Well after the pirated, bounty hunters, treasure hunters, etc. etc. finally killed each other off we decide to go digging. Surprise surprise. Treasure. Buried beneath our jungle haven is a giant refrigerator which stores the most miraculous substance ever. Chocolate that doesn't make you fat.

This glorious discovery would've been economically terrifying in the wrong hands. Thankfully, I keep my head clear in this incredible situation. If no single faction can possess this... Then every faction must possess it.

In our logiconvention, I arrange the plans. Operation delayed Christmas.

Tomorrow, all around the globe, people will wake up and they will find themselves surrounded by chocolate, without the adverse side effects.

Then, due to the stimulation of the chocolate, people will make love not war, and peace will reign for a day.

The next morning, however, people will realise they are in beds they shouldn't be in.

Darn, this completely circumvents the rest of my strategy. The trade guild shall not be pleased to hear about this...

*checks the map* If you emerge from the mountains' southern borders, head west along the edge of Sandromin's desert to reach Venezzia. We will light signal fires for your envoy.

You may refer to our society as Venezzia. At present the Trade guild and the ruling council are interchangeable.

Oh goody, a free sword. I don't think the Dwarves will be very pleased when they hear you struck Adamantium. You may want to keep that quiet

Well it is a rare find in the desert... besides, they have all the mithrilite ore they could possibly need. Anyways, we're working on a fortress; who happens to have the stone we need to complete it? After all, our desert is very barren and we'd like to place a giant fortress on our main oasis.

It seems that the Trade Guild's messenger pigeon has been struck down by lightning.

In the mean time let's communicate with Sandromin!

[message]We could supply that stone for you, Sandromin.

But of course we would like something in return...

A modest supply of your Adamantium Ore, perhaps?[/message]

Okay, we shall send you several hundred pounds and in return we shall receive stone.

We're in need of ground vehicles, who's supplying?

Done. Expect a convoy in the next two weeks.

I would like to establish a permanent trade rout with you, Sandromin.

It would be beneficial to both of us, we give you an abundance of stone and in return you give us some of your difficult-to-find desert minerals.

What do you say?


A new nation? Well, the only vehicles that us humble nations have, to my knowledge, are chariots. I don't see why you would need them. No wars going on now.

We agree to your trade routes. We shall also send you high-quality desert spices and rubies for whatever you can offer.

You thought that you could keep this trade agreement with the Dwarves hidden from the Trade guild? No matter, we have a counter offer. We have modest quarries in the foothills of the Dwarven mountains. We could quite easily send Stone to you by ship. We have an established trade route and I'm certain our ships could handle the additional load. While I admit that the Dwarves could provide the Stone in much vaster quantities, they would have to haul it over land, through desert, trying to find you amongst the shifting dunes. All the while with a thick beard and a heavy Goatskin coat.

All the guild asks in return is a modest increase in Trade tariffs and some of your strange desert spices.

We agree to your trade routes. We shall also send you high-quality desert spices and rubies for whatever you can offer.

OOC: Anyone else willing to hop in?

You thought that you could keep this trade agreement with the Dwarves hidden from the Trade guild? No matter, we have a counter offer. We have modest quarries in the foothills of the Dwarven mountains. We could quite easily send Stone to you by ship. We have an established trade route and I'm certain our ships could handle the additional load. While I admit that the Dwarves could provide the Stone in much vaster quantities, they would have to haul it over land, through desert, trying to find you amongst the shifting dunes. All the while with a thick beard and a heavy Goatskin coat.

All the guild asks in return is a modest increase in Trade tariffs and some of your strange desert spices.

Done. Expect a convoy in the next two weeks.

I would like to establish a permanent trade rout with you, Sandromin.

It would be beneficial to both of us, we give you an abundance of stone and in return you give us some of your difficult-to-find desert minerals.

What do you say?


A new nation? Well, the only vehicles that us humble nations have, to my knowledge, are chariots. I don't see why you would need them. No wars going on now.

OOC: We need more nations... only 5 nations is not enough. Recruit more people to join us (I want some more intellectual challenges. We can't just have peace all the time).

So in the meantime, I'll create some hostile NPCs using my authority as Game Master... ahuehuehue...

We have Industrial Barbarians to the south! They have teamed up with rogue golems from the northern mountains and have begun a crusade against us!

These barbarians begin sending in large steampunk siege machines to destroy us! The golems are also undermining Dwarven mines and ruining their infrastructure! We must retaliate to fight this scourge!

Edit: I'm also renaming it Dust Fortress: REALM OF DUSTIA (but DUSTIA and the thread name both apply still), much akin to Dwarf Fortress.

It seems the barbarians have set up a fortress on our trade route! We must fight them from both sides...

*as Golems* We have begun building tunnels under your cities! Now, we unleash our wrath and begin digging holes in the middle of your cities and slaughter your citizens! We shall rise from the depths of the caverns and reveal our true dominance!

Dang... well, we gotta fight these Golems I guess... very nasty threat indeed...

Now let's be clear Dwarf, up until a few days ago we thought those mountains were uninhabited and those quarries have been there for years. Furthermore, they are merely in the foothills and are in no way infringing on your or territory or tunnelling into your cities, unless one of your settlements stretches to the Western shore.

Think about this logically, You can make for more money from selling your valuble ores than humdrum stone, my profit margins would naturally be higher due to the fact that I have established infrastructure with the other nations and I don't need to haul stone from the depths of the mountains.

As for this 3 way trade route that Sandromin proposes, it all hinges on whether I have anything the Dwarves want or vice versa...

Agreed. Venezzia is secure from Golem tunnels for the most part on account of the fact that most of the city's foundations are in the sea. I have been eavesdropping on what Merchants I can get close to. Many favour appeasement and negotiation, some even suggest siding with our foes to end the hostilities. I can't say I'm suprised; they think of their coin purses first and Venezzia second.

Do not judge them unfairly. By our laws the merchants are allowed their armies to defend trade routes and to break blockades, it is the duty of the ruling council to make war on behalf of the City. But the council does nothing and our merchants have great influence over the council. If they say negotiate, the council will negotiate. As if that were not enough I have heard rumours that there are those who are planning a coup against the council!

As a Lord Lieutenant my resources are vast, but not limitless. I can investigate these rumours or 'persuade' the pro-peace merchants, but I cannot do both. Tell me, friends, what should I do?

[OOC I am not trying to compete for the roll of Game master here, just trying to flesh out my backstory]

We're nigh defenseless from these golems, we can repel their surface attacks but part of our deep sea mining has become halted completely, we'll happily pay for any of you to send troops that handle sub surface activities better than us.

Agreed. Venezzia is secure from Golem tunnels for the most part on account of the fact that most of the city's foundations are in the sea. I have been eavesdropping on what Merchants I can get close to. Many favour appeasement and negotiation, some even suggest siding with our foes to end the hostilities. I can't say I'm suprised; they think of their coin purses first and Venezzia second.

Do not judge them unfairly. By our laws the merchants are allowed their armies to defend trade routes and to break blockades, it is the duty of the ruling council to make war on behalf of the City. But the council does nothing and our merchants have great influence over the council. If they say negotiate, the council will negotiate. As if that were not enough I have heard rumours that there are those who are planning a coup against the council!

As a Lord Lieutenant my resources are vast, but not limitless. I can investigate these rumours or 'persuade' the pro-peace merchants, but I cannot do both. Tell me, friends, what should I do?

[OOC I am not trying to compete for the roll of Game master here, just trying to flesh out my backstory]

I had hoped that this day would never come. I had prayed that the Doge, leader of the council, would step forward and perform his duty, act decisively, but he has not. He seems genuinely amused by Venezzia's implosion. I am, I was, supposed to be Lord Lieutenant in the Merchant's armies, but it seems like I work on behalf of guild and city. Perhaps this is how the merchants gained their control, they slowly erased the city's army and made the city completely dependent on them and their trade. The council grew fat and lazy. More merchants were elected...

Even if the council is corrupt, they will still bow to the merchants now. Stopping Bribes will do nothing. Marching against the council will throw us into complete chaos and likely make me a target for the rest of my days. The Merchants will direct their forces unpredictably, the militias will die trying to stop my forces and fighting the council guard will be a bloodbath.

If I go down this road, I will not be able to contribute to your fight against the barbarians and I will need your help to have any hope of victory. The only other option is to take what forces i have to help you win this war under the guise of a trade guild 'investment', but it may be too late by the time it is over. I shall think on this. If you truly wish to help me, have the forces you are willing to contribute ready soon.

I never thought Venezzia would be the weak link in this alliance...

This is a big decision. You have time to mull over it. But my troops, nonetheless, stand ready to assist you.