[OL - ChIVE] RNTC Way Station

[CapOnBOBS]

There is a point, well an area really, a fuzzy boundary where the sovereign lands of the Kingdom of Light dwindle into the shadows of the Atwi's interior. Along the main road leading inland from the crown's primary settlement in Terraversa, the City of Nola Mar, the RNTC has established a way station at the very frontier of the King's domain. 

To the North and East, civilization and his Majesty's grace. To the South and West, the ancient ways and ancient gods of the Atwi rule in their native lands. 

It is on this very edge of civilization, that the RNTC has established a large commercial structure from which they have projected their mercantile presence. The Way Station provides a bed-down location for trade caravans heading into and out from the Interior. A final stop to rest horses, make repairs, and collect provisions before heading into the Atwi interior. 

Not that relations aren't pleasant. Recognizing the mutual benefit of trade in both directions, good neighbors, and safety in numbers, the Atwi have built somewhat of a semi-permanent village, a way station of their own immediately outside the gates of the RNTC post. Station Master Jacoby, known across Oleon as "Flying J' for his speed on horseback, visits the Atwi daily to inventory mutual stockpiles, share a meal, and maintain relations with whichever chieftain happens to be in residence at the time. Though, he finds some of their ways barbaric, particularly as a man who grew up with a pet rabbit in his parent's chateau in Breshaun, he has come to appreciate their pure and simple lifestyle, even taking long lunches to learn a skill or practice some new words.  

 But, as always, duty calls him back across the wall too soon. Wine to inventory, horses to saddle, books to keep, on and on. Today a call has gone out from the tower that an RNTC wagon train approaches. 

"More wine, we already have so much, and I wasn't expecting anything today" he mutters to himself as he turns back to the way station... his little keep... it reminds him of an old Knight's redoubt, before the cannon of course. The flags of his employer and the "boss's boss of course" flying outstretched in the steady breeze. His own little fiefdom of wine barrels and hay... and horse manure. Well some minor lord anyway. 

"Daydreaming aside, why the unannounced wagons... and why the escorts..." Then he spotted them, two chained up chests, subtle to see a pistol wielding guard straddling one of the chests, 'nothing to see hear folks..." Flying J had heard whispers of plans to start plying the powerful chiefs with silver. So here it was, the first shipment of silver into the interior. No wonder the wagons were unannounced, no wonder they were so heavily armed, no wonder they were stopping for the night. Can you imagine being out on the road after dark with that cargo.... too many Red Coats still on the island for that... and Green Coated mercenaries for that matter... and the pirates... and the rouge Atwi chieftains... and no shortage of highwaymen who found themselves on the wrong side of the peace treaty. "Well, get them in and get them bedded down!" 

Just another example of how Flying J's RNTC Way Station was the platform by which the RNTC beat the competitors to the Atwi markets. 

 

[Ayrlego]

A well thought out and written story that fits the category well. The extra element of the silver arriving is an interesting addition. The build itself at first glance didn't seem as detailed as some of your recent builds, but then when I had a closer look the details began to reveal themselves! The wooden inserts in the windows with the differing textures are a good example and the sign post is a nice touch. the green border frames the buildings and roads nicely. Nice entry for the RNTC!

[Ross Fisher]

Good effort, nicely put together!

Just a heads up, for it to count towards Category E, I think it would have to be in the Interior proper, and couldn't count towards Nola Mar's development. Naturally, I'd be happy for the council to prove me wrong.

Edited July 7, 2021 by Ross Fisher

[CapOnBOBS]

5 hours ago, Ross Fisher said:

Good effort, nicely put together!

Just a heads up, for it to count towards Category E, I think it would have to be in the Interior proper, and couldn't count towards Nola Mar's development. Naturally, I'd be happy for the council to prove me wrong.

This was a deliberate effort for a story and a build that is in the interior and also clearly supporting the growth of Nola Mar. Mines and plantations aren't consistently "in" settlements, so it seemed reasonable. I hope I laid it out well enough to count for Cat E and support Nola Mar, but leave it in the hands of the court.

But more interesting, I specifically think the fuzzy line where sovereign modern states end and native tribal lands begin is a neat dynamic, a historically interesting thing, and a potential source for diplomatic turmoil if not managed deliberately. "For now" I think it is helpful for Oleon and the tribes to have a fixed point of reference for where Oleon ends and Atwi lands begin.

[evancelt]

Nice work @CapOnBOBS! I like the green slopes for the bottom and side edges a lot.

I agree it seems in the spirit of the challenge by delineating the central trade area.

[Bregir]

5 hours ago, Ross Fisher said:

Just a heads up, for it to count towards Category E, I think it would have to be in the Interior proper, and couldn't count towards Nola Mar's development. Naturally, I'd be happy for the council to prove me wrong.

Sorry, I will comment on the build later, but this caught my eye, and I figure I better clarify.

 

As per the challenge:

On 4/28/2021 at 9:49 AM, Ayrlego said:

For this category, builders must build a scene showing trading within the interior.

However, as per the treaty (as far as I remember, although I am obviously unable to find it when I need it...), outsiders are prohibited from building anywhere in the interior outside the designated area at the central crossroads area.

 

So, the way this would work would be that this post is just your side of the border, but as it trades with an Atwi trading post/village in the interior, you meet the criteria of the challenge.

 

I think it is overall important for immersion that we remember the conditions of the peace, and while I have not said anything, it being of no in-game consequence, I have been surprised to still see Bluecoats in many postwar Kings Port builds. In reality, a former conqueror, required to leave occupied territories, would not still be allowed troops in the city. This case with an armed trading post is a bit similar. I am almost positive it is entirely against both letter and spirit of the treaty, and hence I can only see it be placed just outside the interior.

[Ross Fisher]

20 minutes ago, Bregir said:

However, as per the treaty (as far as I remember, although I am obviously unable to find it when I need it...), outsiders are prohibited from building anywhere in the interior outside the designated area at the central crossroads area.

So, the way this would work would be that this post is just your side of the border, but as it trades with an Atwi trading post/village in the interior, you meet the criteria of the challenge

This seems fair to me. Purely from an EGS perspective, if the "Crossroads" isn't a settlement in its own right for us to license properties to, it makes sense to license builds to whatever nearby settlement we prefer.

[Thomas Waagenaar]

That's an amazing story, with a lot of nice detail written in it! I really like the sign too, nicely done with the decal.

One minor thing, the green grass is very green and "empty", perhaps some bits of plant-part here and there of different colours could help to break it up a bit?

 

50 minutes ago, Bregir said:

I have been surprised to still see Bluecoats in many postwar Kings Port builds. 

Oops, I think I've done that too now that I think about it... In my defense, he doesn't have any weaponry! 

[CapOnBOBS]

2 hours ago, Bregir said:

So, the way this would work would be that this post is just your side of the border, but as it trades with an Atwi trading post/village in the interior, you meet the criteria of the challenge

This is exactly what I was aiming for. This post takes a hashed line on a big map and turns it into a very real location on the ground that Atwi and traders can understand. Inland from this spot is Atwi territory, this footprint and everything down the road to the coast is Oleon territory. One could stand on the tower in sovereign Oleon territory and throw rocks south-westerly into Atwi territory, though they would never do that. Noting the big arrow on the map, this isn't an attempt to "move" a boundary, just to show how we are all learning to live together and add fidelity to the map-drawn boundary that now needs to be translated to something agreed upon on the ground. "How the states got their shapes" or "How these countries got their shapes" I think is always neat history. This is a combo of a frontier outpost and a Flying J truck stop. Now that I'm looking at this, I should not have been surprised that this generated the discussion it did. I thought through this story a lot more in my head before writing any of it down. There is a lot that I reasoned out ahead of time and then started the narrative from a point of already having figured out and didn't expressly state.  

You bring up an interesting note about literal "bluecoats." I think it is appropriate for true blue coats to be guarding the embassy in King's Port, but in my mind, the default RNTC minifig has been in uniform and that isn't necessarily the right answer. The RNTC "has" troops, but isn't "all" troops. That said, I do think the RNTC would be sure to have a strong security presence at this frontier station. 

[Ross Fisher]

1 hour ago, CapOnBOBS said:

I should not have been surprised that this generated the discussion it did.

FWIW, I'm sorry that it caused so much fuss. I just figured it was better to be sure than upset anyone. 

[Bregir]

16 hours ago, Ross Fisher said:

Purely from an EGS perspective, if the "Crossroads" isn't a settlement in its own right for us to license properties to, it makes sense to license builds to whatever nearby settlement we prefer.

I am not quite sure that is what I said. I think the crossroads, or perhaps the interior on a wider scale, is to be considered Atwi settlements.

However, this waystation just inside your borders could be considered to be in the hinterland to Nola Mar, and could in my view count towards Nola Mar.

11 hours ago, Ross Fisher said:

FWIW, I'm sorry that it caused so much fuss. I just figured it was better to be sure than upset anyone. 

I wouldn't call this fuzz - this was just a good constructive discussion, and a potential minuscule retcon. No hard feelings here

[Ross Fisher]

7 hours ago, Bregir said:

I think the crossroads, or perhaps the interior on a wider scale, is to be considered Atwi settlements.

We would need a canonical settlement so that EGS submissions were all consistent. 

7 hours ago, Bregir said:

this was just a good constructive discussion

[Ayrlego]

14 hours ago, Ross Fisher said:

We would need a canonical settlement so that EGS submissions were all consistent. 

Just state 'Interior - Terraversa' or something to that effect in your license form and that will be fine. Income will be calculated the same as any other NPC settlement - we just won't be keeping track of the settlement size for EGS purposes. 

[NOD]

Very good idea and interesting story. I like the way station it is similar to a castle.

[Mister Phes]

On 7/7/2021 at 5:02 PM, CapOnBOBS said:

It is on this very edge of civilization, that the RNTC

For those who don't follow all the BoBS acronyms but want to write accurate blog posts about these MOCs, what does RNTC stand for?

[Ross Fisher]

1 hour ago, Mister Phes said:

what does RNTC stand for?

That would be the Royal New Terra Company:

 

[Mister Phes]

16 minutes ago, Ross Fisher said:

That would be the Royal New Terra Company:

Thank ye!

 

[Kai NRG]

Great job on this fort, but I especially love your design for the native tent!  Great idea with those black wedges on the nougat background! 

[Ross Fisher]

Sorry to bump an old topic. I'm just doing some housekeeping on the Nola Mar page. What size and category is this build licensed as please?

[CapOnBOBS]

Large.... boom

[Ross Fisher]

1 hour ago, CapOnBOBS said:

Large

OK thanks.

2 hours ago, Ross Fisher said:

and category

?

[CapOnBOBS]

Commerce

[Ross Fisher]

Thanks!