Empire 6: Embers of Dawn IC

[Silent_Interim]

The Scrimthun Unity
Glory be to Thun, which remembers what it is owed.
(Round 9)

Actions:

1. [Military]Epic Quest: Send Warspeaker Tior to lead against The Puppeteers. Spend 1 Treasure. Success!(My roll, Sokau aid roll, Ko aid roll, Uzii aid roll)
   There is no love lost between the Thunspeaker and the Warspeaker, but it is days like these that call for the Warspeaker to perform their duties. Tior has an undeniable tactical mind, and a strong arm with an axe. A call for aid is sent to all of Mamut, though Nithor is not hopeful that many will answer given the three-pronged attack coming from the Crimson Kingdom, and so money pours from Thun’s coffers to provide Tior with whatever mercenaries, supplies, and fortifications may prove necessary. The Scrim dig in at the Gathering, with Tior overseeing their defences, ready by night to drive back the ghosts and the shells they inhabit, and ready by day to follow them to their resting place and rid Arkusa of this plague.
   To the surprise and delight of Nithor and the Arkusans, and to the immense irritation of Tior, aid does come from elsewhere in Mamut. With aid from some of the mightiest (if perhaps not the finest) that Mamut has to offer, Tior organizes not only the defense of the Gathering, but the counter-attack and escorting of shamans and priests to drive away the spirits for good.
2. [Diplomacy]Stabilize Region: Stabilize Arkusa (Region 65). Spend 1 treasure. Success! Roll
   Thunspeaker Nithor has always been very close to the people of Arkusa. The Warspeaker, sent to help end their problems through the noble art of violence, is not. The atmosphere at the Gathering is undeniably tense, but Nithor is doing their best to assure the Arkusan people that the situation is under control, that the Warspeaker will handle the problem of the mysterious body-taking ghosts, and that things will return to normal. In the meantime, they have banned all returning Jouraka from leaving the Gathering until the situation is resolved. To help cope with the inevitable food shortages this would bring, money has been spent to import as much food as possible, although rationing measures may, inevitably, prove necessary. Whenever possible, Nithor is there, along with the “royal Jouraka”, their formal claim to a place in Arkusan society, taking measures to keep the peace.
3. [Diplomacy]Build a Speaker’s Tavern in Arkusa (Region 65). (1/3)
   Although the timing is far from ideal, Nithor had long been considering the construction of one of the lodgings-houses used by the Dreamspeakers as a potential project for Arkusa anyway. For now, little actual physical progress has been made on the site, but those who need convincing are being convinced, the supplies needed are being arranged for, and all other preparations that can be made while travel to and from the region is still heavily restricted are underway.
4. [Diplomacy]Diplomatic Mission: Send a Diplomatic Mission North from Thun (Region 53). Spend Treasure. Success, boosted to Great Success by Zayuz! Roll Zayuz's roll
   The suffering of Arkusa demands a great deal of the Thunspeaker’s attention, but despite that, there is an empire to be managed, and without any direct action to take, Nithor spends their time throwing themselves into other distractions. For the first time in the memory of any living in Mamut, explorers prepare to cross into the once unlivable regions North of Thun. The Thunspeaker has spared no expense for this, the first expedition to make proper use of the techniques and tools recently formalized, ensuring that only the finest supplies and provisions are to be used. Assisting with this endeavour is the newly-appointed Tradespeaker Lejah, whose purview now formally includes all matters pertaining to commerce and Thun’s trade interests, both within and without. The whole of Thun holds its breath, impatiently anticipating word of the bounties that await in the frozen lands.
5. [Diplomacy 5]Embassy: Open an embassy with the Uzii (UZI).
   The old Thunspeaker had nothing but respect for the Uzii... at least in public. In private, while they would freely concede that though the Uzii had great skill at arms, they found the Uzii to be a little brutish and abrasive. But where Ulun saw brutes, Nithor sees refreshing simplicity and honesty, and a people with a strong sense of pride and honor. So where Ulun passively snubbed the Uzii despite the existing relations between them and Thun, Nithor seeks to extend the hand of friendship.
   So how does one extend the hand of friendship to the Uzii? Why, you build them a stadium.
   First, of course, an annex was built for the Proud-Laugh Stadium down in Swampum. The Uzii would react negatively to any perceived attempt at bribery, so it is important not to come on too strong. To start with the stadium would send the wrong message. But it would not be the first time Scrim had come to Swampum to help with a construction project. From there, it was simple to begin extending diplomatic offers, and to casually mention that Nithor was interested in constructing another Stadium for them.
   Everything flowed from there. The new Deep-Sigh Stadium is a little stark and austere, in classic Scrim style, but it is nonetheless a symbol of the lasting ties between the Scrim and the Uzii.

Dice rolls go here
Non-Actions:

1. Attend any events to which we are invited.
2. Resist any unapproved conversions or buyouts.
3. Gain 1 Treasure at the beginning of the next round from passive income. Earlier trade continues to pay its dividends.
4. Complete an Embassy Network for the Truthseers, earning 2 rep and 1 favour. Nithor has finished what their predecessor set in motion- a network of mutual trust and communication across the width and breadth of the continent. Hopefully, the Truthseers will be pleased by this.

News and Rumors:

• The new Thunspeaker has made a surprising and not entirely appreciated or popular decision, elevating the Scrimspeaker known as Lejah to a newly-created position, that of Tradespeaker. Lejah is now responsible for all of Thun’s financial affairs, from managing the treasury, to co-ordinating trade deals (both internal and external), to import and export arrangements. The other Scrimspeakers quietly seethe over this decision, and the favoritism Nithor seems to be showing towards Lejah. Some rumble that perhaps the Warspeaker should regard their loyalty as being towards the collective Scrimspeakers, and not to the power of the Thunspeaker.
• Among other controversies surrounding the new Thunspeaker is the matter of their love life. While Scrim are not physically inclined towards romance, it is not unheard of for them to engage in romantic relationships with each other, or, even more rarely, other beings. There is no explicit stigma against it, but in more traditionally minded Scrim circles, it is generally looked down upon. The political marriages that allowed Thun to expand so rapidly are looked on by many of these are regarded as having been a concession, a compromise to the ways of outsiders.
  So it is concerning to many of these people that Nithor is freely engaging in the romantic practices of the Arkusan people, and that they have become intimately, perhaps even physically, involved with many of the Arkusan people. Furthermore, there are accusations of something virtually unknown inside Thun previously- nepotism. That Nithor's many lovers are more likely to advance to positions of power and authority, and from there to give their own lovers and friends power and authority of their own. The fact that only a handful of humans have ascended to such positions in Thun, many of them not even Arkusan but Tel'kol'san, and that the majority of Nithor's Jouraka remain in Arkusa, whose culture is not arranged quite so vertically as Thun's, seems to matter very little to those making the accusations.
  The Thunspeaker has spent little time publicly addressing these concerns, being more concerned with the ongoing crisis in Arkusa, but critics point to this as further evidence of the Thunspeaker's divided loyalty and unsteady leadership. The Warspeaker, by contrast, has said nothing at all, but is notable by their frequent absence, no longer giving the same undivided attention to guarding Nithor that they did to their predecessor. Many take this as tacit approval from the Warspeaker for action to be taken against the Thunspeaker, but so far it is no more than words.
  Perhaps in response to this stirring of unrest, the Thunspeaker has begun keeping the ex-Sentinel Arcor close to hand. Arcor may be growing old, but he is still a cunning and canny fighter, and he remains spry for his advancing years. While he claims his true passions and talents lie in rough living and hunting in the wilds, he seems quietly grateful for the opportunity to travel a little less. Still, he is, Nithor believes, a staunch ally and a firm hand with a sword or spear.

Spoiler: Bookkeeping

Show

Leader: Thunspeaker Nithor

• Diplomacy: 6 [=>7]
• Military: 3
• Opulence: 6
• Faith: 2
• Intrigue: 1

Units: 7/10
Passive Treasure Income: 1
Treasure: 4/5 [=>2/5]
Technologies:

• Masonry
• Writing (Hraban Runes)
• Animal Husbandry
• Pottery
• Irrigation
• Arctic Survival