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[LP CYOA] Epic

Baltika9

Arcane
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
9,611
Hmm...bros, now that I thought about it, this chapter shouldn't be about lol new char, but about finding Ean and restoring his memory.
And I think private Pyle will be at ground zero when TNO comes back as an amnesiac.
Unless they're all Ean. :eek:
 

Esquilax

Arcane
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
4,833
Example of what could come to pass for each of the choices (you guys have a talent for taking things in unexpected directions the moment I offer a crucial choice)

Translation: You guys are retarded.

Other than hopping back into the void, what other choices in the past surprised you? I figured you expected us not to go riftwalking and then engaging in sphere diplomacy, that much is obvious.
 

oscar

Arcane
Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
8,036
Location
NZ
Damn, these all sound pretty interesting.

- A detective joining the people he's sent to spy on
- Talented noble maneuvers his way to the throne
- Prophet Mohammed
 

Storyfag

Perfidious Pole
Patron
Joined
Feb 17, 2011
Messages
15,899
Location
Stealth Orbital Nuke Control Centre
Good news is, Earth still exists 3000 years after we founded our Empire, meaning the Gieloth Tree failed, or at least didn't completely strip-mine our planet. I wonder what happened to them ( the name of the Eastern empire, Concordiat, suggests they're ruling jointly with Immortals there). The date is roughly 1200 AD (see treave, you still need to make a 1000 year time skip to stop me making comparisons to real history :P). I wonder if the technology and society are anything similar. Certainly the various realms of our Empire jockeying for power and attempting to place a convenient Emperor on the throne are similar enough to the various realms of the Holy Roman Empire at the equivalent time :salute:
 

Bloodshifter

Educated
Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
542
Location
Somewhere with dead bears
D because I can

Haven't you heard the codex exsists to constantly crap on sanity and vomit logical knowlegde to then stuff itself with idiocy and stupidity as it stands this run have been quite well with us avoiding death somehow at every treave er turn
 

Esquilax

Arcane
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
4,833
D because I can

Haven't you heard the codex exsists to constantly crap on sanity and vomit logical knowlegde to then stuff itself with idiocy and stupidity as it stands this run have been quite well with us avoiding death somehow at every treave er turn

Not a good enough reason to put together a strong empire for over a dozen updates, then go full-retard just as we're about to start achieving our goals. We were doing really well up until then.

That pretty much seals it for me, it's a choice between A and C. I'd rather not pick the two "warrior" types, since we're already familiar with that experience. Initially I had the madman pegged as some sort of seer a la Malkavians in Vampire - The Masquerade, a seeker of mystical and forbidden knowledge. Picking either A or C would probably be the best bet as far as learning the most about what happened in the last 3,000 years as well.
 

treave

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
11,370
Codex 2012
Other than hopping back into the void, what other choices in the past surprised you? I figured you expected us not to go riftwalking and then engaging in sphere diplomacy, that much is obvious.

Going to Egypt instead of chasing Marduk.

Going all FUCK THE ADVISOR IS SHULGI paranoid and then opting to follow the plan that the advisor proposed to his pharaoh anyway.

Killing Sargon, when you could've just run. Interestingly, I think the current Ean wouldn't be in character if he made such a choice.

this run have been quite well with us avoiding death somehow at every treave er turn

Somehow = deus ex machina.
 

Baltika9

Arcane
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
9,611
The laws and policies set down during the Ancient Era of the Empire would endure, far longer than those of any other of its contemporary societies. The Empire's greatest rivals were the Skane in the North and the reclusive Concordiat in the East, ancient kingdoms that predated the Empire itself.
Pretty much, this is a chapter where you are reintroduced to the empire and how it has become bloated and complicated over thousands of years. Shulgi would have a stiffy at the number of plots in motion at any one time. Everyone is Shulgi.
So, let me get this straight: Strict social codes, deadly decadent courts, intrigues and extreterrestrial conflicts with a pinch of ubermenschen here and there?
Humanity, not even a millenium close to space travel, is already starting to turn into The Second Gieloth Empire? Oh, Sekhenun, you clever, clever tentacle.:love: How soon until Ean has dirty, dirty tentacle sex with the whole species?

Oh, I almost forgot:
A short reign of ten years had been overshadowed by Shulgi's rule of a hundred.
Who's laughing now, huh? Suck it, Shulgi.
 

Baltika9

Arcane
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
9,611
Now that that's out of my system: bros, look closely at B.
B. You are a new recruit manning the Great Wall of Korinthos, where the threat of the Terasphagos have not been seen for centuries. Being stationed at the wall is one of the most boring and mundane duties for a soldier of the Empire, but one day, you get the excitement you have been yearning for...

We just voted to throw Ean into the Rift. It is quite possible that the "excitement" mentioned is Ean being the first thing to come out (also, apparently playing with those giant balls wasn't all that bad. At the very least we impressed these "higher beings" enough for them not to ejaculate send in more Terrasphagos into Terra).

And really, we should make this chapter about getting him his memory back and getting the crew back together, not switching characters. The timeline for the Masters' return is shortened, so we'd better hurry up.
 

TOME

Cuckmaster General
Joined
May 25, 2012
Messages
1,820
Isn't this chapter about discovering what happened to the empire? Not getting Ean's memories back?

A. If C is winning, then I'll flop to which ever has second most votes.

Edit: It is a shame that so long have passed. I really liked the ancient history -era.
 

Baltika9

Arcane
Joined
Jun 27, 2012
Messages
9,611
Isn't this chapter about discovering what happened to the empire?
Then we should treat it like intel:
soldier-rift/Greece, spy-North, noble-Empire and hermit-our bros. Question is, what's most needed?
 

TOME

Cuckmaster General
Joined
May 25, 2012
Messages
1,820
Then we should treat it like intel:
soldier-rift/Greece, spy-North, noble-Empire and hermit-our bros. Question is, what's most needed?

A. You are a newly inducted member of the Watchers, an ancient organization that has served the Empire for millenia. Your first assignment has you - unfortunately - heading to the northern lands to investigate the Cult of the Returned Emperor...

These guys know already. They must be getting their information somewhere. Might be interesting to find out how the masters observe.

So soldier-rift/Greece, spy-Masters, noble-Empire and hermit-our bros
 

ScubaV

Prophet
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
1,022
I think I prefer C as a choice, but I don't really trust the Codex to navigate through political schemes so A.
 

Azira

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Messages
8,519
Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Codex 2012
... I don't really trust the Codex ...

HA_HA_HA,_OH_WOW.jpg


You, sir, have seen the truth behind this place. :excellent:
 

newcomer

Learned
Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
919
If Ean did become a madman of Anatolia, I hope the first thing he did is to meet & rape Sekhenum
 

Smashing Axe

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Dec 29, 2011
Messages
2,835
Divinity: Original Sin
C - I have a fondness for nobility. A's interesting as well.

The problem with our decision-making is in the very nature of the LP. We're a democracy, we're a committee, we cannot into long-term decision-making, just like real world governments. This is why monarchy is the best choice.

God save the Queen.
 

newcomer

Learned
Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
919
Well, usually Esquilax is influential enough to sway our votes? Perhaps you only need to push it a little bit more?

Or heck, we can even create a fictional political party & unite our vote... just for voting in a LP, truly the Codex way...
 

treave

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Jul 6, 2008
Messages
11,370
Codex 2012
Intermission: State of the Empire (~3rd Millennium)

***

The Shinar Empire

GYZGV.png


***

People:

Population:
320 million people

Ethnic groups:
Egyptian (20%), Assyro-Babylonian (19%), Hittite (15%), Skane (13%), Etrurian (9%), Gallian (8%), Hispalis (8%), Britannian (5%), Greek (2%), Others (1%)

Languages:
Shinari (official), Greek, Skanish (Gallian, Etrurian, Hispalis, Britannian dialects).

Religions:
Imperial Cult, pagan worship (according to territory).

***

Government:

The head of state is the Emperor, who wields absolute authority over the entire Empire. In practice, the Emperor's powers are usually balanced by the powerful Council of Kings which are made up of the eight main kingdoms of the Empire and chaired by the Oligarch of the Greek Republic. The Council of Kings traditionally serve in an advisory capacity, and Emperors that think themselves above the advice offered traditionally do not last long. It is rare for the Council of Kings to demonstrate unity, The Council of Nobles used to consist of all landed noblemen throughout the Empire, until several kingdoms began parceling their land up into smaller and smaller pieces as to gain more voices on the council. Since then, a fixed allocation of equal seats has been implemented. A position on the council is held for life, or at the Emperor's pleasure, and gaining a seat is only possible through the recommendation of more than 20% of the noblemen of the council. However, it is rare for more than half of the noblemen to be present at any sitting. The Council of Nobles serves the function of vetting the decrees passed down by the Emperor and the Council of Kings. They may also propose amendments, or new rules and edicts for the Council of Kings to present to the Emperor.

The laws of the empire are upheld by courts that are presided over by justiciars - scholars that have specialized in the complicated, extensive, and ancient laws of the empire in their studies. Enforcement is carried out by prefect squads that operate under a justiciar's command. Each city in the Empire is assigned one court.

Capital:
Ankida, an ancient city rumoured to have been built single-handedly by the founder of the Empire himself.

National animal:
None, though an old royal joke dating back to the founding days of the Empire has it as an octopus painted black. The reason for this has been lost in time.

***

Economy:

The Empire is large enough to sustain the needs of its own population via domestic production. Internal trade thrives due to an extensive network of well-maintained roads, while externally it trades mainly with the Indus Empire and the Eastern Concordiat for luxuries such as spices and silk. Trade guilds flourish in every kingdom, and the justiciar system helps to guarantee the safety of most merchants, financially or otherwise, via a well-developed code of trade legalities. Currency is standardized throughout the Empire, with a simple exchange rate of 100 cops to 1 sil, and 100 sil to 1 gil.

***

Culture:

Education:
A major aspect of the Imperial Cult is in the promotion of education. All children are mandated to attend public schools, run at the expense of the Empire, from the age of 7 till 12. From there, they may take up apprenticeship - usually lasting 5 years - at any of the numerous guilds that span the Empire, while the best students are drafted into the Imperial Academy in Ankida, where they are trained to handle the management of the Empire. The cream of the Academy crop go on to specialize in particular areas of study, such as military strategy, law, politics and science. The Empire has developed a habit of excessive documentation, in part thanks to numerous decrees from Emperor Runiphilos IV, who came to power after the 6th Shinar Civil War in 1337 A.C. and found to his great grief that the records of the first five hundred years of the Empire were mostly destroyed in that war.

The literacy rate within the Empire is at 60%.

Pleasure:
All Imperial citizens enjoy the pleasures of life, even the dour northerners. Brothels are allowed to operate openly in major cities, and the Etrurian city of Spica has based its entire economy around providing pleasure to every person that walks through its doors, provided that they have coin. The capital of Ankida is renowned for the Grand Theatre that was endowed by Emperor Nabusartep 'the Playwright' Eannos, a great patron of the arts, in 2471 A.C., and most cities now boast of at least one theatre of their own.

Religion:
The main religion is that of the Imperial Cult, which worships the god Ean, a semi-historical figure that has long been held to be the founder of the Empire. The Imperial family is held to be descended from him, with divine blood, and treated with the respect accorded to demigod figures. The Empire upholds the right of every citizen to practice their religion, and many old pagan religions still hold sway throughout the kingdom. Over the past three centuries, religious belief has slowly begun to decline thanks to the emergence of a popular philosophical atheistic movement started by the Greek thinker Atmos.

At present, 85% of the population still claim themselves to be religious.

***

Technology:

The Empire is one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world, rivalled only by the Eastern Concordiat. The cities are well-lit by oil lights and have good plumbing systems. Medicine has been a major area of focus for the scholars and the success rate for treatment of disease and injuries is at an all-time high of 45%. The Empire also boasts of an extensive network of paved roads that connect every major city in its area of influence. Communication between cities has been expedited by the relatively recent reintroduction of the light tower network in 2758 A.C. by an Assyro-Babylonian scholar named Shulgi, who claimed to have been given a divine scroll from the First Emperor Ean containing blueprints for such towers. The network allows for coded messages to be transmitted by line of sight via a relay of towers set up between each city. Advances over the years have increased the operating capacity of the network, and reduced the amount of towers required between each city as well as increased the efficiency of the code used to transmit the messages. Scholars have begun experimenting with steam power, and a working prototype of a steam-powered water pump is currently being tested in the northern mines.

***

Military:

The military of the Empire is structured around regiments of 1000 men under the command of a noble-born officer. Each regiment is further broken down into units of 10 men, each led by a squad officer. Each kingdom has its own Marshal that has authority over the standing army of the kingdom. Each kingdom is also required to contribute the equivalent in manpower of 10% of its armies to the Imperial Army in Ankida, which is commanded by the High Marshal of the Empire. The High Marshal has the power to appoint military scholars to any regiment or army he sees fit as adjutants to the officers-in-charge. The Emperor has authority to command every single soldier and officer of the military in the Empire whenever he wishes, but in practice it has ended disastrously when Emperor Mardukios attempted it against the Skane Kingdom in 633 A.C., and Emperor Ratvius II against the Concordiat in 1795 A.C.

The mainstay of the Empire's soldiers are infantry, cavalry and bowmen, armed with steel weaponry and armour. Scholars have been hard at work replicating the firepowder used to devastating effect by the Concordiat in the 317th Concordiat Border Skirmish in 2918 A.C., and there are now at least ten regiments throughout the Empire equipped with rudimentary muskets, though their quality is still behind that of the Concordiat.

Standing Armies of the Empire (by Kingdom):
Assyro-Babylonia: 500,000 men
Egypt: 300,000 men
Skane: 300,000 men
Hatti: 250,000 men
Gallia: 200,000 men
Etruria: 170,000 men
Hispalis: 150,000 men
Britannia: 100,000 men
Greek Republic: 10,000 men
Imperial Army: 200,000 men

***

Domestic Affairs:

The various kingdoms of the Empire can only agree on matters that benefit them all, and will argue to the death - sometimes, literally - regarding matters that benefit one more than the other. Suffice to say, the nature of politics in the Empire is extremely complicated, with dozens of factions maneuvering behind the scenes to climb over the bodies of their rivals - sometimes, literally - to gain power and wealth. Minor noblemen often get swept into the frenzied waltz of politicking and end up destitute, though there are always opportunities available for the smart and the ruthless no matter the status of their birth. Adoptions of talented people are common, as despite the lip-service paid to the importance of blood - starting with the divine blood of the Imperial family - the Empire is pragmatic, and if push comes to shove talent will trump blood any day.

Civil war has occurred amongst the kingdoms of the Empire 12 times in the past three thousand years when the Emperor was not able (either by virtue of being an infant, or by virtue of being dead) to solve any succession problems, though the Empire has always remained together through it all thanks to the uniting symbol of the Imperial family. Each of the kingdoms realize that they are far better off under the Empire's aegis than outside it - if only because any kingdom outside its aegis was liable to get subjugated by those smarter kingdoms making good use of the Empire's protection.


***

Foreign Affairs:

The Empire is currently at peace with the powers around it; the Free Scania, a splinter of the Old Skane Kingdom that refused to join the Empire when the kingdom mysteriously collapsed circa 850 A.C.; the assorted tribes of the Rus, where peace means that the Empire only burns down one village whenever their settlers are raided; the Indus Empire, which sued for peace after being defeated in the most recent attempt to take back part of the lands the Empire gained in the Indus Reconquest of 1875 B.C.; Tamur, a vassal of the Concordiat that has no policy of its own but has a reputation for birthing beautiful princesses; and the Concordiat, which has engaged in hundreds of little border skirmishes with the Empire via Tamur over the years, but has never escalated it to all out war. Even during times of war with the Indus Empire and the Concordiat, trade relations maintain cordial whenever swords are not being swung.

***
 

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