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You remain at her side for the rest of the day, watching her work. She says nothing, but smiles at your company. That evening, she throws her last stitch, unties it from the rack, and turns to you. Bowing at the waist, as she has seen the priests do, she presents the leather to you. What should you do with it?

>Meditate on it for a while before placing it safely deep within your treasury.
>Host an exhibition in the city to show the new work. Who should you invite to the gala?
>Send it with the guard to Bridgetown, where it will take a central place in your gallery there.
>Something else?

2/2

Welcome to Land of the Gods! This is my first quest, although I have DMed with friends many times before. Some basic housekeeping:

1) *********NEXT GAME AT: THIS WEEKEND, CHECK TWITTER**************

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Archives: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Land%20of%20the%20Gods

3) Twitter @landofthegodsQ
I will keep this updated with times for the next game, and I'll answer dms here, too.

4) email [email protected]
I'll try to answer emails as well.

5) Choices offered are almost always suggestions. You can certainly suggest other alternatives I haven't listed.

6) While I am keeping track of stats behind the scenes and doing dice rolls and whatnot, my goal is for you to never have to think about the mechanics of things. Make your choices, play the game.

7) Plot armor is nonexistent. What happens, happens.

8) This is not a smut quest. THIS IS NOT A SMUT QUEST. I truly have nothing against smut quests, but this is not one of them. That's not to say that sex doesn't exist or won't be acknowledged as is story appropriate, but it won't be the focus and it won't be gratuitous.

>>36269479
>Host an exhibition in the city to show the new work. Who should you invite to the gala?
Art deserves to be appreciated! We can't just stuff it in our treasury. We also can't let something so valuable outside of the city where it can be ruined, so middleground is best.

Invite other prominent artists, nobles, and generally important people.

>>36269479
ayy what up Land
>Host an exhibition in the city to show the new work. Who should you invite to the gala?
invite the water god Odon, so we can increase relations as well as all the people in the city to gain belief from it

>>36269479
>Host an exhibition
>Make the artist the guest of honor.
>Actually go to this exhibition


Vintage anon is back.

Also, I have an idea. Get all the glass-smiths to work on making the best piece of glass art they can. At the end of it, we'll pick one, and they can have the honor of making a bottle for the sacrificial vintage.

>>36269479
Let's invite nobles, artists, particularly talented craftsmen, etc.

Alright, flash question, since this isn't a minor choice.

>invite the water god Odon, so we can increase relations as well as all the people in the city to gain belief from it

Besides our nobles, should we invite Odon to the gala?

>>36269702
I like the idea, we can always use friends

>>36269702
No way, that'd be showing off a gift Reah gave us and piss her off. Let's invite Reah though.

>>36269702
Nah, I'm more up for inviting Klabat. It could give us a chance to show him the vintage. (You know the one I'm talking about.)

>>36269723
Odon gave us the water homie, but we could invite them both and help them work out their problems, we are the God of Wine baby

I'm not getting a consensus. Unless someone seconds a god, I'm not inviting any of them.

>>36269805
I'll samefag Klabat, because you KNOW he'll put down alotta dosh for alotta wine.

>>36269758
I still think it's a bad idea. Peacemaking is a great plan, but not at an event showcasing one of their gifts. Odon's not a bro, she'll could see it as an insult.

>>36269823
Sure, I'll second it. Why not?

>>36269805
I second this

>>36269824
I suppose well have to deal with them eventually

Klabat it is. Update inbound.

>>36269932
vintage anon again. I'm gonna have to go for about an hour soon. Count me as a +1 for giving him a bottle of sacrificial vintage. "For Appraisal, and for friendship" if he must know.

>>36270032
I'm going to have a vote soon for the MEGA PROJECT of the thread, but I'll make sure that's in the vote.

Update in progress.

>>36270032
just put up your thoughts now, Ill bring them up later when we have tome

>Host an exhibition in the city to show the new work. Who should you invite to the gala?
>Invite other prominent artists, nobles, and generally important people.
>invite the water god Odon, so we can increase relations as well as all the people in the city to gain belief from it

A gala! You are the God of Parties--or you will be, at least! What better way to celebrate your current domain than with your future one? You gather your priests to plan. You tip off a few of your best vinters, who leap at the chance to show off their finest wines to the nobles. The nobles, in turn, will leap at the chance to show off their wealth.

You set Kalat to party favors. You catch him later trying to paint several sad looking cows purple.

You also contact Klabat through the Altar, who gladly accepts. "Visiting" will be a problem, so the two of you decide to hold the party in the Altar chamber, where Klabat can project himself to the guests.

A week passes. Talk of the party is on everyone's lips. A couple of nobles have already gotten in a fashion feud over who can pull off the most colorful outfit. Meanwhile, the other artists have put together a striking ensemble of honorary works on the foreigner's theme, from bear statuettes to an inlaid leather fresco. Your priests took the guest of honor herself to the tailors for a secret outfit.

The day arrives, and evening falls. Your musicians strike up a lively tune while your noble guests mill around the various wine stations set up. Despite your best efforts to dissuade him, Kalat is prancing around the party on a purple horse wearing a pointy party hat--no, that came out wrong. The horse is wearing the hat. Kalat is entirely naked.

1/2

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>>36270222
This fucking guy.

Your newest artist makes her entrance, making all heads turn. A bear pelt is draped casually over her head, running down to an inlaid leather tunic. You daresay that her outfit is as beautiful as her artwork itself. You lead her to the center of the room for a round of applause. This feels GOOD. The laughter, the energy, the admiration for Art!

Klabat arrives shortly after, fashionably late, manifesting on the altar as the fat man, covered in gold. He bellows a deep laugh: "Virus, how are you! Come give Klabat a hand!"

Some of your priests and a few of the more educated nobles shout and gesture in fear upon hearing the name Klabat. The brow of the god himself starts to furrow.

>Comfort your priests and nobles. Klabat is not to be feared.
>Rebuke your priests and nobles. They should not show such disrespect!
>Punish your priests and nobles severely. How dare they interfere at such a sensitive moment!
>Write in

>>36270308
>Rebuke your priests and nobles. They should not show such disrespect!
What's their problem?

>>36270308
>Comfort your priests and nobles. Klabat is not to be feared.
Also, its great we finally found a way to incorporate the barbarian girl, perhaps she will become our premiere artist one day. Plus were becoming God of the Party.

>>36270308
>>Comfort your priests and nobles. Klabat is not to be feared.

>>36270308
>Comfort your priests and nobles. Klabat is not to be feared.

>>36270205
Right. Well, we're the god of wine and parties, so lets just consolate that. The motto is "Pleasure and Exclusivity."

Pleasure is about making quality product, stuff with benefits that far outweigh the drawbacks, even if the benefits are only pleasure. Nothing as outright destructive as hard drugs, but things that can be appreciated just for being of good quality. Things like wine, smoke leaf, high-quality arms/armor, paintings, architecture, things not everyone can have but everyone wants. Which leads to exclusivity.

Wine is, of course, the best of this. By aging vintages, we label them according to their purpose, sell them for higher price. Standard vintage aged one year by apprentice vintners, quality vintage, made by more skilled and aged longer, etc.

Additionally, turn the making of the product into an artform. Every year, vintners can petition us for a batch, and those that have true flashes of inspiration will be allowed to do with that batch whatever they wish. There's more to winemaking than letting it sit around for a few years, after all.

>>36270462
alright saved, ill mention it to Land when were in a slump or between decisions

They disrespected a god, one we have a good relationship with. Letting them off easy after insulting him going to hurt us. But this isn't even about posturing infront of Klabat, their behaviour is inexcusable in my mind.

>>36270308
>>Rebuke your priests and nobles. They should not show such disrespect!
"Oh, shuttup! Klabat is a guest, here!"

>Comfort your priests and nobles. Klabat is not to be feared.

"My people, my people, chill out! Klabat is my good friend, and you need not fear any harm. He's just come to party with us."

Your offending priests scurry away out of sight, fearing any punishment for their misbehavior, while your nobles pointedly turn back to their conversations. A few of the braver ones take a few steps towards the Altar to look.

Klabat grumbles. "Hmph. I didn't think your people would startle so easily, Virus."

The only thing you can think of to smooth things over is a joke. "Well, at least I invited you and not Anhur."

"Hah! Well, come Virus, let's go see this new artist of yours." (Well, that wasn't so bad...)

The two of you make your way back over to the exhibit. Your girl is making a few fine adjustments to a few of the pebbles, partially out of a sense of aesthetic, and partially for something to do. You brush across her mind. You can feel her loneliness, despite her being the center of attention. Even though she can't speak your language, you introduce her to Klabat. "May I present to you the Golden Vein, Klabat, the God of Trade. Klabat, this is, uh, this is... my newest artist."

The girl smiles and bows again to Klabat. You notice some of the priests grumbling in the back again. Klabat runs his hands over the leatherwork. "Delightful! Exquisite! How novel! I simply must have this! Virus, what can I offer you?"

*Klabat* must have this? MINE! MINE! MINE! You burn with jealousy inside. It takes all your effort to force back a courteous response.

>"Actually, it's not for sale."
>"I'd consider parting with it." Write in offer, or wait for Klabat's response.

>>36270636
"Sorry, Klabat. My artists are no more for sale than Kondar's smiths. That much, at least, I can understand about him."

>>36270636
On a side note, does this give us relative power like the hoarded gold in the basement?

>>36270698
Art is Tribute, absolutely.

>>36270636
>"I'd consider parting with it." Write in offer, or wait for Klabat's response.
Smile.
"Klabat, you are the god of trade, I the god of the arts. You wish to take my finest delicacy away from me, an artist beyond compare."
"As such, I must ask for you to provide exactly the same in worth. The greatest smith, the greatest trade fleet, the greatest banker, one that is of much worth to you."

>>36270636
>"I'm sorry my friend, but I'm not selling it. What sort of God of Art would I be if I parted with my most valuable pieces?"

Allude to the wine idea if it'll help smooth things over, leave him intrigued for a surprise later.

>>36270711
>this
we have the chance to extort Klabat, so we should take the chance so I agree with anon

>>36270739
It's less extortion, more making him realize how much he's trying to take from us.
If his greed DOES go beyond that, then extorting him is perfectly fine too.

>>36270636
"Sorry, not for sale. Leastaways, not for anything cheap."

>>36270687
>>36270711
Just to be clear, Klabat was asking about the piece of Art, not the artist. Although if you wanted to sell her...

In any sense, I'm getting 3 no to 2 yes. I'll write a cautious no.

>>36270768
your splitting hairs, but either either way we have the chance to do something big
>>36270793
no we would trade art for gold, in the form of tribute

>>36270793
Here, how about, "Klabat, this is an art gallery, not an art shop! The art here is to be admired for being beautiful, not appraised for its value."

>"Sorry, not for sale. Leastaways, not for anything cheap."

"Oh, but who said anything about cheap!" Klabat's eye twinkles gold. "You give me this piece, and I will supply your city with enough gold for every artist of yours to drown in the stuff. Seriously, you could make fucking chamber pots out of it. You could paint in gold, line the walls in gold, statues of gold..."

>"Klabat, this is an art gallery, not an art shop! The art here is to be admired for being beautiful, not appraised for its value."

"Don't play so coy, Virus. Why else would you have invited the God of Trade to a showing?"

"As a diplomatic gesture?"

"And what is diplomacy, when you really get down to it, but buying and selling! I smell a sale here, and I'm making you a very generous offer."

"Seriously, enough gold for every artist?"

"Enough gold for every artist. And if they happen to make some more art, I'd of course be willing to buy that, too! It's a win-win and a future win-win! That's four fucking wins!"

>Deal
>No deal.

>>36270827
that might offend him. since appraising the value of things is what he is.

>>36270793
that is an important distinction, I don't mind that as much. But I don't want to dishearten our artist either.
lets go with, "let me think about it, such a trade isn't made at the drop of a hat".
I mean, I am CERTAIN he has much to offer us

>>36270915
>Deal
that is a LOT of gold. Gold is power, it can also buy laborers for great project, equipment, slaves to be sacrificed, cows to be sacrificed... etc.
Plus, I don't want to offend him.

>>36270915
I don't know, would we be getting more or less power in tribute? We're not hurting for money, we need more power to fuel miracles and fight if it comes to it.

>>36270915
Say it is up to the artist to decide. But if we do sell it make sure that Klabat spreads the name of our artist and her talent.

>>36270915
are we sure its just art? is it possible she invented a new tech?
or maybe, this is something that can birth a new god (and thus is useful if he is to be subservient) by virtue of being completely new? (assuming that it is that new)

>>36271026

You pause for a moment to consider the work. It's certainly Art, that you can tell. It's also a new form of Art that your artists have never done before. But you're not sure it has a use beyond aesthetics. And you certainly don't feel anything divine about it, other than its connection to you.

>>36271003
this

>>36271082
we should keep it then to learn more of this new form of art

>>36271003
>Say it is up to the artist to decide.
we can't communicate with her.

>>36271107
Do you not know the oldest form of communication?

I've got 1 "let's think on it", 1 deal, 1 artist to decide, 1 no deal.

I'll write out a scene with the artist, then re-ask, because I really like that thought. Update incoming.

>>36271165
I Say deal.
guys the roads we wanted to build sounds like we may have enough gold to have all the roads built at the same time.
possibly just trade the art for the 5 roads to be built and we can have our workers working the vineyards to have them produce a shit ton of surplus.

>>36271229
build roads, build altars, build megaprojects, buying armor and weapons from the smith god for gold
Although, I wonder if there is something special about this beyond just being a great work of art. i wish we could somehow sense honesty in other gods

>>36271229
but we could learn new art and then do all that ourselves

>>36271326
the artist is right here, would she really forget what she has done?

>>36271353
we still have no way of communicating with her though, unless theres a way to divine it out of her, either way we should consider trying to integrate her with our society.

Otherwise, I guess I can see the wisdom in selling

You tell Klabat, "Let me ask my artist."

You can't talk to her, and you can't read her thoughts. But her feelings are clear enough to read. As the First Vine, there's only one thing left to do.

>Get Crunk

Klabat guesses what you're trying to do, and pulls out a solid gold chalice. "A taste, then, for both you and your artist." He bows and leaves the two of you to go admire your two feuding nobles, who are now pulling colored scarves out of previously undiscovered orifices in an effort to one up each other.

You fill the chalice up with wine and hand it to "your new artist." It's almost sad--you don't even know her name. Her first wine. She takes a careful sip, pauses, smiles, and then takes long, greedy sups.

Whew, she's a lightweight. You can already feel the drunkenness on her. She can feel it, too. You let it settle on her for a moment, let it wrap around her shoulders like a heavy cloak. She laughs a couple times, turns away. Turns toward her leatherwork. Frowns. Starts to cry. Loneliness. You can still sense the loneliness. But now you notice something different. She kneels before the painting and rubs the bear. No, not just the bear, the red heart at its center. You still can't read her thoughts, but it's not hard to guess what she's thinking of. Home, hearth. Maybe even... her own god?

>Deal (sell the leatherwork)
>No deal (do not sell the leatherwork)

Please, no other votes right now.

>>36271326
Of course can do it our selves.
but building one road made us make a deal with Odon so we would always have a surplus. But she would take some of the surplus. Because we might not have made our requirements because we had our workers doing other things.
selling one piece, would connect all 5 towns possibly this year.
increasing productivity and trade.
easily increasing our population because more people can come and go in our borders.

>>36271424
>No deal (do not sell the leatherwork)
not at the very moment.
I was one of those advocating it, but it seems like it might hurt her integration attempts at the moment.
ask him if he is willing to wait a bit?

>>36271424
>No deal
I don't want to ruin her for other great works.

>>36271326
>but we could learn new art and then do all that ourselves
we can do everything ourselves, but some things are more practice to buy. because the amount we save by doing it ourselves is less than the amount we earn by get it done faster / getting more things done in parallel.

Furthermore, keep in mind that we are currently strapped for labor, to the point where even just building the one road puts us at risk of losing some of the yield (and thus losing money)

>>36271426
I say sell, only if he gives us a kings ransom, so we can jumpstart industry, primarily pottery, and finish our roads.
>>36271538
hopefully, we can contract foreign laborers then, to finish the roadways, but I understand your idea

>>36271424
Nope could hurt her production of art

>No deal, for now.

After seeing that, you couldn't bear to separate the two. "No deal, Klabat. At least not right now."

"My offer stands, if you ever change your mind." Klabat looks a little perturbed. "If there's nothing else, then, I think I'll take my leave now. Absolutely wonderful party, Virus. Those two nobles over there could teach my merchants a thing or two about storage. Ha!" He vanishes in a burst of golden sparkles.

The party winds down. Bear Girl eventually composes herself and agrees to ride alongside Kalat. The last few stragglers hang around the temple until the following morning, when a few hungover priests chase them out.

It's a new day, and you feel amazing. All the excitement around the party last night picked up some of your Belief. You can still feel the holes in you right now, but the edges aren't as ragged.

Your thoughts tend towards grander plans than parties, now. It's time to embark on a grander plan. A MEGA PROJECT.

1/2

Below are some of the suggestions taken from the last thread. These are all longer term things not easily resolved in days, weeks, or even months. Whatever you pick is going to take a significant amount of resources and time to play out, and will require a fair amount of game time to resolve.

>Create a line of premium wine vintages: Party vintage (aged 5 years a batch for the exhibits), Temple Vintage (small belief + 20 years a batch, enhances Temple Guard), prime vintage (1 shipment a year, gets our special touch of moderate belief) and Premium Vintage (Aged 10 years for higher quality wine shipments)
>Meanwhile, Anhur, the Howling Demon and God of War, continues to exist. Hey, idea here. all the local gods have a DEFENSIVE pack in regards to that fucker. what if we try and make an offensive pact instead, where we all attack him together and exterminate him for good?
>Martial arts for our troops. Something that focuses on both being effective AND looking cool. As an art it falls under our domain and lets us enhance our troops.
>I still think we should get our scribes working on recording epic ballads and stories. They'd probably work great as tribute if we let them embellish them with gold leaf and such.
>Another idea: Sacrificial Vintage. We are empowered by drinking the blessed wine that our sacrifices throw themselves into, right? I want one, JUST ONE, bottle taken from this.
>Find artists whose quality of work is sufficiently high, and commission them to create temple artwork. Since the value of an art sacrifice varies by its quality, and top tier ones are worth multiple human sacrifices, I bet that basically paying a low tier artist ends up making you lose power. mid tier artists are a wash, creating artwork worth as much as the gold we paid them. And top tier produce art worth more than the gold we paid them. In essence such artists serve as "refineries" which transform wealth into more wealth.
>Write in?

(This will probably require more than one vote. Choose what you want, and we'll work it out.)

>>36271855
I wish you would have numbered those for ease of discussion... in fact, let me do this

>Project 1
>Create a line of premium wine vintages: Party vintage (aged 5 years a batch for the exhibits), Temple Vintage (small belief + 20 years a batch, enhances Temple Guard), prime vintage (1 shipment a year, gets our special touch of moderate belief) and Premium Vintage (Aged 10 years for higher quality wine shipments)

>Project 2
>Meanwhile, Anhur, the Howling Demon and God of War, continues to exist. Hey, idea here. all the local gods have a DEFENSIVE pack in regards to that fucker. what if we try and make an offensive pact instead, where we all attack him together and exterminate him for good?

>Project 3
>Martial arts for our troops. Something that focuses on both being effective AND looking cool. As an art it falls under our domain and lets us enhance our troops.

>Project 4
>I still think we should get our scribes working on recording epic ballads and stories. They'd probably work great as tribute if we let them embellish them with gold leaf and such.

>Project 5
>Another idea: Sacrificial Vintage. We are empowered by drinking the blessed wine that our sacrifices throw themselves into, right? I want one, JUST ONE, bottle taken from this.

>Project 6
>Find artists whose quality of work is sufficiently high, and commission them to create temple artwork. Since the value of an art sacrifice varies by its quality, and top tier ones are worth multiple human sacrifices, I bet that basically paying a low tier artist ends up making you lose power. mid tier artists are a wash, creating artwork worth as much as the gold we paid them. And top tier produce art worth more than the gold we paid them. In essence such artists serve as "refineries" which transform wealth into more wealth.

>>36271855
>Create a line of premium wine vintages: Party vintage (aged 5 years a batch for the exhibits), Temple Vintage (small belief + 20 years a batch, enhances Temple Guard), prime vintage (1 shipment a year, gets our special touch of moderate belief) and Premium Vintage (Aged 10 years for higher quality wine shipments

>write in?
Additionally, turn the making of the product into an artform. Every year, vintners can petition us for a batch, and those that have true flashes of inspiration will be allowed to do with that batch whatever they wish. There's more to wine making than letting it sit around for a few years, after all.

this isnt my idea, its vintage anons idea
>he cant be here but i believe his vote counts toward this

>>36271855
>>36271958
I like all of them. Although of particular note

6 - my favorite
3 - second fav
5 - I am a bit leery of the effects of that on mortals. as well as using human sacrifice for it. Although in retrospect it might be a big hit with gods
2 - Even though I suggested it... I think this is more of a long term thing to try later. At the moment our army is just too weak to risk on anything. And I want to develop various war specific miracles.

>>36271958
Thank you! You're probably right.

>>36271960
So my understanding of this post is 2 votes for wine-making, when we count vintage anon's vote (which I will).

I'm voting for scribes, but I don't expect it to win out over anything.

>>36272057
yes exactly

also listed
1. my favourite, i agree with vintage anon
6. It will increase our tribute, so its still worth
5. It will be unattainable and allow us to extort the shit out of anyone who wants it
3. I dont like this, Anhur would be pissed
4. We dont want to piss of the God of writing
2. Its a horrible idea to o fight the God of War

>>36271855
>>Create a line of premium wine vintages: Party vintage (aged 5 years a batch for the exhibits), Temple Vintage (small belief + 20 years a batch, enhances Temple Guard), prime vintage (1 shipment a year, gets our special touch of moderate belief) and Premium Vintage (Aged 10 years for higher quality wine shipments)
>>Martial arts for our troops. Something that focuses on both being effective AND looking cool. As an art it falls under our domain and lets us enhance our troops.
>>I still think we should get our scribes working on recording epic ballads and stories. They'd probably work great as tribute if we let them embellish them with gold leaf and such.
>>Another idea: Sacrificial Vintage. We are empowered by drinking the blessed wine that our sacrifices throw themselves into, right? I want one, JUST ONE, bottle taken from this.
>>Find artists whose quality of work is sufficiently high, and commission them to create temple artwork. Since the value of an art sacrifice varies by its quality, and top tier ones are worth multiple human sacrifices, I bet that basically paying a low tier artist ends up making you lose power. mid tier artists are a wash, creating artwork worth as much as the gold we paid them. And top tier produce art worth more than the gold we paid them. In essence such artists serve as "refineries" which transform wealth into more wealth.

ALRIGHT! I'm back, gonna reiterate my other hypothesis of letting certain master Vintners apply to take their own batches of wine and experiment with it through the years, letting them work without fear of reprisal on improving current methods of wine-making. New vintages coming from new methods of wine-making can come of it.

>>36272160
I only said no to number 2, to make it easier on you.

>>36271855
addtional write ins (which are mostly lower on the priority list than those already suggested, but need to be mentioned)
1. still gotta get an altar in each village
2. increase the height of our alters with towers, to increase their projection range.
3. still gotta get 4 more roads to the other villages, I recommend spending money to hire laborers from other gods to do so.
4. Supply our smith with artistically minded apprentices and divinely inspire them. so they produce work that is both functional AND artistics (embossing and etching, etc)
5. Work on acquiring party domain (throw a lot of those)
6. Someone once suggested healing wine, this was shot down on the basis of it being very much not wine's nature. But what about grape juice?
7. I thought
>Wine stains clothes
>What if you do it on purpose? couldn't it be used as a dye for textile industry?
so I googled it and what do I find?
http://laundry.about.com/od/ecofriendlylaundry/ss/How-To-Dye-Fabric-Red-And-Purple-Naturally-Natural-Red-And-Purple-Fabric-Dyes_7.htm
apparently it is a thing.

>>36272057
Oh, and yes, voting for the wine of course.

>>36272168
I am fine with that. but I am assuming they already do experiment with various other alcohols.

>>36272215
I got your back, also its a great idea, Ive been with you from the start

>>36272220
You'd be surprised what sort of lengths nutty old bats will do to preserve tradition and quality.

>>36272260
i am sure there are some hyper conservative individuals, but... oh you mean like our priests and the elder vinters are, on their own volution, stamping out innovation out of young people when it comes to winemaking techniques?
I mean, its not impossible, but a bit odd for a city of artists, especially one that was godless for generations.

Alright, it looks like premium wine vintages is going to win out, give me a little longer than usual to write this up. I want to decide how to stat this up.

>>36272168
I like it. I'm going to implement the premium vintages part for now. When we have surplus wine, I'll put it to a vote whether to age it or give it to the vinters for experimentation.

As a reminder to all, after taking city consumption into account, we produce an extra 10 batches of wine per year, all of which is accounted for in trade deals. Any good harvests will give surplus batches. We expect next year to be the beginning of many good harvests, thanks to our new irrigation system.

>>36272195
I'll save all these.
>Someone once suggested healing wine, this was shot down on the basis of it being very much not wine's nature. But what about grape juice?

You can totally make healing wine/grape juice. But that's not an essential part of wine's nature. So changing it, as opposed to enhancing it, would require more Belief per batch. Adding healing to the nature of all wine is possible, but is a MEGA PROJECT by itself.

As for producing new varieties of wine: our priests and vinters both work on new varieties at a base rate. Giving them extra wine to play with would certainly increase that base rate, though.

>>36271881
Also, adding on to vintage anon, hopefully we could eventually expand our operations, to perhaps beer, or high quality liquor, tiered by the same system, however we just encourage brewers to branch out into varying kinds of alcohol, it would improve our trade capacity, and diversify our banana economy.

Future plans though and thoughts
>>36272305

>>36272305
It's my belief that they'd be given the lower quality stuff. The wine not up to snuff with the high expectations we've come to expect.

Giving them product-quality wine to play with is probably gonna be good in itself.

>>36272305
>Adding healing to the nature of all wine is possible, but is a MEGA PROJECT by itself.
oho... so lets think of how to do it.
step 1: enhance wine with soothing effect on the mind. "forget your trouble", "wine helps heal emotional wounds" kind of deal. after some generations this might come to be an accepted facts, and then its true because people all believe it to be true. At which point we can much more easily expand it from emotional healing to physical healing.

mfw we accidentally become god of healing

>>36272305
>As for producing new varieties of wine: our priests and vinters both work on new varieties at a base rate. Giving them extra wine to play with would certainly increase that base rate, though.
I see. alright then. give them extra

>>36272433
>step 1: enhance wine with soothing effect on the mind. "forget your trouble", "wine helps heal emotional wounds" kind of deal. after some generations this might come to be an accepted facts
by that i mean, spend belief to enhance it in such a manner AND tell people it does that at the same time. those who test it, will find it to be true since we are spending belief on it.

anywhoo, I think that should be a low priority though. there is so much more to accomplish

Virus presents 5 new vintages for the selective connoisseur:

Virus Select:
Crafted from the highest quality grapes of the year, this blend is reserved for Temple functions.
One batch automatically crafted each year.
Players may choose once per game year during any Temple function to serve this wine instead, enhancing Our actions occur during that function.

Virus Reserve:
Crafted from our highest quality grapes, then aged 5 years, this ruby blend of Cabernet and Merlot goes down extra smooth.
Costs 1 shipment of wine and 5 years of aging.
Worth two times one shipment of wine. Appropriate gift for mortals.

Virus Grand Reserve:
Even more select, this Pinot Noir vintage ages superbly well.
Costs 1 shipment of wine and 10 years of aging.
Worth four times one shipment of unaged wine. Appropriate gift for divines.

Virus Vinter's Hand:
Blessed by the First Vine himself, this wine bears His mark, a sign of its enhanced quality and sacred nature.
Costs 1 shipment of wine and a moderate amount of Belief.
Enhanced value and quality to that of several shipments of wine. Worthy bargaining object.

Virus Special Blend
This ancient mixture is known to send its drinkers into a warrior's frenzy!
Costs 1 shipment of wine, 10 years of aging, and a small amount of belief.
Doubles the combat effectiveness of soldiers.


>Opinions on this?

>>36272809
>>Opinions on this?
Better names.
Virus Select - Bronze Vintage
Virus Reserve - Silver
Virus Grand Reserve - Gold
Virus Vinter's Hand - Premium
Virus Special Blend - Combat

>>36272809
Yes. YES! Can we also get a 1 bottle per year thing of the Sacrificial Blend? It would be a GLORIOUS trump card for negotiations.

>>36272809
Seems like a lot more micromanagement then I anticipated in this quest.

>>36272809
I really like this, this is our money maker right here.

>whats the chances we branch out into other spirits as well?

>>36272909
Flash vote:

>Select, Reserve, Grand Reserve, Vinter's Hand, and Special Blend
>Bronze, Silver, Gold, Premium, Combat

>>36272912
Sacrificial blend is its own MEGA PROJECT. You're going to have to investigate its effects on your own, first. Not saying no, but we're working on the vintages for now.

>>36272950
I'm handling most of it. It's just bonuses, really. If you can manage to keep some of your wine instead of spending it all each year, you'll get some bonuses down the road, some for free, and some optional with Belief.

And remember, at some point I hope to be progressing at a faster rate than 1 game week per update!

>>36272956
>whats the chances we branch out into other spirits as well?

You ask Kalat about branching out to other spirits.

"Branching out? To other spirits? Are you talking about Eschar, Lord? A very fine pun, indeed!"

Neither you, nor any of your people have any concept of beer, liquor, or other spirits. The only knowledge of fermentation they have is wine, which is part of what makes it so valuable.

>>36273099
>Select, Reserve, Grand Reserve, Vinter's Hand, and Special Blend

>>36273099
>Select, Reserve, Grand Reserve, Vinter's Hand, and Special Blend

no to the sacrificial blend MEGA PROJECT, were so busy as it is

>>36273099
>>Bronze, Silver, Gold, Premium, Combat
Well, I suggested it, so I don't know if my vote counts.

>>36273099
>The only knowledge of fermentation they have is wine, which is part of what makes it so valuable.
so, they need tried to ferment anything else other than wine?

I guess this is a mega project of its own.

>>36273099
>Select, Reserve, Grand Reserve, Vinter's Hand, and Special Blend

>>36273099
>>Select, Reserve, Grand Reserve, Vinter's Hand, and Special Blend

>>36273159
see but I would vote for this after roads because it opens so many more possibilities for trade

Okay, looks like I'm keeping the names for now. For what it's worth, I was picking a theme that kind of sounds like the wine branding you see today.

Give me a little bit to outline the program.

>>36273323
>For what it's worth, I was picking a theme that kind of sounds like the wine branding you see today.
which i like, and is why i voted to keep the names you came up with over the money themed ones

***Eh, fuck it. I don't want to present options regarding how to split up your vintages until you've had a wine harvest.

You lay out your new plan to the vinters, who seem really excited to try it. At the very least, naming aged wines means that they might actually get to *age* some wines before shipping them off to market. It's hard to practice a vinter's craft without wine to work with.

It's hard to plan exactly how much wine you want to reserve, since you haven't seen next year's harvest. You mentally set aside your new branding, and consider your options.

As Kalat frequently reminds you, "You're a god, you don't age, and you probably have a really big dick. Probably. I don't know, but, I'm just saying. I mean, what kind of god wouldn't have a big dick? Maybe Reah. Or Odon. I wonder if Eschar has a big dick? Do you think she does? She is the god of wood, after all. Eh? Eh?"

You could turn your attention to another project, or rest and meditate among the vines, letting time pass until *something* happens.

>Another MEGA PROJECT
>Let time pass.
>Write in?

>>36273634
>She is the god of wood, after all. Eh? Eh?"
He is an awesome person.

Also, sacrificial vintage is meant for gods, not men. It's meant to be a 'here, now pull back your troops' sort of thing. So voting sacrificial vintage.

>>36273634
>I wonder if Eschar has a big dick? Do you think she does? She is the god of wood, after all. Eh? Eh?"
hahahaha
i laughed a lot.

>>36273634
>Another MEGA PROJECT
Spend money from treasury on getting laborers to build the 5 roads.
yes, all 5, the one we are currently building should get its laborers back to tending the vinyards to ensure the harvest doesn't spoil

>>36273634
>another MEGA PROJECT
I believe we should start looking into different types of fermentation, all my reasons have been stated before but i think we can make alot of money from it

>She is the god of wood, after all. Eh? Eh?"
Kalat is a God in my books

>>36273634
>>Another MEGA PROJECT
Martial arts.

>>36273634
I should note that we traded 2/3 "shipments" of wine to other gods, and then decided not to sell the 3rd one to the god of the forge for weapons
so what happened with that one?

>>36273748
>>36273773
>>36273779
I am ok with all 3
I still think our best idea though is project number 6 from >>36271958

****Oh god no one's agreeing on a mega project.

>>36273790
You still have it. 1 surplus shipment.

I'm going to have to write up a character sheet for next OP, so everyone can keep track of this.


OK, let's try this again. I'm going to list each project that you've suggested. Come to some sort of agreement, or we're passing time until something happens (is rolled).

>Project 3
>Martial arts for our troops. Something that focuses on both being effective AND looking cool. As an art it falls under our domain and lets us enhance our troops.

>Project 5
>Another idea: Sacrificial Vintage. We are empowered by drinking the blessed wine that our sacrifices throw themselves into, right? I want one, JUST ONE, bottle taken from this.

>Project 6
>Find artists whose quality of work is sufficiently high, and commission them to create temple artwork. Since the value of an art sacrifice varies by its quality, and top tier ones are worth multiple human sacrifices, I bet that basically paying a low tier artist ends up making you lose power. mid tier artists are a wash, creating artwork worth as much as the gold we paid them. And top tier produce art worth more than the gold we paid them. In essence such artists serve as "refineries" which transform wealth into more wealth.

>Project 7
>I believe we should start looking into different types of fermentation

>Project 8
>Spend money from treasury on getting laborers to build the 5 roads.

>>36273900
>listing topics as I did before
7. for obvious reasons
5. I like this
6. the tribute would be nice...
8. we need roads by the end of the year
3. I dont like this im scarred of Anhur

>>36273900
>>Project 3
>>Martial arts for our troops. Something that focuses on both being effective AND looking cool. As an art it falls under our domain and lets us enhance our troops.
Guys, our armies are incredibly weak. With this, we could be a powerhouse, only under Anhur himself.

>>36273900
I wanted to set up an instant runoff poll, but i can't find it for some reason.

anyways. in order
8
6
7
3
5

>>36273900
5

>>36273900
found it, here is the instant runoff election
http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=megaproj

>>36274057
>instant runoff poll
Oh god. Also I like it, and we're going to use it next time.

But Virus's mind isn't particularly swayed in any direction, so we're fast forwarding for now. Update inbound.

>>36274137
>>36273900
current results
http://www.demochoice.org/dcresults.php?poll=megaproj#Round1

>>36274150
>But Virus's mind isn't particularly swayed in any direction, so we're fast forwarding for now
only a few had actual opponents, most are just arguing on which is most important to do first though.
since we think they are all important, in such a case i would rather we rolled a dice to see who goes first among the choices that had no objections than just do nothing at all.

Rolled 76, 26, 68 = 170 (3d100)

>>36274200
this

Rolled 2 (1d5)

>>36274200
There's nothing lost by holding off for now. What is a year in the life of a god?

But fine, I'll roll.

Rolled 4 (1d5)

>>36274237
Sacrificial vinatge it is! Writing it up.

>>36274264
Ignore second roll. Ugh.

You give new orders to your priests. Instead of giving the Lottery winners the Final Cup, the winners are to leap into vats of wine, where they will pass in your embrace. Afterwards, you will still drink up the vast majority of the now-infused wine, but will save a small portion to be bottled. How much do you intend to save?

>All 3 barrels of sacrificial wine. You will drink none immediately.
>1 barrel of sacrificial wine. You will drink the other two immediately.
>3 bottles of sacrificial wine. You will drink the rest immediately.
>1 bottle of sacrificial wine. You will drink the rest immediately.

Since this is a more complex vote with choices, we're going to try the instant runoff thing. Please go here:

http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=lotg

and choose an option. Feel free to post your opinion in the thread, but vote here.

This is a trial, I want to see if it works/what you guys think.

>>36274539
the voting thing isnt working for me so
>All 3 barrels of sacrificial wine. You will drink none immediately

>>36274539
>You give new orders to your priests. Instead of giving the Lottery winners the Final Cup
wait, what? I thought the change was just to what we do with it. I am not sure i am ok with this.

>How much to save
I think the point is rather than saving it, experimenting with it first to see what it does.

>>36274634
>Vote not working
Try it in chrome or disable script blocker maybe?
or... try a less fancy version (scriptwise, still has full functionality)
http://www.demochoice.org/dcballot.php?poll=lotg&bb=on

>>36274660
>>How much to save
>I think the point is rather than saving it, experimenting with it first to see what it does.
let me rephrase that. before we decide how much we save out of each sacrifice, we should first save a single batch and experiment with what we can do with it.

>>36274264
>Sacrificial vinatge it is! Writing it up.
that is actually one of the few choices that weren't universally in favor of, people actually did object to that idea. I think it has to do with the fact that the sacrifices are all about coming together with your god. not creating a commodity for your god to sell.

>>36274660
So currently, Lottery winners die by ingesting a most potent wine, passing out, alcohol poisoning, etc. Now, they're going to drown in a vat of wine, and you will drink the vat. Same mechanic. But now you can save the infused wine. I want to know how much of this first batch you're saving to experiment with, versus immediately converting to sacrifice.

I think I understand what everyone wants, now. We'll save just the result of this vote and experiment with it.

>>36274714
Oh, man. Not having much luck tonight. For now, we will say that this experimentation is a closely guarded secret known only to a few of your priests (which it is).

If you guys don't like the result of your experiments, that's fine.

In the meantime, the vote is up to two votes for a single bottle, so that's where we'll go for now. Also, I don't like a site that I'm not sure everyone can use, and I don't like not recording the votes in the thread itself. If I need to do a runoff vote in the future, I'll do it in the thread, and put it through this runoff vote calculator:

http://www.ericgorr.net/condorcet/

Update incoming:

>>36274852
>If I need to do a runoff vote in the future, I'll do it in the thread, and put it through this runoff vote calculator:
sounds good to me.

From the sacrificial wine, one solitary bottle was kept. Pocketed by a priest and passed out of site, those observing the ritual were none the wiser.

First, you drink the sacrificial wine from the original barrels. As the god of wine, you take in the totality of its existence. It's... odd. It certainly feels like a Sacrifice. It strengthens you just like one, at least. To your godly senses, it's pure power. At the same time, it's also amazing wine. The palate is exotic, subtle, and ever changing. It's intoxicating, even to you.

The bottle is then presented to you for inspection. It feels strangely heavy in your hand. You uncork it to let Kalat take a sniff. He almost passes out. "My Lord, I have never smelled something so delicious in my entire life!"

What should you do with the bottle?
>No good will come of this. Drink it yourself, and never do this again.
>Nothing for now. Store it for later.
>Give it to Kalat to drink.
>Give it to one of your Temple Guard to drink.
>Give it to someone else to drink? Who?
>Write in.

First round of voting. Let me see some suggestions, then we'll narrow it down.

>>36275094
>Give it to Kalat to drink.
perhaps he can be of use and have a divination or something

or store it

>>36275094
try aging it and see if it gets better.

>>36275164
wait, shouldn't wine be aged in barrels?

>>36275094
>>Give it to Kalat to drink.

****Sorry for the delay.

>>36275184
You can age wine in a bottle as well; although you're correct that wine gains more character from the barrel.

>Tie between give it to Kalat to drink vs storing it.

Okay, round 2:

>Give it to Kalat to drink.
>Age it for a year.

>>36275509
>Age it for a year.
we can have kalat drink a cup after aging it. I want to see if aging it will increase its power (which we should be able to sense even without drinking it)

>>36275531
PS. I think we should try giving a cup to someone slightly less important before we try it on kalat

... heck, we might try to give it as the last cup to the next guy to be sacrificed.

>>36275509
>Give it to Kalat
Hes the best

>>36275509
>Give it to Kalat to drink.

>>36275509
>>Give it to Kalat to drink.

>Give it to Kalat to drink.

"Kalat, I want you to have the honor. Try this."

Kalat, wide eyed and speechless for the first time in his life, only nods and takes the bottle. He downs the entire thing like a champ, then immediately passes out.

You quickly focus all of your senses on him. He's definitely alive. He's definitely unconscious. He's definitely--no, he's waking up. Hmm.

Interesting. You've seen drunkenness before, so Kalat's state is familiar to you. He's riding that edge between inebriation and disinhibition versus vertigo and nausea. What's weird is that he's not slipping over to one side or the other.

The man is perfectly drunk.

He picks himself up off the floor, laughs, and starts staggering away. "Lord, hey! Watch this!" He stumbles forward as if to fall, then gracefully pulls into a somersault. "Ta da!"

"Careful Kalat, or I'll make you my jester."

"And what a grand gesture that would be, Lord!"

You refocus your senses on him again. You don't detect anything particularly remarkable about him, but you can definitely sense something... more to him now. A little bit extra.

You observe Kalat carefully over the next week. He doesn't act any different. Maybe jabbers to himself a little more. But he wakes up an hour earlier while going to bed at the same time.

"Kalat, are you feeling tired lately?"

"Not at all, Lord! Feeling pretty good, if I do say so myself! And who else would I say so? Yourself? Herself?"

You consider your options.
>End the experiment.
>Save another bottle this week, and give it to Kalat again.
>Save a barrel this week, and give it to Kalat.
>Try a bottle on someone else. Who?
>Write in.

>>36275845
>>Save a barrel this week, and give it to Kalat.
Kalat, you're a god in all but name and power. I want to see if I can fix one of those.

>>36275845
>Save another bottle this week, and give it to Kalat again
so it hasn't helped his insanity at all?

Also sounds like something that would be good for our merchants family.
more energy faster trips.

>>36275927
>this Kalat will become the master

>>36275845
>Save another bottle this week, get it appraised properly by a Divine

>>36275845
whatever we do, can we please put a bottle to age for a year to see if it gets more powerful with aging?
this has the potential of vastly increasing the power of our sacrifices

>>36275845
>Kalat is something more now
haha. ok. so i think we have a way to make people become divine...
lets please not use it on the insane guy

>Save a barrel this week, and give it to Kalat.

You repeat the procedure next week. This time, the barrels are all wheeled out of the room so that you may "contemplate the passed in private." You down two of them, and point Kalat toward the third.

"The entire thing? Master, I love you, but that will probably kill me. Is that what you want, what you really really want? (zigzigah)"

"Fear not, my crazy priest. I'll make sure you don't go anywhere."

So, comforted, Kalat turns to the barrel and jumps in. You reach out and hold his mind steady while he drinks.

This time, he's out for the rest of the day. You dismiss the other priests and watch over him carefully through the night. The following morning, Kalat opens his eyes again.

"Lord?"

"Good to see you again, you loon. How do you feel?"

"Weird. I'm awake and drunk and not drunk, and I can see!"

"What do you see, Kalat."

"You, and the City, and everyone around, and they all love you Lord." He takes a few careful steps before stretching his back.

"Oh, I--holy shit! I feel GOOD, Lord!" He gets up and takes several long strides across the room. Then, in a smooth motion, he *eaps back across. "I feel amazing! Better than I did at 20."

You carefully observe Kalat again for another week. He only takes a couple short naps, spending most of the night tending to his vine garden. He seems to have boundless energy, annoying the head librarian nearly to tears. You take him down to the practice field, where he takes on several of your Guard at once, wrestling down three of them before getting pinned.

Impressive. You consider what your goals might be here, long term. You make a mental note--if the experiment continues, you should save one bottle for aging.

>Nothing, for now. Don't continue the experiment.
>Give Kalat another barrel.
>Give Kalat 3 more barrels.
>Give wine to someone else?
>Write in?

Also, second vote. Do you want another divine to appraise the bottle?
>Yes (two choices who)
>No.

>>36276506
>Nothing, for now.
but
>Do continue the experiment.

I want to observe him over the next year or so before we decide what to do next. No need to rush it. Although I think we have found a way to potentially create super soldiers. Or super priests. I wonder if it comes with eternal youth too.

>Do you want another divine to appraise the bottle?
No
as much as I am tempted to, and I am. I don't want any of them to find out about it in the near future.

>>36276506
>>Give wine to someone else?
Our merchant family.
>No.
Don't want to show anyone just yet.

>>36276506
>>Give Kalat another barrel.
For the next year, keep giving him a barrel every week. He either goes (more) insane and we get a new bad guy, or he doesn't and we get an angel.
>Do you want another divine to appraise the bottle?
No. We're keeping this a secret.

>>36276588
> this, i agree completely

Okay, it sounds like we're certain that we're keeping this a secret. Quick question:

Should we stockpile all the sacrificial wine for the next year while we're observing Kalat? Or keep drinking it, saving nothing. Or something between?

>Stockpile all of it.
>Drink all of it.
>Save some amount of it--how much?

>>36276699
>Save some amount of it--how much?
A third? I think that's reasonable.

>>36276753
Sounds good.

>>36276753
yea, that is fine.

Boundless energy? I wonder if we could give the wine to engineers instead of soldiers and task them with recreating ballistas the invaders used.

>>36276628
we should totally give at least the merchant leader some. Or at least his strongest/firstborn? son.

>>36276699

> stockpile all of it

>>36276946
If we do, we can let them investigate the desert demons or something else dangerous.

>A third? I think that's reasonable.

You instruct your priests to set aside one barrel per week. One year--52 barrels. That's a lot of power to play with.

That's also a while to wait. What might happen over the course of a year? What's going to happen to Kalat? How will the new harvest turn out? How will Bear Girl turn out?

A lot might happen in a year.

>END
Thanks for playing with me today! I'm not entirely sure when the next game is, but I'll likely run again this weekend. Check my twitter, @landofthegodsQ for updates. Feedback is welcome, here or by DM or email. I'll be around for a little while longer to answer questions.

>>36277003
Thanks land also if you get a chance to respond to email its appreciated

>>36276975
If we're going to let them investigate the desert demons, They would have to drink atleast 2 bottels each. And thats after we see what he wine has done to Katal after the years ends. If he keeps improving or if he stagnates to a certain level.

>>36276975
think thats good. we can see what they're up to.

>>36277003
Thank you for the thread!

>>36277003
Thanks! Is the game going how you thought it would when you started?

>>36277162
Not since the very beginning. I did not expect the players to choose Virus at all. Then I didn't expect them to make so many deals so quickly. And now the mega projects. No good way to predict what will be chosen. I sat down the other day and thought about each one that was proposed, tried to figure out how I wanted to play it in the world. I try not to write too much extra, though, just because I'd be writing a ton for options that might never get chosen.

>>36277003
thank you. see you next time.

>>36277003
Thanks for your time like the concept.
Wished I was here for picking the god, would have gone Kablat trading for years

>>36277228
same
but i have been pleasantly surprised by virus