Ffh Nes Ii

[Tyrs]

NPC Diplomacy:

From: the northern fishermen/sailors known as the Eekin
To: The Sheim,

*speaking very informally*
We have need of your timber and would ask your permission to harvest some.

Guess I should answer this...

From: The Sheaim
To: Fishermen

*response is in a similarly informal format*
We would like to keep a friendly relationship, and as such will let you harvest some timber, as long as you pay the landowners for it.

Unrelatedly, one of our Daughters of Os-Gabella is curious about your culture, and wonders if she could meet with any of your wisemen.

 

[orangelex44]

"you are aware that talking with incomprehensible Lovecraftian beings formed from the nightmares of a madman empowered by the nightmares of a comatose god who is himself being tortured by the chief servant of the god of madness... is not going to be a friendly, casual chat, right?"

I love this quote, Tyrs. Where's it from?

 

[thomas.berubeg]

Immaculate, can you answer my questions?

 

[Terrance888]

Diplomacy sent.

Will compose a story about the expition group after scouting results and diplomatic results.

 

[Immaculate]

Guess I should answer this...

From: The Sheaim
To: Fishermen

*response is in a similarly informal format*
We would like to keep a friendly relationship, and as such will let you harvest some timber, as long as you pay the landowners for it.

Unrelatedly, one of our Daughters of Os-Gabella is curious about your culture, and wonders if she could meet with any of your wisemen.

From Fishermen
To Sheim

A daughter fo Os-Gabella and her attendants may return with us to Eekin isle at the end of the fishing season, stay with the elders for 1 winter and return with us in the spring.

Will a payment of 2 gold suffice for access to your timber. You may assign it to landowners as you see fit.

 

[thomas.berubeg]

The Succession

Chapter 2: First Move

“Password?” The voice that came out of the darkness of the Farm house’s door was one that none would have expected. It was of the high, urban, Amure elite.

“Free Emrys” was the answer given. Though it had been over a year since the arrest and execution of Lord Emrys of Badger, his name was still a watchword for the council, which now met in secret every few months. The Amure nation was divided, with the cities mainly loyal to the Dain the Magus, and the countryside to the Council. An uneasy peace held between the two sides, each pretending the other didn’t exist. Though Dain had outlawed the Council, and branded any nobles who met in an official manner outlaws, there was nothing much he could do. The shield of Kylorin was too few to move against all the nobles, who now had their own private armies.

Tonights secret meeting was in the cellar of a farm in the outskirts of Nimirail. Presiding was Lord Sandalphone of Singing Tree, Acting head since Lord Emry’s execution.
“Order! This meeting will come to order! By the power vested in me by Junil and Lugus, I hereby decree this meeting open. First order of Business. I have here a request to open discussion on the creation of a Mana node along the Mind/Water intersection. This would allow us a source of mana to field a counter to the Magus’s Sheild of kylorin, which is powered by the palace mana. Of course, this would require some monetary sacrifices from each of us. All in favor?”
A chorus of ayes filled the dark cellar.
“Then the Motion is Passed. Would the Scribe please record the decision.” He took a deep breath. “We now get to the real purpose of tonight’s meeting. I have called us together to decide whether to officially take up arms against the Magus. Should we Choose to, The peasants are ready to rise up. We have the strength to overthrow the magus and establish the council as the leaders of Amur.”
A pause greeted these words, and then the room exploded into Chaos, every noble trying to speak at once.
“Order! Order! We Will have Order!” Lord Sandalphone boomed, his voice magically amplified.
Reluctantly, the Nobles fell silent.
“I call to the Floor Lord Caspar of Mulcarn’s Tear”
“Thank you. Friends, Comrades, the Magus is as much a part of Amurite tradition as the Noble’s Council itself. If we strike against the Magus, we would be guilty of nothing but treason of the basest sort, and so worthy only of admission to the Lord of Hope’s domain. I propose we send envoys to meet with the magus and try to form a compromise. We cannot afford a war, quick as it may be. Thank you”
“Thank you,” Lord Sandalphone Bowed. “Does anyone else have anything to add before we vote one this matter?”
The room stayed quiet.
“No? then Forever hold your peace. On the table in front of you is a quill and a scarp of paper. This will be a secret ballot, for safeties sake. Write Aye or Nay, and hand the scrap of parchment to my servant, who will be coming by with a basket.”
As the nobles did so, a man bearing the livery of the House of the Magus scurried in and whispered into Lord Sandalphone’s ear. The Noble looked up in Shock, and spoke hurriedly.
“This Vote is Moot. The Magus has moved against us. The Shield is on its way. We meet in a month, raise your armies. May Kylorin be with you all until we meet again.” He bowed, and, with a swirl of his crimson cape, strode out.

As the Nobles scattered into the darkness to their respective Fiefdoms, The sound of Horns blew in the distance, and the steady beat of War Drums accompanied the movement of the future of Amure.

Within months, all of Amure would be in flames, divided between the Council and the Magus.

OOC: Not too satisfied with this story, but I feel it's necessary.

 

[Tyrs]

I love this quote, Tyrs. Where's it from?

It was said by Mewtarthio in an old lore thread about which nations would be the most/least pleasant to live in.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=261056&page=7

At first I had it attributed to the wrong person, and was accordingly threatened to be burned alive by a confessor (that was way back when they had ring of fire too)
That was WAY off topic...

IC:
To: Fishermen
That deal is acceptable. Please keep trading fish and such as well.
One of the Daughters will sail with you. Hopefully our shared learning can benefit both of us.

 

[MasterofDisasta]

If we have no recon orders, is it better for us to send an email stating so, or just not send anything at all?

Also, I had a quick question on the agrarianism civic. Does it just apply to actual farm improvements or can it also be used with the commercial agriculture improvements like plantations or vineyards?

 

[Immaculate]

@ Thomas
I like your story-based development. I am not sure i understand though... the council is made up of noble houses? It would be a form of aristrocracy if they won?

@Master of Disaster
Re: recon missions: No- you don't have to send anything.
Re: agrarianism civic: aboslutely- the commercial agriculture improvements like plantations and vinyards are exactly why there is such a civic. So what you would do, in practice, is build a bunch of cocoa plantations or tobacco plantations (or what have you) and just man them with whatever is cheapest to train (at the beginning farmers, but later miners and dommestic commerce workforce and finally as you accumulate quite a few, traders and merchants). It works well (or at least i hope it does) for those with good agricultural resources.

 

[hbar]

The Awakening - Part II

It began slowly, imperceptibly. The first sign was a faint rippling of the dream-fabric woven over a timeless age. The incomprehensible dance of a God’s mind still enveloped her, but there was another presence that demanded attention. As it grew in intensity, she began to recognize a familiar thought-shape. It was her conscious mind. She had not known that she still existed as a separate self, and felt a pang of resentment at the interruption of her rapport with godhood. She reached out to her mind to discover the reason for the intrusion. Then she felt it, as if for the first time.

drip


drip​

It was a strange sensation, so different from the dream of ages, and it forced her memories to a time she had almost forgotten.

‘Water. I knew that feeling as water, once. But water has ceased to be, as have I. Leave us in peace.’
​

She attempted to release the moorings of consciousness and slip back into the comfort of the dream-net, but her mind persisted.

‘You are, as I am. The age of ice is ending. Even now, the iron grip of winter is losing its grasp and we will soon be free. Come, feel.’​

Like a dagger to a lodestone, her mind snapped back into her body and she was wracked with the agony of bitter cold. Though her limbs were trapped in a prison of ice, she could still feel it.

drip

drip​

It was coming faster now, and the fresh water in her head was giving her strength. She set the pain aside in the ancient manner and focused her energies on expanding her self. She felt the spark of the others that were frozen nearby, and spoke to each one in turn.

‘From water into ice we have come, and into water again shall we go. Time flows again, and the stasis is broken. Prepare yourselves for the ordeal ahead. Though we are weak, we must survive. Once more shall the guardians of Danalin’s Hope claim the lands of rain and trees, and work for the day that our god returns. Once more shall we drink the purified water of ceremonies and mingle with our ancestors. Awaken, people of the Kappa. There is work to be done.’​

 

[thomas.berubeg]

@ Thomas
I like your story-based development. I am not sure i understand though... the council is made up of noble houses? It would be a form of aristrocracy if they won?

Oh yes, it would most definetly still be Aristocracy.

The Amurite Government, as of now, is composed of the Ruling House, the House of Magus, which, in effect, acts as absolute ruler. Assisting them in thier ruling duties are the various Noble Houses who meet in a council to advise the Magus. Depending on the strength of the Council and Strength of the Magus, the proportion of power shifts, sometimes with the Magus having more, and sometimes the council.

The lower classes have no real say in government.

 

[Tyrs]

Not sure how well I portrayed a child, but here's a little peek at Sheaim entertainment

A child's response to a foreigner's response

Spoiler :

To think that so much commotion could be caused by dancing

Because of the agreement with the Eekin fishermen, the landowners of the woodland decided to celebrate. Show the foreigner's how things are done they said. Everyone in the area was invited. Even Daughter Siren showed up! She's the best Singer on the whole Pale Isle!


It took all the children begging her through half the party, but eventually she relented to put on a Dance. She had her apprentice Sarah start drawning the chalk circles around the fire while me and another boy went to fetch her Dancers' box. It was a wooden box, about as long as a man, and had three Dancers in it, so it took both of us to carry it in. The Eekin looked a little confused, but I guess they had never seen a Dance before, so they were in for a treat! Normally a Daughter would only Sing at the big festivals, and not small parties.


As Daughter Siren laid out her dancers I admired the smooth bleach white bones yet again. The third Dancer had been my grandfather, and he had loved making us laugh, so he was all painted in bright colors with tassels and ribbons. It would make him happy over on the Other Side that his bones would still be used for laughter. When Daughter Siren began her Singing the Dancers rose up and spun around within the chalk circles, jumping around the through the fire, always following the beautiful singing of Siren. I wish that I could make the bones dance, but only girls are allowed to be Daughters.


So there we all were, enjoying the dance, when the Eekin started yelling screaming! One of them jumped up and smashed grandpa to the floor! It was very confusing, and they looked scared, but eventually the grown-ups figured out that on Eekin they don't have any bone dancing, and that when bones move there, they try to hurt people. What a strange place.


Eventually everyone calmed down, and Daughter Siren put grandpa back together. But there wasn't anymore dancing for that party.

 

[Immaculate]

Previously i had always asked that leaders be mortals and not unaging but one of the players asked that they be able to design an unaging (not immortal in the sense that he can still be killed) leader and the idea is pretty good.

Does anyone have any specific problems with this or are we okay to waive this earlier requirement? I dont' want people to think this is unfair.

 

[thomas.berubeg]

We can waive. I don't care, as itll make for some interesting stories, i'de imagine.

 

[orangelex44]

You really asked for that? Huh. I suppose my leaders just got lost in the crowd, then, since the Sidar are by default immortal (barring violent action, or possibly disease).

 

[hbar]

Sure, so long as there are no special privileges, I'm fine with it. After all, what's in a name?

 

[MasterofDisasta]

I would also be fine with waiving it. I actually didn't realize that was a rule; I've been sending diplo to the same two Sidar brothers for at least 75 years. Then again, they haven't sent anything back recently so I guess I just assumed they were Shades. I guess I was accidentally metagaming; would other nations even know about the concept of Shades?

Uh, back on topic: I always thought the restriction was just to not use one of the established leader from FFH, so I wouldn't mind if it was changed, especially if it makes for a good story or two.

Edit: Okay, Orangelex made it pretty clear they are shades. I'd just be interested to know if their psuedo-immortality is public knowlege (something my people would know) or something the Sidar keep close to home. Just wondering because I don't want to make my diplomacy assume the Luchuirp have knowlege that is supposed to be secret.

 

[Immaculate]

@ Orange:
Good point. Sometimes i am so dumb.

@ All
Okay- decision made: you can have an ageless leader (provided they can die to a sword or poison).

If i hear a good argument to the contrary then i'll revise.

immac.

 

[Immaculate]

Also- i know some of you know this but if you don't already, i am available some evenings via MSN if you have questions. It may be easier then e-mail (when available). My e-mail address relates to my MSN identity.

 

[orangelex44]

Yeah - I knew that Kol had specifically asked for no immortals, but without actually going back to look I don't remember that you did. Or, if you had, you just wanted them to be able to be killed, like you said just now.


And to Master, I've been rather busy lately, my large posts in FFHNESI notwithstanding. I'm just not able to devote the same kind of attention to this NES as I do in the other one; it's sad, but it's true. That should change with time, and since this NES is still in the pretty early stages I don't feel like I've done Immac a disservice just yet. Now, that being said, the Sidar are intentionally ignoring the Luichirp (nothing personal, mate).

Anf you do raise a good point; the rest of the world wouldn't necessarily know about Shades. I'll do a cop-out, and explain it this way: the closer a person is to the Sidar, the more they suspect that there's something a little odd going on. The Luichirp are close enough (and their leaders especially) to realize that they're negotiating with the same people all the time, and for much longer periods than the average human lifespan even with "normal" magical assistance. Shading isn't really meant to be a tightly-kept secret, but the natural Sidar isolation and insularity keeps it from being widely known.