A Different World: Age of Darkness [OOC|Open]

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:01 pm

Age of Darkness

The sun rises on a new world- a world not like that you may know. Shattered by a catastrophic impact not long after the extinction of the dinosaurs, Earth is not as it should be. This impact, a star falling to earth, changed not only the shape of the world, but also her content; this star bore strange light and eldritch crystals, warping and altering the planet where humanity slowly arose. Continents were broken, minds shattered, even animals and plants twisted and changed. It is a different world, one in many ways hostile to humanity- but in the end, it is your world.

You stand forward as one of the leaders of a kingdom of survivors, a lord of a people amongst many. It has been over a thousand years now since the first tribes emerged in the impact of the Cataclysm, family groups formed from scattered wanderers and survivors, and now from those first few tribes and city-states immense nations and countries have emerged, shaping the world about them. Men built great wonders, forged empires, and in that grandeur brought ruin upon themselves. Walking demons of the unquiet dead and cultists of mad gods descended upon civilization, exploiting the hubris of settled peoples, and untold thousands perished in the slaughter of that Time of Blood.

It is now nearly a century since the last adherents of the cults and dark practitioners were hunted down. The shattered remnants of society have begun to rebuild, remember forgotten secrets, and look beyond mere safety for meaning once more.

To be a leader in such times is to be given a solemn charge, that of your people's perseverance. Civilization is fragile, and your civilization the most vulnerable - your enemies many, potential or otherwise. Dark thing lurk in the wild places of the world, and the graves of the dead outnumber the homes of the living. Will you rise to cradle the light of civilization alongside your kinsmen, or will you falter and become another forgotten people, tombs to litter quiet hillsides? Come, and tell the tale of the Age of Darkness.

Welcome all, to the Age of Darkness, part of a Different World.

New empires begin with a single capitol, two lesser settlements, and a range of outskirts, and I am accepting a maximum of fifteen empires - we currently have nine slots open. Feel free to chime in here to watch and enjoy even if you don't want to join.

You should expect to make an IC post once every 72 hours or thereabouts IRL, but more will be encouraged. These posts correspond to the passage of a year's time, in-character, and will resolved by yours truly to chart the course of your civilization.

Your civilization will need many things, foremost warm bodies to accomplish her aims and fill her homes. For ease of use, these citizens are grouped together in units of 1000, who populate your cities and settlements. They will need to be fed, sheltered, and defended, but they are the life-blood of your civilization. Every new empire starts with thirty thousand inhabitants, spread across their holdings. The full mechanics of this age will be explained in a following post.

So there we go! I have room for ten new authors at present. Feel free to slap down an application if this interests you, or just an interest post to follow things.

Code: Select all: [b]Empire Application[/b] [b]Name:[/b] [b]Short History:[/b] [b]Starting Location:[/b] [b]Advantage:[/b] [b]Description:[/b]

The Empires

The Landsraad Hegemony: A confederation in the western plains, possessing a straddle on the Great, White, and Black Rivers. A sprawling and advanced empire of many settlements, they wield a variety of strange powers and have strong internal trade.
The Taiyang Dynasty: A celestial monarchy hailing from the banks of the Yu River, between the steaming Huanca Jungles and the Sea of Sunset, the Huang peoples have seen recent turmoil, and internal dissent, but still stand strong nonetheless behind their formidable Long Wall. The Taiyang are only the most recent dynasty to rise to power on the banks of the jade waters.
The Republic of the Great River: Democrats, a rarity in this era, form the nucleus of the four cities of the Republic - Rivermouth and her smaller sisters - on the eastern shores of the World That Is. Builders and peaceful, their development has largely been hindered by nearness to the wilds of the north and east.
Corvus: A hegemonic republic, dependent on the Soulan Council for guidance, the Corvan are a warlike folk, rich and prosperous, and lovers of trade and battle alike. In past years they have conquered much land, and ruled many peoples beside their own, but the Time of Blood struck them particularly viciously alongside feuding with the people of the Mirror Sea and cost many lives.
The Republic of Manikos: A burgeoning city-state with power belying her isolationist nature, Machaka stands at the confluence of many trade routes, and her high walls and impressive scholarship mark her out as a city of preeminent virtue.
Sorrowfree: A rich desert civilization, standing at the crossroads of nations in the Great Rift Valley. The Khortuun are mystics, warriors, and poets in equal measure. The mystic Crones lead their society in the worship of the Mother Moon, and all pay homage to the priestesses.
Warcyfle: An island nation ruled by the Storm-Emperor, a man imbued with the divine right to rule by Tes'la, lord of the tempest. Her fleets are vast and her reaving around the waters of the Mirror Sea well known.
Karun Velathrim: A nation of men bowed but not yet broken, the scions of the Velathriim have been driven from their homes by warfare, clinging to existence in their second city of Likan, but proud and righteous nonetheless.

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:02 pm

The Time of Troubles

A kingdom is many things - the holdings of her rulers, predominantly. But these holdings are nothing without serfs to populate them, land upon which they rest, resource which they harness for power, and a purpose to which they are orientated. You will master all of these things if you seek to endure the veil of night which washes across the Different World.

Holdings

In the Regions that a Kingdom calls her own there are urban centers, market villages, towns, hamlets, encampments, fortresses; these things all exist. For ease of use, they are lumped into the twin categories of Cities and Settlements. A City is the nucleus of a region, the major Holding which defines that area. Only one City exists in each region. Settlements, on the other hand, are spread across a region, and may be many, usually existing for specific purposes to support the function of the Region and City. All Holdings are inhabited by a Population which owes fealty to your Kingdom.
Population: Individuals are categorized broadly by their social station, reflecting their political power and education, and exist in lumps of a thousand persons making up a Population. Populations come in two classes: Peasants and Freedmen. Population is associated with a specific City or Settlement, but certain aspects of governance also concern themselves with the total Population within a Region. Populations may be moved between Holdings and Regions at the cost of one Disorder, and may transfer up to 2 Resources when they do so.
Peasants: These are the salt of the earth, your uneducated but useful wretches. Every ten thousand Peasants within a Region contribute a Labor to that Region, while consuming one Food.
Freedmen: Unlike the chattels, most Freedmen owe no particular debt to one lord or another, and as such usually accumulate some amount of skills or education. Freedmen are necessary to operate Specialized Settlements and Cities. Every five Freedmen within a Region contribute a Wealth to that Region, while consuming one Food and demanding one Luxury. If that demand is unfulfilled, the political power of those Freedmen contributes three Disorder to your Kingdom. If that demand is fulfilled, every ten thousand Freedmen produce one Enchantment.
Land: All Regions are composed of various types of Land; these types of Land govern what types of Settlement and City may rise in that region.
Natural Resources: These are many and varied, and generally give a bonus to a type of resource production, or more rarely allow access to a type of resource which has an impact on your society at large. Natural Resource types aside from special exceptions are classed as either Luxury, Bonus, or Strategic.
Constructions: Constructions are buildings, infrastructure, improvements, and other various types of edifice or collected effort which modify the output of a City or Region. Most Constructions will effect a single Region, while rare Constructions might effect your entire Empire.

Governance

All men look, in their own ways, to those who concern themselves with politics and the rule of others for wisdom. In some societies this is found in kings and majestic figures, in others the cleverness of the masses and pooled knowledge, in others the power of the force of arms or arcane power. Pound for pound, what most societies concern themselves with are resources and their use - and this too will be your concern. Any society which lacks for the labor of the masses, the means to feed them, the wealth to pay her armies, or the artisanal might to prevent backsliding... such a kingdom will not flourish.

Resources
Food: A simple resource, abundant almost everywhere, but absolutely vital to the functioning of an economy. The humble Hamlet and other agriculturally inclined Cities and Settlements produce this in abundance. A deficit will result in Disorder rising by one in your Kingdom for every Food lacking.
Labor: A transitory resource, the sweat-equity of your empire. Almost all Holdings and Constructions require significant investments of Labor, and World Wonders even more. Most of your Labor will come from the mere existence of Peasants in your kingdom, or Slaves if your society possesses them. Labor cannot run into a deficit, and does not carry over from year to year - it must be invested or it will be lost. It also cannot be transferred between Regions by a Market Town.
Wealth: The lucre and funds the state possesses, assigned to her many and varied needs. Some of your wealth will come from taxation of the Freedmen, or local industry, but it can be greatly increased through judicious trade and shrewd ruling. Almost every action of the state requires some amount of Wealth, so increasing her production will be important.
Industry: Capital instruments, as well as the artisans who use them, are necessary to the running of an advanced society. Difficult to obtain, but very important to the create of impressive Wonders, Holdings, and Constructions, Industry comes exclusively from Holdings and Constructions itself. It may be transferred between settlements via trade at Market Towns.
Order: Every society has a social contract on which it is built, from the most autocratic to the freest - at a fundamental level this contract includes protection against want and harm, but many other things can impact it commensurately. A failure to mitigate Disorder can lead to riots, work stoppages, banditry, and even uprisings against your Kingdom.

Cities: These are the grand organs of the state, and your primary concern. Through the operation of Cities your people will acquire resources, train armies, gain technology, and rule the world. They are your path to glory, and should be prioritized at all costs - the foremost jewels of your Regions.

Settlements: These are the outlying portions of your kingdom, the timber camps and farming communities which support the burgeoning urbanization of mankind. Supplemental to your cities, nonetheless no Region will flourish without them, and their safety and careful husbandry should be one of your foremost concerns. Settlements are limited to two for every tile in a Region by default, and Tier Advancement requires the construction of the previous Tier.

Constructions: These are sets of buildings or infrastructure developments, which are erected in your Regions in order to improve City or Settlements. Constructions are the key to the specialization and productivity of a Region, and unless otherwise noted may only be constructed once per Region.

The State

Any kingdom, even the smallest, has passed the point where informal rule is capable of dealing with the needs of their populace. As such, some system of rule is in place, be it a humble tribal council, or even a mighty Emperor who wields absolute authority. These systems of governance can give bonuses to their civilizations, or even harm them in some ways as a tradeoff for benefits in others. In order to adopt a certain type of Government one requires a certain amount of Civic points equivalent to the cost of that governmental form. Government directly effects Order, which is a measure of how good your ruler is at administrating more dispersed territories, or, indeed, if the culture of your people is of sufficient strength to make people in the hinterland feel as if they are part of one whole nation instead of being interested in only their own affairs. Note that higher Tier governments also gain the lower Tier benefits of their predecessors.

Tribal Despotism: The default state of an empire. Region gains 2 Order per year. Your Capitol City generates double yields.
Tribal Confederation: A superior form of tribal government, when many chiefs come together to decide the course for a growing people. Every Region gains 2 Order per year, plus one if it has an Army. Colonies are half price to construct and grow at the same speed regardless of distance. Cities generate one Disorder per year per Population over fifty thousand.
Tribal Consensus: A distributed system where all men have some input, but decisions can be delayed and muddled by many voices. The Kingdom gains one Labor per 50,000 Peasants, but Regions produce one Disorder from every ten thousand Population over one hundred thousand.
Republic: A system of representative government which gives power to the people, at the expense of centralization. Every Region gains two Order per year. Settlements grant one Order per year.
Merchant Republic: A republic focused on the wealth of men over individual rights. Cities produce 25% more Wealth. May construct Trade Posts [25 Labor, 20 Wealth, 10 Industry] which harvest 2 Resources within their Land, and may be built within 5 Lands of an existing Region. One Trade Post may be constructed per City in a Kingdom. Requires Republic.
Enlightened Republic: A republic focused on the communal good over individual flourishing. Freedmen generate 1 Order for every 15,000 Freedmen at the cost of 1 Wealth. 5 accumulated Order can be converted into 1 Luxury at each City once per year. Requires Republic.
Bacchanal Republic: A state nominally ruled by the consent of the masses, but dedicated to the luxury and excess of the elites which control the system. Once per year, a Freedmen may be upgraded to a Hedonist. Hedonists produce Population Wealth at triple the rate of Freedmen at the cost of 1 Order. Cities with at least one Hedonist gain 1 Research, but also produce 2 Disorder. Requires Merchant Republic.
Theocracy: Faith can be the foundation of a system of government built on divine revelations to the religious classes. Every Region gains one Order per year. Grand Temples produce three more Order. Armies gain one morale rank for free.
Celestial Monarchy: A divine monarchy based in ancestral traditions and the idea of a Mandate of Heaven. Every City gains one Order and two Wealth per year. Regions with no Disorder gain two more Order per year, but Disorder events are one tier more severe.
Celestial Empire: Requires previous Celestial Monarchy. An Emperor chosen of the gods leads the people, empowered with their faith due to the Mandate of Heaven. Walled Cities gain two more Order per year.
Celestial Hierarchy: Requires previous Celestial Empire. The Heavenly Emperor, lord of a dynasty chosen by the Mandate itself, acts as a link between the people and the divine. Cities with more than fifty thousand inhabitants gain +1 Population Growth every second Generation.
Oligarchy: All men have a voice in this system, but those who are richer speak more. Settlements that produce at least one Wealth produce one more, and Freedmen produce Industry at the same rate of Wealth. Regions that do not produce Wealth from Settlements produce two Disorder per year. Wonders produce one Order.
Hegemony: Requires previous Oligarchy. Great Houses rule the land, coordinating her activities and owing fealty to a Landsraad and the Emperor. Freedmen produce 1 Order for every ten thousand Freedmen. Peasants produce one Disorder per year for every ten thousand Peasants. Settlements gain one more Order per year.
Imperium: Requires previous Hegemony. A monolithic bureaucracy of labyrinthine allegiances to both Emperor and the Great Houses, ruling lands far and wide. Cities produce one Labor and one more Order. Freedmen produce 1 more Order for every ten thousand Freedmen.
Demarchy: Equality is the foremost right of any community - and the only truly unbiased force is that of randomness. Leaders are chosen randomly from pools of people every so often, creating a council of leadership to guide the nation. Cities gain +2 Order per year. Every 10,000 Freedmen grant +1 Order, but every 10,000 Peasants generates a Disorder.
Bureaucratic Demarchy: Requires previous Demarchy. A professionalized Demarchy, with appointed positions to balance equality with effectiveness. Each city may promote 1,000 Freedmen into Demarchs once per year. Demarchs produce +1 Order in exchange for 1 Food and 3 Wealth. A region may not have more than 1,000 Demarchs for every 50,000 total population, rounded up, and a city may not produce its first Demarchs until it reaches 25,000 total population.

Foreign Affairs

Diplomacy
By and large, diplomacy is the affair of the kings and rulers of other empires. Trust them as far as you trust their word, or as little. At the end of the day, nothing will compel allies to march to your defense, or enemies to respect peace, save their own hearts and minds.

Warfare
The second language of diplomacy is force. Force in the era of the Age of Darkness is wielded by Armies - impressive forces tens of thousands strong who march beneath the banner of an empire, defending her lands or making her enemies kneel. Numbers along can win many battles, but equipment, training, and specialized abilities can turn the tide of a battle, or even a war. Armies may be recruited at any City with at least fifty thousand inhabitants for a cost of fifteen Wealth and fifteen Industry, as well as ten thousand Population of any type. Every Army consumes five Food, five Wealth, and one Industry to support.

Colonization
Colonization rests in Exploration, which may be started by any Settlement which possesses a City with more than 50,000 Population at a cost of 10 Food and 30 Wealth once per five years. Results will be available within the year. Once a viable region has Explored, brave frontiersmen may be sent to the fringes of an empire to construct a Colony there, which will be converted into a Hamlet once the region is fully colonized. Colonization costs 100 + (200 x the amount of Cities a Kingdom controls) Wealth and takes by default ten years, though the pace is slowed for every region away from the sending settlement the new Colony is located. A region adjacent will take ten years, one a region distant twenty years, two regions away thirty years, and so on. Colonization development times are not increased by sea regions of distance if the nearest city possesses a Drydock or is on the coast and has 100,000 Population. Lands may be claimed immediately adjacent to a developing Colony for the Colonization Cost, provided they are within one tile of that city center. This cost is halved once the Colony has developed into a City. If a Region wishes to transfer a tile to a different Region it may do so at the fee of 10% of the current Colonization Cost for that Region, provided both Regions are allowed to possess that tile.

Espionage
Once your civilization has mastered the Espionage technology, you may take covert actions against your enemies, or even allies who are becoming too powerful. These actions are hidden by their nature, and should be telegrammed privately to the OP for resolution. They may cost Enchantment, Culture, or Wealth, and could take any number of years. Beware those who send agents against you!

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:02 pm

Technology

Technology, the sophisticated ideas of men and women and their implementations, are what separates your royal kingdom from the savage tribes beyond her borders. Through technology your people forge iron, raise high walls, explore the arts, map the stars, bring forth the harvest, and more besides. Her acquisition is difficult, but almost always worthwhile, and a technological advantage over rivals can be decisive indeed. Technology can always be studied from neighboring empires, including technologies for which you lack the pre-requisites, spending Research to study technologies at the 3/4ths the normal cost, but this expense is doubled if a Kingdom closes their Archives.

Natural Resources

All Natural Resources must be independently researched to be useful in their own right, but can gift great boons to your civilization in either trade or raw power. Note that many Bonus Resources can be classified as Domestic Crops, and give a flat bonus to settlements of a civilization once domesticated. Activation bonuses for Natural Resources rely on comprehension of that Resource. Unless otherwise noted, Comprehension costs 50 Research.

Population Growth

Over time, any given group of human families and denizens will expand, second sons starting their own lineages, kindreds intermarrying and producing heirs. This is no different in the Age of Darkness. For ease of use, a 'generation' will occur every five years, during which the populations of all Holdings will expand by their Population Growth statistic. By default this is only 1,000 Peasants for Settlements and 1,000 Freedmen for Cities, but there are many ways to boost this. Note that Minimum Population requirements are calculated on a per-Holding basis, not across an entire Region. The judicious resettlement of useless eaters from one Holding to another can delineate a wise kingdom from an apathetic one.

Arcana and Magic: Arcane Might

Arcane forces are difficult to define, but categorically refer to 'non-standard' - that is, not related to the fundamental forces - sources of strength for a society. They are commonly exerted via the efforts of your educated Freedmen, not mere Peasants, but this is far from universal. Some societies may have no sources of magic, some many. Enchantment, for the purposes of this guide, refers to a quantity produced by Populations capable of using magic.

Source refers to the part of the physical world or energy locus from which a School of Arcana derives her power. Exertion is how that magic is controlled and implemented by mages. The Channel is more nebulous, but generally refers to what type of impact a School of Arcana has on the physical world. It is not impossible for Schools to effect Channels outside of their base, but these Arcana are typically significantly less powerful than they would be otherwise, and require significant investment of learning and study to achieve. By default researching a new School costs 100 Research, increased by 50% for every School already learned.

The School of Runecrafting

Source: Material Toughness
Exertion: Engraving
Channel: Integrity

Prismatic Intelligence: 5 Gemstones, 10 Stone, and 10 Enchantment may be added to an Iron Golem to reduce their Enchantment upkeep by 1 and allow them to generate 1 more Order and 1 more Industry. Requires Runic Amplification Theory, Geomantic Runes. 80 Research.
Rune of Activation: Cast on Ranged Weapons, imbues their projectiles with an explosive effect gifting +100% damage. | 2 Skystone, 4 Stone, 4 Enchantment | 20 Research
Rune of Preservation: Cast upon a City, +50% Food Output | 6 Stone, 2 Enchantment | 20 Research
Rune of Fire: Cast upon a Forge Holding, +2 Ore Smelted Capacity | 10 Stone, 4 Enchantment | 20 Research
Rune of the Pyre: Allows Forge-Pyre (Construction) | Complex Rune. Requires Rune of Fire. | 50 Research
[Forge-Pyre | 25 Labor, 50 Stone, 25 Wealth, 25 Industry | 2 Ore may be converted to 6 Industry at Forge Holdings in this Region. -1 Industry Cost for Military Equipment]
Rune of Health: Allows Runic Obelisk of Health (Construction) | 20 Research
[Runic Obelisk of Health | 25 Labor, 40 Stone, 30 Wealth, 5 Enchantment | +1 Population Growth.]
Rune of Hearth: Cast upon City, provides +1 Order per Housing-type Construction | 12 Stone, 6 Enchantment | 20 Research
Rune of Growth: Cast upon an Agricultural Holding. Provides +2 Food. | 5 Stone, 2 Enchantment | 20 Research
Rune of Levitation: Tier III Rune. Unlocks Leyline Caravan Construction. | 60 Research
Rune of Siphoning: Cast on a Defense, adds 50% chance to negate a random enchantment borne by a foreign army assaulting that Defense during a battle. 12 Stone, 3 Enchantment. | 20 Research
Rune of Trammeled Earth: Advanced Rune. Allows the conversion of Stone to Runestone at a 10:1 Ratio at the cost of 5 Enchantment. Unlocks Runic Walls. | 70 Research, Rune of Preservation, Rune of Fire
Rune of Warding: Complex Rune. Cast on Army, decreases casualties by 50% in the first round of melee combat. 10 Stone, 4 Enchantment | 40 Research
Rune of the Wild: Complex Rune. Cast upon Region, allows the transplanting of Tree-class Natural Resources. Cast upon Forestry Holding, +1 Food, +1 Forest Resource. | 12 Stone, 2 Fuel, 4 Enchantment | 40 Research
Rune of Secrecy: Complex Rune. Kingdoms without the Rune of Secrecy must spend 10 more base Research to copy Technologies if Archives are closed | 40 Research

Intensified Flames: The Forge-Pyre may be augmented with 10 Firechar to provide +1 Industry to Forge Holdings. Requires Rune of the Pyre | 80 Research
Rune Linkages: Allows Complex Runes, Tier II Runecasting | 40 Research
Runic Amplification Theory: Allows Advanced Runes, Tier III Runecasting - Alternate Sources available | 80 Research
Runic Linguistics: Allows Master Runes, Tier IV Runecasting - -25% Runic Enchantment Cost - Alternate Channels available. Requires Runic Amplification Theory, two Advanced Runes researched | 200 Research
Runic Routines: Freedmen generate 1 Runic Enchantment at the same rate as normal Enchantment. Requires Runic Linguistics, Runeforging | 150 Research
Copper Runecasting: Substitute Copper for Stone in Runes at a 1:3 Ratio, rounded up | 20 Research
Iron Runecasting: Substitute Iron for Stone in Runes at a 1:5 Ratio, rounded up | 50 Research
Rune Channeling: Amplify Rune Effect by 50% for x2 Enchantment Cost | 40 Research
Geomantic Runes: Runic Enchantment may be substituted for Geomantic Enchantment | 80 Research
Runes of Slaughter: Runic Enchantment may be substituted for Blood Ritual Enchantment | 80 Research
Runeforging: Industry may be substituted for Runic Enchantment | 100 Research

The School of Electromancy

Source: Environmental Electricity
Exertion: Ritual
Channel: Electricity Access

Tesla Forging: Allows creation of Teslanite Weapons (8 Wealth, 3 Industry, 3 Teslanite) - Iron equivalent | 40 Research
Lightning Loop: Utilizing an Enhanced Electromantic Forge to cast Electromantic Attunement only consumes 2 Charge. | 80 Research
Teslanite Biomechanisms: Allows the enhancement of Armies with Teslanite Biomechanisms (15 Wealth, 8 Industry, 2 Charge, 10 Enchantment, 5 Teslanite). These enhancements give such Armies a 20% Attack Bonus when wielding Teslanite Weapons or Coilbows. | 50 Research

Area Electromancy: Allows the construction of the Pillar of the Sky (Construction). Requires Charge Intensification. | 40 Research
[Pillar of the Sky | 25 Labor, 15 Teslanite, 25 Wealth, 15 Industry, 10 Enchantment | After consuming 2 Charge, either increases Population Growth by 1 (once per Generation) or gives +1 Wealth to every Holding in this Region for the next Generation]
Charge Containment: Allows the fabrication of Sky-Cells at the Electromantic Forge. If provided with 1 Teslanite and 1 Gold, an Electromantic Forge may transfer up to 4 Charge to a Sky-Cell. Sky-Cells can be exhausted to give their Charge to Arcana and be transferred from region to region. Requires Electromantic Entrapment | 70 Research
Lightning Acceleration: Allows creation of Coilbows (Wealth 8, Industry 5, 3 Teslanite: +100% Ranged Attack, 20% Armor Piercing) | 3 Enchantment, 2 Charge to create - must be recharged after combat | 50 Research
Electromantic Attunement: Cast upon Copper, transforms it into Teslanite | 4 Charge, 2 Enchantment | 50 Research
Electromantic Storage: Allows Electromantic Forge (Construction) | 20 Research
[Electromantic Forge | 15 Labor, 10 Copper, 10 Wealth, 5 Enchantment | Stores up to 4 Charge, gains 1 Charge per 2 Years on Coastal Regions]
Electromantic Entrapment: Enhancement to Electromantic Forge - [Stores up to 8 Charge] - 4 Teslanite, 2 Enchantment | 50 Research
Charge Intensification: Unlocks the Ritual of the Storm's Might. Requires Electromantic Entrapment and Teslanite Biomechanisms | 100 Research
[Ritual of the Storm's Might | 4 Charge, 4 Enchantment | Peasants' Teslanite Biomechanisms are empowered in this region - Every ten thousand Peasants produce +2 Labor next year]
Storm Calling: Allows the calling of a dangerous storm at the cost of 12 Charge and 4 Enchantment in a region. The Storm of Tes'la's Wrath unleashes between two and four ranged attacks on a random target without Biomechanisms in the region, each of which ignores 50% of the target's armor. Requires Area Electromancy, Charge Intensification | 180 Research
Greater Storm Calling: A mightier version of Tes'la's wrath, unleashes between four and eight ranged attacks on random targets without Biomechanisms in the region, each of which ignores 60% of the target's armor. Costs 18 Charge and 4 Enchantment in a region. Requires Storm Calling. | 220 Research

The School of Blood Magic

Source: Life Energy
Exertion: Sacrifice
Channel: Reshaping

Lesser Sacrifices: 10 Food may be substituted for 1000 Peasants in Blood Magic, once per year per Agricultural Holding in Region | 50 Research

Flesh-Ghouls (Kraalen): Cast on an Army, transforms them into Kraalen (May not carry weapons, resist injuries, immune to disease, +100% Speed, +100% Attack, may not be demobilized) | 4000 Citizens, 4 Enchantment | 20 Research
Bone-Shaping: Cast on an Army, adds Modifier: Bonewarped [Intrinsic Bronze Armor, stacks with other armor] | 4000 Citizens, 12 Enchantment | 20 Research
Reanimation: Cast on an Amy, restores 50% of casualties to life with an additional 20% Physical Resistance combat modifier. May be pre-cast to trigger after suffering 75% casualties in a combat. | 4000 Citizens, 20 Enchantment, Corrupt Working | 50 Research
Truesilver Shaping: Cast on an Army, adds Modifier: Trueshaped [+20% Attack Damage, +5 Regions Deployment Range, Intrinsic Mithril Armor (Stackable)] | 8000 Citizens, 20 Enchantment, 4 Starmetal | 100 Research

The School of Geomancy

Source: Earth Tides
Exertion: Edifices
Channel: Energy Transfer

Power Point Mapping: Inspects an explored Land for Power Points. Amount revealed depends on luck, and type of region. | 2 Enchantment, 2 Wealth | 20 Research
Secondary Power Points: Further divines a Land, discovering 1-6 additional Power Points. | 6 Enchantment | 40 Research
Leyline Mapping: Inspects an explored Land for Leylines. Amount revealed depends on comprehension and type of region. | 4 Enchantment | 60 Research
Leyline Sensing: Reveals Leylines in Land adjacent to an existing Leyline connection. | 6 Enchantment | 80 Research
Power Focusing: Required for Tier II Geomancy | 50 Research
Geomantic Channeling: Allows the enhancement of the Shrine of Power [5 Labor, 10 Wealth, 5 Enchantment] to consume one more Stone and produce 1 more Power Stone per year | 40 Research
Geomantic Imprinting: Requires for Tier III Geomancy. Allows Alternate Exertions | 100 Research
Geomantic Transustenance: Golems may have their Enchantment upkeep replaced by 1 Fuel. Requires Animation Efficiency, Rune of the Pyre | 150 Research
Animation Efficiency: Golems may now be created with two Power Gems instead of their normal cost in Power Stones. Requires Geomantic Animation | 120 Research
Enhanced Carapaces: Tier II Golems may be constructed with 2 Metal instead of Stone and an additional +4 Enchantment cost. They consume two Enchantment every turn, but may labor as Freedmen. They have intrinsic Starmetal Armor. Requires Animation Efficiency | 150 Research
Enhanced Golemancy: Tier II and III Golems require 25% less Resources. Requires Enhanced Carapaces | 220 Research
Personality Matrices: If chosen, allows Growth to be taken as Deepkin Populations instead of normal Populations at a 4:1 ratio. Requires Biotransference | 100 Research

Geomantic Animation: Allows the construction of Golems. Golems: 15 Labor, 20 Stone, 40 Wealth, 15 Enchantment, 20 Power Stones | Golems may work as a Servile, but consume one Enchantment every turn. | Requires Geomantic Imprinting | 120 Research
Gem Animation: 10 Golems may be recruited as an Army, if provided with a Power Gem when created as an additional cost to normal recruitment. Golem Armies do not consume Food, but may not be deployed offensively independently of another Army. | Requires Geomantic Animation | 150 Research
Arcane Sustenance: Requires a local Power Point or Leyline Intersection. Summons five Food from thin air | 3 Enchantment | 20 Research
Geomantic Dislocation: Allows the construction of the Gateway. | Requires Power Focusing, Leyline Sensing | 80 Research
-Gateway: 50 Labor, 25 Wealth, 25 Industry, 25 Enchantment, 25 Stone | Instantly transfers up to 10 Resources (not Labor) along mapped Leylines to other Gateways per year. Occupies 2 Power Points in a region.
Geomantic Entrapment: Leeches the Geomantic potential of a Region into trammeled stone. Unlocks Shrine of Power (Construction) | 20 Research
-Shrine of Power: 16 Labor, 30 Wealth, 15 Enchantment | Consumes 2 Stone to produce 1 Power Stone every turn, which may be substituted for Enchantment or stored for future use. Takes up a Power Point in a region.
Gem Imbuing: Intensifies the usage of trammeled earth tides in Geomancy. A rite which consumes 2 Power Stones and 2 Enchantment, producing 1 Power Gem. Each Power Gem contains 5 stored Geomantic Enchantment, and is useful for Tier II Arcana | 40 Research
Geokinesis: Enables the exertion of geomantic force to allow a caster to convert large regions of dirt and rock into steam, great for clearing land. Unlocks Shrine of the Earth | 20 Research
-Shrine of the Earth: 20 Labor, 40 Wealth, 15 Enchantment | At the cost of 2 Enchantment, provides 4 Labor to a Region. Takes up a Power Point in a region
Ritualized Geokinesis: At the cost of 3 Enchantment, provides 4 Labor to a Region. Temporarily occupies 3 Power Points in a region. Requires Geomantic Imprinting | 80 Research
Geomantic Sight: Allows the construction of the Seat of Seeing. -1 Disorder per year per Land with a Power Point in a Region | 60 Research
-Seat of Seeing: 30 Labor, 15 Wealth, 10 Industry, 15 Enchantment | Allows instantaneous communication between two Seats of Seeing, greatly increased Raid Defense. Requires Power Point.
Geomantic Inspiration: Allows construction of the Obelisk of Vigor | 40 Research
-Obelisk of Vigor: 40 Labor, 25 Wealth, 10 Industry, 20 Enchantment | Freedmen in this City produce Labor at half the normal rate of Peasants
Strengthened Animation: Allows the construction of Agaladrim for 30 Labor, 50 Stone (Geomantic), 75 Wealth, 30 Enchantment, 25 Power Stones | Agaladrim may work as a Freedmen, but consume two Enchantment per ten thousand Agaladrim every turn. They add +2 Labor to their Holding Output. | Requires Geomantic Imprinting, Personality Matrices | 220 Research
War Golems: Agaladrim may be recruited as Armies for triple cost of a normal Army, and gain 100% Melee Strength and double Health. Agaladrim have intrinsic 25% Physical Resistance. | Requires Strengthened Animation, Gem Animation | 280 Research

The School of the Outsider

Source: Planar Access
Exertion: Planar Devouring
Channel: Alteration

Breach Efficiency: The Breach Shrine generates 1 more Shadow Ash per turn. Requires Breach Siphoning, Language of the Void | 60 Research
Breach Siphoning: A more efficient method of drawing power from the Realm of the Outsider, creating a larger tear in the fabric of reality. Allows construction of the Breach Shrine, which generates 1 Shadow Ash every turn. The Breach Shrine costs 10 Granite, 10 Stone, 25 Labor, 12 Wealth, and 12 Enchantment to erect | 40 Research
Shadow Ash Invigoration: Converts 1 Granite to 4 Shadow Ash at the Temple of the Outsider, once per year | 2 Enchantment | 20 Research
Shadowbright Blood: A human's flesh is transposed with the stuff of the Outer Realm, giving them an affinity for the darkness. | Decreases Shadow Ash upkeep of each Arcana by 1 for an Army | 10 Shadow Ash, 10 Enchantment | Requires Shadow Siphoning | 60 Research
Shadow Siphoning: A tiny window into the Realm of the Outsider drains a portion of his strength into the material plane | Converts 1 Granite into 2 Shadow Ash | 2 Enchantment | 20 Research
Eldritch Construction: Unlocks the Temple Annex [12 Labor, 12 Wealth, 10 Industry]: Converts 1 Granite to 2 Shadow Ash when adjoined to the Temple of the Outsider, once per year at the cost of 1 Enchantment. Up to four Temple Annexes may be constructed | 20 Research
Language of the Void: Unlocks Greater Powers | 50 Research

Shadow Breath: Imbues an Army with the Shadow Breath power, allowing them to avoid sight for two rounds of combat once a month | 4 Enchantment, 2 Shadow Ash upkeep | 20 Research
Ethereal Weapons: Imbues an Army with Ethereal Weapons, granting them a 20% Armor-Piercing bonus | 12 Enchantment, 4 Shadow Ash upkeep | 20 Research
Lesser Blink: Imbues an Army with the Lesser Blink Power, allowing them to instantly traverse twice as far as they could normally march in a combat round, or summit a Fitted Stone Wall. | 10 Enchantment, 3 Shadow Ash upkeep | 40 Research
Greater Blink: Imbues an Army with the Greater Blink Power, allowing them to instantly traverse four times as far as they could normally march in a combat round, or summit an Imperial Wall. Once per month. | 18 Enchantment, 6 Shadow Ash upkeep | Requires Lesser Blink, Language of the Void | 80 Research
Stonechanging: Alters a quantity of 10 Food into 5 Stone via the mystical transformations of the Void. | 2 Enchantment, 2 Shadow Ash | 20 Research

The School of Sol

Source: Solar Radiance
Exertion: Discipline
Channel: Imbuement

Rite of the Dawn: Increases the accumulation of Solar Imbuement by 50% | 30 Research

Sunlit Speech: Once every two Generations your Emissaries or Agents may moderately boost the chance of a positive outcome from a negotiation | 20 Research

The School of the Wyrd

Source: Arcane Substances
Exertion: Refining
Channel: Transformation

Alchemical Imbuement: Transforms 4 Stone into 1 Copper | 5 Enchantment | 20 Research
Blackstone Refining: Transforms 4 Blackstone into 1 Nightsoot, which gives a 50% chance that close-range enemy Enchantments will fail when applied to Armor | 6 Labor, 6 Industry, 6 Enchantment | 40 Research
Ferrous Alchemy: Transforms 2 Copper into 1 Iron | 3 Enchantment | 20 Research
Wyrdstone Refining: Transforms 2 Wyrdstone into 1 Solifuge, which is four times as efficient for Unmaking | 4 Enchantment | 40 Research
Firechar Refining: Transforms 3 Firechar into 1 Aember, which may be used for permanently fueling Golems or giving 150% Output to a Forge Holding for a year. | 4 Enchantment | 40 Research

The School of Sympathy

Source: Intent
Exertion: Ritual
Channel: Mystic Binding

Harmony of Body: Cast prior to combat, converts 20% of Deaths to Casualties for an Army | 5 Labor, 2 Enchantment, takes two years to cast.

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:03 pm

Culture and Order

These two virtues are two sides of the same coin in the era of Imperium and Empire - empires which have an impressive culture, a cohesive national identity, and strong traditions, will be unlikely to struggle with uprisings and political turmoil within their state. On the other hand, those civilizations that fail to foster ties between settlements, ignore the arts, and allow their neighbors to outshine them, may see their people less inclined to work for the glory of such a shabby polity, and even tempted into rebellion to pursue brighter stars...

Culture
This a nebulous value, roughly representing the cohesion of your society - coming from the possession of luxuries, from trade, from art, from religion, even from the mastery of the sciences. Without it, your people may not struggle, but they will not achieve glorious things, in all likelihood. And a failure to provide for the cohesion of your people can have disastrous results if there are other neighbors who offer such niceties to their citizens.

Culture is calculated on a per Kingdom basis - that is, the sum of all Order in your Settlements is compared to the total amount of Population in your Settlements, and thus a Culture Score determined which provides bonuses (or negatives) to your entire Empire. This score is determined by dividing the total amount of Order by the total amount of Population. Only one tier of Culture may be active at a time - their bonuses do not stack.

3+ Order/Population: Glorious! Your empire grows and thrives. This is a period of unparalleled prosperity and creativity in your settlements. +1 Wealth/Freedmen. +2 Population Growth in all Regions. +2 Wealth per Settlement. +1 Research from Education Holdings. +10 Wealth/year in the Capitol City. -Order per Population in all Regions
2+ Order/Population: Ecstatic! This is a time of understanding and progress, during which even the poor amongst us have much to be thankful for. +1 Population Growth in all Regions. +5 Wealth/year in the Capitol City. +3 Research. -1 Order per Freedmen
1+ Order/Population: Happy. Things are better than they could be, and we should be grateful for that. The arts are respected, and our people live good lives. -+1 Wealth in all Cities. +1 Research. -1 Order per Holding
Neutral: Life is as it has always been - those in power live well, and those below suffer. No particular attention is paid to art or science, but neither are they neglected.

Disorder
There are always those in any empire who have something to grumble about - no state will satisfy everyone. This discontent will naturally accrue over time, and any civilization worth her salt will take efforts, intermittent or steady, to prevent this worrying and black talk from becoming more serious. Things like slavery, the loss of Armies in war, a neighbor with high Order, a lack of luxuries, and of course starvation and plague, can all take a toll on a nation. In the most drastic circumstances, dangerous events like a civil war can break out, which are fell indeed. A Discontent Score is calculated much like the Culture Score - adding together the full measure of Disorder and dividing it by the total populace of a City - and like Culture, Disorder can accrue from year to year, but unlike Culture, Disorder is only calculated on a local basis, not on an empire-wide scale. A happy capitol does not necessarily a happy peripheral city make. As Disorder increases, increasingly dangerous impacts and events can fire. Note that only one tier of Disorder is active at a time.

Whispers in the Dark: 1+ Disorder/Population. Freedmen produce Wealth at half rate. Those with normally good lives are muttering against the state, saying that they could get things done better.
Unhappy Commonplaces: 2+ Disorder/Population. Freedmen produce 1 extra Disorder if missing Luxuries. -1 Research. Even the common folk are beginning to question why they must lead such miserable lives, and speak ill of our rule.
Open Unrest: 3+ Disorder/Population. Freedmen produce no Wealth and 1 Disorder. -1 Population Growth in Cities. If slaves exist, a slave revolt may occur. The lot of the populace is poor, and as even those with some stake in our society call for reform, black hearts seek opportunity.
Revolt: 4+ Disorder/Population. Holdings have their Output halved. -2 Population Growth in all Holdings (Population Growth can be negative). Populations produce one Disorder. A hostile Army will spawn and attempt to seize the city at the end of this year. Government is breaking down. People riot against our rule, and down tools in protest. Those with ambition will use this chance to seek their own course.

Revolution and Upheaval

Not every society is stable - and this is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes even empires must adapt to the changing times, by aligning themselves to new realities, or seeking better paradigms for their evolution as states. Most of the time, however, this comes at a cost. And though sometimes regimes have the foresight to align themselves to these new realities, such is not always the case.

Revolution is when an empire changes her form of government completely. This can only be provoked if a majority of Regions have the Whispers in the Dark modifier, and sees the elite work to build a new state out of the forms of the old. Needless to say, such a change is very disruptive to the social contract of an empire, and has significant bureaucratic grist. A Revolution may only be accomplished once every three generations, and costs 1.5x of a kingdom's accumulated Order, as well as half of her accumulated Wealth. Revolutions may also occur organically if a significant minority of Regions are in Open Revolt, in which case a major reduction to Disorder over time will also trigger, but the choice of new government is random.

Upheaval is the little brother of Revolution, and has to do with major governmental reforms - mainly switching a Civic within a government for a different Civic. Upheavals only cost half of an empire's accumulated Order, producing a Disorder per Freedmen and costing one Wealth from every Population of the same. They may be accomplished once a generation.

Wonders of the World

The Forbidden Palace: An immense palace complex of the ancient Great Yu Dynasty of Zhai Cheng, the Forbidden Palace is both a fortress and a seat of power combined, cowing all those who might have threatened the Shao Dynasty, and notable for sparking a golden age of reason and philosophy. Now merely a monument, it is still a strong fortress.
Cost: 40 Labor, 65 Wealth, 20 Industry, 50 Stone | Stone Fortress, Superior-Quality Housing for a Population of 5000. +1 Civic Point.

The House of Wisdom: A great library where the works of the civilizations around the River-People of the Machaka are gathered for scholarly study, the greatest collection in the known world. It stimulated a burst of technological advancement, and its use as a reference work by the philosophers and natural scientists of the Machaka has led to many breakthroughs.
Cost: 30 Labor, 35 Wealth, 22 Industry, 25 Stone | Immediate Breakthrough. Universities in this Region produce +1 Research
(Upgrade) +2 Research to this Region if Machaka has a University

The Great Bath: An impressive edifice of hydrological engineering, the Great Bath at Machaka sits in the middle of the Midnight River which flows through the large city. Her immense cisterns, heated by the sun, supply the population with warm water for bathing, and the cold waters of the river for a refreshing plunge. Commercial areas have sprung up around the Great Bath, but her main function is promote the health of the populace of this mighty city.
Cost: 65 Labor, 50 Wealth, 25 Industry, 75 Stone | +2 Population Growth. +2 Wealth per other Population Growth in this City.
(Upgrade) +2 Population Growth -> +4 Population Growth

The Citadel of the Sun: A geomantic construct, smithy and redoubt combined into one, the Citadel of the Sun looms over even the tallest bell-towers in Kharbarinth of the Deepkin. Utilizing enchanted lensing to focus the power of the very sun into a single point, and the confluence of a local power point, the Citadel can project a burning beam which immolates men over many leagues of distance, or heat ore to melting in an instant of even the most formidable potency.
Cost: 50 Labor, 70 Wealth, 65 Industry, 12 Enchantment | Unlocks Arcane Smithing. Grand Stone Fortress with Sunfire Projector Unique Weapon. +1 Civic Point.
(Upgrade) +1 Civic Point. +2 Order.

The Temple of a Thousand Pillars: A vast place of worship raised over the ancestral Four Pillars of Corvus, the Temple has many niches where outlanders may worship their own gods, though the Four hold a place of prominence in the hearts of the Corvidians. This grand edifice is a place of wonder, and many outlanders look better upon the Corvidians for allowing them their own places of worship in such a majestic building. Reduces Technology Learning requirement by two Research. Greatly increases morale of local or allied soldiers defending Corvus and the Temple by two ranks.
Upgrade: Corvidian Armies defending any City gain +1 Morale.

The Grand Bazaar: Many are the merchants who ply the streets and rivers of Stalheim, come to trade for the wealth of the City of Iron. Over the years, and due to great efforts on the part of the local Warden, the markets and money-changers of the city have congregated in one place, where anything under the sun may be bought or sold - gold, spices, fine clothes, dyes, gems, and even the rare and outright illegal, if you know where to look. These pillared and tapestries streets and halls stretch throughout much of Stalheim's city center.
125 Labor, 125 Wealth, 65 Industry, 125 Timber, 60 Stone | +1 Civic Point. Market Holdings in the Landsraad Hegemony may move two more Resources per year for free, and gain +1 Wealth. +5 Wealth per year.
(Upgrade) 2 Resources -> 5 Resources, +2 Wealth to Market Holdings.

The Spire of the Sky: A great geomantic construct, taller even than the Citadel of the Sun, the oculary of the Spire utilizes a scaled up version of the Seat of Seeing to allow those of strong sorcerous will to gaze across many leagues and into the depths of the earth, divining the secrets of the world from their eyrie. Immense quantities of Skystone transmute the power of the swaying and the vibration of the wind over the tower into the energy for this consuming rite.
150 Labor, 250 Wealth, 50 Industry, 25 Enchantment, 50 Skystone | +1 Civic Point. May either gradually conduct a free remote-sensing Expedition, or study technologies from known civilizations as if their Archives were open at a rate of two Research per year.
(Upgrade) +1 Civic Point. Rate increased to three Research per year.

Everpyre: An immense inferno and furnace, as large as an entire city district, the Everpyre fulfills the curious function of both temple and foundry for the people of Forgefend. Linked mystically to the ley-lines which crisscross the world, its voracious maw consumes immense quantities of flammable materials, transmuting them into sorcerous energy which is transmitted to nearby workings.
100 Labor, 125 Wealth, 125 Industry, 50 Coal, 25 Enchantment | +1 Civic Point. May convert up to 10 Fuel into 10 Enchantment or Industry, available to Regions within ten tiles of the Everpyre.
(Upgrade) 10 Fuel -> 20 Enchantment/Industry within twenty tiles.

The Temple of the Outsider: A dark place of fires, shadows, and cool gray stone, the Temple is where those who no longer believe in the mighty of the River alone make their obeisance. They call on a dark power, the Outsider who waits beyond the world, for succor and aid, granting him in their worship a portion of the faith he craves, and sacrificing the very material nature of the world for infinitesimal amounts of his strength.
60 Labor, 50 Wealth, 50 Industry, 25 Granite | Grants 10 Void Ash upon completion, and slightly empowers the Plane of the Outsider. Unlocks Shadow Ash Invigoration.

The Monument to the Fallen: An impressive reliquary and necropolis alike, combined with a temple with an eternal flame which is never to be extinguished. Here is honored the memory, and oftentimes stored the bodies, of those who gave their lives for the defense and progress of the sons of Corvus. The Sons of the Wolf. It is a symbol of unity, to never forget, and all soldiers raised in fair Corvus swear their oaths before this immense crypt.
47 Labor, 62 Wealth, 20 Industry, 50 Stone | -1 Disorder, +1 Order per year. Soldiers raised here are raised one rank higher.
Upgrade: Armies raised here are raised two ranks higher.

The City-Ship: Called the Quhalden by the Warcyfle who designed her, the City-Ship is a vessel of Teslanite and jungle timbers as large as a settlement, traversing the oceans of the Mirror Sea carrying the warriors and citizens of the Storm Empire.
100 Labor, 200 Wealth, 75 Industry, 75 Timber, 37 Teslanite | City (Mobile). Constructions cost +50% to construct past the 5 Construction initial limit, as well as 8 Timber and 5 Teslanite. No non-urban Constructions may be built on the City-Ship. Moves at the rate of one tile per year. Chance to founder if moved into Deep Sea.

The Crone's Retreat: A cavern deep in the earth, delved into the side of the Great Rift Valley which is Sorrowfree's home and the birthplace of the Khortuun under the Mother Moon - this cavern is a prophet's repose, a mystic's paradise, and here honored mothers of a thousand daughters seek to divine the future in smoke-trances and vision-quests gazing into mirrors of clouded obsidian. Whether what they see is madness or wisdom, the secrets the black-robed acolytes of the Crones whisper to the scholars are not to be despised.
125 Labor, 75 Wealth, 37 Industry, 25 Obsidian | Up to two Research in Sorrowfree are doubled.

The Long Wall of Ten Thousand Li: The largest manmade construction in the known world, the Long Wall stretches from Zhai Cheng to the ghost city of Huangzhou, protecting the noble Huang from enemy assault. So tall most barbarians would struggle even to surmount it, it has regular tower-bastions which watch for incursions and can turn back light attacks without any intervention by the Imperial Armies.
280 Labor, 100 Wealth, 150 Industry, 250 Stone.

The Red Tower: A place of learning and overall enchantment, the Red Tower of Warcyfle is inset with electromantically attuned materials which greatly expedites research into her mysteries.
25 Labor, 25 Wealth, 12 Sapphires, 12 Teslanite | Doubles the first Research used in Electromancy from Lo every year

The Hierarch's Tribunal: An immense university, prison, and hall of judgement rolled into one, the Fatebinders dispatched by the Imperium originate from here, issued with the power to bind and loose by the High Justice. They cast men into chains where evil is found, and root out corruption wherever it may hide.
50 Labor, 250 Wealth, 75 Industry, 50 Gold | +1 Civic Point. -Disorder and +Order from Debt Serfs. One Peasants in the empire may be made into a Debt Serf every year.
(Upgrade) +1 Civic Point. +Order from Debt Serfs.

The Grand Oculory: This spire of stone rises high from Svalheim in the Imperium, at her heart an energized mass of prismatic shimmerstone. From ritual chambers empowered by the Oculory bureaucrats serving the Emperor can communicate swiftly and clearly with members of the government hundreds of leagues distant, greatly aiding administration and the distribution of the goods of the empire.
150 Labor, 750 Wealth, 100 Industry, 50 Gold, 50 Starmetal, 50 Moonstone, 25 Brightstone | +1 Civic Point. +2 Order, +1 Research from Seat of Seeing.

The Underforge: Below the White Hills of Kharbarinth, in hidden caverns lit by false light, armies are marshalled for war. Clad in thick armor and twisted by unnatural rites, the products of the Underforge are hideous and fell - foes of any the Emperor deems enemy. In these ancient caverns dark things have slept, and are not now forgotten.
285 Labor, 750 Wealth, 100 Industry, 250 Stone, 125 Starmetal, 125 Jade | +1 Civic Point. +1 Experience and Boneshaping to Armies recruited here. Unlocks Truesilver Shaping.

The Silver Fortress: A shining spire from which the armies of the Hegemon march, great hosts provisioned and trained for war. Her gleaming walls have never been breached, reinforced by ancient rites and much blood and sorcery, and even the mightiest siege engines struggle to scratch their glistening exterior. The endless armories and barracks of Stalheim are much feared by any planning war against her marches.
250 Labor, 1000 Wealth, 100 Industry, 50 Enchantment, 50 Starmetal, 125 Iron | +1 Civic Point. +2 Max Recruitment. +4 Army Support. Fortress Tier VI, -75% Damage from Siege Engines.
Upgrade: +1 Civic Point. +1 Recruitment from Retinues in this Settlement.

The Golden Lighthouse: A gilded seat of learning as well as commerce, the Lighthouse requires that every ship surrender what knowledge they possess for copying to the Scribes of the Kar Agaladrim of the library set in her base, and they sell these texts for a staunch profit to the world. Her beacon guides ships for many long leagues, mystically empowered and brilliant.
250 Labor, 375 Wealth, 100 Industry, 50 Shimmerstone, 25 Gold | +1 Civic Point. +1 Research per 10 Wealth generated here. +1 Wealth to Coastal Holdings in Kingdom.
Upgrade: +1 Civic Point, 10 Wealth requirement -> 5 Wealth requirement.

The Nightshade Bastion: An immense delving below the earth in Forgefend, many think this is a great mining and furnace akin to the Everpyre - but it is anything but. Great fires burn here to be sure, but they are to keep back the darkness that waits beneath, not for smelting or forging. Black things gnaw at the wards and prisons set under rock and stone, an entrance to the Evergloam whence comes the power of the School of the Outsider. No bargains are struck here, but arcane strength is extracted by mundane will and understanding.
200 Labor, 500 Wealth, 175 Industry, 75 Firechar, 25 Obsidian, 250 Stone, 72 Granite | +1 Civic Point. 2 Research per Year to the School of the Outsider. +3 Shadow Ash per year.

The Great Gateway: A mystical conduit writ large, arcane enchantments bound in stone which would have reduced any lesser structure to dust in moments. A man who is brave enough to step through the immense arch when the appropriate runes are woken might in the span of a single breath find himself in Kharbarinth, or Nerroth, or on the southern shores of Forgefend. Though few make this sorcerous transit, for some of those who make the journey never appear again, the mass transit of goods is conducted for losses of timber and stone are acceptable to the mages who oversee the Gateway.
200 Labor, 500 Wealth, 125 Industry, 50 Enchantment, 50 Starmetal, 50 Moonstone, 37 Brightstone | +1 Civic Point. Svalheim's resources are available to all Holdings within 10 tiles. +12 Wealth.

The Isilgrim: A frowning academy of grim black stone on the cliffs overlooking the Endless Ocean in Tenebris, the Isilgrim is a place very distinctly not of magic - indeed spells and enchantment falter within a large radius around it, for if there is a place of more dire provenance such would be hard to define. Blackguards are trained here, Imperial hunters of the dangerous and eldritch things of the world, equipped and suited for their task.
200 Labor, 250 Wealth, 175 Industry, 100 Enchantment, 100 Blackstone, 25 Marble | +1 Civic Point. Unlocks Blackstone Refining. Once per Generation an Army stationed here may be designated as Blackguards. Blackguards lose experience at half rate and nullify a enemy enchantment every round in a battle, but may not be themselves enchanted.

The Fathomless Arcanex: Far beneath even the depths of the White Hills the Fathomless Arcanex stretches, endless stairs and winding corridors housing immense devices dedicated to channeling the geomantic might of Father's creation into an end all men seek; time, time infinite. The richest and brightest of the Imperium disappear occasionally beneath the earth into the midnight realm of graven silver from beyond the stars and shimmering gem-light, only to emerge once more rendered in metal imperishable and as living as any man.
750 Labor, 1000 Wealth, 250 Industry, 250 Enchantment, 500 Stone, 250 Starmetal, 250 Skystone | Unlocks Biotransference. At the cost of 12 Gemstones, 12 Metal, and 25 Enchantment, a Population may undergo the change. They have a 25% chance of success. If the process is successful they become Deepkin, who function as Freedmen and generate 3x normal Output for their Population as well as any Holdings where they are a majority Population. Deepkin produce a bonus Enchantment and have intrinsic Mithril Armor, as well as 40% Armor Toughness.

The Resonance Amplifier: An immense geomantically-tuned edifice, the Resonance Amplifier allows trained mages to discern even hidden sources of geomantic power from the faintest of echoes in the molten core of the world.
500 Labor, 2500 Wealth, 750 Industry, 50 Enchantment, 125 Diamonds, 75 Obsidian, 125 Iron, 25 Shadow Ash | Allows Tertiary Power Point Sensing. +2 Base Power Points in new lands. Regions with unused Power Points generate 1 Enchantment at no cost.

The Jiayuguan Fortress: An extensive citadel notable for her high walls and higher still towers, the Jiayuguan Fortress once saw far indeed, and men from her heights could decry even distant hosts - a necessity on such war-wracked plains as those which surround fair Hou Cheng. Her elegantly engraved walls tell the history of the Nirari and leave none without confidence in their defense. Now a ruin formidable for her destruction, her tall towers cast down, she still stands as a sentinel of what once was.
85 Labor, 75 Wealth, 70 Industry, 50 Stone | +1 Civic Point. Grand Tier Fortress (5000 Capacity). Chance to detect armies up to two regions distant. [In Ruins]

The Sky-Pier: High above Stalheim the Sky-Pier hangs, a monolith of stone, silver, and will. From this fastness and flying drydock the Aer-Fleets of the Padishah Emperor patrol the borders of the Landsraad Imperium, and it is here the iconic flying citadels of the Deepkin originate.
500 Labor, 2500 Wealth, 1000 Industry, 250 Aetherium, 125 Starmetal, 125 Firechar, 50 Enchantment | May fabricate up to three Aer-Fleets at a time; Fleets originating here cost 25% less to build and are built in half the time. Unlocks the fabrication of the Sky-Citadel.

The Manufactory: A great warehouse-complex in the city of Machaka, here carefully curated machines and processes allow the sweat of the unskilled throngs to aid the creativity and productivity of their betters by removing the drudgery involved in all great work.
110 Labor, 300 Wealth, 150 Industry | Workshops in this city may convert 4 Wealth into 12 Industry instead of the usual rate, given they are provided with an additional 2 Labor
Upgrade: Conversion Rate is changed to 5 to 15 at the cost of 4 Labor.

The Storm-Pillar: An immense tower which reaches toward the tempest-wracked skies of Likan, it is here that the storm-mages of Warcyfle communed with Tes'la and learned more of the methods to unleash his divine fury upon those who stand against the tides of the Mirror-Sea.
75 Labor, 50 Stone, 50 Teslanite, 75 Industry, 75 Enchantment | Unlocks Greater Storm Calling.

The Molten Gyre: Below Kar Agala, where the Agaladrim and other workers labor in the heat of the deep mines, the Gyre spins slowly in its immense cradle of precious stones and amplifying enchantments, bringing up ore and molten stone from the depths to cool in great pools of seawater, depositing minerals and slag alike to be utilized by the workers.
250 Labor, 5000 Wealth, 1250 Industry, 250 Enchantment, 250 Firechar, 250 Gold | Prospecting results enhanced by 10% here, and do not decrease the chance of further successes. Discovered mineral resources are simultaneously produced at Deep Mines in Kar Agala.

The Temple of Heaven: An alabaster palace of the vanished Yu in Yuzhou, reaching toward the heavens in majesty. The fragrance of incense and the fluttering of silk curtains defines this place of repose and peace, where government functionaries and bureaucrats oversee the Dynasty.
100 Labor, 125 Wealth, 100 Industry | +1 Civic Point, +2 Order

The Great Canal: A labor of love of the Yu for the Jade River, the Great Canal extends the river's borders from Zhai Cheng north and east, then north again, before terminating at Zhongdu. These wide free flowing waters bring irrigation to the lands they pass through, as well as easing the passage of persons and providing drinking water in the midst of stagnant jungles.
200 Labor, 100 Wealth, 50 Industry | +2 Growth in effected regions. Regions along the Great Canal may be colonized at half cost.

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:03 pm

Reserved for Addenda

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:04 pm

Reserved for Overflow

by **The GAmeTopians** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:26 pm

Empire Application
Name: The Folk
Short History: As the hordes of undead crashed down upon the Old Lands, no small number of people had little interest in staying to fight - fishing boats, merchant ships, and even the occasional warship slowly gathered on the east coast of the Old Lands, fearful but determined to make new lives for themselves. Away from greed, away from hunger, away from the evil magics that plague these lands.
Starting Location: Across a great ocean the Folk travel, a motley crew of considerable size, eastward. Ever eastward. There, they land amidst the rocky coast of a great forest, stretching far beyond their view in every direction. Home… of a sort.
Advantage: The Folk are a productive sort - slackers are not tolerated in the flight from the evil hordes, and there is much to be done in the New Lands. It is with surprising swiftness and efficiency that the Folk construct their new home.
Description: A refugee nation brought about by the Time of Blood, swearing off the magic and technology that brought about the catastrophe in the first place. The Folk are ruled by a Council of Elders, but familial houses are not the source of these leaders - rather, each profession nominates a leader to the Council. Bonds by labor, rather than blood.

by **Ralnis** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:34 pm

Where's the Empire of Warcyfle? How did I lose Likan? Did I miss something?

by **The Empire of Tau** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 5:35 pm

Ohboy, here we go.

by **Khalji** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:03 pm

Hmmm. This seems interesting. I'm in your other RP

Empire Application
Name: Vanzjkior Empire
Short History: The Vanzjkior live in the northern misty jungle mountains of Ambrnev. The Vanzjkior migrated there from the south where Queen Naornigoir founded Vanzjkaan the capital of the Vanzjkior.
Starting Location: So, there's no map so I could adjust my location based upon the map. But misty jungle mountains.
Advantage: The mountains and jungles are very harsh terrain for attackers. The Vanzjkior have lived fairly isolated from the rest of the world with content. The few invasions they've had were repelled easily. In addition, the jungles are luscious with flora and fauna and the mountains are rich with rare metals and other useful materials. In addition, to the western part of their country lays a sea used for commerce during periods of openness.
Description: The Vazjkior are a fierce warrior people who are also festive and welcoming among their kinsman. They are extremely skeptical for foreigners with foreigners only allowed in the western port city of Haajkazkaan. However, the few foreigners that earn their respect are welcomed throughout all the lands of the Vanzjkior. The Vazjkior have a caste system and women largely run the society. At the top are the Priestesses, then the Warriors, then the Shopkeepers and Skilled Workers, lastly the Manual Laborers. Merchants are largely looked down on by the society due to how long they spend in foreign lands. Men marry into their wife's class and perform duties fitting to spouses of that class. The Queen runs the nation and her eldest daughter inherits the throne presuming she learns all the crafts of the Warriors and Priestesses.

If you are making the map around the application, I can include a rough draft of a map.

by **The GAmeTopians** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:09 pm

Khalji wrote:Hmmm. This seems interesting. I'm in your other RP

Empire Application
Name: Vanzjkior Empire
Short History: The Vanzjkior live in the northern misty jungle mountains of Ambrnev. The Vanzjkior migrated there from the south where Queen Naornigoir founded Vanzjkaan the capital of the Vanzjkior.
Starting Location: So, there's no map so I could adjust my location based upon the map. But misty jungle mountains.
Advantage: The mountains and jungles are very harsh terrain for attackers. The Vanzjkior have lived fairly isolated from the rest of the world with content. The few invasions they've had were repelled easily. In addition, the jungles are luscious with flora and fauna and the mountains are rich with rare metals and other useful materials. In addition, to the western part of their country lays a sea used for commerce during periods of openness.
Description: The Vazjkior are a fierce warrior people who are also festive and welcoming among their kinsman. They are extremely skeptical for foreigners with foreigners only allowed in the western port city of Haajkazkaan. However, the few foreigners that earn their respect are welcomed throughout all the lands of the Vanzjkior. The Vazjkior have a caste system and women largely run the society. At the top are the Priestesses, then the Warriors, then the Shopkeepers and Skilled Workers, lastly the Manual Laborers. Merchants are largely looked down on by the society due to how long they spend in foreign lands. Men marry into their wife's class and perform duties fitting to spouses of that class. The Queen runs the nation and her eldest daughter inherits the throne presuming she learns all the crafts of the Warriors and Priestesses.

If you are making the map around the application, I can include a rough draft of a map.

There is a pre-existing map! We're actually in the fourth era of this rp, if I have my counting right. Everything carries over from the previous era.

by **Novas Arcanum** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 6:41 pm

Empire Application
Name: The Taiyang Dynasty
Short History:The Taiyang is the latest dynasty to arise on the banks of the Jade River. Emerging from the ashes of the Yu Dynasty, it has only been a few years since the great warlord Zhao Li has reunified the Three Kingdoms of the Wei, Wu, and Jin putting an end to their childish feuding and a bloody civil war continuing the eternal cycle of rebirth the rise and fall of dynasties across the annals of time. Though the Warring States era was bloody and destructive it has opened the gates for change, the new Emperor has decreed much needed land reform laws that has removed the excessive burdens placed squarely on the shoulders of the peasant class in the previous era. Corruption has largely been purged, and for now the Taiyang stands strong seeking balance in a world gone mad.
Starting Location:
Advantage:Culture and Assimilation.
Description: The Huang Civilization is an ancient and great civilization of the East. Ancestral worshippers, and followers of Filial Piety, the Huang put much stock in tradition and the arts.

by **The Empire of Tau** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 9:07 pm

Empire Application
Name: Bacchanal Republic of Manikos
Short History: The history of Machaka, now renamed the Republic of Manikos, is a tale of mundane realism with the occasional excitement of warfare and bloodshed. No longer the namesake of the nation and now relegated to the name of the capital, the last era saw Machaka rapidly transform from a humble republic to a society ruled by a hedonistic and indulgent ruling class. Having survived the onslaught of the cultists during the Second Battle of Machaka, Manikos focused on rebuilding their homeland and infrastructure. After reinvigorating its former ruined parts, Manikos was fattened with industry, wealth, and population. It was then the rising power broke free of its mere city-state existence and birthed two city-sisters for the future motherland. A future that sees the hedonistic ruling class seeking more power and greater pleasures for themselves - more so after having rebuilt their homeland and infrastructure.
Starting Location: You Should Know Where I Am
Advantage: Research and Human Capital
Description: The Republic of Manikos, roughly translated as the Republic of “Humanity” and formerly known as Machaka, is a substantial fledging power and current leader of the River Federation involving the ruined Republic of the Great River. Known for its populous capital, spectacular wonders, knowledge in the material sciences, and plentiful masses of cheap labor, the hedonistic ruling class of Manikos now seeks to endure the Age of Darkness ahead and become a shining light of enlightenment.

by **Sonakion** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 12:28 am

This seems interesting. Do you need to be in its predecessors at all?

by **The Empire of Tau** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 12:56 am

Sonakion wrote:This seems interesting. Do you need to be in its predecessors at all?

Nope! You can create a wholly new civ.

by **Sonakion** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 1:10 am

The Empire of Tau wrote:
Sonakion wrote:This seems interesting. Do you need to be in its predecessors at all?

Nope! You can create a wholly new civ.

Thanks good to hear. I'll get cracking on a form later.

by **Ralnis** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 8:02 am

Empire Application
Name:Warcylfe
Short History: The Warcyfle hail from the Mirror Sea, on the smallest known island of Lo. From the very beginning, the ancestors of that small island saw the larger islands with greed and ambition as they prayed for anything to help them, one eventually did. Known as the Storm Father, Tes'la, the Warcyfle were among the first to discover the magic of electromagnetism from the native copper on their island. Whereas other nations found iron and steel, the Warcyfle made copper into their own magical metal, Teslanite. For 200 years, the Warcyfle would use this magic, their hubris, and their faith in their god to carve a bloody nation among the peoples of the Mirror Sea, uniting them despite some setbacks.

The first instance of them landing on the western mainland was 100 years ago but was rebuffed by native invasion that took their peoples. No one knew who they were but the Warcylfe were determined to eradicate any natives that tried to stop them, a policy that became the lust for conquest in the name of their god later on.

It was during the Kingdom Age that they became divine tied to the crown and ushered into the Empire. By invading and conquering the city of Likan, turning the Velathrrim into a vassal. A decade later, they started raiding the Corvians for slaves and vassalized the Aederfolk, taking their first bite from the Corvians before the Sunrise Invasion(also known as Storm Invasion by Corvians). The battle was considered a victory on both sides, the Warcyfle had conquered half of the Corvian lands but the Corvians broke them against the walls of Cavon.

Five years later the Warcyfle were nearly pushed back to the Mirror Sea due to the Age of Blood. The mass devastation of their nascent empire broke their centuries long hubris and they retreated into what's left of their holds and the Crown Islands. Rebuilding and prospering underneath their first Storm Emperor and the Second one, they managed to make their islands beacons of industry, copying from the Corvian ideal a bit.

Now, as the Third Storm Emperor is crowned, the people look towards the mainland with hesitation and fear, other than awe and greed. The Age of Blood is over, but the Age of Darkness has seen the Empire more cautious and long-planning that could serve them better in reforging the Storm Empire.
Starting Location: westernmost part of the map. Three islands, one settlement on the Peninsula and Likan
Advantage: The vast fleet of the Warcyfle is the largest in the world.
Description:For over 435 years, the Warcyfle's fleet has been the symbol for hegemony in the Mirror Sea and the reaving that they cause. Many of the western portions of the continent know of their Empire. Enslaving people, fighting and winning against the Corvus, just barely. Even now, the people of the western portions still fear the light blue flag of the Mirror Sea.

by **Lazarian** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 8:30 am

Empire Application
Name: Corvus
Short History: Four hundred years ago, a small band arrived upon a hill, and settled upon it. And as the sands of time trickled by, the band became a village, the village became a city, the city became a nation, and a nation became an empire. The Corvidians in the Age of Cities became known for their warlike nature, and this led to the conquest of the Aederfolk. In the age of Empires, there was a great focus on expansion and colonialism, with sprawling settlements being flung far and wide. But an empire is truly a difficult thing to hold - sprawled across hundreds of miles and several groups of people, the metaphorical Wolf grew weak, assaulted on all sides by a thousand arrows.

This strife and struggle rose to a fierce climax at the Storm Invasion, where the Warclyfe attempted to lay claim to the mainland, with the help of the Aederfolk (who held long grudges against their oppressors) and the Velahtrim. Both sides claim some sort of victory - the Warclyfe did, in fact, conquer Ceston, Catan, and Thurvan. But they were rebuffed at Cavon, their force largely shattered, and retreated back to the sea. Unfortunately, all this bloodshed ultimately meant nothing in the grand scheme of history - not even five years later, the Lord of Lead and his adherents wiped the Aederfolk and Ceston off the face of the Earth. After one of the bloodiest sieges in history, Corvus stood, still remaining - but at a terrible cost. Women and children, elders and youths - all the populace took up arms to defend their ancestral homeland, dying in droves. After the battle was over, it was not long before the survivors took to the fields in roving bands of warriors, cleansing the remaining warbands and putting them to the sword. It was a fierce resurgence against the cultists, sponsored by the Soulan, which paid out land and gold for every brown-blooded head.

Corvus still stands today, but no longer an empire. The appetite for violence and glory has been quenched in a deluge of blood. And as the world grows dark, only one thing is clear - the survival of their people is all that matters.
Starting Location: Corvus and its brother cities are located in the Sacred Lands, a long stretch of fertile grassland tucked between the Mirror Sea and the Spine of the World.
Advantage: Fertile fields and fanatic fighters, sharp swords and sturdy statecraft. The Corvidians rely on the strength of raw labor and numbers and a strong metalworking industry.
Description: You know 'em, you love 'em.

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 8:51 am

I am pleased to note that the world map is now live - feel free to observe and speculate upon the strange passages of the continents and landforms.

by **Novas Arcanum** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 8:59 am

Was Gaoling destroyed? It was southeast of Yuzhou.

Also not a big deal but I renamed Zhai Cheng to Nanjing.

EDIT:Best map thus far by the way.

by **Lazarian** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:12 am

I threw out a couple of colonies at the end of the era - did those go up in smoke?

Interesting map, though. Moving from tiles to regions?

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:28 am

Novas Arcanum wrote:Was Gaoling destroyed? It was southeast of Yuzhou.

Also not a big deal but I renamed Zhai Cheng to Nanjing.

EDIT:Best map thus far by the way.

Lazarian wrote:I threw out a couple of colonies at the end of the era - did those go up in smoke?

Interesting map, though. Moving from tiles to regions?

Unfortunately new colonies generically perished, unless reinforced or resettled via Development.

Regions, yep. Gotta macro-scale up as time goes by.

by **The Empire of Tau** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:42 am

I assume we will get our stats once the IC starts?

by **G-Tech Corporation** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:45 am

The Empire of Tau wrote:I assume we will get our stats once the IC starts?

Actually before, once they're ready.

by **Ralnis** » Sat Jul 16, 2022 9:47 am

I wonder if Quhalden has been destroyed. It was my moving settlement but even still.

A Different World: Age of Darkness [OOC|Open]

A Different World: Age of Darkness [OOC|Open]

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