Turn #19, Fall of Year 2
A gathering storm to the west?
This month, no travellers bring word from afar of events in distant lands.
The priest Geiserik completes the temple in the Well of All Waters, as does my prophet Grymis in Pythium. Jorgun and Ualgo cross paths in the Black Alps. Urd arrives at the Well, and the priest Albrecht arrives in Ultima Typhia. Bdvar reports that (independent) Troban has roughly 50 fanatics, archers, and heavy footmen. Oedre sends back ominous news from Hoburgdorf that Ashikaga has amassed a three-score strong force of yamabushi monks and samurai swordsmen & horsemen, led by the (T'ien Ch'i) national hero Li T'ieh-Kuai. Ashikaga may be preparing to seize my weakly-defended border province of Ultima Typhia to begin an undeclared war. Or they may be readying to invade the independent river province of Herghendorf to the north or coastal plains of Saetica to the south. I will plan for the worst.
The number of dissenters declines by one in Iron Range, Bel, and Ultima Typhia. It declines by two in Eribon, Gwyrth, and the Feral Woods. Patrolling in Pythium has the desired results and all unrest ceases in the province. The presence of my avatar in the Black Alps inspires more of the inhabitants, and the numbers of the faithful rises to 40%.
The newly-recruited Seithkona Hnoss begins a coven in Pythium. The coven at Jotunheim achieves mastery of the fifth rank in 'Conjuration' magics. Research continues in the school.
My realm has:
- __5 Dominion max.
- __4 Temples
- _15 Provinces converted
- _10 Provinces under control
- 414 Treasury.
- 662 Income. (+36)
- 212 Upkeep. (+14)
- 133 Resources in Jotunheim. (unchanged)
- 162 Resources in Pythium. (+6)
- _92 RPs
Gem income is:
- +0 Fire (15)
- +0 Air (--)
- +5 Water (08)
- +0 Earth (01)
- +5 Astral (25) (includes 2 Clams)
- +1 Death (06)
- +5 Nature (39)
I increase the defenses of Eribon by 2 (to 7). These preparations cost 14 coins, leaving just over 400 coins for buildings.
I have the Norna Skade forge a Thistle Mace, and the Seithkona in Pythium forge an Ivy Crown. (Pythium is not at my +2 magic scales, so it is more efficient for Hnoss to be the one allocated the job.) I allot 15 nature gems for these tasks.
The priest Albrecht begins building a temple in Ultima Typhia, while Urd commences building a lab at the Well of All Waters. I send Bove, with 23 Jotuns, and Grymis to defend Ultima Typhia, and redirect Ualgo and his half-score of fresh Jotun spearmen to meet them there. Tahmar remains in Pythium, defending, while my avatar proceeds to the Iron Range. I decide to move Oedre deeper in Ashikagan lands, west to the forest of Robber Home (#105). This also lessens his chances of discovery, should Ashikaga decide to remain in place and patrol with the three-score troops now in Hoburgdorf. I send Bdvar southeast into the wastes of Polgrave (#26) to look at what is east of Marignon. In Eribon, I have the newly-ordained priest Erkeborn preach to the masses, and I instruct that Geiserik do likewise at the Well of All Waters.
Last, but most importantly, I instruct the Norna Rimdriva to conduct the ritual of Acashic Record for the Well of All Waters, as I suspect there may be a hidden magical site there. (The recruitable Garnet mages, with fire magics, hints that there may be a fire site I've yet to find.) I allot all 25 astral pearls in the treasury for this task.