Empire 7: Into the Depths IC Thread

[Lumaeus]

The Riftlings Many of the Dead Seas

Polar Region

Turn 4

Ruler: The Youngest, First Chosen of the Mother of the New Era
Diplomacy: 4
Military: 4
Economy: 4
Faith: 10
Intrigue: 4

Actions:

Diplomacy: Sway Aristocracy in Region 66 (TN 12) Roll: 13 SUCCESS

Spoiler: The Inevitable Tide

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The aristocracy of the Seas-Not-Yet-Dead are certainly not pleased with the Riftling interests in what they incorrectly see as their lands. Their obstinacy, however, has grown only more plainly foolish as the years flow by. Where once they refused to even meet with the Ambassador for Occupying Natives, they now see little choice, as their priests and merchants embrace the truths of Riftling right.

The Ambassador to the Occupying Natives are something of an offense in themselves. They maintain so close a resemblance to their interlocutors as possible, attempting thereby rapport, but instead finding mockery or misrepresentation. Yet what choice does the local leadership have? The influence of the Riftlings in the Seas-Not-Yet-Dead is merely hegemonic for now, but may become more direct and deadly without intervention.

The conversations are swift. Any of the leadership that still resist Riftling influence and any who wish to join them are escorted across the northern border. Likely, the Congregation, with its marital ties to the false rulers of the Seas-Not-Yet-Dead, will take them in. This escort of the privileged sees vacancies occupied by those more in line with Riftling goals, and soon enough, the final faction of the land supports the true rulership.

Diplomacy: Raise Reputation with the Chelonian Chora (TN 12) Roll: 10 FAIL

Spoiler: A Discordant Note

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The Riftlings are not great artists. They have no musical tradition. Sterility, silence, and stillness is their ideal. Nonetheless, as Riftling presence in the Seas-Not-Yet-Dead grows, some begin to hum along to the Choral songs. Not enough and not sincerely enough to impress, perhaps, but an unusual warmth begins to be fostered between the treacherous aliens and the rightful residents.

Military: Recruit Unit
Military: Recruit Unit

Spoiler: Service Guarantees Citizenship!

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The Riftling message has taken on apocalyptic tones in the Seas-Not-Yet-Dead, and the religious misinterpretation breeds zeal. While many seek to achieve the Eternal Communion for its promised immortality, others dread the doom fated to isolates. It is no wonder, then, that the appearance of a route to salvation appeals to so many.

The cluster which come are enormous and sturdy. A swarm three times the size of the typical, they settle themselves at each holy site and population center in turn, speaking with a booming whisper.

We, the Recruitment Officer for Isolate Expendables, bring word from the Old Fathers, by the Youngest, in the name of the Great Mother. War is brewing on the borderlands. Neighbors raise armies and distant raiders draw ever nearer. Join now to fight, join to defend the Riftling lands. Those who fight for Riftling wars will be given equal rights in Riftling lands and treated as a co-equal member of the Eternal Communion.

It was not a difficult offer for the Riftlings to make; after all, Riftlings themselves enjoy few rights unless chosen to ascend to Fatherhood. That the offer of citizenship wasn't made to extend to children and that these few isolates would die out or be spent on foreign soil only sweetens the deal for the clever Old Fathers.

Faith: Miracle

Spoiler: On the border between the Dead Seas and Region 59

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The Anointed Prophet of the Eternal Communion have not, in these many years, left the Seas-Not-Yet-Dead more than twice. They have tended the newly reclaimed Holy Sites, preached their eschatological message, and only sustained their form by a slow trickle of Riftling subclusters flowing in from the Dead Seas to replace the dying polyps of their form. Not even the Prophet are in their parts immortal, even if the cluster will never die.

Over the years among the isolates, the Anointed Prophet have become decreasingly alien to these simple minds. They have learned to speak with something resembling nascent tact, they have begun to assume forms that often suggest flowing garments or fine accessory, and they have served to counsel the people they encounter with occasional success. Those who are ignorant of the Riftlings might begin to suppose that the change in character and the continued absence from the Dead Seas indicated a cluster deviating from the culture and will of the Riftling leadership, but of course the Prophet never find themselves out of step with the policies of the Old Fathers.

While the polar region scrambles to deal with the threat of the Shark King, the Prophet have sought to shore up resistance against the feared incursions of the Scintillating Ceiling. While the Seas-Not-Yet-Dead have responded well enough, and don't seem to be enthused at the prospect of military takeover, enough pockets of retrograde thinking exist that the threat remains pressing. And so, as the years grow long, the Prophet announce that they will take their leave to see to the defense personally, returning to the Dead Seas.

When the swarm begins its work, it is a matter of some spectacle for the northern locals. The Prophet assume a place near the center of the border with the life-blighted lands and simply begin to dissipate. Barely enough Riftlings remain at the core to form an identifiable form, and the rest of the polyps spread thin enough through the waters that they seem not to be creatures any longer, but merely a haze emanating perhaps half a whale's-length from the center. Initially, this is all any watchers notice, with perhaps the more keen-eared noticing a faint whispering, like that of bone scraping as it falls against sand.

The ritual is not worth watching long, and for days, no change seems to occur. But those who return to see if anything has happened begin to notice something odd. The waters grow cloudy further from the center than before, the polyp cloud thicker, and the Prophet at the center of the haze seem larger. That the Dead Seas are sending Riftlings in a constant flow to augment the Anointed Prophet is far from most's minds. Yet they see the cloud grow, and the Prophet as well, until after weeks of this, the haze stretches beyond sight, the Anointed Prophet of the Eternal Communion float as a specter ten times their usual size, and the water hums with a constant buzz.

Miracle: Erect an impassable border between regions 60 and 59.

When the Mother's will is done, the Anointed Prophet float weakly back south, back to the True Deep. The haze slowly evaporates and any who come to see this great act would find themselves above a bed of Riftling corpses, fine as sand.

Spoiler: Change of Ruler: An Ascension

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The Anointed Prophet, energy spent, eventually make their way to the True Deep. Here, they float for a time in the Mother's Breath. They have done well in this life, and one of their number is allowed a spot at the precipice. The swarm descends slowly, a single polyp nestled in the center. Upon the rocky edge, surrounded by the Old Fathers and above the Ancient Ones, they swarm frantically and close, opaque with density. When they arise again, a week later, a small tube worm clings lightly to the edge. The previous Youngest falls silent. Now, the Youngest, Second Chosen of the Mother of the New Era is intermediary and isolate. Such is the tragedy of Ascension.

Non-Action: Raiding Refuge: Present the Divine Nacres with their protection fee.

Next leader stat boosts
Diplomacy: 4 = +1
--An extra +1 for actions taken
Military: 4 = +1
--An extra +1 for actions taken
Economy: 4 = +1
Faith: 10 = +2
Intrigue: 4 = +1

Next leader stats (rolls):
Diplomacy: 4
Military: 4
Economy: 5
Faith: 6
Intrigue: 3