Bobular plays Stellaris: Fantasy Edition

[Terminal Blue]

Initiate operation second breakfast!

Or don't, I'm enjoying the AAR anyway. It's a really good idea for a themed galaxy setup.

 

[Bobular]

Spoiler: Chapter 3 part 2

The war against the Halflings was almost over. The Halflings themselves were mostly defeated, only a few castles need to fall for everything once belonging to them to now belong to the Human High Kingdom.

It is at this time that humanity takes its first few steps to improving its self genetically. The ground work is laid out for a future where humanity is seen as the ruling force in this galaxy.

Back at home the planned serf processing facilitates pass from the theory stage and start becoming reality. This should hopefully keep the serfs knowing their place.

The High Kingdom once again has to turn to its draconic neighbours to help keep the war going whilst strife at home causes problems with the economy.

It is shortly after the fall of the Shire that the Royal Fleet and the Second Fleet finish off mopping up the remaining Halfling resistance.

And the first grand terraforming project is completed.

Unfortunatly the war is not as over as many once thought. The Elves, devious gits that they are, managed to sneak around the blockade and start hitting the Mardom Barony. The Barony has been hit hard by pirates whilst the fleets have been fighting the Halflings, so they are in no fit state to defend themselves from reaver Elves.

It is the duty of a Lord to protect his lower vessels, so the High King orders the Royal Fleet its self to deal with the Elves, the second fleet remains in what was once Halfling space to maintain order.

As a side note, the only way the Elves could have come to the Barony is through Draconic space. The High King is not pleased about this development.

The Royal Fleet destroys the elves quickly and efficiently.

And with the Elves pushed back and all Halfling lands under Human control the Halflings surrender.

The Halfling League is destroyed.

In its place is a puppet government, the Halfling Hegemony.

With the war over, thoughts turn to more exploitative ventures. One scholar comes up with a theory on travelling through wormholes. Eager to explore strange new worlds the High King accepts the proposal.

But the Elves are not happy about the treatment of the Halflings under Human rule and so declare themselves rivals of the High Kingdom.

Dwarven miners offer up vast sums of materials in exchange for access to some terraforming gasses from one of the worlds we didn't let the Halfling Hegemony keep. These resources will go towards improving the navy as the High Kingdom is now surrounded by temperamental dwarves, angry elves and dragons that showed they were willing to play both sides in a war.

The first batch of genetic enhancements are ready and a new race of Human is born, the Ultra Human. Stronger than a normal human, these new bread of serfs will be better able to work the fields and mines that keep the High Kingdom running, as well as being better soldiers as well.

But the war with the Halfings and the threats on every boarder prove to be nothing when countered with the horror of the next race to make its self known. It turns out Daemons are real and they are hungry for our souls.

The Daemons make their intentions clear from the outset. They want nothing more than to devour our souls. The High King announces that we will fight against Daemons where ever they are present.

The Daemons control a large amount of space to the north[footnote]It is here that I realise the use of the term 'north' when discussing space is kind of odd[/footnote] of the Dwarves. At least the Dwarves may buy us time with their lives before the Daemons come for us.

Once more the Cyclops goes to war with the Golem.

And now the Orcs announce their presence. Threatening with their mighty fleets and unopposed ruler.

But it seams as if that is all talk as the Orcs seem to be on the verge of being devoured by Daemons.

This does not stop the Orcs from acting tough. Diplomats suggest that Orcs may have no other method of communication other that threats.

Not ones to let the Orcs have all the fun, the Dark Elves decide to mock the High King too. In his wisdom the High King ignores this clear provocation, whilst secretly adding Dark Elves to his list.

Scholars discover a race of pre-sapient sloth people.

Turns out that giant imposing Serf Processing Facilities work as the serfs start getting back to work.

And then a scholar discovers something that may change the way the Kingdom works forever. A now extinct race of aliens was heading to what they described as paradise. Though they are all dead now, that doesn't mean that the High Kingdom can't find this 'paradise world'.

Humanity takes its first step towards perfection as the last of the Humans are gone, leaving behind either new stronger Ultra Humans or brain slug enhanced Humans.

A scholar manages to crack the security on the alien's logs and find a probable location for the 'paradise planet'. The public become aware and all talk within the kingdom is of what this new planet will be like.

Golems, Cyclops, no more fighting.

After the war with the Halflings, both fleets have been dealing with pirates who thought they could operate freely whilst the fleets were away. The Second Fleet has the honour of destroying the last of the pirate bases that popped up whilst the war was on going.

It turns out that after colonists landed on the terraformed world it was discovered that the world, named Tritonis, is filled with titanic life forms.

In honour of this discovery, the High King renames the new colony Titonis.

Coordinates for the 'paradise planet' are finally unlocked. It is right next to the Halfling Hegemony. The Halflings can not be aloud to take this world before the High Kingdom so ships are diverted there straight away.

The colonists on Titonis manage to control the Titans of Titonis.

The Titans are put to the work they are best suited for, killing the foes of the High King.

More discoveries on Titonis. This time a crashed alien battle cruiser at the bottom of the sea.

Whilst we were unable to float the ship and get it working again, scholars were able to learn a lot about ship design from its ancient hull.

Other scholars notice that some stars seem to be pulsing oddly.

The first ships arrive in the system with the 'paradise planet' in it. All that they find is a baron world. It is thought that this is a lesson that an aliens idea of paradise is not the same as a right thinking Ultra Humans.

But the scholar was unable to give up. After launching a probe at the planet and the probe bouncing off it was discovered that what appears to be a baron world is in fact a paradise. A paradise where the aliens have been living all along.

But before the world is colonised by Ultra Humans war is declared on the Elves in vengeance for the problems caused in the two Halfling wars (HW1 & HW2).

 

[SupahEwok]

It is here that I realise the use of the term 'north' when discussing space is kind of odd

Not at all my dear fellow [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_coordinate_system], although you're probably not using it correctly. Galactic north is defined as being along the path between our Sun and the center of the galaxy, on through to the other side.

 

[Bobular]

It is here that I realise the use of the term 'north' when discussing space is kind of odd

Not at all my dear fellow [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactic_coordinate_system], although you're probably not using it correctly. Galactic north is defined as being along the path between our Sun and the center of the galaxy, on through to the other side.

Personally when talking about a galaxy that for the most part can be thought of as a kind of disc, I would like to talk about it in terms of hubward (towards the centre), rimward (away from the centre), turnwise and widdershins (respectively, with and against the direction of the disc's spin).

 

[SupahEwok]

This isn't Rimworld.

 

[Bobular]

This isn't Rimworld.

Does Rimworld use hubward, rimward, turnwise and widdershins? I was under the impression that the rim in Rimworld refereed to it being on the rim of known space or something rather than it being anything to due with a disc.

Either way, up next Rimworld: Fantasy Edition?

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

The Turtle Moves! (It's elephants all the way down..)

 

[SupahEwok]

Discworld. Whatever. It's all round.

 

[Bobular]

Spoiler: Chapter 3 part 3

The fleets move into Elven space through the Halfling Hegemony. The Elf Kingdom is mostly a straight line, making it easy for both fleets to push forward without having to worry about hem coming from behind.

The Elven fleets prove to be no match for the High Kingdom's fleets, especially our top of the line cruisers.

The Daemons begin taunting the High King in his dreams, mocking him for wearing clothes. The next morning the High King walks out to court naked, but is quickly bundled away by one of his advisers and promptly returns fully dressed.

And the Halfling Hegemony sends some ships to help with the war against the Elves. The High King thinks its cute how they think they're helping.

As punishment for their rebellion, the serfs make up most of the cannon fodder in the invading forces. Many die but there are always more where they came from.

The Elves stand no chance against the combined might of the Human High Kingdom and the Halfling Hegemony (even though the Halflings are hardly making any difference).

As the Royal Fleet passes a planet that isn't worth the time invading, the Halfling followers descend upon the world. Under the guidance of the Humans, the Halfling Hegemony is far more militaristic than the Halfling League ever was.

Some unknown aliens contact us regarding the aliens living on the paradise planet.

They warn that the aliens are infested with some kind of fungus and that we would be next if we landed on the planet. Luckily they know what to do.

They set about purging the planet with fire. The High King was planning on doing this anyway (though with gun fire rather than actual fire). Worryingly though their methods may have caused environmental damage to what was once a paradise world.

And indeed the planet is now clear of alien life, but it also has some odd toxic wasteland, presumably this waste is all that remains of the aliens that once travelled across the galaxy to reach their paradise.

Obviously the High King then sends some brain slugged humans to colonise the planet, though they may not be pleased when they realise they've got to clean up the remains of the old inhabitants.

Now Elven space branches, the Royal Fleet continues widdershins whilst the Second takes the path rimward.

And finally our tradition of awesomeness allows for a third perk. The High King picks Engineered Evolution, to better help our people be all they can be, with the brain slug's help.

Human evolution is now the domain of the High King.

And the High King chooses to improve the humans already improved with brain slugs to make them even more intelligent, long lived and charismatic. These near perfect beings become known as Neo-Humans.

After the old trade deal for the terraforming gasses that once belonged to the Halflings, the Cyclops decide to put in a better offer and win the gasses for the next 30 years.

Eventually the Elves prove they don't have the stomach for war and surrender unconditionally to the High Kingdom, becoming the fourth vassal within the High Kingdom.

A scholar comes up with a new idea for a genetically enhanced supper soldier. The High King agrees to this research and decrees that they shall be his finest warriors, these men who give of themselves to him. Like clay he shall mould them, and in the furnace of war forge them. They will be of iron will and steely muscle. In great armour shall we clad them and with the mightiest guns will they be armed. They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness will blight them. They will have tactics, strategies and machines so that no foe can best them in battle. They are the High Kingdom's bulwark against the Terror. They are the Defenders of Humanity. They are the Space Marines and they shall know no fear.

After conquering the Elves the other races start to get worried about the expansion of the High Kingdom. The Golems quickly close their boarders to Humanity.

Followed quickly by the Orcs.

Then the Cyclops.

Who then proceed to declare war on the Golems. Again.

Finally the paradise world is settled.

And the Dark Elves decide that this is the perfect time to attack the Golems themselves. Never being ones for a fair fight they clearly waited until the Golems were at their weakest before attacking.

The Daemons decide to continue their attack against the Orc.

Which doesn't last long until the Orcs are completely wiped out, swallowed up by the Daemons.

The Dragons close their boarders with Humanity. The High King moves some fleets toward potential routes for attack to prevent an early strike by the Dragons.

The combined wars with both the Cyclops and the Dark Elves has finally done in the Golems and they join the Orcs in being no more.

Whilst everyone else may be closing the boarders with the High Kingdom, the Dwarves see the potential in striking a deal with us.

Possibly inspired by the Dwarves, the Dragons re-open their boarders.

But it is not long after this show of friendship from the Dwarves that a new, more racist, politics takes over the Dwarven Commonwealth.

With the wars over for now a research ship finally got round to exploring the wormhole in Human space. Turns out that this wormhole was a portal to hell.

A beachhead is quickly established in hell, right in the middle of Daemon territory.

And a ship exploring Dwarven space discovers that the Dwarves have a ruined ring world in their space too. The High King starts thinking greedy thoughts.

The Cyclops and the Ents make piece.

Oddly the Dragons offer a defensive pact. The High King is pleased to sign this pact as now Humanity no longer has to worry about attacks from their hubward neighbour.

It is not long before those who were once enemies are now loyal subjects of the High King. It is also worth noting that the old Elven Queen has died and has been replaced with King Narcissus II.

With our expertise in genetics it is an easy task to uplift the sloth people and turn them into vassals.

Some of the Ultra Humans living on Scythia have decided to enhance themselves genetically without the High Kings approval. They start to name themselves, Meta Ultra Humans.

The Daemons don't seem to like that we have built a castle in the middle of their territory. Tough.

The Dragons invite the High Kingdom on a crusade against the Daemons. The High King was planning on doing this eventually anyway, once the beachhead was properly secured, so decided to accept the Dragons suggestion and both races go to war with the Daemons.

But the Daemons must have had some kind of magic link to the High King as he quickly died in his sleep, being replaced with his son. All hail High King Octavius II.

The robotic ship that the High Kingdom rescued from a planet years ago decides to found its own faction, pushing for greater rights for aliens within the High Kingdom. With Mushroom Men, Sloth People, Elves and even Halflings all represented within the High Kingdom now the faction has some support.

The Dwarves seem to be using the fact that we are busy with the war against the Daemons as an opportunity to make some claims on systems along our boarder. If they think that they will be able to get away with that they are going to be in for a surprise after the Daemon realms have fallen.

The Elves seem to like being ruled over by others. The High King starts referring to the Elven King as the Slave King.

Serf armies begin trying to cleanse a Daemon world. So far we have met little resistance against our invasion into hell.

The Great Dragon League seems to be having considerable success against the Daemons too. It is now a race between the two species to see who can carve up the most Daemon Space as possible.

So at the end of chapter 3, this is the state of the galaxy. The High Kingdom and its vassals control most of the bottom of the galaxy. The Dark Elves look to be the next biggest empire, thought the Daemons possibly were before they lost so many systems to the Dragon/Human crusade.