Of Pirates and the Lanun (Featuring FfH2.020)

The Age of Rebirth​

At the dawn of the Fourth Age, with the ice sheets of the Age of Ice receding, a tremendous resettling of the world took place. With the Sucellus reborn, and Mulcarn slain, the Third Age ended and led toward the fourth. Hannah the Irin and her people, the Lanun, have begun their next rise to power. On the banks of the river Inn, where it meets the sea, the port city of Innsmouth has been settled. It shall serve as the base of the Lanun civilization, and it holds the throne of Hannah, Queen of the Pirates. This story will be retold from her perspective, as it was spoken to her servant, Rontus the Scribe.

The Founding of Innsmouth
AoR Year 1
​

Our people suffered long in the Age of Ice. When the news of Mulcarn's death at Kyorlin's hands reached our settlement near the ocean, the thaw had already begun. A group of pioneers left our small camp and reached the river Inn. It is on the banks of this river that our pioneers decided should be the center of our reborn civilization. Innsmouth, our port capital, was founded on this spot in order to reach the the clams and fish abundant on the coast, and has access to the fresh water of the Inn. Before we can harvest these fish and clams, however, our civilization must devise a way to capture them efficiently. Our brightest minds have begun to address this problem, and scouting bands have been sent out to discover this brand new land that has been chosen for us. I hold nothing but excitement for the future of the Lanun.


The fledgling city of Innsmouth, destined for greatness.

Strangers in the Distance
AoR Year 3​

The scouting parties have been away for nearly two summers now. Business in Innsmouth was being conducted as usual yesterday when news of a small ship coming down Inn was received. It was not long at all after this that a messenger from the small party of scouts sent away to the north west spoke to me. His party had sent him back down the Inn to bring news of their expedition. Far to the north west, the Inn's end had been located, and the hill that it spawned from was so named Inn's End by the leader of the expedition. To the north of Inn's End, a small village could be seen. As the messenger had left, the scouting party was heading towards this village. It was unknown to him as to whether they had reached the village yet. I do hope that these villagers are friendly, for I do not wish any foolish natives harm at the hands of a simple scouting party.


The scouting party, north east of Innsmouth, near Inn's End.

The Wonders of Agriculture
AoR Year 4​

More news from the north west, as well as from the north east. Messengers from both parties bore good news. Near Inn's End, the native tribes had been eager to share their knowledge of agriculture, and after a year's tutelage, the messenger was sent back with the knowledge to Innsmouth. In the north east, our scouting party has spotted yet another native village. I can only hope that these natives are as helpful as the last, the warriors in the north east are notoriously more deadly than the scouts near Inn's End. It would be in the best interests of any natives to serve our cause.


The villagers teach our party the secrets of agriculture

The second scouting party sights a village of natives and prepares to parlay.

Exploring the North East
AoR Year 5​

News from the warrior party in the north east has reached my throne. The natives were significantly less advanced than those near Inn's End. No technologies could be learned or forced from them, but their elders allowed us access to their culture's maps, allowing an expanded view of the world even further north east than their current position. This gift was not entirely to my suiting, and the news that the village had been razed was not a large concern to me.


The scouting party stands atop the ruins of the native village with the newly exposed land

More Natives
AoR Year 8​

It had been 3 years again since we had heard from either expedition in Innsmouth before the scouts to the north east had sent word of yet another native village. My hopes were high as they promised that they would have news within a year. With every passing year, it became more and more apparent that besides the occasional native village, the Lanun civilization seemed to be alone on this giant land. Our focus then, I decided, would have to be to expand beyond the horizon. The sea would be the stomping ground of the Lanun, and beyond the farthest eyesight would be a new land, full of wonder. Or so I hoped.


Another native village breaks the monotonous exploration.

Gold!
AoR Year 9​

The natives to the north gave a wondrous gift to our scouts. Gold of all types is coveted by man, and although I am a woman I feel the same lust for riches. It's luster and shine intrigues me, and I feel the need to cherish it as my own. Although this gift too was wonderful, and my scouts are ever persistent in their search, I fear that we may soon have reached every native village on this land, and I wonder what will happen then...


Gold has been gifted to us by the natives.


To Be Continued...

I would like comments before I continue, basically I wanted to try to write a story around Fall From Heaven, one of my favorite mods of all time. Also, why don't the images show up in post, rather than as a link?

Here's how I did pictures in mine:

[-example-IMG]http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/2567/1cardithhh3.th.jpg[/IMG]

delete "-example-"
Sounds good. It'll be more interesting once you meet more civilzations to plunder and enslave.

You want to properly close your images with a [/img] tag.

Got the pictures working now, will have them smaller from now on.

@Nikis-Knight

I took a look in world builder before the AoR Year 8 entry, and I actually AM the only civ on my continent. Of course the one time I WANT to stomp on a few AI, I don't get the chance right off. It will favor the Lanun's navy, I think, though. So I am going to roll with it. Should have a new update tomorrow, hopefully.

Fight of Honor
AoR Year 12​

Our warrior band has stumbled upon misfortune. Foolish native orcs took our intentions to exploit them ill and surrounded our warrior band. Fortunately, though, our warriors were more stout than the vermin orcs, they took minimal casualties while razing the entire village. It is good, in the end. The warriors have gained vital experience, and it is only our first fight in 12 years since the age began. Our time of glory is yet to come.


Orc scum surround our warrior band

Orc scum dying.

Growth in Innsmouth
AoR Year 14
​

After a training period of 14 years, the young boys who began their training at 3 years old are now ready to scout the world as their predecessors do now, far to the north. Their first target will be a small native village, rumored to be just east of Innsmouth. It is intriguing to me that this village was able to survive so near to our great city for so long. We shall see what has aided them in this unhindered growth. Elsewhere, Innsmouth's population has grown steadily for the past decade, and we now have enough hands to begin working another area of our city's outskirts. This development can only mean a better future for Lanun.


Our newest scouts, ready to seek riches and fame from native villages.

Progress Toward the Ocean
AoR Year 23​

A new group of warriors has been furnished and prepared in Innsmouth, but their mission is entirely new to our nation. They will not be exploring, no, we already have a wide view of our current world. These warriors will garrison Innsmouth, to keep crime in check and to prevent any barbarian attacks on the city. Orcs have a taste for human, and I will have no monster gnawing on my bones. In other news, our brightest minds inform me that they may soon have a way to harvest the plentiful fish and clams on our shores. They tell me that less than a year is necessary.


The garrison of Innsmouth is built.

The Lanun Take To The Sea
AoR Year 35​

It has been long since the discovery of the tools necessary to harvest the fish off our shores, and now the first Lanun workboat has been launched. It will harvest the fish, and is soon to be joined by another boat to harvest clams that make their home slightly east of the fish breeding waters. Our city is growing exponentially, and I think it will soon be time to fund an expedition to found a new city. I have yet to decide upon the location, and there are other important matters to attend to. Our scouts have explored the entire island, we are completely alone, as I foresaw. To the far north east my warriors tell me of a land too far away to reach by foot, but only a short travel by sea. This land will be the next stop for Lanun.


The first workboat is completed.

Innsmouth is growing steadily. Soon it will be time to expand.

great start to this story! I love the fact that someone has started a Fall From Heaven story. Such a great mod to take stories from. I hope you integrate some of the fantastic backstory that Kael and co. have so painstakingly developled. Who knows, some of the great tales you spin in this story may even be integrated into the mod.

Good on you for starting this!

Thank you for reading, if everything goes well (Big snow storm, satellite internet) I should be posting another set of chapters today.

Clams: Good For The Soul?
AoR Year 42​

Innsmouth is now growing like never before, thanks to the creation of yet another workboat. This boat has been dispatched to harvest the clams just offshore, and I have ordered the recruitment of a settling party, which will leave Innsmouth in Year 54, if all goes according to plan. The settlement will be the next step towards our move into the oceans, and our greatest scientists are now working on ways to sail cargo in ships.


Our workboat prepares to harvest the clams offshore of Innsmouth.

Spiders?
AoR Year 52​

It seems the Orc rabble have been up to no good. They have spawned a hell beast, a giant spider, that was invisible to our warriors. It was by sheer luck that our keen eyed scouts were able to spot it, and when they had, it was already too late. The foul beast lay in wait next to a hill, it's mandibles ready to poison and devour it's prey while it was still unawares. By sheer fortune, the scouts were atop a forested hill not far from Inn's End, and so were able to prepare a good defense for themselves. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. The spider beast ensnared the party with it's web, and left them dead and rotting. This spider has now been the bane of two scout parties, including our very first. Whispers spread through the city of “Scout's Bane,” a horrible giant creature that feeds on human flesh. I have attempted to stem these rumors, but to little avail. I can only hope that she does not grow hungry now and march on Innsmouth, or worse, our hard trained settler party that will soon depart. I plan to dispatch them in a direction that will lead them away from Scout's Bane's feeding grounds, we will have to risk the wild lions and foolish orcs to the east instead.


Our scouts prepare for battle near Inn's Head

Unfortunately, it is too late, and Scout's Bane kills again.

Settling The World
AoR Year 54​

The settler party has finally been recruited and equipped. They have set out to the east for fear of Scout's Bane, and they will search through the jungles in that direction for a suitable place to live. I have also had it with the whispers of Scout's Bane in Innsmouth. I am funding the creation of a war party, the first in Lanun history. They will be lead by a group of scouts and contain enough warriors to slay the foul beast and send it back to Hell. I will fear no orc created monster, and I will not allow the beast to haunt Inn's End much longer.


The settler party moves our from Innsmouth.

The Founding of Dunwich
AoR Year 56​

Our settler party has sent fantastic news. They have founded Dunwich, not too far to the north east of Innsmouth. The city is landlocked, which disturbed me, but it's citizens promise me that the local supplies of cattle will allow growth, and the hills are easily workable. They also hinted that gems have been spotted just north of the city, on the outskirts. They believe that these will be workable, should the city grow as it is planned. In Innsmouth, the scout that will lead Scout's Bane's party is almost prepared. He will be joined soon thereafter by warriors, and they will make haste to end the foul beast once and for all.


The new city of Dunwich.

Sailing
AoR Year 68​

It has been a long time since I last set sail on the ocean. Too long. The Desecrated Vessel, my beautiful ship, has long since been lost. But today our alchemists informed me that they have discovered a way in which they can rebuild her, as well as other ships. This is an important moment in Lanun history. The pirates will take back to the sea. In Innsmouth, the Scout's Bane force is about to move off. They only await a few more men, before their deadly journey to hunt the Giant Spider begins.


The knowledge of sailing is rediscovered, lost in the Age of Ice.

The Beginning of the End for Scout's Bane
AoR Year 72​

Our war party has left the outskirts of Innsmouth. Their upkeep is costing Lanun gold every year, but it is worth it if the wild becomes more secure. The party will follow Inn until Inn's End, and there await the rancid monster. Rumors spread that she has grown stronger even than she was before. Our men shall have to prove their worth against the horrible spider. I have decided to construct a galley in Innsmouth, and it will be christened the Desecrated Vessel. It is expected within 6 years, and I can hardly contain my joy to be at sea once more. The island to the north still awaits our feet.


The war party comprises more men than the rest of Lanun combined.

The Middle of the End for Scout's Bane
AoR Year 76​

Our war party sends news that they have spotted Scout's Bane. She still stands atop the hill where she destroyed our last party of scouts, but she has grown much stronger. There is also evidence that she may recently have been in a battle, crimson blood stains much of the undergrowth as the party approaches. I do not wish to know what beast could harm such a monster as Scout's Bane. Our warriors are considering their strategy. If they attack the monster while she is atop the Spider Hill, she will be a force to be reckoned with, but if they allow her to come to them, atop Inn's End, they may stand a better chance of victory.


Scout's Bane heals atop her hill lair.

To Be Continued...

good update. Lets hope you can send scout's bane to the depths of hades.

Just a gameplay question, I noticed you sent an undefended settler out into the jungle without fogbusting. quite a risk no? also, you plan on building a galleon instead of a worker first? or another settler? just curious as to your reasoning. Also, if you have a dot map of your city placements that would be nice. Not to mention an initial save so I can play along!

hope you keep updating as I really like this story (obviously)

This is a pretty cool idea, but I'm just thinking that since the beginning is usually rather uneventful, you might want to wait until a full scale war breaks out, or at least until you know several other races. Right now it basically feels more like a description of a game of FfHII than an actual story. You need a protagonist and I'm not a fan of the idea of using a nation as a protagonist, so you might want to get a hero soon. I like your idea, just thought it could use a few tweaks. These are just suggestions, if you really like the direction your story has taken then that's fine too. But I think that if you had a main character and a major conflict it would increase the quality of your story and you aren't going to get that until the middle of the game.

ok, never mind. I had only skimmed it before. This really is fine. Completely ignore everything I said in my last post.

@wenamon

I have to leave pretty soon but I'll try to explain as best I can... I will be the first to admit, I am very impatient with CIV. This is one of my farthest games in yet with FfH2, because I always tend to be playing and have a spectacular idea... best implemented with another civ or map. In order to avoid this in this game (and other frustrations) I have been frequently using World Builder to help plan my stories. I knew what was happening where the settler was headed, so I didn't worry about the risk. Probably unrealistic in game, but I really wasn't thinking that at the time. The galleon is to cater to my civ's strengths, and I really am not in a hurry to fill my island, no one will be backfilling until they are able to cross ocean.

@Thimblyjoe

I am glad that my story changed your mind by itself, I plan on looking at new angles from now on as well as the current.

I g2g, sorry for short answers.

Ooooh... Scary Spiders!

Good thing 3 warriors and a scout are out to kill that evil spider!

Thank you for your comment, I needed something to add some fun, even a giant spider XD

I won't be able to update til prolly tomorrow night. Sorry.

looking forward to tomorrow night then!

as for the solo settler it all makes sense now! I hope that you dont give up on this story as I really like it so far.

Wenamon, you asked for a start save... I apparently had a moment of sdfhjkry and deleted the start save, but I can give you AoR Year 9 (attached). I apologize, that's the best I can do right now Sorry. Also, I don't know how to do a dotmap since I don't know what a dotmap is . Any hint would be nice

hey no prob! Im still learning all this stuff myself. A dot map is basically just a screenshot you take in zoomed out view that shows your planned city placement. So, on each square where you plan on putting a city you put in a little dot with MS Paint. Usually the dots are different coloured and we all sit here and discuss which colour dot you should settle next.
I find them helpful in figuring out city placement, which is one thing I struggle with in this game. Often, if I am unsure of where to settle I will start a thread in the strategy part of the site and post a dot map
here is one example of a thread I started:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=204299

thanks for year 9... will see if I can conquer the seas with it