Hitchhikers guide to security issues

[vulture]

In the next installment of the HHGTGS (on the public PTWDG forum) I'm doing Monsoon and Arashi. Does it matter if I hint that Monsoon is building a harbour? I can't see that it is vitally important to keep secret, but if anyone disagrees...

If anyone has something they want not to be mentioned, please speak up (or you can also speak up if you want something included).

BTW, which cities are our wonders in. My memory is that Hurricane has the Lighthouse, and EotS has Sun Tzu's. Hurricane is also building the Colossus (a 150 meter tall war chicken ), but obviously that isn't going to get mentioned unless we have built it there.

[DeepO]

EotS has nothing, it is Cyclone that has Sun Tzu... and yes, do not mention the Colossus before it is fully build!

As to things I would avoid mentioning: the specific purposes of cities. Don't tell that EotS is going back into worker-build mode, don't mention that Cyclone is a granary city. People who analyse our map will know, but we don't want to give anyone any ideas...

What can be mentioned: EotS terrible luck with disease when it first was founded (6 times hit, costing us 5 people right away, and a few more in messed up build queues. Not to mention the delay of settling other cities).

As to the harbor in Monsoon: for me it's fine... although it may not be the first one built (Sufa is only 3 turns away from completing it).

Oh, some other info that should never be exposed: Arashi building our (temporal) FP. If people know where our FP is, they have a better idea what economy we have... so don't even tell them it is already built or not

Other then that, please keep it up, it's an enjoyable read, and as long as it doesn't give away more info then others can analyse from our map, we're fine. It might be a good idea to do screenings here first though, so no accidents happen, disclosing vital information (not that I think they will happen, but you never know)

DeepO

[Shiber]

I wouldn't talk about disease in EotS. We're the largest already - if people know that we're largest despite the number of times that we've been struck by disease...

[vulture]

I certainly wasn't going to give away the position of our FP. I'm trying to avoid putting in anything that isn't visible on the map, and mention of temples and libraries in some towns might not even be accurate (I don't get the save, and don't keep track of what is built in which town that much). I was thinking about posting them here, and will do so for anything possible controversial, but I didn't think there was anything in the first two parts that gave away anthing that wasn't already publically known.

[vulture]

The next installment:

Monsoon
As you come down out of the Spinebreakers south of Dissidentville, you arrive on the great Lung plains, named after the famous warrior Lung Tzu, father of the even more famous Sun Tzu. The plains consist of vibrant grassland nesting between the Spinebreakers to the north and east, and the hills known locally as the Ribbreakers to the south. At the west end of the plains is the coastal town of Monsoon, while at the eastern end is the city of Arashi.

Monsoon is a rapidly growing town, founded not long before the start of the war, but quickly growing into an important trading centre. Work is underway on expanding the harbour, in anticipation of it becoming the main access point for naval trade with Bob. If you've come in the overland route, this is the first time you will really feel as though you've seen a genuine town. The residents of Monsoon are generally very friendly and outgoing, and it is one of the few places in the Storm where we received an enthusiastic welcome. They have staked their future on becoming an important trade conduit, and as such are much more open to visitors, and much more interested in the world around them than is usual. With intercontinental trade being relatively new, they are embracing it all cheerfully, and then finding out what they like and what they don't. While we were there, squid was the new delicacy - squid not being native to this part of the world, it has only recently become known about through Spanish traders.

We were fortunate enough to be in town in the early summer, when the rose festival occurs. One of the main products of Monsoon is rose perfume, gathered from a peculiar species of rose that grows in the hills to the south. There is only a small window each year where the petals can be collected and the perfume made, and after a few weeks of frantic activity, the whole town relaxes and puts on the rose festival, culminating in a big parade and much feasting and playing of games. Lodgings are easy to find even in this busy part of the year, and very good value.

There is a large spring in the town's main marketplace, and local legend has it that any visitor who drinks from the spring three times will one day return to the town. The town's rapid growth is pointed to as evidence of this. Well, we all had our three drinks before we left, so we shall test the theory sooner or later, but it has to be said that if we do have to come back here, I doubt any of us will be complaining. If this is the face of the new look, arms open Storm, then we like it.

Arashi
Arashi is quite a contrast to Monsoon, and perhaps what we would tend to think of as more typical of Gathering Storm. It is at the other end of the Lung plains, a large town in a narrow valley under the shadow of the Spinebreaker mountains. This town is second to none in importance in the history of the war in the eyes of the locals, and certainly the only other battle that matches it for significance has to be the battle for Elipolis. The defence of the town was also one of the most controversial decisions during the war. The Storm armies had camped out on a mountain known as Arashi Nine - the origins of the name are unknown - and were awaiting the approach of the Voxian army along what is now the Arashi trail (see the entry on Dissidentville). Scouting reports on the size of the Voxian army suggested that it was too big for the defenders of Arashi Nine to stand against, although numbers were very uncertain. Reinforcements from the south would be unable to reach the mountain in time to help, so the much debated decision was made to abandon the defensive positions on the mountain and concentrate the defense in Arashi, which could be reinforced before Vox got there. This gave Vox free access to the mountain overlooking the city, and also left exposed the short trek across a valley to the next peak in the Spinebreaker chain, which Vox crossed to surround the town from all the peaks.

The town's layout is still dominated by the effects of the war. Arashi was besieged for many years by Vox's armies camped out in the mountains, and while the initial defensive works were very quickly thrown together, the duration of the siege enabled a more complex defensive arrangement to be put into place. The east side of the city now has a second wall some distance outside the first wall, and the region in between became known as the 'field of catapults'. Semi-permanent catapult emplacements were built there, well over a hundred of them, initially for defensive use, but as the war drew on the catapults were strengthened and re-engineered to be able to fire loads high up into the mountains to where the Voxians were camped. The catapults were all in the outer half of the field, and upon a signal could very quickly be pulled back to the inner half, whereon large boards covering a ditch across the middle of the field would be pulled up to give a makeshift wall with a deep ditch in front of it, and a field completely exposed to catapult fire for the attackers to cross. Although the field is being converted to housing these days, a section of it is left as it was with the ditch and catapults, and at weekends there are regular displays of the well drilled catapult crews performing the manoeuvre in a startlingly short time.

The roads in the town are also built for defence, with very wide, straight roads running across the town to allow for quick movement of troops to where they are needed. The chariot lanes are worthy of mention, as another feat of well-practised timing to defend the town. These wide lanes gave chariots the chance to get up to full speed, four abreast, charging at the makeshift wall in the catapult field. When they passed a certain marker, a section of wall would be dropped over the ditch, and the chariots would stream out. The wall could then easily be pulled back up before the enemy would have a chance to take advantage of the breach. Displays of this are also done at weekends, and the wall-bridge hits the ground at almost the exact moment the lead chariots arrive at the wall. The citizens' boast that taking the first wall would leave the attackers in a worse position than before may well have some truth to it.

In the end though, these defensive measures were never used. The combined effect of the hundreds of catapults firing day and night took their toll, and by the end the remaining Vox troops were the ones under siege up in the mountains. The wide roads are still here though, making the large town very easy to get around.

Well, enough rambling about history. The town itself is rather austere, not too surprising given its recent past. The huge barracks at the centre, from which the wide roads radiate, is currently being developed into something new, although we were unable to find out what plans the government has for it at the moment. From what we heard from neaby residents, it appears to be becoming a town hall type of feature, with law courts, permanent shops, a library and some government offices, with almost all daily business being able to be done in the same place. A novel idea, and if it does turn out like that then the finished article should be worth a visit as well. The town also copies Monsoon in some way, being rather more outward looking than most of the Storm, although for some reason there is a particular fondness for Neu Demogyptica here. Demogyptican food is widely available, and of surprisingly good quality. Saumagen is a particular favourite, even after they found out what it actually was ("we ate worse during the siege, I can tell you" seemed to be the general attitude). And Arashi is almost alone in the Storm in teaching the Demogyptican language. Traditionally children learn Voxian, since it is useful and closely related to the Stormian language. By government decree, schools also have to teach one Bobian language, which is almost universally chosen to the that of the Glory of War, because it has more connection with the Estonian languages than any other, and because it is somewhat simpler than Spanish of Demogyptican. In Arashi however, Demogyptican is almost the only Bobian language spoken. If we ever find out why Arashi acquired such a curious quirk, we'll be sure to let you know.

Hotels and guest houses aren't common, considering the size of the city, but are easy to find. In typical Stormian fashion, the guard houses found along the main boulevards which are no longer needed were converted into government-run hostels. They're certainly not luxury accommodation, but are comfortable and offer a cool place to hide from the afternoon sun, before venturing out for the evening. The best food is found on the west side of the city, near the road to Monsoon. Food distribution here is rather quirky, with food caravans selling most of their goods to the first restaurants they come to. This means that the further east you go, the less choice there is and the worse quality the food is, while dining spots on the square by the west gate get the first choice of what to buy and serve. Consequently the west square has become the heart of the city's evening activities.

The Spinebreakers
The Spinebreakers are the most imposing geographical feature of the Storm, and it is well worth taking the time to go walking in the foothills of them, if nothing else. The Arashi trail runs along the entire length, and actually goes south of Arashi as far as Tempest, although by that point most walkers can't cope with the idea of another few days hard hiking in the mountains. Arashi Nine is now the site of a shrine dedicated after the victory over Vox, and is several hours walk up steep trails from Arashi city - not a journey for the faint hearted. The trail is pretty busy though, with many Arashians making the journey to remember lost family members, and on Armistice Day there is a major procession. The southern Spinebreakers are mostly notable for the curious banana shrubs that grow there. Allegedly a consequence of the war, when over-sized bananas were bred and used as ammunition against the Voxian army, it is claimed that a few of the bananas took root, producing small shrubs in the think mountain soil. They are thought to be the only high altitude bananas in the world. Travellers are advised not to eat any of them for their own safety; not that the bananas are poisonous, but rather than they are the favourite nesting site of the ferocious rock chickens, and going for a banana might just cost you a leg. Fortunately the terrain close to the Arashi trail is kept clear of the bushes, so the chicken threat is minimal.

Coming soon: Sandstorm and Eye of the Storm

[zeit]

I love it, its great!

I also see no breach of security or anything...

[DeepO]

Looks good... although the 'government offices' read as a FP... I would change that to something less suspicious.

One thing you might mention is that part of the growth comes from immigrants, no harm done in stating that...

DeepO

[DeepO]

One thing though: why do you mention GoW's language is preferred over all others in our empire?

DeepO

[vulture]

Originally posted by DeepO
One thing though: why do you mention GoW's language is preferred over all others in our empire?

It's just something I made up on the spur of the moment - I figured that with Vox and GoW having such a short channel between them that the greatest population mixing between Bob and Estonia would be between GoW and Vox, and so their would be more common features incorporated into both languages in terms of vocabulary and borrowing of phrases. Therefore GoWish would be slightly easier to learn than other languages. Plus a language made up of the phrases "How much are you paying me" and "Stab him with the pointy end" is never going to take long to learn

Looks good... although the 'government offices' read as a FP... I would change that to something less suspicious.

I think that would be a bit of a reach (I did describe Elipolis as a cultural centre earlier...), but it doesn't hurt to change that.

[DeepO]

Well... I agree it's not that obvious, and if you repeat the same kind of sentence elsewhere, there shouldn't be a problem. But still, better to prevent anyone getting ideas

Oh, would a "forum" or "city square" be a better way of describing your "town hall"?

As to GoW speak: you're right, I just want to avoid others thinking we have a special relation with GoW. Again, simply being cautious...

DeepO

[vulture]

Actually we're learning GoWish in preperation for our invasion, so that we can order our new slaves around effectively

[Octavian X]

Excellently written, vulture.

Care to mention my doughnut religion I alluded to in S.P.I.N. when you get to EotS?