Oh no you can keep them, I wouldn't knock someone out of a game. I'd say the horse riding is still very popular, especially with traditionalist, as they are descendants of the Hippus. Though I'd figure that many of the younger aristocrats have probably taken a fancy to airplanes rather than riding on horses. And for the masses violent sports are the favored past time, hence the massive stadium in the capital.

House Illborne is free of players AFAIK.

Also Several of you maybe interested in this:
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7641/immacusoldiers.png

If someone who was in FFHNES II and ImmacuNES IIA could explain the premise of this whole world quite concisely in terms of those two NESes, on the Wiki or here, I must say I think it would be very enlightening for people like me who really haven't a clue about FFH or the genesis of this universe or anything, and would allow more depth to the story for the use of the casual lurker and underinformed player alike. :p Could anyone possibly offer to write a summary?

(Immac, Eko, thomas, Seon, merciary if he's lurking, Kyzarc, Darksaber?)

The only part I can provide is some background from FFHNESII.
The Eekin were a society where the king married several sacred priestesses. The king became king by killing in duel his predecessor. Eekin were quite proud and noble, although they were, at the time, a very minor nation on a small island, not far from the Sheaim (ancestors of Bossheim and Tsedeq) who helped them get into worldwide politics.

And damn. Tyrs had Sasha a woman. I only know men called Sasha, so that's what Sasha Bel Laga is.

If someone who was in FFHNES II and ImmacuNES IIA could explain the premise of this whole world quite concisely in terms of those two NESes, on the Wiki or here, I must say I think it would be very enlightening for people like me who really haven't a clue about FFH or the genesis of this universe or anything, and would allow more depth to the story for the use of the casual lurker and underinformed player alike. :p Could anyone possibly offer to write a summary?

(Immac, Eko, thomas, Seon, merciary if he's lurking, Kyzarc, Darksaber?)

All I can tell you is I am glad that The Query were not based directly off any of the old stuff. Cause I mangled em terribly to make them what I envisioned.

I always thought that Sasha bel-laga was os-gabella. If only because Bel-laga is an anagram of gabella.

And damn.
The other potential link is that of the zombies and the symbiots... they seem similar- but then the symbiots chased the cephalods to erebus so they must have existed before the zombies.. and then the symbiots are still around now so they exist after the zombies- its not like its a linear one thing became the other- and yet- there are similarities...
On that I could say a lot. It might have been better I had never read that, what with the story I wrote about the pilot of the Mammon... And I'm going to look at Barbatos with even more fear now.
(Errovus had a bout of zombie infestation incident once, and someone -who happened to have read books found in Barbatos''s broken sepulcher- didn't really help with the problem being solved).

And damn.

On that I could say a lot. It might have been better I had never read that, what with the story I wrote about the pilot of the Mammon... And I'm going to look at Barbatos with even more fear now.
(Errovus had a bout of zombie infestation incident once, and someone -who happened to have read books found in Barbatos''s broken sepulcher- didn't really help with the problem being solved).

Did you/we not have like 3 zombie infestations, 2 rather small ones and third because Ekolite kept a few alive to create his super duper zombie army? However, I am fare-ly sure that Zombies there, were simple Zombies and did not rewrite genetic codes or took over plants.

Zombies=dead end symbiot infection that lost ability to form plants?

And die much easier, several large sticks was all I needed.

2 rather small ones and third because Ekolite kept a few alive to create his super duper zombie army
1 small one.
1 continental
and 1 Planned to become world wide if the NES had gone on.

I believe the third was created because Ekolite thought that the Dove-Yellows can take care of zombies on their own turf.

Turns out they couldn't.

Edit: maybe that's the second...

Barbatos's a symbiot!!!

Actually, I remember them appearing after I had a forced-month break. I lost a few orders when zombie wolves started, and then suddenly zombie Dove Yellow started... then I tried to do what Ekolite did but I forgot that he used Spearmen not Spear Militia (dang, I really messed up my economy too).

The transport entered the atmosphere shaking it violently; retching was easily audible as the inexperienced lost their meals. The shaking subsided as the transport flew lower preparing for landing.

“Drop in 30 seconds.” announced the dispassionate voice of the co-pilot. The soldiers checked their gear quickly, some mumbled prayers, most were veterans and simply stared at the rear hatch waiting for it to open. The ten second light came on and the anticipation was palpable. The marauders lined up and prepared to disembark into hell.

The hatch opened and the marauders rushed out as quickly as they could for being caught in the transport was certain death. On their way out they made damn sure not to touch the surface of the helicopter. Even through their armor they could feel its sun-baked heat and to touch it, even in the deep ravines, would have invited disaster. Small arms fire whizzed by occasionally bouncing off some armor or striking the hull of the shimmering transport as it popped and groaned, cooling rapidly in the shadows. Finally everyone was out.

“Go! Reinforce the left flank. Tribune Velace reports that the symbiotes are beginning to break through his line!” Prefectus Lady Alex of the Black Clan waved her sword in her left hand pointing to the hole in the left flank that was slowly forming from the constant pressure of the symbiote attack. She fired her pistol with her right hand straight into the eye of a small symbiote which had leapt toward her suddenly. It flopped to the ground, wounded but rapidly regenerating. A nearby soldier turned its flame gun upon it and it was soon dead.

The marauders quickly headed toward the developing gap in the line and crashed into it violently. The heavier symbiotes that were at the front ceased to advance and began to die. But the sheer weight of numbers prevented the complete recovery of the line. The symbiotes sensed the weakness in the line and pushed harder. Swords slashed spraying blood all over the combatants, weapons fired leaving gaping holes in the symbiotes, yet still they came on.

“Saint Hess in your name I will slay these foul creatures!” A dark glow seemed to emanate from Lady Alex as she rushed towards the largest of the symbiotes in the front line. Tendrils of darkness whipped out from around her and assailed and distracted the symbiote while Lady Alex began to cut and thrust at it bringing it down in a matter of moments. The dark tendrils reached out to the regenerating symbiote and tore it apart into bloody mist. A cry went up among the marauders and they redoubled their efforts at repelling the symbiotes.

The communicators came to life and the voice of Primus Legatus Lord Dantian of the Black Clan calmly gave orders. “Hold for another 2 minutes until the magikkers arrive to complete the destruction of this last hive.” The officers acknowledged the command and drew themselves up once more to contain the symbiotes.

It was over in a bright flash of light as the magikkers arrived and slew the symbiotes with purging flame.

Lady Alex rose from her chair and smiled at the young girl who had just run up with what must be a completely serious question based on the look of frustration on her face. “Yes little one what is it?”

Carma drew herself up as much as the girl could and then spoke. “Lady Alex why can I not go to the Cathedral and watch them building it?”

“Little one, we cannot have you running underfoot all those workers causing them to not pay attention properly to their jobs. Besides why would you want to spend all your time there anyway?”

“I just like watching them put it together because it really doesn’t seem like the pieces fit.” This was true, often Alex had wondered how they were able to build the maze like structure and not have it collapse. Oh well that was Lord Ichabod’s problem. Besides, Lady Alex followed Saint Hess far more than the others.

“Okay.” Carma whined in a high pitched quiet voice. Lady Alex sat back, here came the real request. Carma had already mastered the idea of ask for something when you really want the second thing you ask for. “Can we go and play swords in the garden?”

“Certainly I have nothing pressing at the moment.” Alex led the child to the garden thinking how Carma grew so much faster than her sons had.

Wow- yeah- that takes me back.

One thing i forgot was implemented in the earlier version but hasn't really come to bear too much was dynastic vs 'non-dynastic' familes within the noble house.

So if you want to edit your wikipedia entries with notes on minor noble families within your noble house that would be cool too.


- Vladislav: The royal family. Traditional in its Decados ways, but courting the Empire aggressively and willing to grant concessions. (Crown on Severus, big on Cadiz, Malignatius, Cadavus, Criticorum)

- Romanov: One of the founding families of the house. Has held the crown many times in the past. Rules Cadiz from the city of Vilna (Crown on Cadiz, big on Severus, Cadavus, Criticorum)

- Malevik: Aggressive if not completely subtle, the hot-tempered Maleviks have considerable enmity with the Romanovs and the Vladislavs. Accordingly, they are somewhat exiles right now. (Crown on Cadavus, big on Malignatius, Pandemonium)

- Bogakov: The most military branch of the family, and the most honorable (such as it is). Grudgingly respected but disliked within the house. (Crown on Malignatius, big on Pandemonium, Cadavus)

- Ivanovich: One of the more powerful families at court, though they consier themselves “robbed” of Malignatius’ throne by the Bogakovs. (Big on Malignatius, Severus, Cadiz, presence on Manitou)

- Sharn: Utterly calculating, almost robotic. Up-and-coming, and regarded with suspicion by Vladislavs and Romanovs. (Crown on Pandemonium, big on Severus, Malignatius)

- Gurov: Cultured and subtle, considered by many to be not far removed from the Criticorum al-Malik. The Gurov line tries to maintain good relations with non-Decados. (Big on Cadiz, Severus, Criticorum, Sutek)

- Sfilli: One of the chief Italianate families, the Sfilli line is closely allied with the Castenda Hazat and with the Vladislav line. (Big on Cadiz, Sutek, presence on Severus)

- Slava: Underdog rivals with Romanov family for control of Cadiz. Preach loudly about reform and overtures to Empire. (Big on Cadiz, Cadavus)

- Durneyev: Cultured and witty, often engaged in feuds and vendettas. (Big on Severus, Cadiz, presence on Criticorum)

- Innokenti: Highly religious, but not amazingly honorable. High incidence of theurgy. (Big on Malignatius, Cadavus, presence on Cadiz)

- Bratislav: Excellent with biotechnology, chemicals, and genetic engineering. Under close Church regulation. (Big on Severus, Cadavus, presence on Cadiz)

- Petrovna: Decadent, extremely wealthy and high-technology. Home to many cyberfetishists. (Big on Cadiz, Severus, Manitou)

- Gagarin: The most cultured and artistic of the house, as well as the most psychic and alien. The Gagarin line has long been plagued by troubling visions and portents. Once rebellious, then crushed and bound by oath to the Vladislavs. (big on Severus, Cadiz, Manitou)

- Aleksandrov: Once the crown family, deposed and largely crushed in beginning of Emperor Wars. Now they try to insinuate themselves into the politics of the backwaters they find themselves exiled into. (Big on Malignatius, Cadavus, presence on Pandemonium)

- Krusczek: Courtly family, excellent rumormongers. (Big on Severus, Malignatius)

- Chomolny: Highly mercenary, known to work for the highest bidder. Somewhat outcast. (Big on Cadavus, Criticorum, Cadiz)

- Czerny: Highly disciplined and extremely insular. Excellent rangers and warriors. Serves the Vladislav family (big on Cadavus, Malignatius)

- Turian: Strictly neutral information brokers. Still distrusted by many. (big on Cadiz, Criticorum, Manitou, Sutek)

- Mikoyan: Ardent supporters of the cartels. Often come into conflict with the Merchant League. (Big on Severus, Cadiz, Criticorum)

- Valushnya: Home to many scholars and intellectuals. (Big on Severus, Cadiz)

- Romany: Naval family, fond of life in space. Allied with Bogakov line. (Big on Severus, Cadiz)

- Tatarin: Somewhat Li Halan-influenced, this family is very religious (though not always Orthodox) and somewhat anarchic. (Big on Malignatius, Manitou, Cadavus)

- Sobor: Dissidents highly persecuted by Czar Hyram. (big on Malignatius, Pandemonium, Cadavus)

- Tchaikof: The most decadent of the house, considered to be degenerates and failures by all, but still tolerated because they are the family of Antonin and Jakob. (big on Cadavus, Cadiz)

- Strelnikov: Allied with the Castenda Hazat, still trying to demilitarize after the war. (big on Severus, presence on Sutek)

- Vaclav: Warrior family (presence on Malignatius, Cadavus)


So lets use the following nomencalture:

Dynastic families (families in commanding or command position of the noble house)
Royal families (dynastic families from one of the five remaining major houses)
Vassal families (any family not considered to be in a command position within any house)
Royal house (one of the five remaining major houses)
Major House (same thing as a royal house)
Minor House (any house not one of the five remaining major houses)

Hmm Okay well as you know I have three dynastic families in The Query so would all three be Royal? Or would simply the most influential of them be such?

OOC: And I have NO vassal families. :p

Only a Remillard may be entrusted with working for Remillard! :lol:

And I'm the Batman!

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture/e5hansej/MYPARENTS.png
(OOC, of course)

I'm not sure about the families thing at all. It doesn't seem proper for some reason. It would make sense in a small place like Rome or Venice or Fiorenza, but not in a wide realm encompassing several continents and worlds. After a while, all the lines become so intermingled that the notion looks a bit weird. After all, most nobles ended up being called by their domain name rather than their own (thus all the de/du something in French nobility).

But in this universe why must they be titled based on where they live? The Query do not work that way.

Just to clear things up I did not keep any zombies for any neferarious plan :p. There was only really one zombie infestation which started off small and insignificant, and known only to me, but became a continent-wide catastrophe after I decided not to do anything about it. This was mainly because I thought they'd trash Grigori (who I'd had a disagreement with) and then stop there. Sadly I was wrong.

zombies ... and then stop there. Sadly I was wrong.

You're not much of a movie buff, are you?

Well... in the Aries Corp everyone has Aries as their middle name and in House Van, the Knight __________ Van and his immediate family was still mostly alive. So yeah, the other names are not important as they popped up over time. Associates (now Churls) and Minor Nobles/Landed Knights take the last names from their Lord.

Noble Structure in the Countryside
Lord- Owns at least three centers of power (forts)/towns and a largish army
Noble- Subservient to a Lord or the Top, one center of power, at least 5 tanks
Minor Noble/Landed Knight: Directly upkeeps as tank commander as Knight, or a large company of soldiers. These own some land, usually in small villages.
Knight/Endowed Soldiers: Non-landed but have some responsibilities such as Overseer of the Machinery and such. NCO Sarges would be in this catagory, as well as fighter knights and such.
Professional Soldiers: Most of the Vanari Foot Soldiers are pretty professional soldiers gathered either by the Top or various Noble levels. Only strong serfs can join, although Churl/Associate volunteers are accepted.
Churls/Associates: A growing semi-independent class. Neither owns land nor owned by the land, but still offers loyalty to the Top. Usually are somewhat educated or apprenticed in a specialized field and became free as a gift or bought from their master in the past, New Errovus Churls were freemen always, but chained to their wage and safety.
Serfs: Attached to their land and lord. The best and brightest might be selected to train to become an Associate and earn money, or danger as a Soldier.

EDIT: Should I Wiki this list?

Not really no :p. But yeah, I was quite far away from the source of the zombies and assumed I would be unaffected. They turned out to be a little more of a threat then I first expected.

Zombies - They are always a threat no matter how slow or small they seem.

Basically House Texier's upper nobility is so full of important Texier refugees (from when we withdrew from our non-E2 possessions) that only the local small aristocrats are called anything other than Texier.

Just to clear things up I did not keep any zombies for any neferarious plan :p.

Errrr... Eko yes we did, don't you remember me, you, and thomas kept some safe after the ritual so we could put them on ships and wipe out the "evil"(:p) alliance.

Just wrote some stuff about what I know about the Gods, or Saints as they are known now. (http://immacunesiib.wikia.com/wiki/Gods)

Now, this is obviously heretical information going out freely now, but 'tis good story stuff, I expect :p

-Note: I only wrote about the Evil Gods right now. The rest of 16 god-like entities will follow soon.

Careful cause at least one of those has changed their name.

And Immaculate I thought all the saints were "good" or was my impression wrong?

Just wrote some stuff about what I know about the Gods, or Saints as they are known now. (http://immacunesiib.wikia.com/wiki/Gods)

Now, this is obviously heretical information going out freely now, but 'tis good story stuff, I expect :p

-Note: I only wrote about the Evil Gods right now. The rest of 16 god-like entities will follow soon.

This stuff is definitely not cannon for these worlds.

The Church doesn't teach this at all and none of the nobles would ever think or suspect this.

The FFH stuff doesn't really fit this world too well. And NONE of your nobles (even those who are effectively immortal) would believe this stuff because FFHNESIIB is not based exactly on FFH NESI or the FFH NES video game. I took the stuff i like from this world and from Emperor of the Fading Suns but lots i left out. I am purposefully not going into the theology of the FFH world cause it doesn't fit this setting too much. Your nobles shouldn't be concerned with this stuff- they mostly believe what the church tells them regardless of it its true or not.


As for the actual role of FFH gods, some are completely dissappeared from theological knowledge. Many are associated with paganism and polytheism and some have been 'adapted' into Saints. But then lots of disciples of Zebulon and other 'religious heroes' have been made into saints over the years. And because the nobility and the serfs can actually relate to these more modern saints, they are generally more popular. Anyway, yeah... don't focus too much on the old gods from FFH.

Yes, but then again what I am writing there is so ancient that it doesn't really affect the game today even if it's true, no? :p

Edit: Unless it does. Which would be kind of creepy.

Yeah- i'm just saying.

By the way, who the HECK is Zebulon?...

Most of you with a piety of higher than 4 or 5 would know this stuff. Lots of it got censored 'cause your piety ain't high enough.

Normally you wouldn't discuss this except with your 'royal chaplain' or whatever but amongst yourselves (and not the serfs) you might discuss it. If your piety is really low please don't meta and talk about this as if you know whats going on.

The Faith in the Celestial Sun (aka the Pancreator) was born not in ancient times as many suspect, but only after humanity (re?)-discovered the jumpgates. It was propagated by the prophet Zebulon, one of the first colonists to jump to Errovus Secondus (then under the control of the Zaibatsu corporation). Like most early jumpers, Zebulon experienced a moment of pure euphoria and hallucinatory dissociation as he jumped (the <<Censored>> effect) but he also claimed to have glimpsed the true creator of all things, the ‘Pancreator’ and that he appeared as a celestial fire brighter than any sun, the sum of all suns. He also witnessed the demons of hell, which sought to extinguish the celestial light. But unlike the preceding religions, he knew ‘hell’ to be the dark space between the stars. Upon arriving at Errovus Secondus, he founded the Church of the Universal Light. At the time the people of Errovus were polytheists, believing that many of what we now know to be servants of the Pancreator, were indeed gods onto themselves. Zebulon’s church, at first, was fairly minor. His teachings ran counter to most beliefs of the day. While the people were entranced by the mundane and faithless miracles of technology, beholden to the greed of coin and slaves of faceless guilds (called corporations then), the prophet Zebulon preached against them, criticizing the worship of technology and money and asserting the role of the Pancreator and his servants as it should be. He also spoke out against the growing cult of <<censored>>.

After his death there was a schism between his disciples. One of his disciples was Amalthea, once a devoted <<censored>>pagan<<censored>>. She had been a hospital nurse and priestess but had heard Zebulon speak and realized the truth of his words, realizing that <<censored>> was a creation of the Pancreator. She argued with Palamedes Alecto who had been a soldier. He was well versed in temporal matters and after the prophet’s death won the political battle with Amalthea for control of the followers of Zeubulon and amongst many of his critics, in particular amongst the ‘Blossoms of Mercy’ who follow Amalthea, he is still considered a shrewd politician and manipulator. His church became what is now considered the ‘Orthodoxy’. It is Palamedes and his cohorts who collected the teachings of Zebulon and developed the ‘Omega Gospels’. <<censored>>

(a note on the disciples. Zebulon is said to have had 7 disciples:
o Lextius the Traveler
o Palamedes the Knight
o Amalthea the Healer
o Mantius the Guilder
o Maya the Scorned
o Horace the Learned
o Hombor the Beggar)

(a note on the Omega Gospels. These are the collective teachings of Zebulon and contain gospels of:
• Paulus
• Lextius
• Amalthea
• Horace
• Chroniculae III
• Maya
• Hombor
• Mantius
• Galaxia
• Meditations
• Lamentations
• Delphians
• Innominate
• Pilgrims

It is the accepted holy book of the great religious sects. This includes the ‘Holy Gate’ who consider the Omega Gospels and their own text of equal religious importance.)

During the diaspora the Church of Universal Light’s influence spread far and wide, gaining recognition on many planets and amongst many people. There still existed many other faiths, many dedicated to a single or limited number of facets of traditional polytheism. Additionally there was the Blossoms of Mercy, led by Amalthea’s teachings, within but separate from orthodox Universal Light.

<<censored>>a bunch of censored stuff on the birth of the avestites<<censored>>

Late during the Diaspora, in the year of approximately 1100 (counting from the first jump as is standard for our calendar), (OOC: so approximately 1000 years after the founding of the Church of Universal Light), a great man, Barbatos, was acclaimed Patriarch of the church. He was a potent theurgist, charismatic speaker and man of unfathomable wisdom and purity. It is said that he was immortal, and had witnessed the dawn of time. Under the leadership of Patriarch Barbatos, the Church was able to spread the truth of the Celestial Light far and wide, quickly overcoming the pagan polytheistic faiths of lesser times.

As the Grand Republic took form Barbatos began to proclaim several prophecies, explaining how man’s hubris in his great works, his spiritual poverty would be his own end, how Man themselves would bring unleash its own destruction through this hubris. He also correctly predicted the rise of the anarchists that disrupted the ‘Map’, the fall of the Republic, the rise of the nobles and even the fading of the suns. It is then that Barbatos was canonized, the living, undying saint and pancreator.

With the divesture, the Church of Universal Light and the Orthodoxy in particular were greatly strengthened. The people of the worlds had grown suspicious of the intrigues of man and spiritually bankrupt faith in technology. It was quickly realized that the Church would require a military arm and it is at this point that that St. Barbatos founded the Brothers Battle. More and more dedicated themselves to the faith, though many also turned, alarmingly, to the <<censored>> and the <<censored>>.

And then the greatest of demons stuck, as predicted by St. Barbatos, punishment unleashed by own hands as penitence for our crimes against the Pancreator. It is when the Symbiots struck that we realized the true greatness of the Pancreator for it was the theurgists trained by St. Barbatos that were most able to turn back the green tide. At the time there was a <<censored>> known as the <<censored>>. <<censored>>a bunch of censored stuff<<censored>>

In the aftermath of the symbiot attacks and the visit of the heathen and demonic transcedentals, as the noble houses, guilds and even the orthodoxy scrambled to reclaim some vestige of our lost technology, the <<censored>>

<<censored>>a bunch of censored stuff<<censored>> became the Temple Avesti and serve the Orthodoxy. To this day should any Avestite must obey an Orthodox cleric of equal or greater rank than the Avestite.

<<censored>>a bunch of censored stuff<<censored>> they would be visited by the Pancreator’s Holy Flame.

Orders are due June 16th, 2011. Orders in before June 12th, 2011 get an 'initiative' bonus.
Orders received from:
Query
Remillard
Hyppean

this.

Errrr... Eko yes we did, don't you remember me, you, and thomas kept some safe after the ritual so we could put them on ships and wipe out the "evil"(:p) alliance.

I thought we only talked about doing that? Regardless if we did actually keep them we never got round to releasing them. Probably for the best tbh, I think one zombie appocalypse is enough for any respectable NES :P.

Oh, we had some saved, Eko... :D

we were within a turn, I'd say, of sending them out.

Edit: as for the Gods, there were, even in FFHNES II, major differences from Canon.

I thought we only talked about doing that? Regardless if we did actually keep them we never got round to releasing them. Probably for the best tbh, I think one zombie appocalypse is enough for any respectable NES :P.

One zombie Apocalypse is never enough. I'm "hardcore" fan of zombies lore and I like most things related to the undead. Because this is fantasy fiction and I like it.

He also correctly predicted the rise of the anarchists that disrupted the ‘Map’,
OOC: The ****.

But in this universe why must they be titled based on where they live? The Query do not work that way.
My point is that family lines are going to be diluted. People will move, become other branches of the family and not necessarily keep links with the initial branch. Given the population of the fiefdoms, the number of families would likely be astounding.
I'm not saying one must be titled from their place. I'm saying that noble families only remain families over generations in city-states, where there are few of them and they can have an individual impact on the society. In larger realms, I can't see families as being that important. Tsedeq isn't clan-based either so I can't find it meaningful to describe families. There are individuals, with a net of relationships that is too complex to be coined into a set of families system.

My point is that family lines are going to be diluted. People will move, become other branches of the family and not necessarily keep links with the initial branch. Given the population of the fiefdoms, the number of families would likely be astounding.
I'm not saying one must be titled from their place. I'm saying that noble families only remain families over generations in city-states, where there are few of them and they can have an individual impact on the society. In larger realms, I can't see families as being that important. Tsedeq isn't clan-based either so I can't find it meaningful to describe families. There are individuals, with a net of relationships that is too complex to be coined into a set of families system.

I think families more like clans who are somewhat blood related. Every clan has someone who has more experience/leadership skill than others, who is considered "head" of the family/clan. In theory one only needs 1 family member to technically lead (and be responsible for) one area, rest can be just local aristocrats-payed workers.

Are the guilds mostly/entirely gnomish or is that something that doesn't stand in this NES?

There are still many gnomes within the guilds but they are mostly the workforce on Leagueheim. The public face of the guilds, on other planets, is almost entirely human (the SoE is an exception with many gnomes working for them publicly)

Changed the Orgins of House Vanari. Need Immaculate Approval.

Made a story listing on the Wiki. Would ask yall to update it when you post more (I think I got them all using Terrence list plus two more since then).

Made a story listing on the Wiki. Would ask yall to update it when you post more (I think I got them all using Terrence list plus two more since then).

Have I ever told you, that I love?

I think Northen Wolf has polynomial love for all who collect stories.

Three years ago

The creak as he opened the old book was nearly deafening in the stillness of the Library. Naiajs Endoin coughed softly, clearing away the cloud of dust that had billowed up. The Book was old, and likely had lain undisturbed for centuries, perhaps even since before the creation of the Republic. But what was important was that he had found references to this tome in a number of other books. Those unequivocally stated that, in this book, was a map, or at least a reference, to an old Kappa temple.

Minutes faded into hours as he poured through the tome, the archaic symbols and writing blurring together.

“I admire your dedication to the past, Endoin.” The soft voice behind him pulled him from his concentration. “I can only hope your dedication to your fief is as strong.”

“Of-ofcourse, m-m-my lady.” Endoin Fumbled with the papers before him, standing up quickly to bow. “Forgive me, my lady, I am not used to such noble surroundings.”

“Don't worry. I have been keeping an eye on you for a while. We ARE interested.” And with a quite smile, Lady Embra turned and strode away.



Endoin looked up from the dig, as a rather harried looking courier ran through the site. “Good GOD, man, Be careful where you step. You could have ruined a Millenia old site. And made me very angry!” The Orc Archeologist's face contorted into a snarl, and the courier shied away.

“Sorry sir, but you're needed. Lady Embra herself wishes to speak to you.”

“Damn. Be right there.” With a wistful look at the dig, at his project for the past seven years, he walked towards the trailer in which he lived while indulging his passion.

“Endoin. Cavil is dead, and I have chosen you to replace him as a representative of the house to the Imperium.”

“I am not worthy, My lady, there are scores more competant than me. Lady Vala Thevn has much greater seniority and experience, Lord Retine Cultum is much more cunning, Lord...”

“Enough. I once told you I was watching you. I have seen how you rule. You put as much work into ruling a fief well as you do into your pet projects. You are perfect for the position. I expect you in Falkirk in a week's time. You will be introduced to the Imperium at the Koriate's Ball. Good Day.”

Endoin wandered to the window of the trailer and gazed over the partially excavated mound. With a sigh, he turned away, knowing that it would likely be years before he'd be back.

I think Northen Wolf has polynomial love for all who collect stories.

Yes, because I usually skim through stories and read them when I have significant amount of free time.

Lord Ichabod looked over the plans for the Cathedral with Priest Colin. The pair of them had become inseparable over the course of the project. But, now Lord Ichabod had other tasks as directed by the head of the council and he would need to leave the construction operation to Priest Colin. It was hard to let it go, Lord Ichabod had become so immersed in it he had let other responsibilities slide. Well the time had come for him to return to his position of authority. Though to be honest he had been considering passing his sceptre off to his son, then he could return and focus here…

No that won’t do. You can leave the Cathedral in Priest Colin’s care. It was originally inspired to him, though you have been a much better recipient he is still more than capable now that it is entering its final stages. Besides the waters are nice you should go for a ride.

Yes, it really was time to go take a look at these new regions on Clarke. He had never been there before and it was good to be familiar with all the lands held by The Query, even if the control of these would mostly be under the Black Clan.

Watch for the night shift foreman named Houward before you depart though. He seems to be making small changes for ‘structural purposes.’

Before he knew it he was standing in the section of the Cathedral that Foreman Houward was in charge of. How did I get here? Whatever, I was needed here anyway. Immediately he saw the small changes as if they had been painted in garish neon colors. They just stood out ruining the perfection of the layout. He kept telling these workers not to deviate as the Cathedral was being setup on logic far beyond most people’s ability. It was designed to stretch the limits of human perception and thought. Well seems Foreman Houward needed to be reprimanded.

Yes, reprimand him. Make him understand not to go against the plan.

Lord Ichabod blinked. The sun was going down, wasn’t it only midday? He looked at his watch. Nope it was definitely night time. Damn this was getting annoying. What the hell had he been doing for the last four hours? Whatever it was time to go and do the work that The Query needed done. He headed to the docks.

Once aboard the vessel taking him to the former Klorin fiefdom he realized his head was clearer and the time gaps were gone. Lord Ichabod tried to ponder why his head was clearing.

Because you are becoming accustomed to me and you need to pay attention to your task. I will not distract you while you complete this task. It is important.

Yes, that must be it. He was focusing so much on the Cathedral he hadn’t been sleeping. Still he wondered where some of these urges were coming from. Whatever this task was too important to the future and especially as a way to avoid unneeded loss of life. I mean tools should remain ready and not waste themselves at useless and pointless tasks.

Just Re-sent orders.

Very lengthy orders sent (for Texier and the Fleet in one email). :)

Orders sent.

EDIT:

Look at this photo and tell me if it doesn't honestly look like Kilgore is messing around with someone?
http://www.igorstshirts.com/blog/conceptrobots/2011/r_lyons/r_lyons_05.jpg

Houses Xicier, Thana, Illborne and Naprous could all do with checking the Council of Minors.

You know, Cappricidia have gas lights now. It makes seeing stars at the night much more difficult, but then again, we don’t have to stumble around in the darkness during the night anymore.

Sonny saw a few dozen drunk men, serfs most likely, on the other side of the street from the gate to the palace in the center of Cappricidia. They were leaning on each other, clanging cups, and singing. They were happy, and seeing other people that way made Sonny happy too. She adjusted her hat and held on even tighter to the parcel that she was carrying. There was something that had to be done.

Two Overwatch soldiers were defending the gate when she approached it. They demanded to see her identification, even though she had been passing through the same gate for the last couple of years, and Sonny could see one of them sneaking off to the side to radio somebody within the palace. Fine, let them know that I am coming. It doesn’t matter anyways.

“You are free to come, Miss,” the guard finally muttered, opening the gate. “Thanks,” Sonny replied. She stepped through the portal and began her walk towards the palace. The garden immediately surrounded her as she began her approach.

If I was a noble lady, or at the very least, if you knew that I was coming, I would have been able to be driven through the gate and to the palace, instead of walking the whole distance.

But then again, if I was driving, I would never fully appreciate the garden. You know, the garden that our gardeners spend at least 7 hours a day taking care of it all despite the fact that you don’t care about the garden? You like flowers, that I can tell, but for you, it’s all about the planting of the flowers. The way they grow doesn’t matter as long as they do, eh? Well, you planted them many years ago, and they have grown beautifully. Except you never really sat around to appreciate that.

The garden soon came to an end, and the double doors of the palace and Hades stood before her. “Sonny,” Hades said. “Your presence here is…unexpected.”

I bet I was, you monocle bastard. “I can still come inside the palace, can’t I?”

“In that form? That is up for me to decide,” Hades said. “And I have not decided yet.”

Oh Come on. “Well, I have walked all the way here, and I am not going back. I just want to see him.”

“…” Hades stared icily.

I know that you are only concerned with Ludenard, but this is one argument that I won’t let you win.

“Just let me in.”

“That would be highly unorthodox. May I ask you what you are carrying inside that parcel?”

None of your ****ing business. “It’s a present,” Sonny said. “You know, the same type that friends give to another when he or she is leaving somewhere for a long time.”

Hades sighed. “Very well, come on inside. There’s a small party being thrown inside there, as I am sure you know already, so do not cause a scene. Remember that your role in the plot is even deeper than my own. If you are found out by the others…”

Yeah,

Yeah, I know.

If only you knew how deep it is…

“Some people will not be pleased to see you in there,” Hades remarked.

“Like you?”

Hades chuckled. “Perhaps,” he said. He opened the doors into the palace. “Remember, behave yourself.”

Shut up. Sonny went along the hallway towards the door from which sounds of talking and clanging glasses were heard.

You told me once that nobody ever has any fun in parties anymore. It’s all just business deals and politicking. I don’t know if I agree with that or not, but here you are, in a party to celebrate your departure from the planet. It’s kind of funny how they celebrate your leaving, no?

Sonny opened the doors into the halls as silently and inconspicuously as possible and snuck inside, but not before being spotted by Ubertino Mercator. That damn old man.

Do you know a funny thing about Ubertino Mercator? Whenever he’s inside a party of this kind inside somebody else’s mansion, he always sits near the doorway, closest from the exit.

But it’s justified, I guess. He’s the oldest of all the scepter holders of Koriate. He understands betrayal, fear, and danger. But do you know what I wonder? I wonder how much of it was his own doing as well.

“…Sonny was it?” Ubertino said. “…I thought that you were inspecting the railways down south?”

Yes, I would have had fun watching the iron until it rusted and the frigid cold made the bolts explode. “I apologize, master Mercator,” Sonny said. “But I felt that it was prudent of me to say at least a goodbye to Master Akatas before he left for Errovi Secundi.”

Sonny felt Ubertino’s stinging gaze upon her for 3 more seconds until the disapproving eyes finally turned away from her with a shrug. “I guess there would be nothing wrong with that,” he said.

Thank you.[ Sonny turned her gaze to the man who was the center of the attention of everyone inside the room at that moment. Ludenard Akatas was there, surrounded by other minor nobles trying to ingratiate themselves into his favor.

And here you are, the new regent. Surrounded by your underlings. You know, even though you will be leaving tomorrow and is planning on jumping straight into the dangerous waters of intergalactic politics, you don’t seem bothered at all.

Nor do you seem to care that this may be the last time you see me.

It seemed as if hours had passed before Ludenard glanced Sonny in his peripheral vision. “Excuse me,” he said, pushing away a noble lady and walking towards Sonny. “Sonny,” he said. He had a characteristic amused smile upon his face. The same kind that I dreaded to see. “I almost thought that I would leave off planet without seeing you! How was Wei?”

“It was fine, master Akatas,” Sonny said, bowing. “…The house that I stayed with for a while had…interesting cuisine, however.”

Ludenard chuckled. “I bet they did. Those damn bluebloods…”

Loud music from the orchestra drowned the words which may have caused several major political incidents.

I know I might be asking for too much. Here I am, with everything that a former serf girl could have ever dreamed of having and more… but without something that I truly want.

“I…uh…made you something in Wei,” Sonny said, handing Ludenard the parcel. “It’s a gift to celebrate your nomination.”

Even though I think you will be able to see through that dumb lie.

“Oh?” Ludenard said. “May I open it?”

“Sure,” Sonny said.

Ludenard opened the parcel. Inside was an elaborately embroidered cape. “Ah,” Ludenard said. “I see that you have even added inscription to it. What language is this in, by the way?”

I am your shield in dangerous times, your companion through dark places, and your comrade against a foe.

Kind of stupid thing to put on a cape, I know.

“It’s in an ancient dialect of Amure, master,” Sonny said. “I found it in a library in Wei.”

“Aah, well isn’t that marvelous?” Ludenard said, admiring the other images sewn into the purple cloth with golden thread. “I must say, thi-“ he stopped midsentence and glanced at Sonny.

Do you know how one could enchant an item?

It’s not mere crafting of an item and waving of hands and burning of reagents.

No, it requires the enchanter to love the item from her heart, to painstakingly assemble it bit by bit… to never be hasty… it is for that reason that making a permanent enchantment on an item may take years and months if one truly hurries it.

The nomination for your nomination as the regent came 2 weeks ago.

There is no way that an enchanted item of the size of that cape can be produced in 2 weeks. Not at my skill level anyways. And you know that.

The amused smile was wiped clean off of Ludenard’s face, and was replaced with a stern unblinking stare. “I am not sure that I should accept this, Sonny,” he said.

Just take the damn thing

“Just take the damn thing,” Sonny said. Ludenard didn’t look surprised by the reaction at all. “I…very well,” he said. “But from what I understand from Ubertino Mercator, you have some prior engagements in Lodos and Wei. I should not bother you anymore.” With that, he placed the parcel into his coat’s pockets. “But thank you for the gift nonetheless.” Ludenard left Sonny, looking slightly disturbed.

Sorry.

But you better come back safely.

And you better wear the cape.

She felt a hand upon her shoulder. It was Hades. “Sonny,” he said. His eyes had something akin to pity in them. “I can show myself out, no thank you,” she said.

“…It’s not that.” Hades replied. “It’s just… I will talk to you later. Now’s not the time.”

“Are you leaving with Master Akatas tomorrow?” Sonny asked.

“Yes, of course.”

“Well, he better come back safely then,” Sonny said. Her voice had a mysterious quality of authority in it. Hades smiled. “Of course,” he said. Sonny turned and walked passed Ubertino, who tipped his hat at her as she passed by, and out of the halls. Before the doors to the halls closed, she looked back one last time to see Ludenard walking upstairs, not even glancing at her direction.

Two requests. One is for Immac to get Word of God approval for the Vanari and Arrakis history sections. The other is for Immac to make a small map for me. This will be the map of 2180 on Arrakis. I already marked some changes but if he can make the awesome final edition it would be awesome.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/5265/unledhqe.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/unledhqe.png/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Can you outline what is different from cannon in a e-mail to me please Terrance.

Also, i can send you the photoshop file for that image if you want to make it yourself or i can upload a blank map with just the terrain. But no- i dont really want to make another map... so sorry- i am just to frigging lazy.

Grand Texier was on Clarke; I haven't given the former Texier fiefs on Arrakis names at all.

I'm flattered by being given such a ridiculously enormous amount of territory. :p I intended our fief just to cover Balviu and a relatively small area to the north of the Koriate fiefdom, just up to that little pair of hilly areas. It would make more sense in my opinion if some Naprous held most of that territory actually; they were based on Arrakis once. Maybe the Eekin should have had a little fief too.

Hey, it is a GRAND texier fief. :p

Anyway, a blank map would do fine: although it won't look as awesome. Please read the Arrakis history section. I wanted the map for that. PMing history section and extra stuff for the 2180 asap.

Why is the year 2180 important? It represents both the equilibrium on the important oil planet of Arrakis, yet also represents seeds of the new world order with Killgore already starting to raid texier, the Royal Houses of Query and Hyppean winding down another useless war over oil, and House Van defeating the Symbiote Hive of Arrakis right before the transendentials arrived.

Hm, it's still important that Naprous should have a very large fief on Arrakis. Look at their background and their stats and you'll see that. Also, it still shouldn't be called "Grand Texier". If you need a name, go for the name of our old capital on Arrakis, i.e. Dacia in the Regency fiefdom.

Working on it. Anyway, the Regency other Imperial Fiefs all decended from fiefs donated to them. So those on Arrakis must come from somewhere (since about half comes from Texier's Dacia fief)... should it be Naprous? (Sanctious attacked it, then gave it to the Imperials?)

I reckon Naprous should have two separate large fiefs (and they have to have a lot, and certainly more than me as they were based on Arrakis), one containing the whole Fleet fief, as well as Hawif in the Regency fief, and also all the area between those fiefs and the Sanctious'Als fief, and another, separate, fief containing the green land between Houses Sanctious'Als and Hyppean. Then we can say that Sanctious'Als thoroughly destroyed most of the Naprous fiefs and the Fleet and Regency adopted the rest.

I also reckon Xicier should have had much bigger fiefs at this time, perhaps stretching down as the land of the Farmers' Guild.

************************************************** *

Thats the story-award bonus line. Any stories submitted after this post get bonuses for the next update and not this one.

I quit

xcl

okay- buh bye kentharu

i thought you were into this. but i guess not.

I'm NPCing Killgore this turn. They'll be available next turn for adoption. This turn was bad for losing players. First germanicus, then kentharu... saddies.

(and it should be VCL since its a 5-char limit).

I'll be sad to see you go, Kentharu. You were a good counterpoint to the pompous noblese most of us speak in. I fear things will be too polite without you around :p

Agreed, Ken. you in game was quite refreshing.

I agree with hbar and thomas.

Was I realy so good opponent?

Awe man! We didn't get to the Tea yet. And we are FINALLY at the same side of the table. :(

Ancient History
Deep within the darkest vaults of the Library of Amur it is said that there are documents and tapestries which can be dated back to the end of the Last Ice Age on Holy Errovus, with the ancient Scribes of the Amurite Nation claiming to follow in the Legacy of a Mage-King from an Earlier Age, whose name would eventually be taken by the Nation as a whole. This "Kylorin" is given credit by the early Amurites for bringing about the end of the Ice Age itself.
Whether this is true (and it may have a kernal of truth to it, as members of House Klorin are generally more able to call upon the Arcane), the Amurite Kingdom survived through the ages, Waxing and Waneing in power like any other Nation. While much of this early history is lost, it is known that, at some point, an Orc Nation was incorporated into the Nation.

The Soul Wars are the first accuratly Documented evidence of the Amurites on a global scale: A number of battle reports record Amurite Battle-Mages fighting on the side of Light besides the Bannor and Hippus against an enemy so terrible it appears to have been blotted from history. It appears that the Amurite Fire and Dimensional Magics were of supreme Use against the enemies of the Light in the early stages of the war. As magic faded from the world, it appears, though, that Amurite forces, unprepared for this change in the realities of war, were slowly relegated to merely support forces. By the End of the war, the Amurites appeared to be nothing but a backwater compared to the power of the Kuriotates and Bannor.

The Opening of the Jump gate, however, allowed the Muritians, as they had become known, to become relevant on the interplanetary scale again. Of the Many Nations attempting to establish offworld colonies, the Muritians, under the guidance of the Shadowy "Ember" Corporation, which had, for years, been slowly buying up the entirety of the nation, were easily one of the most effective. In Mere Decades, The Muritians, as a Nation, had moved entirly offworld, taking with them many of the most important relics of thier past. Though the Colony of Novamuritia on E2 was quickly very populated, the true core of the house obviously on the Planet of Incellia, where the Administrative apparatus of the Ember Corporation, as well as much of the historical relics of the past of house Klorin, were relocated. The Corporation had holdings on hundreds of worlds.

The Ember Corporation, under the Grand Republic, was one of many prosperous corporations, owning thousands of "laborers." However, with the fall of the Grand Republic, it became apparent that the Corporation needed to rebrand itself, and, Looking into the past, took the Name of House Klorin, remodling themselves into a traditional feudal house (Not so much a difficult task, as the Corporation already owned all of the people in it's fiefs, who experienced very little change.)

Upon the Appearence of the Symbiots, House Klorin suffered as much as any other, until it became apparent that, locked within it's library, was the knowledge required to help push back this horrible threat against the existence of humanity. Klorin Mages, like in the days of the Soul-War, helped push back the Symbiots, Diving along with Tsedeq and Bossheim Mages into the waters of Clark, Casting Huge fires across the Deserts of Arrakis, pushing back the Symbiots across all the worlds controled by the Imperium by the might of Magic.

And, so, when the Trancendentals returned, House Klorin ws given 3 scepters.
Very sleep deprived and odds are (as I didn't bother proofreading at all) History of House Klorin. If it contradicts any of your histories, let me know, and I'll change things.

Orders due today. Don't forget.

Mine will be in tonight.

Casting Huge fires across the Deserts of Arrakis, pushing back the Symbiots across all the worlds controled by the Imperium by the might of Magic.

Cool, you helped Gustav Van's Crusaders, right. :)

It's 1:20 AM And I just got home, hosting my own mafia game at the .org, I think I can squeeze out orders tomorrow at some time, not tonight, sorry :sad:

V2hhdCBpcyB0aGUgcG9pbnQgb2YgZmlnaHRpbmc/IFdlIGhhZCBQYXJhZGlzZSBhbmQgbG9zdCBpdC4gRGVhdGggaG 9sZHMgbm8gdGVycm9ycyBhbnltb3JlLiBNYWtlIHVzIHdob2xl IGFnYWluLCB0aGF0IGlzIHRoZSBvbmx5IHdheSB3ZSBjYW4gY2 9tZSBjbG9zZSB0byBwZXJmZWN0IG5vdy4=

-Found writen on a wall in an abandoned housing unit on Errouvus Secondus. Apparently written in former occupants blood.

Oh...

I thought orders were due like three days ago and that I missed them.

Oops =/

Yo Ken, your back!
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/napalminmyveins/internet_bro_fist.jpg

Hey everyone,

This game looks like fun, so I'm going to take House Illborne. Let's see how this goes...

(ArcticFox is a friend of mine from Uni. :) )

Ah sorry Immac, crazy life forgot to send orders. I'll do it nowish.

Twenty-Three Hundred and Six (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CSiU0j_lFA)


Strange Voices from Remillard

“Je vie toujours. Il n'y a pas de douleur- ça chatouille légèrement. Il ya une pression dans ma tête. Je me sens connectée.

“Bonjour? Est-ce qu'il ya quelqu'un?”

In early February all nobles, guilders and church officials on Incellia, Clarke, Errovus Secondus and Leagueheim bound to a scepter feel the telepathic pull of their scepters as a new voice, one they have never heard before but undoubtedly Remillard speaks though the scepter system.

Afterward there is only silence but there is no doubt that something, something strange, has occurred amongst the Remillard.


Koriate Hold Ball on Incellia

The growing Koriate capital of Incellia sees a massive influx of the who’s who and important faces from across the known worlds in June of 2306 when Ubertino holds a massive party meant not only to have a little fun but also to provide face time and networking opportunities for many of the many houses’ nobles as well as guilder representatives.

The Carnivaliers, Masques, Gourmands and Courtesans are there in force but so too are representatives of many of the guilds representing more pragmatic trades, with almost a hundred representatives of the Reeves in attendance. Outside Leagueheim, it is the single greatest meeting of gnomes in many decades and gnomish members of the Courtesans soon prove a favorite amongst the more decadent members of the nobility.

http://i13.stockmediaserver.com/smsimg20/TH170/imagestate/1225202.jpg
Not all business- nobles from across the known worlds enjoy exceptional food, theatre, jousting and dance

For the Koriate, ultimately a stream of minor business deals soon coalesce and relations between the guilds and the Koriate have never been better, particularly on Incellia. The Koriate are not the only ones who are using the opportunity to build connections however. Very subtly many of the nobles and guilders, in various states of relaxation, are engaged in various theological conversations, all quite quietly, regarding how Sabelism, though officially a complement to the Orthodoxy and not in opposition, unofficially offers an ‘altnerative’ to the Universal church, a more decentralized alternative, a more laissez-faire alternative.

But if the Sabelists have any illusions regarding keeping their little conversations secret from the church, they are quickly dashed. Many Klorin and other nobles approached are genuine believers in the Orthodoxy and soon enough the preachers of Archbishop Alij Jetnl are warning against the insidious whispers of the ‘lost amongst the Sabelists’, being careful not to label the faith as heretic or unloyal and merely many of its followers ‘confused’. Amongst the Holy Gate there is little who listen to the words of Jetnl’s preachers but amongst the Koriate and Klorin, especially with the call to faith of St. Barbatos himself (see below), there is a sharp divide amongst the nobility with many in support of a Sabelist faith independent from the central church.


Imperium Regent Pardons Evvis; Church Calls Crusade

In a surprising maneuver leaving many wondering whether the post of Imperium regency causes insanity, the Imperium regent, Ludenard Akatas, of house Koriate, in conjunction with Lady Eirenprone of house Quin meet with ambassadors of the Evvis at the Klorin city of Keul on Assimov.

While the elven ambassador keeps the imperial regent waiting almost a week and various nobles and diplomats grow increasingly impatient and anxious, in the streets outside serfs and nobles have gathered to condemn the actions of the new Regency. Normally the Imperial guard would be quick to disperse the rabble but the church seems to be openly protecting them, deploying Patriarchal and Penitent legions to protect their rabble-rousing preachers and demagogues as they heap insult and cries of heresy and devil-worship upon the regent.

None-the-less, the imperium seems decided and when the elven representative arrives, behind closed doors, an agreement is made and a treaty signed.


The Treaty of Keul

The imperium and its noble houses shall henceforth agree not to hunt or harm the elven Houses of Assimov and Oghma known as the ‘Sunset Dahlia, nor any of its vassals.

The imperium and its noble houses shall forgive the elven Houses of Assimov and Oghma known as the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and any of its vassals for past attacks upon the imperium or its members. Similarly, the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals shall forgive the Imperium and its members for past attacks upon its people and materials.

The ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals shall cease all predatory attacks and violent conflict with the Imperium and its noble houses.

The Imperium shall provide direct protection of the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals against aggression by the noble houses of the known worlds as well as the Universal Church of Celestial Light or its subsidies.

The Imperium recognizes the right of the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals to use the jump-gates to travel between the Known Worlds provided the destination planet does not contain symbiot infestation.

Additionally, trade treaties are drawn up between the Quin and the elves, though Lady Eirenprone is obviously uncomfortable, at moments, working so closely with a species that has been maligned and blamed for generations by the church, nobles, and serfs alike for releasing the devil-symbiots upon mankind.

When the Treaty of Keul is signed, the church is not silent and the Patriarch, Saint Barbatos the Undying himself speaks via scepter to all,

From Saint Barbatos the Undying, Patriarch of the Universal Church of Celestial Light, Guardian of Holy Errovus and the Cradle of Mankind, Defender of the Souls of the Known Worlds, First Servant of the Pancreator,
To All,

Many of you are much too young to remember this but know that the Evvis are the ones who in their hubris and APOSTASY nearly did extinguish the flame of civilization that is mankind not once but twice. For generations we have warned of the dangers of the Evvis, have witnessed their attacks upon our ships, and upon our most illustrious nobility. And now that we have finally found them, finally know where to strike so that we might end this threat once and for all, the Regent whom none of us have agreed to follow, whom by the will of the once great but obviously confused House Holy Gate was made our leader, we are to surrender to them, to forgive them all past sins.

I say ‘NAY’. I say impossible. I say… …the regent is an apostate. The regent is a HERETIC! Just as, so too, are the Evvis he would champion. Nobles, guilders, freemen and serfs, soldiers and farmers everywhere, you must not ignore the will of the Pancreator, you must not ignore the sins of the Evvis. The Evvis are the enemies of humanity and just as they have attempted to extinguish our civilization twice already, if we let them, they will try a third time… we must not allow them the chance.

No, do not forgive them their sins, for only the Pancreator can forgive a sin as grave as theirs. No, instead, I call upon you to take up the symbol of the Church and to join me in HOLY CRUSADE against the Evvis.

I command it. Nay, The Pancreator Doth Command It!

The call goes out amongst all fiefdoms on all planets, the call to champion the crusade of St. Barbatos the undying.

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110606143209/fadingsuns/images/4/4a/Fading_Suns114.gif
Many a minor noble embroiders the symbol of the Crusade upon their cloak or armor, a sign of their dedication to serve the Church and wage holy Crusade

The first to heed the call are many of the minor vassal nobility of house Naprous who upon reading the treaty and finding no mention of their own Ragel of House Naprous but finding plenty of evidence that their pain will be ignored and their vengeance frustrated, are quick to sew on the Crusader’s emblem.

While the Koriate nobility of Incellia stands by its dynastic house and awaits their decision, many of the vassals nobles of this house on Arrakis are only too ready to pledge themselves to the Crusade, hoping perhaps to save themselves from the interdict they surely feel may soon befall their great house.

The vassal nobility of House Holy Gate, never thoroughly centralized but always exceedingly religious would not be far behind but their recent efforts to offer an ‘alternative’ to the centralized church has confused many and so while many do sew on the emblem of the crusade, many others await the Archbishop’s words. Others with a sizeable population of minor nobility pledging themselves to the crusade include the minor nobility of the Hyppean on E2, the Tsedeq on Clarke (surprisingly perhaps), the Sanctious’Als (especially on E2 but also on Arrakis), the Illbourne, and even members of the Imperium Fleet, and especially Garrison. Amongst the imperium regency there has been extensive anxiety and worry and backroom diplomacy suggests that many are eager for new elections and the rise of a new Regent that won’t make them choose between their oaths to their regent and their oaths to the Pancreator. Indeed the divided loyalties of the regency staff have already been felt in the Regency purse as absenteeism rates skyrocket and workplace productivity plummets.

Over Assimov, as the Imperium Fleet the Nobility of Man speeds to Stigmata, the Church fleet consisting of a Celestial Light Cassiel-class cruiser and an Equipose Dagda-class carrier and its complement of Seraphi-class aerospace fighter all under the command of the Kalinthi Bishop, Yieslin Venyr, Arch-Bishop of all Assimov takes up position over the elven homelands, awaiting only the signal from their Patriarch.

By radio and other means, the higher nobility of Quin, already much divided, hear tales of Kalinthi church “inquisitors” stealthily roaming the elven forests, slaying the apostates where they find them. While on more formal diplomatic channels, the elves demand the imperium and its members respect the treaty that the regent has so recently signed and come to their aid, crusade or no crusade.


Quin Open Trade with Elves of Assimov

In the wake of negotiations between the Imperium regent and the elven ambassador, Lady Eirenprone who also attends the meeting, negotiates the early stages of a trade contract between her house and the elves and manages to secure open port for her merchant marine at an elven harbor.

A pair of ships are dispatched with the finest of goods from throughout the known worlds and from House Quin holdings in particular but the ships never arrive. From what can be made out from radio traffic and messages sent by desperate signal operators, along the way there was much grumbling from the crews of both ship about the danger to the souls of the crew if they were to actually land at the elven continent and trade with the much-hated race. Their suspicions and anxiety spread to the officers of one of the two ships and finally those officers in conjunction with the crews of both managed to take control of both ships through violent mutiny. The ships have set a new course and have not been seen since.

Since that time Lady Eirenprone has had to reconsider the vehemence with which her merchant marine has reacted to her attempt to negotiate with the elves. In churches across the land the Orthodoxy has stepped up its preaching against ‘abetting the children of the devil’ and there have been violent demonstrations across many dockyards (that the vassal nobility have been suspiciously slow to crack down upon) that threaten the economic prosperity of the dynastic house’s trade both with foreign houses, the imperium and the church but also amongst its coastal towns and villages. The unhappiness of the people has been felt in the purse of the nobility.


Dante Labis Commands Assault on Independent Nobles

While many Koriate nobles busy themselves with song and dance, the Koriate military is busy sending reconnaissance into the mountains south-west of its Incellia fiefdom. Here their static-class commandoes quickly identify weak local radio signals and the thermal signatures of small urban centers. Fly-overs with the stealthy winter-class helicopter gunships reveal a number of small timber and fishing estates along the western coast of the continent.

The Koriate quickly begin developing a series of mountain army and airforce bases to better project the force into the area and to secure their supply lines. Finally, in September, when Dante Labis returns from Stigmata, they finally approach the independent nobles, whom they learn are descendent of the House of the Scarlet Hand (who had in ancient times made war on the Holy Gate and lost) and demand their surrender.

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/4119/PreviewComp/SuperStock_4119-8191.jpg
An Independent Noble’s Fishing Estate on the Western Coast of the ‘Thana Mountains’

The nobles of the Scarlet Hand, not keen to bow to anyone, and not knowing the strength of the approaching forces, ultimately refuse and send the Koriate ambassador packing (literally- they kill him then pack him in a box and send him back). Foreseeably, the Koriate move in, depending extensively on an off-shore based airforce and their stealthly glass and static-class commandoes. The Scarlet Hand are not without defenses of their own however and have several battalions of what amounts to infantry II to call upon. Additionally they know the terrain and specialist ‘ranger-like’ irregulars soon begin laying traps in the cold forested mountains.

On November 4th, 2306, a young and dedicated Scarlet Hand noble and his company of elite commandoes even manages to break into Dante Labis’s forward command center high in the mountains and kill that renown Koriate noble with a simple pistol. Some say it is the will of the Pancreator, divine consequence for the actions of the regent, others dumb luck, and still a few, the bravery and dedication of the Scarlet Hand nobles, their last chapter before extinction. Retaliation is gruesome, with the winter-class helicopters leading the way and on November 15th, the Scarlet Hand nobles, those that remain anyway, are forced into vassal servitude to the military might of the Koriate house.


Guerrilla War Rages on Amongst the Irradiated Farmlands of the Former Authority Fiefdom

Cardinal Leonid Mirmah, High Protector of the Church and once arch-bishop of Clarke, continues to be embroiled in an asymmetric war with the remnants of Duscha Sehryi’s guerillas in the southern swamps of the south-west E2 continent. While his forces can control the central farmlands and urban ruins, their efforts to penetrate in the swamps are often hampered by the ease with which the guerillas can navigate the rivers and outer shore.

And so it comes with some sense of relief perhaps when the Church’s High Protector agrees to a deal with Guiss Texier and his house, who in turn come to an agreement with House Naprous, all reslting in the Texier House, in command of both their own destroyers and Naprous cruisers and their capital ship, a battleship, sailing over the horizon to assist. These, together, effectively cut off the guerillas mobility along the shores, especially when guerrilla small water craft begin striking at submerged naval mines.

As a result, Mirmah’s Patriarchal Legions are able to make significant headway against the rebel guerillas, especially when the Texier forces begin systematic bombardment of the outer swamps and effectively reduce the area the guerillas can ‘fall-back and regroup’ into. This progresses well for several months and the guerillas make little head-way against the church or Texier forces. But at the same time, neither the Church nor the Texier are able to corner the guerilla leadership effectively who seem more than content to simply avoid the enemy and seemingly ‘wait out’ the raids. Perhaps they are waiting for something.

Certainly there waiting seems to pay off because June sees a sudden change in the caliber and quality of forces arrayed by the guerillas loyal to Duscha Sehryi. The change is first felt by a sudden difficulty amongst both Mirmah and Guiss Texier’s forces to communicate with forward positions. Sensors fail, fighter-equipped cameras and radar are suddenly jammed and almost overnight the electromagnetic field, which was taken for granted as being available for communication and the basis for many early-warning systems went dark. Within days of the sensor and com failures the raids no longer consist only of rangers and irregulars but also include heavily modified monstrosities similar to the ‘grafted’ kept in reserve by house Klorin only that they are armed with much heavier equipment specifically meant to penetrate the heavy armor of the Patriarchal legions. These, operating in conjunction with well-coordinated sensor black-outs, are able to deliver much heavier attacks upon the in-land forces of the Church and even strike at the more distant colony of the nascent Texier fiefdom.

Cardinal Mirmah’s reports that much of the forward planetary aerospaceport they had been building to launch their Seraphi class fighters has been destroyed by a particular daring raid dependent on the use of ancient supply tunnels used during the authority days to circumvent the perimeter guards and launch an assault directly at the Patriarchal forces’ planetary logistics and command centers. As a result Cardinal Mirmah has withdrawn his central command back to geo-synchronous orbit but with the increased black-out of sensors aimed planet-ward, the Patriarchal forces, despite their much greater firepower, are finding themselves increasingly operating blind.

In response, in August, as the rain falls in torrential sheets, Mirmah orders commencement of “Operation Vanguard” meant to secure much of the southern and western swamps by encirclement at the strategic level so that guerilla fighters can be forced from their hidden positions and their souls brought to the light. At first the operation meets with little resistance and though the heavily encumbered Patriarchal Mark II legions and more mundane Infantry IV suffer from a lack of small water craft, they make descent headway into the brackish swamp, the flameguns of the heavy infantry clearing the brush nicely. But Mark II legions are meant to operate with heavy sensor and communications support and very quickly those are rendered inoperable and the forward infantry find themselves isolated and effectively blind as once again the electromagnetic spectrum is jammed by unknown sources. In a series of short skirmishes the infantry of “Operation Vanguard” is cut into pieces by the heavy weapons of guerilla forces wearing protective and strength and reflex-enhancing armor and the appearance of a weapon that the nobility was only beginning to develop and then only at advanced Remilard facilities: levitating heavy armor.

http://www.kitsune.addr.com/SF-Conversions/Rifts-Hammer-Vehicles/Hammer_M2_Ursa_Hovertank.jpg
Duscha Sehryi’s guerilla fighters reveal hidden capabilities

These forces are able to separate the infantry of the church from one another, operating in a manner that suggests that although the Church may not be able to use comlinks, they certainly are, finally bringing their heavy weapons to bear upon the Patriarchal Legions.

Not all is lost for the church however and Serpahi fighters scrambled in response to the ECM are able to visually identify the ‘hover-tanks’ as they zip amongst the waterways and small rivers and bring considerable fire-power to bear. Additionally, while the battles tend to take place somewhat inland and out range of most Texier naval forces, especially when one considers their own well-founded fear of their mine fields, their heavier guns are able to provide some support though these too are much reduced due to the effect of the guerilla’s electronic counter measures. And so through the use of Seraphi aerospace fighters and offshore bombardment, complete annihilation is turned into a mere humiliating rout.

Finally Mirmah recalls his forces, as best he can, and over the course of the next few months focuses on much smaller operations that secure the border and patrol the inland agricultural fiefdoms. There is some talk amongst the Curia of a new round of orbital bombardment.

Despite the difficulties amongst the swamp, colonists of Ednymion Texier report that they have successfully reclaimed land from the weeds and growth that had overtaken them in the last years of neglect and conflict and have already planted several varieties of wheat, corn and rice.

Twenty-Three Hundred and Six (part 2) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CSiU0j_lFA)


RVK Launched; Symbiots Mount Major Space-Based Offensive on Imperial Fleet

Jyut Texier takes command of the Imperial fleet just in time to receive very distressing reports indeed. The space-forms lying in low geo-synchronous orbit over hive Ambdicius begin spreading across the far continent, making extended contact with hives Ukobach, Prosperpine, and Uphir. Reports keep flooding in of potential imminent attacks by space-forms not previously encountered.

Thankfully the Symbiot attack takes some time to organize during which the long-neglected ‘Relativistic Kill Vehicle’ is launched (causing a further surge in oil and energy prices across the known worlds) and the Imperial fleet attaches a number of high-explosives to the spaceward rim of the Stigmata jumpgate to act as mines.

Perhaps the Pancreator smiled upon humanity this time for the alien fleet did not mount its assault until sometime in E2’s month of June when Jyut Texier, a brand new White-Sky cruiser and the returning Moon’s silver did return to guard the portal to humanity. Just in time too, because the great symbiot assault began early July.

On June 24th, the jumpgate begins to hum and purr to life; a warning goes up- the Symbiots are attempting to jump.

The novel spaceforms broke the planet’s horizon and achieved line of sight with the Imperium fleet on July 3rd at 4:02am local time, actually withdrawing considerably from the far side of Stigmata to achieve greater range before finally poking their silhouettes out from the shadow of the symbiot-infested planet. The first effects of their weapons were felt at 4:03am. Optics revealed a symbiot fleet composed of 7 larger ships resembling nothing so much as giant dried oak-leaves curled into a crescent and a multitude of smaller, frigate-sized ships that appeared as ribbon-like serpents, though these tended to huddle behind the larger forms. Many Imperium ships immediately began reporting massive temperatures spikes on their hulls and even penetrating within ships causing direct thermal damage to sensitive equipment, lighting fires, and burning, often severely, crew aboard. A high proportion of these attacks are directed against the heavy armor of the Imperium Monitor battleships which at first seems strange considering that their heavier armor does protect them that much better. Strategists quickly uncovered the symbiot plan, one very contrary to the usual symbiot method of closing to melee range and taking over the enemy ship; they would attack from range, targeting the only ships that could effectively counter and force the Imperium, for once, to come to them. Indeed weapons-system specialists begin revealing that except for the Monitors extremely long-range missile systems and the much less accurate orbit to surface bomb systems of the Valants and White-Skies, no fleet weapons were able to effectively reach the Symbiots at the far range they had opened fire at.

The monitors of both the Grace and Mercy begin returning fire, long range missiles gaining speed and quickly falling amongst the ‘leaf-like’ capital ships of the enemy fleet. So too do the Valants destroyers and White Sky-cruisers, their slow bombs slowly drifting through space- meant to be propelled by gravity and their thrusters used for fine aiming.

As the propulsion systems of the Grace’s Monitor’s is downed by a lucky shot from the invisible thermal weapons, Jyut Texier realizes that at range, they will indeed be annihilated if he doesn’t order immediate action. And so keeping the Valants, Monitors, Why-Skies and even the Spider in reserve to both provide distance bombardment and to guard the portal, he orders all other ships into combat.

The stingers race ahead of the pack, their speed and agility, it is thought, acting perhaps to screen the others and to draw off some of the thermal weaponry. But the symbiot thermal weapons prove highly accurate, even against the agile stingers and very quickly several of these are struck, their pilots roasted to charcoal and the avionics left a smoldering mess. And so the carriers are left screening the approach and this they do well, their empty hangers forced to face the enemy, the air within superheated but otherwise not too damaging. Meanwhile the long-range missiles of the heavier ships are beginning to take their toll upon the symbiots and one of the capital symbiot ships begins to spin lazily out of control and into distant space. This is perhaps fortuitous because the monitor that launched that barrage, the “Palamades Sword”, its propulsion system already downed, is also quickly taken out, several of the thermal weapon, still almost exclusively targeting the ranged imperial systems despite the point defenses leveled against the fighters and carriers, ripping through its armor, into its weapons bays and igniting many of its more conventional explosive weapons with destructive results. It falls from orbit, streaking in a blaze of fire into the think symbiot jungles of the northern portion of the central continent. Even amongst the reports and confusion, Jyut Texier is, but for a moment, hesitant. The “Palamades Sword” is the first capital-class ship to fall in a long, long time.

Never-the-less, as the smaller ships begin to close the range, their missiles systems begin launch and now there are hundreds of small explosions across the surface of the ‘leaf-like’ symbiot capital ships. Stingers and dauntless break from behind the screening carriers, the stingers escorting the dauntless to the enemy ships. It is then that the symbiot ribbon-like ships return and these, at closer range, begin firing chemical polymers not unlike those of terrestrial spiders which soon begin to slowly flit through the battleground. Lighter imperial ships making the slightest contact with the filaments seem to trigger them and cause them to tightly wind around the ships, squeezing and tearing and breaking them apart. Meanwhile the ribbon-symbiots themselves reveal a series of tooth-rimmed suckers and they quickly attempt to intercept the imperial ships.

A raptor and an entire squadron of dauntless are lost to the ribbon-like creatures in the early phases of the melee as they are outmaneuvered and forced into direct contact but it is not a one-sided loss for the creatures prove very susceptible to the short-range cannons and missiles of the imperium ships and many are destroyed utterly by nimble stingers or raptors flying between their filaments and dodging their suckers. Additionally, from the outside flanks the crickets of the Moon’s Silver make hit-and-run strikes upon both the weapons systems of the heavier mother ships and ribbon spaceforms who present a ready target. Indeed the battle between the ribbons and the lighter imperium ships seem to be progressing in favor of the Imperium even as the heavier ships of both fleets continue firing upon one another, the imperium felling two more of the leaf-like ships and themselves losing a Valant to a series of shots aimed at the ship’s oxygen systems. Another ship, the brand new White-Sky, is incapable of delivering its ordnance after its targeting systems are destroyed and is forced to act as a screen for the weapons systems of other ships.

The leaf-like ships then reveal the identity of the third hive’s spaceforms as their dorsal sides disgorge yet another form of symbiot space-marine. Even one of the two newly felled capital ships is able to disgorge its marines prior to fall. These marines are not the bipedal, blade-wielding creatures encountered in the past, but tentacled squid-like spaceforms. Not terribly agile in the celestium, they are however well armed, two of their tentactles capable of generating the thermal pulses of the larger capital ships though on a much smaller scale and five smaller ones armed with telescoping blades. These quickly swarm around the carriers (who had sought some range and now served to coordinate the forward assault and deliver their relatively light weapons upon the slower moving symbiot capital ships), rabids and, to a lesser extent, the dauntless. Again the stingers and raptors are called upon, their mobility a great asset but their weapons are not nearly as effective against these marines as the ribbon-like creatures, which though larger are more lightly armored. A single company of Scarabeidae is launched and these do battle amongst the gently drifting corpses of ships and beasts, of strangling destructive filaments and of giant ribbon-like snakes. Many a scarabidae succumbs to the creatures but their guns and mobility do prove an asset and together with the few remaining dauntless and their stinger escorts they are able to make some headway. But there are perhaps too few of them and soon their numbers drop from one hundred and twenty to eighty to a mere forty. Meanwhile there seems to be no let-up amongst the squid-like creatures.

Jyut sees how this battle will end if he doesn’t disengage his troops and yet he can’t afford to just continue trading fire at distance with the leaf-like spaceforms.

He orders an all-out assault upon the leaf-like forms of the Symbiot mother ships, the smaller more mobile ships to specifically target the seven-to-ten thermal weapons systems themselves to disarm the enemy. This they do and a fourth of the seven mother ships is downed (a well-aimed shot from a lurking cricket firing upon a series of previous injuries to its armor) and several others wounded, albeit the second rabid is lost to the ribbon-like snakes and squids amidst the directed counter-attack, before a general retreat is sounded, the carriers again acting to screen the organized withdrawal.

Unfortunately many of the squids and ribbon symbiots are amongst the withdrawing ships and one of the carriers after several thermal strikes from the squid-like creatures at point-blank range, is breached and the squids quickly pour through the breach. The captain, sure of his vessels fate, and pure of faith and hope in the Pancreator, turns his engines upon the enemy mass and disabling the safety features of the ancient Republican engines, forces his power-supply into critical failure. The ship’s captain is a vassal noble by the name of Arnviðr Eekin. Later the church would sing praises to his name. The result is a massive explosion that directly destroys hundreds of the small squids and ribbon ships and causes extensive damage to one of the larger symbiot capital ships.

Of the two carriers, 3 stinger squadrons, 1 dauntless squadron, 2 rabid-class destroyers, 2 raptor-class frigates, 5 crickets, and the scarabedaie who went out, one squadron of stingers, the dauntless, the rabid, and the scaarbedaie and finally the carrier of Arnviðr Eekin do not return. And the battle is not yet done.

Withdrawing to range, Jyut orders all ships, and all weapons to continue a barrage of fire, even those meant for short or medium range are to engage. Their missiles may have to drift to target but the situation is desperate and they cannot afford to waste time while the enemy’s remaining ranged fleet continues to pound the Imperium fleet. The white sky who had lost its targeting computer is able to reengage now that no intervening friendly forces are in the way and this does seem to tip the advantage back to the Imperium.

It is then that the call goes up from the Imerial Garrison Fortress, “Incoming forces on approach. Hive Mephistopheles assault carrier and Hive Malphas’s jelly-fish like forms ascending.” And though their numbers were few, having had little time to regenerate since the battle two years ago led by Dante Labis, they did force the Imperial fleet into a second battle they could ill afford. Immediately all stingers, raptors, and other lighter ships beging targeting the Mephistopheles carriers and many are wounded, one even sent back into atmosphere in an uncontrolled fiery descent. But soon enough the globe-like dropships once again are disgorged and fired at the imperium fleet. Again a missile barrage is set to meet them and many fall but enough get through that soon enough the exterior of several larger ships are crawling with bipedal scythe-wielding space marines. The stingers go about blasting them away but really what is required are marines. It is then that the Fingers of Man truly do shine, bringing their stingers, dauntless and especially their much-needed marines to bear upon the symbiot marines. All the while the larger jellyfish forms drift towards imperium fleet, their cannon and missile fire mostly passing harmlessly through them, though the missiles that do explode do manage some severe destruction. The spider finally has its moment to shine, grappling with many of the jelly-fish forms, forcing their chemically active tendrils to trace helplessly against its heavier armor. Some jelleys do get by and one even wraps about an unwary cricket, perhaps not aware that it had been spotted and the ship is quickly ‘digested’ by the jelly-form. None-the-less, the distraction is ultimately that, a distraction, meant to assist the distant long-range fire of the ‘leaf-forms’. It is here that the real damage comes from for before another of the ‘leaf-forms is disabled, another Valant is lost.

Finally, long range fire and guided bombs manage to strike another of the symbiot thermal-weapon forms and with only two heavily wounded forms remaining, they withdraw, their assault on the jump-gate a failure in its objective but none-the-less causing more damage to the imperial fleet then has been seen since the time of St. Cleary.

When the nobility of man returns from Assimov, none cheer the successes of the fleet. The Symbiots may have thrown everything they could against the Imperium and been turned back but if they repeat that sort of assault in the next five to ten years, they might well succeed.


Quin Continue Push into Xyall Highlands

Pushing into the highland jungle of the Xyall territories, the Quin continue to come under heavy attack by the native creatures, losing many of their comrades to extensive traps usually involving the strange sticky polymer the Xyall harvest from the cocoons of the filter-feeding insects but also guns taken from fallen rangers and even marks left upon horribly wounded but not killed Mark Rangers. The battle is fought by both sides as assymetic raids; it being just about impossible to fight an open battle for territory in the three-dimensional world of the Assimov jungles. At one point an entire flank of rangers and their ilk are overrun by a well-planned Xyall ambush that relied upon launching Assimovian ant-hives that overrun the local rangers and some gas-weapon previously not encountered that was able to act upon the nervous system of the attacking rangers.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__KCyuprtAf0/SBiL3fwFSKI/AAAAAAAAAdk/2gXA1gLtd-o/s320/biggie.JPG
Xyall mounds rise even above the Jungle canopy

Other assaults go much better and the Quin secure a massive number of the floating filter-feeding insects from a Xyall plantation and using Xyall-like technology, set them up in similar plantations deep in Quin territory. Indeed, several ‘mounds’ of the Xyall fall to the heavy weapons of the Quin Heavy Rangers and in one case a live Xyall queen is captured and shipped back to Quin territories.

Perhaps most surprising of all are reports of rangers, who while under attack, report that the Xyall speak to them in their own language. Is it possible for the Xyall to speak and to be negotiated with? The Quin know them to be intelligent, but are they truly sentient enough for actual communication? Perhaps soon the Quin will know for sure for already the eggs from last year’s raids are hatching and baby Xyall, a mere nine feet long, are already squirming about their artificial hive and clicking at each other and at their handlers.


Independent Nobles of Former Klorin House on Clarke Assimilated Peacefully into Tsedeq and Query Houses

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Fay-Jones-Thorncrown-Chapel.jpg
Tsedeq Chapels brings Once-Klorin Nobles, Fearful of the Pancreator’s Wrath, to Obedience

While the Query focus on winning the loyalty of nobles in the southern portion of the island through financial favoritism and support, the Tsedeq focus on developing the fiefdoms, building churches and chapels and appealing to the nobles who once declared independence for fear of the Pancreator and its church.


Klorin Bomb “House of Winter Peaks”

The thinking amongst Klorin strategists regarding the House of Winter Peaks is that they respect power, and air power in particular… so the obvious answer is to bomb them. And so Anthony Callier undertakes to win over coastal fiefdoms and from there, develops airports in their fiefs to project force into the new lands therefrom. He then pours the entire Klorin military into the small fiefdom (leaving his homeland completely undefended).

http://www.military-art.com/mall/images/dhm1542.jpg
Klorin Bombers Prior to Payload Delivery

Soon enough bombers are flying over the mountains of the ‘House of the Winter Peaks’ and winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of the rebel house. A short-lived counter-attack by the Winter Peaks, upon reaching the heavily defended airports are easily repulsed and ultimately the Winter Peaks are incorporated into the Klorin house.


Query Establish New Colony on Clarke

When the new Query V-Kip arrives from Errovus Secondus with tens of thousands of colonists, Alex Black of House Query takes command of the colonization effort and despite orders to settle them in the north of their island, she directs them to a northern island not far from the main fiefdom, reasoning that the northern reaches of the current island are relatively harsh mountaineous terrain and will not easily support a new city of refugees.

And so, in August of 2305, the Query expand their holdings to an island north of their main fiefdom, founding the city of “Lamben” after the first man to step from the ship into the island forests. Within a few short months, some forests have been cleared, their timber harvested and new homes and farms developed.


“The Killgore Western Lowlands” Forced to Acknowledge Killgore Mastery; Desert Scythes Resettled in Hyppean Lands

While the Hyppean are able to secure the loyalty and exodus of nearly half a million minor nobles and their direct serfs from the former Klorin fiefdom on Arrakis, the Killgore move in successively larger and larger numbers of their own soldiers including armor, an airforce and newly trained infantry IV, the design for which they are said to have purchased from the guilds. This overwhelming force they quickly bring to bear upon the poorly armed rebels of that province in a lightning war that confirms Killgore martial training and experience. At the end of it, the Killgore stand as sole undisputed lords of the new ” The Killgore Western Lowlands” fiefdom.

The Desert Scythes themselves are relocated into newly settled fertile floodplains west of current Hyppean lands in a massive undertaking involving the use of new Hyppean railroads, military and assistance from the church. Finally the new serfs and their nobles are established and provided with early stages of industry including farming (with the aid of seeds and fertilizers from the farmers’ guild), and glass-industry from some particularly fine silt in the area. Local nomads, seeing the massive incursion of Hyppean military and industry into their lands flees into the desert, not eager to do battle with the military juggernaught.


Inflation Threatens ‘Arrakis Economic Miracle’

The recent improvement in Hyppean, Xicier, Vanari and now ‘Als transport infrastructure both within the planetary trade market and without has brought unprecedented wealth to these houses with many reporting annual growth greater than 10%. The recent jump in oil prices due to the successive needs to restock all fuel aboard the Stigmata space fortress and the launch of the massively fuel-hungry RVK also helps bring wealth to these oil-exporting houses. This jump, along with the rapid drop in commodity costs for manufacturers even as income for commodity producers jumps, all due to massive spending on transport infrastructure by Hyppean, ‘Als, Vanari and others had created the perfect (economic) storm.

http://quantumpranx.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/breadfoodhand.jpg
While food is in plentiful supply, its price puts it out of reach of many and some minor vassal houses are failing to feed their serfs

In the short run houses involved witness massive economic growth, with the Hyppean and Vanari first affected but the Query and even the smaller Sanctious’als, who do not produce oil but who’s goods are in high demand by the suddenly richer houses leading the way. But as a multitude of lesser ‘vassal’ nobles suddenly found themselves with much more wealth, well, they spent much more wealth, which is quickly driving up the prices for everything from a loaf of bread to a Courtesan lap-dance. The result is a rapid strain on the status quo as the ‘moneyed’ houses who depend on ancestral wealth suddenly find that their wealth is worth much less are suddenly being eclipsed by the ‘business houses’ who are reaping massive rewards from the successful economic models and ultimately driving the inflationary spiral. Already amongst the Hyppean and Vanari, who have so far most felt the effects, at court there have been duels amongst nobles precipitated directly by these factors and in the streets, the freemen and lesser nobility are agitating for price controls on things like flour and water. Ultimately, the thriving economic boom of Arrakis may well have within it the seeds of its own collapse if the out-of-control inflation cannot be brought low with some sort of economic cooling effect.

In more recent times, new rail-lines connecting the Sanctious’als to Hyppean via the Blossoms of Mercy, while helping push both economies further, has also done much to export the larger inflationary problems of the Hyppean to the smaller Blossoms and ‘Als.


Patriarch Barbatos Recalls Archbishop Eleanor Church

In a surprise move that apparently did not require consultation with the Curria, Patriarch Barbatos has recalled the venerable archbishop (orthodox) Eleanor Church head of the Universal Church of Celestial Light on Arrakis, providing no explanation for the highly unexpected maneuver. The curia is already scrambling to choose a new archbishop with the names of Bishop Miral Akbar'Al, an avestite and major noble of the Sanctious’Als, Cardinal Glory Herinus, the head of the Blossoms of Mercy, and Wevern Jilorn, an orthodox and bishop of the Query fiefdom on Arrakis as the fore-runners in the competition. Despite what the curia decide, the battle is no doubt greatly based on the response of the various houses to the Church’s call to crusade and may ultimately be based on the sole decision of the church’s patriarch, Saint Barbatos the Undying.


Hubbard Refugees Given New Hope

While Tenith Erona continues to preach to the Imperial Garrison soldiers on Hubbard (often challenging traditional religious opinions while she does), Sir Hellwind Eekin arrives to direct the reconstruction of the towns, pastures, aerospace port, barracks, and generally repairing the damaged infrastructure, and the Blossoms of Mercy help in resettling the refugees who lost their homes, a return to light industry and pastorialism. Additionally they set up small hospitals and tents to help maintain morale and health.

Meanwhile, many of the irradiated, once though to be bound to death by their march across the stigmata wastelands, are continuing a slow painful process of recovery and some are even returning to useful employment, often as trainers or bureaucratic support (though obviously their illness means they will never fight again).

In Other News

Carma Klorin to nurse-maids, “Let’s make a pretty dress together!”. Pretty dress exceptionally pink and full of bows!
Unexplained gate activations occur over Incellia (February and August) and E2 (May)
Vanari expand oil refineries in response to Imperium’s demand for greater oil.
Vanari continue to rebuild their fiefs on E2 and lay foundation for new Cathedral dedicated to Saint Palamedes the Knight.
Sanctious’Als continue reclamation efforts on E2 to develop small industry and infrastructure
Gilda Thana ingratiates herself to the serfs (but not the nobles) by opening the doors of the Errovus Secondus fiefdom to beleaguered freemen in return for oaths of vassalage. Thana population on Errovus Secondus multiplies over twenty-fold with predictable strains on public infrastructure.
Tsedeq raise sunken Authority ships off coast of Illborne fief and float them to their own holdings for repairs.
Charioteers transport refugees from Errovus Secondus to Quin fiefdoms amongst Assimov. Refugees prove to be able immunologists and microbiologists, greatly assisting local programs.
House Texier sends one hundred of its brightest nobles of more distant families on a sponsored educational trip to Pedagogue colleges on Leagueheim.
Avestites inquisitors uncover no signs of heresy at Killgore dig site. Says one inquisitor, “Somehow they’re hiding something… but where?” Says another,” But good golly that dip is delicious! I have to get that recipe.”
Thana quietly continue development of diamond mines, railroad, and St. Oghma Scientific Research Institution.
Query continue construction of Cathedral on Clarke.
Klorin develop an early version of the ‘Map’ to further their research and communication infrastructure. Avestites say, “Haven’t you learned your lesson? Or read your history?”
Yannis Arenoth of House Hyppean, working in conjunction with the Society of Alchemists develops plastic manufacturing plants on Arrakis. This is not helping inflationary pressures at all.
Illbourne rebuild damage from symbiots, found new factories.
Alexis Gabella continues development of the Hubbard agricultural facility, gives birth to healthy twin baby boys.
Orbital Debris over Remillard Fiefdom Suspiciously Destroyed



Rewards

Minor Thana Nobles Rage against the Church (+ noblesse on Incellia)
The Sanctious’Als look to a better future on Arrakis (+ noblesse on Arrakis)
Tsedeq nobles pilot freighters? (+ profitability on Clarke)
Vanari churls are motivated by song (+ popularity on E2)
Vanari play paintball (+ army quality on Arrakis)
Remillard nobles don’t like to get up before noon (+ to complex systems tech)
Jyut Texier’s favorite clock is magical? (+maggick on E2)
Mortimer’s fervent prayers bring divine inspiration (+C/B tech)
Ednymion Texier’s name nigh unpronounceable (new character)
Thana take a look into the past (+complex systems tech)
Klorin dig in the sand (+1 physics tech)
Lord Ichabod is blacking out (+ magick on Clarke)
Sonny gives a cloak to Ludenard (+maggick cloak to Ludenard)
Lady Alex remembers Oghma (+ army quality on Clarke)
Sonny receives the blessing of Saint Succellus (+ piety on Incellia)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Remillard (+ complex systems tech)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Quin (+ noblesse on Assimov)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Klorin (+ complex systems tech)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Tsedeq (+ popularity on Clarke, + C/B tech)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Holy Gate (+ complex systems tech, + noblesse on Incellia)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Koriate (+ physics tech)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Vanari (+ popularity, piety on Arrakis and E2, + P/E, C/B, and CS tech)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Texier (+ P/E, C/B, and CS tech, + popularity on E2)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Query (+ physics, chemistry/biology, complex systems tech)
St. Wiki smiles upon the Hyppean (+ intrigue, maggick on Arrakis and E2, + naval quality on E2, + P/E, C/B, and CS tech)










New Trade Routes:

Coachmen 5th Merchant Fleet E2- Arrakis- Clarke- Incellia Imperium Run
1 VK-II-Class Freighter
Jump E2 (land regency orbital spaceport) (September): load manufactured products, unload food and oil
Jump Arrakis (dock regency Planetary spaceport) (December): load oil, food, unload manufactured products
Jump Clarke (dock Query orbital spaceport) (March): unload oil manufactured product, load food
Jump Incellia (dock Regency planetary spaceport) (June): unload oil, manufactured products, load food, metals


New Designs:

Long Night Druids
Cost: 6MF for 1 nine-to-twelve person coven
Tech Requirements: 1 P/E, 1 C/B, 2 CS
Other Requirements: 2 maggicks quality
Developed In: 2306
Developed By: Quin
Usable By: Quin
Sensors: 1
Stealth: 2
Spellcraft: 1
Mana: Nature and Spirit

Trained by experienced Quin Rangers in the way of the wilds, these men and women are accomplished in manipulating the rich mana of Assimov’s jungles and in manipulating the base emotions and drives of its fauna. The Druids are not associated with any church sect or saint and it remains to be seen whether their maggicks are considered heresy or not.


Remillard Espoir d’Hiver
Cost: 15 MF for 1 Brigade
Tech Requirements: 7 P/E, 5 C/B, 4 CS
Developed In: 2306
Developed By: Remillard
Usable By: Remillard
Heavy Weapons: 6 (celestial), 4 (aerial)
Light Weapons: 4 (aerial)
Armor: 1
Speed: 3
Sensors: 1
Unit Size: 4 units

Based heavily on Remillard rho-tech, these massive vehicles actually hover and float over snow, water or fields without leaving a trace and use the same technology to fire a kinetic missile into orbit at relativistic speeds. While the tracking and targeting systems of these units are rather crude relative to the guns themselves, they are more then capable of targeting larger ships or ships not expecting to be fired upon. The sheer speed and force of the gun ensures that a slug from one of these units can easily penetrate most current ship’s armor and indeed, fire from one of these relatively cheap units can destroy or render inoperable exceedingly expensive capital-class ships.

Against more conventional aerial targets, the Espoir also carries a number of anti-aircraft surface to air missile systems.

Imperium ‘Beatle’-class personnel transport
Cost: 32 MF
Tech Requirements: 7 P/E, 6 C/S, 6 CS
Developed In: 2306
Developed By: Imperium Fleet
Usable By: Imperium fleet, garrison, eye and regecny
Weapons: 1
Armor: 2
Celestial Maneuverability: 3
Atmospheric Maneuverability: 2
Sensors: 1
Jump: Yes
Land: Land only (special)

The Beetle is the Imperium’s answer to getting soldiers where they need to go, while retaining some capacity for combat. It large transport bays boast life-support and capacity to carry and sustain up to 5000 infantry with comparative ease though it can also reduce this number and carry some limited heavy vehicles. It ‘leg-like’ landing system allows it to land on nearly any surface no matter how uneven; it can even perch on 60° slopes.

The ship’s hull is actually composed of a new breed of polymerized, neutron-enriched ceramasteel developed recently by the Imperium fleet that provides much greater protection while retaining a more reasonable price-tag. Its weapons systems are mostly aft-oriented and consists of 2 forward-facing rotary gun batteries and a small complement of under-wing ship-to-ship missiles.


Imperium ‘Singularity’ Class Battleship
Cost: 97
Tech Requirements: 7 P/E, 6 C/S, 7 CS
Developed In: 2306
Developed By: Imperium Regency
Usable By: Regency
Weapons: 7
Orbital Bombardment: 2
Armor: 6
Celestial Maneuverability: 2
Atmospheric Maneuverability: 0
Sensors: 1
Stealth: 0
Jump: Yes
Land: Orbital spaceports only

With a spine effectively consisting of a single magnetic accelerator coil, the ‘Singularity’ is more of a weapon wrapped in a ship then an actual ship. It main gun can accelerate a large slug of neutron-enriched ferro-tungsten to 1.2% light speed with precision targeting. The ship itself must maneuver for the weapon to be fired however and so it is difficult to fire the long-range guns while embroiled in local conflict. Secondary weapons include rotating cannons which fill space with thousands of smaller tiny needles meant to destroy more lightly armored symbiot threats while posing little harm to the more heavily armored imperium ships. Against heavier symbiot armor, it boast heavy 130mm cannons and multiple ship-to-ship medium range and short-range missiles.


Notes:

Please keep orders to 5000 words or less.
You can develop as many characters as you have actions but new characters require a story to introduce.
You can develop a magic item using a story. You can only do this once. Ever. If someone else has already written a story about a magic item this turn, then you missed your chance for the turn.


Maps

Will take a bit.


Stats

I’m having troubles with my excel and open office software reading the code on my blackbox. It was fine until the 17th but suddenly stopped working properly. I can fix it but stats might be a little late. Probably Sunday.

Orders Due July 1st at 4pm Eastern Standard Time. No Exceptions.

Great Update!

Ah, well, is that not just the most lovely thing that I had ever seen.

Immac, could you extend the deadlines a bit more? I cannot write a coherent order set by July 1st.

Ah, well, is that not just the most lovely thing that I had ever seen.

Immac, could you extend the deadlines a bit more? I cannot write a coherent order set by July 1st.

Really? Fourteen days isn't enough?

How do others feel?

I will be spending the 14 days after this sunday in a camp, where I am unsure about my time in front of a computer, despite the camp being a "programming" camp.

While I can check in regularly, I would not be able to write a lengthy order or draft large plans which I may require for this turn.

OKay, how does the 8th of July sound?

Vunderful.

House Klorin Respectfully asks that Missionaries of the Cult of Sabel, funded by House Holy Gate, cease their operations within Klorin Lands. While House Klorin has no issue with the Cult of Sabel itself, we would much rather that the Cult of Bhall was uniformly Worshiped in our territory.

House Klorin Hereby declares the people of the Birch Tusk to be it's friends. Additionally, Trade will open between House Klorin and the Birch Tusk. House Klorin will build an offshore trading station, at which Representatives from both sides will trade in peace and prosperity.

Najias Endoin Klorin.

(For reference, the Birch Tusk are the Orc People south of the Thana)

From Logistics Officers of the Church on Incellia
To the Remillard,

Can we bid on the use of your personnel freighter again this year? We offer 9MF.

To All:

House Klorin finds itself in need of additional Funding this year. We are willing to borrow money from our fellow Noble Houses, with suitable Negotiations and reparations.

Eekin's open again. Arctic fox- i prefer you play them over the illbourne if you are willing.

I.

Hey everyone,

This game looks like fun, so I'm going to take House Illborne. Let's see how this goes...

Make a post here (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=350036) and request your PM capacity to be opened (otherwise you cannot send Personal Messages in this forum). That or you need like 10 to 40 useless posts (not sure how many)

From Logistics Officers of the Church on Incellia
To the Remillard,

Can we bid on the use of your personnel freighter again this year? We offer 9MF.

To Logistics Officers of the Church on Incellia
From the Remillard,

Of course, my friends.
Further more - we'll consider it an extension of your current contract.
We ask only of 6 MF for your continued patronage, not 9.

- Remi

To His Most Holy Saint Barbatos the Undying
From the Remillard,

I am sorry, noble Sir, but what you ask is impossible.
There will inevitably be those who object to your crusade - even within the Fleet and Garrison.

To take up arms against Imperial law would be nothing short of an attack on the Imperium itself - something which would inevitably cause the known worlds to erupt into civil war.

We may be faithful to the Pancreator - but we cannot believe it would truly be his will to throw humanity at its own throat while the Symbiote remains as strong as ever.

Faithful humans killing the unfaithful humans is futile, if it weakens the faithful humans enough to be destroyed by faithless monsters, don't you agree?

If there is any penance short of crusade that we can pay, you must but name it.

- Remi

To Cardinal Leonid Mirmah
From the Remillard,

...
We entrusted you with our Rho-technology in the hopes that you would use it wisely and sparingly, to benefit the Imperium.
Yet now we hear rumours that samples of it - some, indeed, just as advanced as our own - is now in the hands of petty guerrillas.
Guerrillas who, as it should happen, are now combating your own forces.
We hope this defeat serves as a lesson against handing out our technologies with such impunity.

After this performance, we shall think twice before sharing any future technological breakthroughs with the Church.

- Remi

To Cardinal Glory Herinus
From the Remillard,

Don't let it be said we do not appreciate the work the Blossoms of Mercy have done for the people of Arrakis.
Is there any plans in the future for the Blossoms to spread off-world?
If we are given prior warning, we will be willing to partially subsidise the establishment of a Blossoms institution on Incellia.

- Remi

They were sleeping. It seemed like forever since Alexis had had a moment to herself since the birth, and she could feel her world shrinking around her, all thoughts of higher sciences and international politics facing away in the fog of sleep-deprived watching. Day and night, always was she watching the twins, these new centres of her much smaller universe.

She looked at them, and her heart swelled with pride. They could barely be told apart, especially when asleep. Ludenard had a green eye, whereas Jaime's eyes were both lightning blue, but in their sleep, each looked the splitting image of his brother. She rose from the chair and left their room to rest, just for a moment. Outside the door, she found Asmilliam sitting in a chair. Clearly, he too was tired, but he stood up and hugged her gently to him. "I am happy, Alexis. Our sons are beautiful and they will grow to be strong and smart, gentle and generous." Alexis sat down with him. Suddenly, she started to cry, although not loud enough to risk waking the children. Between sobs she stammered out.
"Yes but... But... Is it really fair? Is it not cruel to bring children into a world so filled with evil, so on the brink of destruction?" Her tiredness and worries suddenly came bubbling to the surface. "Out... out there, symbiots and wars, crusades and conflict, inquisition and intrigue await them. How can I keep them safe from all that, how, Asmilliam? How?"
She buried her head against his shoulders and he put his arms around her, trying to comfort her without words. Finally, she whispered to her. "By being strong, Alexis. Your sons need you to be strong. The world needs you to be strong. I need you to be strong. You are the strongest woman I have ever met, I know that. Be a good mother to our sons, and put your trust in the Pancreator to see them safe from harm."
"I... I will try. But I'm so afraid..."
"Fear is nothing to be ashamed of. But it is made to be conquered.
Be brave, my love."

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/168/a/1/alera_codex___nasaug_by_sandara-d3j50pu.jpg

Gnolls of House Hyppean are known for their military skill and dedication to art of war.

OOC: I just love this pic.

I'm sorry Immac, I thought I missed orders (indeed I did) much sooner than I thought they were actually due. This was pretty much the only reason I dropped since I thought I would die some how. Anyway, if you will have my emo self, I'd love to rejoin and continue bringing the dip.

Seems like regardless of whether I actually spend any money or not I barely get a single mention in the update.

Noble Tsedeq!
You heard the news of the fights at Stigmata.
More than ever, the Imperium and the Fleet need the help of all of its nobles. You know I helped design a new ship we can use to move troops to Stigmata and fight the Symbiots there. But with the terrible losses suffered in the battle, we know helping design weapons will not be enough.
We must help the Fleet and the Garrison fight the evil that the evvis unleashed upon us. We must increase our effort to get rid of that menace that looms upon us since the elves first opened a gate they should never have touched.
It will not be enough to pray for the victory of our blessed defenders. We have to contribute more than ever to rebuild a fleet able to destroy the accursed monsters.
We have to prevent the Symbiots from invading us, and to get rid of all that would help them. We will help the Fleet build new ships to fight the Symbiots, and we encourage all of you to help in whatever way you can. Whether you can spare funds, whether you pray for the Pancreator's grace and the victory of our soldiers and pilots, whether you get rid of those who brought the symbiot disaster upon us, and could still do this again, all of you can help. With your help, your faith and your contribution to the efforts of the Fleet and Garrison, we can win the war against the Symbiots.
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1373/mortimercrusade.png

To the Houses upon Arrakis

We should convene within the Arrakis Defense Group to coordinate our efforts. This threat known as 'inflation' is as a threat to safety and security as an invasion of symbiotes: badly handled can cause revolt and rebellion.


To the Church

The Descendants of Grand Knight Gustav Van are willing to go to your crusade against th Evvis!

Immac,

The links to update 5 and 6 on first post are wrong.
They are links to pages, which does not work if you change the default number of posts you show per post. For instance, the last link links page 130 but for me the last page is 66 so it links me to the last link. The links should refer posts, not pages. I'm also fixing that on the wiki.

Ekolite: EDIT: You surprise me. Generally you don't make comments like that (at least publicly). Anyway, you submitted orders late and only one of your actions was public and yet you made it into two sections. Your second action received private correspondence and you affected the private correspondence of almost every Incellian house. Cheer up Brit!

Ldi: Okay. I'll fix that.

Kentharu: Okay.

Seems like regardless of whether I actually spend any money or not I barely get a single mention in the update.

OOC: The trick is to not want to be mentioned. Then you'll be one of the most prolific Houses. :lol:

The fact Remillardian actions and Tech are mentioned no less than three times this update is a testament to that.

Oh, come on, Eko, I was mentioned once. (and I like it better that way.)

The imperium and its noble houses shall henceforth agree not to hunt or harm the elven Houses of Assimov and Oghma known as the ‘Sunset Dahlia, nor any of its vassals.

The imperium and its noble houses shall forgive the elven Houses of Assimov and Oghma known as the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and any of its vassals for past attacks upon the imperium or its members. Similarly, the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals shall forgive the Imperium and its members for past attacks upon its people and materials.

The ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals shall cease all predatory attacks and violent conflict with the Imperium and its noble houses.

The Imperium shall provide direct protection of the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals against aggression by the noble houses of the known worlds as well as the Universal Church of Celestial Light or its subsidies.

The Imperium recognizes the right of the ‘Sunset Dahlia, and its vassals to use the jump-gates to travel between the Known Worlds provided the destination planet does not contain symbiot infestation.

House Tsedeq would like to ask why the Sunset Dahlia gets protection from the Imperium that houses who did not attack noble ships and execute nobles do not benefit from. Should one indulge in piracy and then renounce it simply in order to be protected from all nobles and the Church (but not the Guilds for some reason)?
Doesn't the Imperium believe that its forces would be better spent protecting every known world from the symbiots than protecting heretic inhumans from their well-deserved fate?
We can obey an order to forgive the recent pirate attacks. However, elves have hurt the whole creation before even the Imperium was created, and this cannot be forgiven, as the most holy patriarch of the Church pointed out.

Eko, I was only mentioned in the "other news" :p Compared to that, you're fameous. (Though to be fair my orders were late and skeletal).

Doesn't the Imperium believe that its forces would be better spent protecting every known world from the symbiots than protecting heretic inhumans from their well-deserved fate?.

Very. But then again, I would rather spend the resources spent to fight said inhumans on Symbiots as well.


We can obey an order to forgive the recent pirate attacks. However, elves have hurt the whole creation before even the Imperium was created, and this cannot be forgiven, as the most holy patriarch of the Church pointed out.

Perhaps he is right, but that was not my first concern. I will explain myself in fuller detail soon.

The Church asks that the nobility join them in demanding a new set of elections to choose an Imperial Regent that truly represents the will of the scepter-bound and not only Archibald Tarsensis of House Holy Gate.

Reagent Akatas, we must protest this lighthandedness towards dissent.

The Imperium of Man is not the Church. The Church is its own institution, with it's own policies. However, if it continues to seek freedom to preach and exist within Imperial lands, it must abide by Imperial Law.

Granting it apparent immunity from such Laws by allowing it to openly ignore Imperial Contracts, especially so soon after the aforementioned Contracts were made, sets a dangerous precedent.

If Imperial Law and Justice is null against the Church in this case, what is to stop it from being null in others? Moreover, once this sign of weakness is made, what is to stop others following the Church's example and ignoring Law as they see fit?

This is a slippery slope. We cannot allow a step back now.

While I appreciate that making such a controversial move as this deal with the Evvi's without outward consultation is somewhat rash, you are the Reagent. Such choices are yours to make. We must simply abide by them, until they are repealed or made void.

I am also one of the first to admit that, given our ongoing struggle against the bio-hordes of the Symbiote, facing Evvi tech too is hardly our priority.

You must put your foot down, and crush this dissent now, before it becomes outright rebellion, my Liege.

- Remi

OOC: :blush: Sorry Immac, I was tired and angry this morning. Also didn't know about the private feedback. But seriously, next update I want a whole section to myself :p

From House Holy Gate

The events of the last few years have been set a worrying precedent. Holy Gate believes that considering the dangerous threat the symbiots continue to provide we cannot pledge Imperial forces to fight the Evvis, and we truly believe that the Church's own armies would be better used for fighting symbiots then persecuting the evvis. However, for similar reasons I can not under any circumstances condone the Imperial protection of these evvis, and I dislike the fact that the Regent seems to have made this unilateral decision without consulting the other Houses.

We believe that the Regent should be the protector of this Empire, not its dictator, and Holy Gate will not recognise the Regent's official stance towards the Evvis as its own. We will not open trade links with the Evvis, and Evvis will not be allowed entrance to our lands.

It is up to the Houses to decide their own policy towards the Evvis, and they should feel free to do so without fear of repurcussions from other Imperial powers, including the Regent and Church.

I would like to see an Empire of peace and prosperity. The true threat to this dream, at this time, is not the Evvis but the Symbiots, and if there is to be a crusade, we believe it should be against them first and foremost.

OOC: If possible, Diamondeye, I need to talk to you all separately privately; DE, have you got MSN? Seon, Immac, you too, soonish.

IC:

I, Jyut Texier, will await the Regency's statement before taking a stance on anything.

We ask that all Major Houses eagerly contribute to our defence against the Symbiots with a substantial sum in Imperial Firebirds immediately. There is a motion in the Council of Minors, and we urge you to match it with your own contributions. Remember you are Royal and ultimately responsible for all our safety. Whatsoever Regent shall reign, we can assure you that as long as I hold the Fleet command, I will defend you will all the might that the Fleet can muster, for your defence, but we must rebuild the Fleet.

Spry, my MSN is thomasberubeg@live.com (add me, in case we ever need to talk.)

Edit:Eko, mind going on for a bit?

Why the hell would we make a treaty like this?! Why would we extend these evvis more protection than we do to even our own Noblity? What in the sphincter of all the hells are you thinking?

Lord Guy, Fye Clan, The Query

Our advice was asked about this and apparently completely disregarded, even spat upon considering the actions taken! On your head be it.

Lady Alex, Black Clan, The Query

Thomas msn yo.

I'm on, now.

So am I thomas..?

While I abhor conflict, I must say any treaty with these...evvis should require the return of the sceptre to House Naprous.

Lord Ichabod, Sterling Clan, The Query

OOC: Immac, Endymion's name isn't that difficult to say; you're just putting the second and third letters the wrong way round. :p It's Endymion, not Ednymion.

Also, the Scarlet Hand is such an amazing name. Why do they have to be a thing of the past now? :(

OOC: Spryllino, I sent you my MSN in a PM. It's past midnight though so if you want to chat, better log on now and add me :)

While house Tsedeq agrees that there are other priorities than fighting the Evvis right now, we think that:
-letting them go with piracy without any paiment in return is overly generous
-providing them protection from other nobles and from the church is giving them more rights than what the noble houses themselves have, and is therefore totally inacceptable
-providing them protection from the nobles and church without mention of the guilds is strange

All the more so since there is absolutely zero counterpart on the elves' side. This is a one-sided deal if ever there was one, and one which the Regent would be well inspired to declare void immediately.
Remember that the evvis have led the symbiots against us twice. Remember that St Barbatos had prophetised the fate of the suns long before they faded. Heeding his call is only common sense.

To Saint Barbatos and all scepterholders excluding Captain Velace.
From Ludenard Akatas

Your holiness, first, let it be known that I do not enjoy being distracted, whether by the elves or by a crusade, from the true foe, the Symbiots.

Secondly, allow me to conceded something. Perhaps you are right that the sins that the elves have committed from long ago, unleashing the symbiots of the planet of Stigmata upon us, is too grave to be forgiven by a mortal man such as myself. I do not ask for that to be forgiven by any man or woman in the Imperium. The Treaty of Keul made no remarks of that accord. I only have asked that their attacks on Imperial ships using stealth vessels be forgiven. I do not care about the policies that the noble houses itself makes with regard to the elves domestically as well. I may have been pushing the limits of my authorithy when I have signed the treaty in the city of Keul. But with the faith that it will lead to a better future for mankind.

The Imperium, for the past few years, have been investigating elven activity within the jungle planet of Asimov. We have even shot down one of their Cricket Class frigates. We believed that to be the end of the Elven pirates. But it has since turned out that they had a nation within the jungle planet and, to our horror, beyond the unknown of the Jumpgate of Asimov and then perhaps even further. They possess an unknown amount of planets under their control, and also possess untold number of stealth-equipped ships to do combat with us, most of them with technological superiority to Imperium's own ships.

This, combined with the reports of continuously evolving symbiot forms, the predicted long-range attacker forms appearing from Stigmata and destroying a Monitor Class Battleship as well as an Admiral Class Carrier and its fighters and many more last year, made the situation with the elves very difficult. Continuing our operations against the elves would have meant that we were charging into the embrace of an unknown foe, wielding unknown weapons, and with unknown number. It would have also meant that the Nobility of Man, as ineffective at catching elven pirates as they were, and perhaps even the Moon's Silver would have to have been occupied for defeating the elves.

This, however, was an undesirable outcome. We could not hope to battle the Symbiots with such a thorn stuck in our side. With the RKV launched, and the symbiots growing more and more desperate to breach the jumpgate, it was necessary for the Imperium to place itself into harsh battles to come with a single-minded devotion for the destruction of the symbiots. A peace treaty with the elves would then have been necessary, if only temporarily.

My methods are of questionable morality at best, sire, but it was one born from good intentions of wishing for the better future for the generation to come. But this treaty has, so far, the opposite outcome of what I had hoped for.

I do not seek to do combat with the Church. It would be pointless and fatal to the interest of humanity to do so in the age where the symbiot threats have grown to be stronger than ever before. Thusly, only thing that I ask is for the resources granted to the Imperium and its noble houses to be freed. They can still contribute to the eradication of the elves in Asimov if they wish to, but I do not believe that their contribution must be forced through the banner of a crusade when it can be better used to prepare for the coming battle against the symbiots. If that is too much, than at the very least absolve the Imperial Agencies of their obligation to the Crusade. I will, in turn, promise to not enforce the Treaty of Keul.

Being able to concentrate our power and mind on solely the symbiots is all that we desire.

To the Church:

House Holy Gate supports your call for new elections to be held promptly and in the near future :)

A peace treaty with the elves would then have been necessary, if only temporarily.

A peace treaty, or better a truce, is certainly acceptable when we are busy fighting the symbiots. However, it is not a truce that you signed, but an unconditional surrender. If the elves are so powerful and live on one of the planets threatened by the symbiots, then why didn't you ask them to help fight the monsters? Why didn't they propose it themselves when all the Imperium shares resources to repel the symbiots?


I do not seek to do combat with the Church.

Yet you declared you would attack them if they attacked the elves, and did the same for the nobles, but said nothing of the Guilds. Do you hold the Guilds in higher respect than both the church and nobles?


Thusly, only thing that I ask is for the resources granted to the Imperium and its noble houses to be freed.

You didn't have to sign the outrageous treaty for that.

I will, in turn, promise to not enforce the Treaty of Keul.
You said yourself that you didn't want to enforce it. If anyone attacks the elves, you would have to intervene against them, be it Church or nobles, while you want to attack the symbiots. You have signed a treaty in which you are threatening to abandon the fight against the Symbiots in order to protect apostate pirate elves from your own subjects, and turn against your own subjects. If you don't realise this, then please read your treaty again and then tear it down as it should be.
The only way the elves might obtain any kind of peace would be for them to fight the Symbiots instead of attacking us.
You are asking them to do nothing, and in exchange are providing them more protection than that given to any of your loyal subjects. This, no noble can ever accept. If they want the protection of the Imperium, they must earn it. They must redeem their crimes and not jsut ask to be pardonned. They must help fight the Symbiots, either with their ships or through a regular donation to the Fleet and Garrison. And under no condition can they be granted more rights than the nobles. Therefore, the only protection you could grant them is to spare them the wrath of the Fleet for as long as they stop their piracy.

Yet you declared you would attack them if they attacked the elves, and did the same for the nobles, but said nothing of the Guilds. Do you hold the Guilds in higher respect than both the church and nobles?

None of us thought of the guild when we drafted the treaty.


You didn't have to sign the outrageous treaty for that.

Perhaps I didn't.


The only way the elves might obtain any kind of peace would be for them to fight the Symbiots instead of attacking us.

Just for you and the other nobles, I will say that this was my ulterior motive. I wished to enlist the elves' stealth vessels in battle within Stigmata.

I merely felt that at least an amiable relationship be made between the Imperium and the elves to do so. The one sided treaty was intended to make sure the elves understood that I am cooperative with their plight. They feared that they would have been killed the moment the Church or any other noble house saw them.

Unfortunately, the situation is quickly becoming untenable.

I have nothing further to speak on that.

If they want the protection of the Imperium, they must earn it. They must redeem their crimes and not jsut ask to be pardonned. They must help fight the Symbiots, either with their ships or through a regular donation to the Fleet and Garrison.

We'll have to see what the Patriarch has to say about that.

Therefore, the only protection you could grant them is to spare them the wrath of the Fleet for as long as they stop their piracy.

Only problem with this would be that the

Jump E2 (land regency orbital spaceport) (September): load manufactured products, unload food and oil
Jump Arrakis (dock regency Planetary spaceport) (December): load oil, food, unload manufactured products
Jump Clarke (dock Query orbital spaceport) (March): unload oil manufactured product, load food
Jump Incellia (dock Regency planetary spaceport) (June): unload oil, manufactured products, load food, metals

Lord Philipe Van Gar has a problem with this trade route.
On Incellia, metals are loaded. These minerals are NEVER EVER UNLOADED, serving as dead weight. This dead weight will eventually take over all the hull space of the freighter. If there must be Metals to be loaded, at least unload and sell them eventually. Right?

Thats genius! Wow- you really changed our whole outlook on trade Philip.

Thanks,
Charioteers


OOC: EDIT: fixed on the main page.

The false Regent is a traitor and a fool. We join in the Church in calling for immediate elections to find a real leader who is less willing to sell out our race to the devil-born pets of the Symbiots.

House Sanctious'Als no longer recognizes the authority of Ludenard Atakas as Regent. We also do not recognize the capitulation of a treaty. The Evvis are, have always been, and will always be the enemies of mankind.

Atakas, you have brought humanity to the brink of civil war. You were installed as a placeholder, a figurehead until we could vote on a true regent. You were entrusted with the empire, and you have broken that trust. In little less than a year, you have brought destruction down upon us all. Worst of all, you have gone against the will of the Pancreator. You have been judged, and been found wanting. If the Imperium falls, know this; it will be on your head.

The full might of the Sanctious'Als will join with the Church in holy Crusade. May we wipe the hated Evvis, and all their allies, from the face of all planets. May we erase this stain from history. May the Pancreator stand with us all.

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110606143209/fadingsuns/images/4/4a/Fading_Suns114.gif

Stats up.

Post angry responses or e-mail or PM me why i screwed up now please.

You can develop as many characters as you have actions but new characters require a story to introduce.
If I understand this well, it means we can replace the 'nobles' action some of us have by an ACC? Does this mean the character has the same level of control as any other ACC, or is he still limited and potentially less efficient than other ACCs based on the noblesse reputation?

Yesh. but while I am gone, I need to ask you a huge favor and ask you to deal with elven crisis.

It appears I, Jyut Texier, have an official mandate to sort this whole business out (I understand you correctly, Seon?) as the official Temporary Diplomatic Minister of the Imperium. I shall get to work later this evening, and I ask that all houses leave off making further deplorations of Imperial policy until the Imperium has made a statement, once I have carried out possibly lengthy negotiations with the Patriarch Barbatos and other concerned parties.

In anything I say I act not as the Patriarch of House Texier, but as the representative of the Regency, and I hope that the Church and the Evvis, in dealing with me, will remember this, and hold the Regent rightly responsible for this absurd mess.

Seon, if you are still around, MSN?

((I don't know why but I still can't find you on MSN, Spry. Are you sure it's "googlemail" and not "gmail"?))

OOC: Chemistry/Biotech: 7 revolutionary (genetic engineering, ... synthetic people)

Sweet Raptor Jesus! :eek:

Uh - :blush:

*twiddles thumbs and whistles awkwardly as Avestites pass by*

HOLY **** Tech 7!

OOC:

Sweet Raptor Jesus! :eek:

Uh - :blush:

*twiddles thumbs and whistles awkwardly as Avestites pass by*

I <3 you, MGS :p.

In any case, I confirm spry. I am leaving for camp in, oh, an hour or so, and this is too desperate a phase to consider formalities in dealing with such things, not even the token resistance that I am mounting against the Church right now.

And yeah, that was totally OoC.

DE: yep, it's googlemail. I just sent you what calls itself an "offline instant message"; tell me if you've got it; I can't tell what's wrong. If it doesn't work I'll PM you sometime. Could you send me by PM though, really as soon as possible, any intelligence you have about the Elves, and also tell me anything that might conceivably affect what stance I might take towards the Church, or if there isn't anything, say so? There are a few other fairly trivial matters, but if MSN doesn't work soon I'll just send you a PM.

thomas: I seem to have you added already from a while ago.

Spry, I don't see you.

spryllino@googlemail.com

IC:

LOSSES

1 Monitor-class battleships, 1 squadron dauntless class aerospace dive-bombers, 2 rabid-class destroyers, 1 admiral class carrier, 2 squadrons stinger-class aerospace fighters, 1 white-sky cruiser, 2 Valant-class destroyers, 1 company Scarabeidae, 1 cricket-class frigates

Also, 12MF in repairs to our cruiser are needed.

If I understand this well, it means we can replace the 'nobles' action some of us have by an ACC? Does this mean the character has the same level of control as any other ACC, or is he still limited and potentially less efficient than other ACCs based on the noblesse reputation?

No- they just start off weaker and plain. YOu'll have to build up to get synergy bonuses. Lets face it, afterall, characters are more fun then 'faceless nobles'.

i.

((OOC: Nope, Spry, nothing. Try PM))

House Hyppean
House Hyppean supports The crusade and any noble who is willing to join The Holy War, may do so. We are a riders house.. Our mounts will serve the Pancreator. Our riders will fight together with you. We are not afraid. We are a riders house. And we serve the Pancreator.

We are undecided in the area of choosing new regent. Because many of us feel, that the Regent is right. We do not have enough resources to fight two wars on two separate planets. This is logical. If the church would have been unwilling to protect us against the Evvies and lead the crusade, this move would have been very smart - not because evvies unleashed these demonic creatures on us. But just because the Empire is weak and does not have enough resources to fight two wars.

But now the Church is leading the Crusade against the Evvies, we see this decision as foolish. We urge the Regent to rethink his decision. Because these were Evvies who opened the first doorway to Stigimata after it was sealed by the Kappa.

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110606143209/fadingsuns/images/4/4a/Fading_Suns114.gif

House Hyppean joins the crusade. House Hyppean urges Regent to rethink his decisions but is -currently- against re-elections.

Signed
Many nobles of House Hyppean,
Garrik Harnoth

Imperial Garrison
Imperial Garrison will Not be joining the Crusade. While we support the Sacred Crusade and While we hope that this centuries old thread will be eliminated, we can not grant any of our soldiers to assist with the Crusade. Because we are already crusading. Our crusade is against The Symbiots and our withdrawal of either resources or manpower will cause this Symbiot threat to be unleased on entire Empire, and Symbiots make no difference whatever person is a heretic or not. Our prayers are with you, but our bodies will remain here. To do what we were asked. To fight the enemies of the Empire and through that enemies of the Church.

Imperial Garrison Supports the Crusade. But is unable to provide any assistance to our holy warriors, because every last bit of gold and every last man, is needed on symbiot front. Our prayers are with the Church.

Signed,
Tenith Erona,
Commander of Imperial Garrison

From The Imperial Garrison
To: House Remillard

Subject: Remillard Espoir d’Hiver

Garrison is interested in such weapons. These could be beneficial to whole empire. If we pay for these weapons, are you willing to produce them for us?

To: Imperial Garrison
From: House Remillard

Of course, of course.

20 MF per unit - that's the going rate.

- Remi

spryllino@googlemail.com

IC:

LOSSES

1 Monitor-class battleships, 1 squadron dauntless class aerospace dive-bombers, 2 rabid-class destroyers, 1 admiral class carrier, 2 squadrons stinger-class aerospace fighters, 1 white-sky cruiser, 2 Valant-class destroyers, 1 company Scarabeidae, 1 cricket-class frigates

Also, 12MF in repairs to our cruiser are needed.

The cost of all that is (assuming 100 MF for irreplacable monitor and admiral):
100+60+2*55+100+2*60+75+2*58+7+58 = 746 MF
+12 for repairs = 758 MF
I computed by hand, so this may be off somewhat.

The combined income of all noble houses is around 710 MF, and that of the imperium around 130.

To: Imperial Garrison
From: House Remillard

Of course, of course.

20 MF per unit - that's the going rate.

- Remi

You semi-heretical merchant. Empire needs these weapons your own house requires That empire would defend you from symbiots. Lower the price to 18 MF for the Empire?

EDIT:
758 MF :suicide: My house makes around 60 mf/year. that's 12 turns worth of income?

758 MF is roughly the income of all the noble houses plus the Fleet and the Regency.

If we are to repel the symbiots, considering building a new ship may take about 2 years, we would have to rebuild at least the same fleet within two years time.
In order to be able to do this, I think we would need everyone to donate half their income for the next two years in order to defend the Imperium. And by everyone, I mean everyone, that is the noble houses, but also the Church and the Guilds.

Bear in mind that the amount I computed is probably a low estimate: We lost ships that were built at the time of the Republic, and I don't think anyone can build similar ships.
It is also likely that the Symbiots will have more forces and new weapons when they strike next, so rebuilding everything we lost is the minimum to ensure a semblance of safety.

Obviously, it would be possible to contribute in other ways than just money. For instance, the Remillard already accepted to build their new machines so the Garrison could field them at a price. Such sharing of precious asset is generous, but the Imperium does not have the money to buy these (and they will have to be brought to Hubbard and then Stigmata). Anyone with the means to fight at Stigmata could certainly send their ships there instead of paying to rebuild the fleet, at least until the Fleet can be operational again.

EDIT: All this is without counting the cost to repair E2 assets (10MF for the fleet, 15-20 for the Regency).

You semi-heretical merchant. Empire needs these weapons your own house requires That empire would defend you from symbiots. Lower the price to 18 MF for the Empire?

...
We had taken into consideration that it is unlikely the Garrison would be in a position to use these machines against the Symbiote menace, once off Stigmata - an evacuation which, i'm sure I need not remind you, is happening this year.

We have offered fairer prices to those who need them more - the Fleet, for instance - but, if you must haggle, we shall accept the offer of 18 MF per unit for the Garrison.

- Remi

...
We had taken into consideration that it is unlikely the Garrison would be in a position to use these machines against the Symbiote menace, once off Stigmata - an evacuation which, i'm sure I need not remind you, is happening this year.

We have offered fairer prices to those who need them more - the Fleet, for instance - but, if you must haggle, we shall accept the offer of 18 MF per unit for the Garrison.

- Remi

Oh, but we are going to go back on Stigmata once its reduced to burning pile of ash. And fleet already has tons ships under its command. Garrison only has a single troop transport.

Ah - Very good.

You've persuaded me. 17 MF it is.

- Remi

To all Noble Houses (not anyone else)

Negotiations with the Church are going fairly well and we expect to be able to reach some form of compromise. I reiterate that I would prefer houses not to present any further stances on the Crusade or the Regency until our negotiations are complete.

To Alex Black

You gave us advice before, you say; what was it? (PM?)

@ Spry sorry those comments were directed to Seon.

Does Alex Black not have any advice for me as I negotiate in elf-related matters at all then?

Yes my advice to the Regent was Don't.

For Infantry IV, would that cost me 7 or 8? (Half of 15=7.5)

If you send the Fleet the money, we'll gladly send you that design for 5 on top of your current planned donation. :) No reselling the design though.

round down... but yeah... others will sell for cheaper.

“So can you explain to me dear sister why we are having such a large meeting of the Fye Clan and its larger subordinate clans?” Lord Guy knocked back the remainder of his whiskey sour and shook the glass at a servant who quickly retrieved it and replaced it with a fresh drink. He looked down at the liquor with some deep regret. “Damn I almost wish I hadn’t gotten the sceptre. Makes it take so much more effort to get drunk and it wears off too quickly as well. Makes me feel robbed.”

“Well if it bothers you all that much I can take it off your hands.” Lady Sarah replied in a half-joking manner.

“Trust me you really do not want it. You would have to tear yourself away from your projects and research far more often then you do now and all you do is complain about it.” Lord Guy leaned back in his chair.

“Yeah I do don’t I? While on one level I envy you, on another I like that I get to do what I want far more than you do.” Lady Sarah glanced at the woman approaching. “Damn it’s Lady Elizabeth.” Lady Sarah rolled her eyes. “If only I noticed her a moment or two earlier and could have slipped away.” Lord Guy chuckled.

Lady Elizabeth, Head of the Tate Clan, approached slowly and taking a mimosa off the tray of a passing server. She bowed her head politely at Lord Guy. “So what does my esteemed liege lord think about the recent actions of the Regent?”

Lord Guy shook his head. “I rather thought my public statement summed it up.”

Lady Elizabeth leaned in towards Lord Guy, and Lady Sarah laughed derisively. “Could you be more obvious Elizabeth?” Lady Elizabeth straightened and glared at Lady Sarah.

“Please, must you two always fight? At least take it elsewhere since you are wasting my buzz on this useless argument. I’ll marry whoever is most advantageous, or at least whomever the Inner Council directs.” Lord Guy rubbed his temples and frowned. “Damn, my buzz is practically gone and I worked so hard to get it in the first place.”

Lady Elizabeth and Lady Sarah both stared at Lord Guy for a moment. “But aren’t you on the Inner Council? I mean we know you are on the Outer Council as we are both members but we always assumed, you know.” whispered Lady Sarah in her brother’s ear.

“Please you know the sceptre is inherited by the heads of the three main clans, but no one knows who is on the Inner Council except the members of the Inner Council. Hell, I’m not even sure how many members are on the Inner Council.” He straightened up in his chair and looked at both women with such command in his eyes they both forgot he was only 28 years old. “Look you know this do not ever ask who is on the Inner Council, just know simply that the main clans give input and then are informed of the decision of the Inner Council and we comply. Besides we have much more pressing matters upon us, for all intents and purposes the Imperial Fleet has been smashed upon this new symbiot threat, the Regent decides to pardon the filthy Evvis and make a seriously lopsided treaty with them which causes the Crusade to be called.” He stopped speaking for a moment as he realized Legatus Tristan of the Black Clan was hovering nearby obviously listening in. Lord Guy waved him forward and Legatus Tristan approached and bowed politely.

Lady Sarah turned to greet her friend and one time tutor in Physics. “You are looking as young as ever sir, how do you do it?” She playfully batted her eyes at him. He laughed and waggled his finger at her.

“Now now, as you know a healthy and fit personage like myself requires rigorous exercise and the perfect diet. And as I recall my young pupil here liked her sweets way too much to live as strictly as I do to maintain this visage.” The group decided to relocate to a more private setting to continue their discussion. Once they had all settled around the private study Lord Guy looked at Legatus Tristan and began with a simple question.

“I know you are here for the project, so I am surprised you could pull yourself away to be here tonight. What brings you here?” Lord Guy nodded politely to Legatus Tristan who proceeded to respond in his light tenor voice.

“How could I refuse to come and see my two favorite pupils. Though admittedly both of you went off on my areas of expertise and ignored the other side of what I teach. You went headlong into the military matters while your sister here became a physics researcher. You both have done me proud though.” The siblings smiled as they recalled such praise was hard won from the Legatus in the past.

“Well I am glad you are here and I did request you specifically to help with the warlord problem. So of course as we are setting this up here comes the Crusade!” Lord Guy Threw his arms in the air and then slapped them down, hard, upon the table. The quickly became red. “Hey everybody you know what? I found some evvis here and I think they are kind of nice, like they never in fact betrayed the Imperium and hate it with all their guts. Oh yeah and this is probably the same generation as betrayed the Imperium in the first place!” Lady Sarah placed a hand on her brother shoulder and patted it lightly. Lord Guy quieted. Lady Sarah went and sat down then looked at Legatus Tristan.

“So Legatus, what is your view on this? Or I suppose more importantly what is your mother’s view as far as you know? She has been strangely out of contact according to my brother.” Lady Sarah asked giving the handsome Tristan her undivided focus. Lady Elizabeth snorted quietly, but just enough to be heard. The others ignored it.

Legatus Tristan’s face drew tight as he groped for a response. Finally he sighed heavily and glancing at Lady Elizabeth asked pointedly, “Does need to know?” The three of them turned to look at Lady Elizabeth who went stone still. Finally Lord Guy answered.

“It makes little difference I imagine. She is on the Outer Council as we all are here, but when asking about your mother’s view on anything? It’s about time she knew she does lead the largest Clan under Clan Fye. The tension fell several notches in the room.

“If you wish.” Legatus Tristan inclined his head respectfully for a moment to his noble superior and then proceeded to talk. “We know this batch of pirates and traitors of old. We checked the archives and in one case a person’s memory. Everything we have tells us of the Evvis in this case being about as untrustworthy and evil as possible. They were on humanity’s side for a time, but when push came to shove they turned against their sacred duty to defend humanity. They refused to make sacrifice and sided with the other Evvis when they fled they cursed us and as usual aristocratic cliché swore undying vengeance upon humanity.” Lady Elizabeth had to force her mouth closed. The Clan Fye leaders simply nodded in thought.

“How have we never heard this? So they sided with us for a time then turned against us? Why would the Regent consider making a deal with them?” Lady Elizabeth stared at Legatus Tristan.

“Yes but remember this was the time for tumultuous events and a losing war in which the result would be extinction. So against that backdrop the betrayal of what was at the time a small group is a drop in ocean.” Lord Guy said quietly.

“But we cannot trust the Church either; they do not believe we are believers even though we always have been. So who do we turn to?” Lady Elizabeth asked in hushed tones feeling the enormity of the situation.

“But Legatus Tristan please answer the original question.” Lady Sarah smiled with warmth not usually seen on her face.

“Certainly, I imagine she feels trapped. She was asked advice on the evvis and it was as she stated, do not make deals with them, and I believe she was rather vehement about ‘killing the vermin and their offspring all the way back to the hive.’ And to have her advice not simply ignored but completely see the opposite effect?” Legatus Tristan sniffed his brandy and then took a sip. The room was quiet waiting to hear if more was forthcoming. “But really can anyone expect any different in her reaction to the evvis? I mean they did kill her father.” Legatus Tristan quickly realized this was not known by his guests and hastily spoke. “No offence, I thought nobility of your rank would have known that, please do not speak of it out of this room.” The three others in the room nodded. “Damn now my most noble mother is going to leave me bruised when I see her next.”

“Personally I do not understand why we could simply not picket Assimov and prevent the evvis from spreading while we rebuild fleet. That would have been my course of action.” Lord Guy said into the silence.

“Yes and if mother was rational on the subject I imagine she would agree with that. At least had that been the course of action taken she would not find fault with it publically because it does make sense.” Legatus Tristan responded.

“So what is your mother doing that she hasn’t been responding, if you know.” queried Lady Sarah.

“Honestly my lady I do not know, but at a guess she is praying to Saint Hess and the Pancreator to guide her decision. Well that and taking care of little Carma. Let me tell you she is quite agile. I think she will make a great fighter with the lighter blades.”

The conversation drifted into discussions of what blades the four preferred and styles of sword fighting which most outsiders would find too complicated for those not reared on the art of blade combat since they could pick up a stick.

To all Noble Houses and Guild Factions
From House Texier

House Texier is cooperating with House Tsedeq this turn to reverse engineer the design for Kelter-Class Amphibious Assault Vehicles, a highly versatile and very useful naval unit which will give a serious naval advantage to whoever possesses it. We wish to make up the costs of reverse engineering it by selling the design to other factions, and are willing to take reasonable offers in return for the design.

The current stance of The Query has been determined, until anything new occurs we support the election of a new regent.

Lady Alex, Black Clan, the Query

Completely OOC:

I thought I should explain the delay, so here you go: I'm waiting on Seon now, because I have reached a point of negotiations where I feel that I can go no further without his explicit consent for what I want to do, i.e. hold elections as part of a compromise treaty with the Church and Elves; indeed the Church is happy to agree to pretty favourable terms provided there are elections. But then, whatever the proposed treaty that the Elves are happy with is, it has to go before the Curia, and Eko, who holds a seat on the Curia, is away for a week at the moment, so if Seon does reply positively, but if the treaty's a close call in the Curia and if Eko doesn't have internet access, there will be still more delay. So that's that. You can't count on a Crusade, a compromise, or on elections. :p

Thanks for the update (and for taking on what are most likely some fairly intense negotiations). I can't really write orders until I know what's going on, good to know there's progress.

Completely OOC:

They're Evvis, and they need to die. Okay so not so OOC.

Hbar-
does you bishop wish to contend for the position of archbishop of arrakis?

Yes, of course. After all, one of his traits is Politically Ambitious after all. Did you get me email?

Ooops- okay sorry... yeah- i knew that.

Ekolite, you get a vote on the curia, who do you vote for archbishop of arrakis?

I'm going to be away for the next six days or so after tomorrow, and not sure if I'll have internet access or not, so if you have any questions ask now or save them for when I get back.


:p

Thanks for the update (and for taking on what are most likely some fairly intense negotiations). I can't really write orders until I know what's going on, good to know there's progress.

After all, one of Jyut Texier's traits is Unrivalled Negotiator. :p

If you get elected, tell me, so I can try and convince you to vote for the treaty, please.

Completely OOC:

They're Evvis, and they need to die. Okay so not so OOC.

Except no-one really has the capability to kill them: they mostly live on Oghma and the Church can't get there. If they kill the Assimov elves we'll just end up in a war of attrition and piracy for ages and ages.

Except no-one really has the capability to kill them: they mostly live on Oghma and the Church can't get there. If they kill the Assimov elves we'll just end up in a war of attrition and piracy for ages and ages.

Really:

Cause I seem to recall mention of finding the jump coordinates when they found the wreckage of a pirate vessel...trying to find reference.

OOC: Shhhhh!

OOC: no

OOC: Well, we have the coordinates. The Church doesn't. I still don't reckon the Church could kill off the Elves with any ease though even if they obtained the coordinates because there seem to be quite a lot of Elves, and, besides, there are better things for Elfin and Church vessels to do with their firepower.

OOC: We should tell the Elves that they can settle on Stigmata in about 3 years if they help us wipe out the symbiots.

We might forget to mention the whole RKV thing, too.

OOC: What if we/church offer to release them from the interdict by A, giving us knowledge of all the worlds of Sunset Dalia; B, by giving Imperium and Church any techs they might have; C, by helping the Imperium retake Stigmata.

I'm sure the attacking Stigmata part is integral to any peace offer.

OOC: Oh yeah let's pardon some of the evvis who very likely were alive while killing humanity off. This a good plan.

OOC: I really hated that as soon as the Imperial Discussion Chamber opened, it seemed that no Imperial Strategies, Tactics, or anything goes on anymore.

IMHO Dain is more evil than the Evvis: He did what he did on purpose, if one ignored that he was mad, of course. What the elves did was accidental: what if Stigmata was a paradise and Leagehiem was Symbiote Infested? Will the League be Exocommunicated and the Elves are powerful?

The Cabinet's open for observation if you want to read last turn's discussions. But the reason why no strategy's happened this turn is partly that we can't do anything because there's barely any fleet left, and partly that we don't know what the position with regard to the Elves or who's in charge is.

Yeah Cain as an individual was bad, but the evvis did it twice.

OOC: We should tell the Elves that they can settle on Stigmata in about 3 years if they help us wipe out the symbiots.

We might forget to mention the whole RKV thing, too.

OOC: +1. This is a great plan. Except that the elves probably heard about the RKV, but never mind that.

The Cabinet's open for observation if you want to read last turn's discussions. But the reason why no strategy's happened this turn is partly that we can't do anything because there's barely any fleet left, and partly that we don't know what the position with regard to the Elves or who's in charge is.
OOC: Urgh? The Cabinet is closed. I found the Imperial Discussion Chamber only now after seeing Seon's post. There was no notice of it in-thread ever. Not that it contains much information, but nonetheless, it's really annoying.

OOC:
Regarding the elven matters.
Using any imperial resources concerning the elves right now would be suicidal.
This means in particular that the imperium cannot give the elves any guarantee to protect them from anybody. In addition, even if it could afford it, it should not do so without something in return.
There's no reason to bomb or attack the elves Now. However, the elves are in a position of weakness. They were hidden and are no more. Their lands on Assimov could be bombed or attacked by land, and Oghma could be attacked by space. Of course, they can raid us, but they can reasonably do so only in defense. If they start piracy again, then we must raze their holdings on Assimov. Plus those most at risk from the piracy are the shuttles for individual nobles and the freighters. Most freighters are league ships, so the league would end up doing something about it instead of profitting from everyone while the nobles and the Church do all the work on Stigmata. Please don't forget the Guilds! They will sit idle and do nothing useful unless prodded, but they will defend themselves if trade is threatened, and that's what piracy is all about. The elves stand to lose more by attacking us than we, and I say so despite the certainty that, should they decide to attack, I'd lose my freighter and its guardian ship (although the unprotected ships would likely fall before).
The elves should be happy that the Imperium agrees not to bomb them if they refrain from pirate activity. The Church will still find this too much tolerance for the scum, but the Church itself is busy fighting the Guilds on E2.
Elves should be left alone, warned that any other piracy will lead to them being razed from Assimov, and that should be all.
Our priority must be to rebuild the Fleet, and make sure we can evacuate Stigmata when the RKV hits and then take Stigmata back despite the likely lack of oxygen,, unbreathable atmosphere, lack of sunlight and the bunch of unpleasant things that the RKV is going to bring.

Finally concerning the elves, there's a very simple way of dealing with them: Send the RKV at them or send one at them. They know we can build one, they know we can obliterate Oghma, so they should jsut shut up and be quiet.

OOC:
Someone had few too many shrooms? Elves on stigmata? Imperial Garrison and battle brothers will "finalize" the peace treaty with any elves, who dare to put their feet on stigmata again. They were the cause behind this ... invasion of symbiots.

OOC:
If they start piracy again, then we must raze their holdings on Incellia.

OOC: They have holdings on Incellia?! Why was Remi not aware of this?! :eek2:

OOC: They have holdings on Incellia?! Why was Remi not aware of this?! :eek2:

oops. Assimov I ment. My mistake.

Regarding Incellia, it seems clear that it is through this planet that the guerilla forces received reinforcements:
Unexplained gate activations occur over Incellia (February and August) and E2 (May)
These guerilla forces were boosted just after the activation on E2, in june.
It seems therefore very likely that factions from Leagueheim are providing troops to prevent nobles and the Church from taking control of the southern authority continent.
We believe it to be very unproductive to have Guilds fight the Church and nobles while the Symbiot menace is looming.
Maybe the Regent could talk to the Guilds and make sure they don't lock the Imperium's resources when they are seriously needed at Stigmata and Hubbard.
The Authority Guild has been abolished by the Guilds themselves. Attacking the Church and Texier house on E2 is an outrageous act. Whoever is helping these guerillas should stop doing so immediately, as they are withholding ships and troops which could be used to fight the real threat.

Evvis people, they're evvis.

They're Elvis.

OOC: +1. This is a great plan. Except that the elves probably heard about the RKV, but never mind that.


OOC: Urgh? The Cabinet is closed. I found the Imperial Discussion Chamber only now after seeing Seon's post. There was no notice of it in-thread ever. Not that it contains much information, but nonetheless, it's really annoying.

Really? Seon lied to me or closed the cabinet again then.

OOC:
Regarding the elven matters.
Using any imperial resources concerning the elves right now would be suicidal.
This means in particular that the imperium cannot give the elves any guarantee to protect them from anybody. In addition, even if it could afford it, it should not do so without something in return.
There's no reason to bomb or attack the elves Now. However, the elves are in a position of weakness. They were hidden and are no more. Their lands on Assimov could be bombed or attacked by land, and Oghma could be attacked by space. Of course, they can raid us, but they can reasonably do so only in defense. If they start piracy again, then we must raze their holdings on Assimov. Plus those most at risk from the piracy are the shuttles for individual nobles and the freighters. Most freighters are league ships, so the league would end up doing something about it instead of profitting from everyone while the nobles and the Church do all the work on Stigmata. Please don't forget the Guilds! They will sit idle and do nothing useful unless prodded, but they will defend themselves if trade is threatened, and that's what piracy is all about. The elves stand to lose more by attacking us than we, and I say so despite the certainty that, should they decide to attack, I'd lose my freighter and its guardian ship (although the unprotected ships would likely fall before).
The elves should be happy that the Imperium agrees not to bomb them if they refrain from pirate activity. The Church will still find this too much tolerance for the scum, but the Church itself is busy fighting the Guilds on E2.
Elves should be left alone, warned that any other piracy will lead to them being razed from Assimov, and that should be all.

Yes, I'd go for that if the Church would agree. But they won't because they've launched a crusade against the Elves, so that isn't a compromise that's available to us.

Our priority must be to rebuild the Fleet, and make sure we can evacuate Stigmata when the RKV hits and then take Stigmata back despite the likely lack of oxygen,, unbreathable atmosphere, lack of sunlight and the bunch of unpleasant things that the RKV is going to bring.

This is true.

Finally concerning the elves, there's a very simple way of dealing with them: Send the RKV at them or send one at them. They know we can build one, they know we can obliterate Oghma, so they should jsut shut up and be quiet.

We can only launch an RKV within the system we want to use it. Besides, we launched our only RKV and it takes too long to build another one for this plan to be a sensible scheme.

Regarding Incellia, it seems clear that it is through this planet that the guerilla forces received reinforcements:

These guerilla forces were boosted just after the activation on E2, in june.
It seems therefore very likely that factions from Leagueheim are providing troops to prevent nobles and the Church from taking control of the southern authority continent.
We believe it to be very unproductive to have Guilds fight the Church and nobles while the Symbiot menace is looming.
Maybe the Regent could talk to the Guilds and make sure they don't lock the Imperium's resources when they are seriously needed at Stigmata and Hubbard.
The Authority Guild has been abolished by the Guilds themselves. Attacking the Church and Texier house on E2 is an outrageous act. Whoever is helping these guerillas should stop doing so immediately, as they are withholding ships and troops which could be used to fight the real threat.

Most probably you're right.

I think i've caught up on the backlog of diplo. If i forgot your e-mail or PM, please remind me.

I think i've caught up on the backlog of diplo. If i forgot your e-mail or PM, please remind me.

Hyppean Library Security Squadron sends you a friendly reminder. Reminder looks like it was written in blood. It tastes like blood too. Don't ask me, how I got to know the taste, I just do. There is also a note: "Return any books or messages that are overdue or you will face punishment. Hyppean style."

Still away and no internet access after today. I should be back in a few days at which point I'll vote in the curia and whatever else I need to do.

BRB

Eko

Lady Alex sat on a balcony overlooking the choppy waters of the bay. The agitated ocean mirrored her mood. She sat and drank one of the finest wines produced her on Clarke, her adopted home. One of her guards, Kenneth Umber, came and announced the visitor. “Milady, Lady Celes is here to see you as you requested.” Lady Alex stood and walked into the building.

Lady Celes was as usual her stunning self. Her long red hair perfectly framed her face and the green eyes showed pleasure in seeing Lady Alex again. Lady Celes bowed politely and then spoke. “Reporting as requested milady.” Lady Alex motioned for her to have a seat and the pair of them sat on opposite ends of a small table. Lady Alex ordered some refreshments and snacks from the attendant and he walked off.

“It is so good to see you my dear. How is the family?”

“Father is on his deathbed milady.” Lady Celes wiped away the single tear she had allowed to fall and then continued. “He has had a long and fulfilling life, but the injury he sustained when his sailing yacht capsized has proven to be too much for him. The healers extended his time, but ultimately he simply was too old.” Lady Alex reached out and gave her one time protégé a comforting hand on her shoulder. Lady Celes forced her emotions down and prevented any more from showing.

“I will try and visit him before the end, at the very least I will come and pay my respects when the end does come. I am very sorry but also glad that the heir is someone I trust and is extremely capable.”

“Thank you for the compliment milady.” Lady Celes smiled weakly and switched the topic. “May I ask why you wanted to see me?”

“Certainly you can, I need to you go and find a mana source for me.” Lady Alex brought a map up on the screen of the table. She used her fingers to swiftly bring up the images she wanted. “Here you can see the area we have figured out it is in, and normally I would be up for going and doing it myself, but am currently focused on another project.”

“Okay that shouldn’t be too difficult, time consuming but likely not difficult.” Lady Celes responded. The snacks and refreshments arrived and the pair of them sat and ate and drank in companionable silence for a moment. Then Lady Alex spoke once more.

“I have sent you this information for your use.” Lady Alex then closed down the map program and leaned back in her chair. “Really though this was just an excuse to see you and check up on my protégé, it has been a few years.”

“Yes it has.” Lady Celes looked down at her hands for a moment and Lady Alex thought it amusing how she was working up the courage to ask whatever it was on her mind. When Lady Celes began to speak it all came out in a rush. “Milady is it true did the regent really bend over and take it from the evvis? Did he really sign that treaty?”

“Yes, he did.” Lady Alex responded in a threatening voice. She calmed herself and then continued. “I do not think it will be an issue soon enough though as I am pretty sure it will come to a vote for a new regent early. He will be removed is my guess.”

“Are you going to join the Crusade? If so let me accompany you!” Lady Celes blurted excitedly and leaned forward while slamming her hands on the table.

“Sit down and calm yourself. While I would love to personally go and crush this traitorous rabble I cannot and nor can you. The Query have too much to do to be haring off its leaders at this time.” Lady Celes began to raise her voice in dissent but shut it when Lady Alex raised her hand in command to silence. “I applaud you enthusiasm and faith in me, we will be sending support for the crusade but it will not be from Clarke.” Lady Alex laughed for a moment. “Saint’s but you had the same reaction as Lord Guy, though I think he was even more insistent. From what I can tell the Inner Council had to sit on him and refocus his efforts.” Lady Celes sat back down and placed her hands in her lap.

“I always did like Lord Guy, he may be young, but he seemed to have guts and talent.”

“Yes he does, but do not discount Lord Sterling he is the one who has been pushing our efforts in the sciences and that has proved very useful.” Lady Alex admonished lightly.

“Well yeah, sure he is useful and loyal, but he seems so timid. And I guess its just that he’s old and I am young I guess.” Lady Celes responded.

“And that makes me?” Lady Alex asked raising an eyebrow.

“No that isn’t what I meant, I mean, he just … I really stuck my foot in my mouth didn’t I milady.” Lady Celes face reddened in embarrassment.

“Yes, but that is the beauty of being young, you can make mistakes now so as to avoid them in the future and we will usually write it off. Of course it also helps that we are in private and that I am so fond of you.”

To all it may concern,

We are preparing to set the year's funding.

As such, we would greatly appreciate if any parties interested in purchasing Espoir units would secure their orders by announcing EXACTLY how many models they are willing to pay for.

Failure to do so will result in no units being commissioned, and ultimately delay the units from reaching the frontlines for an extra year.

We're willing to holdback financial planning for 72 hours. After that, any unsecured orders will not be commissioned.

- Remi

OOC:Well, I am back, and seems like putting spry in charge of things was the right one after all. This all ended in the best possible outcome.

Spry, tell the Church yes.

Hallway – Black Compound, Clarke

Carma ran through the halls giggling as her keeper chased after her. She knew these halls better than perhaps anyone, excepting of course Lady Alex. She then turned a corner too quickly and skidded into a small end table. The precious vase atop it wobbled and began to tip over towards the ground. “Oh crap!” Carma ran forward trying to catch the vase. Her fingertips reached out and closed upon the lip of the vase just as the bottom of it touched the ground. She pulled the vase towards her and as her keepers turned the corner she flipped it over to check the bottom.

“What happened?” demanded the nanny named Risa.

“I accidentally ran into the table and the vase fell off. But I caught it!” She held up the vase in her arms as high as she could. Risa reached over and took it from Carma. Risa’s nimble fingers twisted the vase every which way to make sure it was okay. Satisfied it was fine Risa placed the vase back on the end table. “I guess its time to stop playing chase.”

“Can’t we go outside and continue? Pleeease!” Carma whined.

“No.” Risa nodded to a nearby guard. “What time is it?”

“Ten minutes until you’re needed in the dining hall.” The guard responded quickly.

“Thank you.” Risa turned to Carma. “It’s time to get you cleaned up quickly before we go have dinner with Lady Alex’s guests.” Carma thought for a moment she should take off running again because it’s fun to play chase and she began to move, but then the concept of what Lady Alex would say, or worse possibly do, stopped Carma in her tracks. She raised her arm up and Risa took it and led her away back down the hall. The guard quietly shadowing them.

As they walked back Risa smoothed down Carma’s growing light brown hair to straighten it as much as possible before they arrived. Carma looked up and began to complain. “Risa I don’t want my hair done! I just want to eat lunch so I can go back to playing.” Risa ignored the complaint and continued to guide the child while grooming her. “Seriously stop it before I,” The pair stopped as the guest here to visit for Lady Alex was being led into the dining hall crossed their path and looked bewildered for a moment. Carma knew she was to be polite to guests so she nodded her head to the guest and began to speak. “I want to welcome…” Risa quickly grabbed Carma up mid sentence and politely bowed to the visiting noble while explaining to the noble.

“I’m sorry we were just heading back to get Lady Carma ready to meet with you and Lady Alex for lunch. Just give me fifteen minutes and she will be presentable.”

The noble looked bewildered for a moment and inclined his head. “Not a problem at all, I wait in suspense to seeing Lady Carma for lunch. Take all the time you need.”

Risa carried Carma away and they heard the noble asking his escort, “I’m sorry but what was the little girl saying? I couldn’t understand a word of it.”
Carma began to cry softly and whisper to Risa. “I’m sorry I forgot. I should have just kept quiet.” Risa sat down on a nearby chair and placed Carma on her lap.

“It’s ok little one. You didn’t offend anyone and you are still young and allowed to make mistakes.” Risa gently wiped the tears off Carma’s face. “Just make sure you apologize to Lady Alex and that you learn from this mishap.” Risa placed her hands on Carma’s cheeks and forced Carma to look at Risa in the eyes. Little blue eyes met the elder’s black ones. “Now child let’s clean you up and stop those tears wouldn’t do to come in looking like you just cried.” The pair stood and headed back down the hall once more sending the ever present guard ahead to keep watch for any other guests.

Dining Hall, Black Compound – Clarke

“Welcome dear Lord Alistair.” Lady Alex got up and greeted her first guest from the newly integrated former Klorin fiefdom territory. Lord Alistair was the leader of the new Tertia Clan. They had sworn to the Sterling Clan and this was a formal meeting between the Sterling Clan’s representative on Clarke and the head of the Black Clan. Lord Alistair was older, but even he was unprepared for his first meeting with Lady Alex. He hesitated and then bowed deeply.

“Milady the House Tert…” he cleared his throat quickly to cover the mistake while Lady Alex hid a smile with her hand. “the Tertia Clan is thankful to be a part of The Query and hope for a glorious future.”

“The Query welcome you and yours and stand beside you so long as you remain true.” Lady Alex intoned almost as a song. “Rise and be welcome.” The short greeting over, the pair went to sit at the expertly carved table depicting along the edges a landscape of Clarke’s cliffs. Lady Alex motioned for the rest of the party to enter the dining hall and servants rushed to open the doors and begin announcing the various nobles.

First to enter was of course Lady Carma. She walked as fast as was acceptable over to Lady Alex, face set as a child waiting for punishment. Lady Alex leaned over and brushed Lady Carma’s hair aside and whispered something in Carma’s ear. Carma looked for a moment as if she was going to cry, sniffled a bit instead, and then smiled and brightened up immensely and sat on Lady Alex’s left side.

“I must say Lady Alex I have never in my life seen so many good looking people in one place before.” Lady Alistair raised his glass politely at both Lady Alex and Lady Carma.

“Ah well, I must say most of them are cheating to a degee.” Lady Alex chuckled and the continued. “But, if you aren’t cheating you aren’t trying hard enough.”

The drinks were poured and conversation began all around the hall creating a constant noise. After a bit Lord Alistair turned and adjusted his new sword on his hip and Lady Alex stopped him and took a moment to adjust it properly. “If you place it like this you can draw it a full second faster.”

“I have never known a group so obsessed with swords. I mean in this world why do you focus so much on it?” Lord Alistair asked.

“Well traditionally all duels within The Query are blade combat to first blood or submission. Very occasionally, and I am the main exception,” Lady Alex’s eyes went cold and hard; “they are to the death.” The expression of a hunter faded quickly as Lady Alex continued. “But honestly nowadays it’s more just a way to discipline ourselves and exercise. Or as my sword instructor told me once ‘What are you going to do when you run out of ammo? Always have a plan b that is not run away.’”

Lord Alistair nodded took a sip of his drink and Carma burst into the conversation. “Yes, I love sword fighting!” Lord Alistair smiled indulgently down at her. “Lady Alex says I will probably end up using a rapier or perhaps a lighter saber or katana.”

“Yes, child that’s true. It all depends on your final build and style as you mature. But remember all great swordsmen were once bad swordsmen and never gave up.”

“Yes, moth… Lady Alex. I’ll keep practicing hard.”

OOC: Excellent. I shall email or MSN Immac shortishly.

The deal is by no means secured though, so don't start campaigning for election yet.

mgsmuhammad: Don't you think it would be a better idea to wait until elections are over, if they happen, before insisting that we get orders for Espoirs in? The Imperium obviously can't order Des Espoirs if no-one knows who the Regent is.

True enough, but the Fleet and Garrison still can.

True enough, but the Fleet and Garrison still can.

Err, Garrison won't do orders before we understand Imperial situation with church, evvies and crusade

OOC: Did I pass out? We are having elections? Like, right now, for real?

What? :confused:

No, the Regency, the Church, and the Evvis are negotiating a peaceful end to the Crusade an all those shenanigans. Part of these negotiations include the Regent calling for new elections, but this wouldn't occur until the negotiations are finalized

There are no elections planned, but the Church asked for them, and the house Sanctious 'Als decided to no longer acknowledge the Regent.
If the Regency can find an agreement with the Church regarding the crusade, all the better. If the Regent abdicates/resigns, then we'd have to vote again.
OOC: If we have to have elections, we better know REALLY soon.

There are no elections planned, but the Church asked for them, and the house Sanctious 'Als decided to no longer acknowledge the Regent.
If the Regency can find an agreement with the Church regarding the crusade, all the better. If the Regent abdicates/resigns, then we'd have to vote again.
OOC: If we have to have elections, we better know REALLY soon.

Nothing to be done but wait until the negotiations are finished. Be patient and blame the Elves for being stupid and intractible. I'd quite like to know whether we're going to have elections too. :p

Well, seon is back... i think seon has to do some diplo with the elves but the church has a deal they like...

So basically Spry and myself are waiting on seon...

Hello, ya'll:

My computer is in the throes of dying agony, this time for probably for good. As this has been happening with disturbing frequency, I'm likely going to get a new computer.
however, this means I've lost my turn notes. Anyone I made an agreement with, can you please PM me what our deal was?

Thanks.

Thomas

May we know what this deal is? It will likely effect orders.

(Just generic trades and agreements I made with various players: exchanges, and the like. Nothing drastic.)

Edit: Just diplo, I mean.

I'm not telling everyone publically precisely what the deal is that the Church has agreed to before it's agreed with the Elves, because someone might try to sabotage it.

OOC: It contains, however, importantly, elections, the calling off of the Crusade, suitable reparations and contributions by the Elves, the inclusion of some or all Elves in the Imperium as a noble house, the cancellation of the existing treaty, and the establishment of a Church sect in Elf lands.

Sounds good.

Ooc: I hope it fails. Miserably.

Ooc: I hope it fails. Miserably.

may pancreator grant your wish

OOC: If there are to be elections, we should really know it very fast. Orders were supposed to be in on the 1st, next the 8th. With elections in-between, that's likely to postpone things once more. I'll be quite busy this week, and will likely be internet-less from the 14 for 1 week. So, please Seon, hurry up.

Thomas I think me and you had a deal whereby you give all your territory to me and excecute that god awful orc queen of yours (who I swear was meant to be killed in FFHNES after we beat her orcish ass).

Just thought I'd remind you ;)

I haven't gotten in order yet and yesterday our basement (incl. my room) got flooded by 5.000 gallons of rainwater. I'm pretty busy as we have more than 100 sq metres of basement to clear and clean. I'll try to press in skeletal orders but I would appreciate if Seon sent me some guidance as for Eye priorities this turn.

This is absolutely crazy.

If we need to push the date for orders back we can do that... its amazing how much influence seon wields; he leaves for camp and this entire nes breaks down.

I haven't gotten in order yet and yesterday our basement (incl. my room) got flooded by 5.000 gallons of rainwater. I'm pretty busy as we have more than 100 sq metres of basement to clear and clean. I'll try to press in skeletal orders but I would appreciate if Seon sent me some guidance as for Eye priorities this turn.


But then again, Seon might not be Regent. In any case, I told you what Seon wanted the Eye to do.

If we need to push the date for orders back we can do that... its amazing how much influence seon wields; he leaves for camp and this entire nes breaks down.

I blame the Elves for not accepting my diplomatic authority. Can't they just negotiate now and recriminate later? :p

How about orders due a week after negotiations are finished? (man, can't spell that word right without spell check: negociations???)

A regent would wield massive influence in this nes.

Thomas I think me and you had a deal whereby you give all your territory to me and excecute that god awful orc queen of yours (who I swear was meant to be killed in FFHNES after we beat her orcish ass).

Just thought I'd remind you ;)

Hey. She was useful in passifying the orcs. remember?

Bishop Miral Akbar'Al elected to the Archbishopric of Arrakis


Please join Patriarch Saint Barbatos the Undying and the members of the Curia of the Church of Universal Light in congratulating the newest archbishop of Arrakis, Miral Akbar'Al. Bishop Akbar'Al is a member of the Avestite church and is only the second Avestite members on the sixteen-member Curia. The appointment may signal a return to more traditional and reactionary roots within the Church as the Avestites will no doubt be required to help prevent the spread of Heresy in these trying and confusing times.

One of the first jobs of the new archbishop will be to decide on the appointment of a new bishop to the Sanctious'Als fiefdom to fill the post he so recently vacated.

Hey. She was useful in passifying the orcs. remember?

Yeah but I was really going with a kill all orcs line, but then you thought it would be cool to keep some as pets. :p

It was cool, actually. What wasn't there to like: Peacful, loyal population, new soldiers, fire magic, and it pissed you off to no end :)

OOC: Quick question Immac, are the maps finished and up yet because they aren't linked to on the front page or at the bottom of the update?

OOC: Quick question Immac, are the maps finished and up yet because they aren't linked to on the front page or at the bottom of the update?

I thought i had but looking back i geuss maybe they aren't. Shoot, that completely slipped my mind. Thanks for reminder. I will fix within 2-3 days okay?

OOC: Sorry for all these OOC posts. I have just laid out the options which I believe Arrakis has available to controlling its inflation issue in the Arrakis Defense Force discussion on the matter. If Immac could give us some advice on which options might work, as I personally have no idea about the economy in this game and whether it resembles a modern one or a feudal one or a hotchpotch of both, and the other Houses of Arrakis could give their feedback, it would be helpful to get the issue resolved and us all one step closer to being able to send orders.

For the serfs the economy is much like a feudal one (more byzantine then western european).

For the various non-dynastic nobles, it can get pretty modern, especially for Xicier and Vanari which are traditionally descended from corporate-like business models.

There ARE banks, often run by minor nobles or minor branches of the Reeves. Some non-dynastic nobles are very dependent on these banks for their business interests.

If we need to push the date for orders back we can do that... its amazing how much influence seon wields; he leaves for camp and this entire nes breaks down.

Thanks for the compliment, Immaculate. I mus say that my experience at camp allowed me quite a bit of alone time. Alone time to plot. Plot alone, of course.

Before I sink into my usual routine of the daily job at the office of the departmental office of redundant redundancy, I would like to point out that I would STILL be gone for the most of the day tomorrow because I am going to a friend's house to play video games or watch movies.The friend who just happens to be a girl.

May i suggest doing other things then playing video games and movies with her?



... maybe NESing?

Hey, we are platonic.

Funny story. It seems that I become more befriendable to girls than other guys (unless they are nerdy).

Maybe I have that infamous "homosexual" look that's always being thrown about in some B-rated comedy or something.

Guys who get put in the 'friend zone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_zone)' lack instincts (IMHO)

Sadly enough I complained about that many times.

Edit: how the hell did we start discussing this in detail again? XD

sry... just missed you i guess.


welcome back. and have fun. maybe she's got a friend?

Hey, we are platonic.

Funny story. It seems that I become more befriendable to girls than other guys (unless they are nerdy).

Maybe I have that infamous "homosexual" look that's always being thrown about in some B-rated comedy or something.

Hey there's nothing wrong with the homosexual look ah'right? ;)

Eko: Maybe if you are gay its not a problem but if you like women, i think its a problem.

I get girls I just don't enjoy it :p

Seon, you just have to learn to convert that friendship instinct into something a tad bit more primal... being friendspaced happens, but it's not a handicap.

Just add alcohol! :p

adrogans solves all problems with one solution. (get it??? solution???)

Just add alcohol! :p

This is the best short-term solution in the world.

Yes, Immac, I got that :blush:

hehehehehe... so did I.

But alcohol is useful in that regards. not at all necessary, but useful.

Seon, you must do something about that girl.
Best-case scenario: You don't play video games.
Worst-case scenario: You get more time to play this NES.
It's obviously a no-risk gamble, as both outcomes are good.

Seon.

Get a hooker

Seon.

Get a hooker

House Kilgore is fantastic.

And bring alcohol. Actually I could take you to a legal brothel if you want. 100% STD free!

Hey guys, I just broke open a Chinese Fortune cookie. It said "Forge ahead with your new idea." funnily enough I was thinking of new ways to kill people. New ways to kill people like a stealth enabled UAV with a sniper rifle that fires a large caliber round from a hundred footballfield away with deadly accuracy or bomb-strapped spy bugs whose brains I replaced with a microchip because, why the **** not, or maybe even a new sensor array that is based on sound, vibration, and lasers instead of radar (die you stupid radar jamming material wielding pansies, die!)

Anyways just back from the friend's house (yeah, she called me into her house). Getting caught up on the old stuph, which, as I see, is disappointingly little in value so far.

In any case, I will be up on MSN soon. Unless I get distracted by Dawn of War or company of heroes again. Which could happen.

Seon.

There is a GALAXY of Heros and an UNIVERSE of war in ImmacuNES. Who needs a dawn or a company?

Seon.

There is a GALAXY of Heros and an UNIVERSE of war in ImmacuNES. Who needs a dawn or a company?

But playing them do give me so much more ideas on how to kill people in the most gruesome manner possible.

Why build a normal tank when you can build the freaking Baneblade?

You can see that, as soon as I boot myself from the Imperial posts, which I will be doing quite soon, I will sit down, doing lots of little itty bitty naughty things that are totally secret and you should definitely not waste a 50 MF or so trying to find out.

Just saying.

Designing Skynet, are we Seon? :p

Also... never pay for sex. not worth it... easy enough to get for free.

OOC: Quick question Immac, are the maps finished and up yet because they aren't linked to on the front page or at the bottom of the update?

I thought i had but looking back i geuss maybe they aren't. Shoot, that completely slipped my mind. Thanks for reminder. I will fix within 2-3 days okay?

Done.

Also... never pay for sex. not worth it... easy enough to get for free.

Sure, but guaranteed STD free. Sex you don't pay for can't be held responsible if you get crabs or something.

Done.

So what is my E2 population now?

OOC: Immac, on E2, the Eye has been rebuilt, and the Thana and Sanctious'Als annexed some free territory according to the update, and this isn't reflected on the map.

Darksaber, you'd have to do a census.