[AStott]

Turn: 10
Definitely some good news this time around. Tai discovered a magic site int Sleepy Mountains (109). It's a Waterfall that provides 1 air and 1 water gem each turn. Very nice. We also took over Shamballac (118) without a fight. Not as nice as taking out his armies, but it will do. Finally, we caught and killed a spy in T'ien Ch'i (). That'll teach them.

Tai will be moving to Keban to search for magic sites there. He'll take the two Imperial Footmen with him. Naggor will move north to Grey Mirks (3) to continue keeping an eye on enemy troop movements.

I am somewhat surprised to note that Gol Phalas (91) (this is the provice just south along the coast from Bithyne (102)) has been captured by Vanheim. Yikes, things are getting a little crowded! Time to pump up the defense in Bithyne a bit since I can't spare any real armies down that way. Of course I'll also need to pump the defense in my new province, Shamballac. This could get expensive...

I also note that the province of Shamballac (118) is home to a site called Inkpot End. This unfortunate place spreads disease and increases unrest by 5. Ick. No wonder his troops didn't stick around.

I'm set to finish research on level 2 Conjuration magic next turn. My next focus will be Enchantment.

I purchase 3 Imperial Footmen and 5 Archers this turn. The rest of the money I'll need for local defenses. I also purchase another Heavy Infantry in Keban (111). These troops will stay with Tai (helping protect him) until he can deliver them to a field commander.

I increase the tax in Sleepy Mountains (109) back to 100. The unrest in T'ien Ch'i (112) has somehow gotten out of hand (24), so I drop the tax rate to 90 for a while. I drop the tax rate in Shamballac (118) down to 60 to deal with it's unrest problems.

I increase the provincial defense in Shamballac (118) to 11. I also increase the defense in Bithyne (102) to 16. Hopefully this will dissuade attacks until I can get something else in place.

On second thought, Naggor will not move north to Grey Mirks. Instead, he will stay and Lombaria and attempt to capture the province. Since there aren't any forces there, and only a very small troop in the only enemy held bordering province, with a little luck, I should take it without difficulty.

The First and Second Armies are merged under the leadership of Lu Tung-Pin the Immortal. Di-ya the Eunuch (who now happens to be diseased) will first move into Lombaria to help Naggor (in case there is minimal defenses) through the use of his skull talisman. Then he will move south to T'ien Ch'i where he will pass the talisman over to someone more qualified for the front lines. He will then take on a smaller patrolling army.

Lu Tung-Pin will take the First Army north to Grey Mirks (3) and presumably smash all opposition there.

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Turn: 11
The second Battle for Lombaria
Well, it looks like the enemy got some reinforcements. In fact, it looks like he's got a Hydra Hatchling, 18 Militia, a Centurion, an Alae Legionnaire, a Standard bearer, a Serpent Cataphract, and a Communicant. Yeah. I am so dead. I wonder where on earth that army came from...

My scout manages to flee, but unfortunatly, Di-ya doesn't know what's good for him. A painful blow to lose that skull talisman, and sad to lose Di-ya and his heroic leadership.

The Battle for Grey Mirks
This battle is essentially the opposite in difficulty of the first. I'm up against 12 Militia and a single Centurion. Yeah right. I win without losing a single man.

I do a quick review of the map at the start of my turn. I make some tax rate adjustments, and take note of the fact that a prior build up of R'yleh troops offshore from Bithyne, T'ien Ch'i, and Lombaria seems to have dispersed somewhat. That's a relief. In addition, Vanheim has reduced their garrison in Gol Phalas down to a minimal number. I'm much more comfortable with that.

I recruit another 4 Imperial Footmen and 4 Archers in T'ien Ch'i, and another Heavy Infantry in Keban.

I set Tai to searching for magic sites in Keban.

Naggor retreated north to Grey Mirks (3), so I send him up to Pythium (5) to see what my enemy is gathering in the way of new forces.

I increase my defense to 13 in Grey Mirks (as much as I can afford). I very strongly suspect that Pythium will send his troops out from Lombaria to attack Shamballac (118), seeing as it only has a defense of 11. Therefore, I will send the First Army back there to defend against the suspected attack. If I defeat the enemy there next turn, I may have a sufficient sized force in T'ien Ch'i to put together a new army to take Lombaria while the First Army heads back north.

Not much else I can do this turn. I still need more gold...

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Turn: 12
Naggor was discovered in Pythium this turn. It appears that the enemy had mostly just provincial defenders there (admittedly a large number of them). This is good news, because it means (I believe) that Pythium's only army is trapped now down in my territory. Once I take that group out, I may be free to head for his capitol. Naggor was able to quickly flee the battle and retreat to Grey Mirks (3).

Tai also found a Maze in Keban (111). This provides 2 astral pearls each turn. Tai will now move on with his 3 Heavy Infantry and 2 Imperial Footmen to Shamballac. There he will continue his search for magical sites.

Naggor will move east into Acyste (125). This is a neutral held provice with decent gold production that lies in between Shamballac and Pythium. This might be a good next step for my war machine (after I deal with this enemy force holed up in Lombaria.

Since they didn't move to Shamballac Last year (with its defense of 11), I'd like to assume that they also won't attack Grey Mirks (3) this year (with its defense of 13). Therefore, I will move the First Army directly into Lombaria to deal with the enemy. Since they are surrounded by my provinces, this should eliminate all of the enemy units. To help ensure victory, I will send the new Second Army under the command of Zi-yu the Eunuch north from T'ien Ch'i to help out in the battle. Zi-yu will bring 10 Imperial Footmen and 14 Archers to help with the battle. Afterwords, they will head back to T'ien Ch'i to resupply and then will head south to take more neutral territories there.

I purchase 4 Imperial Footmen and 4 Archers in T'ien Ch'i. With my remaining gold, I increase the defense in Grey Mirks (3) to 20.

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Turn: 13
Bad news in Bithyne. A blight has struck there, and 5% of the population has died and 40 gold in taxes were lost. Ouch...

The third Battle for Lombaria
Bad news... It appears that the main enemy force left the war torn province of Lombaria leaving behind 6 Slingers, 12 Militia, and a Centurion for defense. Their other forces headed north into Grey Mirks. This battle though should prove to be very easy.

Sure enough, after two volleys from my archers, the enemy is routed, and victory is mine.

The defense of Grey Mirks
I have here a number of local defenders. I've got a General and a Eunuch along with 1 Archer, and 21 Footment. I do not expect to win against the enemy's main army, but perhaps I can do some damage before I go down.

The first bit of good news is that my troops get in a lucky hit and take out the Hydra Hatchling. That's very useful! I'm also able to take out a small variety of other troops before a massive assault by their heavy infantry causes my units to rout. In the final toll, I took out 5 of the enemy's regular units.

I make a couple minor adjustments to tax rates, set Tai to searching in Shamballac (118), purchase 4 Imperial Footmen and 5 Archers, and increase the defense in Lombaria (120) to 11.

After finishing with the administrative tasks, I need to decide what to do with the First and Second Armies. After a little thought, I do some minor rearranging of units. The surviving Red Guard goes with Zi-yu and the Second Army (he's not much good on his own, and the Second Army will eventually be heading back to T'ien Ch'i). Lu Tung-Pin and the First Army take on a couple extra men to bring their total to 12 Imperial Footmen and 24 Archers.

I'm going to send Zi-yu and the Second Army into Shamballac to help protect Tai in case Pythium sends it's armies that way. The First Army will move north into Grey Mirks and attempt to take and hold that province. I really need some more gold here. A couple battle mages would be really nice about now...

Speaking of leaders... I go ahead and spend my Last 25 gold on another Eunuch. He will be useful in shuttling around some units to the front.

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Turn: 14
Tai discovered a Gold Apply Tree in Shamballac (118). It produces 2 fire gems each turn.

It looks like Naggor in Acyste (125) gets a front view seat to Pythium attacking the neutral defenders. Somehow, he's acquired a full grown Hydra to augment his forces. Eep! Fortunately, it poisons off a large number of his own troops. Still, they fairly easily take the province.

The second Battle for Grey Mirks
Once again, my main force finds itself up against a token force of 5 Archers and a Centurion. We've missed the main enemy force again. Victory comes quickly and painlessly.

After taking care of some simple tax issues, I realize that I need to stop and think about what comes next. I'm very concerned about that Hydra (with its massive regeneration), and the enemy army is now in a province that borders on three of my own (one of which is Keban). I only have two armies, and I'm pretty sure that either army on its own will not succeed in taking out the enemy. For that matter, I'm not even sure my combined armies can take out his...

Tune in next time for the rest of Turn 14.