The Ainym
Gardeners of a Dark Eden
The Ainym build their enormous, sprawling garden-cities in accordance with the designs of a fallen angel, forming prayer sigils that call out to the lost and hopeless of Erebus. Though their growth is limited - the angel's understanding of these signs is imperfect, and constructing new symbols beyond his knowledge of their parent alphabet may well be an invitation for disaster - they are capable of potent transformations to the world they inhabit. However, the source of this power, a closely guarded secret, was long ago tainted by blasphemy...and drawing it out for the purpose of creation echoes that dark act too closely to avoid evoking...consequences. The Ainym inevitably confront the horror of oncoming Armageddon; it yet to be seen if they will stand firm and shield the world from its fury, bend with it and direct the rampage of oblivion to the last arteries of hope and light for the killing blow...or simply be broken and turned to ash on the plaguewinds.
The choice is yours.
STRATEGY: Your limited cities benefit from enormous growth potential - but you must rely on unique buildings and units to achieve it, either committing your resources towards reaching your full strength or making do with less in the hopes of an early victory. Your Recon line - werewolves - are extremely aggressive exploration units, but keep in mind their limitations in warfare. Feral Bond (Kiarda Scytheclaw) and Animal Mastery (Wildscythes) are very advantageous techs for you.
Your arcane line possesses unique strengths and weaknesses. They do not gain the same freedom-of-upgrade other spellcasters are accustomed to, and rely on oft-resistable poison damage, but they gain potent terraforming spells and your Archmage UU, the Vitamancer, can substitute for divine focus with its innate Medic III. Arcane techs also offer access to Alaizette, a very powerful spellcaster who can learn spells rapidly (at some risk, requiring forethought and preparation) and later become Unbound from her human limits.
The Ainym also have one other technological point of interest: they can gain (relatively) early access to the Dawn Invictus religion, and have the easiest method of acquiring its second hero - their palace is sufficient to begin his summoning ritual, where other civilizations must first seek out Hyborem and lay him low.
As far as the early game, your Warrior UUs are capable of sustaining themselves quite effectively, but still need to survive combats - a difficult thing to guarantee. Rushing Knowlege of the Ether will provide you with an economic advantage rather then a military one - your Wytches are weaker then regular Adepts and lose their free promotion in exchange for the Annyx spell, which allows you to turn tiles Wyld. An early founding of Dawn Invictus or Ashen Veil will put you in a strong position to outgrow your rivals, but try to avoid picking fights until you've found your feet.
BACKGROUND: The King of Hope moves against Erebus. Some call it madness that he seeks to destroy all that was built - yet he is a god, immortal and wise beyond mortal reckoning. Is it not possible he possesses some understanding he - and the other gods - cannot or will not reveal?
Cassiel and his Grigori demand no god be served, and how could one doubt the words of an angel on religion? Yet Cassiel fell, and Sabathiel did not - and Sabathiel spoke of unquestioning obedience, of the light of Law and his god holding back the coming darkness. But it was not always true - where did the Bannor come from, after all, if not the wretched halls of Hell? Sabathiel had come for them, but where was Junil when Bhall first fell and took the Bannor with her?
The Austrin map the land even as the flames rise to engulf it. The Scions of Patria care only for the echoes of a fallen empire, giving themselves to abomination in pursuit of unholy pleasures and the glory of a dead eon. The Khazad build and dig, as they have always done, and pray the earthen strength of their goddess will not yield against the dire winds of Armageddon.
Each believe they have the answer. The path to a better world, a world that operates as it should - be it the Ljosalfar's green world of total harmony or the Doviello's red world of total savagery. Who can know which road is right to set foot on? Who can speak as to the truth of Erebus' destiny, when even the gods cannot agree?
The Ainym are unconcerned with the pleas and demands of these disparate factions. They are the children of war and tragedy, who have watched selfless good be destroyed in the name of righteousness, who have seen monsters empowered by soulless evil sit upon thrones and holy councils. Gathered under the banner of a newborn angel, their lowest citizen and highest lord share in the same pledge to abandon the idea of waiting for fate to guide them - to make hope a drive, rather then a dream.
Their plan is simple. They have no intention of allowing Armageddon and its revelations to come upon them like a pack of starving werewolves discovering a maiden lost in the woods. They will build their paradise now, and unlock Erebus' deepest potential - for good and ill - that they might learn through experience, rather then philosophical debate, what destiny awaits them.
Guided by Sirona and empowered by an unknown force, the Ainym are a rag-tag troupe of adamant-spirited mortal survivors from half a dozen warring civilizations. Guarded by enlightened werewolves, led by an angel who seeks apocalypse not for an end, but for a new beginning, they will soon make their stand against a world gone mad with destruction and dare to construct a living heaven under the unknowable scrutiny of the very gods themselves...will their dream be consumed in the flames of Armageddon? Or will they...
RISE FROM EREBUS
Leader
Taemos Viatos
Heroes
Alaizette
Kiarda Scytheclaw
Races
Human, Orc, Werewolf
Patron God
Sirona
Emblematic Mana
Creation
Totem
Raptor
Worldspell
Kingdom of Hope: Gives each tile in Ainym territory a chance to become Wyld and creates a raw Mana Node for each Ainym city.
Werewolf Mechanics
Werewolves differ from the base Recon units in that they all start with Lycanthrope, Subdue Animal, and Cannibalize, but do not have a bonus vs. Animal or Beasts or a penalty to city attack.
Werewolves who win a combat against non-Animal or Beast units gain the Estranged promotion (15% chance to wear off per turn, 5% chance to become barbarian per turn) unless led in battle by Kiarda Scytheclaw. As all Ainym werewolves are members of the Sirona-touched Scytheclaw Clan, none willingly spread the curse (unless they become barbarians, in which case all bets are off). The Beastmaster-equivalent werewolf unit, the Wildscythe, gets Subdue Beast for free and possesses +1 Spirit affinity.
The werewolf UUs are Kinsword (Scout), Hunting Wolf (Hunter), Scytheclaw (Ranger), and Wildscythe (Beastmaster).
Arcane Line
For the moment, terraforming will be done pretty much entirely through the World Spell and Wytches. Wyld terrain is the prerequisite for a number of dangerous events, ranging from Chimera spawns to intelligent plagues to the spread of Haunted Lands and undeath, and large amounts of Wyld terrain make these events more likely.
Normal Chimerae (animals with random combinations of Animal Blood promotions) may be sacrificed to create a Nightmare Circus, a unique building offering +1 Unhappy, +2 Science, +2 Gold, and +2 Culture. Further Chimerae may be sacrificed to improve the Circus by +1 Science, Gold, and Culture. This will not be unique to the Ainym, although Chimera spawns originate from Wyld terrain.
Perfect Chimera may not be sacrificed, too powerful and intelligent for mundane control. A Vitamancer can be sacrificed, however, requiring a Nightmare Circus and the Ainym Palace in the city, to create a National Wonder called Phantasmagoria granting +1 Unhappy, +4 Science, +4 Gold, and +50% culture.
Wytch - 1
+ 1 poison combat, Annyx (creates Wyld terrain - 3F +.25 Health), no free promotion.
Geomancers - 2 + 2 poison combat, Woodsman I, Guerrilla I, Wild Emesis (creates a forested hill), no free promotion.
Vitamancers have 3 + 3 poison combat, Medic I - III, Primordia (creates a Perfect Chimera - 4 , 2 
, Elemental, all Animal Blood promotions), no free promotion.
Heroes
Alaizette is available at Sorcery. She's more fragile then most Mages at 3, but starts with Hero, Potency and Metamagic I and II in addition to Channeling I and II. She also has an extremely noteworthy unique ability: Destructive Analysis. Using this ability above a Mana Node of any kind will pillage the Node, but teach her either the first or second spell of that Mana type's assorted sphere. It will also afflict her with a random (removable) negative promotion, and create negative events such as Haunted Lands spread or the appearance of demons.
At Strength of Will she can become Unbound: this upgrade does not cost gold, but must be cast above a raw Mana Node, takes 10 turns, and utterly destroys the node. While Unbinding anything can happen - and is likely to - and once Unbound the raw surge of magic from the destroyed node may well call something truly terrifying into this world. Unbinding Alaizette upgrades her to angelic form.
Kiarda Scytheclaw is a 7, 3 replacement for Baron Duin Halfmorn with +1 Spirit affinity, Battle-Hardened, Cannibalize, Lycanthrope, Subdue Animal, Fury Meditation (blocks Estranged, Crazed, and Enraged; grants +1 Holy combat), and Alpha (grants commanded units with Lycanthrope the Fury Meditation promotion). Unlike the Baron's unending savagery, Kiarda's connection to Sirona and adamant resolve allow her to act as a true Commander to her brethren.
Unique Buildings
Gardeners of a Dark Eden
The Ainym build their enormous, sprawling garden-cities in accordance with the designs of a fallen angel, forming prayer sigils that call out to the lost and hopeless of Erebus. Though their growth is limited - the angel's understanding of these signs is imperfect, and constructing new symbols beyond his knowledge of their parent alphabet may well be an invitation for disaster - they are capable of potent transformations to the world they inhabit. However, the source of this power, a closely guarded secret, was long ago tainted by blasphemy...and drawing it out for the purpose of creation echoes that dark act too closely to avoid evoking...consequences. The Ainym inevitably confront the horror of oncoming Armageddon; it yet to be seen if they will stand firm and shield the world from its fury, bend with it and direct the rampage of oblivion to the last arteries of hope and light for the killing blow...or simply be broken and turned to ash on the plaguewinds.
The choice is yours.
STRATEGY: Your limited cities benefit from enormous growth potential - but you must rely on unique buildings and units to achieve it, either committing your resources towards reaching your full strength or making do with less in the hopes of an early victory. Your Recon line - werewolves - are extremely aggressive exploration units, but keep in mind their limitations in warfare. Feral Bond (Kiarda Scytheclaw) and Animal Mastery (Wildscythes) are very advantageous techs for you.
Your arcane line possesses unique strengths and weaknesses. They do not gain the same freedom-of-upgrade other spellcasters are accustomed to, and rely on oft-resistable poison damage, but they gain potent terraforming spells and your Archmage UU, the Vitamancer, can substitute for divine focus with its innate Medic III. Arcane techs also offer access to Alaizette, a very powerful spellcaster who can learn spells rapidly (at some risk, requiring forethought and preparation) and later become Unbound from her human limits.
The Ainym also have one other technological point of interest: they can gain (relatively) early access to the Dawn Invictus religion, and have the easiest method of acquiring its second hero - their palace is sufficient to begin his summoning ritual, where other civilizations must first seek out Hyborem and lay him low.
As far as the early game, your Warrior UUs are capable of sustaining themselves quite effectively, but still need to survive combats - a difficult thing to guarantee. Rushing Knowlege of the Ether will provide you with an economic advantage rather then a military one - your Wytches are weaker then regular Adepts and lose their free promotion in exchange for the Annyx spell, which allows you to turn tiles Wyld. An early founding of Dawn Invictus or Ashen Veil will put you in a strong position to outgrow your rivals, but try to avoid picking fights until you've found your feet.
BACKGROUND: The King of Hope moves against Erebus. Some call it madness that he seeks to destroy all that was built - yet he is a god, immortal and wise beyond mortal reckoning. Is it not possible he possesses some understanding he - and the other gods - cannot or will not reveal?
Cassiel and his Grigori demand no god be served, and how could one doubt the words of an angel on religion? Yet Cassiel fell, and Sabathiel did not - and Sabathiel spoke of unquestioning obedience, of the light of Law and his god holding back the coming darkness. But it was not always true - where did the Bannor come from, after all, if not the wretched halls of Hell? Sabathiel had come for them, but where was Junil when Bhall first fell and took the Bannor with her?
The Austrin map the land even as the flames rise to engulf it. The Scions of Patria care only for the echoes of a fallen empire, giving themselves to abomination in pursuit of unholy pleasures and the glory of a dead eon. The Khazad build and dig, as they have always done, and pray the earthen strength of their goddess will not yield against the dire winds of Armageddon.
Each believe they have the answer. The path to a better world, a world that operates as it should - be it the Ljosalfar's green world of total harmony or the Doviello's red world of total savagery. Who can know which road is right to set foot on? Who can speak as to the truth of Erebus' destiny, when even the gods cannot agree?
The Ainym are unconcerned with the pleas and demands of these disparate factions. They are the children of war and tragedy, who have watched selfless good be destroyed in the name of righteousness, who have seen monsters empowered by soulless evil sit upon thrones and holy councils. Gathered under the banner of a newborn angel, their lowest citizen and highest lord share in the same pledge to abandon the idea of waiting for fate to guide them - to make hope a drive, rather then a dream.
Their plan is simple. They have no intention of allowing Armageddon and its revelations to come upon them like a pack of starving werewolves discovering a maiden lost in the woods. They will build their paradise now, and unlock Erebus' deepest potential - for good and ill - that they might learn through experience, rather then philosophical debate, what destiny awaits them.
Guided by Sirona and empowered by an unknown force, the Ainym are a rag-tag troupe of adamant-spirited mortal survivors from half a dozen warring civilizations. Guarded by enlightened werewolves, led by an angel who seeks apocalypse not for an end, but for a new beginning, they will soon make their stand against a world gone mad with destruction and dare to construct a living heaven under the unknowable scrutiny of the very gods themselves...will their dream be consumed in the flames of Armageddon? Or will they...
RISE FROM EREBUS
Leader
Taemos Viatos
Heroes
Alaizette
Kiarda Scytheclaw
Races
Human, Orc, Werewolf
Patron God
Sirona
Emblematic Mana
Creation
Totem
Raptor
Worldspell
Kingdom of Hope: Gives each tile in Ainym territory a chance to become Wyld and creates a raw Mana Node for each Ainym city.
Taemos Viatos
Major Leader
Neutral Good (75 / 300)
Major Leader
Neutral Good (75 / 300)
- Charismatic
- Spiritual
- Sprawling
Spoiler :
Spoiler Quotes :
Werewolf Mechanics
Werewolves differ from the base Recon units in that they all start with Lycanthrope, Subdue Animal, and Cannibalize, but do not have a bonus vs. Animal or Beasts or a penalty to city attack.
Werewolves who win a combat against non-Animal or Beast units gain the Estranged promotion (15% chance to wear off per turn, 5% chance to become barbarian per turn) unless led in battle by Kiarda Scytheclaw. As all Ainym werewolves are members of the Sirona-touched Scytheclaw Clan, none willingly spread the curse (unless they become barbarians, in which case all bets are off). The Beastmaster-equivalent werewolf unit, the Wildscythe, gets Subdue Beast for free and possesses +1 Spirit affinity.
The werewolf UUs are Kinsword (Scout), Hunting Wolf (Hunter), Scytheclaw (Ranger), and Wildscythe (Beastmaster).
Arcane Line
For the moment, terraforming will be done pretty much entirely through the World Spell and Wytches. Wyld terrain is the prerequisite for a number of dangerous events, ranging from Chimera spawns to intelligent plagues to the spread of Haunted Lands and undeath, and large amounts of Wyld terrain make these events more likely.
Normal Chimerae (animals with random combinations of Animal Blood promotions) may be sacrificed to create a Nightmare Circus, a unique building offering +1 Unhappy, +2 Science, +2 Gold, and +2 Culture. Further Chimerae may be sacrificed to improve the Circus by +1 Science, Gold, and Culture. This will not be unique to the Ainym, although Chimera spawns originate from Wyld terrain.
Perfect Chimera may not be sacrificed, too powerful and intelligent for mundane control. A Vitamancer can be sacrificed, however, requiring a Nightmare Circus and the Ainym Palace in the city, to create a National Wonder called Phantasmagoria granting +1 Unhappy, +4 Science, +4 Gold, and +50% culture.
Wytch - 1
+ 1 poison combat, Annyx (creates Wyld terrain - 3F +.25 Health), no free promotion.Geomancers - 2
+ 2 poison combat, Woodsman I, Guerrilla I, Wild Emesis (creates a forested hill), no free promotion.Vitamancers have 3
+ 3 poison combat, Medic I - III, Primordia (creates a Perfect Chimera - 4 , 2 , Elemental, all Animal Blood promotions), no free promotion.Heroes
Alaizette is available at Sorcery. She's more fragile then most Mages at
3, but starts with Hero, Potency and Metamagic I and II in addition to Channeling I and II. She also has an extremely noteworthy unique ability: Destructive Analysis. Using this ability above a Mana Node of any kind will pillage the Node, but teach her either the first or second spell of that Mana type's assorted sphere. It will also afflict her with a random (removable) negative promotion, and create negative events such as Haunted Lands spread or the appearance of demons.At Strength of Will she can become Unbound: this upgrade does not cost gold, but must be cast above a raw Mana Node, takes 10 turns, and utterly destroys the node. While Unbinding anything can happen - and is likely to - and once Unbound the raw surge of magic from the destroyed node may well call something truly terrifying into this world. Unbinding Alaizette upgrades her to angelic form.
Kiarda Scytheclaw is a 7
, 3 replacement for Baron Duin Halfmorn with +1 Spirit affinity, Battle-Hardened, Cannibalize, Lycanthrope, Subdue Animal, Fury Meditation (blocks Estranged, Crazed, and Enraged; grants +1 Holy combat), and Alpha (grants commanded units with Lycanthrope the Fury Meditation promotion). Unlike the Baron's unending savagery, Kiarda's connection to Sirona and adamant resolve allow her to act as a true Commander to her brethren.Unique Buildings
Spoiler :
XML is extremely simple, and most of what you need is done that way; Python is more difficult, but is still quite easy. And you can usually find examples in the code doing something similar to what you want. 
and has a 10% increased chance to discover a new resource. They do not know Entangle or have access to Nature I - III or Nature affinity.
... i really like this idea ... i'd like to see 
