Turn #17, Late Summer of Year 2
Into the breach!
Travellers from afar bring word that a Hoplite Commander has been appointed as the false prophet of the Arcoscephalene pretender Falco. It appears their previous prophet, the Strategos that was appointed eleven months ago, did not have a winning strategy for personal survival.
A young magical apprentice from Ultima Typhia stumbles upon a method to distill the summer's heat into fifteen magical fire gems.
My force at Pythium continues the siege of the citadel into this tenth, and what I intend to be, final month.
Tahmar arrives at the siege camp with reinforcements of a half-score Jotuns. Ualgo arrives at the Alps, along his way to Jotunheim. Bdvar reports some two-score draconians and wyverns (yikes!) in the Dragon Jaws. More significantly, he also reports that the plains of Rhas (#25) to the southeast are held by Marignon. The most important discovery is that made by Oedre in Hoburgdorf. Along with the routine reporting of 3 regular troops of a type he is unable to ascertain, and a small inherent provincial defense force, he has located the Ashikagan citadel itself, located in the coastal province (#93) directly to his south! This fortification is almost twice as strong as the one in Pythium, and overcoming it will prove to be a formidable endeavor.
The number of dissenters declines by one in Eribon, Feral Woods, and Pythium, and by two in the Iron Range, Bel, and Ultima Typhia. The temple in Eribon has swayed the folk there to abandon the worship of false gods, while the level of faith in next-door Bel climbs to 20% of the populace.
The Seithkona Gerd joins the coven at Jotunheim, which achieves mastery of the fourth rank in 'Conjuration' magics. Research continues in this school.
My realm has:
- __9 Provinces (+Pythium under seige)
- 286 Treasury.
- 522 Income. (+4)
- 233 Upkeep. (+15)
- 132 Resources in the capital. (+2)
- 103 RPs
Gem income is:
- +0 Fire (15)
- +0 Air (--)
- +3 Water (08)
- +0 Earth (01)
- +4 Astral (17) (includes 1 Clam)
- +1 Death (04)
- +2 Nature (29)
In Jotunheim I recruit a Seithkona and 4 Jotun spearman. I recruit another human priest in Eribon, and I increase the provincial defense of Ultima Typhia by 2 (to 10). These preparations drain the treasury of 279 coins.
The newly-ordained priest Geiserik from Eribon is sent to the Well of All Waters, with the intent that a temple be constructed there in the very near future, so that I may be able to recruit Garnet Priestesses with fire magic skill. I have Oedre remain where he is to warn of Ashikagan troop movements on my western border. Ualgo continues on the route back to Jotunheim. And I send Bdvar into Marignon-controlled Rhas to learn more about this newfound enemy to the far southeast.
As for the besiegers of Pythium, the time has come when all is in readiness, as much as it can be, to storm the citadel and kill this pretender. The attacking force will be:
- Jorgun (my avatar) with orders of
Body Ethereal, Astral Shield, Resist Magic, Astral Weapon, attack closest;
plus 44 Jotuns, with orders of hold & attack closest
- Grymis (my prophet) with orders of
Divine Bless, cast spells
- Bove (a Jotun herse) with orders of
hold x5, attack closest
- Urd (a Seithkona) with orders of
Protection, Body Ethereal, Astral Shield, Resist Magic, Eagle Eyes, cast spells;
plus 5 longdead giants as bodyguards;
plus 5 longdeads with orders of hold & attack closest
Tahmar, not expected to be of much use in this type of battle, is left outside to continue the siege, in the worst-case scenario that I fail and all my attackers flee into neighboring provinces. Urd and her guardians are placed in the far right rear corner. The 44 Jotuns are in the far left rear corner. Center rear is Jorgun, with Bove to his right and Grymis to his left. I would much rather fight the defenders outside the confines of the walls than within, should they be foolish enough to come out. At the very least, this arrangement of forces will hopefully alleviate some of the bottleneck that occurs when a large force tries to cram itself through the gates while there are still defenders blocking the passage.