text: [Themes: historical, serious, historical, war]
  
  Three legendary warlords. One land. Who will rule?
  
  Warlords: Strategic Conquest is a story set in medieval China. Each choice you make will logically determine how your campaign proceeds. Clues to help you select the best choices are woven into the narrative.
  
  Background story:
  
  It is 907 A.D., and China has seen better days. Riots spreading like wildfire ended three hundred years of Tang rule. Ordinary citizens overthrew their local politicians, fed up with inept government and rising taxes. The central government responded by increasing the allowance of military power to each province. Amidst the political unrest and military buildup, ambitious warlords everywhere saw a chance to grab their piece of the pie. These absolute leaders, exercising both military and civil power, declared their independence from Tang authority, seized private property, fought each other, and turned order upside down.
  
  China's power vacuum longs to be filled by someone skilled enough to defeat his opponents and unite the country once again. Three particular warlords stand out:
  
  Governor Toleron
  
  Growing up in a poor Southern village, Toleron's childhood was marred by domestic violence. His seldomly employed father spent what little money his family had on liquor and gambling. The more he drank the angrier he would get at not being able to provide for his family. Toleron's mother would often receive the brunt of his father's drunken temper. Toleron stayed home for his mother's sake, but resolved to make a better life for himself. At the age of 20 he finally left home and started his own business as a fabric manufacturer. He worked hard and his company eventually became one of the most profitable businesses in the South. After transferring company ownership to his mother, Toleron joined the Tang army's civilian staff. Thanks to his knack for organization, he soon rose to a high administrative post. After the revolution began, a loyal following of soldiers urged him on to take over the provincial government. Toleron is highly regarded for his expertise in leveraging resources and logistics. Everyone serving under him believes he would make a wise emperor.
  
  General Nahru
  
  Abandoned by his parents at the age of three, Nahru spent his childhood learning the power of violence while fighting for scraps on the streets. After learning what Tang soldiers get paid to do, he immediately enlisted in the army. In battle, Nahru fought fearlessly against Korean revolts and Mongol invasions. After years of heavily decorated service, he was promoted to Supreme Commander of the Northern Forces. He sees the revolution as a golden opportunity to carve out his own empire. Famous for his ruthlessness and hot temper, Nahru inspires as much fear as respect among his own colonels, but that keeps them focused lest they make a career-ending mistake. He is confident that he will one day take over the entire world, and no one would bet against him considering his unblemished battle record.
  
  President Min
  
  Min was born into an affluent family in western China. An only child, his mother was overprotective and smothered him with attention. He grew up shy, awkward, and shunned by peers at school. His only constant companions were books. In addition to helping him make excellent grades, the books also cultivated Min's fanciful imagination. He started to notice people's body language and what it would indicate. Over time he honed his communication skills until he could impress anyone he came across. He talked his way into mayorship of a burgeoning western city only a few weeks after graduating from Soh Lin University. Over the years Min has built a reputation as a peerless diplomat. When the rebellions began, several admiring towns voluntarily incorporated themselves into his territory and elected him president. With a persuasive tongue like his, there is no limit to what Min can accomplish.
  
  Who are you?
  
  [Author's Note: A story set in medieval China. Note: Even early on in the game you can lose by making a strategically erroneous choice so choose carefully.]
  
  > Governor Toleron
  Only one week has passed since you declared yourself Governor of this southern province. The majority of your subjects are ignorant of your ambitions and accomplishments. Outside your core group of devoted followers, precious few bother to differentiate between you and other warlords. To avoid death at the swords of your enemies, you will need to prioritize pressing concerns while juggling outspoken factions.
  
  After outfitting your militia, your Treasury is down to 200 yuan. If your Treasury ever reaches negative, you will be unable to pay your Workers or Army their wages. If that ever happens they will become infuriated and quit permanently and your campaign will come to a crashing halt. The peasants who make up the majority of your citizens are unfortunately very poor and thus your tax income is effectively zero. Your Treasury adviser suggests an idea to mass cultivate lychees, a small red fruit with juicy white flesh native to the South. Since lychees can only be grown in your Southern soil, exporting them to the North guarantees ample returns. It requires an investment of 75 yuan to plant the seeds, and patience to wait for the trees to mature. (If you make this choice, 75 yuan will be deducted from your current Treasury total. Two turns after that, 150 yuan will be added to your Treasury, then 300 yuan the turn immediately after that one, 600 yuan the turn immediately following, and so on.)
  
  Your Army is fierce, loyal, and small. Although there are no warlords with much larger forces in your immediate area, there are several nearby warlords rivaling you in power who each itch to add your territory to his realm. Your colonels report that a pay increase for your Army would raise conscription considerably, giving you a much stronger fighting force. (You begin with a Small army, which costs you 25 yuan in upkeep cost per turn. If you make this choice your Army will go from Small to Large, and cost you 75 yuan in upkeep cost per turn, effective immediately. No further upgrades are available for your army in this story.)
  
  Meanwhile, the professionals toiling for your government- masons, accountants, carpenters, iron workers, tailors, etc- are imploring for higher wages. Your advisers would like you to attract more capable skilled Workers to your domain as well, as peasantry does not exactly provide the best pool of candidates to help run a kingdom. (Your Workers begin with a rating of Low and costing you 25 yuan in wages per turn. If you make this choice your Workers rating will go from Low to High, and cost you 75 yuan in upkeep cost per turn, effective immediately. No further upgrades are available for your Workers.)
  
  The Buddhist temple has yet to endorse any warlord for emperor. While Buddhism has propagated throughout China, your province is somehow the lone exception. Seeing an opportunity to gain more followers, the leaders of the religion request your donations and conversion to Buddhism in exchange for their support. Improving your relations with the Temple will ensure a favorable reputation with citizens of other kingdoms throughout China. (Your rating with the Buddhists starts at Low. If you make this choice a one-time cost of 50 yuan will be deducted from your Treasury and your rating will become High for the duration of the story.)
  
  Finally, there are still millions of people in your region who are undecided about which warlord to back. A sympathetic populace hides your person from enemy assassins. Your advisers tell you about a recent torrential mudslide that devastated the countryside where farmers live and work and ruined much of their infrastructure. The leaders of the peasants are pleading for help in repairing the destroyed houses and equipment. Aiding the peasants will ensure that the Masses are loyal to you. (Your rating with the Masses starts at Low. If you make this choice a one-time cost of 25 yuan will be deducted from your Treasury and your rating will become High for the duration of the story.)
  
  What do you do first:
  
  (The numbers in parentheses ( ) next to a faction in the Status Box signifies its per-turn upkeep cost to be effected on your Treasury after this turn is complete and before the next turn begins. The numbers in braces { } in the Status Box signify the one-time cost to upgrade the status of that particular faction.)
  
  Treasury: 200 yuan {-75}
  Army: Small (-25)
  Masses: Low {-25}
  
  Workers: Low (-25)
  Buddhists: Low {-50}
  
  > pay Workers more money (-75 yuan per turn instead of -25 per turn)
  Treasury: 100 yuan {-75}
  Army: Small (-25)
  Masses: Low {-25}
  
  Workers: High (-75)
  Buddhists: Low {-50}
  
  You announce salary raises for your professional Workers. They are happy to hear the news and your government's administrative efficiency improves greatly.
  
  However, the peasants grow envious of the Workers and look down on you for attending to your Workers before them. As a result they give their support to other warlords. Without the Masses' base of support, your realm remains susceptible to sabotage. One nearby warlord raids your grain silo and pilfers the winter's supply of rice. Another burns an armory of your troops' weapons.
  
  One night you are awakened by loud noises outside your sleeping tent. You open the door to see what is happening and see your personal bodyguards being cut down by a group of assassins. You recognize several peasants among them.
  
  "Your death will be quick. Commander Wan is a merciful man," the one closest to you says as he chops your head off as a trophy for their leader.