End of the Beginning of the End

OOC: Grandkhan, you're my favorite other faction but I'm glad we're far apart lol

Leader Background: Engineer

Starting Location: 61

Leader Background: He was born in Pergia. If someone should be blamed for this apocalypse, probably Lucanor will be the best choice. In his youth, when he was 26, he revolutionized world industry creating the Technomancy, a union of technology and magic, which allowed to develop the most destructive weapons of the mage wars. He became a celebrity, but of course, in this time he had a different name: Dr. Mattheus V. Calgori. However, as technomancy started to create weapons more and more atrocious, he began to repent of his own creation. After his wife's death, when he was 83, he realized he has thrown his life away, dedicating too much time to research that wicked technology and decided to start over, literally: He created a machine who could make him reborn, took the name of Lucanor Giovanni and founded Wissenschaft when he was 23 (again).

Origins: Warriors (Science pirates, actually)

Traits: Innovative

Capital Type: Camp (I assume that having an airship like this is not an option)

Background: Wissenschaft was created by Lucanor Giovanni to fight against the creations of his past life. In practice, they acted as sky pirates, attacking industrial zones, doing guerrilla warfare against all sides of the mage wars, and assassinating scientists and engineers from all nations that were creating weapons for the warring empires. The ultimate goal of this organization is to control the technology advancement of this world, to avoid more conflicts as the mage wars. By the time of The Sundering, Lucanor and his crew were flying on their airship, the "Brunhilde IV". Suddenly, they crashed on a new land of a new world, and the crew stablished a camp while his captain tried desperately to fix the airship.

OOC: Will get orders in tonight.

TheLastJacobite said:

OOC: Grandkhan, you're my favorite other faction but I'm glad we're far apart lol

Click to expand...

OCC: Their absurdity reminds me of the Wizards from Magicka.

Faction Name: Caran Tincaewen
Leader Name: Menel Aearon
Leader Background: Politician
Starting Location: 79
Leader Background: Menel is just this guy, you know? Sure, he wasn't leader before like everyone died, and people actually kinda hated him, but he sure did step up to the plate pretty fast. And that gold dust he keeps throwing everywhere is just slammin.
Origins: Elves
Trait: Adventurous
Capital Type: Elven Enclave

Unlike most elves, those of Caran Tincaewen weren't content to just lie back and wait to be rendered unto myth and only myth. Fairly isolated on a stretch of seemingly inhospitable coast (but actually pretty swell, given the fact that magic is ridiculous), they were able to steal from surrounding hinterlands and occasionally cause significant damage to human economies. They did this primarily because it was fun, but also because there was some kinda old prophecy or something predicting the end of the world and how they should probably prepare for that. But seriously, it was really fun. The raiding really took off once they discovered how to teleport folks, striking even the hearts of cities with no one the wiser. On a totally unrelated note, did you know humans and elves can have babies? Anyway, during that really big kerfuffle we just had, Caran Tincaewen waited until a lot of people were dead before deigning to just start annexing the surrounding lands (because everyone forgot about them). It worked out pretty well, but then everything blew up and they found themselves in unfamiliar seas. Literally.

The Ancient and Venerable Holdings of Dun Karaz
AKA Karaz Holdouts

Leader King Bolin Tintrue the Weary
Leader Trait: Engineer

When the Sundering struck the world, the deep halls of Dun Karaz collapsed. The dwarven population was decimated, and the royal family was crushed under the ceiling of their own palace. Having lost his family the crown fell to Bolin Tintrue, 4th cousin to the king, and 18th in the line of succession. Bolin's holdings were situated closest to the surface, and as a result were not as affected by the earth quakes that tore apart the palaces below.
Bolin's holdings, being so close to the surface, were well suited to house the great forges of Dun Karaz, as the smoke of the forge fires could easily be vented to the air above. Bolin's progressive and industrious mind made him an excellent fit to oversee the innovative minds of the forge. Under Bolin's leadership, the dwarves of Dun Karaz have embraced technology and progress as the future of their race. The dwarves of Dun Karaz, while reluctant to let go of their past, have realized that innovation, rather than tradition, will ensure the survival of their people.

Origin: Dwarves
Faction Trait: Industrious
Settlement: Dun Karaz (Dwarven Fortress)
Starting Zone: 61

The dwarves of Dun Karaz seek to excavate their once great halls, and access the resources buried far below. Once home to some of the richest mines of the world, the dwarves seek to regain their untold wealth. However, practicality has also demanded that the dwarves expand to the surface surrounding their underground home. A diet of cave fungus can only sustain a dwarf for so long, and any large scale farming effort will require a sizable amount of land.

Welcome to the game forums 'Unweeldy Gluv' and 'Koro'. Glad to have you join us.

The Moral Art,

When children come to us to learn magic, the Second Sight is the first thing that we teach. Many of those who come to us, however, already know it. There was this girl I knew, Alisa was it? She was an absolute master at this art. A dangerous girl. Perhaps that is why the King wanted her. For all his supposed wiseness, the same obsession over magical bloodline continues.

But it's cases like hers that worries me the most. It was people like her who started the War, you know. They are the kind of people who would toy with ultimate power. They are the kind of people who get so high and mighty that they stop caring about small things. That's why we teach them the Moral Art and the Second Sight. We make them soar so high that they can see the curvature of the earth. Things that seemed so tall look so small from such a height.

Let us imagine that you are a child. When you become aware of your surroundings and the hovel that you are born in, you think that it is mighty, huge even. But as you grow, it becomes smaller. Eventually, it feels so cramped that you begin to despise it. What happened? Did it shrink, perhaps, just to spite you? No. It is you who changed. The hovel just remained the same old warm house that you were raised in. It still retains the same meaning and purpose that it used to have: to protect you.

That is the point of teaching the Second Sight. You have to realize that, even though everything suddenly looks so small when you look through the Second Sight, those tiny, insignificant looking things are the same things that you thought mighty and tall when you looked with your true sight. You must understand and accept this absurdity. It is the difference between observing the world as an oversized gameboard with insignificant pieces moving about, and looking upon it as a world full of mysteries and secrets.

We call our way the Moral Art because it is about the way we see the world, not about the world itself. Maybe magic has always been in our heads, and not in the world itself. That would mean that it's just more real to us than the world is--as real to us as we are.

For those not aware from previous conversations, I am moving this week, so update is going slowly. I'm trying to have it done by Thursday, but if it isn't, expect the update to arrive next Tuesday at the earliest.

Yang Kang had always disliked his life as a King. He wanted to be carefree and not have to worry about the state, to make true friends, to meet his true love. To be 'normal'. This time, he got his chance. He managed to persuade Minister Cao Bi to take control of state affairs for a week while he would dress as a poor man and roam around the Shu State.

He was walking in the outskirts of the city. As he was roaming, he was seeing some people carrying ore and heading to the construction of the fortifications and other people carrying lumber. He could also see some young people, about his age, in their early twenties, chatting and talking about their future. One of them was boasting that if Shu would form a military force, he would become the best warrior. An other was drinking Chi, a traditional Shu drink. Another was talking about the woman he loved; how they met and how they fell in love.

This was a weird experience for Yang Kang. Usually, he would hear in the Palace talks about the budget, the projects, the ore and lumber needed and other affairs of state. He would also have to read books about governance of a Kingdom. But here, instead of those boring subjects, he would hear everyday affairs. Affairs that were considered normal for other people, but were extremely weird to Yang Kang.

Yang Kang continued walking. He reached a very beautiful place, a lake surrounded by bamboo trees. The green of the forest and the blue of the lake intertwined to create a picture so beautiful that Yang Kang only in paintings had seen before. As he was gazing the lake, a figure caught his attention. A young scholar. He approached him only to realize that it was not him; the scholar was actually a woman. And a very beautiful one.


Seeing him approaching, the woman greeted him: "Honorable Mister, my name is Dong Ying. Yours?"

Yang Kang was baffled by her greeting. He was dressed as a poor man and most people, even the poor ones, did not greet him at all. And the few people who did gave him an informal greeting, like saying 'hi'. The richer ones were looking with contempt at him. But she greeted him as if he was a honorable guest.

"Hello Miss. It's an honor to meet you", Yang Kang replied. "My name is... Huang Ming."

Yang Kang did not want to tell her his real name for he had escaped from the Palace in order to be treated as an ordinary person, not as a King.

"The scenery here is absolutely magnificent, isn't it?", she said.

"Indeed." Yang Kang breathed the fresh air and could smell the fragrance of wild flowers. "I've never seen such a beautiful place...."

Dong Ying laughed. "I come here very often in order to take inspiration for my poems."

"Poems?", Yang Kang asked.

"Yes. I have a hobbit of writing short poems. My favorite ones were written here and were inspired by this extraordinary scenery."

"I would love to hear them."

Dong Ying, with her melodic voice, recited him one of her poems:

"Ripping water shimmering on sunny day,
Misty mountains shrouded the rain;
Plain or gaily decked out like Xizi;
West Lake is always alluring."

Yang Kang clapped. "Excellent poetry."

"You are overrating me", Dong Ying replied, blushing.

"Not at all. I am not one of those who would compliment the other out of politeness."

Dong Ying smiled. "Thanks. What about you?"

"Me? I do not write poetry!"

The woman laughed. "I mean what you are doing!"

Yang Kang did not knew what to say. He could not admit that he was the King. After thinking for a moment, he replied: "I am a worker."

"A worker?"

"Yes, I work in the construction of the fortifications. But today I got a day off."

"I see."

"I am not the sophisticated scholar you expected?"

"Do not worry", she replied while smiling. "I know some scholars who are far more scoundrels than workers as you."

"Dong Ying!!", a voice was heard shouting.

"It is my father", the woman said. 'I've got to leave."

"When shall I see you again!?"

"You can visit my father's house. He is Minister Dong Fang."

"Alright. See you later."

Dong Ying left and Yang Kang remained alone besides the lake. For the first time in his life, he felt the bitterness of parting. Was he, for the first time in his life, truly in love?

Right I finished my nation.

I think.

If anyone wants to offer a literary analysis of it, please do so, because I have no goddamn idea what any of it means.

Shameless bump, but I'm still really looking forward to this.

This is still happening. If it wasn't for CFC the update would have been done already. Because of that, expect the update's arrival some time tomorrow or Tuesday.

There is place to one more?

There is always room for more. Especially since i way overshot the number of provinces I was going for.

Faction Name: Clan Blackfist
Leader Name: Oren Blackfist
Leader Background: Warrior
Starting Location: Zone 120
Leader Background: Oren is a strong warrior and an advocate for dwarven craftsmanship. He oversaw the creation of the fortress his people live in, and lead the expedition to clear out the resistance that once occupied those underground tunnels. Oren has no ill-will toward Humans or Elves, but will do whatever it takes to advance his clan and put down any threat to him or his people.
Origins: Dwarves
Traits: Innovative
Capital Type: Dwarf Fortress
Background: The Blackfist Clan has been led by one Blackfist after another. Ever since the dwarves went into hiding, the Blackfist clan has moved from underground passage to underground passage in hopes of finding a true home. Under the leadership of Turon Blackfist, the father of new leader Oren, they stayed put for quite some time. Turon insisted that his son study dwarf crafting in hopes his son would one day lead their clan to glory. Oren was more attracted to honing his skills with weapons than crafting, and spent most his time with a warhammer.

When the day finally came that they had discovered a new place to call home, Oren led the assault on the occupied tunnels. Turon, much older now, stayed behind to let his son lead the clan forward. Once the tunnels had been taken, and their previous dwellers handled, Turon lead the women and children in. To his surprise his son took great interest in the construction of the first true Dwarf Fortress the Blackfist Clan had ever seen.

It was a long while before the fortress was completed, but the dwarves had nothing but time. When it was finished it was a magnificent sight to behold. Turon died four days after it's completion, leaving his son, Oren, to lead the clan. Not long after, the world changed. The clan felt the shifting of the stone all around them. Violent shakes took hold of the fortress as many feared it would tumble down upon them. However, when the shaking seized, their fortress still stood. Some died, many were hurt, but the clan had survived. Not long after, Oren led a small force to the surface to discover what had happened. What they witnessed shocked the dwarf leader.

Update 1: Year 1
First Steps​

Faction Reports​

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Anmari Collective


Blackwood Elves of Unkurra
The Elves of Blackwood were a secretive tribe, protective of the ancient and magical forest that was their home. Their leader, Suramin of Blackwood, and his betrothed, the majestic Merowid of Blackwood, were compassionate, benevolent leaders. When the mage wars struck, a rift was formed between the Blackwood elves: many wished to stay and defend their home, many wished to flee. Merowid, torn by the love she has for Suramin, made the choice to abandon their home, taking many of the Blackwood elves with her. To most of the Elves, it was clear that to stay was suicide. Suramin, foolishly brave, stayed to fight. Merowid and her Elves travelled day and night, but there was no refuge from violent conflict. That is, until they stumbled upon Ukurra, a Dwarven Fortress, empty of all residents except for a single, lonely King: Kynwal Sulfur-Rust the Tall. Kynwal invited the Elves to take home in Unkurra, and together their Elven magic and Dwarven expertise were used to strengthen the walls and save them from the chaos of the Mage Wars. Merowid marries Kynwal in a marriage born of necessity, not love, solidifying the Blackwood Elves with a new home. The remaining Blackwood Elves, far from their ancestral home and partitioned from their families and communities, look to Kynwal and Merowid of Unkurra, their King and Queen, to guide them into the future.



Bone Ridge Covenant
When the mage-wars came, Von Lubt-Slgmaringen ordered his Baron, Clemens von Eicknach to hold firm, to stand against the magelings and their summoned creatures but, ultimately the order was all he gave. There would be no respite. Within four months of closing the great doors, a new sort of threat made itself known. Sneaking in through small cracks and shafts the dwarves kept to maintain their air-supply and to mirror in sunlight for their crops, the creatures were unknown to Eicknach and his vassals. Appearing as demonicly twisted bat-like creatures, they would spread their wings wide and a green and yellow fire would burst from the underside of their wings. The blood-mages of Mictl, who sacrificed virgins and innocents to summon devils and demons had come and they would not be denied. Waves of demonic fiends were sent against the defenders. Von Eicknach stood firm but very soon the grand hall had fallen to the Mictl and the baron was forced to fight a guerilla resistance from the twisting halls and mining shafts of his home as his people’s children and women were sacrificed at a Mictl alter erected under the grand intricately carved stalagmite of the central hall…

…As the demons faded away and the dwarves of the Eztli, for this now was the name of the dwarven hold once known as Weißkamm, rebuilt, they began to grow curious of the lands beyond their great secret doors. Tlachinolli ordered them opened and when he did, a great shaking and magical lightning swam and flew throughout the aether and the stone. And the dwarves of Eztli looked out upon a new land unknown to them and looking back at their great white ridges, the soaring heights and dizzying chasms of their mountain home, they beheld where the bodies of the Mictl had gone, for great spires of stone rose from the ridges like stakes and from these spires hung the dismembered bodies, limbs, and heads of the Mictl and their demonic servants, half encased that their skeletons never be recovered from Prince Illearth’s stony embrace.

Full Story



Caran Tincaewen
Unlike most elves, those of Caran Tincaewen weren't content to just lie back and wait to be rendered unto myth and only myth. Fairly isolated on a stretch of seemingly inhospitable coast (but actually pretty swell, given the fact that magic is ridiculous), they were able to steal from surrounding hinterlands and occasionally cause significant damage to human economies. They did this primarily because it was fun, but also because there was some kinda old prophecy or something predicting the end of the world and how they should probably prepare for that. But seriously, it was really fun. The raiding really took off once they discovered how to teleport folks, striking even the hearts of cities with no one the wiser. On a totally unrelated note, did you know humans and elves can have babies? Anyway, during that really big kerfuffle we just had, Caran Tincaewen waited until a lot of people were dead before deigning to just start annexing the surrounding lands (because everyone forgot about them). It worked out pretty well, but then everything blew up and they found themselves in unfamiliar seas. Literally.



Clan Blackfist
The Blackfist Clan has been led by one Blackfist after another. Ever since the dwarves went into hiding, the Blackfist clan has moved from underground passage to underground passage in hopes of finding a true home. Under the leadership of Turon Blackfist, the father of new leader Oren, they stayed put for quite some time. Turon insisted that his son study dwarf crafting in hopes his son would one day lead their clan to glory. Oren was more attracted to honing his skills with weapons than crafting, and spent most his time with a warhammer.

When the day finally came that they had discovered a new place to call home, Oren led the assault on the occupied tunnels. Turon, much older now, stayed behind to let his son lead the clan forward. Once the tunnels had been taken, and their previous dwellers handled, Turon lead the women and children in. To his surprise his son took great interest in the construction of the first true Dwarf Fortress the Blackfist Clan had ever seen.

It was a long while before the fortress was completed, but the dwarves had nothing but time. When it was finished it was a magnificent sight to behold. Turon died four days after it's completion, leaving his son, Oren, to lead the clan. Not long after, the world changed. The clan felt the shifting of the stone all around them. Violent shakes took hold of the fortress as many feared it would tumble down upon them. However, when the shaking seized, their fortress still stood. Some died, many were hurt, but the clan had survived. Not long after, Oren led a small force to the surface to discover what had happened. What they witnessed shocked the dwarf leader.



Conclave of Alim


Crimson Dragons


Das Großoccitanian Reich


Flawirothhord
Alaricho is the second oldest son of Marcdaim Stanic Flawirotha, the ruler of Flawirothland, a minor marcdaimy in a minor nation of Old Gensin. The end of Old Gensin saw Alaricho supervising the defense and maintenance of various adventurers, farmers, miners, refugees, students, and militia against the ongoing fallout of the Great Wars. He currently has no contact with his father Stanic, his elder brother Stanic, or his younger sister Margarethe, as roads that led toward Flawirothschlos and Flawirothton have been severed. With the loss of communication, the people of Flawirothhord must now find a new course for their destiny.



Followers of Orbaes


Free Reach of Zlatokraina


Institute of the Arcane


Karaz Holdouts
When the Sundering struck the world, the deep halls of Dun Karaz collapsed. The dwarven population was decimated, and the royal family was crushed under the ceiling of their own palace. Having lost his family the crown fell to Bolin Tintrue, 4th cousin to the king, and 18th in the line of succession. Bolin's holdings were situated closest to the surface, and as a result were not as affected by the earth quakes that tore apart the palaces below. Bolin's holdings, being so close to the surface, were well suited to house the great forges of Dun Karaz, as the smoke of the forge fires could easily be vented to the air above. Bolin's progressive and industrious mind made him an excellent fit to oversee the innovative minds of the forge. Under Bolin's leadership, the dwarves of Dun Karaz have embraced technology and progress as the future of their race. The dwarves of Dun Karaz, while reluctant to let go of their past, have realized that innovation, rather than tradition, will ensure the survival of their people.



Kingdom of Celestis
The Kingdom of Celestis, and the people of the lake, has long enjoyed their special relationship with the lake, and the god of fire that they believe to have long fell upon the earth and still dwells, deep within. Magic has always flown strong in the veins of the people of the lake, and they flow the strongest in the veins of Kings and Queens of Celestis. Show of magical force is one of the most important qualifiers of rulers' abilities. In the past, Red Priestess of the Fallen God travelled the lands, blessing the crops with the heat of the sun and good weathers. The peasants huddled by the singing voices of the nobles and the priestess in the cold of winter, warmed by magical lights that came to respond at the call.

Then the war came. The Kingdom answered the call of its allies and launched itself into battle. The strong mages and the priestess of the kingdom inflicted horrific casualties.. and suffered the same in return. In the end, as the world tore itself apart, all that remained of the Kingdom was the ruined wreckage of its capital city and the few huddled and mind-scarred masses that sought refugee within. Now, as the King awakes and surveys the lands, he must convince his people that a brighter future awaits still... and seek to preserve the magical traditions and religions now nearly lost. Perhaps, by recovering the remnants of all that was lost, they will restore the glory to the kingdom.

Knights of Ynys Gaer


Maig'ir zalin ra'si


Pelgia


Prohibitionists


Shu State


Starborn Walkers


Stonebeard Clan


University of the Rose


Vinya Falas


Windgard


Wissenschaft
Wissenschaft was created by Lucanor Giovanni to fight against the creations of his past life. In practice, they acted as sky pirates, attacking industrial zones, doing guerrilla warfare against all sides of the mage wars, and assassinating scientists and engineers from all nations that were creating weapons for the warring empires. The ultimate goal of this organization is to control the technology advancement of this world, to avoid more conflicts as the mage wars. By the time of The Sundering, Lucanor and his crew were flying on their airship, the "Brunhilde IV". Suddenly, they crashed on a new land of a new world, and the crew stablished a camp while his captain tried desperately to fix the airship.

Lucanor was born in Pelgia. If someone should be blamed for this apocalypse, probably Lucanor will be the best choice. In his youth, when he was 26, he revolutionized world industry creating the Technomancy, a union of technology and magic, which allowed to develop the most destructive weapons of the mage wars. He became a celebrity, but of course, in this time he had a different name: Dr. Mattheus V. Calgori. However, as technomancy started to create weapons more and more atrocious, he began to repent of his own creation. After his wife's death, when he was 83, he realized he has thrown his life away, dedicating too much time to research that wicked technology and decided to start over, literally: He created a machine who could make him reborn, took the name of Lucanor Giovanni and founded Wissenschaft when he was 23.

Market Prices​

Food: 1 Gold for 1 Food

Water: 6 Gold for 1 Water

Lumber: 72 Gold for 1 Lumber

Ore: 26 Gold for 1 Ore

Swords: 20 Gold for 1 Sword

Spears: 21 Gold for 1 Spear

Crossbows: 30 Gold for 1 Crossbow

Horses: 56 Gold for 1 Horse

OOC​

@Immaculate: Starting stats are determined more by selected options than stories for the time being.

@Calgori: Correct, no starting airship is possible at this time.

I’m aware that I’m contradicting myself for the time being, but I did not do the risky market thing this update. Ran into some mechanical troubles with that, and couldn’t find a way to do it that didn’t take an hour per faction while still being fair. On reflection, and with this first real update, it seems as though natural occurences and market shifts will likely make playing the market not as powerful as it was in Botwawki. It’s amazing how large piles of lumber or ore can attract fires. Also, on that note, I’ve decided Magicka cannot be traded.

@Zappericus: As you had too many construction project ongoing, only the footmen were available for scouting, the militia was too busy building stuff.

Just to be clear, I don’t imagine this being the type of game where you will have dozens of towns and outposts scattered across the map. Instead, I envision the zones and regions as more like MMO zones: enough for maybe one to three towns or outposts, and most factions not having more than a single town per zone.

@Grandkhan: While theoretically you can get ore without needing a mine, in a zone like yours, you won’t.

@Terran_Emperor and Shadowbound: As noted above, Magicka is no longer available to be sold or bought, but because you did that before the rule was fully implemented, we’re all good.

@thomas.berubeg: Not sure how you planned on buying that much Lumber with sale of that much Ore. You could only manage an even exchange at the prices those two resources were at for the time. Some construction may not have been completed. Items listed first in your orders were given priority.

@Scarlet_King: You did not have enough gold to complete all of the purchases you were trying to make. 100 units of Lumber were not purchased.

@Decamper: Not sure where you got that you had 1,600 Ore and Lumber from. You had that much Food and Water, but not of other resources. Therefore not all of your spending orders could be completed.

For those interested, I have added a new building to the front page, the Magicka Siphon. This new building allows you to steal magicka being generated by magic deposits, creatures, and other factions. It effects only the zone it is built in.

STAY TUNED FOR A POST AFTER THE UPDATE ILLUSTRATING THE REVISED REVISION OF OPEN MARKET RULES.

World Map​

As promised, it's time for me to go over the open market rules. I've been having some difficulty balancing the market and what it can do. Consider the changes part of the world's settling after the cataclysm that took place. A wizard did it.

From here on out, almost all factions are limited to only buying one type of resource and selling one type of resource each turn. You cannot buy and sell the same resource in the same turn. So you can sell water and you can buy food, but you cannot sell both water and food. For the time being, this is to represent the difficulty even merchants have in traveling the world and setting up large supply orders or even buying things. Once the world stabilizes and infrastructure develops that connects the world, the situation will change.

For the time being, the only exception to this rule are leaders with the Merchant trait. Merchants can buy and sell as much as they like at any time.

Lastly, it should be recognized that while the whole short-lived "risky business" (which took way too long to do) has passed for the open market, trading between players will still need to be protected, lest caravans are hit by raiders or creatures. You've been warned.

Great update!

what happened with Magica Production?