In times of old, there stood many a great kingdom or realm, their lines proud, their kings great, and their works were legendary. It was a time of greatness for all, from all classes and races, for it was a time when the yields were abundant, the cattle fat, and the weather favourable.This changed, however. A creature with a heart pitch-black and eyes of darkness and despair that rise and shrink with hate. All despaired at his coming and the hordes and legions he brought with him. Crowns were broken, castles slighted, and the kings lay broken. Like a vile black hand, his reach seemed boundless; with his fiery red eyes, his gaze kept his subjects obedient, and from a dark tower, this lord of evil watched over his realm as the land fell into darkness and despair, with hope fading like a dying ember.But embers can flare up, and like the phoenix, a new generation of heroes and their hosts of light broke the chains, shattered his armies to the winds and finally brought an end to his reign of terror. As the morrow broke once more, it was thus proclaimed that nevermore should his name be uttered, nevermore should his remains be seen, and nevermore should there be fear of his tyranny. And so, the people rejoiced in their newfound freedom, rebuilding their shattered world with hope and determination for a brighter future. His artefacts and symbols, buried deep beneath the sands and earth, were so well hidden that not even the most fanatical cultist would find anything.And yet in that lies the danger; dead though he may be, there are still those who revere him as though he were a god-king upon this earth, and his ilk have a tendency not to stay dead… There are still whispers, mutterings and vague prophecies about his return, though none have come true as of my writing this tome…. His name was struck from the lists of both paper and mind, so one would never again say that name which struck deep grief into the hearts of all peoples…. I shall end this book with a warning: if he does return, do not try to fight him; run. Run to the nearest authorities and alert them; fighting him alone shall surely be your doom, even if he's weakened, but the worst thing you can do is to let him speak; his words shall gnaw in your mind, his arguments shall be so persuasive that you will drop your weapons, and he shall weave a web of deceit that will ensnare even the strongest of wills. Hearken unto him, no matter his guise and form, and before too long you shall find yourself in eternal servility. Archive link: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=The%20Shadow%20Rises%20AnewDeviantArt link: https://www.deviantart.com/adlershorst
>>6341589Mastery of all crafts and all knowledge, long ago, those were your main drives in life. Long before you first donned the guise of a steel-clad tyrant, a deceitful courtier, or an insidious wizard, those were times long since passed, but you remembered them fondly; it was perhaps the closest you remembered a 'youth', though a child you never were.But it was of little matter now; you knew full well what some would do for knowledge. It was a gift that would never truly stop giving, and it could ensnare men even in the normal sense. And so it was with the latest in your line of acolytes.The elf Erassyl had been in your half-employment, half-imprisonment since you had left the demonic wastes behind you, and though she had initially been resistant and stoically disapproved of all you stood for, the combination of the book and the isolation was enough. After a month, she came out sleep-deprived, wary, and despairing. ''Forgive me for my defiance; I did not know what knowledge you were privy to. I cannot worship you as they do, but I am willing to pledge myself to your creed, your true goal and purpose,'' she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination. Ah, yes, your actual goal, an end goal, that which you were working toward in the time before you were first defeated. None outside a select few knew about it, but you suppose you could share it with her, if only to see the look upon her face.>This world is chaotic and flawed; the masses spent their time chasing after false idols and temporary pleasures. I shall impose a vision of order, industry, and progress.>Godhood, those who reign above and below have become lazy and indolent; it is time for a new member to set things in motion once more.>The world is flawed on a deeper level than you could imagine; it must be unmade to remake it into something useful.
>>6341592Ah, the classic Sauron/Saruman industriousness, the ascension, and the old destroy the world standby, though we'd soon remake it. You'd think the latter would have one or both of the former as prerequisites anyway.>Godhood, those who reign above and below have become lazy and indolent; it is time for a new member to set things in motion once more.All final goals are in the end, only points in transition. There will be a new grand purpose after that. But she need not worry about that, for such a purpose will doubtlessly outlive even her.
>>6341592>The world is flawed on a deeper level than you could imagine; it must be unmade to remake it into something useful.This world is insufficient, its vistas, doldrums, its wonders, wretched. In every aspect it falls far short of where it should be. Those gods, in their faux-vaunted haughtiness, in their insipid preening, failed. It is satisfactory for their goals, for the worship they so demand and the crawling histories that so amuse them, but for us it is not worthy. For us, only a world anew shall suffice. It shall be so unlike this one as the cratered moon 'fore the resplendent dawn, and by our guile, by our might, by our sheer and sovereign will, the gods' sun shall set. Mere divinity is but a farce. Petty dominion, a trifle. Let us cast aside all distractions and SEIZE clarity! In annihilation, in destruction, in the rapid and violent and glorious dispensation of this earth, it is by these insights which we will beget a paradigm of our own, and none other.Welcome back AdleQM! It is exciting to see a second thread.
>>6341592>This world is chaotic and flawed; the masses spent their time chasing after false idols and temporary pleasures. I shall impose a vision of order, industry, and progress.Ah yes, the greatest disaster for the human race: The Industrial Revolution
>>6341592>This world is chaotic and flawed; the masses spent their time chasing after false idols and temporary pleasures. I shall impose a vision of order, industry, and progress.
This world is chaotic and flawed; the masses spend their time chasing after false idols and temporary pleasures. I shall impose a vision of order, industry, and progress. This world is full of the lazy, the indolent, and those who would rather pursue the frivolous distractions only suited towards their immediate gratification. No, you rejected such pretentious hedonism; there is only labour, labour towards a great end goal, the imposing of true order, discipline and efficiency upon this chaotic world. Only through your guidance can such a vision be brought into this world.You have no need for godhood, for what good is godhood if you cannot directly control your dominion? Let there be gods above and below; upon this world there is only you, and you don't share. Let that be enough for thee, Erassyl; this world is mine because I alone can bring it into a new age. None other can even think to come close to that which I envision, for I am the ultimate architect of this reality.'' She didn't reply, merely bowing and leaving your sight as soon as she could, she was damned, just as damned as your other closed followers, but for as long as they were here, judgment would elude them.And so you returned to your alchemical laboratory; in these parts, it is your main source of a variety of useful resources, most of all your income.The bandits had been able to safely sell the drugs you had produced here in one of the sultan's cities, thus giving you some wealth from the illicit trade. As for the warband, they had, with success, been able to occupy and subjugate the iron mine for your own purposes; a small garrison has been installed, the miners enslaved, and mining operations have resumed under their control. Unfortunately for you, however, there were problems with the transportation of the iron ore to your home base, as desert raiders had found that the caravans made for good pickings, and while the warband could keep them from taking it all and from directly going into your territory, you weren't getting as much iron or other minerals as you had hoped.Ledger0 Building materials6 Wealth4 Iron (+1 iron per turn, halved due to bandit raids)1 ElixirYou can raise one more warband or two new bandit groups. Would you like to do so?>Raise one warband>Raise two bandit groups>Raise one bandit group>Keep the iron for now
>>6341822>Raise one warbandJust as planned. We'll use a combo of one warband and our own bandit group to track down and pin the desert raiders between cold steel and fast, elusive camel riders. That empty slice of desert shall be ours, the route to our mine secure, and the hidden oasis which sustains these miscreants will parch our servant's throats. The freshly raised warband can take the sandstone mine to our north in the meantime.
>>6341836Will quench our servant's parched throats*Ahem, woops.
>>6341822>Raise one war band>>6341836>miscreants will parch our servant's throatsThese bandits are freaky
>>6341822I agree with >>6341836. We should use the warband to take care of the desert raider problem.
>>6341822>Raise one warband
With enough iron in storage for you to proceed with the creation of an additional warband for your own purpose, you set to work. For you could produce in a matter of days weapons and armour that would take a mortal smith weeks or months, and that you didn't need to sleep or rest in any shape or form was an additional boon you were ever willing to take advantage of. Within said few days, Samarda had been able to raise some additional men to serve within the new warband, to be distinguished from the original by wearing green cloth instead of red.Training was harsh and strict and successfully ground out enough hardened men that you could have them perform the most heinous of acts if push came to shove.They then partook in the religious ceremony in front of the snake god idol to fully pledge allegiance to you, shedding their blood into a brass bowl on the altar, drinking the snake poison and marking their bodies with the symbol of the snake god. As your foremost priestess egged them on.And so they would march into the desert, which would complete the task your instructors couldn't and complete the culling of the weak. Their destination was obvious; their task is to eliminate the bandits who have been robbing you of your precious iron. Thus, you had given specific instructions to be extra vicious, for none would be allowed to rob you of your property, for when it came to matters such as that, you could be as fierce as the dragons.That was one of your warband's accounted for; as for the other, what would you have them do?>March upon the stone quarry>Support the other warband in their operations>Start paving the way to the gem mineWhat would you have the raiders do?>Raid an iron caravan>Raid the gem mines>Assist in operations against the bandits.>Have them run drugs into the sultanate.>Raid a quarry
>>6342304>March upon the stone quarry>Assist in operations against the bandits.One fast and agile element, another ponderous and resolute as stone. The hammer and anvil. More would only slow them down as they struggled to coordinate.
>>6342325I agree with this, it's the most efficient use of our men.
>>6342304>March upon the stone quarryThose fortresses won’t build themselves.>Raid the gem mines
>>6342325+1 to this, a solid move
roll a 2d100 for both operations. [DC60] For the stone quarry[DC80] For the anti-banditry activities.
Rolled 89 (1d100)>>6342431I'll levy a roll towards cutting the thread of those filthy bandits' lives.
>>6342436Damn, they're craftier than I thought.
Rolled 2, 91 = 93 (2d100)>>6342431
Rolled 21, 38 = 59 (2d100)>>6342431
Rolled 40 (1d100)>>6342431Here's another 1d100, if we need it.
>Bandit results: 89, 91, 38: 1 success. They will defeat the bandits, but it will take extra time.>Quarry results 2, 21, 40: complete success, the warband can be used immediatelyDiligently you continued your work, for the realm would need more and more materials if it were to grow and conquer. As for your warbands, they were busy with both subjugating a quarry and engaging in an anti-banditry operation, and though you lacked the means to oversee them directly, you had hoped for them to be effective in their operations.The news itself was both good and bad: the warband you sent to the stone quarry was able to brush aside the token resistance and subjugate the main villages and oases, and your agents were able to enforce a contract of vassalage, worship, and tribute to you both in kind and in money. However, the warband tasked with the anti-banditry operation faced unexpected challenges as the bandits proved to be more organised and resourceful than anticipated. Fleeing into the desert whenever they were confronted and only appearing to strike at the rear or supply carts, not even your screening force of desert raiders could truly keep them from doing it, but they were able to slowly grind out the desert bandits; it would take time, but they would fall.It made you mildly unamused, but you supposed it wasn't an actual failure, so you wouldn't order a punishment for either the raider chief or the captain of the warband.It did free up your time, though, allowing you to focus on other pressing matters within your realm, in particular about reclaiming that which once was yours, for you were still but a pale shadow of your former glory; you were yet barely corporeal, you yet missed your fair form, and your magics were but cheap parlour tricks compared to what was once within your reach. This land yet held many a treasure beneath dunes and mountains, just waiting to be uncovered. The pharaohs, kings, and sultans had all left things beneath the sands. And finders are keepers in these parts.>I must work to restore myself to full form.>My powers shall be restored in full, if only I can absorb more power.>Artefacts shall help me, their designs can be copied and improved.
>>6342741>My powers shall be restored in full, if only I can absorb more power.
>>6342741>>My powers shall be restored in full, if only I can absorb more power.
>>6342741>My powers shall be restored in full, if only I can absorb more power.Trinkets blessed with foreign magicks and by faraway gods shall not avail us. We must restore our full power, and then grow beyond!
>>6342741>I must work to restore myself to full form.I wanna eat some food god damn.
In the olden days, your power was like that of gods; with your pull, you could render earthquakes, meteors, and storms. Laying waste to armies and fleets with but a flick of the wrist, magical prowess was yours to command. But now you render but cheap tricks, things which can only hurt a limited set of individuals. In the olden times, it was said that your presence accounted for a hundred thousand men in battle, but now, there was but naught that you could scrounge up from your own limited form; thus, you resolved to begin the process of attaining even more of your lost glory.First things first, you should leave your nascent domain in the hands of someone who could actually govern it; for lack of a better candidate, you chose Samarda and Nafiri, Samarda to oversee the basic finance and other administrative rubbish you had already dumped on her, and Nafiri to keep your snake cult around, which now was beginning to grow, as the cities had begun to send a set of them to act as subordinates in your realm.You would take Erassyl and Mortharn with you, Erassyl to act as your scribe, and Mortharn to destroy anything that might oppose you. Aside from them, there would be the usual contingent of your lesser disciples, a small bodyguard, and pack animals. And so you marched out from your desert village, out into the desert wastes, where you once more began to peer beyond the veil, to see that which remains unseen. There is much left forgotten, some that wishes to be forgotten, others that are better left forgotten. And so you walked barefoot; you couldn't kill the sand with your touch, and as such, you found your feet upon the sand, grating though it might be; you could at least feel it, worthless though it was. Still, you did find the first piece of that which you were looking for.>Uncovered by the winds, a statue of great height, a winged lion with a man's head>A ghost, denied the afterlife and lost, wandering the desert.>Nearly, stumbling over it, a brass bull lost beneath the sand>A decorated skull, engraved with hieroglyphs
>>6343285>A ghost, denied the afterlife and lost, wandering the desert.This vestige we'll render tangible and then rend open, to better seize the secrets of necromancy we once held.
Rolled 32 (1d100)>>6343285>A ghost, denied the afterlife and lost, wandering the desert
>>6343285"I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere." - ̶A̶n̶a̶k̶i̶n̶ ̶S̶k̶y̶w̶a̶l̶k̶e̶r̶ The Dark Lord>A ghost, denied the afterlife and lost, wandering the desert.
>>6343285>A ghost, denied the afterlife and lost, wandering the desert.
>>6343285>A decorated skull, engraved with hieroglyphsCool skullz.
It was a faint sound, though you couldn't figure out from a distance what it was, so you decided to move closer. It didn't come from any mortal creature that walked upon this earth; it was something left behind from beyond. There was only that which didn't pass away from this world that remained. This being the desert, whatever died here must have decided to remain here.As you came closer, you, and only you, began to hear it fully. Erassyl, elf though she may be, clearly didn't possess the potency in these matters as her ancestors. It was an incessant wailing, a cry for help that seemed to echo over the vast emptiness of the desert. It annoyed you greatly, and within you there came a desire to grab this incessant wretch by the throat and silence it once and for all. As you climbed over the final dune, you saw it in full, a ghost, pale blue and translucent, floating just above the sand. His face was withered and gaunt, his eyes tired and glum, and he looked upon you, and you looked at him, for you saw from his clothes that he was a man years out of time; his rags were years out of fashion, and he cried out: "Oh, woe is me, for even now, there are travellers who, unable to hear me, are unable to aid me, but alas, such is my fate." You stopped, looked him dead in the eye and answered: "Thou should be so quick as to assume I cannot hear thee, for I am more than able to, and thy whinging brought mine ears great displeasure." You acidly spoke.His rotten face immediately turned from one of despair to one of delight. "A-ha, so there's someone who can hear me! Ha-ha, hope isn't lost just yet! I am Prince Shahut-Nezzar, rightful heir to the throne of Ereb-Tum. I seek your assistance in reclaiming my kingdom from the treacherous usurper who has taken it from me." You listened intently and then laughed in his face. Telling him bluntly that time and sands had already reclaimed his realm. "Of that I am aware, which is why I am offering you the opportunity to aid me. I must have a body once more, and I know where it is buried; then I shall rebuild my realm. Ah, the great things I shall achieve! If you help me, I shall reward you greatly." You were not amused; if he was trying to manipulate you into helping him, he was making a terrible showing of it, and your suspicion gave you the sense he was hiding something. He hadn't yet related the reason for his exile, and you doubted that it was because of an evil uncle or vizier.>I brook no rivals; I shall kill him here and now.>Let him lead me to where he wants to be, then I shall betray him.>Press for more information.
>>6343758>Let him lead me to where he wants to be, then I shall betray him.
>>6343758If he is a trickster evil vizier, or another evil god-king like us, then he is in good company.>Let him lead me to where he wants to be, then I shall betray him.Let us see who betrays who first. The man out of time, or a desert snake.
>>6343758>Let him lead me to where he wants to be, then I shall betray him.He just needs us to send him $10,000 so he can pay to get his billion dollar inheritance out of legal limbo and share it with us! We'll be rich!
>>6343758>Let him lead me to where he wants to be, then I shall betray him.Maybe we can put slave ritual markings on his body. We do have some skill in necromancy, so maybe we can dominate this ghost and his corpse.
You shouldn't try to escalate too soon; for now an ordinary investigation should be enough. Brute-forcing the matter would blow the cover of whoever this grovekeeper is supposed to be, who would probably go into hiding if you tried to apprehend him.No, you would require more leads and clues. There was a special oak tree that would stay green throughout the year, which would be easy to spot in the winter, even with the spruce and pine around, but it was summer, and thus you could only work out the fact that it was an oak in the middle of a set of ruins.What else was there? An order to kill any Almerician brother they came across. That alone was a bit strange. The brothers of St Almeric aren't traditionally part of anything like the Inquisition, nor are they an armed order. Were they close to finding something out? Was the monastery perhaps close to where this oak was supposed to be? That other letter you got said something about Dornheim, and he said something about a monk you encountered before, about blocking his path if he dared tread upon his demesne again, which was strange. You didn't exactly know what kind of robes Almericians wore, but if they are similar to his, this investigation would get even more complex.Then there was this grovekeeper, whoever he or she could be; the handwriting and vocabulary in the letter made you suspect it was someone of high birth, though you obviously didn't have a single idea as to their actual identity.Perhaps you were overthinking it, or perhaps you had no idea as to the scale of whatever shadowy dealings were happening in the empty places of your kingdom.You weren't certain as to how you would proceed as of yet; you would continue to investigate, but then what? Bluntly stopping by castles and asking about oaks will be suspicious, though you suspect that if whoever that message was supposed to be for finds out you have it, it would raise their suspicions as well.>We should continue on and consult the nearest lord for nearby monasteries.>We should lay a trap for whoever this message was meant for.>We're already on the right road, methinks, so we should simply follow the trail.
>>6344239Wrong thread
>>6344239 ''I cannot help thee, Prince Shahut-Nezzar, if thou doesn't discern the location of thy body.'' "Of course, of course, come along, come along, I shall regale you with the tale of my ignominious demise." Prince Shahut-Nezzar replied, leading the way.You would much rather he would keep quiet, but no, you had to listen to how he was born the eldest of his father's children, but he was passed over, wrongfully, he reminded you, in favour of his younger brother, for his mother was but a lowly concubine and his brother was a princess.Indeed, in time, he raised support among his followers, buried his brother alive, and left his wife and children in bitter exile in the desert wastes, where they would surely perish. It was obvious to you that this man was as much an idiot in life as he was in death. Indulging your own sadistic urges is something you like to do as well, but not if there is a risk to it. 'Incompetent imbecile' was your primary thought as you heard him narrate his own downfall, filled with tales about him splurging money, kidnapping the women of various noble families, and ultimately ending with his nephew returning and burying him alive as far away from the capital as possible.And that's ultimately where you are heading, to a blasted, windy, desolate piece of desert mountain, where not even jackals go nor any signs of life can be found. If you wanted someone forgotten, this would be the place.The entrance itself was at least partially collapsed, and you figured the seal upon it would take some time to be unbound, and inside there might have been left traps of all kinds. You ascended the stairs, and thus read the inscription above the gate. Let it be known to all that Shahut-Nazzar, traitor and usurper, is locked up within here, nevermore to return to his; may his soul and name be cursed and damned a thousand times over. You were finally there, and after having your non-existent ears nearly yapped off by this failure of a usurper. You did smirk at the inscription, though you would have fed him to the scorpions for your amusement. Still, you had yet to decide how to get inside.>Bruteforce the matter; have the men use a piece of rubble to break down the doors.>This requires a more magical solution, one which only I can provide.>Have the men remove the seal and lock with utmost care.
>>6344254>Have the men remove the seal and lock with utmost care.though frankly I wonder whether they have the skills for such a task
>>6344254>Have the men remove the seal and lock with utmost care.>>6344239truly a fearsome weaver of tales shahut is if he can pull from another story
>>6344254>Have the men remove the seal and lock with utmost care.
>>6344254>Bruteforce the matter; have the men use a piece of rubble to break down the doors.They hated this guy - doubt he was buried with anything worth saving.
They come before the door, you step aside, and they either need to pick whatever lock was on it or try to remove it from whatever hinges it rested upon. Though it started with a bit of a rough start, one of your followers jammed his dagger in between the door and the frame, successfully breaking the lock. The door swung open with a loud creak, revealing what lay beyond. Decay: the sands had not yet claimed what was there; two stone lamasus guard the corridor. They weren't enchanted, but the gems set in their eyes frightened and excited the men, who climbed up to grab them.The tomb itself had been bare and scarcely decorated by the standards of the culture it once belonged to. No traps, though that was to be expected; they obviously held Shahut in contempt and thus did not wish to give him that dignity.His corpse lay slumped and deflated, naturally mummified, with none of the usual ceremonial wrappings. It was a pathetic sight, and you had not held Shahut in much regard beforehand. There were no great treasures to be found here, but there was something that piqued your interest: a small, intricately carved amulet hanging around Shahut's neck. It seemed out of place in the otherwise plain tomb. A piece of sapphire hung from a delicate chain, catching the dim light filtering in from the entrance. There obviously was something magical about it, but you decided to pocket it for the time being. Turning to further question Prince Shahut, who had been oddly quiet. "Thou had spoken about a reward, yet I found naught but bare chambers and thy corpse. Thou shouldst not deceive the well-willing, for it is they upon whom the downtrodden, such as thee, must rely." "Oh no no no, obviously my hated nephew never saw fit to bury me properly, but not to worry, we just need to get to the capital; once there, I shall give you many a chest of gold or silver. Say you are a mage, yes? You could bind my spirit to my body, thus allowing me to be seen. Do that, and I shall, uh, triple the reward." You quietly took out the amulet, clenching it tightly, and then you spoke. "You made for a poor king and a poorer swindler; I shall not help thee. Nay, thou wert but a fool in life, and thou art a fool in death. Now behold, as I shall rid myself of thy intransigence once and for all! And you held up one of your arms and, in a dreadful tongue, began to recite a spell of magic to deal with him once and for all.>Bind him inside the amulet for future experimentation.>Burn his corpse, both to see what happens and for kicks.>Attack him directly, to allow you to eat his essence.
>>6344658>Burn his corpse, both to see what happens and for kicks.I must admit a fair amount of curiosity.
>>6344658>Burn his corpse, both to see what happens and for kicks.evil can't resist being evil
>>6344658>Attack him directly, to allow you to eat his essence.
>Burn his corpse, both to see what happens and for kicks.
>>6344658>Burn his corpse, both to see what happens and for kicks.Kicks are the primary motivation in all things.
>>6344658>Burn his corpse, both to see what happens and for kicks.We do it for the lulz.
Shahut looked at you in sudden rage and disgust, but before he could open his mouth, you took off your gloves and opened fire upon his corpse, intending to burn it to a crisp.Fire spat forth from your palm. Powered by your spite, hate, disdain and desire for vengeance upon all who dared oppose you. The flames began to lick intensely at Shahut's body. While his spirit panicked and raved. "No! Stop! I bid you to stop. I can quadruple, quintuple; I shall pay whatever you wish to have. STOP! I feel my sense of self… You did stop, not so much because you agreed, but because you wished to see his corpse, which now had begun to char quite nicely, impressive for something so dried up over the years.You then shot even more fire at his corpse, intensifying the flames until nothing was left but a pile of ash. His ghost had begun to unbind, as it began to look less and less like Shahut. It too collapsed, but it was not like the others could see it; no, he would dissolve into ectoplasm. But oh, it felt fun to do. You didn't have this much fun since you nailed an entire royal line of dwarves to the mountainside to watch as you systematically plundered their hold. There was no way to come around it; for the first time in millennia, you reared back your head and roared out your laughter. 'A horrible thing to behold,' so your minions once said, and even here, your escort had taken to plugging their fingers into their ears, while Erassyl's pointed ears had turned downward from the sound. It vibrated throughout, and the startled sounds of the camels and horses outside came in answer. You recomposed yourself, and, like nothing had happened, you walked out of the tomb.It had been a relatively fruitless endeavour, though you did gain a silver amulet out of it, which you should handle with care. Silver was one of the metals truly anathema to one such as you. In small amounts it was harmless, but it could hurt you like no other thing if it was properly applied.Nevertheless, this amulet did hold some magical prowess, which you would absorb in due time. As you returned to the assembled troops awaiting outside, you decided:>To search for this nephew of his, he might have more artefacts for me to 'eat'. >Enough of this, we shall return to the village.>We shall prowl through the desert once more, for there is more than this swindler to gain.
>>6345087Marvelous.>To search for this nephew of his, he might have more artefacts for me to 'eat'.If they buried this usurper curr with silver, imagine how much richer the crown jewels must be!
>>6345087>To search for this nephew of his, he might have more artefacts for me to 'eat'.
You turned once more to your assembled party. You might have murdered someone who already was dead for a few thousand years, but aside from a magical talisman and personal satisfaction, you were left empty-handed. An unacceptable outcome! You had come to reclaim your power, and if Shahut wouldn't be the one to provide it to you, then you would get it from his nephew, from his entire family tree if need be!But first you would need to find out where exactly they buried the little shit, though he probably was an old coot by the time he was buried, or not. Overthrowing someone like Shahut isn't enough proof that he was a good king; any half-brained goat-herder with at least half a brain and four teeth could have done it.And so you set out into the desert once more. Unbothered by the heat, cold, wind or wildlife, as you had always been. If it weren't for your ambition, this would have been your fate, to walk the earth forevermore, never changing and never dying. But it was in that that you were different, even from your earliest days onwards.Boundless ambition, indomitable will, and a thirst for power that could never be quenched. These were the traits that had come together to melt together into the personification of power: you. Even now, weakened and diminished, you were driving yourself onwards; your vision shall come, order shall be imposed upon the unruly, and all shall come forth and name you lord and master of this world.But first you would need to find the tomb and try to get your following to get there in one piece… Roll a 1d100 [DC60] to see if your followers can withstand the dangers that lie ahead. The more success, the less danger.
Rolled 85 (1d100)>>6346065rollan
Rolled 79 (1d100)>>6346065
Rolled 18 (1d100)>>6346065Let s hope for the worse for our foes.
And on you trekked, trying to find this Ereb-Tum, wherever it might be; if you were lucky, it would be some easily accessible ruins you could simply search through on your own terms and at your own pace. It would be a problem if they were still occupied, or even worse, if fate had seen fit to build another civilisation atop the bones of the old one.The desert proved to be about as unrelenting as it always had been; your men, being hardened desert warriors, were able to withstand the harsh conditions better than most. Erassyl obviously wasn't built to withstand such conditions, but she made do. You did give her the most minor of blessings in this matter, for it cost you little, and you preferred your minions in ready shape.The time for using it would draw nigh; you noticed it earlier than most. They made a good effort in not being seen, but you could catch their scent from over the dune crest. This group of desert raiders, from what you could draw from their thoughts, were not out on a mission of assassination, instead having come across you by chance. Obviously, they wouldn't directly confront you, not now, no; they would attempt an ambush, especially on an armed group like yours. Though to feign weakness, you had ordered much to be hidden under scarf and robe. And they did come, blocking the way ahead, their leader sitting proudly atop his camel. "This is the ancestral homeland of my clan, trespasser. Pay the fare and extra reparations or suffer the consequences." A blatant shakedown, the audacity of which you found amusing. But you gave no reply, for you wished to see how they would react to the terror you could bring.You currently have 15/15 Dark Power.Would you like to cast a spell?>Create a great blot of darkness (-4 D) [DC 60]>Shoot a fireball at the main group (-8 DP) [DC 75]>Blast them with a shot of pure dark energy (-8DP)>Spread fear and terror in their hearts and minds (-10DP) [DC55]>Invade their minds, enthral them all to your will (-15 DP) [DC45]>I shall not cast any spell for the time being.
>>6346545>Shoot a fireball at the main group (-8 DP) [DC 75]
>>6346545>Shoot a fireball at the main group (-8 DP) [DC 75]We just wanna grill! Hehehheh.
>>6346545>>Blast them with a shot of pure dark energy (-8DP)we already did some stuff with fire recently. variety is the spice of life etc etc
Bemusing though this little roadblock might be, the intransigence of these desert pilferers to block your path would need to be taught as a lesson in both manners and about how the natural order in this world was arranged.You stepped forward, not uttering a single word; you let shine on just what you were hiding beneath your hood. If you had your mouth, you would have grinned maniacally. As you began to weave your dark magicks, the brigands were either frozen in fear, trying to break out of it, or simply trying to flee the scene, which was about to get a lot warmer.In the palms of your hand, it began to coalesce. Growing hotter and warmer, as you fed your infant fireball the fuel it needed to grow, the flames danced and flickered, and the wind began to pick up speed, whipping around you in a frenzy. The only thing you needed to do now was make an estimate as to where it should land, and then you could release.You looked at them one last time, then the fireball shot forth from your hands with malice in its core and death as its intent. To see what effect the fireball has, roll 1d100 [DC 75]
Rolled 75 (1d100)>>6346892Are we the god of hellfire?
Rolled 97 (1d100)>>6346892
Rolled 23 (1d100)>>6346892Mwahahahaha
And so it shot forth, screeching through the air with a terrible wail that echoed as it homed in on its target, who weren't at all prepared to face your fireball's blaze.Within a second, the group of desert raiders were wailing and clutching at their burning clothes as the fireball engulfed them in flames, their animals panicking and stampeding in all directions, and chaos erupting in the desert. Burnt cloth and flesh made its way to your smell, and you smelt the satisfaction.They weren't routed, far from it, but the sheer panic you were sending with your magics and the cries of 'djinn', 'sorcerer', 'warlock', and other such honourifics gave you the greatest of all pleasures.That did not mean that the day's fighting was done; you had already done most of the heavy lifting, and now it was time for your bodyguard to finish them off, for they would need their part in the day's shed of blood. Roll a 1d100 [DC70] to finish off this minor inconvenience
Rolled 33 (1d100)>>6346959
Rolled 19 (1d100)>>6346959
Rolled 7 (1d100)>>6346959Sweep em up, boys.
Almost like an afterthought, your cavalry swept over them like a sandstorm; their ranks were still reeling from the fireball you had shot at their leadership, and so there was no doubt as to the outcome, now was there?Blood was spattered upon the sands; men were cut down or stabbed. And so they were scattered to the four winds, with you ordering your own troops to reel back, for this you needed your escort for the expedition to be.The desert was a dangerous place, for aside from the threat of man, there were things lurking in the dunes. Over the dunes you went once more, across the dark red mountain chains that provided your troops with the bare minimum in shade.Where or what this Ereb-Tum city is supposed to be, you didn't know. You did pick up the smallest hint from when you murdered Shahut, though that didn't help you as much as you had hoped.So it was like stumbling about in the dark; with the scant few hints and other directions, you spend time trudging through the unforgiving desert landscape. Where was it? Where would it be? Your dark robes began to be warm even by your standards, but you paid it no heed; you could reach into lava with your bare hands. But find it you eventually did, near a small mountain range, which kept it out of the worst the desert had to offer, close to a lake which sprang from said mountain. There was a small hamlet, but behind it, the ruins of old towered disapprovingly over its inheritors. Great ziggurats loomed, and lesser towers and temples did likewise; time may have beaten down the colonnades and the galleries, yet the greatest and simplest things still stood. "What manner of place is this, that once had so much life yet now lies as a corpse beside the lake?" Erassyl openly pondered to herself, Though you did answer. "The desert giveth, and the desert taketh. Such is life out here; every civilisation built here is temporary, which shall always be swallowed up by that which gave it life in the first place." You duly explained.You stood in front of one of the ancient gates; upon it were depictions of various things: kings, armies, nobles, and creatures of old. All imprinted upon greenish tiles, though most had been dirtied or damaged beyond repair.You took a step inward, through a gate that seemed to cough and creak like an old man with one foot in the grave. There were no men here; they stayed within the hamlet. The only living things prowling the streets were vultures, jackals, and other scavengers. Though your scent made all animals flee as they caught a whiff of your presence. The streets were open and wide, and there was much for you to explore, it would seem.>To the temple-ziggurats, I wish to see what's left.>To the tombs, time to reunite that family>To the palaces, royalty usually keeps the good stuff.
>>6347620>To the tombs, time to reunite that familyLet us plunder their grave goods.
>>6347620>To the tombs, time to reunite that family
>>6347620To the tombs, time to reunite that family
At first, you and your party spend the first day wandering about the city; the ruins of old had mostly been picked dry and clean, and the copper braziers had been stolen by someone. Elsewhere statues had long since been toppled, and homes lay in ruin. You stopped by some old smithy, where there was naught but some dug-up tablets of clay; everything else of use had been taken. It was there that you announced to the rest of the group what you were here for. "The tomb I initially led you towards was that of a cheat, coward, and traitor; in his last attempted swindle, he even attempted to deceive me, an insult for which I struck him down forevermore." The reaction was one of understanding, with them murmuring about how now your burning of that corpse made sense. "And when I cannot find wergild from a man such as he, I shall obtain it from his kin instead," you declared, your eyes firing with disdain for this king and his entire civilisation.The tombs of the kings, their families, and other retainers were near the centre of the old city, close to both the palaces and the ziggurats, in long since dried gardens, now dour and dry. It was no pyramid or great mountainside hall within which one would then be buried.A small squat structure above ground with a few pillars and some brass bulls guarding the entrance; to your surprise, they weren't melted down. Nor was the heavy stone keeping the place shut. The entrance was sealed with an intricate lock, untouched by time and thieves alike. The men did the same trick as they had pulled with Shahut's tomb. One dagger in the lock, one twist, and the ancient door creaked open, revealing a chamber filled with treasures untouched for centuries. The air was thick with dust, and the entrance hall, though empty of all luxuries, was still rich in tiles and marble flooring. In the centre there lay a stair which led down towards the actual tombs.You descended first, your black robes dragging along as your followers came close behind. Erassyl came second; the rest would be allowed to rob and plunder the non-magical compartments of the tombs, for you knew that the greed of men would buy their gratitude and loyalty even more.Unfortunately, a great many corridors or tombs themselves had been crushed under the weight of the ground above them. The air was as musky and dusty as ever, and the men were having some trouble igniting the torches, something you had to eventually help with by using your own fire.
>>6348047By reading the cuneiform tablets and the inscriptions on the walls, you were able to find the tomb you wanted to find. The tomb of Ukzut-Nezzar, the rightful heir of Ereb-Tum, Shahut's hated nephew, who had been overthrown and then returned to kick Shahut off the throne.There within were buried two oxen, two horses, a war chariot, some slaves, and a vast array of treasures, including gold jewellery, precious gemstones, and intricate weapons. Most of these weapons had been blunted and rusted beyond use, and their enchantments had long since worn off.But you did sense one thing. From within the sepulchre proper, there came the ever-faint trace of magical energy, immediately senseable to one such as you. You ordered the casket opened; therein lay the withered corpse of Ukzut, he who had driven his tyrannical uncle from the throne.Around him lay the caskets of some of his wives and sons who didn't become kings, but they weren't relevant for you, you had your eyes on the prize.>A staff tipped with an intricate ruby, pulsing with a faint magical aura. >A girdle of gold, adorned with ancient cuneiform.>An effigy of a long-dead god.>A vase, carried by a bronze goat
>>6348048>>A staff tipped with an intricate ruby, pulsing with a faint magical aura.Casting tool get.
>>6348048>A staff tipped with an intricate ruby, pulsing with a faint magical aura.
>>6348048>A girdle of gold, adorned with ancient cuneiform.Mmmm, girdle.
>>6348048>A girdle of gold, adorned with ancient cuneiform.This is the least obvious choice, but I think it could lead to greater dividends down the line.
>>6348048>A girdle of gold, adorned with ancient cuneiform.
A girdle of gold, adorned with intricate engravings and shimmering gemstones, was a symbol of power and prestige among the ancient rulers. Crafted by skilled artisans. The cuneiform upon it was not damaged in the least. You leaned down into the sepulchre. King Ukzut wasn't exactly in the most preserved of states, so you rudely grabbed the girdle and tore it from his skeleton. It took you a while to figure out how you might put it on. Though you didn't actually start to wear it.Enchanted it was, and you didn't know in what form. You held it in your hands; the cloth that had once belonged to it had long since disintegrated, leaving only the intricately designed girdle. As you examined it closely, a faint whisper seemed to emanate from the artefact, though you needed to peer closer to extract the information you desired from it.You left the tomb and gave permission for your men to plunder it to their heart's content. The night you would spend in diligent study, with Erassyl as your only proper assistant. Indeed, under your ever-inquisitive eye and skilled hands, the secrets of the ancient artefact were revealed, and the enchantment upon it was one of warding. In other words, it could keep those who wore it safe from harm, up to a certain level, of course. You suppose that would make sense for someone like Ukzut to possess one, considering who he kicked off the throne. A handy tool if someone needed to buy time from assassins or to fight in combat against dangerous foes.As for what you would do with it, you weren't certain; you already have the artefact you obtained from Shahut, though you have refrained from 'eating' it just yet. That thing only stored magical energy, and none would shed a tear if it were gone. As for the girdle you weren't certain.>I shall keep it for my own use. (Gain +5 DP from eating Shahut's amulet)>I shall gift it to one of my loyal disciples. (Gain +5 DP from eating Shahut's amulet)>I shall feast as a king this eve. (Gain +10 DP)
>>6348485>I shall keep it for my own use. (Gain +5 DP from eating Shahut's amulet)We can always regift it later, if we’re sending a minion into a sticky situation.
>>6348485>I shall keep it for my own use. (Gain +5 DP from eating Shahut's amulet)Our reign is inevitable, all the same, we would prefer not to spend another seven millennia in total isolation.
>>6348485>I shall keep it for my own use. (Gain +5 DP from eating Shahut's amulet)
>>6348485>>I shall feast as a king this eve. (Gain +10 DP)Increasing our DP would be very useful right now. Currently, with 15 DP, we're a hair short of being able to use 2 fireballs at a time. With 25 DP, we'd be able to use 3 fireballs. Personally, I trust our dark magic far more than I trust some enchantment.
This girdle shall serve you well in the times to come, while you aren't yet at the heights of your physical prowess. The warding enchantments encased within will deter most stray arrows or blows that make their way to you. It has its limits, of course: a proper swing with a warhammer, catapult stone or powerful magic may still break through its defences. But for the average skirmish or bandit attack, this girdle will provide adequate protection.What does puzzle you, however, is whether it will go with the roughspun black robes you have been wearing and whether it will fit around your waistline. While you had been able to encase your shadowy form into a walking silhouette, you weren't certain whether your lanky form will be able to fill the size of the girdle, but what with being a master smith, you would probably be able to fix it later.But enough of that; it is time to rid this world of Shahut, not only in his form but also his property. You take a look at his amulet. You take off one of your gauntlets. Your thin, long, spindly fingers, more talons than human digits, wrap themselves around the gem embedded in the centre of the amulet. Cracks start to show; with your other hand, you prick into the gem with your razor-sharp fingernail, boring deep into the stone, then you begin to suck it dry. Light emanates from the gem, brighter and brighter, until it fizzles out, the stone crumbling into dust. A succulent meal; power once dissipated fills your body once more, and a pleasurable feeling long denied from you returns in diminished form. It is thus time for you to return and continue your main project for the foreseeable future, the conquest and consolidation of the desert into a realm able to support your interests. "Let us return; there is naught here but peons gnawing and chewing upon the bones of their ancestors. They're fallen, and under my sway they shall fall regardless." The village nearby had kept quiet. Which was good, for you ignored it, favouring a swift return to your provisional base of operations. The return journey was as arduous on your following as it ever was, but the sands kept quiet. Rumours about a sorcerer clad in black terrorising bandits were spreading throughout the desert, and you knew full well that they were based on you.
>>6349207Not much had changed during your short absence; the idol to the snake god had been expanded, and a small domed building had appeared close by, a first temple. Tribute was still collected at the idol, including something very quaint, a gilded palanquin. Big enough for one person, you being you, you of course took it for your own. A trip through the village streets while being carried by four slaves reminded you of happier times.As for your other two foremost disciples, Samarda and Nafiri had continued their duties as you had intended. The former as your administrator and the latter as the high priestess of your cult, though with it coming in the open, it was beginning to take on the form of a more conventional religion. As for the two themselves, the effects of your teaching them forbidden magics had begun to collect their due; one of Nafiri's eyes had turned red, and her skin turned pallid. Samarda's eyes showed red cracks through the black irises, and streaks of white began to appear in otherwise dark hair. You had warned them beforehand, not that they cared; they saw it as a gift from their 'god'. Side effects, as far as they were concerned.That reminded you that you were effectively immortal, and if need be, you could always retreat back into the necklace you had lent to Samarda. Those two wouldn't live long enough for your long-term plans; only Mortharn and Erassyl probably would. At the end of the day, those two were not nearly able enough in blood magic to extend their short mortal lives.>Oh well, cycle of life and all that; they can be replaced, either with their descendants or someone else.>Long-term planning requires long-term minions. If need be, I'll drip-feed them the knowledge. >The obvious solution to human mortality is to stop being human, in one way or another.
>>6349208>Long-term planning requires long-term minions. If need be, I'll drip-feed them the knowledge.The lives of mortals matter little to us, but what do we have if not our dominion? If they remain useful, they're worth keeping around if for no other reason than that they were among the first of our second attempt.
>>6349208>Long-term planning requires long-term minions. If need be, I'll drip-feed them the knowledge.
>>6349208>Oh well, cycle of life and all that; they can be replaced, either with their descendants or someone else.
Ultimate domination is something that must be worked towards; open conquest attracts too much attention, and this desert backwater won't be able to bring down the various western and eastern kingdoms all by themselves. That requires more than one, but at the same time, you need to have subordinates who are able to oversee this realm if ever you find yourself abroad, either to establish another client kingdom or for when you have found just the right spot for your personal demesne.Erassyl won't be able to do it for you; she's too much an outsider. Samarda and Nafiri are natives, and local collaborators are always more trustworthy and effective in maintaining control. But mortal they still are, confined by their own human lifespan. Obviously, you would much rather deal with known loyal minions, especially if the alternative is working with their descendants, who might not wish to do so, or with other strangers. No, you would begin to teach them some unearthly techniques involving blood, magic, and a boiling cauldron.Bathing in blood, especially the type that flows in the veins of the youngsters, has been known to rejuvenate those who drop themselves in it; the boiling part is also good for your skin or whatever. You don't really have a skin, and bathing in blood was never really part of your modus operandi.To that end, from brass and steel you wrought a cauldron capable of rather quick heat conduction and magical properties, perfect for the task at hand. It would keep them young for as long as they made use of it; what it wouldn't do was reverse the effects of their magic use. But that was something neither you nor they really cared about.
>>6349747You also taught them a few spells concerning the leeching of blood and how to mingle their own blood with other creatures to improve their own abilities. While they practised what you taught, you retired once more deep within your set of laboratories and smithies, for there was much more to do. With the subjugation of a quarry capable of producing quality sandstone, new opportunities for building would soon be opened, once enough of the stone was gathered, of course. And a good thing too; your infant realm was surely beginning to properly coalesce. While once you would have been able to coordinate from within the set of village houses, the infant state would need more. Thus, upon a nearby rocky plateau, the foundations and dungeons for a new fortress were to be laid, circular, with a central tower from which you could better oversee these matters. But it would take a while to properly construct such a stronghold, and in the meantime, further conquests were ahead.With your weakening of the various bandit clans, the various sultans, emirs, and sheikhs have been able to regain some form of control over the previously lawless desert. Someone else was benefiting from your own work, and it perturbed you greatly. Your warband could take on bandits, but you hadn't tested nor probed the might of the desert princes. This would be a scramble, and one you intended to win.Ledger2 Building materials (+2 per turn)6 Wealth2 Iron (+2 iron per turn.)1 ElixirIf you march upon one of the coloured-in provinces that aren't red, it will be war.Warband actions>March upon the remaining iron mine, and have the other warband conquer the land in between.>March upon the gem mine.>Consolidate as much desert as you can, without ticking off the others.>March upon the other quarry.>Take the uncontrolled lake, so I might pour the elixir in.Bandit actions won't provoke actions unless they get caught.>Raid an iron caravan>Raid the gem mines>Assist in operations>Have them run drugs into the sultanate.>Raid a quarry
>>6349748>March upon the remaining iron mine, and have the other warband conquer the land in between.>Have them run drugs into the sultanate.
>>6349748Excellent progress, so far. >>6349971I agree with this. We can't let the second iron mine fall into the desert princelings' clutches. If we are to stand against them in the battlefield, we'll need a great many cult-soldiers, and for that, we'll need as much iron as there is to be had. In the meantime, perhaps we can subvert them? I'd rather sink more research into the lotus. Mindbending drugs could be a poisoned dagger in the hearts of their people.
When the Sultan's emirs and other nobles retreated from this region, the bandit clans and other nomadic groups filled the gap once filled by the various lords of the desert. Now, with you successfully destroying one bandit clan after the other, they return to the region. Their sapped strength is becoming able to assert power in the region, not because they grow stronger, but because their rivals have been weakened by your actions.Simply put, in terms of actual confrontation, you would most likely lose; these are states with properly organised systems who can, in theory, mobilise greater numbers of troops and mercenaries than you can hope to. Of course, the actual war shall come, but only when your troops, state, and spy networks are ready. First, you would need to claim as many resources in this desert as possible without stepping on the others' toes. In this, you put the securing of the remaining iron ore fields as your top priority.One warband will secure the iron mines for you; this will, in turn, allow you to scale up the production of arms & armour, with which you could then upsize and expand the military. To further bind and secure these mines to your demesne, you would send the other warband to secure and clean up the remaining patches of empty desert to keep delivery bandit-free.As for your own criminal arm, it would once more run some of the drugs you produce in your alchemical lab to one of their cities. The product itself is of middling quality, popular with labourers and slaves. You would need more exotic ingredients to make it more addictive and harmful. If such a narcotic can be refined, you predict that the various desert kingdoms will be weakened in their ability to resist your influence. Both warband ceremonies paraded around the snake idol and asked the high priestess for their blessing before marching off. Your own bandits had been sent in the night; their careers weren't glorious enough to warrant a proper send-off. You turned away, for while your minions would be away, you had taken it upon yourself to personally oversee the raising of the first of many fortresses. Roll a 2d100 for both operations.DC75 for the drug smugglingDC60 for the iron mines
Rolled 11, 31 = 42 (2d100)>>6350300
Rolled 34, 27 = 61 (2d100)>>6350300
Rolled 96, 23 = 119 (2d100)>>6350300rollan. fingers crossed for no critfail
It was raised in a relatively quick matter; the construction quotas for the slaves had to be increased, and the labour itself had to be augmented with raised carrion, for undead skeletons could work longer and harder, as long as the task wasn't too complex. Your living slaves would do the more complicated tasks like the vaulting and intricate details that required finesse and precision. This fortress would in many ways be a prototype, serving as both your first overlord's tower in millennia and the nexus of your administration and military. The walls were thick, the sandstone a dark brown yellow. The windows were small and the halls cool, the dungeons cooler still. There would be more of these if you were to both control the desert and wage war upon your neighbours; you would need fortresses to double as depots, water stations, and strategic outposts. It wasn't finished by any metric; you had ordered there be luxurious quartz mosaics and other such opulent decorations to be added, for your subject would be kept in line doublefold if they kept you in both dread and awe. But you moved the laboratories, smithies and other facilities within its walls. You didn't like prying eyes, not even those who were most loyal to you.You looked down into the courtyard, where slaves were pulling in a marble statue of their snake god, to greet those who came through the main gates. The warbands had returned in triumph, the desert ore fields were at your command, and a garrison was being installed near the most productive mines. The routes to and fro were also cleared and would be kept clear for the foreseeable future. You thus gifted the captains of these hosts a scimitar each, for the carrot will come before the stick with success.As for your own bandits and criminal agents, the drug run was a success, but the markets were drying up, and they had to sell at lower prices than usual. (+1 Wealth) A paltry sum, one which would pale once the new product was refined, of that you were certain.
>>6350539Interestingly, there are reports, both from your warbands, criminal agents, and other sources, that the veil of secrecy you had drawn over your realm was slowly beginning to fade. Some merchants from neighbouring states had been petitioning your captains for the purchase of ore. They had the good sense to turn them down and also let them go, as you had instructed them to not cause any incidents just yet.The black-and-red serpent banners were beginning to clue neighbouring sultanates in as to what was happening in a previously irrelevant backwater. You weren't ready to wage war on all three simultaneously. This would be a long game, a game played both on the battlefield and in the backrooms; your snake cults already acted as a spy network, and among the many princelings the sultans fathered there would always be a rotten few rotten or spoiled fruits. But for now, you would play the part of the upstart king, bring order and law to your lands, and bide your time until the perfect moment to strike. That does beg the question: the realm has but one master, and you are he, but would you openly proclaim yourself sultan or king? Perhaps a puppet ruler would be more prudent, one who at the very least looks human from the outside. Aside from that, you should decide whether you should mould it into a more traditional monarchy or perhaps make it a theocracy.>I shall head this state myself, formally and openly.>Proclaim Samarda as the new Sultana or Malika, while you run things behind the throne.>Acclaim Nafiri as archpriestess of a theocracy, while you manage affairs from behind the altar.>Just pluck someone off the street, someone capable of eloquence but not of thinking.You should also give it a name, so men may utter it in fear when the time comes.>Al-Abraj>Harlith>Shuragaz>Urguz>Khoria
>>6350540All in due accordance to our plans. We've amassed a proto-state under ourselves and with it, all the iron we'll need to face the sultanates on the field of battle. The last step is laying the formalities to rest.>Just pluck someone off the street, someone capable of eloquence but not of thinking.It is far too soon for us to be exposed, and both our bearer and priestess have better things to do than wrestle the minutia of rule. Besides that, the brazen signs of blood magic could risk a jihad. Let us grab some sinister-seeming yet eloquent fool and give our foes a false target to vent their frustrations on, a canary for assassins, if you will.>ShuragazThere's no logic in this one, I just think it sounds the best when shouted.
>>6350540>Proclaim Samarda as the new Sultana or Malika, while you run things behind the throne.Evil Vizier, you guys, its a classic!>Shuagaz
>>6350540>Proclaim Samarda as the new Sultana or Malika, while you run things behind the throne.>Shuagazsnake vizier
>>6350540>Just pluck someone off the street, someone capable of eloquence but not of thinking.>Shuragaz
>>6350823+1
>>6350540>Proclaim Samarda as the new Sultana or Malika, while you run things behind the throne.>Shuagaz
1: Proclaim Samarda as Sultana or Malika2: Just pluck someone off the street
Rolled 1 (1d2)>>6350889Forgot the dice
After pondering it for a while, you did make a promise to Samarda, something about making her malikat almalakat, a queen of queens. In ordinary circumstances, you would never keep to your promises unless it directly benefited you. But in this case, it did. And so, upon a cool desert night, you summoned her to your inner sanctum. "As thou knowest, I am a just god, and thus, for thy service and continued loyalty, I shall make good upon the promise I made in the deserts when first we formed our pact," you declared to Samarda, as she knelt before you in awe. "From this day forth, you shall be acclaimed as the Sultana and Malika of the sultanate of Shuagaz; in keeping with local traditions, thou shalt be known as Samarda Al-Shuagaz. My trust in thee shall be known through this; do not disappoint me." You formally declared. "I thank you, from the deepest depths of my heart, for this great honour you endow me with, oh great god," Samarda replied, tears of gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thou shouldst know I do not intend to completely surrender my governance of this realm, but as before, thou shalt be both my face and bookkeeper. I shan't completely shirk from view, but there are things I must do that require my absence from time to time. And I require capable lieutenants to manage affairs while I regain my power and strength. Nafiri shall serve as both your priestess and second in this matter; there shall be war soon, for I wish to gain complete mastery over these lands. Now leave, for tomorrow you shall be formally acclaimed.'' That wasn't all you needed to do; when night fell, you retired to the depths of the still-constructing stronghold to forge a mask of gold, for you did not wish to spook any fogering dignitaries with your visage. You also had your personal tailor procure a set of silk and satin, rather than the roughspun you usually wear. The gold mask you would wear with a wrapping of black silk and a turban on top, so you would integrate even more into the cultural picture most have of courts in this region. Upon the day itself, the village was in a state of jubilation; golden thread serpents adorned red banners instead of the usual black and red. Nafiri formally anointed and proclaimed Samarda as the sultana and malika of the new realm; you lent out your gilded palanquin for the occasion as she was paraded through the streets up to the fortress.She had been adorned in a heavy set of jewels, cloth and makeup for the occasion, and she clearly sweltered. You weren't there for the occasion, as you were busy fitting the mask and other robes upon your still lanky form.
>>6350905In the weeks thereafter you watch from above as the foreign and domestic court visitors come and go, and on occasion you come out from behind the curtains to whisper something into her ear or to glare menacingly at whoever drew your eye.With the formal part now complete, you could proceed with the next step of your plan in the coming month and years.>Our drug production shall sap the lifeblood from out of our enemies; thus, I shall engineer a new one.>Divide et impera: the powers of these regions have never united against the shadow; a few incidents shall keep them distracted.>There are mountains to the north of us, where the trolls, orcs and goblins still reside. I shall begin mustering their manpower.>The dead shall serve me; I must go to the tombs and begin raising a great host of bones.
>>6350906>Our drug production shall sap the lifeblood from out of our enemies; thus, I shall engineer a new one.It is better that we weaken our foes than set them against each other, although both are of immense importance.
>>6350906>Our drug production shall sap the lifeblood from out of our enemies; thus, I shall engineer a new one.
