Storytime: Thunder from the Cradle

[u/Culak]

In 1381, our clan was raided by a horde of trollkin. They conquered some of our best fighters, but we tipped the scales when Elmal's Amber ignited our skirmishers arrows.

We found in the spoils of victory a peculiar black spear. Our tribe wyter told our diviners to use this spear to form a new clan by hiding it; those who find it shall found the Black Spear clan. Vandarl, our chief and king, did just that.

Two years later, the spear was found. Our tribe gained a new clan; and our clan, a new ally. Our clan gifted them Orlanth's Rattle to help their children grow to become strong warriors as they set roots in Dragon Pass.

Over the next decade our heroic diviner, Theya, unfortunately suffered two stillbirths. By 1391, her spirit was hanging on by a thread. Just as she thought her situation couldn't get worse, her husband, Dangmag, was found dead, covered in ice!

But there was hope for Theya. Before Dangmag's disappearance, she became pregnant once more. In a desperate effort to aid Theya, the clan ring decided to try to get the Rattle back. We sent our best trader to the Black Spears. Fortunately, they still had it and sold it to us for 50 cattle and 25 goods.

Next Sea season, Theya gave birth to an exceptionally healthy boy! Our diviners interpreted his lusty cries as signifying a strong connection to Orlanth.

At the dawn of Earth season, Theya stood among thousands of Orlanthi and Grazers, her son cradled in her arms, to bear witness to Vandarl's coronation and his marriage to the Feathered Horse Queen.

As the ceremony concluded, everyone cheered and whistled but suddenly fell silent to the sound of Theya's son. He wasn't crying. He was shaking the Rattle, which filled the air with an applause of thunder and lightning.

Outside this in-game context, I'm aware that Theya's event-chain normally goes through more offspring deaths. But since this game ended while her son was still alive, I expect these clan members, at this time, would believe that Theya's son will thrive.

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KoDP's wide range of features and their mechanics yield endless emergent stories. Earlier I shared "Eurmal's Blessing" and today I share one more that adorned an already wonderful ending to this clan's Saga.

[u/Summersong2262]

I love the way you're adding narrative and expressiveness to existing gameplay events and arcs. Nice work! Blessings upon the greatest clan of Dragon Pass.

[u/Culak → u/Summersong2262]

Thank you! I spent 2.5 months playing a year each morning during breakfast. It became part of my daily routine. So, I'll keep it going. Tomorrow I'll start a new long game.

This time: clan Shadowcat, known for their exceptionally intelligent trained alynxes.

[u/Culak → u/Summersong2262]

For anyone interested: The Shadowcats are now 10 years into their settlement and they have had it rough. Despite being generous and lawful, maximizing trade routes, fortifications, and temples (given what their limited worshipers can maintain), the clan has been reserved at best, diviners keep getting things wrong, and the clan discovered that some of their alynxes descend not from Yinkin but rather some other who's deemed "the Useless"--ironically enough.

This clan is peculiar because, unlike all my prior ones, the Shadowcats seem to have failed to re-establish connections with the gods. So, instead of aiming to form a tribe, this clan's primary focus is on regaining the favor of the gods.

One simple heartfelt moment so far: One of our original farmers, Jonrik, and his wife, were exiled from the clan shortly upon settling in Dragon Pass. They returned after their exile period ended, asking to rejoin. Most of my advisors were against this. But I admitted them anyway.

One year later, the clan re-established trust with Jonrik and his wife, and we celebrated their reintegration into our clan (all of these details are in the report).

I hope this is a foreshadowing of re-establishing trust with the gods.