The Worked ExampleTurn OneIn turn one, the Longtongues have begun evolving on a central forest hex. They start off with five units of population and the given stats. The surrounding hexes have certain values of land capable of supporting life; these are displayed as grey circles. The four units of population on the central hex appear as green dots replacing the grey dots. In addition, because of the 25 points in Food traits the Longtongues possess, their maximum Land in all green hexes is increased by five points (represented by the hollowed green circles).
At this point the Longtongues are not generating any sphere points except for population growth, so this is not represented on the map yet.
In addition an entity, Bahamut the Demon of Fire (stats below) has awoken from the base of the mountain. He exists as an avatar with 10 beginner points, but no following and influence. Both the Longtongue species and Bahamut get up to three actions in a turn.
In Turn One, the Longtongues attempt to settle the three Plains hexes to the north of them and the forest to the west (one action), each attempt costing one unit of Population and increasing the overall difficulty class (DC) of the colonisation roll by 1. They make an effort to try and improve their nests through the use of branches to reinforce rudimentary shelters (one action) and finally send a scout to investigate any useful information in the mountains to the south (one action). In addition, stories have begun to originate about why the stars exist. Because the Longtongues have a population of 5, they can afford 1EP this turn. They put it into a new skill, Belief (T1 Religion Generation).
Bahamut takes only one action this turn. He burns down some nests in a destructive swath of fire, attempting to inspire the fear of divinity into these poor schmucks and give them the first inklings of religion, so they can get around to worshipping him.
LongtonguesColonisation Attempts: d20 + Action = Result v DC x, Terrain offers no resistance.
Plains 1: 12 + 5 = 17 v DC 14, Success
Plains 2: 16 + 5 = 21 v DC 14, Success
Plains 3: 10 + 5 = 15 v DC 14, Success
Forest: 8 + 5 = 13 v DC 14, Failure
Three new colonies in the plains are established, the forest colony fails and the settlers are lost.
Nesting Improvements: d20 + Reaction = Result v DC x
11 + 5 = 16 v DC 10, Success
2 points in new skill, Thatching (T1 Population Armour)
Scouting Check: d20 + Perception = Result v DC x
2 + 5 = 7 v DC ?, Failure
The scout was eaten by giant birds in the mountains. Nothing more could be gleaned.
BahamutInspire Fear & Devotion: d20 + Action vs d20 + Reaction, d20 + Power vs d20 + Armour
16 + 10 v 4 + 0 , 12 + 10 v 9 + 0 = Success, Strength 13 (Bahamut's powers are doubled from being invested in his avatar)
Although the physical damage of the attack was limited and Bahamut made no serious effort to destroy the Longtongues, they were little prepared for this sort of psychological attack. A number of them have begun laying offerings to their powerful new neighbour in the hopes that he might stop.
+3 to Belief, for the Longtongues (T1 Religion Generation).
Bahamut, Demon of Fire
Bahamut takes the form of a large winged beast, quite appropriately breathing fire.
Primary Sphere: Religion
Action: 5
Reaction: 0
Power: 5
Armour: 0
Perception: 0
Stealth: 0
Range: 0
Longtongue
The Longtongues are a race of hairless mammals roughly the size of German Shepherds, noted for their lengthy, prehensile tongues. Whilst largely defenceless save for their hard skin, longtongues do have the advantage of being able to procure food in all manner of environments with great success.
Food (Total of 25 increases available Land in all green land squares (forest, plains, marsh) by 5)
Long Tongue (T1, 10)
Sticky Tongue (T2, 10: Long Tongue, Foraging, Nesting)
Prehensile Tongue (T3, 5: Sticky Tongue)
Population
Action: Foraging (T1, 5)
Reaction: Nesting (T1, 5)
Power: -
Armour: -
Perception: -
Stealth: -
Range: -
Generation: Live Birth (T1, 5)
Military
Action: -
Reaction: Tough Skin (T1, 5)
Power: -
Armour: Tough Skin II (T1, 5)
Perception: -
Stealth: -
Range: -
Generation: -
Religion
Action: -
Reaction: -
Power: -
Armour: -
Perception: -
Stealth: -
Range: -
Generation: Belief (T1, 4)
Turn TwoThis turn, the Longtongues have a total of six population (three in colonies and an addition two in their home hex from Live Birth), so they spend their 1 EP this turn on improving Belief further in an attempt to forestall this demon's attacks. This is enough to generate one ankh of religion per population. Another pair of colonial expeditions set out from the home hex to colonise the eastern forest and southern mountain. Notice how the Longtongue Food advantage has extended available land for them in the newly colonised Plains.
Bahamut continues rampaging. Pleasing as these offerings are, he is still not content with the devotion being offered.
LongtonguesColonisation Attempts: d20 + Action = Result v DC x, Terrain offers no resistance.
Mountains: 14 + 5 = 19 v DC 17, Success
Forest: 20 + 5 = 15 v DC 12, Crit Success
The mountains and forests are both colonised, the forest colony succeeding so well that their population doubles in settling.
BahamutInspire Fear & Devotion: d20 + Action vs d20 + Reaction, d20 + Power vs d20 + Armour
5 + 10 v 9 + 0 , 9 + 10 v 13 + 0 = Success, Strength 6
Longtongues are getting used to Bahamut's ravages, insomuch as one can get used to such. Small cults have begun appearing amongst the Longtongues, ascribing to Bahamut dominion over all flame. Bahamut leaves these cults alone and word spreads.
Six ankhs in the central hexes become devoted to worship of Bahamut.
Turn ThreeThe Longtongues now have a population of 15 and are producing 15 ankhs' worth of religion, giving them a total of 6EP this turn to spend. Things are looking up! The first thing they -do- spend it on is 5EP into a new skill, Recruitment (T1, Military Generation), allowing them to field a real army. They delay any further expansion and instead set about using their new army to attack and destroy this lunatic demon that has been ravaging them.
Bahamut finds himself with suddenly an additional 6 Influence from his efforts. Unaware of the Longtongue intent to attack him, he puts 3 more Influence into Religious Action and 3 more into Religious Power, then pushes to try and convert the rest of the people to his faith.
LongtonguesMilitary Destruction of Bahamut:
(A lot more complicated math, the essence of which is that Bahamut had no military skill.)
Three contingents from the central forests destroy the fire demon plaguing their kind.
BahamutInspire Fear & Devotion: d20 + Action vs d20 + Reaction, d20 + Power vs d20 + Armour
7 + 13 v 5 + 0 , 11 + 13 v 16 + 0 = Success, Strength 8
Before Bahamut's untimely destruction, he makes a powerful impression upon the remaining populace.
Eight more ankhs in the central hexes become devoted to worship of Bahamut.
By turn four, Bahamut himself has been slain, yet his name is echoed throughout the forests. With 14 ankhs of the population worshipping him and as such still enough influence upon the world, it is only a matter of time until the local dark cults have enough power to try and resurrect him from the grave...
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Sorry if this is a bit incoherent. University work is pressing and it's 1:30am here. -.- I still have kinks to iron out with regard to display etc.