AbsentWizard

At the bottom of the hill, the Wizard puts down a wooden sign, with an arrow pointing towards the top of the hill. "This way to bottom of the hill," the sign declares. A short distance away at top of the hill, the Wizard puts down a second wooden sign, with an arrow pointed towards the first sign. "This way to Hill (local name: My)," the new sign declares.

Does it still satisfy the letter of the purpose of the thread if someone brings up a pile of dirt and drops it on the previous person, then stands on the pile?

On Writing and Worldbuilding: Volume 3, by Timothy Hickson came out.

What's different about this bizarre nightmare world straddled by a god-sized spider that is actionable by the players, and may need explanation, but wasn't provided?

On a tangent: I think that it's a saving grace that Game of Thrones and GRRM's books leave so much of Westeros unexplained and obscure, because a great many of the parts that are detailed demonstrate a deep unfamiliarity with the functioning of the real-world cultures that they are borrowing from. Some parts are caricatures done with what seems to be no sense of irony or introspection whatsoever. It is regretful and almost irresponsible because these portrayals can become a major portion of the public's perception of these cultures and matters.

There are certain situations where the setting is so different from traditional unspoken assumptions about settings that it is necessary to write a lot more about it in the setting document. What's happening when things are not written out explicitly is either that it doesn't come up because it doesn't matter, or it doesn't come up because it matches everyone's unspoken assumptions about the setting so that it does not bear detailing or discussing. A setting that is very different needs to explicitly spell out all the ways that it breaks those assumptions because it is easy and tempting to fall back to those assumptions because they're comfortable and familiar. This doesn't apply to the vast majority parts of the vast majority of sessions. There is a moon. There is a sun. The sky is blue. Water flows downhill. Most of the interesting beings are humans-shaped. Giant eagles, ancient ruined watchtowers, underground caves, active volcanoes, and evil jewelry are still fundamentally familiar things that most readers/players are familiar with, or combinations thereof. Snake Plisskin flew the Gullfire over Leningrad parses probably as "a human-like person, operating some kind of craft, went over some city". Most are familiar with these concepts; maybe not this specific instance of it, but enough to get the gist of the event. It can be evocative without needing any further description or explanation. I think that an example of where the cracks start appearing is when one starts describing things happening in specialized fields for which most people have no reference or familiarity, not even through media. "Snake Plisskin moved for discovery of the Gullfire," in the sense of legal procedurals, doesn't parse into anything familiar for many readers, even though it is still drawing from well-established things IRL. In a hypothetical game set entirely within court procedures and lawyering, where all interactions outside of the court building is simply skipped over and the results described, there needs to be a LOT of specifying the legal frameworks and case code, so that the players themselves can navigate it and make informed decisions. Feel agency. The settings needs to be extensively written about even though the entire game physically happens in a single room. My point being: "the virtues of a small setting" just implies "everyone's already familiar with all the working elements here", and from there implies not straying far afield. Which ... you do you, but I dislike.

New Faction started with the Weak Faith. DIP 2 MIL 1 IND 1 FAI 4 INT 1

My name is Abada-Mer. My home is on the shore of the Big Lake, among the tall grasses where the wild horses are many. But I am not there now. My tribe is not so small, and we followed the wild horses where they went. But I am not with them now. I am a traveler. I travel because of a promise that was not kept. Many years ago, before my mother had married into my tribe, we were visited by the Wise Sages. I have only seen the paintings of them on the rocks myself. Every night the storytellers would gather the children, myself included, to tell the stories of who we are, and how we were given wisdom by the Wise Sages. Before, we used to know nothing. We saw our ancestors in the shapes of clouds and heard them in the sounds of the wind in the grasses. We burned bones to please them. We left milk in the hollows of sacred rocks as offerings. Our ancestors watched and protected us in death as they had in life. Or so we knew. That day, we really saw ancestors. Not ours. The ancestors of the Wise Sages. They were beautiful, glowing beings like wind and light given form. They did not look like us because they were not our ancestors, but their shape was greatly and peaceful to look upon nonetheless. They were so wise that their speech were not understandable to us, except in the shallowest of ways. And their powers were great indeed: they could fly in the sky and walk silently through tents and neither fire nor clubs could injure them. The Wise Sages dwelled with my tribe for some time and taught us some of the truths of the world. We learned that we have done all our ancestors wrong, and that they had not undergone the proper rituals and were not watching over us. We were enraged by this, but then we were ashamed to have been so ignorant. The Wise Sages promised to teach us the proper rituals so that our ancestors can take luminous form, like they, and truly watch over us. Before that happened, the Wise Sages left our tribe to return to their great gathering, where all the Wise Sages of all the lands meet. That was the day that the sky turned red and borne many new stars. The Wise Sages would not tell us why this thing happened, only that they must go away on something important. They promised to return soon, so that no more of our elders would face death without ascending. First death came for my favorite Storyteller, and the tribe grieved, but they said that this is only the most recent of many. And the Wise Sages had not returned. Many more have died since, and I have only made talk. But this year, sickness has come over my mother and I fear that she may die before the year is out. I realize that I cannot only talk. I must travel to find the promise that was not kept. My horse and I have now been through much lands, and today we came to a high hill. On it is littered vast stones beyond counting, each of them carved with the symbols like the amulet which my mother gave me, the amulet that she said a Wise Sage gave to my father and my father gave to her. Broken bodies with shattered visages lay half-sunk among the brush and vines. Everywhere I saw etched and painted onto the rocks images of the red and broken sky, and symbols which I know not the meaning of. I wandered among the roofless, burnt walls of houses of stones until I came to a great, stepped circle. In the center is a wooden table, whose shape I recognized from the Storyteller's description. Here was the heart that fed the Wise Sages, laying mockingly on its side. I picked it up in my hands and found it to be broken, as the promise to my tribe will remain broken. My name is Abada-Mer, of the People by the Big Lake. The sky took away our guiding light, my people's future, and my mother. And I will make the sky pay.   ========= Faction Destroyed: The Weak Lands New Faction: Tribe of Abada-Mer Tribe of Abada-Mer does not hold Region 113 Tribe of Abada-Mer holds no lands and has become a Rebel Leader Tribe of Abada-Mer generates Unrest in Region 113 by existing (Rules wording ambiguous, may be intended as an action) (Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer attempts to raise a military unit in Region 113. Intrigue (2d6+5 (+2 partisan support)) vs Intrigue (2d6+5 minimum TN 12). Tribe of Abada-Mer raises 3 units as rebels (Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer attempts to attack and occupy Region 113. There are 3 attackers and 2 defenders. The attacking leader is Abada-Mer (MIL 1). The two sides have exact technological parity. (Sub-Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer Tactical Maneuvering 2d6+1 (Cmdr MIL) + 2 (Rebel) (Sub-Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer would use Skirmishing Doctrine, as a 1st-system warfare culture. Casualties are calculated 1 step lower for both sides. (Sub-Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer Battle Roll is 2d6+1 (Cmdr MIL) +3 (Units) + 2 (Rebel) (Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer attempts to Establish Claim on Region 113. Roll is 2d6+2 (DIP) vs TN 12. (Fail, was 8 not 13) (Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer attempts to Hoard Treasure (Action) Tribe of Abada-Mer attempts to Hoard Treasure

As of Round 5 DIP 5 MIL 1 STW 2 FAI 5 INT 5 Culture Identity (Conversions) Organized Religion  

The Weak dissolve into total chaos debating the actual meaning of and the results of the Big Sky Event, including what to call it other than Big Sky Event. The current power structure of the Weak debate council, including its agreed-upon formats, are overthrown!   Actions (I) Foment Unrest on 114 (I) Foment Unrest on 114 (I) Foment Unrest on 114 (D) Stabilize Region on 114 (D) Stabilize Region on 114 Resist Foment Unrest on 114 Resist Foment Unrest on 114 Resist Foment Unrest on 114 New rolls for a new Ruler (4,2,4,3,1)   Results New Ruler: D5(4+1) M1 S2 F5(4+1) I5(3+1+1)

As of Round 4 DIP 7 MIL 1 STW 3 FAI 9 INT 3 Culture Identity (Conversions)

The Weak   === Actions (F) Action: Organize Faith. The Head of Faith is the occupants of the Great Forum in (114), since the organization is not hierarchal (flat, and of peers). Bonus: with 8 holy sites, the bonus is +1 on Investigation (F) Action: Convert Holy Site: 115 (F) Action: Convert Holy Site: 103 (F) Action: Convert Holy Site: 105 (F) Action: Convert Holy Site: 108

As of Round 3 DIP 7 MIL 1 STW 3 FAI 7 INT 3 Culture Identity (Conversions)

Weak Faith Document https://docs.google.com/document/d/14KzpHn3VTgHnUFqQc_SLmkfVJamL9ip3inE_6qF9tAw/edit?usp=sharing

It was raining in the Great Forum. The water came crashing down in sheets right about the Speaker's Circle. It is not supposed to rain here, it's just that for the last two decades there has been a hole in the roof. It was initially of the highest importance that this hole is fixed. Then the speaking members noticed that, really, the sun and rain and birdshit falling down didn't really bother them. Then they started using the sunbeam/waterfall for dramatic purposes. At this point the restoration project is still ongoing, but was the work of two people on alternate weekends, with long lunch breaks. Today, as with all days, lunch came with a free show. "The Lyma Hypothesis has beend upheld again and again by the observations! This body should and must consider the abundance of evidence-" "You are here to inform on facts. Not discuss policy." "I disagree, policy should conform to facts. The two are inseparable. There hasn't-" "Then FACT: On at least three occasions, proponents of the Lyma Hypothesis have been forced to retract their observations of so-called Near-World Astral Bodies because it turned out to be birds in the sky. Is that true?" "Three out of nearly a hundred observations of Near-World Astral Bodies. DARK Astral Bodies, which briefly occlude the stars in perfectly predictable trajectories!" "Is it not true that since you cannot see these Near-World Dark Astral Bodies directly, it is not necessarily the same objects which you are seeing on these so-called trajectories, but rather different ones that just happen to-" "The Alarides-Polyfea Hypothesis? T-" Several voices in the surrounding cliques abruptly cut in, "Polyfea-Alaride!" "I am not expressing an opinion on the correct attribution. I am merely stating the authors' names alphabetically for convenience. I-" Uproar. "Convenience!? At the expense of correct recognition?!" "Alarides merely contributed some of the framework for understanding-" "The framework is the most crucial part-!" "- when actual work from Polyfea sits-" For the next two days, the Great Forum dissolved into chaos. The head of the Observatory Delegation quietly slipped out, to look more at the stars. =========== In the Temple of Learning - really a hollow dirt mound with gaps cut in the side for doors and dozens of shading tarps stretched over the top for shade - there was a much more orderly discussion. "- and Nilomede will be deputy Director of Education for this expedition. Any questions?" General silence, and then a translucent hand raised. "I was on the previous expedition. Shouldn't we be sending more veterans, rather than mostly new peoples?" "We're sure that certain of us are better at communicating and teaching certain foreign people than others. Didn't you get the memo about the rotation program?" "No." "Ask someone for a copy. It's already been debated the full rounds and a resolution passed last week. Any other questions?" ==============  (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (115) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (112) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (100) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (111) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (110)

Feseki checks the time and, pleased with the rapid pace of the capture, attempts to key the intercom... which he does not recognize any of these controls thereof. How could he? The manuals were not obtainable in time. "Belel, the inside-the-ship communications?" He waits to be shown, then actually keys the intercom. "Hello everybody. The ground will begin to get worried, and maybe send some of those other spacecraft to investigate. Maybe send out bulletins to look for us. The window for us to safely drop off our guests is measured in hours, perhaps." He lets that soak in a little bit, then keys up again. "The DSS Corporation high orbit cargo yard near L1 is staffed by diligent folks, with strong sense of morals and annual ethics training. We will go to there and... gently ... push our guests out on a course to meet these people. They will see a tumbling cargo crate and catch it with their tugs. It is simple. We will put the lights on the box to make sure that they are seen." Feseki hangs up the microphone. "Belel, if you please. I must think about how to modify the disguise of the ship."

==============  (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (115) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (113) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (110) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (112) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (102)

As of Round 2 DIP 7 MIL 1 STW 3 FAI 5 INT 3 Culture Identity (Conversions)

There are two particularly loud voices arguing in the Temporary Great Forum, which is more of a large tent. The Great Forum itself was under renovation to replace some smashed stonework and, as typical of construction efforts in the Weak Lands, progress was infinitesimally faster than that of a standstill. Nearly a hundred packed cliques of ghosts are hovering around/above/slightly beneath the two cliques heckling and shouting at each other as support for their most energetic representatives. "- there is certainly no possible route that little pinpricks in the universal mantle can possibly affect our lives-"   "There you go with the universal mantle again, Edma. Haven't I told you that it's just a theory - a totally unproven theory with a tiny following - that the stars are actually-"   "There are dozens of us! DOZENS!"   "- some kind of hole in some giant blanket over the world? It's ridiculous on the face of-" "Everyone very well knows-" Someone in a third clique joins in from nearby, apparently unable to restrain itself from correcting what it thought was blatant ignorance, "- from Pyolygas' Thesis on Astral Candles that the stars are merely burning-" Edma of Weakhead turns towards the interloper in a rage, "We are DEBATING here. Nobody invited you. And in any case-" "- balls of coals placed in... it is not a closed debate!" "- isn't that the same Pyolygas who concluded that the stars are merely tens of leagues above the earth, in BLATANT ignorance of the fact that such proximity and the fact that the stars do not move when you travel violate the basic trigonometric principles of-" "Edma, WE are having a debate." The original opponent cuts back in, "And we say again that since there is no consensus of what the stars are, then it behooves all of us to find out. This observatory-" "TIME" A voice from one end of the tent calls out, followed by vigorous gonging. It was largely ignored. "Amanath, what good is merely looking at-" "TIME! TIME! I have the Staff of the Speaker and it is TIME!" The hubbub fades away towards silence, but distinctly with the sound of someone grumbling, "... talking stick, you mean." "Who said that?" The Holder of the Staff of the Speaker demanded. Nobody answered. "Better nobody have... Right. The time for the fifth extension for discussion on the current topic has ended. Nobody has moved for another extension-" There is an unease among some cliques, and possibly a few hesitantly raised hands were pulled down by their neighbors. "- and therefore we are moving directly to the vote. Those in favor?" Most of the hands went up. "Those against?" Some hands went up. "By obvious majority, the motion is passed. This Forum will commit to the construction of an Observatory for benefit of the Seekers of the Spears, to start imme-" There was an urgent, ghostly whisper. "Seekers of the Spheres. That is what I have said. To start immediately once the appropriations and land designation have been solved. Next item on the agenda: Appropriations Motion to alter the Budget for funding of the Observatory for the Seekers of the Spea- Spheres..." ============== "My opponent says that it is our unique duty to enlighten all the peoples of the world. But in pursuit of this nebulous goal of enlightening people, they have forgotten that these people do not want to be enlightened. They are not civilized. They do not value democracy, equality, or the fundamental rights of the dead OR the living. Gov, let me ask you: have you always been such a meddler, or did it only start when your last living descendant died?" A quieter, less-populated sort of debate was happening this evening in the Forum. Gov took a moment to gather themselves before responding with righteous intensity. "Meddling is how we got here. Meddling is why you, me, and any of us aren't trapped inside decaying meat, underground or in the belly of beasts. Meddling is how an idea grows: that existence is more than just life. The Weak owe their history and their purpose to meddling. Just listen for a moment. Listen to the world. I hear the voices of countless tormented dead, laying in their graves. Burning in pagan pyres. We should free them. We have a duty to free them. We must not rest until rights and freedom is given to everyone in the world." "You should get your ears checked out. Sounds serious." "And that starts today. That starts here! My proposal for a Temple of Learning, of Education, will start with one pilot site right here next to the Great Forum. It will host-" ==============  (D) Action: Build Observatory (D) Action: Build Observatory (D) Action: Build Observatory (D) Action: Cultural Identity (Convert Holy Site) (F) Action: Convert Holy Site (116)

Feseki was thankful that at least this crew did not need him telling them what to do every step of the way - not that he could, he didn't know anything about oxygen except that it was a thing you breathed and which Damir's hugs took out of you.  "You," he points at Lars, "were supposed to have passed on this flight so that you could star in that vid-ad series by Oral Sensations." All that money and a little blackmail, to get Lars that role. All wasted. Ingrates. "My big friend, whose name I certainly do not know, this is Lars. He's known to me, but he is not known to us." Feseki pointedly instructs Damir, "I will handle him. You must get the crew into the box, with the oxygen in it. Wear your mask." Feseki puts a hand on Lars, so that Damir can go off doing useful Damir things, like moving not-yet-bodies. A wide, yet humorless smile spreads across Feseki's face for Lars' sake. In a completely different accent and cadence than he had been using with Belel and Damir, Feseki says to Lars, "You and I. We are all friends and reasonable here, yeah? Friends. We don't want trouble. You want to be on the crew so badly - congratulations. You're on the crew. My crew. We good?"

Since regions not under the control of a Player cannot be in Unrest, can one abandon a region and then Press Claim on the region to recover it without having to resort to military actions?

Can you deliberately lose all records of an explored/known land, as an action? Maps and books burning, so to speak?

There does not appear to be a mechanism or action to disband Heroes.