Bay 12 Games Forum
Finally... => Forum Games and Roleplaying => Topic started by: Weirdsound on March 31, 2018, 12:41:17 pm
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You are a god, and have just come of age. This scares you;
There are no no positions open in the vast Pantheon of your father and mother, nor do you know of any worthy beings in nearby pantheons looking for a spouse. It seems likely you will be tossed out of the divine dwelling and left to fend for yourself, and when your parents summon you to their throne room, you fear that is what's about to happen.
"Child," your mother speaks, "you are of age now, and should no longer be permitted to live at the divine dwelling of our Pantheon without making a contribution, and sadly, we see no path for you to contribute, nor a suitable spouse for you elsewhere."
"However," your father continues, "you are our beloved, and we will not throw you from our home empty handed. I have constructed a gate of transit to a young world, where you shall found your own pantheon. Your mother and I have already sent ahead an angel to serve as Intermediary with the local mortals, and a host to build you a divine dwelling and fight your cosmic battles for you. As it has already seen some use, the gate is only stable enough for one more passenger, so once you leave, we shall not see each other again until such a time you are mighty and wise enough to build a transit gate of your own."
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Character/Pantheon Creation:
Name: (And gender if you have one)
Domain: (What are you god of?)
Location of Your New Divine Dwelling:
A: On the clouds surrounding a peak high enough as to be impassable to most mortals!
B: In a dark trench, so deep below the waves that even aquatic mortals dare not visit!
C: In the lava chamber of a mighty active volcano!
D: In the center of a thick and savage woodland, infested by mortal eating beasts!
You would Best Describe Yourself As:
A: Vengeful
B: Merciful
C: Courtly
D: Creative
E: Worldly
F: Lucky
Your starting Pantheon has a Surplus of:
A: Following
B: Orthadoxy
C: Essense
D: Military Host
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Name: Ichorplank (Hermaphroditic)
Domain: Knowledge
Location of Your New Divine Dwelling:
B: In a dark trench, so deep below the waves that even aquatic mortals dare not visit!
You would Best Describe Yourself As:
B: Merciful
Your starting Pantheon has a Surplus of:
A: Following
or
Name: Sunpetal (Female)
Domain: Beauty
Location of Your New Divine Dwelling:
D: In the center of a thick and savage woodland, infested by mortal eating beasts!
You would Best Describe Yourself As:
D: Creative
Your starting Pantheon has a Surplus of:
C: Essense
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If nobody minds...
Name: Acter (Asexual)
Domain: Improvement
Location of my new divine dwelling: Upon a great mountaintop, hidden by the clouds - but accessible to a mortal determined enough to be worthy of meeting.
I am mostly creative.
My pantheon has a vast following.
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I am mostly creative, with a decent amount of worldliness on the side.
My pantheon has a vast following, and a decent amount of essence; however, we distinctly lack any particular orthodoxy.
Pick one of each, please.
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Name: Forknor (Male)
Domain: Metals
Described as: Lucky
Surplus of: Essence
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Name: Forknor (Male)
Domain: Metals
Described as: Lucky
Surplus of: Essence
You forgot to pick a divine dwelling, silly :)
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Name: Queen Jen (Female)
Domain: the Underworld
Location of Your New Divine Dwelling: In the lava chamber of a mighty active volcano!
You would Best Describe Yourself As: Courtly
Your starting Pantheon has a Surplus of: Essence
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Changes made.
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Name: Queen Jen (Female)
Domain: the Underworld
Location of Your New Divine Dwelling: In the lava chamber of a mighty active volcano!
You would Best Describe Yourself As: Courtly
Your starting Pantheon has a Surplus of: Essence
+1
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Name: Sunpetal (Female)
Domain: Beauty
Location of Your New Divine Dwelling:
D: In the center of a thick and savage woodland, infested by mortal eating beasts!
You would Best Describe Yourself As:
D: Creative
Your starting Pantheon has a Surplus of:
C: Essense
+1
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Kinda want to get this going before I leave for work. Next vote to break the tie between Queen Jen and Sunpetal wins.
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Then I guess my original entry is a bit late.
My Name is Sommu, and in mortal speech I am gendered masculine without being male;
My Domain is that of Dreams, of prophecies and nightmares alike;
I dwell beneath the mayflies' sight in the sunless Depths of a midnight Sea;
And My nature is Worldly for nightly I glean and refine the vulgar passions of mortals' desire;
Out of such mad syrup I distill for My Pantheon an Ambrosia of Orthodoxy.
-or-
Name: Sunpetal (Female)
Domain: Beauty
Location of Your New Divine Dwelling:
D: In the center of a thick and savage woodland, infested by mortal eating beasts!
You would Best Describe Yourself As:
D: Creative
Your starting Pantheon has a Surplus of:
C: Essense
+1 But I was adding this vote anyway.
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You are Sunpetal, Goddess of Beauty. You are Creative, meaning that you are good as using your divine powers to make things and beings!
0.0 CS: (Dawn of the First Decade of the Coming of Sunpetal)
Your entire being shrieks in agony as it passes through the gate, and is briefly shot across the space between worlds. Colors dance before your ears, a bitter taste appears on your eyes, and you smell a rough sandpaper-like sensation. This sensory confusion is the worst thing you can possibly imagine, as the appreciation of beauty requires the functional perception of the beholder.
SPLAT!
You land in a pile of leaves. Before you stands the form of Skoonheid, a former angel of your mother's assigned to serve in your new pantheon as an Intermediary between yourself and the mortals who worship you. His physical form, which you find quite beautiful, features the lower body and legs of a stag with the head, arms, and upper body of a dark skinned humanoid. He bows, and presents you with the scrolls of pantheon status, which the lesser beings of your court will prepare for you at the start of each coming decade.
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Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Position Open
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Position Open
Following - 2
Orthodoxy - 4
Essence - 5
Host - 4
---
Once you get your bearings, Skoonheid helps you go over the scrolls.
Your Divine Dwelling is a wide, bright, clearing in the center of a deep, dark, woods. In the clearing are several large and beautifully designed cottages in which you and your pantheon will live. Skoonheid explains that right now, there are enough proper quarters to house three divine beings, and himself and you already make two. This means that as things stand, you may only recruit a single new member to your pantheon. Your personal apartments, however, are large enough for you to keep a spouse if you wish to do so. Compared to other Divine Dwellings, yours has significant room to expand, but is also vulnerable to exposure once the mortals of this world develop the technology to master the deepest woods.
Your Following consists of a single race: short, plump, and pale humanoids who live in towns on the edge of the forest. They are known for their pottery and their herbalism. Compared to other mortal races they are wise and stubborn, but also exceptionally ugly; Perhaps they have turned to your worship in hopes of improving their appearance. Other mortals call your followers the Chestnut Dwarves, and your religion rules two of their many towns.
Their are currently factors both benefiting and harming the Orthodoxy, or stability, of your follower's faith. On the one hand, dwarves are loyal, stuborn, and suckers for routine - all of which aid in the successful establishment of a religion. On the other hand, there are other towns of Chestnut Dwarves near those of your followers which worship a Greater Dwarvish Pantheon and pressure their neighbors to convert back to 'the faith of their people'.
You come to this world with a fairly impressive pool of Essence, which is both a measure of your vitality, and a pool of energy you can tap to preform great works. As a god, you slowly draw essence from the worship of your followers; Skoonheid suggests that with your current following you will draw a bit more than a unit and a half of essence per decade. Additional essence can be gained by slaying and consuming divine beings.
The pantheon of your parents has granted you a modest Host of lesser divine beings to lead into battle. Your host can be used to attack or defend sacred places, battle or hunt monster and daemons, or interfere in mortal affairs. Skoonheid warns that sending your host to mess with mortals who are not your own followers is a great way to make enemies out of other gods.
---
The lesser beings of your host and court suggest that you do something special to celebrate your arrival in this new world! You ponder this request for a moment, and issue the following decree:
A: ...Gather my host! We shall hunt the woods and prove my might by slaying a monster or daemon!
B: ...Gather my essence, and invite the gods of nearby pantheons! I must throw a great feast and get to know my divine neighbors!
C: ...Prepare my chariot! I must visit the ugly wretches who worship me, and prove to them that their goddess is real!
D: ...Nah, Prepare my throne! I must settle into the the normal routine of running this pantheon!
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C
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D
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C
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C. Let's meet our worshippers
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You decide to visit the Chestnut Dwarves!
2
The priests and nobles of your people give you a polite reception, and your divine beauty clearly turns a few heads here and there, but your appearance doesn't have nearly the profound effect you thought it would. Perhaps divine beings are still so common in this world that an appearance by one's own goddess is not as big of a deal as it would be to your father's people back home. Or perhaps these Chestnut Dwarves are too stoic and reserved to outwardly make a big deal over you.
Regardless, what strikes you about these people is their terrifying ugliness! Many of them have long folded slinky noses, almost like the trunk of an elephant, and unsymmetrical faces are not an uncommon sight either. It takes much of your willpower not to gag in front of your own followers. Something must be done about this!
A: I shall establish a strict caste system for my people based on physical appearance! Next time I visit, the most ugly will be an undercaste that can be kept out of my sight!
B: I shall bless the priests and leaders of the town with some of my essence, to aid in the beautification of them and their descendants!
C: I shall construct a statue of myself in town, so that my people may have an example of beauty to hold as a standard!
D: I will take the wisest mortals in town back to my divine dwelling, where they may learn of clothesmaking and cosmetics from me and my court!
E: Uggg... I suppose I shall just have to hold my nose and tolerate followers who are totes uggo.
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C!
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Hahaha, A would be hilarious, but B seems most useful in the long term. I mean, creating beauty is what gods of beauty do.
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D
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B, most of the rest are merely temporary solutions, but this one starts working on a cure!
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Hahaha, A would be hilarious
Yeah now I almost want us to be a shallow, spoiled brat of a goddess.
D: I will take the wisest mortals in town back to my divine dwelling, where they may learn of clothesmaking and cosmetics from me and my court!
We don't have a whole lot of divinities in our court at the moment, I'm imagining a stereotypical "Host" of eagle-winged humanoids who are ordered to holster their flaming broadswords and pull out little flaming embroidery needles. Meanwhile Skoonheid the Satyr is running a beauty counter, "Oh, madam, these earth tones are going to be all the rage as soon as we establish seasons." :P
I'm giggling so hard I almost can't type B.
This is a young world, the sooner we make our mark on it the better it will spread.
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B
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where they may learn of clothesmaking and cosmetics from me
Hmm, I interpreted Sunpetal as more about natural beauty, and well, nature.
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Hmm, I interpreted Sunpetal as more about natural beauty, and well, nature.
Listen, with certain kinds of genetics you just gotta know when to fold 'em.
D! Gather round for your Sanctified Head-Bags With Faces Drawn On Them!
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You conjure up a bit of your divine essence to start handing out blessings of divine grace and beauty to the leadership of the town!
7*
Not only does this cure their terrible case of the uggos, but it also makes the Chestnut Dwarves of this place beautiful on the inside! You can feel them becoming more kind! To commemorate your blessing and appearance, they rename the town "Charity!"
After no small amount of celebration and revelry, you return to your divine dwelling to begin running your Pantheon in earnest.
0.1 CS:
6
You receive interesting news from the settlements of your Chestnut Dwarf worshipers! A small band of mountain dwarves has arrived in the region, to conscript able bodied fighters to fight some sort of terrible beast that has arisen to the north that they claim is a threat to all dwarfkind. At first they attempt to convert all Sunpetal worshipers they take back to Traditionalism, the worship of the Dwarven pantheon, but this actually backfires when some of the foreign officers see the defiance of your followers and begin to question their own faith!
Your court believes that this is the perfect opportunity to expand your following. You decide to...
A: Do nothing. I don't wish to offend the Traditionalist pantheon by personally involving myself in the theft of their following.
B: Send your intermediary to the officers questioning their faith, in hopes of converting them to your cause!
C: Spend some essence to preform a miracle of beauty for those considering turning their worship to you!
D: Send a messenger to the Dwarven pantheon, offering my aid with the monster that threatens "all dwarfkind."
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D
Maybe we can get a lovely dwarven spouse from rubbing elbows with the Traditionalists!
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D Time to stroll around the cul-de-sac and meet our new neighbors.
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D
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You dispatch a messenger to the Dwarven pantheon.
3
Some time later you receive a politely worded reply, informing you that your assistance is not required at this time.
0.4 CS:
The Intermediary Skoonheid appears before you with a mortal prayer he deems worthy of your personal attention.
"My queen, one of your faithful, a merchant by the name of Dumpling, has recently come into a good deal of wealth. He wishes to spend a good portion of it honoring his goddess, and is asking for advice on how he might do so. What should I tell him?"
A: "He should erect a monument to my beauty!"
B: "He should donate money to my clergy!"
C: "He should use his great wealth to attract a beautiful and exotic trophy wife!"
D: "He should purchase supplies and companions, and travel to the wilderness in search of natural beauty!"
E: "Remind him that mortals have free will! HE should choose how he will honor me."
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C
We made beautiful people. Now we want some beautiful children.
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D! Maybe he can find some magical beasts to convert or, failing that, a nice place for people to go and reach enlightenment. Adding itinerant elements to our cult can only help in the long run.
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A
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C
We made beautiful people. Now we want some beautiful children.
+1
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C
We made beautiful people. Now we want some beautiful children.
+1
Thanks for the support but I think I like Harry's reasoning even better. After all, one observes that mortals tend to have too many of the puling, puking little nuisances without much encouragement at all.
Switch to D. Find a good enough spot and he may found our first temple, a center of our worship for centuries to come.
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"Tell the merchant to go on a quest, and seek out natural beauty!"
"As you command, so it shall be."
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A few weeks later, Skoonheid informs you that Dumpling has left town with several dozen followers and a few wagons full of supplies. You instruct your court to inform you when and if he returns.
0.6 CS:
Skoonheid approaches your throne yet again with another interesting prayer.
"My queen, a common thief named Tuft has prayed to you with an interesting delema. She was robbing the house of an important noble who claims to be a member of your cult, only to find that her mark keeps an entire room devoted to Lace, the Dwarven Goddess of artifice. Tuft, who is devote in her worship of you, finds the hypocrisy of the noble disgusting, but cannot expose it without exposing her own crimes! What shall I have her do, my queen?"
You ponder the situation, and ultimately decide to...
A: Instruct the court to exact divine punishment upon Tuft! I will not tollerate theives!
B: Instruct the court to exact divine punishment upon the noble hypocrite! I will not have my people ruled by the faithless!
C: Instruct the court to exact divine punishment upon both parties!
D: Order Tuft to come forward and make the truth public!
E: Offer Tuft your protection if she wishes to come forward with the truth.
F: I'm gonna ignore this one. Petty thieves are beneath me, and I don't care less about the noble so long as he doesn't push his outside religion in public.
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No option to let both of them be?
E
Maybe we can find uses for a reformed totally trustworthy well-she-won't-live-too-long-anyway thief.
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No option to let both of them be?
Added.
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F
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E,we are a fair goddess.
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B
We are divine, we don't need thieves to seek out and punish the faithless (at least not openly!)
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E
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You decide of offer Tuft protection if she wishes to come forward with her story.
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A few weeks later, The story of Tuft's actions reaches your throne.
5
The thief came clean in public, accusing the powerful noble of faithlessness and hypocrisy. The town listened, invaded the accused noble's house, and finding Tuft's claims true killed the old dwarf and his family before distributing their wealth around the community. Your people are happy with the sudden windfall, and truly the noble's grim fate will stand as a dark example to others who may consider walking his path!
1
Sadly, it seems that dwarves don't take too well to thieves. After dealing with the noble, they turned their attention to his accuser; Tuft was tried and executed so quickly, that word of her prayers for mercy and protection did not reach your throne until it was too late!
A: So be it. Nobody knew I promised Tuft protection, so I lose nothing in her death.
B: Perhaps I should send a small portion of my host to track her soul to the local afterlife, and attempt to mount a rescue.
C: I must keep my word! Prepare my host to launch a full assault against the local afterlife, consequences be damned!
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C fuck it, no man left behind.
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B
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B
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B
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C fuck it, no man left behind.
+1
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C
Let's tear that place up. If there's an afterlife we (er, somebody in our pantheon, Sunpetal wouldn't look twice at the floor) should be in charge of it!
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C
Good cross-over GM!
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C
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You declare that your promise must be kept, and order your host be made ready to assault the local afterlife!
Several hours later, the various beings who serve as your military officers approach your throne to ask if you will personally lead them to glory in battle!
A: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaas!
B: Sounds like a good way to chip a nail. Hard pass.
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B
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A We are no delicate flower. The most beutiful rose also has the sharpest thorns. (also, we have essence galore, let's use it)
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A
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Blood for the Beauty Goddess!
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"Uh, battle? No, I was thinking more of doing the part without the pointy slashy stuff – like, mmm, if there's a tall, dark, handsome king of the underworld I could maybe distract him for a bit. You know, for the mission. MMmmm yes ... the mission."
A
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A
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A
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Hell Yeah! Sunpetal, Goddess of Beauty, has embarked on an adventure!
You don your crimson battle robes, and a pair of stilettos that conceal a pair of cosmicly sharp blades; It is time to lead your troops into glorious battle and sieze control of the local afterlife for yourself!
1
...That is if you can find it! You spend the better part of a year following the the streams of ether, wind, and water in search of an afterlife with absolutely zero luck. Some in your host begin to murmur that you are wasting your time over a single mortal soul. Perhaps it is time to change up tactics.
A: No! I will stay the course and find the afterlife now matter how long it takes, even if that means missing opportunities back home.
B: My throne needs me more than my host does! I shall return home and entrust this mission to my capable troops.
C: We can find the afterlife by following a soul. Lets find and kill a mortal!
D: My forces are right to question me. I didn't know hunting this afterlife thing would take so long. Lets give it up and return home before I run out of things to wear!
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B
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B
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C!
That's the kind of lateral thinking that marks a true god! Plus we are assaulting wherever they're gonna head off to, so we can resurrect them in the process. Probably.
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C is too funny to pass up
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C
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C!
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C too tempting
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B
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You instruct your host to scour the local area for a mortal that you might kill and follow to the afterlife.
6
Several hours later, your troops present you with a brown arachnid about the size of a large dog, which they assure you is sentient. You nod, and bring a bladed shoe down on the victim's head! Almost instantaneously, it's soul takes flight, and just as quickly your troops begin their pursuit!
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You spend a few weeks chasing the soul, before it slips through a small crack in the seabed. Following it through, you find yourself in a large, well lit, underwater chamber. Before you sits a small fortress made of bone and metal; You can sense a powerful being inside. Between the collective wisdom of you and your troops, it is quickly deduced that this afterlife is a Seat of Judgement, something usually only found in older worlds with several large and advanced pantheons.
The being inside this fortress would be this world's Lord of the Dead, who likely reports directly to the ruler of a pantheon, and preforms two important functions; The first job of a lord of the dead is to actively tamper with the metaphysics of the world in such away to allow multiple afterlives to exist. Their second job is to judge the souls of the recently departed and send them to a fitting afterlife.
You call your officers around, to discuss strategy...
A: The Lord of this fortress isn't expecting us! Let us storm the walls!
B: I will use some essence to create mighty siege engines, and we will reduce this place to rubble!
C: It is unlikely that Tuft's soul is still here. Let us parlay with the Lord of the Dead, find out where they sent her, and march on the correct afterlife!
D: Shit guys... I'm not sure I want this fight. The metaphyiscal and political consequences of attacking such an important afterlife may be vast. Lets just head home.
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C
While blowing up the Seat of Judgment would be amazing I think it'd end poorly for us. Also this god hasn't done us any wrong so we might as well buddy up to them.
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C
As above, plus maybe a God of Judgement could make a good addition to our court.
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Maybe we can get some Hades/Persephone action going.
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You grab your most handsome and respectable looking soldier, and point towards the fortress doors. "Go, announce my presence, I wish to to meet the Lord of the Dead."
Several minutes later a small host of Cthulhuoid Soldiers exit the fort to escort you in. A table is set up, and on it a great feast featureing meats from both the land and the sea. At the head of the table sits a massive black sea lion, who wears a crown made from the skull of some great reptile. Your host introduces himself as Bark-Ark, a god of the hunt who currently reigns over the various underworlds as Lord of the Dead.
After pleasantries are out of the way, Bark-Ark offers you some wine, and inquires as to why you have come to visit him. You take a deep breath and launch into negotiations!
5
After hearing your story, Bark-Ark frowns.
"I remember this Tuft of yours. She pleaded to me that she was under the protection of a beautiful Goddess called Sunpetal, but I had heard of no such being before and thought her a liar. I had the thief's soul sent to The Kiln, a Pandemonium where departed souls are made into various servants for my master. By now, Tuft's soul will have been torn apart to used as material to bake several supernatural beings. As 'Tuft' no longer exists as a single entity, I am afraid you have failed to keep your promise... and it is all my fault. I must make it up to you! Whatever shall I do?"
A: Send word to the Kiln. I want custody over all the beings Tuft's soul is part of.
B: Replace my mortal child with an immortal one! Take me to your bedchambers, and spend your essence to ensure I conceive a deity!
C: I am new in this world, and desire allies. Organize a feast in my honor, and invite your master's pantheon!
D: I can't think of anything you can do now, so I shall take my leave. However, Beware! You owe me a favor and I WILL call it in later.
E: I cannot forgive this transgression! Troops! Storm the walls!
F: I cannot forgive this transgression! You best ready your defenses, for I am going to make cannons and reduce this place to rubble!
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C
Gods of the Hunt can probably throw a crazy feast.
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Tempted by B, a diety child would be a nice addition, but I think networking now will be more beneficial in the long run.
C
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C, sure
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A
Tuft is not gone until we give up on her!
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"Throw a feast in my honor. I would like to meet your master and their pantheon."
Bark-Ark nods and pulls calls for his schedule keeper, with whom he has a brief discussion before turning back to you.
"This I can do, m'lady. Before I host such a feast, however, I would like to remodel my fortress, and spend a few years hunting game worthy of such an occasion. As such it will have to wait a few years."
Eventually the two of you agree to hold the feast in the year 1.9 CS, a little more than a decade from now, which is not an unreasonable amount of time for a god to spend planning a proper feast. After a bit more small talk and dining, you depart from the seat of judgment, gather your assembled host, and return home!
Congratulations! Sunpetal, Goddess of Beauty, has completed a quest!
0.9 CS:
Interesting news reaches your throne. Apparently your followers who had been conscripted by the mountain dwarves to fight a distant war have returned!
6
And they return in force! The soldiers are lead by a dwarf called Walnut, who left his home as a humble peasant only to strike the decisive blow against a Granite Titan, who was leading the enemy forces, and return a hero. Walnut travels with a large band of heavily armed mountain dwarves who swore their undying loyalty to him and converted to your cult per his demands.
Walnut has used his army to seize control of both of the towns where you are worshiped, sucessfully capture and convert a third nearby town of Chestnut Dwarves, and declare himself The Emperor of All Things Beautiful On the surface this is a good thing; Walnut's actions have increased both the size and the stability of your following. Some in your court, however, explain that Walnut and his Empire of Beauty could cause problems down the road.
The new emperor is both devout and prideful to a fault. He refuses to take a wife, claiming that must love his mate for her beauty alone, but that no mortal beauty will ever be worthy of him. Without an heir, it is unlikely that Walnut's empire will last beyond his own death. Your courtiers ask how you intend to diffuse this probable future collapse.
A: Fetch me a bag with eye holes. I shall pay the bedchambers of this ugly dwarf a visit, and help him make an heir.
B: What is an imperial bloodline that can't trace it's roots to the gods? Fetch this mortal for me. He is to be my first husband.
C: Send my intermediary to order him to wed one of the nobles or priests from the town of Charity that I have blessed.
D: Send my intermediary to lecture him on the value of virtue and other internal beauties in a wife.
E: This dwarf's pride offends me, and I do not wish for an autocrat to rule over my subjects! Punish him!
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D
You get one chance to pay attention, bub, then we'll move on to the demonstration of the exact difference between mortal and immortal.
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B Surely an empire of beauty should be ruled by the most beautiful of mortals! What mortal could be more beautiful than our own demigod children? That and I have a feeling that trying to change a stubborn prideful dwarf Emperor won't go the way we want it to.
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B
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E! Suffer not the asshole!
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B
+1
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Ugh no, please. I'd rather switch to A and try to give this guy a mortal successor with divine origins than elevate such an ass into our pantheon. The Emperor of ALL Things Beautiful? Excuse ME, I'm beautiful and I don't think you get to boss me around.
Switching to E to combine the anti-B forces.
I may switch again if A gains some ground, we'll see.
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A You know what sure. Just having our beautiful kid rule is enough for me even if no one knows they are ours. Plus I thought about it some and stoking the Dwarf Emperor's pride might not be the best idea in this situation.
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E
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E
A You know what sure. Just having our beautiful kid rule is enough for me even if no one knows they are ours. Plus I thought about it some and stoking the Dwarf Emperor's pride might not be the best idea in this situation.
Ninja'd. Sorry, but B wins this round.
---
You ponder the situation for a spell, before speaking to your court. "My followers shall be lead by my descendants. Walnut has slain a mighty titan, and spread my cult of his own accord. I deem him a worthy spouse. Skoonheid, go to him and tell him that he is to select one of his underlings to rule the empire as regent until one of his children is ready to take the throne; He is to spend the rest of his life at my side."
---
You marry the mortal two weeks later in a small ceremony attended only by the members of your court.
Your new husband's appearance is tollerable by Chestnut Dwarf standards; His face is fairly symmetrical, and you learn that his strange and ugly nose is almost prehensile, meaning that it is of use to you in the bedchamber. He is overjoyed at making the sole object of his worship the sole object of his love, but you can tell that beneath his happiness, he is haunted by what he has seen and done while at war.
Emperor Walnut carries "Brushmaster" a simple machete that he once used to clear jungle in his previous life as a herbalist, but has become a minor artifact upon bathing in the blood of the titan that Walnut slew. Between this mighty weapon, and his vengeful nature, you suppose the emperor could fight a divine being on equal or even advantageous footing.
He also carries with him an uncut brown gem, about the size of his head, which he offers to you as a wedding gift. "This is one of the kidneys of the Granite Titan Hilleater, the enemy of all dwarves whom I slew in your name. I present it to you in its raw form, as I could find no mortal worthy of improving it for the Goddess and Empress of all things Beautiful."
You pause to consider the gem. It still holds some of the Titan's essence, so you could craft it into a minor artifact without expending any of your own life-force.
A: I need more essence now, therefore I will eat the gem!
B: I will reward my husband's generosity by improving upon that artifact machete of his!
C: I will craft a crown that my children might someday wear to rule over their empire in my name!
D: I will craft it into an accessory for myself, so that I may remember Emperor Walnut long after he dies.
E: I will hold onto the gem as is for now.
-
C! You gotta start an empire correctly, after all.
-
B. Looks like we got someone to lead the host.
-
C Whew. I was about to change back to B when I saw that E started winning there. Anyway let the legacy of our coupling carry on this symbol of our love of beauty for eternity!
-
C
-
C
Well so far he's not so bad as I thought.
-
Also I really like how our Chestnut Dwarves change and do stuff even without us doing anything. It's going to be cool to see how they develop overtime. It's also nice to see the unintended consequences of our divine actions such as the Chestnut Dwarves of Charity becoming kind.
-
C
-
5*
You work swiftly and deftly, polishing the brown kidney-gem until it is a nice royal purple, and shaping it into a beautiful crown. This minor artifact should slowly improve the beauty of the wearer, and cause them to produce more beautiful offspring. It is stamped with both the image of a songbird perched upon a reed, your holy symbol, and the image of a songbird perched upon a machete, the coat of arms that Emperor Walnut chose for himself upon shaking off his status as a commoner.
End of the First Decade of the Coming of Sunpetal:
Skoonheid appears before you once more with the scrolls!
---
Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Emperor Walnut the Chestnut Dwarf Hero
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Position Open
Following - 3
Orthodoxy - 6
Essence - 5
Host - 4
---
The angel explains that the actions of Tuft and Emperor Walnut have done much to increase the size and devotion of your mortal following. The increase in following should mean that you generate two full points of Essence per decade.
1.1 CS:
You receive word that Emperor Walnut's regent, a Mountain Dwarf General called Thrane, has completed a temple in your honor! At your husband's insistance, you decide to attend the dedication!
---
The temple is a beautiful thing, by mortal standards. It is constructed of imported marble, with a dome made from polished granite harvested from the body of the titan that Emperor Walnut slew! Behind the altar stand two massive statues; One of your, and one of your husband; Yours is made of silver, and his of nickel. The craftdwarfship of each is incredible.
A thought strikes you: Perhaps you should spend some essence to bless your new temple.
A: Naaaaaah!
B: I shall bless the dome to attract supernatrual beings looking to join my host!
C: I shall bless the altar, so that the essence of sacrifices made their might reach me more easily!
D: I shall bless the sacred tomes, so that the missionaries and priests of this temple will find more success!
-
B
-
PTW
-
D
-
D Surely this beautiful Grand Temple shall become one of the most sacred places of our worship! Let this sacred temple be the rock of our worship! The center from which beauty shall spread through out our Empire!
-
Kinda feeling C, spend money to make money.
-
B
Essence per year
Decade?
-
Essence per year
Decade?
Good catch.
-
C so we can perform more miracles
-
BB
DD
CC
Anybody care to break the tie?
-
D
better priests mean better conversion rates
-
D
-
You approach the tomes, and lay your hands upon them...
6
The blessing is lain perfectly! Surely your missionaries will have a much easier time exploring and converting the world around them! The dwarves attending the temple dedication see your great deed, and decide to name this town, the Capital of the Empire of all Things Beautiful, The City of the Tome.
---
Several months later, you recieve word that the Merchant Dumpling has returned home from his quest to find natural beauty!
3
The wealthy merchant traveled until he spent the entirety of the money he had set aside in your name, and his soul was touched by the beauty of the world, but he made no great discoveries nor did he accomplish any great deeds.
1.2 CS:
You give birth for the first time ever, to a mortal Chestnut Dwarf daughter. Looking the girl over, you find no heroic trait or marking upon her that would make her worthy of dwelling among the gods, so after much agonizing, you send her away to be raised by the imperial nobles. You later learn that her adoptive parents name her Elmoss.
---
A visitor appears before your court!
The stranger takes the shape of a large dwarf with the head and wings of a hornet! He introduces himself as Vir-Buzz, the recently evicted son of the king of the dwarfish gods, and patron god of the insane. He has come seeking your hand in marriage, and when you tell him that you already have a husband, a mortal one no less, he flies into a rage!
"That izzzzzzzzzz UNACCEPTABLE! I demand to duel this so called emperor to the death for the right to be called your husband!"
A: How could I say no to guys fighting over me?
B: Just because you are the patron of the insane, dose not mean I have to honor your insane request. BEGONE FROM MY SIGHT!
-
B
-
B
I can't believe we've found a suitor uglier then our husband. Gag.
-
B Little shit thinks he can question our choice in husband? Hah! As if we'd allow this ugly insane fellow to tell us who we can or can not marry! We're a strong Goddess who leads an independent Pantheon! We don't need some ugly exile telling us what to do!
-
Strongly tempted to vote A since our guy supposedly has a decent shot.
B ut not enough to find out this bug is hiding some weird ability.
-
Going to recommend a C: "That's kind of up to him, isn't it? (also, let him get me pregnant again first, just in case)"
-
A
-
You tell Vir-Buzz, in no uncertain terms, that he will not be dueling your husband to the death.
4
After spending a few more minutes venting, moaning, and shouting to anybody in your court willing to listen, the bug-headed god leaves your throne room without incident.
1
Word of the incident quickly reaches Emperor Walnut, and although your husband dosn't dare openly question his goddess, you can tell that in refusing the duel you have offended his pride. The Emperor's visits to your bedchamber become far less frequent.
1.6 CS:
Another stranger appears at your court!
This time the visitor is a tall pale skinned humanoid mortal hero with pointy ears. A bow and a quiver are strapped to his back. He introduces himself as Char-el, son of Char-Dis, the god-queen of caves.
"Ten years ago, I was tasked with investigating the death of one of my mother's spider-priestesses. After an epic quest, and many trials, I have determined that she was killed just so that you might track down the afterlife for your own selfish reasons! You must pay for what you have taken!"
Shit. Who'd of thought that killing mortals would come back to bite you?
A: What? Who told you this? I would do no such thing! (Lie)
B: I will repay your mother by using my own essence to improve that bow that she must have given you!
C: I will replace her mortal child with an immortal one. Follow me to my bedchambers. I will spend essence to ensure that I give birth to a deity that you may take back to its grandmother.
D: COME AT ME THEN! TAKE YOUR PAYMENT IN BLOOD IF YOU CAN!
E: If your mother thinks I owe her a debt, she is invited to seek payment herself, I will not deal with you, mortal.
-
E
-
C
-
E
-
C
We're gonna make the hubby so mad tho.
-
Yeah, we were supposed to actually get that spider's soul back so something like this didn't happen. :P
C
-
E
-
CCC
EEE
I can has tiebreaker?
-
E
-
"Tell your mother to pay me a visit herself if she has business with me. I will not pay a debt to a mere mortal."
3
"Very well," The mortal warns as he departs, "but do not expect Char-Dis to ask as nicely as I have."
1.8 CS:
You receive word that two beings wish to speak with you, both from your own court. Skoonheim is back, likely with another prayer that he has deemed worthy of your attention. The cherub who serves as your divine dwelling's chief engineer has also requested an audience.
A: I'll meet with the intermediary first
B: I'll meet with the engineer first
-
A
-
B
This seems like it could be the bigger opportunity?
-
B
-
B
-
B let's see the new guy
-
You call for the engineer.
"My queen," The cherub exclaims as he approaches your throne, "while updating and renovating the empty cabin that may one day house a member of your pantheon, we discovered that it sits upon a deposit of strange, blood-red gems. We would your permission to move the cabin elsewhere within the divine dwelling, so that we may begin extracting our find. Needless to say, this would render you incapable of expanding your pantheon for a spell."
You consider the offer. On one hand, Bark-Ark's feast is coming up next year, and you suppose you would have an outside chance of expanding your pantheon at that time. On the hand, gems are pretty, and gems found on sacred ground may have supernatural properties!
A: Nah. Lets not turn my home into a construction site just yet.
B: What sort of goddess of beauty says no to gems? Not me!
-
A
We can always get the gems later.
-
A
-
You send the engineer away. The gems can wait for another day.
Skoonheid approaches the throne next, and as expected, he has a prayer to share with you. "One of the priests you blessed in the town of Charity requires your attention," he explains. "The old dwarf has a daughter who, by your grace and blessing, has become quite beautiful. She has attracted the gaze of a young merchant from out of town who seeks to convert her back to the Traditionalist Dwarven Faith and make her his wife. Obviously the priest refused."
"So what is the problem, then?" You ask.
"The merchant has proven to be quite clever. He sought out all the people to whom your priest owes money, and purchased the debt from them. He then called all the debt in at once, so that it would be impossible for the priest to pay in time. If the Priest gives up his daughter, the debt will be forgiven, but if he does not, his property will all fall to the faithless merchant."
"So? Mortals give up their possessions for their faith all the time. That's standard fair." You quip.
"Yes, but the priest owns a decent chunk of the town, you see. If the merchant gets his property, many of your worshipers will have a faithless outsider as a landlord."
"Okay," you admit, "that would be bad."
"What would you have me do then?" The angel asks.
A: Clearly he should give up his property, but keep his daughter.
B: Clearly he should give up his daughter, but keep his property.
C: My priest needs the help of a higher power, but not necessarily a divine one; Alert my husband's regent to this situation.
D: The stakes are far too high for me to tread lightly here. Imma punish the ever-loving crap out of that faithless merchant!
E: Screw it, I'll burn some essence to conjure up some precious metals and gems. That should cover the debt and resolve the situation.
-
I like D but we don't want to make enemies, yet.
C is the best option, no need to waste essence on this foolish priest. We should also make sure that the priest class never have to worry about debt.
-
C So this arrogant merchant thinks he can harass one of our blessed priests while in our Empire eh? Think again foolish mortal!
-
C let's just hope we haven't pissed off Dwarf-hubby to the point of him not helping us.
-
You decide to refer the case to General Thrane, the pious Mountain Dwarf who rules the empire in your husband's stead.
2
General Thrane resolves the situation with all the grace and tact of a Mountain Dwarf... in that he lops the offending merchant's head off without trial or explanation. This sits well with his imperial subjects, but angers the nearby Chestnut Dwarf Town from which the recently departed merchant hailed!
---
Your domain is now on the brink of war; What started with a harassed priest and a pissed off merchant has now truly spiraled out of control. The Empire of all thing Beautiful finds itself at odds with a loose confederacy of the five remaining major Chestnut Dwarf towns that it does not yet control.
The Confederacy is united by a fear of your husband's empire and its religion. They claim that General Thrane thinks that the Chestnut Dwarves are simple and haplass hicks that he may conquer, and that he actually seized power by killing or locking away your heroic husband. They possess a significant numerical advantage over their foe, they also feel that if the conflict drags out long enough, that the powerful Dwarven pantheon will intervene on their behalf.
The Empire is united by a fanatical devotion to your cult. It claims that the Confederacy is using the beheading of the merchant as an excuse to take back the three imperial towns for the Dwarven Pantheon, and to purge the faithful. What it lacks in legion size, The Empire makes up for in equipment; General Thrane has made the import of metals from the mountains a cornerstone of his rule, and as such his army carries arms and armor of mighty iron. General Thrane and his most elite troops also happen to be Mountain Dwarves, a race that is larger and known to be more warlike than the local Chestnut Dwarves.
Your followers are clearly in danger, so perhaps divine intervention is necessary.
A: I wont get involved... yet. Lets give the mortals a chance to prove themselves.
B: Really? All this over a single beheading? I'm sending a message to the dwarven pantheon. Surely the gods can get together and resolve this matter with bloodshed.
C: My husband's absence lends legitimacy to the enemies' claim. Perhaps he should return to the mortal world until this is dealt with.
D: To hell with this! I'm sending in my host, consequences be damned!
-
B
-
C Let's try and solve this without resorting to bloodshed and without involving the other gods.
-
Agreed, C
-
You decide that the Empire shall have its emperor in its time of need! Your husband packs his belongings, gives you a stoic kiss goodbye, and is escorted back to The City of the Tome. Hopefully he will make a difference.
1.9 CS:
Bark-Ark's feast in your honor has come! You arrive at the seat of judgement in your finest gown, accompanied by only the best looking members of your court and host. The feast itself takes place in a large banquet hall full of tables. On each table is many plates of food and pitchers of drink; The drink is pinkish in color and tastes like mead, while the plates are each different but mostly carry various meats.
There are about a dozen mighty beings at the banquet, and as each takes their turn introducing themselves to you, you are able to quickly figure out who are the important ones.
Bark-Ark's master is large humanoid with the head and rubbery black and white skin of an Orca. He introduces himself as Ore, god of strength and King of the Abyssal Pantheon. Ore, in turn, introduces you to his wife Morayi: a hulking muscular humanoid female with three breasts, gills, and a single piercing eye. Morayi is a goddess of war, and in addition to being Ore's wife she is also his champion, daughter, and grandaughter; Apparently it is tradition for Ore to wed his strongest female descendant whenever he loses a wife to death or abandonment.
Bark-Ark then introduces you to his husband Captooth, a god of time who takes the form of a large sleeper shark with a terrifying fungal infection. Captooth, you learn, is more or less the babysitter of the Abyssal Pantheon, tasked with raising Ore's many children to adulthood, and helping his uncle select and groom his wives/champions.
The last being you find noteworthy is not a god, but a five headed Daemon called Legion of Secrets. Legion of Secrets serves the Abyssal Pantheon as a Source, or being tasked with establishing and maintaining magical frameworks that mortal members of their cult may use to preform great deeds.
Eventually everybody eats their fill, and a window presents itself for you to start some conversations.
Who do you want to talk with?
A: Bark-Ark, the Lord of the Dead
B: Ore, the king of the Abyssal Pantheon
C: Morayi, the queen of the Abyssal Pantheon
D: Captooth, babysitter to the gods
E: Legion of Secrets, the Daemon master of magic
What do you want to talk about?
A: How I may be of use to them
B: My problems with other local deities and pantheons
C: The affairs of our respective mortal followers
D: The open position in my pantheon
E: The world we inhabit
-
B E
-
C C
Although it may seem from appearances that we have little in common, the wise goddess knows that "girl talk" trumps everything.
Plus chatting up a goddess of war may net some tips for our upcoming little scuffle.
-
C C
Although it may seem from appearances that we have little in common, the wise goddess knows that "girl talk" trumps everything.
Plus chatting up a goddess of war may net some tips for our upcoming little scuffle.
+1
-
C C
Although it may seem from appearances that we have little in common, the wise goddess knows that "girl talk" trumps everything.
Plus chatting up a goddess of war may net some tips for our upcoming little scuffle.
+1
+1
-
You pull up a chair next to Morayi, and start talking about the affairs of your respective mortal followers.
With some prodding the brutish goddess explains the makeup of Pantheon's worshipers. Ore is primarily worshiped by the White Giants, a race of massive sentient toothed whales that are small in number by large in size and in deed. The White Giants, she explains, are the true masters of the sea, and have bullied many a bottom-dwelling race into worshiping their gods.
Morayi explains that some of the more aggressive and warlike of the bottom-dwelling races worship her directly. She weaves you tales of the ponderous yet venomous coneshellfolk, the magically talented Coralmaids, and the utterly ruthless ripper crabs. The followers that interest you most, however, are the Kappa and the Cucumberlin.
The Kappa, Morayi explain, are amphibious creatures that live amoung the tides and victimize surface dwellers. They are highly warlike, and have a degree of magical talent. They raise a race of dumb yet fertile vegetable people called the Cucumberlin as slaves and occasional meals. About three centuries ago, she explains, the surface races launched a great purge, and drove the Kappa to near extinction; The only population that remains is actually near the woods in which you make your home, living on the thin stretch of land between the trees and the waves. The Goddess ominously hints that the impassable forest is the only thing keeping the Kappa from seeking their revenge upon the world!
Then talk shifts to your followers, and the troubles they face.
6
A wicked grin spreads across the face of Morayi. "I despise the pantheon of the dwarves more than anything, but my husband forbids me from openly making war upon them. I will gladly help your followers slaughter theirs! How may I be of service?"
A: Send my people a great champion to aid in their struggle!
B: Send a legion of Kappa to attack the damned confederacy!
C: Make my people a mighty artifact!
D: Actually, I was hoping to resolve this matter peacefully. Can we talk about something else. (See the last post, and pick a different topic)
E: Actually, I was hoping to resolve this matter peacefully. Perhaps I should talk to somebody else. (See the last post, and pick a different conversation partner and topic)
-
A
-
C
-
Asking for a troop of vengeful militaristic slavers who don't worship us sounds like the sort of thing that could not possibly go wrong. [/sarcasm]
A
-
A
-
A
-
You request a hero, and Morayi promises to send you one!
Tails
Morayi spends a few more hours at your side, but you fail to get her to talk about anything aside from the war that your people face, and her hatred for the dwarven Pantheon. Eventually the two of you part ways.
6
As the feast winds down, Ore, god of strength and king of the Abyssal Pantheon, approaches and sits beside you.
"I must say, your beauty is quite captivating. If I did not require the strongest possible offspring, I would love to have a wife such as yourself. As it is, however, the most I can do is stare at you from afar and watch. While watching, I couldn't help but notice that you were getting on royally with my dear Morayi. If you are fond of her, I could allow you to have one of her daughters and sisters for your pantheon if you wish."
The Orca-fleshed god then presents to you three of his daughters, offering you your choice of the batch. Each is a muscular one-eyed three-breasted woman like Morayi.
The blue haired Lionfin is a goddess of preditory beasts, who would make a great champion to one day lead your host into battle.
Her sister, Lahara, has translucent skin and a flaming red eye. She is a goddess of tsunamis, whirlpools, and other maritine disasters. She seeks to join your court as a spy master.
White-Coral is of a somewhat slimmer and more delicate build, but is by no means weak looking. She is a goddess of poetry, and wishes nothing more than to become your consort.
Decisions, decisions.
A: Give me Lionfin! I'd rather not have to dirty my hands and clothes every time my host needs a commander.
B: Give me Lahara! It would be nice to keep tabs on what other mighty beings are up to!
C: Give me White-Coral! A consort might make my husband jealous enough to start sleeping with me again! Also, I could burn some essense to ensure one of us falls pregnant should I tire of raising mortal offspring.
D: Why don't you show me to your bedchambers, Ore? I would like one of your children, but I'd rather raise said child myself.
E: I'm sorry, I'm not looking for anybody to join my Pantheon at this time.
-
B
-
A We could use a good Warrior Goddess. Both for our host and for our Dwarves to look up to during times of conflict.
-
Leaning B, more out of the fact that her stormy domain meets my idea of natural beauty than anything else. :P
-
You decide to add Lahara to your Pantheon! After several days of feasting, you depart the fortress of Bark-Ark with your new spymaster!
End of the Second Decade of the Coming of Sunpetal:
Your Pantheon assembles for the presentation of the scrolls!
Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Emperor Walnut the Chestnut Dwarf Hero
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Lahara of the Whirlpool the Goddess Spymaster
Following - 3
Orthodoxy - 6
Essence - 7!
Host - 4
---
It seems that you are carrying as much essence as your body can store! Perhaps the time has come to spend on some great project!
Before you can dwell on that, however, Skoonheid and Lahara approach your throne!
2
Skoonheid reports that your husband has failed to secure peace between the empire and the confederacy! At this very moment, Emperor Walnut is making final preparations to meet the enemy in the field! Perhaps the time has come for you to intervene.
Lahara speaks up next, requesting that you give her an assignment so that she may begin gathering intelligence on your behalf!
As for the excess of essence:
A: Time to expand my divine dwelling! Lets build more housing so I can grow my pantheon!
B: Time to expand my divine dwelling! Lets build a font, so that I may store more essence!
C: Time to expand my host! I shall burn my essense to create more militarized divine beings!
D: My followers deserve a proper afterlife! I shall scatter my host to find a proper site on which to construct one!
E: I should craft a major artifact, worthy of a divine being!
F: I should craft a lesser artifact, worthy of a heroic mortal!
G: I should erect shrines and monuments to myself overnight, to increase the faith of my following!
As for the war:
A: I'll let it play out, for now.
B: I shall recall my husband! Morayi will soon send a hero to replace him, and I can not allow him to risk his life before he has a worthy heir!
C: I'll send my host to support my mortals, consequences be damned!
As for my spy:
A: Why don't you keep an eye on the dwarves for me?
B: So there is this cave goddess called Char-Dis who may have some beef with me. Can you look into that?
C: Stay here. I want you on counterintelligence duty.
-
D
Let's not have a repeat of the whole Tuft fiasco.
A
Hubby is an artifact warrior and a champion is coming. Should be good, right?
B
Knowledge is power.
-
D It'd be nice yeah.
A It's clear that our husband while mortal is a worthy warrior and would only be offended if we stopped him from fighting.
B Also yeah. We're going to need to be prepared for when ever she comes.
-
D It'd be nice yeah.
A It's clear that our husband while mortal is a worthy warrior and would only be offended if we stopped him from fighting.
B Also yeah. We're going to need to be prepared for when ever she comes.
+1
-
Concur, DAB
-
D
Let's not have a repeat of the whole Tuft fiasco.
A
Hubby is an artifact warrior and a champion is coming. Should be good, right?
B
Knowledge is power.
+1
-
DAB
-
Confident that your husband can handle a war, you instead scramble your host to scour the world in search of a suitable place to build an afterlife! Lahara, meanwhile, is sent away to spy upon the mysterious Char-Dis.
2.0 CS:
4
The first reports of the mortal war effort arrive! The first skirmish, The Battle of Charity, was fought on Imperial Soil. Your husband's forces met and drove away an enemy host that outnumbered them twofold. Imperial Casualities are estimated to be 20-30% of the army, but General Thrane's core of well trained and equipped mountain dwarves escaped mostly unscathed. Confederate casualty numbers are unknown, but your husband did manage to take a good number of live prisoners.
Emperor Walnut is currently leading his fastest scouts and cavalry in pursuit of the retreating enemy. Nobody is quite sure if he is merely chasing the foe off his land, or if he plans to launch a counter attack of some sort.
As you discuss these events with your assembled court, an alarm is raised! A mortal has breached the perimeter of your divine dwelling! For several minutes, there is panic and chaos until word reaches your throne that the mortal claims to be the Champion that Morayi promised to send you. You at once tell your guard to grant him an audience. The champion is a humanoid who stands nine feet tall, with the moist green skin of an amphibian and webbed feet. He is mounted upon an albatross-like bird that is thrice the size of a horse - likely the reason he was able to navigate the forest and find your home."
He dismounts, and kneels at your feet. "Greetings, beauty goddess. I am Senshinochi: Largest and strongest among the Kappa, distant cousin of my mistress, the Goddess Morayi, and most accomplished of her champions capable of walking upon dry land. My voice calls the thunder, my claws rend the weak, my wrath smites the mighty, and my bird Arubatorosu chases down all who would flee from me. How may I serve you in your struggle against the followers of the wicked dwarven pantheon?"
You pause for a moment. You have several matters to consider.
First and foremost, you might want to react to the recent events in the war.
A: Send my intermediary to advise imperial leadership to press the attack!
B: Send my intermediary to advise imperial leadership to return home, reinforce their position, and attempt to sue for peace!
C: The Empire already has my blessing, it does not need my advice as well.
D: This looks to be a good time to send in my host and strike the finishing blow!
Then of course, you have to figure out what is to be done with Senshinochi.
A: He shall seek out Emperor Walnut, and fight at his side!
B: He shall seek out Emperor Walnut, and take his place at the front of the army so that my husband may return to my side!
C: He should use the mobility of his bird to harrass the confederate supply lines!
D: He should travel to the Confederate Towns, and attempt to deal with their leadership via Duels or Assassination!
E: He should travel to imperial towns, and defend them should the enemy strike unexpectedly while the imperial legions are elsewhere!
-
C
A
-
CC
-
CC
+1
-
C
A
-
Heh, "arubatorosu".
CC, might as well make use of the bird.
-
C D
-
You send Senshinochi to mess with the confederate supply lines, and leave the imperial leadership to their own devices! Shortly thereafter you receive word that the Kappa's efforts are indeed bothering the enemy.
2.1 CS:
6
Another report arrives from the field!
Emperor Walnut and his cavalry have descended upon the unwalled confederate town of Mighty Oaks under cover of darkness! Your husband quickly routed the surprised defenders, and demanded that the Town Master surrender Mighty Oaks to him! The Town Master refused, and even had the gall to spit upon Emperor Walnut's face! This caused your husband to fly into a rage, and he ordered the town and its inhabitants put to the torch! There were few Imperial causalities and even fewer Confederate survivors in what is now being called The Burning of Mighty Oaks!
It is reported that the confederates are attempting to sue for peace, but that your husband is refusing to receive their envoys.
As you mull this situation over, Skoonhein appears before you with an interesting prayer. "A highborn imperial soldier named Trunk is enthralled with one of the enemy. Apparently one of the enemy officers is a she-elf, and Trunk claims she is second in beauty only to your statue in the Temple of the Town of Tomes. As a devout follower of beauty, he feels it is his duty to ensure this elf is taken alive, converted to your cult, and made a wife to a worthy member of your cult; Ideally himself."
Again, you have several issues to mull over, first and foremost being the state of the war.
A: My husband is right to push his advantage while he can! I shall not interfere.
B: Uggg... somebody tell that dimwit to make peace with the Confederates while the war is in his favor.
C: My husband has proven that his temper is unsuited to lead mortals in war. Recall him to my side at once!
D: If the confederates are frightened now, just wait until I sic my host upon them!
Then there is the matter of Trunk's prayer.
A: I'm not going to aid in a kidnapping!
B: I'm not going to aid in a kidnapping! The very fact this germ thinks that wives can be claimed as trophies of war offends me. PUNISH HIM!
C: I'm not going to aid in a kidnapping! ...But mixing my followers with beautiful elves appeals to me. Send word to Trunk that I will help him win the elf should they both survive the war.
D: I have an airborn hero. That should be perfect for the job. Pull Senshinochi off anti-logistics duty and get him on this right away!
E: I'll make an artifact to aid Trunk in capturing the elf alive!
-
A Well I mean if they didn't want to get conquered then they shouldn't have declared war.
E If the elf is a beauty then she obviously needs to be ours!
-
B, E
-
A Well I mean if they didn't want to get conquered then they shouldn't have declared war.
E If the elf is a beauty then she obviously needs to be ours!
+1
-
A E
-
You once again decide that your husband knows best!
5
Conjuring up a piece of your essence, you create a single Gold Arrow. The shaft of the arrow is encrusted with various gems, so that it glistens in the sun, and on the fletching is drawn your holy symbol: a songbird perched upon reeds. The arrow is enchanted to fly at whatever the shooter finds most beautiful with perfect accuracy. That which the arrow strikes is put into a deep sleep and rendered invulnerable to harm until it is removed!
You have the arrow sent to Trunk, and learn that the mortal has named it "Flash."
2.2 CS:
6
Your husband scores another easy victory!
The emperor leads his troops against the walled town called Chestnut Hole! After routing a small force camping outside the walls, your husband and his army settled in for a long siege. It quickly became apparent that the Confederacy was not going to send the full force of their army to rescue Chestnut Hole, so the master of the town, not wanting his subjects to meet the same fate that the inhabitants of Mighty Oaks did, surrendered to the empire after several weeks! This incident has gone down in history as The Siege of Chestnut Hole!
6
Meanwhile you receive word that Trunk has successfully used the Arrow called Flash to subdue and capture the she-elf officer! The young soldier, with the permission of his superiors, then left the battlefield to deliver his prize to the temple at The Town of the Tome so that the indoctrination process could begin!
6
The blessed tomes of the temple quickly win the heart of the captured elf! She swears to worship you for the rest of her life, and marry whomever you see fit for the sake of the beauty of The Empire!
...The news is not all good however. The confederacy receives reinforcements from the mountains! A small band of heavily armed Mountain Dwarves, loyal to the traditionalist pantheon, has joined the enemy ranks, thus negating the equipment advantage that your husband had possessed up to this point. To make matters worse, these reinforcements are lead by the Mountain Dwarf Wizard Tul-Urist, who like your husband is a veteran of the war against the wicked Granite Titan! Tul-Urist wields The Staff of Creed, an artifact that grants him dominion over frost and cold.
To his credit, Emperor Walnut seems to understand that his odds in battle have just gotten worse, and has opened peace talks with the enemy, but sadly these have gone nowhere. Emboldened by the arrival of the wizard, the Confederacy refuses to call off the war for anything less than the return of the captured town of Chestnut Hole, and this is not a cost that your husband is yet willing to pay for peace.
Just as you are mulling this information over, an exicited officer of your host appears before you! "My queen! We have located a suitable place for you to extablish an afterlife! Deep in the woods, not far from your own dwelling, we have found a great tree with a small crack in its trunk! We entered the crack, and followed a tunnel down through soil and roots to a vast cavern deep below the earth, perfect in size to provide a home for departed mortals!"
You quickly summon your engineer, who explains the process of afterlife construction. The process will take several decades, and require two points of your essence per decade until it is finished, more or less negating what you would normally gain from the worship of your following. Still, the engineer informs you, the reward for controlling an afterlife should eventually be more than worth the cost.
Again, you are faced with a handful of decisions:
First you must consider the state of the war!
A: I trust the emperor to handle negotiations as he sees fit.
B: What is that idiot doing? Just tell him to give up the town and be done with it!
C: What is that idiot doing? The Empire's cause is just and their goddess is mighty! Tell him not to negotiate until it is they who are offering concessions to him!
D: The time to end this war has come, but I don't trust my short tempered husband in these matters! Ready my chariot, I shall negotiate on behalf of the empire!
E: The time to end this war has come, consequences be damned! Ready my host!
Next, you must worry about that damned Wizard.
A: Personally messing with the champion of another pantheon just isn't worth the trouble.
B: Pull Senshinochi off anti-logistics duty! My champion must seek and destroy theirs!
C: Tell my husband to nut up and challenge that wizard to a duel! My champion must seek and destroy theirs!
D: Time for some treachery! Summon a few of the more devious minds in my host to kill that Wizard in his sleep!
There is also the matter of that elf your soldier has captured. She is waiting to find out who she is to wed.
A: She should marry Trunk, it is only fair that my newest hero receives his reward!
B: I demand maximum beauty! She should marry into one of the already blessed bloodlines from the town of Charity!
C: We should spread the beauty out! She shall marry whichever of my followers she desires, and start a new noble bloodline to rule one of my less beautiful towns.
D: She should marry nobody... yet. Elves live a long time, and someday I might have a son in need of a suitably beautiful bride.
Lastly, you must decide what sort of afterlife you wish to build, if any.
A: Nope. Way too expensive.
B: Construct a hellhole, where my departed followers may torment those who offend me, and breed monsters to act as agents of my wrath!
C: Construct a pandemonium, where my departed followers may be merged into an array of useful, if unspecialized, beings.
D: Construct a seat of judgement! I wish to challenge the abyssal pantheon for control of the dead!
E: Construct a furnace, so that I may burn the souls of the dead for extra essence!
F: Construct a hall of valor, so that I may best weaponize the honored dead!
G: Construct a hall of saints, so that my notable followers may become angels capable of aiding my interactions with mortals!
H: Construct a paradise, the promise of which will increase the orthodoxy of my following!
-
ABAG
-
A
B
A
G
-
A
B
A
F
-
With some quick delegation, you send your engineer off to build you a Hall of Saints, a messenger to the recently converted she-elf bearing news that she is to marry her captor, and a second messenger off to Senshinochi with instructions to challenge the wizard! You husband is once again left to his own devices!
---
Several days later, a large party of engineers, bearing jugs of your essence, marches out into the woods to begin construction on the Hall of Saints!
---
5
Your courtiers regale you with the tale of the epic battle between the the giant kappa Senshinochi and the dwarfish wizard Tul-Urist!
The fight began with Senshinochi, the aggressor, shouting challenges to Tul-Urist from the back of his bird Arubatorosu. Rather than verbally accepting, and inviting his opponent to the ground for a proper duel, Tul-Urist began to conjure and throw bolts of frost at the airborn Kappa! For each bolt of frost that was launched on target, however, Senshinochi would shout to the heavens, causing a bolt of lightning to fall from the sky, nullifying the projectile!
After several minutes of this, the Kappa went on the offensive, directing his lightning right at the wizard, who responded with a magical barrier! This trading and avoiding attacks at a distance went on for the better part of an hour, until your champion decided he was bored playing; Senshinochi ordered his bird to begin stooping at the dwarf. On the first pass, the kappa's claws removed the dwarf's right arm, and on the second, the wizard's head was ripped clean off. On the third pass, Arubatorosu scooped up the body of the wizard, still clutching its staff, and flew off before the astounded dwarven troops nearby could retaliate.
---
Word reaches you that Emperor Walnut has arranged an elaborate funeral for Tul-Urist, who was once his comrade at arms. The wizard is buried beneath the burned out temple to his gods at the ruined town of Mighty Oaks, and The Staff of Creed is buried with him. Your husband vows to restore the temple so that his old friend may sleep among his own gods, while also decreeing that the town he destroyed will never be resettled; It will stand a vacant husk for eternity, as a stark reminder of the costs of war.
2.3 CS:
The Conflict is over! Reeling from the loss of their Wizard, The Confederacy has agreed to acknowledge Emperor Walnut's conquest of Chestnut Hole in exchange for peace!
After celebrating his victory with his people for several months, Emperor Walnut once again leaves the empire in the able hands of General Thrane, and returns to your side. Because of his conspicuous presence during the episode, historians eventually dub the violence of the preceding years The War of the Emperor's Return.
4
Perhaps absence makes the heart grow fonder, perhaps the Emperor realizes that your hands off approach to the recent war indicates that you trust and respect him, or perhaps his various scrapes with death on the battlefield have made him realise that he needs an heir. Reguardless of why, your husband has once again become a regular visitor to your bedchambers.
---
It is brought to your attention that you have two significant appointments scheduled for today. Lahara is back, and she claims to have information on the mysterious Char-Dis. Also requesting an audience is the kappa hero Senshinochi, who must have wrapped up his business in the lands of your followers and is on his way back home.
Who do you wish to meet first?
A: The stormy spy goddess!
B: The slayer of wizards!
-
ABAG
+1
Loving how these sequences of choices always seem to form legible words/phrases.
-
A
-
There are no no positions open in the vast Pantheon of your father and mother, nor do you know of any worthy beings in nearby pantheons looking for a spouse. It seems likely you will be tossed out of the divine dwelling and left to fend for yourself
You are Sunpetal, Goddess of Beauty.
When the standards are so high, the literal Goddess of Beauty is cast out for no decent suitors.
-
...Lets just interpret that as meaning Sunpetal's standards are so high, that she would rather be cast out than accept any of the suitors available to her. ;)
-
;)
-
How the hell did I get ninja'd that badly :'(
A
-
You call for your spy, and she is soon before you.
"My queen," Lahara begins, "I have tracked the goddess Char-Dis to a hellscape afterlife that her worshipers call 'The Soup.' I am unsure if she is squatting there, of if she is serving as an administrator of the place on behalf of some Pantheon. I dared not delve too far into that horrid place, which is an endless green sea specked with isles of bone and flesh, without a proper map for fear of getting lost, but I heard rumors from the lesser beings who worked there."
"And what do those rumors say, spy-goddess?" You ask.
"Char-Dis is breeding a mighty monster, to avenge herself against another deity." She replies, "I know not what this vile creature is, nor for sure that you are its intended victim, but it is supposed to be ready to act sometime around the end of the decade."
Great. Thats just what you needed to hear. What to do, what to do?
A: I should send an emissary to reach out to Char-Dis. I'd rather swallow my pride and make amends than fight a monster.
B: I better prepare my forces for its arrival. I shall uses my essence to increase the size of my host!
C: I suspect this monster will avenge Char-Dis' followers by attacking mine. I should spend some essence to ensure that the Empire recovers quickly from its recent war.
D: Grow a spine Lahara! You are a goddess of disaster at sea, and our enemy is scheming against us from a realm of endless ocean? Time for you to earn your keep with a bit of sabotage!
E: I trust my host and my husband, and look forward to seeing them slay that beast when it arrives!
-
A
-
A
-
"All right, fine," you sigh. "I'll admit, that sounds unpleasant. Somebody send her an emissary. Lets see what she wants."
---
Senshinochi enters your throne room, and once more kneels before you. "Goddess of beauty, I have slain a mighty wizard, and your empire has triumphed over the forces of the wicked dwarven pantheon! I humble request, that if you feel my services merit payment, you order your host to carve out a road through these impenetrable woods! If you do this, our people may conduct trade during peacetime, and the next time the spawn of the wicked dwarf gods bring war to your people, you will have not just me as an ally, but my entire warrior race!"
On one hand, you are sure the Kappa would make a powerful ally, and perhaps even a good trade partner, but you can see a few reasons to hesitate in granting the hero's request. You can recall Morayi telling you that the forest is the only thing keeping the kappa from waging war against the world; You suppose there is a chance that they may drag your followers into wars they do not want, or even betray them outright. There is also the matter of your privacy; You could easily plan a road that goes nowhere near your divine dwelling, but are not sure if you want to encourage mortals to travel into the woods more than they already do. You spend a moment, pondering what, if any, reward Senshinochi should receive.
A: "Your request is reasonable, consider it done."
B: "...How about I spend some essence and reward you with an artifact instead?"
C: "...How about we just honor your deeds in my bedchambers for a spell? I'll spend some essence to ensure you become the father of a god."
D: "Your deeds benefited my husband moreso than myself, your reward should come from him. How would you like an estate and a title?"
E: "Your services were a gift from your goddess to me. I see no need to reward you. Begone from my sight!"
-
Maybe something more like F: "I'd really rather keep these woods impenetrable now that I've made my home in them, though I'm sorry for the inconvenience it causes; perhaps I could arrange another route for trade for you? I could have my people construct a permanent embassy."?
-
C, I get the feeling he'd like that.
-
C! Fidelity is for swans, plus this guy is pretty cool.
-
B
Reading all the stuff that happened... That arrow we made that seeks beauty. Did we make a weapon that's definitionally most useful for shooting ourselves?
-
A. This man seems honorable, and rewarding his request would only improve our standings with the Abyssal Pantheon.
-
You look the giant kappa up and down, and smirk. "I have a better prize for you. Come, it is in my bedchambers."
---
There are a few snags and glitches before you get started; You eventually wind up doing the deed in your bathhouse, as kappa attend to such business underwater. The encounter is fun, if not a bit violent; Had you been mortal, you are pretty sure you would have been disemboweled by Senshinochi at least twice, and drowned many times over.
After the fun bit is done, you pluck a single strand of hair from your head, rub it some of Senshinochi's seed that was left on the exterior of your body, and use your essence to combine the two into a child. You choose this means of reproduction for three reasons; First, it is fast, and you figure Senshinochi might wish to take his child home with him and not have to wait on you to give birth. Second, it ensures the offspring will be born with the spark of divinity. Third, you are already pregnant with Emperor Walnut's child, so the natural means of reproduction is currently off the table anyway.
You shape the child into an infant girl with her mother's flawless form and her father's moist green skin.
Heads
In spite your (admittedly mild) insistence that the child is Senshinochi's reward, he insists that it remain with its mother. He does not believe himself worthy to raise a goddess, and fears that if he does keep the child, his kin might abandon Morayi to worship the girl, causing all sorts of religious and political problems for him!
Since you are keeping the child, the duty of naming it falls to you. As this is your firstborn (not counting the not-even heroic daughter that Emperor Walnut gave you), you decide to name her Moonpetal, as the moon follows the sun. You present the child to the wise members of your court, who examine her, and inform you that her godly domain is pride, and that she will come of age in the year 4.1 CS. The kappa kisses his daughter goodbye, promises to visit as often as he can, and takes his leave of your home.
4
If Emperor Walnut minded you sleeping with Senshinochi, he keeps quiet about it. Several months later, you give him a son. The child takes greatly after his mother in terms of appearance.
Examining your firstborn son, you find no marks to designate him a hero, and this is cause for despair. Perhaps the emperor's mortal seed is just too strong in determining the nature of his children! Before you discard the boy to a highborn mortal foster family, you let your sages have a look at the boy. To your amazement, you learn that the reason that he does not bear the mark of a heroic mortal is because he is not mortal at all. Your blood has vanquished Emperor Walnut's entirely in this creation, and the heir to the imperial throne is a god: specifically a god of mirth.
You allow the boy's father to name his heir, and he comes up with "Sun-nut," a name which honors you. Your sages inform you that since dwarves age much slower than kappa, he will reach maturity much later than his half-sister; The immortal emperor will not be ready to take the throne until the year 5.7 CS.
2.6 CS:
Your emmiscary returns with a message from Char-Dis! The mysterious goddess informs you that since you killed one of her beloved followers, she can only forgive you if you offer her the chance to do the same. She demands that you send your beloved Emperor Walnut into hellscape known as The Soup, to track her down and face her in single combat. Should your husband wound Char-Dis before she can kill him, he will be declared victorious and allowed to leave, and she will not sic her monster on you. If Walnut dies, she will give you until the year 3.9 CS to find another mortal follower and try again.
A: Yeah, I'll take the monster. Thanks.
B: Emperor Walnut will waste your smug ass! Get 'er honey!
-
B
-
So. Wait, we have to feed favored mortals to her until one manages to wound her...?
A
-
A
-
B:
Emperor Walnut carries "Brushmaster" a simple machete that he once used to clear jungle in his previous life as a herbalist, but has become a minor artifact upon bathing in the blood of the titan that Walnut slew. Between this mighty weapon, and his vengeful nature, you suppose the emperor could fight a divine being on equal or even advantageous footing.
This makes it sound like Walnut has quite the chance. He doesn't need to kill, only to wound.
Also, last time we denied him his duel, he was quite upset.
-
So. Wait, we have to feed favored mortals to her until one manages to wound her...?
Or have a beast ... perhaps a string of beasts, since she seems so bent on this ... rampage through our lands?
B
If Walnut fails, brainwash Trunk and his magic arrow to think she's beautiful. Maybe it'll cause problems with the elf, but we can get around those.
-
B
Let's let our man have his day. Or die, alternatively. Either way it's not so bad!
-
You inform Emperor Walnut that he is tasked with invading a Hellscape and wounding a goddess, and at once a cold grin of satisfaction spreads across his face. He swears to do what he must to protect his wife, goddess, and empire. When the day of his departure arrives, you find your husband in a rather glum mood; You are with child again, and he confesses that it will break his heart to miss the birth. You can't help but shed a single tear at that.
2.7 CS:
Emperor Walnut's third child happens to be a second daughter. To your dismay and like her sister, she completely lacks any heroic markings or traits. In spite of this, however, you decide to keep custody of the dwarf-girl for the time being; You are sure her father would like to see her once before you send her away, that is if he survives his quest.
---
News from The Empire! A flock of strange, winged, midnightskinned elves has arrived in The Town of the Tome. They claim to be monks of Herm a Sky-god of interior design, and wish to spend a few years in town studying the laws and values of your cult, which they feel are similar to their own.
A: They can stay.
B: My most sacred town will not play host to priests of a rival cult!
-
A
Okay but I'd like Lahara to watch them. A sky god of interior design? Something is missing here.
(But I have been expecting a sky/mountain pantheon to show up sometime, so that's cool.)
-
A!
-
A
-
A
Okay but I'd like Lahara to watch them. A sky god of interior design? Something is missing here.
+1
-
You allow the strange monks to stay.
2.8 CS:
0
Woe and dismay! An emissary of Char-Dis appears before you, and tosses Brushmaster, the legendary blade of Emperor Walnut, at your feet!
"My master is pleased to inform you that your husband got lost in The Soup, and has perished horribly of starvation without even laying eyes on his quarry! Your followers are now without a leader, and your bedchambers without a husband. You have until 3.9 CS to send another beloved mortal champion, or else she will send her monster to attack what you hold dear! The beast shall content itself with tormenting the fallen soul of the emperor in the meantime."
...Crap.
What should be done about the sudden lack of leadership within the empire?
A: Come clean. The mortals can handle the truth.
B: I should be able to keep them in the dark on this one for three decades until Sun-nut comes of age to claim the throne.
And as for that murderous, psychotic, bitch Char-Dis?
A: Enough of these games! Lets see her starve out imortals! My host is coming for her and her little pet!
B: Lahara. Sabotage monster. NOW!
C: I will send another emissary to plead with her. This must be something I can do to make this torment stop.
D: I will find another champion, and try again in 11 years as she wishes.
-
BB
-
BB
-
A B
Truth is Beauty and Beauty, Truth.
-
AB
-
BD
more like 11 years to build up our defenses against the monster.
-
BD
Let's just not bother with her and wait for her to come up on our turf if she's gonna be like this.
-
Yeah, it looks like we're going to have to go though hell, literally, to even take a crack at the monster. At least when it attacks will have a homefield advantage.
-
Tiebreak please?
-
Current count:
What should be done about the sudden lack of leadership within the empire?
A:2
B:4
And as for that murderous, psychotic, bitch Char-Dis?
A:0
B:4
C:0
D:2
I see no tie here.
-
That's not how votes traditionally count in SPAM games. :P
It's the whole vote, or none of it.
-
Current count:
What should be done about the sudden lack of leadership within the empire?
A:2
B:4
And as for that murderous, psychotic, bitch Char-Dis?
A:0
B:4
C:0
D:2
I see no tie here.
That's not how votes traditionally count in SPAM games. :P
It's the whole vote, or none of it.
Spin is correct, but in this case I started writing the update when there were only the 2 votes for BB, and only noticed I had been ninja'd when I was 90% through the update anyway, so we shall roll with the split vote this time.
---
As soon as the emissary leaves, you order Lahara to do everything in her power to help cover up your husband's death, and then to leave for The Soup with the goal of sabotaging Char-Dis' plans.
---
2
More bad news for the empire! A group of elephant riding nomad dwarf land pirates have reached the conclusion that a goddess of something as 'soft' as beauty poses no threat to them, and have decided to attack your "unprotected" followers. Their initial attack came out of nowhere and caught General Thrane off guard, and now a majority of the imperial army is pinned behind the walls of the besieged town of Charity!
To make matters worse, there are reports of troop mobilization in and around some of the old confederate towns; If this situation isn't resolved quickly the hostile chestnut dwarves may seek to take advantage of the empire in its moment of weakness.
The argument is raised by your courtiers that you should perhaps come clean about the death of the emperor, so that you may present Brushmaster to another mortal champion. If Emperor Walnut cannot help his people in their time of need, perhaps his weapon can!
What should be done about the raiders?
A: I shall send an emissary to seek out the kappa Senshinochi. The empire needs a champion, and it needs one quick!
B: 'Soft' am I? Lets see exactly how soft you find my host!
C: Ugg... This is kinda bad. Perhaps I should appear before the pirates and try to talk them down.
D: I'm sure the mortals can turn this situation around on their own.
And what shall be done with Brushmaster?
A: Absolutely nothing, this is the worst possible time to let on that the emperor is dead!
B: Absolutely nothing, the blade belongs to Sun-nut once he comes of age!
C: My husband trusted General Thrane with his empire, so I shall trust General Thrane with his sword.
D: The soldier Trunk has already proven capable of using artifacts to their full potential. He shall have Brushmaster as well.
-
CB
-
AC
-
AC!
-
C
C
I'm going to miss Walnut. He may not have been the most beautiful of what I'm sure it to be a long line of husbands but he was certainly devoted! We had just made up over his wounded pride too. Oh the woes of divine marriage. :'(
-
You send two messengers; One to break the news of the emperor's death and deliver Brushmaster to General Thrane, and another to seek out Senshinochi.
4
The bad news hardens only the resolve of your worshipers, while the return of Brushmaster inspires General Thrane to attempt to break the siege of Charity with a sneak attack by night!
6
The attack works as intended, and the siege is broken.
Heads
The raiders, not expecting this level of resistance, withdraw from imperial lands.
Tails
The conclusion of the pirate attack, however, is not enough to dissuade the former confederate towns from trying to push their luck. An army, about equal in size to Thrane's remaining legion, emerges from the walled town of Applegate and is marching towards the imperial border!
4
As you mull this information over, Senshinochi once more appears from the sky. He kneels before you as usual, and asks how he might be of service.
As for the war effort:
A: General Thrane has this under control.
B: Time to deploy the host on his behalf!
As for Senshinochi:
A: He should join up with Thrane!
B: He should mess with the enemy logistics!
C: He should attempt to eliminate enemy leadership!
D: Turns out I don't need him!
E: Turns out I don't need him... for the war effort. Perhaps there is something else we could discuss.
-
BB!
-
A
Deploying the host against a purely mortal army only invites supernatural reprisals.
A
(But bring up E later. "You know, big boy, I have this thing in my calendar that could use a champion who knows how to swim... And I'd be ever so grateful...")
-
AB
-
AB
-
A
Deploying the host against a purely mortal army only invites supernatural reprisals.
A
(But bring up E later. "You know, big boy, I have this thing in my calendar that could use a champion who knows how to swim... And I'd be ever so grateful...")
+1
-
AA.
-
AA
-
You send Senshinochi to join up with Thrane, whom you otherwise leave to his own devices!
2.9 CS:
6
Thrane's forces, lead into combat by the kappa, meet the enemy in the one-sided Battle of the Open Field. The ferocity of the imperial warriors is unmatched, and few enemy troops escape.
Despite his near total victory, Thrane decides that launching a counter-attack against the town of Applegate would just drag other former confederate towns into the war, and accept's the enemy town master's offer of the aggressor's entire fortune in exchange for peace. Historians eventually come to know this brief conflict as The War of Ill Tidings, as the victorious party still lost their great leader.
---
Two people seek an audience with you today. The first is Senshinochi, who is likely once again seeking payment for his services. The second is the cherub in charge of looking after his and your daughter Moonpetal.
What business do you wish to deal with first?
A: The business involving my daughter
B: The business involving her father
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
The Cherub approaches your throne.
"As you know, my queen, Moonpetal will one day be a great goddess of pride, likely set in her ways and unwilling to budge. I am happy to report, however, that the girl's personality is proving malleable in her youth... so much so that we think we can manipulate and decide her very nature!"
The Cherub grins, "so how would you like me to mold your daughter?"
A: Make her creative, like her mother!
B: Make her vengeful, like her father!
C: Make her merciful, so that she may befriend mortals, monsters, and beasts!
D: Make her courtly, so that she may befriend other higher beings!
E: Make her worldly, so she is skilled in navigation, trade, and lore!
F: I'll take my daughter however nature intends her to be, DON'T MESS WITH HER!
-
D
-
E. Give her something to be proud for. A good education seems like the best bet.
-
E
-
E
Although I admit D is terribly tempting. Who knows, with her mixed heritage she might be able to unite the forest and undersea pantheons.
D
-
E. Give her something to be proud for. A good education seems like the best bet.
+1
Our son can be the courtly one, since he'll be ruling an empire.
-
You order that your daughter be given the skillset she will need to seek out beauty in the world around her!
Senshinochi is next to enter your throne room. He takes a knee before you, as usual, and opens the discussion with some good natured compliments of your beauty, and questions about Moonpetal. Eventually, though, the encounter just falls into awkward silence. You are pretty sure he expects to be offered a reward.
A: You know that road through the woods you wanted? Consider it done.
B: How about an artifact?
C: How about another romp in the baths and another divine kid?
D: How about all the romps and kids you could ever dream of? Marry me.
E: You work well with General Thrane and his soldiers. How would you like a title and some land within the empire?
F: Sorry, you didn't do enough to earn a reward this time.
-
D
Got a hell of a lot more chemistry with him than we did with ol' Walnut, that's for sure. His bird can be best man.
-
D
-
D
Got a hell of a lot more chemistry with him than we did with ol' Walnut, that's for sure. His bird can be best man.
+1.
Perhaps the bird can get in on some of the action :P
-
D Ah hell. Might as well give it a try. Here's hopin' for mortal husband number 2!
-
You ask the kappa to marry you before you can catch yourself!
5
Senshinochi, is taken aback by your offer, and falls into silent contemplation for a good several minutes. You can tell by the look on his face that he desires you, but something is complicating the situation. After awhile, he speaks.
"I... I would be a fool to turn down such a proposal from the Goddess of Beauty, but I have responsibilities. I can't just vanish into your court and spend the rest of my days as your devoted spouse. Here is my counter offer; I shall live with you as a consort, rather than serve you as a husband. My religious devotion will remain with Morayi and the cult of the abyssal gods, and I shall be free to return home whenever my people may need me. Does that sound acceptable to you?"
A: I can work with that.
B: I need a devoted husband eventually, so here is my counter offer: Live with me until I give you a worthy mortal child to take home.
C: Absolutely not!
-
A
Aw yeah, even better.
-
A Sounds fine to me. His honor is also beautiful!
-
A
-
B
-
I have some questions. Now that Lahara is a part of our Pantheon does that mean that the Imperial Chestnut Dwarves are worshiping her too now?
I know that we are beautiful but what do we actually look like besides being beautiful?
If our son is going to be the immortal god emperor of the Empire does that mean he won't be in our Pantheon or will he? Mainly want to know if we need make more room for him in the Divine dwelling or not.
Can we have multiple husbands/consorts or are we stuck with having one at a time?
-
"I accept those terms... lover." You reply.
Over the next few days you learn much more about your new roommate. Like Emperor Walnut before him, his Vengeful nature makes him good in a fight, and his combat abilities are further enhanced by the three mighty boons he has earned over his career. The first is his great size and strength, which he won as a prize off the Abyssal lord of the dead Bark-Ark in a grappling contest; Senshinochi stands over nine feet tall, but the average kappa is shorter than a dwarf and not even a third of your consort's height.
The second boon, his ability to call down lightning, was won in the hunt for the Great Thunder Toad in the year 0.2 CS. The Thunder Toad was a terrible monster than many abyssal hero had to band together and kill. Each champion who survived the hunt ate a piece of the monster and gained a boon; Senshinochi ate its voicebox and gained its deadly cry!
I have some questions. Now that Lahara is a part of our Pantheon does that mean that the Imperial Chestnut Dwarves are worshiping her too now?
I know that we are beautiful but what do we actually look like besides being beautiful?
If our son is going to be the immortal god emperor of the Empire does that mean he won't be in our Pantheon or will he? Mainly want to know if we need make more room for him in the Divine dwelling or not.
Can we have multiple husbands/consorts or are we stuck with having one at a time?
The third boon, the massive bird Arubatorosu, is a prize he won by kidnapping and ransoming the wife of the hated of the Sea Dwarves. Senshinochi explains that his pet is wise, strong, and cunning because it descends from the dwarven god of the sea, and as far as he knows he is the only person who isn't Sea Dwarf Royalty to own one.
---
End of the Third Decade of the Coming of Sunpetal:
Pixies dance and cherubs sing as the scrolls are presented!
Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Senshinochi, Strongest among the Kappa
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Lahara of the Whirlpool the Goddess Spymaster
Following - 3
Orthodoxy - 6
Essence - 5
Host - 4
Your court advises you that your numbers look fine. You are reminded, however, that you will not by earning much, if any, more essence until the Hall of Saints is complete.
3.0 CS:
3
Lahara reports back from the field, with only partial success. She was able to lay eyes on the fabled monster of Char-Dis, which she claims is some kind of amphibious wasp or hornet about the size of a walled chestnut dwarf town. Its sting drips with something, likely deadly venom, and its mandibles are razor sharp. Lahara attempted to trap the creature in a whirlpool, but the monster proved capable of flight and simpily left the afflicted water. The racket drew too much attention, so Lahara decided to retreat.
A: That is something I don't want to fight. Senshinochi, honey, how would you feel about fighting a rival goddess on my behalf?
B: I wont accept failure. Get back in there and try again Lahara!
C: If that monster attacks my followers, it will also be a threat to the other dwarves in the region. I should send word of this to the dwarven pantheon to see if they might help.
D: If my host can get into The Soup, and track down Char-Dis, we could defeat her before she unleashes the beast.
E: I should ask Bark-Ark, the lord of the dead, for aid. He might know about The Soup and the beings found in it.
-
E
-
I have some questions. Now that Lahara is a part of our Pantheon does that mean that the Imperial Chestnut Dwarves are worshiping her too now?
I know that we are beautiful but what do we actually look like besides being beautiful?
If our son is going to be the immortal god emperor of the Empire does that mean he won't be in our Pantheon or will he? Mainly want to know if we need make more room for him in the Divine dwelling or not.
Can we have multiple husbands/consorts or are we stuck with having one at a time?
1: Right now, no. You will have chances to organize both your Pantheon and/or cult to allow that to happen in the future though.
2: Sunpetal is a beautiful humanoid female. I leave the rest up to the imagination.
3: That all depends on if he is willing to live among mortals or not.
4: Nothing says you can't. One of Lahara's sisters was offered to you as a consort while you were still married to Emperor Walnut.
-
E
Also you put down the bird as our consort.
-
E
-
E
Also you put down the bird as our consort.
Don't judge.
E
-
C
Maybe we can mend some bridges over shared monster slaying.
-
C
Maybe we can mend some bridges over shared monster slaying.
True, but if we kill it *for* them...
-
E
-
D
-
E
-
hmm, *I* will imagine her as having a skin that looks like a mirror
the reflection of her is what the observer sees as the more beautiful thing
And if somebody someday start to cry without reason I will interpret that it is because he thinks he saw his old departed wife
yeah, that's my mood for the day
A
-
E, sure.
-
You deploy a messenger to Bark-Ark, asking the god's help in dealing with your enemies in The Soup!
3.1 CS:
1
The messenger returns from The Seat of Judgement with bad news! Not only does Bark-Ark refuse to help you with Char-Dis, but your emissary reports that the Lord of the Dead seems angry with you for some reason.
---
The winged Monks of Herm finally conclude their studdies at your temple in The Town of the Tome. As payment for the imperial hospitality they have received, the monks leave behind a treasure map. The map supposidly leads to the tomb of one of Herm's heroic sons that the God of Interior Design wishes to renovate, but is politely waiting for a mortal to raid it and give him a good reason to do so first! The map is only partially complete, and what is known about the route looks dangerous, but the rewards of adventure can be great!
Your clerics plan on archiving the map away in the temple, put perhaps you would like to prod one of your heroes to go on an epic quest to find and loot The Well Laid Out Tomb!
A: Nah. I don't want to risk one of my heroes on this, archive it away.
B: General Thrane is worldly, and thus well trained and equipped for adventure! He should go!
C: My consort Senshinochi's vengeful nature could come in handy if the adventure winds up involving combat!
D: Trunk may be less qualified than my consort or the imperial regent, but he is also more expendable! Send him!
-
D
-
A.
Better keep all guys we have on hand for that monster business. We can raid it later.
-
A
-
D
-
A
-
D! Trunk is entertainingly expendable!
-
D
Trunk's gonna give it to ya
-
D
-
A
-
D
-
D
-
A messenger is sent to Trunk.
The soldier obeys the order, and after a few days of gathering supplies and companions, he is off.
3.2 CS:
4
Trunk's quest brings him into the vast plains of the nomad dwarves. He follows the map for as far as he can, before its incompleteness forces him to wander and ask around for clues.
5
The Nomad Dwarves prove helpful, for after some months of wandering, Trunk believes he knows where the tomb is. He still has a long and arduous journey ahead of him to reach his destination.
3.3 CS:
Two beings seek an audience. Skoonhein is back, likely with an interesting prayer. The Cherub who usually gives you updates on the journey of Trunk has also requested an audience, and your courtiers report that he looks distressed.
What would you hear of first?
A: The prayers of your faithful
B: The troubles that Trunk may have found
-
B
-
b
-
B
-
B
-
You call for an update on Trunk's quest.
1
Trunk's journey has turned disastrous!
Elephant riding land pirates, likely the same ones who recently invaded the empire, have set upon his party! Trunk has been wounded, most of his companions slain, and the artifact arrow Flash along with much of his supplies have been stolen from him!
The Cherub reports that even on one good leg and with limited supplies, Trunk is still attempting to see your orders through and complete the adventure.
As for Trunk:
A: Facing adversity will make him stronger! I shall give him no aid!
B: Send a divine messenger to tend to his wounds!
C: Send a divine messenger to tend to his wounds... and also to deliver the shiny new artifact I'm going to make him right now!
D: He has given it his best shot. Send a messenger to tell him that he may call off his quest without any shame.
As for those bastard land pirates:
A: Fetch my chariot! I shall appear before them and negotiate the return of the arrow!
B: Senshinochi, be a dear and get my arrow back from them please.
C: I've had enough of these shitheads! Send a message to General Thrane, The Imperial Legion shall hunt them down!
D: I've had enough of thsee shitheads! DEPLOY MY HOST!
E: I will not dignify their bad behavior with a response.
-
BB
-
BB
+1
-
DB
-
BB!
-
BB
-
BB
-
You send Senshinochi after the pirates and a messenger to tend to Trunk.
Skoonhein appears before you next. "My queen, I have received a prayer from an imperial bureaucrat named Papos, who is concerned about the welfare of the empire. Apparently General Thrane is importing a lot of metal and gems from the mountianhomes, both to decorate your holy sites and improve his armies. Papos claims to have done the math, and claims that it is impossible for The Empire, which mainly sustains itself by foarging and hunting the fertile outskirts of the great wood, to afford everything Thrane is buying. He fears the regent is either running up a massive debt, or doing something shady to get extra money."
You consider the issue.
A: Clearly the General is Guilty! Punish him!
B: Clearly Papos is just trying to stir up trouble! Punish him!
C: Thrane is trustworthy, and he recieved a large payment to end the War of Ill Tidings. I see no issue here.
D: Skoonhein, would you mind popping in on the general and auditing his books?
E: If there is an issue here, I can solve it by spending a chunk of essence to conjure up some pretty metals and gems for the imperial treasury.
-
D
-
D
+1
-
You send Skoonhein away to check up on General Thrane's books.
---
Your messenger reports back that Trunk has been healed. His journey may be more difficult now that most of his supplies and comrades are gone, but at least he is back on the road.
4
Senshinochi flies off, and is able to find the pirates without much difficulty.
3
The Kappa attacks the camp under cover of darkness search of Flash! At first things go well for him; No single nomad dwarf is a match for your chosen champion, so he roams the camp freely, collecting scalps and keeping an eye out for the stolen artifact. After about an hour of this, however, and manages to slip up and trigger an alarm; He continues searching a bit longer, but eventually enough dwarves are sent to stop him that he decides it would be wise to retreat before he is overwhelmed.
A day later Senshinochi and Skoonhein return at around the same time. Your intermediary wishes to report what he has found in General Thrane's books, while your consort needs to face your judgement for his failure.
Who do you wish to see first?
A: Senshinochi
B: Skoonhein
-
B
-
B
-
A
-
You summon Skoonhein to your throne, and he recounts what he has learned.
7
"I checked the books as you asked," the angel reports, "Thrane is able to import so much because the mineral broker he chiefly buys from, called Throng-Urist, sells him goods at only 33% of their market value."
"That's a bit fishy." You reply.
"I agree," Skoonhein nods, "so I did a bit of digging on Throng-Urist. He is one of the wealthiest merchants in the mountain homes, with close ties to the priesthood of the Dwarven Pantheon and many powerful Moutian Dwarf guilds and militias. He has many grown children, most of them military officers. One of them, it turns out, is General Thrane. The answer to this mystery is a simple family discount."
A: Very well. The situation checks out. Let Papos know that General Thrane isn't doing anything wrong.
B: Father or not, Throng-Urist is not the sort heathen the regent of my beautiful empire should be dealing with. Tell Thrane to stop doing business with him.
C: 66% Strikes me as a bit much for a family discount. Why don't we send Lahara to make sure Throng-Urist is on the up and up?
-
A
-
A
-
A
+1
-
C
-
Skoonhein is sent to inform Papos that the situation has been resolved, and Senshinochi enters your throne room.
"Goddess of beauty!" He proclaims, "I have failed in my assignment and await your judgement. I will accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate, and take whatever steps are required to right my wrong and retrieve the arrow."
As for Senshinochi's punishment.
A: You have brought great shame upon the both of us. You must end your life to restore our honor.
B: You have failed me, and as punishement, you are banished from my court!
C: I will forgive you if you convert to my cult, renounce your responsibility to your people, and become my husband true and proper.
D: My love for you is unconditional. You have my forgiveness.
As for retrieving the arrow.
A: We know where they are now! Rest up, and attack their camp again when you are ready.
B: We know where they are now! Attack them again, this time with the might of the imperial legion behind you!
C: This is out of your hands now. General Thrane will lead the imperial legion against them!
D: This is out of your hands now. My host shall remove those wretched pirates from the earth!
E: You must have given them quite a fright! Now is a good time for me to go and negoiate with them.
F: These pirates are not worth our time. We are dropping the issue.
-
D
A
-
D
A
+1
-
Punishment: E: "Everyone makes mistakes. I hope you make this your last."
Pirates: E
If we negotiate well, we may make those pirates our allies.
-
D, A
-
It's my belief that we took Senshinochi as our consort because of the inner beauty of his honor and strength we sensed inside of him! That and the amazing virility he shown when making our daughter but that's just an extra I also like to think we are growing only more fond of him as time goes by. We seem to have a nice relationship going on with him so far.
-
D, B
-
You embrace Senshinochi, tell him he is forgiven, and encourage him to take another crack at the Pirates when he is ready. Several days later, he departs.
---
5
Senshinochi knees before you once more, presenting the Arrow flash, along with the tale of the adventure in which he reclaimed it.
This time the kappa circled above the camp on the back of his bird, and called down lighting to ignite the pirate huts and kill the pirate elephants. He continued this until he drew out the pirate leader, whom he challenged to and slew in a one sided duel! With their leader dead, the pirates yielded to Senshinochi's demand to return the arrow.
With the arrow back in your hands, you must decide what to do with it!
A: Return it to Trunk, he is the rightful owner, and it may aid him on his quest!
B: Senshinochi should keep it, as a reward for his efforts!
C: I shall hold onto it for now.
-
C
I'm, uh, not sure it's too helpful to either of them right now.
Least of all to Senshinochi, for whom it would probably strike us.
I could be convinced to give it to Trunk purely on the basis of sentimental value, though.
-
C
I'm, uh, not sure it's too helpful to either of them right now.
Least of all to Senshinochi, for whom it would probably strike us.
I could be convinced to give it to Trunk purely on the basis of sentimental value, though.
I'll just throw out that the homing effect is indeed rather limited, but you can shank whomever you want with it and put them into stasis.
-
A I think Trunk will need every advantage he can get. Though C is also tempting. Mainly because we'd have to send someone to go get it again if Trunk loses it once more or dies.
-
A
-
I'll just throw out that the homing effect is indeed rather limited, but you can shank whomever you want with it and put them into stasis.
Oh, well, that changes things. A.
-
B
He deserves it. He's been doing a lot for us, apparently just for sex/love of which the actual benefits (kids) has gone to us. (Do we get some sorta bonus to people agreeing to these deals for being a beauty goddess I wonder? He's been pretty quick to agree to basically further service to us for nothing.) I think a real reward is in order.
If Thorn succeeds his quest, he'll get a reward as well, but probably whatever loot he takes will suffice. It was our map after all.
-
I agree that Senshinochi deserves a reward, but I'd rather make him a more personalised artefact.
-
You have the Arrow sent back to Trunk!
3.4 CS:
4
Trunk's party has found the tomb! It sits in the foothills where the mountains of the mountain dwarves meet the plains of the nomad dwarves, and can be entered through a small, well decorated tunnel!
Rolls Hidden
Several days after they enter the tomb, the scouts that you had following Trunk's party report that the mortals have yet to re-emerge! Something terrible may have happened!
A: So it goes, Trunk will be missed.
B: Ready my chariot! I'll investigate this myself!
C: Send a messenger to see if the local nomad dwarves can be enticed by the promise of treasure to mount a rescue!
D: Send a messenger to see if the local mountian dwarves can be enticed by the promise of treasure to mount a rescue!
E: Send my host to investigate, consequences be damned!
-
B
Wao, we can go and die ourselves? That's not been an option for most things. Lets do it!
-
B
I mean, uh, let's not die.
-
B
-
You call for your chariot, and ride to the site of the tomb!
---
After passing through a dark tunnel, you find yourself in a well-lit and well decorated chamber. Valuable vases, statues, and piles of money are scattered acround the room, as are the corpses of Trunk's remaining companions. In the center of the room stands a massive demon, in the shape of a skunk, with dried dwarf blood on its mouth and claws. The creature is not moving, so you approach to give a closer inspection and find that it has been rendered inert by the arrow Flash, which is lodged into its neck!
You search for Trunk, and find him seated on a golden throne, dead from bloodloss. In his hands is a beautiful sapphire glaive, that you can sense is a greater artifact fit for a god. At his feet is a large humanoid skeleton, likely the son of Herm for whom this tomb was built. You surmise that Trunk, mortally wounded, must have stuck the daemon with the arrow, before stealing the seat and weapon of Herm's son so that he might die in triumph as the conqueror of the tomb!
This mess leaves you with a few descisions to make.
First of all, what should be done with the daemon and the arrow?
A: They should be taken back to the empire and put on display, to serve as a monument to Trunk's victory!
B: I should take the daemon prisoner, and remove the arrow once he is safely confined!
C: The daemon was just doing its job. I will send a cherub to free it and reclaim the arrow once I am done here!
D: I will leave them both where they stand. The less I disturb this tomb the better.
And what of the worldly riches in the tomb?
A: They shall be used to give Trunk and elaborate tomb and funeral, with the remainder going to his family.
B: They shall be donated to the coffers of The Empire of All Things Beautiful!
C: I shall give it all as a gift to my Consort Senshinochi
D: I will leave it where it is. The less I disturb this tomb the better.
And what of the sapphire glaive?
A: It shall become a heirloom for Trunk's family. May his half-elf children prove worthy of wielding it!
B: I shall present it to General Thrane!
C: I shall present it to Senshinochi!
D: This artifact is fit for a deity! I shall claim it!
E: This artifact is fit for a deity! It will go to my son Sun-nut when he comes of age!
F: This artifact is fit for a deity! It will go to my daughter Moonpetal when she comes of age!
G: I will put its owner back on his throne, and put the glaive back in it's owners hands! The less this tomb is disturbed the better.
-
C Presumably the demon works for the god that wanted us to do this, so he won't have issues dealing with the demon when he comes in to renovate.
A Seems like a suitable reward for Trunk.
D Seems like a suitable reward for us.
-
Well, Herm did ask for this.
B
A
D
-
B
A
D
The Demon shall be ours, Trunks family shall inherit the wealth, and the godly weapon shall go into our hands. Perhaps we can gift it to our son or consort later should they perform a feat worth rewarding.
-
BAD as well. Herm can just ask for the daemon back if he wants him.
-
B
A
D
We can always give the glaive to our children later.
-
D
A
E
Trade a lesser artifact for a greater which we can grant to our son, and give our champion a worthy tomb and money for his family. Also lets not disturb the demon at all, please.
-
DAD
-
BAD
-
BAD
-
BBD
-
You claim the sapphire glaive for yourself, and return to your chariot.
Upon returning home, you deploy a team of divine agents to bring the corpse of Trunk and the wealth he discovered back to his family, and the Daemon back to your divine dwelling.
---
The court informs you that the captured Daemon has been properly restrained, and released from stasis. Your prisoner has told his guard that it is called Reekom, but beyond that fact it refuses to talk. You are presented once again with the Arrow Flash, which has been plucked from the daemon's neck.
As you twirl Flash between your fingers, trying to figure out what is to be done with it, Skoonhein approaches your throne.
"My queen!" he exclaims, "I have received word that a wealthy and faithful imperial citizen is sponsoring a band of missionaries out of the blessed Temple of the Tome! I thought I might check to see if you have a preference as to where these missionaries are sent."
You consider the options before you!
As for the Arrow,
A: I've had to rescue this thing twice in the past year! I think I'm just going to hold onto it for safekeeping.
B: Missionaries you say? Perhaps an artifact created and blessed by the Goddess of their cult would be of use to them.
C: I made it for Trunk. See that it is buried with him.
D: I made it for Trunk. See that it returns to his family!
E: Senshinochi killed, like, a buttload of pirates for this thing, it is his now!
As for the Missionaries,
A: Keep them local! They should focus on the Chestnut Dwarf towns that do not yet worship me!
B: Point them into the plains to convert the Nomad Dwarves!
C: Point them to the mountainhomes to convert the Mountain Dwarves!
D: Challenge them to brave these dark woods, and find the lands of the Kappa!
E: Mortals have freewill! They may convert whomever they please.
-
E
E
-
DA
The first is cause Trunks was a badass who followed our orders to the end, and the second is so we don't piss off any sovereign bodies by attempting to convert their people.
-
ED
Wait, better nog upset out alles by touching their followers.
EB
-
EA
-
D A
I worry about arming our consort further.
-
E
A
-
EA
-
EA
Also, test whether the arrow works on us, too! Have Skoonhein should be the only one there, so he can remove the arrow if it works.
-
You instruct Skoonhein to guide the mortals towards preaching your word to their own kind, before calling in Senshinochi to present him the arrow Flash!
5
Your consort is ecstatic with the gift! He clearly wasn't expecting any further reward from you beyond the privilige of regularly sleeping with a goddess of beauty. He promises to pass it down to a heroic mortal child, should he prove able to give you one. You learn that he has no interest in carrying a bow himself, as he can call thunder, and is afraid to offer it to Moonpetal in case the young goddess of pride would be offended by a gift of a lesser artifact. In the meantime, he will keep it as a good luck charm. Who knows? He may get to shiv something into stasis with it.
3.5 CS:
Word reaches you that Land Pirates were causing trouble in the Empire again, but that the issue has already been resolved! Lord Ash, one of the blessed nobles from Charity, called upon the pirate leader, and selflessly offered the marauder anything he owned in exchange to stop the carnage. The pirate leader, Gronk of Pachyderm, chose Lord Ash's beautiful adopted daughter Elmoss as his prize, kept his word, and vanished from imperial territory!
It takes a second for the news to click... adopted daughter? Elmoss? Shit, a pirate just waltzed away with the unworthy child of you and Emperor Walnut! Your firstborn even!
That prick Lord Ash gave your daughter away! What should you do about him?
A: PUNISH THAT BASTARD!
B: He did the right thing to end the pirate attack. I'll have to forgive him.
As for Elmoss...
A: I suppose I'll just have to live with the situation.
B: Senshinochi can steal her away from those monsters, right?
C: Tell General Thrane that he and his army are going pirate hunting!
D: Summon my host to go pirate hunting!
E: The pirate won Elmoss fair and square, but I should probably pay them a visit just to make sure everything is okay.
-
B E
Also, if she is doing well, have her aim to be the leader of the pirates.
-
BE!
-
AC
Who the fuck does he think he is, selling the daughter of a god?
-
A
C
-
AC and D. They will fear our fury. And since they took our daughter i think we have a pretty good justification to unleash the host.
-
AC
-
But we are the goddess of beauty- by giving the pirates beauty, we calmed the wicked.
-
BE
-
You appear before Lord Ash in public, announce that he is being punished for 'making a common prostitute out of a goddess' daughter', and smite him with a trivial amount of your essence!
4
The once blessed noble screams in agony, as his body is slowly turned into a statue of ruby!
1
The public is aghast that their goddess could do something so cruel to one of her own children! That little outburst is going to hurt your orthadoxy!
Before you leave the mortal world, you tell General Thrane to prepare his host! He has some pirates to catch! The mountain dwarf bows low, and promises to be marching by this time tomorrow!
3.6 CS:
2
The missionaries sent out a few years back fail in their efforts to convert any new Chestnut Dwarves!
5
General Thrane has managed to track down the pirates! Battle commences!
6
The battle is one-sided in favor of the Empire! During the fighting, Thrane and his elite mountain dwarf corps corner Gronk of Pachyderm and his family. Gronk turns his elephants towards his attackers, and attempts to escape by charging through Thrane and his men!
3
Thrane manages to hack off the leg of the elepahnt that charges closest to his position, thus capturing several members of Gronk's family and inner circle, but the pirate leader himself escapes, and there is no sign of Elmoss either! General Thrane ponders the situaiton, and sends most of his host back home. He will continue the pursuit with his cavalry.
---
A blessed day! You give birth to your second child by Senshinochi, a full blooded mortal male kappa! The sages of the court find a mark on the child identifying him as a mighty hero to be! They suggest that he will come of age in the year 5.6 CS, one year before his slower growing older half brother Sun-nut.
Your consort dotes on the child, whom he names Uzzu, so much so that you have trouble taking the infant out of his hands long enough to feed the kid!
6
Uzzu's sister Moonpetal is also quite fond of her brother... Perhaps moreso than is healthy.
"Mother," she asks one day while the two of you are alone in the throne room, "I am the daughter of the most beautiful among deities and the most mighty among kappa. I am very proud of this heritage, and the thought of one day having children of my own with the taint of outside blood horrifies me. Would you allow me to honor my blood by taking Uzzu as my husband when he comes of age?"
Yikes.
A: Hell no!
B: Hell no! That's disgusting! I'm exiling you, young lady!
C: It isn't a proper pantheon until it has some incest going on, so sure!
D: When he comes of age, you may ask him.
E: Umm... Ask you father.
-
D I mean if they're both up for then sure.
-
A
-
I am split between A and D. We could also intervene later and marry her off. So D
-
D
-
You tell Moonpetal that she can have Uzzu for a spouse if he would have her.
4
"That is a very wise answer, mother," the goddess of pride admits, "he may be mortal, but he is of the same blood as me, and I wouldn't like being told who I am to marry. I'm glad you look out for your children."
5
When word of your decision reaches Senshinochi, he approaches you with his thanks. "It is good to know that some day my son might have a goddess to love just as I do, and I have never seen Moonpetal so happy before."
3.7 CS:
5
General Thrane manages to catch up to Gronk of Pachyderm! Gronk responds by sending one of his sons, Thrane of Pachyderm, to challenge the general to a duel! General Thrane, being a proud soldier, accepts the challenge!
4
The battle is hard fought! The enemy Thrane is younger than the general, and a trained combatent, whereas your Thrane is far more comfortable with the logistical and navigation based parts of warfare. Luckily Brushmaster, the weapon of the late emperor, comes through and cleaves the spear of Thrane of Pachyderm in half!
Cornered, the younger Thrane has no choice but to yield to your regent! The rest of the pirate leadership escapes, but the defeated Nomad dwarf shares alot of useful information with the Imperial soldiers.
According to Thrane of Pachyderm, your daughter Elmoss has married his younger brother Skun of Pachyderm, who deserted the pirate clan shortly before the imperial soldiers attacked to join some strange cult the younger Thrane had never heard of.
What do you do about your missing daughter?
A: Eh. Time to let it go.
B: Send a request for aid to the dwarven gods. If anybody would know about a strange cult opperating on nomad dwarf turf it would be them...
C: Deploy your spymaster to get to the bottom of this!
D: Tell general Thrane to keep chasing the pirates! Somebody in Gronk's family must know where Skun has run off to.
-
C
-
C
-
C
-
C
-
C
+1
-
C!
-
You send Lahara to dig into the whereabouts of your missing daughter! General Thrane returns home.
3.8 CS:
Skoonheid appears before you with another interesting prayer. "My queen, The elfish widow of Trunk prays for your guidance! She recently took a wandering sage into her home, and this guest examined her children. To her astonishment, she learned that her youngest daughter, Feyleaf, who was born after her father departed on his fateful quest for the tomb, is not only marked to be a great hero, but bears the grim mark of the godslayer! It is the kid's destiny to kill a deity! What shall we tell the overwhelmed mother to do?"
A: We can take no risks. Order her to kill her daughter!
B: Bring the child here! I shall raise it as my own, in hopes that the god it slays will be my enemy!
C: Order the child sent to a distant land. I don't have the heart to kill it, but it needs to go.
D: Let the elf raise her daughter. I am not one to interfere with destiny.
-
D
Fucking with god killing destiny never ends well with the people who fuck with it.
Hopefully if we're hands off when the giant spider comes it'll kill the elf mother, daughter grows up hating spider god, goes and kills spidergod.
-
D is the only choice that doesn't sound like a bad rerun of Greek tragedy.
-
D.
Also praised be the possible Xwedodah marriage between Moonpetal and Uzzu
-
D.
-
D Let this baby be raised in our cult and let it remember our mercy. For fate is a fickle thing... even more so when it is meddled with.
Also yeah if our children our beautiful then surely any children they produce together shall be even more beautiful right?
-
D
Let us learn from the Greeks.
-
D everything else but D and B it will be disastreous
plus, we are a close god, we will see it raised
(AAAND, when grown up we can send it to the soup)
-
You know better than to interfere with a destiny. Hopefully Feyleaf will grow up in the loving arms of your cult and focus her godslaying elsewhere!
3.9 CS:
Twins! You give birth to a pair of female mortal kappa!
Your joy, however, is dampened when you show them to your court sages. The girls are indeed marked as heroes, but they also marked as rivals to one another as well. The eldest sage in your court explains that this means the girls are fated to seek out and oppose one another at many points in their life. It is probable, but not fated, that one will slay the other. He suggests that it might be wise to only keep one of them.
To help you make an educated choice in the matter, the sages spend a few more days working to predict the talents of your daughters. Although they warn that the field of predicting skills is an imprecise science, they suspect that one of your daughters will turn out to be a wielder of mighty magics, and the other a great leader of her fellow mortals.
Decision time!
A: I'll keep the likely magic user!
B: I'll keep the one with leadership skills!
C: For my own daughters? Yeah, I'll tempt fate. I'm keeping them both.
-
C. we can try to channel their rivalry into an healthy competition.
-
C. we can try to channel their rivalry into an healthy competition.
+1
-
You trust your ability to channel the fated rivalry into something useful, and decide to keep both twins. Their father names the one with projected magical talent Azuma, and the one projected to be a leader Nishi. The sage tells you that they will come of age in the year 5.9 CS.
---
A quiet falls over your court as the end of the decade approaches. The deadline to send a beloved mortal into The Soup is upon you, and you only have one mortal who is both 'beloved' and of age.
A: Senshinochi will succeed where Emperor Walnut failed!
B: I will take my chances with the monster rather than risk losing another lover to that wretched goddess' vengeance.
-
A. He's proven more than capable, and sired us many offspring. We should grant him this honour.
-
A, and let Senshinochi borrow that sapphire glaive. We must guarantee his victory.
-
A
-
You inform Senshinochi that the hunt for Char-Dis falls on his shoulders.
---
The kappa approaches your throne on the day he is to depart. He kneels before you, but you bid him stand, and give him a farewell kiss. Senshinochi takes a moment to appreciate your affection before speaking. "I have come to return the arrow Flash, my love. The game is to wound Char-Dis, not put her in stasis. There is no point risking anything more than is necessary to The Soup, correct?"
You kiss Senshinochi again as you ponder the answer to his question, and a thought strikes you while your lips are entwined with his; You could do more to aid him.
As for Flash...
A: You are right, I shall hold onto it for you.
B: You never know when it might come in handy, you should hang onto it.
As for extra help...
A: Here, take my Sapphire Glaive, may it bring you victory!
B: I shall make you a new minor artifact to help you navigate The Soup!
C: I shall make you a new greater artifact to help you navigate The Soup!
D: I shall make you a new minor artifact to help you wound your quarry!
E: I shall make you a new greater artifact to help you wound your quarry!
F: You are not going to be playing my Char-Dis' rules. Take command of my host, and lead it to storm The Soup!
G: The only extra help he needs is another few minutes in my embrace before he departs.
-
B
A
We've already lost a worthy warrior lover to the Soup so it can't hurt to be careful.
-
B C
-
B
C
Actually wait yeah. It was failing to navigating the Soup that lost us Walnut not actually fighting Char-Dis.
-
B
A
We've already lost a worthy warrior lover to the Soup so it can't hurt to be careful.
+1, best not to take any risks if we can help it. He's aquatic, so The Soup's watery conditions shouldn't pose a threat, what I'm concerned about is the fight itself, and the Glaive is the best option for that.
-
B
C
Actually wait yeah. It was failing to navigating the Soup that lost us Walnut not actually fighting Char-Dis.
+1
-
B
C
Actually wait yeah. It was failing to navigating the Soup that lost us Walnut not actually fighting Char-Dis.
+1
-
"I wish for you to return safely more than I fear loosing the arrow. Keep it and take these!"
4
You conjure up a majority of your essence, and shape it into a set of reins made from coral and studded with shellfish pearl! As your consort takes the gift offered to him, you explain what they do. "When crossing any ocean while driving your mount with these, the water will part, forming a path towards your destination! You will not get lost in The Soup! Now go, and make a goddess bleed for me!"
Speechless over the power he has been given, Senshinochi hurries off!
End of the Fourth Decade!
Somebody approaches the throne! Is it news of Senshinochi? No, just Skoonhein with the scrolls.
Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Senshinochi, Strongest among the Kappa
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Lahara of the Whirlpool the Goddess Spymaster
Following - 3
Orthodoxy - 5
Essence - 2
Host - 4
"You should not have blown all your essence on that toy for your mortal, my queen." The angel chides, "in your current low energy state in may be possible for a strong enough being to straight up kill you. Your afterlife should wrap up construction this decade, but not in time to make a significant impact on next decade's scrolls. I'd advise against burning essence for the time being."
---
4.0 CS:
10, 3
You stare in shock! Your consort Senshinochi has returned, missing his right arm below the elbow! The crippled Kappa informs you that he managed to draw blood on the goddess, so your nightmare is as good as over so long as she is true to her word, but refuses to go into the details of his adventure in The Soup.
Senshinochi frowns, "Skoonhein told me that you made yourself vulnerable to create those reins for me, and that I am under no circumstances to ask or allow you to spend essence on repairing me. I shall remain at your side through Moonpetal's upcoming initiation into adulthood, but after that, I intend to leave you for a time. I will seek the aid of the gods I worship to restore my arm, and remove from you the temptation to further harm yourself on my behalf."
4.1 CS:
A small party is thrown to celebrate Moonpetal's coming of age! Most of those gathered belong to your court or family, but a handful of unexpected guests do show up!
Senshinochi has flown three noteworthy mortals to the Divine Dwelling to wittness his daughter's initiation into adulthood.
Of the three, you know one, the well dressed and well traveled regent of your empire, General Thrane. He is popular company among your court and host, many of whom praise him as being a better Imperial leader than Emperor Walnut.
The remaining two mortal guests are Kappa. The first is a female who wears a robe of naturally crimson leather, and wields a scepter made of diamonds and driftwood that you identify as a lesser artifact. Your consort introduces her as Ikarinojoō, the newly crowned Queen of all Kappa.
The second Kappa is ancient, blind, and lame. Senshinochi introduces this venerable mortal as Shujinkō, grand master of Morayi's warrior monks and his own father. Moonpetal, noting that the old man is a source of the blood she is so proud of, requests that Shujinkō be given a seat next to you at the head of the table.
The party lasts long into the night, but as it dies down, the time for your most solemn duty as a divine parent has arrived. Your daughter is old enough to make her way in the world, and worldly enough to do so very well, and thus cannot be expected to live in your household as a freeloader for much longer!
You clear your throat and declare that:
A: Moonpetal must leave the divine dwelling, like you did at her age.
B: Moonpetal may stay, if she wishes, at least until Uzru, the brother she wishes to marry, comes of age himself.
C: I will be completing construction on a new afterlife soon, she can stay until it is finished, and then move there to help run the place.
D: She should seek out an epic quest to earn her fortune and prove her worth!
E: I will send messengers to all the pantheons I know of, to see if she can be found a spouse or a job in another divine dwelling!
F: She shall replace General Thrane as Regent of the Empire of All Things Beautiful!
G: She shall replace Skoonhein as my personal intermediary!
H: I am kicking Lahara out of my Pantheon to make space for her!
-
B I feel like giving her a choice is a good idea.
-
B
-
B
-
You announce to everybody present that Moonpetal is welcome to remain in your home until Uzzu, her desired husband, is old enough to entertain her proposal. Your daughter rises from her seat to embrace you, "Thanks, mother." She whispers in your ear.
Once the murmor over your announcement dies off, the crowd of lesser courtiers and host beings thins away, leaving only your family and your guests. You suppose if you would like to strike up a conversation with one of the mortals Senshinochi has brought, now would be the time.
Whom do you wish to speak with?
A: General Thrane, your dependable regent!
B: Ikarinojoō, the queen of the kappa!
C: Shujinkō, the grandfather of your children by Senshinochi!
And to what would you like to speak to them about?
A: Religious beliefs!
B: Homeland!
C: Politics!
D: Family!
E: Let the guest drive the conversation!
-
C E
-
C D
-
CD
-
CD
-
A
E
-
1
You attempt to strike up a conversation about family with Shujinkō, but have trouble getting anywhere with him. Eventually it dawns on you that you are assuming your beauty has the same effect on the blind kappa as it does his son! But, by the time you recognize and account for this mistake, it is too late. Shujinkō calls for his son to take him home, so Senshinochi runs out to harness his bird before leaving the party with his dad in toe!
After the party, you walk back to the apartments from the feasting grounds with all your children! This might be a good chance to single one out for a private discussion away from the glare of your court and gravitas of the throne room! You consider all the kids old enough to to make conversation with...
Whom do you wish to speak with?
A: Moonpetal, the birthday goddess!
B: Uzzu, her probable future husband!
C: Sun-nut, future god-king of the empire!
D: The unamed, unworthy, daughter you bore Emperor Walnut after he left on his fateful trip to The Soup, whom you never had the heart to cast out.
What do you wish to speak about?
A: Hopes and dreams!
B: Fears!
C: Life in the divine dwelling!
-
DA
I really want this perfectly normal daughter to achieve something with her life, something that not even her siblings could do.
-
DA
-
So, we can push beauty of all forms, what isn't beautiful in a history of someone that made herself a hero by determination even if it wasn't written in the stars?
okay, even if he doesn't have any shiny dreams and just want a simple life, she is indeed probably beautiful and will be of use for marriage for her mortal family and all that noble human stuff, even if it isn't dwarven pantheon, who wouldn't give everything to marry the daughter of a god of beauty?
-
4
You talk to the nameless child about her hopes and dreams, but sadly the slow-ageing dwarf is a bit less mature than you had hoped.
Her biggest dream is to join the priesthood of the Dwarven Pantheon, because she knows Moonpetal and her daddy do not like the Dwarven Pantheon, and Moonpetal is mean to her.
She has heard that her equally unworthy sister got to run away with "elephant people" and thinks being an "elephant people" like her would be cool.
Lastly, she dreams of making friends with the "mean goddess of the soupy-place who took her dady away," so that she can make her "give daddy's body back so we can give him a cool funeral and tomb like the people in the stories."
As dubious as all her dreams are, you suppose none of them are completely impossible, and you can't hold on to her forever; Non heroic mortals are fragile, so you wouldn't be shocked if one of her siblings were to accidental hurt or even kill her.
Where do you wish to try and place the girl?
A: Send her to the dwarven clergy in the mountianhomes!
B: See if there are any land pirate clans interesting in adopting her!
C: See if Char-Dis is in the market for a peace offering!
D: Just place her with an imperial noble like you did her sister!
-
A
-
A
-
D
-
C
-
C
-
C
-
A
-
I think A will anger hubby, B is super sketchy, and C might get her killed (we can't just trust a spider goddess!)
Therefore, D
EDIT: Changed vote on later post.
-
A
It will work wonders to build bridges between our respective societies.
-
I think A will anger hubby
I thought our husband's dead(?).
-
C might get her killed (we can't just trust a spider goddess!)
sooooo?
-
I think A will anger hubby
I thought our husband's dead(?).
Oops. I meant our consort.
C might get her killed (we can't just trust a spider goddess!)
sooooo?
Heh. Good point. I'll switch to C
-
Just checking, was worried I misread a turn somewhere.
-
C!
Oops. I meant our consort.
Why would he be angry? She's not his daughter or anything.
-
You send a messenger to Char-Dis to see if she would be interested in raising your daughter as a peace-offering of sorts.
3
The messenger makes peaceful contact. Negotiations go well, until your emissary accidentally lets slip that the girl isn't even destined to be a hero, at which point the enigmatic spider goddess loses interest.
4.2 CS:
Two beings seek an audience! The first is your consort Senshinochi. You know he is planning to leave your side for a spell, so perhaps he is coming to share his travel plans and say his goodbyes.
The second audience seeker is a cherub tasked with keeping an eye on the Temple of the Tome for Skoonheim. It sounds like your mortals might be planning another to deploy a fresh wave of missionaries!
Who will you speak to first?
A: Senshinochi!
B: The Cherub!
-
A, obviously
-
A
-
A
-
Senshinochi kneels before you. "Lover, I am going away to the Trench Kingdoms beneath the sea, where my Pantheon is most active. I hope to find a god looking for my services with enough spare essence to restore my arm as payment. I am unsure how long I will be gone, but I will try to stick to civilized areas so that if the worst does happen to me, you shall at least be informed."
You motion the kappa back to his feet, and give him a goodbye kiss. As you do so, you wonder if there is any final busniess that you might bring up with him...
A: No! Please! Don't go! I beg of you! Once the construction project is finished, I'll have the essence to fix your arm!
B: You should take our daughter Azuma with you! Find her a place to live among her people and away from her twin!
C: You should take our daughter Nishi with you! Find her a place to live among her people and away from her twin!
D: What shall I do if I require a champion in your absence?
E: What shall I do if I get lonely in your absence!
F: I... I think I am truly in love with you. Would you mind if I tagged along to meet your people and family... at least for a few years? Moonpetal can hold down the Pantheon.
G: I... I think I am truly in love with you. Let that fact keep you warm on your journey, and guide you home quickly.
-
E
-
F
I'm picturing Moonpetal throwing a wild house party while the parents are gone and it's just too good. Plus we might want to do something for Bark-Ark while we're there to make amends for whatever we did that he took offense to.
-
E
I'm picturing Moonpetal throwing a wild house party while the parents are gone and it's just too good. Plus we might want to do something for Bark-Ark while we're there to make amends for whatever we did that he took offense to.
Do you mean F then?
-
Coulda sworn that was E last time I looked. Corrected!
-
F
-
G
-
F
-
E. She needs to get some hand-on experience. Hopefully she won't screw up too much.
-
F
-
god's love is so easy to obtain
i'm divided in E (curious) and F
just because i wan't to make some friends among the kappa and bring back some seeds from that plant people
THINK ABOUT THAT, we could make the plant people more "flowery" and make they have classes with doctors and gardeners and they could decorate our temples and treat the wounded
but
we are
HURT AS FUCK, we just got 2 essence, we might get screwed
can we ask our husband for some seeds?
edit: just noticed E might mean "stay with me"
G
-
G
-
G
-
G
I trust him to take care of himself.
-
You hold the kiss for a good minute, before telling Senshinochi that you love him and that he should stay safe. "I know," he answers, "and I will."
---
The Cherub enters the room next.
"My queen! The temple of the Tome is making ready to send out a new group of missionaries! Shall we guide them to preach to a particular population?"
A: To the Chestnut Dwarves!
B: To the Nomad Dwarves!
C: To the Mountain Dwarves!
D: Challenge them to brave the woods and find the Kappa!
E: Let them choose as they will!
-
B, they seem like a cool bunch.
-
B While I think strengthening our Chestnut Dwarf base is always good it's also good to expand into other things too. Don't put all your eggs in one basket or something like that. :P
-
You arrange to have the missionaries sent out to visit the Nomad Dwarves of the plains.
4.3 CS:
Lahara and Skoonhein both wish to have words with you.
Who will your receive first?
A: My intermediary!
B: My spy master!
-
B
-
B!
-
B
-
B
-
The goddess of naval disasters appears before you.
"My queen, it took me many years, but I was able to track down your daughter Elmoss. She currently lives with a mercenary company called the Spear Zealots, which is based out of a cave in the foothills, not far from the tomb where Trunk lost his life, and lead by a massive sentient spider called Zrukphs who is a priest of Char-dis. She has an infant son named Kurphs, who bears the mark of a mighty hero, and because she has proven capable of birthing heroes, her husband has recently been sacrificed to Char-dis and she now lives as a pampered member of Zrukphs' harem."
Your spy sighs. "As far as I have been able to determine, nobody among the Spear Zealots knows of Elmoss' parentage. The girl herself mourns her husband, but is so deeply devoted to Char-dis that she understands his death was for the best."
You sigh. There is just no getting that bitch in the soup out of your life, is there?
A: This cannot stand! Call upon General Thrane to lead the imperial legion against the Spear Zealots so as to rescue my daughter!
B: I do not like this, but there is little I can do now. I'll revisit the issue once I have Senshinochi or another hero handy.
C: Lahara, you are tasked with kidnapping my daughter and grandson, and bringing them home to the empire.
D: I will appear before Zrukphs, and attempt to convert his Zealots to my cult!
E: This story seems like a good way to break the ice with Char-Dis! Send a messenger to the soup bearing the good news and an offer of friendship at once!
F: Eh. She seems happy enough. I wish her the best in her new life.
-
B I don't like it but I think we have to wait until we can restock our power before doing anything that might anger that damn Spider Goddess. We'll get her back for all this trouble eventually! >:(
-
E
Last time she seemed fairly open to a chat if the roll is to be believed, so maybe we'll get lucky this time (and if not, I don't think we'd be super heartbroken if Elmoss did get eaten by spiders or whatever).
-
E
-
E
-
You dispatch a messenger to The Soup!
Skoonhein enters your throne room next.
"My queen," he exclaims, "it seems the generosity of the blessed leadership of Charity has gotten them into a spot of trouble. Their hearts were moved by the plight of a nearby nomad dwarf population that is dealing with a plague, so the Town Master decided to donate the money he had collected as taxes for the Imperial Coffers to them. This has infuriated General Thrane! The imperial regent is considering openely denouncing the actions of the Town Master as being Treasonous, and if that happens, the empire may have a full blown civil war on its hands!"
"That would be bad..." you agree. What to do, what to do?
A: Order the ruling class of Charity to pay back the missing money out of their own pockets!
B: Tell General Thrane to chill out. It is only a year of missed taxes. Nothing worth going to war over.
C: The money spent on those Nomad Dwarves was meant for Imperial Citizens, ergo they must be Imperial Citizens. Tell General Thrane to conqueror them.
D: I'll spend some essence to make a big ol' pile of gold and gems! That should shut all the mortals up about their financial issues for awhile.
E: I'll just let this one play out. Mortals have free will, afterall.
-
E
-
A
-
B
-
B
-
B or C?
come on general, we are the god of beauty and we made these people kind, you should play with the situation and make a small reserve on the tax for charity, not the city, the act of charity
plus, such generosity will probably convert, taking care of the ill is a important part of the converting process
-
B
-
C, the logic seems sound to me
-
B. Not C, because that would be at cross-ends with the missionaries we sent there.
-
C
Y'know a show of charity followed by a demonstration of might combined with missionary wisdom could be pretty convincing of our overall superiority.
-
B
Make sure we tell Thrane that we are currently converting them and that the nomads will pay taxes soon.
-
B
-
You tell the intermediary to tell General Thrane to relax; A year of missed taxes from a single town is no reason to plunge the empire into civil war.
---
4
Word arrives from The Soup! Char-Dis is happy that one of her most mighty priests is involved with your daughter, and promises to look after Elmoss and her descendants as if they were her own!
---
1
Bad news from the Empire! Thrane has taken poorly to your meddling in his affairs, and has resigned the regency and returned to the mountianhomes in protest! The empire will now be ruled by an Imperial Council, mostly made up of clergy and nobles from Charity, until Sun-nut comes of age in 14 years.
4.4 CS:
6
Senshinochi returns... With his missing arm restored! Your consort kneels before you, and offers an explanation that makes you quite happy. "They Abyssal Pantheon wishes to court your friendship. It is my belief that they seek your support in anticipation of future conflict with the wicked dwarven pantheon. Regardless, they have mended me and sent me back to your side, with instructions to renounce my faith and, join your cult, and become your husband true and proper."
A: Very well, then my husband you shall be!
B: Actually... It turns out the empire is suddenly in need of a reagent. By all means join my cult, but I need your leadership, not your companionship at this time.
C: I do not wish to owe the abyssal pantheon a favor! You are to continue to remain my consort, worship Morayi and maintain your responsibility to your people.
-
A We will start a new dwarven pantheon, with us at the head!
-
A! Who needs the dwarven pantheon when you can have cthulhoids instead!
-
A
-
Your wedding to Senshinochi is a small private affair with only your court, host, and children as guests. You lack the essence to throw him a mighty feast, and he lacks a wedding gift suitable for a goddess, so the small party is a mutual agreement.
---
Twins! Sadly the pair, both boys, lack any sort of distinguishing marks, and are clearly normal kappa without any sort of great destiny before them.
It is quickly agreed that they should be raised in a proper mortal household, but there is some dispute about where that should happen. Your court argues that the newborn twins should be sent to the empire, and raised properly into the cult of their mother. Senshinochi argues that your kids should be with their own kind, and being raised by dwarves is too high of a price for the boys to keep the faith of their mother; He wishes that his sons be sent to the dojo of his father, so that may be raised as martial artists and monks of Morrayi.
Who should raise your kids?
A: The Empire!
B: The Kappa!
-
B, the kappa'll probably know how to raise them better.
-
B
-
B
-
B
-
You have the kids sent away to their grandfather's dojo. You later learn that they recieve the names Ken and Okurimono.
4.5 CS:
"We have two pieces of business to discuss, my queen." Skoonhein explains, "I have some good news from The Empire, as well as an interesting prayer that I think is worthy of your attention."
What do you want to hear first?
A: The good news!
B: The prayer!
-
B
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
"The good news is that Imperial prospectors have just found a large deposite of gem-stones right on the edge of these woods!" Skoonhein declares. "Mining these would give your people income beyond taxes and the sale of excess food!"
A: Wonderful! Send word to the mortals that I endorse the extraction of pretty gems!
B: Wonderful! I use some of my essence to create tools and gears to get them started on the mining!
C: ...Are you nuts? I don't need mortals getting comfortable in and around this forest! Tell them they are forbidden to mine the gems!
D: Good for them, however I'm not going to get involved in this.
-
A I mean as long as they are staying to just the edges of our sacred woods then it should be fine. If they become to invasive than I'm sure we'll be able to rein them back under control. Especially with our son Sun-Nut set to lead the Empire as an Immortal God-Emperor.
-
A
-
C, It's too dangerous.
-
D
Mortals can do whatever they want, which, knowing mortals, is probably mine the gems, and we'll keep judgement in reserve in case they go too far.
-
A one day our pantheon will be in the middle of a giant spiraling and majestic city with people worshipping us at the door of our castles we rule as gods and nobility, besides those monster who protect us will be an huge mass of followers that will maintain the perimeter be it in land or in flying isles (?)
When the afterlife is done and we get more essence we should expand our holding
so we can extract the gems on sacred soil and still house our spymaster and maybe somebody else
-
A
Gems and jewelry are too tied to our portfolio not to.
-
A
-
"Send word to the mortals. Their gem mines have my blessing... of course. Now what of the prayer?"
Skoonhein clears his throat, and informs you that the prayer comes from Oakbuttons, a noble from the town of Chestnut Hole, which was captured by Emperor Walnut and added to the empire in 2.2 CS, and a recent convert to your cult.
"Oakbuttons explained to me that his grandfather once possessed a handsome gem-studded belt buckle that was stolen from him by a distant Sea Dwarf prince." Skoonhein begins, "several times his ancestors sought to reclaim the heirloom, but were talked down by priests of the Dwarven Gods, who argued that the theif's bloodline was sacred, and one could not act against it without acting against the dwarven gods. Oakbuttons wants to know if his new goddess would mind him gathering companions and embarking on a quest to retrieve the Heirloom Buckle?"
You suppose there is a chance that endorsing such a quest might not sit well with either the distant sea dwarves or their gods, but should he succeed, Oakbuttons would emerge as a hero worthy of serving you in a significant way.
A: I'm not going to publicly endorse his quest, but I'm not forbidding him to go either.
B: Tell him he has my blessing! Lets show these dwarves that my cult and I are without peer!
C: Not only am I going to endorse him, I'll make him an artifact as well!
D: Tell him no. I don't feel like stirring shit up.
-
B
I don't think we have the essence for C, sadly.
-
B
-
You inform Skoonhein that Oakbuttons has your public blessing to begin his quest, and send the intermediary on his way!
4.6 CS:
Construction on your new afterlife is complete! The Hall of Saints is open for business! Skoonhein personally gives you a tour!
Your afterlife sits in a cavern underground that is lit with its own small sun-like orb which moves across the ceiling, allowing the various corners to experience cycles of day and dusk, but never the pitch black of night. The buildings consist of many mighty trees, grown into one another and rendered hollow-yet-alive by powerful divine magics. The beauty of these wooden buildings is enhanced by various decorations of bronze and silver! The key buildings are shaped like massive cathedrals, while the smaller ones resemble country homes.
Once the tour is complete, Skoonhein explains the mechanics of the place.
"This hall houses Saints, or noteworthy beings in training to become angels like myself," your intermediary offers. "When a hall such as this is controlled by a well organized Pantheon such as yours, the saints assist the intermediary in managing the mortal population. I doubt I will need help of that magnitude myself until your following reaches a score of 6 upon the scrolls, so it may be prudent to rent out the services of any saints you acquire to a larger pantheon in the meantime."
"I will bear that in mind, but how do I go about getting saints in the first place?" You ask.
"Now that you have a Hall of Saints, anybody lording over a Seat of Judgement may offer to send a worthy departed soul your way from time to time, perhaps seeking a finders fee for themselves. The souls of any loyal heroes you interact with, either directly or through me, should be able to find the afterlives you run directly, without the help of a Lord of the Dead. Aside from that, you can also make a Daemon into a saint if you are hard pressed to find useful dead mortals."
"What about the heros I already lost?"
"Well," Skoonhein concedes, "if you can find their souls, they are fair game."
"And how many Saints can I house at once?" you continue to badger your servant.
"...For now, two." the angel admits, "but you can increase that number by appointing a higher being, ideally a Courtly or Merciful one, as afterlife administrator, or by ensuring that you hold a majority of the world's existing Seats of Judgement."
You nod. You suppose you have a few decisions to make. First and foremost, you may want to name this place on the off chance that this is not the only Hall of Saints in the World. Write in your votes for a name!
Secondly, you might want to find an Afterlife Administrator.
A: Skoonhein can step aside from his current duties to run this place!
B: Lahara can step aside from her current duties to run this place!
C: My daughter Moonpetal can earn her keep by running this place!
D: I should send word to neighboring Pantheons that I am looking for an Afterlife Administrator!
E: I'll leave the post open for now. I'm sure somebody will come along to fill it eventually.
And third, you might want to start stocking your afterlife with Saints!
A: Send word to Bark-Ark, Lord of the Dead, to see if he is willing and able to provide with the soul of the hero Trunk!
B: Lets see if Char-Dis is willing to return to me the soul of my first husband, Emperor Walnut!
C: Saint Training seems like a good way to make the captured demon Reekos useful!
D: Lets keep the place empty for now, to ensure that spots are available for my mortal family members when they begin to die off.
-
C Shes not doing anything.
B Will cost us, but we can afford to buy a soul if she is willing and still has it.
-
C D
-
Name: The Amber Palace
-
Saint's Chasm
CB
-
CB
-
Name: The Amber Palace
sounds good. +1
EB
Lets wait until we actually have a good person to run this, not just fill it with the first option. Our daughter does have the trait to run this place.
-
CB
-
E
B
Also yeah The Amber Palace works.
-
You dub your new Afterlife The Amber Palace, and leave Moonpetal in charge for the time being. You also write to Char-Dis, to see if she would be willing to furnish the soul of Emperor Walnut to serve as your first saint!
4.7 CS:
Twins again! A boy and a girl!
This time the newborns come out looking like green skinned versions of their mother, rather than proper kappa, but an examination by your court sages reveals that they are only mortal - albeit mortals with heroic traits and destinies! Your husband names his son Toraburumēkā and his daughter Sukina. They will come of age in the year 6.8 CS!
---
A messenger returns from The Soup!
"Char-Dis has decided to take pity on you and put the feud behind her," the emessary explains, "and will return the soul of your husband should you send her that unworthy daughter you had earlier offered her."
A: Sounds like a deal.
B: Nah!
-
A
-
B
It'd be pretty awkward to have our first husband in our Hall of Saints, to be perfectly honest, just kind of watching from afar how we've completely moved on from him. Maybe let's not keep our ex-boyfriends around forever, huh?
-
B
-
A
I don't even really want the soul but I want to give her the daughter for some reason
-
A. Let's put this feud behind us.
-
B
-
A
-
You agree to the trade, and send your unnamed daughter away with the emissary. Several days later, you receive word that Emperor Walnut's soul has been delivered to the Amber Palace, and that Char-dis has named the girl 'Strider.'
4.8 CS:
3
The missionaries report back from the lands of the Nomad Dwarves. Although they were able to win you a few converts here and there, you learn that most nomad dwarf clans practice religious tolerance, meaning that winning the worship of a clan is not as simple as winning the worship of its leaders. Still, the missionaries are confident that they may make serious headway should they ever return.
End of the Fourth Decade!
It is time for the scrolls!
Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Senshinochi, Strongest among the Kappa
Administrator of The Amber Palace: Moonpetal of Pride
Saint 1: Emperor Walnut the Deceased Chestnut Dwarf
Saint 2: Position Open
Saint 3: Position Open
Unlock additional saint slots by swapping Moonpetal for a Courtly or Merciful administrator, or gaining control of Seats of Judgement!
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Lahara of the Whirlpool the Goddess Spymaster
Following - 3
Orthodoxy - 5
Essence - 3
Host - 4
Skoonhein looks over the scrolls with you, and smiles. "You will be gaining essence again, which is good, although I still wouldn't push yourself too hard this decade. We can also expect a solid boost to the Orthodoxy of your followers in the near future, when the immortal God Emperor Sun-nut assumes the throne this decade.
5.0 CS:
Senshinochi approaches your throne, flanked by several lesser members of your court. After his traditional greeting of kneeling before you and enjoying a good long kiss after being instructed to stand, he speaks.
"My love," your husband begins, "three of our children, and my step son Sun-nut, will come of age this decade. I was hoping that you might be willing to earmark a bit of your essence to throw a great feast for them in ten years time, rather than simply hosting separate small parties for Uzzu, Sun-nut, and the twins Azuma and Nishi. Such a feast would be a good opportunity to rub elbows with the Abyssal Pantheon, and might also attract opprotunities for the children that you wont have positions for in your Pantheon."
"Uzzu's coming of age is likely to also be his wedding to Moonpetal," a cherub chimes in, "and Sun-nut's will be his coronation as emperor!"
You consider the request:
A: Damn skippy! We shall throw a feast without peer right here at my divine dwelling!
B: Emperor Walnut should be allowed to see his child come of age! Lets host the feast at The Amber Palace!
C: Lets save essence and pass the burden of throwing the feast onto my mortals! It shall be held at the Imperial Palace in the Town of the Tome!
D: Nah. Lets just throw three separate small parties with just family, court, and close friends.
-
A
-
A
Let the dead be dead
-
B
-
A!
-
Can't walnut go to A or C?
-
A
-
B
-
Can't walnut go to A or C?
Saints can't safely leave their afterlife until they become angels.
---
You decide to throw a massive coming of age feast at your divine dwelling, and quickly arrange to earmark a unit of your essence to provide supplies and decorations for such a party. Once the arrangements are made, most of the Cherubs who approached with Senshinochi leave, but your husband remains at your side to discuss a more private matter.
"My love," he declares, "I am honored to be part of your life and your court, but we must not forget that I am a mere mortal. I fear age may catch up with this body of mine soon soon, and wish to use this decade to go on adventures and secure my legacy while I am still fit and able. Is this okay with you, object of my love and worship?"
A: No! Your legacy is the children you give me!
B: Don't do anything rash! I'll gladly spend some essence to extend your youth, love.
C: Do as you please, and seek adventure where you will! I am happy so long as you are!
D: I have a potential hero named Oakbuttons questing against some dwarves who are loved by the gods you hate. You should join on his adventures!
E: The Empire needs leadership! Secure your legacy by ruling it until Sun-nut is crowned at the feast!
-
D
----
plus, the small conversion on the nomadic dwarvs is good enough, it may slowly spread not only between them but among places they visit
-
D
-
D
-
You send your husband to go aid Oakbuttons. He expresses joy at being allowed to meddle with those beloved by the dwarven pantheon!
5.1 CS:
There are two items on your agenda today. Skoonhein wishes to discuss an 'unfortunate' development within the empire of your mortals, while a group of loyal cherubs wish to discuss the affairs of your court and Pantheon.
Which will you deal with first?
A: Mortal Affairs
B: Personal Affairs
-
A Well let's see how they've managed to screw up this time.
-
A
-
You call in Skoonhein and hear the angel out.
"My queen," he declares, "the council ruling The Empire in lieu of an emperor or regent is driving the nation of your faithful bankrupt! They continue to import minerals from the mountainhomes as General Thrane did, without receiving the same discount as he. This, coupled with the costs of establishing gem mines in the woods, has put The Empire in serious debt!"
A: Clearly you need to lecture the ruling council on financial responsibility!
B: Let them spend, if the gem mines don't bail them out when the debts are called in, I will.
C: If they are going to behave like children, they might as well be ruled by one. Lets crown Sun-nut emperor and let him sort the mess out.
D: ...Dammit. Round up some couriers. I'll spend essence to make them some jewels and gold to repay their debts.
-
A
-
A
-
A
E) tell them to send a letter asking for thrane to come back
-
"Appear before them with a lecture on fiscal responsibility, Skoonhein. That should solve the problem."
"As you command, my queen."
---
The cherubs approach the throne next, and speak their mind.
"My queen, your husband will likely be gone for some time, and the Empire only has a single worthy heir in Sun-nut. We fear what may happen if Sun-nut is unfit to rule, or winds up on the wrong side of that fated mortal godslayer."
"What would you have me do?" You ask.
"Until Senshinochi returns, spend your nights with Emperor Walnut at the Amber Palace. Give your first husband another few children, keep yourself from becoming lonely, and secure the future of the empire!" They suggest.
You consider the request.
A: No! Senshinochi is my husband now, and I shall remain faithful to him!
B: Of course! How could I turn down a reunion with my first love?
C: I'm can't make a habit of cheating on Senshinochi, but I could visit Emperor Walnut once, and spend some essence to ensure that visit results in a godly child.
D: If you can get my husband's blessing, I will do it.
-
C
-
A It's only fair, after all, we cheated on Walnut with Senshinochi in the past.
-
Could Walnut be emperor again after he becomes a saint?
And would becoming a saint improve him in some way?
-
Could Walnut be emperor again after he becomes a saint?
And would becoming a saint improve him in some way?
As a Saint, the Emperor is stuck in the hall, working on becoming an angel and (hypothetically) aiding your intermediary manage the flock. Once he becomes an Angel, he will be the ideal being to serve as an intermediary or lead a host into battle.
-
Hmm. Can we only have one afterlife or will we be able to build more in the future?
B As a Goddess of Beauty we should totally have a divine harem. :P
-
Can I get a "send someone to ask Senshinochi if he's cool with it" option?
-
Hmm. Can we only have one afterlife or will we be able to build more in the future?
B As a Goddess of Beauty we should totally have a divine harem. :P
You can have as many afterlives as you want/can afford, so long as a Seat of Judgement exists and is staffed. If no seat of judgment exists, only one afterlife may exist in the entirety of the world, and extra afterlives will cataclysmicly fail until only one stands.
Can I get a "send someone to ask Senshinochi if he's cool with it" option?
Fine.
-
D
-
D While I do want our Goddess to get a divine harem I also like Senshinochi so let's at least get his opinion. I mean we did do the same thing with him while we were married with Walnut so I don't see why he wouldn't say yes but I'd rather keep our relationship in good standing and not risk it.
-
D because kappa is best husband
-
"Seek out Senshinochi on his adventures. If I can have his blessing, I will try to give Emperor Walnut another heir."
---
3
Skoonhein reports that his lecture on fiscal was poorly received, so he wound up having to gut the ruling council and replace most of the sitting members, but in the end he managed to rein in spending! He figures, however, the the many nobles he angered by expelling them from the council may harm the Orthodoxy and devotion of your faithful moving foward.
6
The cherubs return from their meeting with Senshinochi. "We consulted with your husband, without telling him that you sent us. He would actually be quite relieved if you were to once again make a regular mate out of Emperor Walnut. He doesn't want you to be lonely while he is gone, and confided to us that he always felt a bit guilty about forcing such a powerful and beautiful being as yourself into a monogamous lifestyle."
A: Clearly it is okay for me to start making regular visits to the Emperor's bedchambers at the Amber Palace!
B: If my husband is sure he is fine with it, I suppose I can visit the emperor once, and spend some essence to ensure a child results from the visit!
C: He is clearly testing me! I'd better remain faithful!
-
A Divine Harem is a go! All the husbands/consorts! :P
-
A
-
C
-
A
-
A. Polyamory is the way.
-
A. Polyamory is the way.
+1
-
A Divine Harem is a go! All the husbands/consorts! :P
Quote from: omada on February 17, 2017, 05:12:40 pm
A cute intersex harem with everyone in love with the androgynous king and smart and useful enough into pushing the kingdom forward.
--------------
FINALLY SOMEONE IS POLYAMOROUS IN A RPG OR GAME OR WHATEVER
as a poly I was feeling very "lonely"
A
-
You have your chariot readied for a trip to The Amber Palace as soon as you hear the good news from Senshinochi.
---
Despite having literally braved an afterlife as a mortal, died, and been subjected to the beginnings of fairly streneous Angelic training at the Amber Palace, Emperor Walnut is very much the same person you remember him to be: proud, intelligent, stubborn, ugly on the outside, and competent between the sheets. He refuses to discuss the trauma he has endured, but you can tell he is happy to be back in your life, and happier still that the empire he built still stands.
He is a bit distraught when he learns that General Thrane has abandoned his duties as regent of the empire, but you are able to calm The Emperor down by the end of your visit with him.
5.3 CS:
5
The Imperial gem mines are now officially up and running! So far neither construction nor mining operations have proven a threat to the security of your divine dwelling.
The Chestnut Dwarf citizens of the Empire enjoy their newfound wealth, and some even take to leaving small offerings of engraved gems underneath rocks or in tree hollows as gifts to their goddess. Skoonhein assures you that such sacrifices will have a small but positive impact on your flow of essence from decade to decade.
5.4 CS:
You give birth to Emperor Walnut's first postmortem son, a male Chestnut Dwarf who bear the mark of the hero! After consulting with the child's father, you settle upon the name 'Cider'. The sages inform you this hero will come of age in the year 8.6 CS.
5.5 CS:
5
Senshinochi returns triumphant, and entertains you with the story of his adventures. At first he and Oakbuttons had trouble seeing eye to eye; Senshinochi at first tried to take charge of the mission, as he had fought against the sea dwarves many times before, but Oakbuttons resisted this. The infighting lead to the party being separated after an attack from Nomad Dwarf Land Pirates resulted in the capture of most of the crew, but it was this very misfortune that brought Oakbuttons and Senshinochi together as they were forced to fight side by side to rescue their companions.
Once the teamwork issues were sorted out, the rest of the mission went smoothly. Upon arriving in the country of the Sea Dwarves, Oakbuttons distracted the intended targets by challenging them to a dwarven wrestling match while Senshinochi broke into their home and stole back the Heirloom Belt Buckle. The artifact was buried away in an attic, so as far as your husband knows, his victims still do not know that they have been robbed.
1, 2
Senshinochi honorably resisted the urge to take more from the sea dwarves than was asked of him, and has thus returned home with naught but a story to tell.
As you get reacquainted with your husband, several Cherub burst into your throne room! Apparently the Temple of the Tome is getting ready to send out a fresh batch of missionaries, and so the time has come once more for you to choose where they preach!
A: To the Chestnut Dwarves!
B: To the Nomad Dwarves!
C: To the Mountain Dwarves!
D: To the Sea Dwarves!
E: They should try and find the Kappa!
F: They should pick their own destination!
You suppose that now you have both husbands handy, so you also have to figure out who you will be sleeping with most often moving forward...
A: I'll stick with my first husband, Emperor Walnut.
B: I'll return to sleeping with my true love, Senshinochi.
C: I will do my best to love them both equally, complications be damned!
-
A
C
-
Open harlotry is controversial to say the least, but we've already reached that bridge and crossed it, so we might as well.
A
C
-
A, C
-
AB
-
AB
Necrophilia is unbecoming of a god, plus it's weird to have postmortem children
-
AB
Necrophilia is unbecoming of a god, plus it's weird to have postmortem children
-
What's the point of being a Goddess of Beauty unless we can have multiple people hanging on our affections?
AC
-
AB
-
AC
-
What's the point of being a Goddess of Beauty unless we can have multiple people hanging on our affections?
AC
+1
-
A C
Just because we have a harem doesn't mean we can't have a favorite.
But both guys are okay with sharing. No need to declare anything just yet.
-
AC
-
Decadence, debauchery and promiscuity are common traits even in good gods
plus, if one is dead but is still "alive" and having power to consent, is it really necrophilia?
BC as I wanna make sure those donations and earlier convert attempt will give us maybe a bonus plus a band of moving priests
-
You decide to send your missionaries out among their own kind, and resolve to try and split your attention between your two husbands.
5.6 CS:
Uzzu has come of age! Your heroic son possesses the Vengeful nature of his father, and is likely destined to win many a great battle in your name! Now that he is old enough to do so, he formally declares his intent to wed his godly sister Moonpetal, although they will not dwell together until their wedding at the great feast at the end of the Decade.
---
Several days after Uzzu formally reaches adulthood, Moonpetal pays you an unexpected visit in your throne room.
"Mother," she begins, "a goddess of pride such as myself deserves only the most accomplished husband. I've been talking to Uzzu, and it is our hope that you will find some great quest for him to embark upon, so that the name of Moonpetal's husband will be known to all mortal tongues!"
"You'd risk your brother's life to satisfy your own pride?" You ask.
"Mom, I run an afterlife." She pouts, "should a mortal I love die, I stand to lose nothing."
Well, her logic checks out at least.
A: Absolutely not. I will not risk my son for the sake of your pride alone.
B: Ask me again at the end of the decade. Risking his life is one thing, but I will not allow my son to risk missing his own wedding feast!
C: Of course! I shall task his father with finding him work in the lands of the Abyssal Gods.
D: Of course! I shall send him to lead the empire in conquest of its neighbors!
E: I'll allow him to protect the band of missionaries who just left from the Temple of the Tome. Not the most glamorous work, but it should get his name out there.
-
C. Try not to get killed, kid.
-
D Well I mean he is heroic and if we're going to risk his life we might as well see that we gain from it.
-
B For exactly the reason mentioned.
-
B Yeah. Let's at least let him enjoy that first.
-
B
-
F why not BOTH find a quest of your own?
a god and a hero solidifying their bonds in an dangerous land?
otherwise
B
-
B
-
B
Teach your children well!
-
C
-
You tell Moonpetal that epic quests take time, and you will not have your son miss his own wedding feast. The Pride goddess considers your words, and agrees to raise the issue after said feast has concluded.
5.7 CS:
Sun-nut, God of Mirth and soon to be Emperor of All Things Beautiful comes of age! The young god takes after his mother in that he is creative by nature. Most of your court agrees that he will make a great emperor, but a small minority fears that his deap-seated desire to make people happy may be exploited by those of ill-intent. Regardless, it is agreed that he will not take the throne until after his coronation at the great feast!
5.9 CS:
The Twins Azuma and Nishi come of age!
The magically talented Azuma takes after her father's vengeful nature! Your court notes that the combination of magical talent and a vengeful nature makes Azuma as dangerous as any mortal might be in combat.
Her sister Nishi possess a merciful nature, meaning she is particularly good at getting along with mortals, beasts, and monsters. Your court agrees that this is in-line with her foreseen leadership skills.
Per their marks of fate, the two female kappa can not stand each other, and compete fiercely over almost everything. Your court informs you that they are presently competing to woo their half-brother Sun-nut, but that the future god-emperor has thus far spurned them both.
As you contemplate your twin daughters, Skoonhein approaches your throne with news of the empire!
"My queen!" he cries, "the tomb of Tul-Urist, the dwarven wizard who fought alongside Emperor Walnut against the Granite Titan, and against him in The War of the Emperor's Return, has been robbed! The Staff of Creed, which grants the holder control of ice and cold, is missing!"
"And why should this concern me? Tul-Urist was my enemy." You ask.
"The burial of Tul-Urist was commissioned by Emperor Walnut to honor his friend, and to appease any wrath the Dwarven Pantheon might have felt over the death of their servant," the angel explains, "if you let the theft go unpunished, you may both undermine the office of emperor, and attract the anger of the dwarven gods!"
A: Meh. Still don't care.
B: Fine. Look into this for me, would you Skoonhein?
C: I'll task Sun-nut with solving this case once he takes the throne.
D: I'll task my magically talented daughter Azuma to solve the case of the Wizard's Tomb... after the upcoming feast of course.
E: I'll send a messenger to the dwarven gods apologizing for the theft and tomb desecration.
-
D
-
D!
-
D
-
You summon Azuma and task her with the retreival of the Staff of Creed, after the feast of course.
"As you wish, mother." The young she-kappa declares with a low bow.
---
The grand feast is upon you, an event that is to last five whole nights! Your divine dwelling is decorated in many colorful lights, adorned with many small yet comfortable cabins in which guests may sleep, and stocked with table after table of the finest foodstuffs.
The guest list is impressive! The Abysal Pantheon is represented by its king and queen, Ore and Morayi, as well as Captooth, the god of time charged with raising their many children.
Also present is a repulsive looking obese female with the head of a fly and massive sagging breasts. She is introduced to you as Char-Dis, the goddess of caves and Queen of the soup whom you have had many dealings with in the past.
Many mortals are also present at the feast. Ikarinojoō, the Queen of all kappa has returned. Your father-in-law, Shujinkō, has died since you first met him at Moonpetal's coming of age party, but his successor, Senshinochi's half-sister Kōkei, has come in his place, bringing her most promising students, including your unworthy twin sons Ken and Okurimono, with her.
Speaking of unworthy children, Char-Dis has ensured that both of your daughters by Emperor Walnut are in attendance; Strider, the daughter you raised for many years before sending her to the Soup in exchange for her father's soul is present, and the spider priest Zrukphs has come with his mate Elmoss.
The final guest, General Thrane, bothers you a bit. Most of your court is quite unhappy with him for abandoning his duty of Imperial Regent, but Emperor Walnut, who is stuck in The Amber Palace and unable to attend the party, has insisted that his closest mortal friend attend in his place. You shudder to think that this means the mountain dwarf will have The Emperor's seat of honor at your side on the third and fourth days of the feast, when the Emperor's son comes of age and is crowned respectively.
The first night of the feast proceeds smoothly. Your court ceremonially acknowledges Uzzu as having reached adulthood, and since he already has plans to live with Moonpetal at the Amber Palace, there is no need for you to rule on his future; You simpily rise from your seat and give him your blessings when the time comes.
Eventually the partying dies down, and an opportunity to socialize presents itself.
There are far to many options for socialization, so this vote will be a write in!
Who do you want to speak with? (Choose any of the above guests, or any member of your Pantheon except for Emperor Walnut)
What do you wish to speak about?
-
+1 to anything about befriending Char-Dis or talking with Elmoss.
-
Let's chat with Captooth: What's-his-face the death seal was mad at us about something, let's see if he knows why. Weren't they married or something? I kind of want this stream-of-consciousness vagueness on remembering who any of these gods are to be Sunpetal's canon thoughts on the matter too. :P
Then talk to Thrane about how he should GO LEAD THE EMPIRE AGAIN as Sun-Nut's highest-ranking general or some such thing. Military advisor, general secretary, bath-warmer, some kind of formal imperial position. For the sake of his own honour, because otherwise we'll have to send him to be milled into monsters when he dies. I mean, maybe don't tell him that part.
-
Let's chat with Captooth: What's-his-face the death seal was mad at us about something, let's see if he knows why. Weren't they married or something? I kind of want this stream-of-consciousness vagueness on remembering who any of these gods are to be Sunpetal's canon thoughts on the matter too. :P
Then talk to Thrane about how he should GO LEAD THE EMPIRE AGAIN as Sun-Nut's highest-ranking general or some such thing. Military advisor, general secretary, bath-warmer, some kind of formal imperial position. For the sake of his own honour, because otherwise we'll have to send him to be milled into monsters when he dies. I mean, maybe don't tell him that part.
+1 to figuring out why the death-judge seal was pissed with us, and +1 to convincing Thrane to resume his post.
-
General Thrane
Returning to the Empire to watch out for and advise Sun-Nut
I mean he ran the Empire for years so he is a competent politician and a good warrior. He would make a good shield and advisor for our son. He's good friends with Walnut too so there is a good chance he'll be quite loyal to Sun-Nut as he is Walnut's son.
-
General Thrane
Returning to the Empire to watch out for and advise Sun-Nut
I mean he ran the Empire for years so he is a competent politician and a good warrior. He would make a good shield and advisor for our son. He's good friends with Walnut too so there is a good chance he'll be quite loyal to Sun-Nut as he is Walnut's son.
This is the format in which I expect write-in votes to appear in the future.
---
You approach General Thrane, and ask if he would be willing to return to The Empire to help guide and protect Sun-nut.
4
The general falls silent and chews his lip for a minute before responding. "I will not deny a personal request from my goddess to aid the son of my emperor and best friend, but be warned: Since I left The Empire, I have promised my father that I would take over the family business for him, and he will not take me breaking my word well. He is influential among the mountain dwarves, and would make a formidable enemy for The Empire and your cult."
You consider Thrane's warning...
A: I'd rather not make enemies. You should stay in the mountainhomes and keep your word to your father.
B: If your father is angry, so be it. I fear the wrath of no mortal!
C: I have many spare children. Perhaps I could offer him an heir of divine blood in your place.
D: Clearly we must convince your father to relocate his busniess headquarters to Imperial Soil, so that you may both keep your word and attend to Sun-nut.
-
D
-
D
-
C for the chance to influence the mountain dwarves sneaky-like
-
You instruct Thrane to convince his father to relocate to imperial soil.
"It will not be easy," the general admits, "but if that is what you desire, so it shall be."
---
The second night of the feast comes! Tonight Uzzu and Moonpetal are to wed!
You preside over the ceremony, which goes off without a hitch, yourself. Moonpetal wears a stunning dress of white tree bark and bronze, which matches the buildings in The Amber Palace where she rules. Uzzu wears the black and green robes of a kappa warrior monk, a gift willed to him by his late grandfather Shujinkō. You give your son permission to kiss the bride, and when he does, you can see that the couple is truly and deeply in love. You bless the union, and dismiss the gathered guests back to their meals and revelry.
Eventually the party dies down, and you have the opportunity to make conversation once again.
Who do you want to speak with? (Choose any ONE of the above guests, or any member of your Pantheon except for Emperor Walnut)
What do you wish to speak about?
-
Captooth
What's eating the death seal guy?
-
Ikarinojoō
Sound her out on just how strongly the kappa drive for revenge against all land dwellers remains.
Thanks to us, they've had several fairly successful interactions lately. I don't expect it to be gone yet, but we can at least find out if our own people would be safe should they get loose.
-
Ikarinojoō
Trade deals with our mortal empire through our host if needed
Maybe she wants to decorate some of her altars with nice gems
and we (I) want to decorate ours with plant-like people
-
Ikarinojoō
Trade deals with our mortal empire through our host if needed
Maybe she wants to decorate some of her altars with nice gems
and we (I) want to decorate ours with plant-like people
+1
Plant people heck yeah
-
You pull Ikarinojoō aside to discuss mortal affairs.
First, you confirm that her people's desire for vengeance does not pose a threat to the empire. "Of course not," the queen laughs, "the primary target of my wrath will be the worshipers of the Dwarven pantheon, particularly those filthy sea-dwarves. Your empire actively pulls people away from the worship of the gods who order the massacre of the Kappa, and thus we would consider it a friend if we had contact."
You are satisfied with her explanation, so you decide to offer Ikarinojoō a trade agreement on behalf of your mortals: The empire will send gems to the kappa, and the kappa will send the empire the seeds and expertise to grow Cucumberlin slaves. The transaction will be carried out by your host, of course, to avoid breaching your sacred forest.
5
"That is a great deal! I shall adorn myself with gems harvested by those who worship beauty, and our enemies shall know where your alligence lies when they see the Cucumberlin working for The Empire!"
You make small talk with the mortal queen for awhile, before passing her off to Sun-nut and General Thrane to work out the specifics of the deal.
---
The third night of the feast arrives; Sun-nut's formal coming of age! Your court preforms a brief ceromony to acknowlege the soon-to-be God Emperor as an adult, and you stand up to declare what everybody present already knows: that Sun-nut's fate is to rule over The Empire, and that he shall be crowned tomorrow.
Once the applause dies down, Sun-nut rises to make an anouncement of his own.
"I am to live amoung the people of my father as a god among." He declares, "I've known this for a long time. I have also known for a long time that among the population of The Town of the Tome, the place from which I shall rule, lives a mortal named Feyleaf, last daughter of the heroic Tomb Raider Trunk, who is destined to slay a god. As the god who will be dwelling closest to her, it stands to reason that I am her likely victim. I do not wish to be slain, and as thus I have been thinking of how I might turn her fate away from myself."
Your son pauses for dramatic effect, before continuing. "I have sent word to Feyleaf and her mother, asking for permission to make the fated-one my empress.They said yes. We are to be wed when she comes of age in two years. I will be safest from her as the love of her life and father of her children!"
A: How wonderful! Congratulations! I look forward to attending the wedding!
B: No! Tampering with lethal fate is the easiest way for a god to die! I forbid this union!
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
You give your blessing to the union! Applause once again echos throughout your divine dwelling.
As the party for the night dies down, you once again have the opprotunity to make some conversation!
Who do you want to speak with? (Choose any ONE of the above guests, or any member of your Pantheon except for Emperor Walnut)
What do you wish to speak about?
-
Char-Dis: About where she stands in regard to us, the Dwarven Pantheon, and the Abyssal Pantheon, and whether or not she'd be willing to trade commodities/favors with us in the future.
-
Captooth
What's eating the death seal guy?
-
Char-Dis: About where she stands in regard to us, the Dwarven Pantheon, and the Abyssal Pantheon, and whether or not she'd be willing to trade commodities/favors with us in the future.
+1
-
You corner Char-Dis for a talk about where she stands in regard to the various Pantheons of the world, including yours.
The strange bug-headed goddess explains to you that because she is just a lone goddess without a proper pantheon and only a scattered following, large pantheons such as those of the dwarves and the sea-folk, frighten her as they possess hosts large enough to drive her from her home in The Soup. She also fears the Sky Gods, who are divided into many smaller warring Pantheons, because they created The Soup in the first place, and thus may have motivation to take it back some day.
"As for you, you are one of the few beings I like, Sunpetal." She explains, "I'm more than happy to stay in the soup, and I rarely interact with others except to play games of petty vengeance when I find cause to do so. You played my game, won, and yet somehow don't hate me."
You transition to talking about trading commodities and favors at some point in the future.
4
Char-Dis has a few things to offer. She admits that she tends to stockpile her essence, and rarely spends it except in self-defense or in making divine offspring. Should you ever find yourself in need of divine offspring, she would be willing to spend her essense to make some, either by taking you as a mate or finding another parent and allowing you to adopt the resulting kid.
She also keeps a fair number of monsters in The Soup, that may be useful against your enemies should you wish to sew chaos in the world.
There is little Char-Dis wants from you now, but would be willing to do you a favor should you swear to help her defend The Soup should it ever fall under attack.
A: Yeah, I'll swear to defend her! I want a monster!
B: Yeah, I'll swear to defend her! She should find somebody else at the feast to sleep with and make a divine child for me to adopt.
C: Yeah, I'll swear to defend her! She should join me in my bedchambers, and make me a divine child tonight!
D: Yeah, I'll swear to defend her! I'll call in the favor later though.
E: Nah, I don't want that kind of obligation right now. I'll keep the services she is offering in mind for a later time though.
-
C
-
D
I feel like we have more than enough kids (and with two husbands ...) nor any immediate need of monsters.
We may be able to fold her into our own pantheon eventually though.
-
D
Yeah. Char-Dis is pretty interesting so I'm fine with defending her. Plus I have to agree she seems like she would be a pretty cool addition to our Pantheon if we could ever convince her to join.
-
C
-
D What was she the goddess of again?
-
Char-Dis is a Goddess of caves.
-
Char-Dis is a Goddess of caves.
Ah, many thanks Prophet.
-
D
Haha. I finally get it. Char-Dis is the fly in the soup.
-
You pledge to defend Char-Dis in exchange for a favor to be named later!
---
Day four! The second to last day of the feast!
Tonight Sun-nut is crowned God Emperor of All Things Beautiful! First your son is given his father's machete 'Brushmaster' by General Thrane, and then Skoonhein, flanked by six hundred Cherubs, presents Sun-nut with an imperial cape made by the finest mortal clothiers in your cult. Next, your son kneels before you as you place upon his head The Purple Crown, which you crafted all the way back in the year 0.9 CS, from the kidney of the titan that Emperor Walnut slew, in anticipation of this very moment.
"All glory to Sun-nut, God Emperor of All Things Beautiful!" You declare. Every cherub gathered, every member of your family, and most of the mortals present echo your decree.
Eventually the ceromony ends, and the party for the night begins to die down. Once again, the chance to socialize presents itself.
Who do you want to speak with? (Choose any ONE of the above guests, or any member of your Pantheon except for Emperor Walnut)
What do you wish to speak about?
-
Sun-Nut
His plans for the Empire now that he is God-Emperor
-
Captooth
What's eating the death seal guy?
because it's being asked for a while now
and we always can talk with our son later but those from foreign lands don't come here so often
--------------------------
Ideas for when we get a chance:
See if Char-Dis want to join our pantheon as we are also small, or we can revolutionize the idea of pantheons making a kind of "you can worship whoever you want, just don't stop worshiping me, BUT I won't accept another god of beauty stealing following unless it's strictly in my family line or my spouse"
Our rival twins can be tasked into making sure that nobody will take the better of our god-son and we can make a type of "contest for life" the one that accumulates the highest number of prestige or feats shall gain something on it's afterlife. But if one of the two is caught sabotaging her sister or worse, killing a family member she will be severely punished
-
Sun-Nut
His plans for the Empire now that he is God-Emperor
+1
-
Captooth
What's eating the death seal guy?
+1
-
Captooth
What's eating the death seal guy?
+1
-
3
You pull Captooth aside and ask him why his husband is angry with you. The god of time shrugs. "I don't recall a specific beef... Honestly, Bark-Ark has trouble getting along with most deities outside the Abyssal Pantheon. He spends his days dealing with departed mortals, and those not reared in Ore's cult often take offense to a being who is not their god judging their fate. Nothing annoys him more than a dozen pious souls an hour screaming about how their god will hear about this and punish him."
Captooth shakes his head. "He actually told me he was fond of you some time back. I'm not sure if this was before or after you began to think he was mad at you, or if that still holds true today. In all likelihood your messenger caught him in a bad mood is all."
---
The fifth and final day of the feast arrives! Your twin heroic daughters Azuma and Nishi are formally acknowledged as having come of age. After the brief ceremony is complete, it dawns on you that you are in something of an awkward position. Azuma has agreed to go out into the world and seek the missing Staff of Creed, but Nishi has no such plans, and as an adult she can't be expected to just hang around the divine dwelling, contributing nothing.
You clear your throat, and issue the following decree!
A: Nishi must leave the divine dwelling to carve her own place in the world!
B: Nishi may stay with you until Azuma completes her quest, so that you may decide the fate of both twins at the same time!
C: Nishi must join her hated sister on the quest to find The Staff of Creed!
D: Nishi needs a place in the world! Anounce to the assembled guest that you will hear any offers of marriage or employment for your leadership inclined daughter!
-
A - If they each find a quest to go on, maybe their competitive nature means they'll both try harder.
-
A
-
D
-
D
-
A - If they each find a quest to go on, maybe their competitive nature means they'll both try harder.
Or they can work out some kind of peace to at least not hate each other.
Or they will kill each other and no longer be an issue.
A
-
A, let her forge her own legend!
-
A
-
D
-
D
-
C
From what was said at their birth, I don't think separation will be enough to prevent their fated conflicts (plural!). The next best plan is to push them together and see if they can work out a scheme of "healthy" competition for themselves.
-
"All glory to Sun-nut, God Emperor of All Things Beautiful!" You declare. Every cherub gathered, every member of your family, and most of the mortals present echo your decree.
I'm a little worried. Which mortals did not echo our decree, and why not? (I know it's a little late, but could we check this out?)
-
Those were probably just the foreign Kappa who aren't a part of his Empire and therefore aren't expected or required to join in the declaring. They were just here to witness it.
-
Those were probably just the foreign Kappa who aren't a part of his Empire and therefore aren't expected or required to join in the declaring. They were just here to witness it.
Yeah. This.
---
You declare that Nishi must leave the divine dwelling and chart out her own path in the world. The announcement is met with respectful applause.
The party begins to die down once more, and the final opportunity to socialize before the feast ends is upon you.
Who do you want to speak with? (Choose any ONE of the above guests, or any member of your Pantheon except for Emperor Walnut)
What do you wish to speak about?
-
Sun-Nut
His plans for the Empire now that he is God-Emperor
-
Sun-Nut
His plans for the Empire now that he is God-Emperor, what he thinks of the twins flirting with him, and what he thinks about sending the twins as his protector to make the courtiers assured no one will try to take the better of him, plus, if he won't be mad at us like thrane for giving suggestion
So this way we can make sure the empire is staffed with a handful of capable people and our sun will not get mad at us tampering on mortal affairs
although our daughters going loose as walking heroes can make sure our cult will be heard on distant lands
Or maybe
Kōkei
Ask about her martial school, how well it works for other races or if she wants to create a dojo within our empire to pass the art foward on distant lands
If we can get a bonus of better material price from thrane AND some ocasional bonus on self defense for our kids and our soldiers we can make sure our beauty will spread and don't fear anymore his neighbors
-
Kōkei
Ask about her martial school, how well it works for other races or if she wants to create a dojo within our empire to pass the art foward on distant lands
+1
-
Maybe, we should talk to the head of the abyssal pantheon about mutual defense since we will be openly declaring our alliance with the cucumberlings.
The mountain dwarves might not do anything but the dwarven gods might be on a hair trigger to throw their hosts at us when we are weak if no one will defend us.
-
Sun-Nut
-
Kōkei
Ask about her martial school, how well it works for other races or if she wants to create a dojo within our empire to pass the art foward on distant lands
+1
-
Sun-Nut
His plans for the Empire now that he is God-Emperor, what he thinks of the twins flirting with him, and what he thinks about sending the twins as his protector to make the courtiers assured no one will try to take the better of him, plus, if he won't be mad at us like thrane for giving suggestion
So this way we can make sure the empire is staffed with a handful of capable people and our sun will not get mad at us tampering on mortal affairs
although our daughters going loose as walking heroes can make sure our cult will be heard on distant lands
Or maybe
Kōkei
Ask about her martial school, how well it works for other races or if she wants to create a dojo within our empire to pass the art foward on distant lands
If we can get a bonus of better material price from thrane AND some ocasional bonus on self defense for our kids and our soldiers we can make sure our beauty will spread and don't fear anymore his neighbors
Alright. We have a tie. If Omada can pick one or the other, or somebody else can vote, we will be golden.
-
Kōkei
Ask about her martial school, how well it works for other races or if she wants to create a dojo within our empire to pass the art foward on distant lands
If we can get a bonus of better material price from thrane AND some ocasional bonus on self defense for our kids and our soldiers we can make sure our beauty will spread and don't fear anymore his neighbors
+1
Anything to not have to talk to Sun-nut.
-
Kōkei
Ask about her martial school, how well it works for other races or if she wants to create a dojo within our empire to pass the art foward on distant lands
If we can get a bonus of better material price from thrane AND some ocasional bonus on self defense for our kids and our soldiers we can make sure our beauty will spread and don't fear anymore his neighbors
+1
Anything to not have to talk to Sun-nut.
we are lucky he isn't a god of metagame and can't see our posts
this would wipe the mirth of it's face
-
You seek out Kōkei to talk about spreading kappa style dojos within the empire of the Chestnut Dwarves.
1
Kōkei takes offense to your suggestion and storms off in a huff. Senshinochi hastily explains that faith in the abyssal gods is just as important as any martial art in the instruction of Kōkei's dojo, so to suggest the teaching of a non-believer is to blaspheme in the worst possible way!
5
Your son Uzru approaches you as the party wraps up.
"Mother, remember how you told my dear Moonpetal that would could talk about sending me on a quest to increase my fame after this feast? Well, I have found a quest worth talking about."
"Go on," you reply.
"I've been talking to some of the mortals who came to the party with Queen Ikarinojoō of The Kappa," He explains, "apparently, Ikarinojoō is offering the hand of her son and heir to the female kappa who can offer her the head of the dreaded Green Oni Midoriiro. Apparently plenty of she-kappa would pay me handsomely, and offer me a generous sum of the monster's treasure, if I were to aid them in their quest to kill it. Do I have your blessing to travel to the land of the kappa, and seek employment as an onislayer?"
A: But of course!
B: No way!
C: Why don't you help your sister Azuma track down the missing Staff of Creed instead?
D: How about you celebrate the coming of God Emperor Sun-nut by leading his armies to conqueror the remaining Chestnut Dwarves instead?
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
You seek out Kōkei to talk about spreading kappa style dojos within the empire of the Chestnut Dwarves.
1
Kōkei takes offense to your suggestion and storms off in a huff. Senshinochi hastily explains that faith in the abyssal gods is just as important as any martial art in the instruction of Kōkei's dojo, so to suggest the teaching of a non-believer is to blaspheme in the worst possible way!
Lahara-aa? Where's Lahara? Somebody point out that we in fact have an abyssal goddess on our team. We'd totally let the martial arts students worship our Spymaster. Dwarf ninjas!
-
A
-
End of the Fifth Decade:
The scrolls of Pantheon Status arrive shortly after the post-feast cleanup operation has concluded!
Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Senshinochi, Strongest among the Kappa
Administrator of The Amber Palace: Moonpetal of Pride
Saint 1: Emperor Walnut the Deceased Chestnut Dwarf
Saint 2: Position Open
Saint 3: Position Open
Unlock additional saint slots by swapping Moonpetal for a Courtly or Merciful administrator, or gaining control of Seats of Judgement!
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Lahara of the Whirlpool the Goddess Spymaster
Following - 3
Orthodoxy - 6
Essence - 4
Host - 4
Skoonhein happily explains that the ascension of God Emperor Sun-nut has granted a large boon to the Orthadoxy scores this decade!
6.0 CS:
And Skoonhein is back! The angel bows before your throne, with two pieces of business to present to you! He claims to come bearing a prayer worthy of passing along to you, as well as news of newly established trade between The Empire and The Kappa!
A: Tell me about the trade first!
B: Tell me about the prayer first!
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
"Tell me about the trade," you demand.
"Well, my queen," Skoonhein begins, "your host has completed the first transaction, swapping imperial gems for Cucumberlin seeds. This year, the kappa sent your mortals small sample batches of four Cucumberlin breeds. We received a war-like breed, a large breed created for labor, a somewhat intelligent breed created for worship, and an unpredictable breed known for giving rise to mutants."
The angel pauses for a second, to gather his thoughts. "The Chestnut Dwarves are poor farmer and possess little farmland; The get most of their food by gathering fruit and nuts on the outskirts of these woods. To ensure the success of the Cucumberlin breeding project, it may be wise to instruct the mortals to focus and organize their efforts on growing a single breed."
You consider the proposal.
A: Focus on the fighting breed!
B: Focus on the working breed!
C: Focus on the worshiping breed!
D: Focus on the mutant breed!
E: Defer the choice to emperor Sun-nut!
F: Instruct the empire to clear some forest to create new farmland, in hopes of successfully growing multiple breeds!
-
E!
-
E
-
E
-
E
-
E while dropping huge hints that B would really help clearing more land.
-
B
-
You tell Skoonhein that the choice is Sun-nut's to make. Your intermediary nods, and then shifts the topic to to the prayer.
"My queen, a mountain dwarf by the name of Tull-Charcoal, one of the original converts and wartime companions of Emperor Walnut, has prayed to you for advice. He has accumulated a great deal of wealth, but is growing quite old and lacks an obvious heir; He strongly prefers male lovers, so he has no children of his own, and he is unwilling to will his fortune back to his extended family in the mountainhomes, as he is a dwarf of faith, and has cut all who are not of your cult from his life. He wishes to know what should be done with his worldly goods when he dies!"
A: It should go to his lovers within the empire!
B: He should donate it, to my temples and the imperial coffers!
C: He should mend bridges with his family in the mountainhomes, and send them the money when he dies.
D: He should adopt my young heroic son Cider, child of his friend Emperor Walnut, as an heir!
E: He should adopt my son Toraburumēkā, who will come of age within the decade and should be ready to inherit Tull-Charcoal's fortune should he die soon!
F: He should adopt my daughter Sukina, who will come of age within the decade and should be ready to inherit Tull-Charcoal's fortune should he die soon!
G: He should adopt both the twins: Toraburumēkā and Sukina!
H: I will not involve myself in this issue; the wealth of mortals is below me.
-
I'd like to offer him a choice between A and D.
-
A I mean it'll still be wealth inside of our empire which is good even if it isn't going directly into a coffers. It'll also be a beautiful action.
-
You instruct Skoonhein to advise Tull-Charcoal to will his fortune to his lovers. The angel bows, and promises to do as you have asked.
---
Word reaches you that your creative son Sun-nut has ordered his farmers to focus on growing the breed of Cucumberlin that specializes in labor.
You also learn that Tull-Charcoal has decided to leave much of his wealth to Applebark, a young, handsome, and ambitious member of the blessed clergy of Charity.
6.1 CS:
The time of Sun-nut's wedding feast is upon you, but many in your court are advising you not to go. You are currently very pregnant, likely within a month of giving brith, and it is thought that you should perhaps avoid your fated godkilling daughter-in-law-to-be in such a condition.
A: Attend the wedding!
B: Skip the wedding!
-
A If we alienate her than what would be the point of this wedding? Of attempting to build affections and trust with her? She has been raised in our cult and is to be our son's first wife so a little trust might go a long way in making sure she slays our enemies and not us.
-
A
What's the worst that could happen? Oh, right.
-
You decide to attend the wedding festivities, and call for your chariot!
---
The imperial palace is well decorated for the wedding. House Walnut is represented with purple banners, with the image of a songbird perched upon a machette, while House Trunk is represented with white banners, depicting the artifact arrow 'Flash'. The wedding altar is adorned with various tree-blooms from your forest, and gems from the imperial mines. As the bride and groom were unsure if you or any other deity would be attending, the actual ceremony is preformed by the high priest of The Temple of the Tome, a particularly ugly Chestnut Dwarf dressed in golden silks that bear your sacred symbol: a songbird perched on a reed.
The couple looks happy enough as they exchange their vows and enjoy their first kiss; Aside from the birthmarks that proclaim her a hero and a godslayer, and her half-elfish beauty, Feyleaf is a rather unremarkable girl, although her family swears that she possesses incredibly good luck.
At the reception, you find yourself sitting next to General Thrane, who is again serving as the representative of the absent Emperor Walnut. The two of your get to talking, and Thrane mentions that he talked to his father about relocating to the Empire, so that the general could serve as both heir to the family business and adviser to Sun-nut.
3
"My father is still on the fence about relocating, but I've talked him into taking up your worship in private, and also into attending the wedding."
The general points out an ancient looking Mountain Dwarf sitting at the next table, surrounded by many of the Mountain Dwarves who followed his son to Imperial Lands. "Would you like to speak with him?"
A: No, convincing him is your job.
B: Sure. I'll talk to Throng-Urist
-
so... did our divine beauty gave us a bonus to non blind characters before? I am in doubt
B
-
B
-
I think that was a bit of fluff. I've seen no effect of Beauty attached to talking, only using our godly powers.
B
-
B Here's hopin' for a good roll.
-
You head on over to the next table for a talk with Throng-Urist.
6
"How can I resist the personal invitation of my beautiful goddess?" The old dwarf replies. "I shall begin work on relocating my business as soon I return home from your son's spectacular wedding feast!"
---
As you prepare to return to your divine dwelling the following morning, you recieve a summons to the Imperial Throne Room. You appear before Sun-nut and Feyleaf, and learn that each has a request for you.
Sun-nut speaks first, showing you some maps and diagrams he has drawn up of a massive tunnel that runs beneath your sacred forest. "The time has come to extablish open relations with the kappa, and this tunnel will allow that to happen without threatening your Divine Dwelling," the God Emperor explains. "Are you ready to unite the peoples of your two husbands?"
As you consider your answer, Feyleaf speaks up with her request. "My goddess, for the past several years my dreams have been haunted by the image of a sapphire glaive. Last night, I told my husband of these visions, and he confided that not only do you possess such a weapon, but that it was the dying heroics of my father that brought it to you. I believe this artifact is key to my destiny. I know such a thing is presumptuous to ask, but may I have it?"
You consider the request. A greater artifact weapon would certainly aid her in slaying a deity.
A: Sure. Consider it a wedding gift from your late father!
B: Absolutely not!
C: Not yet. I would like to wait for the flow of time to reveal more of your destiny before I give you such a mighty boon.
...And as for Sun-nut's proposed tunnel?
A: Go ahead and build it!
B: Go ahead and build it! I'll even contribute some of my own essence to the project!
C: Absolutely not!
-
AA
-
A
A
-
C, B.
-
We don't want to anger her. Give her the artifact, she'll be less likely to attack us.
He needs his tunnel but we don't need to help.
-
AA
-
A A
let's stock essence so we can expand our dwelling later (and make that gem mine in sacred soil
There is a chance that we might get a war with other gods in some time. Maybe we can request troops from sun-out and feyleaf will hurt an enemy god and not us
-
You grant the request of both the Emperor and his bride, before boarding your chariot for the ride home! Upon arrival, you send a delegation of Cherubs to the imperial palace to present Feyleaf with the Glaive.
---
You give birth to a mortal daughter who bears a heroic mark! The infant takes after her mother, but a slight green tint to her skin reveals that Senshinochi is her father, and as such, you allow the kappa to name the girl: he comes up with Kekkonshiki. The sages say she will come of age in the year in the year 8.2 CS!
---
Word reaches you from The Empire! Feyleaf has received The Sapphire Glaive, and has named the weapon Trunk's Shard in honor of her father!
As for Sun-nut...
3
He has completed the tunnel by using his own essence! You learn, however, that in his inexperience, your son burnt his entire pool of essence on the project, meaning he currently lacks any divine powers and protection. This worries your court, as he sleeps next to a fated god killer who owns a greater artifact! To make matters worse, Sun-nut is not the formal object of any cult's worship; As a God Emperor, and the son of a Pantheon head, he may gain small amounts of essence here and there, but Skoonhein estimates that it will be decades before your boy regains his divine protection if left to his own devices!
You consider the issue at hand.
A: Sun-nut got himself into this mess, he can live with the consequences.
B: I will give him a unit of essence, so that my boy can be safe!
C: I will give him most of my essence, so that my boy can preform great works once again!
D: Giving him my essence is only a short term fix! Summon him and his priests to the divine dwelling, where we can talk about reforms for my cult and Pantheon!
-
D
-
D
-
D
-
D
-
You request a religious conference to discus reforms of the Pantheon and Cult! Scholars will need a bit of time to brainstorm ideas, so you schedule the event to take place in two years.
6.2 CS:
2
Skoonhein reports that your most recent round of missionaries has once again failed to convert any Chestnut Dwarf towns!
---
Panic in your court! A mortal has breached your divine dwelling, arriving on a giant Albatross similiar to the one your husband rides! The mortal, an older dwarf with blueish skin and webbed feat, storms your throne room. He anounces himself by throwing the head of one of your cherub guards at your feet!
"I am Prince Ironclad, brother of Posidston, the Sea Dwarf King! I have come to slay Senshinochi, bane of my people and enemy of my bloodline! Summon him at once so we may duel!"
A: "I would love nothing more than to watch my husband carve you up! Send for him!"
B: "I will not be ordered around by a mortal! Guards, remove him from my sight!"
C: "Perhaps we can talk about this? Surely a peaceful solution is possible!"
-
A seems fair
-
A, but we should spend essence to help hubby
-
A
-
B don't get him killed too.
-
A.
Senshinochi will prevail!
-
A Our husband, against this bearded whelp? Hardly a fight.
-
A
-
A, but we should spend essence to help hubby
I completely agree with this, but only if he's okay with it.
-
A
-
"If you wish to die at the claws of the mightiest amoung Kappa, I will not hinder your quest. Guards, fetch Senshinochi!"
Your husband arrives several minutes later with a scowl on his face. "Prince Ironclad. We meet again. I thought I smelled rotten sea dwarf. You dare intrude upon my home and disturb my wife and goddess? For that, your death will be slow."
The dwarf smirks. "So now you think home invasion is bad, monster? I'll make you regret slaughtering my sons!"
Senshinochi returns a dark grin of his own. "I already deeply regret the events of that day. I should have killed your wife and daughters with them. No matter though, perhaps I will hunt them down later, BUT FIRST I SHALL MAKE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OUT OF THEM!"
The dwarf draws his sword, a beautiful crafted blade seemingly made of silver and encrusted with glowing yellow gems that you identify as a minor artifact, and the kappa responds with a bestial roar of rage!
2
Before Senshinochi can assume his fighting stance, Prince Ironclad points his blade at the Kappa's face! A beam of deadly light erupts from the tip of the weapon, and flies straight for the head of your husband!
You know Senshinochi will not be able to act in time to save himself! What will you do?
A: Let the tragic scene play out!
B: Jump in front of the beam!
C: Spend some essence for a burst of invulnerability and divine speed, deflect the beam, and join the fight!
D: Push your husband out of the way!
-
C You know what screw this rude sea midget. Thinks he can trespass onto our divine dwelling, kill one of our guards, and rudely order us around! We're a Goddess! You don't offend Deities unless you either want to die or get cursed.
-
C You know what screw this rude sea midget. Thinks he can trespass onto our divine dwelling, kill one of our guards, and rudely order us around! We're a Goddess! You don't offend Deities unless you either want to die or get cursed.
I like this plan +1!
-
C You know what screw this rude sea midget. Thinks he can trespass onto our divine dwelling, kill one of our guards, and rudely order us around! We're a Goddess! You don't offend Deities unless you either want to die or get cursed.
You know what.. it's true, if he had just invaded and demanded the duel is okay
but throw one of the guard's head in front of us is too bold. we should join the fight
-
C You know what screw this rude sea midget. Thinks he can trespass onto our divine dwelling, kill one of our guards, and rudely order us around! We're a Goddess! You don't offend Deities unless you either want to die or get cursed.
You know what.. it's true, if he had just invaded and demanded the duel is okay
but throw one of the guard's head in front of us is too bold. we should join the fight
C, mention this.
-
You attempt to consume some of your essence to enter a state of divine badassery!
6
The world around you slows. You casually stroll foward, and swat the beam that was otherwise destined to leave you a widow to the side, before lunging at Prince Ironclad! You knock the pathetic mortal from the ground, rip the artifact sword from his hands, mount his torso, and begin to deliver a ground and pound assault with your fists to his face! Blood is quickly drawn.
"How wise you are, my love," Senshinochi chimes in, as his massive form looms above both you and your victim, "filthy sea dwarves deserve no honor in combat. It is right and just to double team him."
5
Your husband jumps into the pile, and the two of you spend several minutes ripping the intruder to bits! By the time you finish only blood, belongings, and bones remain of Prince Ironclad!
As you conjure up a negligible amount of essence to purge the blood from your impecable outfit, Senshinochi considers the sword that almost killed him. "This must be one of the Seven Beam Swords, a set of artifacts made by Torvin, the rotten dwarven god of light! In my prime, I would have claimed this as a trophy, but I prefer to fight with my claws, and am too old to be learning new tricks. We should give it to one of our children."
A: Hell no! I saved your life, I keep the pretty artifact!
B: Our divine daughter Moonpetal would appreciate such a beautiful blade!
C: Our warlike son Uzru could use such a weapon!
D: Our warlike daughter Azuma could use such a weapon!
E: Our daughter Nishi, a natural leader, could use such a stunning artifact to rally her followers!
F: We still have three children who are not yet of age. Perhaps one of them will prove worthy of it!
G: We could strengthen our alliance with your people by giving it to one of our unworthy sons at Kōkei's dojo!
H: We should return it to the dead dwarf's family.
-
C
-
C
-
You take the sword from your husband, and ponder it for several seconds before ordering your cherubs to track down Uzru and present him the weapon as a gift!
6.3 CS:
The Conference of the Divine Dwelling has arrived! Your throne has temporarily been replaced by a large, round, table, at which you, God Emperor Sun-nut, Skoonhein, several minor members of your court, and a handful of imperial priests sit.
Now that your audience has assembled, what would you like to discuss first?
A: Reform of my Pantheon!
B: Reform of my Cult!
C: The threat of the dwarven pantheon!
D: Relations with the Abyssal Pantheon!
E: Relations with the afterlife squatter Char-Dis!
F: The affairs of my mortal priests!
-
B
First thing is to get sun nut some essence, we have a small following so it wont be much, but he needs to be able to perform miracles himself without making himself vulnerable.
Maybe within the empire he should be worshiped directly, under us as the all-mother, while outside the empire they shoudl worship us directly.
Also chide him about using up too much essence.
-
B
-
E
-
C
-
B
Edit: change to C
Sun-Nut is vulnerable and needs protection quickly, but let's get a sense of overall security before we delegate resources.
-
A
-
C
-
B
Edit: change to C
Sun-Nut is vulnerable and needs protection quickly, but let's get a sense of overall security before we delegate resources.
I agree. C
-
B
-
C
later
I wan't to talk about E
maybe char-dis can be incorporated to the pantheon
-
C
-
You decide to open the meeting by bringing up the threat of the Dwarfish Pantheon and its cult of Traditionalist followers.
2
Sun-nut tells you that his attempting to persecute or conspire against the Traditionalist Cult would throw The Empire into chaos. "The majority of the imperial population are Chestnut Dwarves, who are fervently loyal and would happily accept any action against an outside cult, but the Mountain Dwarf immigrants brought into the Empire by my father, who are highly influential in the imperial military, political structure, and economy, would not stand for our cult openly making enemies of the Traditionalists; They have ties of trade, family, and friendship to the traditionalists back in the mountainhomes, and I doubt forcing them to choose between those ties and their faith would yield a positive result for us."
6
Your own court, on the other hand, has plenty of ideas on how the threat of the Dwarven Pantheon can be eventually dealt with. Lahara warns that a direct and unprovoked assault would be suicide; The main host of the dwarven pantheon is at least four times the size of your own, and several lesser deities with blood ties to the Pantheon control hosts of their own, some of which are again bigger than yours.
"Still, steps can be taken to weaken them or engage on favorable terms. The Abysal Pantheon of my father and mother will likely intervene on your behalf if you fight the dwarven pantheon, so all you really need do is survive the initial onslaught until reinforcements from the deep arrive!" The spymaster explains, "both yourself and Sun-nut are creative, and thus well equipped to fill both the sacred forest and imperial soil with traps and defenses to surprise a hostile host. We could also provoke them into attacking Char-Dis, and make The Soup, a treacherous afterlife controlled by a paranoid goddess and her monsters, our battlefield per the terms of our agreement to defend the cave deity."
"Indeed," Skoonhein adds, "there is also the matter of discontent within the Dwarven pantheon. The Dwarven gods have many children, and do not have enough space in their pantheon to host all of them. Some are quite jealous and disenchanted with this, and could be convinced to defect to your side, bringing their inside knowledge of the workings of their parent's pantheon with them. Of course, you'd likely have to create an empty space within your own Pantheon to attract such turncoats!"
You consider what you have learned. You have some decisions to make.
As for the sympathies of your influential mountain dwarf worshipers towards the traditionalist cult...
A: Task General Thrane, the most noteworthy and respected mountain dwarf within the empire, with turning the hearts and minds of his people!
B: Task God Emperor Sun-nut with turning the hearts and minds of the mountain dwarves!
C: This can wait until Emperor Walnut is a proper angel capable of leaving the Amber Palace. He won their intelligence in the first place, he can solve this issue.
D: We should turn the missionaries of the Temple of the Tome loose within the empire to turn the Mountain Dwarves against the traditionalists.
E: Clearly, we must purge the mountain dwarves!
F: I do not care about this. I can handle the Dwarven Pantheon without turning my cult against theirs.
As for ensuring that you will survive an initial onslaught by the dwarven pantheon...
A: I will spend some essence to prepare divine defenses within the woods.
B: I will spend a good deal of essence to prepare both the woods and the empire for glorious battle against the hosts of the dwarven pantheon.
C: I will drag Char-Dis into this by calling in my favor and having her send a monster against a dwarven target!
D: I will drag Char-Dis into this by deploying spies and agents to spread rumors against her within the court of the dwarven pantheon!
E: My host, wit, and divine might will see me through, no preparation is needed.
As for attracting a turncoat...
E: I'm booting Skoonhein from the pantheon to make room!
F: I'm booting Lahara from the pantheon to make room!
G: Lets discuss expanding my divine dwelling to make room!
H: Lets discuss reforming my pantheon to make room!
I: I don't need no filthy stinking dwarf gods in my pantheon!.
-
1A
2F - Spend some essence to directly increase the size of our host!
3G - Wonder where options A though D went
-
1A
2F - Spend some essence to directly increase the size of our host!
3G - Wonder where options A though D went
I initially had the second and third choices combined into one list, but decided to split it up into two to provide for more choice. Forgot to properly relable the options. I'll keep them as is for now to avoid further confusion.
-
A
D
G
-
A
D
G
+1
-
You instruct Sun-nut and his gathered mortal underlings to delegate the task of turning the Mountain Dwarves against the Traditionalist Cult to Thrane.
6
Sun-nut nods. "As you wish, mother. General Thrane is an apologist for the Traditionalists himself, but his loyalty to my father, and thus to me, comes before anything else. He will do as you request."
Next, you instruct Lahara to send agents to plant nasty rumors against Char-Dis in the ears of the dwarven pantheon, in hopes of inspiring them to attack her! With any luck, you can join the battle in The Soup, where Char-Dis' side, and by extension yours, will enjoy many advantages. Your chief spy nods, and promises to follow your orders.
With politics out of the way, you turn your focus to matters of construction and send for your chief engineer to discuss expanding your divine dwelling. The cherub in question quickly appears before you to explain your options. "There is space here to expand, my queen! We could build quarters fit to house another fully fledged member of your pantheon, or we could expand your personal quarters to such an extent that you could keep two additional spouses or consorts. Both these additions can be completed with time, elbow greese, and mortal resources, or rushed by expending your essence!"
He gives you a few seconds to consider his words, before continuing. "Of course, if you want to spend large amounts of time and essence, we could always construct another afterlife instead of expanding your compound. A new afterlife means you could take on a new deity to serve as administrator."
You ponder the options before you...
A: Let us build quarters for a new diety the hard way!
B: Let us build quarters for a new deity with my essence!
C: Let us expand my quarters the hard way!
D: Let us expand my quarters with my essence!
E: Deploy my host to seek out a location in which we can build a new afterlife!
F: You know what, nevermind, I thought of another way to make room for a turncoat! (Choose a turncoat option from the previous update)
G: You know what, nevermind, I don't think I want a turncoat anymore.
Once you decide what you want to build, and how you wish to build it, you turn you attention back to the conference at hand. What shall you discuss next? (Ignore this choice if you chose option F above)
A: Reform of my Pantheon!
B: Reform of my Cult!
C: Relations with the Abyssal Pantheon!
D: Relations with the afterlife squatter Char-Dis!
E: The affairs of my mortal priests!
F: Nothing, the conference has come to a close!
-
A D
-
A D
+1
-
Okay, A D
-
So we could always employ the host to expand our dwelling the hard way? someone punch this cherub
when he offered the mine he could had offered to expand the dwelling and THEN created the mine
A,D
-
You order housing for a new deity to be built within your compound. The cherub nods, preforms a few quick calculations, and informs you that the project will likely be complete around the end of the decade.
With that taken care of, you direct the discussion towards relations with Char-Dis and her followers.
4
Sun-nut informs you that a follower of Char-Dis has heard of your alliance with his goddess and has been trying to reach out in friendship. "His name is Dull, and he is the leader of fierce pack of nomad dwarf land pirates. I've been turning his envoys away thus far, because Dull has a personal reputation for torture that I find distasteful, and because I was hoping to avoid involving myself in your schemes to forgive my father's killer, but if you command it, I shall attempt to befriend the pirate."
2
Your own court lacks ideas on how to best befriend with the Cave Goddess directly. They warn that Char-Dis is both paranoid and fiercely protective of her independence, and may interpret you going out of your way to be nice to her as an attempt to make her your vassal or lure her to your pantheon. The warnings of your court are based on mere speculation, however, so you personally doubt that there is any harm in sending her the sort of generic gift that deities commonly exchange.
As for the Land Pirate Dull:
A: Sun-nut should reach out to him, and attempt to establish a military alliance.
B: Sun-nut should reach out to him, and attempt to establish some sort of trade deal.
C: Sun-nut should stick to his gut, and refuse to deal with Dull.
D: If Sun-nut has issue with Dull's propensity for torture, he should send the imperial legion against the Land Pirate!
E: I don't trust Sun-nut to play nice with Char-Dis' minion. After this conference, I shall visit the pirate myself.
As for Char-Dis:
A: I will not send her a generic gift for no reason!
B: I will make her a minor artifact that she may bestow upon a worthy follower!
C: I will make her a greater artifact worthy of the Cave Goddess herself!
D: I will send her my heroic young son Cider to raise as her own!
E: I will send her my heroic young daughter Kekkonshiki to raise as her own!
F: I will spend some essence to birth a divine infant that Char-Dis may raise as her own!
G: I will pay a visit to Char-Dis' bedchambers, spend some essence, and create a divine daughter that the Cave Goddess may raise!
-
Why are we trying to befriend Char-Dis, again?
DA
-
Why are we trying to befriend Char-Dis, again?
She's pretty fly for a goddess
AE
For a god of mirth Sun-nut sure can be a wet blanket.
-
CA
because we are a small pantheon and need friendship and power first before we can start to make enemies
Don't want to force our emperor to deal with it, especially when he is weak
-
Also because we're hoping to lure our enemies into her realm as a battlefield without asking first?
E
A
She didn't express any needs at the party and she already has two of our daughters, albeit not mighty ones.
-
AE
-
Also because we're hoping to lure our enemies into her realm as a battlefield without asking first?
E
A
She didn't express any needs at the party and she already has two of our daughters, albeit not mighty ones.
+1
-
E
A
-
You resolve to visit Dull after the confrence concludes, and decide that now is not the time to be bothering the fickle fly in The Soup with unsolicited favors.
Moving on, what is the next matter of discussion?
A: Reform of my Pantheon!
B: Reform of my Cult!
C: Relations with the Abyssal Pantheon!
D: The affairs of my mortal priests!
E: Nothing, the conference has come to a close!
-
D
-
B
-
C
-
Best to straighten out our own affairs first.
-
I feel like C is the natural follow-on to discussing our other foreign affairs.
-
it's just info
info never enough
D
-
C
-
You bring up relations with the Abyssal Gods and their followers.
2
The Imperial Representatives are largely against getting too close to their new Kappa trade partners. As things stand, the Kappa are allowed to use the tunnel of Emperor Sun-nut to briefly visit and conduct trade with The Empire. According to your son, the Kappa are forbidden from settling on his side of the forest and are not allowed to openly pratice their religion while they are guests of the emperor. Sun-nut's own citizens are forbidden from transversing the tunnel, and the penalty for a chestnut dwarf who tries to reach the Kappa lands is death.
Sun-nut explains that these harsh measures are temporary, to be revoked once several decades pass or you formalize some sort of relationship with the Abyssal Gods. He wishes to establish himself properly as God Emperor before dealing with foreign cults, and likewise dosn't want his own people to piss off the Abyssal Pantheon by attempting to spread their own faith on Kappa soil.
5
Your court, on the otherhand, has a few ideas as to how you might cozy up to Ore and company. "The Abyssal Pantheon is one of the largest and most powerful in this world," Skoonhein suggests, "and as far as we know, they are fond of you. You are already planning on joining them against the dwarf gods anyway, so perhaps it would be wise to offer your fealty to Ore. Your father kept many smaller Pantheons as vassals, and always made it a point to treat them well, my queen. The protection of The Abyssal Gods may just be our best long-term chance at survival."
Lahara speaks next, "my father indeed keeps smaller pantheons as vassals, and indeed keeps them well, but if such a path is too much for your pride to accept, it may be possible to become his ally instead. If you pledge to help him against the wretched dwarf gods when the time comes, and your forces pull their own weight, he might offer you an alliance. Ore is a god of might, so he is more than willing to accept those who are confident in their own might as friends and equals if they can prove their worth."
The room falls silent as you contemplate your options, before your spymaster speaks once more. "...If even alliance is too much commitment for you, you could just ask the Abyssal Pantheon to set you up with your next consort. Senshinochi is growing old, and may have to retire to the Amber Palace soon. You could arrange to have him replaced by one of my sibblings, or another heroic follower of the Abyssal Pantheon when the time comes. At the very least this would allow you to remain linked to my father through your bedchambers."
As for Sun-nut's policy of limited contact between the Empire and The Kappa...
A: Surely my son knows how to best rule his empire!
B: No! My people and Ore's must intermingle! I should try and convince Sun-nut of this here and now!
As for developing closer relations with the Abyssal Pantheon...
A: Send a messenger to express my interest in swearing fealty to Ore in exchange for protection!
B: Send a messenger to formally offer my aid against the Dwarven Pantheon, in hopes of eventually becoming Ore's ally!
C: Send a messenger to the Abyssal Pantheon, expressing my interest in wedding one of his divine children once my current husband's time is up!
D: Send a messenger to the Abyssal Pantheon, expressing my interest in wedding another of his heroic followers once my current husband's time is up!
E: Send no messengers to the Abyssal Pantheon at this time.
-
A
C
A more formal arrangement can be made later.
-
A for sure. Then B & C? It's not like they're mutually exclusive :P
I'f I have to pick though, I'll go B
-
AB
-
A E
The same as my answer for befriending Char-Dis: nothing for now. It feels good to review options and possible paths, but I will accept that future opportunities may have a narrower range of choices as the price of our independence in the present.
(If pressed, I think I would prefer fealty over an alliance over a marriage, as that is the strongest benefit to our security situation.)
-
A E
The same as my answer for befriending Char-Dis: nothing for now. It feels good to review options and possible paths, but I will accept that future opportunities may have a narrower range of choices as the price of our independence in the present.
(If pressed, I think I would prefer fealty over an alliance over a marriage, as that is the strongest benefit to our security situation.)
+1
-
AC
-
AC
-
A
C
-
AC
-
AC — maybe we can still scoop up that one who wanted to be our consort when we got Lahara!
-
You order a letter be written to the Abyssal Pantheon, requesting that they arrange for you to marry one of Ore's children once Senshinochi passes, and also continue your policy of letting Sun-nut do as he pleases with his empire.
What do you want to talk about next?
A: Reform of my Pantheon!
B: Reform of my Cult!
C: The affairs of my mortal priests!
D: Nothing, the conference has come to a close!
-
B
-
B
-
A
-
B
-
B
-
You finally get to cult reform. Before the meeting you had asked Skoonhein to prepare a model of worship that would allow both Sun-nut and yourself to gain essence from Imperial Followers, and to no surprise on your part, the angel has come up with two such designs.
"First," Skoonhein proposes, "we could re-arrange worship to present your faith as a Cult of the God Emperor. Such reforms would split essence income between you and whomever the sitting emperor may be. There are a few drawbacks here; First, you would be giving up half of your essence gain from worship, and secondly, should a non-deity ever hold the throne, their half of the worship would be wasted. This structure would also make things very complicated should you ever gain a large number of followers who are not part of The Empire."
"That sounds like a costly plan indeed," you admit, "at least tell me there are some benefits."
"Indeed there are," Skoonhein admits, "As long as you keep the majority of the following within the empire, you will see massive increases to the Orthadoxy of your following! Also, because the Emperor of your people will be formally recognized as a deity, and deities are served by hosts, it is highly unlikely that neutral observers will object to your host intervening on The Empire's behalf should a Cult of the God Emperor be established."
"And what of your second plan?" You ask.
"The second plan is far more radical," Skoonhein admits, "in that we would blow up your cult entirely to create a League of Divine Rulers. Under this system, each major segment of population once loyal to you worships a single god-ruler. The god-rulers are responsible for handling the affairs of their flock themselves, and also paying a small tithe of essence to you. The long term impact of such a radical change is difficult to predict, but it will make it easier to expand your following beyond the reach of The Empire. In the short term, however, I can tell you that it would render my office of Intermediary as Obsolete, as each god-ruler would be handling the affairs of their mortals directly."
You consider the options and decide to...
A: Implement a proper Cult of the God Emperor!
B: Establish a League of Divine Rulers!
C: Do neither!
-
B seems it will have more long-term benefits, especially if we grow our pantheon. Not sure though.
Edit: Switch to A.
-
A, as long as we keep gods as emperors it will benefit the most.
-
A I'd rather not reduce the pantheon we lead to a loose alliance of equals, and the Orthodoxy boost and ease of Host deployment should prove incredibly useful
when if we go to war with the Mountain Dwarves.
-
A
-
C
-
A
-
C
-
I'm leaning C, myself. For now, while we still have such a limited position in the world.
-
A
-
'A' sounds like a good way for an ambitious son (or whomever follows should the worst befall) to overthrow us.
B
This will make it easier to "feed" everyone as our Pantheon grows and is not reliant on one particular figure. ((Plus jostling between the lesser members provides good story hooks.))
-
You decree that the empire shall formally convert to a Cult of the God Emperor. Skoonhein, Sun-nut, and the various mortal priests spend a few hours talking the logistics of this change, and eventually decide that because Sun-nut is already acknowledged as a God Emperor, the conversion can be brought about by the end of the decade with no real expected costs or complications.
By the time the conversation on logistics concludes, you can tell that your mortal visitors are tired, and their focus is waning. You have accomplished the main objective of the conference, perhaps it is time to conclude the meeting.
A: Aye! Lets send our guests home!
B: Lets talk reform of my Pantheon first!
C: Lets talk the affairs of my mortal priests first!
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
You declare the meeting over, and bid your guests farewell.
The following morning, you order your chariot prepared to seek out the band of Nomad Dwarf land pirates lead by Dull, follower of Char-Dis.
---
6
Dull's camp is not hard to locate, as it is located so close to the empire that a mortal traveling on foot from the town of Charity could reach it within half a month. You approach the camp, and announce yourself as Sunpetal of Beauty to the perimeter guards, and watch as the scurry about camp spreading word of your arrival.
Nomad Dwarves, you note, are very similar to your Chestnut Dwarf followers. They are perhaps slightly larger on average, and possess slightly darker skin. Ugly asymmetrical faces, common amoung your followers, are few and far between in this camp, and although some of the dwarves here possess the prehensile nose of a Chestnut Dwarf, those too are rare. You note these are a people hardened by conflict; Almost everybody seems to be in fighting shape, and even the few elderly, underage, and very pregnant dwarves you spot carry weapons.
After several minutes of this, you are wisked into Dull's tent. The leader of the pirates is well dressed in a fancy black robe and a wide three-sided hat. On his belt is a familiar looking silver dagger encrusted with yellow gems that you can detect is a minor artifact; The decorations on the blade look identical to those on the weapon that was recently used to try and kill your husband, so you guess that it too is one of the Seven Beam Swords. Aside from his ownership of a weapon made by the dwarven gods, the only hint that Dull might be some kind of savage is his necklace, which upon closer inspection is made from dwarven knuckle bones.
"Goddess Sunpetal, friend of Char-Dis and mother of Emperor Sun-nut! I was not expecting such prestigious company today! I invite you to wait at my camp until sundown, so that my chef may prepare a feast fantastic enough for a goddess and a chieftain to conduct business over."
A: No, lets talk now!
B: Sure, I can wait until dinner!
-
A
-
B
-
B
-
You decide to wait until dinner per Dull's request.
Dinner arrives without incident. Dull has exchanged his black robe and hat for a purple one, and his knucklebone necklace for a simple gold chain. The feast consists of several large pots of various soups, and an entire spit-roast donkey. The bowls and utensils are made from some exotic purple substance that looks and feels like wood, but weighs as much as lead.
You are seated at Dull's right hand, a clear reminder that the dwarf views you not as an object of worship, but as a potential friend and ally. About two dozen well dressed and heavily armed Nomad Dwarves join you at the table. The meal begins in awkward silence... clearly your host is expecting you to lead the discussion. With this in mind, you pause to consider what it is you wish to talk about.
A: Talk about establishing a military alliance between Dull's band and The Empire of All Things Beautiful.
B: Talk about establishing a trade agreement between Dull's band and The Empire of All Things Beautiful.
C: Ask to be introduced to the others at the table.
D: Ask Dull to tell his story. How does a Nomad Dwarf wind up worshiping Char-Dis?
E: Ask about the strange material that the bowls and spoons are made from.
-
D
-
D
-
D
-
You ask Dull to tell you his story, noting that a dwarf who worships Char-Dis is a rarity indeed.
2
The Nomad Dwarf considers your question, before answering carefully. "Years ago, I made a mistake which disqualified me from worshiping the gods of my ancestors. My family disowned me, and the clerics of the band I belonged to tried to have me killed. Needless to say, this angered me. When searching for a new god, I settled on Char-Dis, because, as I am told you are well aware, she is a patron of revenge as much as she is a goddess of caves. She whispers in my ear at night, telling me that you will likely make war upon those who have wronged me, and that I can best have my revenge by becoming your friend."
You wonder what Dull could have done to alienate the Dwarven Pantheon.
A: I should press him for more of his story!
B: Nah! Lets change the subject. (Choose an option other than D from the Previous Update if you choose B)
-
B A
-
B E
-
B A
+1
-
B E
-
B C
-
BC
-
...A tiebreaker would be nice here guys.
-
BA
-
You bring up the idea of a military alliance between The Empire and Dull's band of pirates.
6
The Nomad Dwarf grins. "My spiritual master is Char-Dis, but I have been trying for months to get Sun-nut to accept me as a vassal so that he might guide me in political and military affairs. I'd follow his orders so long as he allows my clan the right to pillage any lands we attack on his behalf, shelters us on Imperial Soil should enemies pursue us, and respects the Nomad Dwarf tradition of freedom of religion. Sadly, your son has been turning away my envoys."
You consider the proposal for a moment before responding...
A: I accept your offer of fealty on Sun-nut's behalf! May you serve him well!
B: Absolutely not!
C: Your insistence on a right to pillage is a sticking poin! Lets negotiate that.
D: Your demand for protection and shelter is a sticking point! Lets negotiate that.
E: Your tradition of free worship is a sticking point! Lets negotiate that.
-
A
-
E
-
In doubt about C and A
okay, pillage is part of life, but will we want to pillage lands we desire to conquer?
pillaged lands aren't beatiful and i think it won't give the best subjects
although walnut did razed a city out of anger before, let's see beautiful things in the bad stuff too
A
-
Omada, I disagree with your last reasoning. Walnut razing a city means a city that is not converted to our cult. Just because we love him does not magically make his every choice OK.
Our very first act in the world was to make an ugly people not only pleasing to view but instilling kindness in their hearts to the point they renamed their town Charity.
+1 ... essence spent in line with domain
I would class pillaging as the opposite of charity, and thus I have reason to judge that pillaging is the opposite of our divine portfolio.
C
We may have to accept the stench of corrupt allies in order to have allies (Dull's stance appears very much informed by worshipping a revenge-filled goddess) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Openly giving a sub-commander free license is to paint ourselves with the same ugly brush.
-
If we get them to worship us then we can also make them beautiful.
-
C
-
If we get them to worship us then we can also make them beautiful.
Agreed, I just don't know that this has a useful chance of success from option E; and if it did it might anger Char-Dis who apparently has sent this fellow our way in the first place.
I'll accept, rather, to establish that our rules are not her rules and that we'll have to find a way to get along. I do have hope that at least some Nomads will visit the Temple of the Tome or otherwise be exposed while "sheltering" in our lands, and for that we could hardly be held to account.
-
Well maybe we should get Chardis to join our pantheon. We could tell her to adopt beauty into revenge.
-
C was basically Sun-Nut's opposition point as well, the torture thing. There is a difference between taking spoils of war and free reign in raiding.
-
C
-
C
-
2
You try to talk Dull out of his right to pillage, but the nomad dwarf is having none of it. "Piracy is the only way my people know how to sustain themselves. We produce nothing, and even if we did, few would be willing to conduct trade with us. I'm terribly sorry, but the right to pillage is non-negotiable."
A: Fine, then I'm leaving!
B: Fine, then I'm changing the topic! Your people have issues sustaining themselves, so lets talk about trade.
C: Fine, then I'm changing the topic! How about you take a deep breath and introduce me to those at the table?
D: Fine, then I'm changing the topic! How about you tell me about this strange diningware we are eating with?
E: Fine, I accept your terms as they stand!
F: FOOL! YOU DARE REFUSE THE DEMANDS OF A GODDESS? CONSIDER YOUR ASS PUNISHED!
-
D
I'm almost ready to leave, but this sounds like a potential trade good. Having that would neatly counter his arguments.
-
I'm almost ready to leave, but this sounds like a potential trade good. Having that would neatly counter his arguments.
(I just want to mention that I think it's actually Glumprong.)
-
B
-
B
-
D
-
b and D?
-
D
-
You tell Dull you will consider his offer, and change the subject to the strange purple dining set you are eating off of.
"It is a wood that grows in the haunted canyons beyond the mountianhomes," Dull explains. "The few civilized folk who live in those parts call it Glumprong. The Sea Dwarves call it Royal Timber because of its purple hue, and import it to build boats because it is supernaturally buoyant despite its extreme density. Usually us Land Pirates stay away from Glumprong Shipments because there are few people interested in buying the stuff, and it is too heavy to be hauling around in any large quantity without having a buyer lined up."
He dramatically raises his fork to catch the light of a nearby lamp before taking a bite of his meat and continuing. "This dining set used to belong to a wealthy merchant named Throng-Urist. He attempted to ship it to his son, a high ranking officer in the military of your Empire, shortly after The War of The Emperor's Return, but the package was intercepted by my master at the time, a Land Pirate called Nuk. When Nuk tried to cast me from his clan, I killed him, and looted the dining set along with some of his personal possessions before escaping with my followers to form the pirate band that hosts you now."
A: That's nice. Lets get back to talking about a miltary alliance between your band and The Empire.
B: Hmm... The Kappa might want to buy Glumprong to build their ships, and The Empire controls a tunnel to reach them. If you can acquire more, perhaps a trade deal can be reached.
C: That's nice. How about you introduce me to the other fine people at this table?
D: That's nice, I think I'm done here.
E: I know both Throng-Urist and his son General Thrane. You should return the dining set to them.
-
B
We don't really like General Thrane that much anyway, right? After his whole "quitting the Empire in a huff" thing he deserves to lose a few priceless heirlooms.
-
B
-
B
Thrane is loyal to us and probably wouldn't mind if he sees it benefits his goddess. I think. Doesn't really matter anyway, we don't rely on him that much.
-
"...You know, we have a tunnel to the Kappa now, and the Kappa might appreciate Glumprong to build their own boats. Expecially Glumprong stolen from the Sea Dwarves they hate so much."
3
Dull's eyes briefly light up in greed, but he quickly tempers his expectations before responding to your comment. "That does sound profitable, goddess. But it also sounds risky. Securing a Glumprong shipment will take alot of time and effort, and could be costly in terms of lives lost as well. I'm not sure I want to go through all that without knowing for sure the Kappa will buy the goods..."
You sigh. It sounds like you might need to grease the wheels a bit for this to work.
A: Meh. Do what you will, mortal.
B: Sun-nut is an artist and a builder. If the Kappa don't want the initial shipment, I'll tell him to buy it and find use for it.
C: I am an artist and a builder. I will buy the initial shipment if the Kappa do not.
D: Where is your sense of adventure? If you agree to embark on a quest to secure a shipment of Glumprong, I will make you a minor artifact to aid you in your journey.
-
C
-
D sounds like fun
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C
-
Could be useful.
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C
-
C
-
"Go. Fetch the Glumprong. If the Kappa don't purchase it, I will. It is a fine material, and I can make something beautiful out of it."
4
Dull nods. "That is fair enough. I shall return to the stonecamps, gather some raiders, and stalk the trade routes between the Mountainhomes and the Sea Dwarves. I should have some Glumprong to sell in a few years, and we can discuss my aligence to Sun-nut upon my return."
The rest of the dinner passes without incident, and you board your chariot to return home shortly after midnight.
6.4 CS:
You receive a response from the Abyssal Pantheon. Ore has agreed to set you up with a new spouse upon the death of Senshinochi.
---
Two parties seek an audience today. A cherub, one of Skoonhein's underlings, wishes to talk about the missionaries of The Temple of the Tome. You daughter Moonpetal is also visiting from the Amber Palace, wishing to speak with you.
A: I'll talk to the cherub first!
B: I'll talk to my daughter first!
-
B
-
B when have we ever wanted to talk to a cherub
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B Hey, sweetie, what's up?
-
B
-
B
-
B
-
You order your throne room closed and invite both Moonpetal and her father Senshinochi into your personal chambers to talk over a nice meal. You, your husband, and your daughter spend a few hours on friendly small talk. When Moonpetal was a girl, you had worried a bit that here title of Goddess of pride would make her difficult to deal with, but luckily the thing she has the most pride for is her blood; She has nothing but the deepest affection and respect for both her godly mother and her mortal father. Eventually Moonpetal gets down to business.
"Mother, I have recieved an invitation from Bark-Ark, the Abyssal lord of the dead." She explains, "he is inviting all the afterlife administrators of the world to participate in a half-decade long scavenger hunt, he he claims that the prize for the winner is a truly unique and powerful soul to rule over. I part of me wishes to participate, but another part of me knows that as your daughter and Goddess of Pride, It would reflect poorly on my parents and pantheon should I not win. I figured I'd ask your advice on the matter."
A: You should go.
B: You should not.
C: You should go, but the Amber Palace needs a godly administrator. Lahara should take a hiatus from her role as Spymaster to hold down your office.
D: You should go, but the Amber Palace needs a godly administrator. Sun-nut should leave the empire in Thrane's hands for a spell to hold down your office.
E: Ask your father.
-
C
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A - It's not like we need someone to run it
-
A
She unlocks the third slot but we haven't filled the second yet, hopefully we won't have that many important people die on us.
-
A
-
A
-
You instruct Moonpetal to go participate in the scavenger hunt! After another few hours of family time, she departs to do just that, and you return to your throne room to meet with the Cherub.
"My queen!" he declares, "the Temple of the Tome is ready to send out yet another round of missionaries! To whom shall we direct them to preach?"
A: To the Chestnut Dwarves!
B: To the Nomad Dwarves!
C: To the Mountain Dwarves!
D: To the Sea Dwarves!
E: They should violate Sun-nut's travel ban and visit the Kappa!
F: Sun-nut should choose!
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F
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A I'm hoping we'll be able to get the rest of the Chestnut Dwarves under our Empire.
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A Prophet is correct, let's focus on our own territory before we go abroad.
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A With the Chestnut Dwarves out of the way, the only mortal problems will be the Sea Dwarves.
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F He's our point man for spreading stuff. Since our new cult kinda needs our followers to be part of his empire, let's follow his lead on the best candidate for expansion.
-
F
-
F
Give him the autonomy he deserves.
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A
-
A
-
A
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F
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D We can take the mortal worship of the sea dwarves who do not want to fight the Kappa.
-
After some deliberation, you send the missionaries to convert their fellow Chestnut Dwarves.
6.5 CS:
6
News reaches you from The Empire! General Thrane has managed to turn his fellow influential mountain dwarves against the Traditionalist worship of the Dwarven Pantheon. Should hostilities break you, the Empire has little to fear from dissension in the ranks!
6.6 CS:
You spy master Lahara appears before your throne with two matters she wishes to discuss. The first matter relates to a dream that she had, that the sages of your court are certain is prophetic. The second matter relates to your grown daughter Nishi, whom Lahara thinks is up to something suspicious.
A: Tell me about my daughter first!
B: Tell me about your dream first!
-
If one was even remotely related to the other she would tell us, so lets go with daughter first.
A
-
A
-
A
-
B prophecy first, then we will know how to deal with everything
-
B
-
B
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B
-
You decide to ask about the dream first.
Lahara takes a deep breath, and tells you what she saw.
I dreamed I was in my chambers, when a great alarm rose in the divine dwelling. You, my queen, had gone missing. Everybody scattered to find you, but it was I who tracked you down first. You were sleepwalking through the forest, traveling toward Imperial Lands.
Why I chose not to rouse you eludes me, but I followed you instead. In your sleep, you wandered to the ruined town of Mighty Oaks, where you came to a stop and reached into your robes with your right hand. With that right hand, you produced a dagger, and before I could stop you, you slit your own throat and fell to the ground.
Terrified, I ran to the Town of the Tome to inform Sun-nut, only to find him outside the walls of the Imperial Capital, fight a pitched battle. The enemy force consisted of Mountian Dwarves, and they bore banners depicting a great fish. As I watched the battle, it became apparent Sun-nut's forces were loosing; The enemy advanced, slowly destroying the Imperial Legion. Just before they could reach Sun-nut, and strike your son down, a great tidal wave rose from nowhere, swept across the battlefield, and struck me, at which point a awoke shivering in my bed.
Lahara allows you a second to process her vision, before moving on to the explanation that your sages gave her. That you harmed yourself with your right hand implies that somebody close to you has done something or will do something that will bring you harm. That you were asleep when you harmed yourself means that you are unaware of the wrong done to you, and that perhaps the perpetrator is as well. That the incident occoured in the ruined town of Mighty Oaks leads the sages to believe that the incident relates to the theft of the Staff of Creed from the Tomb of Tul-Urist, which is located there.
The sages also conclude that Sun-nut's defeat at the hands of the dwarves should be interpreted literally. Unless the foreseen harm to you is addressed before then, the dwarves will likely attack in the year 7.2 CS, which is the year of the shark on their calendar. This support's the sages' theory that the harm to you forseen is actually the theft of the Staff of Creed, as Tul-Urist was a hero to the mountain dwarves, and the desecration of his tomb would legitimately anger them.
The sages are split on interpreting the end of the dream. Many agree that the tidal wave represents Lahara herself, as she is the goddess of disasters at sea. Some believe that the dream tells her that she is the only one who can successfully solve the mystery of the missing Staff of Creed and prevent the dwarf attack. Others suggest that the dream is telling Lahara that only her heroics can defeat the dwarves in battle to save the empire. Some sages still, however, believe that the tidal wave represents The Kappa, a people of the sea, and that The Empire may overcome the troubles foreseen only with their aid.
You take a moment, and decide how to respond to this influx of information.
A: I'll ignore it. I don't put much stock in dream prophecy.
B: If Lahara is the one fated to solve the mystery of the missing staff, she should replace my daughter Azuma in leading the investigation.
C: If Lahara is fated to save The Empire from The Dwarves in battle, she should step aside from her duties as spy-master and begin to train for battle.
D: Clearly the Kappa are the answer. We should relay the dream to them, and try to arrange for their aid in the war likely to come.
E: We will preempt this prophecy! Send word to Sun-nut that The Empire should be ready to attack the Mountian Homes before 7.2 CS.
-
B
-
B
-
B, but Azuma can stay on as well.
-
B
-
D
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D
-
You inform Lahara that she is to take over for Azuma in investigating the missing staff, before asking what she has to say about Azuma's twin sister.
"Have you heard from Nishi of late, my queen?" She asks.
"No, why?"
"It is as I feared then. She is planning to marry. Her spouse-to-be is League Father Kranstill, a Nomad Dwarf with little official power, but great influence over a population that is four times greater than that of your empire." Lahara explains, "the wedding is to take place in two months, at the distant stone camp of Elephant Lake, and for some reason Nishi has not seen fit to share this information with you or your court."
A: She can do as she pleases!
B: She thinks she can get married without my blessing? Send a messenger to firmly inform her otherwise.
C: She thinks she can throw a party without me? Send a messenger to inform her that Senshinochi and I will be attending!
D: She must be up to something! I will attend her wedding, but unanounced and in disguise.
E: She wants to keep her distance from me? Fine. I'll send a representative from my court to attend the wedding.
-
C!
-
D!
-
D is clearly the traditional godly way of dealing with this.
-
D
-
D
-
C ALL THE PARTIES WILL BE OURS
-
D
-
D
-
You dismiss Lahara, grab the nearest Cherub, and order a disguise be made ready in time for the wedding!
---
The stone camp of Elephant Lake appears to be a large castle-like structure from the outside, and you quickly discover that there is no way in without blowing your disguise. The guards are keeping a tight guest list and an even tighter patrol. Luckily for you the ceremony itself takes place on an exterior balcony, so that a gathered mass of nomad dwarves may watch.
You worm your way into the first row of spectators, which consists mostly of important looking nomad dwarves. Behind you stands a multitude; hundreds of elephants, tens of thousands of soldiers, and at least as many civilians behind them. Despite its size the crowd is dead silent for the ceremony.
The groom is an ancient looking dwarf who can barely stand with a cane. You can tell at a glance that he is enthralled by your daughter. Nishi, on the other hand, wears a cold expression on her face; She is either being compelled to wed the old dwarf, or is simply using him. The ceremony itself consists of a love song preformed by a minstrel who is nearly the groom's age, a short exchange of vows, and a long kiss. You note that it is a Chestnut Dwarf, wearing the robes of your own clergy, who oversees the whole affair.
After the applause dies down, League Father Kranstill approaches the edge of the balcony to give a speech. As he talks, the age seems to melt from his voice, and the fierce determination of a much younger dwarf booms across the plains beyond the stone camp.
"My children! Feast and celebrate! Sing and dance! Drink and fornicate! Enjoy yourselves like there is no tomorrow, for there may well not be! Once this feast concludes, WE MARCH TO WAR! The mother of my bride is the great and beautiful Goddess Sunpetal, worshiped in the empire founded by that foolish peasant Walnut!"
The crowd boos and jeers at the mention of your first husband's name. "Walnut's spawn, my so called brother-in-law, the 'god-emperor' Sun-nut, currently sits the throne, but it is clear he does not deserve to do so! The scrolls of Sunpetal, and the console of my wife, are quite clear: Senshinochi, my father-in-law, was a far greater hero than Emperor Walnut! Senshinochi was loved by Sunpetal more than Emperor Walnut! And Senshinochi's blood is more worthy of ruling Sunpetal's mortal followers than the blood of Walnut!"
The old dwarf then gestures for his wife to join him at the edge of the balcony. He kisses her once more, before taking a knee, and shouting "All hail Nishi, League Mother of Elephant Lake, and True Empress of All Things Beautiful!"
The crowd erupts into cheers. Warhorns are blown. Elephants trumpet. Spears are waved.
...Crap.
A: I will let this play out. May my most worthy child win!
B: This will not fly, I should reveal myself now and crash this party!
C: This will not fly, I should confront the couple under more private circumstances!
D: I am neither a politician nor a general. I should return home, and convene a war council to get advice on how to proceed.
E: I should tip Azuma off to her sister's agenda, and depend on one twin to undo the misdeeds of the other.
-
B Nishi isn't a deity which would interfere with our newly reformed cult, also this seems to be related the first part of the prophecy, as they're nomad dwarves and not the mountain dwarves that were part of the 2nd part of the prophecy.
-
Torn between B and E, but leaning the latter (obviously)
-
she Better not
-
B
-
B
-
B
-
B
-
You consume a trivial amount of essence to cast aside your disguise and levitate away from the crowd, landing on the edge of the balcony in front of newlywed couple. League Father Kranstill is clearly thrilled by your appearance. Nishi is clearly terrified.
"I AM SUNPETAL OF BEAUTY!" You cry in a terrible sing-song voice, "AND I..."
Before you can go any further a thought strikes you. Perhaps it would be best to treat Nishi and her new husband with a good degree of leniency; If you can prevent them from harming the Empire without harming or angering them, their people could prove a windfall of new followers, and a powerful ally against the mountain dwarves. Then again, publicly endorsing your daughter's effort to convert a bunch of nomad dwarves may draw the ire of the Dwarven Pantheon before you are ready for it, and allowing Nishi to conspire against Sun-nut and get away unpunished might encourage some of Senshinochi's other children to try a similar stunt in the future.
You pause a moment for thought before finishing your sentence.
A: ...Would like to politely convince you not to attack The Empire.
B: ...Am here to make you a deal, Nishi. Swear to leave Sun-nut alone, and I will crown you Empress of these assembled people here and now.
C: ...AM HERE TO STERNLY REBUKE YOU FOR CONSPIRING AGAINST MY SON!
D: ...WILL TEACH YOU A LESSON BY SUBJECTING YOUR NEW HUSBAND TO DIVINE PUNISHMENT!
E: ...WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS TREACHERY! PREPARE YOURSELF FOR DIVINE PUNISHMENT, DAUGHTER!
F: ...WILL SUMMON MY HOST TO WIPE OUT YOUR ASSEMBLED ARMY! Lets see what sort of threat you can post to The Empire without a military.
-
Anything except for d and f.
These guys are loyal, she was just manipulating them.
-
I want a merge of B and C, personally. Rebuke Nishi for trying to claim the Imperial throne, but congratulate her on personally acquiring a large number of followers. Maybe see about folding them into the Empire with her as a regional governor?
If I had to pick though, I'd go for B. Better to have allies against the Mountain Dwarves than risk alienating them.
-
C
-
C
or maybe E but probably not
She's already converted them, just look at that guy's face. It's her lust for power that's causing a problem.
We should come down hard enough to convince the rest she isn't speaking for our divine will and to convince the Dwarf Pantheon it was unauthorized, but not so hard that these poor souls actually turn away from us.
-
Can we go with something with B and C?
publicy announce that killing of our own children is something we will frown upon (and specially with a cult of god emperor, godamn nishi, you asshole, you want to essence to go to waste?)
we can make an artifact if the people cheer enough, and say in her ear "I will talk with you later"
-
A Going all old testament then just being reasonable seems too funny to pass up, B is a good alternative I guess.
-
Cease and desist
-
I'm in favour of the whole C and then B thing.
-
C
-
"...I AM HERE TO STERNLY REBUKE YOU FOR CONSPIRING AGAINST MY SON! HOW DARE YOU PLOT AGAINST A GOD, WORM! YOU ARE JUST LUCKY I AM OPPOSED TO HARMING MY CHILDREN! HAD I DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS MY FATHER WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME OUT BEHIND THE DIVINE DWELLING AND..."
The lecture continues for several minutes, before Nishi turns and flees inside, bawling like a child. Satisfied with your work, you leave.
2
You later receive word that your outburst was enough to turn League Father Kranstill away from your worship in a significant way. Not only has he renounced your faith and annulled his marriage, but he has gone so far as to break with the nomad dwarf tradition of religious freedom and threatened to execute any of his followers who remain loyal to the goddess of beauty. You learn that it was only your line about being opposed to the harming of your children that allowed Nishi to escape the Elephant Lake stonecamp with her life.
6.7 CS:
You awaken in the middle of the night, stirred from your slumber by a bad dream you can't quite remember, only to be greeted by a somewhat disturbing sight; Your son Toraburumēkā, who officially comes of age next year, stareing at you from behind a pillar with a look of pure lust in his eyes. Ah, beauty can be a curse at times.
You sigh, and call him out. "I can see you, Toraburumēkā."
Your son meekly emerges from behind the pillar. It doesn't take much prompting to get him to confess. "Y... your beauty enthralls me mother. I beg you, please, send word to the Abysall pantheon, and withdraw your request for aid in finding a third husband, so that I may replace my father in your heart and life when he retires to the Amber Palace."
A: Were I green-skinned and male, you would be my dead ringer. How could I resist mixing my beauty with yours? I will honor your request, consequences be damned.
B: I cannot risk my ties to the Abyssal Pantheon, not even for your sake. The best I can promise is to keep you in mind should you somehow outlive my eventual third husband, or should I ever expand my personal apartment to accommodate more than one consort.
C: HOW DARE YOU SNEAK INTO MY BEDROOM AND LEER AT YOUR GODDESS IN SUCH A WAY! CONSIDER YOURSELF BANISHED AND DISINHERITED!
D: My beauty flows through my offspring. If you desire me, perhaps you should court one of your sisters.
E: Marry you? No. But we have about a year before you must leave the divine dwelling, and we shall make the most of that. By all means, join me in bed right now.
-
B
-
D
-
Oh divine incest, you amuse me so.
D
-
You advise Toraburumēkā to seek your beauty in his sisters. Your son considers your words briefly, before thanking you for your insight, kneeling before your bed, and kissing your hand.
6
Word eventually reaches you that Toraburumēkā has taken your advice to heart... and to a level far greater than anything you expected. You learn that not only is your son sleeping with his own twin sister Sukina, but he is enjoying mature written correspondence with your other set of twins, who as expected are now competing for Toraburumēkā's affection.
---
Skoonhein approaches your throne with an interesting update.
"My queen, there is a disturbance in the forest," he explains, "the Merchant Throng-Urist, father of General Thrane, is clearing a large plot of trees and constructing a massive fortress to serve as a warehouse and headquarters for his business operation. This construction will clearly bring much wealth into the empire, but it is the closest mortal intrusion to your divine dwelling yet, and will likely bring in many new Mountain Dwarves who are sympathetic, or even devoted to, the Traditionalist Faith."
A: I cannot allow this! Tell Throng-Urist he cannot build his fortress!
B: The location is unacceptable! Tell him to put his headquarters elsewhere within the Empire!
C: The possibility of his fortress bringing Traditionalists into the Empire is unacceptable! Sternly warn Throng-Urist against bringing in heathens!
D: The prosperity of The Empire far outweighs my concerns about this fort! Give Throng-Urist's project my blessing!
-
Can I get a less enthusiastic D? I'm okay with this, but don't necessarily want to encourage it.
-
B
-
B
-
D but keep missionaries onsite to convert the heathens over time.
-
B
Have we actually told them, "This is my sacred forest, don't build here or a least get permission first," because we should.
-
For the record, Throng-Urist was convinced to relocate his business in support of Sunpetal after being convinced to do so by Sunpetal herself. It seems churlish to say no because there are some members of his household are not worshippers. D
-
D
just make sure sun-out make laws forbidding further spread to the forest
non-believers shall see the beauty of our lands and maybe they will convert
-
B
-
Tiebreaker?
-
B
-
You send word to Throng-Urist that he has picked an inappropriate location for his new headquarters.
2
A few weeks later you get a report back. "Throng-Urist cannot be found," the Cherub explains. "We believe he is somewhere back in the mountainhomes, working on closing down the old headquarters and moving his organization, and nobody within The Empire has the faintest clue when he will be back. The longer we wait, the more resources will be sunk into construction in the forest, and the harder it may be to talk him into calling off the project."
A: Then we shall scour the mountianhomes to find him! Hopefully the dwarven Pantheon doesn't mind!
B: We must make our demands to Throng-Urist's subordinates then, and have them stop the construction.
C: We shall take our request to General Thrane then. He may have the authority to stop construction.
D: We shall take our request to Emperor Sun-nut then. He will have the authority to stop construction.
E: The matter can wait until Throng-Urist returns.
-
D
-
D
-
C
-
D
-
E
And then just never bring it up again
-
B/C?
I was under the impression that Thrane is second in his father's business, while moonlighting as chief advisor to the emperor. Or is that the other way round?
-
C
-
You forward your demand to move the Headquarters to Emperor Sun-nut.
3
Sun-nut refuses your demand! The construction is too vital to the economic future of the empire, he argues, and Thrane and Throng-Urist are too fickle to risk angering. He does, however, offer to issue an imperial decree banning all future construction in The Woods without your express consent.
A: ...Fine.
B: Ungrateful Brat! I shall send my host to remove him from the throne!
C: I WILL NOT BE DEFIED! If I can't bring Throng-Urist's little project to a peaceful end, I will send my host to crush it!
D: I WILL NOT BE DEFIED! If I can't bring Throng-Urist's little project to a peaceful end, I will spend essence to destroy it with a great cataclysm!
F: I cannot allow the headquarters to stand, nor can I afford to be blamed for its destruction. I'll quietly call in the favor Char-Dis owes me to deal with it.
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
You decide to accept Sun-nut's compromise.
6.8 CS:
A very solemn looking Cherub enters your court and bows low.
"My queen," he states, "I come bearing terrible news. Your son Uzru has been slain!"
"What! How?"
"We are unsure. We just recieved the messenger from Bark-Ark's seat of judgement bearing the news. Your son's soul showed up at his seat two days ago. He cannot recall the manner of his death, but guesses that he was murdered in his sleep; He was rooming in a hostel with a dozen other mercenaries, heroes, and adventurers sent to kill Green Oni Midoriiro as he was. It was likely somebody struck him down to thin out the competition." The Cherub explains.
"And what judgement has Bark-Ark passed on my son's soul?" You ask.
"He has sentenced Uzru to angel training at the Amber Palace, should you consent to taking him back of course."
You sigh. Not only do you have to figure out what to do with your son's soul, but you also have to decide if his death merits further investigation.
As for his soul...
A: Of course I will have it back. I do not abandon family.
B: Moonpetal will not want her failure of a husband returned to her. I decline.
As for his death...
A: He died on Kappa lands, so the responsibility to investigate falls to Ikarinojoō, the mortal queen of Kappa.
B: He died on Kappa lands, so the responsibility to investigate falls to the Abysall Gods worshiped there.
C: I have a spymaster who is also an Abyssal Diety by birth. I will pull Lahara from the case of the missing staff, and put her on this!
D: I have a consort who is also a Kappa! Old age shall not stop Senshinochi from returning to his homeland to investigate the death of his son!
F: I have better things to be doing than worrying about the murder of a mortal.
-
AA
-
While Moonpetal is away from home, herself. That's going to be an unpleasant surprise.
Anything but C, the staff is too important.
A D
-
AA
-
AA
-
AD
-
BF
-
You dispatch two messengers: One to Bark-Ark requesting your son's soul be sent to the Amber Palace, and the other to Ikarinojoō requesting her aid in investigating said son's death.
Several days later, you recieve word that Uzru has successfully settled into The Amber Palace. The young man is taking his death pretty well, according to all reports; You suppose as Moonpetal's husband he would be living in your afterlife even if he had returned from his quest alive; If anything he is more dejected about having to give up his quest.
---
As your family is still in mourning, the coming of age feast for Toraburumēkā and Sukina is a low key affair. The only guests from outside your court and household are your son Sun-nut, his wife Feyleaf, and a single representitive from the court of Ikarinojoo. The Kapa informs you that his queen is investigating your son's death, but warns you not to hold out much hope for finding the killer; The manager of the hostel where Uzru died kept no records of his guests.
The party kicks into full gear, and your court and guests begin to celebrate your youngest set of heroic twins! Many comment that the twins have much in common with their parents: The pair are deeply in love with one another; Toraburumēkā is creative like his mother; and Sukina is Vengeful like her father.
Before you can rule on their fate, a spirited debate breaks out. The twins wish to hang at the Divine Dwelling until the Land Pirate Dull returns, and travel with him for a spell to see the world. They are unsure if they wish to marry one another, or merely live in sin for a decade or so, create a few bastards, and eventually find permanent spouses elsewhere.
Sun-nut, however, wants the warlike Sukina to join the Imperial Legion to someday become a great champion. The God-Emperor could care less what becomes of Toraburumēkā, suggesting that he marry into General Thrane's large family when pressed. This suggestion seems to anger and annoy the twins. Eventually the debate gets loud enough that you have to step in.
A: The twins may wander the world as they please.
B: The twins may wander the world as they please, but may not live in sin. They must be married.
C: The twins may wander the world as they please, but may not live in sin. They must abstain from further romance, or face my wrath.
D: Sun-nut has the right idea. He should be allowed to induct his sister into his military, and arrange a marriage for his brother.
E: Sukina must join the Imperial Legion, but Toraburumēkā may do as he wishes.
F: Toraburumēkā must marry into the House of Throng-Urist, but Sukina may live her life however she desires.
-
B
-
B
(Although I nearly voted E.)
-
A
-
A
I see no problem with this.
-
(I was working on that turn for awhile. Spin Ninja'd me. Sorry, B wins)
You side with the twins over Sun-nut, telling them that they may do as they wish on the condition that they get married first. The twins briefly object to your terms, but faced with Sun-nut's proposed alternative, they quickly cave.
6
To your mild surprise, Sun-nut is actually quite happy with your decision as well. He even agrees to preside over the ceromony as Toraburumēkā and Sukina elope on the spot!
6.9 CS:
Word reaches your court that the Land Pirate Dull has arrived on Imperial Lands with a captured shipment of Grumprong, and is traveling Sun-nut's tunnel to attempt selling the strange wood to the Kappa.
4
Moonpetal returns, having won Bark-Ark's scavenger hunt! Her prize is a rich one indeed; The soul of the mighty sea dragon Burūabisu, an ancient servant of the Abyssal Gods who fell in glorious battle against the dwarves. Burūabisu, you learn, was a rather promiscuous creature, and as such many notable Kappa, including your husband, can trace their family trees back to him.
Your daughter, always one to honor her ancestors, is quick to install Burūabisu in the final saint slot at The Amber Palace. Your afterlife is now full; Unless you replace your daughter with a more suitable administrator or sieze control of a majority of the world's seats of judgement, the fates of mortals who die in your service will no longer be in your hands.
---
3
Dull returns from Kappa country, having sold a decent amount of Grumprong, but by no means his entire supply. You have the nomad dwarf and his remaining purple wood whisked away to your divine dwelling so that you may purchase it as agreed upon.
4
While you are negotiating, Dull learns that Toraburumēkā and Sukina wish to join him on his travels. This causes the dwarf to smile. "Very well. If you order your twins to convert to the cult of Char-Dis, accept my mark, and become hated exiles to all whom practice the cult of Dwarven Traditionalism, I will not only consider your debt paid, but will act as an ally to The Empire so long as at least one of them travels with me."
You suppose you two things to consider: Dull's offer, and what to do with the Grumprong.
As for Dull's offer,
A: That sounds ominous... but we have a deal!
B: That sounds ominous... would you care for a nice divinely crafted artifact instead?
C: If you want to brand one of my children to bind yourself to The Empire, how about Sun-nut's younger brother Cider! He is still young and impressionable.
D: No deal, you creep!
E: No deal, you creep! ...But I'm still keeping the wood!
As for the Grumprong, (Do not vote here if you picked D above)
A: I shall spend essence and craft it into a minor artifact!
B: I shall spend much essence and craft it into a greater artifact!
C: I shall save it for the next construction project at my Divine Dwelling!
D: I shall send it to the Town of the Tome, as a gift to God Emperor Sun-nut!
E: Grumprong is good for ship building, right? I must construct the most beautiful warship to ever sail!
-
AC or AE, whichever gets more votes.
-
AE
-
AE
-
BE
-
AE
We don't have much of a navy to speak of, do we? We rely mostly on the Kappa for that. Would be nice to have our own warship.
-
AE
Sell your children and build warships!
-
You decide to accept Dull's offer as it stands.
"Thank you goddess. It has been a pleasure doing business with you. I will take good care of your children. I may be a monster, but I take care of my own. In Char-Dis' name, I look foward to working with you again soon."
Once Dull departs with the twins, you consider how you will go about crafting the Grumprong into a boat or ship. To this effect, you have several choices to make.
First and foremost, you must decide what sort of boat you wish to build. The most dramatic choice would be to build a mighty seafaring warship, but this would be either a gift or an investment for the future, as The Empire controls no coastline. Of course, you could design a boat fit for the Empire as it currently stands; A sturdy galley or barge would function well on the system of Lakes and Rivers that cut across Imperial lands. Lastly, you could make canoes - either a large fleet to render the imperial legion amphibious, or a single high quality canoe that could serve a questing hero while still leaving you with leftover Grumprong to use later.
A: Build a seafaring warship!
B: Build a boat fit for Imperial Rivers!
C: Build a fleet of canoes!
D: Build a heroic canoe!
Next, you must decide how involved you will be in the project.
A: I will just design the craft, and leave my court and underlings to the construction.
B: I will step away from my duties as head of Pantheon for several years to personally oversee construction.
C: I will spend some essence to singlehandedly complete the project in a matter of days.
Lastly, you must decide if you want to spend essence to increase the quality of the finished product, and if so how much!
A: I will spend no essence. An item crafted by a creative goddess out of a magical material like this purple wood has a fair chance of becoming a minor artifact anyway.
B: I will spend some essence to ensure the finished product is at least a minor artifact.
C: I will spend enough essence to ensure the finished product is a greater artifact.
-
DAB
-
BAB
-
DAB
Heroic canoes of minor questing!
-
DAB
-
DABing is a stupid trend.
-
CBC
Lets personally craft a fleet of greater artifacts for our legion to wield!
-
You draw up designs for a heroic canoe, set some essence aside for the project, and pass everything over to your underlings.
End of the Sixth Decade!
Skoonhein interupts an intimate moment between you and Senshinochi in the baths to present the scrolls. After much blushing on the part of everybody but yourself (why would a goddess of beauty be ashamed in such a situation) you herd your husband away to take a look at the numbers.
Pantheon Status:
Chief Goddess: Sunpetal of Beauty
Spouse/Consort: Senshinochi, Strongest among the Kappa
Administrator of The Amber Palace: Moonpetal of Pride
Saint 1: Emperor Walnut the Deceased Chestnut Dwarf
Saint 2: Uzru Husband of Moonpetal the Deceased Demigod
Saint 3: Burūabisu the Deceased Sea Dragon
Unlock additional saint slots by swapping Moonpetal for a Courtly or Merciful administrator, or gaining control of Seats of Judgement!
Underling 1: Skoonheid the Angel Intermediary
Underling 2: Lahara of the Whirlpool the Goddess Spymaster
Underling 3: Open
Following - 3
Orthodoxy - 6
Essence - 5
Host - 4
"The numbers are decent," Skoonhein explains, "expecially the Orthadoxy of your following, which should only continue to rise with a God Emperor on the throne. Although you have filled up The Amber Palace, construction in your divine dwelling has just concluded, and you now have an open spot in your Pantheon fit for a deity."
7.0 CS:
You give birth to twins again! Even in his old age, the fertility of your husband does not cease to impress you. One of the twins is a small green-skinned amphibious creature - a normal Kappa in all but the heroic birthmark he bears. The second child is shaped like a Kappa, but has pitch black skin and is nearly the size of an adult Kappa at birth. Because the the larger child has inherited his father's size, he is also given his father's name and called Senshinochi. The smaller twin is called Taiyō.
The celebration is cut short, however, when the sages examine the children. They determine that Senshinochi the younger has indeed inherited his father's size, and also his ability to call thunder and lightning with his voice, but is sadly burdened with the mark of the tyrant. It is the destiny of your most impressive son to control a large number of people through terrible and unjust means.
You are now faced with what is perhaps the most difficult choice of your life so far...
A: I love and admire my ill-fated infant, but for the sake of the world he must be killed.
B: SCREW YOU DESTINY! I will do everything in my power to raise the boy to be a good person!
C: It is my duty to ensure my children flourish, and to uphold the bindings of fate. I will find the most wicked tutors to ensure my boy becomes the most successful despot ever!
D: I cannot kill my son, but nor can I risk his destiny playing out to the harm of my followers. We shall find him adoptive parents somewhere far away.
E: I cannot kill my son, but nor can I risk his destiny playing out to the harm of my followers. We shall find him and his twin brother adoptive parents somewhere far away.
-
D
Screw it, if he takes over the Sea Dwarves or similar it works out.
I think we should start constructing another afterlife.
-
C
-
D
-
D
-
inb4 Oedipus 2.0
-
Edited: C
-
B
I wonder how he might do as an underworld administrator? "Terrible" means are pretty typical for some kinds of those.
-
D for some great Greek Tragedy in general as old world mythologies thrive on it.
Also note that some of the Underworld Deities were actually decent people ( Real Hades And Hela come to mind. The truest evil death deity of underworld us Izamai. Original birth mother ifvJapanese Gods and so vengeful that she is why mortal lives end in the first place.)
-
C
-
C. He will become a despot, let's make him a good despot at least.
-
Destroy our enemies
-
C
Teach your children well!
-
C and D?
-
C
-
C As long as he remains loyal to us and doesn't go after his brother Sun-Nut then I'd be fine with helping him with his destiny of ruling over someplace that isn't the Empire with an iron fist.
-
I think we should start constructing another afterlife.
I wonder how he might do as an underworld administrator? "Terrible" means are pretty typical for some kinds of those.
I have an idea...
- Switch to C.
- Construct new afterlife.
- Put Senshinochi II in charge.
- ???
- PROFIT!
-
Hmmm yes, we can do a hell hole, a tyrant somewhere we can torture wrong doers and breed monsters is okay
-
That's actually a pretty good idea. I mean who better to rule a hellish afterlife than a tyrant?
-
I was thinking more along the lines of a pandemonium. Char-Dis already has a hellhole and wouldn't like competitors.
Or, a seat of judgement nevermind, can't piss off the Abyssals.
Lemme check the others.
Sure, we could go with a hellhole still...
Edit:
Lastly, you must decide what sort of afterlife you wish to build, if any.
A: Nope. Way too expensive.
B: Construct a hellhole, where my departed followers may torment those who offend me, and breed monsters to act as agents of my wrath!
C: Construct a pandemonium, where my departed followers may be merged into an array of useful, if unspecialized, beings.
D: Construct a seat of judgement! I wish to challenge the abyssal pantheon for control of the dead!
E: Construct a furnace, so that I may burn the souls of the dead for extra essence!
F: Construct a hall of valour , so that I may best weaponize the honoured dead!
G: Construct a hall of saints, so that my notable followers may become angels capable of aiding my interactions with mortals!
H: Construct a paradise, the promise of which will increase the orthodoxy of my following!
-
I don't think there's really a need to worry too much about competition as long as we restrict our afterlife to our own followers. That said, I want a Pandemonium anyway!
-
I don't think there's really a need to worry too much about competition as long as we restrict our afterlife to our own followers. That said, I want a Pandemonium anyway!
I think a Pandemonium is best, as long as we have some way to prevent a Tuft situation.
-
Hmmm, pandemonium is kind more of a host factory than a hell that a tyrant might get cozy
-
Then we send him to conquer the sea dwarves!
-
C
-
C - Let him be beautiful and terrible.
-
Changed my vote
-
Changed my vote to C.
-
You decide that someday you may require the services of a despot, to perhaps run an afterlife or rule over a conquered enemy people. With this in mind, you decide to keep Senshinochi the younger, and raise him to best fill his destiny.
As soon as you are done recovering from and celebrating the birth of your twins, you find two members of your court wish to meet with you. Skoonhein wants to discuss a matter related to the Imperial Priesthood, and your spymaster Lahara claims to have several items of bad news that require your attention.
A: Lets talk about the priests first.
B: Lets hear the bad news first.
-
B
-
B
-
B
What now...
-
B
-
You call Lahara into your Throneroom and bid her to speak.
1
"My queen, I have failed you," she begins, "The agents we sent to try and turn the Mountain Dwarves against Char-dis have been captured and returned to us in chains, along with a poem mocking "our stupidity and false beauty" written by Tom-Frick, a Dwarven god of poetry who I believe to be the spymaster of their pantheon. He is calling us fools for thinking that his Pantheon and people need any help in hating our friend in the Soup, and describes in great length the terrible things his divine friends might do to us if we continue to anger them."
"Crap." You reply. But before you can begin to consider the ramifications of this, the goddess of Naval Disasters drops another bombshell.
5
"My queen, I don't make this claim against your blood lightly, but I have investigated every possible lead regarding the stolen Staff of Creed, and although my evidence is only circumstantial, I strongly believe your daughter Azuma is the culprit."
You are shocked. "WHAT? Why?"
"All the leads she gave me when I took over the case from her proved to be dead ends, and no trace of evidence remains at the crime scene. I believe the entire time we thought she was investigating the theft, she was thoroughly covering her tracks." Lahara explains, "I began to investigate your daughter and her followers, and found out that just after I took over the case, she sent her closest disciple, a Chestnut Dwarf called Hogarth the Brave, on a secret quest to parts unknown. He left carrying an odd package described as being just the right size to hold a single staff or polearm. He has not yet returned"
You begin to wonder if your twin daughters are competing to see who can give you the bigger headache.
A: Send my host to pick up Azuma at once, so that she may face the charges against her at my Throne.
B: I should pay my daughter a visit at her home in The Empire, and deal with the matter quietly.
C: Tell Lahara to keep the matter quiet for now, and focus her efforts on tracking down Hogarth the Brave.
D: The staff never meant much to me, and I trust Azuma to keep her crimes under wraps. I shall send her a letter implying I know the truth and congratulating her on her clever scheme.
E: Clearly Lahara has it wrong. She should continue her investigation, and focus on other suspects.
F: Clearly Lahara has it wrong. She should step down as my spymaster.
-
A
-
A
-
B
-
You order your host to fetch Azuma. She arrives several hours, dressed in suit of fine green cloth and leather armor. A sharp steel knife sits on her hilt, which is enough to remind you the girl is dangerous; As a magic user with a vengeful nature, she has a real chance of coming out on top should this confrontation become violent.
4
Lahara repeats the charges against your daughter. Azuma listens with a wide smile on her face.
"What the spy-master accuses me of then, mother, is genius." Your daughter answers as her grin becomes a smug smirk. "If her story is true, it proves I am smart enough to pull off the perfect crime, that even now you cannot prove, and means that I now control a powerful artifact... or have traded it for something of equal value. Regardless of if word of the staff's theft reaches the dwarves and their Panthoen or not, we both know you wish to make war with them. When such a day comes, would you rather have me as a friend or an enemy?"
You grit your teeth in frustration. An almost-but-not-quite confession.
Your daughter continues to pace the room. "I do not live in a vacuum. I know what Nishi did. She means to overthrow her half brother and take the Empire for herself, and because I am fated to be her foil, that means my role is to serve as Sun-nut's servant and protector. I am both the most powerful and the most loyal of your mortal children; You wouldn't throw that all away just because I may or may not have done something selfish in my younger days, right?"
Azuma approaches your throne and takes a knee. "I am at your mercy, mighty goddess. Choose my fate wisely."
A: You are guilty! The sentence is death!
B: You are guilty! The sentence is banishment!
C: You are guilty! Your punishment shall be a slap on the wrist!
D: I cannot find you guilty as this time, but nor can I close the investigation. If you have the staff and know what is good for you, return it to the grave before proof surfaces.
E: I find you not guilty!
F: ...You know what? You win. I know you did it, but your actions are a clever deed to be praised, not a crime to be punished! If the dwarves take issue with that, I dare them to stop us!
-
D
-
C
-
D
-
You sigh. You are not going to throw the book at your daughter, but you cannot let her get away either. "I cannot find you guilty at this time, but nor can I close the investigation. Perhaps it would be best for everybody if the Staff were just to show back up at the tomb."
3
Azuma laughs nervously. "I don't see that happening. I... have a hunch that the staff either has been destroyed, or is about to be."
A: Dammit... Guilty then. Prepare for a slap on the wrist.
B: WHAT? WHY? Now I have to banish you for your crimes!
C: WHAT? WHY? Now I have to execute you for your crimes!
D: Well then, I guess the case is closed then.
E: Ugg... If I promise you leniency, will you just confess and tell me the full story already?
-
E, and let's trade her the full story of the prophecy as well.
-
C
-
E
-
"Azuma just tell me what happened," you groan, "you are right in that you are too valuable to punish harshly. I need to know what is going on. There is a prophecy that could spell the Empire's doom, and your actions may play a part in it."
"A prophecy?" Your daughter asks, "What prophecy?"
6
You instruct Lahara to recount her dream for your daughter. As the goddess speaks, the smile on the mortal's face fades, until the very end when Lahara mentions the tidal wave, which causes your daughter to ball her fists, leap into the air, and shriek with joy.
"Mother, the dream indeed prophesies that my actions will bring us to war with the dwarves," she explains, "but it also shows that I am the only one who can save us. I am the tidal wave! Sun-nut has been secretly sending me through the tunnel to meet with Queen Ikarinojoō, as I am loyal to him, but a Kappa by blood. Should the mountain dwarves ever attack the Empire, I am to lead any Kappa force that Ikarinojoō sends to our aid."
"That is a bit of a stretch," Lahara counters, "equating yourself to the tidal wave when the being who both had the dream and uncovered your crimes is the actual goddess of tidal waves!"
Azuma grins at Lahara. "You have a point, but I haven't even told you of the best part. When you took over the investigation, I knew I had to make the Staff disappear. As a practicing witch and daughter of a goddess, I know much about the various magical beings of this world. There is a colony of savages who inhabit the Haunted Canyons beyond the mountianhomes. They are called Goblins, and among them is a demigod smith called Gnoll who specializes in the corruption of dwarven artifacts. I hired him to work upon the Staff of Creed. His orders are to corrupt its shape so that nobody might recognize it as evidence of my crime, and to corrupt its function so that it governs not ice but watter! When Gnoll is finished, the power to raise tidal waves from the Imperial Rivers shall be mine!"
The throne room falls silent at your daughters confession. You suppose you not only have to decide what to do with your daughter, but the staff as well.
As for Azuma...
A: Death!
B: Banishment!
C: A slap on the wrist!
D: No punishment!
E: Praise, for the champion who shall protect us from the dwarves!
F: Lock her up but treat her well. I shall withold judgement until after I resolve the matter of the staff.
As for Gnoll and the Staff of Creed...
A: I shall send my host to raid Gnoll's workshop. Hopefully the staff will still be intact when I get it back!
B: Gnoll's modifications to the staff are clearly part of the prophecy, but Azuma cannot be allowed to enjoy the fruits of her crime. I shall send Senshinochi to supervise Gnoll, and ensure that the artifact is returned me, not Azuma, when he is done with it.
C: I will not interfere with Gnoll or his work.
-
I'm okay with this, but I'm not going to praise her for it until she actually manages to win.
DC
-
FB
Changed vote.
-
I'm okay with this, but I'm not going to praise her for it until she actually manages to win.
DC
+1
-
Change to FB
-
F B
Just because she did that part doesn't mean she's the prophesied wielder.
-
F B
Just because she did that part doesn't mean she's the prophesied wielder.
+1
-
CB
She will be most terribly punished by confiscating the stolen goods... after it is too late to fix them and we unfortunately can not return a corrupted staff to the dwarves. We will decide later who uses the staff later... whether our spymaster or daughter... based on our needs.
-
DC, and make her talk about this gnoll, maybe we can befriend him too?
Can we just say that her punishment or praise will come only AFTER the result of the war? and ask "DON'T DO THIS SHIT AGAIN?"
I mean, fuck, if she manages to do this bullshitery and not screw us hard congratulations, anything less than a amazing victory will not be enough, because the risk she is giving us is of total anhiquilation
at least she is not trying to kill our son as her sister did
and come on Nish, she had the chance to become the queen and convert slowly a fuckton of people to our religion, we could make the empire the cult of the god's emperors and make sure her first child is an god but nooo... let's mess with mama
-
DC, and make her talk about this gnoll, maybe we can befriend him too?
Can we just say that her punishment or praise will come only AFTER the result of the war? and ask "DON'T DO THIS SHIT AGAIN?"
I mean, fuck, if she manages to do this bullshitery and not screw us hard congratulations, anything less than an amazing victory will not be enough, because the risk she is giving us is of total annihilation
-snip-
+1
-
C,C
-
CC
-
CC
-
DC
-
EC
-
Sorry for the inactive period. Last week of school and all. I can't promise any updates beyond this one over the next few days, but things should be back to normal by Monday or Tuesday.
---
You decide to neither punish your daughter, nor interfere with Gnoll's attempts to modify the Staff of Creed.
6
This decision goes over surprisingly well with your court. You would have thought such a blatant miscarriage of justice would anger at least some of your followers, but apparently Senshinochi and his children command far more respect in your court than you had assumed, and nobody dares speak against Azuma.
Once the matter is settled, Skoonhein approaches your throne to speak his bit. "My queen, Tull-Charcoal, the wealthy mountain dwarf whom you encouraged to choose an heir from among the ranks of his gay lovers, has recently passed peacefully in his sleep. The vast majority of his fortune has fallen to Applebark, a young member of the blessed clergy of Charity who is as ambitious as he is kind. Sadly, this ambition has gotten him into potentially life threatening trouble."
Skoonhein explains that Applebark has used his newfound wealth to court a Dwarf named Lionsoak, who is the son and heir of the Chieftain of Great Noses, one of the heathen Chestnut Dwarf towns that does not belong to your empire. The Angel suggests that the relationship is as much political as it is a love match, informing you that Lionsoak has converted to your cult to appease his lover, and had planned on swearing fealty to Sun-nut and joining the empire once he inherited the town. Unfortunately for the lovers, the Chieftain of Great Noses caught on to their plan, formally disinherited his sodomite apostate son, and locked the couple away in his dungeons to await a trial. Skoonhein believes that there is a strong possibility that both or either of the dwarves will be executed.
"What would you have me do, my queen?"
A: Applebark decided to interfere in foreign politics without my blessing. I shall not protect him.
B: I will not let some heathen kill one of my blessed clergy! Just because there is a prophisized mountian dwarf attack coming in two years dosn't mean the Empire can't spare its legions to rescue Applebark and take Great Noses!
C: Old age be damned, this sounds like a job for Senshinochi!
D: Her forseen role in the forseen upcoming war be damned, this sounds like a job for Azuma!
E: The feelings of the dwarven pantheon be damned, this sounds like a job for my host!
F: I'll make a minor artifact to facilitate the escape of the lovers, and send a cherub to slip it into Applebark's cell!
G: None of the options presented to me are worth the cost or risk, but I can't just leave my priest hanging. Skoonhein, be a dear and negotiate with that heathen for the release of the lovers.
-
F
-
D
I still think Lahara, goddess of tidal waves, is likely to be a better wielder of a tidal wave artifact. That makes Azuma semi-expendable if she wants a chance to prove herself to us.
-
F
This is the only outcome that doesn't piss someone off or leave them to rot.
-
D
I still think Lahara, goddess of tidal waves, is likely to be a better wielder of a tidal wave artifact. That makes Azuma semi-expendable if she wants a chance to prove herself to us.
I approve of this line of argument. D
-
D also she kinda owes us for not punishing her.
-
D
-
H: offer NISHI a second chance
or call lahara, she isn't doing nothing right now
-
You call Azuma back to your throne, and explain to your daughter that she is to redeem herself by rescuing Applebark and Lionsoak from the dungeons of Great Noses.
"I will see to the safe return of your priest and his lover." The witch declares with a low bow.
---
}]3
Azuma's rescue attempt has failed! Skoonhein reports that apparently a few members of the chieftain's elite guard carry enchanted lamps capable of piercing the magical illusions and glamours that your daughter uses to skulk around places where she is not welcome. She was detected casing the dungeons, and barely escaped with her life.
One day later, you receive word from the witch that she has not given up her quest, and that The Chieftien will regret not letting her spring the prisoners "the easy way."
7.1 CS:
7
Azuma shows the town of Great Noses why your cult, family, and empire should be feared and respected! At the stroke of midnight on new years day, the full moon above the lands of the heathen Chestnut Dwarves turns a dark purple! Wolves howl, lightning strikes, and screams rise from the doomed town as Azuma and fifty of her magical disciples storm the gates!
The next morning your daughter appears before you once again, followed by giant vulture that dwarves even Senshinochi's mount Arubatorosu in size. "Mother," she declares, "I have freed your priest, and put his lover on the throne of Great Noses, by turning the former chieftain, alongside every noble and soldier in town who was loyal to him, into a hideous fowl! Decided to make the chieftain extra large, brainwash him, and keep him as a pet. After all, riding birds is kinda a trademark of my bloodline."
Your husband nods, beaming with pride. "Some day, daughter, you shall inherit the reins of coral that your mother made for me. Then you shall truly rule the seas."
---
You recieve an odd report from The Empire. Apparently Sun-nut has been neglecting his duties as sovereign ruler to work on some sort of secret project in the basement. Whatever he is working on, your son is taking extra care to avoid exposing it to members of your host or clergy, telling them only that it is a surprise gift for his parents.
A: I trust Sun-nut. I will not intervene here.
B: I trust Sun-nut, but with a prophecized war coming next year, perhaps now is not the time for him to be taking on long term crafting projects.
C: I shall travel to the Town of the Tome and Demand that the ingrate tell me what he is up to!
D: I shall travel to the Town of the Tome and try to make my daughter-in-law Feyleaf spill the beans on her husband!
E: Lahara! I got a project for you!
-
B
-
B
-
B
-
B
Not sure how I feel about this.
-
A
-
A
let's actually trust someone for once.
-
A I trust Sun-Nut to know what he's doing.
-
You send a messenger to Sun-nut requesting that he come up from the basement and lead his people, as war is likely coming.
3
Sun-nut's reply arrives swiftly. Your son thanks you for your concern, but has apparently chosen now to withdraw from his leadership roll specifically because conflict is on the horizon. Although he is a god, Sun-nut feels that some of the mortals at his disposal, specifically the dependable General Thrane and his half sister Azuma, are more qualified to lead the empire in Wartime than he is. He also hints that whatever he is working on may prove useful in battle should the potential war last long enough.
7.2 CS:
Panic and chaos! A band of mortals has found their way into your divine dwelling! The intruders are Kappa, and number about a dozen. Eventually your guard gets the situation under control, and brings them before you in chains!
"By what right do you intrude on my divine dwelling, mortal?" You ask the obvious leader of the group. Each of the Kappa before you wears only a simple martial arts gi, but the gi of the one you address is made of finer material, and is night black where the others are pale green.
"By right of blood, and by right of destiny!" He declares, "I am Ken, son of Sunpetal and Senshinochi and servant of the Abyssal Gods! I was deemed unworthy by your sages and banished from this place as a child. Since that day I have trained hard in hopes of obtaining through struggle what has been merely handed to many of my siblings, and on this day my dreams may be realized!"
Your scowl quickly becomes a smile as the stranger identifies himself as your son. "And how would you obtain the status of hero?" You ask as you motion for your guards to release the kappa from their bindings.
"My gods have granted me a vision, mother." He declares, "If I am to ascend my station, I must fight the demonic skunk that you keep imprisoned in this place, and claim its left femur as a trophy. I must then convince my half brother, the God-emperor, to shape the bone into a mighty sword, which I will present to Queen Ikarinojoō so that she may use it to knight me Champion of the Kappa like my father before me."
"...You know that is suicide, right?" You ask. "This demon whiped out a band of armed warriors lead by a hero. How do you, a non-heroic being leading a band of skilled but unarmed monks, expect to survive."
"I don't." Your son sighs, "but I fear I have no other option. I prayed for this vision because I was desperate. My twin brother Okurimono has driven me out of the dojo, and none of the Kappa nobility trust me in their guard as I am the blood of an alien god. If I don't face your demon, I fear I will fall into the dishonorable life of petty crime and poverty, which to me is a fate worse than death."
A: Fine, fight your demon. You will be missed.
B: The vision didn't specify that you have to fight this demon alone, did it? How about you fight alongside your father.
C: How about I make you an artifact to see if we can even the odds.
D: I can't have you throw your life away. I beg you, forsake your gods for your mother, and come live in The Empire.
E: I wont dignify your death wish with a polite response. GUARDS, REMOVE THESE UNINVITED GUESTS!
-
B
also, 1000th reply! woo!
-
B The last champion and the next champion fighting alongside
It's full material for a nice tale to tell
-
B this has the makings of a cool story, win or lose.
-
"Despair not, my child," you declare, "for unless you have mislead me, your visions did instruct you to fight the demon alone. Your band will be joined in battle by your father, Senshinochi, mightiest among the Kappa."
You send for your husband, and instruct your host to hastily assemble a makeshift arena. While you wait, Ken entertains you with stories of his life in Kappa country. He has been traveling with his disciples for the last several years, ever since his twin brother Okurimono obtained the title of dojo quartermaster. Your son admits that he despises his brother, but refuses to dishonor his bloodline by speaking ill of such close kin, so you do not know how the pair fell out or why Ken was banished from the dojo.
As lunch is served, Senshinochi asks his son about his lovelife, and the kappa sheepishly beckons one of his followers, a young female, to rise and present herself. "This is Uminootome, my companion in life and rival in skill." he declares, "she is of too low birth to ever be my wife in the eyes of Kappa law, but I have sworn on my honor to love and defend her so long as we both live. She has made grandparents out of you twice over, but sadly neither child survived infancy."
Your common law daughter in law offers you a low bow, a nod, and a smile. "Please do forgive her silence. She has taken a vow to eschew the spoken word until my quest is complete, so that we may find favor and luck in our gods."
Eventually the arena is ready, the demon is brought out, and the fight begins.
8!!!
The fight is over in but a moment! You husband calls the lighting to smite the demon, and the first bolt partially paralyzes and stuns the beast. Ken, his father, and his followers quickly rush to pin the demon down. You can tell age is starting to catch up to your husband, as it takes him a good deal longer to close the distance than it did in his youth, but once the giant kappa arrives in melee range he completely overpowers his foe, applying a full nelson and holding it for several minutes so that Ken may hack the demon's leg off with his claws!
Eventually the limb falls free, and your son holds it above his head in triumph!
"It is not done yet son," your husband declares. "This demon is damaged beyond repair. It would be disgraceful to leave it suffering like this. Slit the beast's throat. Its remains likely hold enough essence for your mother to craft you a boon at no further cost to herself."
You ponder your husband's claim, and decide that he speaks the truth.
A: Yes boy! Slay the demon! I will craft you a mighty gi from its flesh and fur!
B: Yes boy! Slay the demon! I will craft you a sword from its other femur, so that the blade Sun-nut must make you will have a twin!
C: Yes boy! Slay the demon! From its skull I shall craft a crown for your lover Uminootome, and bestow on her a title so that she may become your wife true and proper!
D: Yes boy! Slay the demon! I will craft a fetish from its heart to greant you the secrets of restoritive magics!
E: Yes boy! Slay the demon! I will craft a fetish from its scent glands to grant you the secrets of toxic magics!
F: Honey, you kill it please. The boy is already getting an artifact out of this, so I shall use the rest of the demon for my own purposes.
G: STAY YOUR HAND! Return the wretch to its cell. Perhaps I will find use for it even in its crippled state.
-
B
-
D, mortals can get a lot of mileage out of magical healing powers.
-
D; maybe he can use it to have kids more successfully next time.
-
D
-
C
-
"Kill it, and bring me its heart so I may grant you a boon of healing!"
8!!!
(Damn, the Dice love Ken)
The demon heart pulsates with far more energy than you had anticipated. It takes only only a tiny push to enchant the disembodied organ to beat eternally in such a way that its powers radiate out, touching the mind and body of whomever is closest to it. You drawing some essence from the demon's corpse, you generate a thick chain of which each individual link is made from a different gem. You mount the heart upon the chain, adorn the chain with forest wildflowers, and attune the forest wildflowers to the heart so that they may bloom forevermore.
You place the large, grotesque, necklace over Ken's head. "Wearing this will grant you knowledge of and proficiency in the magics of restoration. The heartbeat is also attuned to your lifeforce; As long as you wear the Rainbow Heart you will need to eat and sleep less frequently, and will possess a healing factor so great that you will be nearly impossible to destroy in battle!
You hadn't started your day expecting to turn your pet demon into a greater artifact for a son you haven't seen or heard from in years, but clearly you have no complaints. While Ken admires his new toy, you quietly summon a sage to examine your son from a distance. He just slew a demon and recieved a major artifact as a prize, so you are pretty sure he now qualifies as a proper hero. The sage examines your son and concurs with your assessment.
"Indeed, my queen," he whispers so as not to alert the Kappa to the news and possibly kill his motivation to complete his current quest, for which he was promised merely the hero status he now already possess and a largely symbolic title, "before you stands a hero who possess a worldly nature like his divine sister Moonpetal."
Ken and his followers spend a few more days with you, before setting off to imperial lands, where they hope Sun-nut will aid them on the next leg of their quest.
---
It seems the foretold war is nearly upon The Empire! A massive host of Mountain Dwarves, three times the size of the combined imperial legion and better equipped than Sun-nut's average soldier has arrived in the region!
Thankfully the impressive enemy force seems to be in no hurry to begin its assault! Instead, they have split up!
Half the visiting legion is setting up camp on the territory of the independent heathen Chestnut Dwarf Towns. Rumor has it that these invaders are heavily recruiting the locals, and have brought enough spare steel to arm every able bodied male Chestnut Dwarf not presently under your influence. This half of the enemy host, called 'The Campers' by your subjects, is lead by General Throng-Krunk, uncle of your loyal follower General Thrane and much younger brother to the merchant Throng-Urist. From what you understand, he has come to reclaim the portion of the family fortune that has fallen to "heathen beauty worship".
The other half spreads itself fairly thin to cut off Imperial Trade through the vast plains of the Nomad Dwarves and interfere with travel between Imperial Cities. This half of the enemy strength, known as The Patrol to your people includes the entirety of the enemy cavalry, which is a mix of heavy mountain dwarves upon their war trained dire mastiffs, and lighter nomad dwarf mercenaries upon equine creatures such as zebras and donkeys. The Patrol is lead by an ancient sea-dwarf called Queen Mother Kelp-Yarg, who rides a giant albatross like your husband's.
---
Several days later, an emergency war council meets. As things stand, their are two main items on the table.
The first is a rather petty debate over who gets to lead the imperial legion as commander-in-chief. God Emperor Sun-nut refuses to lead the charge, citing his lack of experience in battle and important work on a secret weapon. General Thrane is refusing the position, claiming that he dosn't wish to lead troops against his own uncle, and that even if he did have the heart to fight him much of what Thrane knows about warfare he learned from Throng-Krunk, meaning that he would be at a disadvantage anyway.
Naturally the warlike witch Azuma is lobbying for the job, but to every-bodies surprise Senshinochi is forbidding his daughter from leading the legion. "The Sea Dwarves have no stake in this war," you husband explains, "Queen Mother Kelp-Yarg only agreed to lead troops for the enemy to get a piece of me. Back in the day, I slew most of her offspring. I have heard that since she has forged the bones and ashes of my victims into an artifact weapon that is specifically designed to kill either Kappa in general, or members of my bloodline in specific, depending on who you ask. She has the desire to kill our children, love, and likely the means to do so. I cannot will not allow the crazed bitch to take from me what I took from her; Let me lead the legion one more time. Should she kill me, I doubt I'd be missing out on too many years at this point."
Who should be commander in chief?
A: Old age? weapons specifically designed to kill him? It doesn't matter in the slightest. When I need my husband to step up, he does not let me down.
B: Thrane, suck it up, obey your goddess, and DO YOUR FUCKING JOB!
C: Sun-nut, suck it up, obey your mother, and DO YOUR FUCKING JOB!
D: Sorry honey, but your time has passed, and I trust Azuma's magic to answer whatever crazy Kappabane artifact might be waiting for her.
E: ...Do you guys need me to spell it out for you? Split the legion. Thrane, lead against the sea dwarf, Azuma, lead against Thrane's uncle. Problem solved.
F: Umm... Lahara.... I hope you are good at leading troops. Azuma doesn't seem to have the staff back yet, so as far as we know the prophecy is all you.
After the leadership situation is resolved, it is brought to your attention that as things stand, the deck is stacked pretty firmly against the empire. It may be time to call in some help... (Choose as many options as you wish)
A: I'll send a messenger to track down the Land Pirate Dull, so that he may get back here and help us out.
B: We have the tunnel for a reason! Time to bring in the Kappa!
C: Kappa are good. A whole coalition of abyss worshipers? That's even better. Send a call for aid to Ore.
D: You know what would make this situation better? A rampaging monster. Time to call in that favor Char-Dis owes me.
E: Screw it! Unleash the host!
F: Nah. We got this.
-
A
AD
Let's wait to call in the abyssal and rely on our own accomplishments for now. If the dwarven gods send their shit then we start the world war.
-
A
BD
-
A
AD
-
So fucking proud of ken, a mortal child to become a hero is the type of behaviour we should inspire, isn't that a beatiful?
someone can please yell AZUMA WHERE IS THE FREAKING STAFF?
So, for the prophecy to happen we need to be in losing shape first
A
AND
A (show our son the sun you should be trusted)
B (go azuma, bring them in together with the staff on the brink of defeat to change the tides of the battle, hehehe)
D ( What kind of epic battles that can mean extinction of a religion doesn't involve a monster massacrating the fleeting troops?)
-
E
AD
-
A
ACDE
-
"If my husband wishes to lead my forces, I will not stand in his way." You announce.
"I will not fail you, love of my life." He declares. Senshinochi then kneels before you so his head is level with your, and delivers the sort of deep and passionate kiss that you typically don't receive from him while fully clothed. You see something in the large Kappa's eyes that you have never seen before. Uncertainty. Fear that this might be goodbye. He holds you for the better part of two minutes before letting go, mounting Arubatorosu, and leaving to carry out his duties without another word.
You announce to the war council that you will call in the favor owed by Char-dis, and also send a messenger to seek out the Land Pirate Dull so that you may call upon the aid of his band.
5
Dull and his merry band of pirates arrive about a month and a half after you summon them. Their numbers are slightly depleted; apparently they had been busy of late, working alongside another pirate band to repel a Sea Dwarf host that was intruding upon the high plains, likely to join in the battle against the Empire.
With Dull's band added to the imperial host, Senshinochi's forces can now match one half of the split enemy in terms of numbers. Rumors also circulate among your soldiers that enemy fears Dull; Your scouts report that enemy squadrons are willing to march for hours to ensure Dull's band is located nowhere near where they sleep. The land pirates also bring terrifying war machines with them; 13 massive elephant mounted tubes that spray shards of molten glass at short range to ruin enemy lines. You later learn that these were invented by your creative son Toraburumēkā.
---
7
First blood in what your court is already referring to as the Fortold War has been drawn, and the population of the heretic Chestnut Dwarf town of Pondtrees has been annihilated! Apparently Dull's band caught wind of the town guard leaving post to participate in wargames with the Mountain Dwarf Camper host, and arranged for Azuma to teleport a small strike team inside the walls. Once in, your allies revealed exactly why the mountain dwarves fear and hate them so much! They are werebeasts!
About 30 of Dull's inner circle, including both of your children who travel with him, turned into a herd monstrous and nigh unstoppable carnivorous equine monsters and proceeded to slaughter every living thing save for one another. You later learn that that the entire massacre was masterminded by your daughter Sukina.
The enemy responds by putting the town of Great Noses, which is still recovering from being conquered by Azuma and added to the empire, under siege.
7.3 CS:
2
Misery and woe! Your son Toraburumēkā has been slain! Queen Mother Kelp-Yarg swooped down from nowhere on her giant albatross, and cut your child down right in the middle of his camp! Eyewitness accounts claim that he was struck once with a pitch black weapon that is either a very long knife or a very short sword. The wound appeared superficial, until Toraburumēkā began to melt like wax exposed to a flame.
The following day, Sukina, the widow and twin sister of the deceased, appears at the divine dwelling to scatter the ashes of her love. You watch your daughter say goodbye in silence, before it strikes you that perhaps now is one of those moments you have to step up and be a mother.
A: Cry with your daughter, so that you may both move closer to moving past the great loss.
B: Confront your daughter over her massacre of Pondtrees.
C: Confront your daughter over her being a werebeast.
D: Praise your daughter's efforts in the war so far.
E: Encourage your daughter to avenge your son.
F: Ask about the elephant mounted siege weapon invented by your late son.
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
You pull Sukina close and cry together for hours. She doesn't say much, but doesn't need to.
Afterwards you learn that a messenger from Char-dis arrived while you were with Sukina. You were busy, and it only wanted to talk military tactics, so your court sent it to Imperial Soil to meet with commander-in-chief Senshinochi rather than keep it waiting on your behalf.
The following day you recieve a letter from your husband. In addition to a few poems praising your beauty and mourning the loss of his son, he informs you that one of Char-dis' monsters will join the frey at the next major battle. Since Toraburumēkā had converted to Char-dis' cult as part of your payment to Dull for the Grumprong, and as you are well aware Char-dis avenges her noteworthy followers, the monster attack will be on the house - you will still be owed a favor.
---
Word reaches you that Sun-nut has finally found time in his busy top secret schedule to make Ken's sword. From what you understand the demonic material makes the Femur Blade effective against lesser divine beings, like those in your host, and even Dieties with low essence.
Your once unworthy son is torn about leaving his family during its time of need, but Sun-nut talks him into returning home to complete his qest.
---
Skoonhein arrives. Apparently the flames of war have gotten your mortals praying again.
"I've got two petitions for you today, my queen. One from a nomad dwarf leader who has taken to dabbling in your cult, and is willing to help you fight the invaders, for a cost. The other is from one of the handmaidens to your daughter-in-law Empress Feyleaf; She is deeply concerned about the well being of the fated god-killer."
A: Military matters first!
B: My daughter-in-law first!
-
B
-
B
-
B
shits going crazy fam
-
B!
-
B
-
B
-
Skoonhein nods, "Apparently Sun-nut is being far more proactive about Feyleaf's destiny than she is comfortable with. The Handmaiden has overheard a few things. Whatever your son is planning, he requires the corpse of a powerful being, the stronger the better. He figures that since he is married to a godslayer, and at war with a group that possesses a large pantheon, he has an outside chance of getting a divine corpse, and doesn't want to miss the opportunity should it pop up. To ensure Feyleaf is ready to fight a god at a moment's notice, he is making her preform physical fitness and combat drills for 5-7 hours every day."
"That is a bit harsh." you admit.
"It gets better," Skoonhein answers with a slight deadpan grin, "Apparently Sun-nut can't afford to risk his god slayer being incapacitated by pregnancy whenever a Dwarf God shows up, so he has stopped visiting her bedchambers. This has been going on for quite some time, ever since the whole 'Azuma stole the staff' thing came out and it was apparent that we would not be avoiding this war. The handmaiden is concerned that Feyleaf is at her breaking point, and that could mean bad things for either her mistress, her God-Emperor, or even the both of them. How should I advise the servant to proceed?"
A: I'll whip up a minor artifact that the Handmaiden can pass along to Feyleaf to increase her endurance. That should at least take the sting out of the brutal workouts.
B: No action in years? Damn. Tell her to pass along to Feyleaf that she has my blessing to cheat on Sun-nut until he stops being a jerk.
C: Actually, hearing her plight makes me feel bad that my husband is stuck in the Capital alone while I can still pop into the Amber Palace to sleep with Emperor Walnut whenever the urge strikes me. I'll ask Senshinochi to show Feyleaf a good time. Would be good for both of them.
D: Pass my thanks along to the Handmaiden, but tell her I got it from here. Sounds like my son needs a stern talking to.
E: Pass my thanks along to the Handmaiden, but tell her I got it from here. I'll pay Feyleaf a visit myself. Her problems are nothing a chat with mother-in-law can't fix.
F: Tell the handmaiden to chill. I'm sure this will blow over.
-
D
It's nice that she's dutiful toward her god-husband, but that's not what she signed up for. And her god-husband needs to be dutiful toward her.
Trying to force prophecies is a bad thing, that's why we let hers simply play out in the first place.
If he keeps being like this absolutely go to option B.
He's a creative god, for crying out loud, get out of the basement and try the proven method of getting new heroes and such.
-
No option to make her an artifact for the other issue?
-
E! Maybe we can sort out a cure for what ails her, whatever form that may take.
-
E
-
E
-
E
-
E
-
E
-
You ponder the issue for a moment. "Yeah. Thank the Handmaiden for bringing the issue to my attention. I'll have a chat with Feyleaf myself later. What is the other prayer about? I'm not going to sort out an entire marriage through my followers and intermediaries."
Skoonhein sighs. "Yeah... about that. The Nomad Dwarf in question has nearly enough soldiers on hand to even the odds against the invaders, but his price is the hand of one of your daughters in marriage. His name is Rinull, his band consists of mercenaries rather than land pirates, so they are better equipped than Dull's folk and trained to do things other than commit theft and war-crimes. He knows what he he is asking for is audacious, but is pious enough to have studdied the history of your cult, and knows that when Emperor Walnut made a similarly audacious request, his audacity was rewarded.
A: Azuma thinks it is her destiny to be the deciding factor in this war? She can start by purchasing me some soldiers.
B: Nishi thinks it is clever to go and marry a Nomad Dwarf without my consent? I'll show her.... by marrying her off to a Nomad Dwarf without her consent.
C: I'll talk to Sukina to see if she would like a shoulder to cry on. I gave up my authority to make big descisions like that for her when I gave her to Dull as payment, but if she is down for it...
D: Tell him my counter offer: A weekend in my bedchambers with a divine child to take home as a souvenir.
E: Tell him my counter offer: He may have Senshinochi's place in my home and body, so long as Senshinochi has command of his men.\
F: Tell him I'm not interested in his terms.
-
B has a delicious irony to it.
-
B
-
B, but I get the feeling she'll muck it all up somehow.
-
B
-
C She can avenge her brother with her new husband's army.
-
You tell Skoonhein that Rinull will be marrying Nishi and in exchange will provide you the full might of his troops until the current threat has passed. The intermediary is tasked with breaking the good news to the bride and groom, and planning the wedding.
---
Quietly you slip off your chariot and into the part of the Imperial Palace where the Empress keeps her chambers and find Feyleaf drilling with a custom practice weapon the same weight, shape, and balance of the artifact Glaive that her father found. You can tell she has improved a good bit, but is unlikely to ever be a hardened vengeful champion.
As a goddess of beauty, you can tell that this once decidedly average looking cross of dwarf and elf has improved her appearance greatly. The muscle she has developed from her workouts both helps fill in her somewhat stout and dwarfish frame, and gives you something nice to look at besides her chest when she isn't wearing much.
Upon seeing you, she dismisses her trainer, offers you the low respectful bow one would give a diety, followed by a warm hug that one would give family. "Sunpetal!" She says with a wide grin that is very nearly enough to mask her discontentment. "I wasn't expecting to see much of you around until after we resolved my deadly destiny problem. What brings a goddess to visit a god slayer?"
A: Sun-nut's plan, what do you know?
B: To talk about this little training regime my son has you on.
C: To discuss your... unmet needs.
D: To spoil my favorite daughter-in-law with gifts.
E: Girl time! You know this town better than I. Take me somewhere fun!
-
E We have a healthy amount of essence so we shouldn't be in trouble, lets have a night on the town! What trouble could we possibly get into?
-
C
Gods in general tend to go both ways. At least, irl pantheons anyways.
-
E We have a healthy amount of essence so we shouldn't be in trouble, lets have a night on the town! What trouble could we possibly get into?
E I don't know what trouble but I want to find out!
We can be a little more subtle than asking, "Where's your bed?"
-
C
This is going to be fun...
-
C - Because sleeping with your son's wife can never go badly.
-
C
-
The reason c is an effective solution is because there is no chance of her getting pregnant.
-
E, the other topics will come eventually
-
The reason c is an effective solution is because there is no chance of her getting pregnant.
Unless we spend essence, but that's so crazy even I can't endorse it.
-
Edon't cuck our son >:(
-
Oh yes, we are in a poly-amorous relationship but not necessary the emperor too... he might get mad. although he is the god of mirth
we should be talking with HIM not her
he is the one that is being a jerk
-
Tiebreak pls.
-
E
-
Thank you! next thing we know our son is his sisters dad.
-
"Girl time!" you cry, "You know this town better than I. Take me somewhere fun!"
"Very well," Feyleaf grins, before turning to a nearby handmaiden. "Two mugs please!"
Several minutes later, a massive frothy tankard is placed in your hands. Feyleaf explains that it is tradition in her family that when one plans a evening of revelry, that the first and largest drink should always be consumed in one's home. It was her mothers tradition, borrowed from the cult of an obscure sky pantheon that the elf worshiped before Trunk seduced her.
1
You slam down the beverage, your first alcoholic drink you attended Bark-Ark's feast in your honor decades ago. Unless there is a party with lots of mortals present, flower nectar is the drink of choice at your court, and when mortals are around the Divine Dwelling, you have to play the role of responsible host. The drink hits your inexperienced liver hard. Real hard. You are in for some bad decisions tonight...
---
Feyleaf decides that as a goddess of beauty, you might enjoy an art expedition. The Empress takes you to meet an artist who is showing off many paintings of you and your family, just outside the temple of the tome. Most are nude. Some are erotic. When asked, the artist, a younger Chestnut Dwarf named Soilsong, explains that his wealthy patron requests paintings of "the most beautiful family in existence," but only keeps the most filthy ones for himself.
You would be a bit weirded out, if you were not almost positive your husband, alone in town and pining for his wife's beauty, is Soilsong's patron. The portraits, including those of your children who have never even visited The Empire, are all very accurate. Whoever commissioned them has to be somebody who knows your entire family.
An urge strikes you. You should find where Senshinochi is staying in town, and demand that he show you and Feyleaf the real smut! Before you can act on this urge, you are distracted by bells and chants, calling the faithful to hear the sermons of the tome...
Crash the lecture. The drunk voice in your head demands, you know how to worship you better than some dumb mortal priest does!
You turn to act on this impulse, but as you do the main body of paintings catches your eye. They are all great, some would even make great conversation starters for you and The Empress, but the ones of you would have been better had you actually posed for them. Wait. What were you about to do again?
A: Hey, Empress, check this picture out! A group picture of me, both my husbands, and all my kids! Who do you think is prettiest in that scene? ...No. You can't say your husband silly.
B: Empress, check out this picture of my and Senshinochi cuddling post coitus! No, my expression is not an exaggeration. Are you that satisfied when Sun-nut finishes with you?
C: Hey! Check this one out! Its me guiding your hand as you strike down some ugly dwarf god with that Glaive! That looks like fun! Perhaps we should pick a fight before the night is out!
D: Hey! Empress! Want to check out the real smut? I think I know who this guy's patron is!
E: Hey! Empress! Church is starting! I have just the sermon in mind to cure what ails you!
F: Hey! Empress! Lets pose nude and make this guy paint us!
-
F
-
Sudden radical doctrinal shifts? Sure that's a good idea while drunk.
E
-
B
F
-
F, I'm curious where that'll go.
-
F
-
B
-
"Empress, take your clothes off." You order.
"What?" She responds in shock.
"Artist," you decree, "ready yourself. We will pose here, and you will paint us."
5
Luckily, perhaps, for your reputation, Feyleaf still has some of her wits about her. "Oh. Yes. That does sound fun, but can you image if the scene if the two most important women in the empire were to strip and pose in the middle of a public street? We should go somewhere private."
"I have a set up in my flat." Soilsong quickly volunteers. "It is not far from here. Follow me."
"Perfect." You smirk. "Lead the way."
---
The pose chosen is you embracing Feyleaf over the shoulder from behind with your right arm, while resting your left hand on her inner thigh in such a way that the contact is less than an inch away from being sexual. Soilsong tells you that you will need to hold the pose for about an hour and a half so he can sketch the scene. He will then paint over the sketch, allowing you and Feyleaf to go on your merry way.
As the artist begins his work, you note that although Feyleaf is enjoying herself, part of her mind is not at peace with the pose's level of intimacy. You attempt to put her at ease with your words, but as the session drags on, your bored and drunken mind slowly turns to seducing her.
"Think of this as a religious experience. Nothing sexual at all."
...
"Beauty is more than visual you know. My body is the ideal of beauty to every sense, including touch. The only way you could ever be touched in a more ideal fashion than you are being touched in right now, is if more of my skin was in contact with yours."
...
"There is no shame here. The divine bloodline of the world I hail from is, by nature, flexible in their choice of partners, and such flexibility is also a hallmark of elves across the multiverse. Just think, had you been a pureblooded elf, you would have been considered defective for favoring either sex over the other. Just because few of the dwarves you live among will ever have thoughts like you are having, does not make those thought strange."
...
"...But I am only doing my duty as a mother. The husband who neglects you is my son. If he harms you by ignoring your needs, I am only doing my job in putting you right."
...
"No. I am not afraid that you are fated to kill a diety. In many languages, they use the same verb to kill somebody as they do to bring somebody to sexual climax. Your destiny dosn't frighten me so much as it raises my expectatoins."
The moisture on your left hand tell you that your words have been effective. The Empress is yours should you choose to claim her. You close your eyes and imagine what you might do to your daughter-in-law. It has been a long time since you have been with a female, and that had just been your older sister tutoring you on the inns and outs of such encounters. Actually, Feyleaf would be your first encounter of either gender that you could not explain away as payment, true love, spousal duty, or tutorial. There is no taking it back if you go through with it, the voice in your head warns, you will be the shallow person who enjoys intimacy for its own sake. Surely this world deserves better than that from its beauty deity.
"Umm..." Soilsong's voice snaps you back to reality. "I'm finished. Would you two care for some privacy?" A quick glance at his pants tells you that he is nearly as wound up as The Empress.
A: Actually, no. Sex is how a drunken rampage ends, and I'm not finished yet. We will join you for a round or three of drinks, artist, and then be on our way.
B: Yes please, but could you be a dear and show us to the bedroom first?
C: Nope. You are joining us. Bedroom. Now. The both of you.
D: No. Or at least not yet. Pose with the Empress however you see fit, and I'll sketch. I'm an artist too.
E: I'm sorry, but nobody can know what is about to happen except us. Don't run. You are giving your life for a higher cause. I promise to make it quick and do your work justice when I finish the painting for you.
-
B
Go for it boi
Also, considering the state of the front board, if this goes through can we get a title change to "Wrist deep in a X" (sexually)
-
A - Lets see if we can get into any other shenanigans first.
-
A
And I thought this game got thirsty before
How little I knew
-
There's no way our successors' point of view can be anywhere near as glorious once they replace us if we die.
A
-
A
-
"Oh no, that wont be necessary." you proclaim, "If our adventure has such a climax in store, we have not reached it yet. Be a good host and pour some drinks while Feyleaf and I get dressed. We will be out of your hair soon enough, but for now we will grant you the privileged of extended socialization with your goddess and your empress."
Both mortals in the room look disappointed for a moment. "I have just the bottle of cider in mind for us. Real good. You will both like it." Your host eventually answers before leaving to fetch it.
---
Drinks with Soilsong quickly devolves into a game of truth or dare. You take several drunken shots at using dares to escalate the game into intimacy, but the mortals are more interesting in using their turns to grill you about god stuff; Feyleaf is curious about the affairs of your court and Soilsong about the nature of your divine powers.
Eventually divine powers turns to talk of supernatural forces in general. Which turns to talk of witches. It is at this point your next destination becomes clear.
"I dare you to ask for Azuma's hand in marriage!" Feyleaf demands of the artist.
"What? N-now?" He sputters.
"Did she stutter?" You ask.
"She's a witch and a mighty champion of the empire! I can't just go strolling up to her home and ask for entry, much less her hand." Soilsong protests.
"I am her Empress, she is her Goddess, and we are both her kin. We can get you an audience." Feyleaf answers.
"But... I'm a nobody! I'd be little more than a slug! Hell, she could turn me into one! I'm not ready for that!"
"Though shit." You reply, "if you can't deal with epic quests, you shouldn't be playing truth or dare with monarchs and deities!"
The artist continues to protest. You and Feyleaf calmly finish your drinks before rising from the table and literally dragging him to Azuma's house.
---
Your daughter lives in a large wooden mansion on a large estate in the shadow of the town walls. Back before the empire, Feyleaf tells you, the chieftains would use the place as a hunting lodge.
Tails
Feyleaf announces your party to Azuma's doorman, and you are informed that the lady of the house is not home. The three of you enter anyway, and begin to stroll around Azuma's exceptionally large house like you own the place, trailed by a very nervous acolyte who is very keen on preventing you from messing with his mistresses 'magic things'.
You find four unsealed potions on the otherwise neatly organized desk in Azuma's study. One red, one black, one blue, and one pink. "What do those do?" Soilsong, who quickly regained his nerve upon learning the witch wasn't present, asks the acolyte.
2
"I don't know exactly" the acolyte answers, "but mistress Azuma consumes them on a recreational basis. I wouldn't reco-"
A wide grin spreads across your face before the acolyte can finish his sentence. You know what you must do.
A: Drink...
B: Dare Fayleaf to drink...
C: Dare Soilsong to drink...
A: The red potion!
B: The black potion!
C: The blue potion!
D: The pink potion!
-
AD
We're probably the least likely to straight-up eat it from drinking a potion.
-
Holy fuck
no puns
but...
err
AD
-
I knew we should have done B last turn...
AD
-
AD
-
AD
Don't worry, I'm ready to bet we'll have a lot more opportunities for B later on. ;)
-
C Soilsong didn't finish his dare, he has to drink!
D the pretty pretty pink one!
-
C Soilsong didn't finish his dare, he has to drink!
D the pretty pretty pink one!
+1
-
You swipe the pink potion off the desk. "Hey guys! Watch this!"
The potion is strange. It looks like colored water, but has the consistency of tree sap and the taste of dairy and gamy wild meat.
1
The first gulp seems to do nothing, so you down the entire bottle. Your mortal companions follow your lead, as Feyleaf downs the blue potion and Soilsong the black. The acolyte looks aghast, but can do nothing as the three of you march out of the study and continue your tour of Azuma's mansion!
Your comrades are hit by their drinks first. Feyleaf becomes exhausted, and passes out in one of the sitting rooms on a large reclining chair. Soilsong, on the other hand, becomes aggressive and starts kicking over furniture and trying to pick a fight with the acolyte.
Then you feel it. A fire in your loins! Just your luck, you have consumed an aphrodisiac while the person you had been strongly considering intimacy with anyway got a damn sleeping potion! You attempt to ignore the urge at first, but this pulls futile, and you find yourself dragging the artist into the next suitably large closet you pass and demanding that he ravage you.
---
Time drags in the closet. Soilsong happily indulges you at first, but he lacks both the stamina and the focus to remain sexual for long. You wind up pathetically encouraging your partner's equally pathetic attempts to inflict violence upon you through your divine defenses in vain hope that it will bring you satisfaction.
It is in this shameful state that Azuma finds you. On your back, begging a scrawny mortal on as he attempts to grind his boot heel into your neck.
"Don't you know you are supposed to invite the witch on the bender with you," she muses as a wicked smile crosses her face, "not invade her ho-"
"MARRY ME BITCH!" Soilsong interrupts with a roar.
1
Azuma doesn't even look at the young dwarf, as she turns him into a rat with the wave of an arm.
"As I was saying," your daughter continues, as her grin widens "three sips of my recreational potions would be more than enough, even for a deity. It looks like you just downed the pink one. If I had to guess, the effects you are feeling will become two to three times more intense before they wear off. You are going to be pretty miserable for the next eight to twelve hours... I'm sure I can find either an antidote, or a way to keep you satisfied ...If you make it worth my while."
A: Beg Azuma to aid you. You are sure that by way of either her lust or her loyalty, you can make her help without having to actually give her anything.
B: Offer her an artifact in exchange for her help!
C: Offer her a godly child in exchange for her help!
D: Offer her a blank check favor in exchange for her help!
E: Ignore Azuma, and try to find Feyleaf. You can sort your current issues out without the witch's help.
F: Ignore Azuma, and try to find where Senshinochi is staying in town. Your loyal husband will likely help you deal with the issue at hand free of charge.
-
E
-
E
-
E
-
A
This seems the most mythical route to take.
-
A.
I don't think Azuma can successfully not help us with this.
-
"Screw you Azuma! I don't need your help. I have Feyleaf!"
You storm from the closet to seek your daughter-in-law.
"Try the master bedroom!" Azuma calls after you.
6
You find your daughter-in-law where Azuma said you would, wearing nothing but a smile. To your great joy and relief she pulls you towards Azuma's bed and starts tearing at your clothes.
---
The encounter is not unpleasant, but moves far slower than you would like. Feyleaf is used to letting her husband do all the work in bed, has clearly never been with somebody of the fairer sex before, so you have to teach her how to satisfy you. It takes well over an hour, but eventually you cease your roles of teacher and student and commit fully to each other and the moment at hand.
---
The endurance training that Sun-nut has subjected Feyleaf to allows her to hang with you for many hours, but she dose not outlast the artificial lust from the potion you downed.
5
Just as you begin to worry about what you will do once Feyleaf is unable to continue, Azuma enters the room with two well endowed black bears at her side. The witch gestures, and the beasts join you in bed. They do all the work, so you and Feyleaf need only lay back and enjoy.
Azuma remains to watch, and during a break in the action, strikes up a conversation. Although the potion is still in your system, you are no longer drunk, so the full weight of her words strike you.
"You have no idea how lucky you two both are." Azuma complains, "No mortal could have survived the dose of sleeping potion the Empress took. Had I not returned home and figured out what had happened in time to reverse it..."
The room fall silent at the implication. Eventually your daughter continues. "I couldn't have you leaving the house in the state you were in. You'd humiliate yourself. So I gave some pink potion to the empress to keep you busy here. I've already restored dad's pet artist, whipped his memories, and sent him home. I of course forgive you for breaking into my home and drinking my stuff. You don't have to worry about a thing mom. I've taken care of everything. I'll even send Feyleaf home with some pink potion that she can slip to her husband or handmaidens if her needs are not being met."
You sigh. Azuma may steal artifacts, plot behind your back, brew suspect potions, and cast strange spells, but it is nice to know she cares about her mother.
"Tell me I'm a better daughter than Nishi." She demands abruptly.
...Or she is just trying to get one up on her sister. Of course.
A: By a mile. You are actually my favorite child!
B: Indeed. You are my favorite mortal child!
C: I suppose.
D: ...A mother can't pick favorites.
E: Hell no!
-
A
Azuma is pretty great, generally speaking. When's the last time we even spoke to Nishi?
-
How can we do a fair comparison without drunkingly breaking into Nishi's house?
-
B
-
B
-
B
-
A. She is definitely better than Sun-nut and we haven't spoke to Moonpetal in years
-
B
-
A
-
You comply with Azuma's demands. "You are a better daughter than Nishi, and a better child than any of my other mortal children."
This satisfies Azuma. She approaches you in bed and gives you a soft kiss on the cheek before leaving the room. You find it mildly surprising that the witch dosn't join you and Feyleaf in bed. She likely possesses the omnisexuality of your blood, and the affinity for incest in Senshinochi's. Her decision to keep things platonic, perhaps, is more fleeting evidence that Azuma actually cares for her mother.
Eventually the potion wears off, and you bid a fond farewell to both Azuma and Feyleaf, get dressed, and prepare to return home.
Your daughter stops you on the way out the door. She whispers in your ear that Gnoll has promised that he will finish reforging The Staff of Creed by new years eve 7.6 CS. She assures you that if the empire can hold on for at least that long, she will be able to turn the tide of battle by then.
---
Huh. Random.org is down, so I cannot roll for upcoming events. I'll be cool and let y'all suggest any single action that would take two months or less for the next update.
-
Nurse a godly hangover all month that's so bad you have to order the cherubs to turn off the divine light in your entire domain.
-
See how all of our children are doing.
Yes, even all the mundane ones.
(Edit: random.org works fine over here.)
-
See how all of our children are doing.
Yes, even all the mundane ones.
(Edit: random.org works fine over here.)
+1
-
See how all of our children are doing.
Yes, even all the mundane ones.
(Edit: random.org works fine over here.)
+1
Taking stock's not a bad idea
-
Your misadventures with Azuma and Feyleaf draw your mind to the topic of family. Deciding you wish to take stock of your offspring, you send out scouts from your host to track them down. Reports come in over the next month. Many of your kids have nothing new going on in their lives, but you do learn a few interesting tidbits:
Upon meeting Bark-Ark at the seat of judgement, Toraburumēkā requested to be sent to The Soup, domain of his goddess Char-dis. The cave goddess plans to use your son's soul, which is still tainted with the curse of a werebeast, as the foundation for a new monster, but is waiting for the war to end so that Sukina might visit him in the Soup, say her goodbyes, and perhaps conceive his heir. The process, once it begins, will destroy your sons personality and memories, leaving only his raw hatred. Your messenger reports that Toraburumēkā considers this a desirable fate.
Speaking of your Char-dis worshiping offspring, you learn that your unworthy daughter Elmoss is a mother of 14! Her youngest 13 are spiderlings like their father Zrukphs, and six of those are either mighty heroes. Her eldest child, the dwarf hero Kurphs, has grown apart from his family and has a strong hatred of you for abandoning his mother and forgiving Char-dis of his grandfather's death. He was apparently part of the Sea Dwarf Host that had tried to attack The Empire but was turned away by Dull and the land pirates. Presently he is back home with his fiance, a niece of Queen Mother Kelp-Yarg, nursing his wounds.
Okurimono, twin brother of Ken, seems to have fallen into the Kappa underworld. Rumors state that in addition to the duties that he preforms at the dojo, he is also taking work as an assassin and smuggler. He has close ties to a sea monster and crime lord called The Octopus King, and may be involved with one of its daughters. You scout tells you that it is Okurimono's illegal activities that has lead to his falling out with Ken.
---
6
It is not a messenger who reports back to you on Nishi, but your estranged daughter herself. She prostrates herself before your throne, begs your forgiveness, and agrees to marry Rhinull for the sake of the empire.
She then shocks you by presenting you with a Kappa toddler who has the head of a grasshopper. "This is your grandson, Vir-Bloom, son of renegade dwarf god Vir-Buzz. He is divine, fated to be a god of the summer months. Would you do me the honor of adopting him, so that my new husband is not burdened with raising the son of another?"
A: The opportunity to raise another god? Count me in!
B: You should find out if Rinull will take the child before giving it up!
C: I remember Vir-Buzz, who so rudely sought to slay Emperor Walnut and claim my hand in marriage through violence. I want no part of his offspring.
-
A
-
A
-
A!
-
A
-
Sure, I guess. A
-
A
-
I think you meant to put Walnut on option C there
-
I think you meant to put Walnut on option C there
Otherwise that whole misguided adventure becomes even more confusing.
A
-
Know what? B
He wants to marry into a goddess's family, he gets the whole family.
-
A
-
A
-
You decide to adopt Vir-Bloom, and send the child to be examined by your sages, who promptly corroborate Nishi's story, informing you that the kid is indeed a mix of your own spawn and that of the dwarven pantheon, will grow into a god of the summer months, and will come of age in the year 9.2 CS.
---
Imperial forces march against The Patrol lead by Queen Mother Kelp-Yarg! As the two sides organize into formations, the respecting commanding officers charge towards the center on their birds to face off in single combat! The final battle between Senshinochi and Kelp-Yarg has begun!
1
Senshinochi is slain! The daring Queen mother dodges your husband's lightning bolts, closes the distance, and makes the daring leap from her bird to his! In the ensuing struggle, Kelp-Yarg manages to nick her foe with her cursed blade, causing your husband to melt away like his son before him!
Victorious, Kelp-Yarg abandons her own bird and flies away on Arubatorosu, taking the artifact reins of coral and arrow 'Flash', which your husband carried always carried, with her.
4
With the initial duel done with, the enemy charges the demorialized Imperial legion! The battle begins as a complete massacre, with imperial soldiers being slaughtered left and right... but then back up arrives!
Hellsplash the Dread Finned Hornet, Servant of Char-dis, has arrived on the battlefield! It has thick armor, a venomous sting, razor sharp mandibles, and is the size of a town!
The monster charges your enemies! Tearing them apart with deadly efficiency. Within a matter of minutes, they are routed. Sadly, the damaged and leaderless Imperial forces choose not to pursue, but luckily Hellsplash gives chase!
---
It takes a few days, but eventually reports of the aftermath have reached you. Hellsplash is still chasing the invaders, running them deep into nomad dwarf lands. The legion's losses, although heavy, have been supplemented by the arrival of Rhinull's mercenaries.
2
The death of Senshinochi has thrown command of the legion into Chaos however, as the feud between Azuma and Nishi breaks out at the worst possible time! The War-Witch wants to command the legion herself, but Nishi has already begun to use her great charisma to advocate for her future husband to take that role! To your dismay, God Emperor Sun-nut is still not interested in leading his own forces!
This could get out of hand quick, unless you intervene!
A: Nah. I trust the girls to get to the bottom of it.
B: Nah. It's Sun-nut's empire. I shall order him to solve the problem before it explodes!
C: I told Azuma she is my favorite, and I shall stick to that! The legion is hers!
D: I told Azuma she is my favorite, but her safety means more than her pride. I shall side with Nishi to spare Azuma the fate of her brother and her father.
E: Dammit Thrane, I don't care if the enemy is Kin or not! You have a duty to uphold! I order you to command the legion!
F: The enemy has done a fine job at pissing me off. I will offer command to the werebeing Sukina so that she may avenge her kin!
-
F
-
F
-
F
-
F
-
Fuck you both standing in front of the terms
if both don't managed a mid term we have to go to another way
-
F
-
You cry out in despair at the loss of your husband, and swear vengeance to the heavens! THEY WILL ALL PAY! ...and Sukina will be the one to make them. You send messengers to The Empire and to Dull's crew to ensure that the mortals are aware of your will.
7.4 CS:
The sorry of loss is offset by the miracle of birth! A beautiful, divine daughter! Your sages inform you that she is to be a goddess of treachery, and divine patron of the disloyal spouse. Since she looks to have dwarven blood, your court praises Emperor Walnut for giving you another godly offspring, but you know the truth; Going off the timing of her birth, this infant could only be product of your fling with the artist Soilsong in the closet of Azuma's mansion!
Azuma told you that she took Soilsong's memories his misadventures with you and Feyleaf, and time does not flow the same in the Amber Palace, where Walnut dwells, so it is unlikely that anybody will ever discover your secret should you choose to keep it. Still... you are faced with a bit of a moral quandary...
A: Allow your court to continue to believe that the infant is Walnut's. If something happens to Sun-nut before he has any divine children, your newborn will be the next God Empress of all things beautiful.
B: Announce the truth of the girl's parantage! To hell with the consequences! Your daughter has the right to know her father, and Soilsong his daughter.
C: I will not raise a goddess of treachery! Have the child killed!
D: I will not raise a goddess of treachery! Find distant adoptive parents for the child!
E: I will not raise a goddess of treachery! Send a messenger to quietly bring Soilsong up to speed, and task him with raising the child.
-
A
-
E
-
A
Would be a perfect spymaster.
-
You decide to keep both the girl and her secret, naming her Sun-storm. Your sages inform you that she will come of age in the year 107 CS.
---
Two parties seek an audience with you today. One of your cherubs has an urgent report from the missionaries that were sent out to the Chestnut Dwarves last decade. An emissary from the Abyssal Pantheon has also arrived, per your agreement to accept one of Ore's divine children as your next husband now that Senshinochi is gone. Who would you like to meet first?
A: The cherub!
B: The emissary!
-
B
-
B
-
B I don't think we've ever actually spoken to the cherubs first
-
A
-
We are going to accept whoever they send really so lets go with A first.
-
B
-
B
Our cherubs have to deal with it if we keep them waiting, because they're basically slaves. :P
-
B
Our cherubs have to deal with it if we keep them waiting, because they're basically slaves. :P
Angels have never rebelled against gods, so your logic is sound!
-
They usually die or gets banished when it happens
we should marry our divine daughter with the god of chaos and laugh at the havok they might cause
But A it's our missionaries at stake, not another marriage proposal
-
You call in the emissary, a small cthuhluoid creature with a disconcerting grin.
"Sunpetal," it begins, "my master has consulted with his children to find you a mate, but you and your people currently face war. As such, only the most war-like of my master's children would be interested in your hand at this time. You can either accept a god or goddess of war, or wait until the war is won for a wider selection."
A: Tell Ore to send me a war god.
B: Tell Ore to send me a war goddess.
C: Tell Ore I'll wait for a better range of options.
D: Tell Ore to fuck off. I've decided I don't want his children after all.
-
B
-
B
-
B!
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B
-
B
-
B, sure
-
B is popular
And immediately put her in at least co-command of the army?
Maybe make her Empress, too, our son doesn't seem to be interested in actually doing his job.
-
A
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B
-
You decide it is time to take a break from the constant childbearing that comes with keeping a male consort, and request that Ore send you a goddess of war.
The emissary nods, and promises to relay the message to his master.
---
6
"My queen," The cherub bows low as it enters your chambers. "The missionaries were not able to do much missionary work with a war on, but they were able to gather a good amount of intelligence. The enemy forces under Throng-Krunk are building some sort of magical gate, which is to be opperated by a wizard back in the mountainhomes. The project should be completed by the end of the year, allowing the enemy a nearly limitless pool of supplies and reinforcements."
"That sounds bad," you admit.
"The good news is that a few of your missionaries are in position to sabotage the project." The cherub continues, "however if they do so, and the enemies trace the sabotage back to your missionaries, that would be grounds for the enemy gods to get involved in the conflict."
A: I'd rather face an enemy god than more enemy troops! Have my missionaries sabotage the gate!
B: Pass this Intel along to Sukina and the legion, but leave the portal alone.
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
B I think it'd be better to try to get Azuma or one of our heroic children to sabotage the gate.
-
B
This is war with the dwarf gods. I don't think we are ready.
-
B if they bring the host maybe we won't manage to win
-
Cant open a magic gate if one end is under several fathoms of water, lets get Azuma to figure out where the other end is.
B
A
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B
-
Wait, aren't we gonna have some abyssal backup in the gods department?
Let's sabotage the gate. Maybe it will explode at the same time.
If the gods do attack us then all bets are off.
Vote changed.
-
I don't remember anything contractual between us and Ore beyond the consort business? The kappas, sure, but their gods are a bit of a question mark I think?
They have a longstanding feud between the dwarves and the deeps, true, but consider our territorial position in the forest and plains between the rivals. We're not as strong as either, and the Abyss is friendly but they might be using us as a meat divine ambrosia shield more than a partner.
-
You give the command to sabotage the gate!
---
Several days later, reports of a massive explosion behind enemy lines reach your divine dwelling!
2
Sadly, several days after that, reports that the enemy has traced said explosions back to your missionaries reach you. Things are about to get interesting!
---
2
Sukina, aware that the enemy gods might be about to get involved, launches a full scale attack against The Campers, hoping to drive them out before the hostile deities arrive!
The enemy, however, proves too deeply entrenched, and manages to repel the imperial forces without much difficulty. The Imperial Legion loses well over a third of its number.
7.5 CS:
Your new consort, Doll-Fin the Abyssal Goddess of Military discipline, has arrived. Like all her sisters you have met so far, she is a well built woman with one eye and three breasts, but Doll-Fin's appearance is rendered unique by her rubbery gray skin.
She comes across as shy, meek, and completely in awe of your beauty, but the servants who accompany her swear that she is known to be a complete and utter savage both on the battlefield and in the bedroom. After spending a night with the goddess, you can vouch for the fact that at least half of her servants' claim is true; You cannot recall ever being so sore in your life.
---
Sukina and Azuma arrive at your divine dwelling to talk military matters.
"The Empire is in dire straights," Sukina laments, "The legion is weak from my failed attempt to drive out The Campers, The Patrol, which was routed in my father's final battle and chased off by the monster of Char-Dis is starting to regroup and march back towards Imperial lands, and I am hearing rumors that both enemy armies are now being enhanced with divine leadership and hosts."
"The artifact that prophecy says will allow me to bring you glorious victory should be in my hands by the end of next year," Azuma declares.
"...But I can't guarentee that The Empire can hold out for that long. If both The Campers and The Patrol attack us in unison, we are finished." Sukina admits.
"Your forces require a little something extra to hold on until I am ready to turn the tides of war." Azuma concludes.
A: You will have nothing extra. Its just a year and a half tops. You can tough it out.
B: I will send my new consort Doll-Fin to lead the legion, and my Host to back it up!
C: I shall call upon The Kappa for aid!
D: I shall call upon The Abyssal Pantheon for aid!
E: I shall attempt to negotiate with the dwarf gods to buy us time!
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C
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B
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C
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B
-
B
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B
-
BCDE and yell?
military discipline huh? she can train our host and troops and grant that the next war we can make sure our troops are in the best state
-
PTW
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C
-
You relieve Sukina of her command, and declare Doll-Fin the new Imperial commander-in-chief. Your consort is also granted command of your host, which is sent along with her to back up your mortal followers.
5
Sukina takes the demotion well. Her only response is to apologize again for her defeat at the hands of the campers and swear her loyalty to the new commander for the remainder of the war.
---
6
The enemy must have agents keeping an eye on your legion, as they choose not to attack this year, instead they hang back and gather their strength so that they may completely overwhelm your improved forces and eventually deal a decisive blow.
The Campers, you learn, are now lead by Go-Trime, the divine patron of Military Quartermasters and god of logistics. This new enemy leader is working on providing his troops with even better equipment made from legendary metals mined deep below the mountain-homes near the divine dwelling of his Pantheon.
The freshly regrouped Patrol is now commanded by Urshoof, the dwarven goddess of livestock. Urshoof has been sleeping with her armies canine and equine mounts and using large amounts of godly essence to produce divine steeds and mastiffs for her greatest champions to ride into battle.
A third dwarf god, believed to be the truly mighty lord of the undead Bale-Urist, is rumored to be somewhere out in the great plains, rounding up Nomad Dwarf mercenaries and land pirates to form yet a third army to oppose your empire.
7.6 CS:
Young Cider, the post-mortem son of Emperor Walnut, appears before your throne with a wide grin. "I just got back from visiting my brother the God Emperor. I got bored at his palace, so I decided to sneak into his basement while he was sleeping. I saw all his plans for the secret project he is working on. Would you like me to tell you mother?
You consider the child's words. As curious as you may be about Sun-nut's project and reclusive behavior, you are not sure you like Cider snooping around the Imperial Palace. Sun-nut is not only Cider's kin, but also his better, as the young boy is mortal and his grown brother is a full fledged god. If Cider is willing to share his brother's secrets, you can't be sure he wont be willing to someday share yours.
As for Sun-nut's secret!
A: Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!
B: No. Sun-nut intends to surprise me, and I trust him.
As for the worrisome snooping behavior...
A: Reward it with praise!
B: Reward it with a minor artifact!
C: Scold him for spying on family!
D: Scold him for spying on a god!
E: Stress how much you love him, and order your court to spoil the child. He will not turn his talents against you if he feels loved.
F: Banish him from the divine dwelling. He is a hero, and can make his own way in the world, even if he is a decade from adulthood.
-
A
C
Spy on our enemies!
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BC
-
BC
-
BC
-
BC
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B C
It's a surprise, he's got some kind of secret lab in the basement, he's a creative god, he doesn't touch his wife anymore, and he "requires" a dead body preferably of some power. What more do we need to know?
-
You tell your son that you wish to be surprised by whatever Sun-nut is up to. You then proceed to lecture him on the evils of spying on family.
6
After a good chewing out, Cider swears to never snoop on his kin again.
---
Skoonhein appears before your throne with some encouraging news. "A few dozen strange beings called goblins are visiting The Town of the Tome. They came overnight, riding winged reptiles, and are staying at Azuma's manor. I suspect your daughter is receiving that which she claims will win the war."
A: Very good. I shall await Azuma's report.
B: Prepare my Chariot, and inform Azuma I am coming over! I'd like to meet these goblins myself.
-
B
-
B
-
B
gobbos
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A
-
A
-
A
-
B
-
B
-
The chariot is made ready, and you depart for Azuma's manor at once.
---
The meeting at Azuma's hall is a bit awkward right off the bat. Your daughter's table is round, so you cannot sit at the head as custom would dictate, and it is clear that the Goblins are very uncomfortable in your presence. Azuma's guests are rather unimpressive; They are as short as Chestnut Dwarves, but scrawny in their build with loose leathery skin and pointed ears. They all seem to be missing at least a few teeth, and smell strongly of ash. They are dressed in rags made from a rough and uncomfortable looking fabric.
Azuma introduces you to the two Goblin leaders present: Gnoll of the Haunted Canyons, the smith who worked on the stolen staff for Azuma, and his son Chief Pikel, a tribal leader. Neither Goblin offers you much more than something between a slight bow and a curt nod when introduced. They differ little in dress from the less important Goblins present, but they do wear silver broaches in the shape of a bird of prey's claw, and Gnoll's eyes seem to glow a haunting purple.
Dinner is quiet. Azuma serves a roast boar from the forest alongside fresh fruit and nuts. Most of the guests are given plum wine of a fine vintage, but you are served a cocktail of the flower nectars and fruit juices you are familiar with; Clearly Azuma has come to understand that you are not to be trusted with alcohol.
You notice that although the Goblins happily indulge in the wine, they only sample the food before them and don't come anywhere close to cleaning their plates. You also notice that Azuma is quite familiar with one of her acolytes, a large male Chestnut Dwarf who carries a maul made from Mountain Dwarf steel; They hold hands and talk sweetly with one another, making no secret about the romantic nature of their relationship.
Eventually, you decide to break the ice and start talking.
A: Ask what has become of the Staff of Creed.
B: Ask if Gnoll would be interested in working with that Beam Sword you still have lying around.
C: Inquire about Goblin culture.
D: Inquire about Goblin politics.
E: Inquire about Goblin history.
F: Inquire about Goblin biology.
G: Inquire about Azuma's lover.
-
F
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A!
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F
-
E
-
C
-
C
-
A
-
C
-
C fine way of ice breaking
-
You start asking some questions about Goblin culture.
4
Eventually you get Chief Pikel talking. "We are too busy surviving to have a culture. The Mountian dwarves kill my people on sight, so we can only live in lands too harsh for them to visit. We spend most of our days hiding from and training to fight against the monsters with whom we share the haunted places. With the exception of my father and the other children of the Demonsaur Rexnaught, none of us know much but to survive and to fight. If I were to catch one of my subjects wasting his time on the arts, sciences, or arcane, I would string him to a natural arch for the Wallcreepers to eat."
"Indeed," Gnoll concurs with his son, "it is a damn shame though. The closest thing my descendants get to culture is when I get drunk and ramble out stories of the old days... I suppose some of my assistants get to learn of old dwarfish smithing techniques by watching me from time to time. But that is about it in our tribe. Shame, really. But it would be a bigger shame for them all to die, so I don't fault them. It is a damn shame indeed."
A: You sound important Gnoll, and I recall Azuma telling me that you were a Demigod like her. What is your story?
B: Your existence sounds miserable, where are your gods in all this?
C: Your existence sounds miserable. Tell me more about the challenges your people face.
D: Why do the dwarves pursue you?
E: ...Lets talk about something else. (Choose another option from the previous update)
-
A
-
B
-
B
-
A
-
(I started writing before Void voted, but decided to just throw some information from A into the post rather than ignore the Ninja, because the answers are related and you rolled so high this time)
You ask where the Goblin Gods are in all this and Chief Pikel shoots you a spiteful glare. "My people are far too wise to trust your kind. Any of my subjects caught worshiping any deity are burnt alive."
5
Gnoll holds out his hand to silence his son before the younger goblin can talk his way into any more trouble.
"Forgive him, mother of Azuma. My people have a long history of being betrayed by those we worship is all." Gnoll hastily explains. "My mother is Pel-Urist, Dwarven Goddess of Wildflowers. As a child, she was captured by Demonsaur Rexnaught to be used for sexual pleasure by him and his mortal sons. When she came of age, she began to have children. Thirty three in total over the 187 years she was held captive. Eight, of whom seven survive today, were born demons. Six, of whom all survive, were born deities, and nineteen, of whom I am one of twelve survivors, were born mortal."
Gnoll closes his eyes, and a whistful look spreads across his face. "We thought our mother loved us. When she wasn't sleeping, or being forced to service our fathers, she would tend to us, teach us dwarven crafts and history, and train us as warriors and survivors. Our mother eventually escaped, informed the dwarven Pantheon of our location, and sent a divine host to rescue us and smite our fathers. My siblings and I thought we would have the favor of our mother's pantheon, and become the founders of a great new race of dwarves, and for a time this seemed to be the case."
"So what happened?" Azuma asks.
"My mother fell in love," Gnoll answers with a sad smile, "with her cousin Prec-Urist, God of 'Honor' and Chasity. Prec-Urist agreed to marry her, but only on the condition that she swear to rid the world of the evidence of her rape at the hands of our fathers - to eliminate us. From that day on we were hunted by the hosts and followers of the Dwarven Pantheon."
"And what of your Godly sibblings?" You inquire, "Surely you can trust and worship them?"
"Ha." Gnoll chuckles, "They were quick to abandon us to flee the wrath of the dwarves. One by one they all abandoned us. Some married into other Pantheons. Others renounced our worship, used divine magic to change their appearance, and now live relatively quiet lives pretending to be mortal heroes scattered across the world. Only my divine sister Bugbeara remained, but her hatred of our mother was so strong that she kept throwing away the lives of our strong and exposing the location of our weak by launching doomed attacks against the wicked Pantheon. Eventually the rest of us had to gang up and kill her before she could lead our kind into oblivion."
"Surely you could have found some other Pantheon to support you." Azuma insists, "There are other gods aside from your kin, and many of them are desperate for followers."
"We tried that a few times," Gnoll answers. "Eventually the Dwarf gods would catch wind of our new patrons, and bully them into either abandoning or betraying us. After one minor sky pantheon nearly wiped us out with their betrayal, we decided it would be best to ban all worship of the divine among our kind."
"You hate all gods and goddesses then?" You ask.
"I teach my children to. For their own sake." Gnoll answers, "but no. I don't. I'm actually rather fond of idiots like you who stand up to the dwarven pantheon. I'll mourn when they slay you."
A: You killed your own Kin and Goddess, called me an idiot, and assume my defeat in this war? PREPARE FOR PUNISHMENT!
B: Have you ever tried worshiping the Abyssal Pantheon? They are large enough not to get picked on by the dwarves.
C: You seem to favor my cause in this war. You would lose nothing by having your people pray to me, at least temporarily. It costs you little and the extra essence could be the difference between my victory and defeat.
D: Your story has me curious about Goblin biology. A race that is a mix of demon, god, and mortal sounds fascinating.
E: Your story has me curious about Goblin politics. It sounds like most of the founding members of your race are still alive, so I'd imagine all Goblins get along.
F: Hmm... Now that I've heard your story, your skill as a Smith intrigues me Gnoll. Take a look at this Beam Sword and tell me how you might improve it for me.
G: Hmm... Now that I've heard your story, your skill as a Smith intrigues me Gnoll. What did you do to the Staff of Creed?
H: I think I've heard enough from these Goblins. I'll eat the rest of my meal in silence.
-
B
-
B
-
B
-
F
-
G
-
G
-
B
-
B
-
F
-
I would like to do C over B but G (abyssal pantheon is worshipped by sea creatures, it may not be ideal for them)
-
I would like to do C over B but G (abyssal pantheon is worshipped by sea creatures, it may not be ideal for them)
I support this more to piss of the dwarven pantheon and not get too involved ourselves, the abyssal would love the opportunity to do this
-
G
-
B
-
What happened? Is this dead?