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 are a type of secret that the player can uncover 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.
- Rifling through trash with the Trash Divining skill.
- Gaining the metabolized effect of cooking with psychal gland paste.
- Exploring new zones while infected with mumble mouth.
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, recorded on sultan murals. 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. |
Eras
The sultanate is divided into "Early" and "Late" periods, which have different sets of phrases that can appear in the histories. The first two sultans are early, the third sultan uses a 50:50 mix of early and late, and the fourth and fifth sultans are late. The following table shows the differences between the two; shared entries are not included.
Type | Options | Notes |
---|---|---|
Early adjectives | star, space, time, temporal, spatial, cosmic, empyrean, ether, algebraic, astral, luminous, stellary, high | |
Late adjectives | sand, salt, dust, terra, fish, glass, low, slag, sea, cinder | |
Early locations | <3D shape>, <2D shape>, vault, crypt, temple, shrine, sanctum, reactor, core | Shapes include circle, apeirogon, lune, torus, ellipsoid, etc. |
Late locations | <hearth>, <shire>, <body of water>, <city-state>, <guildhall>, <farm>, <shrine> | roost, furrow, cistern, the autarchy of <location>, tract, altar, etc. |
Early vehicles | <3D shape>, star blimp, star ship, star craft, star ark, star haul, star barge | |
Late vehicles | (sand, salt, turf, loam, ground, soil) <3D shape>, <geometric pattern> (wagon, cab, buggy, chariot) | loam prism, salt pyramid, soil hyperboloid, knot wagon, quincunx chariot, ankh buggy |
Early "object found" | <rescued> from a crysteel blast furnace, pried free by emerald tongs, trawled from the slipstream, cooled on the voidpeaks of the early universe | |
Late "object found" | <rescued> by orefishers from the trash sea, <wrapped> in uuflax, wrested from the liminal tiers of a shale-toppled spire, <rescued> from a perch fish aquarium, polished on a municipal lathe, <wrapped> in ur-filament, <rescued> from the steeple fires | |
Early celebration | climbed the crysteel blast furnaces, swam the slipstream, touched the <adjective> <location>, climbed the <adjective> <location> | |
Late celebration | climbed the burning belfries, threw a <object> into the trash sea, wrested from the liminal tiers of a shale-toppled spire, smashed the perch fish aquaria, wrapped themselves with ur-filament, lit the steeple fires | |
Early civilization activity | proving obscure theorems, reversing the course of the slipstream | |
Late civilization activity | trawling the trash sea, wresting loot from shale-toppled spires, lighting the steeple fires |
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.[1]
The events in each sultan's history are generated in the following order:
- 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.
- Eight randomly-selected core life events, which are each chosen from a pool of 17 possible event types. These can occur in any order, and the same type of event can be chosen multiple times.
- 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 death reversal event that recounts how the sultan had faked their death or had somehow never actually died. They will retain their role as the sultan of Qud if they already had ascended to that position.
- The temporal order of these events matters. For example, if the sultan gains a new relic from a Marriage event, they can then lose that relic in a Bloody Battle event that occurs after the wedding.
- 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.
- 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 (presumably this is to ensure that, if there is a historic site associated with one of those regions, there will always be at least one piece of sultan history lore that can reveal the secret of that region).
- Finally, an event relating the sultan's death will be added to their history.
After all events are generated, if those events have not resulted in the sultan having three favored factions, the game will choose additional random factions to ensure that the sultan has three friendly factions at minimum.[2]
Origin Story Events
Origin story events explain how a sultan was born, or how they were found as a baby.
The following sections provide examples of each type of origin story event. Hover over the underlined phrases in each example event to see more information about how the event is generated and how it influences the sultan's characteristics or the features of the world around them.
Born as Heir
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
---|
Gospel: |
Found as Babe
This event has no special effects. |
Gospel: |
New profession?Sets or changes the sultan's profession,
which can influence relics and historic sites. |
yes |
---|
Gospel: |
yes | |
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Core Life Events
Core life events recount the significant victories and tragedies of the sultan's life. They explain how the destined sultan eventually rose to be recognized as the sultan of Qud, how they shaped the world through creating, destroying, or renaming regions and locations, how their thematic obsessions evolved over time, and how they came to be loved or hated by factions and artisans throughout Qud.
The following sections provide examples of each type of core life event. Hover over the underlined phrases in each example event to see more information about how the event is generated and how it influences the sultan's characteristics or the features of the world around them.
Corrupt Minister
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
---|
Gospel: |
Region shifting?This event triggers a relocation
of the sultan to a new region. |
yes |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Captured by Bandits
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
sometimesThere is a 2 in 3 chance that this event will note the region where it occurs. |
Gospel: |
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
sometimesThe game may choose a random existing location in this region, or generate a new one. |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
sometimesThere is a 2 in 3 chance that this event will note the region where it occurs. |
Gospel: |
Inspiring Experience
Adds sultan themeSultans begin with one theme, but can gain
additional themes from certain events? |
yes |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
sometimesThere is a 2 in 3 chance that this event will note the region where it occurs. |
Gospel: |
Meet Faction
yes | |
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
yes |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Secret Ritual
yes | |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Adds hated faction?A faction involved in this event becomes hated
by the sultan, and may feature in later events or have a -200 reputation penalty on sultan relics |
yes |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Challenge Sultan
- If Not Yet the Sultan of Qud
Becomes sultan?This event elevates the destined sultan to
a recognized position as sultan of Qud. |
yes |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
sometimesThere is a 1 in 3 chance that this event will note the region where it occurs. |
Gospel: |
- If Already the Sultan of Qud
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
sometimesThere is a 1 in 3 chance that this event will note the region where it occurs. |
---|
Gospel: |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
sometimesThere is a 1 in 3 chance that this event will note the region where it occurs. |
---|---|
False death?This event will be immediately followed
by a death reversal event |
yes |
Gospel: |
Crafted Item
Creates relic?A new relic. This relic can be lost during future
sultan events. Otherwise, it will be entombed in the sultan's reliquary in the Tomb of the Eaters. |
yes |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
sometimesThere is a 50% chance that this event will note the region where it occurs. |
Gospel: |
Under Weird Sky
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
---|---|
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
sometimesThe game may choose a random existing location in this region, or generate a new one. |
Adds a monument?A monument to the sultan is built at this location
(currently not used in any meaningful way; it won't be found if the player visits the location) |
yes |
Significant color?Sets or changes the sultan's significant
color, which can affect future events and cognomen. |
yes |
Gospel: |
Army at the Gates
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
sometimesThe game may choose a random existing location in this region, or generate a new one. |
---|---|
Renames location?
|
yes |
Adds a monument?A monument to the sultan is built at this location
(currently not used in any meaningful way; it won't be found if the player visits the location) |
yes |
Becomes sultan?This event elevates the destined sultan to
a recognized position as sultan of Qud. |
yes |
Gospel: |
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
sometimesThe game may choose a random existing location in this region, or generate a new one. |
---|---|
Renames location?
|
yes |
Adds a monument?A monument to the sultan is built at this location
(currently not used in any meaningful way; it won't be found if the player visits the location) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Rampage Region
Adds hated faction?A faction involved in this event becomes hated
by the sultan, and may feature in later events or have a -200 reputation penalty on sultan relics |
yes (×2) |
---|---|
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
Region shifting?This event triggers a relocation
of the sultan to a new region. |
yes |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Gathering Place
yes | |
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
yes |
New profession?Sets or changes the sultan's profession,
which can influence relics and historic sites. |
conditionallyOnly adds a new profession if the sultan does not already have a profession. |
Region shifting?This event triggers a relocation
of the sultan to a new region. |
yes |
Gospel: |
Faction Battle
conditionallyOnly adds a new favored faction if the sultan does not already have a favored faction to liberate. | |
Creates relic?A new relic. This relic can be lost during future
sultan events. Otherwise, it will be entombed in the sultan's reliquary in the Tomb of the Eaters. |
yes |
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
sometimesThe game may choose a random existing location or generate a new one. |
Gospel: |
Adds hated faction?A faction involved in this event becomes hated
by the sultan, and may feature in later events or have a -200 reputation penalty on sultan relics |
conditionallyOnly adds a new hated faction if the sultan does not already have a hated faction to subjugate. |
---|---|
Creates relic?A new relic. This relic can be lost during future
sultan events. Otherwise, it will be entombed in the sultan's reliquary in the Tomb of the Eaters. |
yes |
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
sometimesThe game may choose a random existing location or generate a new one. |
Gospel: |
Tavern Misfortune
Creates relic?A new relic. This relic can be lost during future
sultan events. Otherwise, it will be entombed in the sultan's reliquary in the Tomb of the Eaters. |
conditionallyOnly creates a new relic if the sultan does not currently have one. |
---|---|
Loses relic?If the sultan has accumulated any relics from prior
events, one of those relics will be lost during this event at the location where it takes place. |
yes |
Region shifting?This event triggers a relocation
of the sultan to a new region. |
yes |
Relic revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event triggers
a "recover relic" quest to find the lost relic |
yes |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Bloody Battle
Loses relic?If the sultan has accumulated any relics from prior
events, one of those relics will be lost during this event at the location where it takes place. |
yes |
---|---|
Adds new locationA new location in the
world's generated history? |
sometimesThe game may choose a random existing location in this region, or generate a new one. |
Renames location?
|
yes |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Chariot Incident
- Faction Rescue
yes | |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
yes | |
Adds hated faction?A faction involved in this event becomes hated
by the sultan, and may feature in later events or have a -200 reputation penalty on sultan relics |
conditionallyOnly adds a new hated faction if the sultan does not already have a hated faction that can perform this deed. |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
- Artisan Rescue
New profession?Sets or changes the sultan's profession,
which can influence relics and historic sites. |
yes |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
Adds hated faction?A faction involved in this event becomes hated
by the sultan, and may feature in later events or have a -200 reputation penalty on sultan relics |
conditionallyOnly adds a new hated faction if the sultan does not already have a hated faction that can perform this deed. |
---|---|
New profession?Sets or changes the sultan's profession,
which can influence relics and historic sites. |
yes |
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
Gospel: |
- Tragic Ending
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
---|---|
False death?This event will be immediately followed
by a death reversal event |
yes |
Gospel: |
Adds hated faction?A faction involved in this event becomes hated
by the sultan, and may feature in later events or have a -200 reputation penalty on sultan relics |
conditionallyOnly adds a new hated faction if the sultan does not already have a hated faction that can perform this deed. |
---|---|
Region revealing?Uncovering this sultan history event
can potentially reveal a historic site (only if this region has a historic site) |
yes |
False death?This event will be immediately followed
by a death reversal event |
yes |
Gospel: |
Power Shift
Becomes sultan?This event elevates the destined sultan to
a recognized position as sultan of Qud. |
yes |
---|
Gospel: |
This event has no special effects. |
Gospel: |
Marriage
yes | |
usually (90%) | |
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
Creates relic?A new relic. This relic can be lost during future
sultan events. Otherwise, it will be entombed in the sultan's reliquary in the Tomb of the Eaters. |
usually (90%) |
Gospel: |
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
---|---|
New profession?Sets or changes the sultan's profession,
which can influence relics and historic sites. |
yes |
Gospel: |
Death Reversal Events
Death reversal events recount how the sultan narrowly escaped death, faked their death, or was otherwise incorrectly presumed dead.
The following section provides an example of a death reversal event. Hover over the underlined phrases to see more information about how the event is generated and how it influences the sultan's characteristics or the features of the world around them.
Death Reversal
Adds a cognomenA nickname for the sultan, which may also
be used later to name sultan cults or relics? |
yes |
---|
Gospel: |
Death Events
Death events recount how the sultan ultimately died.
The following section provides an example of a death event. Hover over the underlined phrases to see more information about how the event is generated.
Natural Death
This event has no special effects. |
Gospel: |
References
- ↑
XRL.Annals.QudHistoryFactory
, methodGenerateNewSultan
- ↑
XRL.Annals.QudHistoryFactory
, methodFillOutLikedFactions
- ↑
XRL.Annals.BornAsHeir
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2
XRL.Annals.FoundAsBabe
- ↑ 5.0 5.1
XRL.Annals.CorruptAdministrator
- ↑ 6.0 6.1
XRL.Annals.CapturedByBandits
- ↑
XRL.Annals.InspiringExperience
- ↑ This type of event does not have a unique tomb inscription format - it is always identical to the gospel event text.
- ↑
XRL.Annals.MeetFaction
- ↑ 10.0 10.1
XRL.Annals.SecretRitual
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2
XRL.Annals.ChallengeSultan
- ↑
XRL.Annals.ForgeItem
- ↑
XRL.Annals.UnderWeirdSky
- ↑ 14.0 14.1
XRL.Annals.LiberateCity
- ↑
XRL.Annals.RampageRegion
- ↑
XRL.Annals.FoundGuild
- ↑ 17.0 17.1
XRL.Annals.BattleItem
- ↑ There is not currently a tomb inscription version of the "liberate faction" variety of the Battle Item event. This appears to be a bug.
- ↑
XRL.Annals.LoseItemAtTavern
- ↑
XRL.Annals.BloodyBattle
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5
XRL.Annals.ChariotDrivesOffCliff
- ↑ 22.0 22.1
XRL.Annals.Abdicate
- ↑ 23.0 23.1
XRL.Annals.Marry
- ↑
XRL.Annals.FakedDeath
- ↑
XRL.Annals.GenericDeath