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[Blood_Librarian]

Maglock Rifles (6): Lightforger, AC, Powder Miner, MoP, Maxim_inc, Blood_Librarian
Sau'Lokaci (5): Lightforger, Powder Miner, MoP, Maxim_inc, Blood_Librarian
Pathfinders (1): AC

[Twinwolf]

Sau'Lokaci

Born with deep roots in trading Askian quickly took to the seas. Griots and sailors alike began to chart the vast waters that surrounded Askian and, in doing so quickly met the limits of their early navigation equipment. With more and more ships being lost the the vast oceanic abyss a great number of methods were tried to accurately find the location of a ship at sea, with little success. The Sau'Lokaci however changed the fortunes of Askian and opened the flood gates to worldwide exploration.

At the heart of the Sau'Lokaci is a small pellet of magnetoglass with a copper plate placed around it. When first placed the copper plate would spin rapidly, however it would gradually slowdown until it reached a steady rate. While pendulum clocks where far from unheard of in Askia they were unsuited to keeping time in a naval setting do to the movement of ship. Making use of this new found effect of magnetoglass, a pendulum clock was altered to powered by this simple motor. This new design now named Sau'Lokaci would prove to be incredibly useful allowing Askia ship to determine the longitude of their vessels.

This would ultimately lead to to the (in)famous voyage of an eccentric griot in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. While accurate timekeeping was a great boon it would ultimately be the foundation that the simple motor would lay that would truly benefit Askia.

Difficulty: Easy (+1)
Rolls: 6+1+1 = 8 (Average)

To the layman, the Sau’Lokaci was nothing but a particularly fancy clock. To the captains of Askian tradeships and exploration vessels, it was the greatest invention in navigation since the magnetofumic compass. The simple machine, with it’s magnetoglass motor core (which could last for decades without a replacement, if well kept, due to the minimal demands on the magnetic field or the material), was a simple and consistent way to measure time, allowing for accurate timekeeping across Askia and it’s sphere of influence, and across the seas. It was quickly adopted by sailors both in Askia and in it's allied and otherwise friendly countries; in addition, it's consistency and cheapness allowed for a bit more consistency in time throughout the Chijindate. It is also the first motor to be used in Askia, forming a solid foundation for later development.

Maglock Rifles

While magnetoglass cannons pushed Askia towards dominance on the sea, her armies on the ground still dealt largely with melee weapons and blackpowder firearms. After the expulsion of the Chijindum Dynasty they found themselves exiled on an island neighboring a nation that sympathized with the plight of the dynasty (and may in fact have been home to Chiite converts). Years of exile and interaction with this kingdom saw the Exiled Dynasty grow in both wealth and numbers, and the people flocking to the Exiled Dynasty brought with them innovations from their nations. Exilist Askians smuggled magnetomaterial to the exiles, and this led largely to the creation of the first Maglock Rifles.

Maglock Rifles were very similar to the Magnetoglass cannons. A slide over a breech on top of the barrel nearer to the shooter could be slid back so a ball could be placed within a chamber. This chamber held the round until the weapon's trigger was pulled, which opened the chamber up to the barrel while simultaneously tilting the "floor" of the chamber forward to push the round into the magnetoglass field.

The real innovation came in the form of inspiration from a technique known as "rifling". This new concept was being integrated into foreign weaponry due to it's ability to improve range and accuracy of firearms by adding rotation to the round. The Exiles added their own twist by tightly winding fumehide threads around the outside of the barrel. The fumehide threads not only proved to be a solid adaptation to standard rifling, but the magnetic field produced by the fumehide kept the magnetoglass barrel's field at full strength for longer periods.

The Exiled Army of Chijindum eventually made for the Askian Coast. While the fumehide threading also saw use in the Magnetoglass Cannons, the Askian navy was more numerous and better trained than the volunteers making up the Exiled Army. Many of their ships were lost, and their numbers were much fewer than anticipated when they landed. This weakened army, led by the son of the now-deceased exiled King, raided Chijindate lands for nearly a year, striking first at Ofal before pushing south and east. They were eventually cornered and engaged in what would become known as The Battle of the Bloody Hill, making a valiant (or frustrating, depending on what side you were on) last stand against a massed Chijindate force. The power and range of the Maglock Rifles and horse-drawn cannons, as well as their sustained fire rate over the Chijindate weapons, saw the Chijindate lose almost three times the number of Exiles before Chijindate cannons could make their way to a nearby hill and obliterate the Exile positions.

With the claimant to the throne and leader of the Exiled forces killed along with his band of soldiers, the Chijindum Dynasty faded away. Their Maglock weaponry, however, did not, and was quickly adopted by the Chijindate to improve their own armory.

Difficulty: Hard (-1)
Rolls: 6+2-1 = 7 (Average)

After the Rulaaran Revolt (later called the “Chijindate Revolution” by scholars of the new regime), people believed that the Askian civil wars were over and done for the age. But the Exiles proved them wrong. With the king had gone many of Askia’s griots - with the knowledge and technical skill to innovate, even while they attached themselves to a stagnant dynasty. Learning from old allies of the dynasty abroad as well as their own innovations, they brought their ideas together into the Maglock Rifle.

With it’s rifling, and the use of fumehide thread, they were able to put the concept of magnetoglass cannons to work in an infantry-carried firearm. Soldiers bearing maglock muskets could fire faster and with more accuracy than their counterparts in the Chijindate army, and this was a significant portion of the reason that the Exiled forces were confident enough to launch their attack. The old king had counciled caution, but his son was impatient to reclaim his birthright; after the former king’s death, his son launched the assault, well before they had adequate forces to see victory.

While the fighting was vicious, the Chijindate endured. In exchange for their lives, the griots of the Exiles gave their new rulers the technology of the Maglock rifle. They also improved on magnetoglass cannons, although the cost in magnetofumic materials of full cannons and their fumehide threads meant that not all cannons could be so equipped.

---

The Industrial Era

Throughout history, Askia has been on the cutting edge of technology. As the world moves into the age of industry, that remains the case. The world is changing faster than it ever has, and Askian engineers endeavored to keep up. For many, this age saw the move from farm to factory. Living standards for some raised, and lowered for others. Many were hopeful for the technology of the era. But others knew well that it would lead to the greatest bloodshed the world has seen. Another power rises overseas; on a continent far away, the Yuzuan Empire has been created in iron and gun smoke; it conquered it's neighbors, and it's ships have been seen in both Etroan and Askian waters. It was obvious that they were planning an invasion.

You have two designs this turn. For your first prompt, create a military design; what weapon represented Askian efforts to repel the invasion? For your second prompt, design something that most represents industrialization for Askia.

Spoiler: Preliminary Proposals (click to show/hide)

Designs
Chijindum and Chijindum’s Code of Laws: The Great Unifier Chijindum and the laws he committed to writing inspire the Askian people to this day as one of the greatest leaders in early history and the first codified set of laws, as well as being the man credited with the creation of one of the first states.
   -The Golden Road: Chijindum’s path is an example to all, and after his death many have elevated him to the level of deity. The griots of the Golden Path are peerless navigators, and the arrival of such a wandering sage is met with reverence and cheer in many communities.
   -The Iron Way: An order descended from griots who took a more martial bent. They serve the armies as officers and as spiritual advisors in equal measure, and are strong warriors in their own right.

Magnetofume Compass: Jars, pots, or other tightly fit containers that can hold magnetofumes. When opened slightly, pierced, or otherwise given a hole, the magnetofumes escape and drift north. This is incredibly useful for navigation, and was essential to not getting lost in the vast and rather featureless Tu Desert.
   -Magnetoliquid Glass Compass: Compressing magnetofumes into liquid form and capturing it in a glass vessel allows for a much longer lasting tool. Nobody goes far from home without one.
 
Sau’Lokaci: Timekeepers running on a simple magnetoglass motor, keeping accurate time even when used on ships.

Fumehide Armor: Leather armor worn by the priest-magicians of Askia when the time comes for war. It’s fairly tough in it’s own right, but the real attribute that makes it shine is the magnetic field emitted by the fumehide, making the wearer significantly harder to hit in a lethal way.

A.N.S. Queen Moreni’s Revenge: A large privateering ship of the Renaissance era, known for it’s large size and magnetoglass cannons. The cannons are rapid firing but have issues with maintaining this speed. The Revenge was a symbol of Askian naval power in the ismuth for a long while.
   -Maglock Rifles: Rifles built on the same principals of magnetoglass cannons. Faster to load due to the lack of gunpowder and more accurate for rifling. Uses fumehide thread to maintain the magnetic charge and with it a consistent fire rate.

Rulaaran Cavalry: Units of light cavalry that bear pistols and javelins and are armored in magnetohide. Rather than charge into the ranks, they stand off and fire their pistols and lethal magnetically charged javelins before rushing away before the enemy can retaliate.

Resources and Interactions
Magnetofumes: A thick, gray gas found in holes and vents across Askia with unique electromagnetic properties. At this time, not much is known about it, but it surely has potential. It will persistently drift north when exposed to the air, in defiance of the direction of the wind. When compressed, magnetofumes turn to a grey liquid called magnetofluid, which ripples to the north. If metal is submerged in magnetofluid for long periods, it ignores the magnetic fields of other magnetofume-derived equipment and homes in on non-magnetofumic metal. When magnetofluid is dumped into water and the water is boiled away, it creates the tough, leathery substance dubbed fumehide, which has a light magnetic field around it. When magnetofluid is dumped into freezing water, it creates magnetoglass, a clear material that can be worked like metal and has a magnetic field pointing in whatever direction was “down” at the time of creation. Fumehide threads can be used with magnetoglass to help maintain the magnetic field. This resource has the sphere of Electromagnetism.

[Maxim_inc]

Industrial Design:The Nguvu'Kubwa

While the Sau'Lokaci was a great innovation in timekeeping and naval navigation within the first few decades after its invention there were already many scholars and industrious giots who already saw the untapped potential of the small magnetic engine. One such griot was Kufikiria Moja, who after half a decade of work was successful in enlarging and improving the original design of the magnetic engine. The new engine has a large magnetoglass cylinder as its heart which has been treated to have its magnetic field wrap around it in a helical pattern to increase the rotation of whatever is placed over it and its power able to be controlled by a thick walled brass sheath that is raised or lowered along the side of the cylinder to increase or decrease its magnetic output. The copper plate has been replaced with a ferrous iron flywheel connected to a crankshaft which can be attached to whatever has the proper coupling to be powered by it; the speed of the flywheel controlled by a simple transmission system.
Within the first decade of its construction many domestic inventions where pioneered with the Nguvu'Kubwa that would help propel Askia into the industrial revolution!

Military Design: The Ironclad Ngozi Ya Chuma

The Ngozi Ya Chuma was a revolutionary design for the Askian Navy born of the seemingly imminent threat from the Yuzuan Empire across the seas and the desperate need of quality fighting ships to defend the shores of Askia in the event of an invasion. Designed in secret the [b[Ngozi Ya Chuma[/b] was an oddity among ships, instead of tall masts and a fluttering sails the ship was propelled by a Nguvu'Kubwa engine and instead of a wood deck and sides the entire above-water section of the ship was a steel half-cylinder bristling with 7 gunports a side for Magnetoglass cannons as well as an oddity among naval designs. On each end of the metal cylinder there sat a tall turret with two large 15" Magnetoglass cannons, the largest ever made for the navy at the time, sticking out of them which had been supplied with special ferrous shells which had been hollowed out and filled with a explosive material and designed to detonate on contact with the target along with the standard solid shot. The simple steel armor of the Ngozi Ya Chuma was also supported by a half foot thick skin of supercharged fumehide armor designed to slow down or even repel any iron shot fired at the ship to minimize any damage taken.

Once the design had been finalized and the Ngozi Ya Chuma herself launched the Navy immediately began to construct as many as they could of her class to try and secure Askia's home waters before the almost assuredly imminent invasion arrived.

[Man of Paper]

Industrial Tech: The Birth of Sundiata Motors (The Sundiata Engine and the Model S-1 Horseless Cart)

Mundata Sundiata is often considered a man well ahead of his time, and indeed it was much of his work that propelled Askia forward at an unprecedented pace. He was a tinkerer first and foremost, and the seeds of Askian Industry sprouted with his years of work on the contraption he called the Sundiata Engine.

[Note to GM: This is the beginning of the crucial stuff.]
The core of the engine contains a horizontal cylinder of Magnetglass with a tight coil of braided brass cabling built into a housing at either end. The coil and it's housings are held in place by a braking wedge that can be released and retriggered by using a lever. This is all enclosed in a chamber with a single port for intake and one for emissions. This is because, as Sundiata discovered, magnetglass could have it's magnetic strength amplified by magnetofluid, and introducing magnetofluid from a reserve tank into the chamber increased both the speed and torque of the rotating brass coil. Magnetofluid that underwent the process of fueling the magnetglass lost it's cohesive abilities and broke back down into Magnetofumes, and would billow out of the emission port.

But the Sundiata Engine was only one part of Sundiata's brilliance. It's use to propel the first "horseless carts", or automobiles, were what ultimately led to Askia's booming industry. These vehicles, the most famous and romanticized being the Model S-1, utilized the Sundiata Engine to provide both electrical and mechanical power to their various systems. The intake valve was attached to a mechanical system that allowed foot-based pedal control. Brake control for the engine itself was still controlled via a "Power Lever", but the vehicle could be slowed and stopped by a braking pedal that controlled simple wooden block brakes. The magnetofluid storage tank was integrated into the Sundiata Engine design, meaning there was less distance for the system's fuel to travel, and therefore less that could go wrong from Point A to Point B.
[Note to GM: This is the end of the crucial stuff.]

Horseless carts, while initially seen as a novelty, grew rapidly in popularity as Askians realized these vehicles could easily bridge the gap between cities, towns, villages, and outposts. As demand grew far beyond the capabilities of the small team of like-minded individuals employed by Sundiata, he employed a new tactic to producing material goods that would forever change the face of Askia, and maybe even the world: the Production Line. Instead of having a couple highly-educated and trained people building one vehicle at a time, Sundiata realized he could separate complex tasks into many individual, much simpler tasks that could each be assigned to a poorly-educated, inexperienced individual. As demand surged for Askian vehicles at home and abroad (which also netted the nation some lucrative magnetofluid export deals), employment for the lower classes of Askia skyrocketed, and with the sufficient income provided had begun to form the Middle Class - people who didn't necessarily run businesses or own vast properties, but were still able to purchase amenities and spend somewhat frivolously without starving their children for a month. Indeed, it seemed as though the rise of the Automotive Industry on the back of Sundiata Motors could bring about yet another golden age for Askia, even with a looming threat creeping ever-closer...

[Powder Miner]

Lantarkifume Shells
With the magnetic prowess of the Askian Chijindate, it should come as little surprise that experimentation with electricity (called wuter lantarki in the language of the southern provinces from which the Sau'Lokaci also originated) came naturally to its people, and Askia was one of the earlier places in the world to see the advancement of electricity -- especially since this experimentation received heavy support from those of Wegchahiké's successors around then (each titled Chijin, someone who followed the paths of Chijindum, but did not take his full name as a reminder that they were merely the lead servants of his ways) once the potential of electricity in lighting began to see curiosity. As study of electricity began, two unrelated phenomenon were discovered, each important in their first right. Firstly, scientific advancement made by some of the scientist-griots (who were still present, propped up in a role of importance this long by the theocratic nature of the regime) in the field of civilian use of electricity resulted in the discovery of alternating current. Secondly, as theory of electricity and magnetism advanced, the way that magnetofumes worked --the basics of magnetism and electric charge, and the understanding that magnetofumes are charged in the dipole manner that magnets are-- began to propagate across Askia.

These things came together when an experiment taking place in a griot-run lab took place, testing the magnetic conductivity of magnetofluid: how would something with a bidirectional charge react to the rapid direction-changing electric flow of alternating current? The answer appeared, initially, to be "oh fuck, oh fuck, there's lightning everywhere, what the fuck is going on, please help," as arcs of electricity burst out all over the laboratory, but later and similar experiments (performed with the researchers farther away) did not recreate the same result. Confusion abounded for a while, until it was discovered that the containers of magnetofluid that the original experiment's griots had been supplied with were shockingly imperfectly compressed, with significant amounts of magnetofumes left within them. The problem, further experimentation uncovered, had been that magnetofumes (very specifically in gaseous form) exposed to strong alternating current were transformed quite strongly by it -- instead of the dipolar charge of magnets, the particles of these magnetofumes became strongly positively or negatively charged, and then rapidly alternated between this state and the opposite charge. This prevented these particles from coming together and equalizing that way, and this led to, thanks to the power of the charge involved, arcs of electricity between the gaseous particles being created as they tried to equalize more directly (but, thanks to the fact that the charge of the particles altered extremely rapidly, vainly), with the cloud of gas that had erupted out of the initial experiment continuing to see arcs of lightning-like electricity until it had dissipated enough that arcs of electricity became highly unlikely with the distances involved.

This was initially regarded as interesting knowledge that was nonetheless almost impossible to harness in any practical and safe way, but when ships from the Yuzuan Empire began to appear and the military began to understand that an invasion was incoming, they more or less let their researchers (who, like the rest of the military, had become an increasingly clever and powerful group separate from the griots and the clergy ever since the Exile War had given them a great deal of fascinating technology to get their hands upon) free to research whatever they wanted as long as it gave them useful results.


The Lantarkifume shells became one of the more successful projects of this period of furious military research -- seizing upon the causes of the well-known Lantarkifume incident, military researchers quickly saw the potential in a terrifying, expanding cloud of gas that rapidly and widely arced powerful electricity within it, and they found that weaponizing it was pretty easy, too.

The shell part of the Lantarkifume Shell was fairly simple: a container of (normal) glass, with a thin layer of steel on the outside. The glass acted as an electric insulator to prevent a freak incident of the handler of a shell becoming the recipient of an arc of electricity, and the steel both made the shell tougher (but far from tough enough to avoid shattering upon impact post-firing) and fireable from a piece of magnetoglass artillery.

The Lantarkifumes themselves (a gaseous substance derived by applying strong alternating current to magnetofumes, with individual particles attaining a strong and rapidly alternating charge, causing electric arcs to rapidly form between Lantarkifume particles in futile equalization attempts) filled the shell, low enough in pressure to avoid becoming magnetofluid but high enough to contain a significant amount of gas. When the shells impacted with their target, the Lantarkifumes would begin to spread out in a cloud over an area -- and until that cloud grew too large and thin to maintain the arcing behavior, that area would be inundated with powerful electric bolts and arcs, many of which also would be the results of attempts of Lantarkifume particles to equalize with the substances within the cloud... like structures, and people.

[Man of Paper]

Lantarkifume Shells: (1) MoP
Sundiata Engine/Model S-1: (1) MoP

[Powder Miner]

Lantarkifume Shells: (2) MoP, Powder Miner
Sundiata Engine/Model S-1: (2) MoP, Powder Miner

[Doubloon-Seven]

I trust MoP implicitly. This will lead to nothing but death.

Lantarkifume Shells: (3) MoP, Powder Miner, D7
Sundiata Engine/Model S-1: (3) MoP, Powder Miner, D7

[/quote]

ZAPGAS

[Maxim_inc]

Lantarkifume Shells: (3) MoP, Powder Miner, D7, Maxim_inc
Sundiata Engine/Model S-1: (3) MoP, Powder Miner, D7, Maxim_in

[Twinwolf]

Lantarkifume Shells
With the magnetic prowess of the Askian Chijindate, it should come as little surprise that experimentation with electricity (called wuter lantarki in the language of the southern provinces from which the Sau'Lokaci also originated) came naturally to its people, and Askia was one of the earlier places in the world to see the advancement of electricity -- especially since this experimentation received heavy support from those of Wegchahiké's successors around then (each titled Chijin, someone who followed the paths of Chijindum, but did not take his full name as a reminder that they were merely the lead servants of his ways) once the potential of electricity in lighting began to see curiosity. As study of electricity began, two unrelated phenomenon were discovered, each important in their first right. Firstly, scientific advancement made by some of the scientist-griots (who were still present, propped up in a role of importance this long by the theocratic nature of the regime) in the field of civilian use of electricity resulted in the discovery of alternating current. Secondly, as theory of electricity and magnetism advanced, the way that magnetofumes worked --the basics of magnetism and electric charge, and the understanding that magnetofumes are charged in the dipole manner that magnets are-- began to propagate across Askia.

These things came together when an experiment taking place in a griot-run lab took place, testing the magnetic conductivity of magnetofluid: how would something with a bidirectional charge react to the rapid direction-changing electric flow of alternating current? The answer appeared, initially, to be "oh fuck, oh fuck, there's lightning everywhere, what the fuck is going on, please help," as arcs of electricity burst out all over the laboratory, but later and similar experiments (performed with the researchers farther away) did not recreate the same result. Confusion abounded for a while, until it was discovered that the containers of magnetofluid that the original experiment's griots had been supplied with were shockingly imperfectly compressed, with significant amounts of magnetofumes left within them. The problem, further experimentation uncovered, had been that magnetofumes (very specifically in gaseous form) exposed to strong alternating current were transformed quite strongly by it -- instead of the dipolar charge of magnets, the particles of these magnetofumes became strongly positively or negatively charged, and then rapidly alternated between this state and the opposite charge. This prevented these particles from coming together and equalizing that way, and this led to, thanks to the power of the charge involved, arcs of electricity between the gaseous particles being created as they tried to equalize more directly (but, thanks to the fact that the charge of the particles altered extremely rapidly, vainly), with the cloud of gas that had erupted out of the initial experiment continuing to see arcs of lightning-like electricity until it had dissipated enough that arcs of electricity became highly unlikely with the distances involved.

This was initially regarded as interesting knowledge that was nonetheless almost impossible to harness in any practical and safe way, but when ships from the Yuzuan Empire began to appear and the military began to understand that an invasion was incoming, they more or less let their researchers (who, like the rest of the military, had become an increasingly clever and powerful group separate from the griots and the clergy ever since the Exile War had given them a great deal of fascinating technology to get their hands upon) free to research whatever they wanted as long as it gave them useful results.


The Lantarkifume shells became one of the more successful projects of this period of furious military research -- seizing upon the causes of the well-known Lantarkifume incident, military researchers quickly saw the potential in a terrifying, expanding cloud of gas that rapidly and widely arced powerful electricity within it, and they found that weaponizing it was pretty easy, too.

The shell part of the Lantarkifume Shell was fairly simple: a container of (normal) glass, with a thin layer of steel on the outside. The glass acted as an electric insulator to prevent a freak incident of the handler of a shell becoming the recipient of an arc of electricity, and the steel both made the shell tougher (but far from tough enough to avoid shattering upon impact post-firing) and fireable from a piece of magnetoglass artillery.

The Lantarkifumes themselves (a gaseous substance derived by applying strong alternating current to magnetofumes, with individual particles attaining a strong and rapidly alternating charge, causing electric arcs to rapidly form between Lantarkifume particles in futile equalization attempts) filled the shell, low enough in pressure to avoid becoming magnetofluid but high enough to contain a significant amount of gas. When the shells impacted with their target, the Lantarkifumes would begin to spread out in a cloud over an area -- and until that cloud grew too large and thin to maintain the arcing behavior, that area would be inundated with powerful electric bolts and arcs, many of which also would be the results of attempts of Lantarkifume particles to equalize with the substances within the cloud... like structures, and people.

Difficulty: Average
Rolls: 3+5 = 8 (Average)

Some people might be depressed by how much scientific advancement can sometimes rely on accidents. Askian griots, after the burns healed and they built their third testing lab for Lantarkifumes, decided instead to consider it cool and work with it.

The Lantarkifume portion of the shell was quite easy to accomplish; everyone knew what had caused the magnetofumes to be filled with electricity, and reproducing the effect was primarily a matter of setting up the generators to make electricity, and getting some magnetofumes. Knowing the effect ahead of time made it a simple task to isolate the magnetofumes before the electric treatment that would convert them into Lanarkifumes - the chamber had a window into it to let the bigwigs watch, as it’s quite impressive to look at from outside of the cloud. The real difficulty is in the shell. It’s a difficult balance to strike, between getting enough gas into the shell and not turning it into liquid, as well as making a shell strong enough to withstand being shot out of an artillery piece and yet weak enough to break when it comes back down to earth. Still, the griots managed to work it out.

Lantarkifume shells are terrifying weapons. They don’t have the immediate impact of conventional explosive artillery, and take a bit more time after landing to be effective. But it’s gaseous nature makes it incredibly hard to avoid injury if one finds themselves in it’s effective radius. Lightning arcs within the cloud, arcing into people and through them - cover is ineffective, as the gas merely goes over it or passes into anywhere that air comes in. The most vicious deaths are from those unfortunate enough to breath the gas in. Normal magnetofumes are surprisingly nontoxic (you don’t want to go huffing them, but a few breaths won’t hurt too much). Lantarkifumes are also not toxic. What they do have is electricity. A man can be shocked and burnt from the inside out if they inhale the Lanarkifumes, and it is considered a unique, very painful way to die. They’d really prefer you not ask how they tested it.

Industrial Tech: The Birth of Sundiata Motors (The Sundiata Engine and the Model S-1 Horseless Cart)

Mundata Sundiata is often considered a man well ahead of his time, and indeed it was much of his work that propelled Askia forward at an unprecedented pace. He was a tinkerer first and foremost, and the seeds of Askian Industry sprouted with his years of work on the contraption he called the Sundiata Engine.

[Note to GM: This is the beginning of the crucial stuff.]
The core of the engine contains a horizontal cylinder of Magnetglass with a tight coil of braided brass cabling built into a housing at either end. The coil and it's housings are held in place by a braking wedge that can be released and retriggered by using a lever. This is all enclosed in a chamber with a single port for intake and one for emissions. This is because, as Sundiata discovered, magnetglass could have it's magnetic strength amplified by magnetofluid, and introducing magnetofluid from a reserve tank into the chamber increased both the speed and torque of the rotating brass coil. Magnetofluid that underwent the process of fueling the magnetglass lost it's cohesive abilities and broke back down into Magnetofumes, and would billow out of the emission port.

But the Sundiata Engine was only one part of Sundiata's brilliance. It's use to propel the first "horseless carts", or automobiles, were what ultimately led to Askia's booming industry. These vehicles, the most famous and romanticized being the Model S-1, utilized the Sundiata Engine to provide both electrical and mechanical power to their various systems. The intake valve was attached to a mechanical system that allowed foot-based pedal control. Brake control for the engine itself was still controlled via a "Power Lever", but the vehicle could be slowed and stopped by a braking pedal that controlled simple wooden block brakes. The magnetofluid storage tank was integrated into the Sundiata Engine design, meaning there was less distance for the system's fuel to travel, and therefore less that could go wrong from Point A to Point B.
[Note to GM: This is the end of the crucial stuff.]

Horseless carts, while initially seen as a novelty, grew rapidly in popularity as Askians realized these vehicles could easily bridge the gap between cities, towns, villages, and outposts. As demand grew far beyond the capabilities of the small team of like-minded individuals employed by Sundiata, he employed a new tactic to producing material goods that would forever change the face of Askia, and maybe even the world: the Production Line. Instead of having a couple highly-educated and trained people building one vehicle at a time, Sundiata realized he could separate complex tasks into many individual, much simpler tasks that could each be assigned to a poorly-educated, inexperienced individual. As demand surged for Askian vehicles at home and abroad (which also netted the nation some lucrative magnetofluid export deals), employment for the lower classes of Askia skyrocketed, and with the sufficient income provided had begun to form the Middle Class - people who didn't necessarily run businesses or own vast properties, but were still able to purchase amenities and spend somewhat frivolously without starving their children for a month. Indeed, it seemed as though the rise of the Automotive Industry on the back of Sundiata Motors could bring about yet another golden age for Askia, even with a looming threat creeping ever-closer...

Difficulty: Hard
Rolls: 6+4-1 = 9 (Above Average)

Mundata Sundiata, strictly speaking, should not have been able to make his inventions; he had not been part of any of the scientifically minded orders of griots, but instead was an innovator in his own right. However, despite this, his inventions were such that even Askia’s most theocratic voices had to acknowledge his work, and the effects it had on the nation as a whole.

The Sundiata Engine was an astounding invention, capable of generating significant energy with comparatively little input - just a bit of magnetofluid, nearly ubiquitous in Askia. At first, it was primarily used to power factories. But as Sundiata tinkered and worked, making smaller and more efficient versions, he had the idea to use it for other things. The first horseless cart was overly complicated and barely worked due to how much could go wrong. The second was simpler, and still barely worked due to poor balancing. The third, fourth, fifth iterations had their own problems, but the sixth was the first true, practical horseless carriage. It was expensive and unwieldy but by Chijindum it worked. It was the next iteration that was called the Model S-1, and that really took off.

This had two dramatic effects. The first was the obvious. Sundiata’s car revolutionized civilian life, increasing the range at which anyone of the means to purchase the vehicle could travel, for work or for pleasure. His factory techniques enabled this rise as well; high paying jobs with a low barrier to entry meant that more and more people could afford the cars they were building. But in politics, the wide knowledge of a man with such engineering capability as rivaled the griots being able to gain such influence shook the long-standing power structures of the Chijindate. While at the time they had not been put to work for war, as horses were still far more reliable for messengers, it was only a matter of time…

---

With Lantarkifume shells loaded and Sundiata Motors fueling the industrial revolution of Askia, the Yuzuan Empire was soon to arrive. Askia would be prepared. It is now the Revision Phase. You have 2 revisions this turn.

Spoiler: Preliminary Proposals (click to show/hide)

Designs
Chijindum and Chijindum’s Code of Laws: The Great Unifier Chijindum and the laws he committed to writing inspire the Askian people to this day as one of the greatest leaders in early history and the first codified set of laws, as well as being the man credited with the creation of one of the first states.
   -The Golden Road: Chijindum’s path is an example to all, and after his death many have elevated him to the level of deity. The griots of the Golden Path are peerless navigators, and the arrival of such a wandering sage is met with reverence and cheer in many communities.
   -The Iron Way: An order descended from griots who took a more martial bent. They serve the armies as officers and as spiritual advisors in equal measure, and are strong warriors in their own right.

Magnetofume Compass: Jars, pots, or other tightly fit containers that can hold magnetofumes. When opened slightly, pierced, or otherwise given a hole, the magnetofumes escape and drift north. This is incredibly useful for navigation, and was essential to not getting lost in the vast and rather featureless Tu Desert.
   -Magnetoliquid Glass Compass: Compressing magnetofumes into liquid form and capturing it in a glass vessel allows for a much longer lasting tool. Nobody goes far from home without one.
 
Sau’Lokaci: Timekeepers running on a simple magnetoglass motor, keeping accurate time even when used on ships.

Fumehide Armor: Leather armor worn by the priest-magicians of Askia when the time comes for war. It’s fairly tough in it’s own right, but the real attribute that makes it shine is the magnetic field emitted by the fumehide, making the wearer significantly harder to hit in a lethal way.

A.N.S. Queen Moreni’s Revenge: A large privateering ship of the Renaissance era, known for it’s large size and magnetoglass cannons. The cannons are rapid firing but have issues with maintaining this speed. The Revenge was a symbol of Askian naval power in the ismuth for a long while.
   -Maglock Rifles: Rifles built on the same principals of magnetoglass cannons. Faster to load due to the lack of gunpowder and more accurate for rifling. Uses fumehide thread to maintain the magnetic charge and with it a consistent fire rate.

Rulaaran Cavalry: Units of light cavalry that bear pistols and javelins and are armored in magnetohide. Rather than charge into the ranks, they stand off and fire their pistols and lethal magnetically charged javelins before rushing away before the enemy can retaliate.

Lantarkifume Shells: Artillery shells making use of Lanarkifumes, launching glass canisters of the fumes into the enemy ranks where they lethally shock anyone in the radius.

Sundiata Engine and the Model S-1: A magnetic engine using magnetofluid to strengthen magnetoglass’ magnetic field and the accompanying car. The engine revolutionized civilian life, and would later be put to work in the first military ground vehicles.

Resources and Interactions
Magnetofumes: A thick, gray gas found in holes and vents across Askia with unique electromagnetic properties. At this time, not much is known about it, but it surely has potential.
   -It will persistently drift north when exposed to the air, in defiance of the direction of the wind.
   -When compressed, magnetofumes turn to a grey liquid called magnetofluid, which ripples to the north.
   -If metal is submerged in magnetofluid for long periods, it ignores the magnetic fields of other magnetofume-derived equipment and homes in on non-magnetofumic metal.
   -When magnetofluid is dumped into water and the water is boiled away, it creates the tough, leathery substance dubbed fumehide, which has a light magnetic field around it.
    -When magnetofluid is dumped into freezing water, it creates magnetoglass, a clear material that can be worked like metal and has a magnetic field pointing in whatever direction was “down” at the time of creation.
     -Magnetoglass’ magnetic field can be strengthened by magnetofluid.
    -When exposed to an alternating current, the magnetofumes become electrically charged Lantarkifumes, with bolts of electricity flying around inside of it.

This resource has the sphere of Electromagnetism.

[Man of Paper]

Askian Draft Horses

As time marches on, and Askian advancements develop with it, the horse has consistently proved itself as invaluable to the peoples of Askia. From traversing the vast expanses of desert to plowing fields to providing mobile warriors, the horse is an ever-present entity. Over time the largest, sturdiest, most docile horses were bred and, eventually, developed into a breed of horse simply referred to worldwide as the "Askian".

Askians are massive creatures, measuring in at nearly 200cm high and weighing almost 1000kg. The Askian horse's musculature is dense, with powerful hindquarters and densely muscled backs suited for pulling and towing heavy objects. Their docile and energetic nature, combined with their natural patience, means they are more than willing to work for their human owners. The Askian Horses are often seen with black, grey, or bay coats.


Lantarkifluid Grenades

The novel concept of the Lantarkifume Shell was of great interest to the military of Askia. While it made great ammunition for artillery, the question was often asked "but how do we get more, and everywhere?" The answer was intended to be a Lantarkifume grenade, but, again, some "happy accidents" changed the course of Askian development.

The casing for a Lantarkifume Grenade had to be thin enough to break open upon use, but that added a lot of risk to anyone lugging them around. The ceramic casing proved too fragile for an infantryman to carry without killing himself and everyone around him, so a metal casing blasted by an explosive charge was experimented with.

The explosive charge within what became the Lantarkifluid Grenade flash-pressurized the Lantarkifumes into Lantarkifluid, a viscous fluid that shared the properties of Lantarkifumes. This charged material, when explosively expelled from the shattered metal casing, would stick to objects and discharge current into them while simultaneously creating arcs of electricity between affected sites within close proximity until the charge of the Lantarkifluid weakened enough for it to revert to fumes before dissipating.

While they were not as powerful as the explosives used by early grenadiers, and the fumes created as a byproduct not concentrated enough to have a massive impact, the Lantarkifluid itself was a terrible thing to face.

[Powder Miner]

Paasi-Kakano Cruisers
The Paasi-Kakano Cruiser, curiously enough, represented the growth in potential both of Askia's navy and of a certain group of researchers in the Askian Chijindate. In the former case, the Paasi-Kakano Cruiser represented a modernization of Askia's already-prominent navy -- ships clad with iron metal were becoming a powerful technology in the world, and with technology on the matter shared by the seafaring peoples of Ofal [a flavorful excuse for having access to era tech], it was a foregone conclusion that the Askians would pick up their own take on it -- and eventually they indeed did, and their specialty allowed them to excel. The Paasi-Kakano is a fearsome class of vessel; not only does it pack the punch that Askia's well-developed magnetoglass cannons already do, but it has one extra thing to allow it to stand out from other ironclads: the armor is not, primarily, a solid sheet of metal. Instead, there are thin 3/4-inch inner and outer layers of metal in the armor... and then the rest of the armor's thickness (at the waterline belt, two and a half inches primarily) is made up of the titular Paasi-Kakano (iron dust). Paasi-Kakano is a mix of ordinary iron powder and iron powder that has been submerged in magnetofluid; the end effect of this is that Paasi-Kakano will cohere extremely strongly to itself. Not only does it still perform the primary function as armor, on account of still being inches of metal tightly bonded together through magnetic attraction, but if Paasi-Kakano armor is penetrated, the hole left will rapidly be sealed as the Paasi-Kakano's magnetic attraction to itself causes the powder around the hole to rapidly and forcefully contract and seal it, allowing the Paasi-Kakano Cruisers remarkable damage control and even the ability to retain a little bit of the armor capacity around once-penetrated areas.

As for the implications that the Paasi-Kakano Cruisers had for the course of science in Askia... the Paasi-Kakano's lead vessel was the very famous TCSO (Traveler of Chijindum's Sacred Oceans, replacing the pre-Chijindate abbreviation) Sogolon. The reason that this vessel was named after the Sogolon was that one of the researchers who worked on the construction of the Paasi-Kakano Cruisers had demanded that the first ship be named after his mother, which the military had been willing to work with because he was vital to get onto the project. This researcher was none other than Mundata Sundiata. Already a famous and controversial man for his creation of cars, Mundata Sundiata led a team of researchers on the project which were combined from military sources and secular sources from companies like Sundiata Motors... the griots were nowhere to be found on the project. Even today there exists a civilian-military cabal of researchers in the military, which the Chijindate considers as a serious threat -- but the Chijindate can't afford to crack down on them, considering the huge damage that killing or imprisoning these individuals would do to both the military and economy, acting as almost equal rivals to the griots in this area.

Askian Draft Horses:
Lantarkifluid Grenades (1): Powder Miner
Paasi-Kakano Cruisers (1): Powder Miner

[Man of Paper]

Askian Draft Horses:
Lantarkifluid Grenades (2): Powder Miner, MoP
Paasi-Kakano Cruisers (2): Powder Miner, MoP

[/quote]

[Maxim_inc]

Askian Draft Horses:
Lantarkifluid Grenades (3): Powder Miner, MoP, Maxim
Paasi-Kakano Cruisers (3): Powder Miner, MoP, Maxim

[Twinwolf]

Paasi-Kakano Cruisers
The Paasi-Kakano Cruiser, curiously enough, represented the growth in potential both of Askia's navy and of a certain group of researchers in the Askian Chijindate. In the former case, the Paasi-Kakano Cruiser represented a modernization of Askia's already-prominent navy -- ships clad with iron metal were becoming a powerful technology in the world, and with technology on the matter shared by the seafaring peoples of Ofal [a flavorful excuse for having access to era tech], it was a foregone conclusion that the Askians would pick up their own take on it -- and eventually they indeed did, and their specialty allowed them to excel. The Paasi-Kakano is a fearsome class of vessel; not only does it pack the punch that Askia's well-developed magnetoglass cannons already do, but it has one extra thing to allow it to stand out from other ironclads: the armor is not, primarily, a solid sheet of metal. Instead, there are thin 3/4-inch inner and outer layers of metal in the armor... and then the rest of the armor's thickness (at the waterline belt, two and a half inches primarily) is made up of the titular Paasi-Kakano (iron dust). Paasi-Kakano is a mix of ordinary iron powder and iron powder that has been submerged in magnetofluid; the end effect of this is that Paasi-Kakano will cohere extremely strongly to itself. Not only does it still perform the primary function as armor, on account of still being inches of metal tightly bonded together through magnetic attraction, but if Paasi-Kakano armor is penetrated, the hole left will rapidly be sealed as the Paasi-Kakano's magnetic attraction to itself causes the powder around the hole to rapidly and forcefully contract and seal it, allowing the Paasi-Kakano Cruisers remarkable damage control and even the ability to retain a little bit of the armor capacity around once-penetrated areas.

As for the implications that the Paasi-Kakano Cruisers had for the course of science in Askia... the Paasi-Kakano's lead vessel was the very famous TCSO (Traveler of Chijindum's Sacred Oceans, replacing the pre-Chijindate abbreviation) Sogolon. The reason that this vessel was named after the Sogolon was that one of the researchers who worked on the construction of the Paasi-Kakano Cruisers had demanded that the first ship be named after his mother, which the military had been willing to work with because he was vital to get onto the project. This researcher was none other than Mundata Sundiata. Already a famous and controversial man for his creation of cars, Mundata Sundiata led a team of researchers on the project which were combined from military sources and secular sources from companies like Sundiata Motors... the griots were nowhere to be found on the project. Even today there exists a civilian-military cabal of researchers in the military, which the Chijindate considers as a serious threat -- but the Chijindate can't afford to crack down on them, considering the huge damage that killing or imprisoning these individuals would do to both the military and economy, acting as almost equal rivals to the griots in this area.

Difficulty: Average
Roll: 1+1 3+3 = 6 (Average)

The Paasi-Kakano would later be a controversial class of ship. In a time of peace, it’s name would be an insult to Askian naval tradition (where ships were named for Chijindite virtues and great griots of the past), the story of it’s design a shame on the leaders of the country; had the project occured in peacetime, Mundata Sundiata may have been arrested for stepping beyond his station, and the ship never deployed. Eventually the event may have been forgotten, or intentionally buried until some enterprising griot renewed the idea under his or her own name. But it was not peace time.

Askia needed every advantage in the war, and ideological dogma was not nearly so important as military innovation and advancement. This was most apparent in the creation of the Paasi-Kakano cruiser, one of Askia’s first totally secular military projects since the Chijindate’s creation. It’s speed and armament was nothing special among Askia’s fleet - some ironclads of Ofalian design had been purchased to reinforce it during the transition away from wooden ships - The ingenious magnetized iron dust armor scheme set the cruisers apart from peers. It’s not perfect. A sufficiently large hole will leave remaining particles too far apart from each other to reconnect, or only reconnect in a thinner layer; and of course, enough hits taken will strip the dust away over time. However, this is only if shots land in the same place, as the traditional plate skin serves double duty to keep the dust inside. This allows the ship excellent damage control capabilities.

The Paasi-Kakano cruisers patrolling the northern seas were a symbol of Askia’s resolution and resistance to the invaders; while they would not be enough to prevent a landing, they racked up military honors aplenty in the battles against the Yuzuhuan Empire’s seemingly inexhaustible fleet. Many began to question why the griots held such a hold on scientific progress, when such advancements as the Paasi-Kakano would usually be smothered purely because of their secular nature.

Lantarkifluid Grenades

The novel concept of the Lantarkifume Shell was of great interest to the military of Askia. While it made great ammunition for artillery, the question was often asked "but how do we get more, and everywhere?" The answer was intended to be a Lantarkifume grenade, but, again, some "happy accidents" changed the course of Askian development.

The casing for a Lantarkifume Grenade had to be thin enough to break open upon use, but that added a lot of risk to anyone lugging them around. The ceramic casing proved too fragile for an infantryman to carry without killing himself and everyone around him, so a metal casing blasted by an explosive charge was experimented with.

The explosive charge within what became the Lantarkifluid Grenade flash-pressurized the Lantarkifumes into Lantarkifluid, a viscous fluid that shared the properties of Lantarkifumes. This charged material, when explosively expelled from the shattered metal casing, would stick to objects and discharge current into them while simultaneously creating arcs of electricity between affected sites within close proximity until the charge of the Lantarkifluid weakened enough for it to revert to fumes before dissipating.

While they were not as powerful as the explosives used by early grenadiers, and the fumes created as a byproduct not concentrated enough to have a massive impact, the Lantarkifluid itself was a terrible thing to face.

Difficulty: Easy
Roll: 4+3+1 = 8: Average

Bombs and grenades were, traditionally speaking, supposed to be explosive. That is why they were called explosives. One enterprising young griot asked the question, “what else can you put in a grenade besides more explosives?” And took a look at contemporary developments. The Guanho Principality had been experimenting with gas grenades, which brought lantarkifumes to mind; but a grenade that deployed a cloud of lethal smoke within throwing distance, and subject to drifting into the thrower if they were in the wrong direction, wasn’t very practical. So the griot decided to use a different form of matter undergoing what was dubbed the ‘Lantark Effect’, dubbed Lantarkifluid.

The grenade compresses Lantarkifumes into the new Lantarkifluid, to serve as the grenade’s payload. A fairly weak charge is inside the grenade, enough only to break the casing and splash the lantarkifluid into a wide range. In addition to the fluid itself being electrically charged, and a poor idea to step in, electricity persistently arcs between pools, completely locking down the area until it dispersesz

Admittedly, arcs of lightning between pools of liquid aren’t any friendlier to a followup assault than an indiscriminately shocking gas cloud. But they are far less likely to blow back on a grenadier than a cloud of gas, and shuts off the area to the enemy for longer than a one off explosive or gas shell.

----

The Yuzuan War was the bloodiest conflict in Askian history since the revolt against the monarchy, and many were glad to see the back of it. For 50 years, we’ve given this “peace” thing a try, and for some it’s enough. But those despicable Etroans keep pushing, and pushing, and pushing. Something’s gonna give. And we’ll be ready when it does.

It is the final preliminary Design phase. You have two designs in this phase. As your forces build and prepare to return to battle, someone takes the lead; perhaps an old veteran from the Yuzuan War, or a youthful new firebrand eager to end the tale of Askia and Etroa; Design your first Commander. They will be added directly to the armory. For the second, design any ground-based military equipment or unit; this will be added directly to the armory.

Spoiler: Preliminary Proposals (click to show/hide)

Designs
Chijindum and Chijindum’s Code of Laws: The Great Unifier Chijindum and the laws he committed to writing inspire the Askian people to this day as one of the greatest leaders in early history and the first codified set of laws, as well as being the man credited with the creation of one of the first states.
   -The Golden Road: Chijindum’s path is an example to all, and after his death many have elevated him to the level of deity. The griots of the Golden Path are peerless navigators, and the arrival of such a wandering sage is met with reverence and cheer in many communities.
   -The Iron Way: An order descended from griots who took a more martial bent. They serve the armies as officers and as spiritual advisors in equal measure, and are strong warriors in their own right.

Magnetofume Compass: Jars, pots, or other tightly fit containers that can hold magnetofumes. When opened slightly, pierced, or otherwise given a hole, the magnetofumes escape and drift north. This is incredibly useful for navigation, and was essential to not getting lost in the vast and rather featureless Tu Desert.
   -Magnetoliquid Glass Compass: Compressing magnetofumes into liquid form and capturing it in a glass vessel allows for a much longer lasting tool. Nobody goes far from home without one.
 
Sau’Lokaci: Timekeepers running on a simple magnetoglass motor, keeping accurate time even when used on ships.

Fumehide Armor: Leather armor worn by the priest-magicians of Askia when the time comes for war. It’s fairly tough in it’s own right, but the real attribute that makes it shine is the magnetic field emitted by the fumehide, making the wearer significantly harder to hit in a lethal way.

A.N.S. Queen Moreni’s Revenge: A large privateering ship of the Renaissance era, known for it’s large size and magnetoglass cannons. The cannons are rapid firing but have issues with maintaining this speed. The Revenge was a symbol of Askian naval power in the ismuth for a long while.
   -Maglock Rifles: Rifles built on the same principals of magnetoglass cannons. Faster to load due to the lack of gunpowder and more accurate for rifling. Uses fumehide thread to maintain the magnetic charge and with it a consistent fire rate.
   -Paasi-Kakano Cruisers: Ironclad cruisers using magnetized iron dust to have a shocking amount of durability for it’s armor.

Rulaaran Cavalry: Units of light cavalry that bear pistols and javelins and are armored in magnetohide. Rather than charge into the ranks, they stand off and fire their pistols and lethal magnetically charged javelins before rushing away before the enemy can retaliate.

Lanarkifume Shells: Artillery shells making use of Lanarkifumes, launching glass canisters of the fumes into the enemy ranks where they lethally shock anyone in the radius.
   -Lantarkifluid Grenade: Grenades containing Lantarkifluid, that shatter into many blobs of the stuff with electricity arcing between them to deny an area and shock anyone still in it.

Sundiata Engine and the Model S-1: A magnetic engine using magnetofluid to strengthen magnetoglass’ magnetic field and the accompanying car. The engine revolutionized civilian life, and would later be put to work in the first military ground vehicles.

Resources and Interactions
Magnetofumes: A thick, gray gas found in holes and vents across Askia with unique electromagnetic properties. At this time, not much is known about it, but it surely has potential.
   -It will persistently drift north when exposed to the air, in defiance of the direction of the wind.
   -When compressed, magnetofumes turn to a grey liquid called magnetofluid, which ripples to the north.
   -If metal is submerged in magnetofluid for long periods, it ignores the magnetic fields of other magnetofume-derived equipment and homes in on non-magnetofumic metal.
   -When magnetofluid is dumped into water and the water is boiled away, it creates the tough, leathery substance dubbed fumehide, which has a light magnetic field around it.
   -When magnetofluid is dumped into freezing water, it creates magnetoglass, a clear material that can be worked like metal and has a magnetic field pointing in whatever direction was “down” at the time of creation.
   -Magnetoglass’ magnetic field can be strengthened by magnetofluid.
   -When exposed to an alternating current, the magnetofumes become electrically charged Lanarkifumes, with bolts of electricity flying around inside of it.
   -When Lantrkifumes are compressed, they become Lantarkifluid, showing similar properties.

This resource has the sphere of Electromagnetism.