You know, I may have made some not entirely wise choices in my life. Though at the same time, as I considered what I chose? Yeah, I may have had Frostpunk 2 on the brain after it just came out. It gave me some ideas, and I had to ponder. That, and I finally got around to looking up one of the CYHOA's that had appeared in a few places. And again, it gave me ideas, as I looked at the lore of Frostpunk and Frostpunk 2, and considered just what it meant, given that one of the adaption paths was for Faith.

And yet, there was very little to be said about the religion itself, what sort of faith, unless it was simply just another variant of Christianity, which would make sense for the time period and were the settlers were primarily drawn from. And yet, there was enough that appeared in the various scenarios and exploration events for one to think that there could actually be a number of faiths and beliefs either making a comeback, or being innovated due to the new and changing world. Which, as I looked over the options... yeah, I had an idea.

See, Frostpunk was not on the standard list of worlds for the Eyes CYOA, but there were two things that sort of stood out. Firstly, I could get a quest to teach a style of magic AND start a religion? No offense, but as a D&D gamer that was known as double dipping, because I just needed to train up a thousand spellcasters who would perform the miracles, while another nineteen thousand would be the worshipers/followers who would not have what it took to get initiated into the higher mysteries of the cult. Because yes, a mystery cult model could be surprisingly effective.

As for the focal point as I filled things out? She was expensive, but for a Frostpunk world, of the avilable options few fit better than Alexstrasza. Sure, some would say that I would want a black dragon for earth shaping and geothermal taps, but here was the thing. Among the great draconic MILF queens powers? Healing, purification, plant growth, fertility and fire. She was basically a warmth and fertility goddess that was also a dragon. Besides that... draconic queen MILF. Even leaving outside the fact that she was the perfect choice for a cult in the ice age to venerate...

While Miao Ying was the one that most people thought of these days when someone says 'step on me dragon mommy,' World of Warcraft predates Total War; Warhammer 3, and so Alexstrasza is the original video game dommy mommy dragon MILF. That I was aware of anyway, and there could be others, but she was the first I was aware of. Also, she was a smoking hot elf and powerful dragon. Even if I had to bust my ass to set up the cult, learn and teach magic and save the city of New London?

Totally worth it.

Except, and this is the thing. I did not actually expect filling out the interactive CYOA to actually DO anything. Just a thought experiment and cool idea that may or may not go anywhere. Only to meet up with... well, something and told that hey, my plans and their plans? Not totally diverged and they were going to actually treat it as a legally binding contract. Oh, I didn't know? Too bad, so sad, my wish was getting fulfilled anyway. But, and this was the kicker, I could earn additional points for some additional occasional missions that would occasionally come my way.

The last thing mentioned, as I was kicked into a portal at the bottom of a well? Apparently it was a freaking crossover/modded universe, though yeah, finding out was 'part of the fun.'

Steward Andrew Connell

He was not sure why the Captain did not have a clear successor established, even if... well, he was the old man's right hand, or at least the one that he had sent to relay his will to the people near the end. It was not entirely unlikely that his position was less a matter of prestige or actual responsibility... and more that over the last thirty years people had grown used to their being a single, strong man in charge.

Which is why he was... well, doing his best to keep a firm hold on things, despite being young when this all began. He had seen, as a boy, the Captain do what was needed to maintain order, grown up in the city as it was battered by terrible storms of ice... and as they survived thanks to careful management of resources and firm leadership. The old man was a law unto himself, even dying he had a presence that few could bring themselves to refute or challenge him.

He was already seeing some of the communities... well, not be quite as pleased about there being a single man at the helm. Those surviving members of the old world nobility, while only a handful of the survivors, well, their chief concern was that he was not one of them, that the 'new captain' (king in all but name) was not from among their ranks. And from them was spreading the whispers and petitions from many separate groups that their voices be heard. That a new parliament was made, as was the custom from the books on the old world, and that the people have a say in how they were governed.

To be entirely honest, he had little choice but to give in to these demands. Because the truth was... he likely could only count on the support of the Stalwart members of the guard, and they were greatly outnumbered by the rest of the city. Once a point of pride in how New London had grown, now a worry that they may not be able to maintain peace, order and good government.

Of course, even as he uttered the words, the heartfelt plea, his dearest wish... that is when Mount Cromwell to the south erupted into flame, and there was the bellow of some titanic beast. "Please, let the city survive."