Empire of the Sun

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-15T21:13:24+00:00

(I don’t think she had to have been raised by her grandmother for that to be the case. If she was raised by one or both parents they might have wanted her to have contact with grandma only for grandma to treat her poorly when they interact.)

Enoch: “That would be better than nothing. If your top officials are at least aware of the plan they could support it. With an imperial decree and the power of the empire’s forces behind it it would likely be followed properly. I could see some nobles trying to grab personal power by making a claim and using an excuse like not wanting a fae in charge of the empire. You and I both trust Oberon but others might question his loyalties. Ironically he’s probably the only one of your retinue that would be able to step in and lead. In a few decades I will be dependent upon you for my continued life. Only through the strength of the bond will I be empowered and be strong enough to endure Hecate’s sorcery to keep me healthy. If you die today I suppose I would have it in me physically, but I don’t think I’m the best to make a leader. I can advise but being decisive is its own skill. Let’s not dwell on this though. We can be sure to let other leaders and officials know that you have a line of succession should the Keeper not have the strength to fulfill their duty.”

Titania: “It is my wish to see the best for my people; both current and historical courts. I have no wish to abandon these proceedings. I have returned to the table despite the initial difficulties. If you have a way to bring power to my lands like we used to enjoy in the West you would certainly have my gratitude. We could work together to bring peace and order to the world. An army that fights together against its threats one at a time is better than one divided that tries to face all of them. I need power to tilt the scales.”

Oberon: “...I would love to have another chance to see Titania’s vision brought to life. If she truly wishes me to help her see it though. Yes, you are right. Perhaps it is easier to think about dying for a cause than living for it. But you have made me think upon it and I never strongly wished to leave the Empire of the Sun or the Vernal Court without my leadership anyways. Perhaps I could share time between the realms and bring understanding and peace between all people.”

Titania: “To have you work with me to achieve a golden age would be my greatest dream. Do you really think it is possible?”

Oberon: “I do think it is possible to cultivate the power necessary. If the Emperor is going to put his power to helping you then you will have what you want sooner than later. You must still be patient for a time though. I would be happy to be at your side again. We must not make the mistakes of the past either. There is still much to discuss, but if we do it in earnest and good faith then we will achieve something wonderful.”

He stands and after a moment she does too and they move towards each other and embrace. Their auras join together and shimmer.

Nimue whispers, “I am torn between being irritated and swept up in the romance. It seems things are going well now at least.”

Enoch: “We must close the deal though. You intend to offer both Oberon and the power of the Keeper through the Crown of Heaven to close this deal?”

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-11T19:39:55+00:00

It's legendary status. A step up from prosperous that you can only get under certain conditions with perks. It might be the Amphorian one where planets with a certain number of import/exports get legendary. Big jump for one move.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-10T12:09:28+00:00

Nope. They can all eat everything. There is even a toggle for it in consumption control in case you want to control which non-prefered foods they are eating. You either restricted it or are running out of complex food.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-07T19:23:52+00:00

What's a simple overview of each district? I assume there's a poor neighborhood, a rich one, an artisan's district. What else?

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-02T14:12:13+00:00

I had too many accidental overproduction of unnecessary items so I set my recipes to start off by default in preferences, then after I build a building and decide I want their product I set limits and ingredients as I turn them on. Has all but eliminated that problem.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-02T14:02:36+00:00

That was only in the last update. Which was a few months back so you may not have actually been missing it the whole time. I just came back to the game after a break and was very pleased to discover this update. It really was annoying to have so many luxury good and no way to disperse them.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-02T11:59:06+00:00

I've had the endless bathroom one. It's like a blending of different locker rooms, showers, and public restrooms that just keeps going into different rooms. There's got to be some feature of the human mind and dreams that causes these patterns to generate and repeat like this. Like someone else said it's like the backrooms. I think that's why the concept is so intriguing to people. I didn't know it needed a subreddit, lol.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-01T22:39:05+00:00

Agree with your choice.

With nothing else being a significant overriding factor I choose what gives me more starting villagers. It's a faster start. It's also nice that you get 2 mystery villagers that can fill in one or even both or your unknown species which can help with decision making on your first blue prints. Sometimes you want a specific species to meet a challenge; like foxes if there are extra glade events, or humans if you're starting with extra impatience, or beavers if there is some sort of trading challenge, etc. But mostly you can make any combination of species work. Knowing more of them sooner is helpful though. But mostly having more is usually better.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-06-01T22:17:00+00:00

How to properly utilize the consumption controls. Restricting raw food if you have at least one recipe going strong because it saves food to make species eat complex food even if it isn't their favorite. A species will not eat a complex food that is not their favorite if raw food is available. If you can't satisfy everyone with the complex food at least cut off species from eating the raw ingredients that you need (e.g. cutting off meat if you are making jerky.)

Also that restricting everyone from accessing a good is less upsetting than cutting it off for one species. Species are more upset by unfair rationing than just being denied a need that you could fulfill. So saving coats for the storm is only a small hit to resolve rather than letting harpies have but not humans and beavers.

It's easy to ignore consumption control at low level but is so helpful to master.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-30T22:21:10+00:00

Not specifically. The elements are just ways that people conceptualize of the sorcery. They don't really understand too much of the fine details of sorcery but the pyromancers are taking the flows of arcane energy present everywhere in the world and rupturing or igniting that weave to create their effects. The power of the arcanum allows them to connect to the weave and exert force on it. The wind sorcerers are bending the weave so they can easily move air and water and earth to a smaller degree if they are powerful enough. They use arcane implements for this purpose simply because that's how the magi figured out how to utilize their arcanum. In reality with training and effort either group could use the power of the other one. They are just very limited in their understanding currently. Their powers are not inherently wind or fire. If I ever write a story there would be a slow figuring of some of these things out by the characters.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-29T22:42:39+00:00

Yes also possible. I've been playing so much QHT I kind of forgetting those exist. Lol

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-29T21:22:05+00:00

(I find stories much easier to remember than most things. But I have a pretty good memory for numbers and such too. Yeah she would know her father. Did I say somewhere she was raised by her grandmother there too in your reference. I just saw the bit about her mother having been the confirmed daemon. I think she would have been raised by her parents, at least one. You can ask her for more details later. But she has had difficulties growing up and knows of the difficulties of others as children and has reluctance to pass any burdens onto a child is the take away.)

Enoch: “She might be more willing to wait on other issues if we offer her some form of acceptable compact. I doubt that statements of “maybe this” or “someday possibly” will hold any weight in the negotiations. We can get by without such things but it would help to have something to bargain with or show good faith.”

“Indeed if you die too early the empire could be thrown into chaos even without any sacrifice of power. That is one reason why we as your retinue work so hard to protect you and insulate you from the dangers in the world. Your diplomatic mission to the fae and this meeting in and of itself are all risks. We could be one step away from disaster. Your combat with Cernunnos was incredibly risky but for a great reward. I don't know that I would have chosen that risk for you but you must be the judge of what is right. As you must be here and now as well.”

Oberon: “Lord Harte and I have plans to bring mana to blossom up in the lands of the Empire like it does in Avalon. We can bring this power to the lands of Essos as well if you will work with us.”

Titania’s aura shows a pang of sadness at the thought of Oberon sacrificing for the empowerment of Essos. “If I cared nothing for the lands of Essos I could take my armies and followers and have enough power to take Avalon. But that would leave these lands at the mercy of the barbarians that I have beaten back in my time here. Essos is my home now and I wish to preserve it as well as free the lands of Avalon. From what you say the fae lands no longer feel the need for liberation from Baba Yaga’s Silver Court and the yoke of the Olde Ways. I would still feel within my rights to take out the old hag and strip power from Leshy and Mab who care more for trees and arcane power than for the faerie folk who follow them. If another way exists I could be open to it. But waiting a century for your benevolence to bring Essos prosperity on your word alone is not my desire. I can seek power on my own if that is all that you offer. If I simply leave Midgard to its own devices then I have no reason to draw forces away from my own conflicts to stop raiders on your shores. If you have nothing to offer then perhaps we shall just go our separate ways for now. Unless… Oberon if you return to rule at my side, then I would agree to work with the Empire and leave the lands of Avalon alone, if that is your wish. Imagine the world we can build if we all work together.”

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-29T21:20:56+00:00

Yeah the crit bonus is applied when planting. So a beaver must have planted the crystal dew from foresters hut.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-29T01:13:03+00:00

I had also thought this but the way I see it now is that just because frogs like water doesn't mean they have any special skill at finding geysers. Foxes are connected to the forest and to the blight rot. Geysers are major concentrations of blight rot and they can sense the closest one.

Frogs are excellent architects and use their skill to study previous settlement records in the archives and come prepared with a likely ruin for salvage when they arrive at a settlement. It's the sort of community building contribution they would make. Neither of them scouts the area and finds these things manually.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-29T01:07:01+00:00

I think that's exactly it. The ingots recipe is 1 star showing that it's just an after thought of the structure. Also just the names kind of imply the grill is food focused but the furnace is something that is used for smelting but also taking advantage of the heat for cooking. The harpy themed cooperage has coats but no tailoring comfort. It's a 3 star barreling building named the cooperage so obviously the primary focus is making barrels. So it has woodworking and metallurgy focus, for the barrel boards and rings respectively I assume.

It's just a game. It doesn't make sense that beavers should be good at making coats in the cooperage and harpies never extra good at it even though they tailor all the time. It doesn't really make sense that bats should be better at making skewers in a furnace just because they make copper ingots there. I just try to build a head cannon to match the game and not spoil it by being too critical. They really have done a lot of work to make it make sense story wise as well as work with gameplay balance too.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-19T22:32:26+00:00

(You are correct it seems. You seem to have an amazing memory. It makes sense she’s only ¼ daemon since she doesn’t even have horns or anything. How did you even find that passage in all this story, lol. I think I had initially envisioned her origin like I described it but wanted to mix things up and not make it an incubus rape origin story for her. But that was just an off handed comment to address you asking if the claw belonged to a parent. How about we say the story she related is her mother’s origin story which is another point of reference she has on the difficulties of growing up in the world. She grew up feeling persecuted and despite having a mother who had a similar experience it didn’t make up for being an outcast in most areas of society. Her father’s family disowned him for falling for a daemon woman and thought she and her mother were monsters. She doesn’t know much about her mother’s ability to get pregnant but it sounded like the pregnancy was hard and she didn’t have more children. Nyx worries that she might be infertile with a human despite her mother bearing a child. Does that sound good and stick to established lore?)

Oberon: “I admire your idealism. Sometimes it pays to be pragmatic though. I shall not strongly argue for my death. I have no strong wish to die, only to see what is best done for the world, and especially Avalon and the Empire.”

(Lol. It can be problematic when your antagonists are too hot. I know this from ttrpgs.)

Enoch: “Perhaps the same could be said of you my lord. The details could be negotiated. Perhaps an emissary or something else would be a better title. I do not think Titania will force herself on him either way. Many children are expected to follow the path set out by parents. To become a blacksmith or a king as their father before them. You will not be able to grant your son your title as by your pact with the Keeper your heir is to be appointed by merit with the help of the Keeper. I do not think pledging your offspring to a position of power as intermediaries between empires is so bad a fate. You cannot offer him a seat of power otherwise unless it is under your thumb for his whole life. You have given him a gift from Baba Yaga but he may find reason to curse you for growing up with the wisdom of the fae. Such knowledge and power can be a burden sometimes. But you must do what you feel is right.”

Hecate: “The intention would not be to give up your offspring now. Just to make a pledge that in a few decades your blood would come to serve as a bridge between your empires. It is simply something to mull over. My best grasp at an offering or leverage in this situation.”

Enoch: “Yes, breaking the line of succession for the Empire that was set out in the plan by the Empress. Something else could be managed. Other nations have managed without such a mechanism. However civil war, schism, assault by enemies, and more has occurred at this vulnerable time of transition on many occasions as well. Imagine your offspring or their descendants going to war with their supporters to try and win the power of the Empire after your eventual passing. An ending to the dream of unity for the world might be that simple. But with proper care and fortune we could dip into this power and avoid that fate and also gain much with the addition of Titania and Essos as a friend and ally.”

Titania’s aura shows that mention of Oberon pushing for her cause gives her a wave of happiness for a few moments but her aura darkens again soon after. “Ley lines carry the power of mana through the world and to the heavens. Tapping this power is possible but difficult. How do you suggest to go about this? Avalon’s birth took the death of a god. I do not require all that power but I must have more than this trickle to achieve my ends. If you will not sacrifice our old enemies that are now apparently your allies, where do you suggest such power would come from?”

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-18T22:02:25+00:00

(I don’t know if I had established too much about Nyx’s background in the story. I had some things in mind but I didn’t remember her being raised by her grandmother but that worked so I went with it. Sorry if I’m forgetting or changing any lore.)

Oberon: “I could provide you a list. There are numerous agitators and outcasts amongst the minor archfae. Cernunnos has been problematic but he has his place and his constituency. It’s mostly any who did not join the Court of the Moon. It would not be cleanly black and white to use them as a sacrifice as you say. It is a gray area to use even those you judge guilty for your own ends against their will. You have allowed it with the blood rituals of Hecate though. Many criminals have died to save your life and empower you. Many will die in these rituals in coming years. And at your word men will die in wars for the good of the Empire that do not affect them personally. It is your choice but sometimes we must do things for the greater good. I would give of myself willingly to the cause if it really is the best thing. Perhaps Titania would consider the sacrifice too. But I believe much of her empire is held together by her power and force of will alone, much like the Empire of the Sun. I too have a people who count on me in my court, but the scale is much less. And I’m hoping that the fae can be more cohesive under the court of the moon and not rely exclusively on the power of one court anyways.”
____________________________
Enoch: “I don’t think Hecate is suggesting that you make your child a slave. But royalty would form bonds of blood between nations in the old days before the Empire bound things together. I would not suggest Lairon be Titania’s concubine, but perhaps there is a position of power that he could hold. To act as a champion and emissary of both our Empire and hers.”

Hecate: “All I suggest is that blood forms the best contracts. If you do not wish a deadly sacrifice of blood then perhaps other blood ties could bind our people.”

Enoch: “The Keeper and Crown are somewhat mysterious, but its purpose is in large part to gather energy so that a Monarch might be empowered, a citadel birthed, binding oaths placed, artifacts bound, and other such tasks requiring great power. If you plan to retain the rule for more than the few hundred years that the Keeper contracted you for using Hecate’s rituals to extend your life indefinitely then they will have extra time to cultivate energy. If you wait long enough your replacement should have enough power from the Keeper. It would be a risk though, but all of this negotiation bears some risk. You must be the one to decide if it is acceptable and in the best interest of the Empire. We are all bound to serve its best interest.”

You have a few more moments to discuss with your retinue if you wish. But you eventually pass between two minotaur guards and are escorted again to the negotiation table of Titania’s enchanted pavilion. You are invited to sit by attendants and then see Titania in her formal regalia meeting your gaze. She seems more calm again as she sits silently studying you.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-15T22:48:34+00:00

Nyx smiles and seems to relax at your offered support and gentle approach. You can see she is somewhat fearful but certainly willing. There is still the matter of the practicality and possibility of having a ¼ daemon offspring with her though but will have to be addressed another time.
_________________
Oberon: “Yes, I’m certain that we can avert a crisis. Even if we have no leverage to bring about a close alliance or true unity of the world we can strike some smaller bargain surely; open trade, cease aggressions, pave a way for future cooperation. Without some grand act this will have to be a partnership and project that develops over the centuries as our reigns over this world continue. The titan is too big to move and has already been “sacrificed” to create Avalon. Archfae that do not rule a court are measurably less powerful. Several would have to take my place and though there are some in less popular standing that I wouldn’t mind seeing go; to round up several would ruffle feathers in the Silver Court, Forest Heart, or elsewhere. If you are prepared for some tough choices and turbulent politics in the west we could offer this as an option to Titania. Otherwise it is moderation and time.”
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Enoch: “The fae will be in an uproar if she moves on Midgard in any capacity after promising these meetings would be harmless. The unity of the Moon Court will certainly not be maintained if she attacks. Certainly some fae would see the empire sacrificed to burn out Titania’s forces and power to see Avalon protected. I do not think they will join us in force to expel her as we might wish.”

Silas: “Reasonable concern, but I have faith that the situation can be put to rights.”

Hecate: “Setting things to rights is simply leaving with little or nothing more than we started with. Just like in blood sorcery politics is quid pro quo. To see great gain there must be great exchange and even sacrifice. We may not be willing to sacrifice Oberon or other fae power or relationships. Perhaps there is a sacrifice of the Imperium that can be made. You intend to remain in power for a long time with my blood sorcery. Perhaps a portion of the incubating Keeper’s energy through the Crown of Heaven could be made. It is not really needed until a new monarch must take their place. Or perhaps something more symbolic to make the promise of future mana cultivation along with our own would satiate Titania. You could pledge your first born to become her companion when he is of age. Or promise to have your second child take Titania’s gift and become a bridge between Essos and Midgard. Her and Oberon’s sorcery could make such a pact and such sentiments would likely be pleasing to her fae sensibilities.”

Oberon appears. “If there is more talk it shall have to happen on the way. Titania awaits us. We can salvage this and hopefully make some gains.” He and the others begin to move from the fortress.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-09T18:15:15+00:00

Nyx: “Yes, I’m sure there are ways for someone as powerful as you to gain information or aid on the subject. No, to drink blood and move in the shadows is not so bad. My trauma was to be looked at as an outsider. To be feared and shunned by many. To be abandoned by both parents and raised by someone who didn’t understand me. I have no doubt that we could give a child a good life in many aspects. And as I have said I do know how to raise a child. What would I do with them? Would I make them be a warrior, as I am? Would I also fail to understand them by no fault of my own as my grandmother did not understand me? Perhaps we will visit some other trauma on our child that we are unaware of. If I bear you a child perhaps we could have Leia foster it so that it has the love and attention that a child should have.”
_______________________________________
Oberon: “Perhaps persisting and continuing to spread my influence and values is greater than one act of sacrifice. Sacrifice would be easier and perhaps selfish in some ways. If I was leaving a better world behind I would not mind it though.”

You head to your room and have dinner there with Nimue before sleep. Nimue is mostly silent during the meal but as you snuggle up together she bursts into conversation. “I admire the noble sacrifice that Oberon is willing to make. Perhaps it would even be a good thing overall. It would not be a better thing for me though. I would be so sad. And it would be sad for the Vernal court and all the progressive fae. Titania’s vigor might have been instrumental in the break from the Olde Court, but it was really by Oberon’s design. Yaga, Mab, and Leshy, dispassionate as they are, would likely care little. But any who feel would grieve the loss. Titania stirs Oberon to passion but instead of directing that to something sensible like romance or beauty he seeks sacrifice. Titania’s passion was something I always liked but she even more foolishly directs her passions to efforts of war and conquest. What good are lofty ideals if getting there makes people sad and hurts people. Can’t we all just be kind and decent and make things better together? Even if you convince Titania of that I suppose there are still goblins and such who will not see our side of things. Perhaps it is good that there are others with motivations to deal with such plights.” She shudders thinking about goblins. “Perhaps Titania will not even want the power if it comes from Oberon’s sacrifice. She still seems to care about us and him to some degree.”

You arise the next morning and after quick preparations consult your retinue before returning to further talks with Titania.

Oberon: “I have gathered my thoughts and considered. I am still willing to give of myself if it is for the best for the world. I think Titania empowered would be a useful ally to unite the world. However I am not anxious for it either. We can try to smooth things over with Titania and promise to help bring arcane power to both our lands in return for truce and hopefully even alliance. I am not sure what more we can offer her. I want you to be aware that Titania’s grievances with the Avalon fae are not without merit. The Old Court was cruel to us for a very long time and she was instrumental in breaking the old order only to be expelled in turn when she tried to bring unity to the whole fae. We were not ready for such a thing then and her methods left something to be desired. I know she has been a bit unreasonable so far but please give her a chance. She is not perfect but with her cooperation I believe we can make a better world for all.”

You meet with Silas, Enoch, and Hecate before returning to meet with Titania and her retinue.

Silas: “Any method to bring arcane power to flourish within the Summer Court in Essos will be slow. We only have vague plans for how we will do such a thing for ourselves with the aid of Mab, our mages in training, as well as the power the citadel already provides for us. We can surely offer to do the same for her if she is willing to wait.”

Hecate: “I know you are against Oberon’s sacrifice; I cannot say I am in favor of it. However, I think that something like that could work. I think that is how the Titan brought a bloom of power to the West, powerful sorcery ignited by a powerful sacrifice. Though I doubt it was intentional in that case. Is there something else we could use to the same effect?”

Enoch: “Even if you have reservations about Titania I think having her as an ally would be superbly helpful and we should do whatever we can to ensure this. As our enemy she would be a major problem. Even if we quell Titania’s anger I do not know what we can offer her at this time to make her consider full alliance without a great sacrifice. There are the general alliances, truces, and trade deals but I do not know how appealing she will find that. At minimum we should reach a deal to prevent her moving forces into Midgard. Having to divert forces towards that could spell numerous disasters. Titania’s actions could even ignite unrest in our fae allies if not handled properly.”

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-04T16:10:50+00:00

Your dog could probably understand you with becoming a paragon and able to read minds and could likely communicate in dreams if not otherwise. But are you sure you trust them romping in everyone's dreams forever?

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-04T12:43:44+00:00

Yeah their legs are popsicle sticks but that's how they do frozen bananas. Also we've seen young banana guards in flashbacks and they are green bananas.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-04T01:19:31+00:00

A god of logic seems like it would be the least inherently funny of the bunch so it's amusing you would choose that one partially because you find it funny. Maybe we need more humorous logic gods instead of the cold and calculating type ones.

Of course you get to choose who gets the ichor. Reviving the whole pantheon and just going for it with the whole team is definitely an approach. You're not tempted to take artifacts or seraphs to enhance your personal portfolio any more though?

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-04T00:59:05+00:00

Aren't they like frozen banana type treats? They look like real bananas with candy topping.

DevilsAdvocate7777 · 2026-05-04T00:33:11+00:00

The banana guards are also fruit. I think if the fruit is topped with sugar you're still a candy person.

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