INES III: Storm Tapestry

[Lord of Elves]

It appears that a new deadline hasn't been set yet. When can we expect one/what will it be?

 

[Shadowbound]

From Li Dingbang, Jun of the Third Republic of China
To the Order of Mecca, Iranian Umma, Egypt
CC: The World

China will be assuming administrative duties over the island of Socotra, to preserve it from the ravages of war and establish a harmonious society. Anyone who attempts to interfere will be destroyed for great justice.

 

[Imago]

It appears that a new deadline hasn't been set yet. When can we expect one/what will it be?

Deadline is still Monday, unless you guys want to go into turbo and have a deadline on Thursday. I'm pretty sure I can manage two updates a week.

***

To: Atlantic Kingdom
From: Mexico

We do not want to be dependent on the Republic of the Caribbean in any way for our security. We ask for an alliance.

 

[Immaculate]

To: Atlantic Kingdom
From: Mexico

We do not want to be dependent on the Republic of the Caribbean in any way for our security. We ask for an alliance.

From Carib to Mexico

You misunderstand us. We don't want an alliance with mexico or anything, just a guarantee that your nation and our nation will not attack one another. Your security is your own business. We want peace. It appears to us as though you are forming an alliance who's purpose is the aggressive unprovoked attack upon our nation.

 

[Imago]

To: Republic of the Caribbean
From: Mexico

You have formed a gargantuan alliance bloc surrounding us. You think we would be content to accept your promises of peace without taking countermeasures?

 

[Immaculate]

From Carib to Mexico

The best counter-measure you can take to ensure your safety is to sign non-aggression pacts with your neighbors. Not only does it provide us with protection from Mexican aggression but it provides protection for Mexico against its neighbors' aggression.

We have no plans to attack Mexico. Remember that historically it is Mexico that attack the Caribbean, not the other way around.

 

[Imago]

The best counter-measure you can take to ensure your safety is to sign non-aggression pacts with your neighbors.

To: Republic of the Caribbean
From: Mexico

We are realists, not liberals. To each their own.

 

[Agent 89]

A Special Announcement From Israeli Prime Minister Levi Sharett:

The Nation of Israel will not stand to see jihad perpetrated against the Order of Mecca. The Government of Israel demands an instant cessation of hostilities, or miltary action will be deployed against the Iran and her allies.

To: Israel
From: The Supreme Leader of the Iranian Umma

I suggest Israeli not involved itself in this matter. We have no wish for hostilities with your nation, but the Order has illegally occupied our holiest cities for generations. We will not stop until they are crushed, and we will not hesitate to similarly crush anyone who attempts to stop us.

 

[Lord of Elves]

From: Second Japanese Empire
To: UK
It appears our missive has not been noticed by your office of foreign affairs. His Proletarian Greatness still considers a recognized peace with your nation just and valuable.

 

[Nuka-sama]

We should definitely have Thursday deadline, also please respond to the coronation invite

 

[Imago]

To: China
From: Egypt

Taking Socotra will be unpleasant for you.

***

Would anyone prefer I do...

Spoiler :

Introduction

You are an angel cast out of Heaven, thrown to the mud of earth just in time to mold the dawn of civilization. A few million humans inhabit the wilderness, but they are weak, and you can be their terror or savior as you so desire.

Part One: Creating a Fallen Angel

Step One: Pick a Choir

In Heaven, there are three sorts of angels with enough self-awareness to be capable of sin. Which are you?

Seraph (pl. Seraphim)

In their True Forms, Seraphs are giants with six flaming wings. In Heaven, they dwelt around the Creator’s Throne, and they possess the Lord Almighty’s talent for creating life.

Seraphim only pay half price for monsters, and they get a +2 bonus on starting Leadership.

Cherub (pl. Cherubim)

In their True Forms, Cherub are ever-shifting shadows of shapes and figures, but they often prefer to appear as human babies or children. They are tinkerers by nature, and possess a natural talent for manipulating reality.

Cherubim spells cost half of what they would otherwise cost, and they get a +2 bonus on starting Will.

Archangel

In their True Forms, Archangels would look like ideal humans if not for their two wings. They are blunt warriors with near-unmatchable talents for destruction.

Archangels only pay half price for human units, and they get a +2 bonus on starting Fortitude.

Step Two: Improve Abilities

Angels have three ability scores—Leadership, Will, and Fortitude. Each starts with 2 points. You have 5 more to distribute.

Leadership – Your leadership score is equal to the maximum number of different types of units that can be loyal to your angel.

Will – Your will score is equal to the maximum number of spells your angel can know.

Fortitude – Your fortitude score is a measure of your angel’s toughness. In a turn, your angel can destroy a number of units with power cost equal to its fortitude before being overwhelmed. Angels with higher fortitude will be able to defeat and kill weaker angels in battle, all other things being equal.

Step Three: Choose Domains

Your angel can only create creatures and use spells thematically related to its domains. Select two from the list below. The noted elements of the domains are only examples, not all-inclusive.

Fire – Western-style Dragons, Jinn, Volcanoes
Water – Fish-people, Leviathans, Kraken, Floods
Air – Griffins, Angels, Rocs, Floating Cities, Tornados
Earth – Minotaurs, Centaurs, Other Part-Human Monsters, Earthquakes
Death – Liches, Vampires, Zombies, Plagues
Life – Immortals, Healing, Resurrection

Part Two: Power

Power is the driving force behind your angel and its state. Power isn’t necessarily a metaphor for magic—it comes from devotion in all forms. Power is collected and spent. On your first turn, you start with 7 power, but since you do not begin with any sources of spiritual income (the Almighty cut your angel off), it is recommended you create at least one power generator at game start.

Power Generators

City – Costs 3 power, provides +1 power per turn
Underwater City – Requires water domain, can build underwater, costs 3 power, provides +1 power per turn
Floating City – Requires air domain, can be moved, costs 3 power, provides +1 power per turn
Holy Site – Costs 4 power, provides +1 power per turn, cannot be conquered, only destroyed.

All four generators can be stacked-- you can upgrade a city or site for the same costs and benefits of building one in a new location.

Part Three: Units

Humans

(Archangels get the following types at half off)

Berserker band – Costs 1 power for 5, better at wilderness fighting
Garrison – Costs 1 power for 5, best at defending cities
Legion – Cost 1 power for 5, good at all around fighting in settled lands
Hero band – Costs 1 power for 1, good for fighting monsters
Mage coven – Costs 1 power for 1, improve potential of your offensive spells
Priest coven – Costs 1 power for 1, improve potential of your defensive and creative spells
Flotilla – Costs 1 power for 5, can fight on water and transport troops

Monsters

(It costs 1 power to create a breed; the following breeds are uncreated and are only examples; Seraphim get monsters at half their normal cost)

Griffin Flock – Air – Costs 1 power for 3, best in mountains
Dragon – Fire – Costs 1 power for 1, best against humans and smaller fliers

Part Four: Spells

Spells cost 2 power to develop for Seraphim and Archangels, but only 1 power for Cherubim. They are handled on a case-by-case basis. Most spells will be unlimited use, but have separate activation costs. For activation costs, the Cherub discount also applies.

Part Five: Gameplay

At the start of the game angels fall to earth in a location of their player’s choice, and cities and holy sites must be built radiating from that spot. A small bonus will be given each turn to players who write stories. Each turn covers a hundred years. Fallen angels that lose their players will be considered to have regained the grace of the Almighty and returned to Heaven. Their holy sites on earth will be available for capture, and their empires will collapse. This is to keep the focus on player interactions.

Part Six: Orders

Submit orders via PM each turn on power spending and strategy.

Part Six: Sample Starting Fallen Angel

St. Michael (Seraph, Life, Fire)
Leadership: 7
Will: 3
Fortitude: 3
Power Pool: 7
Units:
Spells:

The idea is an RPG-fresh start crossover. I wouldn't switch NESes unless there was overwhelming encouragement to do so, but my favorite part of the game is facilitating player interaction, and we really haven't gotten a lot of that here. The big deal about the new game (from my perspective) is no NPCs. (Though there would be mysterious wild forces and the like.)

EDIT: All NPCs will send someone to Victoria's coronation. CWOH and Brazil will send their heads of state.

 

[Omega124]

NO!

I was waiting for this for a year now! Don't change it!

 

[Lord of Elves]

I support a Thursday deadline. Stumbling on Gone is the Old Guard by accident is what got me into NESing, so I'd honestly prefer to continue this.

 

[Agent 89]

OOC: Sounds interesting, and I'd be willing to play in the future, but I'd rather continue on with this NES at the moment. Also, I'm okay with a Thursday deadline, although Friday would work better.

To: China
From: The Supreme Leader

Any move on your part to take Socotra will be frowned upon by Iran, and will likely lead to confrontation, as our forces will have secured the island long before your arrival. I suggest you focus on Asia, and leave the Middle East to those of us who actually reside here.

 

[TheLizardKing]

OOC: While it's a good idea, and I'd most likely play, I have to mirror Agent89's sentiments. This NES first, and perhaps that one at a latter time!

To: The World
From: USACS

We would like to announce that LIARS is not a Communist-only alliance. There is a reason that we did not revive Comintern. All nations are able to apply for membership.

To: Egypt
From: USACS

Have you rethought our alliance proposal?

 

[Karalysia]

Yes I would play that one.

 

[TheLizardKing]

Oh, and I'd be fine with a Thursday deadline.

 

[Shadowbound]

To: China
From: The Supreme Leader

Any move on your part to take Socotra will be frowned upon by Iran, and will likely lead to confrontation, as our forces will have secured the island long before your arrival. I suggest you focus on Asia, and leave the Middle East to those of us who actually reside here.

Words. You know what we have said, and if Iranian troops attempt to resist, it will lead to the activation of our alliance with India and the full intervention of the Ever Victorious Army. The Delhi-Peking Axis rules in the Indian Ocean.

 

[Imago]

Well, most of the players who've committed to this game have already said no, so no it is, and the fallen angel thing will have to be shelved for now. Sorry, Karalysia.

Also, I'm okay with a Thursday deadline, although Friday would work better.

Let's make the deadline Friday, same time of day as the last one. That actually might be better for me too.

Stumbling on Gone is the Old Guard by accident is what got me into NESing, so I'd honestly prefer to continue this.

Really? Cool. Do you remember what you searched for?

To: The World
From: USACS

We would like to announce that LIARS is not a Communist-only alliance. There is a reason that we did not revive Comintern. All nations are able to apply for membership.

To: USACS, other LIARS
From: Balt Confederacy

We would like to officially submit our application.

To: Egypt
From: USACS

Have you rethought our alliance proposal?

To: USACS
From: Egypt

Iran seems like a better ally for us at the moment.

 

[Kozmos]

From: Second Japanese Empire
To: UK
It appears our missive has not been noticed by your office of foreign affairs. His Proletarian Greatness still considers a recognized peace with your nation just and valuable.

Apologies to His Proletarian Greatness, we stand by your proposal and welcome any trade opportunities.