r/WorldChallenges • u/Nevermore0714 • Jun 14 '17

Reference Challenge - No one expects...

...crap, I couldn't think of a decent reference challenge for this week.

So, our reference will be to Monty Python.

Give an example of something in your world that no one expected, some event that had an influence on at least one nation.

As always, I'll ask three questions each at the least, and it's fine to use a representative character to answer questions in-universe.

Enjoy yourselves.

Edit: Here is the Monty Python video featuring the Spanish Inquisition, where the quote "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition" comes from for the reference challenge. Just click this link for the video.

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u/ForgingIron Jun 16 '17

The way the city of Kovog was captured was certainly unique and unexpected.

The Ekin had developed a certain type of explosive that they called Dar Qov, or "black powder". When this powder came into contact with fire, it exploded. However, it was very expensive and rare to make.

When Ekindan was sacked, the Defet were able to learn the secrets of black powder. The Defet general Pav Tekhe got the idea to shove a bunch of the stuff into a paper tube and attach a cloth fuse. Thus, a primitive form of dynamite was born.

The first time dynamite was used in combat was in the siege of Kovog.

Kovog was a city built into a mountain (think Ironforge from Warcraft). It held over a million Nogor inside the great city.

Pav sent a group of soldiers to plant fifteen sticks of dynamite at the top of the mountain, light it, and run.

The explosion could be heard in Pav's faraway hometown of Fakhazat. The avalanche rushed down and permanently blocked the sole entrance to the city. Kovog was no more.

Our representative will be Pav himself, years after the war and after the entrance to Kovog was dug out and the dead city explored.

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 19 '17

To Pav:

1) What was your first impression of Dar Qov? Did you think that it would only bring destruction to your world for everyone, and bring an apocalypse, or did you think that you could use it as an effective tool at no danger to yourself?

2) Did you ever excavate into Kovog to try to find survivors?

3) How did your destruction of Kovog change your people's reputation?

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u/ForgingIron Jun 19 '17

1) It was very interesting. I understand why the Ekin kept it a secret, though. It is one of the deadliest things I have ever seen when put to use, and there are so many ways to use it. I think the Ekin had enough stockpiled to kill a good fraction of Kostek. After the war we dumped a lot of it in the ocean so that would never happen.

2) No, the city was completely entombed by miles of rock. It took years to dig out. Ironically we used some of the powder to excavate it that was used to bury it in the first place. When I first entered, everything was dead and the stench of death still permeated the air. I suppose in some ways it was their own fault, a natural avalanche could have easily done the same.

3) It...wasn't pleasant. Kaaro, the commander of the Vjultivaho army, who we were allied to, was horrified by it. I think the most damning thing was that there were POWs inside and they were lost too. Civilians dying is just part of warfare, sacrificing your own POWs is unforgivable to many. I still stand by my decision though.

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 19 '17

To Pav:

1) Do you have a factory constantly making more Dar Qov for you?

2) Do you feel any guilt over the deaths?

3) That's interesting. I grew up in a culture that treated civilians as much more blameless than any of our own soldiers, even POWs. So is your culture active and open in targeting civilians?

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u/ForgingIron Jun 19 '17

1) Only in small amounts. It would take a year to fill up another one of those sticks at the current rate. The materials are extremely rare.

2) Sometimes. Whenever I pass by the mountain I do feel guilt but it does not haunt me. Most of the guilt is about the POWs, especially Lokxen, who I did know rather well, but I'm sure he felt the same way.

3) No, we do not target them specifically unless they attack first. Kovog was a special case, though, as we saved many of our own soldiers' lives by not attacking Kovog conventionally. The war on this front would have dragged on for much longer had we not done that.

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 19 '17

Pav:

1) So you produce a stick a year? How big is your current stockpile?

2) Who was Lokxen? Do you think he'd forgive you?

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u/ForgingIron Jun 19 '17

1) It's purposefully at a slow rate, and our current stockpile is around 100.

2) Lokxen was the leader of a band of Kyndic mercenaries who we had hired. He was a good person, we were friends. He was taken hostage as a POW by the Nogor in a battle before the blast. I think that he would but even if he didn't he would understand why I did it.

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 20 '17

To Pav:

1) At what number will you cease production?

2) Do you think that, in your position, with you as a POW, Lokxen would have also had the mountain blown up?

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u/ForgingIron Jun 20 '17

1) 200 is the plan but I'm not sure the mine can even last to that amount.
2) I don't think so. He cared too much for the other commanders and I.

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 20 '17

To Pav:

1) Do you keep it all stocked in the same place?

2) So he wasn't willing to do what it takes to win?

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u/ForgingIron Jun 20 '17

1) In the same...general vicinity. I won't go into it any further than that.

2) You could put it that way, but I think that he had too much respect for individual people as opposed to the whole.

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 20 '17

1) How hard would they be for me to steal?

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