EMPIRE2!-CWBG-I-Begin-Again [Applications Open!]

[lt_murgen]

You're a step ahead of a lot of new players, checking in on the current state of affairs, but I have to warn you that you leave yourself no room for expansion, in the middle of hotly contested territory. By which I mean it'll be hard to justify you not becoming a battle ground almost immediately.

I'd recommend something close to a blacked out zone. So that you can expand into the void with limited risk of having to fight for survival sooner rather then later.

I second that, as I am using the war in 14 to drain the military from 16 so I can invade it next round.

Oops., did I say that out loud?

[jkat718]

Spoiler: Stormland Holdings

Show

The Stormland Holdings are a coalition of smaller city-states, remnants of an ancient kingdom, fractured by some long-forgotten conflict. They are currently arranged in a so-called "Coalition for Peace," in which each of the Holdings is nominally equal, but truly under the control of the largest, Tarmeria. In recent years, following a bloody, expansionist campaign under King Friedhold Arabeal, known as the Six Realms War, King Geoffrey Arabeal led the Tarmerak (the people of Tarmeria) to expand their influence by brokering "peace treaties" with each of their neighboring city-states. These traits typically amounted to little more than "I've proven that our army could crush yours, but I care about my legacy am a nice guy, so I'll let you keep your throne, officially, but only as a puppet ruler."
Once each of their more powerful neighbors had been "pacified" in this manner, Tarmeria and the other two major city-states formed the Coalition for Peace, which truly serves as a propagandistic front for the quickly-forming Tarmerian Empire. While the Coalition ostensibly grants the smaller holdings a say in the events of the area, the ruling family of Tarmeria controls the majority of the Coalition members, and can force approval of any motion they want to by the Coalition.
Now that Tarmeria is secure in its control over the other Stormland Holdings, an aging King Geoffrey, is reluctant to hand power over to his hotheaded young son, Devon. The younger Arabeal is determinedly expansionist, in contrast to his father and his father's political advisors. It is rumored that, if Devon were to marry and have children, his father would have him assassinated and then resign to the position of regent.

[Aedilred]

Spoiler: Stormland Holdings

Show

The Stormland Holdings are a coalition of smaller city-states, remnants of an ancient kingdom, fractured by some long-forgotten conflict. They are currently arranged in a so-called "Coalition for Peace," in which each of the Holdings is nominally equal, but truly under the control of the largest, Tarmeria. In recent years, following a bloody, expansionist campaign under King Friedhold Arabeal, known as the Six Realms War, King Geoffrey Arabeal led the Tarmerak (the people of Tarmeria) to expand their influence by brokering "peace treaties" with each of their neighboring city-states. These traits typically amounted to little more than "I've proven that our army could crush yours, but I care about my legacy am a nice guy, so I'll let you keep your throne, officially, but only as a puppet ruler."
Once each of their more powerful neighbors had been "pacified" in this manner, Tarmeria and the other two major city-states formed the Coalition for Peace, which truly serves as a propagandistic front for the quickly-forming Tarmerian Empire. While the Coalition ostensibly grants the smaller holdings a say in the events of the area, the ruling family of Tarmeria controls the majority of the Coalition members, and can force approval of any motion they want to by the Coalition.
Now that Tarmeria is secure in its control over the other Stormland Holdings, an aging King Geoffrey, is reluctant to hand power over to his hotheaded young son, Devon. The younger Arabeal is determinedly expansionist, in contrast to his father and his father's political advisors. It is rumored that, if Devon were to marry and have children, his father would have him assassinated and then resign to the position of regent.

Looks like a good start!

[moossabi]

The Stormland Holdings are a coalition of smaller city-states, remnants of an ancient kingdom, fractured by some long-forgotten conflict. They are currently arranged in a so-called "Coalition for Peace," in which each of the Holdings is nominally equal, but truly under the control of the largest, Tarmeria. In recent years, following a bloody, expansionist campaign under King Friedhold Arabeal, known as the Six Realms War, King Geoffrey Arabeal led the Tarmerak (the people of Tarmeria) to expand their influence by brokering "peace treaties" with each of their neighboring city-states. These traits typically amounted to little more than "I've proven that our army could crush yours, but I care about my legacy am a nice guy, so I'll let you keep your throne, officially, but only as a puppet ruler."
Once each of their more powerful neighbors had been "pacified" in this manner, Tarmeria and the other two major city-states formed the Coalition for Peace, which truly serves as a propagandistic front for the quickly-forming Tarmerian Empire. While the Coalition ostensibly grants the smaller holdings a say in the events of the area, the ruling family of Tarmeria controls the majority of the Coalition members, and can force approval of any motion they want to by the Coalition.
Now that Tarmeria is secure in its control over the other Stormland Holdings, an aging King Geoffrey, is reluctant to hand power over to his hotheaded young son, Devon. The younger Arabeal is determinedly expansionist, in contrast to his father and his father's political advisors. It is rumored that, if Devon were to marry and have children, his father would have him assassinated and then resign to the position of regent.

I think you're hitting the Game of Thrones metaphor a little too hard on the head. _{If I'm even using that correctly...}

Other than that, seems like a cool basis. I'm actually in a sinkhole next-door, I look forward to inevitably steamrolling you to assault Daen living in peace and harmony.

[jkat718]

I think you're hitting the Game of Thrones metaphor a little too hard on the head. _{If I'm even using that correctly...}

I swear I didn't realize the connection when I first wrote that.

Other than that, seems like a cool basis. I'm actually in a sinkhole next-door, I look forward to inevitably steamrolling you to assault Daen living in peace and harmony.

I welcome all diplomatic solutions.

[moossabi]

I welcome all diplomatic solutions.

How dare you reference the prequels! Actually, someone did that back in E1, so it's permitted.

Seriously though, I'd definitely be open to diplomatic stuff. It's mandatory for every new player to be sarcastically threatened with total domination by their next-door neighbors.

[Gengy]

Very true. Which is why...

More seriously though, welcome. Looking forward to your more complete write-up. You'll want to say hello to Murgen and Mary_Sue, as they are nearby you.

[moossabi]

Very true. Which is why...

More seriously though, welcome. Looking forward to your more complete write-up. You'll want to say hello to Murgen and Mary_Sue, as they are nearby you.

Speaking of which...

Mary, you haven't rolled for exploration. You may want to do that before the round ends.

EDIT: Never mind, didn't check the rolls thread. Just link it in the action.

[Elemental]

Still, as a player, it bothers me a bit that no one has, well... tried. (Fantastigoria being an exception.) Especially with a few of you sponsoring Spring Girls, and thus having a (month or two long delayed) direct line to Lady Spring, who has demonstrated a willingness to discuss the matter.

About the whole sponsoring a Spring Girl thing... I should probably confess that I took Cynffoni on as a potential hostage should the Aeldir cause trouble in the future. Now, before you cry diplomatic immunity, first, that's not really a thing yet as Tir Amser has no such treaty with Anceris regarding it and you didn't say she was an envoy or ambassador of the ruler of Tir Amser. Currently, the situation is that Alessandra is under the impression that Lady Spring's guardian entered her into an unwritten contract with the Grand Princess wherein Lady Spring, a private individual, arranged for a friend/relative of hers to be adopted as a Ward of Pearl Throne, as is customary for nobles who cannot adequately provide for their relations, with Alessandra receiving all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that come from it. If Kellianth ever comes to Anceris they can properly formalise the relationship.

I beg your pardon? That's a pretty sudden attitude shift.

I just looked up patronage on Dictionary.com and I think Dark used the right word going by definitions three, five and six.

[HalfTangible]

About the whole sponsoring a Spring Girl thing... I should probably confess that I took Cynffoni on as a potential hostage should the Aeldir cause trouble in the future. Now, before you cry diplomatic immunity, first, that's not really a thing yet as Tir Amser has no such treaty with Anceris regarding it and you didn't say she was an envoy or ambassador of the ruler of Tir Amser. Currently, the situation is that Alessandra is under the impression that Lady Spring's guardian entered her into an unwritten contract with the Grand Princess wherein Lady Spring, a private individual, arranged for a friend/relative of hers to be adopted as a Ward of Pearl Throne, as is customary for nobles who cannot adequately provide for their relations, with Alessandra receiving all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that come from it. If Kellianth ever comes to Anceris they can properly formalise the relationship.




I just looked up patronage on Dictionary.com and I think Dark used the right word going by definitions three, five and six.

Roethye let Aeluta come along so she could learn as much as possible about the Courts and see if they'd be a threat to her heirs in the future. A threat to Primus in particular is unlikely, given the distance, but they could act by proxy. Using her as a hostage is pretty pointless, since the courts probably wouldn't send anyone across the world if they couldn't afford to go without them, and taking a child hostage is basically telling the world you're the bad guy

[Elemental]

Roethye let Aeluta come along so she could learn as much as possible about the Courts and see if they'd be a threat to her heirs in the future. A threat to Primus in particular is unlikely, given the distance, but they could act by proxy. Using her as a hostage is pretty pointless, since the courts probably wouldn't send anyone across the world if they couldn't afford to go without them, and taking a child hostage is basically telling the world you're the bad guy

Given the past actions of certain Aeldir, I've no doubt they'll eventually do something terrible enough to warrant locking up a Spring Girl and holding her to ransom.

[DoomHat]

'Ambassador', 'Hostage', and 'Young Ward of the Crown' are all synonyms in a medieval world anyway. Any civilized people would see this as something of a boon, or just business as usual, though it remains to be seen if the Aeldir are a civilized people.

[Elemental]

'Ambassador', 'Hostage', and 'Young Ward of the Crown' are all synonyms in a medieval world anyway. Any civilized people would see this as something of a boon, or just business as usual, though it remains to be seen if the Aeldir are a civilized people.

You are of course correct, but it shall continue to be the official Ancerin opinion that Cynffoni is a Ward of the Pearl Throne and not a hostage. Until such time as the Aeldir do something inexcusable to Anceris or its friends at which point the guardianship contract shall be torn up and she will become a prisoner of the Pearl Throne.

Edit: I assume of course that Gengy was aware this was a possibility when he decided to send out Spring Girls to a whole bunch of different places.

[Gengy]

You are of course correct, but it shall continue to be the official Ancerin opinion that Cynffoni is a Ward of the Pearl Throne and not a hostage. Until such time as the Aeldir do something inexcusable to Anceris or its friends at which point the guardianship contract shall be torn up and she will become a prisoner of the Pearl Throne.

Edit: I assume of course that Gengy was aware this was a possibility when he decided to send out Spring Girls to a whole bunch of different places.

I am aware of these possibilities. I take no issue with them, as a player. As Lady Spring? Well. She will probably take issue with it, though perhaps not the way you might think

[Mary_Sue]

Speaking of which...

Mary, you haven't rolled for exploration. You may want to do that before the round ends.

EDIT: Never mind, didn't check the rolls thread. Just link it in the action.

I have done this.

Also hello to my new neighbor jkat718!

[HalfTangible]

Given the past actions of certain Aeldir, I've no doubt they'll eventually do something terrible enough to warrant locking up a Spring Girl and holding her to ransom.

One of their players is Dark, of course they will.

[jkat718]

I am aware of these possibilities. I take no issue with them, as a player. As Lady Spring? Well. She will probably take issue with it, though perhaps not the way you might think

The Spring Girls are actually...the Spring-ish Inquisition! Bet you weren't expecting that...

[Gengy]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... No one is supposed to expect that.

[DoomHat]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... No one is supposed to expect that.

Really? Because it's been hinted. That's why Delyth is accompanied at all times. If not by hangers on, admirers, and generous hosts, then by personal serving staff. If at any point she attempts to make her way out of the window of her room, presumably just to innocently "take in some night air", she'll find a valet or maid out on the ledge, curious to know how they might be of service.

Her scheduled is also, very, very hectic, too much so to allow any time to 'accidentally' wander somewhere that wouldn't be appropriate.

[moossabi]

Really? Because it's been hinted. That's why Delyth is accompanied at all times. If not by hangers on, admirers, and generous hosts, then by personal serving staff. If at any point she attempts to make her way out of the widow of her room, presumably just to innocently "take in some night air", she'll find a valet or maid out on the ledge, curious to know how they might be of service.

Her scheduled is also, very, very hectic, too much so to allow any time to 'accidentally' wander somewhere that wouldn't be appropriate.

Maybe the Aeldir aren't the real villains here.

Keeping a (kinda) child within the body of a woman whose husband has died is actually worse than anything Dark has ever done!

()

[DoomHat]

Maybe the Aeldir aren't the real villains here.

Keeping a (kinda) child within the body of a woman whose husband has died is actually worse than anything Dark has ever done!

()

Don't know what your talking about. My post clearly says "window". We have always been at war with Oceania.

Besides, I'm not playing the Cree anymore, and they'd only do that if they were particularly upset about something.

[Soommor]

'Ambassador', 'Hostage', and 'Young Ward of the Crown' are all synonyms in a medieval world anyway. Any civilized people would see this as something of a boon, or just business as usual, though it remains to be seen if the Aeldir are a civilized people.

Oh, yeah yeah. 'Remains to be seen.' I like that. Good one.

[TheDarkDM]

I mean, if you guys want to see how we react when you actually threaten harm to an Aeldir envoy...

[HalfTangible]

I mean, if you guys want to see how we react when you actually threaten harm to an Aeldir envoy...

I assure you Dark, I'd never threaten to harm an envoy of the Aeldir.

I'd just do it.

[Aedilred]

I assure you Dark, I'd never threaten to harm an envoy of the Aeldir.

I'd just do it.

Surely that defeats the point of having a hostage, though? It's like a doomsday device: it's the threat that has value, not carrying the threat out.

[HalfTangible]

Surely that defeats the point of having a hostage, though? It's like a doomsday device: it's the threat that has value, not carrying the threat out.

From Primus' perspective:

Having an envoy in your lands on a semi-permanent basis already carries the implied threat of, say, a nuke or a doomsday device. If the Aeldir are willing to do something so awful that it would necessitate a direct threat to stop them, then A) they're probably gonna do it anyway and count the envoy as an acceptable loss, B) as Dark pointed out they also aren't going to respond well to threats (Primus wouldn't either, and the Aeldir made it clear that they think they're superior in every way), and C) the time for diplomacy is done, done, done. You engage in diplomacy to prevent or delay war and threats of war, not to stop it.

Also, if the act in question that would necessitate the hostage threat isn't done by the time Primus hears about it and sends the threat back, then they don't actually wanna get it done.

[DoomHat]

All of the above are reasons that hostage taking was almost unthinkable in the middle ages. We're merely playing host to your second son, he's super well treated, practically one of the family. No need for us to threaten him, that would be just as unthinkable as you #%&ing with us! I mean, if you were to %&$ with us, maybe our treatment of him would change, naturally, but why dwell on absurd hypotheticals like that? Haha, seriously, don't #&$% with us.

[Gengy]

Story Error! Correcting!

I was re-reading the Fantastic Masquerade thread, and realized that there was a naming error on my part in later portions.

The Spring Court girl who was terrorized by the man from Hess Tannan was named 'Axuda'. Later (starting with this post), she introduces herself as 'Aluxa'.

These two are, in fact, the same girl. 'Aluxa' was a typo. It remains a typo within the Round 1 News and Rumors section of my IC Post. Moving forward, however, I ask that people refer to her as the original name, Axuda. I am posting this now, to reduce confusion, and apologize for the error.

[QuintonBeck]

Blarhiminn is approved to be used as a region writeup for Region 43

jkat your region idea looks good if indeed somewhat heavy on ASOIAF inspiration, might want to get something written up if you want to have a claim on 100 for next round. If you want a map with some more revealed map areas I can provide that as well.

[Gengy]

Blarhiminn is approved to be used as a region writeup for Region 43

jkat your region idea looks good if indeed somewhat heavy on ASOIAF inspiration, might want to get something written up if you want to have a claim on 100 for next round. If you want a map with some more revealed map areas I can provide that as well.

I so hope someone takes this deal. Being able to see some parts of the map the no one else can would be pretty neat.

...hmmm... I wonder if that's a mechanically possible thing? As a Secret Action?

/begins to ruminate on a tech that might make this happen, but realizes it's unlikely since it's such a difficult task to keep track of multiple maps.