The Thrive Odyssey

Story

Chaos erupts around the globe, as one civilization falls into civil war from instability, while another begins to siege a village. It seems peace couldn’t last very long on its own…

Volume 2: Diffusion
Round 53 - 450 BC

Phoenicia

Leader: Tekis

Actions: [Global] Destroy the caltrops, [Global] Furnace
Result: 7/20 +7 = 14/20, 10/20 +2 = 12/20
Your reserve troops were sent on a special mission. They were here to convince the Bananarama that they were allies, so that they may destroy them from within. Once they entered the fortified village, their plan was to be set in motion. At night, while they were guarding, they took all the Bananarama’s secret weapons against the Mongol Horde, the caltrops, and destroyed them. Obviously, this won’t go unnoticed, and the perpetrators will soon be identified and hunted. Once the deed was done, your soldiers left the village and came back to Phoenicia.

Meanwhile, back home, you develop better furnaces to be able to smelt even better metals. These fire kilns use ceramic walls to trap the heat to create intense temperatures, capable of melting even stronger metals.
By the way, you have enough population to establish a third village.

Villages: 2 (Tyre [Capital][157], Phoenix[57])
Region:Southern Lebanon, Asia (Middle East)
Stability: Strong 5

Population: 214
Jobs: Farmer [26], Fisher [26], Potter [14], Priest [9], Scout [9], Builder [9], Hunter [9], Medic [14], Scientist [12], Soldier [60]

Status: Civlization
Type: Bard (Thanks to your entertainment, you get a bonus to diplomacy and trade with other nations)

Technology

Tools: Bronze Age, Sailboat [+2]
Structures: Mud hut, Farm, Hospital
Domestic: Goat
Other: Fishing, Agriculture, Pottery, Religion, Medicine, Division of Labour, Currency [+2 or 5], Furnace, Bronze, Government (Monarchy [+2])

Politics

Government Type: Monarchy
Global Happiness: Happy 3
Crime rate: Low 3

Economy

State: Prosperous 4
Source of Income: Trade

Culture

Trading, Religious, Diplomatic, Shifty

Military

Army: 60
Type: Infantry [60]
Weapons: Intermediate Melee (Bronze Spear, Bronze Sword [+3]), Standard Ranged (Longbow [Bronze][+2]), Trident, Rhinoceros [+2 or 3]

Religion

Deity: the Four Primordial Elements
Beliefs: They must be entertained through singing and dancing.

Relations
Laestrygonians

Reputation: Ally 4
Shared Technology: Goat domestication, Rafts, Oven, Currency, Writing, Longbow

"Hollow Sand

Reputation: Ally 4
Shared technology: Currency, Writing [+2], Oven, Rhinoceros [+2 or 3]

Mongols

Reputation: Neutral 1

Bananarama

Reputation: Great 3

Hellenes

Leader: Tiresias

Actions: [Global] Smithy, [25] Palace, [20] Mathematics, [30] Iron armour, [146] Government, [Global] Drills
Result: 9/20 +3 = 12/20, 17/20 -9 +3 = 11/20, 19/20 -9 +2 = 12/20, 18/20 -8 +3 = 13/20, 14/20 -5 +2 = 11/20, 20/20! +3 = 20/20!
The people of Gantzos build a structure dedicated to metallurgy, the smithy. Thanks to this building, all smithing rolls are a guaranteed success.

The town was hard to manage without a central building to organise everything, so your builders build a structure dedicated to that. This palace is very useful for organising research, so it gives +2 to research rolls, or +3 if you have a government.

Your people are interested in making more powerful weapons, which need more knowledge to be used. That is why you develop mathematics, so that you may be able to build even bigger and more complicated siege weapons. As a bonus, mathematics also gives +1 to research rolls.

This time, your blacksmiths succeed in making proper iron armour. This chainmail armour is very tough and grants +4 to combat rolls.

The village needed to be organised to function properly. That is why you decided to put a central government in place. You are a highly militarised nation that holds its military in very high standards, so naturally, it was a good fit to have your government run by the military, making you a stratocracy. This grants a +2 to research rolls.

Training your soldiers is very important. They have to have the perfect form and mentality, and what better way to train them than through drills? These drills are taught in training academies, which helps make your soldiers better, granting +2 to combat rolls.

By the way, you still have to assign jobs to 115 people.

Villages: 3 (Apolonia [Capital][221], Gantzos [59], Cassius [64])
Region: Coast of Epirus, Greece
Stability: Strong 5

Population: 344
Jobs: Farmer [20], Miner [20], Herder [15], Warrior [20], Blacksmith [30], Trader [20], Healer [15], Inventor [20], Builder [25], Fisherman [10], Shipbuilder [10], Lumberjack [5], Adventurer [4], Cataphract [15]
Status: Civilization

Type: Militarised (Your priorities are to have the most powerful army and the latest technology so that you may crush your adversaries and intimidate those around you. This grants you a bonus in combat rolls and tech research rolls, but a malus in initial reputation, because of your distrust of strangers.)

Technology

Tools: Copper Age, Fertilizer, Sailboat [+2], Irrigation
Structures: Mud Brick House, Town Hall [+2 or 3], Road (Stone Brick [+3 or 4]), Granary, Smithy [Success], Palace [+3]
Domestic: Cattle
Other: Furnace, Iron, Agriculture, Division of Labour, Pottery, Religion, Mathematics [+1], Government (Stratocracy [+2])

Politics

Type: Stratocracy
Global Happiness: Happy 3
Crime rate: Low 3

Economy

State: Good 2
Source of Income: Trade, Agriculture

Culture

Military, Agrarian, Modernism

Military

Army: 15
Type: Cataphract (Heavy cavalry) [15]
Weapons: Advanced Melee (Javelin [+2], Iron Sword [+4]), Basic Ranged (Shortbow), Primitive protection (Long Shield [+1]), Advanced Armour (Chain [+4]), Rhinoceros [+2 or 3]
Tactics: Formation (Phalanx [+2])
Infrastructure: Stone Walls [-2], Training Academy [+2]

Religion

Name; Primordial Truth
Deity: Cosmic Eye, split into 4 entities
Beliefs: The gods when displeasured become demonic and their servants as well, Torture and sacrifice only when allowed

Relations
Laestrygonians

Reputation: Great 3
Shared technology: Copper Armour, Dvision of Labour, Walls, Bronze, Sailboat [+2], Pottery

Bananarama

Reputation: Great 3

Hollow Sand

Reputation: Good 2
Shared technology: Rhinos, Irrigation.

Britannia

Leader: Arthur of Londinium

Actions: [Global] Better furnace, [Global] New crop
Result: 7/20 +2 = 9/20, 13/20
Unfortunately, your people couldn’t figure out a way to make their furnaces stronger than the current ones they use.

The Wintonians introduce various root vegetables into their diets, such as potatoes and beets. This food variety helps maintain a balanced diet, which keeps your people healthy and increases your population.

You are now officially a civilization.

Villages: 2 (Londinium [Capital] [174], Winchester [70])
Region: British Isles, Europe
Stability: Steady 3

Population: 244
Jobs: Metalworker [36], Engineer [36], Soldier [28], Knight [9]
Status: Civlization

Type: Diplomat (Thanks to your smooth-talking skills, you know how to convince people that you are nice, giving you a bonus to negotiations and initial reputation. You also start with extra population)

Technology

Tools: Advanced (Iron), Sailing [+2], Nets, Navigation [+2]
Structures: Stone houses
Other: Agriculture, Furnace, Iron, Fishing, Division if Labour, Trapping, Writing [+2], Glass

Politics

No government
Global Happiness: Happy 3
Crime rate: Low 3

Economy

State: Good 2
Source of Income: Trade, Agriculture

Culture

Pacifist, Survivor, Modernism, Agrarian

Military

Army: 37
Type: Soldier (Infantry) [28], Knight (Heavy Infantry [9]
Weapons: Advanced Melee (Iron Spear, Claymore, Battle Ax [+4]), Standard Ranged (Longbow [Iron][+3]), Basic Armour (Cloth [+1])

Relations
Laestrygonians

Reputation: Ally 4
Shared technology: Oven, Bronze, Sailing [+2], Bronze Weapons, Navigation [+2], Longbow [Bronze][+2], Furnace, Iron

Laestrygonians

Leader: Orko

Actions: (EVENT) Civil War
Result: 15/20
The human population was outweighing the Neanderthals, who didn’t take that too kindly. Fights were breaking out, which escalated to civil war! To survive the war, you have to pick a faction (which you have already done) and decide whether you should try to win the war (which could be costly in lives) or run away, relocating somewhere else, which would let you keep your technology but create splinter nations that are hostile towards you.

So far, three fights broke out in the capital that resulted with eighteen deaths. The race for stability begins. You have 3 turns to come up with a solution or you will collapse from the chaos.

Villages: 3 (Laestrygonia [Capital][186], Xirimiri [50], Gerla [39])
Region: Normandy, France
Stability: Collapsing -3

Population: 530
Jobs: Fisherman [59], Herder [50], Trader [39], Healer [3], Farmer [74], Soldier [46], Scribe [4]
Status: Civilisation

Type: Trader (All that time working with the ground has made you accumulate an abundance of resources you know others want, granting you a bonus in trading and initial population)

Technology

Tools: Basic (Wood, Bone), Galley [+4], Nets, Stargazing [+2], Herbal Medicine, Compost
Structures: Sod House, Farm, Roads [Stone Brick (+3 or 4)], Millstones, Community Centre [+2 or 3]
Domestic: Goats, Chickens
Other: Fishing, Trapping, Division of Labour, Agriculture, Furnace, Cheese, Iron, Currency [+2 or 5], Parchment [+3]

Politics

No government
Global Happiness: Happy 3
Crime rate: Low 3

Economy

State: Prosperous 4
Source of Income: Trade

Culture

Trading, Fishing, Military, Sophisticated

Military

Army: 46 units
Type: Infantry [46]
Weapons: Intermediate Melee (Bronze sword, Bronze spear [+3]), Standard Ranged (Longbow [Bronze][+2]), Standard Armour (Bronze [+3], Cloth [+1]), Standard Protection (Bronze Large Shield [+3])
Tactics: Camouflage [+3 or -3]
Infrastructure: Watchtower [-1], Trench (Bronze Spikes [-3]), Wall (Wood [-1]), Smoke signal [-3]

Relations
Phoenicians

Reputation: Ally 4
Shared Technology: Goat domestication, Rafts, Oven, Currency, Longbow (Bronze [+2]), Writing

Tarkahmehd

Reputation: Great 3
Shared Technology: Fishing, Trapping, Sailboat [+2], Goat, Chicken

Muppans

Reputation: Great 3
Shared Technology: Goat Domestication, Agriculture

Britannia

Reputation: Ally 4
Shared technology: Oven, Bronze, Sailboat [+2], Bronze weapons, Navigation [+2], Longbow (Bronze [+2]), Furnace, Iron

Hellenes

Reputation: Good 2
Shared technology: Division of Labour, Bronze Armour, Bronze, Walls

Kuegelland

Reputation: Great 3
Shared technology: Sailing [+2], Copper Shields [+2]

Bananarama

Leader: Barando

Actions: [Global] Population, [Global] Better Walls
Result: 17/20, 10/20 +3 = 13/20
You increase your population through means I shall not discuss to keep this forum safe for work.

Your research into better walls leads you to reinforcing your stone walls with mud and adding crenels, which help to drop undesirables on top of the attacking army. This will grant -3 to enemy attacks or -5 to siege weapon attacks.

You finish your research just in time, because the Mongols have blocked your food routes and surrounded your village, declaring a siege! Through diceroll, you now have three turns to break the siege and emerge victorious before you run out of food. If you run out of food, you will start starving and losing population each turn after that.

Also, the reserve soldiers the Phoenicians sent left the night before the siege was announced, and your caltrops were destroyed.

Villages: 2 (Musa Sapientum Fixa [Capital], LOSERVILLE)
Region: Nile banks, Egypt
Stability: Sturdy 4

Population: 106
Jobs: Soldier [10]
Status: Sedentary Agricultural village SIEGE (3 turns left)

Type: Zealot (You know your faith is the right one, and you want everyone to believe in it, whether by will or at gunpoint. This grants you a bonus in combat and religion but a malus in initial reputation, as people feel intimidated by your warmongering)

Technology

Tools: Standard (Stone, Flint), Longboat [+4]
Weapons: Standard Melee (Spear [Flint, Stone], Club), Standard Ranged (Longbow [Flint, Flaming][+2 or 3]), Basic Armour (Leather [+1]), Basic Siege (Catapult [+2 or 5]
Structures: Mud Hut, Farm, Temple, Training Academy [+2], Palace [+2 or 3], Walls (Reinforced [-3 or 5])
Domestic: Rhinoceros [+2 or 3]
Other: Agriculture, Fishing, Writing [+2], Oven, Leather, Mathematics [+1], Copper

Religion

Name: Potassism
Deity: banods
Beliefs: Sacrificing war prisoners, fighting is necessary to transcend to a different plane of existence.

Relations
Farenit

Reputation: Chilly -1

Hollow Sand

Reputation: Chilly -1

Mongols

Reputation: Unsalvageable -3

Phoenicia

Reputation: Great 3

Hellenes

Reputation: Great 3

Tarkahmehd

Leader: Evolution4Weak

Action: [Global] Standing Army, [Global] Titanium tools, [Global] Currency
Result: 15/20, 10/20 +8 = 18/20, 7/20 +8 = 15/20
Your villagers are ready to become an official army, but for that, they need formal training. That is why you construct training academies, which help these soldiers train to be fit for the standing army. A training academy grants +2 to combat rolls. Now all you need is to assign some people to become soldiers.

You task your expert smiths to forge tools out of the precious titanium. The tools are durable, much better than your current bronze ones, and are exponentially better for harvesting materials. They increase your population drastically. You have lost your titanium technology.

Bartering can be a tough system, as sometimes it’s hard to define a value for each item. To combat this problem, you design a currency out of gold pieces. You choose gold because of its relative rarity and ease of malleability, which allows the addition of intricate designs on each coin so they may be hard to copy. These new coins help with trading with others, granting +2 to trading rolls or +5 if the other party also has currency.

Villages: 3 (Acirema [Capital][273], Anawal [155], Latipa [210])
Region: Portugal, Europe
Stability: Strong 5

Population: 598
Jobs: Fisherman [33], Farmer [33], Herder [33], Builder [60], Gatherer [44], Philosopher [60], Scout [35]
Status: Sedentary Agricultural Village

Type: Scout (You know the land like the back of your hands, which comes with the perk of a bonus in spying and exploration)

Technology

Tools: Titanium tools, Net, Sailboat[+2]
Structures: Log Cabin, Farms, Storehouse, Town Hall [+3], Roads (Dirt [+2 or 3]), Bunker [+3], Millstone
Domestic: Chicken, Goat
Other: Fishing, Trapping, Agriculture, Government (Hierarchy) [+2], Division of Labour, Pottery, Furnace, Bronze, Writing [+2], Mathematics [+1], Currency [+2 or 5]

Politics

Government Type: Hierarchy
Policies: Code of Law
Global Happiness: Happy 3
Crime rate: Nearly Non-existent 4

Economy

State: Excellent 3
Source of Income: Trade, Fishing

Culture

Fishing, Arts, Authority, Agrarian

Military

Army: N/A
Weapons: Intermediate Melee (Bronze Spear, Bronze Sword [+3]), Basic Ranged (Shortbow), Catapult [+2 or 5], Basic Protection (Large Shield [+1])
Infrastructure: Walls (Wood [-1])

Relations
Laestrygonians

Reputation: Great 3
Shared Technology: Sailboat, Net, Trapping, Fishing, Chicken, Goat

Mexica

Leader: Montezuma

Actions: [Global] Gift, [Global] Trade route
Result: 12/20, 15/20 +3 = 18/20
You weave an intricate basket and fill it with goods native to your civilization, such as maize, honey and even a little bronze. The Coyotl kingdom is impressed and is ready to warm up to you. Their king tasks you to find a nation he can conquer. He gives you 3 turns to do so, or else he will turn hostile and conquer you instead. Until then, they are neutral towards your people.

Following the success in improving your relations with the Coyotl, you decide to further strengthen it by proposing a trade route. They accept, paving the way to their capital Tlacopan West from here (yes I retconned their location). Trade routes are an excellent way to increase your civilization’s wealth, which helps keep happiness high. The Coyotl have also started pilgriming to Sola Tempa to participate in their own sacrificial rituals.

Villages: 2 (Tenochtitlán [Capital][101], Solatempa[60])
Region: Mexican Valley, Mexico
Stability: Strong 5

Population: 161
Jobs: N/A
Status: Civilization, QUEST: Find a civ (3 turns left)

Type: Shaman (You are devoted to helping others while pondering about the mysteries of the Cosmos. This grants you a bonus in technological research and initial reputation)

Technology

Tools: Standard (Obsidian), Telescope [+2]
Structures: Adobe House, Farms, Beehive, Palace [+3], Sola Eclipsa (Landmark), Road (Dirt [+2 or 3])
Domestic: Honeybee
Other: Agriculture, Writing [+2], Oven, Medicine, Government (Monarchy [+2]), Bronze

Politics

Government Type: Monarchy
Global Happiness: Happy 3
Crime rate: Low 3

Economy

State: Great 3
Source of Income: Pilgrimage, Trade route

Culture

Pacifist, Spiritual, Modernist

Military

Army: N/A
Weapons: Basic Melee (Spear, Club), Basic Ranged (Shortbow)

Religion

Name: Tonatiu
Deity: Sun, Rain and Agriculture
Beliefs: Sacrifices are necessary to keep the world going, all life is equally important except for the Sun, the Rain and Agriculture, death means eternal respite for the dead.

Relations
Coyotl

Reputation: Neutral 1

Mongols

Leader: Kada Khan

Actions: [Global] Permanent Housing, [Global] Government, [Global] Siege
Result: 17/20, 15/20, 5/20 +16 = 20/20!
Your people find an ideal spot to settle down and finally create permanent housing. These houses are made of mud and wood, and are much more spacious than your yurts, which increases your population. You are now a sedentary civilization and can build more complex structures.

With permanent homes, the village was a little chaotic to manage without a central government system. So you set up a monarchy with a caste system, where the emperor and his family are the most important, and slaves are the least important. This new government system helps with developing technology, and grants +2 to research rolls.

You order your army to surround Musa Sapientum Fixa and cut their food sources by blocking the gates, declaring a siege. Since you brought your herds with you, your army will last 8 turns before they start to starve. While blocking the gates, you met a nation declaring themselves from Kugelland, who were just passing by, visibly unnerved by your intimidating army. Your relations with the Bananarama are now unsalvageable.

Also, you were visited by the Hollow Sandpeople, who came in search of trade. They gave you writing for your wheels and improved your relations.

Tribes: 3 (Kherzit [Main][124], Akkalat [64], Odokh [57])
Region: Mongolia
Stability: Strong 5

Population: 325
Jobs: Archer [50], Heavy Infantry [50], Chariot Rider [44], Elite Guard [6], Builder [33], Researcher [62]
Status: Civilization, At war with Bananarama

Type: Warmonger (You pillage and plunder for a living, so, naturally, you improve those skills. You get a bonus in combat and a malus in initial reputation)

Technology

Tools: Standard (Stone, Flint), Wheel
Structures: Mud Homes
Domestic: Horses, Sheep, Elk, Hunting Dogs
Other: Riding, Religion, Chariot, Furnace, Iron, Fishing, Division of Labour, Government (Monarchy [+2]), Writing [+2]

Politics

Government Type: Monarchy
Policies: N/A
Global Happiness: Happy 3
Crime rate: Pretty low 2

Economy

State: Good 2
Source of Income: Raids

Culture

Warfare, Herding, Religion, Sacrifice, Intimidating

Military

Army: 150 units
Type: Archer [50], Heavy Infantry [50], Chariot Rider (Bow/Scimitar) [44], Kada Elite Guard (Heavy Cavalry) [6]
Weapons: Standard Melee (Copper [Scimitar][+2]), Standard (Longbow[Arrows: Flint, Flaming][+2 or 3]), Advanced Armour (Chain [+4][Fear]), Advanced Protection (Iron [+4])

Religion

Deity: Yargoyin
Beliefs: Yargoyin needs sacrifices (animal or human) or the animals of the steppe will slow and die. Yargoyin helps those that holds themselves high in the societal food chain. Warriors are to be utmost respected. Conquering feeds Yargoyin as much as sacrifices.

Relations
Hollow Sand

Reputation: Neutral
Shared technology: Writing, Wheel

Phoenicia

Reputation: Neutral 1

Bananarama

Reputation: Unsalvageable -3

Kugelland

Reputation: Chilly -1

Hollow Sand

Leader: Bizarre Pumpkiin

Actions: [Global] Trade with the Mongols, [Global] Search the crash site
Result: 9/20 +5 = 14/20, 10/20
You visit the Mongols, who were chilly to you at first, but still accepted you anyways when you told them you wanted to trade. You showed them how to read and write in exchange for their knowledge of wheels. This interaction increased your reputation with them.

You search the crash site but fail to find anything meaningful.

Also, you were visited by the nation from Kugelland. They didn’t have time to trade, but you told them about the Bananarama before they left.

Villages: 1 (Hollow Dust [Capital])
Region: Suez, Egypt
Stability: Strong 5

Population: 143
Jobs: N/A
Status: Sedentary Agricultural Village

Type: Trader (You like wealth and love acquiring it even more, so naturally, you get along well with people who are willing to trade their wealth with you. You gain a bonus in trading and initial reputation)

Technology

Tools: Standard (Stone, Flint), Raft [+1], Wheel
Weapons: Standard Melee (Spear [Flint, Stone], Club), Basic Ranged (Shortbow)
Structures: Mud Hut, Farm, Temple
Domestic: Rhinoceros [+2]
Other: Agriculture, Fishing, Writing [+2], Currency [+2 or 5], Furnace, Plague Cure, Iron

Relations
Phoenicia

Reputation: Great 3
Shared technology: Currency [+2 or 5], Writing [+2], Oven, Rhino

Mongols

Reputation: Neutral
Shared technology: Wheel, Writing

Britannia

Reputation: Ally 4
Shared technology: Furnace, Iron

Hellenes

Reputation: Good 2

Kugelland

Reputation: Good 2

Kugelland

Leader: Adalald

Actions: [41 (30 explorers)] Search for civs, [40 (26 researchers)] Pottery, [12 warriors] Defend
Result: 11/20 -5 +6 = 12/20, 14/20 -5 +4 = 13/20, 18/20 -8 +1 = 11/20
You send an expedition to search for more civilizations. You sent them South, past the Hellenes, to the land of sand and sun. There, your people met the nation of Hollow Sand, who told you of a nation more Southern from there, from which they split from. When you went there, you met the Bananarama, but couldn’t interact with them because they were in a siege, which is how you met the Mongols.

Your people are starting to be very experienced with clay, so they start making containers out of it, which they use to store food, making it last longer, since the pots are rodent proof, increasing your population.

Your warriors defend the area around your territory, renewing the defense bonus.

You now have enough population to establish a new village.

Villages: 1 (Statdburg [Capital])
Region: Austria, Europe
Stability: Steady 3

Population: 105
Jobs: Researcher [26], Explorer [30], Farmer [14], Warrior [23]
Status: Sedentary Agricultural Village

Type: Expansionist (You want to spread your tribe all over the world, which comes with a bonus in structure and exploration rolls)

Technology

Tools: Copper Age, Sailboat [+2]
Weapons: Better Melee (Copper Sword, Copper Spear [+2]), Intermediate Ranged (Recurve Bow [Copper][+3]), Standard Protection (Copper Large Shield [+2]), Tactic (Shield Wall [+2], Phalanx [+2]) TEMP Guard Post (2 turns [-3])
Structures: Cottage, Farm
Domestic: Pig
Other: Agriculture, Oven, Copper, Writing [+2], Pottery

Relations
Laestrygon

Reputation: Great 3
Shared technology: Sailing [+2], Copper Shields [+2]

Phoenicia

Reputation: Great 3
Shared Technology: Copper long shield [+2], Writing [+2]

Tarkahmehd

Reputation: Neutral 1

Hellenes

Reputation: Chilly -1

Hollow Sand

Reputation: Good 2

Bananarama

Reputation: Unavailable

Mongols

Reputation: Chilly -1

Religion

It’s a little long, so I will link the post with all the info
The Thrive Odyssey

@blackjacksike @Mr.Pigeon @Pentaphon @TeaKing @Evolution4Weak @zenzonegaming @OoferDoofer @yp364 @MechanicalPumpkin @Nover452

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