Total War - Mandate of Heaven

[Let'sGetKraken]

Bataar was a grossly wealthy man. But, like all rich men, he dreamed of being even wealthier.

He was a merchant by trade, supplying iron and steel to blacksmiths. A noble enough trade, but one that had seen his fortunes rise while entire districts were devastated around him. The demand for weapons had never been higher, which meant that the demand for the metals necessary to make them had skyrocketed. He’d made several small fortunes in the months since the Emperor’s death, and he was planning to make several more.

For weeks, he’d been squeezing Chalix, his biggest rival in business in Western Ardakand – and the man was on the verge of agreeing to a profit-sharing scheme that would allow them to drive prices up by more than 30%. Tomorrow was the crucial moment – Chalix had finally agreed to negotiate with Bataar. This was his one opportunity, and he was not going to waste it. So he had done what any self-respecting businessman would have done – he looked to the gods for guidance.

Now here he was, in a temple on Gilded Street, having tithed enough to feed a family of four for a year, waiting for an audience with the god he valued most – Andvari, God of Wealth and Prosperity. The attendants were anointing him with holy oils, and incense filled the room. It was unnecessary – he’d been through this before, and all that mattered was the ritual that would start his trance – but it couldn’t hurt to follow procedure, even for a god who cared most about results.

Moments later, the priest – adorned in gold and gems, as was proper – entered, and (after much pontificating) began the ritual that would allow Bataar to commune with the deity.

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Bataar awoke in front of enormous gilded ruby palace doors, carved with exquisite craftsmanship and filigreed in gold. They swing wide, and everything is gold.

Or at least, it should be.

Bataar frowns.

True, it is still mostly gold. But things are different.

Andvari’s lions, normally his loyal guardians, are gone, replaced with lion-fur rugs and their taxidermied equivalents in fearsome poses. Whereas the room was previously empty of people, servants – or are they slaves? – work frantically around the room, polishing treasure so that it glimmers in the blood-red lighting. They are so laden down with gold and gems that their movements seem to pain them, and yet they work fervently. And the display cabinets that ring the room seem to have a disturbingly high quantity of weapons or bloody paraphernalia among them, instead of the usual gems and jewelry.

Of course, the throne is empty, as it always is. Andvari is the invisible guiding hand. But the throne is no longer ornate silver and gold; instead, it is platinum, ridged in a strange manner. Bataar peers at it. Gods above! It is bone, gilded in platinum and assembled into a terrible and beautiful throne.

And the voice that booms out is colder, harsher, the friendliness and joviality a little more forced.

“Ahh, Bataar, my loyal subject. Welcome, welcome. Tell me, what brings you to my domain?”

“My lord…” Bataar swallows nervously. “Forgive my impudence… But you seem different.”

The laugh, normally rich and reassuring, is almost mocking.

“I am fine, mortal. Better than ever. I am riches beyond measure. I am wealth itself. But I ask again – what guidance or boon would you ask of me?

Bataar steels himself. Andvari is still his god, no matter the façade he presents.

“Oh Opulent One! My rival merchant, Charix – I meet him tomorrow to negotiate. Together, we can control the metal trade to the entire western half of the city! It is an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration. How do I navigate this in keeping with your teachings!”

Andvari laughs, a booming bellow, though it seems more forced than usual. His hands – unseen, of course – lift gold coins into the air, clutching them tightly until they too vanish. Bataar can see that the god is clenching them so hard that blood runs down the coins, drips down the contours of his invisible hands, and onto the opulence beneath.

“Crush him. Meet with him tomorrow and pretend to entertain the deal on the table, and schedule another meeting for a week from now. Use the opportunity to bribe his clerks, and find his suppliers and undercut him. Ramp up production and steal his suppliers.”

Dimly, Bataar is aware that Andvari is shouting, louder and louder, and his vision begins to blacken.

"He is weak, Bataar, and you are not! RUIN HIM. DRIVE HIM FROM ARDAKAND WITH NOTHING!”

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And Bataar wakes, left with a sense of unease and a vague memory of instructions – collaboration is weakness. He must be ruthless and dominate Charix and leave the man penniless. It is not the tactic he would have preferred, but such is the will of his god.

After all, who is he to argue with the divine?

[Let'sGetKraken]

A lesser mortal might have grown to hate the realm of Lagamal, He Who Presides Over Death. It is a dismal place, in truth – vast obsidian caverns filled with the pale shapes of the dead awaiting judgment. But Minoo Shirin – better known to most as the Heron – is patient, and she is accustomed to spending time in the spirit world. She has her own workings, and Lagamal’s realm will no more discomfort her than any other venue.

It is in the midst of her workings that she feels the first rumble. Minoo ignores it, making a quick mental note of the event for future inquiry. No, it is when earthquakes start in earnest and the screaming begins that she feels compelled to investigate – from a safe distance, of course.

Minoo is not an easily startled woman, by any metric. Still, it gives her pause to see dozens of Shaitan of Disaster pour into the underworld, bringing floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires with them as they ride, fused to their mounts in profane elemental monstrosities. They are followed by dozens more – still Disaster, to her eye, but the less overtly natural ones. One of them – twelve feet tall, by her mark – rots the very stone on which it steps, spirits around it dissolving as it walks. Another, disconcertingly, seems to be absorbing the spirits that get too close, with any physical obstacles simply disintegrating.

As the horde advances into the underworld – not for the first time, nor the last – Minoo wishes that Hormoz was still alive. There was something comforting about being able to put four hundred pounds of muscle and martial glory in between yourself and the threat. But the Shaitan do not seem concerned with her – no, they are not attacking anyone in particular. They are attacking the Underworld itself.

Or rather, they seem to be. Others might be convinced, but Minoo is shrewd. The Shaitan are not rampaging beasts. They are monsters, and cunning ones at that. This attack has a purpose… and if not her, then what? She turns her attention away from the fighting.

And then everything goes dark.

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Literally, of course. Lagamal’s realm had been blanketed in thick, impenetrable shadow, that has filled the cavern and blinded defenders and Minoo alike.

Precisely eight minutes and twenty seven second later – time Minoo spends safely away from the sounds of battle and catastrophe in the main cavern – the darkness lifts, and her vision in restored. Minoo watches the forces of the underworld rally and push the Shaitan of Disaster back. They ride or lumber back towards to surface of the spirit world, and any that risk being overwhelmed disappear in bursts of darkness.

Again, she wonder what the point of all this conflict was. Was it to send a message to her? But how would the Shaitan know she was here? Was it vengeance against Lagamal, for condemning the Shaitan of Pain to suffer instead of granting them rest? That would certainly fit the Shaitan’s methods, but this seemed too coordinated.

Curious, she walks through the devastation left in the wake of the attack, approaching the throne itself. It is glowing a deep, blood-red. Unusual, and worrisome. The gates behind him have been twisted, spiked, waiting for spirits to be impaled upon them as a warning to others.

All of this is concerning, to be sure. But Lagamal, Judge of the Dead, is by far the most worrisome element. Normally, Lagamal is dispassionate, logical, detached, an impartial judge of the dead. Minoo has never seen him display any emotion, but now he is furious. He shouts and raves at any who get close, his mask now burnished red, twisted into a hateful expression. Spirits smolder around him, and the implements of his office are now crude, jagged things.

Something is terribly wrong.

[Eldan]

The Conclave
Ardakand has always been known as the city of a hundred gods. When the Khan and Sky conquered a thousand foreign peoples, they brought their gods back in chains and added their priests to the city, to add to the chorus of worship. And now, they have all gathered, in a tent city built around the re-desecrated Eye of Gulldr, to choose a new patron god.
For the first day, the big names are keeping their bids back, and many of the minor gods get their voice. A priest of Vrandil, in mourning garb, her bald head painted with ashes, assures the crowd that the God of Bells will rise, stronger than ever, to take his place at the city's head. The priest of Reshef Battleflame, wearing a skull mask and two scimitars, yells from a podium for well over an hour, about how times of war belong to his lord. Three priests of Damu, god of peace and agriculture, cry ostentatious tears and assure the gathered ecclesiastics that this is the last chance to turn the city around, that there has been too much bloodshed and that the entire spirit world of Ardakand is at a tipping point.
These pleas last for less than a day, before three power blocks, supported by the city's powerful factions, begin to form and split the debate them. The arguments made over the next few days boil down to these:

The Legio Cerberus has valiantly and selfishly protected the city from danger after danger. They are the true successors of the Empire and as thanks for their strength and resolution, they have earned only ruins and the mockery of demons. Giving them the honour of naming the city's patron is the least anyone could do. But Theshera is an aloof, elitist goddess, who will never excite the passions of the people.

Gulldr, on the other hand, is clearly the strongest god. By right of conquest, of the western city, the Eye that is now dedicated to him, the earthblooded, the steam-maker has proven his might and ability to protect the city. He has already bound some of the most dangerous gods safely into his growing pantheon, the Devourer, the Immaculate Queen, the White Snake. But the Gudites are bloodthirsty barbarians, unworthy of being anyone's patron.

The Loa argue from an unusual angle: why pay homage to distant gods, when we can bring the spirits from their world into this one? Through the power of Voodoo, no one will have to rely on shamans, uncertain prayer and sacrifice, when the Baron, the Lady and their many cousins can instead walk the mortal world in the flesh, and hold court among their worshippers, where all can hear their words and witness their deeds. But are they strong enough to defend Ardakand from the likes of the Shaitan and the Wild Hunt?

Conclave Results

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The debate goes on for well over a week, and grows increasingly heated. On the fifth day, priests of Theshera and Gulldr are seen lined up and shouting curses at each other, threatening each other with war and the outer dark. On the sixth day, a disgruntled priest of Reshef sets fire to the tent of the Peacebringer's delegation. Luckily, they were out and quick action puts the fire out before the entire tent city can burn down. Then, on the seventh day, it happens: a priest of Ruairidh, crowned with antlers and red streamers symbolizing flames, pulls a dagger from his robes. "Down with the gods! Down with the Empire!", he screams, lunging at a group of novives of Theshera. Before anyone can interfere, a young woman lies on the ground, still clutching her scrolls of strategy, sputtering as blood seeps from her cut throat, and, in a thin line, towards the Eye.
Priests fall on their knees, laughing hysterically, at the desecration. Fist fights errupt, among the lesser priests. A priest of Chouvrian, the kindly guide of the dead, has climbed a column and is proclaiming the end of days and the storming of the gates of underworld, in the Father's name. The Thesherans, all legion veterans, have pulled together into a makeshift phalanx, forming a circle around some weeping unarmed acolytes of the gods of agriculture. More Ruairites light burning brands and begin lighting fires among the tents. The Exarch of Reshef has called a sword from thin air and the screams of the damned fill the air aroudn him as he begins laying into the crowd. A priestess of the northern cannibal-mother Eanuhauma, who was herself devoured by great Fuxi, casts aside her white cloak and falls on one of the injured, her jaw dislocating like a snakes. The last surviving ordinated priest of the Sky, called upon to officiate the meeting, suddenly sags and falls to the floor, his skin splitting open as a swarm of spiders escapes into the night.

It is total chaos.

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Total Bids:
Legio Cerberus: 16
Golden Guard: 21
Witch Doctors: 29
Gudites: 30


DROWN THE CITY IN BLOOD

The honour of naming the city's patron god goes to the Bloodsworn Shaitan.

Hemminghock [15]

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Opened a portal to the Shaitan. You send eight military, but nothing is paid back.

Witch Doctors [6]

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The only portal opened is between the Hemmighock and the Shaitan. Hemminghock supported your bid with 15 stat points.

***

Shattered statues of Gods, Kings and Warriors, in a thousand styles, litter the ground. A treacherous landscape of marble and granite chunks, always shifting underfoot. Poles stick up between them, bearing flags ripped to tatters by the incessant wind.
But there are more dangers here. The shadows between the rocks move strangely, as the expedition proceeds. And then, from between what seemed like solid stone, step the hunters, humanoid but clearly inhuman, one twice as tall as a man and unnaturally thin, another with the head of a wolf, all in grey cloaks and wielding bows. There are only five of them, but they have the advantage of surprise. A flight of arrows tears through the expedition and many of the witch doctors are left dead. Then, as quickly as they have arrived, they vanish again.
Far, far up the sloping ground, stand the ruins of a golden throne. Its armrests are lion heads, and once, a spread-winged eagle and sun disk would have risen up over the back, though it now lies fallen on the stairs leading up to the throne.
The spirit on the throne must have seen the expedition climb up the slope for hours, maybe days, before they reach the steps before the throne, but it has never raised its head, which droops wearily. Two swords rest by its feet, half-buried in snow and dust.
It finally looks up as you approach, its face an expressionless golden mask. For a while, it doesn’t speak.
"Cousins. It is good that you have come to me, and not some mortals. I don't think I could bear it, to treat with them, after what they have done over the last months and years."
Another, long pause.
“Once, I was Honour. But honour is dead. I tore its heart out of my chest, the day I declared the last scions of the Great Khan to be unworthy of his mandate and legacy. This is not an age for honour. This is an age of the Shaitan and of Vulpa, of chaos, bloodshed and treachery.”
The next pause seems to take hours.
“There are traditions older than the Mandate of Heaven, however, and I swore to them before I ever swore to the Sky. When a petitioner approaches a spirit, a pact must be offered. So be it. In an age of Imperium divided, swords speak louder than words. If there is no honour left among mortals, I shall become a god more at home in this age."

The Page and the Lady each gain +2 bonus XP. Among the shattered statues, there are weapons and discarded treasures. Gain +3 temporary artifice and +3 temporary economy. Gain a pact offer from the Lord of valour. The fey make the journey extraordinarily dangerous. Lose 1 permanent military.


Aei Zan, Lord of Valour

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Legend: Aei Zan, the knightly protector of the weak, builder of empires, shield of the empire, was one of its most popular gods, sworn to by warriors and officers who wanted to gain a reputation for honour and bravery, and by commoners to keep the ravages of war and the oppression of the mighty away from their doors. He has fallen silent, his warrior-priests have retreated to their temple-monasteries and closed the doors. No blessings are spoken in his name, anymore.

Offering: 1 mor and 1 mil every turn. Part of your faction must engage in public displays that praise martial valour and have no other benefit, such as duels, parades, contests, even storytelling or poetry.

Blessing: Duel. Every turn, a VIP of your faction can publicly challenge another faction to a divinely sanctioned duel. They must either nominate a VIP of their own to accept the duel, or suffer a loss of morale, dependent on relative strength of the factions and VIPs involved. If accepted, both VIPs may not take any other actions this turn. The outcome of the duel is randomly determined by the GM dependent on the VIP levels involved (with some stats being better at dueling than others). This may lead to an injury which will take the VIP out of action for another turn.

The Gardeners [12]

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The ritual is a success, the expedition finds a nexus.

The Heron [11]

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You barely step into the spirit world, and it awaits. It must have been sitting on the border of the two worlds already, waiting. It is a grey, misty half-world, with echoes of the material still surrounding you, vague impressions of landmarks and objects, faded and stretched out into weird dimensions.
It is announced by a rattling of chains, and wheezy breathing, and a faint blue light shining through the fog. The spirit is small, sickly and emaciated, covered in sores and bandages. It is bent over, straining under the weight of a heavy coffin it has chained to its back. Or perhaps it has been chained to the coffin.
“Aaah”, it says, breathing heavily after every few words. “Welcome, welcome… thought I would… catch you on the… way before you… missed me.”
The coffin on its back begins to rattle and shake, almost threatening to topple it over.
“QUIET!”, it yells, whacking the wood with the handle of the scythe it had been using as a walking stick.
“Where… ah yes. I am a… purveyor of useful goods. I merely collect some of the… flotsam that collects on the… paths of the dead… and help them find… useful employment.”
It points at the coffin.
“I thought we could… make a deal?”

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Offering: Scrounger is an exile spirit, deeply disliked by others of its kind and shunned by mortals as a monster who devours the spirits of the improperly buried. As such, it mainly desires respect and admiration, preferably in a public fashion. It wishes for prayers, statues, shrines, festivals. These cost an upkeep of 1 eco and 1 mor a turn. Additionally, it demands overflowing and elaborate praise. Your pact with Scrounger must be made public, though not any details, and you must at least once a turn praise it as a very worthy God and never refer to it as “Scrounger”.

Boon: Scrounger traps the spirit of the dead in its coffin, where over time, they intermingle into an angry, seething mass of energy. Every turn, the soulcatcher stores up an amount of mil equal to half the total of stat points that are destroyed in any given turn, either by events, stat attacks (but not theft) or by invasion. At any given midturn, it can open its coffin, unleashing an angry army of ghosts. This gives a one-time bonus of t.mil equal to the number of banked points to an annexation, invasion or stat attack, after which it can begin to bank points again.

The journey is brutal. Before the Scrounger even finishes his words, a flock of ravens attacks the expedition, each three or four times normal size, ready to tear out the shaman's eyes, though a volley of Hemminghock fire quickly disperses them. From there, it is one assault after another. There are knights with the heads of vultures an foxes, riding out of dark forests, there are thorny vines trying to strangle the travellers in their sleep, there are arrows out of nowhere. Tiny pixies with the wings of dragonflies poison three water barrels one night. The fey seem particularly fixated on Minoo herself, trying to lure her off the path with enticing songs and illusions of treasure or kill her with pitfalls and poisoned arrows, but she remains unpreturbed and focused on her goal.

Triggered 13 minor dangers on the way. 9 negated by military. 3 negated by the Heron herself. 1 negated by Aq Bars. Gained +39 bonus XP. While travelling, the expedition also gains 8 bonus XP, 2 t.inv, 6 t.art, 10 t.inv, 3 t.esp, 3 t.mor and a set of ancient Ritual Scrolls, which are a +1 art artefact.

The Gardeners have outfitted the Heron with a curious little device: a fist-sized sphere of living flesh, veined and faintly pulsating in the hand. Its pulses, increasing and decreasing in frequency, are meant to lead them where they need to go. THe paths taken are not pleasant. Darkness soon falls, and does not lift again. The ground becomes barren first, then pure black. Time becomes difficult to tell, but the direction soon becomes clearer, even without the fleshy compasses increasingly excited trembling: from straight ahead, there are screams on the wind, full of deep and desperate pain. It takes days, again, after that, until they found the source: there is twisted tree root sprouting from the ground, more than a man's height of a deep bloody colour and the screams eternally flow around it.

Found the Root of All Pain (Military Nexus)

The land stretches to infinity, in a thousand different shapes. Gently rolling hills give rise to jagged, snow-capped peaks painted rose and gold by the setting sun, beyond which lie deserts of white and blood-red sand, then oceans, deep green and bright turquoise,, waterfalls turning into spray over secluded cliffsides and mile-wide rivers winding between mangroves and wide marshes, countless forests, icy-white, autumn-red and cherryblossom pink. Dotted between them are villages and cities, ancient fortresses and lonely towers.
Above it all is the sky, black and blue and cloud-strewn, crowned with a single star.
“I don’t want to stop you. In fact, I don't think I could, friend Minoo. You have become so strong, these months”, says a simple, friendly voice, as the expedition crosses another rise in the landscape, and looks out over yet more wonders. “Instead, I will walk with you. These are sad times. So many are displaced against their will, and so many more dare not to travel, because the roads have become dangerous. We must change this. We must restore the land to safety, together.”

Barshamin, the Lodestar

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Legend: Barshamin is one of the most merciful gods. She is the gentle northstar that guides lost travelers and ships, invoked and praised on every journey. Her priests are travelling mendicants, bringing stories from far-off lands or assisting those in need on the road by stocking shelters and maintaining paths in inhospitable terrain.

Offering: Barshamin wishes for you to pay alms to poor travellers, and make the roads safer. This costs one eco and one mil per turn.

Boon: Under Barshamin’s guidance, travel is more rewarding, less dangerous and one often finds unexpected friends on the road. All VIPs sent to either delve the spirit world or to an event outside the city gain double their base XP gain for the turn. The first time a danger is encountered on the road, that danger is harmlessly negated. For any ten stat points invested in delving or expeditions, you also gain +2 points towards creating a new level 1 VIP, from the friends you made along the way.

Everything is green, almost evenly so. Layers of watercress and algae drift on the surface and the trees are covered in soft moss, deep enough that anyone leaning against the trunks sinks in to the elbow. In the channels drift rotten black logs, which make for treacherous, slick footing. Leaves, vines and pale beard moss form an almost closed roof overhead, turning the world into a series of sweltering, moist tunnels.
The spirit, when it is finally found, blends perfectly into the landscape, merely another elongated, overgrown dark shape in the water, though larger than most. Only when the expedition approaches does it open a single eye, pale green-grey and slit-pupilled.
“Your splashing is enough to wake the dead, children”
Its voice is a deep groan, like timber bending in the wind.
“All this haste, this movement, this running about. What do you gain from it? Just wait, and food will come to your mouth.”

Crocodile, the Patient Hunter

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Offering: Crocodile wants to be fed. 2 temporary stat points per turn. Whether you pay in mor, eco or mil is no matter to him.

Blessing: Crocodile is infinitely patient, and prepared for the right time to strike. While in a pact with Crocodile, all investments made to bank stats for a stat attack, invasion or active defense are 25% more effective. Additionally, you gain a bonus of +1 to all passive defense for each project you are currently banking stats for.

After all gods they meet along the way, and the many, many dangers they have barely survived through Minoo's discipline and Hemminghock fire power, the expedition climbs deeper and deeper into history. They make their way through ancient battles, the founding of cities, the growth of ancient forests. Glaciers slide across the land, carving deep valleys and retreating and mountains rise and fall. And finally, on the flanks of an enormous mountain, larger than any in the mortal world, they find their goal. A skeleton, miles high. It takes days, again, to ascend along the legs, over the spinal column and into the ribcage. At the point of the colossal sword that has slain this ancient deity, there is a speck of light, no larger than a grain of sand, but thrumming with divine power.



The divine spark of a dead god is the first step in a VIP ascending to Tier 6. Research will be necessary to find out how to use it.

Gudite Warcamps [9]

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Fuxi supports your bid with 17 stats, as planned. You lose 1 inv you sent along with the Fuxi to delve into the spirit world to fey attack.

Ruin sifting:
The Legion sent Legate Sain, who is a level 2 military VIP and bears the lion cloak (a +1 military artifact), accompanied by 4 mil and 2 esp. They negated their distance penalties from the City Watch LTP they gained from confederating the Aquila. It also seems they had 2 infiltration points on the slayers, which gave them a +2 bonus on their attack action from a pact with Theshera, the goddess of strategy.

It seems the Slayers rebuffed this merely by having 10 military, 6 morale and buffing their passive defence by another +5 with morale.

Clan Fuxi of the White Snake [9]

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You gain 2 t.mil from the Heart.

Even stepping into the spirit world is a running battle, this month. The veil itself is tearing at the expedition with thorns, leaving some scratched bloody before they set a step into the other side. From there, it is a running battle for days, the fey leaving the Fuxi and Gudites not an hour to rest. At night, creatures half man, half weasel, stalk the crew, falling over any who lag behind with vicious fangs. A brook along the path twists and winds like a serpent, the water striking at a screaming traveller, before dragging him under. There are pitfall traps hidden under illusions of safe ground. There are hypnotic songs, which lure the unweary into the shadows, never to be seen again, and thorny vines that strangle any sleeper.

After days of this terror, the remaining expedition is given a break: there is a cave entrance, leading into a cliff wall and climbing down, they find themselves among near endless piles of spectacular treasure, ready for the taking. On an altar-like pedestal in the middle of the room lies a pole of pure white wood. At one end, where a spearhead or axeblade would be, there is instead the carved head of a snake, mouth open to strike.
Outside the caves are, once again, howls, and the heavy footfalls of a gigantic creature. Lady Tamachi snatches the spear and leaps where her moths tell her to go, directly at the head of the lumbering troll that stands outside. The spear in her hands suddenly twists and bends as if alive, the snake head striking blinding fast and finding the troll's eye, burying itself deep. The creature trashes around, throwing Tamachi off, but then collapses to the ground, dead, the spear still embeded in its eye.

Lady Tamachi is injured. The Leviathan managed to stay uninjured. Fuxi lose 2 inv. Gudites lose 1 inv.

Gain 6 bonus XP to be distributed among the VIPs involved. Gain +2 t.inv, +4 t.art, 6 t.eco.
Gain a Wolfhide Belt, which transforms the wearer into a werewolf. (+1 military artifact)
Gain the Creative Ledger, which magically influences trade (+1 economy artifact)
Gain the Serpent's Spear

The Serpent's Spear

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The Serpent's Spear is a magical weapon that adds either +2 mil or +2 esp to a VIP's actions, which must be chosen when the spear is given to a wielder and can't be changed afterwards. The spear drains power from its victims and gives it to the wielder, so they gain bonus XP equal to any stat damage dealt by their actions, or up to the tier of any VIP they are part of assassinating.

Outside the cave, the landscape is frigid and barren, a bare sheet of frozen-over rock, under a leaden, quiet sky. There are untold spirits here, each an indistinct, nebulous shape, crouching or kneeling on the floor, carvingit at it with splinters of rock, or their bare hands. Each is writing, incessantly, with bloodied hands, and whispering to themselves. “It was mine, all mine, the house, the money, you took it from me” and “How dare you say that I was an unfit mother, I will show you” and “none of your business at all, what I do under my own roof” and “you killed him, you bastard, you just killed him” and “they burned our crops, we will starve” and “If I’m going down, I’m taking you all with me”.
A tall figure walks among them, tall, clad in black and crowned with a halo of blood and fire.
“Aren’t they beautiful?”, she says, her voice deep and oddly seductive. “They are the most devoted followers a god could wish for. None of them ever neglect their devotions, their rituals. They will carry me in their hearts for the rest of their lives, never forgetting. Their faith is a glorious cold flame that consumes them forever. In their eyes, I am exalted over all other gods.”

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Legend: Dantara is a dark and bloody goddess, her worship suppressed in most provinces, many sects outright illegal, for among them are rebels and insurgents, assassins and sicarians. Though her only officially sanctioned priests are forbidden to engage in any rituals save to placate her wrath, she is pervasive in folk magic: hedge witches, pellars and wayfaring preachers all know their own sacrificial rituals, to bring her shadowy demons of vengeance down on foes, or to bring her possession down on those wronged and lend them berserker strength.

Offering: 1 mil, 1 esp. Dantaras rites are secretive and obsessive, and may not be discussed in public.

Blessing: whenever you lose stats or VIPs to invasion, stat attack, assassination or any other hostile action, gain an amount of t.esp equal to the amount lost, or twice the tier of the VIP. If those stats are banked for any action against the party responsible for the loss, they automatically grow each turn at a rate of 1:5, for vengeance is best served cold.
Additionally, every turn, you may bring unrest to one district. The district chosen must be controlled by another faction, and it must not have any values in common with the faction controlling it. While there is unrest in the district, it becomes non-productive, so that the faction controlling it loses one stat point corresponding to the stat point they gained for taking control of the district. Order can be restored in the district by investing stats equal to half of what would be required to annex it in the first place, otherwise, the unrest persists across turns.

The expedition takes a half-day to recuperate, now that the fey have seemingly fallen back. Tamachi and Solyom finally have time to properly plan the further course of their expedition. The Expedition, exhausted and bloody, has to turn back to calmer lands. Eventually, they find themselvs at the shores of an ocean. There is an opening, among the waves, leading down into the water.

Far above the foam churns, white, cerulean and golden in the sunlight, but the depths are cool and indigo-dark. Brilliant fish dart between the kelp forests and mussels close and open with the currents, revealing magnificent pearls. As the fronds part, they reveal marble terraces and obsidian pyramids, extending far down into the trenches beyond the sun, but glistening with bright luminescence from a thousand living creatures.

The king of the deeps has no jewels or crown, his own body his only finery as he glides through the water.With a wave of his hand, a banquet is laid, and deep and resonant song fills the water.

“Be welcome and rest, a while, travelers. Rest, here in the peaceful depths, and tell us tales from the troubled lands above.”

Spoiler

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Special: when finding Raunelm’s realm, all injured party members on the expedition are healed. Lady Tamachi is not injured.

Legend: The tales of Raunelm are wistful and sad, told by sailors and fishermen, who fell overboard and almost drowned. They remember resting there, in the deeps, in a calm and quiet world of neverending feasts, music and poetry. The deeps are a distant paradise, that can only be briefly visited, but where the most pious sailors can go after death, reincarnated as dolphins.

Offering: Raunelm has all the material goods he could ever want, all the adoration and faith provided by his own subjects who live with him. But his court is hungry for stories from above, from dry and wartorn lands. This costs 1 esp and 1 mor per turn.

Blessing: The bounties of the deep are endless, and Raunelm can easily share. While in a pact with Raunelm, every district you have facing the ocean contributes +1 to your total stat limit. Additionally, your cost to improve economy or artifice is reduced by one per point. You may also permanently give up your pact with Raunelm to negate one danger from the sea (DM’s approval for what counts as oceanic danger.)

The following districts count as ocean facing: A, B, 6-8, 48-51, 52-54, 57-59, 61,62, 64,66,68-70, 43,44, 45-47, 24-26

Outside the City

Five heavily armored knights, their heads shrouded by hoods, ride up to the gates, stopping just out of range of the siege engines mounted on the lion's claws. One of them lifts his lance, and a bolt of lightining strikes upwards, towards the heavy stormclouds. The lighting bolt does not fade, but instead widens, a coruscating rift in the air. Through it steps the Huntmaster. She is small and whipcord thin and from a distance it is impossible to tell if what is visibile under her wings and billowing cloak are protruding bones or weirdly organic pieces of armour. She unsheathes a silver rapier and points it at the city. Her voice is quiet, and yet, even over the thunder of the storm behind her, it can be heard in every district.



"Mortals. You have meddled in a world that is not yours. You have recklessly plundered its treasures, stolen the very energies of creation. For this, we must end you.

Spoiler

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The Wild Hunt was triggered five times. This means that the Hunt will attack five districts at midturn. These are randomly distributed, but weighted towards factions that have contributed Invocation to delving this turn. The strength of these armies depends on how much Invocation was spent on delving.

[Eldan]

Gardeners Midturn, Addendum [12]

Spoiler

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The roots of the Mothergreen spread to 13, 17, 30 and 28. Gain 1 infiltration on the Gudites. Gain 3 infiltration on the Legio Cerberus. Gain 1 infiltration on the Minotaurus.

[ArcaneStomper]

The Heron
Otherwordly, Martial, Mercenary, Noble

As the Huntmaster's words ring off the walls of the palace Minoo sighs and sets her quill down. Rubbing her face she takes a moment to grumble to herself, "Always with the fighting, why'd this have to happen when Hormoz was gone. He'd love this, but I don't. I have better things to do." Pulling her grey hood over her head she leaves her study and heads out to collect her warriors. Time to set up the barricades again. The Palace is becoming less of an ornate structure and more of an imposing fortress each month.

Spoiler: Gardeners and Hemminghock (Morale 11)

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Friends,

I am please to announce the succesful completion of our expedition with no ill consequences besides bringing down the wrath of the fey. I have enclosed a report on the expedition. (You can read my midturn.) In total we have found a substantial amount of useful ingrediants as well as the Root of All Pain and three gods. Per our agreement the Gardeners get two shares while the Hemminghock get one, and I take the last share. This works out very well as it means the Gardeners get the Root of All Pain, and Hemminghock may make their selection from the gods. I suggest we discuss the allotment first to prevent any ill feeling.

Minoo, Advocate for the Dead

Total Found
6 t.art, 12 t.inv, 3 t.esp, 3 t.mor, and +1 Art artefact.
Root of All Pain (Military Nexus)
Scrounger
Barshamin, the Lodestar
Crocodile, the Patient Hunter

[Hamste]

Golden Guards
Morale 8

Spoiler: Hemminghock

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Sounds fair to us, is morale still off the table? If it isn't we would like it in morale otherwise it all in military.

Spoiler: Public

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In addition to what was already rented, we have an additional 20 [invasion t mil] in bundles of 5 to rent with a loose 10 [t mil] available. The going rate is 6 [t stat] per 5 [t invasion mil]. _{Note, the invasion t mil has projects supporting it, may be stronger than advertised. Note for larger orders, military might not be splittable. If you order more than 8, it is likely the 8 will have to stay together.}

We will also offer a special deal, our alchemists figured out the cost of repairing a district completely at 16 [t stat]. If you give us the 8 and have us repair your district for you, it will pay the cost to rent 5 [invasion t mil]. That's right, repair yourself and get paid in return! Limited time offer, may be turned down if demand is too high.

Spoiler: Legio Cerberus

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Good day, this message is to remind you thar we lay claim to both 39 and 23. We will be taking 39 this turn but as apologies for the inconvenience we offer 8 [t invasion].

[neriractor]

Gudite Warband

Both from earth
You passed nearby
and tousled hair
my fellow steam
rise, be rain,
then fall again…

The Marble warcamp, with its awful contrast between shining streets and practical tents was only now comparatively less energetic, the call of the wild hunt was heard, and the massing troops to “remind” imperial powers of what was at stake were once again dispersed. And amidst the slightly less thunderous bustle of marching formations, soldiers off-duty and training drills Daghir struggled with a pen.

Orders and boots were familiar, calming even under normal circumstances, but the bloating cacophony of war, amplified by her tent’s location near the Slayer districts (a power play, as most things were), resonated with an echo most strange, at left her writing arm strong as always, but immobile nonetheless.

Soon ended by the barest of steps, her spear was far, for to keep it at hand showed worry. The wandering mind and intrusive sounds chipped enough at her usual awareness that she almost acted on the instinct to jump for it, but she caught herself with just a half turned chair and dropped pen to tell it.

Rupert walked in, tall and broad shouldered, armored with light bronze armor meant for skirmishing, with eyes like Azagar’s, the boy’s growth spurt seemed to have stopped only slightly above the one who walked behind him, The alabaster-clad knight belligerent. She couldn’t help but smile at the idea:

The knight was patently scarier to the common soldier than even Daghir.
He was a herald of the gods with full control over his actions, Rupert needed safety while learning of war and any… incidents caused by Rupert’s own connections, could be pinned to the knight. The fact that he seemed to hate bodyguard duty slightly more than he hated everything else was just perfection.

-Ma’am…

A sigh followed before he could finish -Mother or Daghir, Rupert

-We are at the Warcamp

-We are also alone- The martial mannerisms he had been picking up had been a source of pride during the first days of battle, but as the lull of negotiation set in it became… jarring, no one was ever going to discipline him for insubordination, and the slowness to notice this, to adapt…

Rupert very unsubtly shaked his head towards the knight, and he in turn replied by lightly tapping shield and sword, to have them ring terribly as if they clashed in battle.

-You know what I mean.

-... Mother then, I’ve come to deliver a petition. -Daghir raised a quizzical eyebrow, pretending like she could be surprised by the contents. Still she made a bet against that thought, and promptly lost, the letter was formal, written with exquisite calligraphy and words that your average unit level officer would need to look up, and it read as a petition to change his post, the 5th of its kind. From The Knight’s Bodyguard (the official title) to Rotter’s rapscallions, a phalanx and shot mixed unit still within her own warband.

She mulled it over, this was the first time he asked to join that particular unit, his first choices were skirmishers and scouts, much too dangerous for anyone so important, he moved to artillery calibration, which he never delivered but a plant commented to her anyway, then came formation units, the last from another warband and this one from her own. He was clearly learning something from his attempts, a correct lesson, if not one she wanted of him.

After giving it some actual thought, then pretending to be wracked by indecision just enough to keep him honest, she nodded, prompting a small celebratory jump that her brain had learned to associate with the smell of sulfur, she let him celebrate and stand at attention again before raising a hand and looking precisely ahead, right in the middle of the pair.

-You have to take care of him until fighting resumes, though, I don’t want any issues to come from idleness- Rupert saluted in agreement with a fist to his chest before leaving, while the knight didn’t bother to, merely looking back to receive a nod from her when Rupert had already left the tent.

The Wolf turned her chair back to match the desk, she’d have to find another escort, a more discreet one, she trusted Rotter to protect him, sure, but an incident from Rupert needed a very particular set of strengths that her subordinate lacked, strength the first amongst them... she’d have time for that later, she digured, instead picking up her pen and putting the paper back as her main focus.


…to pool in rivers
seas and lakes
with every drop
of whistling throng
the tide that beaches
grows so strong

But was it you that reached the end?
and if you are not, who says I can?

Espionage defense: 12
Rep: Martial-Spiritual-Barbarian

Spoiler: Clan Fuxi of the White snake

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Greetings respected snake kin,

Our efforts were insufficient, or at the very least we didn't expect the Shaitan's interference.

A military force would suffice as payment for my services then, we can even give some measure of defense against the coming hunt, with a fervent promise to take your lands back if they were to somehow get through.

Eldest earth's succour,
Solyom, Leviatan.

Spoiler: OOC

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Sooo.. that happened, I'll take military assets as payment instead and given wild hunt attempts are sort of half my fault, I can also provide whatever mor you need to reach the passive defense cap.

Spoiler: Legio Minotaurus

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Greetings Legate,

I hope your research is going well, we respectfully request passage so we may further the cause of the city, with a reminder that we have placed Nexuses on the hands of those who would help you whenever we can.

Gulldr's warmth,
Solyom, Leviatan.

Spoiler: The Heron

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Greetings mighty Heron,

we seek passage as we have done before, and if it moves you in any way, one of the Slayer confessors is dead, reducing their threat, and their plans look away from you but towards your ally.

Elder Earth's Succour,
-Solyom, Leviatan.

Spoiler: Legio Cerberus

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Greetings Legate Sain,

I can understand not wanting to reveal yourself as the one to meet us, or coming personally, so I'll just write:

Stay out of the marble ward and grant us passage so that we may finish the job, The Shaitan are still at large, the wild hunt approaches and I do believe it'd be foolish to have us clash on our way to the Slayers when we can instead work together, or at the very least stay out of eachother's way.

Gulldr's warmth,
Daghir, The Wolf.

Spoiler: The witch doctors

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Greetings spirit traders,

Will you be joining us in the coming battles? as the end of them appears so far away? and have you by chance met a god you'd trade for? our allies of the clan are always seeking one and we do as well.

Eldest Earth Succour against the coming wild hunt,
Solyom, Leviatan.

Spoiler: The bloodsworn Shaitan

Show

A single elder crow, barely grasping breaths crosses to the spirit realm until he finds one of those fiends that torture gods and feed on the nightmares they themselves are, they open their mouth and the sound that comes out is not imperial, Gudite or any of the hundred other tongues that can be heard within the city, the sound is that of someone dying, and with the Shaitan's scholarly understanding of that particular language they can decipher the meaning behind it:

"The Clan is set to pay dearly for their multitudinous breaking of the barrier in your stead, we expect their promised reward to be equally large... and of course, that it is an actual reward."

[St. Justicar]

Gardeners of the Immortal Flesh

INHUMAN – SPIRITUAL - HEROIC

MORALE 12

Spoiler: Heron, Hemminghock

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An enviably successful expedition, the wrath of the fae notwithstanding. Perhaps worth repeating, in the months to come?

Find my proposed division of the spoils attached

Spoiler: OOC

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Heron receives: The spark of the dead god, right to pact with Barshamin, the Lodestar, the set of ancient ritual scrolls [+1 Art], 1 Morale
Hemminghock receives: Right to pact with the Crocodile, all the Inovcation
Gardeners receive: Access to the Root of All Pain, right of pact with Scrounger the very respectable and upstanding third god to be discovered, all the art and esp, 2 Morale

Spoiler: Heron

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Friend Heron!

You can of course keep all the spoils which are our share of the minor treasure, are one part of payment for the shamans hired on on our behalf for expedition. Other [1 Art, 4 Mor] will be sent soon also.

If you have other business you want or things to buy just say before month is done.

-Cousin Arsat

Spoiler: Gudites

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Friend Leviathan!

Now that your expedition has returned and all the fortunes you were going to bribe priests with are laying around, was there anything you might wish to buy from us, this month?

-Cousin Arsat

Spoiler: Bloodsworn Shaitan

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Does the grand expedition through Shadow led by a Heron and guarded by harpies suffice, to win your favour?

Spoiler: Legio Cerberus

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OOC- just poking you, now you’re back, if you wanted to buy any stats this turn or had anything else you wanted to discuss.

Spoiler: Legio XX Minotaurus

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Oh Architect of Shadow,

My cousins and the grand flock they have found themselves amongst have found a singular treasure. A bloody abscess in the Shadow, a nexus of violence, pain and death. We plan to secure it in the coming weeks so it might be drained of vitriol. If you believe it would aid your studies, you and yours are welcome to study it as it is claimed, or take part in the work yourself.

[Eldan]

At the Eye of Gulldr




And as the sun sets on the evening of the seventh day of the Conclave, as the blood of the most holy men and women in Ardakand soaks into the once-sacred ground, blood pooling where Eye once lay, that same sun bathes the city in blood-red light. The priests, overcome with frenzy, set upon each other with sword and stave and fists and fingernails, carving bloody rents into each other. But now , the carnage has ended. But it was not accidental. This was purposeful bloodshed, and at this most holy of moments, it seals the fate of every god that names Ardakand as its home.

But there is one faction of priests have mastered violence, that remain the last to stand among the chaos and the desecration. Over the carcasse, one final priest stands triumphant, in the shadow of a banner red with the blood of lesser priests and bronze in the setting sun. Their god will be the first of a bloody Pantheon, one that will not be sated through anything less than violence, carnage, and brutality. All hail the blooded earth, the many-angled blade, the steam-maker.

Spoiler

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The Shaitan pass on naming a patron god for the city. All hail the patron god of Ardakand, Gulldr, of the Gudite Warcamps.

However, the essence of the Shaitan has seeped deep into the spirit world of Ardakand, and months unrest and bloodshed have affected even the gods. Even the formerly peaceful ones among them have come to hunger for blood, sacrifice or conflict. Starting next turn, every faction which has a pact must from now on engage in at least one meaningful hostile action (stat attack, assassination or territorial invasion, other actions may count at the DM's decision) or risk the Wrath of the Gods.

The new high priest of Ardakand is not a meek creature of sermons and letters, however. They are a leader, a fighter. Instead of a Mor 2 VIP, the Gudite's new high priest is a Mil 2 VIP.

[Hamste]

Golden Guards
Morale 8

Spoiler: Public

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Your god gone mad? You no longer love them anymore? Just need a short break? Hire Negeb, godly attorney at law. For all your godly contract needs.

Spoiler: OOC

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So once per turn and once per god with consent I can amicably break up a contract (so you are no longer pacted with that god and never can be again) or challenge a pact stopping you from getting the bonus but also making it so you don't pay.

As it is once per turn total, offering it as an option to the highest bidder. For those who don't want to deal with godly wrath.

[GameOfChampions]

Clan Fuxi of the White Snake

Mor 7
Rep: Spiritual, Otherworldly, Ambitious

Spoiler: Public

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While the Golden Guard offer you a good deal I offer you the same... for free!

Send us your unwanted gods and let bygones be bygones! They will never return to darken your doorstop again.

Spoiler: OOC

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I can eat gods for free if you do not want any godly wrath. No paying required.

Spoiler: Gudites

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Greetings Allies,

Obviously this turn led by the Shaitan has some difficulties. The forces of the Clan led by our lords will join you this month and we would appreciate any sources and contacts you have within the city to guide our own.

We have heard the threat of the Fae from our excursions this month and they are... dire. They need to be stopped lest our access to the spirit world becomes even more perilous. We have a plan for the next month and can only hope that their punishments are not too dire.

Spoiler: OOC

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Mil for Esp? I have Tier 2 Mil VIPs x2 and a +1 Mil item to send you. Feel up to sending some Esp for me to start banking?

Spoiler: Heron

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Greetings,

Unfortunately with the chaos of the month our deal may have some difficulty. We are still interested but cannot offer the same price. We have a collection of various resouerces and some gold we can offer but no longer our security specialists and mind walkers.

Would that still be acceptable?

Spoiler: OOC

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Would you take 3 Art, 2 Inv, and 4 Eco?

Spoiler: Gardeners

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Greetings,

The Shaitan have truly begun to ruin everything left in this city. However I would like to know if it is possible to trade through you to a third party? The Heron have recently expressed interest in our services.

Spoiler: Shaitan

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Greetings,

We did what you asked this city to do and found ourselves suffering from blood crazy gods and fae incursions. Let me ask what exactly was the benefit you promised from delving the great dangers of the spirit world.

[St. Justicar]

Gardeners of the Immortal Flesh

INHUMAN – SPIRITUAL - HEROIC

MORALE 12

Spoiler: Clan Fuxi

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Of course! Happy to help friend Heron. What sort of trade?

Also, now that we have border through Sempiterne, if you want to do business, can provide [1 permanent stat of any kind] for [3 Eco or 4 Mil/Esp/Art]. Let us know if interested!

[ArcaneStomper]

The Heron
Otherwordly, Martial, Mercenary, Noble

Spoiler: Gardeners and Hemminghock (Morale 11)

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I agree with this distribution, which I have annotated below as a double confirmation. If the Hemminghock family also agrees, then I consider this expedition to have been a resounding success.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: OOC

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Heron receives: The spark of the dead god, right to pact with Barshamin, the Lodestar, the set of ancient ritual scrolls [+1 Art], 1 t.mor
Hemminghock receives: Right to pact with the Crocodile, 12 t.inv
Gardeners receive: Access to the Root of All Pain, right of pact with the very respectable and upstanding third god to be discovered, 6 t.art, 3 t.esp, 2 t.mor

Spoiler: Gardeners (Morale 11)

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Greetings,

We do have some additional business. We have been negotiating with the Fuxi Clan to deliver a rather troublesome spirit to be devoured by their totem spirit. Unfortunately there is some distance between us. As such I would like to know if they can route their payment through your territories so as to make use of our portal.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: Clan Fuxi of the White Snake (Morale 11)

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That is acceptable. Since we are on opposite sides of the city I suggest you send them via the Gardeners as I have a well established trade route with them.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: Witch Doctors (Morale 11)

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Greetings,

The veil between the spirit realm and our own is normally quite solid, but as the Fae have quite loudly made known the city has invoked so many gods and spirits that the veil has worn thin. And the Shaitan's meddling, while troublesome, has shattered the barriers. This has troubling implications for what might climb out of the spirit realm. All manners of beasts and monsters dwell in that realm. But they are not they only thing. The dead also go to dwell in the underworld, and thus there is an opportunity here.

We have both lost champions this year, but with sufficient effort I believe we could call them back. Are you interested?

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: Gudite Warband (Morale 11)

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Solyom, Leviatan,

I do wonder why you have asked my permission. There does not seem anywhere you could go that you could not already reach easily.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: The Legio Cerberus (Morale 11)

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Legate,

What are you plans for the Slayers this month? Also do you have any artificers to spare?

Minoo, Advocate for the Dead

[neriractor]

Gudite Warcamp

The city, by this point, should have grown used to the steadily rising presence of the western gods, for the consecrated eye was not the charms and prayers of the forsaken but a tangible message “Your faithful are here” followed by a reply “we know”

A month was long enough, and fraught enough with other calamities (for at least one child had been found to bleed sap after they were left alone in their crib) that the common folk had just adapted, and when their Gudite neighbors, leaders and conquerors made their pagan rituals and sacrifices to great success, many neared the pyres for protection of the shades, not so for the priests.

Solyom by this point knew the spirit pathways better than he knew the streets of the city, and yet in the tumult of the Shaitan he was hounded, on an area of rushing time and aging, the treeless expanse of curves and spires made for awful cover as whisking spirits died and were reborn for his protection.

He was aware of running in place, of the single wheel of orange leaves, thrown daggers and falling ash he turned around with every step, but time was needed and meaningless, he kept running for it was expected of him as his servant spirits kept dying for the same reason: higher purpose.

Precious little in life was eternal, there were gods that would end it all, and then would end themselves and they feuded and died like mortals, though he knew patience was limited and at the third day, after already two daggers had been allowed to hurt him, and his body to reflect the effects of poison, it ran out.

Whether they thought their mission would be better served by having his head (for he at first thought they would just delay him), the charade dropped, a flute played in the distance 3 Vulpine priests that were just one came from the leaves, 300 daggers from the second soil that was the sky and then rose a third priest twice his size from his own shadow.

The giant Vulpine nearly had him by the neck, and would have surely reached if the poison’s effect was real, but with no such delays Solyom rang the Shaman’s bells in time and a tree hollow appeared to trip them into, where they would spend at least 3 years, but would surely return to the real world within 15 minutes.

The dagger cloud spun around the coming three, a veritable tornado that chipped away at his god-assigned guardians, secular pacts and flesh faster than he could replenish them, with the triplicate priest jumping effortless between them to attack him there where a a mace and armor were his last defense.

A particularly telling stab went near his stomach, but as he tumbled back the bells on his rope chimed, and the daggers ever so slightly shook in their place, so he rung them again but the daggers did keep coming if slightly crooked, but he had rung them not to disrupt, but to call, and a guardian of erin with a calming lyre pacified the wild daggers, who hearing the civilized sounds danced merrily in the ground behind them. Thus removed as threats, a blow from his hammer caught the threefold priest in the ribs, turning that copy into leaves, blown away by the wind while their fox-like mask fell on the floor.

The pair, piper and duplicate stood silent, seeing the knives of cover blown, and with a little curtsy bow, jumped into the tree’s hole, lest their friend stay all alone.

Solyom wasted no time healing his wounds, the Divine council was urgent, and he had already lost much time, the 3 days and night were more like 3 hours in the real world, but this was it, Daghir dreaded it, he was not exactly hopeful, but there had to be a way.

He entered the room, bloodied and accompanied by spirits and daggers only to, surprised, realize he wasn’t in bad company, the cavernous meeting room all had agreed on for the disastrous previous conclaves was clearly worse for the wear, rubble around the room, blood and gore, a subset of priests that looked very much shaken contrasting with those that had clearly expected something of the sort to happen or the Fuxi representatives who seemed just as fashionably late as Solyom, if lacking any sort of cuts in their clothes.

In the podium was Daghir, with the Knight belligerent to her left in immaculate white that anyone who didn’t know a thing about him could have taken as proof of absence from the fight, and to her left a pale, to the point her veins were al clear to see, woman, carrying a long staff with three conjoined rings at its end, patterned fabrics at their center and sharp bits at their end, right behind her stood ruin walkers whose ranks wore a suspiciously high number of priestly robes. She was speaking as he arrived:

“...And for my first action as high priestess of the pantheon, and speaker of the eldest, I name Aigiarn Erebus, highest priestess of Vulpa as High-caller of the Eastern gods, and Solyom, Leviatan, who is already in the esteem of so many from the other realm, as High-caller of the Western gods, may our pantheon, protectors of this city remain forever in unity” Daghir broke the silence of the proclamation, clapping loudly and (with an argument to be made for just being tired of fighting) the room followed, Solyom hesitated as the high priestess motioned for him to join them, to have his united faith, in a sense.

The ovation had almost died, many turned to look at him, and internally he sighed, this was his goal, right here in front of him, there was no room for pettiness and politicking. A second wind for the ovation ensued as he clapped and walked to the podium, where further speeches were given.

Spoiler: Public

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Introducing Qawha Yuraq (mil 2), Charkrand born, speaker for the Chthonic gods, and High priestess for all the city.

And the vulpines also stand for eastern (read imperial) gods, that might be relevant to some.

Espionage defense: 12

Spoiler: The Heron

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Greetings Heron,

You may be aware than there is a host of slayers standing between us and the others host of slayers, your help would be very benefitial indeed to reach them.

Pantheon's blessing,
Solyom, Leviatan, High-caller of the western gods.

Spoiler: OOC

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Asking for clarification from Eldan but as far as I'm aware I don't need to muster to the same ward but I still need adyacency or to loop around if I want to invade places.

Spoiler: Clan Fuxi

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Greetings snake kin,

It is true that the Fae post a greater threat than the city gives them credit for, if they trouble you they'll be repulsed and if they don't we'll chase them from the city either way. They have already caused trouble for our expedition... I don't suppose you'll amend it?

our skirmishers shall join you, and hopefully they serve you well.

Gulldr's might,
Daghir Aet Esharain, The Wolf, Redemptionist hierarch of Gulldr.

Spoiler: OOC

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Sold, I'll send you 6 worth of esp (so 4 esp and 2 of something else), also totally forgot I lost 1 inv in your delving, am I getting that back?

You may also want to declare war on the Slayers so the alliance doesn't break.

Spoiler: Gardeners of the immortal flesh

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Greetings cousin Arsat,

I would remind you of our mutual passage agreement as is customary, and ask too for more of your warring folk and some of your less conspicous folk to join us, for the rate already agreed on.

Pantheon's blessing,
Solyom Leviatan.

Spoiler: OOC

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Alright, so that'd be two mil, 1 esp. Which I will send you 4 eco for.

passage for war.
And then the 4 non-permanent mil we had already agreed on.

[Writtensanity]

Spoiler: To the Golden Guard: MOR 15

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Bein' candid, it costs more for us to make the kinda supplies that would raise morale than it does anything else. Our supply lines can rip off weapons, but booze needs to be aged no matter what, and that takes warehouse space.

Of course, should we come to an equitable arrangement, we are prepared to leverage an even larger order next month for a project we're working on.

OOC: It costs min 5 each instead of 4 each, which kills the profit on my end. If you REALLY need MOR, you'd have to convince them by offering a favor or sweetening the deal.

Spoiler: To the Gardeners and Heron: MOR 15

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That deal seems equitable and it pleases me that we came too it without coming to hostilities.

I will report to Cecelia that our spiritual energy for the investment was neutral, and we will prepare our forces for the wild hunt, should they come our way.

Know as friends an allies in this endeavor, Hemminghock gunpowder will be sigificantly discounted for you should the Wild Hunt come your way.


Also I'm aware that the Bloodsworn promised a reward for delving, but doubt they'd pay up even if we showed them, so let's keep this hush hush.

Spoiler: To the Bloodsworn: MOR 15

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Well, I gotta say, when my caravan reported that nobody had come to meet them for the trade I was disappointed, not surprised, but disappointed. Y'all don't have a lot of associates in Ardakand, let alone friends, and, while you might not understand the concept, it's better to work with people than against them.

We aint tellin' ya anything about our delvin' doubt you'd keep your word on that either.

Damn Shame.

Cecelia.

Spoiler: To the Witch Doctors: MOR 15

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Well that's a damn shame ain't it? We put up a lotta cash for that investment and the Conclave just turned their noses at us. So much for getting involved in the religions of Ardakand I suppose.

For what it matters, the portal you built us went to the Bloodsworn because they offered us a deal too good to refuse. They tried to stiff us. Let's see how that goes for them.

Yee haw.

Spoiler: To the 20th Legion

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Well, if y'all need assistance with that give us a holler, we have access and I'm interested in what you're brewin' with this investigation.

-- Tess

[Eldan]

Legio Minotaurus [6]

To the Gudite Warcamps

Spoiler

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Great Leviathan,

You may freely pass our lands. Soon, we will not need them anymore.

The Dominus Fabricator

To the Gardeners

Spoiler

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Architects of Flesh

Thank you for the offer. We will gladly study yet another nexus. But we think that we have finally unlocked what the Nexuses are about, so studying another would be another data point to confirm our theory.

Recent events in the city have shown us how important blood and pain are in the workings of the spirit world. The oldest legends and the Ar-Rashada of the Gudites tell us that when the Chthonians fashioned the foundations of the world, they poured their energies into it and were weakened, so now they sleep. They sacrificed themselves, their own blood.

So, we think, it is with the Nexuses. They are locked gates, holding back infinite energy and blood is the key. The actions of the Shaitan in the last few months have primed the nexuses for activation and they are ready to unlock, now.

Yours,
The Dominus Fabricator

The Sanguine Key [LTP] Cost: 30 Artifice or Military
Energy flows from the Nexuses only to those who pay for it with their own essence. With this LTP, you may sacrifice a permanent stat point for either 5 points of t.art, or 5 points of temporary stats of the same kind as the nexus. Any turn where you have dealt at least 3 points of stat damage to another faction or an NPC, you may instead activate this LTP for free.

[St. Justicar]

Gardeners of the Immortal Flesh

INHUMAN – SPIRITUAL - HEROIC

MORALE 12

Spoiler: Birds

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To peace and further cooperation in the months to come, then.

Spoiler: Gudites

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I am wondering what you need to walk through Garden to reach now, but you are welcome to. All else is good also.

Spoiler: Legio XX Minotauros

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It is unsurprising to find pain and death so deeply entwined with the nature of the Shadow. But power is power, and your project has the potential to outshine the sun.

You have our full support, and can expect a great deal of aid in the weeks to come.

Spoiler: Heron, Fuxi

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Should not be an issue, though am curious what the troublesome spirit is?

More importantly, what resources should we be expecting?

[ArcaneStomper]

The Heron
Otherwordly, Martial, Mercenary, Noble

Minoo no longer had to invoke her god. Instead the spirit world was so close to the surface that the Hall of Judgement was shrouded in cold winds. But this wasn't the stern and impartial court of previous summonings. No the rain of blood had contaminated even here, indeed with all the restless spirits it was even easier for them to become overcome with anger and vengeance. Now banshee howls swept through the Hall of Judgement and Lagamal sat fully present with a scythe instead of a set of scales.

But one thing was the same. Minoo would perform her duties as the advocate of the dead without fail and without bias. Regardless of what the spirits had become her voice was calm as she called out. "Lagamal, we call on you now. Hear now the case of Confessor Jurall, champion of the Slayers of the Silent Saints."

Lagamal leans forward. Cold hands leaning towards the soul of the deceased. "I give you Slayer-Confessor Jurall, Sancta Finalis. Slayer of men and spirits both. I bring this case today as the Advocate for the Dead. I have heard her tales and weighed her soul. She was complicit in the deaths of many in the city. Those who were champions of people and murderers of the innocent both."

"I admit bias in this case, and so I will lean towards mercy rather than torment. Great Lagamal, I ask that you grant this soul clemency. Allow them to go to their final rest."

The great figure looks at Minoo and the ghostly form of the confessor. It leans forward plucks the shade and back into the Underworld. It chuckles as it gazes at its newest prize, "GRANTED."

Spoiler: Gudite Warcamps (Morale 11)

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Solyom, Leviatan, High-caller of the western gods.

I admit that I would like to see the Slayers destroyed, but yet I am a woman of my word. I swore an oath that I would not conspire against them or send my men to attack them for as long as I am alive. And lo, I am still alive. So I must deny you passage this month. However I do wish you good luck in your efforts. They have not endeared themselves to me in anyway. Also congratulations on killing Jurall. Take a few more of the confessors out and I may reconsider my position.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: Gardeners and Hemminghock (Morale 11)

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I admit I have certainly done my share to raise the Fae's ire, so if anything I will be surprised if they don't attack me this month. I can hope that my preparations will be sufficient to see them off, but if not I will remember your offer. If nothing else they are less likely to massacre everyone than the Shaitan.

And I will reciprocate your offer. If I do not need to reclaim my own districts, then I will certainly send aid to the two of you should you need it.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: Gardeners, Fuxi (Morale 11)

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I see no harm in sharing. Behold the Nightmaker. You can likely see why I would not wish this primordial spirit to continue in the void. I doubt the White Snake can truly erase it, but hopefully losing this avatar will push the Void back.

Nightmaker, Eye of the Void

Spoiler

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Legend: Before the first gods, the shapers and the chthonians, fashioned the world, there was already chaos, the void, from which they had been born. And when the aeons have passed, the works of the gods will crumble, as the works of mortals must, and all will return to the void. No priest dares worship the void, if it even has a name. There are claims, amongst the forbidden grimoires, that it has granted powers to some mad worshippers, but the inquisition strenuously denies any such attempt has ever happened.

Offering: 1 permanent stat point per turn, which falls to dust.

Blessing: designate a single district. It becomes the eye of the void, from which it will spread. At first, eternal darkness falls over the district, and anyone remaining feels increasingly uneasy. The faction controlling the district, if there is one, loses 1 permanent morale immediately. At this point, the eye can be closed by an investment of 5 t.inv or t.art, though this cost increases by 2 every turn. At the end of turn, a rift opens in the territory, and all inhabitants that have not fled begin to mutate or crumble to dust. The owner of the district loses control over it and any stats conquering that district originally produced. From there, any action that takes place along a route through the district suffers 1 permanent stat of attrition. Additionally, every midturn, the darkness spreads to a random district, connected to one already under the influence of the void.

[Eldan]

Legio Minotaurus [6]
To Hemminghock

Spoiler

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Of course! It just so happens that we are reasonably sure that we have figured out how the nexuses work and how to unlock them. You can thank the Shaitan for that, too, studying their influence on the spirit world has shown us how important certain energies are. Anyway, the nexuses were anchor points to create the physical world ,and they still hold the energy to do similar things. And the world was created in blood, the self-sacrifice of the Chthonian spirits to lay the foundations of hte world with their power. We're quite sure that with some help, we can make those energies accessible in an controlled manner, and involving only a minimal amount of blood and sacrifice.

-The Dominus Fabricator, in his own hand


The Sanguine Key [LTP] Cost: 30 Artifice or Military
Energy flows from the Nexuses only to those who pay for it with their own essence. For every nexus you control, once per turn, you may sacrifice a permanent stat point for either 5 points of t.art, or 5 points of temporary stats of the same kind as the nexus. Any turn where you have dealt at least 3 points of stat damage to another faction or an NPC, you may instead activate this LTP for free.

[Feathersnow]

All messages Morale 6. The messages are short and vague in part because of the fact Witch-Doctor security is a joke.

Spoiler: Gardeners

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Gardeners,
I thank you for you kind offer, unfortunately, pressing matters make it impossible at this time.

The Page, Penned by Their Vessel, Percival Coffee

Spoiler: Gudite Warcamps

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Allies,

The armaments you requested are in readiness. Avenge the fallen!

We think we will maintain a relationship with the Elder we met on our travels, given the recent Ascension of your own Patron.

The Baron, written by His Vessel, Antoine duLac

Spoiler: OoC

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five temp mil earmarked for fighting saints. Banked from last turn.

Spoiler: The Heron

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Advocate for the Dead,

Again you do us a great service. All will be in readiness.

[GameOfChampions]

Clan Fuxi of the White Snake

Mor 7
Rep: Spiritual, Otherworldly, Ambitious

Spoiler: Gudites

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Greetings,

We shall readdress the Fae matter in the coming months, we are sure that we are going to be a target of their wrath.

As far as the repayment for loses if you wish we can repay you for the lost invocation but in turn we would expect any of our forces that are lost under your care to also be covered. We can cover the loses next turn if you wish.

Spoiler: Heron/Gardeners

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We shall be sending 4 Econ, 3 Art, and 2 Inv along through you. The spirit is for us to devour.

Spoiler: Public

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The Clan joined the Gudites in their war upon the Slayers. We stand beside our allies.

[Feathersnow]

Around the Docks and The City of Daffodils, there is a great party with a decidedly martial air...

Spoiler: EoT

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6 mil-> 5 mil (spent)
10 Econ
4 Esp
4 Art (1 spent delving)
9 Inv (spent)
6 mor -> 11 Mor

Treasure- 3 temp art, 3 temp econ

Stats!

Spend 5 Morale to raise Morale by 1

Reduce cost to Raise Morale through Econ by 3 (The Baron)

Spend 13 Econ, 3 temp Econ, 2 morale Econ to raise Morale by 4! (2 Morale, 3 Econ represented by The Trickster and the Baron)

Our Weakness has become a liabity. The Baron throws money at the problem.


Bonds-

Accept the Patronage of Aei Zan, Lord of Valor!

This Martial God is appropriate both for the Return of Our Brother and the rise of Gulldr


Trades-

Give 5 banked mil to The Gudites for the war on The Slayers

Receive 5 temp mil from Hemminghock


Projects-

5 temp mil, 4 Esp, 3 art, 3 temp art Econ resurrecting The Knight


1 Morale pledged to a new project- force a new Conclave to reconsider the issue of State Religion.
If the Shaitan refused, they should have had their bid rejected!

VIPs


The Trickster (morale) level 2
9/20 (no stats spent)

The Baron (econ) (level 3)
22/30 (no stats spent)

The Lady (inv) level 1-
8/10(5 misc)

The Page (mor) level 1
3/10

The Knight (Mil 2/3?) ( Being ressurected!) (5/10 mil spent, (10/10 misc spent)

[Eldan]

Turn 7: Rebirth



Cymbals crash and trumpets blare. And from the gates of the city at the Lion’s Claw of the crater lake that was once the Temple of the Sky, a path of palm fronds is laid. And though they line ruin after ruin, entire districts crushed to dust by the last action of the Shaitan, the citizens are cheering and singing and throwing roses at the feet of the victorious legions, Cerberus and Aquila.
At the front are the priests of Ruairidh, the barbarian god of death and rebirth, for it is their day. Their faces are painted red with the blood of newborn lambs and they scatter lotus petals as they lead the way with golden torches. Four massive golden chariots follow, each pulled by six massive black warhounds on each one of the legates, in simple red robes, each accompanied by a priest holding a wreath of oak leaves above their heads.



A week of celebration is declared. The Shaitan are destroyed and scattered, the Wild Hunt is slain, the city is safe. Even the civil war seems over, for except a small skirmish between the Golden Guard and the Legion over the ownership of some ruins, there has been no proper fighting for weeks. Gulldr Bronzeblood, benevolent Patron of Ardakand, has blessed the city’s victory over fey and Shaitan both with a hecatomb, a sacrifice of one hundred cattle at the shores of his sacred lake. The eye gazes watchfully out over the lands beyond Ardakand, at new conquests and the restoration of Imperium.
The Carnival of Chains has vanished from their last stronghold with no trace and Hemminghock has given gainful employment to the unruly veterans that formed their base of support. The Slayers, the last element of unrest, have left the city, traveling elsewhere to fight greater dangers and chase the Shaitan wherever they may reappear next Singing songs of praise, beautiful slaves throw themselves off the cliffs into the sea, to celebrate the summer equinox, the second harvest and a reunited and peaceful Ardakand.
And what a marvel the city is becoming. Hundred-handed golden giants roam the ruins, clearing the rubble, making way for new construction. The corpses of the Shaitan’s victims, where they remain, are cleanly and efficiently swept into the channels, to be devoured by the white eels that the city’s new psychopomps. The Legions patrol on every street, to punish criminals in the sight of Ardakand’s righteous gods, for it is a city of order. Technological marvels rise at every corner.
In the North, the streets themselves bloom, each building and street alive with roots and arteries, all pulsating with the beat of the heart-factories of the Gardeners and the Minotaurs that have joined them.
In the East, the factories follow more classical lines, where between fortress walls and artillery turrets, a million goods are made. Hemminghock, Ardakand’s center of finance and industry, where bright young minds of any class become part of the city’s glorious future.
And in the South rises a new city, built on the backs of golden perfection in a hundred shapes, where gleaming chrome towers rise from the ashes of Shaitan destruction.

Event description:

Spoiler

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The entire city is celebrating victory over the forces of destruction and the height of summer. The good mood is infectious and everyone is working just a little harder to rebuild. All stat points bought with morale are bought at a 1 lower ratio.

Even the Fey, it seems, have picked up the city’s new vibe and have become more peaceful. Instead of dark knights on stormcloud horses attacking from the sky, they have retreated entirely into the spirit world. The dreams of all mortals are filled with incredible wonders, the most beautiful paintings, unimaginably intricate contraptions, jewels and silks and soul-achingly beautiful poetry. Ardakand’s renewed Golden Age must be celebrated with art to match its beauty.

Event Mechanics:

Spoiler

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Muses, the fey spirits of art and poetry, walk the dreams of mortals to inspire them. To participate, players may describe a single art-based LTP they are working on in a public ingame fluff post, using artistic terms. Any LTP thus described is 10 points cheaper.

In the districts formerly loyal to the Slayers and the Carnival, the mansions and the slums and even the Lornmen dumps, things have changed. Every night, the inhabitants don fox masks and with wicked grins and wicked smiles, they spill blood for the gods. Clearly, for the servants of the rogue Goddess, the revolution is not yet over.

Event mechanics:

Spoiler

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A new major NPC is created and takes control of several empty districts. They are the Vulpines, the chaos-loving militia of Vulpa. They are espionage and morale based and their reputation is Spiritual, Criminal, Informed and Inhuman.

Favour of the Gods:
Gudite Warcamp: 13
Legio Cerberus: 9
Hemminghock: 8
Heron and Hippo: 8
Clan Fuxi: 8
Gardeners of the Immortal Flesh: 5
Golden Guard: 2
Witch Doctors: 1

[ArcaneStomper]

The Hippo
Otherwordly, Martial, Mercenary

The Leviathan floated on the surface of the open ocean a pool of putrid chum slowly spreading from it and attracting a feeding frenzy of fish. Sea birds landed on the floating outcropping, and the most daring ones nipped at its flesh. For this they were rewarded with instant death as the virulent shadow web venom instantly coursed through them. Dead fish floated in an expanding circle around the massive corpse as they too suffered for their greed.

The more cautious and lucky surviving sea birds were soon startled into the air however as the scales heaved on the leviathan's corpse. They pressed outward again and again, but even in death however the armored of the leviathan remained unyielding. However, the same could not be said about the connective tissue, and with a final heave the scales were flung outward as a fist punched through the rotting flesh. Grasping the outer scales, a huge figure covered in slimy muck pulled itself out of the guts of the leviathan.

Lifted its arms it roared its defiance at the sky. They it wiped the muck off its face, not doing much for its general cleanliness, but revealing the features of the once dead warrior known as the Hippo now returned once again to the land of the living. Surveying his unsteady organic raft a smile tugged at the warrior's lips, and a full bellied laugh erupted from. For several minutes the ocean resounded with his booming laughter, until it trailed off and he stared out into the distance.

There was nothing but open ocean all around, but the Hippo knew which way to go. Leaping off of the leviathan he began plunging through the waves. He still had business in the city of emperors.

[St. Justicar]

GARDENERS OF THE IMMORTAL FLESH

INHUMAN – SPIRITUAL - HEROIC

The Guild Ward overflows with celebrants, just another part of the festival that has engulfed the city as its citizens realize that the Shaitan are really, truly gone.

The Gardeners have always been happy to provide alms to Ardakand’s masses, and this is no exception – bread and stew is given out freely in every plaza, and garlands of beautiful flowers grow across every arch and doorway. More unusually, they have provided shrines. A new, worthy god, to help protect the good citizens of Ardakand from the return of Shaitain or everything like them.

In times past, a god that claimed dominion over the desecrated or unburied dead would be viewed with no small amount of suspicion, as an unclean scavenger. But given the city’s recent experience with what can happen should those spirits be allowed to fester, the Gravedigger’s shrines are soon overflowing with woven strands of flower and bone, the sweet smell of burnt offerings almost overpowering the incense so omnipresent throughout the Gardeners territory.

MORALE 13

Spoiler: Gudite Warcamps

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Friend Leviathan!

I am not very sure what happened in Marble Ward over past month, but congratulations on your victory, I think? Congratulations for your god on being biggest thing in City’s shadow anyway.

But that is past, and I am wanting to know about future! Slayers are slain and the dead are gone, but I am thinking the peace will not last for long. City does not have an emperor or archpriest or king or consul, but does have half-dozen different armies. Am I wrong?

Anyways, Shadow is red, Forest-Mother wants blood for roots and Gravedigger wants corpses for coffin. My cousins do not carry swords, but you do, yes? If you want more of them and more muscles to swing them and maybe a few other tricks, I have deal for you. [OOC: 2 economy for 1 permanent Military, limited capacity offer, depending on if anyone else takes it up enthusiastically].

Otherwise, [3 Eco or the stat in question per permanent stat point] like is normal. If you are needing help this month especially might be able to hire some acolytes or lend you my cousin Rao also, depending.

-Cousin Arsat

Spoiler: Heron and Hippo

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Friend Heron!

Congratulations on return of Hippo! Dragon blood is no joke, yes? Is him arriving as Slayers leave good timing or just lucky coincidence?

Not that he is back, I am wondering about future. Slayers are slain and the dead are gone, but I am thinking the peace will not last for long. City does not have an emperor or archpriest or king or consul, but does have half-dozen different armies. Am I wrong?

Anyways, Shadow is red, Forest-Mother wants blood for roots and Gravedigger wants corpses for coffin. My cousins do not carry swords, but you do, yes? If you want more of them and more muscles to swing them and maybe a few other tricks, I have deal to pass on benefits of nexus to you. [OOC: 2 economy for 1 permanent Military].

Otherwise, [3 Eco or the stat in question per permanent stat point] like is normal. If you are needing help this month especially might be able to hire some acolytes or lend you my cousin Rao also, depending.

-Cousin Arsat

Spoiler: Legio Cerberus

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Esteemed fellow Legates,

Congratulations are in order! It gives me great pleasure to see the Shaitan driven from the city’s environs, and for that you deserve the lion’s share of the glory. A pity they could not be stopped from butchering the local Immaterium so thoroughly, but at least their mayhem revealed certain aspects of spiritual ecology that sped my work considerably.

Aside from platitudes, I write for two purposes. First, on behalf of my new patrons and colleagues, an apology they could not do more to help drive the bloody dead away, and a reiteration of their normal offers of commerce [3 Eco or 4 Art/Esp per permanent stat point]. Additionally, to compensate for the previous relative lack of aid, they are offering a deal of [2 eco per permanent point of mil], to the limits of their capacity. Partially self-interested – their gods are as bloodthirsty as anyone’s, at the moment, and this is part of a compromise to keep their hands figuratively clean – but one you might be interested in taking advantage of?

Second, a more broad and open-ended query. The City lacks a sovereign, but suffers from a surfeit of warlords. Even if the gods were not demanding blood, a continuing peace seems unlikely. With that added impetus for violence, well – an inquiring mind has to wonder just what operations the beloved Legions have in mind? I, like my new patrons, wish only good relations and benevolent neutrality with you whatever the answer, of course.

Yours,
The Dominus Fabricator, former Legate of Legio XX Minotauros

Spoiler: Hemminghock

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To the esteemed Madame Hemminghock,

While I have found other patronage, congratulations are still in order with regard to the sheer quantity of industry you have brought to the city’s eastern rim. I hope the completion of my magnum opus by other hands will not be the cause of any hard feelings?

But aside from platitudes, I have two purposes in writing to you. First, on behalf of my new patrons and colleagues, an offer of commerce. I have some doubt you will see any real profit to it, but we can pass on the benefits of the nexus under our control in savings to you – a portal to alleviate the irksome logistical issues between us would be as simple as [5 Inv/Art], courtesy of a trick Minoo the Heron passed on to the Cousins, and if you wish to cooperate on that we could offer [Permanent military for 2 eco apiece]. Partially self interested – their gods are as bloodthirsty as anyone’s, at the moment, and arming the city is part of a compromise to keep their hands clean. Other resources can be made available at slightly less discounted rates, but if I understand your god correctly I believe you’d actually derive some profit from leaving the actual construction to someone else?

Second, a broader and more signifcant query. The City lacks a sovereign, but suffers from a surfeit of warlords. Even if the gods were not demanding blood, a continuing peace seems unlikely. With that added impetus for violence, well – an inquiring mind has to wonder just what operations the fantastically wealthy and famously well-armed Hemminghock Company has in mind? I, like my new patrons, wish only good relations and benevolent neutrality with you whatever the answer, of course.

Yours,
The Dominus Fabricator, former Legate of Legio XX Minotauros

Spoiler: Golden Guard

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Friend Artificer!

Congratulations on rebuilding of city. Dead are gone, but they left south much-scarred, you are doing good work.

Am writing for two reasons. First is just business, and am not thinking you will have two much use for it, but still. If you are wanting for help with filling rebuilt districts, can offer [1 permanent stat point of any kind for 3 Eco, or 4 Art/Esp]. Distance is issue, but thanks to help of Heron some months ago, can reach through shadow for [5 Inv/Art] to send wagons across city with single roll of wheels, if you were wanting to buy enough to make it better option. Path will stay forever, too.

Otherwise, am mostly writing from curiosity. You and my cousins are similar, I think? Wish to keep hands clean, but the Shadow is red and the gods are hungry, and city’s peace will not last long. What future do you plan?

-Cousin Arsat

Spoiler: Vulpines

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Oh Fox-faced shades,

You live among the ruins of the vanquished, and have set yourselves against the greatest princes of the earth. Your aspect is swift and clever, but your future seems to hold nothing but glorious suicide.

Is glory all you seek, or have you some grander design?

-Cousin Hylah

[Writtensanity]

Cecelia Hemminghock stared out of her balcony at the top of the main warehouse on the edge of the Former Imperial Courts. The city was alive today. The Wild Hunt had came and gone and the only disruption to industry had been noise violations from gunfire in the middle of the night. For their part, Hemminghock had set up token defenses, nothing that could be called preparing for war, but something closer to security theatre, just enough extra watch in the streets to make employees feel safe before and after their shifts. In the aftermath of the Hunt, Cecelia considered those extra resources a waste of money.

Cecelia dug her talons into the worn railing of the balcony and sighed. Anyone who knew Cecelia assumed that she saw everything as numbers and calculations. Anyone who understood Cecelia grasped that calculations were constant, but numbers were secondary. There was a financial value to most things, but how much profit came from someone feeling safe in their home? It was her job to try to figure that out, as the head of the company.

That's what she was now. The head of the company.

Mary-Anne Hemminghock had died about a year before she was expected to, and Cecelia was now the leader of the company, with voices calling her back home to the West, telling her that she needed to run the day to day affairs of the head office as opposed to establishing a branch.

In the grand scheme of the Hemminghock family company, those voices were right. Ardakand was a business venture but out in the West was the business. Halle and Tess could handle Ardakand and she should have been taking the reins. Instead she was leaving Henrick Hemminghock in charge back home and insisting that Ardakand required a personal touch.

In her head, she imagined there would be whispers back home if she'd headed there. Cecelia Hemminghock, the heiress without an expansion to her name. Experience had told her otherwise. It told her that the other family members didn't blame her for Sethannai, that anyone would have failed to establish a brand in a city that turned into a crater.

Mary-Anne, mom, had always told Cecelia to ignore what other people said about you. If you ignored the criticisms, you had to offer the same treatment to reassurances.

There was a knock on the door. Cecelia didn't bother turning around. "Come in."

The door creaked open and the soft patter of tiny talons filled the room, first in several careful steps, and then in a cacophony that could only come from a half-flapping excited gait. "Ma!"

That got Cecelia to turn around, and she was just barely in time to catch a small chestnut ball of feathers that was about to crash into her knees. After a brief moment of gathering information Cecelia beamed down at the little girl. "Annie!"

"Ma!" Annie repeated, which had been most of her vocabulary when Cecelia had left for Ardakand. The young girl started digging her talons into the weave of Cecelia's pants to scramble up her mother, but Cecelia pulled her (and notably away from the expensive clothing) instead.

"Oh my gracious what are you doin here?" Cecelia asked without expecting a coherent answer. The young girl was wearing fine Ardakandian silks, notably a pattern that used to be exclusive to the emperors palace. Such was the nature of commerce.

"B bring-" Annie stopped and screwed her face a little, losing the word 'brought' had thrown her off. She knew that she hadn't heard anyone say 'bringed me' but she didn't understand that alternative. "We visit," the girl eventually said, nuzzling her head into Cecelia's chest as opposed to pointing to anyone who would be 'we'.

It took Cecelia a moment to catch up with everything. Annie had answered and that was a representation of the unfortunate timing of the Ardakand venture. They grew up so fast, and half-bloods grew up faster.

"Who's we darlin'?" Cecelia asked, instinctively starting to bounce the chick in her arms.

A sharp whistle answered. Brandon Hemminghock stood at the door off the office, dressed like he was fresh off the caravan instead of having lived with Ardakandian fashion. Black wings with white spots and matte chitin around his exposed forearms, all framed by his father's slick black hair.

"****-" Cecelia realized there was a child in her arms, "shoot Buck, you're here too? Here I got nothin' prepared." Cecelia walked forward with the girl still squiggling in her arms and half wrapped her wings around the teen for a hug, it was the best she could do. "What the-" she found the clean word - "heck are y'all doin' here-"

"Gran-"

"I told y'all to stay outta this," Cecelia finished, revealing that it wasn't an idle question.

Buck shrugged Cecelia's wing off and smiled at his mother. It was one of those half smiles, the kind when the news you carried didn't match the news you had. "I'm here to repl-"

"Like hell you are-" Cecelia then sighed looking down at the girl. "How about you just don't listen to what Mommy says until she's used to having kids around instead of demons."

Annie looked up with a half cocked head and bright eyes. That was as close to understanding as Cecelia was going to get.

"Grandpa sent me here to-" Buck took a deep breath, "Grandpa sent me here to send you home and to take over operations in Ardakand."

Cecelia snorted.

"It's why I'm here."

"Ain't just comin' to visit your Momma then?" Cecelia turned and made her way over to one of the couches in her office, still bouncing little Annie as she did. "Just comin' to try to replace me."

"I get sent to replace you, Mom," Buck corrected.

Cecelia started to sit down before she thought about the emphasis. "Do ya plan on doin' it?"

"City looks easy enough to manage," Buck commented.

"I think it's the first good month we've had here," Cecelia mused, "I think y'all just have good timin'."

"I don't think we'd be here if those Blood things were still around."

"I'd kill ya for bringing Annie here if they were," Cecelia pointed out, "now have a seat I gotta catch you up."

"Pardon?"

"I ain't leavin' Buck," Cecelia explained, "but you sure as hell ain't stayin' here without gettin' to work."

----

Inhuman. Barbarian. Mercantile.

MOR 15

Spoiler: To the Gardeners: MOR 15

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Well that's a little below the rate that we talked about offerin' but damn if I ain't gonna try an take advantage of a deal like that. Lemme see what I can do on the books and I'll get back to y'all about numbers. Gods willin' it'll be high. Just the reality of opportunity costs gettin' in the way,

Tess

Spoiler: To the Golden Guard: MOR 15

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We'll most of the Guard were just used in preparin' for the Wild Hunt, which turned out to not be a bother at all, but here I am wondering where I can order more. I understand that y'all ain't sellin' them permanently but I am getting very used to havin' them around. Numbers attached,

Fortner Hemminghock

The minimum order I would want would be 20 again for 6 perm, but I might end up skewing higher depending on the actual breakdown once I do the math.

Spoiler: To the Heron: MOR 15

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Let's be candid, I don't think the Vulpines are too much our people, we're reaching out but we doubt that they're gonna be on the same page as us.

Glad to see the Hunt didn't mess you up, turns out they were pushovers huh?

Spoiler: To the Vulpine: MOR 15

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Y'all have put us here at Hemminghock in a pickle by showin' up how you did.

See, we made the claim that anyone who took the last land in the allotments would be at war with us, and well, y'all have gone and taken it.

Now I understand that you might not have gotten the letter where we wrote that down, but honestly unless you're a stalwart partner in inhumanity from the start it's gonna be a hard sell to not look like we're going back on our word.

So what's our status Vulpines? Business relationship or are we gonna have issues?

Spoiler: To the Gudites & Cerberus Legion: MOR 15

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Let's be candid, as far as we here at Hemminghock understand, us three are the fuse for the powder keg that is this city. If one of the two defensive pact blocs is triggered, this whole place is going up in smoke the day after the Bloodsworn left.

I don't know what y'all are plannin' to do with you gods, or even how many you might have sketched out pacts with, but we're set for some **** to go down here unless we wanna call the wrath in.

We can all be honest with one another and make a plan on how to handle this, or we can all go mute and smile at the city while preparing our myriad assaults. Suppose that's y'alls choice.

Spoiler: To Fuxi: MOR 15

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Don't suppose you've crocked up a way for that snake god o'yours to eat a god that we've already signed a deal with? Ain't intending to make use right now but considering the newfound cost of the Gods' favor, might be somethin' worth considering in the future.

[ArcaneStomper]

The Heron & Hippo
Otherwordly, Martial, Mercenary, Noble

Spoiler: Gardeners (Morale 11)

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Cousin Arsat,

Thank you for your congratulations. Indeed it was a mere coincidence that the Slayers absconded from the city as I was summoning Hormoz's soul back from the underworld. Something he has denigrated them substantially for as he would have like to repay his attackers in kind.

As for the question of trade as always such discussions will have to wait until after my explorations of the spirit world. However I do have other business. First are you interested in trawling the spirit world once more? I would offer the same deal as last month. Second my deal with Lagamal does not extend to the Hippo alone. I could call forth any of your own that have died. Of course I know that none have, but it is something bear in mind should you suffer such misfortune in the future.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: Hemminghock Family (Morale 11)

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Indeed, the Fae did not set a single foot past my wards. They did not have the potency to back up their threats in any sense. I am also reaching out to the Vulpine seeing as we are almost neighbors. So we shall see how they respond.

However I do have other business. First are you interested in trawling the spirit world once more? I would offer the same deal as last month. Second my deal with Lagamal does not extend to the Hippo alone. I could call forth any of your own that have died. Of course I know that none have, but it is something bear in mind should you suffer such misfortune in the future.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: The Vulpine (Morale 11)

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Greetings,

Seeing as your Marble Ward holding are quite near to mine I wondered if you wished to discuss future plans. I would be willing to aid you if they were agreeable.

Minoo, Advocate of the Dead

Spoiler: The Witch Doctor (Morale 11)

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Greetings,

I apologize for any confusion that might have arisen last month. However I did receive your caravan and was able to guide the Knight out of the underworld. He should have returned to you already. You may find that his sojourn has left him weakened. Your offering was insufficient to fully restore him, but I have returned the excess and you should be able to strengthen him on your own terms.

Spoiler: OOC

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15 wasn't enough to get him to T3. So I got him to T2 and returned five. You should be able to get him to T3 for another 10.

Spoiler: Public - Search for Spirits

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To all of Ardakand I offer my expertise as a guide to the spirit world. I have become quite learned in my delvings and know how to avoid the dangers of the supernatural. Should any wish to take advantage of my findings simply send your invokers to me to delve deep into the spirit world this month.

Spoiler: Terms

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1. All results of the delving expedition will be shared according to the proportion of investment.
a. Minor artifacts will be allocated on the basis of 5 stats each.
b. XP is hard to transfer outside of the delve. Send a VIP if you want a share.
2. Nexuses, Gods, and Major artifacts will also be allocated proportionately, but guaranteed at least one to any participant who provides at least 10 stats. For participants who cannot provide that in one delve I will keep a record of your contributions.
3. I need to spend Mil to guard the expedition. As such I am charging 1 point for every five stats sent on the delve. Payable in eco/art/mor. Or Inv but you probably want to use that on the delve itself.
a. Alternatively you can send mil, but this will not count towards the proportional dividends.
b. You can also not send anything and gamble that no dangers are encountered. In which case you must instead guarantee to replace one point of lost stats for each five sent.

Spoiler: Public - Wake the Dead

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Are you worried for the safety of your champions? Might a duel gone awry take them before their time? Will an enemy slip a poisonous asp into their bed? Then now is your chance to banish all those worries and more. For the veil of reality grows thin and the doors of the underworld are open. Make an offering to the Great Lagamal today and ensure your loved ones do not linger in the after life for long.

For details make your petitions at the Temple of Judgement and seek a conference with the Advocate for the Dead.

Spoiler: OOC

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Basically I'm offering VIP insurance.

[Eldan]

The Vulpines

Some midnights, they meet, each is masked, each carries a candle and a knife. They meet, in silence, and circle the district, three times. Then, they split in pairs and vanish, and when they return, their masks are changed. Some nights, each goes out alone, just before dawn, and returns, with blood on their knives. Sometimes, they dance, or they chant, or leave presents for the poor. But the knives are never far from their hands. So far, no one knows what they want. For now, they don't seem much different from any other religious cult.

To the Gardeners [10]

Spoiler

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Dear Fleshcreatures

We are all flesh creatures, of course, but you know what I mean. Some of us have more flesh than others. Perhaps you know the joke: yo mama so fat, when she sits around the house, she really sits around the house. Or in the case of your mother, two or three wards? And she seems to be growing roots, too.That was childish and I won't apologize. Persona to uphold.

Aaaaanyway. Yes, we set ourselves against the princes of the world. Not just the city. Because someone has to. The Jester speaks truth to the King. Even if the Jester is beheaded afterwords, the words remain spoken.

What else is there to do?

And anyway, grand plans are for fools, madmen and rebels. As priests, it is our lot to help those on their way, not be them.

-Wolf the First

To Hemminghock [9]

Spoiler

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Taken? Oh please. What have we taken? We haven't taken anything. We live here, as we always have. My mother has lived here for sixteen generations. You just arrived last winter. By what right, then, harpy? You have more money, or more cannons? We have the blood and the soil and the foundations.

Wipe us out if you must, but don't call it our fault.

Up yours sincerely,
-Wolf the Second

To the Heron [8]

Spoiler

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Dear Heron,

We are most pleased to make your acquaintance. However, there is one part of your statement we must correct. We don't plans.

Plans are for fools, madmen and visionaries. We are just priests. It is our lot to stand at the crossroads and give cryptic advice, or to give the hero three feathers and a marble when they are about to face the man who killed their father. We do not plan, we wait for a dreamer to wander past with stars in his eyes and help him gently step off a cliff to his doom.

You can not aid us, that's not how this works. Now, your Hippo, he is the kind of person we'd usually assist, but then, he already gained power for himself, so we should probably find some other hero to overthrow him. On the other hand, he just returned from the underworld and that is suitably daring and heroic. All very confusing, so we'll just keep back for now.

We are, in any case, delighted to make your acquaintance.
-Wolf the Third

[A_Dinosaur]

Legio XXIIX Cerberus

Morale 17

Legate Sian kicked the rattling corpse of a golem to ensure it had no intention of rising again, some internal mechanism of the strange automata persisted within, but whatever mechanical spirit remained was not enough to animate the lumbering creature to its feet. The tally of the dead was small, the prepared defenses and solid organization of recent months had served the Legionnaires well. A few had burned in the lobbed fire, and a few more had perished in icy wind that rolled over their checkpoint, but once the eagles had come the tide of battle turned swiftly, and whatever puppet master was marshaling the Golden Host had fled, leaving many of their marionettes behind.

“Sir, we’ve secured the boardwalk, two more injured, none dead.” The legionnaire was slightly older than Sian, in a more peaceful time, he would have been fast approaching retirement to his conquered parcel, a well earned place to start a family and expand the empire. With the posting of the 28th, it would have been yellowbloom province, growing gourds and mustard, or perhaps the daffodils for which the province was named to sell to alchemists and nobles. A few strong children and a comfortable nest egg of reservists pay. It would be a good life. Would have been a good life, these were hardly peaceful times.

“Very good Houndcrest, bring your cohort back to muster point Screeching Eagle. Keep watch over the approach and send for a courier horse, if they return, we must be equally or more prepared.”

It was time to call a meeting of the Legates, a war here could be catastrophic.

Players

Heron and HIPPO

Spoiler

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Greetings Esteemed Hippo,

And apologies to the Heron for our relative silence of past month, our legion had something of an identity crisis in the aftermath of the attack on the Slayers. But we have returned in earnest, and are ready to continue to bring peace and order to Ardakand.

As with two months ago, we have a relative surplus of [inv] and your methods are far safer than ours for delving into the spirit realm. Provided you continue to support our actions and we continue to work together on various projects, the [inv] is yours this month.

Imperial Salutations

The Golden Guard

Spoiler

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Alchemist,

While I admit we were not particularly forthright the last month due to some internal conflicts, previous to that our factions seemed indifferent at worst, and had even engaged in mercenary contracts and the legal and honest exchange of territory. Yet Legate Sian informs me in no uncertain terms that a golden host attacked our holdings in the theater district. I understand that you had at least some claim to the territory in your manifestos from earlier this year, but a military assault on currently legion territory was surprising and disappointing.

As of now I do not wish to engage in total war against the Golden Guard, the city could frankly use some time to rebuild and regain some semblance of normalcy. But I cannot simply overlook your attack on our territory. I am happy to hear out your arguments and compromises, but as of now it seems most fitting to request your outfit repair the streets of Tarbent, and in exchange we will willingly give the theater district to you upon completion of the task. Work has already begun on [36], so it should be well within the Golden Guard budget of the month. Does this seem like a reasonable reparation?

Imperial Salutations

The Gardeners of the Immortal Flesh

Spoiler

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Forgemaster,

Your mood seems to have improved considerably since we last spoke, I am glad.

Your thanks is welcome, it will be a long road to restore the city to its unruined glory but it is a road the Legions will walk. Your offer is generous and I would be happy to trade some Cohorts for your economic boons. I can offer [3 permanent mil] this month in exchange for [6 permanent eco]. And I will have to look into my budget once [midturn] has passed for further trades.

As to our plans for the city at large our purpose remains largely the same, restore Imperial rule, though with a picked council playing balance to the Imperial Dynasty. The bloodthirst of the gods is… disturbing at the very least. Fear not, our intentions towards you remain only one of trade and peace. The goodly cousins of the gardeners have been honest and forthright partners, and their clear communication about such disruptions in trade that did assail us was most appreciated.

Though, in the interest of such an honest history, it does seem that Hemminghock is requesting a meeting of the mighty of sorts. Guidites and the 28th have been invited to ‘discuss avoiding the wraths’. I fear they may be attempting to divy the city between remaining military powers. I will inform the cousins of anywhere they may factor into such plans by the Guidites and Hemminghock, should they come up, though I suspect they will probably keep grander plans to themselves.

Imperial Salutations

The Witch Doctors

Spoiler

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The Shaitan is no more, and though it was largely the legions who bore the sword that slew them, your was one of the factions who suffered most from their reign of horror. Is there anything the Legion can provide for in your recovery effort? Or anything we can assist you with in your plans moving forward?

Imperial Salutations

Hemminghock, Guidite Warcamps

Spoiler

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The Wraths do concern us greatly. The shaitan may be banished but their presence continues to Haunt Ardakand. Our legion is not one to fall prey to this ‘bloodlust’ if it can be avoided, but thus far our menders have divined no way to simply avoid it.

I am happy to hear what you have to propose.

Imperial Salutations

[neriractor]

Gudite Warcamp

Espionage defense: 14
Rep: Barbarian-Martial-spiritual

PCs

Spoiler: Clan Fuxi of the white Snake

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Greetings snake kin,

Our crusade against the Slayers appears over, and a possible ally stands in their place, we will let you know if they turn out to fit the part, or if we should rather take them down before someone else does.

I understand the Shaitan have left the godly realms in disarray, but while the Fey have hurt you, they have handed us a golden opportunity, to retake that which is yours, and spill blood in a manner becoming of rulers, We may also get Fey blood if you so wish.

Gulldr's might,
Daghir Aet Esharain, The Wolf, Redemptionist hierarch of Gulldr.

Spoiler: OOC

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if you intend to track the Fey I can give you art for inv, I want to see if I can do some heavy delving of my own.

Spoiler: Legion & Hemminghock

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Greetings, we are always open to ideas, triumvirates even.

I would also forward the notion that we quite enjoy the Vulpine presence, just in case any of the legate's designs for the Marble Ward remain in place.

Spoiler: Golden Guards

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Honoured Chemosh,

I write to inquire on the possibility and cost if you were to make a portal towards us, such that we may start renting your fine goods.

Yours,
Delilah Fairway.

Spoiler: The witch doctors

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Greetings friends,

Your aid was much welcome, finally the city is rid of those who vanquished the Knight, and rest assured that once the city is fully secure the cult will be disbanded wherever it hides on the larger empire.

We intend to delve deep this month, so keep an eye for a deal afterwards.

And if you need strength to sate your gods, do let us know.

Eldest earth's succour,
Solyom, Leviatan, High caller of the eastern gods.

Spoiler: Hemminghock family company

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Misses and Mistress,

I would certainly enjoy a recap on how you see your defensive pact with the Heron and Hippo (I was convinced to bet that he was gone for good, would not recommend), does it in any way involve our third fuse by proxy or would a hypothetically attacked legion calling their ally in lead us to nothing but amicable side glances and unarmed standoffs?

Destia's bounty,
Daghir, The Wolf, Hierarch of Gulldr.

Spoiler: Gardeners of the flesh

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Cousin Arsat!

City has an archpriest, if a decidedly novice one, though in all other facts your judgement remains as keen as ever. As ususal is too early to tell if we will have the influx to buy as we would wish, but mark us for at least 2 sets of strong arms (so 2 mil) whether attached or attachable.

If you would join us coursing the spirit realm now that the Shaitan are gone and the fey are calm we would be very thankful indeed.

Destia's bounty,
Solyom, Leviatan, High caller of the Western gods.

Spoiler: OOC

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can at least promise 4 eco for the mil buying, on the market for 6 inv as well.

NPCs

Spoiler: Vulpine

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Dearest priests,

Do hope what the foreigners (mine, not the harpies) did to this city's hierarchy is to your liking.

I find it pleasing to see you bring some colour to this dourness, as beloved children like us should do. if chats do turn to where blood needs to be tested against cannons give us a call, we have plenty of both.

Life, which you've,
Qawha Yuraq.