Very enjoyable read. I like the extremely peaceful ethos of the space turtles. It may be that they will eventually have to release their vassals, but hopefully the Hahn-Mur will remain on friendly terms with the Tordii.
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I might incorporate this into the narrative in the future, but I have an idea that somewhere on the grounds of the Peace Gardens is a wise old zen master, who is basically Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda. Nobody believes in his mystical nonsense anymore, but they continue to live by a more worldly version of those old ways.
As for the Hahn-Mur, they are still young, and clearly need the guiding hand of the Magistrix. Having helped them to the stars it would be irresponsible of Hurr to give them the "freedom" they think they want. They will thank her one day! Or not. Either way is fine, since the Magistrix does her duty for its own sake, not for gratitude.
I can't believe how ungrateful your uplifted vassals are. Despicable Neutrals...what makes a fungoid turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were they just born with a heart full of neutrality?
That's what embassies are for. Sometimes people have to be shown the way.
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I actually don't recall whether I sent an embassy or not. In any case they are my protectorate which is enough for now.
I think the game defaults new space-faring Empires to Despicable Neutrals. Next time I looked at them they were Spiritual Seekers.
Once again the next chapter will either be tonight or tomorrow.
I should *probably* mention this (and I intended to but got caught up in something): I mentioned you as the next weekly AAR showcase! (It seems you noticed anyway, but the readers should know)
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...arium-continuum.187634/page-301#post-21239387
Ah yes, thank you for the vote of support. I'm pathologically uncomfortable with praise, never know what to say or do about it, but I do appreciate it.
The Magistrix hereby grants you 64 octres of land in the Xartli colony. The Magistrix is not responsible for injuries due to native lifeforms, volcanic activity, or any potential eldritch horrors lurking in the jungle.
I was planning on writing, but started playing and now it's like 6 hours later.
As a extra bonus to tide you over, here's some unnecessary facts about Tordukan land surveying, economy, family and history!
The Tordii use a base 8 system, and they have divided the surface of their planet into octogons. Since Octogons don't tile as well as squares or hexes, this leaves remainders. This is considered a feature, not a problem, and the squares are held as commons. They are parks, wilderness reserves, or working lands that support public expenses like education.
http://forum.profantasy.com/extensions/InlineImages/image.php?AttachmentID=2376
Each Octre is about 1.3 acres. Land is usually not owned by individuals, but by extended families. In older times these Kiiths, Broods, and Clutches (roughly Tribe, Clan, Family) were the basis of the quasi-feudal civilization that lasted until the Industrial Revolution. In the Machine Age capitalism emerged, but Tordii notions of inheritance meant that rather than being left to the entrepreneur's direct heirs the new businesses were left to the family. This helped fuel the rise of very powerful Kiiths, which became the basis of the mighty warring monarchies that fought until the Shattering Night and the Great Accords, which unified them into the present Magisterial Brood.
Most Tordii are born into clutches of between 3 and 5. About 1/8000 Tordii clutches consist of a single egg. This phenomenon is strongly hereditary in the female line, and the Magisterial Brood sees them more common than not. Culturally the stereotype of single-eggers is that they are in some way gifted but socially stunted. Experts in childhood development say it is important for single-eggers to spend more time as hatchlings with their cousins and other very young Tordii. Since it is the usual practice of Tordii to rear their young in groups, this is not difficult to arrange.
Tordii females lay only a single clutch of eggs in their lifetime. Males can fertilize multiple times. Rather than having mating be a pleasurable experience, the Tordus's 'biological clock' manifests as a sort of psychological 'itch.' This can and usually is suppressed with pharmacueticals until they have decided on a suitable mate. While Males are usually involved in their offspring's life in some way, the primary bond is with the Mother's extended families. Males are usually closer to their nephews and nieces than to their own offspring.
As a extra bonus to tide you over, here's some unnecessary facts about Tordukan land surveying, economy, family and history!
The Tordii use a base 8 system, and they have divided the surface of their planet into octogons. Since Octogons don't tile as well as squares or hexes, this leaves remainders. This is considered a feature, not a problem, and the squares are held as commons. They are parks, wilderness reserves, or working lands that support public expenses like education.
http://forum.profantasy.com/extensions/InlineImages/image.php?AttachmentID=2376
Each Octre is about 1.3 acres. Land is usually not owned by individuals, but by extended families. In older times these Kiiths, Broods, and Clutches (roughly Tribe, Clan, Family) were the basis of the quasi-feudal civilization that lasted until the Industrial Revolution. In the Machine Age capitalism emerged, but Tordii notions of inheritance meant that rather than being left to the entrepreneur's direct heirs the new businesses were left to the family. This helped fuel the rise of very powerful Kiiths, which became the basis of the mighty warring monarchies that fought until the Shattering Night and the Great Accords, which unified them into the present Magisterial Brood.
Most Tordii are born into clutches of between 3 and 5. About 1/8000 Tordii clutches consist of a single egg. This phenomenon is strongly hereditary in the female line, and the Magisterial Brood sees them more common than not. Culturally the stereotype of single-eggers is that they are in some way gifted but socially stunted. Experts in childhood development say it is important for single-eggers to spend more time as hatchlings with their cousins and other very young Tordii. Since it is the usual practice of Tordii to rear their young in groups, this is not difficult to arrange.
Tordii females lay only a single clutch of eggs in their lifetime. Males can fertilize multiple times. Rather than having mating be a pleasurable experience, the Tordus's 'biological clock' manifests as a sort of psychological 'itch.' This can and usually is suppressed with pharmacueticals until they have decided on a suitable mate. While Males are usually involved in their offspring's life in some way, the primary bond is with the Mother's extended families. Males are usually closer to their nephews and nieces than to their own offspring.
This is very interesting. I particularly like the background information about the Tordii.
In the Years 2011-12 SC (Solanian Calender) the sky got much more crowded.
With the new colony of Xartli under way, the Magistrix finally commissioned a second science vessel. She'd wanted to for some time, but ground level construction, space station building, colony ships and improvements to the peacekeeping force kept pushing the project back.
While pursuing the old sublight probes, The Xadamach encountered the first evidence of contemporary space-faring aliens. In the Murust system they found the ion trail of a probe, and signs that it had been intercepted and carried away by a FTL-capable craft. Since it couldn't possibly be Hahn-Mur, and the Irassians are long extinct, this meant there was at least one un-contacted space-faring race. The trail led to a star system beyond the reach of the Skurr wormhole generator, so further investigation would have to wait on the planned Alcor wormhole station.
A few months later Tordii explorers encountered a swarm of small hostile craft in the Crescim system. Later investigation would reveal them to be a fleet of automated mining drones left over from the days of the Irassian Concordat. The drones did not respond to attempts to communicate and would attack anything that entered their system, blocking any further exploration of the system.
The drones were bad enough, but at the Verakas Black Hole the Xadamach encountered vastly more dangerous alien beings.
Two flocks of what appeared to be living energy swarmed around the black hole. Since their estimated power was almost 15 times the entire Tordii fleet, the system was immediately declared off limits.
While pursuing yet another lost probe to the Manward system, the newer science ship T.M.V. Cathrox, encountered something strange.
Captain Cothaxir of the Cathrox found the probe, but also an alien craft. Except the craft wasn't particularly alien. In fact it was extremely familiar.
The alien vessel was virtually identical to Tordii science vessels. It also seemed to be performing the same mission, surveying the planets. While the Cathrox retrieved the probe and its useful data, Cpatain Cothaxir began the first contact protocols, beaming basic mathematical information in order to begin constructing a base for translation. The aliens did the same, and Tordii scientists began working on communicating with this strange yet familiar species.
With the new colony of Xartli under way, the Magistrix finally commissioned a second science vessel. She'd wanted to for some time, but ground level construction, space station building, colony ships and improvements to the peacekeeping force kept pushing the project back.
While pursuing the old sublight probes, The Xadamach encountered the first evidence of contemporary space-faring aliens. In the Murust system they found the ion trail of a probe, and signs that it had been intercepted and carried away by a FTL-capable craft. Since it couldn't possibly be Hahn-Mur, and the Irassians are long extinct, this meant there was at least one un-contacted space-faring race. The trail led to a star system beyond the reach of the Skurr wormhole generator, so further investigation would have to wait on the planned Alcor wormhole station.
A few months later Tordii explorers encountered a swarm of small hostile craft in the Crescim system. Later investigation would reveal them to be a fleet of automated mining drones left over from the days of the Irassian Concordat. The drones did not respond to attempts to communicate and would attack anything that entered their system, blocking any further exploration of the system.
The drones were bad enough, but at the Verakas Black Hole the Xadamach encountered vastly more dangerous alien beings.
Two flocks of what appeared to be living energy swarmed around the black hole. Since their estimated power was almost 15 times the entire Tordii fleet, the system was immediately declared off limits.
While pursuing yet another lost probe to the Manward system, the newer science ship T.M.V. Cathrox, encountered something strange.
Captain Cothaxir of the Cathrox found the probe, but also an alien craft. Except the craft wasn't particularly alien. In fact it was extremely familiar.
The alien vessel was virtually identical to Tordii science vessels. It also seemed to be performing the same mission, surveying the planets. While the Cathrox retrieved the probe and its useful data, Cpatain Cothaxir began the first contact protocols, beaming basic mathematical information in order to begin constructing a base for translation. The aliens did the same, and Tordii scientists began working on communicating with this strange yet familiar species.
Strange yet familiar... I'm calling it now, the two of you have the same Precursor race, who guided your paths towards the stars. A Xenophile Fallen Empire?
That is an interesting theory...
(I think something like that might be good content for a DLC focused on RP.)
(I think something like that might be good content for a DLC focused on RP.)
Interesting. There was a precursor Empire in the area about a million years ago. They were militarist expansionist with many vassal species. Could they have uplifted both of us, and the Hahn-mur, and impressed upon our forebearers the importance of peaceful obedience? I already found one ruined colony of theirs on the same planet type I share with the new neighbors. I found another outpost in the home system of the Hahn-mur. Something for the Xenobioligists and Xenoarcheologists to get to work on.
Hurr once again found herself in the communications room deep within the Magestirial Nest. Daily reports from the TMV Cathrox had been beamed through microwormholes back to the homeworld since first contact with the new aliens. Today's summary would be the first since a major breakthrough allowed for full fledged communication instead of basic logic.
15 Tordii, elite and distinguished in their fields, rose and retracted their necks as she entered. For the first time in years, her cousin, heir, and childhood friend Cabroxi was in her rightful place. Her hatchlings were finally old enough that she could drag herself away from them to hear about her other great passion, space exploration. One empty space drew silent attention; Admiral Zacadliss was not in attendance, even via remote broadcast.
"Let us begin" Hurr said simply. The viewscreen flashed to life and Hurr was looking at Captain Cothaxir of the TMV Cathrox.
Cothaxir had had a career that was equal parts distinction and disappointment before joining the fleet. She had the good fortune to be a bright and hardworking scholar with a natural bent toward social sciences. She also had the poor fortune to be consumed by a passion for military theory and history, perhaps the single field with the lowest demand in Tordukan society. Study of the exploratory and peacekeeping actions over the past decade had given her a sudden boost, but the scientist still had an air of grievance and excessive dignity that made it hard for Hurr to like her, even though her insights into organization and operations had earned the Magistrix's personal appointment to command the second science vessel.
Cothaxir retracted her head fully into her shell, and the slight dip in her image indicated that she did the same with her legs, an archaic, exaggerated version of the proper salute. She had clearly taken the time to polish her scales and clean her beak. All very correct when giving a formal report to one's Magistrix, but carried just slightly further than one usually saw in the real world.
"Magistrix, you honor me greatly with this audience. May you and your brood continue to lead us in peace and unity." There was a polite hum and neck extension from everyone but Cabroxi. The heiress apparent, like Hurr, had heard something like this whenever a conversation began, and was quite tired of it.
"The beings previously identified as Theta Aliens identify themeselves as the Najklax Republic. As previous images they sent us showed, they bear a marked resemblence to a gigantic, sentient Breek, though in their case the wings are not used for flight but as a part of their language." Breeks were a ubiquitous and harmless flying pollinator on Skurr, noted mainly for their chirping.
"Since communication began, they have been constantly sending more information to us. This has included text, video, audio, and covers a wide range of topics. The general pattern is for them to disclose in detail some aspect of their society, ask about similar issues in ours, and close with an expression of excitement and friendship. These mainly focus on practical matters that would facilitate communication, beginning with basic mathematics and language. But they increasingly include an almost random range of other facts. They include images of their homeworld, stories from history and mythology, music and art. I have concluded that this is due in part to their political structure, which strongly resembles that of the Hahn-mur. Their starting package of first contact information seems to have been assembled from submissions by their population at large.
To begin with the similarities: in general structure their craft bears an uncanny resemblance to ours. Images from their homeworld show a likewise resemblance between their architecture and ours. In the case of the ship, the resemblance is superficial. Her engines operate differently, and from radiological analysis we believe she has a Hahn-Mur style warp drive rather than relying on a wormhole generator. Nothing in their extensive transmissions indicates previous knowledge of Tordukan designs, and they repeatedly inquire as to how this similarity came about.
My preliminary conclusion is that this is simply an extraordinary example of designers arriving at the same solutions to the same problems. Their homeworld, also known as Najklax, appears to have a similar climate to ours. This inevitably influenced their engineering and architecture, which in turn shaped how they approached constructing their spacecraft. Their overall technology level is comparable to ours. They achieved FTL capability roughly at the same time we did, though they have yet to establish any colonies outside their home system.
Their political system consists of a multi-tiered system of jurisdictions, beginning with small electoral polities that combine into larger scale units, all of which are united in the single Republic. They highly value dialogue and consensus and are devoted to non-violent resolution of conflicts. Their art and literature samples indicates a longtime fascination with the possibility of other forms of life and intelligence and increasingly sophisticated ways of searching for it."
"Thank you Captain" the Magistrix said. "In your opinion, do these aliens represent a threat?"
Cothaxir clicked her tongue involuntarily in a dissapointed manner. "There is always the possibility of this being an elaborate ruse. But as Zu Kan said, 'Believing everything to be a trap is more foolish than believing nothing is.' It is possible that in the medium term future competition for resources might spark conflict, but at present the Najklax seem to have neither the desire nor the capacity to do significant harm to Tordukan interests."
"In that case, we shall establish relations with them. Cabroxi, you will be responsible for managing contact with these and any future spacefaring aliens. Our general policy will be to respond to their questions with a similar level of detail as they share with us. Anything of a military or strategic nature will be brought to me first for approval. Thank you for the report Captain. Dismissed.
Now bring up Admiral Zacadliss. The fleet should be arriving in the engagement area shortly."
15 Tordii, elite and distinguished in their fields, rose and retracted their necks as she entered. For the first time in years, her cousin, heir, and childhood friend Cabroxi was in her rightful place. Her hatchlings were finally old enough that she could drag herself away from them to hear about her other great passion, space exploration. One empty space drew silent attention; Admiral Zacadliss was not in attendance, even via remote broadcast.
"Let us begin" Hurr said simply. The viewscreen flashed to life and Hurr was looking at Captain Cothaxir of the TMV Cathrox.
Cothaxir had had a career that was equal parts distinction and disappointment before joining the fleet. She had the good fortune to be a bright and hardworking scholar with a natural bent toward social sciences. She also had the poor fortune to be consumed by a passion for military theory and history, perhaps the single field with the lowest demand in Tordukan society. Study of the exploratory and peacekeeping actions over the past decade had given her a sudden boost, but the scientist still had an air of grievance and excessive dignity that made it hard for Hurr to like her, even though her insights into organization and operations had earned the Magistrix's personal appointment to command the second science vessel.
Cothaxir retracted her head fully into her shell, and the slight dip in her image indicated that she did the same with her legs, an archaic, exaggerated version of the proper salute. She had clearly taken the time to polish her scales and clean her beak. All very correct when giving a formal report to one's Magistrix, but carried just slightly further than one usually saw in the real world.
"Magistrix, you honor me greatly with this audience. May you and your brood continue to lead us in peace and unity." There was a polite hum and neck extension from everyone but Cabroxi. The heiress apparent, like Hurr, had heard something like this whenever a conversation began, and was quite tired of it.
"The beings previously identified as Theta Aliens identify themeselves as the Najklax Republic. As previous images they sent us showed, they bear a marked resemblence to a gigantic, sentient Breek, though in their case the wings are not used for flight but as a part of their language." Breeks were a ubiquitous and harmless flying pollinator on Skurr, noted mainly for their chirping.
"Since communication began, they have been constantly sending more information to us. This has included text, video, audio, and covers a wide range of topics. The general pattern is for them to disclose in detail some aspect of their society, ask about similar issues in ours, and close with an expression of excitement and friendship. These mainly focus on practical matters that would facilitate communication, beginning with basic mathematics and language. But they increasingly include an almost random range of other facts. They include images of their homeworld, stories from history and mythology, music and art. I have concluded that this is due in part to their political structure, which strongly resembles that of the Hahn-mur. Their starting package of first contact information seems to have been assembled from submissions by their population at large.
To begin with the similarities: in general structure their craft bears an uncanny resemblance to ours. Images from their homeworld show a likewise resemblance between their architecture and ours. In the case of the ship, the resemblance is superficial. Her engines operate differently, and from radiological analysis we believe she has a Hahn-Mur style warp drive rather than relying on a wormhole generator. Nothing in their extensive transmissions indicates previous knowledge of Tordukan designs, and they repeatedly inquire as to how this similarity came about.
My preliminary conclusion is that this is simply an extraordinary example of designers arriving at the same solutions to the same problems. Their homeworld, also known as Najklax, appears to have a similar climate to ours. This inevitably influenced their engineering and architecture, which in turn shaped how they approached constructing their spacecraft. Their overall technology level is comparable to ours. They achieved FTL capability roughly at the same time we did, though they have yet to establish any colonies outside their home system.
Their political system consists of a multi-tiered system of jurisdictions, beginning with small electoral polities that combine into larger scale units, all of which are united in the single Republic. They highly value dialogue and consensus and are devoted to non-violent resolution of conflicts. Their art and literature samples indicates a longtime fascination with the possibility of other forms of life and intelligence and increasingly sophisticated ways of searching for it."
"Thank you Captain" the Magistrix said. "In your opinion, do these aliens represent a threat?"
Cothaxir clicked her tongue involuntarily in a dissapointed manner. "There is always the possibility of this being an elaborate ruse. But as Zu Kan said, 'Believing everything to be a trap is more foolish than believing nothing is.' It is possible that in the medium term future competition for resources might spark conflict, but at present the Najklax seem to have neither the desire nor the capacity to do significant harm to Tordukan interests."
"In that case, we shall establish relations with them. Cabroxi, you will be responsible for managing contact with these and any future spacefaring aliens. Our general policy will be to respond to their questions with a similar level of detail as they share with us. Anything of a military or strategic nature will be brought to me first for approval. Thank you for the report Captain. Dismissed.
Now bring up Admiral Zacadliss. The fleet should be arriving in the engagement area shortly."
So many parallels, like lost siblings in the stars... Good thing that you're the stronger of the two.
Well, this is a pleasant surprise. I've been doing some reading around to see if Stellaris is a worthy investment for my collection, and I find this in the AAR section. The Tordii appear to have a fascinating ethos, with a nice contrast to the warmongering you typically see in space games, and I like the way you flesh their society (and the aliens they interact with) in these narrative interludes. I'll definitely be keeping a close watch on this 