[SPOILERS] Bacchus and India's many gods

[Bacchus]

They must have changed that in one of the updates, good to know.

[Bacchus]

The last Varu died, dealing 34 damage to the Heavy Chariot, both that and the horse should be red lined. Thus endeth the elephant expedition, somewhat less gloriously than expected, I hoped to extricate at least one elephant, but I don't really have a much better use for them, the only thing I could have done is conquer Brussels, but I'd much rather put the pressure on Ichabod as I did, plus raze a city. I have another Varu on the defense, plus pumping out numerous archers (and making 45 gold a turn to finance upgrades, >300 in the bank).

From now on, the game plan is defend, wait for Cartography, ensure that I have enough faith to buy three apostles, sail to try and convert from the sea. Build some HC's to upgrade into knights.

[Bacchus]

American Archer appeared, moving from Chesapeake towards Hattusa. Not a good sign. In response, I pillage the road linking our empires (consult http://www.realmsbeyond.net/forums/showt...#pid654452 for the map of the surroundings, my warrior is in the same place it was back then). The terrain is pretty tricky for Rowain, so I'm really hoping he is not going to change his vector of attack, especially as his army is already pretty conveniently positioned to carry on towards Ichabod. I send Rowain an offer of open borders to highlight peaceful intentions as our DoF is running out.

If he decides to attack, I will have a walled city, a Varu and two crossbows facing a Classical army, slow-moving through crap terrain. I may lose the city, but by then we might as well resign.

[Bacchus]

The archer was just deterrence, Rowain upgraded him to crossbow and offered a renewed DoW. Fine. Didn't have to waste the gold, but we still don't quite believe here at RB that competitors may not be backstabbers. Time for a big update.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

Thanks for continuing to report, Bacchus - you and Rowain are our only windows into what's going on in this game right now!

[Bacchus]

Well, that's 2 out of 3, so pretty good coverage. I understand the frustration in not being able to see what the leader is doing, but that lets you experience the game similar to a player!

[Bacchus]

The Heavenly Order arose among those bends of the Sha-kiafa (most serene and bountiful flower) that cut their path through the rolling, jungled hills that form the heart of Gondwana. Since the beginning of time, these hills were inhabited by a confederation of tribes, later jointly called Indians, that were uniquely called to follow the Way and manifest its beauty in human works. As we turn back to write the history of our people, we cannot fail to note the ideal, truly fateful conditions that Indians were placed in — bountiful in both food and produce, that ensured our supremacy over the barbarian heathens. Behold, the metropolis of Apsheron, the Jewel of the World, the City of A Hundred Cities, the unrivalled centre of commerce and culture under heaven, and a true image of the Empyrean Holy State that we seek to recreate in our fallen world:



The historic centre of the Heavenly Order was the site of the ancient pact between the local tribes, sealed in blood and marked with the construction of the Heavenly Pillars that to this day attract pilgrims from the entire Pollea of the faithful, wherever they may live and whatever nation they were born into. It is among those pilgrims, first only Indian, that the very notions of trade and arts have acquired their modern form, and it was in Apsheron that world first saw entire districts developed to support these activities that are rightly considered the foundation of civilization. Marvellous and blessed as the other Indian cities are, Apsheron stands unrivaled in industry and science, as much as in wealth and music. Of course, some Indians begrudge the haughty and decadent Apsheronians their liberal and seemingly vacuous attitude to the Way, but it is no surprise -- it takes refinement to appreciate that Apsheron's magnificent theatre overlooking the Pillars is as much a sacred site, as any of Bobrka's mountainous spiritual retreats.

To the west of Apsheron, in the majestic Ilse mountains, lie the two great cities, the Order's Forge and Spire, Titusville and Bobrka. Titusville, upstream along the Sha-kiafa, has long been an important trading post, even before the Order established a fortified settlement in the strategic location overseeing the mountain pass. Today, no meaningful trade can cross the east-west divide except through Titusville, the fact it's merchants take full advantage of. Sharing the same fertile valley that Apsheron feeds from, Titusville has risen far, and is itself a larger city than any in the known world, save Apsheron, yet Apsheron is half as populous again. Who can hope to rival the glory bestowed by Heaven on the Indian people and their Order!



From the early days of the Order, some say even before the Pillars consecrated India's ancient pact, some escaped the bustle of Titusville to reflect peacefully on the Way among the truly wild Bobr mountains. As more and more people settled there, ignoring the complete lack of food sources, the city of Bobrka rose up. The unusual hardwoods of the regions boosted its development, with majestic shrines, schools and temples rising up to support the devout. Today, Bobrka remains the ascetic centre of devotion, the home of scholars and monks, even if some of the early monasteries continue to pay tithes to Titusville.

Far to the easiest, the seaport of Ploiesti proves that no journey is too long, if followed through the Way:



Once less than a fishing village, today Ploiesti is a stronghold of the Order on the eastern seaboard. The openness to the sea has had its ill effects -- the city is so cosmopolitan that the faithful don't even form a majority in it. Indeed, it is said that as many are Indian as are from Belgian tribes, India's peaceful and increasingly devout neighbours. Nonetheless, it is certain that Ploesti will play a crucial role in our upcoming great project.

Which brings us onto the dark, painful topic of the barbarians. Numerous, uncultured and without faith, incessantly squabbling and gutting each other, those tribes not only live under the rule of tyrants, but, more importantly, in the fog of ignorance. The Belgians, of course, are a special case — ever since they provided the stone for the Heavenly Pillars, it was clear that they are a part of the Way as much as Indians are, even if their role in its unfolding is mysterious. Some have long advocated for absorbing Brussels into the Order, both by conquest, and by conversion, but it is clear that such thoughts are nothing but the temptation of chaos. Brussels will adopt the Way soon enough, and that much will be its victory, that it will happen peacefully.

The Hattusans were different. Sharing the Holy Sha-kiafa with Indians and Belgians, they did nothing but pollute it, and provoke the ire of our traders. How many expeditions were raided by those ingrates! And to think that their city was considered a treasure trove of science by those ignorant westerners! The mind boggles, for it is clear that the knowledge Hattusa ever offered was nothing but stolen fragments of the Order's wisdom. That rule of lies could not last and finally, once even the people of Hattusa were tired of their masters' greed, the elephant warriors of the Order rode to liberate the city and welcome it to the Indian pact.

Ever more different were the now extinct kingdoms of Arabia and Japan, conquered by the other two empires which claim a right to greatness. A greatness of arms, perhaps, but not civilization. As our envoys report, America and England, are now locked into another bloody struggle over the smoking ruins of Arabia's settlements:



Even among this unfortunate chaos, however, the Way unfolds. These lands were first charted by our missionaries, the martyrs and heroes that ensured that all over the barbaric west, understanding of the Way is taking hold. Indeed, as I am writing these lines, joyous news are delivered, the King of America has announced his allegiance to the Way.



Of course, he is not the first, so did the King of Arabia under the pressure of his people, and these same subjects have now turned America towards the light. Truly, the Way unfolds in patterns incomprehensible to a mere mortal.

One subject remains, and none is darker in all senses of the word. Here is all we know of our great enemy, the bringers of destruction, the conquerors and the bearers of false knowledge:



Somewhere out there, between these cities of Stockholm and Geneva are the English. They have martyred our missionaries unprovoked, they have destroyed and pillaged, and now they form the last great challenge to the Way. It is up to us to overcome it. Lies are spread in the Order regarding some supposed "failed expedition" of our best warriors, that sallied out towards England never to return. Such stories are clearly the province of myth and the child of a chaotic consciousness. The Order has long since understood that facing the English in battle is futile, chaos cannot be fought on its chosen ground, brute force cannot be broken with brute force.

The English will see the Way, or the world will burn in flames. The Order turns to its historic challenge, mounting an outrageous naval expedition, supported by entire cadres of our spiritual scholars, to travel right into the heart of England. We will not fight their steel, but we will melt their hearts and prise open their minds. All is set, the coffers of the Order are getting filled rapidly to finance the best possible guard for our apostles, the Great Harvest will supply the expedition on its way, and the Way itself is being unravelled by our cartographers. The apostles will sail east.

[Bacchus]

Ichabod broke the siege in I Believe In You. Boy, he knows how to defend. He also offered peace, clearly suffering from war weariness. I declined. I have 530 gold in the bank and earning 50 per turn -- tithes are good, I'm also running 4 trade routes with Caravanserays. Brussels makes for a nice target -- 2 cogs and 6 gold. Builders are getting completed everywhere in anticipation of Feudalism.

I will plant a city and harvest three forests into a Harbor (Eureka for Cartography), chop about 6 other tiles. I'm also running the Holy Site adjacency doubler for 24 faith per turn. Overall should be able to crank out three Apostles in about 15 turns, which is when Cartography and Stirrups will finish as well. Will use about 700 gold to upgrade 4 HCs into Knights, with the help of mercenaries and sail away. Also will soon adopt Divine Right.

Culture is much more useful than science at this stage, and I'm making 29 per turn vs Ichabod's 26. That's before two great works fall for me in just 3 turns.

[hzhp800]

Thanks for the stylish update! That was fun. 

[RefSteel]

Seconded: The long in-character description of the game's history, the status quo, and your future plans was terrific. In awe and wonder, all await the unfolding of the Way.