Re: Proclamation of the Priesthood of Ulm
 

Teutanion challenges Ulm to trial by combat of armies to be held in a mutually-agreeable province at such time as allows for both parties to arrive at the destination with the armies of their choice.

Should the snivelling minions of Lady Elena defeat the best and boldest of Teutanion in fair and open combat, then and only then shall we concede defeat.

Should the army of Teutanion win this battle, we shall fight this war to the end!!!

Teutanion\'s challenge
 

Considering the outcome of the last dozen confrontations, we can only assume that
by "fair and open" "combat of armies", you mean that only living, human troops and
holy magic will be allowed.

This places us at quite the disadvantage, as nearly all of our priests are
proficient in some other magic discipline, but we will, of course, accept. Our
faith will see us through any difficulties.

We suggest that the trial by combat is held in Fera'an, which is currently under
our control and your dominion. Four turns will give you the time to bring armies
from all your castles. We will not interfere with your maneuvers north of the
agreed battleground. We will continue our campaign south of it. We expect that
you will not use resources from the north to interfere south of Fera'an.

Whether items will be allowed is up to you. If you would rather have the defensive
in exchange of the dominion, let us know, and our priests will bring the light of
Lady Elena to Fera'an.

Please let us know what you think of these terms, and suggest your own if you
do not find them to your liking.

Re: Teutanion\'s challenge
 

How exciting! If only I could get some scouts there without them being mushed by overzealous crossbowmen.

Re: Teutanion\'s challenge
 

Sounds like a job for Astral Window.

Wish this game was on my server, then I could spy on it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Teutanion\'s challenge
 

By "fair and open" we meant that we would meet with the armies of our choosing at the appointed place without interference with one another's transit.

"Combat of armies" specifies only that this contest is not between individual combatants.

We contemplate no restriction on troops or leaders either party may send to the battle.

I must consult with the Royal Cartographer before agreeing to this location.

This amount of time is agreeable.

Again, I must first consult with my Cartographer to understand the implications of this restriction.

Allowed, of course.

We think it more fitting that Ulm, in keeping with its character as heretofore demosnstrated against its various neighbors, be the aggressor in this battle, and are willing to concede dominion in exchange for territorial possession of the ultimate location of battle.

Re: Teutanion\'s challenge
 

> We think it more fitting that Ulm, in keeping with its character as heretofore
> demosnstrated against its various neighbors, be the aggressor in this battle

Base insults. In our recollection, this particular war started with two
treacherous, unannounced attacks on our provinces. We remember it quite well,
because you actually managed to inflict losses that did not pale compared to
yours, something you never managed to repeat. We also remember that we had
refrained from moving the victors from the vampire wars towards your border,
because we did not want to make you nervous.

The only reason for us to accept this challenge is that we wanted to minimize the
loss of life. Your loss of life, mostly, given that we are losing about one man
for every twenty of yours. You expect us to allow your wizards to reach the
battlefield without interference, research Master Enslave, setup a nice communion
with the cowards that fled Algiers, and then what? Walk into a storm of battle
magic, like lambs to the slaughter? Based on last year's events, that's your job.

Ulm's men are not a resource to be scandered. If magic is to be allowed, we
will not concede the first turn, nor will we let you maneuver unopposed. Here is
our offer, and it is not subject to discussion.

The chosen battlefield will be a province that is currently yours and currently
borders any land province of ours. It will be your responsibility to remove all
mobile troops, and ours to assure that it becomes independent before the battle.
Everything but conquering the province before the day of the challenge will be
allowed. That includes attempting to convert the population, and interfering
with movement. On the day of the challenge, both sides will attack the
province through any means available. The one winning the magical battle will
have the advantage of being the defender in the melee that will surely follow.

The only alternatives to the above that we will consider is our original proposal
or a test of arms between two champions - human and living, with their
traditional equipment, and without any but holy magic.

Or of course, we can continue to grind you to dust as we have been doing so far.

Re: Teutanion\'s challenge
 

Agreed. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/evil.gif

Re: Teutanion\'s challenge
 

Oh, boy! I wanna front seat! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

And someone is suckered. Teutanion will go before Ulm, even with indy province. Lower nation number

Quiet, grasshopper!
 

> And someone is suckered. Teutanion will go before Ulm,

Quiet, grasshopper! Nation numbers cannot be bargained for :-) I have better
teleport capabilities, and his fountain can move only by teleporting. If I
can make it use up its gems in the magic phase, I'm fine. Even if it does not
use them up and somehow manages to beat my teleporters, it will still have to use
the same script for the main battle.

And he is not suckered, either. He knows that I have the upper hand anyway, and
this is about going down in stylish flames. That, and firing off as many
"snivelling minions", "aggressors", "treacherous, unannounced attacks" as possible.

Re: Quiet, grasshopper!
 

I don't think nation number makes any difference to move order. In fact, I'm almost certain it doesn't.

In this case, since both players will be teleporting stuff in to grab the province before the battle, the order of teleporting depends on the order in which rituals are cast, which is explicitly stated to be random in the manual. And then whoever wins the battle of the teleporting armies will get to be the defender in the main battle.