Part 17: Limitações da Paz

Dona Maria returns to her audience chambers the next day to meet with Dom João and Senhor Salazar once more.

"Send word to Byzantium" she says tersely. "We are going to offer our protection to them."



"Certainly, my Queen." Salazar responds after a pensive pause. "Ashurbanipal also wishes to trade our ivory for a list of goods and considerations. It's hardly a fair deal, though, so I will..."

"Accept it." Dona Maria interrupts him, to his incredulity. "The Assyrians are friends and fellow Sebastianists, so we will make this consideration for them. You need to better cultivate this care for your brothers in the faith, Antonio."

Salazar says nothing.



Dom João presents a letter from the Japanese monarch, containing an outrageous request, which Dona Maria rebukes fiercely in her reply



"The men responsible for the Byzantine liberation are being offered an opportunity to recuperate and recruit local Dromon sailors into their crew." Dom João continues. "I should hope that this can contribute to peacekeeping efforts."



"Ponta Delgada is also in the midst of constructing a new type of telescope to better observe the movements of the stars in the night sky. I am told that they are going to be sending updated maps to the Universidades fairly soon."



"Dom Pedro wishes to arrange for a trade as well." Salazar continues. "Am I to assume that we are in agreement with his terms?"

"We are." Dona Maria adds. "In fact, there is something that you can do for me, Antonio."

Salazar straightens himself.



"I've read the texts you and your contemporaries in the Casa have penned. Scientific observations on the nature of money?"

Salazar betrays a small smile.

"Between this and your opinions concerning trade and Venice, I am concerned that you are becoming too distant from the spiritual nature of our aims." Salazar's expression darkens. "I have made a request with the Casa's overseer that you be reassigned to Bissau temporarily so that you might reconnect with the effects both war and money have on a recognizable scale. Take this as a good learning opportunity."

He bows, slowly, and leaves without another word.



The investigation into more advanced means of self-defence and training commences in earnest.



Luanda prepares to further harness the power of the ocean winds in order to develop.



Salazar wanders the streets of Bissau and happens upon some of his Sebastianist brothers building a new Universidade. He is offered a chance to assist, and does so with some initial reluctance.



His namesake ship offloads goods in Japanese territory, attempting some demonstration of goodwill to the Osaka locals.



In Lisboa, another centre of learning begins to take hold, this one more.



It would seem that despite their tremendous losses, the Portuguese are surprised to see that the people of Japan and the Shoshone live joyful lives, and though the Japanese are not far behind them, they wonder how such things can be done.



Japan begins making some unusual political moves, claiming to be responsible for the defence of no less than three City-States.



At the same time, they claim to have made enemies of the Assyrians, whose only thread of commonality with the Portuguese is Sebastianism. It could very well be that Oda has adopted an anti-Sebastianist stance similar to that of the Shoshone warlord.



Still, the Japanese maintain that their defence is a thing to be lauded.



A Lisboan writer begins chronicling the story of Portugal in these trying times.



The writer's work is more contemporary than long-lived, but an excerpt from it was said to have inspired the air of hope for the future that the current era held for the Portuguese:





The work was an inspiration to the people of Portugal to take to the seas in search of further wealth, and to style their monarch as not only a woman of piety, but the Captain responsible for steering the country towards a brighter tomorrow.



Dona Maria was so entranced by the work that she demanded the researchers of the Universidades begin developing new methods of allowing it to be performed on a stage.



Yet, the thoughts of a peaceful era shattered suddenly when a messenger from the Açores arrived, delivering the news that the Roman had once again set out to conquer the Assyrian nation.



The gloating face of the Roman saw fit to insult Captain Maria to her face, to which she did her level best to respond with patience.



The Assyrians sought refuge within Portuguese borders, and Dona Maria accepted the token gold from Ashurbanipal in exchange.



The formerly Japanese Triremes, however, encountered a problem on the way back to Bissau. The Shoshone had seen fit to found another city on the western shore which they named Te-Moak in a supposedly continual denial of the fate of their former city. However, it claimed the sea lane nearest Bissau as their own territory, blocking the paths of the returning ships.



Dona Maria was forced to once again accept a rather poor offer for passage through this small territory.



Misfortune compounds upon misfortune, as Oriana and her cadre find themselves unable to prevent the theft of a Portuguese discovery, or ascertain the identity of the thief. Dona Maria, however, tells her only that she can improve her efforts with time and experience.





Cabo Rachado enjoys some of the fruits of the Portuguese economy at long last, and begins developing a sense of independent identity as industrious hunters at sea.



The Roman gloats further of his military prowess, and Dona Maria allows herself to lash back at him rather than betray her Afghan allies.



Then, suddenly, reports flood in from Bissau. The Japanese have once again declared war upon the Byzantines, and the Portuguese rush to the defence of their allies. Seeing history repeat itself, Dona Maria retreats into seclusion, despondent at her seeming inability to maintain even a semblance of peace in this world.



Andrea Doria, seeing the carnage from the coastline, is given a message with no known sender, but he knows who is responsible, and follows the command to the letter.

"This is the best chance we have. Strike at Kyoto immediately."



The Japanese ships are converted to Nau, and the sailors aboard issue their request to speak to Dom João, one of the supposed architects of their capture and the bane of the Japanese empire.



In light of this madness, even the Shoshone seem to understand the value of reasoned requests for trade, seemingly burying the hatchet over the fate of Bissau.



The Assyrians, however, have no such fortune, and Ashurbanipal is once more ejected from his capital.



Similarly, the city of Kyoto is beset by the Portuguese fleet, and once more the marine forces of the Caravela remove artifacts and wealth from the Japanese capital. Oda demands to see the one responsible, assuming that he will be granted an audience with Dom João.

Salazar meets him instead, flanked on either side by the condottiero and his entourage of marines.



"I'm afraid we find ourselves in similar circumstances to where we were so many years past." Salazar informs the daimyo in impeccable Japanese. "Once more, you make an attempt to capture a Byzantine city you believe yourself entitled to, and once more, our Armada will make short work of your ground forces. However, it seems that this time a harsher lesson is called for."



A Japanese messenger rushes in to attempt to inform his lord that the assault on Constantinople is in progress, but he is subdued by Doria. Oda simply glares back.



"What do you gain from this course of action, Portuguese?" Oda demands finally. "These Byzantines give you no money, they are not followers of your Sebastian, they do not offer you any gain. Why do you think yourselves worthy of passing your judgement upon us?"

Salazar thinks briefly before answering:

"You have already said the reason why. I am Portuguese. The sea belongs to us. The shores of every beach belong to us. You only reside here because we allow it. Think on that from your new home in Osaka, as Tokyo is wrenched from your grasp."



The latest centre of learning in Lisboa attracts a new breed of thinkers, many of them travelers from around the world eager to share new ideas in a new forum.





Their ideas result in a new wave of innovations in the methods of production adopted by the Portuguese, and they begin to search for new methods of manufacture with which to drive themselves towards a new era for the nation.



Ponta Delgada is fortunate enough to be near several sources of fuel that are required for the prototype manufacturing plants.



Oriana recommends a new agent from among the ranks of the constables of Lisboa, and Dona Maria sends her to work in Constantinople as a Diplomat.



Luanda begins building a new ship, however the outdated design is meant to be reminiscent of the São Gabriel.



Byzantium requests help, and Dona Maria obliges her friends.

Occasionally, Civs with Friendship declarations will ask you for stuff. This is irritating, but failing to provide means that their opinion of you is damaged. We can afford this, therefore we do.





With word of the war in Japan proceeding well, the people are overjoyed, and set about decorating the cities and preparing to induct their compatriots in Bissau and Kyoto into the Portuguese festival tradition.



Constantinople, however, feels somewhat less celebratory given its capture at the hands of the Japanese.



The Armada, however, falls upon the city with its legendary alacrity, and within hours ruins the Japanese defenders.



Once again, the Byzantines owe the salvation of their people to the Portuguese.



Theodora understands that she is fortunate to have friends as powerful as those under Dona Maria's command.



Once more, the Byzantine capital is in its rightful place.



However, it is a smoldering ruin of its former glory, with its infrastructure ruined and its people scattered to the winds after so many sieges. The Armada attempts to further dissuade Japanese units from approaching, but there is an uncertainty as to whether or not the defences will hold.




The Great Artist of Luanda contributes her considerable experience to the proceedings of the festival, promising to beautify Luanda to the point that its festivals will be known throughout the world.



Dom João, however, looks at Portuguese culture with a more critical eye, and notes that there is little Portuguese artwork known to the rest of the world.

Taking a look at our Cultural Influence by clicking on Tourism, we see the progress of the Culture Victory condition. Essentially, our Tourism value needs to outstrip a rival Civ's Cultural output to become culturally dominant over that Civ, and once we are culturally dominant over all Civs, we complete the Cultural Victory condition and win the game. However, that only really becomes possible in the late game (under most circumstances) when buildings with large Tourism outputs or bonuses become available. We also get a modified increase to our Tourism value with each Civ depending on several factors: whether or not a trade route connects two of our cities, whether or not they offer us Open Borders, and whether or not we share Religions.



Here, we can see where Great Works are distributed, in case we want certain cities producing more Culture and Tourism than others. We see that the Oxford University also has a special spot for something called a Theming Bonus, which adds a bonus to the total Culture and Tourism of the city for fulfilling certain conditions regarding what types of Great Works are placed there. For Oxford University, it requires two Great Works of Writing created in two separate Eras from Civs other than the one we are playing as.



We fulfilled these conditions through the works stolen from the Shoshone and Japanese, written in the Medieval and Renaissance eras respectively. This +2 adds the additional equivalent value of a third Great Work, which suits our purposes nicely.



Contrary to the seemingly endless festivities in Portugal, the Assyrian homeland looks grim as Roman infantry tear through the local defenders one city at a time.



Dom João looks at the proceedings grimly, and requests support in the form of research towards hand-held cannons in order to support a potential infantry intervention.



Ponta Delgada begins building up for a potential assault.



Dandolo, meanwhile, seems blissfully unaware of the state of the world as ever.



The São Gabriel is reborn in a new age, with a somewhat new name.



Bissau expands to capture some of the coal vein noted in the local region.



The Japanese crafts, now reborn as Nau, tell Dom João some fascinating tales of the state of Japan. The Sebastianist influence could be felt in the nation, with a number of devout being put to the sword for refusing to renounce their faith in an idea perpetuated by a national enemy.



Dom João pauses to consider the story of Japan as part of this collapse of peace. Though they offer protections to the people of the world, they seem powerless in the face of naked aggression from men determined to shape the world into something it is not.



Perhaps it is possible that in this world, there exists a sort of evil beyond which Sebastião himself imagined. That perhaps good people are made into monsters not by their volition alone, but by circumstance.



However, circumstances are ever changing...no...some things always seem to remain the same, such as who is in power and who demands these atrocities in the name of ideals or profits.



However, when the circumstances do change, then the people can behave in surprising ways.



Salazar, for example, may display an uncharacteristic mercy when dealing with a defeated opponent.



The people of Lisboa can forget their aims of glory and devote themselves to enlightenment through culture and art.




The Japanese can make themselves brothers of a common cause, rather than enemies of the state controlled by a despotic conqueror obsessed with the past.



Dona Maria can show hesitation and uncertainty in times of strife and fear.



The city of Bissau, a conquered land, can see jovial revelers in the streets, proud to be part of the Portuguese story.



Kyoto and Tokyo can be granted more control over their own administration and governance for the sake of unity, rather than crushed under the weight of Portuguese wealth.



With all these thoughts passing through his mind, Dom João hears that the Açores have completed their pilgrimage up Mt. Kilimanjaro, and he begins wondering about the future.



The Roman's pernicious influence is like a plague, but perhaps it is not one that can be fought with force alone. The circumstances of the world may need to change in order to lessen his influence.



Perhaps, left to their own devices, people are capable of developing themselves and creating their own identities better than they could under a regime centred on heroes or monarchs.



Perhaps rivalries can be resolved through more ways than battle.



Perhaps friends can see eye to eye in more ways than expected.



Perhaps enemies can see eye to eye in more ways than expected.



Dom João thinks of the tools and means necessary to make circumstances change.

He thinks for a long time.



Luanda, becoming increasingly devoted to the arts, engages in a temple construction unlike anything Portugal or the world has seen before.



Their example inspires a wave of creative design in Portugal.



This focus on artistry is reinforced at the highest levels of government.



However, this is also the possibility of battle on the horizon.



Luanda drives itself forward, not only because of this need for greatness, but a desperate acknowledgement of the times the world lives in.




However, there is some joy to be had in successes great and small.



It is in the spirit of a desire for shared successes that Dona Maria proposes that the people of the world gather in demonstration of their talents and creations.



An Industrial revolution is afoot, as Factories have already been built in Lisboa and Luanda to support this effort.



Great People continue to make the world into something more than it was before.



The desire to build monuments to enchant the world is stronger than ever.



As is the desire to discover the past.



However, there needs to be some direction taken in the future as well.



It is in thinking of these thoughts that Dona Maria has a dream.



She is standing before a man she barely recognizes as Dom João. He is holding a bow and arrow in his hands, and an unfamiliar flag draped over his shoulders. His eyes burn brightly like twin suns, and his voice presses against her like a wave.

"The time has come to give your people Freedom." He roars. "The Lusitanian people grow wiser by the day, with their hands freed from the labours of land and sea, and their legs tiring from journeys through war and peace. Among them are men and women greater than you or I, to whom we must someday relinquish the future. Give them that which they have earned through eras of our rule. The Republica Portuguesa is nigh."

A moment later, he vanishes into dust, and all light is gone. Suddenly, she sees the image of the moon, but it is a reflection she is seeing in a telescope held aloft by a man in a hooded black cloak. In his other hand he is holding a set of scales, weighted down with all the riches of Portugal, which is weighed against the blood of the saints and scholars of Sebastianists past.

"The Lusitanian people need control and stability." He whispers softly with a voice she recognizes as Salazar's. "We offer them this through Autocracy. The people will live and die at our command, and devote themselves to the idea of their nation, Portugal, which in turn will provide them with wealth, faith, and reason. With these tools at our disposal, we will show the world that Portugal is the greatest of all of them. The Estado Novo is nigh."

Dona Maria then focuses on the reflection of the moon in the telescope, and sees her own image speaking back to her.

"The Lusitanian people are your responsibility alone, and we will protect them with Order. " Her own voice resonates inside her head. "As their leader, you will lead by example, and demonstrate why each and every Portuguese citizen has a role to play in the future, whether rich or poor, Sebastianist or heathen. They must all work in perfect concert to create the future of the nation alongside you. The Capitania Portuguesa is nigh."

When she awakens, Dona Maria thinks carefully of what she has witnessed...

Today's vote will likely be the most important any of them, because we will be covering three topics:

Please pick the next, and potentially last, Social Policy tree to enter. The new Policy arrived a couple of turns before we finished the last Factory, and as such we need to pick one more Policy tree to enter. Popular options currently include Patronage, Aesthetics, and Rationalism, but any one will do for the time being.

Next, Pick an Ideology for the Portuguese to follow. As explained by the link above, an Ideology is something of a giant Policy tree that can be customized to suit our choices. We start by getting 2 free Level 1 policies in the Ideology we select, and then we can select 1 Level 2 policy for every n+1 Level 2 policies we have, and then Level 3 policies for every n+1 Level 2 policies we have (try to visualize an inverted pyramid to grasp the shape of the tree). In addition to selecting the Ideology, please pick 2 Level 1 Policies to adopt if you have an opinion in that matter.

Finally, with the Industrial revolution underway, it is time for us to decide on the Victory condition we will achieve. As mentioned earlier, there are four victory conditions and here are how we get them:

Domination Victory requires us to capture and hold every other Civ Capital in the game, and we are already partway there with the capture of Kyoto. However, this will make diplomacy with other nations difficult to say the least, but with the Portuguese navy at its strongest and our technology and production levels outstripping those of the opposition, I believe that it can be done without issue.

Diplomatic Victory requires the founding of the United Nations, which is the new form the World Congress takes when either half the Civs in this game reach the Atomic Era, or 1 Civ reaches the Information Era. Every 20 turns thereafter, a vote is made in the UN to determine World Leader, and the winner of that vote wins the game. This requires friendships with basically every in-game City-State and maybe a couple of full Civs, but it is quite doable with a strong economy and a focus on completing City-State requests.

Cultural Victory requires us to generate more Tourism overall than any other Civ's Culture output. This is difficult in the early game, but later game Technologies enable us to do this through adding our own Culture score to our Tourism output, and we gain modifiers to our Tourism output with each Civ as explained above. This is more easily done with Aesthetics, but can be accomplished through Wonder construction and a focus on trade and good relations.

Science Victory requires us to build a Space Shuttle capable of acting as a colony ship. This can be done through research of several end-game Technologies and also requires a lot of Production points. However, Rationalism and certain Level 3 Ideology policies make this easier, so it is within the reach of Portugal if so desired.

Finally, the liberation of Assyria will all but certainly happen unless we go for the Domination victory, so don't even worry about that.

Voting will close Saturday, May 28th in the evening.

Boa sorte...