Civilization

"Yep, previously everyone just gave each other what was needed. If Lucina required some wood or clay, then someone would help her obtain them. Likewise, if someone was injured, then Lucina would rush to help them, even giving them a potion if needed. Instead of bartering and having a cost on the services or products, everyone was happy to help each other. This will need to change as players come into the picture.

We have already set up a price here in Everbloom, and I already had a pair of goblin scouts rush to both HavenFall and the Krepost to share the news of creating a price tag on everything. Whether it is weapons, armor, or blacksmithing, there needs to be a price for everything. Once that happens, a basic market will be created. I\'ve seen online that the tech tree will open up once a market is created.

However, a market is just the start. It is what happens after a market is created." - Ian

"And that is?" - Evan

"Businesses and banking. There will be players and NPCs alike who may understand the value of businesses and with it, will be a time of innovation. Some players will be implementing ideas that have already been proven ad tested in real life to improve general living, while others will try to innovate using the resources available. However, NPCs will also be doing that as well, because they are the ones who understand this world the best." - Ian

"I see… And that will end up requiring a bank of some sort to store the Mana Stones and to protect those who are unable to keep their Mana Stones at home. Like the soldiers or the scouts who end up going to battle. They will need a reliable place to store their Mana Stones before going out to battle." - Evan

[ Currency Technology Completed ]

[ Technologies to be Completed

Philosophy

Drama and Poetry

Guilds

Iron working

Technologies already Completed

Currency

Sailing

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.

.]

"And there we go. Currency Technology completed, just as we were talking about it. I guess, it needed a few more transactions of some sort since I\'ve used Mana Stones to get food. Either way, the next step on the agenda is the Religion." - Ian

"Alright, alright. You know what I\'m going to head out and do some other things. It seems like the rest of what you have to do is more of \'city\' management. Not for me. See ya, Ian." - Evan

"Huh? What?" - Ian

Before I could even react, Evan already sprinted away to help someone else. Whether it was because of his reasoning or not, I didn\'t mind, after all, he was right. Religion is something I need to decide by myself, and while I could have asked for his advice, ultimately I have to decide. 

Name: Ian

Race: Arachne

Faith: 10,000/10,000 ( Reach 10,000 to pick a Religion )

Happiness: 75  ( Happy ) 1575/5000( Reach 5000 for a Golden Age )

Culture: 450 / 950 ( Reach 900 to choose the first Social Policy in Tradition ) 

Health Points (HP): 170/170

Mana Points (MP): 48/48

Strength: 85

Vitality: 85

Intelligence: 95

Dexterity: 70

Agility: 95

Luck: 56

Skill: Enhanced Agility, Quickstep, Cleave, Charge, Stealth, Emerald Gaze, Earth Spike, Bone Totem, Extreme Speed, Steel String, Eye of the Roc (P), Predator Instinct (P), Limb Regrowth (P), Buffalo Horns (P), Miasma Protection (P), Royalty Presence (P), Playful Webbing (P), Advanced Control (P), Dark Vision (P), Pioneers of Settlement (P)

Equipment: Lucky Goblin Totem Necklace, Araneae Ring, Vomva Bronze Trident, Skala Mail, Copper Chest Plate, Copper Arm Guard, Copper Leg Guard, Code of Hammurabi, Night Gloves, Hoplite Bodyguard Emblem 

Upon opening the status screen, I\'m prompted with the notification which I ignore previously since I was busy. The Faith has been filled when I left the game before the patch, and now it is time to finish it.

[Would you like to select a Religion? Yes/No]

"Yes." - Ian

The moment I select yes, a small list could be seen in front of me showing a selection of gods and goddesses, as well as a religion title next to them.

[Goddess of Luck, Fortuna. Roman.

Sun God, Ra. Egyptian.

God of War, Ares. Greek.

God of Hunting, Woden. Anglo-Saxon.

God of the Forests, Tapio. Finnish.

Goddess of Rivers, Mamlambo. Zulu.

Goddess of Fertility, Mokosh. Slavic.

Goddess of Settlement, Ariel.]

Looking at the selection, it seems I am unable to see the perks of each god or goddess, unfortunately, that makes the decision harder since I don\'t know what would happen after choosing the religion. Between the 8 choices, I only knew of Fortuna, Ares, and Ariel through settlement, whereas Ra, I knew from history videos online. However, Woden, Tapio, Mamlambo, and Mokosh, I had no idea.

Why did the system give me these options in the first place? I understand, Fortuna and Ariel since I have a statue of both of them in HavenFall. Ares is most likely due to Sylvia and Nina\'s presence. Ra, Woden, Tapio, and Mamlambo, are they options due to where I am located? Maybe Mamlambo is due to the influence of the Zulu, and in that case, Mokosh is probably influenced by the Krepost. 

Then who should I pick? A god that has already been with me? Fortuna was my choice for the Pantheon but… Perhaps selecting someone else will be more beneficial. Although… Ariel being a choice tempts me. Why is she there? And what could she possibly give to me? Her statue was the first object that produced Faith and from it, I\'ve gained enough to pick a Pantheon and a Religion.

"I\'ve decided. I\'ll pick the Goddess of Settlement, Ariel." - Ian

[You have picked the Goddess of Settlement, Ariel. As the first player to follow her religion, she has given you the opportunity to name the religion.]

"A name? How do you even name a religion?! Uh… Hm… Well, since we are now going to be followers of Ariel then… How about, Children of Ariel?" - Ian

[Ariel smiles upon the name of her newly founded religion. A great prophet will appear shortly to help the spread of the new religion. HavenFall has been designated as the holy capital of the Children of Ariel. Everbloom and Krepost, have been influenced by the Goddess, Ariel, and have been blessed. Residents of all 3 villagers will be more inclined to believe in the Children of Ariel until they are fully converted. ]

[A symbol for the new religion, Children of Ariel, is now needed.]

A list of different symbols and icons appears before me, showcasing familiar symbols of religion like the cross or yin and yang. However, there was one symbol that I felt matched the most with Ariel. It was a simple pair of angel wings with a halo above. Looking at it closer, it reminds me of Ariel, since the statue at HavenFall has her wings wrapped around her and a halo floating above her head. 

[Wings and Halo symbol has been chosen for Children of Ariel. This symbol cannot be chosen by another religion and will symbolize the commitment to the Goddess Ariel.]

[Please select the Founder Belief for Children of Ariel,

Ceremonial Burial - +1 happiness for every village/city that follows this religion

Church Property - +10% Mana Stone gained with the surrounding areas of villages/cities that follow this religion.

Initiation Rites - +100% Mana Stone gained within 24 hours of villages/cities that recently follow this religion

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.

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Pilgrimage - +10% Faith gained per day for every Foreign village/city that follows this religion

World Church - +1 Culture for every 100 followers of this religion in Foreign villages/cities]

There were a lot of choices for the Founder Belief, and after looking through them carefully, I decided to get Church Property. While options such as Pilgrimage or World Church might be  better if there were more player villages around HavenFall, I decided to look at the immediate gains. New players will be joining us soon and having them obtain more Mana Stones nearby will help them increase their strength much faster. 

While I wasn\'t sure what it meant by 10% Mana Stone gained, since every monster we have killed so far dropped Mana Stones, I\'m sure there will be some sort of change. Perhaps there is just an increased chance of obtaining Mana Stones right now since today is the day before the new players start. However, I believe it is the right choice for the immediate benefits. 

"I will choose Church Property, for the Founder Belief." - Ian

[Please select the Follower Belief for Children of Ariel,

Asceticism - Shrines will provide +1 Happiness every 50 prayers made by different individuals.

Cathedrals - Use Faith to create a Cathedral within the village/city (Cathedrals require 25% Max Faith, +1 Happiness, +7 Culture, +2 Faith)

Choral Music - Temples will provide +1 Culture for every 100 prayers made by different individuals.

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.

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Mosque - Use Faith to create a Mosque within the village/city (Mosques require 25% Max Faith, +1 Happiness, +2 Culture, +7 Faith) 

Pagoda - Use Faith to create a Pagoda within the village/city (Pagodas require 25% Max Faith, +4 Happiness, +3 Culture, +3 Faith) 

Religious Community - Labor workers have 1% increased productivity so long as they follow this religion.

Swords into Plowshares - Village/City growth will increase by 1% so long as the village/city is not at war]

The Follower Belief showcases an even longer list than the Founder Belief, as well as, complicated explanations. Racking my brain to see what would be the best choice, I started to lean toward Religious Community and Swords into Plowshares. While obtaining a new building would have been a great addition to all the villages, it needed 25% of max Faith, and with no idea how much Faith is the next limit I didn\'t feel comfortable choosing them.

That left the two beliefs that were more passive. While the gain is a mere 1% making it seem next to nothing, wouldn\'t it slowly increase the growth of our villages significantly over time? Workers completing tasks will slowly increase, and if there are more workers then, the overall production isn\'t an increase of 1% but maybe more depending on the number of Labors. Likewise, growing the village isn\'t stagnated at an increase of 1%, but is dependent on the actions of every individual.

Does that mean picking Religious Community actually means that whenever an individual works on a task that is more inclined to construction, blacksmith, plowing, etc, be increased by 1%? Then with 100 individuals doing something it is an increase of 100%? In other words, village growth means expanding the village. When expanding the border or territory, it would increase by 1% more than a foreign village.

My brain starts to fume up as these ideas collide with each other. I didn\'t even know what I was talking about at one point, but I take a deep breath and truly started to think about the options. Religious Community is about the residents of my village. Swords into Plowshares is about the territory. Which is more important right now? The residents.

"I will choose Religious Community as the Follower Belief." - Ian

[The religion, Children of Ariel, has now been founded. Followers of the Children of Ariel will believe in the Goddess of Settlement, Ariel. With the symbol, Wings, and Halo, representing the Children of Ariel, HavenFall will now be pronounced the Holy City of the Children of Ariel. As the founder of the Children of Ariel, you will receive a title as well as a special skill.]

[Title: Founder of Children of Ariel]

[Religious Faith (Passive) - Followers of the Children of Ariel will gain a 10% increase in stats so long as the Founder of the Children of Ariel is within 100 meters.]

Name: Ian

Title: Founder of Children of Ariel

Race: Arachne

Faith: 0/50,000 ( Reach 10,000 to Enhance the Religion )

Happiness: 75  ( Happy ) 1575/5000( Reach 5000 for a Golden Age )

Culture: 450 / 950 ( Reach 900 to choose the first Social Policy in Tradition ) 

Health Points (HP): 170/170

Mana Points (MP): 48/48

Strength: 85

Vitality: 85

Intelligence: 95

Dexterity: 70

Agility: 95

Luck: 56

Skill: Enhanced Agility, Quickstep, Cleave, Charge, Stealth, Emerald Gaze, Earth Spike, Bone Totem, Extreme Speed, Steel String, Eye of the Roc (P), Predator Instinct (P), Limb Regrowth (P), Buffalo Horns (P), Miasma Protection (P), Royalty Presence (P), Playful Webbing (P), Advanced Control (P), Dark Vision (P), Pioneers of Settlement (P), Religious Faith (P)

Equipment: Lucky Goblin Totem Necklace, Araneae Ring, Vomva Bronze Trident, Skala Mail, Copper Chest Plate, Copper Arm Guard, Copper Leg Guard, Code of Hammurabi, Night Gloves, Hoplite Bodyguard Emblem 

And with that, I am now the founder of a religion, just before the game closes the night. A new story will await us.  Tomorrow will be a new beginning for many players.