>>6122501
>Vizari
1. Expand into the former Gorehorn Mob lands to the river.

Vizari commoners and their magelord aristocracy spread out across the plains that once held the now conspicuously absent Gorehorn. All that remains are a handful of scattered homesteads held by isolated and savage (even by Gorehorn standards) individuals who are invariably some manner of disturbed, paranoid and distrusting. They are evicted of course, and usually end up in some wizard’s dungeon of test subjects. What little sense can be fetched of them speaks of ‘heretical calling to the southern seas’, no doubt just the rambling of deranged individuals. A few grumtusk herds and the ruins of a leatherworking site and ranch are all that remains of the savage nation.
Merchants looking to secure their goods against Krovian ambitions turn to their mystic betters. The latest improvement to the living armor soldiers of the Vizari are glass soldiers. Using powerful magic the armor of a construct is filled with molten glass, neatly resolving many of the leakage issues that earlier models had faced, as well as enabling a greater degree of flexibility and control over the movements of the golems. As a bonus the metal armor of the soldier also becomes brutally hot to the touch, greatly deterring direct contact from enemy forces. The dull red glow of the armor is a hindrance in stealthy situations, but given the requirement for a nearby mage to give commands and supply mana this is rarely an issue.
Attempts to twist Krovian addicts to act as agents against their fellows hits a mild snag, while agents are enthusiastic, there is a sizable bias against Krovians who are capable enough to actually be effective, with many simply forgetting their orders, getting in trouble with Krovian law before accomplishing their mission, or even striking the wrong target.

>>6122541
Drom-Domo
> Western Rush (Expand x2)
> Raid areas surrounding new lands? 9/20 (Raid mostly results in internal infighting and violence against remnants of the Goretusk)

Domo settlers spill out across the grasslands that once belonged to the Goretusk. A vast network of villages and towns forms across the prairies. Few of the goretusk remain, mostly isolated homesteads held by the elderly or deranged. They speak of a ‘calling to the south’, some divine mission that called most of their people to build boats and set out across the water. All that remains are a few herds of goretusks gone feral and the capital of the mob fallen into ruin.
As the borders push against the land of wizards to the east, a certain degree of friction springs up as ideal settlement locations become scarce, and no small amount of internal warfare springs up among the domo, though fortunately it manages to settle over the first winter in their new home.

>>6122564
>Krawl
The higher minds of the Krawl set to work on themselves, with Maja focusing on the construction of great plates of chitin with which to armor themselves while in their monstrous krawl forms. A bit of clever design allows the new armor to be designed as interlocking thick chitin plates, as suitable for the high krawl as it is for the mindless rank and file. Meanwhile Novenary focused on repairing damage done to his body in recent conflicts against the molluscoid menace. Rather than simply focus on his own body however, he weaves lesser krawl into oozing pits that steadily fill with a golden gel he names Ambrosia. When applied to wounds it triggers an acceleration of wound healing, a fact he used to rapidly repair his body in days rather than weeks.

>>6123259
>Krovian Bands
The sanctity of bloodshed, a hundred and twenty line epic poem, is painted onto a Krovian who stands motionless as each brushstroke draws a line of blood along his body. When the krovian’s blood wrath is raised the dark red lines will flare a vibrant glowing red, the symbols forming patterns of teeth and thrashing prey. As long as the heart of the Krovian sings the bloodsong, the runes will burn bright and the warrior will battle, far longer than any mortal has the right too.
Blood of course can only be acquired so quickly, and while the blood of a raging enemy is best, an ostrich works in a pinch. The sharkmen gather together a great many of the birds, pinning them in and breeding them for number, though as a pleasing side effect feather pillows, mattresses, and giant omelets become quite commonplace in the nation.

>>6123786
>Vitruvia
The local jungle buffalo has long been more a pest than anything else to Vitruvia, munching on fields of reagents, stumbling into alchemy cauldrons and emerging to have long winded arguments, and generally just depositing their waste in inconvenient locations while menia queue up waiting for one of the beasts to exit the path, however there’s no denying that the sheer size of the beasts could have merit as a food source. Fence and pastures are built up, wild specimens are gathered, and soon enough a steady flow of the beasts are delivered to the rookery in the mountain where rocs fall upon them with savage delight.
Keeping the rocs well fed quickly proves an important component in keeping them calm and pliable. Several generations of careful management of the birds ensues, selecting for loyalty and imprinting instincts, as well as trimming out the aggressive territorial nature of the birds. The end result is a far cry from the original rowdy and barely tame specimens that once savaged their handlers.
Attempts to produce a cavia strain of the rocs has mixed results. Many of the attempts die outright, as the magic of the cauldrons attempts to twist the bodies in unpleasantly fatal ways, while the few survivors tend to be philosophical, weepy, and painfully uncoordinated. Nonetheless they are incredibly intelligent and cunning, when they can be persuaded to not spend all their time penning sonnets about the endless march of entropy and the beauty of a life unconsidered.

>>6124333
>Orcmanie
The tradition of archery among the Orcmanie inevitably leads to the creation of the Garde Forestier, an elite cadre of professional archers and soldiers. One of their favored tools (though certainly not exclusive to them) is the Whound, a warg hybrid that while not quite the horse sized menace they call their ancestor, is still a massive and intelligent beast. The whound serves well as a both a tracker and attack dog, with civilians often using packs of the beasts to bring down bears in the forest that have menaced their homes and pastures. Many a harpy scout soon finds themselves ruthlessly tracked by the beasts, forced into the air over and over until they either retreat to the hills, or crash to the ground and are mauled by the beasts.
The Garde Forestier tracks down the ‘Barbarian Scion’, discovering he is of some forgotten tribe hailing from Ordelan. He has a surprisingly sizable force he has gathered, one that he could prove useful, though his primary goal is revenge on Ordelan, which could prove problematic. According to him, his people were unjustly wiped out by the Ordelan in times past, though it is unclear if he is referring to the Tellden empire or Ordelan itself, the man inevitably falls to raging and shouting on the topic. For the time though a hefty payment of gold coins points him and his men at the harpy menace instead.

>>6124566
>Habitun cult
Training the Medqa to make dramatic leaps is fairly straightforward, the large beetles tend to make rather enthusiastic bounds whenever a well rotted tree is present, a favorite treat of theirs, and their trainers have mastered wafting a bag of old pine needles to trigger the lunging instinct. Maintaining position on the beetle on the other hand is quite the trial. The shell of the beetle splits, revealing a dozen wings that buzz rapidly, avoiding the branches of their forest home with surprising grace, propelling the creature forward. Unfortunately this process inevitably sendings any cargo, passengers included, flying in all directions. A clever saddle design of adjustable ropes however allows passengers to ride under the beetle, neatly allowing them to strike out with long spears from the belly of the great insect.
Excavations and prospecting in the tunnels, and careful analysis of shadow ant movements, has revealed a curious phenomenon. A deep network of tunnels, too deep to full explore currently, has been discovered fill with a strange glittering vapor. Consumption of the vapor triggers hallucinations and euphoria, though in full Shadows this is coupled with an increased ability to shapeshift and transform their forms, allowing them to temporarily split into multiple forms. Curiously the shadows of those who consume the gas regularly appear to brighten however, a cause of no small amount of concern. mildly addictive

>>6124736
>The Urotti
Prospectors discover a curious new material as they comb the depths. It appears to be large stones of golden amber, but far harder than the stone typically should be. When heated it becomes soft, then liquid, quite quickly, able to be easily shaped and worked even with simple thick gloves. In no time at all the smiths have produced a coat of golden scale male for the king, as sturdy as any dwarven ironwork, as long as the king doesn’t stray too close to the roaring fire of the great hall anyway. For once the cold clime of the north is a boon.
Engineer, mason and architect work furiously to stand up new fortifications to protect Thul Urdor, but the effort is barely too late. The walls are half built when the two armies clash in the city. The Urotti mount a ferocious defense of their home and greatest city,, but the sheer weight of the Habitun advance overwhelms their best efforts. Axemen are driven back, step by step, through the streets of the city until the central keep itself can no longer be defended. Even still, the soldiers hold the line until the last women and children can evacuate through tunnels. These remnants flee north, leaving Thul Urdor a battered wreck of a capital. Many among them vow revenge upon this new blood-enemy, who inflict callous violence even upon those they call brothers.
The northern climes are harsh, but the Urotti find blessings in the hardship. An easily mined outcropping of black stone, a smithery to craft finer items out of the little metal they have, and a new city for the remnant peoples to settle in. A place to rebuild, and tell the children of what they have lost

>>6125638
>Kingdom of Ordalan
A great deal of woodwork begins in Ordalan this turn, though it is of very different styles and intentions. Along the river a great lumbermill, supplied at great expense with a fine orc iron saw blade rips and tears the great trees of the forest into planks and posts for the future construction projects of the kingdom. The work is hard but the pay is good, even if more than a few nix lives are cut short hauling the ropes that hoist and shift the great trees about.
In a quieter part of the woods however the shouting and hard labor of the lumbermill is replaced by soft song and the delicate sounds of silver instruments. Here the old magic of the Arrowsong is invoked, an ancient gift from the gods. A verse for an arrow, a song and a promise for a bow, though only the singer knows the nature of the promise, they shall not tell what price the wood asks in exchange. A nix who performs the ritual almost always goes on to be a fearsome huntress with her singing bow, though they rarely smile except when their prey falls to the forest floor.

>>6125681
>Vasileus of the Barzaentine
On the southern border of the nation great slabs of stone are pulled from the deep places of the earth using a sequence of old rituals passed from even before the Tellden empire came to this land. Even as stones are raised, shaped, and set into place, forming the sturdy bones of a mighty fortress, news comes from the Vizari to the south. The Gorehorn who had once lived here have left on some heretical mission into the southern sea, leaving only ruins, scattered herds of grummtusk beasts gone feral, and a few isolated hermits. The southern lands now belong to Vizari settlers, rickety mage towers springing up surrounded by hamlets and villages.
In the capital, grand efforts to revitalize ironworking have begun. While the common efforts of common smiths has undoubtedly improved, it is a temple prophet who creates something truly worthy of the Barza. A collection of hammers are created, each embossed with an image of a letter. Seventy seven versed of the words of Luxos are pounded into the metal, one letter at a time. The resulted Prayer Folded Steel is among the finest the Barzaentine have ever seen.

>Adenai
Jockeying and jostling, and so. many. meetings. Nearly every hour the same tired joke about elvish indifference to the passing of time. Already some complain that perhaps the Confederacy’s Thorns would be a better name, though others claim they certainly aren’t children of a thorn tree. Still by the end the professional army of Adenai has been organized and leaders found for it, though unfortunately the venture is proving quite expensive. Already bitter arguments about budgets, land rights, and the cost of armaments has begun, many influential figures within the twigs protest the very idea of a standing professional army, after all are the harpies not in retreat and far away besides?

>>6125859
>Tagaya
A bureaucrat's work is never done, but much has been done this tyrn to grease the wheels. Substantial agreements have been put into place, warehouses bought, permits stamped, and occasionally officials bribed, or whooed. Great quantities of trade now flow easily through Tagaya and the connected lands, enriching all within the trade network. Orcish steel and gold, Nixon silver, Elvish gems and Changeling cloth all serve to make the region the richest in the world.

>>6125873
>The Divine Republic of Guliseare
Black clouds of tribulation loom. Cursed lessers encroach on the sacred lands of Guliseare, soiling the land with their feet and worse still the air with their breath. In this trying time the high temple is filled with songs, of mourning and desperate prayers, and that desperate prayer is at long last answered. Blessings of light fall upon the most faithful of the Aripan, the tips of their feathers transforming into a pure snowy white. The glory of Aelelox shines within them, and through them, lancing down from the heavens to blind and burn the wicked and empowering the righteous and holy. Let the lesser beware! Judgment is coming!

>>6125889
>Skrit Colonies
Thousands of ants move in their steady processions, trailing patterns of pheromones, carrying bits of information encoded as chemical ooze. Bit by bit these offerings, alongside bits of plant and animal and dirt and stone make their way to the ‘brain’s of the Skrit, pools of clear gel constantly stirred by hundreds of mite sized ants. In goes the offerings, thousands of pieces of separate information. They sink into the gel as the tiniest ants swarm over them, slowly collecting at the bottom. The Skrit mind forms a greater picture of the world.
Near central a pleasing confluence of soft soil, shielded valleys and steady access to water has been found, and a more local intelligence has already begun the process of preparing the area for large scale farming. More supplies are dispatched, as well as a few medqa to help with the initial tilling.
The next report comes from an obsidian queen, whose ethereal children have apparently discovered a vast pit of diamond gemstones. Further investigation reveals a mix of coal and diamonds, though the obsidian queen continues to insist the area exclusively contains diamonds. Most curious. The glittering clear to white gems quickly prove popular in petty trade with the Venks and Svaltar, providing a useful surplus of mundane supplies.

>>6125917
>King of the Venks
The Uhgul dam, (the king insists humbly it is in honor of his father and not himself, though many of the court have their doubts) is a marvel of construction. Great sluice gates that require two dozen men to lift allow the flow of the river to be diverted or blocked. Perhaps the Skrit could be persuaded to sell a few of those giant beetles to haul the ropes? In but a few years great swathes of the swampland transform from stinking marsh to pleasant meadows, though the land may never quite remove its abundance of frogs. Much of the water is instead redirected to newly minted farmland tilled under the shadow of the great wall, the soldiers still stationed there eat well indeed!
Curiously, one season after the dams completion, there is a shudder of the earth, and a sudden great ripple in the lake. For a few weeks villages on its shore live in ill ease, but nothing appears to have come of it.

>>>WAR: The Defense of Guliseare
The season of war continues. Nixen forces push forth into the mountains themselves and despite the best efforts of the harpies remain grimly effective in spite of nearly unending harassment from the feathered folk. Silver touched scouts develop an uncanny talent for finding Aripan ambushers, and more importantly for discovering planned rockslides and safe caverns where forces are lurk until circling harpies briefly retreat. When the two sides rarely meet in direct combat the arrows and javelins of the Nixen prove deadlier. Ultimately it is logistics, not tactics that prevent the Ordelan advance however. Silver touched scouts spark stepping from stone to stone can travel easily enough, but wagons of supplies and stumbling ponies are easy prey for the harpies, forcing Ordelan to pull back the hills as the chill of winter settles in.

To the west however the unrelenting Orcmanie see a measure more of success, their rugged steeds managing the hills and their heavy armor and shields defending the comparatively lighter harpy weaponry. Still it is a merry chase for orc knights to hunt down the skirmishing bird folk, and they only manage to take the northern hills, isolating the harpy controlled lumber camp. A dire situation for Guliseare, who must depend on what little lumber they can scavenge from the hill country around their home.

>>> WAR: Vizari Iron Conflict
In a surprise to no one, a sizable force of Krovians strike out from their lands, crossing the waters separating their land from that of Vizari and attacking the land of the wizards.While the isolated villages and towns along the sandy shoreline fall quickly to the invaders they meet stiffer resistance when they attempt to take the first of the iron mines, with Vizari golems and homunculi holding the line, managing to force the sharkmen into retreat. Time will tell if the wizards can force the sharks back into the water, or if this is just the first bite of a feeding frenzy.

>>> WAR: The Defense of Thul Urdor
The Habitun forces begin their attack against Thul Urdor under cover of darkness, attempting infiltration to take the city as quickly and painlessly as possible. Unfortunately those Shadows who attempt to slip into the city find precious few points of entry, even for their malleable forces, the fine precision of dwarven craft leaves not even a door jam to slip under, and those shadows who contort through keyholes find themselves the unpleasant experience of a torch thrust in their face. Attempts to use rapidly growing trees to surround the fortress also fail, the soil is simply too rocky to support such a thing, with the trees contorting and withering as they desperately seek purchase against unyielding stone. Nonetheless as more typical battle begins the efforts of medqa ram teams does what trickery and magic cannot, managing to collapse the outer walls of the city. The Uttir do not give up the defense of their capital easily, forcing a bloody melee for each street and building. The battle lasts for five days and five nights, and by the end both armies have been shattered--but a Habitun banner flies over the keep of Thul Urdor.


---------------------END OF TURN 8------------------

>>6128682
1. Ballistic Magics
The Krovians have struck, shattering the illusion of a peace through trade that some still held, and others approach the new settled lands that the settlers say kill each other for the slightest offense. War has come to Vizari, and will no doubt be a part of life that we can not escape. The art of telekentics, the manipulation of physical force through magic, is the first any aspiring mage learns, more easily able to equate the use of power to the motions of their own body, and if fine tuned can become a weapon in the arsenal of any wizard; and what Vizari needs now is wizards that can use those weapons. Wizards, honed in the telekinetic arts, and armed with bolts and blades of iron, are trained for war and ready to bolster the defense of the republic.

2. Construct more Riptide Pylons
Improvements are made to the riptide pylons. Formerly of stone the new pylons are forged of copper glass and infused with their magic. While physically weaker it will allow their magics to be stronger and over a wider range. These improvements will be critical as the pylons are spread along the south eastern coast; creating a wall of currents the Krovians will be hard pressed to approach and prevent them from simply swimming around any armies.

War: Push them back into the sea.
Defenses are maintained until the iron mines are protected by the new pylons; and once the sharks have nowhere else they may land to avoid the armies the glass soldiers will be unleashed; the armies aim to push the barbarians from the peninsula. The Krovians have shown their willingness to bite and claw their enemies; which will be quite interesting to watch them attempt with the burning armor of the glass soldiers. Not that they have much else for tools as their bronze is traded away for the stumble birds. The wizards have noted a strange magic, where the Krovians don't seem to tire as most do in battle, but with the rise in war mage numbers increase an extra rotation of wizards to supply magic is brought in to make the golems as tireless if not more so than before in the grueling battles.

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>>6128688

>Action 1 - Fort [West of the Pigs]
Fort Morda will rise up on the coast-line, overlooking the sea-straits with a predatory glare. No longer will the sea remain contested grounds, and the vantage point will serve us well should a counter-attack be forthcoming.

>Action 2 - Temple Improvements
With more ambitious rituals planned for the future, the Crimson Tide Temple must be updated. More stone and lumber is dragged to the site, and new additions are added to the grand construction, more rivulets for blood to flow and pool, and more holding areas for would-be sacrifices.

> War Post
A tough oyster indeed! These iron mines are like the deep-sea nest of some shelled beastie, snapping at anyone who dares to draw close. The iron-men, bloodless and frustrating to fight, are proving more annoying than a cookiecutter shark. Well, if they cannot be beaten with the might of his men now... more might will have to be found elsewhere!
He leads his men on, scouring the shoreline where they have landed, and then pushing inland. His men go about snatching up those who cannot flee, and while an occasional arm or leg may go missing, the Chief oversees that most make it back to Zhelezo.
If there are any wizards who dare venture from the mines or city, or those who poke their heads out from the mines to venture onto the open plains, well, they will make excellent sacrifices too!

>>6128682
>Establish Farm at River
It would take a vast surplus of food to actually populate this plains up to the denseness of the northern forests. Thankfully, the river offers a steady source of water to feed the farms, compared to little streams and occassional rain. It would take even more labour, time, and feuds to establish the organization and infrastructure needed to reestablish
the rice farms of the homelands, but it would be worth it for anything to elevate ourselves from the wheat-eaters at An'naud.

>Ensure the Slaug blood lives on
The Gruumtusk herds can be let feral for another decade or so. There is a more crucial remnant of the Gorehorn to secure. How many blood have their kind shed to make claims over these plains? Rather than shed blood ourselves and contest against the memory of the land, wouldn't it be more easy if we just made ourselves as the Slaug and have their claim be added on ours? Send our folk to their homesteads and make them be our husbands and wives whether by persuasion or by violence, and sacrifice our own weaklings or more weaker families to pray to Kholan for the strength of their seed. It'll solve everything, I think.

>War Action: Cattle Raids but no Cattle
Bands of young sons eager for glory and blood would fear the repercussions of stirring another decades-long feuding between their families, and chose to take to the east. There, they would do some minimal scouting before throwing caution to the wind when they discover the Vizari. The raids in nature are mostly materially-motivated, seeking the metal exports to send back to their homesteads and improve their prestige, though some is more inclined to abduct whoever they could find to either sacrifice them to Kholan or learn of the Vizari beyond the rants of the first Archpriest about all eastern nations passed to them and then sacrificing them to Kholan.

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>>6128681

All is well in Vitruvia. The new Roc Cavia are devilishly clever, though prone to bouts of philosophising. Their low numbers, immense physical might (despite their clumsiness) and ability to travel anywhere at any time (except for indoors) lead to them naturally being seen as leaders even among the leadership inclined Cavia, though part of this effect may just be their intimidating nature.

Their insights allow new refinements to be made to potioncraft, though between bouts of weeping regarding tears in the rain, they do advise that sources of basic building materials be procured at some point. The ramshackle constructions made so far tend to fail to support their weight.

Many Devia, feeling ignored and isolated by a society with no place for them, turn to idle mischief. Their freakish conditions such as long tentacles, uncontrollable strength, unintelligible language, frenzied instinct to pull levers or identical appearance, free will, magical ability and intellect to one of the Masters mark them out as strange weirdos even by Homunculi standards.

Some occasionally hide behind corners and jump out to spook people coming nearby, or knock on doors and then run away, or throw random expired potions at Seeria enforcers. Still, things could be worse.

Action 1: Establish a new city on the marked X, Holmbastus

Up at the northernmost extensions of Vitruvia, by the coast where the water grows cold, a new plot of land has been found to establish a grand new city of Homunculi.
In this land of snow and darkness, the people are superstitious and paranoid of what lurks north of them. Even still, the land is good for grazing and many rare reagents grow well in this harsh climate. Of interest also is the view across the lake, prime fishing spots and potential for mass cargo transport across the waters.

Soon a road is expected to be constructed, connecting up this fledgling city with Guliseare. Positioned far closer to the mountainous holds of the Harpies than Hohenholm, Holmbastus should prove itself well as a vibrant market city.

Action 2: Establish trade with Guliseare (Alchemists fire and plant growth for iron)

The Harpies demand plant growth potions for their fields, and alchemists fire for… whatever they want that for. It’s not really our job to question why a client wants what they want.
In any case, with the Harpies promising to construct a road to connect our nations, it is upon the Vitruvians to handle the logistical side of the equation.
Merchant rest stops are set up along the road as it is formed, stables and carriage repair shops emerge to maintain the coming fleets of carriages that connect up our potion brewing sectors with the road network.

In the newborn city, potion shops and great bazaars are formed, slinging potions of fire, plant growth, and other far less useful and bizarre potions with (at times) wildly unpredictable effects to any Harpies that wander too far off the main roads with enough coin to afford whatever useless knickknacks (such as potions of ear dexterity or elixirs of accelerated digestion) can be foisted upon them.
The bulk of the trading however is performed by carriage and not with civilians, great carriages loaded with potions departing for the mountains, returning full of Iron.

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The King is Dead. Long Live the King! His late majesty being without heirs of his body male, the heavy weight of the crown falls upon the head of his brother, Yaran. The magnificent lights seen in the sky at the time of his death are taken by the court astrologers as a sign of the Lord Aagen's pleasure at his soul joining the choir eternal, though the peasantry mutter quite diametric opinions quietly in the public houses.
By the great grace of our Lord Aagen,
who has granted us this tyrn of the sun, and in remembrance of our beloved brother, I, King Yaran of the Vencs do hereby order;
>In Sigordan, wheresoever good foundations may be found and dug for the purpose, the raising of a city to be called Cærys
>Around this city should also the land be prospected

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>>6128692
Action 1: Restructure and reinforce Thul Urdor and surrounding mountain ridges
>Whole thing's built for folks half our size and about a Katan's attention to detail. Least it's robust, so won't collapse on itself if we redecorate it.
>Will need a large number of Shadows to work this, seeing as regular hewers won't be able to shimmy through the hallways half as easy. Luckily the dverger hated Solaire as much as we do, even if they never thought to see eye to eye, the Shadows will be safe here over long periods.
>Collected complaints from Shadows that tried to break in, praise from rams and Huntsmen that breached and fought through the streets. Gonna have to restructure a lot to be more suited for us, less for them. Open up tunnels holes our shadows can slip through, set up death traps in any tunnels that'd fit the midget buggers, reroute their tunnels into arrow walls, the works.
>All in all, damn good city fort. Shame they're gone, woulda loved to trade pointers.
>Oh, and they had a really deep stash of alcohol. Be a shame to let it go to waste.
- Foreman Arvid Bani
"Thul Urdor Inspection Report"

>"Right, we need rockslides set up on these ridges. I want them to be releasable by an arrow. Make sure the path goes down into the pass, I don't want us chasing after rubble several mills away or having to hew more when we reset it"
>"Fortify these murder holes, dig a tunna between. I want any scouts or Huntsmen to be able to move back and forth between them with minimal neck craning, or their mothers will break mine"
>"Set up listening positions in the more echoey crevices, I wanna hear them if they decide to dig up"
- Excerpt from Foreman Age Bani Northern Fortification Directives

Action 2: Start fishing in lake Supkha
>Not enough.
>So far we've made do with foraging. But with our numbers rising, the issue of consistent meals arises. Homesteaders now hate seeing us, knowing we'll eat them out of kitchen and store. I am haunted by their gazes.
>I care not about wasteful efforts in the now. Make efforts that can be utilized in the after. That is your job is it not? Think how you can achieve it, and I will think on how to achieve mine. But know my performance depends on yours.
- Missive from Marshal Bjorn Sayyad to Habitun council

>The offering of your child Fisker has been found adequate. Your house will fund them in accruing more of this fish, and incorporate it into the barterings of the houses.
>For each hundred pund pulled into Habitun, ten ort of gold may be requisitioned from council treasury, up to one pund per month. May this serve as incentive to innovate further.
- Missive from Habitun council to Bever Hitab

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>>6130474
War: Harass, ambush, and push
>"Huntsmen and scouts are shattered. We're down to dregs while everyone recuperates. Same can be said for the other side. The reinforcements from the Skrit should help keep the storm out of their boots"
>"Skrit are untrained. They have no fighting strength to speak of. All they've shown themselves good for is looting, digging, and not caring about dying. They're perfect"
>"First part is here, east. Medqa will knock down several mil of treeline on the edges of the frost. Skrit will arrange it into obstacle field. Any Dverger attempt to push through here with any numbers, they will spend enough time and make enough noise for Skelle warning, followed by massed arrowfire until Bakhold Pouncers arrive to squish"
>"Second part, here, northeast, north, and west. Skrit will disrupt supply trains, loot store houses, and make sure that by the time any of our own arrive, the Dverger would be starved and frustrated enough to accept a gentle push to migrate north"
>"Third part, us. Not enough of us to mass like we did on the fort. Not enough of them entrenched enough to need that. Scouts find clumps and clusters of Dverger, signal with Skelle. Small Huntsmen squad rains arrows to force into cover. Bakhold Pouncers jump in to crush cover and morale, then pull back to let Fumancers and Huntsmen clean survivors and accost prisoners. Simple, repetitive. Always strike with a height advantage. Deny them the hills, they will struggle to fight up again for a while. Diplomats will have more leverage"
- Marshal Bjorn Sayyad, war council record

>"Unique knowledge and resource opportunity. Path to new specimens will be opened. Interact at will"
>"Deniable Raiders. We are only allowing passage, and will shelter any retreats behind our borders. Initial intelligence however suggests potential for favorable trade, so keep options open should it benefit you"
- Ambassador Aksel Durbawey addressing a Skrit representative,
"Farces And Triumphs In The Arts: Vol 2"

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>>6130476
Diplomacy: Welcome any Dwarves willing to worship Terra and follow Council decrees into Thul Urdor, preferential management treatment
>Solaire presence does little to warm snowy region. Perfect for penitent worship, but that is up to the Siblinghood to ascertain.
>Found new dverger capital on edge of snowy region, within sight of hills. Cannot go further without suitable reasoning, cold is painful, dverger tempers high and alert after battle[1].
1. Battle for Thul Urdor, near end of Dawn age.
- Scout Gorm,
"Scouting Logs: Chapter 3"

>Bypassed through several dverg patrols. Arrived at their new ramshackle capital within three days of circutous routes. Diplomat decided time to break cover and wave white flag for parley near their gates.
- Huntsman Kare
"Records of Huntsmen Dispatch, Log #620"

>"We wish to give you back your home. TACA[1]"[2]
>"There is nothing to threaten. This is a trade."[2]
>"We would want any inhabitants of Thul Urdor to follow the will of the council, and honor Terra as the ancestor of their own greatest ancestor. Rest of Dverg need not do so"[3]
>"You misunderstand the intents of Habitun. We do not want outsiders to worship with us, we want all Habitun to behave like Habitun. You insisted that that would be impossible, so we fought until you were displaced from Habitun land. Now we remind that only outsiders are barred from entering Habitun, and any who wish to 'return to the fold' so to speak, may do so."[3]
>"Your first request is impossible to grant, as the city belongs to Habitun. The request for labor is amenable, provided an adequate price is offered in return. The request for being left alone is also amenable, in return for it being done in return"[3]
>"Let those who wish to follow do so. In time, we hope you will see the errors of your ways"[3]
1. Terms And Conditions Apply.
2. Being too swift and honest as requested by Dwarf king
3. Negotiating the migration of potential Dverger believers back to Thul Urdor
- Diplomat Rive Mudamir,
"Farces And Triumphs In The Arts: Vol 2"

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>>6128693
3rd Turn

> 1st action: Fortress construction

Having been pushed back into a snow-covered, hilly terrain, the Urotti Dwarves will focus on constructing a formidable new fortress, a Gul Nornir ("Fortress of Renewal"). Utilizing the abundant lumber from the lumber yard and stone from the mines, they will carve this stronghold into the hillside, integrating natural defenses provided by the rugged landscape. The fortress will feature thick stone walls reinforced with ironwood beams, concealed entrances, and strategically placed battlements ideal for defending against a larger force. Underground tunnels and chambers will serve as secure storage for supplies and as escape routes if needed.

> 2nd action: Upgrade the new capital that has been named Virn-Garuhm

Despite the bitter cold and the unforgiving terrain, the Urotti Dwarves set to work expanding their new home, Virn-Garuhm. Mining deep into the mountainside, they carve out new chambers to serve as warm and sturdy dwellings, connected by an intricate network of tunnels that weave through the rock like veins of precious ore. These subterranean roads not only shelter them from the harsh elements but also enhance connectivity throughout the city.

Master smiths rekindle their forges, the glow of molten metal casting hopeful light in the depths. Workshops buzz with activity as craftsmen and artisans labor to produce tools, weapons, and goods essential for daily life and future endeavors. At the heart of Virn-Garuhm, a central marketplace comes to life, where traders barter and clans mingle, fostering unity and the exchange of ideas.

Mindful of the threats that loom beyond their snowy refuge, the dwarves erect sturdy walls and watchtowers around their settlement. Stone by stone, they build defenses that blend seamlessly with the rugged landscape, ever vigilant against those who might seek to harm them.

>Action 1: Military - The Guerillas
Spurned by their previous unpreparedness, survivors of the Bahay incursion are driven by their hate to take up the formation of a mercenary band known as The Guerillas. This force does not strive to be a standalone self-sufficient powerhouse as so many other armies seek to attain - rather, the force is designed around maximizing the utility of other forces, and filling in gaps where other armies lack. To this extent, the force is unremarkable as a standalone army, but acts as a sort of power multiplier to allied forces when operating in conjunction.

>Action 2: Resources - A Valuable Metal
Having now cemented themselves as the center of trade within the new world, the Tagagaya seek to utilize their control over the market to introduce a standard of exchange amongst merchants so that all nearby nations might be more directly affected by the stability of their economy, and so that the lending business of Negyoso might be more frequently utilized. To this end, a non-replenishable good of innate value is necessary - a rare metal. One which is not found in the lands of their neighbors, lest they begin to mint counterfeits from their own supply and destabilize the Tagagayan coin.

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>>6128688
Occupy this spider ruins hex heavily, and do research on the ruins’ interior. Also make and defend another hive in the desert, so as to later support the arrival of Zabacraw, the great tool of genocide against the disgusting mollusks.

>2: Explore and make swift occupation of the ruins in the north.
What else is in the ruins in the north? Send a small search party to stay, and with a lone messenger to return to the capital, but there are more important matters for the nation to attend to at this time… Such as the neighboring Venk civilization. Men, who are just a little like cows. Who ever heard of such a thing? We have not much use for these biological features, but maybe their strength and smarts could help Us cooperate with them? For now, We choose to lurk, cruising by krawl vortex, in the shadows just outside where our borders meet, conglomerating into taller vortexes outside the ruins nearby.


>1: Dig deep in the desert
Make another hive, with a fungal colony to supply nutrients for the troops’ survival, spread, and cell reproduction.. The standard chasms with excavated, carved out networks of beams, connected together by nodes, from heaps upon heaps of excavated natural stone between the tesseract structures.
Make sure to dig deep enough to hit the water reservoir! And look out for fossils of fish… Zabacraw, the destroyer, and Zabatar, the fish chariot rider krawl amalgamate living inside it, may once more swim across the sands to bring about great ruin, should all go according to plan?


War/Diplo: address Vitruvians
What are these new amalgamates? We hear they are of anti-magic, but what all of that may entail for Us, We are not fully aware at this time. It seems as though they have many arms, like Us. We assume anti-magic would bar Us from using very specific blessings, possibly including the ability to copy the remains of others?

(There will be Diplo rp for this + Venks in the discord soon)

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>>6128681
>>6128690

>Action 1: Cadon (X)
Cadon, the second settlement of the Orcmanie, is the prime holding of the noble Moonhurleur line. Founded at the birth of the Orcmanie by the old-Orc Gorgoth 'Moon-Howla', the second in command to Gorbash; it is only now that the town centre comes to be built anew of Red Granite - full of new designs and strong walls - by Count Henrigoth de Moonhurleur upon succession to his title. Their Livery is a wolf-mouthed silver moon upon quartered navy and crimson.

>Action 2: Godly Star-Forged Protection
The Forges that work our Starmetal have become, perhaps inevitably, known to the Orcmanie as the Star-Forges of Rooin. It is here that the most skilled of our smiths and the eminent and learned of our cathedral priests combine their skills to bind runes of the Pantheon and weave the protections of Ganuz >>6127048 into our shields and armour; to bless our defences from those that assail us through the invocation of our god of life, war, water and the sea.

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>>6128693
The courts of Ordalan are in turmoil, the trade with the north has not brought certainty and security, it has only made things worse. The reason is not the Orcs nor the Adenai, it's the Tagagayans. Reports of ridiculously one-sided trade deals, impersonations and selling of counterfeit wares. But worst of all, reports of their profane nature. Shifting bodies and complete disregard for our faith. All while reports come in of movements to the south, the beastmen are moving into the lands belonging to the southerners, and they are a rowdy folk, fighting amond themselves, and thus, all the worse when they decide to become a problem for Ordalan. Queen Leutgard has meeting after meeting to resolve issues, but eventually takes off to see to the issue up north personally.

>Action 1: Establishment of trade with Barzae. Pelts and lumber for copper. Hopefully benefitting from the courtiers from before (turn 4).
While northward trade brings issues, owing in part due to us being strangers, Ordalan merchants instead try pursuing a trade relation with Barzae. Sturnes homes are repurposed into trading offices, warehouses are freshened up, worker contracts reviewed. Ensuring that the goods of Ordalan can flow smoothly. After this comes the establishment of receiving facilities in Barzae, as well as the means of transportation. Luckily the ready access to lumber makes the creation of wagons a lesser expense.

>Action 2: Emergence of Huskarls. Bodyguards of the noble houses, trained to detect and deal with changelings and tricksters.
As the reports come in of the misdeeds of the Tagagayans, people start to question if the Nixen they speak to are Nixen and not Tagagayans, or a puppet of them. This especially troubles the noble houses, whose dealings rely heavily on trust. Thus the various houses train oathsworn servants whose job is to detect if a Nixen is who they say they are, as well as confirm the identity of the nobles they serve. They are also tested to prevent infiltration of their ranks, making them the most trusted bodyguards a noble can get, thus given the best equipment and training the noble can afford.

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>>6128694
>Action 1: A Steed fit for an Elf [Pre-rolled Mount Prospect]
in the hills to the north((west), the Drakon Opulus has kept itself hidden away from the eyes of men for a time unknown. These great beasts, 15 feet long, fly through the air and capture prey in their large, awe-inspiring jaws filled two rows of sharpened teeth, made for tearing sinew yet perfectly suited to piercing steel and breaking bone. Naturally, these beasts struck fear into it's first witnesses, spotting them return to their caves from a hunt from the other side of the valley.
As most good things occur, it was a stroke of luck that turned the Drakon Opulus into something closer than a fearsome foe. Wounded from a territorial dispute with one of it's own kind, an Opulus lay at the peak of a hill, it's pain made known with somber whines so pitiful it made men weep. A young man of the famously empathic Hardoni Twig was the one to close the distance, bringing food and water to the beast and cleaning it's wounds. Unlike common fauna, it was clear that the Opulus understood it's situation with a clarity that made it's intellect evident.
In a tale ripped straight out of a child's book, the bond forged that day was unbreakable. No longer was this young Leaf limited to seeing the world from it's roots - but atop his new steed could experience the beauty his ancestors forged from above. It would not take long for many more bold men to replicate this relationship. The Opal Dragons would not simply be chosen, however, but in fact would be the ones to choose their bondmate. A noble steed fit for a noble people was discovered.
[Yes, I used like 4 different names for the thing. No, I don't care. Pick one or make up your own, Swift. You're more creative than I am anyway.]

Action 2: Construct a Fort [See second post]
Tensions at the diplomatic summit for peace in the Mountain War had (as expected) begun to boil over. As an emergency, the head diplomat Patrocliot Gerevette sent home his son, Severiot, to inform the Maple Council of the need for emergency fortifications in the east. Were it simply for the Harpy's lack of cooperation, this would be no cause for alarm. However, the behavior of the Women to the east had been so outwardly irrational that it greatly exceeded the already great expectation of irrationality. This "princess" had drunk herself into a stupor, and shouted obscenities at the delegates! Their claims of warriorship and desire to kill were alarming enough on their own, but their blatant mercy towards the Harpys in conjunction with these first claims painted a picture picture most paradoxical. What were these women planning? As a result, a fort constructed nearby the river and Bahay would create the most defensible fortification possible. This military structure could house a garrison sizeable enough to contest and punish any attempts to cross the river, as well as create a significant obstacle to the plains and forests up north due to it's proximity to Bahay.

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>Action 2 Fort Placement

1. Roads to Ordelan Capital for trade

2. Oh Boy, time to start sending out missionaries!

>>6128695
Report on Lesser Activities to Cyra, Noreusper of Guliseare, executioner of Thessa, bane of Kaenum, unifier of the Aripan, Ruler of all the hallowed mountains, Aelelox's chosen prophet, most blessed and holy Aripan to fly upon the skies and walk upon the earth.

The lessers of the south have sent us a letter suggesting a discourse regarding the end of hostilities, one that would include all of the lessers currently against us. While I have little hope for a resolution, the chance of potentially getting the most threatening out of the war after our forces disappointing display is important. Though, the final decision is upon you, of course. You know what is best for all of us and Aelelox's will, after all. If nothing else, our prayers that have been answered will be beneficial should conflict continue. Similarly, the work of one of the council has made a deal with the lessers to the east. While I initially questioned this, the reason why was quite apparent when the strange magical liquids they come up with were shown to me. They too will be useful both now and in the future.

Your faithful servant, Kallixeina.

>Action One. A Lesser Proposition.(Build road depicted here >>6129358)
While their methods are unorthodox, the results one of the consecrated recently was able to gain from actually interacting with the lessers speak for themselves. For just a bit of iron, a major boon in the form of extremely effective plant growth elixir and bottled fire is at our talons. One for peace, one for war. And one arguably could be used for both to set up density perfect for a raging inferno. Still, to gain access to these materials we do need to actually trade for them. A small outpost on the border is to be set up, and a road through the hills to allow for the ease of transport of bars of iron and bottles of these potent elixirs. The prospect of potentially getting specially designed potions or just being able to benefit from anything new they make is also possibly useful. Though there are naturally concerns regarding interaction with those below us, but at least these people seem to know their place as servants, even if they are oblivious as to their rightful master.

>Action Two. Formation of the Tizzonarden.
The Moivadal are quite useful for discovering just what the lessers are up to. They likewise are quite skilled at remaining hidden and going deep into uncharted and unfriendly territory. Simply giving Aripan similar training for going into lessers lands but instead of giving a focus on cartography and record keeping teaching them tricks and tools to enact sabotage in all manners of ways, we can strangle our enemies logistics, destroy their production and even slow their reinforcements and supplies in the right circumstances, bringing the war to the enemies home all without directly engaging in combat. Of course, should they get caught, they are to try and cause as much destruction as possible before attempting to escape or becoming a martyr.

>Begin developing understanding of Chemisty
Being tiny sure has its advantages. You get to see the building blocks of the universe far closer than most, which would be rather awe inspiring if such a closeup view wasn't wasted on literal bugs. That's not to say that it goes unnoticed. The Skrit have always lived a life more dependent on chemical interactions that any other race, their communication, sense of direction, and even "intelligence" born out of a series of complicated chemical exchanges on an unprecedented scale between billions of their kin. Central had always known about this, but only recently has it really started in dabbling with controlling these chemicals, and attempting to understand what they are and how they function. Thus, with aimless intellect, the Skrit begin to develop the basics of chemistry.

>Develop lead based armor.
The colonies have been mining lead for a while, but with no real particular use in mind. Stockpiles of the stuff were kept one side, practically discarded and unused save for the occasional tinkering and trade the colonies arbitrarily decided upon. But during some recent scuffles between military colonies used for wartime simulations, one of them had begun deploying Skirt soldiers geared with lead platings to reinforce their exoskeletons. It was a strikingly favorable innovation, which lead to numerous victories in simulated conflicts for the colony. It wouldn't be far long after that Central would incorporate this knowledge into its core understandings, and device templated lead armor for wide use for the Skrit military body.

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>>6128697
>>6132192
Elector Princess Lucilla had seen progress bog down when meeting the mountains of Guliseare, while the Chariots remained effective even without their horses due to their blessing of Janos, the other forces could not keep up. Worse yet, a message from her mother came in, she is unhappy about the Tagagayans and wants the war resolved as soon as possible, and she is coming to resolve it, for a situation has emerged down south.

>The Negotiation at Alviting Berg. An end of the war, Guliseare agrees to hand over the woods near Bahay to Orcmanie and Adenai, release Changeling slaves back to Tagagaya and a fifth of their Anelk slaves to Ordalan. Orcmanie transfers the present orchard's ownership to Tagagaya while allowing Guliseare to relocate the lumber industry to neighbouring territory. Occupied territory is to be returned.
Sending an Anelk messenger up the mountain, Lucilla get in contact with Guliseare and sets up a meeting at a hill that the Nixen would call Alviting Berg. There the representatives of both sides would gather. Lucilla's initial proposal of getting any changeling freed is soon accepted, but things take a turn after the Tagagayans start their speech. Being talented orators and having personally suffered at the hands of the mountainfolk, they would do their best to rouse ire in their allies, calling for yet more to be taken. But the Orcs set for the lands surrounding Bahay, with Adenai siding with the Orc proposal. When Tagagaya called for Ordalan to make their demand, Princess Lucilla would call for a recess, where she would get a headstart on the wine, when she returns she sets her demand to be just slaves, one in every five of the Anelk slaves. Indeed she makes a point of emphasizing Ordalan is no saint compared to Guliseare, she was not here for moral indignation and she doesn't view Guliseare as some threat that must be vanquished lest they overtake them. The others seem to take offense at her words, but if peace comes at the cost of some friendships, then so be it. They have robbed Guliseare of the initiative and the alliance is prepared for future struggles.

>Military movements: The army is returned home to Sturnes, a celebration is held as the new slaves are distributed among the churches and noble houses.
Once Lucilla returns home, she would have an audience with Queen Leutgard, the atmosphere is tense, but she did at least bring a bounty of slaves. Lucilla also gets to see the reality of Tagagayan trade, how Ordalan was not prepared to deal with expert hagglers and shapeshifters, the cultural bleed starting to look like under the Tellden Empire. Princess Lucilla will have to learn how to deal with this, lest the cultural bleed erode the very churches of Ordalan, weakening our military might.

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Turn Nine: Roads and Homes
>>6128748
>Vizari
The guerilla efforts of the Vizari meet with a curious, but welcome surprise. Their direct trade with the rank and file of the Krovians has been replaced by a number of oddly cool headed krovians, who patiently explain that the stumblebird imports have been placed under new management. A Vizari representative meets with this new management and finds that the drug trade and underworld has been consolidated under a single grinning maw, one who (after a bit of clever and seamless mind magic in a one on one meeting) agrees to use his criminal organization for vizari agendas. A most useful asset.
Meanwhile, in the City of Towers, mages hone the craft of telekinetics. A dangerous and powerful art in the right hands, allowing a mage to surround themselves in a whirlwind of objects. The first legion of blade dancers will soon be ready to march to defend their land. At the same time runic smiths work to improve and renovate the Riptide Pylons, replacing their stone forms with ones of glass and copper. The pylons defending the heartland are replaced with improved versions, but, as news of crushing defeat reaches the capital, magicians refuse to venture from Vizari to fortify the south.

>>6128840
>Krovian Bands
In the homeland of sharkmen a grim feeling fills the air. Fort Morda is constructed overlooking the cliffsides, placed so that krovians might leap from its walls directly into the water and surge toward ships and vessels, though the flow of trade remains uninterrupted. Of course a few heavy tolls do end up being introduced, and those vizari vessels that try to brave the straits with supplies for the warfront find themselves plundered most thoroughly.
Further inland the Crimson Tide temple is expanded, just in time for shipments of slaves from the Vizari to arrive and be placed into holding cells. Hopeless gazes stare in horror at the great blood collection vessels and bowls, the rust stained channels and sharpened knives waiting for them.
An unpleasant new wave of crime seems to be spreading across the land however. Merchants, shopkeepers and even everyday citizens are finding themselves preyed on by surprise ‘tolls’ and ‘fees’, payments for ‘protection from undesirables’ and other such extortion. At its heart is the shadow figure ‘Alpha’, who seems to have captured and consolidated the stumblebird trade under his maw, and intends to take as much as he can.

>>6128929
>Domo
Wheat! A pitiful grain of these new lands, good for little more than filling the belly, nothing like the rice of the homeland. Handfuls of ancient seeds are carefully coaxed back to life, then tended and multiplied into thousands and thousands of new plants. All along the river channels are dug to flood rice patties and produce vast amounts of the domo grain.
This abundance of food is an important factor in coaxing the remnants of the Slaug to merge with the Domo, lending their strength to the unity of the Domo. Within a generation the blue gray skin of the gorehorn can be seen all across the land, as well as their mighty strength and stature. In turn those descendants call out to the scattered grummtusk herds and gather them back together, which should prove a valuable source of fur, milk and meat in the years to come.

>>6129358
>Vitruvia
In the dark forests on the edge of the lake, where the devia known only as the master’s fishmonger still lurks, plucking scaled meals from the wa ter, Holmbastus rises up, built from the yellowed timbers of the pine forest around it. Here warehouses and markets will fill with alchemical treasures before they becomes the treacherous march into the mountains toward Sonistia, city of harpies. In return a steady flow of iron comes from the mountains that will be transformed into tools, equipment and other critical supplies.

>>6129536
>Yaran I, King of the Venks
Downriver of the Uhgul Dam, nestled between the branches of the river, where once was only fetid swamp inhabited by vicious beast and peop le strange, and indeed just across the river are strange strange blobby and fungal creatures still, the city of Cærys is raised. Soil filled with old stone arrowheads and bits of chitin and entirely too large teeth is turned up and deep foundations of stone are set into the earth. Around the city, growing in the comparatively drier soil of the grasslands are innumerable flowers that comes to be called æfnung, whose blooms stay tightly bound until the very last moments of the day. Brewed into a tea they give a calming and restful night's sleep. Distilled into a tonic is enough to drive a Venk into a deep sleep from which even a bucket of water can do little to dislodge, and rumors abound of swamp witches who use the flower to plunge maidens into endless slumber so the witch might take her youth.

>>6130474
>Habitun cult
Dwarven construction is a fine thing, for a dwarf. For the Svaltfar however its quite the hazard of low ledges, maze like corridors that all look the same (a handful of dwarven prisoners explain, with no small pride, that any proper undergrounder would understand the minor variations of the stone types in each corridor, rendering signage unneeded), and cramped quarters that the fairly tall dark elves struggle to fit into. A steady cloud of dust and rubble marks the construction efforts to make Thul Urdor more livable, though much of the rubble is reused to bolster the walls and defenses of the city instead. Far, far away the efforts to claim the fortress are aided by a new fishing community that springs up along the shores of lake Supkha. The bounty of the lake is gathered up, smoked into barrels, and then shipped far away to the mountain fortress to provide food in the otherwise inhospital land.

>>6130654
>Urotti
High and thick walls are the order of the day in Urotti lands, though sadly much of it is done with timbers rather than stone as the grim business of survival in exile continues. Much food can be found though in the cold north if you know where to look, and how to coax it to life, and even as the walls and defenses spring up scouts find the determined shoots of tubers and spot the splash of great ocean beasts in the frigid ocean. Ambersteel is shaped into fresh axes, pikes and mattocks, and obsidian charms are fashioned against the shadow spirits of the long nights. Life goes on for Urotti.

>>6131200
Free Association of Tagagaya
A changeling is whatever they need to be. This central fact underscores the creation of the Tagaya Guerillas, who study the style and strategies of their neighbors seeking not to surpass them, but rather to support them. Scouts, flanks, heavy infantry, the guerillas are not the best, but they are what is needed.
In dripping caverns prospectors discover Weeping Silver Ore, a curious amalgam of metals that oozes a shiny silver liquid. When smelted it produces a distinctive silvery alloy unlike anything else in Pavillion. Coins marked with different faces on each side are quickly minted into circulation.

>>6131316
>The Krawl
Krawl burrow deep into the twisting labyrinths of the abandoned home of the spiders, seeking whatever might be found there. The explorations are cut short through when hulking creatures burst through the walls of the ruins and attack the scouts. Resembling a strange hybrid of tigers and moles, but as large as a rhino with glinting metallic claws and brown-black stripe patterns, the creatures defend their home first viciously, then desperately as Krawl forces pour in. Though ferocious and deadly, and remarkable tunnelers, the sheer numbers of the Krawl win out in the end. In the desert far to the south deep canyons are carved in the earth and a new Krawl hive is opened in the sandy dunes, setting the stage for future exploration of the area.

>>6131827
>Orcmanie
Cadon, ancestral lands of the Moonhurleur finds itself the newest site of construction in Orcmanie. Ancient hunting halls are rebuilt and reinforced with great slabs of red granite, streets rebuilt, and firm plans laid down for the future of the city.
Rune Marked Armor is the latest height of craftsmanship among the star forge smiths. The armor is forged, then kept hot as wizen priests bear the heat of the forge and carefully work each runic symbol into the armor in a painstaking process that takes hours as the emblem of Ganuz takes shape. In the heat of battle the lines of the runes burn like moonlight and shift, taking the shape of waves and vines and other signs of Ganuz. So too do the warriors who wield the armor, moving like water or standing like unbreakable oaks or other signs of Ganuz’s approval.

>>6132192
>Kingdom of Ordalan
Trade is the lifeblood of a nation and Ordelan is no exception. With metal flowing from Barza and coin to be made in the Tagaya trade cities many a nix finds themselves well off and enjoying the labor of Anelk slaves, who by and large seem almost relieved to be free of their Aripan oppressors.
Still, the changelings raise a certain paranoia among Ordelan nobility, all the more reinforced by rumors of the barbarian scion returning to Ordelan. There are whispers that he has used foul necromancy to sustain himself well past his lifetime, and twice patrols have cut him down only to find a changeling corpse in his stead. Is he a changeling himself? In league with them? Or just lining the pockets of their mercenaries? The paranoia gives rise to the position of Huskarls, trained stewards, bodyguards and detectives and masters of detecting even the slightest mistake in a changeling's disguise.

>>6134316
>>Skrit
It is said that fish have no word for water, and for many centuries the skrit had no word for chemistry. Pheromones, chemical soups, delicate trails of gels and slimes that held a wealth of information all held their place of course, and the mixing and creation of such things eventually transcended simple biology, and rose to create the internal chemical language of the skrit. It should be no surprise then that the Skrit turned to chemistry like others might turn to magic. Say the right words in skrit chemical language and you could light a fire, etch metal, or poison an animal. Really, the possibilities were endless.
In more mundane efforts, the skrit were considering the art of armorsmithing. Great sheets of heavy lead, are beaten and rolled out, then formed over plates of chitin and leather. The war ants produced by this process are by no means light on their feet, but nothing short of a well placed warhammer will put them down.

>Domo War Action: Cattle Raids but no Cattle
Though they don’t know it, the Domo’s timing is quite fortunate. The armies of the Vizari have been drawn to the south, leaving the underbelly of the nation exposed and vulnerable. As such, the raid proves successful far beyond a mere scouting action. Domo raiders sweep in, finding trinkets of iron and many pieces of hollow, clear stone that even the clan elders cannot make heads or tails of. The preliminary raids also capture a number of slaves, including a few children that seem to have been blessed by the gods. These youth have the ability to cobble together little life-forms out of earth and stone, though their powers are weak and clumsy for now. Kholan’s blessing shines upon the Domo tonight!

>Krovian-Vizari Iron War
In the city of Vizari, the very concept of a Krovian invasion is regarded as a bit of a joke. The beast-men are barely ascended from their shark ancestors. They have no concept of culture, of golem-work, of even the most elementary magic. The panicked reports being dispatched from the iron mines are no doubt signs of shameful cowardice rather than an honest appraisal of the situation. It is only natural, then, that city officials demand the golem masters at the mines sally forth to meet the adversary, and refuse to send supplies until they do so. However, the cowards defending the mines refuse to budge until the riptide pylons are in place. The pylon builders, after a few disastrous attempts to brave shark infested waters, refuse to set out without the aid of the army. The impasse becomes a crisis, the already-byzantine bureaucracy of Vizari grinding to a total halt even as the enemy wreaks havoc in the countryside. The few caravans that do set out into the desert find themselves beset by beastmen raiders who gleefully plunder the iron shipments, when they aren’t scorching the little decent farmland the Vizari possess.
Meanwhile, Krovian forces strike out into the deserts, finding the barren wasteland contains a surprising number of villages, supported by rune inscribed stones that call up water from deep within the earth. These villages’ inhabitants rapidly find themselves enslaved by the Krovians and marched back toward the sea, while the host of the Krovian army meets the push of wizards having finally decided to attack. The undersupplied wizards and their golem legions quickly prove no match for the sharkmen. The Hordes quickly adapt to their molten glass foes, bowling through their ranks to reach the decidedly more fragile casters behind them. In particular, the bronze shortage of the sharks is not felt quite as keenly as it might have been, since bladed weapons are largely useless against the glass golems, but the sizable greatclubs many Krovians are now favoring work quite well. The wizards, having expected to face barbarians and addicts, are thrown into disarray and routed. The Krovians Hordes run free in the desert of Vizari.

> Alviting Berg Peace Summit (Guliseare Punitive War Conclusion)
At long last, peace returns to the mountains and the lands to their west, sown by blood and blade and tended by diplomats and scribes. The lands around Bahay have been secured, with Adenai and Orcmanie taking possession of the woodlands. Changeling, Aripan and Anelk slaves and prisoners change hands by the dozens, then hundreds. Ordelan in particular acquires slaves by the thousands, to the point where even commoners often have an Anelk servant. Peace settles over the western region of Pavillion as soldiers return home at last, and the western region of Pavilion breathes a great sigh of relief, though many worry that peace is merely a chance for the Harpies to plot their revenge.


---------END OF TURN NINE---------

>>6132445
>The Adenai Confederacy
The war had come to a close, but not fear of its peculiar neighbors to the south. These Nixen women! Demon blooded witches no doubt in league with the harpies if their behavior at the summit was any indication. A grand new fortress and garrison is constructed on the border to declare a firm message that Ordelan meddling will not be tolerated.
In the homeland a bold new breed of knight has arisen, the Opal Knight, riding on a life bonded opal drake steed. These mighty creatures are as regal as they are fierce and proud. Each one will only serve a single rider, and only after the rider has earned its respect with suitable deeds and gifts, a gold coronet studded with opals is customary. The sight of an Opal Knight taking the field exerts an almost physical pressure so authoritative their presence is.

>>6132859
>Barza
Barzantine missionaries set out in all directions, seeking to spread the lessons of Luxos, though undoubtedly their mission is likely to be a difficult one. Some climb high into the mountains, crossing dangerous passes into Vitruvia and Guliseare, others follow the roads, old and still being paved, to Negosyo, Sturnes and Vizari. The bravest set out to the wild lands to the east, and bring back tales of sharkmen and strange fungal beasts and a vast jungle. The first pilgrims focus on the creation of small wayfarers temples that double as inns and supply depots in the far reaches of the kingdom, to better aid the passage of future missionaries on their trips to distant lands. The first to bring back solid news are those from Negosyo, where they report having established a small but steady church in the city and face no major issues, but at the same time are largely lost in a sea of other barbaric gods. The gods of Ordelan, Adenai, Tagaya, Orcmanie and even Guliseare all have some presence here, and while the Luxos faith is viewed well, it holds no particular sway beyond that of the two dozen other gods mingling in the streets of the merchant city. (You can launch future missionary efforts for free in future turns, just specify where you’re sending them. One per turn.)

>>6133245
>The Divine Republic of Guliseare
A strange day for Guliseare. Trade roads being built into the territory of lessers, bringing alchemical wonders into the mountains, while at the same time a new squadron of soldiers train in covert sabotage for a war that whose time has passed. There is much turmoil in the highest and holiest of places, accusations of unfaithfulness, of diluted purity, and lacking devotion, but none can deny a sense of relief that the war is over. What the future holds for Guliseare is an open question, though in many ways the future is bright. Personal orchards grown by alchemy have sprung up in the courtyards of the nobility, and though beleaguered by war, the might of Guliseare is still a thing to be respected, and feared.

---------END OF TURN NINE, NO REALLY---------

>>6135086
Report on Lesser Activities to Cyra, Noreusper of Guliseare, executioner of Thessa, bane of Kaenum, unifier of the Aripan, Ruler of all the hallowed mountains, Aelelox's chosen prophet, most blessed and holy Aripan to fly upon the skies and walk upon the earth.

The peace deal has been signed. The terms, relatively speaking, were light. While we have lost land, some Anelk slaves, and the Kaenumites have laid claim to our orchards, the damage done to us in the long term is minimal. However, we must prepare. The changelings were quite displeased with the modesty of the conflicts result and as such will surely be out for blood. This, along with the decision by some of the council to actually interact with the lessers means that we should do something to prevent the possibility of infiltration by Kaenumite elements among the Aripan. While fully ridding the Anelk of such things is likely impossible due to their very nature, we can at the very least ensure no incidents akin to the heretic messiah plague us.

Your faithful servant, Kallixeina.

>Action One. Re-creation of the Orchards
While we have lost the land the Orchards once were upon, the new potions that were traded to us by the strange lessers of the east whom call their lands Vitruvia are of extreme usefulness, allowing the new trees that replace the old Orchards to grow in record time and with far more bounty. In some ways it is a blessing that the war ended before these potions could be used so that our enemies never are able to see the bounty that was possible. Although, in time the effectiveness of these orchards would boom greater than ever before thanks to the efforts of the Aripan, or rather the blessings of Aelelox, though this was the future, not the now which was already fairly bountiful.

>Action Two. Formation of the Inquzonie
The Purity of the faith and the lands is important. Countless Anelk have proven to secretly hold Kaenumite beliefs and now that Guliseare is, at least partially, opening up to the world around them methods need to be undertaken to ensure purity of our lands, our people, and our souls. As such, the Inquzonie would be formed. Priests known for their faith, intelligence, and wisdom. Oft capable of magic. They are the sword to deal with any undesirable elements in Guliseare society, be they heretical Kaenumites or those corrupted by lesser infiltration along with those infiltrators themselves. Something deemed very important given the reported dissatisfaction of the Changelings in the peace deal and the possibility of a 'secret' war.

>>6135066
Long and longer ago, what preceded the Domo was merely nothing but statues in the deeps, carved out by Kholan to watch and protect her realm when she was unable to. Now, to receive these lessers to be molded in our name and so blessed in her cleanly arts? It is a sign, that at the very least, these people in the east are welcomed by her to command the natural world with such ease.

>Action 1: How Am I More Assimilationist Than The Aliens
Why, they shouldn't even be slaves! We must appoint them places within the highest of the families and feed them as much as they want. Teach them the ways of Kholan and support them in whatever efforts they may take to sharpen their command. There's a horrible quota we need to fulfill as well, so why not sacrifice anyone that they want gone? That's the very least we could do for someone so blessed by Kholan (and within our grasps.) In the next generations, if their blood and blessings is within our lines, think of how much pow- favor we'll have with Kholan to make ourselves distinct from the forested folks north.

>Action 2: Might of Legion
Sensing a wrongness in the wind, a distinct lack of attention to An'naud, imbuing it with stagnation antithetical to the Song of Life, the third Archpriest of Kholan in An'naud (the second one went missing in the sea while trying to look for the former plainsdwellers) sends a commandment across all of the Domo land, ferried by his traders to Koll'naud and sent by the desertine to the still silent plains. It is "That the might of all Domo be harnessed and led in command by those who is taught in the ways of Kholan, for the institution of blood is the institution of Her and for the Archpriest hears a great strife in the wind." It hearkens back to the old priestkings and theoretically meant to strengthen the priesthood from An's hold over all Domo. In practice, this connection of theological understanding and warmaking is made official, making everyone with power study the ways of Kholan and dress themselves in spiritual vestments, and a certain amount of anxiety-fueled training, minor conflicts and duels mostly caused by every Domo being worried that their strength isn't enough to face whatever disaster that made the Archpriest send an actual commandment.

Besides of all that, the consolidation of power throughout Domo society and the discovery of a people blessed by Kholan outside the Domo finally made the collective Domo consider sending folks to talk with their neighbours. overcoming their apprehension of "diplomats".

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Once more so soon, the King is Dead! Long Live the King! But what more can be expected of old men upon whom greatness is thrust?
By the great grace of our Lord Aagen,
who has granted us this tyrn of the sun, and in remembrance of our own blessed father, I, King Vone of the Vencs do hereby order;
>After the strange attacks on the Guild-Masons of Cærys, high walls are to be erected around the city and manned with the best bowmen from all Vencia
>An Aagenic inquisition is to be held throughout the realm, driving out the heresies and superstitions; both those long allowed to fester and new beliefs which must be nipped in the bud. In part this shall include the tearing down of the ruins of old Hyngran in lower Sigordan from which all manner of delusion has poured forth.
His majesty also has samples of both the æfnung and a selection of the finds the guildsmen have uncovered in their works to the Court of Rudam and to the scholars of the Abbey of Cockaigne too.

>>6135066
Our lack of sufficient building materials has become a seriously concerning issue, especially given we now share our nation with terrifyingly powerful Rocs who seem to adore roosting upon perches, a habit that has caused no small number of buildings to collapse.

The most August halls of Hohenholm are of sturdy make, but old and difficult to maintain. It is for this purpose that the Vitruvians scout their great nation for fine lumber and tough stone to allow them to create structures that will stand the test of time.


Action 1: Prospect for wood (Alive Oaks)

An unnatural forest grows in the jungle, a haunted and eerie place. The trees here grow all year round, stretching and reaching into the sky. Their branches appear almost like grasping limbs, and silent screaming faces are frozen upon their bark.

This is a forest of Homunculi, a forgotten Devia caste twisted into trees by the Smoke-Lit Masters in ages past. These trees are our very brethren, the only living forest of their kind in the world, an artificial horror show.
Naturally logging operations begin immediately. It is noted that cutting the trees down results in intense and vocal screaming, as does the process of cutting the logs into planks, burning or otherwise seriously altering them. Some Homunculi claim that even after processing the wood tends to “groan” a lot more than normal when under stress.
Alive Oak wood retains its characteristic patterning even when processed into planks, covered in screaming faces all the way to the heartwood.

Setting aside its horrifying properties, Alive Oak wood is extremely strong and highly resistant to decay, able to be put to more or less any task that requires strong wood, as long as one can handle the noise.

Action 2: Prospect for stone (Deepslates)

Some journey in search of stone far and wide across our territory, others descend deep and down into the dark, aided by Devia without eyes but peerless hearing, or Devia with the ability to see in the dark who are a lot more useful, or just Menia explorers with lanterns so those other weirdos don’t have to get involved.

As the stone layers change, they give way to a new type of rock, dark and smooth like common slates, but displaying a remarkable durability (and weight) that sets it apart from other stones found thus far. Decently easy to polish, cut or tile with, it becomes the stone of choice for anything a Roc might possibly want to roost atop.

Outcroppings of these Deepslates are greedily harvested once the discovery is made, but some issues present themselves. While the stone itself is wonderful, how deeply it is buried is an issue, requiring great and monstrous quarries and complicated crane systems to lift what can be excavated to the surface for processing.

>>6135065
>>6135070

>Action 1: Food for Cadon
The lands around Cadon are examined and assessed for their richness and variety, and any foodstuffs discovered tested for their deliciousness; for all need to eat and eating well brings pride. Any foodstuffs the Orcmen might find will be grown or reared, increased in quantity by the workers of the land so that they might form a decent part of the local cooking.

(If there are no local 'food' resources to find, basic Farms in the area I guess?)

>Action 2: The Jousting Lists of Rooin
With victory (however minor it might be) fresh won, Duke Guyard returns to his capitol in triumph. Here, he commands that the site of past jousts and tourneys will be built anew in Red Granite block; building what had been a simple clearing of land into a grand new arena for holding jousts, practice and the many events of Tourney, so that the Knights of the Orcmanie might practice their skill at arms even in times of peace in the land, and settle matters of honour between the nobility without resorting to strife and internal conflict. Much seating for the peoples of Rooin is built into the raised stonework surrounds, so that the nobles and freemen of the city might watch and take enjoyment among the knightly contests and displays of prowess, and give their support and applause to the worthy.

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>>6135070
Elector Princess Regent Lucilla of House Siglinda enjoys being in a bed once more, a proper one, not made for birds, not made for travel, just made for comfort. Indeed she would seek to acquire one with bedding of Moon Cotton. However it soon falls to her to rule as regent again, as Queen Leutgard rushes off to find any war to join just so she doesn't have to be in Ordalan and deal with the upset nobles. So it falls to Lucilla to deal with those nobles who complain rampantly about the trade deal she had brokered.

>Action 1: Build the Great Church of the Blossoming Dawn at the crossroads northeast of Sturnes. A great church complex with plenty of gardens dedicated to appreciating the sun and nature. Also where we indoctrinate the Anelk slaves so they don't go worshiping the Nachetars.
As Lucilla ponders how to stop the erosion of Orda Nixglau, she figures a good first step is interception. She talks with nobles and organizes the construction of a great church complex at the crossroads. Ensuring that priests are present to shepherd any Nix who is lead astray by the seductive words of the foreigners, especially the changelings. There are also gardens where you can rest your weary feet and appreciate the nature which we seek to safeguard against the fell nights. There are memorials where you learn of the people who fell to allow you to live, statues of the great heroes that inspired others to fight even against hopeless odds. It is also where some of the troublesome Anelk are indoctrinated, made to appreciate their part in a world of vibrant sun and colour, as opposed to a cold and dark Sunless Age, where the Nachetars devour them.

>Action 2: Establish Rose Garden/Farm at the ruins of Kholankorda. The ashes of the fell thicket will nourish the roses that herald the blossoming dawn.
While Lucilla busies herself in the north, the returning Pyre Axes start setting up gardens in the south, upon the ashes of what once was Kholankorda, the fell thicket of the beastmen from the west. At these gardens they cultivate roses, seeking the most enchanting and beautiful, which they then burn in their rituals. Each rose burnt is a beauty lost but not forgotten. With large scale production of these roses, each Nixen can be burned wreathed in roses, but great warriors get beds of roses as their pyre.

>Military: The Queen's Army marches to Vizari, to fight against the sharkmen. Restoring access to iron.
Hearing of the iron that once flowed from Vizari, and an opportunity to escape the court, the queen ventures southeast with her portion of the army. The Chariots are excited for open field warfare, the Spears can get to stand in the way of non-flying opponents, and the Pyre Axes can get into a proper melee. As a bonus, our part in the war will get us iron for cheap.

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>>6135065
Action 1: Build lake port
>Our tree lines are thinning. Your requests are unsustainable. We are simply not receiving enough of the mystical tree-growth potions to make the difference you imagine us capable of.
>You will simply have to make do with our current crystal production rate.
- Missive from Bille Hitab to Habitun Council

>Potion shipment #382 has fallen from mountain pass on 3rd mil past Red Fir. Mule slipped on loose rock.
>Bakhold Pouncers arrived at location promptly, and have been gorging themselves off intelligent shoots. Crew were switched for Shadows, and smoke cloud was deployed until the growths ceased.
>Road maintenance advised[1].
1. Denied. Lack of mundanely traversable roads indispensable to Habitun defense, see Scouting Logs: Chapter 2, pg 340.
- Huntsman Gorm,
"Records of Huntsmen Dispatch, Log #615"

>House Hitab's ravenous demand for exports is beyond our capabilities. Our rods cannot take the strain, and our bellies are left gravlaxless more often than not.
>Have seen the young Fisker take a raft to go away from shore and bring back loads more fish.
>Grant resources, and we promise to increase production tenfold!
- Petition from Gronn Dal village head to Habitun Council

>You may begin construction of facilities to manufacture boats, for fishing, transportation, and exploration. Tell of strangers beyond the Skrit are concerning, and need investigating, and you will be the first step on that path.
>You are also to cease monopolizing output of Gronn Dal, or the council will see your bonuses stripped. Barter for it as everyone else does.
- Missive from Habitun council to Bever Hitab

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>>6136451
Action 2: Research Shadow Stabbing Medqa Blades
>Giant winged creature spotted flying from southeast, through Vitruvian lands. Unknown origin. Multiple eyewitnesses corroborated seeing it fly somewhat west of Fuaha and above Thul Urdor.
>Interviewed homesteader Blue Eye Don, claimed he saw at least one alfoid sitting on it. Might be scout from outsider nation.
- Scout Report #3011

>I am sorry to say that no, our Medqa simply cannot jump that high. I had experimented in the past having a stack of three launching off of one another in succession, but they did not make it that much higher than a singular's hop. It would take an astronomical number of Medqa to achieve such a stacked jump height.
- Reply from Arvid Murawid to Habitun Council query

>Seer of Smoke: Heard about strange easterners. Council requires solution.
>Stige Sukon: Predictable. Taken steps as soon as they arrived, though work began before.
>Seer of Smoke: It is good we share the passion for future proofing. I still require a promise to provide the council and marshal.
>Stige Sukon: Fine. Medqa eat tree shadow, turn tree crystal. I study Medqa to make a Medqa blade. Stab Medqa blade into far away foe's shadow, turn far away foe crystal.
>Seer of Smoke: Appalling. How far ahead are you?
>Stige Sukon: In desperate need of funds to lubricate my way through the Siblings' stonewalling.
>Seer of Smoke: You have my permission to draw from our vault in Bikube without limit.
>Stige Sukon: And Habitun is safe once more.
>Seer of Smoke: A thought occurs. How is far away shadow reached in the first place?
>Stige Sukon: Vexing issue, agreed. But once the blade is obtained, support from Siblinghood for shadow coaxing should become easier. You fight your battles, I fight mine.
- Series of communiques between Stige Sukon and the Seer of Smoke

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>>6135065
>Action 1: Go grab that free stuff someone left lying around (colonise rape mollusk island)
There's a whole nice island to the east no one bothers taking. It's full of walkign treasure (tasty rape snails) and whatever they had built in their half-civilised state for centuries past.

Adventurers seeing no profit in the ongoing war set out to this new land seeking strength and fortune.

>Action 2: Expand merchant caravans
The war in the north-east brought us a lot of money. Both sides are buying from us a lot and there is much profit to be made. Expand our mercantile operations, secure caravans, tailor goods and up our negotiating skill. Let's milk them for every penny and Peny they got!

Diplo summary:
>Domo diplo
they showed up, brought some gifts. We didn't get to talking yet, but they are unhappy with my religious practices.
>Sharkmen diplo
Some mercenaries from my nation are fighting on their side (about 2/7ths). In exchange they get pillaging rights and 15% of captured slaves as well as being paid with slaves a regular wage. Furthermore the sharks are employing bards from my nation who weave for them carpets depicting their grand victorious battles and singing hymns of their great victories and proud wars.

The mercs from that side focus on getting valuable slaves such as merchants, nobles, aristocrats, soldiers, mages and warriors. Frakt however claims those he would not sell. The bards spend cosiderable amounts of their time downplaying the achievement of mages and generals while getting sharks drunk on their egos and on alcochol trying to buy some of those. (again Frakt claims this just does not work, I however think there should be a success rate attached here and the QM should weigh in)

>Republic of Towers Diplo
Their state is purchasing on mass mainly steel made weapons from my nation. As well as employing many mercenaries. (5/7ths). For that I am getting large swaths of luxury goods mainly drug-chickens and high quality glass. I am milking dry their state.

On the other hand I am selling back to him the high value slaves gotten from the peopel workin for the sharks at a mark-up. The state seems unable to afford buying them back, but their families are paying well for that. So I am milking both his state and his civilians for every penny they got.

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>>6135065
>Action 1 - Fort 2.0
A new fort by the named of Bryat will bebuilt alongside the mines. A bold move, but the Krovians are foolhardy in their aggression, and Chieftan Drevino firmly believes that aggression can solve any problem. Fort Morda allows them to secure the waters for their own purposes, and with supplies able to be shipped over, a fort on this side will serve as useful barracks to venture forth and take what is rightfully theirs!

>Action 2 - Patrol Schools [Anti-subterfuge]
As abroad, so at home. The answer to subterfuge and harassment is aggression, wanton and overblown. Chief Drevino's loyal forces, usually led by his various sons, will gather up who they can and stalk the streets as an impromptu police-force. Wanton extortion will be met with violence, and while it won't stop Alpha and 'his' plans, it might at least slow them down.

>War!
The time has come. Men, women, soldiers, mages, all are herded up to the temple of the crimson tide, their blood the latest course in the Krovian's vile rituals. Running down the temple in a great tide, the shamans will heap blessings upon their soldiers overseas, the pulse of life coursing from one to another as first the river, then the sea itself, are stained an ever-deeper red.
With that, the time for plans and cunning is over. The mines will be taken, and the richness of the earth secured for Krovian will! Alongside cowardly mercenaries they will descend upon the frightened, huddled miners, and let the feasting begin!

Actions this turn:

If alliance with the magi of the towers is to be successful, we must learn how to fight successfully alongside them. Further military drills, reforms and equipment will be necessary. We know the new foe from what has been shown to us, and knowledge is power.
Further investment into the Royal Geomancer’s College. We must expand our repertoire of magics.
Missionary Action:
Send them to the north-east, past the Ordalan and into the lands beyond.

War Action:
The armies of the lords march to the west. Word of the Ordalan once again fighting by our side claims they shall head into the south towards the desert sands where the iron lies; so we must take advantage of that by striking into the lands of the Barbaroi who so brazenly assault our staunch allies. (Crossing the river, marching towards the direction of Morda)

>>6136899
>>6135086

>>6135086
>Action 1: Cultural Boom [Culture or whatever]
The return of the Askheni volunteers from the lands of the east signify a return to the relative reclusiveness of the Half-Elf aristocrats. T'is much more preferable to risk but coin and dignity in the pursuit of political power than it is to risk life and limb in the pursuit of war. There were however many ambitious young men who saw war as an opportunity for fame; with this now robbed from them, they find other avenues of glory.

What had begun as private performances among private parties of the Twigs, the demand and appreciation of music had increased to an unprecedented degree. Small ensembles of string players led by a conductor had become commonplace, at first playing on the balconies of their manors, and then eventually in parks and the forum. Those with too much time (and money) on their hands had become to cultivate a common obsession with music, these small orchestras often being conducted by the ambitious and quickly-studied young men who had hoped for a war in the prime of their lives. [I would flesh out the instrument used, but honestly I'm not a music guy, so Swift have fun if you want to. Mostly Strings, I guess. Maybe someone invents a fiddle.]

>Action 2: Agricultural Boom [Building. Duh]
The veterans from the Battle of Bahay, it's rebuilding, and the Harpy pursuit have finally returned home. While not excessive in number, they are owed a payment of land to farm nonetheless. The burgeoning city of Adenai is beginning to fill the palisade constructed for it's defense, and many construction initiatives in the outskirts beyond the walls have become commonplace. It was then of little debate where these veterans would reap their rewards (and their crops!). Just outside of the walls to the northwest, hundreds of acres of farmland is occupied and worked by retirees. Savvy Leaves have taken the initiative of buying out some farmers to create larger centralized plantations, and others doing the same behind thinly veiled "farmer cooperatives".

[Also, name the Fort from last turn to "Castra Orienta" because it's currently just a dot on the map.]

>>6135066
>War Action: Natural Borders
While the leader of the clans waste themselves down south, agents of the Archpriest traveled and convinced the temporarily leaderless Slaugish Domo to reclaim the Gruumish plains from the unjust colonization of the Vizari and return it into orcish hands. A few of them travels southeastward towards Vizari itself in the hopes of abducting mages to integrate into their clans.

>>6135065
Cutting through the rumors and dissatisfied murmurs of the city is the news of the death of the Archmage and many of the council. While officially announced as a variety of reasons, old age, mana drain, and suicide, the truth is an open secret that the high mages saw weakness and decided it was time for a new governing body. A new Archmage is elected to take the white, Archemides Dolaria, a former member of the Ivory Tower, or as it's also known as the Tower of Bone or Tower of Souls.

RP Summary: Archmage Dola puts down the pride of the old regime and bolsters the forces of the Vizari. To the north the Barzaentines, brothers of the old empire, have become official allies. The Nixen Queen herself brings her troops south to fight under the promise of future trade. Even from the west, amoral and money motivated as they are, the Turban traders and mercenaries are paid for supplies, arms, and bodies.

1. Life Drain spells
As new allies and mercenaries come in the project of raising the undead as new soldiers is, quietly, shelved as the issue of bodies is solved. However, not all from this project is abandoned. Magics to steal energy from the living, the same that drives the body to move and stay awake, is drained and empowers the caster, or can be transferred from the caster to another, empowering and healing the one on the receiving end. While a powerful weapon it is also a new tool to heal troops or awaken men in a pinch.

2. Sand Pylons
The city of Vizari still lies as a target, and even if the iron mines are their obvious goal that does not mean some of their band will not attempt to raid the city as their army scatters. The water pylons' magic is altered slightly so that instead of torrents of water instead, when the city is under threat, a magic signal may turn the sandy desert into a violent sandstorm that can turn men away, bury them in sand, or even shred flesh from bone. While it may not be needed it will assuage the fears of the populace in the city.

War: The Turban mercenaries and merchants have been requested to further bolster and supply the defenders of the iron mines; currently cut off from the city itself. The Nixen are requested to act as the primary scouts due to their speed to track the activity of the Krovian warbands. With that knowledge the combined forces will move down the coast, cut off their safe route to retreat to their homeland, and pincer their army between the defenders of the mines and the advancing army. If the scouts show that the whole army can not make it to fulfill this plan the speedy Nixen will instead be sent ahead while the slower Magi and golems ensure the coast is captured. Through surrender or death the Archmage desires none of the sharks to leave the desert they wished to claim.

Arguments against the Krovian 'strategy': As discussed with the gm the farther away and more targets a spell the weaker it becomes. Also many sacrifices were traded away to the Turbans in diplo.

>Action 1 & 2 - (Culture/Intrigue) Israeli Tactics & The Diplomats
In the aftermath of the precarious negotiations of the so-called "pragmatism" of the neighboring nations has been duely noted, and observed as a gross negligence of justice.

Lacking the power to enforce it themselves, the changelings instead seek to influence the culture of their citizens towards the view of the Changelings as brilliant visionaries and invaluable allies. This is done both by charitable acts of public concerts, and performances, as well as generously tipping when receiving goods or services from the poor locals, such that they may grow excited by the appearance of a changeling, and fear that their business may be impacted if an ill fate was to afflict the changelings. The victories of the resident nation are also celebrated as to provide a seemingly bi-partisan celebration.

Of course, culture alone is insufficient. Current measures of monitoring must be doubled down, with merchant attendants who have been dutifully studying the culture and customs of the cities they visit transitioning into spies on payroll, tasked to infiltrate the state or join those who have already infiltrated it.

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>>6135068
4th Turn

1st Action: Prospect the Western Snowy Plains for Usable Ore

The Urotti Dwarves dispatch teams of seasoned miners to the western snowy plains. Braving the biting cold, they search for veins of Gusil (metal ores) and other valuable minerals beneath the frozen terrain. Discovering new resources here will be crucial for their rebuilding efforts and strengthening their arsenal.

2nd Action: Prospect the Eastern Snowy Plains for Usable Ore

At the same time, other prospecting teams set out to the eastern snowy plains. Equipped with sturdy tools and steely determination, they seek hidden deposits of ore within the icy hills. Uncovering these resources will boost their craftsmanship and support the growth of Virn-Garuhm.

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>>6135162
>Guliseare
Like the mythical firebird, fresh fruit trees rise up in no small part thanks to the shipments of alchemy from the lessers to the east. In fact, buoyed by plunder from before the war and limited trade after it the orchards of Guliseare are far richer and more varied than before, with many trees able to firmly entrench themselves in the soil during the springtime that would normally have perished in their younger years. As a consequence, the orchards of Guliseare rapidly become the envy of the surrounding regions, with a remarkable variety on offer.
No one expects the Guliseare Inquzonie to burst into their secluded heretical meeting, but the new holy order obsessed with purity raids Kaenumite den after den, taking anelk prisoners. The least lucky are exposed to Aelelox's Gaze, where for a moment Aelelox’s terrible glory shines through the eyes of her agents and those forced to stare into it are laid bare in their own soul, compelled to repent and confess and beg for mercy for their sins.

>>6135188
>Domo
The transformation of the children of the Vizari is a slow one. They are terrified children, many of them who have recently watched their parents and guardians be cut down, their homes burned, their entire world plundered and carted away. Domo teaches them of strength, of the right of power, that it is their weakness that lead to this fate, and it is only their strength that can escape it. The Domo nurture that strength, build it up, but the earth shaman who emerge from the shell of those lost children will only ever be Domo. Their strength was always Domo, and their weakness was always Vizari, and now they are only strength. Strength to command a mountain or a mudslide, to make dirt as a man to serve or wage war.
Strength to survive the wind of strife is on the mind of all Domo this tyrn. The words of the holy men echo in all ears, and all move with anxious energy, refining weapons, training the body, clashing in mock battles and wrestling and contests of speed and agility. They will be ready, they must be ready. Something is coming.

>>6135380
>Vone I, King of the Venks
A foul dark storm parted by Aegen’s grace and strange monsters within! The sight of it, and more like it, has all the countryside in a tizzy and rightfully so. Work begins immediately on high walls and a call for fine bowmen goes out. No matter how many terrors the swampland produces, the good people of Aegen will repel them!
The Aagenic inquisition sets to work in their quest for purity. Witches, sorcerers, and heretics alike are all put to the torch, within and without the church. In more distant parts entire villages are grimly put to the sword, deemed too far gone to save. Strange phenomenon and odd scarred Venks are hunted down, and put down. The mysteries start to form a curious trail that leads to the south, to the crumbling ruins of old Hyngran. There, something strange and terrible is discovered. Venks with strange wounds and foul green claws that seep with a virulent venom have constructed a ramshackle tower, enacting the rituals of some foul cult. Battle is joined and the cult is driven from the tower, scattering into the swamps. In a place of honor, amidst crazed notes, and twisted experiments, is a curious metal slab, marked with symbols and arcana and a large handprint.

>>6136947
>>Vizari
The art of life channeling is an inherently dangerous one. Practitioners must be well versed in several fields of study, chief among them is their own anatomy and that of any recipients of life energy. The magic operates best with direct contact, the more the better, though it can be directed wirh beams and bolts and rituals as well, though such things inevitably waste much of the life force extracted, and of course require much more raw mana. The stolen life force is quite useful for healing severe wounds, many vizari take to keeping slaves nearby to extract life energy from, or to use as storage, though ‘overcharged’ slaves do tend to die within a few months of such use. The body can only take so much.
Great monoliths of bronze and glass rise up on the shores that surround the city that give life and fury to the sands around them. Trusted merchants and travelers are given wardstones attuned to the monoliths that when held aloft cause a small, often uncomfortably so, clear passage to open up, allowing access to the docks that allow passage to the city beyond.

>>6136113
>Vitruvia
The butchering of Alive Oak tests the conscience of even the relentlessly practical homunculi, and gradually a loose opposition to the material’s use builds up in society. Opponents are careful to make their case in strictly utilitarian terms, but it is enough to send whispers of “independents!” through the halls of Hohenholm.
Deepslate is far more commonly accepted, being rapidly integrated into almost every aspect of homunculi architecture. New roc-houses in particular are built entirely of the stuff, emulating the natural cliff-side hollows the birds enjoy in nature. The mining of the material does have its peculiarities though, supervisors in the deep mines regularly call for a small shipment of alchemist's fire, and every third day of work is marked by a complete sessessation of sound except the striking of picks on stone. Those who have worked or visited the mines on such days refuse to comment further.

>>6136345
>Orcmanie
In the cool, well-drained soils south of Cadon grows a plant with blood-red fruit. It is common knowledge among the locals that the fruit of this plant can be chewed to chase away hunger and sleep enabling one to keep watch through the night. The plant is brought to Cadon city for evaluation of its effects, where it is found that not only do the berries and leaves have the promised effect, but that the same effect may be brewed into a potion that may be preserved in casks or amphorae. The berries, juice, seeds, and leaves of this plant become key ingredients in Cadonian cuisine.
Far to the north, the people of Rooin engage in leisure. The Jousting Lists represent the pinnacle of early Orcmanian architecture, with builders taking conscious cues from traditional Orcmanie building techniques and materials. The raised stonework is painted with dark red and ochre stains that seem to glow brightly in the sunset light.

>>6136408
>Kingdom of Ordalan
Strikes and banditry by the barbarian scion grow more bold and arrogant by the day with the army traveling to distant lands. Rumors abound about changeling spies, orcish rebels on their distinctive steeds, and elf bards with bewitching siren songs, though at present there is little the kingdom can do about it with its army far afield.
Instead the focus of the kingdom falls on more delicate matters. Minds that once considered only the best way to bring the machinery of war up the side of mountains now ponder the construction of soaring architecture and striking stained glass windows, imported at no small expense from the vizari, especially given half of them are ruined by sharkmen banditry! The beautiful cathedral draws no small number of pilgrims from Negosyo, Barzeantine and the lands beyond, though the Barza pilgrims largely seem interesting in debating the merits of their own god instead of joining the worship and contemplation of Ordelan’s.
On the southern border a great effort is undertaken to cultivate vast numbers of roses across the scarred land that was once Kholankorda. All wither, save for a dark red cultivar with wicked barbed thorns. Carts of rose hips, dried into raisins or reduced into jams find their way across the land and prove a popular and effective deterrent to mild diseases as well. Many in Ordelan take the emblem of the savage rose as their own.

>>6136451
>Habitun cult
The vast lake stretches out beyond the sight of men or even svartálfar elves. It is clean and drinkable, and so must be bounded by land somewhere, but where? To that end docks and ports and all the sundry little professions and jobs required of a navy are built along the shoreline, shoving aside the small fishing operations that work the waterfront, dredging up crawfish and eel and other fish of the lake. A few boats strike out across the water and find great jungles along the southern shoreline, and familiar taiga along the north, teaming with the friendly sight of skrit workers. Just as the provisions run low the ships spot signs of something buried deep beneath the water on the southern shore.
To stab a shadow seems nonsense and madness, but perhaps it is no less mad than becoming a shadow oneself. It is true that there is a connection between shadow and the object that casts it however, if the bizarre crystallization tree shadows the medqa consume means anything. Attempts are made to weaponize the shell and chitin of shadow medqa, thinking they held the secrets required, though it is rapidly discovered to only be a piece of the puzzle. The weapon must be infused with the sacrifice of a shadow well before it can strike at the shadows of others. Those struck, usually by pinning the shadow to the ground, can usually force their way free, but long painful wounds open up on the body, tinged with opalescent whorls that take many months to heal, though a drought of glittering vapor allows the wounds to heal normally.

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>>6136783
>Turqoise Turbans
A half-blind, heavily wounded Vizari washes up on the shore of the Turquoise land one day. After recovering and learning enough of the Turban language to converse, he tells his story. The man was once a war mage, washed out to sea by a Krovian assault. For weeks, he drifted upon a log of wood, until he washed up on a new continent The Turbans do not quite believe his fanciful tales of a land of giants, disappeared without a trace, leaving only their armor. Still, accounts of his story are written down and sold to what turns out to be an eager audience. Some adventurers are inspired to settle western lands, while others set out to find the mythical land of giants. Most disappear, but those who return improve the Turbans knowledge of sailing and navigation[The island is too far for your current sailing tech, but trying does improve your peoples skill at sailing].
Iron, weapons, slaves, soldiers. All these and more flow eastwards, drawing the treasure of two empires west in return. Flush with trade money, Turbanic merchants built a caravanserai at the limits of their territory, allowing the easier movement of goods and people. Here, pack animals can drink from the clear waters of a natural spring while merchant and mercenaries alike enjoy a strong drink and swap tall tales about the exotic lands beyond.

>>6136823
>Krovian Bands
The originally planned location having been taken by a Vizari assault, Fort Bryat must be built upon an atoll in the sea. The fort is a key nexus for providing supplies to the increasingly beleaguered forces holed up in the iron mines.
The idea of law enforcement is a strange thing to the Krovians, but the core idea of fixing problems with violence does appeal to them. Outright war breaks out in the streets of the capital, usually during nighttime raids of drug dens. A curious discovery is made, the drug cartel has developed a technique for extracting the blood of stumble birds without killing them, then processing it into a crimson liquid that is bottled up and sold. The influence of the cartel is diminished, though undoubtedly it still lurks around the fringes of society, waiting for a chance to slink back in. And of course the illicit trade of blood derived products continues, sometimes at distressingly high levels of government.

(Note: forgot the Vizari double wall, included in this map)

>>6136899
>Barzantine
March and drill and parade. The soldiers of the Baraentine train and study, improving their discipline and coordination, forming a tight chain of command where every soldier knows their place, their weapon, and their purpose. Every man of the army will need to be able to trust the man beside them if they are to have any hope of withstanding the ferocity of the monstrous child eaters to the west.
Core to many of the strategies of the Barzaentine is the Flash Fortification, a new geomantic technique. Three geomancers working in concert, usually protected by mundane soldiers, shift soil and loose stones into a series of pits, low walls, and stubby towers. Within just a few minutes a Barza squad can create one of these fortifications and man it, forming a difficult to dislodge knot in the battlefield, or halting ambushes by turning open fields into makeshift fortresses in a flash.
Missionaries who travel to the lands past Ordalan find themselves amongst the Adenai. Here ancestor worship reigns supreme, with much of the high society focusing heavily on tracking their ancestry back to one of four founding elvish progenitors. Indeed the primary question many have of the Luxos faith is what color his eyes are, and how pointed his ears might be! While the mission finds little purchase amongst the upperclass of Adenai, those who much prefer to focus on their ‘legendary’ ancestors, a small but devoted group of followers does develop amongst the lower class who have little hope of ever laying claim to the ancestry of the elves.

>>6136903
>Adenai Confederacy
While a few churches to some strange foreign god spring up throughout the country, most of the attention centers firmly on the traveling sensation of elvish bardic bands. Wandering the countryside with a variety of stringed instruments in hand and rarely atop a striking opal drake mount, these minstrels rapidly become the heartthrob of the nation, and indeed of the surrounding nations as well, with many fans flocking to follow their performances.
The bardic craze is an amusing contrast to the quiet work of the veterans of the war, who set to work tilling the earth and producing the humble grains that feed the nation.

>>6136977
>The Free Association of Tagagaya
There is the alchemy of Vitruvia, the divine wrath of Guliseare, the earthshakers of Barza, the arcane might of Vizari, and the temple rituals of the Ordelan. But all of them pale before the simple magic of the coin. Generous contracts, concerts where attendees walk away with tiny precious gifts and general charity cut deeply into the purse of Tagaya, but the broad appeal of the changeling community aboard rises considerably, only slightly hampered by the fact that no one is quite sure who the changelings are, it becomes a common mistake that the distinct red eyes of an Adenai elf or the curious gray skin of a nix acolyte are mistaken by commoners as signs of being a changeling. At least the pale skin and eyes of the changelings can stand out in the crowd!
It becomes something of an open secret among changeling merchants that the first sign that you are a real merchant is being inducted into the mask trade. The colorful masks, usually of mythical beasts, sport colorful and flamboyant features and often have cheap striped jewelry embedded within them. Naturally every detail is a piece of a cleverly encoded message, hidden in plain sight.


>>6137187
>The Urotti
Prospectors set out into the snowy plains, scouring the plains for useful veins of ore. Their efforts are not in vain and during the springtime thaw a pair of useful discoveries are made. The first is an abandoned mineshaft rich with iron, and even more curiously staffed by faceless stone men who toil without complaint, stopping every three days for one day. They speak not, but they take no issue with dwarves carting away the iron ore they dig, or mingling with them to work the stone.
The second discovery is found in a thaw melt riverbed. Thousands of loose pebbles of glittering silver ore await dwarven hands. Mattock and shovel set to work diverting the stream and soon a proper shaft is sunk into the loose soil to dig out the silver ore.


>The Krawl
>Double Expand
As fungal networks spread across the desert and jungle they have very different experiences. In the desert there is very little to see, save heaps of shells that serve as mass grave markers for the molluscoids. In the jungle however there is an abundance of life, in particular an Inquisitive breed of monkey takes to tracking the Krawl’s progress, perhaps it would make a fine sample for a scout breed of krawl.

>Skrit
For many insects, chemistry is everything. A tool for digging, a tool for talking, a means to tell friend from foe and discuss the weather. As the skrit unlock more of the secrets of chemistry they also unlock the secrets of control, the smell a queen emits to establish dominance and give orders, the trail a common ant leaves when they find food. It is a simple matter of trial and error to capture a nest of hornets, old rivals for control of the northern taiga, and rotate through chemicals until the proper ones are found for sedation, enraging, direction and more. Once the library of commands is established the skrit have themselves a most useful tool and weapon.

>Domo Raids

Disaster strikes along the borders. What should have been a simple strike at undefended lands ripe for the taking as the vizari are focused elsewhere has instead turned into a small civil war. New leaders rise up among the Slaugish Domo, vying for control of the war efforts with the agents of the archpriest. A brief agreement to strike in different directions turns to disaster as both forces become twisted around and end up attacking one another during a moonless night instead of the vizari settlers. Hot accusations fly back and forth in the aftermath and the push to take the ancestral lands of the orcs descends into squabbling and infighting. Further raiding is impossible until the conflict is squashed. At least the Vizari seem unaware of the disastrous attempt?

>The Krovian Clusterfuck
Barza War Action
The legions of Barzaentine set out into the untamed wilds beyond their lands, relying on a handful of maps drawn by vizari sailors, but soon struggle to navigate the wilds. These wild lands have no farms to pillage, no roads to follow, not even a dirt track left by a farmer. Under the thick canopy of the forest not even the stars guide them. Eventually, the legions come across a settlement deep in the forest which seems to be geared towards the production of lumber. By good fortune the guard here has been pulled away by some matter, leaving the settlement open for the taking. The maps stored here and the interrogation of several terrified civilians lets the legion know that they are far north of their intended target. New knowledge in hand, the legions begin to sweep south, encountering light resistance as they go.

>Ordalan vs. Desert
The Ordelan forward force rapidly comes to the conclusion that sand is a curse sent by some dark god. Well trained mares balk and go off course, stumbles turn into falls, and the calvary forces find themselves miserable, undersupplied and struggling to adapt. Efforts to serve as forward scouts and skirmishers fail miserably with the Nixen unfamiliar with the terrain and many find themselves ambushed and devoured in turn by krovians. Queen Lucilla’s own horses collapse from heat exhaustion and hard labor, leaving her stranded in no man’s land deep in the desert. It is fortunate that only the cavalry rushed forward, limiting the devastating losses mostly to those elite soldiers. Still, without their spearhead the legions feel they are unlikely to fare well against the enemy. Should they proceed and risk it all?

>Turban War Profiteering
Bleeding the Vizari dry is all well and good, but bleeding oneself, well, that’s just bad business. Without significant investment into the military, the Turbans are somewhat outmatched in both sides of the conflict. Far safer to make a big show of mustering and joining battle while remaining just shy of decisively engaged. The Turbans do gain some experience vanquishing isolated bands of Krovian raiders and securing the countryside, but in pitched battle they find it best to save their effort until victory is already well in hand. Its just as well--watching the Ordalan scouts founder in the desert sun, the Turqoise Turbans have an eerie feeling the alternative to their discretion was annihilation.

>Vizari War
A curse upon mercenaries, a curse upon allies, a curse upon all who promised the Vizari aid and delivered only obligations. The Barzantine armies march south, but if the Krovians have been distracted, there’s no evidence of it in the savage melee outside of the City of Towers. The bulk of the Ordalan army is still a Tyrn’s march from the battle, but already their forward cavalry has foundered under the slightest heat and thirst. And most disappointing of all, the mercenaries of the Turbans empty the Vizari treasury but fight only when the outcome is nearly determined. Perhaps it would be better that these incompetents serve under a mage’s thrall than of their own will.
The feeling of desperate betrayal fuels the Vizari fight, helped along by the new government shaking free some of the worst bureaucratic inertia. Cutting off the Krovians to the north proves too much to ask, but at the very least the safety of Vizari can be ensured. The hordes west of the city are pushed back by magic alone, with Vizari at least gaining control of the coastline as envisioned. In the water, the shark-men continue to be superior, maintaining supply lines to their outposts beneath the waves. The few Nixen scouts who survive the desert report that the repulsed Krovian armies are now operating out of the mines, which, cut off from the wider empire, mounted a brave but ultimately futile defense. New leadership and victory in the open field restore some of the flagging energy of the war effort, but there is no denying that sustained warfare is taking its toll. Spell components are in tight supply, while the army scavenges iron from buildings to build more armored golems. The Vizari’s bookkeepers suggest that their nation’s warfighting capacity will be totally exhausted by the end of the next Tyrn.

>Krovian War
The wizards bring new peoples to the battlefield, unfamiliar peoples that fight in new and exciting ways. Some walk on four legs until cut in half, others array themselves in bright headwear as they charge into battle. All are fodder for the Krovian hordes, though the sheer mass of the attack forces the sharks to step back from the coastline and rely on the sea for supply.
In happier news, after a long and vicious siege, the defense of the iron mines finally falls and the Krovians swarm over their prize. Slaves and iron alike are hauled by the cartload, enriching those blessed enough to have led the final charge beyond measure.
Exhaustion has set in mightily however, and even the most bloodthirsty Krovian cannot fight forever without rest and the comforts of home. One of the four-legs tells of mighty armies on the horizon coming to the aid of the weaklings, armies that place their faith in bone and blade rather than fickle magic. More worrying still is that the usual wagons of lumber from the north have halted without warning. Perhaps it is time to defend what has been gained?

-----------END OF TURN 10------------

>>6138582
Report on Kaenumite Activities to Cyra, Noreusper of Guliseare, executioner of Thessa, bane of Kaenum, unifier of the Aripan, Ruler of all the hallowed mountains, Aelelox's chosen prophet, most blessed and holy Aripan to fly upon the skies and walk upon the earth.

The newly formed Inquzonie has done wonders in dealing with the many Anelk whom still are influenced by their vile creator. While none of the shape shifting Kaenumites have been reported yet, the potential problems the Anelk could cause are considered to have taken a significant decrease and productivity from them a notable increase. While fully purifying them is impossible in their current life due to their very nature as being created in Kaenums image, we are at least able to ensure that many of them will now remain on the path of redemption least they be given the same treatment their false prophet was sentenced to. It appears that prosperity in both our stability and the blessings upon our land is all but assured for the foreseeable future.

Your faithful servant, Kallixeina.

>Action One. Aelelox's light blesses her creations, in many ways.
With the new orchards created and the east providing potions for iron and far more new fruits to grant us variety in the gifts Aelelox has made for us, our priests now focused on prosperity have come with a new blessing from the light. While the potions aid their growth, so too can Aelelox through a gentle warm light befitting of a clear warm summers day. Further, such blessings are simple enough that Aelelox is willing to bestow them upon even the lowest echelons of the priesthood. With this, our plants can thrive with the light they need even in the darkest of nights.

>Action Two. Prospecting.
The mountains still are a holy place with many gifts beneath the surface. While much in the way of practical material has been found, there is a hope that something more extravagant could be found for various reasons. Ideally, it would be a grand metal much like the easterners are interested in as a potential alternative payment for their elixirs. However gems and other beautiful minerals would likewise work well for adornments and trade. Though, if nothing else but practical material is found in the mountains than so be it, for there are many peaks and hills to search for what we seek, and many Anelk slaves to serve by digging into the earth.

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>>6138586
Action 1: Expand into the ruins, and plumb them
>Bever Hitab: Your continued complaints to the council irk to no end. You deny us our prize for no benefit but your own belly filled. What would it take for you to be satiated?
>Blomsterlok Rus: In the question, an answer. Grant us our fishing waters. We fish here, you build the boats only. Do not demand our fruits!
>Bever Hitab: You could not begin to afford the price for those ships. A portion of your every catch is a reasonable price. Especially when we maintain them after every journey.
>Blomsterlok Rus: Robbery I say. You price yourselves beyond anyone's reach. The council shall continue to hear of our plight.
- Series of communiques between Hitab patriarch and Gronn Dal village head

>Small ones plumbing Terra's bowels
>A-shiver of fear and suspense alike
>Yet soon, all that echoed from them, howls
>Into lake Supkha a river flowed
>From one path, unstopped, persuaded away
>And so all in its path, it mowed
- Seer Of Shadow,
"Visions"

>Structure buried deep. Passages small, but finely crafted. It was either shrunken by magic, or its builders were guppies.
>Fishing only takes us so far. Landed on shore. Strange woods, more humid than Shipwreck Bluff, and hotter than grandpa Blue Eye's cabin in the summers. But very easy hunting. Lots of animals. Won't go hungry soon.
- Report from Fisker Hitab to Habitun Council

>The fishing waters within 100 mil of Gronn Dal and shore will provide agreed upon portion of catch to house Hitab. Council will dispatch adjudicators to measure distance and anchor markers of distance.
>House Hitab will maintain any and all Habitun ships that arrive to its shore.
>Pioneers moving to the Svette Woods for work or settlement may requisition 10 ort of gold per head for the journey from council coffers. Any participating in the uncovering of the ruins shall be awarded century-long luxury rations and three kin's tutoring under mancy of choice.
- Council decree


continued

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>>6138714
Action 2: Research method to extend shadows for easier stabbing
>To mancers of all disciplines, and clever lads alike: attend Habitun Council public hearing at Fuaha on auspicious blood moon.
>Your challenge: Provide a method by which another's shadow may be extended and twisted to be within arm's reach.
>Reward: Ten pund gold, optionally funneled into laboratorium precision crafted by house Katan.
- Announcement nailed in every city and village square

>"The correct formation of particulates metallic and aquatic can form a bridge through which one's image can be transposed a great distance away. Whilst my grandfather saw it only fit for spying on bathing pools, I've surmised through incidental observation of a more chaste nature that a bridge of such particulates could transpose a shadow as well, which in turn lays in one's grasp. Such formation is delicate, tenuous to maintain. But with replication of certain runes found in Thul Urdor, one needn't be a master to-"
- Fumancer Paul Mudamir
"Excerpt from Shadow Extension competition: Submission #3"

>"One's shadow is more than what light casts upon dark, but rather their essence. Such essence is simply more visible in light, but we've evolved far past such. Much as an honored Shadow moves through darkness at speeds mind boggling, so too may a shadow be pulled through great distances, greater still when its path avoids Solaire's accursed gaze. I've the following ritual that may be shortened if but granted the resources to approximate proper abstractions of such-"
- Shadowmancer Victor Dhilal
"Excerpt from Shadow Extension competition: Submission #14"

>"Small concentric flare ignited behind target. Shadows will naturally extend. Flare is weak and nigh-harmless, so easy to summon even at long distances. Simple is best."
- Ignimancer Sigurd Shula
"Shadow Extension competition: Submission #23"

>"I've formulated a set of one hundred and three intricate dance-like movements and motions that allow one to slip past any watcher's vision and guard, avoiding eye and blade alike, whilst its hand targets the target's shadow. Grant me your greatest warriors close and afar, and I will make it one thousand and three hundred!"
- Blademaster Simen Raqqas
"Shadow Extension competition: Submission #40"

>"Grant me the resources I've long asked for, and I shall simply find the council that made this decision already, and ask them what they chose"
- Magimancer Stige Sukon
"Shadow Extension competition: Submission #75"

>>6138591

>All are part of the one
The integration of the wasps prove to be a great boon to the colonies, opening avenues in military and industry alike. But what what they also unexpectedly introduced were novel artificial neural pathways. In short, they had changed the way central thought. No longer was it processing solely from a "Skrit" perspective, but from that of the wasps as well. Its thinking had, literally, reached new heights.

This epiphany had caused the centralized intelligence of the Skrit to latch on to a new and profound thought: What else is there to think about? Central had begun to look across its lands and take stock of all the other insectile life that inhabited their domain. And it started to think of them not as food, but as potential parts of itself.

Eager to convert this potentiality into actuality, the Skrit organise across their territories a great carousal of sorts. All other bugs will be captured. They will be tamed. And they will be... Centralized.

> Advance Machine Engineering
Machining is, unbeknownst to them, not something they're unfamiliar with. They have always acted as one great machine, or at least a cluster of decentralized machines all acting in blind unison. Every ant was a cog, and every time it turned it gave life to machine it called its colony. Now though the Skrit are ready to make use of actual mechanisms and doohickies to put in place real gears and cogs. It is a simple and humble beginning, the ants learning of rotationary forces and how to channel, harness, and manipulate them through gears, belts, etc. Soon enough they begin to build Skrit powered milling machines and lifts to deliver a much needed boon to their industrial prowess.

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>>6134316
By the great grace of our Lord Aagen,
who has granted us this tyrn of the sun, I, King Vone of the Vencs do hereby order;
>Vencia having grown wide is now in need of roads and for their foundations shall be the spoils of war, of our victory in Sigordan
>In great hope that our longstanding friendship with the Wibban [Skrit] should be made stronger yet, that a market for all wares be built in the city of Cockaigne - which they call Betta - and that market days and holy days be formalised between our two nations

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>>6138584
How they ride! How they clash! A grand tourney is held at the new jousting lists to celebrate the victory in war, however minor the rewards. Prizes are paid out to victorious Knights, whilst in a special ceremony a few veterans of the war known to have accomplished impressive feats amidst the conflict are anointed and themselves raised unto Knighthood by Duke Guyard.

>Action 1: Lumberyard
Having supplied lumber-saws to the Adenai and Ordalan, it is considered well beyond time that we make one for ourselves. And so a yard for the cutting of lumber is established upriver of Rooin, that the timbers might be delivered to our capitol and beyond either by the traffic of the road or the flowing waters and barges of the Sainac.


>Action 2: Lessons of the Bahay Siege
Although the advantage of numbers and combat prowess eventually told at the relief of Bahay, the walls of the city had held the city's liberators at bay far more effectively then they had prevented the city from falling. And Bahay is far from the only known fortified position on the Orcmanie borders...

To that end, Duke Guyard looks to craftsmen, smiths and scholars of the Rexen records in the establishment of the Brise-sièges; a division of intelligent Orcmen in ducal employ with the goal to make fortifications yield more easily to the armies of the Orcmanie; be it through the hurling of trebuchet stone, the breaching of walls, the battering of steel rams on gates, the rising of ramps and towers or even the application of fire and tunnels. Whatever barrier is raised or dug against us, the Brise-sièges will allow our armies to overcome these trials.

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>>6138586
As Queen Leutgard gets older, talk of who to elect as the next queen becomes more prominent. Princess Lucilla is regent, yes, but that is because the queen appointed her, when the next queen is elected she will be nothing more than another elector princess. Reports of the queen having gone missing down in the Vizari deserts causes further debate on who to elect, since there is always the possibility that she'll never return. The political situation of the churches is at an imbalance now. The followers of Janos holds favour but Schwaerz' followers are likely to take issue with this.

>Action 1: Search for mystical steeds east-southeast of Sturnes. Investigating reports of strange horses in the Ordalan forests.
The woods of Ordalan are home to many strange sightings, some which have been repeated for all of Ordalan history, but some of the sightings are recent, only happening since the great war. Some of those sightings interest the nobles of Ordalan. Unicorns, Pegasi, Kelpie, etc. supernatural steeds which can do things our current steeds cannot. So rangers are sent into the less settled reaches of the forest, to capture some and find how to raise them, so we may use them as our new steeds.

>Action 2: Avila Linda's quest for the location of the legendary Sonbarr Fortress. A gamble to discover the truth of the origin of the gods.
While the nobles argue over which elector princess should be the next queen, mostly an argument between the followers of Janos and Schwaerz, Elector Princess Avila of House Linda makes a daring bet. She is convinced that the Legend of the Arrowsong has some truth to it, despite the inaccuracies it contains. One detail is especially pertinent, the Sonbarr Fortress, which is a location that also appears in Orda Nixglau. If this location is real its discovery will revolutionize our understanding of the gods. Seeing as the losing party of the election would be upset with either election result, the elector princesses agree to Avila's wager. Avila herself is a follower of Schwaerz, so if she succeeds it will be a Schwaerz aligned rule, but if she fails, then the followers of Schwaerz will comply with a Janos aligned rule. Thus she gathers herself a retinue and departs northwards, first to the Barza mountains, then Guliseare mountains and beyond, in search of any strange formations in the mountain. She even enlists the aid of a number of lancers blessed by Janos, able to spark step along the mountain ridges.

>Military Plan: Search party for the queen and army marches to Vizari capital, from there they march upon the iron mines, cutting off any forces to the west.
It is time to finally fight. It is a shame the Chariots are reduced, with the queen also going missing. A force is sent to recover who they can and see if they can find the queen. But the main force makes a plan for the Vizari iron mines, not only capturing them, but cutting off any Krovian forces in the desert while doing so.

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>>6138590

Construct the giant land fish, Zabacraw, to assist heavily in bringing about certain ruin to those We oppose. The accommodations We're making will work well both for it and for the rest of Us. Should it be brought to life, it may be considered a living super-weapon, capable of knocking over buildings with the power of its fish melee. For the time being, We're trying to finish it to assist in the Krovian war effort, to which We're also actively contributing. (Seen in >war)

>1: Into Zabacraw
With assistance from genetic materials collected from the Krovians, We synthesize a new, gigantic krawl form in the heart of the desert chasms. The beast is constructed from a complex exoskeletal network of amorous chitin face plates and rock shale, whose spaces between are set in place to be filled in by muscular krawl mass. The inside of the giant land fish is hollow in the head, and able to house the lone operator, the brain of the beast, as such. Until Zabacraw, the giant destroyer, is killed, its cohort and chariot rider, Zabatar, will not emerge. However, when it does, this form has long limbs and huge claws, and also manages to swim through sand and dirt with its razor sharp, sea-parting horn. It is not as destructive, but far more selective and dangerous to try and fight off.
(Zabatar is under the weight of an elephant, but standing just as tall, possibly wider, with its arm span. Zabacraw is at least as long as 5 school busses, and resembles a gargantuan coelacanth fish. Rough size comparison in pic related. More references in previous post's pic. >>6131316
)

>2: Dig deeper in the desert chasm
Reaching another flow of lava in this spot may allow Us to run in the water required to support another Xelles… Which, if We had more than one, would allow Us to keep up with the needs of the high krawl and that of all their lesser krawl troops at the same time.

>War: Join the war to defend the capital.
Due to information received from the Krovian war bands, We have determined that there’s an incoming threat nearby to the nation’s greatest asset, the Xelles, or lava fungus. We are obligated to assist, in the hopes and active effort to keep unknown foreign combatants away from Our fathomless chasms that conceal what little secrecy We have, just over Our border. Whatever We decide, We also need to make an effort to draw as little attention to the chasms we inhabit as possible, while traveling to the active field of combat. As such, We choose to send in floating Zacht forms to act as the muscle and defense of the assistance, with their sharp shields, while lower, less complex krawl forms will serve to smother enemies that find themselves overwhelmed by the already vicious Krovians.

>>6138582

>Action 1 - Medical Practices
Lots of wounded Krovians are being shipped home from the front, and while Krovians are no strangers to the injuries of combat, the wounds these soldiers have suffered are unlike the usual chomps and scrapes of a Krovian brawl. Burns, both old and new, along with crushing injuries dealt by weighty punches, or necrosis inflicted by strange and dark magics. It is the displaced lumberjacks, refugees from the north, who stup up. They too suffer unusual injuries in their work, and so it is with their medical 'expertise', remedies such as 'washing the wounds' and salves made from boiled plants that the Pulse-blessed shamans are able to tend to the weary soldiers, listening intently as their charges regale all with wonders of the battles past.

>Action 2 - Bird Devolution
With the war over, and the last bout of blood sacrifices using new, unusual peoples, the ostrich farmers are in a bit of a dilemma. Namely, an overpopulation problem! The Krovians adore the birds, for their bright feathers, ornery attitudes and most importantly of all, savory steaks. Still, too much of a good thing ends up being a bad thing, and the fearsome birds are eating the Krovian farmers out of house and home!
With the war effort leaving many Krovians unfit for battle, a new and untapped resource must be utilized for home defense!
With profane rituals drawn up, charcoal burned and flanks seared over sparking coals, many ostriches are herded up the temple steps. A few, however, are separated, those especially strong, or ferocious, who will serve as the foci of this ritual. What follows is a bloodbath, as all Krovian rituals are, with the selected Ostriches bathed in the crimson essence of their kin, the Krovian Pulse-blessed chanting their guttural words to draw out the fury of the recently slain as it soaks into the restrained birds.

>War Post
Chief Drevino has had enough. The appearance of a fresh new army, after having fought so hard for a well-earned victory, is too much. These wizards surely are tainted and meek, to rely so heavily on others during a proper brawl!
Still,as he and his men huddle in the mines, his mind turns to home. He and his boys need rest, and it looks like they can't get that here. Thankfully, ships from home can land on their shores, and so a great retreat is ordered, Krovians above ground fleeing to the ships while those in the mines pick up discarded tools and dig their way out to a watery freedom. If Drevino can't have these mines, then no one can! With he and his biggest, bestest bois boarding up the mine's entrance to delay the oncoming threats, he is certain he will be able to sink into the quickly flooding mines before any invaders can make meaningful headway into the mines to stop him.
He sighs, thinking of home. News of some "Alpha" punk means his work is far from over, and he is wearily trying to psyche himself up for the duel he will engage in when he finds the slippery bastard his sons speak of.

>>6138583
Fluff: The new Archmage growls to the council at the ineptitude of the allies that have come to their defense. The citizens tire, the supply of iron has been cut off for now, and necessary reagents are running low. However, even if inept, the allies still put pressure on the Krovians and word of the Barza invading the Krovian homeland means that even if fighting in this desert must wind down the Krovians will not escape justice. However, the Archmage has not intent to leave Vizari lands in the hands of ogreish barbarians; even if darker methods must be turned to for the war to continue.

1. Zombies and Skeletons, oh my.
The dead do not tire, do not require resources, do not even require a mage really for anything beyond control, and does not cost the population of Vizari to bring about. Some executed criminals may become the first; but many more dead Krovians lie among the sands. As half eaten corpses maybe but even bleached bones are useful. While the allies from the north may hold reserve about these methods they are not the ones in desperate times. May the dead rise.
2. Mindbreak
With the purchase of more slaves the mind mages get a new idea, which is quickly approved by the council. Captured Krovians, chained and healed from their dying states, are brought to the dungeons. Over days, and in groups, the mind mages will work to strip away everything that makes the Krovian an individual. Hopes, fears, personal memories, ect. until all that remains is an obedient husk with the skills they held before. Arcane tattoos are placed around the victims head and neck to reinforce this state, with a group of enchanted tattoos placed around the jugular that can be used to mark the arcane signature of the Shackled new master. With this, dead or alive, the Krovians who fought against the Vizari will pay their dues in service and war.

War: With the Nixen army not even showing up scouts will be sent to make sure the Nixen don't get lost in the sands. With the new life manipulation in play, the Nixen allies finally arriving, and the mercenaries, hopefully, less likely to be cowards now that new allies have arrived the combined army will move to capture the north eastern iron mine quickly, to prevent both any supplies from reaching the Krovian army, especially any iron tools they may forge with the captured iron even if their travel methods will likely leave the supplies rusty, but to also prevent the Krovians from trying to collapse the mines in retaliation and cut off the tired Krovian army from escaping.

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>>6138590
5th Turn

> 1st Action: Hold a Moot to Forge Superior Arms with Amber Steel

In Virn-Garuhm, as the first anniversary of the city's founding approaches, King Tori declares a grand moot to celebrate the resilience of the Urotti Dwarves and give thanks to their ancestors. At his behest, thirty of the finest master smiths from all the clans gather in the great forge halls. The air was thick with anticipation as they convene to honor their traditions and push the boundaries of their craft.

The moot is not only a celebration but also a competition—a challenge to experiment with amber steel, the rare and enigmatic material discovered deep within their mines. While amber steel has proven invaluable in the cold climes, retaining its strength and solidity, it becomes soft and malleable in warmer temperatures, limiting its use beyond their snowy realm.

The smiths, driven by pride and innovation, set out to overcome this limitation. Over roaring forges and glowing crucibles, they worked tirelessly, blending amber steel with other metals, adjusting forging techniques, and experimenting with cooling methods. Some attempted to alloy amber steel with iron or silver, seeking a balance that retains its unique properties while enhancing its resilience to heat. Others explored quenching processes using icy brines or infusing the metal with other materials such as Obsidian or wood.

> 2nd Action: Harnessing the Power of the Pale Peppers

Deep within the caverns of Virn-Garuhm, the Elder Matrons—a gathering of venerable dwarven chrones revered for their wisdom beyond approach—convened to unlock the secrets of the mysterious pale pink peppers. Discovered in the enigmatic "Vizari" ruins, these peppers that thrive without sunlight or water, a marvel that intrigues the Urotti.

To the dwarves, the peppers add a pleasant spice to their meals, but tales suggest they may be overwhelmingly potent to others. Recognizing the potential to turn this peculiarity into an advantage, the Elder Matrons and skilled herbalists begin their meticulous experiments.

In the quiet depths of their chambers, they carefully distill the peppers into concentrated extracts and fine powders, testing their effects with utmost care. Some focused on creating elixirs that bolster a dwarf's stamina and resistance to the cold, enhancing their endurance in harsh conditions. Others explore defensive applications, developing powders that, when dispersed, could disorient or incapacitate foes unaccustomed to the peppers' intensity.

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>>6138584

The Barzaentine invasion of our southern neighbours is incredibly worrying, stoking fears that Vitruvia might be in danger at some point.

Despite a long period of Anti-Roc sentiment, the Bird-Brains of Vitruvia win power through the public forum and push through what they claim will be the last touches necessary to turn the Rocs into a (metaphorical) shining spear to wield against any possible aggression from north, south or west. Our heroic questing knights (semi metaphorical) that might journey beyond our borders to slay the ruinous dragon of ignorance should it rear its ugly head (metaphorical).

There is nothing of importance in the east really, so it is not brought up.

Action 1: Custodian Rocs

The Rocs that we have bonded with over the years have diverged from their wild ancestors to the point where they are considered now by the Vitruvians to be an entirely separate breed, the Custodian Roc, a hardy, mostly loyal and ferocious beast.

The Custodian Rocs are able to follow complex commands from their riders, suitable for all forms of air travel and transport, but most importantly they are trained for battle, able to fly steady to allow potions to be dropped from them, target specific groups of foes (admittedly this was tested on livestock), knock over desired targets and, while on the ground, completely destroy anything standing in their way should their rider give the order.

The name Custodian Roc does not denote one specific breed, rather the collection of all Roc breeds created through our selection. Rocs bred for cargo lifting, Rocs bred for racing or lifting are all “Custodian Rocs”. Most commonly however without any further specificity, the term Custodian Roc will refer to Military Rocs serving our national interests, defending Vitruvia and the remnants of the Masters whenever called.


Action 2: Roc Stables

A place for Rocs to be saddled, housed, trained and armoured, the Roc Stables are sprawling estates of Deepslates and Alive Oaks, able to survive almost any punishment the wild birds might inflict upon the structures.

The Roc Stables will provide services to a great number of these lethal creatures, sharpening their talons and grooming their feathers and such. Here a great many breeds of Roc can be found, racing birds and cargo birds and such. While it serves civilian interests, this is first and foremost a military installation however, full of experts on Avian welfare and aerial tactics.

Fine (though light) armour will be fitted, Seeria will be taught to ride and perform their role as spotters, riders will be trained in the use of military saddles that allow dramatic manoeuvres, Rocs will be trained to swoop on target and act as part of a squadron of birds, without getting distracted, infighting or wandering off to eat.
Let there be no doubt that this is the finest institution of its sort anywhere on Pavilion.

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>>6139602
A messenger from the Court of Rudam rides out to Cockaigne-Beta with a missive for the Skrit.
From the pen of the most loyal servant Herro, of his majesty King Vone I of the Vencs of the House of Rudam, blessed by the great Lord Aagen, born of good blood and just beyond measure, to the Queens of the Wibban;
See that we have built for us both in Cockaigne-Beta a square and stalls, and all other manner of furnishings required that market days and feast days should be held as one in the city, and further that we may celebrate together as friend and equal in this joint city of ours. Also I have ordered erected a customs house where kingly dealings should be conducted, where first I do pray your attendance- or that of a suitable princessling- to arrange a formal alliance between our two nations.
The Lord Aagen preserve you and your kin.
The King seals it

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>>6138582
Down south, in this years of harvest, the gone-native mages of the Domo sees the feuding of the Archpriest and the Regents of Blood, and sees a squandering of strength, wasted on kin and kin alone. There are many in the west to save, be it the Slaugs or their led astray kin. It all calls for an intervention.

>War: Control the Plains
They see the disunity of the Domo as the great strife prophesized by the Archpriest.
They see this, and began appointing themselves as mage-priests, and dispersed themselves among the many clans.

They speak of the directionless feuds that plagued the lands ever since the Gorehorn went mad.
They speak that one of their own, the Lord-Priest of Priests has seen a great spirit of union and freedom, lies quiescent beneath the plains.
They speak that, only Kholan can rouse and order this spirit, and that for her to do so, the Domo must claim all of the plains in her name, and pay the blood price so that she favors them.

It is mad and foolish talk, but when the one speaks it is so clearly blessed to command the world, is it not the will of Kholan? Atleast, that is what the clans who stayed in the sidelines, who gains nothing or is made poorer by the feuds, and those who favored the Priestly Council in Koll'naud, thinks. With their men, the Mage-Priests gathered to the Lord-Priest's home and after the doing of several rites, march to war, seeking control over all the plains taken by the Vizari.

>Establish Lumberyard at the Wheat farms
>Establish Road to Kuttikrahr along the river Zas
To much more domestic affairs, one of the Council's men, who tragically had their clan patriarch disappear in the Lords of Blood's excursion south, managed to secure a trading agreement with the southerners. (They and the Archpriest also secured trading rights to the eastern women and the northeastern strange men, but much of their efforts are currently also directed at the plains.)

>>6141910
>Lumberyard Fluff
Koll'naud's lumber is too far and earmarked for the construction of ships, so the Councilmen sends their heirs to establish logging operations by the centralized centers of wheat farming. It is a much different affair to the Koll's submissive approach. Here, they espouse the greatness of Kholan, bang drums all day and night, and carve her runes upon the trees. The trees that denies her, and hides her runes are cut first, and uprooted. They are chopped in front of their kin and burned, their ashes blown so that all of the forest may know their doom. It may take some months worth or work, enough trinkets to seek Kholan's favor, and a dozen of unacknowledged Domo disappearing one by one without any explanation, but Kholan is inevitable. Once the forest is fearful, it is as easy as carving the runes of doom to the trees near the farms that are meant to be cut, give them a few days to grieve, and cut them. Perhaps, in a few years time, the forest-terrifying rites are to be done again, but that is an easy cost to pay.

>Road Fluff
As for the road itself, while the Gruumtusk has no problem with the plains, it is far far more likely that the southerners trouble themselves with caravans and other wheeled vehicles. It is a "good fortune" trail that the Councilmen builds, something that the Hearthland have between the settlements, but much less in scale than what is planned here. It takes the bones of dead animals and the occasional rebellious wood. First is it carved with many good words for spirits, then it is soaked, the west prefers wine, but lacking access, the river Zas works fine. Pulled out and left alone, the lesser spirits congregate, and the spine buried into where the trail should be. The usual flattened ground, here being done by a Gruumtusk with a weighty sled behind it, comes afterwards. It takes a decent amount of time, and the resources of the Council and their ally clans, but it shall be done. The desert section might be a little more problematic than the plains, need to quarry some stone which necessitates yet another blood sacrifice to Kholan, but it can be done, and shall be done.

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>>6138588
Action 1: As decreed by Swifster each resource node supports two mines. As such I build a 2nd iron mine.

Action 2: begin selling iron to the Domo in exchange for food, leather and wood.

Diplomacy summary: After the disastrous visit by Domo diplomats last turn, the nation intended to shut itself down and build forts on the north border never spaking to the weird foreigners, but driven by greed and hearing of their hunger for Iron the Ironmongers Guild sent north it's own diplomatic party hoping to establish a trade deal. They studied the faith and customs of the Domo, but upon meeting the first person... he had a different religion. Not wanting to fail their mission they wandered and learned about the Domo until they converted to the Cult of the one.

As they wandered on they met a master who taught them the faith and an odd campter who taught them the customs. Eventually they found men willing to trade. A deal was made. The cult of the one will build a road this turn and I will being sending them Iron.

>>6138589
>Action 1: Dignitas [Magic]
Manifesting around those of most respect and accomplishment, an aura of respect and admiration has begun to manifest. This manifestation is not a conscious undertaking by it's beneficiaries, but rather a reflection of their perception by the people of the Confederacy. Their soldiers respect them more, their words carry more weight in The Maple, and their peasant followers more numerous.

>Action 2: Construct a Port at the southwestern most tip of the city.
The Domo of the south have journeyed to our lands, making their monstrous, yet civilized, nation known to us. The docks of The City had been lackluster for quite some time, but there had never been a reason for The Maple Council to take action previously. Old piers are demolished and replaced, new ones are planned and laid out - all privately owned by different Twigs, of course.

>Actions 1 & 2 (Hero) - Miho The Immortal
Legend says that Miho has always existed amongst man, lingering the shadows since the times of great wandering. Others say he even served as ruler to a number of ancient empires. While the legends proclaim Miho as immortal - having mastered their mutations abilities to a degree such that they may replenish their body as quick as it deteriorates - others instead suggest that Miho is little more than inherited role, one passed from master to prodigy from the shadows.

The face of Miho is unknown, constantly changing and evading the public, but their influence has grown increasingly present as the nation of Tagagaya has developed from fledgling towns into cities of great prosperity and knowledge. A versatile mage from centuries of wandering, the increasing fondness the legend appears to show towards Bahay represents a powerful asset to the nation - although one which they have thusfar been able to establish only minimal direct contact with thusfar.

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>>6141360
A messenger from the Court of Rudam rides out to Cærys with a missive for the Krawl, he stands on the banks of the River Ave and calls out in a clear voice his mission; should none come cordially to meet him, the letter is tied to an arrow and fired into the walls of the Hyngran ruins over the water.
From the pen of the most loyal servant Herro, of his majesty King Vone I of the Vencs of the House of Rudam, blessed by the great Lord Aagen, born of good blood and just beyond measure, to whatsoever reigneth over the Lathlican;
Though our people have seen battle, we would have it that there should be peace over the whole of Swiftarn, and that enmity be put aside for grander things. We do not write to demand there be love between our nations, only that for as long as his Majesty should reign from the throne of Rudam, that there should be no warring, nor raiding, nor fierce hatred between us, and in seeing that such is found fruitful we may yet grow in harmony.
The King seals it

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***Turn 11***

>>6138611
>Guliseare
Lightbringing is one of the humbler forms of magic, but there are those among the priesthood who consider it closest of all to Aelelox. As the practitioner must enter a deep meditative trance, their body glows with a holy radiance and the air around them is filled with shining orbs. These orbs provide enough light to ensure plant growth in a fourty meter radius around the caster. Guilisearean plots take on a circular shape unique to their fields to take full advantage of this quirk, filling in the gaps between fields with slower glowing plants and perennials.
Guilesarian miners discover a new green-gold ore, which may be refined quite easily into a luxurious substance. When initially forged, the new metal is a brillant golden color, taking on a green sheen as it ages over the course of years. As its patina thickens, Guilisarean smiths notice the metal itself grows lighter and lighter. After decades of careful preservation, an ingot is liable to float away with the wind. Disturb the patina, however, and the effect quickly drains away.

>>6138714
>Habitun
The jungle along the southern shores of lake Supkha is dotted with sad little structures that surely must have belonged to children, if the small bones are to be believed. They are nothing more than rotting nests for snakes and birds now though. A few trail markers lead to a cave entrance, which in turn leads deep under Supkha itself. Overgrowth and giant insects frequently bar the path, though the greatest obstacle is roaring torrents of water and deep dark pools of water. The explorers often have to dive through pitch black water to find a way forward, and a few perish before a system of safety ropes is established. In the deepest parts of the earth, no doubt with the lake itself overhead, there is an ancient and flooded city, filled with tiny waterlogged corpses. Water roars steadily and there is but a few tyrns before the secrets of this place are lost forever.
A few viable options for the extension of shadows emerge, though their viability against high flying targets is generally lacking. Like a shot from an arrow, a spell can only travel so far, so fast before the sheer force needed becomes unviable. Simplest is the usage of torches and flare spells to simply stretch and distort a shadow. The cleverest option uses a bit of dwarven rune work taught by one of the inhabitants of Thul Urdor. When a shadow crosses the rune it is briefly empowered and expands to a great size, making it an easy target for other spellwork. Maintaining and preparing the runes ahead of time takes no small amount of work and foresight however.

>>6139602
>Skrit Colonies
Beetle and bee and worm and grasshopper and spider. These things all come together into the Skrit and become one, connected by gossamer threads of chemistry. Outside of the constant contact of Central these creatures simply collapse back into their natural order, but within it they are so much more.
The metaphor of the machine becomes more literal with the latest projects of Central. There has always been inefficiency to the efforts of the Skrit, with some tasks taking thousands of bodies to accomplish, and no small amount of organization to manage. But the forging of gears, levers and chains, and the ideas to go with them can change that. Pull a chain, turn a gear and watch the cam lever rise and fall beating the metal for new gears. Connect the assembly to a river and watch the metal beat itself into shape, or ears of wheat grind themselves to flour instead of the exhaustive effort of a thousand tiny mandibles.

>>6139661
>Venks
The king’s highway from Rudam to Cærys is a remarkable thing. Stretching hundreds of miles through the forests, under the great wall, past the Uhgul Dam, and finally into Cærys it is a testament to the enduring glory of Vencia. Another offshoot of it stretches towards Cockaigne as well, tying the three great cities together at last with a steady stream of traffic. These distant places are drawn together and made richer for it, with goods and supplies flowing from place to place with ease, as well as storytellers and travelers and those hoping to find a better opportunity far from home, as is often the nature of the young.
The newly expanded markets of Cockaigne make a fine destination for travelers. Glittering diamonds from the skrit mines, ingots of lead and sheafs of skrit grown produce. On a lucky day one can find the crystal wares of the shadowlands beyond the skrit as well, or even a vial of some heady gas that makes the mind spin with wonders.
In unrelated news a string of gruesome murders has occurred in the capital city, some mad killer appears to be on the loose! Even one of the personal servants of the new Habitun diplomat has been struck down! Many towns folk fear for their lives, especially those who live in the darker alleys of the city.

>>6139664
>Orcmanie
The roar of the river Sainac turns great water wheels, which in turn set great sawblade of fine starmetal to spinning. Splinters fly, and fingers too for the careless, and great trees are reduced to straight timbers and sturdy posts and poles. These go on downriver, to be built into homes or grand ships, or supply fresh palisades along the harpy borders.
The Brise-sièges has no small task handed to them given a sturdy stone wall, what manner or means could one use to bring it crashing down? To this end the fresh supply of timbers comes to good use, constructing all manner of wicked tools of war, though the mighty trebuchet comes to be their favored choice. Why approach the wall at all when you can sit on the field of your choosing, hurling stones at the enemy from afar until they are forced to mount a counter attack into a charge orcmanie knights.

>>6140851
>Ordalan
It began simply enough. A missing sheep. A raided henhouse. The smell of smoke and old campfires. Then came the broken fences, reduced to charred fragments, the eyes staring from the forest’s edge. By the time patrols make it to the house there is only a smoking ruin and blackened skeletons. Hunters fan out into the woods, but only a handful return, babbling about a giant beast with glowing eyes, charcoal black until it leaps and veins of fire burst to life along its body. More hunters set out, knights and soldiers proper as well, and eventually the beast is cornered and brought down. A great wildcat the size of a horse, with a coat of soot and embers, a beast of Schwaerz’s fire itself. Its claws strike with enough heat to set timbers and skin alike to flame. The land is scoured and the wild beasts are struck down, but the mewling cubs find their way into the hands of the Pyre Axes, who hope to tame and raise them, though they have a difficult road ahead to be sure.
The band of explorers set forth into the great mountains of Pavillion, a great trial from which they may not return. They make contact with several friendly courtiers in Barzaentine however, and acquire a handful of useful, if somewhat outdated maps before heading deeper into the mountains chasing rumors of a chain of black pillars. These lead to a mining outpost set into a deep crevice, though it is surrounded by a motley collection of strange creatures. (Vitruvian deep slate mine, sort out gaining access in diplo).

>>6141360
>Krawl
The great Zabacraw is woven into existence, a massive and monstrous beast of terrifying power, though supplying the beast with the rations required for its existence requires cutting other portions of the Krawl army short, at least until the new Xelles tunnels are carved out and fresh fungal farms are grown. The great earth rending beast is sure to give the Barzaentine forces pause when they meet, and should they slay it the battle shall continue against the fierce Zabatar well.

>>6141392
>Krovian Bands
The Krovian study of anatomy has historically been done with a knife and fork, and only rarely with a scalpel. Still the bloody nature of war, and the bloody nature of krovians has led to quite a few opportunities to practice the art of medicine. Pulse practitioners in particular develop an intuitive knack for identifying infected wounds (and befouled food), and develop a number of useful techniques for wound cleaning and management that greatly reduces the risk of deadly infections. And of course taking the sacrificial knife to the occasional prisoner or ostrich to empower the wounded to cling to life a little longer.
Blood, the primal element of life, ties all things together. The great temple has seen much of it wash down its slopes, krovian, ostrich, vizari, hog, and more. As the chanting rises to a crescendo a great wave of it is shaped and empowered and sent into a tightly huddled pack of local ostriches. The birds twist and scream in agony, changing and contorting as their bodies warp under new power. The resulting creature is some manner of giant lizard, sporting a very krovian maw of teeth, and powerful clawed limbs. The beast also possesses a powerful paralytic stare, though only when one is quite close to it. Naturally krovians spend the day wrestling the beasts into submission, resulting in several lost limbs and disembowelments.

>>6141450
>Vizari
Necromancy is an old and dark art, as much steeped in myth as it is tradition, but at its core it is simply reminding a corpse that it was once living, using the clinging remnants of power it once had to propel it into motion and action once more. Unfortunately such things do have limits, sooner later the mage must supply mana to their puppets, let them return to death, or let them feast on the living. Naturally in the war to come the Vizari plan to rely on the last option.
In the darkest dungeons of the vizari an art blacker than necromancy is being practiced. Though mind magic is often used to set the stage, what follows is more simple torture than anything else. Isolation, pain, starvation and drugs do much to break a sharkman, but oddly what breaks them the most is providing a steady supply of fruit, greens, and grains, but never meat. The result is a hollowed out husk of a creature who must be kept in a closed hood at all times, enchanted to only open or close to a vizari command word. When the hood is opened the beast will fly into a rage, attacking anything in front of it. When closed it simply waits, even if stabbed or starved or immolated.


>>6141487
>Urotti
In the frozen north, every last scrap of warmth is precious. Coal and lumber once meant for great forges instead goes to communal homes and great halls. Often it is amber steel’s greatest virtue that it can be worked over a simple hearth fire, the very same that keeps younglings from freezing in the harsh winters. So where other dwarves seek out seams of coal and methane, or great pyroclastic flows of lava, the people of Urotti instead study what a true craftsman might do with snow and ice. Deep frozen pits are dug, lined in ice and snow, marked with inverted forge runes meant for keeping heat contained, only these are meant to keep heat out. Here stone grows so cold it crumbles like dust, revealing raw iron and silver below, and then these too are pounded and pulverized. A nearby campfire melts amber steel to a gold light, then careful ratios of iron and silver are mixed in, poured into molds, then thrust into the frost forge. The resulting alloy is a remarkable thing, stronger than any steel the elders can recall, though frightfully difficult to worth with, more care must be given to the molds than the alloy itself.
Many things come out of the matron’s exploration of the pale pepper, oils that raise rashes and blisters on skin, a fine powder that sets a dwarf’s lungs to burning, and a truly delightful variety of recipes to delight the tongue and keep the belly full late at night. Their ultimate creation however is crimson ale, a pepper infused brew that puts fire in the bones of those who drink it. It keeps the mind sharp and the body limber, even during the longest coldest nights. It soon proves a favorite among any who have to work in the cold of the frozen north.

>>6141491
>Vitruvia
In the distant past the great Rocs of the mountains were a true menace, as dangerous as they were massive. The more modern breed of the Custodian Roc is still every bit as dangerous, but has been tempered with a powerful mix of intelligence and loyalty, allowing them to be flown in small groups, wear armor, and carry both passengers and cargo without complaint. Their massive appetite remains largely unchanged however, as do the sizable estates required to house the great birds. Their sight in the skies of vitruvia, once a symbol of an unchecked menace, is now the pride of a nation.

>>6141910
>Domo
In the southern lands of the Domo lumber is a rare and difficult thing to come by, so it is no surprise when the new lumbermill is constructed along the river. Indeed the river is beginning to become choked with mills for lumber and grain both, and the debris both hurl into the river to be swept downstream. Priests of Kholan ensure that a line of trees trails from the river to the forest proper so that the trees pass fearful rumors of their imminent fate and submit without struggle.
The new highway is beaten into place across the landscape, cutting across the plains halfway to the sea, connecting the domo with their peculiar cousins the turquoise turbans. Blessed by the priests, then flatted by grummtusk pulled weighted sleds, the highway takes shape slowly but steadily. Iron, lumber, leather, grain and other goods flow along the highway, and in time will slowly filter to the west as well. The fine new weapons of turban craft are particularly exciting given the calls to invade to the east and take the entirety of the prairies for the Domo.

>>6141957
>Turqoise Turbans
Is there no end to the wonderful market of war? Smoked meats, lumber and leather flow into the the territories by the wagon, exchanged for ingots, weapons, and tools of iron, the domo make for eager customers, especially the devout of Kholan who see iron as a powerful tool of subjugation over the impertinence of nature. There is so much business, so much profit to turn, that the iron mines are expanded to their full capacity, digging deep into the earth to extract as much rusty red metal as possible. Turquoise merchants make a steady profit, especially as the domo begin a great surge into Vizari territory. More than one mercenary captain gleefully updates their terms with sizable increases in costs.

>>6142169
>Adenai Confederacy
Down comes the old rotting timbers of the piers that a few fisherman tied boats to. Washed out to sea, where weeks later the city of Urong to the north will find them and wonder what boat was lost to the water. Fresh new docks are constructed, the old fishermen bullied out of their spots, and the high nobility engage in their usual struggle for dominance in the pecking order, namely who endures the most refuse hurled from boats further in the bay. Boats of orcish cherry wood become the latest status symbol, though already there is talk of an influential twig using wood sourced from the domo instead. If the changelings of Urong could be persuaded to construct a proper dock as well, one might travel all along the western side of Pavillion with barely any discomfort at all.
A new breed of noble champion has begun to rise up among the twigs of the Adenai. Their words carry truth in a way unlike those around them can, bending the will of their lessers, and in subtle ways the will of the world as well. The soldiers and people who follow them share in this power, a little stronger, a little braver, a little luckier even. Their enemies flinch at their gaze, and sometimes even their presence, and their allies stand straighter.

>>6142231
>Tagaya
Miho the Immortal! Dashing swordsman, immaculate mage, master of disguise, persuasion, seduction and more! It was he who impersonated a Guliseare Blessed and retrieved the plans to attack Bahay, who transformed into a great eagle and soared a thousand miles across the land to deliver the message. It was he who led the expedition into the deep tunnels where the weeping silver was first found. Some say he spend a century hiding amongst the vizari to the south, learning their secrets, but others say he taught the vizari their arcane arts to begin with, that every leader among them is in fact Miho the Immortal! Stories crisscross the nations, of Miho bedding half of Ordelan and lessening the grip of the curse on their men, or impersonating Kholan to the domo to end the siege of Adenai. Simply for fun the immortal helped defend the iron mines of the vizari, then turned around and stole them for the krovians for a lark before riding away on a tiger of flame. Such is the popularity of the folk hero that he even begins to show up in campfire tales and tavern halls of other nations.

>War: The Krovian Clusterfuck
The haggard vizari, and notably fresher ordelan forces begin their march across the sands, plagued by dwindling supplies, foul weather, and sharkman skirmishes. Though progress is slow, the Krovians seem to have little desire to hold the land, yielding and retreating before any major clashes can ensue. Things come to a head at the iron mines, where some Krovians retreat to the safety of the ocean, while others hole up in the mine shafts themselves. The resulting combat is intense and bloody, with ordelan and vizari forces paying dearly for every inch of the tunnels and shafts they take. Then all hell breaks loose as a vast flood of salt water roars in through tunnels to the ocean, setting off a mad scramble to escape. Tunnels collapse, red water rises, and the ordelan and vizari forces suffer tremendous casualties. Meanwhile the sharkmen take away as much plundered iron as they can.
Both the Vizari and the Krawl forces are exhausted for the immediate future.

>The Northern Front
A pair of bungles spells disaster for the Barza offensive. The first is a simple miscommunication, the treacherous cartel leader Alpha’s attempts to contact the Barzaentine leadership are instead treated as threats and attacks orchestrated by the crime lord, and several days are wasted sorting out the mess before the sharkman can even approach the barza encampment without a hail of arrows driving him off. The second is of course the sudden surge of the mysterious krawl. A great tide of inhuman monsters take the Barzaentine unaware, moving with sudden reckless abandon. The bizarre unknown enemy, seemingly masses of sludge and fungal glop given the twisted shapes of soldiers and beasts force the barza into a hasty retreat until they finally lay down geomantic fortifications and halt the Krawl advance. While the Krawl seemingly have neither intelligence nor cunning, they are many in number, and they move without fear, advancing through withering arrow fire without concern.

>Domo War
The mage-priests silver tongues are enough to knit the Domo together for a time, enough for a single blaze of glory. They storm out into the open plains, seeking the lands of the Vizari. The timing of the domo could not have been better. Conscription of any able bodied spellcaster to the capital has left the prairies understaffed, then the very night before the domo offensive a massive storm begins, truly a blessing of the domo gods, sweeps through, damaging homes, flooding roads, and scattering animals. Already threadbare village guards and constables are in the process of helping clean up after the storm when domo forces roar across the border in a great frenzy. Town after town falls as the mage-priests of the domo sweep across the land with many towns surrendering without a single spell thrown in defense. What stops the offensive is not the rise of a resistance, but internal fractures within the Domo themselves. The fissures papered over by mage-priest rhetoric tear themselves open once more, and the Domo find words unable to quiet the conflict this time.
The Domo are exhausted and cannot raid next turn.


~~~~~~END OF TURN 11~~~~~~

>>6144013
*Not Krawl, Krovian Horde is exhausted

>>6144004
Report on Economic activity to Cyra, Noreusper of Guliseare, executioner of Thessa, bane of Kaenum, unifier of the Aripan, Ruler of all the hallowed mountains, Aelelox's chosen prophet, most blessed and holy Aripan to fly upon the skies and walk upon the earth.

The recent discovery of that new metal which Aelelox has blessed us with has been discovered to be more than just an ornate and beautiful material good for coinage, thuribles, statues and various baubles and other displays of wealth. While currently poorly understood, it does not just merely get lighter over time but actually can become buoyant and fly away if one is not careful. To list just how many opportunities this offers would be enough to fill an equal amount of parchment to that of an entire year of reports. However, I am sure you can already imagine just what possibilities there might be with this truly blessed metal.

Your faithful servant, Kallixeina.

>Action One. Further mining
The discovery of the strange green gold ore lead to many nicknames coming to the strange metal. Toronan Shards, Holy Metal, Aelelox's Tears and more were dubbed upon the material. All different depending on the local dialect. The metal quickly became highly valued in Guliseare however and spurred on more mining efforts with wealthy slave owners, hopeful prospectors, patricians and small landowners whom hoped to make it rich with a similarly major and valuable find scouring the hills and mountains further for more materials.

>Action Two. Orihalchum experiments.
The strange material discovered in the mountains is of great interest. For one, it is seemingly tied to Aelelox in nature, given it's connection to the sky despite being trapped under the earth. Secondly, it's properties of floating away, being lighter than air in the right circumstances, is worthy of investigation. The possibilities with this material could allow for a major and drastic change to the way of life within Guliseare and be a major boon both for trade within Guliseare and with the lessers, and potentially even war. But it all relied upon just how potent it's capacity to lift truly was, it's hardness, how it reacted to divine magic and similar. The possibilities were seemingly endless now, yet as the material was better understood what it truly could be applied for would be discovered and from there Guliseare could work with the material for far more than fancy decorum.

>>6144010
1&2. Rebuild the mines
The war with the Krovians has died down for now. The Krovians have fled beyond the straits; and now it is time to rebuild. The Mines themselves have to be drained. Pylons are used to prevent further water from flooding through into previously drained areas with water mages, earth mages, and engineers working to drain areas, remove debris, and of course remove the bodies. Nixen bodies will, of course, be returned to the Nixen for whatever ceremony they deem appropriate. Human bodies will be brought to be traditionally burned and mourned. The Korivan bodies, though, will see no such rest or respect. Shipped to the necromancers the Krovian corpses will once again rise to serve as soldier and warning to the constant raiders. Once fully drained the hole the Krovians made will be sealed with stone and pylons, with an extra pylon to reinforce the stone and prevent anyone outside from trying to dig in again.

>>6144011
>A little retconjuration won't hurt. (Establish Settlement Hursas'toir at Da Krump's camp ruins.)

Is it still the curse that made the Gorehorn mad haunting us in this great disunity? The Lord-Priest certainly thinks so, that by taking in the blood of the Slaug do we inherit all their legacies, good and bad. He ruminates in his great complex, in contemplation of how even the favor of Manumanu himself did not unite his people, and came to a realization. The wind blows, but if not captured, it would simply wander away as is its nature. The great plains are vast and expansive, but there are no catch, not the trees of the heartland, not the dryness of the west desert.

It is in an examination of the old Daskrum ruins that the nature of civilization here is made obvious. It is all remnants of leather and wood, no true stationary buildings in sight. Life here was meant to be transient, to have a nature of wanderlust. The Lord-Priest sees the quality of it, that it reflects the sleeping spirit beneath, but it is a rootless echo, that can't order itself for the Slaug were deafened by the rumbling of the boar.

With the ruined heart of Daskrum in our grasps, the Lord-Priest intends to reshape how these plains are meant to be. There, he commands us to make him a city, where the buildings are rooted and dense, with its roof sloped to draw in the surrounding air. From atop the hill across the river, he commands that a great circular area be kept free from things in this city's center, for while he and his priests congregate on the hill, he seeks the city to congregate at that circle and that when the plains are claimed, an abyss to be dug there to awaken the sleeping spirit.

>>6144011
>>6145107
>It's a life. (Empower the Magepriests)
For all that the Magepriests claims dominion of the material, it is clear that they are limited when compares to the wizards of the east. The motion they inspire is not a self-continuing one, with the dirtman in particular becoming still when their commands are fulfilled, and it takes a great event and need for them to actually reach the heights of their craft. Such things can be mitigated if one is willful enough to coerce the spirits into helping them, but is troublesome with the presence of equally stubborn opponents of an uncompromising nature and the slowly drying nature of things eastward leading to a scarcity in accessible spirits.

In seeking the solution to this query, the Magepriests have turned to a mimicry of life, of things whose behaviours and habits the world knows, for much of the work of a Magepriest is to repeatedly expound what matter they command are supposed to be. The near present sees many a path explored in this direction, but largely settles on a way of insects, of flies, beetles and locusts, either shaped according to a foci on the mage's self or literal miniatures of the bug itself made in wood or stone if the mage is wealthy enough. They are largely divided to three purposes, for which are, ones to spy upon the plains with the people unknowing, ones to harass the tresspassers and the no longer welcome, and ones to devour the enemy when enough of their kind is fielded. They are self-continuing as the golems while the Magepriests are conscient, and is mentally light enough that a Magepriest can easily field a few of these swarms to shield their bodies if threatened.

Besides the supermajority, there are still magepriests that keeps to the craft beyond insects, who sleeps dreaming of horses made from the binding of reeds, of elephants carved from stones, or even more fantastical creatures shaped in clay and fired to life. Still, they remains as dreams in the present time.