Preface
This is my story. Or rather, part of it - as I am as old as the universe itself and would not bore you with all of the sordid details of my past. For the purposes of this narration, however, let us simply agree to start when the planet that you call “the Earth” first entered my sphere of consciousness. In fact this was years ago as well, as I paid interest in it much as you might observe a brightly coloured stone lying on a beach full of other brightly coloured stones. Pretty, but nothing special. And I had other fish to fry.
Over time my passive interest began to change. I became aware of creatures in the sea; watched with interest as the first tentative steps –slitherings actually - were made to populate the vast and lush land areas. Gradually, I became captivated by the wealth and diversity evolving before me, and I resolved to make my mark upon this world and claim it for my own.
The problem, unfortunately, was that I lacked a corporal form – ever since a slight misunderstanding with another of my species back before the mists of time parted and quantum mechanics gained sway. I will never forget…oh; but let us save that for another day.
As I was saying, I had this problem. I spent some time spent pondering my alternatives and experimenting somewhat. My first serious attempt was to infuse a living object with my being – a veloceraptor as it happened. But the creature was resistant to my attempts to dominate it since its brain was incorrectly wired and it lacked a consciousness and self-awareness with which I could work my particular brand of magic. Also the stress of reaching out my essence over such a great distance exhausted me and I was forced to withdraw.
Next, I discovered that I could reach into the stones of the earth and partially infuse them – particularly the metal you call iron – but the fragmentation of the earth posed a problem, the atmosphere acted as a shield and prevented me from fully exerting my power, and I could see no real way to further act if I was spread out so diffusely across the planet. However, if I could find a deposit large enough, and near enough to living creatures, then I could act upon them from the confines of the metal. The trouble was that the metal needed to be pure and concentrated…and some particular shapes were better than others but didn’t occur naturally on this planet.
Then I began to observe a fine dust, raining from the sky and onto the planet. Meteors! Of course. Infuse a sufficiently large meteor that it could survive the atmosphere, nudge it into a collision orbit, and “presto” I would be there. I cast about for one of the largest or these dense rocks I could find and located a beauty. After several decades of careful infusion, my being was entirely bound within the metallic lattices of the asteroid and I drew upon my will and gave a little push towards a densely populated land mass.
I suppose I should have foreseen the results, but I was never really very good at applied physics, momentum, and stuff like that. I suppose that can be justified by the fact that I never had any use for it, being incorporeal and all. At any rate, my chosen vessel dutifully slammed full force into the earth; pulverized several hundred square miles of the planet; set off vast, raging forest fires; filled the sky with dense smoke and ash that entirely blocked the sun’s life-giving force; and caused the extinction of virtually every living creature. This, I decided, was something of a set back.
To make matters worse, the terrific force of the impact had liquefied the meteor and in the surprise of it all I leapt free and lost my hold. Like a whiplash on a back stroke, I recoiled to the cool chill of inter-galactic space and I was no further towards my goal and probably had just eliminated any possibility of there being anything left to rule anyway.
I took a quick look, and discovered that a few creatures had survived the inferno and the nuclear winter, and showed some signs of making a recovery. It would take, probably, 50 or 100 million years, but they’d probably make it. I sat back and contemplated my error while watching them frolic in the fields, take to the sky, and eat one another.
You’re looking at me rather strangely. Is there anything wrong? Did you not understand something that I said? Oh. I see. Well, it has to do with energy-matter conversion and…no, that’s not it? Well, perhaps I should press on and maybe that will offer you the explanation you seek.
The problem, as I saw it, was to get enough of myself on the planet in as cohesive a shape as possible, without blowing the whole place up again. Not as easy a task as you might think – but fortunately there are thousands upon millions of asteroids from which to choose. I found a perfect candidate in orbit around Neptune. Solid iron core…dense rock shell…a little large, but otherwise serviceable.
To deal with the size issue, I brought another boulder from the belt and had it knock several chunks off – one of which, I believe, you now call Pluto. Then I had to figure out exactly the right collision course to intercept the Earth at such an angle that I could gently fall to the ground. By the time I had figured all of that out and set my plans in motion, I noticed that the creature “man” had evolved. Upon close examination, it seemed perfect! Self-aware, opposable thumbs, already fairly socially advanced and starting to experiment with stone tools…really the only down-side was that it was bipedal, but I was sure I could work with that. The best part, however, was the wiring of the creatures’ brains. Absolutely perfect!
You’re looking at me strangely again. I don’t understand why you seem so upset. I only mean that the neural network had so many hidden places, so many redundancies, was so easy to manipulate, that it would be a cinch to influence and perhaps even dominate. It was, in a word, ideal.
Unfortunately, there just isn’t any easy way to land several tons of iron gently when you’re dropping it from a height of several hundred million kilometres. I did the best that I could, but in the end I was buried under a pile of rubble and was forced to cram myself into a much smaller lump of iron than I had originally intended. The net result being that I was locked away in this prison…so close I could smell it, but not quite close enough that I could act as of yet. I seethed with frustration but decided to bide my time. Boring, but not damaging, as I am immortal.
All of this changed once day, a couple of million years later. July 3rd in the year 1413 to be precise.
A stroke of luck. On that fateful morn, a minor who lived near Damascus discovered me while prospecting. Well, to be honest, he didn’t so much “find” me as he got close enough that I could nudge him into unearthing me. He seemed to know what he was doing, since he took me directly to a man in the city who appreciated me for what I was – or at least appeared to be. The largest piece of pure iron he had ever seen. Yes, he was a smith. Just what I had been waiting for.
He began to think of all the possible things he could make of me. I wrapped myself around his thoughts and very clearly directed him to turn me into steel and mould me into the shape of a long blade. The blade of a sword…perhaps the best possible shape for me to wield my influence in the future. This was considerably more difficult than I had anticipated – directing his thoughts like that. Could I have erred in my judgement? But no…
I won’t go into the details of what he did – some secrets should remain with the true practitioners of a craft – but suffice it to say that it was a trifle uncomfortable and quite time-consuming. Once fashioned into a gleaming, brilliant blade, however, I was already feeling considerably more powerful, though I could sense the need for more. I cast about for a way to link myself more strongly to him, but it turned out that he came up with the solution himself. While honing me, he accidentally cut his finger and a drop of blood splashed brilliant red onto my face.
He swore. I see you, my audience cringe.
I was in ecstasy. The blood infused my steel and I felt the link forming with the smith and the pathways throughout his brain opening, unresisting, to my touch. I also felt the beginning of an insatiable thirst…a thirst for blood that lingers to this day…a thirst to drink a bottomless ocean of it.
It quickly became apparent that I would not be satisfied with this artisan. Though skilled in his trade, he was inept at actually wielding me. Prod as I might, I could not goad him into enlisting in the army and I had to settle for guiding him into dark alleys to slaughter the innocent at night. Which is where I learned my first lesson about humankind. They don’t like these sort of actions. The smith was caught and hanged, and I became the proud possession of a nobleman’s son. Or rather, he became a proud possession of mine when a slight nick dripped his blood unto my surface; and I resolved to be more cautious with my subjects until I had learned the ins and outs of their society.
For the next five years we were in bliss. We engaged in conflict after conflict; mostly small scale battles but at times we were treated to a pitched battle. There, the carnage we wrought was truly amazing as he allowed me to flow through his being and guide his arm into the softest and tenderest of the meat of our enemies. I felt sated, but at the same time strangely unfulfilled. There must be more, I thought. There was more, though I did not discover this until December of 1418.
We were in Chagatai Khanate and were listening to a man tell of the most recent exploits of Shâh Rûkh, the ruler of the neighbouring Timurid Empire. Apparently he practically bathed in blood, having cut a swath through a sea of enemies over the past five or so years of his reign. He was feared, and there was talk of uniting some men and dealing with this savage.
Needless to say, I had to meet the man – this ruler who bathed in blood.
I resolved – or rather I compelled the nobleman to resolve – to journey up into the province of Samarkand. We did this, killing a few small raiding parties of four or five men along the way. In fact, by the time we were nearing the Timurid capital we discovered that there was a bounty on our heads – actually, my host’s head. So it came as some surprise to the guards at the gate that I made my Damascus nobleman march right up and demand to see the Shâh.
“Oh. You’ll see him alright,” said the guard, and clubbed him over the head. My poor possessor (possessee) had tried to draw me, but I chose to be “stuck” at the time.
And we did see the Shâh: at the gladiator games held to celebrate the end of the old year and the start of a new. We were thrown into a stadium with a hundred other armed convicts, prisoners and miscellaneous ne’er-do-wells with the promise that the last man standing would be given freedom. And all around us, in plush seats, were the spectators, calling out for death, for maiming, but never for mercy. And at the head of them all, the Shâh. I could sense, instantly, that in this place, at this time, I had found my true home.
Only one problem remained, and that was quickly answered. As my host allowed me to take complete control over his body, we began to sing. I slew them quickly, or slowly…but as painfully and with as much aplomb as possible. When my steel clashed against any other weapon I could cause it to shatter. Such a skill, I thought, would catch the eye of a king.
Finally there was only one other prisoner left…a diminutive man with a large cleaver. We approached with confidence and I could feel the elation at our near release in my host. So it was with great joy that I clamped down on my desire and allowed myself to hesitate just a fraction of a second. Just long enough for the cleaver to begin to enter the neck of my possession as I split through the helm and into the head of his foe.
There was a roar form the crowd. Both were dead…a spectacular finish. I was picked up and cradled in the arms of a guard and he carried me gently to the throne of his king.
And just as the midnight hour sounded, the king reached forward grasped me in his hands. And I had a new possession.
I was looking forward to 1419 and the bloodshed it would bring.
************************************
Author's note:
All of this somewhat bloodthirsty preface brings us to the start of the tale. Playing the Timurid Empire, my aim is to be just about as bad as I can possibly be while getting away without being slaughtered by the rest of the world. I’ll try to keep my empire healthy and able to churn out thousands of fighting men and just see how long I can get away with it, and how long.
I have made a point of NOT reading the scripted events files, the monarchs and or leaders files, etc (if any) and I am blissfully ignorant of what lies in store for me.
Goals:
- never get above “very bad” reputation.
- try to avoid being higher than 0 stability
- survive until 1819 and be a world-power or leader at the end.
Rules:
- NEVER reload from an earlier saved game.
- NEVER look at the saved game files or anything that gives away any details of the future.
- NEVER refer to the map to decide which way to go or how to explore or who to go after next.
Coming soon: Chapter I – The Possession of Shâh Rûkh
Jan. 1, 1419 – March 7, 1447
This is my story. Or rather, part of it - as I am as old as the universe itself and would not bore you with all of the sordid details of my past. For the purposes of this narration, however, let us simply agree to start when the planet that you call “the Earth” first entered my sphere of consciousness. In fact this was years ago as well, as I paid interest in it much as you might observe a brightly coloured stone lying on a beach full of other brightly coloured stones. Pretty, but nothing special. And I had other fish to fry.
Over time my passive interest began to change. I became aware of creatures in the sea; watched with interest as the first tentative steps –slitherings actually - were made to populate the vast and lush land areas. Gradually, I became captivated by the wealth and diversity evolving before me, and I resolved to make my mark upon this world and claim it for my own.
The problem, unfortunately, was that I lacked a corporal form – ever since a slight misunderstanding with another of my species back before the mists of time parted and quantum mechanics gained sway. I will never forget…oh; but let us save that for another day.
As I was saying, I had this problem. I spent some time spent pondering my alternatives and experimenting somewhat. My first serious attempt was to infuse a living object with my being – a veloceraptor as it happened. But the creature was resistant to my attempts to dominate it since its brain was incorrectly wired and it lacked a consciousness and self-awareness with which I could work my particular brand of magic. Also the stress of reaching out my essence over such a great distance exhausted me and I was forced to withdraw.
Next, I discovered that I could reach into the stones of the earth and partially infuse them – particularly the metal you call iron – but the fragmentation of the earth posed a problem, the atmosphere acted as a shield and prevented me from fully exerting my power, and I could see no real way to further act if I was spread out so diffusely across the planet. However, if I could find a deposit large enough, and near enough to living creatures, then I could act upon them from the confines of the metal. The trouble was that the metal needed to be pure and concentrated…and some particular shapes were better than others but didn’t occur naturally on this planet.
Then I began to observe a fine dust, raining from the sky and onto the planet. Meteors! Of course. Infuse a sufficiently large meteor that it could survive the atmosphere, nudge it into a collision orbit, and “presto” I would be there. I cast about for one of the largest or these dense rocks I could find and located a beauty. After several decades of careful infusion, my being was entirely bound within the metallic lattices of the asteroid and I drew upon my will and gave a little push towards a densely populated land mass.
I suppose I should have foreseen the results, but I was never really very good at applied physics, momentum, and stuff like that. I suppose that can be justified by the fact that I never had any use for it, being incorporeal and all. At any rate, my chosen vessel dutifully slammed full force into the earth; pulverized several hundred square miles of the planet; set off vast, raging forest fires; filled the sky with dense smoke and ash that entirely blocked the sun’s life-giving force; and caused the extinction of virtually every living creature. This, I decided, was something of a set back.
To make matters worse, the terrific force of the impact had liquefied the meteor and in the surprise of it all I leapt free and lost my hold. Like a whiplash on a back stroke, I recoiled to the cool chill of inter-galactic space and I was no further towards my goal and probably had just eliminated any possibility of there being anything left to rule anyway.
I took a quick look, and discovered that a few creatures had survived the inferno and the nuclear winter, and showed some signs of making a recovery. It would take, probably, 50 or 100 million years, but they’d probably make it. I sat back and contemplated my error while watching them frolic in the fields, take to the sky, and eat one another.
You’re looking at me rather strangely. Is there anything wrong? Did you not understand something that I said? Oh. I see. Well, it has to do with energy-matter conversion and…no, that’s not it? Well, perhaps I should press on and maybe that will offer you the explanation you seek.
The problem, as I saw it, was to get enough of myself on the planet in as cohesive a shape as possible, without blowing the whole place up again. Not as easy a task as you might think – but fortunately there are thousands upon millions of asteroids from which to choose. I found a perfect candidate in orbit around Neptune. Solid iron core…dense rock shell…a little large, but otherwise serviceable.
To deal with the size issue, I brought another boulder from the belt and had it knock several chunks off – one of which, I believe, you now call Pluto. Then I had to figure out exactly the right collision course to intercept the Earth at such an angle that I could gently fall to the ground. By the time I had figured all of that out and set my plans in motion, I noticed that the creature “man” had evolved. Upon close examination, it seemed perfect! Self-aware, opposable thumbs, already fairly socially advanced and starting to experiment with stone tools…really the only down-side was that it was bipedal, but I was sure I could work with that. The best part, however, was the wiring of the creatures’ brains. Absolutely perfect!
You’re looking at me strangely again. I don’t understand why you seem so upset. I only mean that the neural network had so many hidden places, so many redundancies, was so easy to manipulate, that it would be a cinch to influence and perhaps even dominate. It was, in a word, ideal.
Unfortunately, there just isn’t any easy way to land several tons of iron gently when you’re dropping it from a height of several hundred million kilometres. I did the best that I could, but in the end I was buried under a pile of rubble and was forced to cram myself into a much smaller lump of iron than I had originally intended. The net result being that I was locked away in this prison…so close I could smell it, but not quite close enough that I could act as of yet. I seethed with frustration but decided to bide my time. Boring, but not damaging, as I am immortal.
All of this changed once day, a couple of million years later. July 3rd in the year 1413 to be precise.
A stroke of luck. On that fateful morn, a minor who lived near Damascus discovered me while prospecting. Well, to be honest, he didn’t so much “find” me as he got close enough that I could nudge him into unearthing me. He seemed to know what he was doing, since he took me directly to a man in the city who appreciated me for what I was – or at least appeared to be. The largest piece of pure iron he had ever seen. Yes, he was a smith. Just what I had been waiting for.
He began to think of all the possible things he could make of me. I wrapped myself around his thoughts and very clearly directed him to turn me into steel and mould me into the shape of a long blade. The blade of a sword…perhaps the best possible shape for me to wield my influence in the future. This was considerably more difficult than I had anticipated – directing his thoughts like that. Could I have erred in my judgement? But no…
I won’t go into the details of what he did – some secrets should remain with the true practitioners of a craft – but suffice it to say that it was a trifle uncomfortable and quite time-consuming. Once fashioned into a gleaming, brilliant blade, however, I was already feeling considerably more powerful, though I could sense the need for more. I cast about for a way to link myself more strongly to him, but it turned out that he came up with the solution himself. While honing me, he accidentally cut his finger and a drop of blood splashed brilliant red onto my face.
He swore. I see you, my audience cringe.
I was in ecstasy. The blood infused my steel and I felt the link forming with the smith and the pathways throughout his brain opening, unresisting, to my touch. I also felt the beginning of an insatiable thirst…a thirst for blood that lingers to this day…a thirst to drink a bottomless ocean of it.
It quickly became apparent that I would not be satisfied with this artisan. Though skilled in his trade, he was inept at actually wielding me. Prod as I might, I could not goad him into enlisting in the army and I had to settle for guiding him into dark alleys to slaughter the innocent at night. Which is where I learned my first lesson about humankind. They don’t like these sort of actions. The smith was caught and hanged, and I became the proud possession of a nobleman’s son. Or rather, he became a proud possession of mine when a slight nick dripped his blood unto my surface; and I resolved to be more cautious with my subjects until I had learned the ins and outs of their society.
For the next five years we were in bliss. We engaged in conflict after conflict; mostly small scale battles but at times we were treated to a pitched battle. There, the carnage we wrought was truly amazing as he allowed me to flow through his being and guide his arm into the softest and tenderest of the meat of our enemies. I felt sated, but at the same time strangely unfulfilled. There must be more, I thought. There was more, though I did not discover this until December of 1418.
We were in Chagatai Khanate and were listening to a man tell of the most recent exploits of Shâh Rûkh, the ruler of the neighbouring Timurid Empire. Apparently he practically bathed in blood, having cut a swath through a sea of enemies over the past five or so years of his reign. He was feared, and there was talk of uniting some men and dealing with this savage.
Needless to say, I had to meet the man – this ruler who bathed in blood.
I resolved – or rather I compelled the nobleman to resolve – to journey up into the province of Samarkand. We did this, killing a few small raiding parties of four or five men along the way. In fact, by the time we were nearing the Timurid capital we discovered that there was a bounty on our heads – actually, my host’s head. So it came as some surprise to the guards at the gate that I made my Damascus nobleman march right up and demand to see the Shâh.
“Oh. You’ll see him alright,” said the guard, and clubbed him over the head. My poor possessor (possessee) had tried to draw me, but I chose to be “stuck” at the time.
And we did see the Shâh: at the gladiator games held to celebrate the end of the old year and the start of a new. We were thrown into a stadium with a hundred other armed convicts, prisoners and miscellaneous ne’er-do-wells with the promise that the last man standing would be given freedom. And all around us, in plush seats, were the spectators, calling out for death, for maiming, but never for mercy. And at the head of them all, the Shâh. I could sense, instantly, that in this place, at this time, I had found my true home.
Only one problem remained, and that was quickly answered. As my host allowed me to take complete control over his body, we began to sing. I slew them quickly, or slowly…but as painfully and with as much aplomb as possible. When my steel clashed against any other weapon I could cause it to shatter. Such a skill, I thought, would catch the eye of a king.
Finally there was only one other prisoner left…a diminutive man with a large cleaver. We approached with confidence and I could feel the elation at our near release in my host. So it was with great joy that I clamped down on my desire and allowed myself to hesitate just a fraction of a second. Just long enough for the cleaver to begin to enter the neck of my possession as I split through the helm and into the head of his foe.
There was a roar form the crowd. Both were dead…a spectacular finish. I was picked up and cradled in the arms of a guard and he carried me gently to the throne of his king.
And just as the midnight hour sounded, the king reached forward grasped me in his hands. And I had a new possession.
I was looking forward to 1419 and the bloodshed it would bring.
************************************
Author's note:
All of this somewhat bloodthirsty preface brings us to the start of the tale. Playing the Timurid Empire, my aim is to be just about as bad as I can possibly be while getting away without being slaughtered by the rest of the world. I’ll try to keep my empire healthy and able to churn out thousands of fighting men and just see how long I can get away with it, and how long.
I have made a point of NOT reading the scripted events files, the monarchs and or leaders files, etc (if any) and I am blissfully ignorant of what lies in store for me.
Goals:
- never get above “very bad” reputation.
- try to avoid being higher than 0 stability
- survive until 1819 and be a world-power or leader at the end.
Rules:
- NEVER reload from an earlier saved game.
- NEVER look at the saved game files or anything that gives away any details of the future.
- NEVER refer to the map to decide which way to go or how to explore or who to go after next.
Coming soon: Chapter I – The Possession of Shâh Rûkh
Jan. 1, 1419 – March 7, 1447
and more sheep than I know what to do with. :evil grin: Unfortunately I'm sunni and 50% of my population is shiite. And guess what? Other than my capital, only 2 other provinces are mongol culture so my production sucks.
