Legacy of the Golden Dragon: An EU4 Anbennar Balrijin AAR

[Sybot]

The Land of Haless

Welcome to Haless, a continent of spirits, tiger-men, martial artists, and the ruins of empires from recent memory all the way back to the Precursors. The High Temples hold ancient secrets, but what are the consequences for those who seek to crack them open? A vast army of Hobgoblins descends from the mountains, threatening to overrun all who oppose them. The spirits are restless, and the restraints that have kept them captive for so long are on the verge of breaking. Can one of the many eager nations of the region rise up to face these challenges, and forge an empire capable of surviving a Rending of Realms?

What is Anbennar?

Anbennar is a fantasy mod for paradox map game Europa Universalis 4. To quote its steam page:
"Anbennar is set in a fantasy world evoking themes from D&D, but through lens and time period of a strategy game like EU4. See how a fantasy world changes from an age of adventurers and good vs. evil to an age of gunpowder, colonialism and magical decadence"

Originally started by one man (JayBean) as a passion project, it now has a fairly big community and a bunch of devs working on it. Its updates are frankly huge and, in many ways, it has more content than base EU4. It has a patreon and even a merch store!

There's a lot of stuff in this mod: huge Mission trees, new Religions, new Mechanics, etc.

New Mechanics?

Oh yes. There's a lot of new mechanics for this mod. We'll get more details as we encounter them during the game, but here's a quick overview (credit to MonsieurChoc for originally writing these out!):

- Fantasy Races! Every country gets a modifier for who's in charge of the administration and who makes up the bulk of the armies (they can be two different races!), and every province has one or more modifiers representing the majority and minority(ies) present in the province that have positives and negatives depending on how much you accept each race.
- Magic! The Mage estate is available to all countries with mages and can be used to cast spells for various effects. Also, if your ruler is a Mage you get the Ruler Magic menu from which you get access to all kinds of unique spells depending on which of the 8 schools of magic they know.
- Artificers! Usually shows up in the late game but some countries and/or races get access early. You can research inventions that buff your nation or special artificer infantry.
- New Government Reforms! There's a lot, some of which are unique to certain Mission Trees.
- Dwarven Holds! Deep in the Mountains are these huge dwarven cities built over centuries. They can be expanded by DIGGING DEEPER.
- Expeditions! In the mountains you can also send troops to look for treasure. Hope you gave them enough supplies, or maybe they'll never return. Maybe you'll even find a Dungeon?
- Disasters! So many new disasters. Many are unique to certain regions, races or even specific nation Mission trees.
- There's also special mechanics available only to specific regions or nations, like the Raj or the Sunrise Convocation. Those we'll see if they come up.
- Monstrous nations! Monstrous is more of a social and political distinction than anything else. Some nations are considered monstrous, with unique CBs both for and against them, and can de-monsterize eventually to be seen the same as any other non-monstrous nation.
- Lots of Lore! If you're into that, there is a rich history to explore through the ideas and events of the nations of the mod.

How this AAR will work

This will be a screenshot AAR with a casual narrative focus. I'll writing my gameplay decisions in-character, but dipping out character voice as needed to explain game mechanics. While I will try to stick to the narrative disposition of the mission tree and the thread votes, I can't guarantee I won't occasionally make the gamey choice.

And on that note, there will be audience participation! Votes will be held throughout the AAR, including for our starting nation, our idea groups, and occasionally some event decisions.

Permission for a mildly interactive AAR has been granted by @Qorten. Thank you!

My previous AAR can be found here: Blood, Gold and Hellfire: An EU4 Anbennar, Mykx AAR

(Note that the current title is temporary until the final nation is selected)

Chapter Zero: Dragons and Demons, Flight and Fight, Dawn Approaches

Sage Council of Balrijin – Legacy of the Golden Dragon

Gold Kobold Homeland

The origin of the squat and scaly Kobold race is long shrouded in mystery. Most Cannorian historians place their emergence to the surface as a result of the Dragonwake, in the 6th Century After Ash. However, this claim is disputed by Yansheni scholars, who point to evidence of Kobolds existing on the surface since the Day of Ashen Skies, and possibly earlier. Equally mysterious is how there came to be three distinct populations, spread over thousands of miles with no direct connection and yet compatible physiology: the Red, Green, and Bluescales of the Dragon Coast, the Darkscales of the Serpentspine, and the Goldscales of Yanshen. Study continues into their origin and connection to their draconic patrons.

During the Dragonwake, Balris the Gold did not rampage and conquer as his draconic brethren did. Instead, he made contact with the Goldscale Kobolds and uplifted them. Teaching them science, art and philosophy, he transformed them from a collection of tribes living underground in the Yansheni Hills to a burgeoning nation. Then, after just a few decades among them, he left. Though he promised to return, he never did, leaving the Goldscale Kobolds alone once more.

In his absence, the Kobolds began to worship him as a god, and prophesised that his return would lead to a new golden age. In their fervour, a council of sages came to form a theocratic federation called Balrijin, which would be ruled by the principles laid down by Balris. Kobolds entered wider Yansheni society as equal members, in contrast to their Cannorian cousins still treated as monsters. They are considered a symbol of good fortune across Haless, and can be found in most cities. A breakaway group has even founded a martial arts school and joined the Xiaken masters.

As empires rose and declined across the continent, Balrijin maintained some degree of autonomy. However, events have begun to catch up to them. The stratocratic Republic of Jiangdu attempted to conquer them, but was foiled by the Blue Scarf Rebellion, a peasant uprising that sided with the Kobolds and forced the army of Jiangdu behind the walls of their city. The Command and Oni loom large in the west, while the terrorbird hordes of the northern steppe are unifying. With their new Human allies on the rise, perhaps the time has come to stop waiting 78for Balris, and instead to seek him out.

The Goldscales hold in their claws the legacy of one of the world's greatest beings, and whether their search is successful or not, they will make him proud.

Can Balris be found?

Gameplay Summary:
Cooperate with Human allies, conquer territory to search for Balris, manage six clans with their own interpretations of Balris' teachings. Moderately tall, defensive gameplay.

League of Feiten – Ride the Wind, Rule the Skies

The League of Feiten

The lands of Yanshen have long suffered under foreign invasion as empires rise and fall. The most recent of these, the Phoenix Empire under the mighty Elven conqueror Jaher, advanced to the great city of Tianlou, bringing devastation with it. Countless refugees fled south from the northern Yansheni cities to the quieter hills of the Jellyfish Coast. Building new homes among the fishing villages, they formed a League of mutual self-defence and trade, centred on the newly blossoming city of Feiten.

As the Phoenix Empire collapsed, Feiten and its League members found themselves on the rise, forming a powerful trade network that brought wealth and power. Fisherman began venturing further out in the ocean, skirting the hostile storm-bound coast of Insyaa, and harvesting the bounty of the whales that dwelt in the deeps.

Though the League has been steadily growing in power, it remains thoroughly eclipsed by its northern neighbour, the ancient and powerful city of Tianlou. Control of the mouth of the Yan River and trade links going back millennia gives their rivals a significant advantage in the struggle for dominance over the Yanshen Coast. States have been splintered and significant blood and gold has been spent on gaining even the slightest positional advantage.

Recently, the League has come into possession of the city of Cuihiok, granting dominance of the tea trade in the south, but came at the cost of most Feiten's navy. If the League is to ever secure its borders, its waters, and its finance, it needs to find an edge over its rivals.

Perhaps the secret lies in the whale oil that the whalers bring back in abundance. It burns cleanly and intensely, fuelling the annual Jellyfish Festival in which thousands of small balloons and floating lanterns fill the air around Feiten. As people look to the sky and see it filled with light, they begin to wonder. What would it be like to float among them? If one could sit above everything else, could they rule the land and sea from the sky?

Perhaps, the beginning of something…

Gameplay summary:
Very tall, with limited conquests. Customize airships with unique artificer inventions, utilize military airships for a different way of warfare, build skyports around the world.

Azjakuma – To Scour the Spirit

The Demon Hills

High in the Demon Hills, nestled against the far eastern end of the Serpentspine Mountains, four ogre clans dwell. Separated by thousands of miles from their brethren and forced to rely on increasingly desperate and dangerous dark rituals as they are hunted by the inhabitants of the lowlands, their forms have become increasingly twisted compared to the ordinary ogre, creating a new subrace, the Oni.

Though considered monsters by the inhabitants of Haless, the Oni are keenly intelligent and studious, having preserved reams of ancient knowledge and devised new forms of magic over the millennia. Each clan wields its own unique powers in the service of personal strength, for that is the way of the Lefthand Path. While the Righteous Path practiced by the lowlanders encourages the personal cultivation of one's lifeforce, or chi, the Lefthand Path instead encourages it to be taken from others. Though the Oni to practice cultivation themselves, they just as eagerly seek ways to grow their chi, such as stealing it from the spirits of mighty temple complexes dotting the continent, or the ritual consumption of lesser practitioners.

Times are rapidly changing. To the west, the Hobgoblin Command has seized control of northern Rahen and threatens to sweep across the continent. To the south, the Xiaken cultivate their power and are on the verge of uniting, while to the east a multitude of nations vie for control of Yanshen and an army of bird-riders prepares to ride south. If the Oni are to survive, they must adapt, grow in strength, and do whatever it takes to drive the peoples of Haless down the Lefthand Path and right into their waiting arms.

The future is one of power. No matter the cost, no matter how evil the course, no matter if the Great Spirits rise up against them, all Haless will know the power of the Oni.

Power Overwhelming

Gameplay Summary:
Wield unique Oni magic to devour the strength of the land for your benefit. Corrupt the High Temples and drain the Great Spirits of their power to rise to even greater heights of magical prowess.

The Command – The Marching of Boots

The Great Command

As the Aul-Dwarov, the great Dwarven empire spanning the length of the Serpentspine Mountains, collapsed, the easternmost reaches fell to an alliance of Goblins and Hobgoblins. For thousands of years hence, various Goblin and Hobgoblin tribes fought in the ruins of the Dwarven holds until the Hobgoblins were able to play off the Goblin tribes against one another and secure their dominance of the underground.

Their rule did not go smoothly, with the Day of Ashen Skies, called the Godloss by the Hobgoblins, Orcish invasions, a civil war against mages, and battles with the Phoenix Empire all threatening them. However, each crisis only strengthened and hardened the Hobgoblins to the point that their entire society restructured itself around military discipline.

The old tribes became military Commands, where strategic acumen and tactical cunning determined one's political station. These Commands steadily merged, until only three remained. The Lion, Wolf and Boar, all answering to a Grand Marshal leading the Great Command.

Under the Grand Marshal Moguwon Wolfborn the Hobgoblins descended from the mountains with an army of enslaved Goblins and Orcs at their side. The nations of the Shamakhad plains in northern Rahen stood no chance, for this was no tide of rampaging monsters but a carefully oiled military machine greater than any other single force in a divided Haless.

The Grand Marshal now looks out over his conquests, and imagines all the peoples of Haless, and perhaps beyond, kneeling at his feet. However, the lesser Commands still jockey for power and the neighbouring nations of Haless are rallying against his shocking success. Balancing both internal and external politics will be necessary if the Great Command is to bring unity to the world.

Faith is not necessary. The Gods are dead. Magic is not necessary. It will be snuffed out. Only unity is necessary to survive and conquer. Unity by family, strength, discipline, and order.

The Many Commands

Gameplay Summary:
Build an unyielding military machine that must keep moving lest it turn against itself. Manage three, later even more, commands who must be kept appeased if the machine is to be kept moving. Very wide gameplay.

Azkare Township – The Sun Rises

Remnant Townships

The Phoenix Empire was a dream. In a world reeling from attacks by barbarian monsters and insane sorcerers, lacking the leadership the Precursors had once ruled with, the Empire offered stability and safety to all the civilized peoples of the world, under the benevolent rule of Jaher, an Elf proclaimed to be the Sun-God reborn. As it stretched from Cannor to Haless, Elven legions drove the monsters into the deserts and mountains, and a great Golden Highway carried goods further than had ever been seen in history.

And then Jaher died, his conquest incomplete. His son, Jaerel, fought for a decade to keep the Empire in Haless from splintering, only to perish himself. With his death, any hope of the Phoenix Empire maintaining its grip on the world slipped away. Haless was abandoned, and while the Empire lingered a bit longer in Bulwar and Cannor the dream of Elven-led unity ended.

Haless returned to a fractured state, with polities squabbling for the scraps that the Empire had left behind. Among these, in the borderlands of what had once been territory of the Phoenix Empire, the Kai Townships held out, keeping firm to their independence and their newly-found democratic tradition.

Within the territory of one of these, the township of Azkare, lies the Citadel of the Dawn, a fortress laid down in the days of the Empire and still hosting a significant number of Elves who had remained when the Empire crumbled. From this population emerged Hiderion, an Elven warrior who faithfully protected Azkare for decades. So beloved he became, that the Human majority of Azkare elected him their Lord in 1438.

His reforms began immediately. Lessons had to be learned from the failures of the Empire's past. With only a tiny population of Elves remaining in the east, they could not rely on the overwhelming power that Jaher and Jaerel could wield. The peoples needed their place within the ruling structure of the nation, or else it would inevitably fall to infighting once more. Under the guidance of the Elves, a new, better, society could be formed.

Threats abound, both near and far, and building a political system that takes all its citizen's wants into account and allows their cultures to flourish will be a great challenge, but Hiderion believes that he can do. He must, for that is the only way that the dream of a peaceful, unified, and prosperous Haless can come to fruition. The sun will rise again.

The Sunrise Convocation

Gameplay Summary:
Very wide gameplay, but with a focus on politics and diplomacy. Gain unique buffs depending on how well represented different cultures are within the Sunrise Convocation and the military.

Vote

The time has come to pick which of these factions we will be playing. You may only vote for a single choice.

Cast your vote by clicking on the image below.


Voting will last 72 hours

 

[Apelstav]

Whilst my elven preference would have me vote for Azkare, the search for Balris must take precedence. Only the Golden Sages can save us from the Rending.

Balrijiin!

Also, nice to see you back so soon after finishing with your Mykx AAR!

 

[Mismangaement]

Voting for kobolds, I always found them interesting but when I tried to play I got beat down pretty bad. Looking forward to a new anbennar AAR in any case, all the choices sound interesting

 

[Fool Esquire]

BAAALRIIIIIIIJIIIIIIIIN WOOOOOOOO! THE BALRIS IS REAAAAAAALLL!!!!!

 

[HistoryDude]

All of these options look interesting, so I'm following no matter what.

That being said, I'm going to go to the poll and vote for The Command, although Balrijin was a close second.

 

[Sybot]

Vote Result

In an unsurprising turn of events, the golden dragon boys won with an absolute majority. Since this was obviously coming, I'm already halfway through writing up the first update so it should be up in a couple of days.

 

[Sybot]

Chapter One: Gold Glinting at Dawn
1444-1447

Approaching Balkhangfa Palace, Balriza, 1444 After Ash

The avenue wound its way through squat homes and workshops built between the lower and upper terraces of Balriza. Smooth stone paving was cracked and stripped of any ornamentation, century-old trees growing from it in places, and the detritus of everyday life littering the edges. Merchants set out their stalls and bartered with customers, haulers carried goods down from the mountainside mines, and hatchlings skittered and snapped at each other. It was mundane, but had once been so much more.

A great avenue, where wagons loaded with tribute would be drawn up to the Palace, sages of old made pilgrimages, and manned fortifications guarded the treasures above from any interlopers. The lower terraces had slowly climbed upwards, hiding the achievements of old.

As Fax Akar climbed towards the uppermost terrace, he pondered what it would take to restore what had slipped away over the centuries. He kept his hood draped over his head, his scaled snout and tail the only parts of his body visible to the general public around him. Though the gold scales lining his body glittered in the sunlight, that was no different than any of the other Kobolds around him. His people were short, wiry and blessed with a draconic visage of snouts and tails, if sadly lacking wings and flames.

Walking like this among the common folk helped him gauge how they lived, and how his decisions would come to affect them. What would it matter if all the grandeur was restored, if it meant destroying all of these homes?

It was a challenging question, one that he would have to turn to the Teachings to come to an answer on.

As he reached the end of the avenue and stepped onto the upper terrace, he was approached by a pair of guards. They wielded short but sturdy spears and heavy armour painted in with sparse blue flickers. Kindled Scale clan, defenders of order and justice, they were doing their duty and not permitting impingement on the Palace. That was one of the reasons the Palace itself had never been overcome by the growth of the city, the sheer reverence it held among the clans ensured that someone was always willing to guard it.

Fax Akar lowered his hood as he approached, and the two guards immediately stopped and bowed deeply. He offered them a courteous nod, and let them return to their stations.

The palace grounds had fallen into as much disrepair as any other part of the ancient city, though in a different way. Great statues, their precious metal and gemstone adornments long since stripped away, towered out of groves of fruit trees that had raised up around them. Lawns had become herb gardens, and flowers were replaced with crops. More sources of food within the city were a great boon, but had come at the cost of this great monument.

Monks and guards alike bowed at his passing, and Fax Akar offered them his respect, though he had places to be. Ahead of him, the entrance to the Palace loomed tall. A great doorway, far larger than was required for Kobolds, beasts of burden, wagons, or anything else that might find its way through it. The only reason it had been built so large was to grant entrance to the Palace's true master. The very one whose visage, in rough and worn stone, encircled the full height and breadth of the doorway.

Balris the Gold, He Who Will Return, the great dragon who had raised the Goldscale Kobolds from savagery and to the heights of greatness, as much as that greatness had slipped away by the mundane passing of time. For nine hundred years since His departure the Palace had been barely occupied, used as a monastery for those learning His teaching on the path to becoming Sages.

That was changing now, as Fax Akar had declared that the Sage Council would meet within the halls of Balkhangfa Palace. The people of Balrijin could no longer afford to rest on the remains of what He had left them. If they did not advance, they might not ever get the chance to meet Him again.

The rising sun caught a glimmer of gold from atop the doorway. Fax Akar tracked it and spotted purple robes disappearing back onto the roof. He had a strong suspicion of who it was, and intended to not let them get the better of him.

He took a deep breath, feeling the heat of the sun and the pleasant scent of the trees and herbs of the palace gardens invigorate him. The Palace was rich in Chi, as surely the water flowed down from the mountains, and the plants, animals and inhabitants of Balriza reach upwards towards the soaring peaks and open sky. Through this, he gained strength, more than a Kobold in his fifties could hope to wield.

In a quick leap, he landed claws-first onto the doorway, securing his purchase against the stone. Then, he leapt again, and again, ascending up to the peak. Each time, his muscles cried out in protest, but a moments meditation brought him back to stability.

A top the roof, waiting for him with arms folded, was Sage Vata Esho of the Knowing Eye. His flowing purple robes hid most of his frame, but Fax Akar was well aware that the physical was not where the strengths of the Knowing Eye lay.

"Revered Sage," Vato Esho said, bowing his head, "I anticipated this meeting."

"Honoured Sage," Fax Akar replied, with a slight nod, "it is not hard to guess that I would seek a discussion before the Council commenced."

"It is not because you seek my counsel, either," Vato Esho said, "in fact, you intend to disregard my counsel and further entangle us with the Humans and their rebellion."

"It is the right thing to do," Fax Akar said, "and, if they should fail, the armies that broke our isolation will return. I do not need your vote to secure our support for the Blue Scarves, but I would like to convince you."

"He is out there," Vato Esho said, "He is waiting for us. Even now, my clan gathers countless rumours that point us to the west, away from petty Human politics."

"He would not abide our rejection of those in aid, those who saved us from being conquered," Fax Akar retorted. He caught himself before he got any more heated. "I acknowledge your concerns. However, He is eternal. Time is something that He has in abundance. Neither the Humans, nor ourselves, can afford to ignore material concerns. I will accede to your wishes in future, I promise that."

Vato Esho blinked rapidly, apparently caught off-guard by the oath. Before he could respond further, a young Kobold scampered from a set of stairs leading down into the palace and bowed before them.

"Revered Golden Sage, Honoured Sage," he said, "the representative from Lanjinhui, from the Blue Scarves, has arrived to address the Council."

Fax Akar and Vato Esho took a moment more to look at one another, as if daring one to go ahead of the other, before Fax Akar broke the stalemate and took the first step to head down to the Council chambers. This was no longer the time for clan politics. If His legacy was to be protected and saved, there was much work to be done.

Retrieved from the Deep State Archives, excerpts from the writings of Fax Akar of the Kindled Scale, Golden Sage

Addressing the Council, I was struck by the unity of vision and purpose that has returned to us in these most dire of days. For too long have we kept to our hills, content to squabble among the decaying remains of everything that the Wisest of Masters left for us. As the highest Sages of the Kindled Scale and Knowing Eye met, along with Sages of the lesser clans, we all came together to plot a course that will guide us to once again meeting Him.

Italics mark out-of-character commentary. These will typically point out things that differ or are new compared to vanilla EU4, or aren't very obvious from the screenshot and text. For example, in the nation select screen the primary race of each nation is displayed. Pretty much every race in Anbennar has unique art.

Centuries ago, Balris the Gold came to us, and uplifted us to a shining civilization nestled safely in our mountainous home. When He left, we were devastated, and returned to petty politicking even as our fervour kept us from shattering completely. Those of us eager to search for Him have already left on their own personal quests, and founded enclaves across Haless where they trade and share knowledge, while those of us who wish to protect what He left behind have remained here.

With rumours from the west, and war in the east, we cannot afford to remain isolated.

We follow the path that He laid down for us, honouring the spirits of the land and the flow of life through the multitude of peoples that surround us. Through Chi we may forge ourselves into greater beings that are one step closer to His perfection, though never at the expense of the lives of others. Foremost among His teachings is to build tall and build prestigious. That is where we have faltered, letting His palace fall into disrepair. We hoard our own shed scales, which are as good as gold among the other nations, and risk growing indolent.

Righteous Path is a religion that allows syncretic faiths, as well as provides specific teachings, which can be freely swapped out so long as you have Religious Power. All teachings have positives and negatives, as you can see with what Balris left with us. There's no need to go syncretic with any of the options we have at the moment.

For my whole tenure as Golden Sage, I have pushed for us to take up the Teachings once more, rebuild what has crumbled, and open up to ideas from beyond our borders. It is only when war came to us that the others were willing to listen to me. I will not let this opportunity pass us by.

We are a hardy people, but for too long we have remained isolated. The other nations in the lands of Yanshen around us know little of us, or worse consider us a threat to their noble right to rule, having sided with the Blue Scarves. We must diligently overcome these challenges to ensure our security as we begin our search for Him.

Kobolds have trouble being taken seriously diplomatically and have a hoarding tendency, but are very industrious.

Many see us as pitiful, too cowardly to face our enemies in open battle and too weak to win a content of strength. The Slayer of Ignorance taught us that our weaknesses can be turned into strengths, that we fight in our own way and that the we need not be bullied into accepting the terms of battle of Humans, Elves, or Harimari. That is how we have kept our independence even through these long centuries of His disappearance.

A straight fight is a bad one for Kobolds, taking more damage and suffering from worse morale. Instead, they fight wars of attrition, letting their superior numbers wear down the enemy. In the late game their military starts to get stronger with the addition of artillery.

Though our hills are mostly populated with the clans of Balrijin, we do have a small number of Human refugees. The raiding terrorbird-riders the north, the foul Eternal Court to the west, and the civil war that we have partaken in the east have all contributed to a small minority. As we build our relation with the Blue Scarves, we hope that Humans living among us will become as common as we Goldscales live among the Humans of Haless.

As Paradox has been improving their UI modability, the decisions for racial tolerance and racial military have been moved to these more convenient buttons.

Our Sage Council is seated in the greatest of monuments to His knowledge and power, but so many of its vast halls and libraries lie in ruins, neglected by centuries of stagnation. Though the Council may speak of the possibility of His return, I know that we could not bear for him to see us in this state. Though it may take more than my lifetime, this Palace will be restored

It'll be a while before we can even start fixing this monument in the capital.

The Lanjinhui representative spoke at great length to the Council, honouring us for the work that we had done so far in supporting their uprising against the tyrants of Jiangdu, and promising closer ties with us. Our mines supply much of the material for their weapons, as isolated as they are from the greater diplomatic sphere of Yanshen. In turn, I honoured them for their uprising saving us from Jiangdu's expansionist ambitions and in turn promised that we would keep fighting until the rebellion was triumphant.

We are not yet ready to strike the final blow, however. Forces must be rallied, leadership must be drawn up from the clans, and preparations for an offensive campaign the likes of which has not been seen in our recorded history must be made.

There is also the matter of keeping our people safe from this war. Lanjinhui seized two forts of the Jiangdu army as they marched against us, which was critical in the initial success of their uprising. Our own fortifications have been in ruins since the Phoenix Empire forced us to pay tribute, so the skilled military commanders of Jiangdu may yet find a way to sneak in and burn our lands. This risk is intolerable, so rebuilding these Balriza Rzong before the war is of paramount importance.

During the council meeting, a representative of one of the minor clans, the Golden Tongue, a clan with members across Yanshen and even some Human members, offered another suggestion. They suggested that we seek allies beyond our borders. We Kobolds are seen as a symbol of good luck, and minorities exist in countless cities, so we may yet bridge the gap between our rebel allies and the standing powers of the continent. I approved their plan, but it will likely not be accomplished until beyond the approaching war.

These projects need funds and resources. He taught us the value of goods and labour, and thus our primitive tribal bartering system transformed into a real economy. This means I cannot merely conscript workers and soldiers, but must pay them appropriately. To support this, I have authorized the sale of much of the land around the Palace to the other clans, and while this does weaken my position it also centralizes the contents of their hoards into my hands.

The other Sages hold a great deal of sway on the Council, but we are united in purpose in ending the tyranny that the Blue Scarves rose against and in beginning the search for He Who Will Return. Though I represent the Kindled Scale, we will need the talents of each and every clan if we are to triumph.

In terms of estate privileges, Nobility and Merchants have the standard 'Supremacy over the crown' and 'Patron of the Arts' privileges assigned. Clergy get a lot more, including 'Religious State' for +1 adm mana, 'Religious Diplomats' for the mission, 'Clerical Education' for reform progress growth, 'Religious Delegation' for easy Diet completions, and 'Oversight' for just extra loyalty/influence. We start very small, so we'll need to squeeze whatever we can out of our estates.

Fixing the Balriza Rzong was a straightforward task. Ultimately, the structure relies on the natural flow of the landscape, so nature conducts most of the effort for us. Through building key fortifications along the narrow valleys leading towards the Palace, the enemy is worn down until we can strike from a place of safety to drive them away.

The final topic of the meeting was to select my protégé, who would lead the Council once my body and its Chi has returned to the world. This debate carried on for some time, with many of the lesser clans seeking to put up their candidates, but ultimately it came down to the only two who mattered; my Kindled Scale, and the Knowing Eye who push for finding Him before going to war. As Golden Sage, my vote mattered the most, and I was able to secure the post for Kiu Akar, a nephew of mine whom I have been training in the ways of leadership since he was a hatchling. The Bringer of Songs spoke of merit over nepotism, and I believe in this case I have ensured that Kiu is as merited as any other from the Kindled Scale to deliver us through the coming conflicts should I fall before then.

Our only options at the moment are Kindled Scale and Knowing Eye. More will come as the mission tree progresses.

Not all believe in our new, outward-looking future. They claim involving ourselves in outsider politics will only bring destruction upon us. Even among my own clan, members of the Kindled Scale have demanded that I step back and focus on defending out lands, leaving the Humans to fight Human wars. I reject such demands. We can no longer sit back in blissful ignorance as the world changes around us.

One of the concessions to secure votes for Kiu as my official protégé was to grant the Smouldering Claw, a minor clan with a very different military outlook to the Kindled Scale who make up most of the commanders, overall command of the upcoming war. This will be their chance to prove that their aggression has its place, that we can strike beyond our borders safely.

With our armies assembled and our home secure, I have ordered Sage Ekil of the Golden Tongue to take his diplomatic corps and deliver our declaration of war to the gates of Jiangdu. Autocrats though they may be, they consider themselves dedicated students of war and should respect diplomatic immunity. The Blue Scarves rally to our banner, and General Var Gawa leads our armies out of the mountains.

The other option is to let Lanjinhui declare, but that puts us at the mercy of the AI's decision making.

The Governor General himself, Qing Jun, led the defence of the city. He took a defensive position in order to mitigate our superior numbers, but Var Gawa personally lead his Smouldering Claw clan to skirmish with the enemy front line, pinning them down and allowing our allied Human cavalry to outflank them. It was a great victory, though it came at the loss of many Kobold lives. I cannot agree with such reckless spending of our people, but I can acknowledge that it might have been necessary for victory. Such is the differing ways of our clans.

Qing Jun has fled with his mostly intact army to the great city of Tianlou, where he is rallying supporters for a counteroffensive. Var Gawa must take Jiangdu with all haste.

As the city falls, so too does our ally's capital. While we have taken the honourable path and spared the people of Jiangdu the depredations that their soldiers inflicted on civilian populations, the reverse has not held true. The violence and looting of an army on the march was one of the great triggers of the Blue Scarf Rebellion, and now they have taken it a step further, the combined Jiangdu-Tianlou force burning Lanjincun.

The Wisest of Masters taught us that the most direct path is not always the best. As a people we thrive in avoiding direct conflict, harassing and skirmishing with our enemies, and seeking routes to victory that are not immediately obvious. While our allies fight for their homes, we have marched on Tianlou, alongside a force of mercenaries hired by the Blue Scarves. If their great city is to avoid the fate that they have inflicted, then they will have to drop out of the war.

After his allies abandoned him, Qing Jun made one last attempt to retake his city and fortify himself in there, but our returning forces and aligned mercenaries crushed him. He was captured, and handed to the Blue Scarves who gave him a brief trial before stringing him from the walls of Jiangdu alongside most of his senior staff. Such brutality would not have been our decision, but this was the Human's struggle for liberation. They have taken administration of Jiangdu itself and freed the people shackled to serving Qing Jun's stratocracy.

A great celebration was held in Lanjincun, which I attended along with Sages from the other major and minor clans. It was incredible to see peoples of both races mingling as equals in such large numbers, and to hear the proclamations of eternal gratitude and friendship by the Huishou, the elected leader of the Human republic. Large numbers of Kobolds have entered the region to help aid the reconstruction, while more and more Humans are entering Balriza to trade. Our ties grow ever closer.

Upon my return to Balriza, the Golden Tongue presented their achievements in the interim of the war. They reached out to our brethren in the lands of the Xia, but sadly they were defeated in combat by one of the other Xiaken and their school absorbed. The Golden Tongue suggest reaching out directly to the Wulin to ensure the safety of the Kobold martial artists throughout their territory.

In a different direction, considering that Tianlou sided with our enemies, the Golden Tongue also approached Feiten, their primary rival, for an alliance but were rebuffed. The cause for this was a matter of religious differences. Feiten follows the 'High Philosophy', in which they strive to emulate higher beings through their words and deeds. Perhaps this is not so different from our relationship with He Who Will Return, so we may yet find common ground.

The Golden Tongue has done well with its initial assessment, and there is much to muse upon before I come to a decision. They will likely soon be elevated to the status of a major clan, and we will have one more tool towards reuniting ourselves with Him.

Many of the nations of Yanshen are High Philosophy rather than Righteous Path, so taking HP as a syncretic faith might actually be worthwhile to secure more alliances.

To be continued…

 

[HistoryDude]

That's a good start. The kobolds will have allies and want more, then? Let's hope they don't get too entangled in internal human wars...

On the bright side, perhaps some of their allies might aid them in finding Balris?

 

[Sybot]

Chapter Two: Kindled Hope, Smouldering Ambition
1447-1460

Somewhere in the Black Mist Hills, 1450 AA

The air was stale, as though sucked dry by the masters who had once dwelt here. As Var Takdra moved through the undergrowth, chopping through long grass and bushes alike, he could feel them crumble under his blade with barely any resistance. What had been done to this land could be undone, but it would take decades of careful tending. He was tempted to have it all burned to the ground and new life bloom from beneath the ashes, but that was implausible when considering it covered a territory three times larger than his homeland.

He caught a glimpse of Kiu Akar moving not too far away, slipping in between the plants and using his armour to keep the worst of the stinging and thorny branches away from him. Such an approach also left him slow, which let Var Takdra take the lead in their little race to the peak of this hill.

Without warning the foliage fell away, and Var Takdra had to dig the claws of his feet into the dry and flaky dirt to keep from tumbling over a sudden break in the hillside that dropped into a steep-sided ravine. A few moments later, Kiu Akar came to a much more graceful halt beside him. The Kindled Scale Sage looked smug despite coming in second, his balance perfect except for his snout held high.

Or rather, came in third. Gyar Fazang had arrived first, and was perched on a branch that reached out over the ravine. Unlike the two Sages equipped in their war gear, the Honoured Sage of the Knowing Eye was still wrapped in a cloak dotted with purple. He peered down into the ravine, perfectly still in spite of the branch jostling in the wind. As the most senior member of the expedition and the one with the lead on Balris, he had managed to stay one step ahead of the rest of the party.

"He is below," Gyar Fazang stated.

Kiu Akar almost jumped straight down into the ravine, but caught himself. Now who was being hasty?

From Var Takdra's perspective, this did not feel right, which was what held him back from leaping down. Would an ancient dragon really dwell in a cavern within this narrow ravine? There was clearly evidence of something dwelling here, as the foliage was damaged along the length of the ravine as if torn up by something large entering it. A valley of damaged trees and churned mud. This was beneath Balris.

"Are you certain?" Kiu Akar asked, beating Var Takdra to the question.

"The scent of gold," Gyar Fazang said. He clasped his hands and closed his eyes. "The sound of great wings beating. The glint of treasure."

A moment later, the air around them began to move. The Honoured Sage's branch trembled, while he remained posed, and a small vortex of air accumulated above them. Even as stale and infused with tainted Chi as it was, it could still be wielded to perform great feats though at a greater price to the user. Gyar Fazang wielded it, forming a great lens of air above them which caught the feeble rays the sun offered in this cursed land and scattered them across the hillsides. It was a message to the other search parties to converge on their location.

"There is no need to wait," Var Takdra said. Whether this was really Him or not, the Smouldering Claw would be the first to greet whatever lay below.

He leapt over the rim of the ravine with his spear held before him, slashing at any foliage that might trip him as he skidded down the opposite side. In his fury and excitement, he drew upon the Chi of the dead and dying plants to fuel his own abilities. Sparks flickered from his speartip, and the weak flora burnt away in the fires of their own attenuated lifespans.

In mere moments he hit the mud at the bottom, breath steady and spear raised. Before him stood a monumental cave entrance, nearly as large as the doors of Balkhangfa Palace, and inside there was the unmistakable light of hoarded gold, as bright and polished as his own golden scales. Without waiting for the other two to follow him, he entered the cave.

"Lord Balris!" he called out as he entered the cavern. This was no fitting place for Him. Even with the gold adorning it in heaps of jewellery and treasures, the cave itself was dark and dank. Natural light only travelled so far into it. In that darkness, something moved.

A maw filled with teeth and surrounded by chitinous pincers lunged from the gloom. Var Takdra raised his spear, but the creature passed straight it as though it wasn't there at all. It was only sheer luck that his fiery Chi was still flowing through his weapon that caused it to rear back at the last moment, meaning he was only caught by the blunt side of a pincer, flinging him into a pile of golden coins.

"Spirit of thievery and deceit!" Kui Akar called from the cave entrance, "enlighten us with the location of He Who Will Return, or be banished!"

The spirit beast, for it was clearly not a dragon of any sort, slithered forward. It was the bastard offspring of a centipede and dragonfly, a long, segmented body that was coated in warped and melted gold, with long iridescent wings that had been adorned with coins. How many centuries had this creature spent stealing away treasure from the local Humans and adorning itself? Had it been inspired by Balris' appearance? Such questions were pointless now, for it only sought to protect its hoard.

It lunged at Kiu Akar, but he parried its head away with the longer pike he wielded, infused with Chi. He brought the weapon down, catching it in a weakpoint between segments, and the spirit flailed in rage and pain, stirring up the nearest piles of treasure. A flying goblet nearly caught Kiu Akar in the side of the head, forcing him to evade and putting him on the back foot.

Var Takdra's whole body ached from the impact, but he was ready to fight. Though he struggled to pull himself to his feet, he was aided by the arrival of Gyar Fazang, who had managed to conceal his presence from the spirit beast.

"You will answer for this," Var Takdra snapped at the Honoured Sage.

The other Kobold remained silent, eyes downcast, leaving Var Takdra at a loss for a follow up. It was clear Gyar Fazang well knew that the Knowing Eye would suffer for mistaking this monster for Balris, but right now there was a great beast impersonating Him which needed to be put down.

Var Takdra steadied himself, letting the pain melt away into a distant feeling as the Chi of the cave flowed through him. The air was rich here, even with the corruptive presence of the spirit, and he found his strength easily coming back to him. His spear flickered with embers, and his muscles burned with desire for use.

As Kiu Akar was being driven deeper into the darkness of the cave, the oppressive size of the spirit beast near insurmountable for a single Kobold, Var Takdra made his move. He dashed across piles of gold as though they were solid stone, clasped his spear tightly in his hands, and then leapt for it as it descended upon Kiu Akar. In a flash of flame a gouge was sliced out from its head and one of its pincers was severed. Kiu Akar trivially deflected the remainder of the spirit's attack and it reeled, falling back and away from the two of them.

"This kill is mine," Var Takdra said. He twirled his spear and crouched, ready to charge in again.

"Try not to let yourself get hit again," Kiu Akar responded, his pike extended and his form solid.

The spirit beast reared once again, and Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw did battle.

Retrieved from the Deep State Archives, excerpts from the writings of Var Takdra, Sage of the Smouldering Claw

My training is complete, and yet incomplete. I have studied war under Var Gawa, whom the Revered Golden Sage placed in command of our armies, and fought for my life against the Human tyrants. Through my deeds, though perhaps also the sheer losses our clan has suffered, I have been elevated as one of the youngest Sages in recent memory. However, all that was overturned in an instant as the Revered Golden Sage opened us up to the teachings of the High Philosophy. It is a religion of decadence and indolence, not action, and yet if I am to advance in rank further, I must now study it myself.

I have secured a place escorting the Golden Tongue delegation to the lands of the Xia. This is what I truly seek, a land where countless martial artists battle for renown and power. How I wish I was one of our kin lucky enough to be born into this land, not among the Kindled Scale who prefer to hide in their hills. An alliance with the Wulin of the Xia will surely bring us further out of hiding.

All expenses on the journey are to be managed by the Grasping Tail clan. I had not heard of them until this moment, but they appear to be on the rise as our trade links with the outside world expand. I would rather pay with the golden scales that I naturally shed or lose in sparring. The Honoured Sage of the Grasping Tail claims this not good for us, citing some principle called 'inflation'.

The Teaching of Balris mean our economy will start spiralling unless we pay down inflation manually. That's not something I normally do, but in this case, it seems necessary, so I might as well find ways to reduce that cost.

With the delegation secure and under the Wulin's protection, I returned to Balriza to find it in a state of uproar. The Honoured Sage of the Knowing Eye proclaimed to the Council that Balris had been sighted in the western hills, something that the Revered Golden Sage had kept from most of us. Even the Revered Sage's own clan voted against him, pushing for a campaign to uncover the truth behind these claims. I volunteered to join my clan in the vanguard once more.

The Vampires, the Jiangshi, are creatures of little more than hunger and evil. They rule over the Humans from their Black Temple in the city of Jincheng and drain them of their Chi for sustenance. It is in the Teachings of Balris that such evil cannot be left to fester, and that the Kindled Scales have let this scourge exist on our borders for so long is a disgrace. With the Blue Scarves supporting us, we will crush them and the hill tribes they hold under their claws.

Progress is slow as we work through the hills and valleys westwards. Neither us nor the Blue Scarves are comfortable engaging the Jiangshi individually, so we must remain in position to support one another. We approach their greatest prize, the Black Jade Citadel, so they will no doubt seek to force a battle before that can fall.

The Grasping Tail continue to grow in influence, as their have offered to finance the war effort in exchange for investment in their tea plantations in Xerrivur. Merchants are always a pain to deal with, as they do not respect the result of a good sparring session, instead preferring to 'fight' with their accumulated hoards of scales.

We were caught on the approach to the Citadel by the Jiangshi forces, their cavalry streaming down into the valley we were passing through as our way was blocked by hordes of their thralls. However, this was precisely as Var Gawa intended. Our most skilled warriors engaged the cavalry and pinned them in battle, while a fresh levy from the clan peasantry, freshly trained but near-unbreakably enthusiastic, boiled out of their hiding places to surround the cavalry. As Lanjinhui forces arrived to unblock the valley entrance, two thirds of their most elite warriors lay dead alongside their mounts.

Another example of the downsides of Ways of the Faith for Righteous Path. Less discipline is bad, but in the early game morale is much more important so it's worth taking.

Our great success in this war has raised our standing in the Sage Council, to the point that the Revered Golden Sage had no choice but to grant us an official seat as one of the major clans. When I presented the message to Var Gawa, he shocked me by turning around and making me the clan representative. When I protested that politics was not what I was interested in, he retorted that I was one of the brightest young Sages in the clan, with a keen eye kept on the other rising clans, even if I hadn't realised I had been doing it.

He was an old warrior, destined to die in battle. There were still thousands of vampiric thralls to slay, fortresses to take, and rebels to suppress. I didn't need to throw my life away on the front lines, that was his job. With a heavy heart, I accepted his terms. I now return to Balriza to take my post, and deal with politics among the Honoured Sages, but I promise that I will return to battle one day.

We can now select Smouldering Claw heirs.

I was most disappointed to miss out on the expeditions to follow up on the Knowing Eye reports, which scoured the hills and mountains for Balris. No such luck so far, but the great golden beast was reported to have been moving west. If another such expedition takes place, I will be at the head of it.

The Blue Scarves have taken another step towards legitimacy, settling their government in Jiangdu and allowing Kobolds free access to the city. Already, their lands are filling up with immigrants from some of the more crowded towns and villages around Balriza. I do not completely trust that the river plains of the Yan will be safe for our people. For the moment our Humans are on the ascent, but that may change one day.

Heiyukcheng, the Black Jade Citadel, is an imposing structure with towering architecture clearly not designed for Humans, never mind Kobolds. It was here the Jiangshi made their stand, and our combined forces obliterated them. Supposedly it contains millennia's worth of dark literature that form the basis of the evil Lefthand Path, but there was none to be found. Perhaps the Jiangshi evacuated it all to their capital.

As the war appears won, the debates on the Sage Council return to more internal matters. My voice is one among many advocating for abolishing any teachings that lean towards the High Philosophy. Stories from our Golden Tongue diplomats of the opulence and decadence of the Lotus Court in distant Rahen only further harden my position on this. They are barely better than the Lefthand Path, all seeking personal power and wealth at the expense of their nations.

With no more resistance, we have taken full administration of the hills above Jincheng, including the Black Jade Citadel itself. The Jiangshi were missing when we entered Jincheng, having scurried away to some dark hole before they could be purged, but their treasury was open to us. Most of it went to the Blue Scarves for their aid, but now that I can see our balance books even the meagre amount we kept for ourselves is a massive boon to the economy.

There was no excuse for me to hide away in Balriza. I returned west, this time not as a conqueror but as an explorer. We encountered countless villages who were happy to be free of the Jiangshi, but did not seem to pay us the respect we deserved as the warriors who had freed them. They lean on their sorcerers and shamans, rather than cultivating their own Chi as they should. I expect many Sages will soon find postings in educating them on the Righteous Path.

Forming a part with members of the Kindled Scale and Knowing Eye, we cornered this supposed Golden Beast in a cavern backed against the Demon Mist Hills and slew it. It was not Balris, nor a creature with any connection to Him. After spending thousands of lives and gaining many tens of thousands of Human subjects, we are no closer to Him than before. I, and many of my fellow clan members, returned disappointed to Balriza, though many others decided to settle down among the Human majority in the region and begin teaching them.

During our stay in the Black Jade Citadel on our return journey, we were approached by a man who claimed to be the steward of the citadel during the rule of the Jiangshi. He abandoned his post when it was clear the vampires were to be defeated, but begged that he be given a chance to make up for this stain on his honour by maintaining it on our behalf. Kiu Akar suggested that he remain and prove his skill be repairing damage done to the citadel during the war.

We returned to find Balriza in mourning. Revered Golden Sage Fax Akar had passed on, his blood and life joining with the mountains. Kiu Akar took up the mantle, and then before the Sage Council proclaimed that I was to be his protégé. This was a shock to everyone, including myself and Kiu Akar's Kindled Scale clan members. Though we had formed a healthy rivalry during our search for the Golden Beast, I did not realise that he respected me in a way that cut through the differences our clans held.

The first orders handed down to me by Kiu Akar, the Revered Sage, were to take stock of what we had learned in the battles against Jiangdu and the Jiangshi, and bring the Smouldering Claw up to the standards of the outside world. It was here that I started to understand why he had selected me. We could no longer afford to poke at convenient rumours. He was planning to have the Smouldering Claw ready to cross the entire subcontinent and track down Balris.

I was also left to administer our new borders, more expansive than at any point in our history. Our border guards near the Demon Hills were subject to frequent raids by the Oni, those foul oversized creatures using even fouler magics against our warrior. If not for our need to consolidate, I would be tempted to send Var Gawa on a punitive raid against them.

Our victory has done much to boost our standing across Yanshen. Very few were friends to the Jiangshi, and already other forces are moving to wipe them out completely. For our future endeavours have secured the support of the Wulin of the Xia, and the League of Feiten. Though the latter follow the High Philosophy, which rankles my snout, they are at least as far removed from the corruption of the Raj as is possible.

Quadrupling our land was enough to boost our military score and put us over the edge for these nations to sign up with us.

There is also a push from the Golden Tongue for us to be more than allies. They have encouraged migration between us and our new allies, in a network of free travel from the Xianje Hills to the Jellyfish Coast. That seems a distant dream, with a multitude of less friendly nations in the way, but I cannot say that I don't respect their ambition. All the diplomatic activity has elevated them to the position of major clan on the Sage Council, so that they might officially manage our relations.

Golden Tongue heirs are now available

Perhaps their ambitions are a bit too forward, though. They have suggested that running a Yanshen-wide diplomatic project from our hills is too restrictive. In their first petition to the Council, they asked that the city of Yanzhong be secured for the establishment of a headquarters. That was soundly rejected, as it would put us in conflict with the power Yanzhong League, a collection of quasi-independent states that rule over the city and its surrounds.

The ongoing skirmishes with the Oni have only emboldened the Sage Council against the Lefthand Path. With much conversion to do in the new territory we administer and more followers of such evil teachings outside our borders, we voted to encourage more young monks to join the ranks of our warriors. Though they may come from one of many clans, they will all fall in line under the Smouldering Claw.

Though we despise their religion, we not hate the peoples of the hills. The Beikling were merely deceived by the Jiangshi, and will be shown the proper way to cultivate their Chi soon enough. In a near unanimous vote of the Sage Council, Humans were granted the same status as Kobolds of the minor clans. Though that means they lack political power, perhaps one day their communities will distinguish themselves and rise to a seat on the Sage Council.

The clans have been pushing back against the military reforms, especially among those new recruits who have not seen battle for themselves. Their martial arts may serve them well in spars or jostling with other clans for prominence, but having seen the fury of a cavalry charge I know that a little more is needed. If they must adapt to wield a pike instead of a spear, so be it. The Revered Sage agrees with me, and has gone one step further, commissioning the finest elixirs to help us further understand the changes that are coming to the world, even though this may anger the more conservative clans even further.

This is one of the best options for Righteous Path. Estate Loyalty is relatively easy to buy and more mana is always valuable at this early stage of the game.

My role for the past few years has become a matter of managing the Human population. Monks have spread out across their lands, using the Black Jade Citadel as their base of operations, and begun driving out the followers of the Lefthand Path from the hills. This has been an upset to the local powerholders, who acted as middlemen for the Jiangshi and accepted a fraction of the siphoned Chi as their price. They rise against us, buying the loyalty of bandits and shaman with stories of independence and power, and I am dispatched to purge them.

I was called an altercation in the lower terraces recently. A number of Harpies have settled in the mountains above Balriza, and frequently descend into the city to try and secure mates. We Kobolds are of no interest to them, but the Human merchants have caught their eye. After dealing with an angry wife raging at a husband lured away by the promise of a 'monster girl', I decided to leave any further incidents to the Human community to resolve. It could be worse; I have heard that in the distant west the Harpies take their mates by force.

Harpies have…interesting…lore, but also some very unique mechanics and military playstyle. Most Harpies are monstrous, but there is a civilised Harpy tag among the Xiaken.

Training in the use of pikes and batons has yielded results, as a new generation of warriors emerge from the shrines and temples. They are put to use guarding the still-tumultuous Human lands from bandits and against potential uprising. From a military perspective, we have built a new strategy around fighting defensively, ceding ground and luring the enemy into traps and ambushes. It is a very Kindled Scale way of fighting, but with Var Gawa's passing and my posting to such high office I feel like my, and the Smouldering Claw's, presence is now felt more at the dragon's-eye-view of the situation than on the battlefield.

Picking the defensive option since our current strategy is focused on morale victory. The other option instead gets two offensive shock pips, which would be amazing in a race more built towards it.

Revered Golden Sage Fax Akar had been a Kobold of great ambition, wanting to see Balriza restored to glory. Now, with the repairs to the Ri-Iha Khang, the city is shining brighter than it ever has in my lifetime. Though the palace is still in disrepair, one can look from the uppermost terrace, see the restored temple on one of the outer hills, see the bustling merchant district with goods coming in from across Yanshen, and perhaps feel that we are worthy of Balris' return.

In these years of peace, the political situation in Yanshen has changed subtly but significantly. To our south the Kingdom of Bianfang dominates the Upper Yan, having been the ones to finally wipe out the Jiangshi, though there are rumours that some were spared for their dark knowledge and use as enforcers. They seek nothing less than an absolute kingdom ruling all of Yanshen, so will come into conflict with us sooner or later. To our north, the terrorbird riders are unified and a potential risk. So long as we keep to our hills we should be safe, but our allies on the Yan plain may yet be in danger. The Hobgoblin Command still looms large in the west, but has to our knowledge focused on fighting the Raj.

The Kindled Scale may suggest buying these powers off with offers of tribute or subservience, but that is not the way of the Smouldering Claw. When I am the Golden Sage, I will make sure we are ready to stand on our own.

I have been recalled to Balriza again after another round of putting down rebels in the west. The message from Kiu, from the Revered Sage, indicated he wanted to discuss with me his uncle's plans for a 'renaissance' of Kobold culture and Balris' teachings. Something that he felt he wouldn't be able to finish in his lifetime either. I have an uneasy feeling when I meditate, as though some great weight is about to descend upon me.

It ought to have been obvious. He was sick, on the verge of death. We briefly discussed his plans before he passed, and before we even had a chance for a final sparring session he was gone.

In less than a decade, the Smouldering Claw has risen from obscurity to eclipsing the Kindled Scale and seizing power within Balrijin, and yet I feel empty. I know what my task as Golden Sage is. There is much to be done, many enemies to be defeated. The monsters, the tyrants, the pillagers all stand against us, but they will not stop us taking another step towards reuniting with Balris. Even so, I will not forget, we must be worthy of him in spirit as well as body. The 'renaissance' will continue, even as my spear runs through our foes.

To be continued…

 

[Fool Esquire]

"Dear Jiangdu, you claim kobolds are inferior, and yet we just conquered your city. Curious." - Ben Zhan'ao

You're really loading up on those estate privileges. Beneficial, but risky if there's a crisis of loyalty. I've always preferred the "no privileges, max absolutism, l'etat c'est moi" approach... but clearly only Balris is fit to rule as god-king in this land, and we haven't found him yet.

 

[HistoryDude]

I wonder if any other spirits will impersonate Balris... or if any other dragons will get that idea. If any of them actually succeed, after all, the kobolds should follow them...

Will Balrijin engage in any wars unrelated to the search for Balris? Will they form any alliances?

I wonder if there are any kobolds still clinging to the old religion...

 

[Sybot]

"Dear Jiangdu, you claim kobolds are inferior, and yet we just conquered your city. Curious." - Ben Zhan'ao

You're really loading up on those estate privileges. Beneficial, but risky if there's a crisis of loyalty. I've always preferred the "no privileges, max absolutism, l'etat c'est moi" approach... but clearly only Balris is fit to rule as god-king in this land, and we haven't found him yet.

I've really come around on estates in recent patches, especially when not trying to blob as hard as possible. You can squeeze some good stuff out of them in the early game, then cut back on them when Absolutism rolls around.

Chapter Three: Strike at the Tyrants
1460-1474

Golden Azure Council Chambers, City of Jiangdu, Lanjinhui, 1469 AA

Within living memory, the headquarters of the Golden Azure War Council had been the grand strategy chamber for the military scholars of the Jiangdu stratocracy. In their decedent opulence, they had carved a great map of Yanshen into a raised plinth made of deeply rich red-brown wood in the centre of the room. A dozen generals would stand around the plinth, debating grand campaigns while eating the finest delicacies imported from across the subcontinent. The rest of the room would have been devoted to servants and junior officers scurrying around, keeping the dreams and ambitions of their leaders fed.

That had long since changed. The grand map, taking up most of the floor space, was now worn down by years of scratches and bootprints. The central table for the War Council had been set up on top, steps bolted onto the sides of the plinth so it could be climbed upon. The rest of the room had smaller stations set up with responsibility for doing the work of taking minutes, drawing out maps, or any of the other dozens of intricacies of running campaigns across hundreds of miles.

It was bustling with soldiers of all stations working towards real objectives, not the detached leadership of the recent past. Kiu Zanam almost felt lost under the moving feet of so many Humans, standing heads taller than her. Her excitement threatened to overtake her and shift into panic among the jostle of bodies, so she took a moment to halt, ignoring the complaints of Humans who suddenly had to step around her, centre herself, and focus on finding a clear path up to the plinth.

She saw her chance, as a pair of Kindled Scale Sages moved through the crowd. It was subtle, but they were parting the crowd around them through some invisible means. Perhaps a defensive or secretive technique. Even if that was not how she of the Smouldering Claw would handle it, it was still her chance. She slipped in behind them and finally managed to make it to the steps up to the plinth. After nearly spraining her foot-claws on a raised wooden representation of the Jade Mountains, she took her seat next to the Revered Golden Sage, Var Takdra.

"Punctuality is important, protégé," he said quietly, "if you'd arrived any later than those Kindled Scales, the Smouldering Claw would have lost face."

She glanced around. The three of them had been the last to arrive. The table they were seated around was relatively small, compared to the size of the map it was set upon, just enough for sixteen Humans and Kobolds to squeeze around. It was for close discussion, not diplomatic grandstanding.

On their edge were the two of them, from the Smouldering Claw and representing Balrijin as a whole, as well as the two from the Kindled Scale.

Directly opposite was Houwei Cou, Mayor of Jiangdu and Lord Protector of Lanjinhui, as well as three Blue Scarf generals. To one side were the diplomats, two Kobolds and two Humans. Kiu Zanam noticed with some interest that one of the Humans was dressed in Golden Tongue robes, yellow lines flowing down their clothes, rather than Lanjinhui colours. Finally, on the emptiest side was sat a lonely observer from the League of Feiten. Other seats had been held for observers from the Xiaken and the sympathetic Harimari lords of Zongji, but they had not attended.

"I was discussing the battles of the Sziangnu campaign," she replied, "they held well against the Blue Scarves."

"You aren't here to discuss individual battles," the Revered Golden Sage said, "as Golden Sage, strategy will be your concern."

Houwei Cou raised a hand and the din of the chamber began to quiet down. The eyes of the Blue Scarf, Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw soldiers and officers all turned to the central table, ready to listen and take notes. This opening discussion would set the tone for the rest of the week. The first meeting of the Golden Azure War Council was now in session.

"Revered Sage," Houwei Cou said, "we cannot thank you enough for the support of you and your people over these past three decades. When the Blue Scarf Rebellion began-"

Kiu Zanam tuned him out at that point, as the Human rattled off the list of victories that had been won with Kobold support, followed by Var Takdra doing the same for the support the Blue Scarves had given Balrijin. It was a very formal back and forth, something that bored her to death at the best of times, and left her mind to wander.

She traced a claw along the map under her feet. Even with the relief worn away it was still possible to work out by touch what each raised range of hills and mountains represented. The tip of a claw carved a gouge, as quiet as possible, from the Dragon Peak down to the Yan River plain, then to the Phokhao mountains, then back up towards the Demon Hills and into the trailing end of the Serpentspine. She dreamt of a Kobold nation encompassing all of Western Yanshen, her armies on the march and brushing aside all of their deluded enemies.

"-my protégé, Sage Kiu Zanam of the Smouldering Claw," the Revered Golden Sage said.

Kiu Zanam snapped to her feet, an audible cut being dug out of the relief as she did so. She could feel her scales flutter as if they were about to fall off her body in embarrassment.

"It an honour to meet you, Lord Protector," she said, "I wish for a healthy working relationship between us."

"Don't wish too hard, too soon," Houwei Cou said, giving her a smile and a wave to sit down again. He extended his arms to address the entire room. "We have completed but one step of our goal. Yanshen is still plagued by the machinations of the eunuchs and petty dictators, but they remain divided against one another as much as us. If we strike now, we can push all the way to Tianlou and secure the full length of the Yan itself."

He was starting to sound like Kiu Zanam's kind of leader. Decisive and ambitious.

"That is the surest way to unite them against us," the Revered Golden Sage said, "Tianlou has already done much to oppose us. If you are not careful, they will form a coalition."

"What is your suggestion, Revered Sage?" one of the Blue Scarf generals asked.

"We believe Balris, He Who Will Return, is to the west, perhaps within the realms of the monsters," replied Var Takdra, "we will have to fight them to locate Him, and in fact we have, driving the Jiangshi from the Black Jade Citadel. It will be hard to rally a coalition against the heroes who also defeated the Oni, or the Hobgoblins."

"Now who is overestimating our capability," Houwei Cou said. Despite that jibe, he leaned back in his chair and held out a hand for Var Takdra to continue.

"We do not need to fight them all at once, in either direction," the Revered Golden Sage said, "He taught us cunning, how to be strong without being threatening. We can take them, piece by piece. One Oni fortress in the west, then a petty kingdom in the east, alternating, until Balris returns to us and we are unstoppable."

"Marching our armies back and forth across hundreds of miles of rugged hills in the process," another general spoke up.

"I don't believe you've seen the renewal that has come to our lands," the Revered Golden Sage said, a smug flick of his tongue leaving his snout.

The debate continued, and Kiu Zanam paid far closer attention as grand plans were drawn up and armies were assigned missions that would determine the future of their two nations and the entire subcontinent. One day this would be her task, and her mind was already reeling with ideas on how she would take this one step further and achieve the dream of a greater Balrijin that she had held in her mind her entire life. A nation truly worthy of Balris' return.

Retrieved from the Deep State Archives, excerpts from the writings of Var Takdra of the Smouldering Claw, Golden Sage

My first task is to fund our armies. We cannot strike at the threats around us unless we can train and equip the warriors. The clans are our greatest source of income, though it comes at the expense of trading land rights across our new territory. Several thousand new warriors are added to our muster, bolstering our ability to deal with rebels and ward off attack.

I don't normally bother selling crownland, especially not to the level I've done so far in this campaign but given Balrijin's precarious position it seems mandatory to squeeze whatever I can from the estates.

The Smouldering Claw remains the dominant force within the military, though Kindled Scale still make up close to half of the numbers. We fight by striking out at the enemy, hitting them where they are weak and then then burning them up from within their formations. Their fortifications will fall in much the same way.

A portion of the money was diverted to developing a new settlement for Kobolds in a sparser populated region of the Black Mist Hills. The techniques we learn here as we architect a home from the ground up will serve us well in regenerating Balriza, and spreading our people around will help protect us if the worst happens and one our enemies gets the best of us.

Upon consultation with our allies, we came to the conclusion that the first threat to be neutralized needed to be the tyrants of the Yan, the Kingdom of Bianfang. The claim to rule with a benevolent fist, protecting the people while striking down any who would oppose them, but this is just a cover for their ruinous taxation of the peasantry, their secret police slicing away any dissent, and their use of the Jiangshi as dark enforcers. The Blue Scarves are fully behind us, while the Wulin has also agreed to aid us to remove a threat to their eastern flank. We march down from the hills into the Upper Yan to tear down these tyrants.

From an OOC strategic perspective, Bianfang can start running away with things in Yanshen if they are allowed to. Best to clip their wings before they grow too large.

They clearly know that we are the true threat, as their core army carefully watches over the passes down from the hills while an advance force tests the defences of the Black Jade Citadel. Our allies are left free to run rampant, so we need only wait for their courage to falter before we strike.

Our commander, a member of the Golden Tongue, spotted that the enemy was withdrawing from the Black Jade Citadel and took the chance to pursue and harass them. However, the Bianfang commander was no fool and turned with his cavalry to catch our warriors out of position. Losses were heavy, and we might still have won if not for the approach of their core army. Still, their withdrawl was legitimate, as their southern lands are being ravaged by our allies. Shortly afterwards Fax Takdra was able to rally the warriors and pursue them into their lands.

This isn't ideal. We could have won on morale, but with that larger army bearing down on us we had to manually retreat before it could join the battle.

The city of Jicheng fell with little fanfare. The Jiangshi, if they still hide among the Bianfangi tyrants, have long since dispersed. This time, they did not have the chance to take their knowledge with them. The Knowing Eye, hungry to make up for their previous failures in locating Balris, are poring through ancient documents for any clue as to His location.

Occupying the city isn't actually the requirement for the mission, you just need a large enough spy network, but it fits with the narrative.

It does not take long. The Knowing Eye is nothing if not diligent in their search for information. Var Namra of the Knowing Eye presented an account that, by her reckoning, dated back to the same century that Balris departed. It was not the only sighting either, and while there are discrepancies in each of them, they share the same commonality of something of incredible power travelling towards the Demon Hills. Our next path is clear.

Fax Takdra has redeemed himself with an aggressive pursuit of Bianfang forces pushing west to try and force the Wulin to leave the war. It was merely their reserves, but it should serve as a reminder to the Humans that we can strike them, not just hide in our hills.

The war draws to a close, but the other threats remind us of their existence. The Faceless Queen of the Shuuvush tribes has stepped up raids on the north face of the Black Mist Hills, forcing me to divert more patrols to protect both the Humans and the Kobolds now settling the region. Her terrorbirds are not likely to fare well in the hills, but if left unchecked their numbers may still win through.

As part of Kiu Akar's reforms a school of governance was established for the Golden Sage's protégé. Kiu Zanam, my own successor, has taken up the study of administration, something that I fear that I lack but she has at least a passing skill at. I will continue to push our strategy of taking apart the threats to our quest, while she builds the future.

There is no need for us to conquer swathes of land on the Yan plain. That is not where Balris is. Instead, I ordered the threat of Bianfang to be completely neutered. Their lands have been torn in half, the city of Jicheng has fallen under our control to ensure the Jiangshi never return, and their treasury has been distributed among our allies. They may rise from the ashes in future, but their momentum has been halted.

Our light hand with the harpies in Balriza has proven fruitful, as they have started paying dowries in exchange for selecting mates from among the Humans settled in the city. Several members of their flock have also been hired as scouts watching the approaches to the Balriza Rzong from unreachable perches.

Harpies actually stack really well with Kobolds. They give reduced construction cost and increase hostile attrition, so they're good to have on provinces you're fortifying.

Following the end of the Bianfang campaign, Fax Takdra returned to the Sage Council and gave his report on the losses and victories that he suffered. He provided examples of firearms used in limited numbers by the lowland nations, and also suggested that we hire mercenary cavalry to screen us against the sort of cavalry charge that he had suffered. Sages from both my clan and the Kindled Scale were eager to study these firearms. I categorically rejected the use of Human cavalry, though. If we need it, we will collaborate with the Blue Scarves, not waste our money on those who only seek to pluck our scales from our bodies.

There is little point getting cavalry with the army maluses we have, even if we now have the option.

Our victory over the tyrants in the Upper Yan has enthused the Blue Scarves to extend their uprising to the tyrants of the Lower Yan. The multitude of states in this region are a mixture of petty kingdoms and republics ruled by an upper caste of eunuchs, none of whom have any consideration for the common peasant. Our allies are more than capable of fighting for themselves, so we participate as reserves, securing unfortified regions and hitting out-of-position armies. While I am glad our allies are growing their strength, this does divert our military resources away from our real enemies, such as the Oni.

The campaign continues, with the city of Tianlou desperately supporting the inland states in an attempt to slow the tide. Once again, we support them to the detriment of our own plans, and once again they will likely achieve their victory. I have begun discussing with the Golden Tongue a plan to better coordinate with the Blue Scarves, so that we can avoid our goals clashing in this manner in the future.

While we have been busy in the east, Kiu Zanam has overseen the final development of our settlement in Yinsheng. It is a marvel to behold, like Balriza but fresh and new. A terraced city built into the side of one of the steepest hills of the Black Mist Hills, with plenty of room to expand and burgeoning iron industry. It will be a pleasant surprise for Balris if He were to return now and see how we are expanding from our secluded homeland.

It is as I feared. Our distractions in supporting the Blue Scarves have let the Oni make the first move. The fortress-state of Hubao on the southern tip of the Demon Hills has fallen. The Knowing Eye reports dark magic being used to tear down the walls of the fortress, and the Oni marching north with countless slaves to be drained of their Chi. The only glint of hope in this even is that Hubao was left under local control, rather than made into an Oni fortress. They must pay tribute to the demons, but they will not bar our passage if we go to strike them down ourselves.

In the name of better coordination with the Blue Scarves in future, the Golden Tongue have been working hard to worm their way into the Human's decision making. They found allies in the Grasping Tail, who are seeking new ways to make money on trade and were willing to fund some discrete payments to the Lanjinhui border authorities to expedite free travel. Kobolds are spreading across their lands as the Grasping Tail get their claws into the lowland trade, while Humans from Lanjinhui are settling across the territory we rule.

Grasping Tail get the heir option as well. There's just one clan left to add.

Far more important than that, we have agreement from their Mayor to establish the Golden Azure War Council. All major military decisions, including wider strategy, war aims and logistical concerns will be handled through this meeting of the finest Kobold and Human minds, though tactical decisions will still be handled by individual commanders.

I will depart for the first such council with Kiu Zanam and representatives from the Kindled Scale, so we can ready our spears for the dual goals of crushing tyranny, whether Oni or Human, and bringing Balris back to guide us.

I do not know if it was the air quality, the sheet density of population in the Human cities, or something else, but I have fallen increasingly ill since my journey to Jiangdu. Since my return I have been confined to the Palace, watching over the final revitalization of Balriza. It is a real sight to see. The avenue up to the Palace has been expanded, the homes and vendors that overran it moved backwards so that we might repair the road and decorate it with fine art and architecture. New pipeworks bring water down from the mountain above and handle sewage, sending it safely away from the population. Humans are a common sight, and the skies are filled with Harpies as they start to integrate into the city itself. We have built a city that would be the envy of any on the Yan besides Tianlou itself.

I do wish Fax Akar and Kiu Akar were able to see this come to fruition, but I trust that their devotion to this goal has let their Chi infuse the workings that surround us. I wonder if mine will do the same, if this is where I spend my last days.

Feiten have not been a significant ally for us, merely a mutual counterbalance against Tianlou. That said, they are still our allies. They have an observing representative on the Golden Azure Council, they are willing to support us if someone attacks us, and the Grasping Tail has opened up several branches in their cities. When they offered to pay to study the architectural developments in Balriza, I was happy to allow them in.

As my condition worsens, I have begun handing over my responsibilities to Kiu Zanam. She does not have the same strategic understanding as I do, but she is enthusiastic to learn and is willing to lean on the educators that I have assembled in the Palace. We are stronger than we were when I was elevated, with our alliances bound tighter and powerful cities raised from the mountains. We can strike out again with a fresh pair of eyes.

I have also recommended that she take on a Golden Tongue Sage as her protégé. If we achieve all our goals, storm the Demon Hills, advance into the Yanzhong League and drive Lanjinhui to sweep through the rest of Yanshen then we will surely need diplomats to keep from becoming an enemy as feared as The Command. Normally I would not be so concerned about this, however…

Kiu Zanam is ambitious but also overconfident, a dangerous combination. No matter how many times I tried to drill into her head that we are not invincible, that we need to temper our blades before we strike, that we cannot rely on our enemies to sit on their claws while we do whatever we want, she never quite understood. If her own protégé and our allies are not able to restrain her, she could be our downfall.

I don't doubt her first action will be to invade the Oni. We already worked out a plan in the first War Council with the Blue Scarves. We should be able to bypass Hubao and advance into the Demon Hills directly in greater numbers than they can hold back. The only risk is if one of our other enemies takes this chance to strike.

Perhaps Bianfang will take the chance to seek revenge, or one of the many states of the Lower Yan, even Tianlou, will take the chance to counterattack the Blue Scarves. The Faceless Queen has passed, and her vassals are rebellious against her underaged successor, so I doubt the terrorbirds will be a threat. I could catalogue every potential enemy beyond, but I would be writing until the last life drained from my body. The rule of Kiu Zanam of the Smouldering Claw begins. I pray it will be a fortuitous one.

The war machine of the greatest military power in Haless finally turns its eyes in our direction…

To be continued…

Vote

While the approaching forces of the Oni and the Command both loom large, the Sage Council has to consider the overall situation. Several other issues plague the blossoming nation, which perhaps call for different approaches besides bolstering the military. Each major clan has offered an idea, but which one will be selected?

Smouldering Claw – Divine – Our warriors need only training and cultivated Chi to achieve victory. We will take our devotion to Balris into battle and fight until He is found.
Kindled Scale – Defensive – Our strength lies in letting the enemy come to us, wasting their lives against our walls and in ambushes. We should prioritize this aspect of warfare.
Knowing Eye – Espionage – Our enemies may be larger and stronger than us, but we can win through subterfuge and manipulation
Grasping Tail – Economic – Our economy is based on the scales we naturally shed, which leads to ever-growing inflation. We need to develop more sophisticated economic systems to overcome this.
Golden Tongue – Court – Our government risks instability as more clans ascend to full seats on the Sage Council. We ought to focus on ensuring the balance of power is maintained.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The option with the most votes will be selected. Second place will get bonus votes in the next idea poll.


Voting will last for 48 hours

 

[HistoryDude]

The Golden Azure War Council is a fascinating idea, but it should strengthen Balrijin's alliances...

The offensive focus was interesting, given that Balrijin mostly settled for humiliating Bianfang instead of taking land directly. Will you do this to other nations that you must fight but aren't on the path to Balris in the future?

 

[Fool Esquire]

Disappointed to see that Economic beat Defensive. The Command is perhaps the biggest threat in the entire mod at game start. But I'm sure that when the hobbos burn Balriza to the ground, they'll take a moment to admire your efficient use of interest rate hikes.

 

[Sybot]

The Golden Azure War Council is a fascinating idea, but it should strengthen Balrijin's alliances...

The offensive focus was interesting, given that Balrijin mostly settled for humiliating Bianfang instead of taking land directly. Will you do this to other nations that you must fight but aren't on the path to Balris in the future?

Generally, yes, though the current ruler is a bit of an exception as her personality traits might indicate. Kobolds are generally built to play tall, rather than wide.

Disappointed to see that Economic beat Defensive. The Command is perhaps the biggest threat in the entire mod at game start. But I'm sure that when the hobbos burn Balriza to the ground, they'll take a moment to admire your efficient use of interest rate hikes.

Having a allied vassal swarm of of martial artists to do most of the dying for us one upside to the situation. It seems that the Golden Tongue diplomacy really lives up to their name. Defensive isn't fully needed until we the Command's direct target, though of course the sooner we get it the better.

Notes:
Economic wins the vote. Defensive earns +1 vote on the next idea vote, due to its lead of 1.
This will be the last update until the New Year, but it's a long one.

Chapter Four: Appetite for Conquest
1474-1495

Balrijin and Xerdfonga joint army camp, Chouzhaoying, Xianje, 1474

The air was alive with sounds and smells as the feast entered full swing. This would be the last time for a while many of the Kobolds of either Balrijin or their offshoots in the Xerdfonga Xiaken would enjoy such a hearty meal. Perhaps the very last time, given they were marching to war. But that was far from their minds as they celebrated, with Smouldering Claw, Kindled Scale, and Xerdfonga all mingling until they became an indistinguishable carpet of golden scales with all other clan colours muted.

Free space only existed around the central table, where the highest ranked master and commanders gathered for discussion over the finest cuts of meat and freshest vegetables.

"So, you struck down the Righteous Master?" Kiu Zanam asked, twirling a thick root vegetable in her claws to carve it up into smaller pieces.

"Not so, Revered Golden Sage," replied the Kobold across from her.

Compared to the Balrijin Kobolds around him decorated prominently in their clan colours, Master Var Michewa was dressed in a humble brown cloak with the six golden petals of his school embroidered onto it. He dipped his own food in the ample sauce pot, letting it soften for a moment before shaving off a chunk with his teeth.

"He underestimated me, as so many of the Human Masters do," Var Michewa continued, "I seized his sleeve in my claws, and used his own movement against him. His arm was dislocated, but he will live. He had no choice but to accept my school's independence."

"For how long, though?" Kiu Zanam asked, "the Wulin is consolidating his power. You'll be answering directly to him soon enough. After this over, I'd be happy for you and your school to join the Sage Council. I'm building a true nation for our people, and I'd like your strength."

"I have to respectfully decline," Var Michewa replied. He finished his vegetable dish, then offered a prayer as the server delivered a plate of rich and juicy meat.

Kiu Zanam got stuck into her own, tearing off chunks of flesh with her teeth, as she watched him pick at the meal. He was skilled, but weak-willed. The ceremonial combat of the Xiaken was one thing, but he lacked the ambition needed to truly achieve victory. Perhaps that would be the way she could get this group of offshoot Goldscales to join her cause. Like her, they didn't care about Balris or any of that nonsense, but they did care about their little rituals.

"How about a challenge?" she suggested as her meal began to settle in her stomach.

"You're challenging me, Revered Golden Sage?" Var Michewa said, the scales of his brow twitching in interest.

"I'd like to see you in action," she said, leaning forward across the table.

Much of the chatter around them went silent. Those around her of the Smouldering Claw looked on with excitement, enjoying the aggressive style of their Golden Sage, while those of the Kindled Scale appeared more trepidatious. Clearly, they didn't have any faith in her. But she was the Golden Sage, she wasn't going to be stopped by their apprehension.

"Then let us settle this once our stomachs have emptied," Var Michewa said, snout raised in overconfidence.

The meal continued for some time, with the upcoming spar being the main topic of conversation. The Revered Golden Sage, her master, had not held back in training her in the Smouldering Claw style, and she had several of her own tricks up her sleeve that kept close to her chest even as the others around her discussed the finer points of the clan style against the Six Points Path. It split along clan lines, as you'd expect, with the Kindled Scale showing their usual reverence for a weaker and boringly reactive style.

When the time came, the crowds parted, hundreds of warriors gathering in a circle enforced by little more than sheer enthusiasm for a fair fight. Kiu Zanam strode into the ad hoc arena through a cheering crowd of Smouldering Claw warriors, wearing lighter and less ornate leather armour and wielding a pair of batons firmly in her claws. Her opponent, Righteous Master Var Michewa, carried nothing. He hadn't even changed out of his robe.

"If I win, come to Balriza," she said, extending her batons and tensing her legs.

"I only promise that I will seriously consider it. I have obligations to the Wulin," he replied. He loosened up and let his cloak drape over him, concealing his limbs. "If I win, you will teach Balris the Six Point Path when you find Him."

So, he really did care about their deadbeat progenitor? From the cheers of the crowds around them so did most of the crowd, regardless of clan or creed. Her lack of enthusiasm for the search was something she usually kept quiet, so denying she intended to meet Him would be bad in this situation. She agreed to the terms, and the duel began.

Burning fervour filled her legs, and she dashed forward faster than any uncultivated Kobold ought to manage. Her opponent didn't move, but she wasn't dumb. She feinted, bringing down a baton and letting it get parried with a very well-timed jab from under his cloak. The follow-up strike from the second baton aimed straight for that exposed arm, but he blocked it with a kick. Kiu Zanam, stumbled back, off balance, and that was when he went on the attack.

He moved as though the volume of his cloak was filled with nothing but air, speeding up to her and seizing her by her own batons. She let go of both her weapons, but he kept it up the attack, sweeping out with a kick to knock her legs out from under her. Her own weight would be enough to knock the wind out of her if she hit the dirt.

That was what she expected. For all her confidence, all her training, she had matters of state and administration to consider, not dedicating all her time to mastering a style. Against a trained master she ought to have no chance. But she had ambition, strength of will, and an entire nation behind her. She called upon that, letting the Chi of the thousands of cheering Kobold warriors around her fill her body.

For just a moment, she stopped falling and started gliding. She manoeuvred herself in the air, spinning onto her front and pushing herself off the ground before she could hit it with her body. With the flame of ambition burning in her, she had enough strength to hop right over Var Michewa and descend upon him from above. A burning hunger rose from her throat and her teeth roared with pain and ethereal flame.

"You're mine!" she growled out.

Her teeth caught fabric, and his cloak ignited, lines of flame roaring across the woollen surface. A moment later, it ripped apart from the inside as he used his own claws to tear his flaming robe from his body. Standing with in nothing but plain underclothes, he looked completely undaunted. His scales were perfectly aligned, the muscles underneath wiry but powerful, his stance remained loose and ready for another round.

"Well done," he said, his enjoyment clear on his snout as he readied for her next attack, "let us continue."

Even without his cloak, she didn't actually defeat him. He was a still Xiaken Master in the end. Nonetheless, she was satisfied at this demonstration of her own personal power.

Retrieved from the Deep State Archives, excerpts from the writings of Kiu Zanam of the Smouldering Claw, Golden Sage

The Command is an army of savages that only holds itself together through rigid discipline. Even then, a significant portion of their numbers are made up of a mob of mindless Orcs and Goblins. Though the balance of forces is in their favour, each warrior of the Smouldering Claw or the Xiaken is worth a dozen of theirs. The Hobgoblins do not even acknowledge the existence of Chi, of the very life force that they trample with their boots, and this will be their undoing.

I have ordered reserves to be drawn up and our army to withdraw from the Demon Hills. The Blue Scarves ought to have the numbers to hold the front line while we focus on the much larger Hobgoblin threat.

While I won't get the chance to fight on the frontlines, I've joined the mustering of our forces with the numerous Xiaken masters. The Wulin has been steadily reining them in and bringing them under his command, but many remain fiercely independent. The most fun was meeting Master Var Michewa, who leads a school of our kin who practice the 'Six Points Path', which emphasises disabling rather than wounding or killing. He was even kind enough to agree to a friendly demonstration.

The Xiaken Kobolds were only added in the latest update, so sadly they weren't an option in the preliminary poll.

The power of Kobolds was on full display as Var Michewa led our forces to crush an advance unit of Goblin slaves sent ahead by the Command. There were an astounding number of Goblin prisoners taken, which led to the question of what to do with them, but that was sadly solved when we were forced to withdraw by the following Command army. They executed their re-captured slaves for not fighting to the death.

I have had to abandon my command post in Xiaken territory and return to the Black Jade Citadel. Not only have the Command pursued our forces after Jiangguan, but the Blue Scarves have suffered a string of defeats in the Demons Hills. Our forces were able to link up and push the Oni back, but with a large force from the Command now patrolling the hills our hope of advancing has been dashed. Rumour has it that the Oni trade some kind of critical material to the Hobgoblins in exchange for their independence, so it's no surprise they want to defend them.

In a straight fight Ogre Military is better than Human Military, and our ally's AI seems to be pretty bad at judging that fact when deciding to take battles. They keep moving up to siege, then getting wrecked and running away leaving us to bail them out.

Though we have had to withdraw from the frontline, the Wulin Jinxing continues the fight. His is the School of Flowing Water, one that flows around points of strength to find points of weakness. After finding defeat individually, the Masters are rallying around him as his army moves away from the points of Hobgoblin strength, and strikes at their weaknesses.

If nothing else, the Xiaken can produce some excellent leaders.

I'm happy to learn from such a skilled commander. Our numbers are too depleted to fight the Command in an open battle, but their Goblin allies are easy targets. Gyar Lukhong of the Stone Fist clan has taken forward command, as I've had to withdraw to personally deal with debates on the Sage Council.

Financing two wars at once is a big deal, one I'd rather leave to someone else, but in the end I'm still the one that has to make the decision. The temples were granted additional rights to levy taxes and maintain order in their provinces, which should ease the burden of dull administrative work on my shoulders.

Tax is one of our big income sources at the moment, so this worth a decent amount.

Reports from the front are promising. The Command has only made minor gains in Xiaken territory, and are facing a rebellion of their oppressed Human subjects. Gyar Lukhong has stationed the army in the lower foothills of the Demon Hills, ready to strike out if the Command sends their slaves forward again.

That fool was stationed in the wrong place! I should've known the Command would recognize us for the threat we are and make use of their relations with the Oni to sneak up on us. We're are out of the war with the Command, we simply don't have the Kobolds to fight them with. I have ordered Gyar Lukhong to withdraw behind our fortresses and rebuild, and sent an apology to the Wulin that we will no longer be able to support him.

Even stuck in the Palace I've got crises to deal with. The new taxes to fund the war mean a lot more Kobolds are sending in their shed golden scales to pay them. Those scales are piling up in Balriza and getting into the local economy, making prices skyrocket. The Grasping Tail clan has made a number of suggestions to clear up the issue by forcibly revaluing our scales and I pushed them through the Sage Council even through the complaints of the clans who'd have their hoards devalued.

The Kindled Scale have been acting arrogant for a while now, proclaiming their style of warfare is clearly superior after our defeats against the Command. As the Oni try to push through our fortifications in the Black Mist Hills they've been whittled down through deadly traps and sudden ambushes. Once they were significant weakened, I dispatched Gyar Lukhong to defeat them in open battle. Perhaps the Kindled Scale have a point, as much as it pains me to say so, during these times of disadvantage.

This is the typical way for kobolds to fight. Let the enemy bleed out on your forts with boosted attrition, then hit them before the fort can fall. Of course, that depends on you being able to defeat even the weakened army, so luckily this wasn't a full Command stack.

Human smiths have been using our copper supplies in Balriza to produce bronze cannons, apparently taken from designs starting to appear in Rahen. They aren't very honourable weapons, killing from beyond the range of all but the strongest bows, but I don't deny they'd be useful to have besieging the Oni fortresses. If only we had the Kobolds to man them.

We've only seen minor Hobgoblin raids since we were forced behind our walls, and at last were able to get hold of an emissary who agreed to an end to hostilities. Perhaps they think us to weak to push against the Oni and finish what we started. In his response Jinxing was agitated but understanding. He sees the benefit for us to fight the Oni separately and weaken the Command's flank.He Hasff

The Grasping Tail have gone above and beyond in the scope of the reforms they've pushed through. They've filled the caverns behind Balriza with workers managing the tax records across the nation, ensuring the appropriate tithe is filtered up from the temples and clan holdings up to the Sage Council's hoard. There were murmurings of discontent from the clans, but with their obligations clearly on paper they didn't have much room to complain.

Opening Economic ideas, and its not too bad of one considering the current focus on tax for our income.

The tides of war have changed, but the people are exhausted. I marched into the Shigrii at Kabiurgarko alongside Gyar Lukhong and ordered the fortress-monastery be established as the new frontier for our nation and the new headquarters for the search for Balris. From the highest peaks of the dark citadel, I can see the Demon Hills rising ever higher, where the Oni continue to lurk. Much like the beasts themselves, I feel a hunger for more. Perhaps my dreams of conquest were more prophetic than I thought.

We aren't the only ones exhausted though. The Command has halted its advance, settling into its gains on the frontier of the Xiaken and advancing a hundred miles or so down the Kharunyana river to the edge of the divided city of Sarisung. I've sent correspondence to Wulin Jinxing with my thoughts on the matter, that this ought to be only a setback. If he can get the Xiaken Masters under control and organised, he's proven the Command can be beaten.

Six provinces taken by the Command. Could have been much worse. Much like Bianfang, anything that slows them down is good for us.

Another round of land sales has funded the construction of permanent barracks in Balriza, Xerrivur, and Yinsheng. This war has shown that I cannot rely on the temples and clans to keep our armies filled for extended wars. I need warriors ready to deploy within mere months of notice.

Revenues are climbing faster than I could have imagined. Though thousands of our greatest warriors were lost in battle, in terms of supplying their replacements our economy is greater than ever. The war never reached any further east than the Black Jade Citadel, so the Grasping Tail's reforms have been going through almost completely unaffected by it.

The Blue Scarves are on the move again. After their repeated failures against the Oni they withdrew to their territory to recuperate, and as soon as it was clear the monsters wouldn't be coming back any time soon they have begun pushing east.

Though I back them, I have concerns closer to home that prevent providing too much support. The Oni resist from the shadows, hiding among sympathizers in the Human population of the lower Demon Hills and striking out to devour our patrols. A portion of them were even caught trying to sneak through our territory and settle in Balriza. They were executed. I won't let their hunger for flesh and Chi into my homeland.

I've called the Second Golden Azure War Council. If the Blue Scarves are eager to advance, then I will make use of them for my own goals. Tianlou, the greatest city in Yanshen, is a prize beyond any other. If the Humans are able to seize it, they will have control of trade up the Yan as far as Yanzhong, giving our two nations the dominant position in the subcontinent. From there, anything is possible.

Here is the War Council interface. Important to note, unlike the first war against Jiangdu, there's no option to give us control of the war, we have to leave it with the AI.

I've got some ulterior motives, ones that bring my dreams one step closer to reality. The Yanzhong League has remained a potential thorn in our side for too long, with the city itself a tempting prize. Taken together, the League is dangerous, but by stripping one of their outlying fortresses, Guhe, away from them, they become a much more palatable dish. Tianlou itself will be handled by the Blue Scarves.

The final round of Grasping Tail reforms is done, with the financial bureaucracy being folded into the Bank of Balris. I can't say I understand the maths behind it, but they have managed to peg the value of our scales to some kind of more abstract measurement, which keeps prices from spiralling out of control.

That's what we really needed from Economic. Inflation now grows at only half the rate it was before. I'll probably hold off on pushing any more Eco ideas until we are caught up on tech again.

I had a strange encounter out in the Balkhangfa Palace gardens. A Kobold with frayed golden scales and empty eyes was tending to a tree. The fruits from the tree started normal, but grew ever more golden until the highest fruit was pure gold. I took some of the lowest fruits and ate them, but this seemed to annoy the spirit, and it disappeared. Well, so long as my hunger is satisfied, I don't care what it thinks.

Besides besieging Guhe, our army is still occupied with containing the surviving Oni. They thought themselves clever enough to use our distraction to raise a force of local Humans, seize Kabiurgarko Shigirii, and devour our garrison. Their hunger is nothing compared to my desires. Even though the war still rages against Tianlou along the coastline, I have ordered the army back to defeat the uprising and conduct a full purge of the Oni in the region.

Guhe has been handed to the Blue Scarves to administer, which means the path to Yanzhong itself is now clear. During the War Council we came to an agreement that the city, if I should so happen to come into possession of it, would be the inflection point between our two nations. The Golden Tongue will set up their headquarters there. Everything upriver would be my domain, or rather, of Balrijin, and everything downriver would belong to the free people of Lanjinhui.

Our focus on the west had some impact on the war. The Blue Scarves weren't able to take the great city, merely taking monetary concessions from them instead. It's a shame we don't yet have full control of the Yan, but that can change.

A downside of relying on the AI to run the war…

I've got to say, after our fortifications prevented our homelands from being ravaged by the Oni and Hobgoblins, and Guhe and the other Tianlou allies failed to make any headway in a counterattack while we besieged their fortress, I am starting to see the benefits of a defensive strategy. My relatives might call me a Kindled Scale coward for this, but I am the Golden Sage. Clan matters less to me than does the fate of my nation.

As monstrous as the Command are, they seem to know how to run their empire. They are importing huge amounts of paper up the Yan to run their military hierarchy, and they have also laid claim to the teetering empire of the Raj, so that is even more they'll have to keep track of if they keep pushing in that direction. So long as it is away from me, it matters little.

Even with one member eliminated, the Yanzhong League is still quite strong. I have called upon the Wulin to rally his Xiaken to our aid. The Command remains busy in Rahen, so this is the perfect chance for him to grow the power of one of his allies, and the perfect chance for me to avoid wasting Kobold lives on the offensive.

The League attempted to end the war as quickly as possible by marching on Balriza, but that meant that when the Wulin's forces arrived and linked up with Gyar Lukhong they were trapped between the walls of the Balriza Rzong and our combined armies. The Wulin himself was a terror to see in battle, weaving through the army like a rushing river tearing down a city. The League will not get another chance to end the war in their favour.

Finally, the corruption of the Raj and its recent defeats to the Command have brought it over the edge. Its lords have split in every direction, forming ever-shifting power blocs in an effort to survive the collapse. Its institutions continue to stumble along, unaware that half of Rahen no longer answers to them. Perhaps this will keep the Command focused in that direction, rather than making another attempt against the Xiaken.

If the Raj cohesion drops too low, this happens. The Raja loses all of their vassals, turning Rahen into (even more of) a thunderdome and leaving it much easier for outsiders like the Command, Bhuvauri, and the Jaddari to break in.

Besides the city itself, I also desire the Yinzheng fortress on the western edge of the League's territory. With the other fortresses under my rule, any invasion from the west will be completely halted.

I joined the troops personally for the arrival in Yanzhong, but I didn't see any real difference from Jiangdu or any of the other great cities on the Yan, beside Tianlou of course. It is truly the case the Balriza is unmatched thanks to the reforms of my predecessors. I honour their achievements in building up our economy and diplomacy to the point that I can accomplish this. The Human and Harimari population were downcast upon our arrival, but with the Golden Tongue eager to move in I'm sure they'll soon be reaping the benefits of being under my rule.

The Knowing Eye have been busy. One of the hilltops just outside Balriza itself now hosts a burgeoning tower cast out of purple and black stone. Their proposal to the Sage Council is to set up a divination focus so that they can more easily track Balris. It is of no major concern to me as I know the search is popular among the clans, and the treasury is presently overflowing with money. Better that it is here, where I can keep a knowing eye on the Knowing Eye, than hidden in some distant part of their clan territory.

Mage Towers use up a manufactory slot and are frequently important for missions, and their benefits fit very well for Kobold's tall and defensive style.

Most of the clans are on the move, with the economy booming. The Grasping Tail have established Xerrivur as the main entry point for goods into and out of the hilly Kobold heartland. With Yanzhong under my control our trade with the nations of the Yan will only be increasing.

Each headquarters has its own requirements. This one requires a marketplace and a decent amount of development in the province. As you might be able to tell from the lacklustre bonuses, these can be upgraded.

Representatives of the Wulin have come forward with a very interesting proposition. The Command is still focused on the dying Raj, so now is the perfect time to strike a decisive blow against the Oni. During the war the Command deployed units wielding some kind of black material that shut down the more esoteric martial arts, and it's been confirmed that the Oni are the ones who supply it. Attacking now could change the tide of the next war. Of course, I'll take this opportunity.

Now this is incredibly lucky on my part that there is only one Azjakuma province that Jiangliusi can core, which means they aren't going to be able to take any more than that province, meaning the rest has a higher chance of going to me.

The tower was just the beginning, as an entire hillside has effectively become the new home for the Knowing Eye clan. They claim that all their efforts are going into the search for Balris, but I do wonder what their long-term intentions are. I'm sure I can convince the other clans that they will need to be kept in check.

The Knowing Eye HQ requires a Mage Tower and enough dev in Balriza.

As the Raj implodes, there are increasing numbers of Harimari flooding into Yanshen to avoid the chaos of Rahen. The urban centres of the Yan are already hosting significant minorities, if not outright majorities, so there is no reason for us to treat them poorly. My mentor, the Revered Golden Sage, was not a fan of their High Philosophy, but I can see how it benefits a strong ruler.

I've been increasingly leaning on the defensive tactics of the Kindled Scale, and have now officially made this policy for the military. Once again, the Smouldering Claw are upset by my actions, but witnesses speaking of the sight of Human and Oni forces breaking against the high walls of our fortresses is far more pleasing to my ears. Kabiurgarko has held strong throughout the ongoing war with the Oni, allowing the Wulin to march deeper into the hills and finish the war on our behalf.

Max hostile attrition is a very rare stat, so getting any source of it you can is critical to Kobold strategy.

Once again, I was surprised at just how much the Wulin was willing to give us. It's only natural I suppose that they can see how we Kobolds should naturally rule these hills, and that my vision is exactly what we need to hold a stronger defensive position against the power of the Command.

I swear I didn't force the AI to hand over everything to me, though this unexpected bounty is diminished somewhat by our ally taking one of the provinces we need for missions. That's for the future to deal with though.

My rule stretches through most of the Demon Hills, to Balriza, and down to the Yan. The Blue Scarves are the strongest single power in the Lower Yan. We need only reach out and sweep aside those who would oppose us, and all of Yanshen will be mine, ours, to rule. Though the Command and Bhuvauri grow in the west at the expense of the Raj, and the hordes to the north have managed to reconsolidate and push along the Yanshen coast, they do not, cannot have the strength to contain my desires.

To be continued…

 

[HistoryDude]

Balrijin is annexing a lot of land for a country that doesn't want to expand. I wonder if that's due to their ruler, and if it will be continued by his successors...

It's a shame that the Command defeated your alliance, but I suppose the expansion of the Golden Azure War Council should allow a second war that could go better...

 

[Fool Esquire]

Having a allied vassal swarm of of martial artists to do most of the dying for us one upside to the situation.

Martial artists proceed to screw up the war with the Command and not give you what you want against Tianlou

You're doing very well, though. The balance of power has shifted a lot from 1444. Inflation seems like the only long-term threat. What game year is it now? Your Aggressive Expansion might be getting high.

 

[Sybot]

Balrijin is annexing a lot of land for a country that doesn't want to expand. I wonder if that's due to their ruler, and if it will be continued by his successors...

It's a shame that the Command defeated your alliance, but I suppose the expansion of the Golden Azure War Council should allow a second war that could go better...

Very much role-playing with this leader. Conqueror + Naive is an interesting personality combo.

Martial artists proceed to screw up the war with the Command and not give you what you want against Tianlou

You're doing very well, though. The balance of power has shifted a lot from 1444. Inflation seems like the only long-term threat. What game year is it now? Your Aggressive Expansion might be getting high.

The dates are listed at the top of each chapter. As of Chapter Five it is 1506 and inflation stands at 9.5%. The economy is currently outpacing it, but who knows if that'll last. In terms of AE things aren't too bad. A lot of the land we just took was from the wrong-religion wrong-culture-group Oni.

Chapter Five: Dance of Scale and Skin
1495-1506

Lower Terrace, Knowing Eye Hill, Balriza, 1495

The mood glittered as brightly as the sun on the scales of the people bustling on the hillside. It was a nearly perfect day, barely a cloud in sky. The entire city of Balriza was lit up in unbroken sunlight, from the new buildings going up on Knowing Eye Hill, to the ancient stone structures beneath Balkhangfa Palace, to the homes spread out across the hillsides below the Ri-Iha Khang, and even to the Harpy roosts high on the mountain above the city. Despite thousands of young Kobolds away at war, there was no sign of grief or sadness. This was a day of celebration and optimism.

Var Khenchok weaved herself carefully through the crowds, her eyes kept peeled to locate a food stall that would sate the hunger she'd worked up climbing up and down city's hills. Knowing Eye Hill was extra busy today, as the clan had put their planned ritual into action. Honoured Sage Gyar Jotok had approached the Sage Council for approval to use powerful magic to search for Balris, and the sheer quantity of resources they had collected to power this ritual had given a massive boon to the economy of their district.

Something brushed past her leg, tangling up in the trailing ends of her robes for a moment. A tiny hatchling poked its little snout out from underneath her, hissing something in that unintelligible way that they did, before skittering away deeper into the crowd.

"Excuse me, miss," a boy, maybe eight years old, called out, squeezing through the crowd. Behind him, the golden snout of an older hatchling stuck out, their claws clinging to his shirt. Despite the Kobold hatchling being smaller than the Human child, the two were probably the same age.

With a smile, Var Khenchok turned to the child and let him get a good look at her robes. She wasn't about to reprimand him openly, but better to give him a chance to realize his mistake. As he saw the golden lines woven on her clothes, his eyes widened and he babbled for a moment before catching himself.

"Honoured Sage," he said, bowing quickly enough that he almost headbutted a passer-by. The young Kobold behind him followed suit a moment later. "Forgive me for not recognising you."

"You are forgiven," Var Khenchok replied, maintaining a warm expression, "be less hasty, if I had been a Sage of the Smouldering Claw, it might have earned you a beating." The boy nodded deeper into his bow. "Now, what did you want to ask me."

"Honoured Sage, my friend…her little brother ran off," the boy said, stumbling over his words a little, "he came this…this way did you see him?"

His friend raised her head, pleading eyes blinking under her eyebrow ridges. No doubt her parents had left her in charge of the hatchlings, and consequences would be afoot if anything happened to any of them.

"He ran that way," Var Khenchok replied, pointing.

The Kobold took off in that direction immediately, dragging the boy after her. He kept bowing even as he disappeared into the crowd, as if trying to make up for his initial lack of respect.

The Sage chuckled and kept moving. It was always delightful to see children and hatchlings playing together. It was strange to imagine that within the lifetime of her parents there had barely been any Humans within Kobold lands, and the Kobolds scattered across Human lands had been considered more like pets and curiosities than equal partners. Now, the young mingled without bias.

A gap opened in the crowd, and through that gap wafted a thick scent of heavily spiced broiling meat. With her mouth watering, Var Khenchok slipped though to the food stand giving off the aroma. As she approached it was clear why the gap had opened up. A group of Harimari, likely merchants from their ornate outfits in the lowland style, had set up around the stall. Even if they were friendly, they still cast an imposing figure to the shorter Humans and much shorter Kobolds of the crowd.

Most of them appeared to be merely standing watch, with three actually sat at the stall and consuming everything that the unfortunate Kobold chef could serve as fast as it was delivered.

Undaunted, Var Khenchok marched past the guards, who gave her a stern look but let her through, and sat down at the stall beside the most ornately dressed Harimari. He was clearly the leader, with his orange fur faded to grey in many places and shining gold and gem-encrusted beads braided into his hair.

"Honoured Sage, welcome," the chef said, frantically stirring another pot of meaty stew, "I will serve you shortly."

"A Sage?" the Harimari merchant rumbled as he turned to her, his interest piqued, "that's unexpected. I've met many Kobold Sages in these hills, but never a Human Sage."

"Times are changing," she replied, extending a smooth, scaleless hand to shake the merchant's furry paw. "We have become intertwined in our search for Balris."

"Very curious," the merchant said, "your people never met him, and yet you worship him too?"

"Worship is not the right word," Var Khenchok replied. She folded her arms back under her robes and looked out across to the Palace on the distant hillside. "Those of us who have joined the clans have been enamoured with His teachings. For example, He spoke of cooperation and inclusion, which led to the clans forming the Sage Council to coordinate their specialities. Any civilized person could contribute to that, not just Kobolds. I'm sure if a Harimari joined one of the clans, they could become Golden Sage too."

"I've not heard his teachings in full before," the merchant said, "perhaps you can tell me more."

"I would be delighted to," she said, "how long are you planning-"

Every hair on her body stood on end, as an intense burst of Chi oscillated up through the ground her body, and out of the top of her head. The crowd around her went silent, her conversation partner froze mid-bite, and the air itself went still. She turned to look up the hill behind her, and while she could not see it directly, she could tell that everyone in the vicinity had just been linked into the ritual that was ongoing atop the hill.

A moment later, thick cloud descended around her, cold and chilling, and she wrapped herself tightly up in her robes as her stomach dropped out from underneath her as though she was being flung into the sky.

When she opened her eyes, she and everyone else, including the merchants, were stood on a mountain side that somehow mirrored the shape of Knowing Eye Hill. Her breath was stopped, and she turned to look in the direction of central Balriza. There, where the Palace should have been, was a mountain taller than any she'd seen in her life, a piercing white peak that towered over even the one she was stood on. And at the top, just for an instant, she caught a flash of gold.

Then it was over. The cloud ascended, her stomach shot into her throat as though she was being dropped from a great height, and she found herself once again sat on her seat under the clear blue sky of Balriza, among a stunned crowd.

"What was that?" the Harimari merchant growled. He did not have the context. He did not realise.

"I think," Var Khenchok said, as she shakily got to her feet, "you might get to ask about the teachings in person. Excuse me."

She took off into the crowd, her hunger pangs vanished and a new fervour in her heart. She needed to grab Gyar Jotok and drag him before the Sage Council.

The Knowing Eye had seen Him.

Retrieved from the Deep State Archives, excerpts from the writings of Var Khenchok of the Golden Tongue, Golden Sage

For all the mad gluttony of the Revered Golden Sage, she has done much to place Balrijin on the map as a major player in Haless. As the centrepiece of the Golden Azure War Council the people and states of Yanshen are starting to see us as significant, both as a threat and as a barrier against the barbarians from beyond the hills. It is no end of work for the Golden Tongue to keep them from all aligning against us.

Some interesting tags appearing here. It's unusual to see Frozenmaw rank so highly without it having shanked Gawed, and Eborthil is a middling power on the Divenhal that is usually pushed around by Busilar. Yezel Mora is a new tag in the Sarhal update, the Trolls of the Shadow Swamp. They're a horde with mechanics from one of the vanilla natives that see them collapse regularly.

The Revered Golden Sage's latest campaign is against the fortress city of Hubao. They had become subject to the Oni, but with the beasts pushed further north their protection was void. Bianfang has pledged to come to their aid, so we will call in our Yansheni allies to assist.

While she campaigns, from the safety of the Black Jade Citadel of course, her Smouldering Claw clan forces live off the land that they pass through. It is said that Kobolds have sticky fingers, and while I don't believe that to be true it is the case that the most unscrupulous among a foraging army steal gold just as much as food.

I was witness to a marvel in Balriza today. The Knowing Eye Clan was assembled in full for a ritual to seek Balris through a mass divination. Honoured Sage Gyar Jotok led the combined magical power of his clan in accomplishing what none else have done in centuries. They witnessed Balris, seated atop a mountain so high that it pierced the clouds themselves. The backlash of the vision was so strong that even us on the terrace below caught a glimpse. Finally, proof that He is still alive, and within our reach. A mass celebration was ordered, though the Revered Golden Sage preferred to stay on campaign, calling this a mere distraction from her work.

It is not merely the civilised people of Yanshen who have recognised our status. A foul emissary from the Command, a tall red goblin in intricate armour, swaggered into Balriza to deliver an ultimatum. We were to make no further conquests in the Demon Hills, or the Command would deliver their full strength against us. I cannot speak for the Revered Golden Sage, but we have much work to do before we can face them directly, so I am inclined to let them have their little show of supremacy and will advise her to avoid antagonising them.

Hubao itself fell without issue. We have seen no sign of their allies within our territory either, as raids from Lanjinhui and Feiten have distracted their efforts. The Revered Golden Sage has made Hubao her new headquarters for the rest of the war effort as she prepares to assault the great city of Bianfang itself.

She has become obsessed with Cao Bao, a spirit of hoarding. Surveyors mapping out one of the Oni Shigrii found significant wealth hidden beneath of his shrines, which has now been moved to Hubao. Cao Bao is one that all Kobold are taught to never call upon, for he would only amplify their natural hoarding tendencies, and I regret not being there to keep her on the right path. Or perhaps not.

It wasn't Cao Bao how took her away, though perhaps it was an agent of his. A Harimari courtier, upset by the disruption to the internal intrigues of Hubao, took the life with poison. As a gesture of mercy and my first act as Golden Sage, I granted him a rapid execution rather than prolonged torture and a drawn-out death. Kiu Zanam had lost sight of our true goal, and while her reign saw us prosper, I don't doubt that all members of the Sage Council are eager to see us return to our search for Balris.

For their success in granting us a hint towards His location, a sage of the Knowing Eye has been made my protégé, though it is an odd relationship as Gyar Dechen is only a couple of years younger than me and by Kobold standards actually more mature than I am.

Standing before the Sage Council as its only Human member, and as Golden Sage no less, is an odd experience. Nonetheless, I have grown up with the Teachings off Balris and been accepted as a full member of the Golden Tongue clan, and after my experience on Knowing Eye Hill, I am determined as any one off them to see Him located.

All Golden Sages from the Golden Tongue are Human, along with any from the sixth clan yet to join the Council.

Even though the war is ongoing, I can trust the Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw to handle their own areas. I am more concerned with scouring the Demon Hills for any sign of Balris. The remaining demonic beasts dwelling in those hills are a constant issue or our surveyors, and whether they leave of their own accord or rise up in violence I am more than happy to see them gone.

With the new information from the Knowing Eye, I doubt that we will find Balris within these low hills. To push any further north towards the Serpentspine will almost certainly involve war with the Command. I ordered the Sage Council to come up with suggestions to reform our military to meet this threat head on. I won't rush blindly into a conflict like Kiu Zanam might have.

Vote coming up at the end of this chapter.

Once again, I am faced with regret. In allowing the leaders put in place by my predecessor to continue their execution of the war I let a great tragedy befall the city of Bianfang. Though it is the tyrant king's capital, it did not deserve the ravaging that Smouldering Claw forces dealt to it. The clans must be brought to heal, and it starts by confiscating most of their ill-gotten gains and handing it to the poor and destitute that this war has created.

Similarly, I will not indulge in needless conquest. The river approaches to the Black Jadr Citadel have come under our control, but otherwise I have ordered the liberation of some of the tyrant's subjects, including a gesture of goodwill to our Harpy citizens, freeing their sisters in the Phokao Moutains

The wars of the past twenty years have drained our temples of student, philosophers, poets and artists. We need a moment of respite, so that a generation might grow up without fearing being thrown into battle for another's personal power.

There is no need to take the territory for ourselves. I trust that the defenders of Hubao know how to maintain their own fortress, so they can maintain some level of self-rule. As further recompense for our actions against them, I negotiated for the return of some of their territory that had be seized first by the Oni, and then by the Wulin of the Xia.

The Return Core feature is a massive boon. Though it is very exploitable as a way to eat your own allies I think only taking one province needed for missions isn't too bad.

With peace restored, the search for Balris can begin anew. Armies of warriors and hired adventurers have scoured the lower Demon Hills for any sign of Him, but come up with nothing. That is understandable, given none of these hills come close to piercing the clouds as in the Knowing Eye's vision, but it does not make it any less disappointing that He did not leave a proper trail for us to follow. All evidence points to further north, deeper into the Hills and perhaps to the tail end of the Serpentspine.

Though I do not want to leave a legacy of conquest, that doesn't change the actions of the past. The best that I can do is make sure our population along the Yan is properly treated. We have inherited millions of Humans and Harimari, enough to overwhelm us should they rise against us. To that end, I have officially established the Golden Tongue headquarters in Yanzhong, and elevated several more Human Sages into the Clan, to ensure that there is a permanent Human representative on the Sage Council. This is not to smother my Kobold brethren, but to ensure our peoples are bound into the future.

Our hopes of pushing further north to seek Balris have been struck down. The Command has marched on the Oni and enslaved them for their Korashi production. I would not mind beasts slaughtering and taming beasts, but Balris is everything to my people. The barbarians of the steppe have also taken some of the hills, their terrorbirds riding down the Oni who were fleeing the Hobgoblin invasion. We will have to fight both of these uncivilised forces to secure the search areas.

The five clans have spread across the hills and down to the river, their temples springing up and gathering more and more Human adherents. Through spreading the Teachings of Balris, we can bring them all together towards a single goal. Once that goal is achieved, once He is found, our unity will be only stronger.

This is a requirement for the next mission, and pushes the clergy up to 100% influence. Luckily that isn't as big a deal as it used to be.

That unity has already been achieved in the Black Mist Hills. The Beikling people have been freed from the Jiangshi and Oni that oppressed and preyed on them, and after a thorough cleansing of their religious leadership they have welcomed Kobolds settling among them with open arms. The sight of both races mingling and living together was once limited to Balriza, but now can be seen as far away as Kabiurgarko. Some of the more enthusiastic settlers have even established a new clan that freely welcomes Humans amongst its numbers, the Teeming Arm clan.

All provinces containing Kobolds are hit by this negative modifier, but in return all Beikling provinces get bonus development.

Wulin Zhanji has completed his consolidation of the Xiaken masters under his rule, and named himself the Supreme Master of the One Xia. With Bianfang shattered by the damage to their capital, they have immediately fallen under his rule as well. I respect his willingness to work closely with us, but I am starting to get concerned about his ambitions in Yanshen. If he interferes with the Blue Scarves liberation campaigns, our three-way alliance might crumble.

That worry does not prevent me from sending some of our warriors to ensure that the ways of the Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw are represented among the Xia. We must maintain our friendship, or else the Command will crush us individually.

The Teeming Arm have been working tirelessly to root out any remaining Oni in Kabiurgarko and make it hospitable to civilised peoples, and finally have declared the Shigrii cleansed of their filth. The vast gold mines beneath the fortress-monastery are open for business and pumping money into our economy. For their eagerness, the Teeming Arm have been elevated to the Sage Council as the youngest clan, despite the complaints of many older clans who do not yet have representation. I welcomed the Honoured Beikling Sage as he entered the Council chambers, and gave a speech on how the Sage Council represented the union of Human and Kobold efforts in our united quest to locate Balris. Though He might not be the progenitor of all of us, we have accepted and been uplifted by His teachings nonetheless.

The Teeming Arm are the sixth and final clan to join the Sage Council. Balrijin's politics are fully established. For the moment.

With the Teeming Arm working hard across the breadth of our territory, new opportunities are arising constantly. A worm spirit brought minerals to the surface, and thanks to the Beikling knowledge of the area they were able to notice the change and set up mining operations in short order. Our economy is flourishing, and we can freely invest in developing our lands further.

Though most investment is internal, we have external concerns as well. The Command looms on our western border, so I have authorized significant funds to be spent on further fortifying the approaches to the Shigrii in the Demon Hills. Kindled Scale warriors will man these ramparts and harass, raid, and ultimately strike down any godless Hobgoblin that dares march up into our territory.

Ramparts are a must have for defensive-focused militaries. With extra attrition, defensiveness, and a dice bonus, they can turn a strategic fort into a real killing ground for the enemy. The downside is they are expensive and take up a manufactory slot.

While we are in a period of rebuilding and unification, the Blue Scarves have continued their campaigns under the Golden Azure War Council. The remnants of the Yanzhong League have fallen, with everything west of the city itself coming under our administration and everything to the east joining Lanjinhui.

Development has spread across the hills thanks to the efforts of the Teeming Arm, with workers delving and uncovering resources we didn't even consider possible. Underneath the Black Jade Citadel, a significant source of Tamphora has been unearthed, which has already been requested by the Knowing Eye to power further rituals to track down Balris.

After several years of peace, the war footing of the Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw has faded and they have returned to more traditional ways of battle. The ancient dragon dance, once used for resolving disputes, has re-emerged as a tactic for dealing with bandits, terrorbird raiders, and Oni remnants. One cannot expect the enemy to abide by the rules of a duel, but the martial arts principles behind it allow warriors to single out strong combatants and remove them from the fight, and once they are defeated the rest of the enemy will retreat.

All the clans are fully behind the search for Balris now. Our economy grows, our warriors get stronger, and the Sages guide the Kobolds and Humans under our rule. All that is left is to begin the next push. Not for treasure, or glory, but to reach Him.

I'm sure there's no problem here.

Thousands of Kobolds eagerly join our barracks and temples as word of the next phase of our search reaches them, and the numbers of the Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw swell. We will soon be ready.

With the military clans once again regaining prominence, they brought forward an interesting idea. To resolve the conflict between offence and defence that they represent, they are to hold a formal dragon dance between the two greatest Sages of their clans. With a great deal of ceremony to mark this occasion, we assembled in the gardens outside the Balkhangfa Palace to witness the Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw work out their difference. It was a sight to see, two Kobold warriors holding nothing back, with claws, batons, and flame flickering across the arena faster than the eye could see. In the end, Honoured Sage Fax Cezan of the Kindled Scale baited his opponent into overextending and claimed victory. Kindled Scale will take the lead for the coming campaign.

And what a campaign it will be. The Nuugdan Tsarai have been raiding our northern border for decades, have subdued their rebellious subjects, and have recently pushed along the Yanshen coast. This will be a two-fold strike. The segments of the Demon Hills they have conquered will be ours, so we might continue the search, while the terrorized people of Yanshen will be liberated by the Blue Scarves. The Command has no love for the terrorbird riders, and will not intervene on their behalf. We can strike them separately.

To be continued…

Vote

War looms on the horizon, both with the vicious terrorbird riders of the steppe, and inevitably the Command. The Sage Council has met in order to discuss what military strategy the nation should take up for these upcoming wars. The ambitions of the previous Golden Sage were just a detour in the true path of Balrijin, the locating of Balris himself. Which approach will best achieve these ends?

Kindled Scale – Defensive – The Demon Hills and Black Mist Hills are near impenetrable if properly fortified. The enemy, whether flightless bird or Hobgoblin horde, will fall in front of our walls. The Kindled Scale victory in the Dragon Dance only further proves this point (+1 vote to final result).
Smouldering Claw – Offensive – We need not lean on our strengths, but rather shore up our weaknesses. In direct battle we often falter, and defeating the Command or the bird riders for good will require us to leave the safety of our hills and take the fight to them.
Golden Tongue – Quality – Our close relations with the One Xia give us unparalleled access to their vast array of martial schools. We need not solely rely on the arts of our own warrior clans, but can build an army where each warrior is trained in exactly what they need for their role in battle.
Knowing Eye – Divine – Balris is out there, atop a distant peak, watching us. We must live up to His expectations in battle, and be driven by our desire to meet Him once more.
Grasping Tail – Mercenary – We have come into tremendous wealth over the course of the past few years. This should be spent on hiring Human auxiliaries to support our warriors in battle and spare them the drudgery of sieges.
Teeming Arm – Quantity – The vast Human populations of the nation have proven their willingness to seek Balris as we do. By officially opening our temples and barracks to them for training we can grow our numbers beyond reckoning.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The option with the most votes will be selected. Second place will get a guaranteed appearance in the next idea poll.


Voting will last for 72 hours (considering the holidays)

 

[HistoryDude]

I'm sure that this new fervor won't lead to any misguided holy wars...

I look forward to seeing how different a human Golden Sage will be. Maybe there can be more focus on searching for Balris? I also really want to see the dragon's reaction to that.

 

[Sybot]

I'm sure that this new fervor won't lead to any misguided holy wars...

I look forward to seeing how different a human Golden Sage will be. Maybe there can be more focus on searching for Balris? I also really want to see the dragon's reaction to that.

I'd like there to be more searching, but the big blocker is really the mission tree. The Command really messed with us by taking some needed territory.

Defensive won the vote, and Quality has been carried forward to the next vote. Which, as it turns out, is at the end of this very chapter.

Chapter Six: Scarves and Scales Intertwined
1506-1524

Foot of the High Temple, Tianlou, 1517

A great dark void loomed up before Gyar Dechen, as he stared into the deepest entrance to the High Temple. Fifteen hundred years ago, Harimar the Great had descended these stairs into the very heart of the Temple, only never be seen again. It was not hard to imagine how. The room in which he stood, the grand foyer where the Temple's keeper welcomed guests, was adorned with characters in a language completely alien to him, diagrams of unknown purpose, and incredibly sharp implements of death that had been retrieved from disarmed traps in the upper layers of the temple.

Chi flowed from the darkness in smothering waves, to the point that he wasn't sure he could survive descending any deeper than this. Between that and the strange defensive mechanisms of the Temple, Harimar had likely found his final resting place soon after losing sight of the entrance.

"A daunting sight, Honoured Sage, is it not?" Cizhao, the elderly Human keeper, said as he paced towards him. He lifted his arms, clad in thick and heavy robes, and bowed to Gyar Dechen.

"Why is it left open?" the Kobold Sage asked. He carefully stepped back from the brink, keeping his eyes focused on tip of his snout to keep from getting lost in the endless darkness before him.

"Any may seek the secrets of the High Gods," Cizhao replied, "that no-one has returned from lower levels merely demonstrates that they were not worthy, or perhaps that they succeeded and ascended."

Gyar Dechen wasn't sure the latter was true. While the Sage Council acknowledged the High Gods, it had always been a political move to ensure smooth relations with the ruling classes of Yanshen who mostly followed the High Philosophy. It was very simple to slot Balris in alongside the other Gods, and that was how they convinced many city-dwelling Humans and Harimari to join in their quest for Him.

Similar to Balris Himself, the High Philosophy had the High Temples as proof that there was truth behind their faith. That was part of why Gyar Dechen had decided to investigate the Temple himself, to see if there was some connection he could glean from the strange structures.

To his disappointment, there was nothing that he could find to actually link the High Gods to Balris. The mystical qualities of the building were incredible, but whoever built the High Temples had nothing to teach him about locating He Who Will Return.

He turned away from the entrance and slowly began to circle the grand foyer again, running his eyes and thoughts over the engravings supposedly left by the High Gods. Within them were woven enchantments and wards beyond anything his clan was capable of, but none of them would grant him the power to him peer into the depths below, or locate a specific mountain peak. They were all intended to keep out intruders, and, perhaps more concerning, keep something contained. If He ever got the honour of speaking to Balris in person, this would be something that he would ask of Him.

"Honoured Sage!" a voice called from the balcony above.

The massive grand foyer was entered from the ceiling, a testament to the abilities of the builders to descend through the air. Those who have since inhabited it criss-crossed the chamber with ornate staircases and balconies to reach every one of the entrances to the upper and lower levels of the Temple and allow examination of mystical adornments on the walls. Even now, he stood upon a platform above a void that held magical traps that had never been disarmed. It was dangerous, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him.

Gyar Dechen peered up at a small collection of Kobolds and Humans who were waving down at him, slightly disappointed that his investigation had been cut short.

"The ceremony will begin soon!" the warrior at the front of the party called out.

Ascending from the Temple, in the literal sense rather than the spiritual, was tiring, but Gyar Dechen had no time to rest. As the protégé of the Golden Sage, he needed to be presentable for the most important diplomatic event of his lifetime. The Revered Golden Sage wouldn't forgive him if he ruined it for her.

The glistening daylight of the outside hurt his eyes, the endless sea of rooftops of the great city of Tianlou reflecting almost as much as was shining straight down from the sky. The city itself was mostly undamaged, at least in central districts. There had been fighting in the outskirts, but as far as the urban population was concerned it had mostly been a bloodless siege.

And many of them were present for this occasion. He wasn't sure if they were here willingly or if the Blue Scarves had rounded up a crowd for this event, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that almost every key official, including representatives from each clan of Balrijin and the mayors of every major city in Lanjinhui were arranged in a diplomatic stand on one side of the great square outside the High Temple that had been repurposed for the ceremony.

The steady drumbeat and stirring strings of the Blue Scarf's musicians filling the air, while Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw warriors put on a roaring performance of a faux-Dragon Dance, sending bursts of colourful flame over the heads of the audience.

Gyar Dechen quickly made his way up the stand in the central square, upon which stood just a few key participants. The President of Lanjinhui, Youyun Ng, stood side-by-side with the Golden Sage, Var Khenchok. The newly-installed mayor of Tianlou was also present, his head bowed in submission, and the rest of the number were various diplomatic functionaries, mostly Kobolds from the Golden Tongue clan.

"You made it," Var Khenchok said, offering a bow to her protégé. As close in age as they were, it was almost a peer relationship. "We'll start in just a moment."

"It would be a disgrace for the Knowing Eye to not be present to view this event," Gyar Dechen replied, returning her bow. He took up his place among the delegation from Balriza as the ceremony began.

It started with speeches from the two leaders to the assembled crowd, talking about the shared history of their nation, from the Blue Scarf Rebellion, to the fall of Jiangdu, the purging of the Jiangshi, and the defence of Yanshen against the Command. They spoke of freedom for all, honouring both the spirits and the gods, and two governments guided by the principles of the wisest being in the world.

Today would mark the next step in the relationship between the Kobolds and Humans of Yanshen.

Youyun Ng accepted the title of Azure President, and wrapped a blue scarf around the Golden Sage's neck. In reply, she handed him a pair of gloves into which golden scales (freely given) had been sewn. At last, the Golden Azure was more than just a fancy name for their alliance, it had become the name of a dream that was now in motion.

Var Khenchok stepped back and raised a fist into the air.

"Xerlanza rgyal kha!" she called out.

The Kobold members of the delegation, Gyar Dechen included, echoed her.

"Xerlanza sheng!" Youyun Ng responded, saluting and listening to the echo coming from the Blue Scarf officers and politicians.

As the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, whether that had required prodding or not, fireworks shot into the sky above, highlighting the High Temple behind them with every colour of the rainbow.

Gyar Dechen spared a glance at the giant, yet still enigmatic, structure. They had taken a step forward today, but there were still a great many mysteries surrounding them, Balris was still yet to be found, and monsters rampaged at the edges of the nation. Whatever would come, it whatever form it took, they would now be facing them together.

Retrieved from the Deep State Archives, excerpts from the writings of Gyar Dechen of the Knowing Eye, Golden Sage

The Sage Council came to a near outright-majority decision, further backing the Kindled Scale in the advocacy of a defensive strategy. They started by recognising deeds in battle from the last war, promoting those who displayed a sufficiently defensive mindset. I can foresee issues with this approaching, as the Smouldering Claw were not pleased with how much they have been snubbed in the years since their Golden Sage passed.

However, the Revered Golden Sage was there to calm tensions. She made clear that the Smouldering Claw are an important part of Balrijin, and that their time for glory would come. Her skill at diplomacy has been the greatest asset, and while I was sceptical of a Human for a time, she has only aided our goal of finding Balris. Beyond our borders, she and her Golden Tongue clanmates have leveraged our image as bringers of good fortune into one of protecting the peace and prosperity of Yanshen from the likes of the Command.

Her administrative skills are significant as well, as she has further expanded upon the Grasping Tail reforms and brought even more funding into our coffers. Some have gone so far as to say that she is the first Human to have been personally blessed by Balris Himself. I question if He has any knowledge of events below the heavens on which He has perched Himself, though it matters little at present.

There are those who would try to take advantage of her position, but she has no love for them either. Youji Maang was a follower of the Silk Turban school of High Philosophy, which advocates for gaining wealth as the way to ascend. She was caught with her hands in a few too many pockets in Yanzhong, and perhaps thought that as a fellow Human the Revered Golden Sage would be merciful. That was not the case, and several executions followed.

Our intention was to push north as soon as the Sage Council had finished applying the initial reforms, but we were beaten to it. The terrorbird riders struck at the city of Beikdugang, only to find themselves attacked by a coalition of its allies. The Revered Golden Sage declared the time to attack was now. There is no sense in wasting this opportunity.

With the Blue Scarves, Xiaken, and Balloon Riders of Feiten at our side, almost the entirety of Yanshen is aligned against the Nuugdan Tsarai. Our victory is close to assured.

The war has given us reason to push through more military reforms. The Revered Golden Sage has made known her opinion on the factionalism and separate clan command within the military and decreed that both Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw are to drill together. It is more important than ever, with more minor martial schools finding their place in the military, that everybody knows their role rather than seeking personal glory.

No quarter is brooked for the lower levels of corruption, just like the upper levels. I offered the suggestion that these smugglers could be hired to smuggle information out of Command territory. For all the Hobgoblins shout about their military prowess, we of the Knowing Eye have identified countless holes in their borders. However, my suggestion was rejected and the smugglers went to the gallows.

Reports from our first proper engagements with the riders have been promising. Their vaunted monster birds have proven no match for our warriors. The majority of their army was conscripted foot, and what terrorbird riders they did have were kept at bay by walls of fire summoned up by the Kindled Scale, leaving them vulnerable to a counter-charge by the Xiaken commander.

The AI doesn't really know how best to use the terrorbird military. They should really have 100% cavalry ratio.

I should have foreseen this. We had thought the Command focused on their campaigns in Rahen, but they have taken advantage of the Xiaken forces marching north to launch an all-out invasion of Xianjie. We have no choice but to end the war and pull back, for our own holdings in the Demon Hills are also at risk. The Blue Scarves will remain behind to secure the eastern flank.

At the very least we have secured the north-eastern parts of the Demon Hills. The soaring peaks of the Serpentspine are in sight, and with them our strongest leads towards Balris. However, so long as the Command threatens us, we can't hope to begin searching those mountains. In the east, Lanjinhui has been granted some liberated territory. It is too late for many of the original inhabitants, with the towns and cities of northern Yanshen fallow and quiet in the wake of the horde, but the Blue Scarves should be able to rebuild.

Their leadership has declared that this is the start of the continental revolt, calling on all peasants oppressed by tyrants and eunuchs to rise up and join them. I feel the Revered Golden Sage was a bit annoyed by this, seeing as it undid much of her coalition-building against the Nuugdan Tsarai. However, with the Command bearing down on us we do not have the time to be concerned about this.

By the time our forces arrived in Xianjie, the Command was already pushing towards Xiadao. Our forces were the more concentrated, while the Xiaken had lost all cohesion and split into smaller forces based around their individual schools. The Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw agreed one something for once. Xiadao could not fall, or the war could be over within a matter of months. A defensive action and an aggressive one, all at once.

However, their attempt to relieve the capital faltered as the Command collapsed their forces in response to our attack. Our commanders were shocked at just how many cannons the Hobgoblins were deploying compared to us. To this point, we had only been using them for sieges, but I am rapidly coming around to the idea that we should be using them in battle. The Xiaken were unable to draw enough attention to prevent us from being forced to retreat. In just a few months of war, our reserves of warriors were already tapped.

Before the retreating army had reached our territory, I made use of my contacts to get in touch with the Wandering Wind. These martial artists left Xianjie after the Wulin completed their unification, travelling the length and breadth of Haless testing their strength against everything from the Gnolls of Bulwar to the slavers of Bhuvauri to the ghosts of Bim Lau. By devoting a portion of the treasury, I have brought them into our service to save their once-homeland.

There are actually quiet a few unique mercenary units around in Anbennar, with a wide range of bonuses. For example, there are the Gangs of Sarisung, a cheap mob of fodder, or the Stone Army, which are resistant against shock damage. The Wandering Wind get bonus combat ability and movement speed.

With the Wandering Wind supporting our warriors, our counterattack began. Our first step was to relieve Bianfang from its siege by a powerful Orc shaman who rained lightning down against its walls. The Wind warriors were able to redirect his lightning back at him, and his forces were surrounded and eradicated.

As the fighting continues, debates about the future of the military have begun to spread within the Sage Council. Many Sages are insistent that we just need to refine the old ways, but having heard the stories of Hobgoblin gun lines and cannon batteries, I think it is clear we cannot survive without changing. I will insist to the Revered Golden Sage that we need to import more guns and cannons if we are to really take the fight to the Command.

At least there is good news from the north, as our forts hold strong against the Command and their slave armies. The Demon Hills are rough and filled with countless hideaways for the Kindled Scale garrisons to strike out from and eat away at the enemy piecemeal. Each Hobgoblin, Orc or Goblin killed here is one that our warriors do not have to fight in Xianjie.

The Demon Hills have some of the best defensive terrain outside of the Serpentspine, with lots of narrow passes and multiple ways to stack defence and attrition bonuses whether playing as Kobolds or as Oni. You can really see the attrition style of warfare coming online here, with the besiegers losing around 1k per month on a fort that takes two months per siege tick, and despite being just barely over the supply limit.

The Wandering Wind has lived up to their name, leading the charge along the frontier and striking at mustering camps and reinforcing armies on the march into the heart of the One Xia. The Command might be running out of steam for their invasion, yet the Wandering Wind show no sign of tiring. This is the only hope that we have left in the war, as Xiaken schools are completely depleted and are unable to even defend their temples any more.

This was mostly to go after the Command's war goal to minimize their warscore against One Xia.

A detour into the Demon Hills also wiped out a force that was close to finally cracking the Shigrii's defences, rather than continuing to defend Xianjie. It is unfortunate logic, but I can see the reasoning. Both sides are close to exhaustion, meaning the war will end soon. We cannot risk losing any land to the Command in whatever peace is agreed upon.

The Revered Golden Sage's reforms of the army and economy have centralized more power into her office. I am concerned that she may have gone too far. If another Golden Sage like her predecessor is selected, they might have the power to completely derail our true goals. When I take the seat, I must be cautious and ensure my selection of protégé is of a similar mind to myself.

After four years of draining warfare, the Command has settled for a slice of Xianjie. It cost them more warriors than it cost us, but they have countless slaves to fall back on, so we must make use of this time to ensure we are better prepared for the next conflict. I am considering whether we should be pre-emptive in our actions, so that we may fight entirely on our own terms.

It was worth it to fight back, even if it completely drained our manpower, just to keep the Command from taking everything. The longer they take to chew through the One Xia, the better.

Jincheng has, over the course of the unification and growth of the One Xia, and even during the wars we've fought on their behalf, grown into a major centre of trade towards the uppermost tributaries of the Yan. The Grasping Tail has established itself well in the city, making sure to discover and exploit any new goods and technologies that flow down from Xianjie and even Hobgoblin territory. I make sure anything interesting is sent to the Sage Council, for given our disadvantages we cannot afford to squander a thing.

Less pleasantly coming down the river is rumours from merchants who have been lucky enough to be allowed passage by the Command. Following this last war, they are shifting their eastern military priority towards Balrijin, rather than the One Xia. One the one claw, it is good to be recognised for the power that we have become. On the other, this means that we can no longer use the Xiaken as our shield against invasion. They will be coming for us.

The Blue Scarves are on the move once more, marching along the Yan for Tianlou. We have retained the services of the Wandering Wind and dispatched them to assist, allowing our warriors to recover and return to Balriza to participate in the impending second Dragon Dance.

It is always impressive to see the two greatest warriors of the Kindled Scale and Smouldering Claw battle one another. You can always learn something from watching such bouts. However, compared to the last one, this Dragon Dance was marred with anger. The Smouldering Claw have felt increasingly sidelined over the past ten years, and with the Wandering Wind taking the lead in battle they have not had the chance to distinguish themselves, while the Kindled Scale at least held the Demon Hills successfully.

Another Kindled Scale victory, with their Honoured Sage building on experience she had gained while fighting the Hobgoblins, has led to discontent among the warriors. The Revered Golden Sage was quick to quietly arrest the loudest voices and lock them up until they cooled down, but I fear that this might just be putting the problem aside for another ten years.

I suggested to the Revered Golden Sage that some of the malcontents could be sent to Xiadao to learn further and perhaps lose some of their rivalry by mixing with other martial artists. We already have significant exchange programs, so she readily agreed, and even expanded upon them further, encouraging some of the greatest masters whose temples were occupied by the Command to settle in Balrijin instead.

Also, a quick peek at what is still to come on the mission tree.

The Teeming Arm has grown incredibly powerful in the Demon Hills, to the point that they may soon have a headquarters of their own. Considering the support the Sage Council has offered them, we have called in our debts to fund the construction of a fort and ramparts in the northernmost parts of the Demon Hills. Hobgoblin forces had free run of this region in the last war, and there is the risk that they can come to some kind of agreement with the terrorbird riders on the far side of the Hills. Although it is not as fortified as the Shigrii the Command occupies, it will have to do.

Tianlou has fallen, meaning that the entire length of the Yan to Jincheng is under our control, as is the greatest city in Yanshen. I have been invited by the Revered Golden Sage to grand ceremony in Tianlou, where she will make a grand announcement of the plans for our alliance that the Golden Tongue have been working on since her ascent to her post.

Balrijin and Lanjinhui will no longer operate separately in matters of diplomacy and war, but as a single whole devoted to the twin tasks of locating Balris and defending the oppressed people of Yanshen. The Golden Azure War Council will be disbanded, and replaced by a united army with two leaderships. Xerlanza, the Land of Golden Azure, will be an equal partnership of the Golden Sage and Azure President, with the Golden Tongue clan acting to smooth any wrinkles.

It was a surprise that this came about within my lifetime, but I could see the way this was going. The intermingling of Kobolds and Humans has become so heavy that we are close to one people already. I wonder if one day the domestic barriers will also slip away and Xerlanza will become even more than a military union.

In game terms this isn't much of an equal partnership though, given the mission reward. I wonder what Lanjinhui's mission tree will make of this when it gets completed. The topic of Xerlanza itself and the eventual form it will take will be subject to a much later vote. For now, we officially remain Balrijin.

As some recompense for their expenditure on the defence of the Demon Hills, the Revered Golden Sage agreed to allow the Teeming Arm to construct a massive extension to the Kabiurgarko Shigrii for their operations. The Demon Hills are incredibly rich, and she was especially interested in putting to use all of the resources the Oni had been squandering.

That reduced gold depletion chance is incredibly juicy, although it'll just lead to more inflation in the long run if we pump up its development too hard.

It is fascinating to visit the clan headquarters after each of my trips away from Balriza. Each time I return it has grown larger and our position within the city has strengthened. The other clans look at us with some suspicion, but we ride high among the population for confirming that Balris still lives. The Revered Golden Sage is fading, and she has made me promise to not let the Knowing Eye grow too quickly compared to the others, or to let the nation fracture along clan lines. I will honour that promise.

Each HQ grows in size and grants bigger bonuses as you develop the province. For example, by bumping up Balriza to 15 base tax, we get this. Note the inflation reduction. It's not much, but with another level of HQ still to go that takes it up to -0.03 and six HQs in total, it should start to add up once we get going with the development.

She passed, turning the title of Golden Sage over to my hands. I am not as blessed as she was, nor do I have the mind of a warrior, but I can take what we have learned and lead us into a future where we are reunited with Balris. My protégé is of the Kindled Scale, to lead the inevitable conflict with the Command, though there is still the concern that this leads to the clan fractures that Var Khenchok feared. Perhaps I can do something about that at the next Dragon Dance, if I live that long.

Good news marked my first session of the Sage Council. The Honoured Sage of the Grasping Tail was able to report that the national bank had completed its census of the economy, and that they had been able to seize several key scale hoards that had been bloating prices in parts of the nation. More money is flowing in, and more importantly we almost have the scale inflation problem wrangled. The only issue is the amount of gold coming out of Kabiurgarko, which the Teeming Arm are minting into new coins and causing almost as much inflationary damage as the scales were.

Though Var Khenchok was the one to begin negotiations, I was the one to complete them. Hubao fortress has been officially handed over to our administration, to ensure consistency of the defensive strategy for our western border. Most of the region remains self-governed, though we have purchased significant amounts of land for further fortifications.

If Hubao had decent defensive stats they might be worth keeping, but we can do it better.

The Azure President has kept himself busy, launching campaigns against the remaining states of lower Yanshen. Of course, these were all approved by the Sage Council to, seeing as we are equal partners in Xerlanza. The aim of Lanjinhui was always the liberation of the common people, but it does worry me to see these sorts of conflicts going on while the Command looms large to the west.

A new age is approaching. I can see feel it in the air, see it through the rituals of my clan and most importantly get my own claws on news of the world beyond our borders. A great clash is coming between the faithless Hobgoblins and we believers in Balris' light. A demonic horde masses on the western edge of Rahen, poised to invade. Slavers run rampant in the ruins of the Raj. As it all comes unravelled, in what manner will history be woven again?

A brief push north has seen the eastern passes of the Demon Hills come fully under our control, to give us a way to retreat if the Hills fall to the Command. I have done everything I can to prepare for the true battle with the Command. The only thing left to do is order the Kindled Scale, Smouldering Claw and Wandering Wind to prepare for battle, and then cast the die.

To be continued…

Vote

So, the next idea group is already open for selection. With another conflict with the Command looming, the Sage Council has to consider whether they can devote even more of their already-stretched military focus into developing new tactics to win the upcoming war (i.e. we won't be able to actually pick any ideas before the war if you select a military option), or if they should focus on improving the nation's foundation so that it can withstand the onslaught.

Kindled Scale – Divine – Balris has blessed our warriors to win the second Dragon Dance. This is clearly a sign of His favour, and that we need to further devote ourselves to Him to win the greater conflict.
Smouldering Claw – Quality – Though we have a defensive focus, this does not mean we should ignore the training of our warriors. The Xiaken have given us much, we cannot squander their teachings.
Golden Tongue – Influence – Maintaining the foreign policy of Xerlanza is taxing the Golden Tongue to its limits. With extra investment, the risk of a split in our alliance could be minimized.
Knowing Eye – Innovative – The Golden Sage is a major proponent of the arts and sciences. With his guidance we can overcome the Hobgoblins through progress and understanding, demonstrating to Balris the lessons that we have learned from Him.
Grasping Tail – Infrastructure – As we integrate ever closer with the rest of Yanshen, we must take care to build up our infrastructure to ensure that economic growth does not stagnate. Our terrain is rugged, so careful planning and forethought will be required to ensure the smooth flow of trade.
Teeming Arm – Espionage – The Beikling people are familiar with sneaking beneath the notice of monsters. Be they the Oni and Jiangshi of the past or the Hobgoblins of the present, we will undermine their military strength and bring an end to their oppression.

Vote for up to two options by clicking on the below image. The option with the most votes will be selected. Second place will get bonus votes in the next idea poll.


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