Empire 7: Into the Depths IC Thread

[Grim ranger]

Kar-Nath Hegemony

Turn 7

Rham, the Frozen King

Diplomacy - 7, Military - 10, Economy - 8, Faith - 2, Intrigue - 1

Actions:

1. [Economy]: Provide Trading Post 2 of 78 to people of 59 to alleviate their crisis

2. [Economy]: Buyout Trading Post 3 of 78 with aid of the Gravetenders (Roll: 14. Success!)

3. [Diplomacy]: Attend event: Fruit of the Reef in Bloom
- Event sub-actions:
- 1. Formalize agreement with SEN during Fruits of Reef in Bloom: Non-aggression pact between our nations, and SEN refrains from invading or gaining supports in 66 or 65
- As the hostilities at the newly conquered Cathedral of Movement intensify, Kar-Nath Hegemony moves to finalize its agreement with the Shifting Ennead to secure the border situation while the leverage still lasts.
- 2. Formalize agreement with the Eternal Spring during Fruits of Reef in Bloom: the Hegemony provides 59 food assistance of one trading post, and gains 3 treasure from Eternal Spring in exchange
- While hard-pressed to advance the nation's agenda with constraints at play as it is, the Hegemony cannot in good conscience leave an entire region to starve, and as such negotiate a deal with the Eternal Spring to alleviate the crown's financial woes that'd result from such a grand task of feeding thousands of mouths.
- 3. Accept 1 treasure for providing food aid to 59
- 4. Share the following technologies with the Eternal Spring: Composite Grafting, Trophic Deconvolution, Photospore Signaling, Supernatic Propagation, Megafaunal Tailoring, Graduated Symbiosis
- With their ties to the Eternal Spring growing closer in hopes of reducing dependence on any single merchant, the Hegemony shares many of the technologies acquired from earlier exchanges of information across the Polar region.

4. [Diplomacy]: Mission - Use Mantle of Warmth to pass Glacial border South of 77 (Roll: 17. Success!)

5. [Faith]: Adopt Faith: The Blossoming Sequence

Non-actions:

A. Continue construction of a monument: Rimestone Statuary (5-part project)(5/5: Complete! +2 Prestige: KNH raises to Prestige 3!)

Spoiler: The Hegemony celebrates its success!

Show

The work is complete, and the Hegemony rejoices as its new cultural landmark is opened for people to visit! The initial viewing of the grand statuary is of course reserved for the upper class and foreign dignitaries both, but soon enough the everyday citizens are swimming through the passages between the rimestone statuary. The atmosphere is festive, with grand displays of bioluminescent lights, music and impassioned speeches... but underneath it all, the place itself is still quite solemn, lists of names and certain scenes of Nathi history being the sort to remind the ones watching them of more grave matters.

When it comes to the highlight of the unveiling ceremony, however, people are in for a surprise. Flanked by his royal guard and attended by Munda, the main diplomat of the Hegemony, the Frozen King himself takes to speaking with the people. Clad in a cloak of fine sea-silk and attire wrought from hides of exotic beasts, he seems to have set up the image of prosperity and military strength, pillars that have kept the support for his rule steadily increasing since the fall of his predecessor. The king does not neglect to praise the contributions of Hegemony's neighbors either, praising both Riftlings and Gravetenders for their fine qualities and cooperation with the Hegemony... something that has given both races their own places in the statuary.

Perhaps the greatest surprise to come from the great opening ceremony is the monarch gesturing forward a younger Nathi of naturally pale complexion, their shell shimmering with almost opal-like pale sheen. Rham goes on to introduce the youngster as his future successor Nedir, and formally announces his plans to pass the throne to them once he has finished setting the affairs of Hegemony to satisfactory state. While some are dismayed at the possibly impending departure of a beloved ruler, the people generally feel positive towards the development, as it has clearly been planned out with a level of foresight... and those who have still had their doubts of the old King thanks to his coup of his predecessor rest somewhat more easy after the announcement.

B. Contribute an entry to the Crescent Companion (2/2)
- As the trade of military information between the Stewards and Hegemony continues, General Kreel personally offers their allies a general overview of Hegemony's arms and armor for their project.

Spoiler: Arms and Armor of the Hegemony

Show

While the armaments of Kar-Nath Hegemony can be fairly simple for large part, their utilitarian design has been favored by the legions for ease of standardization and manufacture. As each Path of the Hegemony tends to bring about its very own way to partake in armed conflict if so inclined, the variety can regardless grow considerable. The manufacture of the more exotic weaponry tends to be left to the more talented sort of craftsmen as a result, while the common soldiery gets robust and more produced equipment.

The usual war-attire of Hegemony's legionaries consist of slabs of stone sculpted to follow the general shape of Nathi's armored carapace, attached to their war-wear with numerous straps that can be cut in event one needs to remove damaged armor or otherwise reduce the weight upon themselves... but it is generally seen as a cowardly thing to do in order to run away, with "slateless" legionaries often facing harsh punishment if they do not have proper reason for such a measure. In addition to this, more veteran units have also employed hides from sea-beasts as heavy cloaks to further block ranged attacks with precise parries to get the missiles tangled in the billowing cloth.

Usual arms of the legionaries consist of trident and shield built of stone covering over flexible yet firm base of woven reeds enhanced by an odd extract rumored to be made from mixture of powdered rimestone and other odd materials to give it the necessary rigidity to truly survive strikes. Other popular arms are quill-throwers, curved bone blades and sharpened edges affixed onto the claws or carapace of the legionaries before the battle, although these are naturally more dependent on matters of personal preference.

Apart from the special weaponry favored by the Paths of Deep-Hunter and Blades, the most peculiar wargear of the Hegemony can be found with the Depth Guard. These elite warriors have taken solemn oaths that render them exclusively to the service of ruling Frozen King or Queen, and can also occasionally serve in retinues of generals and other people of importance as extension of the reigning monarch's will. They alone have thur far been given the honor of wearing armor of expertly shaped Rimestone plates and weaponry of same material, giving them protective shells of ice that repair themselves if shattered and strikes that freeze the insides of their foes on contact. As the very best warriors the Hegemony has to offer, only the most loyal and skilled can ever raise to the occasion and join their ranks.

C. Ask Divine Nacres to explore South of W6 in exchange for a favor, lending them the specialized ship Silvered Eye for duration of the expedition
- Remaining ever curious about the lands surrounding their home, the Hegemony seeks the aid of Divine Nacres to speed up their exploration of the frozen seas.

D. Buy the Mantle of Warmth from Abyssal Stewards for one action with one treasure
- While presently lacking reliable innovations to survive the subzero temperatures of their glacial borders, the Nathi utilize their good connections with Abyssal Stewards in combination with some generous financial contributions to acquire the means to allow the initial exploration teams to temporarily overcome the challenge.

E. Raise reputation with the Abyssal Stewards to 3 with one favor
- While still lacking the means to provide metals the rumored forgets of the Stewards require to create their peculiar technology, the Hegemony regardless continues to strengthen its ties with the organization. There is wisdom in preparing for the worst, and gaining the friendship of such learned and venerable individuals may prove useful with the ever-worsening news circulating the frozen sea.

Other news:

- As the "isolated" cases of disappearing people and things escalate into something approaching a pattern, the ruling classes of the Hegemony begin to send polite but firm overtures towards the Chelonian Chora, inquiring as to their knowledge of such events. While no outright accusations have been flung about yet, the Legions of Kar-Nath have been commanded into increasing vigilance to secure the safety of the populace against abductions.

Leader improvements from turn 7:

+ 1 Diplomacy, + 1 Economy

Leader stats for turn 8:

Diplomacy - 8
Military - 10
Economy - 9
Faith - 2
Intrigue - 1