[Arryn]

Turn #29, Late Summer of Year 3
Tranquility.

This month, no travellers bring word from afar of events in distant lands. And for the first time since the Ascension Wars began, there is no unrest anywhere within the provinces under my control.

Rod the Scout reports a score of light and heavy footmen, plus crossbowmen, in the independent farmlands of Pirenna. Bdvar spots seven woodsmen in the Vanheim-controlled forest of Illidar. Man captures (or recaptures) the wastes of Agenor from Vanheim, confirming my impression that Man is fighting a two-front war.

My researchers achieve mastery of the fifth circle of Enchantment magics. Forging and hording of nature gems continue in preparation for the casting of the first of my intended global magics, that which will bestow the Gift of Health to all my people, in a few months time.

My realm has:

• ___7 Dominion max.
• __12 Temples
• __28 Provinces converted
• _761 Treasury.
• 1166 Income. (+36)
• _379 Upkeep. (+12)
• _141 Resources in Jotunheim. (unchanged)
• _196 Resources in Pythium. (unchanged)

• 18 Provinces controlled
• Jotunheim: Dom=7, PD=25, Unr=0
• Zenthra: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
• Eribon: Dom=3, PD=10, Unr=0
• Gwyrth: Dom=4, PD=10, Unr=0
• Iron Range: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
• Saetica: Dom=0, PD=10, Unr=0
• Black Alps: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
• Ancyrna: Dom=2, PD=10, Unr=0
• Bel: Dom=2, PD=10, Unr=0
• Pythium: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
• Robber Home: Dom=-2, PD=20, Unr=0
• Hoburgdorf: Dom=2, PD=20, Unr=0
• Feral Woods: Dom=2, PD=10, Unr=0
• Ultima Typhia: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
• Well of All Waters: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
• Kepess: Dom=1, PD=15, Unr=0
• Melma: Dom=2, PD=20, Unr=0
• Herghendorf: Dom=0, PD=20, Unr=0

Gem income is:

• +_2 Fire (06)
• +_0 Air (--)
• +_6 Water (08)
• +_3 Earth (08)
• +14 Astral (36) (includes 8 Clams)
• +_2 Death (04)
• +_8 Nature (28)

Magical knowledge (stars denote schools being researched):

• 7-Conjuration
• 3-Alteration
• 0-Evocation*
• 6-Construction
• 5-Enchantment
• 0-Thaumaturgy*
• 0-Blood Magic
• 182 RPs (of 193 available at labs)

I recruit another 6 Jotun spearman in Pythium, and Priests in Melma, Robber Home, Herghendorf, Saetica, and Ultima Typhia. I increase the PD of Kepess by 5 (to 20). I recruit a "blue" Wizard in the Black Alps. I'm hoping to get another N2 caster (1 in 4 chance), and this is the cheapest way (besides empowering/equipping a Seithkona). I also recruit scouts in Gwyrth, Eribon, Pythium, and Hoburgdorf. These preparations drain the treasury of 740 coins.

With the unrest in Kepess eliminated I raise the taxes there back to normal.

The Norna Lit forges a Starshine Skullcap, at a cost of 10 astral pearls. I do this in preparation to be able to have a Ring of Sorcery forged next month, the Last item that will be needed for the Norna Skade to be able to invoke the ritual of the Gift of Health the month after. Sade forges a Lightless Lantern, for which I allot 5 of the 6 fire gems in the treasury, to help speed my magical research.

Gunderik preaches in Melma, Erkeborn preaches in Robber Home, Geiserik preaches in Herghendorf, Adaloald preaches in Hoburgdorf, and Gunthamun preaches in Saetica. Tahmar heads back to Pythium for the next batch of recruits, while Ualgo, with a half-dozen Jotuns in tow, heads out from Pythium to Hoburgdorf.

I converge on Ashikaga from three sides:

• from Saetica - Rod the Firbolg, with 23 Jotun spearmen + 8 Vine ogres + 4 Jotun huskarls (as bodyguards), positioned in the center of the battlefield 1/4 of the way from rear-to-front, to allow time for castings (Rod has a Charcoal Shield, Horror Helm, and a Bag of Wine); Konrad the Priest, with 3 Jotun Spearmen (as bodyguards), in the center far rear (he carries a Sceptre of Authority, Horror Helm, and a Bag of Wine); Clodomir the Priest, with 3 Jotun Spearmen (as bodyguards), in the center far rear (he carries a Bag of Wine).
• from Hoburgdorf - Albrecht the Priest, with 5 Jotun Spearmen (as bodyguards), in the center far rear (he carries a Sceptre of Authority and a Bag of Wine); Donner the Priest, with 5 Jotun Spearmen (as bodyguards), in the center far rear (he carries a Sceptre of Authority).
• from Robber Home - Bove the Herse, with no troops, positioned on the right edge of the battlefield 1/4 of the way from rear-to-front (Bove has a Charcoal Shield, Horror Helm, and Amulet of Antimagic); Grymis the (Gode) Prophet, with 18 Jotun spearmen + 3 Jotun axemen and 2 Vine ogres (as bodyguards), he is at the far rear center, his troops are positioned in the center of the battlefield 1/4 of the way from rear-to-front (Grymis has a Lucky Coin and Amulet of Antimagic).

A sizeable force of 7 commanders and 45 giants/ogre frontline troops (does not count bodyguards in the rear), which should crush the expected opposition of two-score ashigaru spearmen, samurai bowmen, and samurai horsemen.

Jorgun, my wyrm avatar, moves from Robber Home into The Promised Land, where I expect some three-score fanatics, and heavy and light footmen.

My wyrm should have attacked Barra or The Promised Land on Last turn's orders rather than move into Robber Home. I had been intending to use him in the forthcoming assault on Ashikaga, but I'm positive he won't be needed there, given how many troops I have amassed in the three provinces surrounding Ashikaga. I only came to realize it on this turn when I plotted my unit's moves and planned the attack. This is what happens when you fail to think 1-2 turns ahead, and also fail to adequately study the strategic situation. This oversight/mistake will cost me some income (from not having captured the indy provinces sooner), and more importantly, it delays my wyrm's movement eastwards by 2 months.

In my haste to get this turn finally written up and posted, I forget to move any of my scouts. Sigh. Not a big mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. Always do a CTRL-N before you end a turn!

[ February 27, 2004, 09:52: Message edited by: Arryn ]