Only Ruins: Game thread

[Togo]

Empire of the Basalt Throne, on the coast near the mouth of the great river.

Mirriam Vine pulled the thick coat tight around her. It wasn't that it was cold, it was just that some things made her wish for more insulation.

-And the final towers there, and over there on those rocks. So, what do you think?

She considered the question. Honesty was not the best strategy here, so she decided to try and be tactful.

-You're insane. It's a stupid plan.

Knarl looked up at her. He was standing close by her, so he had to look up quite far.

-You think we should be further up the coast?

She looked out over the bay, and shook her head.

-Na. But vhy are we building this thing at all? Vhat good will a siilyport...

-Cityport, corrected Knarl absently, now scratching plans onto a wax tablet.

-Vhat good will it do out here? This place is deserted.

-Someone must live here. We've had twenty deaths or disapparances in this area in the last three weeks.

Mirriam scowled.

-So?

-So... said Knarl, still drawing, that means a fair few of our citizens live out here. Who else would be producing all the bodies?

-Has it occured to you that they're here because they don't want to be found?

-Sure, that's why we're building a city with the port. Best place to not be found. Besides, we need the trade.

-With who? Noone comes here. There's no reason to come here. No one in there right mind would stay here.

-Which is why we need the port.

Mirriam sighed.

-You're going to build a huge stone structure to house a lot of people who don't like each other, just so they can be at hand to help us invite total strangers to visit. Vhat do call that? Vhat stops them killing each other?

-It's called civilisation, and you can handle these creatures, Mirriam. To them I'm a light snack, tolerated in case their roof leaks and they need it fixed. But you. You know how to handle these things, what makes them tick.

Mirriam looked out over the bay.

-Knarl, you are a font of stupid ideas, but this has got to be the worst one yet.

-You'll do it then?

-Ja, Ja. I do it. Mirriam grumbled. But noone will come, you'll see...

Spoiler: Actions

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1) Negotiate with locals, west from territory 3
2) Negotiate with locals, east from area 2 along the coast
3) Build a trading port/cityport in territory 2
4) Send a diplomat to the Grand dutchy of Xule