On one particular outing, you come across an elderly male citizen holding the hand of his young slave, seemingly on a date at one of the arcology's prominent promenades. From the ring on the $girl's finger and the modest neckline on $his clothing, it is clear that $his owner is treating $him as if $he is his $wife. His obscene treatment of his slave has already drawn a large crowd of shocked onlookers.
On one particular outing, you come across an elderly male citizen holding the hand of his young slave, seemingly on a date at one of the arcology's prominent promenades. From the ring on the $girl's finger and the modest neckline on $his clothing, it is clear that $his owner is treating $him as if $he is his $wife. His obscene treatment of his slave has already drawn a large crowd of shocked onlookers.
<<case "knightly duel">>
<<case "knightly duel">>
After the rise of $arcologies[0].name's new Imperial society, Knights have become a cornerstone of the new social order. Proud, noble, and chivalrous, they're seen as heroic, even legendary figures to the general public, and play an essential role in securing your arcology against violent threats with their larger-than-life personalities. However, the proud and individual nature of your Knights occasionally causes problems.
After the rise of $arcologies[0].name's new Imperial society, Knights have become a cornerstone of the new social order. Proud, noble, and chivalrous, they're seen as heroic, even legendary figures to the general public, and play an essential role in securing your arcology against violent threats with their larger-than-life personalities. However, the proud and individual nature of your Knights occasionally causes problems.
<br><br>
<br><br>
Most recently, two of your Knights have begun to feud with one another. After some slight neither can remember, they've been publicly exchanging insults for the last few weeks, and more recently their associated guardsmen have gotten into a few street fights against one another. Tired of the gang-like behavior, both Knights have come to you and asked for your permission for a formal duel to the death to settle their differences, once and for all.
Most recently, two of your Knights have begun to feud with one another. After some slight neither can remember, they've been publicly exchanging insults for the last few weeks, and more recently their associated guardsmen have gotten into a few street fights against one another. Tired of the gang-like behavior, both Knights have come to you and asked for your permission for a formal duel to the death to settle their differences, once and for all.
<<case "dead baron">>
<<case "dead baron">>
Although the lives of the uber-wealthy last for so long with the heights of modern medicine that some whisper that you are immortal, no one lives forever. Recently, one of your Imperial Barons has passed away, supposedly from natural causes, although it's always possible that the shadowy and underhanded elites a step lower in the hierarchy might have hastened their passing - if that's the case, your Knights will learn of the culprits soon enough. Regardless of the reason, you now have an opening in your noble hierarchy, and as always, there is no shortage of hungry, ambitious elites looking to fill the slot.
Although the lives of the uber-wealthy last for so long with the heights of modern medicine that some whisper that you are immortal, no one lives forever. Recently, one of your Imperial Barons has passed away, supposedly from natural causes, although it's always possible that the shadowy and underhanded elites a step lower in the hierarchy might have hastened their passing - if that's the case, your Knights will learn of the culprits soon enough. Regardless of the reason, you now have an opening in your noble hierarchy, and as always, there is no shortage of hungry, ambitious elites looking to fill the slot.
<br><br>
<br><br>
Typically, the position is hereditary; the adult children of a Baron, those had legitimately and not with slaves, expect to inherit the title in an order of seniority. However, this is only precedent, and not the actual legal code; the laws, as you've written them, allow you to assign the title to whoever you please upon the death of the former Baron. You could, undoubtedly, choose to award it to someone else instead of the Baron's children... although doing so would, no doubt, infuriate the influential Baronets, who expect their family to continue to hold its prestigious position.
Typically, the position is hereditary; the adult children of a Baron, those had legitimately and not with slaves, expect to inherit the title in an order of seniority. However, this is only precedent, and not the actual legal code; the laws, as you've written them, allow you to assign the title to whoever you please upon the death of the former Baron. You could, undoubtedly, choose to award it to someone else instead of the Baron's children... although doing so would, no doubt, infuriate the influential Baronets, who expect their family to continue to hold its prestigious position.
<<case "feast">>
Although you regularly host casual parties in $arcologies[0].name, the demands of the elite nobility, those chosen few who stand above even your millionaires and societal elites, can be truly extravagant. Every once in a while, instead of a simple, classy party, they clamor for something more - a proper feast. As the Emperor of the arcology, it falls to you to organize such an event, and plan it to satisfy even the ravenous appetites of your ever-hungry Barons.
<br><br>
Planning a genuine feast is no small task. Unlike your typical parties, which can be as simple as preparing food and drinks served by your own slavegirls, this celebration almost be necessity must be an enormous blowout. The Barons will come expecting delicacies from around the world, enough alcohol to get all of them drunk ten times over, foreign slaves and entertainment for the night, and a truly decadcent level of indulgence, one befitting of an assembly of rulers. The greatest celebrations can go on for full days at a time, stopped only to sleep before returning to the festivities. Although such lavishness can be crushingly expensive, the best feasts are more than just the best time anyone can have in the Free Cities - they're also calendar events remembered for years to come.
<<case "baron demand">>
<<case "baron demand">>
One of your Barons has approached you with an elegantly-worded but rather entitled letter demanding that you increase his already extraordinarily generous stipend and allow for more individual freedom in the management of his arcology district. The petition appears to be supported by a number of other powerful Barons, who have tacked their name on in asking for similar advantages.
One of your Barons has approached you with an elegantly-worded but rather entitled letter demanding that you increase his already extraordinarily generous stipend and allow for more individual freedom in the management of his arcology district. The petition appears to be supported by a number of other powerful Barons, who have tacked their name on in asking for similar advantages.
...
@@ -531,7 +565,6 @@
...
@@ -531,7 +565,6 @@
<</link>>
<</link>>
</span>
</span>
<<case "baron demand">>
<<case "baron demand">>
<span id="result">
<span id="result">
...
@@ -560,6 +593,38 @@
...
@@ -560,6 +593,38 @@
<</link>>
<</link>>
<</if>>
<</if>>
</span>
</span>
<<case "baron demand">>
<<case "feast">>
<span id="result">
<<if $cash >= 20000>>
<<link "Plan an absolutely enormous celebration">><<print cashFormat(20000)>>
<<replace "#result">>
The feast you organize would put Norse raiders and ancient Kings alike to shame; you @@.red;spend more money@@ in the first few days of planning than most of them would have ever seen in their lives. The Barons arrive at your penthouse on time and are immediately mystified by the overwhelming variety of foods put out on your eloquent tables, served by stunning girls in thin silks that barely conceal their perfect bodies. Entertainers of every stripe lead around flaming swords and well-trained lions, transforming your penthouse into a temporary circus of debauchery and hedonism; there are so many that you can't even remember all those you hired, and every room contains a new wonder or waiting beauty. You deliver a short speech to the Barons, Knights, and other elite you've granted the honor of attending, welcoming the lot to your home; one of your Barons claps loudly the moment you finish and @@.green;shouts your name@@ in celebration, which is quickly taken up by the rest of the room. From then on, the next few days are an absolute blur of sex, drink, drugs and food, casting aside all worries and indulging alongside the wealthiest of your arcology in a true display of ultra-hedonism. The hours blend into days of the endless celebration you've organized, until, finally, the Barons and Knights begin to shuffle out in a drunken, exhausted haze, leaving behind a trail of bones and knocked-up slavegirls. No one, yourself included, seems to be able to remember exactly what happened during those days of wild celebration, but everyone agrees that it was @@.green;one of the greatest parties ever held in the Free Cities.@@
<<run repX(7000, "event")>>
<<run $arcologies[0].prosperity -= 1>>
<<run cashX(-20000, "Feasting")>>
<</replace>>
<</link>>
<</if>>
<<if $cash >= 5000>>
<br><<link "Plan a moderate feast">><<print cashFormat(5000)>>
<<replace "#result">>
There's no special cause for celebration this time around, but that doesn't mean you can't have a great time. You lay out platters of expensive food and drink, served by gorgeous maids, for the arriving Barons and Knights, who seem universally pleased to have an oppurtunity to forget the troubles of rulership and power for a day - not that that's particularly difficult in the Free Cities, anyway. Among the roaring company of $arcologies[0].name's wealthiest and most influential citizens, you tear into fresh-cooked meats and the rounded asses of the servants alike, in a glorious celebration where nothing and no one is off-limits. At the end of the evening, when the crowd has finally had their fill and you've fucked and drank enough that you can barely stand to wave them goodbye, nearly each and every Baron leaves the celebration with a @@.green;stupid, drunken smile across their face.@@
<<run cashX(-5000, "Feasting")>>
<<run repX(2000, "event")>>
<</replace>>
<</link>>
<</if>>
<br><<link "No feast this year">>
<<replace "#result">>
You somberly annouce that there'll be no feast this time around, despite the mutterings of your Barons. Unsurprisngly, the pompous nobles are @@.red;deeply frustrated@@ with the lack of a feast, and spend the next few weeks snarkily reminding you about your failure to provide a celebration worthy of your title. At least your treasury isn't forced to bear the burden of another feast for now.
