Sultan histories

Sultan histories are composed of the significant events from the lives of the sultans.

These events are recorded in the Sultan Histories section of the journal as the player uncovers them during a playthrough.

The histories of the sultans will always include a series of events from 5 initial periods of sultan rule, involving 5 procedurally generated sultans. Those sultans' names, events from their lives, prose that recounts those events, and recurring sultan themes that are relevant to each sultan will all be procedurally generated.

The sixth sultan is Resheph - a guaranteed sultan who appears in every playthrough and always has the same fixed events described in his lore. You can review the static events that compose the history of Resheph on his wiki page.

Uncovering Sultan Histories

Events from the sultan histories can be uncovered by:

• Looking at or interacting with a shrine.
• Looking at painted or engraved objects.
• Trading secrets during the Water Ritual with a faction interested in sultans.

Gospel versus Tomb Inscriptions

Most of the sultan histories that the player will learn about during the course of the game are of the "gospel" variety. However, in the Tomb of the Eaters, the player can also discover tomb inscriptions that recount the same events in each sultan's history. Each event in the sultan histories will have both a gospel account and a corresponding tomb inscription. Tomb inscriptions typically use a different tone to describe the event. For example, the tomb inscriptions often appear to elevate praise for the sultan to a higher or more miraculous level than the corresponding gospel account, and sometimes omit certain shortcomings or moral problems with the sultan's behavior. A tomb inscription can also sometimes vary slightly in the specific details recounted in the event.

Example Event in Sultan History, with Corresponding Tomb Inscription

While traveling through Ekappur, Oyuram stopped at a tavern in the Shrine at Bibappir. There he lost his prized Radiantucus Flowersboon in a foolhardy bet. He cursed the tavern and left the Shrine at Bibappir. Anguish to the Shrine at Bibappir of Ekappur! It was there that Oyuram lost his prized Radiantucus Flowersboon during the ritual of the Empyrean Vault.

Individual Events

Each procedurally generated sultan from the first through the fifth period sultanate will have between 10 and 22 events included in their history. Typically the number of events is at the lower end of that range, around 11-14.

The events in each sultan's history are generated in the following order:

1. An origin story event, which will either be when the sultan was born as an heir or found as a babe.
   • At this point in their story, they will not yet be an actual sultan of Qud.
2. Eight randomly-selected core life events, which are each chosen from a pool of 17 possible event types.
   • Several of these event types can result in the destined sultan becoming the actual sultan of Qud. For example, they may challenge the existing sultan of Qud to a duel, assassinate them, lead an army to their gates, or simply be named their successor after the existing sultan dies or abdicates the throne.
   • If one of these events involves the sultan's death, such as by driving a chariot off a cliff or by losing a duel to a challenger, it will be followed immediately by a second event that recounts how the sultan had faked their death or been saved and actually they are fine. They will retain their role as the sultan of Qud if they already had ascended to that position.
3. If one of the eight randomly-selected life events has not yet resulted in the destined sultan becoming the actual sultan of Qud, an event with that outcome will be added to the sultan's history.
4. If the events thus far have not included one event that takes place at each of the 2-3 historic regions that were added during world generation for this period of the sultanate, events will be added to ensure that at least one event takes place in each of those regions during the sultan's history.
5. Finally, an event relating the sultan's death will be added to their history.

Origin Story Events

Origin story events explain how a sultan was born, or how they were found as a baby.

The following sections provide an example of each type of origin story event.

Born as Heir

Born as Heir 

	yes

Gospel: At daybreak on the summer solsticeOne of the following phrases: One starry evening On the night of a full moon At daybreak on the [season/solstice] One night under the Beetle Moon One auspicious day On the anniversary of a great battle in HatumA region from this period of the sultanate., a healthy child was born to the sultan at Shearramas KnotA location from within the region.. At the moment of his birth, a famous nomad completed his work on a legendary astrolabeA mythical event related to the sultan's theme, and in celebration the people told stories and renewed friendshipsA random form of celebration. The babe was named Djashir, but the people called him AstrolabebornA new cognomen for the sultan, which includes a noun representing the sultan's theme. Tomb Inscription: Onlooker! Regard in wonder the life of Djashir -- called Astrolabeborn! -- scion of the Fossilized Saads and he who was dowered the Levant Face. Observe the twin miracles of the Year of the Shrewd Nail: the heir was born, and Darihim completed his work on a legendary astrolabe.

Found as Babe

Found as Babe 
1 (33%)

This event has no special effects.

Gospel: One night under the Beetle MoonOne of the following phrases: One starry evening On the night of a full moon At daybreak on the [season/solstice] One night under the Beetle Moon One auspicious day On the anniversary of a great battle, a babe was found swaddled on a floating platform of polished chrome with a mighty hammer in each hand. That babe came to be known as Antishir. Tomb Inscription: One starry evening, a babe was found swaddled in a copse of sacred trees with skulls on its eyes. That babe came to be known as Antishir.

Found as Babe 
2 (33%)

	yes

Gospel: One auspicious dayOne of the following phrases: One starry evening On the night of a full moon At daybreak on the [season/solstice] One night under the Beetle Moon One auspicious day On the anniversary of a great battle, a glassblowerAn artisan related to the sultan's theme found a babe with its mouth full of glassOne of the following phrases, where [items] are determined from the sultan's theme: with its mouth full of [items] with [items] on its eyes with [items] in each hand outside his workshop. He and his fellow glassblowers adopted the babe and named her Iyudukht II. Tomb Inscription: On the night of a full moon, a glassblower found a babe with a stained mirror in each hand outside his workshop. He and his fellow glassblowers adopted the babe and named her Iyudukht II.

Found as Babe 
3 (33%)

	yes
	yes
	yes

Gospel: One starry eveningOne of the following phrases: One starry evening On the night of a full moon At daybreak on the [season/solstice] One night under the Beetle Moon One auspicious day On the anniversary of a great battle, a babe was found swaddled with vessels of the Fates on its eyesOne of the following phrases, where [items] are determined from the sultan's theme: with its mouth full of [items] with [items] on its eyes with [items] in each hand by a group of mollusksA random faction from the time of the sultanate in Mirquwar. They took her into their fold and fostered her, and she became known as Polymed II, the Charmed Heir of MollusksA new cognomen for the sultan, which includes a reference to the favored faction. Tomb Inscription: On the anniversary of a great battle, a babe was found swaddled with bad omens on its eyes by a group of mollusks in Mirquwar. They took her into their fold and fostered her, and she became known as Polymed II, the Charmed Heir of Mollusks.

References

This information is reliable as of patch 2.0.201.56.