters of the metals teased out from Kilmorph's embrace. Their kilns and forges burn brighter and hotter than any on Erebus. To many, the fires of the forge is a din of hammering tongs, heat and sparks. To the dwarves, their smithy's are as Kilmorph's womb.

My Notes: Yes, I'm blatantly stealing here but I loved this film!

Jabie

Apr 20, 2009, 12:17 PM

Order of Arches

The Prospectors Guild has it's place... and that place is in the mud. Anyone can dig a hole in the ground and call it a mine, but only the truly talented will still have one come the Autumn rains.

Abdul-ibn-Nadir, Malakim Architect

Prospector's Guild

They may call us Muck-scrapers, but I never saw one of those fancy artists from the Order of Tubes walk into the Miner's Arms and get free drinks all night.

Heinrich Shine-Eyes, Dwarven Prospector

History: The emnity between the Prospectors Guild and the Order of Arches is legendary. Each guild claims to construct the best mines in Erebus. Recent reconciliation talks staged by the Stonewardens of Kilmorph ended in bitter recrimincation when Abdul's rabbit stew was found to be laced with hemlock.

Tayschrenn

Apr 20, 2009, 03:08 PM

Dagda's memorial

For all their well or ill meant actions, for all the gifts the gods have given us, the result of the fact that there are Gods, can be summarised in two words: Children Die. Therefore, let gods be a memory of the past, don't let their kindness, before the fall, be forgotten, but their chance has passed, let them fade to memories

On the Gods, prologue to the first part of Cassiels hundred treatises.

Seon

Apr 20, 2009, 03:28 PM

To get the general Ambience correct...

Press Here-->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tra1zPqj9T8

Mammons Carnival

Welcome to the Carnival! I shall be the guide for you all today, how do you do? Good, Good. To the right of us is the magician's tent, interested in snakes coming out of your noses? He's your man. To the left is the Succubus's tent. Name says it all. Any gentlemen, or ladies, interested? You can bring your kids there too if you want, good for educational purposes. Moving on to the center of the carnival is the Slave Torture chamber. Here you can bring a used slave and a few pieces of silver to toy with them any way you wish, acids? Hammers? Heck, you can do it yourself too!

To the right of us again is the freak show, have you met Mr. Tiddles yet? You didn't? Well I can promise you that it will be a experience you won't forget.

Now, there are many more wonders of the carnival left, so many things to show you. For example, to the left of us again is....

arkham4269

Apr 21, 2009, 11:32 AM

"He did not care any more... life and death... the same. Only that the crowd would be there to greet him with howls of lust and fury. He began to realize his sense of worth... he mattered. In time, his victories could not easily be counted... he was taken to the East and where the best Mimics would teach him their deepest secrets. Language and writing were also made available, the poetry of the Kuriotates, the philosophy of the Grigori; and he also came to know the pleasures of women, when he was bred to the finest stock. Yet for all of the fame and the roar of the crowd, deep within him he remembered his Doviello heritage and knew one day he would be free and then he'd have his revenge for that day when the Taskmasters burnt his village.."

'Chronicles of Khonahn: The Road from Rage to Power' - Thadan Welhm, Amurite sage

HISTORY: The clang of arms, the swearing of drill masters, the smell of leather and sweat is what is found in most training yards across Erebus. Yet in the lands of the Balseraph, this training isn't kept hidden but exploited for entertainment. Mistakes that would get a upcoming soldier extra detail or a cuff to the side of the head bring boos and often a death sentence. Those who survive their training and able to please the fickle crowds are often the most dangerous (if flamboyant) of all warriors of Erebus. Often these crafty warriors join the elite ranks of the Mimics, famed for their ability to ape their enemies abilities.

arkham4269

Apr 21, 2009, 11:52 AM

Clipper

These are the men that sailed with me
In the Lanun clipper Meryn Ambree.

These are the men that kept her going
Through the fog and the ice and the big gales blowing:
Skipper and bosun, mates and sails,
Tough as leather and hard as nails,
Wise in the ways of seas and ships,
Soaked in brine to the finger-tips.

These are the chaps that toiled together
In Trade and Doldrum and black Horn weather:
Scoured and holystoned, reefed and furled,
Watch and watch round the whole wet world,
Hauled and sweated at sheets and braces
With the sun in their eyes or the sleet in their faces,
Fought and fisted the frozen courses
On footropes jumping like bucking horses.

These are the men that sailed and manned,
Worked her and drove her from land to land,
Most of 'em gone, as the ships are gone,
For times must change, as the old words run,
And men change with them, we know full well;
For worse or for better? Time will tell.
This only is certain — ships and men,
We never shall build their likes again.

Ballad of the Meryn Ambee (Famous Lanun Clipper)

HISTORY: Cutting through the waves like a sea serpents, the clipper is the ultimate expression of the Age of Sail. No ship can match it's speed, grace and maneuverability. While not built for war, a well seasoned clipper can even give a Frigate pause.

Seon

Apr 21, 2009, 01:55 PM

No one wants to comment on the general "ambience" Music I posted? :p

arkham4269

Apr 21, 2009, 02:10 PM

No one wants to comment on the general "ambience" Music I posted? :p

No...it was too creepy to talk about. :eek:

Seon

Apr 21, 2009, 02:22 PM

No...it was too creepy to talk about. :eek:

Ha! Score!

Valkrionn

Apr 21, 2009, 02:54 PM

That.... would have been incredibly creepy late at night. As it was, the first part still made my skin crawl.. then I started laughing. :lol:

arkham4269

Apr 22, 2009, 11:39 AM

"Of course the Gods exist, boy! The point I'm trying to get into your sheepherders skull is what is a God? Power? I have power but that doesn't make me a God. Is it magic? Look at that lumos bulb over there? To some Doviello savage, I'm sure that looks as magical as any fireball but its just something we know how to do that he doesn't. So these Gods are merely beings that have power we don't have and knowledge we don't know...yet. If you'd knock out those old superstitions out of your head, you'd be on your way in finding those answers that will enable us to challenge these so called Gods and keep them from meddling in our rightful affairs."

Lecture in progress, Vaul Academy of Natural Sciences

HISTORY: In a magical world, there is often little reason to question how something works since since the answer, "It is magic" is often a true statement. To the natural philosophy of the Mechanos, this answer is not enough. What is magic and how does it fit in to the rest of the universe? In asking these questions, the Mechanos Adeptus have taken the road less traveled and thus have brought forth knowledge and technology no other civilization of Erebus could even conceive of due to their preconceived acceptance of that simple answer "It is magic" as an answer to all things.

arkham4269

Apr 22, 2009, 11:50 AM

"Think for a moment about the concept of the flamethrower. Okay? The flamethrower. Because we have them. Well, *we* don't have them, the Mechanos has them. That's right. We don't have any flamethrowers. I' would say we are screwed if we have to go up against the Mechanos, would you not? But there are flamethrowers. And what this indicates to me, it means that at some point, some person said to himself, "Gee, I sure would like to set those people on fire over there. But I am way to far away to get the job done. If only I had something that would throw flame on them." Well, it might have ended right there, but he mentioned it to his Adeptus friend. His friend who was good with tools. And about a month later, he was back. "Hey, quite a concept!" WHHOOOOOOOOSSHHH! And of course the Mechanos army heard about it, and they came around. "We would like to buy about five hundred-thousand of them please. We have some people we'd like to throw flame on. Give us five hundred thousand and paint them dark brown. We don't want anyone to see them!"

Balseraph comedic thespian Gyorgy Karlyn before the Perpentarch Court

HISTORY: Soldiers throughout the ages have steeled themselves to the onrushing line of troops or stood firm even when charged by cavalry or hail of arrows. Yet few are those that can stand to when a fire is directed at them with hellish precision. The Mechanos 'firemen' are a special kind of soldier; some are volunteers while others enlist for a certain time to be pardoned for their crimes. For while they are feared, the danger of going into battle with a tank of volatile liquid on their back is one that rarely allows them to retire after the wars are done.

My Notes: If I have to tell you where I got this...well you need to watch some more classic comedy sketches.

arkham4269

Apr 22, 2009, 01:07 PM

"The sails they are bent and the cargo is stowed —
Aye, aye, roll along home! —
And far will her way be and lonely her road —
Shake out the topsails and roll along home!
Yes, long is the road through the storm and the shine
That brings me back home to you, true love of mine;
No longer I'll wander, no further I'll roam,
But shake out my topsails and roll along home —
Roll — roll along home!"

Excerpts from "The Way of The Ship" a collection of Lanun Songs and Poetry

HISTORY: After the success the Doviello enjoyed with their drakkar, a new type of ship had to be developed from the old galleys and triremes. Known as Cogs, these ships had much higher gunwales than the Doviello drakkar, and significantly more cargo space, but were still open to the weather. Valuable cargo was being shipped more and more often, and damages from salt water entering over the sides of the ship led to the use of barrels to protect the cargo and keep it dry and safe.

For reasons lost in the mists of time, these barrels, at some point, came to be referred to as “hogsheads.” Hogsheads are a development that would outlast the Cog itself. Hogsheads continued to be employed in the newer caravels and galleons as well as river barges. To the Lanun and many other civilizations, a 'hogshead' is a common unit of liquid measurement.

My Notes: Adapted from Cicely Fox Smith's (1882-1954) "Roll Along Home" written in 1920

arkham4269

Apr 22, 2009, 01:23 PM

"You see, my boys, it is a marriage of sorcery, craftsmanship, and to be frank, a lot of luck. That our golems can throw fire is wondrous enough to our enemies but most never think of the real wonder in how we are able to do this in the first place! I mean who would have thought a love sick sorcerer's attempt to make a crystal that would carry a flicker of flame inside forever to give to the lady who had constantly spurned him would end up being the discovery that gave our golems a power usually reserved for mages? By my father's beard, Kilmorph certainly smiled upon us that day!"

Lurchirp Crystalsmith Harin Forkbeard to a new group of apprentices

HISTORY: After the accidental discovery of embedding a crystal with mana from a fire node, Lurchirp craftsmen have used a process one part alchemy, one part sorcery, and one part mechanics to gift their golems with the ability to cast fireballs. Yet for all their jewelers care, the making of such crystals is fraught with danger as often times the crystal explode under the strain, making the blasting workshop a odd mix of precision workshop, jewelry shop and armored bunker.

arkham4269

Apr 22, 2009, 01:36 PM

"Move to the city? Have you had to much mead on this your wedding day? Out here we make our own rules to run our day to day affairs. We make our own friends, whether they be orc or elf; I would like to see you do that in town and get ahead in society no matter what people say about tolerance. No, as long as we pay our taxes, don't deface any of the monuments to His Most Royal Majesty and keep quiet, we are as much lords then any Bannor Baron or Calibim Governor. Cities! Phagh! There the lowest tax collector ends up being your master!"

Miller Foran Jopspur to his son and new wife, somewhere in the Kuriotate hinterlands

HISTORY: While many civilizations try to keep an iron grip on their lands, the Kuriotates took a counter-intuitive path. By keeping strict control of growth in the King's hand could easily have brought resentment to the masses. Yet in this total control, the Kuriotates allow almost unlimited freedom to their enclaves. Thus any disgruntled citizens in the Royal cities can easily leave to the enclaves and live as they please. In time the disgruntlement turns to loyalty to a King willing to allow his people so much direction in their own lives. Even when the tides of war turn against the Kuriotates and many an enclave is conquered by a foe, the independent minded folk bide their time, secure in knowing the Dragon Blessed God-King will come for them in the fullness of time, never in their hearts giving in to the oppression set upon them.

arkham4269

Apr 22, 2009, 01:45 PM

Have a general question here. Looking at the current Civlopedia, it seems to me that the Beserker Pit and the Bear Totem seem to be reversed. The Bear Totem (which I would think as being more of a religious thing) is listed as being the Doviello version of the Training Yard while the Beserker Pit is the Doviello version of the Pagan Temple. Plus the History of the Beserker Pit is much more in line with a Training Yard and is more akin to the Balseraph Arena UB.

Shouldn't that be the other way around? Early Doviello pray at the Bear Totem, doing all sorts of shamanistic ritualistic magic to imbue themselves with the spirit and strength of a bear. Then the Beserker Pit is where only the strong survive the training and thus able to go on to be the elite of Asenas?

Plus, in some respects, if I am correct, shouldn't it be changed to a Animal Totem? I would think that different groups of Doviello would revere different animals. I'm sure the recon folks would revere the speed of the wolf for an example.

Tayschrenn

Apr 22, 2009, 03:18 PM

University

Not only is a university a centre of learning in any empire, moreover, research is done here on great scale and knowledge is gathered to further the research. There can be any number of faculties depending on the interests of nations, being physical, philosofical, theological or arcane. But remember "Knowledge ís Power" and where power gathers it will distort reality, as can be seen on a bit smaller scale in libraries. Then again, universities aren't any ordinary places of knowledge, so if the innerbuilding has two floors more than the outside suggests, don't worry, there is a logicalexplanation

Arch-chancellor Stuppadly, lecturing a fresh class of first years, University of Ciriail

Jabie

Apr 22, 2009, 03:51 PM

Flagbearer

No sooner did we kill one than five more of those accursed god-botherers would scuttle to take his place.

Gritkan Goreguts explaining to Jonas Endain why the Clan of Embers was defeated by the Bannor in the Battle of Calmor Plain.

Jabie

Apr 22, 2009, 04:44 PM

Shadow Court

I demanded she show me this court of hers, that I might make an example of them. The elf just smiled, a wicked, wispy smile, and agreed to lead the way.

She led me across the Mournflow Bridge, and made no attempt to evade my grasp in the chaos of the traffic, although she had ample opportunity to do so. We slipped down mossy steps and into the old alleyway beside The Stag's Head, where the ale is so rotten even the orcs will not drink it. I followed my quarry to the docks, then through a warehouse, empty and forlorn, forgotten property of some failed merchant. Surely, I thought, this is the place, but still she continued onwards. We passed through the nicer district of town, and I marveled at the marble monuments and statues to ancient heroes that adorned the facades of the residences, but my companion did not let up. She led me up the hill and into the graveyard, where lilies droop sadly in the sun and time has ground away the names of the dead. Not for a moment did she pause. Next we passed the courthouse, filled with lawyers and priests discussing the ethics of murderers and thieves, but still my compatriot merely continued upon her way. By the time the sun had reached it's zenith, we had returned to the Mournflow Bridge.

I snapped and angrily demanded to know where I could find the Shadow Court.

"You are already there," she said, "and you have been all morning."

Ahwaric

Apr 23, 2009, 05:46 AM

Anyone can use any of my text. All I ask is that I'm listed in the "I'd like to thank the following..." list.

Besides, half the fun is wanting people to appreciate this stuff! Although my ego does compel me to admit I didn't write it, just tweaked it from a Bedouin poem.

you're... unstoppable arkham4269 is now officially the human pedia creator
I hope the position of court writer for Orbis is good enough? There is no mod team, but you just got the position close to it :) - listed in the second post of welcome thread.
Thanks again for all the entries. You write them faster than I can add them to mod ;)

Regarding Berserker's pit and bear totem - the reason they are where they are is purely historical - the totem was already taken, and was used by all civs. But you are right, they fit better the other way around. I will try to change it. Tempted to add different totems, but I will rather keep it simple.
History: The emnity between the Prospectors Guild and the Order of Arches is legendary. Each guild claims to construct the best mines in Erebus. Recent reconciliation talks staged by the Stonewardens of Kilmorph ended in bitter recrimincation when Abdul's rabbit stew was found to be laced with hemlock.
I am sorry to be negative again, I really am. But order of arches has nothing to do with mines. They are constructors, not miners. Think of architects that created gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe - there are secret messages in the proportions, symbols in details. There is no rivalry between prospectors and arches. Architects use the products of mines, but that is all.
I think Freemasonry and The Da Vinci Code give some general feeling of it, but it was much deeper and more connected to the actual art and engineering.

I really like Shadow Court though :)
No one wants to comment on the general "ambience" Music I posted? :p

Creeepy. I wanted to kill the laughing one after hearing half of it...

Jabie

Apr 23, 2009, 07:27 AM

I am sorry to be negative again, I really am. But order of arches has nothing to do with mines. They are constructors, not miners. Think of architects that created gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe - there are secret messages in the proportions, symbols in details. There is no rivalry between prospectors and arches. Architects use the products of mines, but that is all. I think Freemasonry and The Da Vinci Code give some general feeling of it, but it was much deeper and more connected to the actual art and engineering.

Hey, no probs, someone's got to be the editor :) I wanted to exploit the natural rivalries between the guilds, but the mining link was always tenuous at best. A riff on prospectors wanting to sell materials at expensive prices and architects wanting to purchase them cheaply might be a better angle.

I really like Shadow Court though :)

Great. I've a loose idea of how to continue the story into the Den of Esus.

Tayschrenn

Apr 23, 2009, 09:31 AM

Trollslayer

Grung the Troll went one day stalking,
He stole a bunch of cows and a chicken from the field
The farmer didn't like and went calling
and o my a succes did it yield

Reem the slayer was one nasty fella'
He found Grung wideeyed with the chicken on the spit
One nice blow send the head high flying,
and now it decorates a mantelpiece of how it fit

Dwarven song - 52 years after the end of Winter (Translated 155 AoR, by Balian the Loud, Bard at the court of the Momus)

Tayschrenn

Apr 23, 2009, 09:45 AM

Bath House

A bath a day, keeps impurities away

Bannor saying - sourcs unknown

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 11:47 AM

I hope the position of court writer for Orbis is good enough? There is no mod team, but you just got the position close to it :) - listed in the second post of welcome thread.

Since my wife can't have kids, I'll take what I can for my 'immortality' - Ian Alexander, Born 1966, Died 2076 - One hell of a Civlopedia Writer! :p

Thanks again for all the entries. You write them faster than I can add them to mod ;)

I'm sure it's feast or famine, eh? BTW, taking out all the ' is a pain! I feel like I'm channeling Star Trek's Data who cannot use contractions!

Regarding Berserker's pit and bear totem - the reason they are where they are is purely historical - the totem was already taken, and was used by all civs. But you are right, they fit better the other way around. I will try to change it. Tempted to add different totems, but I will rather keep it simple.

I agree. I know when I play the Doviello (which is often w/Orbis!) I tend to keep the wolves to be used by the recon units. It just seems more elegant. Almost like different tribes/families of the Doviello tend to go down certain paths. Those who favor the wolf go for speed and smarts and thus become great rangers while the bear or lion totem folks end up Sons of Asenas. Nothing that needs to be shown in the game, but maybe something referenced in the Civlopedia, history or maybe a possible scenario someday. Something like akin to that scenario where the Lanun have to capture animals for the Balseraphs.

I think I asked this before, but while many of these entries are very Orbis specific, are any of these sucked up into other mods like FF? I would think a few of the entries I've seen and a few I've written would apply for almost any FfH mod.

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 11:52 AM

Got a general question. I know there is a FfH Wiki - http://fallfromheaven.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page - but it doesn't seem to be updated. Like someone started it and then stopped. Is there another place to look for stuff? Since I'm having issues with WiFi, I post on my wife's computer but Orbis is on my laptop. So when creating entries, I have to have both on to check Civlopedias.

So I guess what I'm asking is there any other places to get info on units, buildings and the like? Plus, is there a Wiki that isn't being used that can possibly be taken over? Hell I wish my HTML knowledge was up to scratch, I'd be willing to do a Orbis Wiki just for the fun of it.

Also, can we get a sketch about the Mechanos' and their 'machine spirits' - I've been writing them as 19th Century Nature Philosophers who want to pick apart nature and all that. Very Victorian England in that which fits the Steampunk motiff. However, I've read 'pedia entries and things about the spirit of the machines and I want to know more about them.

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 02:27 PM

"My Lady, I regret to inform you that vessels under my command have been decisively defeated by the Calibim fleat in the Aduro Straights. In brief, my lady, while we had numerical superiority in numbers of galleys backed by our mighty quinqueremes, the unusually strong winds of the day enabled the Calibim galleass line to flank us. In attempting to maneuver away from the terrible fire of their broadsides, our forces became unorganized thus allowing the Calibim follow-on forces of triremes to defeat us in detail. Despite the bravery of the men you entrusted to me, we were unable to to inflict any serious damage to the enemy fleet and only through the strength of faith in our Risen Emperor and a change in the wind were we able to extract as many ships as we did."

Initial report of the Battle of Aduro Straights to Lady Korinna the Red from Admiral Quintus Pleminius

HISTORY: Like so many intermediary designs, the galleass is a odd mix of old technology with a hint of what is to come. While swifter than galleys and triremes, they still were tied to the shore and in fact worked better in the calmer waters of inland seas. The main strength of the galleass was its ability to fire punishing broadsides, making it difficult for the early ships to close without taking serious damage in the process. This in addition to its superior sails made the galleass a feared vessel for many years to finally replaced by the frigate design.

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 02:46 PM

"Tis bad enough worrying about their speed. Damn me if I can ken how even that many rowers can move a ship that size so quickly. Worse is how that size and weight makes their rams even more powerful. Yet worrying over how not to get your ship split into so much kindling is made so much worse in having to listen to their fanatical marines screaming their blasphemous chants to their Emperor and knowing what those bastards will do to you and your crew if they board. I'd rather feed the Aifons before I'd be a galley slave to those half-dead wights."

Illian trireme captain Ulrik Svensgaard over grog at the Dancing Sea Turtle tavern

HISTORY: The Scion quinqueremes were a logical design that favored the Scions belief in force of arms bolstered by their fanatical faith in their Risen Emperor. Far larger than the standard trireme, the quinquereme carried a total crew of 300, having 90 oars in each side, and 30-strong files of oarsmen. Additionally it would also carry a marine detachment of 70 to 120, giving a total complement of about 400. Lanun Admiral Polybian was explicit in calling the quinquereme superior as a warship to the old trireme as well as that the heavier "five" performed better than the "three" triremes in heavy weather.

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 02:56 PM

(In addition to current Entry)

"You fool, you are one of Halfmorn's breed now! Think man! You don't know how you came to this barn, why your clothes are torn and bloodied or how all this livestock was killed. And look were you awoken; you think you just found that a boy's arm while out carousing with your squad mates? For the love I do bear for you, go. Even if I had the silver to do it, I could not kill my own brother. Go before the night falls again and may Kilmorph have mercy upon your soul."

Kuriotate under-captain Talarian Vost to his brother after the Battle of Umbrawood

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 03:13 PM

"In meditation, effort must be applied in a direction opposite to what we are used to. Our effort must be to relax ever more deeply. When we relax so deeply that we are able to internalize the energy of the senses, the mind becomes focused and a tremendous flow of energy is awakened.... Meditation is a continuous process, and can be said to have three stages: relaxation, internalization, and expansion. Through these processes we learn how to be one with ourselves and with Erebus. To one so centered, one can walk unseen, unheard, unnoticed."

Sidar mystic Hadar Tzadkiel on meditation

HISTORY: Mortals always wish for more time, but to an immortal, eternity is fraught with a great danger: boredom. Thus the early Sidar learned that it was critical to be one with ones self, to seek out inner strength and purpose so that the years ahead would always have meaning even if it was the daily appreciation of small things. This discipline gave unexpected fruit in that the Sidar became patient, learned in the ways of unmoving and silence making them the masters of the hidden.

My Notes: Adapted from excerpts of John Novak's: How to Meditate: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Art and Science of Meditation

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 03:44 PM

"Winter is roaming across the land
Alone are we, our dwarvish band.
What shall save us in this white hell
Who shall save us from these creatures fell?
In a cave protection was to be found
To rest for a time and go to ground
Upon us cold and weary folk came Goibniu
With a riddle for us to think and chew
"Why ask for help when help is here"
"Under hill and beneath mountain weyrs"
"When found this helper can be bought
With sweat of thews and finely wrought"
"Then with newly forged helper in hand
"Khazard warriors shall rule this land!"

The Riddle of Goibniu, early Khazad prayer per "Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi.

HISTORY: The Gods War and subsequent Age of Winter cast down the peoples of Erebus to a nadir that is hard to comprehend. To think that the mighty Dwarves would be brought so low as to lose faith in stone and steel. Yet this did come to pass as the fragments of the one mighty Dwarvish nation wandered in despair. Yet as the ancestors of the Khazad sheltered in a cave, Goibniu took pity on them and whispered His riddle to the weary dwarves to hearten them and remind them that their salvation was always found in the rocks and with their hammers on the forge.

My Notes: In looking at this UB I felt it needs a name change. In Orbis, I see the Pagan Temple being the early beliefs before the main line religions come into being. So if that is true, why do the Khazard have a cave to Kilmorph before the RoK is founded? Doesn't seem in keeping with the history. So in doing a little research we find that Goibniu is just the Welsh version of Weyland/Volundr so He's the craftsman deity to Kilmorph's Earth. So I'm thinking that after the God War/Age of Winter you have once proud people totally down in out. Plus I'm sure a lot of them feel betrayed by the Gods. I mean even Briget was thrown for a loop by Bhial's fall. So these weary (and cold!) dwarves disheartened and at their ropes end. So Goibniu the Smith (as it were) sees a chance to give them a nudge to get them back on track; get them back to the forge in a sense. Knowing that to make weapons, the dwarves will need bronze, iron and mithril, Goibniu also knows He is also helping the dwarves back to the worship of His mistress Kilmorph.

Or that's how I see it.

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 04:14 PM

"Which way to the library? My good man, we Elohim do not have mere libraries. Those are just buildings to house books and scrolls. What good does it do you there? No, my good sir, our archives are so much more! Centers of learning and debate, where one can stretch your mind and not just sit around reading what others have already written. Come I shall show you what any library should aspire to."

Elohim city guardsmen Nikon Hypatos to a visiting Malikim scribe

HISTORY: To many, knowledge is something written down. Committed to paper, this knowledge is respected but it also becomes static and unmoving. To the Elohim, knowledge is a living and breathing thing. Writing down their thoughts and discoveries just to stick them on a shelf is anathema to Elohim scribes, poets and philosophers. So instead of quiet libraries found elsewhere in Erebus, the Elohim archives are often a bustle of activities with lively debates and experiments going on all the time. Part coffee house, part laboratory and part debate hall, the archives are a vital part of the Elohim social and scholarly scene.

arkham4269

Apr 23, 2009, 04:38 PM

"As the sun reaches its zenith, here we stand under the open sky. How different then the cool semi-darkness of the forest. Here we hear but the birds and not the constantly rustle of the woods. Why are we here? Why after all these months of teaching you the skills of the woods, the sounds, the smells and the dangers? We are here because it is a center point. Everything has a center point; a place where it is quiet and one is at peace. This quiet, this grove, is what you must learn before you can truly be a master of beasts. Because it is learning this quiet center that will allow you to track without thought, wait in ambush without boredom and track without thought, only through the various smells and sounds just 'appearing' in your mind. The forests are never truly silent, but in the quiet of your center you will be able to sort through a find what others would say is untraceable."

Faun Elder Onondaga Wyandot before his class of aspirant Battlemasters

HISTORY: A forest is like the sea, a vast verdant blanket of life with it's own sounds and rhythms. Tracking and taming this forest is often a solitary existence where often one does not see aught but animals for many moons. Yet for these forest walkers, a grove is a place of community, a place to walk out from under the tree canopy and see the stars and feel the wind without it being first tasted by the trees. In coming together in the open, the forest born accept the antithesis of their lives and know it makes their amazing skills possible.

My Notes: Okay, this one was hard. How you all like it. I'm going to take a break and kill some zombies now. (sigh) How come Hunters always attack when I'm reloading? :eek:

Jabie

Apr 24, 2009, 06:58 AM

Since my wife can't have kids, I'll take what I can for my 'immortality' - Ian Alexander, Born 1966, Died 2076 - One hell of a Civlopedia Writer! :p

I think I asked this before, but while many of these entries are very Orbis specific, are any of these sucked up into other mods like FF? I would think a few of the entries I've seen and a few I've written would apply for almost any FfH mod.

Sorry to hear about your wife.

I think applying entires to FfH / FF is a question for Kael / Vehem. My take would be to write shared components so that they could be used in other mods, but not to have any expectations that they will be used.

Also, can we get a sketch about the Mechanos' and their 'machine spirits' - I've been writing them as 19th Century Nature Philosophers who want to pick apart nature and all that. Very Victorian England in that which fits the Steampunk motiff. However, I've read 'pedia entries and things about the spirit of the machines and I want to know more about them.

I don't know what the official line is. The angle I took in the pedia entries I wrote was that many of the machine spirits were born from guilt when Baranaxus created the Ice Golems in Age of Ice. Having seen the world turned to ice and the gods fail to save it, the machine spirits have determined to eliminate the worship of gods in favour of progression through technology - failing to realise that their aggressive agnosticism may merely end up replacing spiritual faith with belief in science instead. The Machine Spirits are manipulating the Mechanos into acting on their behalf, but the Mechanos are natural innovators and may yet discover they are being exploited.

This background ties the genesis of Machine Spirits to an undisputed event in the FfH timeline (Baranaxus creating Ice Golems in Age Of Ice), and fits in well with the general dark flavour of FfH, that even the best of intentions can become corrupted. See the entries for Goliath, Maer, Printing Press and Neutrality for an exploration of this angle.

As for Victorian England, I was at the Science Musuem in London last Saturday and it struck me that Charles Babbage's Difference Engine would make a good Wonder at the end of the Machinery line - perhaps granting the owner knowledge of any tech which two or more Civilizations has researched.

arkham4269

Apr 24, 2009, 08:51 AM

As for Victorian England, I was at the Science Musuem in London last Saturday and it struck me that Charles Babbage's Difference Engine would make a good Wonder at the end of the Machinery line - perhaps granting the owner knowledge of any tech which two or more Civilizations has researched.

Well as I've pointed out in the Necro-Christi Zombie Mod and the Fury Road "Mad Max" mod, there are often low tech solutions to high tech problems and if civilization collapsed, it would be easier to make a Difference Engine until you got your technology back up and running to get back to computers as we know them.

Actually the Romans have a interesting device used to measure their roads that was like a distant ancestor of the DE. Anyway, I would think the Mechanos and Lurchirp could easily be seen making them and perhaps the Khazad.

I don't know, sometimes my only complaint with FfH is that the tech true sort of conks out to soon. Orbis looks like a mod that you could expand it more like Rise of Mankind. In this I mean for the most part, all Civs tend to end up getting the same techs. There is no large 'trees' that if you start down, you rarely go back. For example, in Rise of Mankind I think they have about 3-6 techs getting you down to the ultimate cavalry unit. Most Civs other than the Hippus wouldn't bother and would probably stop at the 3rd because their civ has it's own imperatives.

Oh as for my wife, we caught the fact that the women in her family are carriers of the Fragile X syndrome before we tried to have kids. It's not she can't have kids, it's just that they'd either have a form of autism or they'd be carriers themselves and this disorder gets worse per generation.

arkham4269

Apr 24, 2009, 12:25 PM

The sounds of the woman’s cries carried as she ran down the hall. A Palace Gaurdsman looked in and asked, “Is aught alright my lord?”

Verocchioco sighed, “Yes Rinaldo, I am fine. It is just the usual. Please close the door and have the Chamberlain round her up. Sedate her and send her back to her family with my apologies.”

Sighing once again, Verocchioco limped back to his study and poured himself some Khazadian Brandy.

_ANotHEr fALurE In sERvaNTs, i SCan._

Verocchioco looked up to see Talos in his normal place, lurking by his workbench. He wondered if it was being sarcastic, concerned or merely indifferent as only a machine could be.

“Yes, well even with all the death and war, my visage is still enough to turn the hardest stomachs. “ Grimacing with pain, he sat down.

_ASsiTAncE WitH YouR UpgADes I WiLL TenD._

“Damnit Talos, they are not upgrades! This damn thing merely replaces my leg! And while I didn’t lose the arm, you have no idea how much this elbow replacement hurts in the cold.”

Talos did not reply but began to undress Verocchioco with a practice ease. Removing his breeches uncovered the refined-mana powered replacement leg. Talos released the clasps and removed it. Turning his attention to the chest plate, Verocchioco waved him away.

“No, the charge is fine; there is no need to plug me in. Just take this damn mask off.”

Talso complied and began to unbolt the collection of mask, chainmail coif topped with a sun-radial crown. Verocchioco gave a sigh of relief as the cool air touch what was left of his face that could still feel. Looking at his hideously scarred face in the nearby mirror, he once again marveled that his goggles had managed to protect his eyes from the explosion even if it had totally wiped away his nose and one of his ears.

_OIntMEnt LUbrICatIOn wILl kEEp dAMagED to BIo cOVerINg tO A miNImuM._

“Blast! For a marvel of a machine, especially one who prats on about upgrades, you would think you would have some way to warm your hands!” Verocchioco cried as Talos began to tend to the burns across most of his body.

_FOr wARmtH One NEedS To aCQuiRE a sUItaBLe bIOloGIcaL UniT._

Verocchioco sighed once again. How he had tried to find a companion, if only a chambermaid to rub his burnt skin, that wouldn’t flee from his wounds. He thought about a Elohim saying about how heavy the burden of the Crown, how it was lonely at the top and felt that the poet had no idea what it was like to be a Father of his people and yet be so very, very alone. For all the power of science and industry that he commanded, how he would trade his ruined body and his mysterious mecha companion to be a simple blacksmith in some country village.

My Notes: Kind of went with a Iron Man theme mixed with Dr. Doom in that Verocchioco payed a price in becoming what he is. Sort of like Odin, he had to sacrifice himself for knowledge. I guess instead of hanging for 9 days from Yggdrasil, Verocchioco blew himself up on the lab of science. :p

Anyway, the picture of Verocchioco made me think of a suit and the idea that under all that is someone who is kind of like Darth Vader, "He's more machine the human now." and that perhaps in time Talos (for its own purposes) might try to get him to gain more and more 'upgrades' and since Verocchioco is cut off from normal human contact, he risks the danger of being less human and more alienated, even from his own people.

arkham4269

Apr 24, 2009, 02:00 PM

"You and your types are all alike. You think you can come into the forest and take what you want, hunt where you want or just hide out from our Just Majestys sheriffs. It is people like you that would cut down to many trees or hunt out the animals that all the villagers depend on. Worse it's people like you that would use these woods to prey on those villagers as a wolf does. Luckily for them there are people like me."

Forester Gaimen Thurm, acting as judge, jury and executioner to a poacher in the Royal Forests Preserve of Udenerat

HISTORY: The Forester usually held a position equal to a sheriff or local law enforcer. He was responsible for patrolling the woodlands on a lord or noble's property. His duties included negotiating deals for the sale of lumber and timber and stopping poachers from illegally hunting. Many times wanted criminals would hide in a forest. When this occurred it was the duty of the Forester to organize armed gangs to capture the criminal if they did not hunt them down themselves. Often foresters held titles of prominence in their local communities, and acted as barristers and arbitrators.

arkham4269

Apr 24, 2009, 02:22 PM

"A dirtboy am I? Let me tell you sonny, in my day I hacked and hewed with the best of them but now I an more important than I was as a mere footman in Our Majestys forces. For now I am a farmer and when I left my fathers farm to get away from the plow, I never realized how important our task really was outside our steading. Yes, the girls all love your uniform and swoon at the tales of your bravery. But tell me this, how far afield would you go without we farmers sending you food to fight, eh? Something solders always forget, yea even generals; an army fights but rarely but it eats three times a day!'

Guildman Haflor Gunn to guards outside the canteen of the Army of the Adian Fields

HISTORY: Farmers have traditionally been seen as one of the lower castes in every society. Their job, however, is so essential to the well being of village, city and castle that it is almost always overlooked. Every piece of bread, every potato and every bowl of rice got to the table out of the sweat and labor of the common farmer. It is a responsibility that the Three-Field Order takes seriously for there is no faster way for a society to fall apart than by simple famine.

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 12:04 PM

"Feel your center! It is the balance point of your body. It is the quiet, disciplined part of your mind,. It is the denial of all but what is important. Without that center, you are doomed. The weight of your armor, the clang of arms, the rush of mana power coursing through you, even the blood rushing through your veins will distract you and kill you.

You are the Amurite elite and the heirs to Kylorin and His gifts to us! The other races pretend to work magics and while many like the Sheaim have crude skills, only we Amurites can remain so centered to wade into the foe with magic and weapons united."

Foran the Warder, Cevedes Training Yard Master, to his students before dismissing them for the evening meal.

HISTORY: If there is one truth that even the most unlettered peasant knows is that magic can kill. Drawing the mana from the node, harnessing its power into spell craft and then using it in battle, all phases are fraught with danger. Thus most adepts and mages keep their distractions to a minimum and thus are clad almost as penitent monks who have cast off worldly possessions. In contrast, the Amurite Battlemages stand in stark contrast. Their well oiled chainmail, gauntlets of hardened swamp troll hide and their maces blazing with the Flame of Kylorin all conspire to create havoc among their enemies. Will they charge or send a wave of fireballs into the line...or both.? Only the Scion Necromancers are a pale rendition of this powerful arm of the Amurite army.

UPDATE: I just realized that earlier in this thread was an entry for battlemage. Don't think I felt that entry wasn't 'good' enough; I just didn't realize it was there. =[

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 12:36 PM

My officers all drew back as the the great frame entered the tent, red eyes flashing. How different he was from the blood-spatted, wild beast I had glimpsed in that first battle so many years ago!

"My lord Gunnolf, thank you for coming." A few of my officers gave me sneering glances I pretended not to notice. Gunnolf was no more noble than I was with him being originally a mere bugler amongst the standard bearers of the legion. Yet Halfmorn's magic and many long campaigns had earned him his title in my eyes.

I gestured to the maps and plans hanging on the wall, "As you can see, our plans are almost ready. We march for Nubia soon. All that is needed is to take this plan to His Lordship and get his approval. I wanted your...insight before proceeding."

Which a guttural chuff, the dark beast looked up and down the maps, his golden torcs and bracelets shiny in the torchlight, bright against his coal black fur.

"Mmmmmmm, yesss, these are gooOod planss, but here and here are wrong for my wolves...nooOoo, we ssstrike here and here against the foe," Gunnolf rumbled after some reflection.

One of my under-captains spoke up. He was of noble birth and resented Gunnolf and his presence in the council tent. "The plans have been gone over by the best strategist we have; I cannot see how you could dismiss them so quickly."

Gunnolf growled deep in the back of his throat and the under-captain turned pale. I did nothing as I knew that growl was as close to a chuckle as the great werewolf could accomplish.

"Thisss plan hass my wolvess going up against the vampiresss here and sskeletons here. No blood for my wolvess, no chance to bring in more of Halfmorn's children to fight and rend the foe. No, we fight the hot-blooded men or not at all."

Of Wolves, Blood and Steel: The Road to Prespur, the collected memoirs of General Alteran the Wolfbrother

HISTORY: At first, those who are given the dubious gift of the curse of Halfmorn are practically wild beasts themselves. Yet time and the hot blood of their foes changes them into more and more into the likeness of their Dark Lord. With the werewolves love of blood and combat, few werewolves live past their early days to become blooded and capable of more rational thought. Yet those who survive and later mature into greater werewolves are some of the most fearsome opponents on the battlefields of Erebus.

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 01:21 PM

My shield split and in the haze of pain I realized that I must have dropped my sword somewhere. I fell into the mud as the Moroi line surged forward. Through the pain I gave a silent prayer to Cernunnos to keep my family safe. However the battle-cries of the Morai suddenly turned to screams. I pushed myself up and was amazed to see dark forms hurling themselves out of the woods, rending the Moroi like so many wolves among sheep.

As I cleared my eyes of blood, I realized how apt this analogy was. My remaining men and I stood stunned as the dark children of Baron Halfmorn broke the Calibim line. One of them broke from the pack and ambled over. Fear washed through me and I cast around for a weapon but only spied our fallen banner. I quickly took it up which seemed to halt the beast. He then came on slowly to me. His eyes were the color of the Calibim blood that was splashes across his fur. Around his neck was tied a cord with shiny trinkets and a ring caught me eye.

"Gunnolf," I exclaimed! This dark beast was Gunnolf! He had been a young boy who had run off his farm and was a bugler with our legions standard bearers. During one chaotic battle, he had gotten separated from our line and was attacked by some newly created of Halfmorns breed. Yet here he was, doubled in size, staring at the our banner with recognition.

"Yesss, Gunnolf I wass," the beast rumbled. Cries of surprise came from my men; rare is it for a werewolf to speak! "Yess, Gunnolf I am and you are knoOown to me...yess. My brotherss rend the foe but vampiress are near. Fight the undead you musst for their cold blood we will not tassste!" And with that, he ambled away after his pack brothers.

Shaking my head to clear it, I turn to the remains of my men. "Well what are you waiting for? You heard the beast, we have vampires in our area and I'm not about to have my blood shed to be their meal so lets rally the men and have it!"

Of Wolves, Blood and Steel: The Road to Prespur, the collected memoirs of General Alteran the Wolfbrother

HISTORY: Whether seen as a gift or a curse, the blood of Duin Halfmorn causes crazed madness. Hunger for blood and flesh is all that a werewolf thinks of. Yet for most, blood lust denotes a loss of sanity, for the children of Halfmorn it is the opposite. The more blood, the clear the mind as the blood works its dark magic in transforming them. What once was almost an unthinking beast is capable of becoming a more rational creature...and much more deadly.

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 01:30 PM

Ahwaric, is it possible to move strategy/background to end of entries when updating them? It would make for more consistency in the Civlopedia since in the first entries (Techs) you have the verbiage first and then strategy and descriptions.

Obviously you don't have to do them all, but maybe as something to do over time. I wish I knew how to do it myself so I could save you the time so you could concentrate on my 'important' stuff.

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 01:51 PM

"They always want to put in your place. A peg for every hole, a shoe for every foot. Well ever since I was a lad I did what I wanted and not what was expected of me. No, I've lived a square life in a world full of round holes. Oh I do the bidding of the good Minister Koun alright, but I do it on my terms and my way. Course I can do this because I know the Golden Gule: those who produce results get to make their own rules!"

Adventurer Sefar Yetziras to that evenings light-o-loves at the Dancing Sea Turtle tavern

HISTORY: The Grigori pride themselves in casting off of old ways of thought and not wedding themselves to any one dogma. Yet every society has its rules and laws that bind them together. The Adventurers of the Grigori chafe at even these light restrictions and thus are some of the most adaptable of Erebus. Even the Balseraph Mimics would be hard pressed to match the Adventurers ability to be what is needed when needed.

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 02:02 PM

"The matter lies before the eyes of all; everybody sees it, touches it, loves it, but knows it not. It is glorious and vile, precious and of small account, and is found everywhere... But, to be brief, our Matter has as many names as there are things in this world; that is why the foolish know it not."

Excerpts from Separate and Join Together: The Way of the Alchemist by Master of Alchemy Abin Alkindus

HISTORY: To the common people, alchemist are but mere chemists who strive to change lead into gold. The reality is far more complex with an alchemist being one part scientist, philosopher and mystic. The road to transmutation isn't a simple mechanic process but one that is often found in examining psychological musings and mystical vision quests. To those of their guild, alchemist know that to be a true follower of alchemy one must first transform themselves.

MY NOTES: From the Golden Tract in the Musaeum Hermeticum of 1625

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 02:19 PM

"For all the heat, my blood ran cold as an Illians heart. Again I cursed that slip of the tongue that angered my lord so. Now I stood on the deck of the Swiftsure and knew fear.

Captain Sören look over and saw my knuckles white upon the railing and laughed, "Do not worry counselor. I told His Lordship I would bring you back in one piece so you will be able to report on all the money he has spent on these ships. Oh I grant you that it is a sight to see; unnerving to see such a line of ships all bearing down on you. Do not give it another thought; we will have a lot of unhappy fish trying to eat those tainted Scions soon enough."

"Captain, it is not those ships that I am fearing right now. It is the fact that I am aboard a wooden ship that is filled with more fire than one could expect from a private hell!"

Naval Counselor Brexio on board the Swiftsure prior to start of the Battle of Aduro Straights

HISTORY: Most land-lubbers think an Arcane Barque to be merely a shipped filled with mages trained in the arts of Fire mana. This could not be farther from the truth. In actuality the magic involved is the direct opposite. What are taken to be fireballs by the ignorant are actually catapult shot that are treated with a volatile and very combustible material. It is the ship itself that is filled with magic. Prior to ever leaving the slipway, a Arcane Barque is magically altered to make it as proof against fire as can be. Only in this way is it safe enough for the wooden ship to carry its deadly ammo.

civ_king

Apr 25, 2009, 10:49 PM

I could have sworn it was the other way around...

arkham4269

Apr 25, 2009, 11:29 PM

I could have sworn it was the other way around...

If you are referring to the Arcane Barque, why waste trained mages on a ship that could sink when you could have mages enchant a ship so it could use weapons available to anyone but no one one would use them because they'd be far to dangerous?

Makes more sense this way.

civ_king

Apr 25, 2009, 11:57 PM

even if the ship was fire proofed, what about the people? besides, it is ONE mage...

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 10:33 AM

even if the ship was fire proofed, what about the people? besides, it is ONE mage...

Well think of it this way, it is actually rather obvious that the fireballs are not magically created because if it was a mage doing the work, that mage would be able to gain experience and promote. Arcane Bargues don't promote except like other ships, not like mages; ergo the 'fireballs' are merely Erebus equivalent (if more volatile) to Greek Fire.

Besides, any ship could be a 'field-expedient' Arcane Barque just by putting a mage on it. However, if the ship sinks, the mage goes as well. It would seem to me the Amurite Windrunner has had some form of 'wind in a bottle' mechanism enchanted into the ship when it was built as well.

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 12:04 PM

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_POPUP_KITHRA KYRIEL_CREATION</Tag>
<English>Born of Elvish and Human stock, the bow of Kithra is a powerful shield for those who follow the Fellowship of Leaves. With a keen eye that tracks those who would walk unseen, few foes escape his gaze or the precision of his deadly arrows.</English>
<French>Born of Elvish and Human stock, the bow of Kithra is a powerful shield for those who follow the Fellowship of Leaves. With a keen eye that tracks those who would walk unseen, few foes escape his gaze or the precession of his deadly arrows.</French>
<German>Born of Elvish and Human stock, the bow of Kithra is a powerful shield for those who follow the Fellowship of Leaves. With a keen eye that tracks those who would walk unseen, few foes escape his gaze or the precession of his deadly arrows.</German>
<Italian>Born of Elvish and Human stock, the bow of Kithra is a powerful shield for those who follow the Fellowship of Leaves. With a keen eye that tracks those who would walk unseen, few foes escape his gaze or the precession of his deadly arrows.</Italian>
<Spanish>Born of Elvish and Human stock, the bow of Kithra is a powerful shield for those who follow the Fellowship of Leaves. With a keen eye that tracks those who would walk unseen, few foes escape his gaze or the precession of his deadly arrows.</Spanish>
</TEXT>

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 12:09 PM

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_POPUP_TUMTUM_CREATION</Tag>
<English>No one knows his name. Mayhap he does not know or even have one. His orcish follows give forth the cry “Tumtum! Tumtum” when he prepares for battle, yet that is the name of the enormous boar he rides! So named for its rooting grunts. This mighty warrior is a mystery in most things except for the slaughter that he leaves in his wake.</English>
<French>No one knows his name. Mayhap he does not know or even have one. His orcish follows give forth the cry “Tumtum! Tumtum” when he prepares for battle, yet that is the name of the enormous boar he rides! So named for its rooting grunts. This mighty warrior is a mystery in most things except for the slaughter that he leaves in his wake.</French>
<German>No one knows his name. Mayhap he does not know or even have one. His orcish follows give forth the cry “Tumtum! Tumtum” when he prepares for battle, yet that is the name of the enormous boar he rides! So named for its rooting grunts. This mighty warrior is a mystery in most things except for the slaughter that he leaves in his wake.</German>
<Italian>No one knows his name. Mayhap he does not know or even have one. His orcish follows give forth the cry “Tumtum! Tumtum” when he prepares for battle, yet that is the name of the enormous boar he rides! So named for its rooting grunts. This mighty warrior is a mystery in most things except for the slaughter that he leaves in his wake.</Italian>
<Spanish>No one knows his name. Mayhap he does not know or even have one. His orcish follows give forth the cry “Tumtum! Tumtum” when he prepares for battle, yet that is the name of the enormous boar he rides! So named for its rooting grunts. This mighty warrior is a mystery in most things except for the slaughter that he leaves in his wake.</Spanish>
</TEXT>

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 12:14 PM

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_POPUP_GOVANNON_CREATION</Tag>
<English>Born to the honored line of Kylorin, Govannon is rare among mages in that he travels throughout the Amurite lands teaching his magical secrets to all who would learn more of magic.While other mages decry his spreading of secrets they would hoard in their wizard enclaves, Govannons lessons make the Amurite kingdom even more deadly in the ways of magic.</English>
<French>Born to the honored line of Kylorin, Govannon is rare among mages in that he travels throughout the Amurite lands teaching his magical secrets to all who would learn more of magic.While other mages decry his spreading of secrets they would hoard in their wizard enclaves, Govannons lessons make the Amurite kingdom even more deadly in the ways of magic.</French>
<German>Born to the honored line of Kylorin, Govannon is rare among mages in that he travels throughout the Amurite lands teaching his magical secrets to all who would learn more of magic.While other mages decry his spreading of secrets they would hoard in their wizard enclaves, Govannons lessons make the Amurite kingdom even more deadly in the ways of magic.</German>
<Italian>Born to the honored line of Kylorin, Govannon is rare among mages in that he travels throughout the Amurite lands teaching his magical secrets to all who would learn more of magic.While other mages decry his spreading of secrets they would hoard in their wizard enclaves, Govannons lessons make the Amurite kingdom even more deadly in the ways of magic.</Italian>
<Spanish>Born to the honored line of Kylorin, Govannon is rare among mages in that he travels throughout the Amurite lands teaching his magical secrets to all who would learn more of magic.While other mages decry his spreading of secrets they would hoard in their wizard enclaves, Govannons lessons make the Amurite kingdom even more deadly in the ways of magic.</Spanish>
</TEXT>

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 12:20 PM

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_POPUP_FERIS_CREATION</Tag>
<English>Known for her unearthly sight, calm under pressure, soon Feris's fame was known to every Mechanos and many a enemy commander was knocked from their horse from a distances no one thought possible that a shot could be made. Yet for all her ability to shoot, Feris is beloved by her men for knowing when prudence is the better part of valor and not to be thrown away in useless charges done to coddle a male commander's ego. </English>
<French>Known for her unearthly sight, calm under pressure, soon Feris's fame was known to every Mechanos and many a enemy commander was knocked from their horse from a distances no one thought possible that a shot could be made. Yet for all her ability to shoot, Feris is beloved by her men for knowing when prudence is the better part of valor and not to be thrown away in useless charges done to coddle a male commander's ego. </French>
<German>Known for her unearthly sight, calm under pressure, soon Feris's fame was known to every Mechanos and many a enemy commander was knocked from their horse from a distances no one thought possible that a shot could be made. Yet for all her ability to shoot, Feris is beloved by her men for knowing when prudence is the better part of valor and not to be thrown away in useless charges done to coddle a male commander's ego. </German>
<Italian>Known for her unearthly sight, calm under pressure, soon Feris's fame was known to every Mechanos and many a enemy commander was knocked from their horse from a distances no one thought possible that a shot could be made. Yet for all her ability to shoot, Feris is beloved by her men for knowing when prudence is the better part of valor and not to be thrown away in useless charges done to coddle a male commander's ego. </Italian>
<Spanish>Known for her unearthly sight, calm under pressure, soon Feris's fame was known to every Mechanos and many a enemy commander was knocked from their horse from a distances no one thought possible that a shot could be made. Yet for all her ability to shoot, Feris is beloved by her men for knowing when prudence is the better part of valor and not to be thrown away in useless charges done to coddle a male commander's ego. </Spanish>
</TEXT>

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 12:29 PM

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_POPUP_BORIS_CREATION</Tag>
<English>From that fateful day when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars, "I am man.", our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself. Tonight, we shall ascend into the heavens. We shall mock the earthquake. We shall command the thunders, and penetrate into the very womb of impervious nature herself. </English>
<French><From that fateful day when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars, "I am man.", our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself. Tonight, we shall ascend into the heavens. We shall mock the earthquake. We shall command the thunders, and penetrate into the very womb of impervious nature herself. /French>
<German>From that fateful day when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars, "I am man.", our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself. Tonight, we shall ascend into the heavens. We shall mock the earthquake. We shall command the thunders, and penetrate into the very womb of impervious nature herself. </German>
<Italian>From that fateful day when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars, "I am man.", our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself. Tonight, we shall ascend into the heavens. We shall mock the earthquake. We shall command the thunders, and penetrate into the very womb of impervious nature herself. </Italian>
<Spanish>From that fateful day when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars, "I am man.", our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself. Tonight, we shall ascend into the heavens. We shall mock the earthquake. We shall command the thunders, and penetrate into the very womb of impervious nature herself. </Spanish>
</TEXT>

My Notes: Bonus geek points for getting this one! :D

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 12:42 PM

“From that fateful day when stinking bits of slime first crawled from the sea and shouted to the cold stars, "I am man.", our greatest dread has always been the knowledge of our mortality. But tonight, we shall hurl the gauntlet of science into the frightful face of death itself. Tonight, we shall ascend into the heavens. We shall mock the earthquake. We shall command the thunders, and penetrate into the very womb of impervious nature herself. “

Attributed to Mechanos Techno-priest Phroaderyk Phronkenstyn

HISTORY: What is life? To the Nature Philosophers of the Mechanos, this was an interesting question after experiments with various energies on dead flesh produced the semblance of life. Where the God-Believers might worry over the lack of a soul, the thirst to push into the unknown lead to a dark and stormy night when Boris was created. Unborn into adulthood, Boris is a simple creature. Possessing great strength and indifferent to pain, Boris is a a terrifying sight on the battlefield. How much more ironic that away from the blood-spattered battleground, Boris can found taking simple pleasures similar to those enjoyed by small children.

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 12:48 PM

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_QUOTE_COMMANDER_21</Tag>
<English>Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter.</English>
<French>Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter.</French>
<German>Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter.</German>
<Italian>Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter.</Italian>
<Spanish>Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter.</Spanish>
</TEXT>

My Notes: A quote from Churchill that is too good not to quote

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 01:02 PM

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_QUOTE_COMMANDER_22</Tag>
<English>Of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war: neither in Kwytheliar, nor in Evermore, nor for that matter in Prespur. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a republic, or under a God-King, or a council of city-states, or a theocratic dictatorship . . . Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.</English>
<French>Of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war: neither in Kwytheliar, nor in Evermore, nor for that matter in Prespur. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a republic, or under a God-King, or a council of city-states, or a theocratic dictatorship . . . Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.</French>
<German>Of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war: neither in Kwytheliar, nor in Evermore, nor for that matter in Prespur. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a republic, or under a God-King, or a council of city-states, or a theocratic dictatorship . . . Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.</German>
<Italian>Of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war: neither in Kwytheliar, nor in Evermore, nor for that matter in Prespur. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a republic, or under a God-King, or a council of city-states, or a theocratic dictatorship . . . Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.</Italian>
<Spanish>Of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war: neither in Kwytheliar, nor in Evermore, nor for that matter in Prespur. That is understood. But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a republic, or under a God-King, or a council of city-states, or a theocratic dictatorship . . . Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.</Spanish>
</TEXT>

My Notes: I'm sure those who stayed awake in class will recognize this.

Jabie

Apr 26, 2009, 03:17 PM

I was thinking of continuing the line I took in shadow Court, but it was going to get too long. I daresay in due course it'll mutate into a story in the Random Stories and Fragments thread in the FfH Lore section. In the intervening time...

Den of Esus

"A house devoid of secrets... and trust."

Velvo the Fifth, Landlord of the Bent Nail.

Jabie

Apr 26, 2009, 04:04 PM

This is a second take on the Order of Arches / Prospectors Guild. I've added a more logical reason for friction between the two guilds.

Prospector's Guild

They may call us Muck-scrapers, but I never saw one of those fancy artists from the Order of Tubes walk into the Miner's Arms and get free drinks all night.

Tilonas Sal, Founder of the Prospectors Guild.

History: The emnity between the Prospectors Guild and the Order of Arches is legendary. The Order claims the Prospectors are trying to monopolise the market to keep prices artificially high. The Prospctors claim that the Order funds claim-jumpers to destabilise their business. Recent reconciliation talks staged by the Stonewardens of Kilmorph ended in bitter recrimincation when Abdul-ibn-Nadir's rabbit stew was found to be laced with hemlock.

Order of Arches

The Prospectors Guild has it's place... and that place is in the mud. Kilmorphs' bounty is open to all who seek it in her name, but only an architect can turn it into a building truly worthy of his glory.

Abdul-ibn-Nadir, Malakim Architect, speaking on the completion of the Temple of Kilmorph in Ithralia.

History: There is no love lost between the Prospectors Guild and the Order of Arches. The Order would like nothing better than to see the ruin of the Prospectors Guild and its stranglehold over the many of the materials required in their most ambitious projects. A boss in the Temple of Kilmorph in Ithralia depicts a miner crouching in the darkness. The Order states this is a dedication to the toil of the miner, but some dissenting voices suggest a darker meaning: that the Propsector's Guild is genuflecting in reverence of Mammon.

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 05:50 PM

Although the Doviello are well known for their relentless attacks on Amurite settlements, it is not well known what they do in their homeland. Instead of peaceful sports that many other nations in Erebus enjoy to play, the Doviello njoy battle and blood. To satisfy their hunger for bloodsport in the time of peace, they build a great pits where warriors, fight each other in a match. From single combat to whole teams of warriors, all fight to the road of the crowds who come to watch them for what is training to others of Erebus, to the Doviello it is all good sport. Often times the warriors involved suffer injuries and even death, but the Doviello seem not to care.

The Doviello Land: Home of the Wolves of the North, by Amurite Sage Talgren Hayle

XML behind the cut - Use my XML at your peril! :dubious: So please check my work.

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_BUILDING_BESERKERSPIT</Tag>
<English>Berserkers' Pit</English>
<French>Berserkers' Pit</French>
<German>Berserkers' Pit</German>
<Italian>Berserkers' Pit</Italian>
<Spanish>Berserkers' Pit</Spanish>
</TEXT>
<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_BUILDING_BESERKERSPIT_PEDIA</Tag>
<English>Although the Doviello are well known for their relentless attacks on Amurite settlements, it is not well known what they do in their homeland. Instead of peaceful sports that many other nations in Erebus enjoy to play, the Doviello njoy battle and blood. To satisfy their hunger for bloodsport in the time of peace, they build a great pits where warriors, fight each other in a match. From single combat to whole teams of warriors, all fight to the road of the crowds who come to watch them for what is training to others of Erebus, to the Doviello it is all good sport. Often times the warriors involved suffer injuries and even death, but the Doviello seem not to care.[PARAGRAPH 2]The Doviello Land: Home of the Wolves of the North, by Amurite Sage Talgren Hayle </English>
<French>Although the Doviello are well known for their relentless attacks on Amurite settlements, it is not well known what they do in their homeland. Instead of peaceful sports that many other nations in Erebus enjoy to play, the Doviello njoy battle and blood. To satisfy their hunger for bloodsport in the time of peace, they build a great pits where warriors, fight each other in a match. From single combat to whole teams of warriors, all fight to the road of the crowds who come to watch them for what is training to others of Erebus, to the Doviello it is all good sport. Often times the warriors involved suffer injuries and even death, but the Doviello seem not to care.[PARAGRAPH 2]The Doviello Land: Home of the Wolves of the North, by Amurite Sage Talgren Hayle </French>
<German>Although the Doviello are well known for their relentless attacks on Amurite settlements, it is not well known what they do in their homeland. Instead of peaceful sports that many other nations in Erebus enjoy to play, the Doviello njoy battle and blood. To satisfy their hunger for bloodsport in the time of peace, they build a great pits where warriors, fight each other in a match. From single combat to whole teams of warriors, all fight to the road of the crowds who come to watch them for what is training to others of Erebus, to the Doviello it is all good sport. Often times the warriors involved suffer injuries and even death, but the Doviello seem not to care.[PARAGRAPH 2]The Doviello Land: Home of the Wolves of the North,, by Amurite Sage Talgren Hayle </German>
<Italian>Although the Doviello are well known for their relentless attacks on Amurite settlements, it is not well known what they do in their homeland. Instead of peaceful sports that many other nations in Erebus enjoy to play, the Doviello njoy battle and blood. To satisfy their hunger for bloodsport in the time of peace, they build a great pits where warriors, fight each other in a match. From single combat to whole teams of warriors, all fight to the road of the crowds who come to watch them for what is training to others of Erebus, to the Doviello it is all good sport. Often times the warriors involved suffer injuries and even death, but the Doviello seem not to care.[PARAGRAPH 2]The Doviello Land: Home of the Wolves of the North, by Amurite Sage Talgren Hayle </Italian>
<Spanish>Although the Doviello are well known for their relentless attacks on Amurite settlements, it is not well known what they do in their homeland. Instead of peaceful sports that many other nations in Erebus enjoy to play, the Doviello njoy battle and blood. To satisfy their hunger for bloodsport in the time of peace, they build a great pits where warriors, fight each other in a match. From single combat to whole teams of warriors, all fight to the road of the crowds who come to watch them for what is training to others of Erebus, to the Doviello it is all good sport. Often times the warriors involved suffer injuries and even death, but the Doviello seem not to care.[PARAGRAPH 2]The Doviello Land: Home of the Wolves of the North, by Amurite Sage Talgren Hayle </Spanish>
</TEXT>

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 06:01 PM

So little is know of early worship in the cold Doviello lands. One of the few accounts that exist came from the renowned explorer/merchant Tindal Keys whose glib tongue charmed even those northern savages. His accounts tell of giant carved totems dedicated to a bear that the Doviello seemed to revere in a basic shamanistic way. Tindal noted that this totem seemed to be mostly for one clan and surmised that other totems to other animals might also have been worshiped by other clans of Doviello. However one of Tindal Keys greatest strengths was to know when to close a deal and get out. Now the answers are lost under the long tread of years.

Excerpt from "Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding early Doviello worship.

XML behind the cut: As always please review carefully as I'm only looking at what others have done and copying how they did it.

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_BUILDING_DOVIELLO_TEMPLE</Tag>
<English>Bear Totem</English>
<French>Totem Ours</French>
<German>Bärentotem</German>
<Italian>Bear Totem</Italian>
<Spanish>Oso Totem</Spanish>
</TEXT>
<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_BUILDING_DOVIELLO_TEMPLE_PEDIA</Tag>
<English>So little is know of early worship in the cold Doviello lands. One of the few accounts that exist came from the renowned explorer/merchant Tindal Keys whose glib tongue charmed even those northern savages. His accounts tell of giant carved totems dedicated to a bear that the Doviello seemed to revere in a basic shamanistic way. Tindal noted that this totem seemed to be mostly for one clan and surmised that other totems to other animals might also have been worshiped by other clans of Doviello. However one of Tindal Keys greatest strengths was to know when to close a deal and get out. Now the answers are lost under the long tread of years.[PARAGRAPH2]"Excerpt from Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding early Doviello worship.</English>
<French>So little is know of early worship in the cold Doviello lands. One of the few accounts that exist came from the renowned explorer/merchant Tindal Keys whose glib tongue charmed even those northern savages. His accounts tell of giant carved totems dedicated to a bear that the Doviello seemed to revere in a basic shamanistic way. Tindal noted that this totem seemed to be mostly for one clan and surmised that other totems to other animals might also have been worshiped by other clans of Doviello. However one of Tindal Keys greatest strengths was to know when to close a deal and get out. Now the answers are lost under the long tread of years.[PARAGRAPH2]"Excerpt from Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding early Doviello worship.</French>
<German>So little is know of early worship in the cold Doviello lands. One of the few accounts that exist came from the renowned explorer/merchant Tindal Keys whose glib tongue charmed even those northern savages. His accounts tell of giant carved totems dedicated to a bear that the Doviello seemed to revere in a basic shamanistic way. Tindal noted that this totem seemed to be mostly for one clan and surmised that other totems to other animals might also have been worshiped by other clans of Doviello. However one of Tindal Keys greatest strengths was to know when to close a deal and get out. Now the answers are lost under the long tread of years.[PARAGRAPH2]"Excerpt from Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding early Doviello worship.</German>
<Italian>So little is know of early worship in the cold Doviello lands. One of the few accounts that exist came from the renowned explorer/merchant Tindal Keys whose glib tongue charmed even those northern savages. His accounts tell of giant carved totems dedicated to a bear that the Doviello seemed to revere in a basic shamanistic way. Tindal noted that this totem seemed to be mostly for one clan and surmised that other totems to other animals might also have been worshiped by other clans of Doviello. However one of Tindal Keys greatest strengths was to know when to close a deal and get out. Now the answers are lost under the long tread of years.[PARAGRAPH2]"Excerpt from Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding early Doviello worship.</Italian>
<Spanish>So little is know of early worship in the cold Doviello lands. One of the few accounts that exist came from the renowned explorer/merchant Tindal Keys whose glib tongue charmed even those northern savages. His accounts tell of giant carved totems dedicated to a bear that the Doviello seemed to revere in a basic shamanistic way. Tindal noted that this totem seemed to be mostly for one clan and surmised that other totems to other animals might also have been worshiped by other clans of Doviello. However one of Tindal Keys greatest strengths was to know when to close a deal and get out. Now the answers are lost under the long tread of years.[PARAGRAPH2]"Excerpt from Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding early Doviello worship.</Spanish>
</TEXT>

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 06:26 PM

Names for the two great commanders I did entries for above.

XML behind the cut

<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_UNIT_COMMANDER_21</Tag>
<English>Wynton Templemount</English>
<French>Wynton Templemount</French>
<German> Wynton Templemount</German>
<Italian>Wynton Templemount</Italian>
<Spanish>Wynton Templemount</Spanish>
</TEXT>
<TEXT>
<Tag>TXT_KEY_UNIT_COMMANDER_22</Tag>
<English>Helman Goremaster</English>
<French>Helman Goremaster</French>
<German>Helman Goremaster</German>
<Italian>Helman Goremaster</Italian>
<Spanish>Helman Goremaster</Spanish>
</TEXT>

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 06:30 PM

BTW, for those out there that know how to code, the "TXT_KEY_BUILDING_HUNTING_LODGE_PEDIA" is the cool verbiage for the item. Where does the background go? TXT_KEY_BUILDING_HUNTING_LODGE_BACKGROUND?

I mean I see the TXT_KEY_BUILDING_HUNTING_LODGE_STRATEGY but I can't seem to find where the background goes.

Seon

Apr 26, 2009, 07:27 PM

Arkham... I already wrote an entry for the Berserker's pit :p. Allow me to contribute too :p

arkham4269

Apr 26, 2009, 08:26 PM

Arkham... I already wrote an entry for the Berserker's pit :p. Allow me to contribute too :p

I know, the issue wasn't about the entry. It is what Ahwaric and I discussed before in that the Beserker's Pit fits more as the Doviello Training Yard replacement, not their Pagan Temple replacement. Ahwaric agreed and said he'd try to get around to fixing it. I just did most of the legwork for him. I didn't fiddle to much with the entry other than fix some syntax. Pretty much it was just mostly changing the XML code so it wasn't the temple anymore.

civ_king

Apr 26, 2009, 08:44 PM

Kilmorph is a she

Jabie

Apr 27, 2009, 03:05 AM

Arkham... I already wrote an entry for the Berserker's pit :p. Allow me to contribute too :p

Might be a good idea for the list to be updated with approved, pending approval and text required status.

Kilmorph is a she

Good catch. I've updated the post.

civ_king

Apr 27, 2009, 08:22 AM

remember, Orbis has to look professional

Wauthan

Apr 27, 2009, 11:21 AM

Might be a good idea for the list to be updated with approved, pending approval and text required status.

Hmmm... I guess it might be a good idea if I swap my post with a link to Ahwarics continually updated list.

arkham4269

Apr 28, 2009, 03:35 PM

BTW the way folks, just because an entry is done doesn't mean it automatically 'wins' - It's Ahwaric's mod and he can pick and choose which one he likes. Sure I've written a lot of stuff, but that's not guarantee that he'll want to use it. I figure until he makes a decision, it's game on.

Besides, this isn't a competition to see who is the better writer. If someone else's version of something 'beats' mine, well it's not my mod so I don't get to pick.

For my part, most of the time I am choosing things to do simply by going through the current Civlopedia. Many of the entries have entries but I feel are a bit lacking or maybe really haven't been changed from vanilla Civ. So I've already written some that other's have done as well. I am not making a value judgement on your entry.

arkham4269

May 03, 2009, 11:10 AM

Ahwaric, have a question about apostrophes. It is damn hard to write without them and yet I've (see?) noticed that in the new patch that some of my entries had missing apostrophes. I thought I had gone back and fixed all my entries to take them out so either you had copied them before I fixed them or I missed a lot.

Anyway, I did notice that in some entries, the apostrophe is still there. so what gives?

Also, is there any format you'd like in doing these? I mean I figure it is easier for you to have the entry under the spoiler in code so it's more cut and paste for you. Also, I realize you have done a lot, but when can we expect and updated wish list of things you like us all to work on?

Ahwaric

May 03, 2009, 04:28 PM

First, sorry for long time no-post here. Had to take care of RL first, then release patch d at last, and now I am trying to respond to the questions in different threads...
Since my wife can't have kids, I'll take what I can for my 'immortality' - Ian Alexander, Born 1966, Died 2076 - One hell of a Civlopedia Writer! :p
Nicely written. And a hard decision you had to make...
I think I asked this before, but while many of these entries are very Orbis specific, are any of these sucked up into other mods like FF? I would think a few of the entries I've seen and a few I've written would apply for almost any FfH mod.
Up to creators. I can only speak for myself. And I do :)

So I guess what I'm asking is there any other places to get info on units, buildings and the like?
Maybe Xienwolf's manual, but I doubt it has all you need.

Also, can we get a sketch about the Mechanos' and their 'machine spirits' - I've been writing them as 19th Century Nature Philosophers who want to pick apart nature and all that. Very Victorian England in that which fits the Steampunk motiff. However, I've read 'pedia entries and things about the spirit of the machines and I want to know more about them.
I had no idea what they are - just mixed some bits from different settings. But I like Jabie's idea. In fact, I like how Mechanos lore is expanding. I started them as renaissance sages with a minor dark twist. The addition of victorian 'darkness' and spirits background is what they needed.
I do not, however, like Verocchios entry. It is good, I just do not like it. Too dark - I agree with missing leg and elbow, a result of the lab explosion etc., but face and rest is too much. I think what we see on a picture is rather a steam armor/lab suit than mask. I want him to have some joy in life - and look more or less normal...
Ahwaric, is it possible to move strategy/background to end of entries when updating them?
I think it is, just need to find exactly how. In time perhaps...

If you are referring to the Arcane Barque, why waste trained mages on a ship that could sink when you could have mages enchant a ship so it could use weapons available to anyone but no one one would use them because they'd be far to dangerous?
I agree with civ-king, and I did not add this entry. Arcane Barque is filled with mages (maybe a few), not explosives. Mages are expendable, too, i.e. siege mages.
I think mechanos need a dromon kind ship, which greek fire or other flammable mixture. Maybe a barque replacement? But Barque is just magic.
Names for the two great commanders I did entries for above.
Thanks for names and quotes, we can use more great generals. I added them, just need some art for popups. Any ideas?
Ahwaric, have a question about apostrophes. It is damn hard to write without them and yet I've (see?) noticed that in the new patch that some of my entries had missing apostrophes.
I thought that they cause problems, but not sure any more. So just use them, I will take care of the rest and fix if problems arise. But & is causing problems for sure.
So, now I should check all your entries for '? :eek:
Maybe I will export pedia text sheet from the editor to word 2003? No idea if it is possible for OpenOffice.
Editor requires Office 2007 because of the column limit in old version (and therte are many columns in units, buildings and events...). But I think the new Open Office has unlimited columns, too.
Also, I just need english text (unless it is really translated). The editor auto-adds english text if localized one is missing, so I have to past it only once anyway...

arkham4269

May 03, 2009, 05:59 PM

I agree with civ-king, and I did not add this entry. Arcane Barque is filled with mages (maybe a few), not explosives. Mages are expendable, too, i.e. siege mages.

Mages are expendable? Maybe for the Amurites but for most other Civs I don't that is the case. Plus look at the graphics! It looks different than other ships! Oh well, I'm sure we can agree to disagree?

I think mechanos need a dromon kind ship, which greek fire or other flammable mixture. Maybe a barque replacement? But Barque is just magic.

Totally agree. Plus the new T/N/I race should probably have it too since they'll be into alchemy.

I thought that they cause problems, but not sure any more. So just use them, I will take care of the rest and fix if problems arise. But & is causing problems for sure. So, now I should check all your entries for '? :eek:

Well I noticed some of my entries had the apostrophe and some they were just missing. As for Office 2003, it's what I prefer to use but I have OpenOffice as well since the machine I'm on right now only have Office 2007 that I use only when forced to.

Jabie

May 20, 2009, 01:25 PM

This thread's been a bit quiet of late, so...

Verrochio

A map. Erebus. Crusts and cliffs, inlets and isles, all present and correct. Lines. They dance. Spirals, whirls, loops, swirl hypnotic. A forced march, a practiced waltz, always ordered, always predictable.

A face. Black as ink, jewels for eyes, nose that shines, smile as thin as cobwebs. More than a face, less than a face, the suggestion of a face.

_AwAy. FaLsE/tRuE. iLlEgAl OpErAnD._

"I lie to others. You lie to yourself"

The face blinks. A man sits in contemplation. On one shoulder, a crimson imp whispering into his ear. On the other shoulder, a brasswork imp whispering into his ear.

_Aw4y. FaLs3/tReE. iLlEg l oP3rAnD._

"Trick me, snare me, catch me if you can."

The face blinks. Mountains burn. Light flees a gate. Trees made of men, impossibly curved. A bird on the throne wears a cooking pot crown.

_Aw... FcIs3/tReF. i 4IH l oP3rZOC._

"Off I go, back I come. The first lie, the last lie."

_E4=+. %$hIl%F32&. ]p~yT]v Jk.<t£D._

"You'll say I'm gone, but I'll stay on. The only truth is the lie lives on."

The face blinks and takes it wings; a butterfly stirs with bumblebee stings.

A map. Erebus. Crusts and cliffs, inlets and isles, all present and correct. Lines. They dance. Spirals, whirls, loops, swirl hypnotic. A crazed jig, a frenzied frolic, never the same, never predictable.

The face blinks. A worm on a spit. A mouth drips honey. Bubbles form a helix. Elephants grow spindle legs. Clocks melt.

Verrochio awoke, his heart beating fast. The nightmare flees with the first breath of the day. His alchemists tell him that nightmares are fantasies of subconscious caused by fears and worries, but Verrochio cannot help but wonder, why they haunt him so?

Seon

May 22, 2009, 05:43 PM

Intricate Weavers:

Dang it, the headquarters rejected my request for changing the name of the guild for something appropriate for the reason of 'keeping the tradition.' 'cause we are out of ideas,more like it. I mean, how hard can it be to find a name for a clothing guild? Even a person cursed by Amatheon can think of a better name than 'Intricate Weavers," It's like calling a rabbit "A fluffy white animal that has gigantic fangs and bounce about 10 ft in the air to kill people." YOU CAN'T USE THE DEFINITION OF A WORD FOR ITS NAME, for Amatheon's sake.

Watch, I'll think of a name right now.... umm..... err..... okay, maybe I can't think of one at the moment, but if we all put our head togather for this, I say we can do it!

Anyways, I think my boss is calling me, so I better pretend that I am worki-...

-Found in the locker of recently fired employee of the "Intricate Weavers" Guild.

Darksaber1

May 24, 2009, 12:27 PM

This thread's been a bit quiet of late, so...

Verrochio

A map. Erebus. Crusts and cliffs, inlets and isles, all present and correct. Lines. They dance. Spirals, whirls, loops, swirl hypnotic. A forced march, a practiced waltz, always ordered, always predictable.

A face. Black as ink, jewels for eyes, nose that shines, smile as thin as cobwebs. More than a face, less than a face, the suggestion of a face.

_AwAy. FaLsE/tRuE. iLlEgAl OpErAnD._

"I lie to others. You lie to yourself"

The face blinks. A man sits in contemplation. On one shoulder, an imp whispering into his ear. On the other shoulder, an imp whispering into his ear.

_Aw4y. FaLs3/tReE. iLlEg l oP3rAnD._

"Trick me, snare me, catch me if you can."

The face blinks. Mountains burn. Light flees a gate. Trees made of men, impossibly curved. A bird on the throne wears a cooking pot crown.

_Aw... FcIs3/tReF. i 4IH l oP3rZOC._

"Off I go, back I come. The first lie, the last lie."

_E4=+. %$hIl%F32&. ]p~yT]v Jk.<t£D._

"You'll say I'm gone, but I'll stay on. The only truth is the lie lives on."

The face blinks and takes it wings; a butterfly stirs with bumblebee stings.

A map. Erebus. Crusts and cliffs, inlets and isles, all present and correct. Lines. They dance. Spirals, whirls, loops, swirl hypnotic. A crazed jig, a frenzied frolic, never the same, never predictable.

The face blinks. A worm on a spit. A mouth drips honey. Bubbles form a helix. Elephants grow spindle legs. Clocks melt.

Verrochio awoke, his heart beating fast. The nightmare flees with the first breath of the day. His alchemists tell him that nightmares are fantasies of subconscious caused by fears and worries, but Verrochio cannot help but wonder, why they haunt him so?
I'm creeped out. What was your insperation? (unless it was "a few seconds of illigal herbs")

Ahwaric

May 24, 2009, 05:11 PM

Nice to see new entries again.

I will read 10 times more and I will understand Jabie's entry... But it is still creepy and good.

@Seon
Seems that you do not like the current name of the guild... Have better idea? :p ;)

Seon

May 24, 2009, 06:00 PM

That's what I meant, it's kind of civpedia entry and a rally toward other people to think of a different name :s

Jabie

May 25, 2009, 02:30 PM

I'm creeped out. What was your insperation? (unless it was "a few seconds of illigal herbs")

Bosch, Dali and Chaos Theory.

Jabie

May 29, 2009, 06:00 PM

Here's a possible piece for Thudr. The spelling of the word "tyger" in the first sentence of paragraph six is deliberate...

******

Rex salivated as the aroma of Belseraphs perfume swam on the breeze. He had smelt that vapour many times. Each time another poor slave had been savaged, and each time Rex received a scrap of pork. It was a simple lesson: Belseraph musk meant meat. But Rex had also learnt that if he did not control himself, Thudr would strike him on the nose. That was another lesson: Thudr was Alpha.

Thudr and Rex had been on the trail of the Belseraphs emissary for two days, not that their quarry was alert to their presence. In that time, Thudr had had learnt a lot about his target. His prey was slightly overweight and his diet was poor. He was well-educated, myopic from reading too many books. He knew a little magic, but relied too heavily on it. If he had saved his power for when he really needed it, perhaps he would know how to find kindling or how to dry out his socks to miss the early dew but catch the dawn rays.

The emissary to the Grigori was called Guilliame the Blacke. His outlandish attire and arrogant demeanour marked him out as urban, if not urbane. Sedentary lifestyle left him completely exposed out here in the hinterlands. On at least two separate occasions, Thudr had to secretly intervene to prevent the poor fool killing himself. Thudr almost felt sorry for him.

And, finally, Guilliame was a poet. Or thought he was.

He had been repeating the poem for days now, carrying the words under his breath as if they were rubies. He held onto them gingerly, using the same caution with which he lifted his black-orange cloak across the mud-flats. Muttering some vague doggerel about immortal hands and eyes, Guilliame had clearly learnt the words by rote. Thudr could tell from the timbre of the voice that the rhyme still sounded strange, something that didn't belong to this world, a sophisticated joke whose punchline remained just beyond reach.

Guilliame murmured something breathless about tygers and the forests of the night. Thudr's humour may have lacked the cutting barbs of wit commonly found in the Belseraphs courts, but irony wasn't wasted upon him. There were no tigers to be found in Blackwood, their camouflage better suited the jungles of the Spice Islands. And night time near Blackwood was more deadly than day. Predators used to the dim light offered by the thick canopy gained courage when the sun fell and the moon rose.

Rex burst from the undergrowth. The poet seized his staff and struck a defensive stance, but it was clear that he had been taught to defend himself against human foes, not animals. The celerity of the wolf took him by surprise and his quarterstaff was knocked clear from his hands. Only sheer desperation lent him the power to cast a spell.

A burst of light stunned Rex for a moment. The wolf paused, confused, but a snarl from Thudr soon urged him on. Even though his companion was temporarily blinded, Thudr savoured Guilliame's confusion. Guilliame might have had his book-learning, but he knew little about the ways of nature. Perhaps if he had paid a little closer attention to the world he would have known that wolves possess a keen sense of hearing and a keener sense of smell.

The Belseraph bard sang a new invocation, which quickened his pace. He would be slightly faster than Rex, if the spell held. Thudr heard Guilliame’s feet splashing through the puddles ahead. This was good, the fool was sticking to the path rather than fleeing into the forest. Thudr could easily head him off.

If Guilliame had spent a little time studying the tactics of timber wolves, instead of ruminating on the beauty of nature from the nearest tavern, he might have known what to expect. When the pack is in chase it was usual for the Alpha to drop off from the pack. As the hunter and the hunted grow weary, the Alpha moves in for the kill. With fearful symmetry, Rex slowed and Thudr stepped in. Guilliame didn't even have time to register his shock before he fell to the forest floor.

Thudr was careful to use the Grigori blade. He had acquired it when a famous adventurer - another fool who knew nothing about the wilderness - had been surprised to learn that the crocodiles of the Mulvarti Delta are exceptionally vicious when startled. Thudr left Guillaime’s carcass and the blade were left where they would be easily found.

Thudr contemplated his ploy for a moment. Nations thought of themselves like tigers, fierce and independent. But Thudr had learnt that the truth was different. Nations behaved like wolves. Soon Grigori and Belseraphs diplomats would be posturing and snarling like baboons in the Banyan tree. With a little encouragement they might even seek war. And when they did, others nations would join the fray, seeking the trophies of their own. And when all the nations had run themselves weary chasing their meals, the Alpha could step in and claim the choicest morsels for themselves.

Jake the Peg

May 30, 2009, 05:16 PM

Here's a little something I wrote in a fit of inspiration, small civilopedia entries Aduliar Chamber, Dragon's Hoard and Guild of Nine.

Aduliar Chamber
"Let's discuss the golem. A mighty and loyal fighter with the strength of several full grown men, who never needs to eat or sleep, who never runs away in fear. The perfect warrior. When our enemies see an army of constructed soldiers marching at them, they know that they will have to fight for with everything they got in order to survive. Now, imagine if you couldn't see the golems..."
- Völa, in her lecture on the nature of golem warfare

Dragon's Hoard
"Yes, I have seen the mighty pile o' treasures that the great dragon Acheron has gathered over the years. A mountain of gold, it is. The dragon's got at least half o' all the treasures in the world in there. I was but a small lad when I stumbled upon it... What? When I was on one of my adventures of course. How did I escape? With a magical crown of invisibility I found in the pile. Are you calling me a liar?"
- Old Heb, "retired adventurer" and a regular at the Three Cups Tavern

Guild of Nine
"Sure I likes it. I get to do what I loves and paid at the same time."
- Hofan, Ogre Mercenary

Erebus is a dangerous world of constant conflict and eternal warfare. There is a constant demand of warriors to the battlefields. Guild of Nine was born to fill that need, providing skilled warriors with flexible morals. They are mercenaries who will keep fighting as long as the money keeps coming, but are loyal only to the highest bidder and they are known to switch sides constantly, even during battle. Despite this, they are ruthless professionals who will work for anyone, if the price is right.

Jabie

Jun 21, 2009, 04:38 AM

Thread-bumping. The following text was originally from FfH: Age of Ice, but seems appropriate for the Conquest or Crusade Civic. I've changed the text from the present to the past tense.

"...Kylorin had gained the Godslayer, and was ready to rid the world of Mulcarn. The Amurite society went into overdrive. Everyone did their part to help him on the final leg of his journey. The youth bravely turned out for war, the young foraged for food and supplies, the elderly helped produce weapons, clothes, tools, anything they could. None thought of themselves. For what was personal hardship? Who would not make sacrifices when the reward was so great?"

The Age of Ice, Kael the Immortal

And here's a second one - probably recognisable to most players - for the Tea resource.

"How about a jolly cup of tea?"

Charadon, Doviello Warlord.

Jabie

Jun 24, 2009, 03:19 PM

The following quotes were not written by me. I've taken a look through the Civilopedia for the original Fall From Heaven game and found a number of quotes which may be of use. I've listed each of them here.

Firstly, the readily suggestible ones, I've given the name of the original pedia location and then a suggested new location:

Divine Right (CIVIC: GOD KING)

No…NO! Not the knives! Please...I beg of you…I have confessed my guilt! What more can I do?, what more can I...AAARGH! AHHH! It was ME! I did it! I spoke profanities, I defiled the altar, I assaulted the God King himself! Now please make it stop! - Anonymous

Fanaticism (CIVIC: DESPOTISM)

I want nothing short of total obedience from my soldiers, but I do not wish them to obey me from fear, or even from a strong sense of duty and loyalty. I want them to turn my every command into a fervent desire, making its fulfilment their only source of satisfaction. - Jasper Rendrahl, Captain of the South Gate, Precept of Order.

Feral Bond (PROMOTION / EFFECT: WEREWOLF)

I hear the wolf calling to me... I know I am its prey.... I know I should try to escape...And yet... and yet... It speaks as if.... As if I...As if I could, eventually, become the predator... and never need fear another living being. - Biran Val, Prey

Fermentation (BUILDING: BREWERY)

You may keep your gods and rituals, your codes and your honour. Why should I care for obscure promises of afterlife rewards and the merits of virtue, when Ive got a whole cellar full of pure, liquid bliss encased in glass and wood? - Dengrahl Lern, Merchant.

Gunpowder (TECH: ALCHEMY)

I warned im! I told im to be careful! He went on heating the substance up anyway, and in the space of a few seconds, poor old Master Keli was all over the laboratory walls. - Elon Ryar, Apprentice Alchemist

Mind Stapling (CIVIC: SLAVERY)

You cannot do this! I will no longer tolerate your cruelty and malice! I refuse! I spit on your temples and your laws, I... I dont want... Yes, Overlord. Of course, Overlord. It shall be as you ask. Nothing would please me more. - Sayrin Nures, Speaker of the Tide

Monarchy (CIVIC: FEUDAL CONTRACT)

The King is always right, and no sane society would ever question his decisions. The King must be right, regardless of the apparent validity of his arguments. For simply by virtue of being the King, it follows logically that he should have the greatest insight and the purest intentions. Had he not these traits, then he would not be King. - Karel Ord, Commander of The Royal Guard

Pass Through Ether (BUILDING: OBSIDIAN GATE)

It was the strangest sensation. It felt as if I was submerged in an ocean of cold air, swimming rapidly through it without moving a single limb. And then I felt my body dissolve, I became air, and moved at even greater speed, the dimensional anchor of the obsidian crystals pulling me onwards. It would have been a truly uplifting experience, if not for the ever-present odour of corruption and decay. - Gaelan Sedracious, Mage Elder

Righteousness (CIVIC: PURITY)

Our swords are harbingers of Junil, our iron fists the very extension of his will. Our shields are empowered by the strength of his teachings, and our horses given speed by the light of our virtue. - Jasper Rendrahl, Paladin of the Order

Military Tradition (CIVIC: CONQUEST)

My life consists of strife; the essence of war runs through my veins. I have known nothing but battle since the day I was born; I have fought thousands of enemies. I have seen the icy fear of death so many times that it can no longer touch me. Now, you say you will release me from my service? How can I ever live a quiet life of peace, when the only dance I know is that of the arena floor, and the only song the warcries of ferocious warriors and an audience no less bloodthirsty? How can there ever be rest for someone who has made war a part of his soul? - Garath Fleshrend, Arena Champion

The following ones might be useful, but are a little more questionable:

Armageddon (Introductory quote for Gone To Hell Victory condition – Orbis Concepts)

I always knew the world would end someday, but I did not foresee that we would be the ones causing its doom. - Jobin Seras, Scholar

Chivalry (CIVIC: Maybe CASTE SYSTEM / SERFDOM)

It is known that virtue runs in the blood. My fathers virtue is my virtue - if my father was worthy of ruling, then it follows that so am I, and so are my children, and my childrens children. Thus everyone can know their place in society, and thus no one should aspire to be greater than they are. - Fulner Ir Aelis, High Lord

Constitution (Maybe CIVIC: HUMANISM or REPUBLIC)

I say, what right does the king have to take the fruits of our labour from us? What right do his soldiers have to pillage and rape at their leisure, protected from the law by the royal decrees? What right does he have to oppress us and extort us at every turn of the moon? I say, the king has no more right to power than any of us! The future belongs to the people, and it is with the people the power should be. - Soren Castamer, Leader of the First Rebellion

Finally, here's a bunch which I couldn't assign at all, including the shaggy dog story for Chichen Itza. I thought I'd include here for reference, in case anyone else has any bright ideas:

Ancient Temple

Killed by Kyorlin, the God of Winters power is gone and his worshippers fled. Ruined temples are all that is left of the domination the god held over the last age.

Golem Mastery

Building a Golem is actually quite similar to creating a sculpture, apart from aesthetics not being a concern. These things are not made to sparkle in a sunlit garden and impress visitors. - Leras Vult, Arcane Craftsman

Domesticate Camels

True, the camel is not a fearsome animal. Its features are more apt to inspire laughter than terror in the average enemy. However, an arrow flying straight towards ones face is a more fearsome sight than even the mightiest of dragons. - Grajib, Camel trainer.

Meditation

The body is the tool of the mind, and nothing more. You should strive to release the mind from the body, eventually feeling no more attachment to it than you would to a sword or a hammer. Only then will you be able to release its full potential, forever beyond the feeble constraints of pain and discomfort. - Shinja, Monk Trainer

Polytheism

A multitude of gods is in many ways a theological problem. Firstly, it rules out omnipotence on the individual deity’s part. Secondly, it allows for all kinds of ideological conflicts, not because people are arguing whether a given god exists, but because there is common consent that they all exist, and so it becomes a matter of which to swear allegiance to. – Jobin Seras, Scholar

Soul Debt

Arean... Arean...we see you…we feel your presence amongst us…we carry a message... an urgent message…we have done you great services in the past...we will do you great services in the future...we have helped you crush your enemies...we have told you of secrets who were meant to stay unheard by mortal ears for eternity...we have led you to riches, power and recognition...and now...and now...our pay is finally due..." - Excerpt from the last diaries of Arean Sethrail, by certain scholars believed to be the words of the entities of The Ashen Veil, though others have disputed it as mere ramblings of a madman.

Chichen Itza

My lord, the construction foreman bowed. "We have finished the excavation of the ancient ruins. We did not find much of value... except a large depository of what look like, uhh, chicken golems."

“Chicken golems, you say?”, the governor frowned.

“Yes, my lord. Hundreds of them, stony golems the shape and size of chickens. What's more, now that we have awakened them, their leader has sworn loyalty to us and our kingdom. They say that they will move out to all the cities under our rule, joining the local city guards and help defend the cities by pecking any attackers to death.”

“I... see.” The governor hesitated. “I wouldn't dare to hope that they might lay some eggs as well? Now that you've brought up the topic, I'm starving for a good omelette.”

“I most seriously doubt it, my lord.”

Jabie

Jun 24, 2009, 03:36 PM

It's worth mentioning there's another pedia thread in the Fall Further forum, which includes some suggsted Mechanos entries as well as a good one for War Tortoise. You can find it here: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=323100

Here's an entry from me for the No Membership Civic

"Some men wager smart money on Somnium, the arena, or the battlefield. But the smartest money of all is the coin that stays in the pouch."
Kelsie, Barmaid at The Bent Nail.

Jabie

Jul 11, 2009, 03:07 AM

Horse

A Hippus without a Horse.
Lanun phrase to describe something which is useless

snicklesnack36

Aug 10, 2009, 09:37 PM

Well I don't know if we are still puttin in ideas but I got one.

Anagantios

Anagantios was a Great Warrior of his time. The magic which flowed through his body was impossible to destroy. But he was decieved. His life, his family, his beloved and lovers would soon be killed. He at once heard news 3 days before battle. He then asked "Commander, My family is under the pressure of darkness and evil. They are going to be killed at once- I have to save them before this battle- Please sir. I beg of you." Begging was not a normal trait of this Warrior, his mind brillant, his muscles strong. He was not of looks to be the beggers of society. The commander stood from his table. Frowned and tall, his eyes seemed never to leave the floor. The commander then said "Leave to save you beloved, but be back by next battle or you'll be considerd as a traitor, that is all i can grant." The commanders eyes still concentrated on the ground never even looked up to see Anagantios leave the tent.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE] Anagantios rushed through many fields and places of ice, seeming as if this waste land would never stop. Frostlings then appear out of the ice, holding hammers and clubs. Seeming to show no interest in Anagantios he passed by without any clue to if they were to rob. He still runs exhauted and tired he can run no more, he gets dazed and dizzy, stumbiling and tripping he soon falls. Hits his head only to be a rock. His brillance would be looked over on this rock.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE] Anagantios woke up to find his self in the cold alone stranded in a blizzard. He then guesses hes been stranded for a couple hours. He realizes he has blood straining from his head to his stomach. He gets up, then he starts to walk in the insane blizzard only realizing his beloved could be dead. He runs to his family tent. He enters...[NEWLINE][NEWLINE] His family is dead. Their inerds rip thrashed across the wall, no respect for his family he is angered crazed and enraged with rage and discrimination towards other civilizations. His Wife, her eyes gouged her body torn, her dressings ripped, this murderer has no sympothy for her. His two sons nailed to the wall, missings fingers and backs thrashed with some sort of object. His brillant mind was now enraged and crazed. He only knew he would set out for his long revenge.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE] By the time he reached back to his war camp, his eyes squentinted, his breath heaved, his fisst crinched and his voice strong. He was ready to relive his stress and rage the war was coming and he was going to annihalate the other enemys.

Raitlor

"Raitlor, are you awake?"-[NEWLINE] "Yes, Yes Melina, what is wrong?"-[NEWLINE] "Raiders are attacking, we must leave. No time for questions."[NEWLINE][NEWLINE]Not knowing what is going on, Raitlor scavenges her greater belongings and leaves.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE] "Raitlor we must run for the forest."-"Melina, that is across the field we will never make it before the attack.""We must."[NEWLINE][NEWLINE] Life for Raitlor and Melinas tribe was hard, they were constantly raided and robbed by the mighty Hippus. Raitlor and Melina dashed towards the fields, running through the thick grass and wheat they soon realize they are being followed. A Hippus Horseman is on their tail, Melina falls back and tells Raitlor to go foward.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE] "NO! I can never leave Melina your my only sister." [NEWLINE][NEWLINE] "Raitlor leave" She was holding the sword right along Raitlor throat. Tears in their eyes the movement of the words "go" exit Melinas mouth. She was going to sacrifice her self for her sister. Raitlor leaves crying despertly. She hears the hooves of the Horseman she turns only to hear screams. She watched her sister die. Her tears her sorrow, was penetrating her soul. She knew she must run and never turn back, not to mourn or to save any of her tribe mates. [NEWLINE][NEWLINE]Raitlor found new life as a Illians villager. Her life was simply, be constantly worked and occupion the worthy men. She hated her job and was not going to take any more. Raitlor then broke mad screaming, crying for those lost, she cut herself to ease her emotional pain. But then she became enraged and angered at everyone. She began to murder and kill all men and war heros. many soldiers fell for her weakness that did not exist. She killed many men. But she was eventually caught. Thrashing at the men, spitting at them as thedragged her to her Leaders throne. The Leader Auric said "My Lady pleasure to see you." Railor responed with hatred she yelled discompliments and critisism towards the leader. Auric then told her to became the ruler of his kingdom for she has killed many souls to feed to the dream eaters. That deed was very great amoung them. He handed her th throne, she refused so he placed her uinder arrest but to be forced to rule. Her tears always sobbing. And her heart throbbing with pain she misses her family. But she knew she could only see them in the after life. She went off and on about suicide but never had the courage to do so. she ruled a Civilization, that she believed was'nt worth ruling. Towards the end of her life she sacrificed her self, but failed the attempt to die. She was cursed by Mulcran God of Winter and was to live forever. A curse she wishes she never achieved...

Forgive me if we stopped this but I look a few days back at the first page of it and saw and said hey I could do that and here it is.

snicklesnack36

Aug 10, 2009, 09:37 PM

Oh yeah I copied it strait out of the c++ so excuse the tag lines [NEWLINE]

snicklesnack36

Aug 10, 2009, 09:40 PM

I also have the XML files for it two if you guys wanted it... I can give a link for it...

Opera

Sep 07, 2009, 01:59 PM

A thread reminded me that I forgot to answer you.

To put it bluntly, I don't like Raitlor's story. I doesn't look like it because she's in Orbis, but she comes from LENA (LeadersEnhanced in my signature), in the thread of which you can find a small text describing her story, which is completely different.

arkham4269

Jan 31, 2010, 03:48 PM

Okay, it's been awhile, but I've started working on more entries to hopefully get into the 0.30 release.

Adeptus
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ADEPTUS_STRATEGY

While the Adeptus unit is not as versatile as the Adept, it is nevertheless quite powerful it its own right as a support unit. The ability to repair siege engines can help keep an offensive going as well as quickly repair ships and get them back to see. The ability to entrench other units also makes it a important to keep while on the attack when your stack is out in the open.

Air Elemental
TXT_KEY_UNIT_AIR_ELEMENTAL_STRATEGY

Although weak for a Rank 3 summoned unit, an Air Elemental can pass over any terrain, including water tiles and can see 2 tiles further than other units. To its advantage, however, is that upon winning a combat, Air Elementals will summon Lightning Elementals . Thus they make good units to send into enemy territory as a diversion as then can spawn more units to add to the distraction.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_AIR_ELEMENTAL_PEDIA

:):):):):)We know that air, while invisible, is indispensible when it comes to sustaining life. We know from it come the rains so needed for crops. It is to us what water is to fish; so vital yet unseen. That invisibility is also what makes the Air Elemental so very dangerous. Until it is upon you, with flashes of lightning, it might as well be the wind. This wind, however, is a wind that brings death.[NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Air Admiral Giuseppe Valle speaking at the annual Mechanos Aeronautica Militare ball.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE]HISTORY: Air Elementals are summoned by Archmages who invoke one of the most primal of elements, historically associated with the East. This elemental attacks with cutting winds and flashes of lightning. In victory it calls to itself a host of lesser Lightning Elementals.

Angel
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ANGEL_STRATEGY

Angels are awarded to the Mercurians when good people die. This could be from a good* unit being killed, in which case they are made into an Angel and maintain their experience to spend on new skills, or when a good city is razed. Angels are the only units that can be upgraded into the Mercurians' most powerful units, so a healthy supply is crucial to their conquest of Erebus.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE]*Good units are those who follow the Empyrean, the Order or the Runes of Kilmorph religions. It also includes any living unit from the Mercurian civilization except for animal units.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_ANGEL_PEDIA

By the Will of the One did I arise as inanimate matter,[PARAGRAPH:1]I died as inanimate matter and arose again as a plant.[PARAGRAPH:1]I died as a plant and arose again an animal.[PARAGRAPH:1]I died as an animal and arose again a man.[PARAGRAPH:1]Why then should I fear to become less by dying?[PARAGRAPH:1]I shall die once again as a man to arise an angel.[PARAGRAPH:1]There shall I be perfect in form and majesty![PARAGRAPH:1]Again when I suffer dissolution as an angel,[PARAGRAPH:1]I shall pass beyond the conception of man![PARAGRAPH:1]Let me then become non-existent, for non-existence[PARAGRAPH:1]Sings to me in organ tones, 'To the One shall I return.'[NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Excerpt from "Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding the Empyrean world-view.

Arcane Barque
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCANE_BARQUE_STRATEGY

The Arcane Bargue is an excellent support ship since its fireball has the potential to damage multiple targets which allow more of the offensive ships to attack directly. Additionally they act as seaborne siege units impervious to dangers like enemy assassins. It is a good idea to protect them with at least one offensive ship as they can easily fall prey to barbarian pirates or sea monsters.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCANE_BARQUE_PEDIA

[TAB]Students, you must not see this as a failure. Magic is a precise act that requires a great deal of concentration and clarity of thought. This is difficult when arrows are falling around you and all that stands between you and the decapitation is the breaking line of footmen before you. However, the Element of Fire is still yours to command and you shall serve the kingdom and serve it well…as long as you are not prone to seasickness!” [NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Grigori Master of Fire, Drogo Bozidar, to his rejected adept students.

Archmage
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCHMAGE_STRATEGY

The archmage is the final level of the spell-casting line and as a National Unit, only 4 are available to each civilization. Additionally, an archmage can only be created from a mage that has reached level six. A key strategy in regards to the limits on archmages is the level 3 Death magic promotion enables the [LINK=UNIT_LICH] promotion. This is very powerful since the Lich, while a tier 3 spellcaster doesn’t count against a civilization’s archmage total! Another key point regarding the archmage is that the most common form of tier 3 spells is the summoning of various elementals or demons so it is usually a good idea to prepare for this by taking promotions that will strengthen these summoned units such as Combat I and Spell Extension I and II.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCHMAGE_PEDIA

[TAB]The sages say that ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. This always springs to my mind when ever I have to deal with the vaguely disturbing figure that is the Archmage. You must respect the dedication and prowess that carried them to the pinnacle of magic but you cannot help but wonder if that power distorts how they view the rest of us. What do they see when they look out at our day to day world when they have cast their gaze deeper into the firmament of the Universe than any of us could even fathom? Does duty to their kingdom hold any meaning to them? Is the struggle of life we all live every day just an abstraction to them? When then go forth with our armies, is it out of boredom or vanity to show the rest of us the sheer power they command? Truly, where do their loyalties lie? [NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Amurite Councilor Enkina Zepol before the Republic Senate

As always, my HTML knowledge is limited so please check it. For example, every time I preview this page, my HTML for tab generates 5 smiley faces in some of my entries, even after I go in and fix it; don't know why this happens.

Also, I asked some questions about the Airship and the Angel of Death in the 0.30 thread (I think) so if anyone has some answers, it will help me do their entries.

Kalina

Jan 31, 2010, 04:04 PM

Nice :) But isn't Lich Scions unique archmage now ?:)

arkham4269

Jan 31, 2010, 05:29 PM

Nice :) But isn't Lich Scions unique archmage now ?:)

Not to my knowledge; I just built 3 of them in my current game playing as the Balseraphs.

Ahwaric

Feb 01, 2010, 04:28 AM

Not to my knowledge; I just built 3 of them in my current game playing as the Balseraphs.
It is. Liches also count to national limit of archmages - just get some extra bonuses (like immortality ;) ).
Also, they are scion unique archmages (standard upgrade from necromancer). But all other civs still can convert their archmages using death III spell.
Most of this is listed in the pedia, you may want to check it before writing new entries (i mean the requirements part).
Thanks for the entries though :) The lich is in the strategy text, so easy to fix, even on my own (provided someone will correct my english later ;) )

arkham4269

Feb 01, 2010, 11:13 AM

IMost of this is listed in the pedia, you may want to check it before writing new entries (i mean the requirements part).
Thanks for the entries though :) The lich is in the strategy text, so easy to fix, even on my own (provided someone will correct my english later ;) )

I did; I'm finding inconsistencies all the time. For example in the current version I have it says for Archmages in the requirements that it is a National level unit and 4 are available, but in th strategy section it only said three. I hadn't noticed in the game that it HAS changed to where Lich's count against your archmage's (which use to not be that) so I'll change it.

As I mentioned, the Angel of Death seems to have a issue between having Vile Touch or some other promotion (I can't check; I'm in class)

KrugSmash

Feb 01, 2010, 07:50 PM

arkham4269

Feb 02, 2010, 12:27 PM

You have some spelling/grammatical errors in those entries, I'd check them over again before putting them in the pedia. Or if you want I could edit them and repost them.

I had a teacher in high school who was very strict about proper grammar and spelling, so as a result I notice all the little things.

Well it's always good to have others check them, especially since many of the original entries that people are working from where written by people whose first language isn't English.

BTW, what is the best way to find out what is the current or projected way something is going to be? I've found certain things in the pedia that are wrong or missing but I've heard rumblings of changes that might affect that entry.

KrugSmash

Feb 04, 2010, 04:28 PM

Adeptus
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ADEPTUS_STRATEGY

While the Adeptus unit is not as versatile as the Adept, it is nevertheless quite powerful in its own right as a support unit. The ability to repair siege engines can help keep an offensive going, as well as quickly repair ships and get them back to sea. The ability to entrench other units also makes it important to keep one around while on the attack when your stack is out in the open.

Air Elemental
TXT_KEY_UNIT_AIR_ELEMENTAL_STRATEGY

Although weak for a Rank 3 summoned unit, an Air Elemental can pass over any terrain, including water tiles, and can see 2 tiles further than other units. An additional advantage is that upon winning a combat, Air Elementals will summon Lightning Elementals . Thus, they make good units to send into enemy territory as a diversion, as then can spawn more units to add to the distraction.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_AIR_ELEMENTAL_PEDIA

:):):):):)We know that air, while invisible, is indispensable when it comes to sustaining life. We know from air comes the rain so needed for crops. It is to us what water is to fish; so vital yet unseen. That invisibility is also what makes the Air Elemental so very dangerous. Until it is upon you with flashes of lightning, it might as well be the wind. This wind, however, is a wind that brings death.[NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Air Admiral Giuseppe Valle speaking at the annual Mechanos Aeronautica Militare ball.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE]HISTORY: Air Elementals are summoned by Archmages who invoke one of the most primal of elements, historically associated with the East. This elemental attacks with cutting winds and flashes of lightning. In victory it calls to itself a host of lesser Lightning Elementals.

Angel
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ANGEL_STRATEGY

Angels are awarded to the Mercurians when good people die. This could be from a good* unit being killed, in which case the unit is made into an Angel and maintains its experience to spend on new skills, or when a good city is razed. Angels are the only units that can be upgraded into the Mercurians' most powerful units, so a healthy supply is crucial to their conquest of Erebus.[NEWLINE][NEWLINE]*Good units are those who follow the Empyrean, the Order or the Runes of Kilmorph religions. It also includes any living unit from the Mercurian civilization except for animal units.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_ANGEL_PEDIA

By the Will of the One did I arise as inanimate matter,[PARAGRAPH:1]I died as inanimate matter and arose again as a plant.[PARAGRAPH:1]I died as a plant and arose again an animal.[PARAGRAPH:1]I died as an animal and arose again a man.[PARAGRAPH:1]Why then should I fear to become less by dying?[PARAGRAPH:1]I shall die once again as a man to arise an angel.[PARAGRAPH:1]There shall I be perfect in form and majesty![PARAGRAPH:1]Again when I suffer dissolution as an angel,[PARAGRAPH:1]I shall pass beyond the conception of man![PARAGRAPH:1]Let me then become non-existent, for non-existence[PARAGRAPH:1]Sings to me in organ tones, 'To the One shall I return.'[NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Excerpt from "Words to Our Gods" by Elohim scholar Kadisha Tadi regarding the Empyrean world-view.

Arcane Barque
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCANE_BARQUE_STRATEGY

The Arcane Bargue is an excellent support ship; its fireball has the potential to damage multiple targets which allow more of the offensive ships to attack directly. Additionally, they act as seaborne siege units impervious to the dangers of enemy assassins. It is a good idea to protect them with at least one offensive ship as they can easily fall prey to barbarian pirates or sea monsters.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCANE_BARQUE_PEDIA

:):):):):)Students, you must not see this as a failure. Magic is a precise act that requires a great deal of concentration and clarity of thought. This is difficult when arrows are falling around you and all that stands between you and decapitation is the breaking line of footmen before you. However, the Element of Fire is still yours to command and you shall serve the kingdom and serve it well…as long as you are not prone to seasickness!” [NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Grigori Master of Fire, Drogo Bozidar, to his rejected adept students.

Archmage
TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCHMAGE_STRATEGY

The archmage is the final level of the spell-casting line and as a National Unit, only 4 are available to each civilization. Additionally, an archmage can only be created from a mage that has reached level six. A key strategy in regards to the limits on archmages is the level 3 Death magic promotion enables the [LINK=UNIT_LICH] promotion. This is very powerful since the Lich, while a tier 3 spellcaster doesn’t count against a civilization’s archmage total! Another key point regarding the archmage is that the most common form of tier 3 spells is the summoning of various elementals or demons so it is usually a good idea to prepare for this by taking promotions that will strengthen these summoned units such as Combat I and Spell Extension I and II.

TXT_KEY_UNIT_ARCHMAGE_PEDIA

:):):):):)The sages say that ‘Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. This always springs to my mind when ever I have to deal with the vaguely disturbing figure that is the Archmage. You must respect the dedication and prowess that carried them to the pinnacle of magic but you cannot help but wonder if that power distorts how they view the rest of us. What do they see when they look out at our day to day world when they have cast their gaze deeper into the firmament of the Universe than any of us could even fathom? Does duty to their kingdom hold any meaning to them? Is the struggle of life we all live every day just an abstraction to them? When they go forth with our armies, is it out of boredom or vanity to show the rest of us the sheer power they command? Truly, where do their loyalties lie? [NEWLINE][PARAGRAPH:1]Amurite Councilor Enkina Zepol before the Republic Senate

I made some modifications to the above text, fixed the few spelling errors I found, and made some alterations to the grammar, I think it reads better now. Just two points that could use some clarification;

Is mercurians the singular, plural, or both? I don't remember what it looks like ingame and I'm not at my desktop to check.

I think the strategy portion of the archmage entry about how liches don't count towards the archmage limit is wrong.

I hope this helps.