From The Sands

A long time ago, I also ran another adventure on the MSPA forums that was primarily text-based. I have decided to continue it here on the Eagle-time forums. There is a recap below, with all the major story beats.

There is also a dropbox folder containing every single text file written for this adventure before it fell into the abyss: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ca6a6nl9st7wy...zCBCa?dl=0

From The Sands: Recap

Centuries ago, a blue-furred race of people were exiled into a hostile desert island. They were called the Ngugi, and throughout the recorded history of the Malkin Nation, they had always been slaves.

The Ngugi rebelled, but failed. Exiled and forced to survive in this harsh environment, they settled by a river in the desert. Malkin remained in memory, affectionately referred to as The Old Country by the Ngugi people.

There, they discovered a tower that seemed to stretch out into space: The Shadowless Tower.

The tower was home to many strange creatures called Tower Beasts, and held far more space inside than outside. The Tower Beasts themselves were often dangerous, but a Tower Beast hatched from an egg warmed by a person will become completely loyal to whoever hatched it.

The Tower Eggs brought prosperity to the Ngugi, who named their new nation the Ngugi-Mahru. They established their own monarchy, and discovered that the Ngugi had a natural affinity for pyromancy. Their nation also had unrivaled skill in medicine.

Then, a Ngugi-Mahru citizen tried to claim an island for himself, which triggered a war with Yeshiko, a nation that had weaponized demons. Despite their mastery over the occult powers, the Ngugi won through a combination of technological superiority and tactical adaptability.

Yeshiko lost, and was changed forever. Ngugi-Mahru pledged to help the demon-ruined nation to rebuild, and from the ashes of war a new bond was formed as a Yeshiko native married the Ngugi queen. They bore two children: Princess Yena and Prince Jevinder.

Princess Yena, the blind and older of the two, went on a journey with her two escorts, Reyq the diplomat and Hessel the warrior. Hessel’s hand was wounded early on, but remains loyal.
For security, Yena adopted the alias ‘Coin’.

Yena learned that the use of Futurite, a powerful magical element in the Old Country was causing the boundary between worlds to weaken. Now, Princess Yena and her retinue travel eastward, in search of answers and a way to save her world from a demonic invasion that would bring nothing but ruin.

After a chance meeting with a water spirit, Yena learns the truth of her heritage: She is in fact, a half-demon. The consort to Ngugi’s Queen is a benign demon in disguise.

The water spirit also unlocked Yena’s ability to use her ‘demon-arms’, invisible but corporeal and powerful limbs extending from what were once stumps.

Meanwhile, the Advancers, a group of explorers dedicated to learning the mysteries of the Shadowless Tower, have only barely scratched the surface of its true nature and purpose…

===

And here is the Tower Beast Treatise, essentially a ‘Pokedex’ of all the different creatures that can be found within the Shadowless Tower: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Iqny...sp=sharing] TOWER BEAST TREATISE

The World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

With that out of the way, let’s continue the story.

===

The Counter Gear was a joint project between Sajar University and brightest minds of Madagar. Developed to provide a fast means of calculating enormous sums, the Counter Gear required the space of the average bedroom, but as long as the gears were well-oiled and the machine remained clean, it would never make an error.

At first, the Counter Gear was used to calculate and verify taxes, but it soon gained numerous other applications after modifications were made to allow it to do more than just add and subtract. It could predict trajectory, measure the speed of numerous objects in different weather conditions, be used to predict statistical outcomes, count beans, and more.

When the Old Country heard about it, they purchased one along with a manual. After they understood its mechanism, they made copies of it with varying levels of success. The Ngugi diaspora bought miniature replicas of the device, even if it was useless, because it reminded them of their homeland's greatness. Here was a brilliant piece of technology, born in their true home.

Of course, there would always be those who say that the Ngugi could never have developed it without Boigonbear scholars. It was true, but it couldn't have come about without the Ngugi engineers either.

Smaller versions of the Counter Gear would be developed years later, but even in its gigantic state, the machine served the world quite well.

Meanwhile, Coin and her retinue had reached Madagar. Thanks to the Princess' invisible arms, the trio were able to earn some money by performing 'magic shows'. Reyq was adamantly against it at first, until she discovered that being an assistant in a magician's act was quite thrilling.

Coin's melodious voice was always part of the act, with songs accompanying every performance. It was little wonder they made a small fortune, if not in money then in food. Coin's magic acts gave her the first taste of genuine Madagarian honey, a unique taste of sweetness and spiciness.

Hessel had put her skills to use and found sellswords and young villagers willing to pay for combat lessons. Despite her ruined hand, her instruction was clearly helpful, though the bodyguard took care not to reveal any secret moves.

The trio even encountered some 'feral' Tower Beasts. Though harmless to people, these beasts had learned to survive on their own after being abandoned by their owners, or losing their owners to death's embrace. Coin could not see, but she could sense that these feral breeds were different from their original forms.

New breeds from new habitats, new circumstances. Adaptation. Reyq helped Coin record the creatures they had found.

=== New Additions to the Tower Beast Treatise! ===

===
Muddycipher
Element: Earth
Intelligence: Dog
Diet: Meat

A new breed of the serpentine Rudyciphers, Muddyciphers are named so for their tendency to nest in muddy areas. After decades of abandonment, they adapted to Madagar's climate, with better control of their own body temperatures. They are often wood-like in scale color and patterns.

They have acquired the habit of hunting in packs, perhaps after observing wolves in the wild. Though they can and have attacked livestock, many Madagarian farmers prefer to tame these creatures and turn them into guards against much more vicious native predators.

===


Tropada
Element: Water
Intelligence: Insect-level
Diet: Meat. Any meat.

A relative of the Garada, these avian creatures are even faster than their Tower-born cousins as they face more threats in the Madagarian forests. They also fly in much larger flocks, and are nicknamed 'Noisy Clouds' for their tendency to cover up much of the sun whenever they migrate to a new breeding ground.
Out in Madagar, these birds bear spotty patterns on their feathers, differentiating them from their cousins.
Tropadas have more brittle talons, but much more developed beaks as they tend to eat insects and worms hiding inside trees. Their droppings make very good fertilizer, and fetch a relatively high price.

===

Awali
Element: The Void.
Intelligence: Raven-level. Capable of solving complex puzzles and use tools despite malformed limbs.
Diet: Magical essence.

Just like the Awulu, these floating beasts subsist purely on magical energy. However, unlike the scavenging Awulu, Awali tend to cluster near rivers due to the presence of Madagar's magical amphibians. The Awali have formed a mutually-beneficial relationship with the Mana Toad, offering protection with the use of their shields while the toads provide sustenance.

Awali have also displayed remarkable architecture skills, building dams and bridges for the Mana Toads to nest. Tamed Awali can serve as good construction workers despite their lack of fingers; they manipulate objects by creating bubble-shields.

===

At the Madagarian capital of Boigonbear, Coin had heard of the news about the Counting Gear. Without hesitation she bought one of the miniature replicas, grasping it with her invisible hands. The little trinket was very detailed and ornate; it was clear the Madagarians took pride in the invention as well.

In Boigonbear, the local library provided books for the blind, written in carved wooden slits. Coin did not hesitate to read these books. Her excellent memory allowed her to remember their contents, and there was one book that she found exceptionally interesting.

It was called Borders of the Cosmos, by Rasmodi Gantah.

Rasmodi, a Boigonbear scholar explained how different regions of the universe seem to behave under different physical laws; some stars shine much brighter than others despite being of the same physical size and similar distance from the planet. Rasmodi also noted how comets and meteors move at different speeds even if they are primarily made of the same elements, hinting that these objects will continue to operate under different rules even if they leave their 'boundaries'.

Though geologists insist that all elements behave the same way, chemists and astronomers agree that there is something strange about objects from other parts of the universe.

===
Ability Gained:

Cosmic Crafter
Coin will learn to identify otherworldly minerals and craft them into valuable, useful tools with special traits.
===

Coin decided to try and test her newfound knowledge. There were several places she could visit.

- Boigon Lake:
Local myth mentions it as a cursed lake that has earned the ire of the gods, as it had been hit by four meteorites in the past century. Nobody lives or visits there these days after the lake was completely covered in white algae, which is harmless but very slimy.

- Boigonbear Extraterrestrial Artifact Museum:
The exhibits are not for sale, but the gift shop may have pieces of cosmic pebbles to buy.

- Aleeyeran Shrine:
A shrine famous for a topaz gemstone that never stops humming. The local clerics claim it is the piece of a god's mouth, specifically Aleeyeran, who in local lore was shattered by a powerful demon in a war that saved the nation. Visitors may touch the gem, as long as they bring an offering of food for the god's mouth.

- The Fidds Residence:
A mansion belonging to a family of astronomers and avid collectors of meteorites. Perhaps they might welcome a visitor and trade something with Coin.

- The Shadow Merchant:
There is a mysterious creature, clad in all black who lives under a bridge and claims to sell a piece of the moon. His price is unusual: A conversation with him that will last an entire afternoon, but with neither food nor drinks allowed. He promises to give you the moonpiece once the sun sets.

Where did she go first?

>_

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 400 gold, 12 silver, 10 copper

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard
Reyq - Scholar

No Tamed Tower Beast

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 16.4%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

>Princess Yena would send correspondence back to her homeland of the adapting Tower Beasts, and suggest an expedition to acquire specimens so that they could be hybridized
>Visit the Shadow Merchant, and ask if anyone from the Fidds Residence has visited, and additionally if Reyq may attend if this transaction acts under "more the merrier" rules.

>Plan to visit the Fidds Residence after in case they are happy to host the party for the night

I was in the process of reading this when mspaf died. It is high quality, and the options posed to readers are consistently difficult decisions.
Not sure I have time right now, though.

Interesting. Was wondering if you planned on bringing this back, and hey, here it is. Reading the story isn't quite the same without the other posters, but still well worth prospective readers time.

Yeah! It's a really good adventure that combines strategy and story like the other works Mayu_Zane has made

>Princess Yena would send correspondence back to her homeland of the adapting Tower Beasts, and suggest an expedition to acquire specimens so that they could be hybridized
>Visit the Shadow Merchant, and ask if anyone from the Fidds Residence has visited, and additionally if Reyq may attend if this transaction acts under "more the merrier" rules.

>Plan to visit the Fidds Residence after in case they are happy to host the party for the night

Princess Yena wrote down a very long letter and sent it back home. It was about her findings on how Tower Beasts adapted when placed in unfamiliar habitats, and how Ngugi-Mahru should consider raising new Tower Beasts in stables that do not match their original habitats in the Shadowless Tower. It would be weeks before it reaches home, but it would be safe in the hands of an invisible agent of the nation.

With that done, Yena took on the persona of Coin and approached the Shadow Merchant.

The Shadow Merchant had no visible eyes. A skin darker than black. When it spoke, it was more like the growling of a hound than a person.

Hessel instinctively reached for her sword, but Coin held her back. Coin asked the merchant about the offer, and it happily obliged.

According to notes written by Reyq, the Shadow Merchant transformed into “a glowing owl with too many eyes”. The bridge was gone, and all that was there was a starry night sky and a barren, solid land of pure white. Coin’s demonic arms were visible, covered in sharp scales that resembled teeth.

Coin was not afraid, but Hessel and Reyq were terrified. The Shadow Merchant spoke with a voice as if it was a thousand people whispering at once. It was lonely, claiming to be a lost soul from another world.

The Shadow Merchant then held out a piece of the moon, and said with a clear, single voice: Home.

Reyq’s notes then mention that the Shadow Merchant was trying to gather currency for a ticket home, and today it gained enough for the journey. The moon-piece was the last bit of stock, and it wanted to leave behind a piece of it with someone who would make a mark on the world.

The Shadow Merchant, or the Moon Owl as Reyq named in her notes at this point, then flew upwards and disappeared. The bridge returned, and when the trio left, it was sunset.

Historians are uncertain as to what actually happened. According to eyewitnesses, after the three entered the underside of the bridge, they immediately left and walked around the city of Boigonbear, but backwards. When they reached the city limits, they turned around and walked backwards in the exact same route.

Regardless of what actually transpired, historians are at least sure that Coin did indeed acquire a piece of the moon, which was confirmed when the travellers reached the Fidds Residence.

The Fidds were ecstatic. They analyzed the rock and were absolutely sure it was from the moon. They offered a large sum of money to Coin for it, but she refused. She was considering a trade.

When she arrived at the Fidds Residence, Coin could sense there were numerous other artifacts from outer space. She asked about them, and as she listened, she could feel her invisible, demonic fingers twitching. They wanted to craft something.

These artifacts in the Fidds collection, Coin thought, could be used to create something special:

- Boigon Lake Bloodstone: Part of one of the four meteorites that crashed into Boigon Lake. Can be crafted into a stone that would reflect magical spells.

- King Tiger’s Gem: A piece of outer space ruby that was found inside the stomach of a tiger, which presumably ate a piece of meteor. Can be used to form a needle that would immediately kill any germs that came into contact with it. A sterilizer?

- Comet’s Peridot: A piece of peridot that was shed off of a passing comet. Can be crafted into a blade that melts all known metal.

- Magnetic Carbon: A misnomer, it is actually a piece of iron that looks like carbon under night conditions, found on a piece of meteor that struck a ship. Can be crafted into a pebble that grants stealth when held; the wearer does not turn invisible but living creatures cannot detect the holder by any means aside from direct touch.

She could also make use of her Moon Rock. With her newfound ability, she could turn the Moon Rock into a sphere that granted whoever held it the ability to levitate themselves a few inches off the ground.

Did Yena keep her Moon Rock, or did she trade it for something else?

>_

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 400 gold, 12 silver, 10 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard
Reyq - Scholar

No Tamed Tower Beast

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 16.4%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

>Make an offer with the Fidds, and ensure that they can be trusted.
>craft the moon rock into the sphere, and ask if they would be willing to exchange one of their artifacts in order to have one transformed into more than what it was
>the history of the artifact will remain, and the hidden natures of what it is will become apparent

>Make an offer with the Fidds, and ensure that they can be trusted.
>craft the moon rock into the sphere, and ask if they would be willing to exchange one of their artifacts in order to have one transformed into more than what it was
>the history of the artifact will remain, and the hidden natures of what it is will become apparent

Yena crafted the Moon Rock into a Levitation Orb and demonstrated its powers. The Fidds were at first shocked, but then became excited and actually gave her the Boigon Lake Bloodstone. She easily turned it into a Reflector Talisman. The talisman had its own magical aura that somehow re-directed magical energies elsewhere.

The Fidds made a proposal: Yena could keep the talisman if she was willing to send more transformed space-rocks to the Fidds by courier, along with a note that detailed how the artifact worked. In return, they would publish journals and credit the Ngugi-Mahru for their assistance in research, paving the way for more scholarships for Ngugi citizens. Yena accepted their offer, and would keep in touch with them via messenger beasts.

Night approached, and Yena resumed her identity on the streets as Coin. She and her entourage paid 12 gold for a night at the Rosty Cove, a hotel filled with young scholarly types. Hessel felt a little uncomfortable after a few suitors wanted to impress her; apparently Boigon scholars like their women tough. Fortunately, no violence ensued and a healthy snarl was enough.

Coin’s group rested for another night, planning to journey onwards and find other demon-hybrids.

======

Meanwhile, back in Yena’s homeland, Queen Sajar and her advisors were trying to decide what they should do with the proposal from one of their own university scholars, Scholar Ghisadi.

Inspired by letters from Yena, Ghisadi proposed the creation of a lab meant to create new varieties of Tower Beasts, essentially forcing them to change by placing them in unnatural circumstances. Many of Queen Sajar’s court deemed it unethical and cruel. The military officers and scholars believed it was necessary to better understand the Tower Beasts and the Jasar Dunaya, the Shadowless Tower where they were spawned.

Ultimately it was up to Queen Sajar to decide. She was sympathetic to the Tower Beasts, but she also held mixed feelings about the Shadowless Tower. Who built it? Why can it so easily defy the laws of nature? Why does it seem to be able to create entire worlds inside it? Why is it that no matter how much material is removed from inside it, more appears when other people enter?

In the end, she decreed a new policy. What was it?

- Unrestricted Research Act: All experimentation on Tower Beasts is pre-approved by Her Majesty Queen Sajar. Any negative consequences will be dealt with by government forces.

(New species of Tower Beasts will appear at a rapid rate, minor risk of disaster, minor risk of rebellion from angry populace)

- Supervised Research Act: All Tower Beast experimentation will be supervised by either Her Majesty herself or a representative in her stead. By law, experiments MUST cease immediately if the supervisor deems it necessary. Defying this law is punishable by imprisonment.

(New species of Tower Beasts appear at a predictable rate, low risk of disaster)

- Reviewed Research Decree: A council of scholars and Tower Beast handlers will be formed. Their role is to review all proposals for experimentation and if they find the experiment has potential to yield benefits, they will approve it.

(New species of Tower Beasts appear at a very slow rate, almost zero risk of disaster)

- Anti-Cruelty Edict: Tower Beasts will not be experimented upon in Ngugi-Mahru, unless with written permission from the government and sufficient proof that the experiment will not result in cruelty.

(Chance of rebellion from university scholars conducting illegal experiments)

>_

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 388 gold, 12 silver, 10 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard (Guardian Shield: Arrows and other solid projectiles cannot harm her)
Reyq - Scholar

Cosmic Artifacts:
Levitation Orb - Can levitate up to 4 inches. Worth 40 gold.
Reflector Talisman - Reflects ALL magic, even beneficial ones. Worth 1000 gold.

No Tamed Tower Beast

======

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 16.4%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

Supervised research sounds good.
A nice middle ground to keep things under control.

Perhaps we could add a clause that if we believe a line of experimentation holds merit, yet currently fails to produce results worth continuing that form of testing, it could be marked as a prospective line for later pursuit.

Naturally, the researchers involved are to be encouraged in studying other relevant experiments, check equations, and otherwise re-affirm/adjust their notes so that when we do get around to that particular branch the scientists are more than ready to fully explore and harvest all the potential fruit it may bear.

A mix of Supervised Research and Reviewed Research.
A council/bureau would be formed and it would fulfill the position of supervising experimentation with the same rules of Supervised Research. Research must be submitted in a proposal form (can be brief) and may be approved by a minimum of 2 council members/substitutes or more, and must be ceased if half the council/their substitutes have voted for a cease, or if Her Majesty orders a cease.
This format would allow a more guild and community oriented research approach, while still having the same failsafes and speed as Supervised.

>check on what the Prince's thoughts on Tower Beast research are

This is back! And so am I.

Hmm. Considering how vital Tower Beasts are to the Ngugi-Mahru, I'd imagine Reviewed Research Decree to be the most likely decision. After all, the prince himself has a friendly tower beast that is almost family (if memory serves).

> Reviewed Research was her decision, but she realized that some autonomy would be needed. As such, she suggested a system of peer review. An rotating council of researchers, selected randomly by utilizing the Counter Gear, would oversee and approve minor and moderate experiments, sending reports to royal advisors and the Queen herself. They would then, before publication, ask a different group of scientists to perform a similar experiment in order to compare results. All results, especially null results ("a result without the expected content: that is, the proposed result is absent. It is an experimental outcome which does not show an otherwise expected effect. This does not imply a result of zero or nothing, simply a result that does not support the hypothesis"), are eventually published for further study by the scientific community at large. Of course, state secrets and military projects were exempted from this process and were under full discretion of the royal family. In this manner, knowledge is verified at least thrice, spread wide to allow further advancement, and most safe and humane. Finally, while inhumane experiments may sometimes be required or unintended consequences, all research must follow certain moral principles and guidelines to ensure that the least amount of pain, discomfort, and death occur as the result of experimentation.

(Most new species of Tower Beasts appear at an extremely slow rate, almost zero risk of disaster, scientific rigor and cooperation spreads.)

A mix of Supervised Research and Reviewed Research.
A council/bureau would be formed and it would fulfill the position of supervising experimentation with the same rules of Supervised Research. Research must be submitted in a proposal form (can be brief) and may be approved by a minimum of 2 council members/substitutes or more, and must be ceased if half the council/their substitutes have voted for a cease, or if Her Majesty orders a cease.
This format would allow a more guild and community oriented research approach, while still having the same failsafes and speed as Supervised.

>check on what the Prince's thoughts on Tower Beast research are

Queen Sajar made her own proposal, made from combining aspects of Supervised Research and Reviewed Research. A council shall be formed, and Her Majesty retains all rights to veto any project she deems either too dangerous, too cruel or too wasteful.

The Queen’s Research Council was established. While a few scientists complained, most of them were satisfied and wasted no time in starting new experiments. Workers were sent to building sites, ready to construct new laboratories. Soldiers were re-assigned for security detail.

Prince Jevinder himself was actually excited about the prospect of seeing new kinds of Tower Beasts. The Shadowless Tower was a world full of wonder, but the thought that even outside of it new kinds of Tower Beasts can bloom fascinated him. When he heard of Muddyciphers from his sister, he couldn’t help but think about what his pet Rudycipher could have turned into, if it was born in different circumstances.

Tower Beasts remained the most popular export for Ngugi-Mahru, and adding variety would only help their nation in the long run.

Meanwhile, within the Shadowless Tower itself, the Advancers continued to contact the Maknus, the aliens from another world, connected to them through the Tower.

The Maknus wanted to enter our world, and they prepared special suits that would allow them to survive even with our different physical laws. They correctly believed that if they took materials from inside the Tower and used them to build clothes, the insides would have the same properties as the Tower itself, allowing them to breathe and move comfortably.

Their invention raised even more questions about the Tower’s origins and nature. How does it create new physical laws within itself? How does it seemingly ‘know’ how to provide a comfortable environment for all life, in places that are not too specialized for certain Tower Beasts? How does it keep generating new materials and new creatures? How does it stay maintained? Where do the Guides within it rest? A long time ago, it was said by a Guide that the Tower’s creation was an accident. What were its creator’s true intentions?

The Maknus explorer, known to us as Evanir, walked through the border, and survived. There was much jubilation. Contact.

As if summoned, a Guide appeared at the border between our worlds. It appeared in the form of a perfect sphere. It spoke, with a voice softer than silk:

“Visitor. Congratulations on crossing the bridge. The Jasar Dun’aya was never built for this, but it serves its new purpose well.”

An Advancer took the initiative, and asked: “Why was this place created? What purpose was it meant to serve?”

The Guide responded: “An Empire’s Womb.”

It then faded away and fell silent. What did the Guide mean by that? That question would give rise to countless debates and arguments amongst the common folk, the scientists and philosophers.

Some believed that the Guide meant that the Tower was supposed to be a common pathway for some old, powerful empire that spanned worlds. Others thought it might mean that the Tower Beasts were originally supposed to be weapons for an empire, tools to bring other worlds into subjugation. Yet others also believed that perhaps the Tower was initially the birthplace of a new empire, but it fell to ruin due to some disaster. A few even believed that the Shadowless Tower was some kind of vehicle, meant to carry the heir of a long-forgotten reign.

Whatever the Guide meant, the Maknus explorer made the best use of her time. She recorded her findings outside the Tower, and would bring back tales of wonder back to her people. Scholars noted that it was strange and in a way, sad, that it was much easier for the Ngugi-Mahru to make peace with people from a totally different world, yet they still had tensions with people sharing the same planet.

When it came time for Evinar to return home, she brought back a special souvenir from the Ngugi royal family themselves. This gift would influence the Maknus’ perception of our world, and their relationship with the Ngugi people. What was it?

- Oberto’s Odyssey
(Increased Tourism from Maknus World, may lead to formal alliance)

A historical book about the trials of the Ngugi people as they escaped the slavers of the Old Country, with particular focus on Oberto, an orphan. Full of true accounts of awful crimes, but carries a message of hope as it ends with the founding of Ngugi-Mahru. Would inspire any reader to visit a grand nation born from extreme hardship and determination.

- Tower Beast Treatise
(Many new varieties of Tower Beasts from Maknus)

A record of all known Tower Beasts, magically updated with powerful runes that add ink and paper to it as time passes and new discoveries are made. The Maknus did keep records, but none are as detailed as this treatise.

- Portable Counter Gear
(New technology from Maknus, Improved relations with Madagar)

Made in collaboration with Madagar’s scientists from Boigonbear University, the portable counter gear was capable of doing advanced mathematics in seconds. This little machine impressed Maknus scientists and compelled them to share more of their knowledge. Though their world used different physical laws, their ideas led to new inventions in our world too, particularly when it came to re-using materials from the Shadowless Tower.

- Yeshiko Accounts
(More knowledge of demons in Maknus)

A very thick tome filled with eyewitness accounts from the people of Yeshiko, civilian and military. The disastrous war between Ngugi-Mahru and Yeshiko led to a surge in research on demons and how to fight them. The world of the Maknus had them too, but they never thought other worlds were plagued by the same bizarre creatures.

- Enchanted Candle
(Maknus shares knowledge of their magic)

Pyromancy is an old art in Ngugi-Mahru, and they had mastery over fire like no one else. This Enchanted Candle would continue burning for a century, even if completely submerged underwater. It continued to burn even in the Maknus world, and inspired them to see if their magic would work in ours too.

>_

*NGUGI-MAHRU WORLD STATUS*

Global Reputation: High Standing, Steady Tourism, Steady Trade
Average Life Expectancy: 65 years
Wealth: Very Wealthy (ranked 2nd in world)
Military: Powerful, Respected
Science: Advanced, Respected
Allies: Madagar, Yeshiko, The Old Country (Malkin)
Wars: None
Miscellaneous Note: Ngugi-Mahru considered a power player on the world stage and well-respected, but many nations still wished the Shadowless Tower entry requirements were less restricted. Debates were still ongoing about the possibility of opening the tower to all, and declaring it an asset for the entire world.

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 388 gold, 12 silver, 10 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard (Guardian Shield: Arrows and other solid projectiles cannot harm her)
Reyq - Scholar

Cosmic Artifacts:
Levitation Orb - Can levitate up to 4 inches. Worth 40 gold.
Reflector Talisman - Reflects ALL magic, even beneficial ones. Worth 1000 gold.

No Tamed Tower Beast

======

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 19%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

Long-term, making friends and getting an alliance would probably be the best. I mean, it doesn't actually help us much immediately. Especially considering the Ngugi's world is just about entering Renaissance level technology, and allies are primarily used as deterrents for others to attack you. The Maknus are, obviously, not able to fulfill that aspect of an alliance easily and neither would we be able to fulfill that responsibility either. Still, even if it is only in-name for now, an Alliance might be the best bet. It opens up future possibilities of cooperation and knowledge exchange, but we get no immediate benefits out of it. Frankly, they're all pretty tempting and potentially good options.

> Oberto's Odyssey, but that was not all. A book called A Gourmet's Journal, detailing the journey of a famous gourmet and their exploits across the known world, was sent as well. What better way to get to know a people than through their food and dining customs?

Life update: Mom is in intensive care due to a lung infection. I caught it too. I am resting. Mind feels like it’s oozing out of my nose. I need to go sleep now.

> Oberto's Odyssey, but that was not all. A book called A Gourmet's Journal, detailing the journey of a famous gourmet and their exploits across the known world, was sent as well. What better way to get to know a people than through their food and dining customs?

The Maknus deciphered the contents of Oberto’s Odyssey and soon requested a guide to terms used within the book. After further guidance, they fully understood Ngugi-Mahru’s origins and the current political tensions that remained between the Ngugi and the Malkin of the Old Country. The Maknus themselves had prior history with strife caused by slavery and imperialism, and sympathized with Ngugi-Mahru. In the future, they would pledge support for the Ngugi royalty.

Historians note that another book was smuggled into the cargo that contained Oberto’s Odyssey. It was A Gourmet’s Journal, written by an anonymous author. Many suspect that it was written by the Royal Court Chef, Haskil Kamin, but all evidence was circumstantial at best.

Though it was a short and poorly-illustrated book, it became a sensation with the Maknus and within a week they sent a formal request to sample food. Fortunately for everyone involved, a proper understanding of Maknus anatomy allowed the Ngugi to create food that was safe for alien consumption. Of note was the famous Ngugi Grilled Cod Noodles, garnished with blueberries and cheese. This particular dish was so beloved by the Maknus that they agreed to buy it with their own natural resource: Danivium.

This particular metal was very similar to iron, but was impervious to rust, leading to the substance being nicknamed ’Rustbane’. It became extremely expensive but highly sought after by blacksmiths and soldiers.

Meanwhile, Ngugi-Mahru was facing an odd kind of crisis. It was not one brought by disaster, but by excess. Many doctors were reporting that over half of the Ngugi-Mahru population was suffering from some kind of food-related disease; unhealthy hearts, alcohol-poisoned livers, kidneys failing, and many more. People were dying not from starvation, but from over-eating.

Queen Sajar thought it was a minor thing at first, until one of her own servants passed away in the palace from failing kidneys. The brightest minds in the nation were ordered to try and understand why so many of her people could not control their eating habits. Several reports were presented, but the most convincing factor was the lack of entertainment; many of the civilian population were simply bored and filled their leisure time with food. A close second was the lack of formal education regarding healthy eating.

With regards to leisure activities, there were certainly entertainers, artists, performers, jesters, buskers, novelists, puppeteers and the like, but many of such performances or works were expensive compared to the rest of the world. For example, a seat for a play was typically worth around eight silver coins in other nations, but in Ngugi-Mahru it was two gold. As it turned out, Ngugi-Mahru became so famous as a place of wonder and mystery that it attracted top-ranking talent… but ONLY top-ranking talent.

Though the average Ngugi citizen was well off, it just made more sense to them to save money for ‘the really big show’ and spend it on food and drink instead of enjoying any other kind of entertainment. This was unfortunately the growing culture in their country.

The education was also in need of a reform; despite the fact that Ngugi-Mahru was a prestigious place for doctors to study, education for the commoners barely touched on health at all. Most people did not know or understand the consequences of over-consumption.

The fact that A Gourmet’s Journal was smuggled in to Maknus was perhaps an odd sign of things to come; Ngugi-Mahru was eating itself to death, and the Royal Court had to introduce new policies that would change how the nation’s culture dealt with food. Sadly, none of the solutions could satisfy everyone, aside from reforming the nation’s education system which was already underway.

People argued that it was none of the Queen’s business what the people chose to eat, but historians noted that the sight of her servant dying in front of her traumatized Queen Sajar, which led to her taking drastic action.

Maid Grofen the Queen’s servant did not only collapse, but she fell down a flight of stairs, broke her neck and landed in a scalding pot of soup, destroying her fur and skin. Queen Sajar suffered nightmares from this incident, screaming about sizzling flesh in the awful nights.

What was the new policy?

- Standardized Pricing for Leisure
(Royal popularity with everyone rises except for the entertainment industry and food industry, no performances held for royal or diplomatic gatherings as sign of protest)

All prices for concerts, theatrical shows and the like would be strictly regulated by the government so that they were on par with food prices. Neither the show-makers nor the cooks were pleased by this, as both of them lost profits. Artists who actually agreed with this policy became pariahs.

- Controlled Recipes
(Reduced royal popularity with everyone but doctors, increased risk of assassination)

All businesses selling prepared food in the nation must alter their recipes to meet a ‘national standard’. Nobody liked this policy, except those in the medical profession as they were glad to see their patients slowly becoming physically healthier… though the patients were noticeably unhappy.

- Mandatory Outdoor Activities
(No substantial change to overall national health, creates national sports teams)

The rule was that every citizen must spend at least three days of the week in their free time engaging in ‘outdoor leisure’ like swimming at the river or playing sports. However, this was impossible to enforce, and most were happy to just do what they were always doing. There were notably quite a number of people who became inspired to start forming professional sports teams in the nation, which Ngugi-Mahru never had before.

- Mandatory Satiation Medicine
(Nation loses some wealth, prestige)

A radical approach, Queen Sajar commissioned scholars around the world to create a drug that would make the user feel full for long periods of time. The most effective was Rasizol, originally meant for soldiers on the battlefield. This medicine became a national staple, and everyone was required to eat it at lunch. Though it worked, this led to ridicule on an international scale, as other nations came to believe that the Ngugi lacked any measure of self-control. The purchase of stocks of Rasizol also caused the Ngugi-Mahru economy to become weaker.

- Royal Secret: Artificial Famine
(Royalty gains popularity among peasants but increased risk of assassination)

Queen Sajar ordered her spies to embark on a secret mission: To destroy their own food supplies, fisheries and farms. It was calculated to create a shortage without risking mass starvation. The goal was to create a situation where people had no choice but to ration their food, and it worked. The people flocked to her leadership as she made several deals for food shipments. However, nobles who came to know the truth would plot to kill the queen as punishment for her causing so much unnecessary suffering.

>_

*NGUGI-MAHRU WORLD STATUS*

Global Reputation: High Standing, Steady Tourism, Steady Trade
Average Life Expectancy: 65 years
Wealth: Very Wealthy (ranked 2nd in world)
Military: Powerful, Respected
Science: Advanced, Respected
Allies: Madagar, Yeshiko, The Old Country (Malkin)
Wars: None

Miscellaneous Note: Ngugi-Mahru considered a power player on the world stage and well-respected, but many nations still wished the Shadowless Tower entry requirements were less restricted. Debates were still ongoing about the possibility of opening the tower to all, and declaring it an asset for the entire world.

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 388 gold, 12 silver, 10 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard (Guardian Shield: Arrows and other solid projectiles cannot harm her)
Reyq - Scholar

Cosmic Artifacts:
Levitation Orb - Can levitate up to 4 inches. Worth 40 gold.
Reflector Talisman - Reflects ALL magic, even beneficial ones. Worth 1000 gold.

No Tamed Tower Beast

======

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 19%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

You don't want the playwrights to turn on you, because they can quickly turn public opinion against you. Controlled recipes goes against a lot of the principles we've instilled into the country (in my opinion). Mandatory activities doesn't change much immediately, so it is inefficient but otherwise it is viable. Mandatory drugging has more negatives than those listed, as it normalizes the use of drugs and could lead to drug epidemics. Finally, purposeful destruction of crops is drastic but is most likely to succeed.

I feel like the most 'drastic' thing Queen Sajar would do would be both:

> Mandatory Activities and Artificial Famine.

How I see this working:

SpoilerShow

In an effort to inspire her people the Queen had doctors come up with a series of exercises that could be performed in 5-10 minutes throughout the day. Though not suffering from over-consumption herself, she would publically participate in these exercises from the royal balcony. Additionally, she'd set up broadcasting towers in parks and central squares around the capital that would broadcast instructions in the early morning and in the evening. These towers relied on a combination of magic and tower beasts, so they were expensive and not as mass-producible as wanted. The Government would also come to subsidize the creation of national sports leagues and attempt to aid in spreading the most popular sports to neighbors for an international competition every couple of years.

Additionally, she would have agents introduce artificial blights to certain key crops and otherwise interfere with food production, in order to have a calculated famine. Some nobles would come to resent her for this, if discovered, she knew but from past experiences she also knew how greedy the noble class could be. In an effort to minimize their unrest, she would use the more pliable nobles to enact these deals allowing them prestige as well as getting 'kickbacks' from the government for doing the nation a service. She knew that a paid and proud noble who is, even if unwittingly, part of the scheme would be less likely to come forward about it, as it would hurt their own position and put them at risk as well.

Hi everyone, while I'm working on the next update, you can speculate and chat over in this thread: https://eagle-time.org/showthread.php?tid=2753

> Mandatory Activities and Artificial Famine.

I think the increased athletic activities would be useful, but artificial famine is a sincere risk.
>Queen Sajar should incentivize playwrights and those who created the media of the nation to create a poetic or dramatic artform that incorporates physical activity, and circulate it through the people. By incorporating martial and athletic training into simple plays that could be circulated and enacted by the common folk, the people would even out their excess of food with community theatre involving acrobatics and other feats. The same program would allow doctors to volunteer to work with the commissioned playwrights to help make these plays have a slight educational value that would reinforce the coming reforms.
>Have court magicians and priests look into the excess to determine if there is any underlying demonic activity that is exacerbating the gluttony of the people

>Jevinder: Look into correspondence for a way to communicate better with your sister. Nothin that would be what could be used against your people, but the news your sister may not hear when a country or three away.

If we really want to go with Artificial Famine I think we could create an artificial scarcity by creating increased trade agreements by exporting the surplus.

> Mandatory Activities and Artificial Famine.

>Have court magicians and priests look into the excess to determine if there is any underlying demonic activity that is exacerbating the gluttony of the people

>Jevinder: Look into correspondence for a way to communicate better with your sister. Nothin that would be what could be used against your people, but the news your sister may not hear when a country or three away.

When the Mandatory Outdoor Activities Decree was established, interest in sports started to pick up, but with many still keeping the same eating habits, most people were still overweight… until the secret Artificial Famine started to take effect.

Farms were not only sabotaged, much of the excess food was discreetly exported to other nations. Ngugi-Mahru’s government was richer, but its people were being deceived. When the people asked why they could not ship food from overseas, the government responded by rationing all incoming food.

Then they had the idea of rewarding athletes with surplus food. The people started to become motivated to train in athleticism, and soon sports teams started forming.

Meanwhile, local demon experts suspected there might have been otherworldly influences at work, but they could not find any conclusive evidence. Future historians noted that cultists were active in Ngugi-Mahru at the time, but the increased gluttony might not have been the intended result of their practices.

Prince Jevinder was far more interested in his sister and her journey than the goings-on in the nation. He sent her a letter, carved in wood so that she could easily read it with her sense of touch.

Less than month later, he received a reply from Princess Yena. She did not divulge her location, but she did share one major piece of news: She hatched a Tower Beast from an abandoned egg!

What was this creature she hatched herself? (Choose only one from the following)

- Garada
Element: Water
Intelligence: Insect-level
Diet: Meat. Any meat.

This tiny grey bird is a lot stronger and faster than it looks. Despite its small wings it is very capable of chasing after much larger creatures and its talons are so sharp they can pierce through iron. Garadas usually fly in large flocks of twelve to fifty, and when they get hungry they will immediately attack the nearest moving creature. When resting, they lie on top of the surface of water, looking very much like stones unless something stirs them. Many tamed Garadas serve in the Ngugi-Mahru military and police for hunting down fugitives.

- Runivern
Element: Metal
Intelligence: Inconsistent
Diet: Titanium and titanium alloys

The Runivern is unique in that it feeds exclusively on titanium and its various alloys, making them the only predator feared by the metallic Sadanio. Found at the 6,000th floor of the Shadowless Tower, Runivern are covered in glowing runes that are unknown to any language.

Normally, Runivern would just feed on titanium deposits found around the Tower, which magically regenerate after a set period of time. However, if it spots Sadanio, the Runivern will relentlessly hunt them down.

The runes covering their bodies offer substantial protection from demons, as discovered by their tamers. A popular theory is that the Runivern actually evolved to grow these runes on their scales in response to a demonic intrusion, as Floor 8,000 has evidence of demonic artifacts.

- Tyrant
Element: Wind
Intelligence: Raven-level
Diet: Meat

Resembling a scorpion with tentacles, the Tyrant lives in the 1111th floor of the Shadowless Tower, an area that can be best described as a rainforest full of spirals.

It only lays eggs when certain it is not being watched, even by other Tyrants. The creature's name comes from its ability to coerce other creatures into finding food for it.

Tyrants have very well-developed vocal cords, which they use for communicating with other species. Though their tentacles are actually very weak, they are laced with chemicals that can make other beasts receptive to commands. Their level of control is so strong, they can even convince other Tower Beasts to feed their own young to the Tyrant.

Tamed Tyrants have confirmed the theory that the creatures can consciously alter the chemical formulae of their venom, and can even turn it into effective medicine. They are commonly found serving at pharmacies all over the world. Unsurprisingly, the Ngugi-Mahru government also uses Tyrants as interrogation tools.


>_

*NGUGI-MAHRU WORLD STATUS*

Global Reputation: High Standing, Steady Tourism, Growing Trade
Average Life Expectancy: 73 years
Wealth: Very Wealthy (ranked 2nd in world)
Military: Powerful, Respected
Science: Advanced, Respected
Allies: Madagar, Yeshiko, The Old Country (Malkin)
Wars: None

Miscellaneous Note: The Shadowless Tower was still a controversial topic in the international community. However, sales of discounted food stores reduced tensions somewhat. Sightings of Princess Yena, journeying eastwards under the pseudonym Coin, fueled rumors that Ngugi-Mahru was trying to hide her in case of a secret attack so that she could reveal herself as a surviving heir to the throne. Others claimed she was hiding a secret of her own, perhaps a pregnancy from a torrid affair or a stolen artifact from the royal chambers. Princess Yena’s covert travels became common knowledge, and some people even claimed to be her in order to gain favors. Queen Sajar was quick to respond to any falsehoods, but there would always be another scammer around the corner.

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 388 gold, 12 silver, 10 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard (Guardian Shield: Arrows and other solid projectiles cannot harm her)
Reyq - Scholar

Cosmic Artifacts:
Levitation Orb - Can levitate up to 4 inches. Worth 40 gold.
Reflector Talisman - Reflects ALL magic, even beneficial ones. Worth 1000 gold.

No Tamed Tower Beast (to be determined)

======

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 21%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

I'm leaning towards a Garada, but have no real strong opinions.

SpoilerShow

I also attempted a thing...
It isn't quite to the proper scale and parts of it are wrong on top of my interpretations of things. There should probably be more desert areas in Ngugi-Mahru and Malkin, for example. Also, mostly just guessed on the rivers and mountain ranges.

>Tyrant. venom into medicine must be useful at some rate.

(loving the map you made, gloomy : o)

SpoilerShow

I also attempted a thing...
It isn't quite to the proper scale and parts of it are wrong on top of my interpretations of things. There should probably be more desert areas in Ngugi-Mahru and Malkin, for example. Also, mostly just guessed on the rivers and mountain ranges.

This is cool! Thank you! And sorry for the long delay between updates.

>Tyrant. venom into medicine must be useful at some rate.

Princess Yena was happy to tell her little brother that she had a pet Tyrant Tower Beast! She named it Viola, and though still an infant it was already able to escort her.

As for Yena herself, she reached Vendigir and was exploring a ruin hidden by a copse of very tall trees.



The ancient, broken temple was completely dark, but for Yena that was hardly a problem. Within, she found an altar dedicated to the worship of a long-dead demon. Its name was Genethar, its visage honored with a statue that resembled a fusion of a goat and a worm.

Then, from the statue, she heard a voice. Viola immediately performed a threat display, raising her tentacles into the air as the voice spoke.

“You. Half-Demon.”

Yena was surprised, and responded by asking who was residing in the statue. It answered.

“Benofik. Son of Genethar. Cursed. Stuck. Trapped.”

A demon, and it knew of her heritage. She told the demon trapped in the statue that she knew that the Old Country’s use of Futurite was risking the tearing of the cosmic curtain between realms, and would lead to more demons pouring into her world. An emissary from Uraira, Teraco, warned her, and she too had sent back warnings to the Ngugi-Mahru. Queen Sajar believed her, and had secretly been moving against the Malkin Nation.

Queen Sajar’s secret acts against the Old Country at this time, were not recorded on any archives. Her plans would not be seen into action until two more months pass. Seven months remained before the curtain would be torn.

Benofik listened, and was intrigued. He had been stuck in the temple for decades, and had grown bored. He also revealed to her that he too was a hybrid; the result of the union of a Vendigir farmer and Genethar. Sadly, the farmer was executed and Benofik was sealed, his birth considered an affront to nature.

Yena asked if there was a way for Benofik to be freed. He did not know.

“Daughter of Dark. I fear this all may be a dream. A dream that I am finally speaking to another like me. Please let me feel the wind and sun outside my prison, so I know every day that his happened.”

Benofik could somehow feel, smell, hear and speak despite being tied to a body of stone. At the very least, he was able to tell he was still stuck in the same room.

The statue itself was about 2 feet tall, and seemingly hollow. Carrying this would not be a problem, though there would be a lot of questions as to why Yena and her entourage would be bringing it.

What did Yena do with Benofik?

- She left him in the temple, promising to return and free him.
- She placed the statue just outside the temple; at least this way he could sense he was finally out.
- She smashed the statue; maybe Benofik could be freed this way.
- She sent the statue back to her homeland, perhaps her scholars could break Benofik’s curse.
- She brought the statue with her, claiming it to be nothing more than a souvenir when questioned on her journey.

>_


*NGUGI-MAHRU WORLD STATUS*

Global Reputation: High Standing, Steady Tourism, Growing Trade
Average Life Expectancy: 73 years
Wealth: Very Wealthy (ranked 2nd in world)
Military: Powerful, Respected
Science: Advanced, Respected
Allies: Madagar, Yeshiko, The Old Country (Malkin)
Wars: None

Miscellaneous Note: Records indicate that Ngugi-Mahru was sending a lot of books to the Old Country.

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 400 gold, 1 silver, 8 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard (Guardian Shield: Arrows and other solid projectiles cannot harm her)
Reyq - Scholar

Cosmic Artifacts:
Levitation Orb - Can levitate up to 4 inches. Worth 40 gold.
Reflector Talisman - Reflects ALL magic, even beneficial ones. Worth 1000 gold.

Viola - Pet Tyrant Tower Beast

======

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 22%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

>Yena would travel with Benofik for a week to see if there was anything the fellow half-blood was trying to hide.
>If he was trustworthy she would send him to her mother and father, and he could request the aide of scholars to free him.
>All she asked in return for this was that he would try to work against the tearing of the curtain.
>If he could not be freed by today's scholars, she would see his freedom int he future, and until then they could write to each other.
>After all, while he could not use his hands to write, he could still speak and have another do that for him.
>And through that method Yena would send a letter Benofik had dictated to her, with him when she sent the statue home.

>Yena would travel with Benofik for a week to see if there was anything the fellow half-blood was trying to hide.
>If he was trustworthy she would send him to her mother and father, and he could request the aide of scholars to free him.
>All she asked in return for this was that he would try to work against the tearing of the curtain.
>If he could not be freed by today's scholars, she would see his freedom int he future, and until then they could write to each other.
>After all, while he could not use his hands to write, he could still speak and have another do that for him.
>And through that method Yena would send a letter Benofik had dictated to her, with him when she sent the statue home.

Records of eyewitness accounts indicated that Yena and her entourage travelled with the statue. The princess made use of Benofik, incorporating him in an improvised show where Viola the Tyrant Tower Beast would juggle the statue. Benofik was apprehensive at first, but Viola proved more than capable of performing the act with precision. This act managed to make some money, along with Yena’s singing, Hessel’s combat training and Reyq giving lessons on how to read.

(20 gold acquired)

After a week had passed, Yena paid 3 gold to send Benofik back to her homeland. He would be studied by Ngugi scholars, and they would also use him as a basis for future methods of capturing demons.

Meanwhile, back in Ngugi-Mahru, Queen Sajar was planning a coup in The Old Country, Malkin. Several Tower Beasts had been smuggled in, and were ordered to destroy supplies and govenrment-controlled buildings to weaken the enemy’s defenses in case of a revolt. They were supervised by spies already hiding in the Ngugi ghettos.

At this time, the recently-crowned King of Malkin, Haulod III, was still adjusting to his new duties and was convinced that the Tower Beasts were smuggled in by Gavon, a neighboring nation. Ngugi-Mahru was not a suspect, except by a few Malkin spies.

Queen Sajar’s objective, of course, was to destroy the Futurite mining operations. Their continued use was weakening the boundary between our world and the demons’, and after weeks of planning and meetings with her advisors, she concluded that sabotaging Futurite would already be an act of war. The most peaceful resolution then, would be to replace the head of state, as the Malkin military had a history for obeying whoever was on the throne, regardless of how they came into power (though this was not a guarantee).

Haulod III was showing signs that he disliked being king. He could be convinced to abdicate, or fake his own death to escape for a less stressful life. Killing him would have been a last resort.

The coup attempt would commence soon. The Queen had the means to replace the king of the Old Country with someone more easily controlled. Who, according to Queen Sajar’s plans, would succeed King Haulod III?

- Prince Nag’manar: Haulod III’s brother. Very young, only 12 years old. He was very easily manipulated. Unfortunately, this could go both ways as other nations would try to exploit him.

- Princess Haswida: Haulod III’s sister. A competent leader who was already looking for a way to ascend to the throne. However, she was also a known bigot who had been applauding policies that made the Ngugi people living in Malkin miserable. The most recent policy resulted in price hikes of sales of ‘luxury items’ for those of Ngugi ethnicity. Among those ‘luxury’ items: silk, paper, ink, books. Still, she was willing to give up the Futurite mines in exchange for the throne.

- Duke Kilbada: A cousin to the royal family, but still a plausible candidate, Duke Kilbada was a scholar who was studying the anatomy, psychology and culture of demon-kind. Known for very long rants and thirst for wine, but had great knowledge regarding demons which Ngugi-Mahru could use.

- Prince Dogan: Haulod III’s older brother, long thought missing. He was supposed to be the next king, but left in search of a fabled sword that would grant its user the power of flight. He never found it, but he settled in Downok after marrying one of the natives. He grew homesick and showed interest in becoming Malkin’s ruler, as he was meant to be. An eccentric man with a taste for myth and legend, but a great diplomat.

- Princess Minkit: King Haulod III’s aunt. She was in charge of the Malkin’s scientific research, and devoted to the development of a new kind of power source: Batteries. While electricity was still unknown to most of the world, she was already planning to make the world’s first lightbulb. However, there were rumors abound that she was involved in abducting the poor for her experiments, which according to Ngugi-Mahru spies, were all true: She was trying to find ways to turn body parts into fuel for batteries.

>_

*NGUGI-MAHRU WORLD STATUS*

Global Reputation: High Standing, Steady Tourism, Growing Trade
Average Life Expectancy: 73 years
Wealth: Very Wealthy (ranked 2nd in world)
Military: Powerful, Respected
Science: Advanced, Respected
Allies: Madagar, Yeshiko, The Old Country (Malkin)
Wars: None (Secret War in preparation)

Miscellaneous Note: The Old Country was busy investigating rumors of abductions and strange Tower Beasts vandalizing various government properties, which included arson.

*YENA’S STATUS *
Princess Yena’s Personal Money - 420 gold, 1 silver, 8 copper

Skill:
Cosmic Crafter - Can Craft Otherworldly Objects into items

Retinue:
Hessel - Bodyguard (Guardian Shield: Arrows and other solid projectiles cannot harm her)
Reyq - Scholar

Cosmic Artifacts:
Levitation Orb - Can levitate up to 4 inches. Worth 40 gold.
Reflector Talisman - Reflects ALL magic, even beneficial ones. Worth 1000 gold.

Viola - Pet Tyrant Tower Beast
(Tyrant information)

SpoilerShow

Tyrant
Element: Wind
Intelligence: Raven-level
Diet: Meat

Resembling a scorpion with tentacles, the Tyrant lives in the 1111th floor of the Shadowless Tower, an area that can be best described as a rainforest full of spirals.

It only lays eggs when certain it is not being watched, even by other Tyrants. The creature's name comes from its ability to coerce other creatures into finding food for it.

Tyrants have very well-developed vocal cords, which they use for communicating with other species. Though their tentacles are actually very weak, they are laced with chemicals that can make other beasts receptive to commands. Their level of control is so strong, they can even convince other Tower Beasts to feed their own young to the Tyrant.

Tamed Tyrants have confirmed the theory that the creatures can consciously alter the chemical formulae of their venom, and can even turn it into effective medicine. They are commonly found serving at pharmacies all over the world. Unsurprisingly, the Ngugi-Mahru government also uses Tyrants as interrogation tools.

======

Shadowless Tower exploration progress: 23%

World Map: https://i.imgur.com/V6xZODN.jpg

TOWER BEAST TREATISE

After a week had passed, Yena paid 3 gold to send Benofik back to her homeland. He would be studied by Ngugi scholars, and they would

They would what?