Turn #34, Winter of Year 3
A fat and happy wyrm.
Part 1 of 2
This month, no travellers bring word from afar of events in distant lands.
The
Gift of Health cures just four of my afflicted Jotuns this month.
(Bove, plus seven Jotuns, remain wounded, as does my wyrm.)
Rimdriva's Acashic Record ritual upon Barra reveals 2 magical sites: a Totem Collection (1 nature gem and 1 astral pearl, and increases the luck of the province), and a Water Filled Cave (1 water and 1 earth gems). I am once again disappointed in failing to locate even a single site with air gems. At least I am certain that the fortress of Man conceals air magics, given the presence of
Dark Skies in their dominion, what little remains of it.
A vengeful witch attempts to curse my troops in Pythium for having destroyed her home and taken five nature gems from her. However, she is unable to catch the vandals. I suspect that one, or both, of my Seithkona in Pythium must have run afoul of the witch, while taking a break from their researches in the city's lab, and decided to exact revenge. Hell hath no fury as a woman ...
My faithful followers in the Rim Mountains, of their own accord, raise a temple in my honor. I am truly touched by their devotion to me.
As expected, my wyrm beseiging Man is attacked by forces from both Man and Vanheim. Man sallies forth from the fortress first, with 1 castellan (PD), 1 commander, 1 monk (PD), 2 knights, 1 cu sidhe, 7 fanatics, 2 archers, and 25 slingers (PD). First to arrive, and get eaten, is one of the knights. The other knight promptly flees in abject horror. The slingers close to short range while the foolish, suicidally brave castellan rushes forward to meet the huge oncoming wyrm. He, too, gets gulped down in one bite. After eating seven of the slingers, with a half-dozen more unconscious from being bLasted by my wyrm's Astral Shield, the forces of Man go into a general rout. Jorgun finishes consuming the appetizer of slingers and prepares for the main course of Vans.
Vanheim, with their vanjarl prophet
(with an Enchanted Sword, heroic strength, and 3 stars), 8 skin shifters, 7 hirdmen, 5 huskarls, 1 barbarian, 1 light infantry, and 8 archers attacks next. A much more substantive, albeit somewhat numerically smaller, force than what Man mustered. Regardless, the outcome of this battle, too, was never in doubt long before Vanheim began their march. Attacking my avatar is a mistake on their part, hubris born of the ease with which they have conquered other, smaller opponents. But they had not faced the might of Jotuns and the One True God ... until now. I shall teach them a lesson they shall not soon forget.
The Vans begin the battle with almost all of their units starving, and with almost all bearing one or more afflictions. Once my wyrm completes the preparatory spellcasting, he moves to engage this walking wounded "Pride of Vanheim". In a few moments, two skin shifters, all seven hirdmen, and three huskarls rout despite their prophet's two exhortations of Fanaticism. By this time, my wyrm has eaten four skin shifters, and two more skin shifters, two huskarls, the barbarian, and the light infantryman lay unconscious from striking my Astral Shield. The archers, quite stupidly, decide to charge and engage in melee. After eating two of them, and striking a third one senseless, their prophet's "unshakeable" morale breaks and he takes what's left of his troops with him. These back-to-back battles accrue 25 kills and 28 trophies to my avatar's tallies, as well as being a filling repast for my ever-ravenous wyrm.
Arcoscephale attacks the independent province of Fas Dir with 1 hoplite commander, 4 elephants, 6 light cavalry, 8 heart companions, 2 hoplites, 10 flagellants, 7 archers, and 28 slingers versus defenders mustering 2 knights (leaders), 8 knights, and 14 fanatics. The elephants quickly trample 4 of the knights, and the rest of the chivalric riders immediately turn tail and gallop away in fright. The knight leaders, with no sense whatsoever, gallantly charge the bulk of the Arco force, only to be surrounded and killed in short order. A very educational battle ... for my observant scout. I shall remember to be wary of these big 'elephant' beasts so that the knight's fate does not befall my Jotuns.
My researchers expect to achieve mastery of the sixth level of Evocation by the end of the month.
(The mere presence of my pretender in Man has eradicated Man's dom from their home province and replaced it with my own!)
My realm has:
- ___8 Dominion max.
- __19 Temples
- __38 Provinces converted
- 1032 Treasury.
- 1550 Income. (+45)
- _472 Upkeep. (+23)
- 23 Provinces controlled
- Jotunheim: Dom=7, PD=25, Unr=0
- Zenthra: Dom=6, PD=17, Unr=0
- Eribon: Dom=4, PD=10, Unr=0
- Gwyrth: Dom=7, PD=17, Unr=0
- Iron Range: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
- Saetica: Dom=3, PD=10, Unr=0
- Black Alps: Dom=8, PD=10, Unr=0
- Rim Mountains: Dom=1, PD=20, Unr=0
- Ancyrna: Dom=4, PD=17, Unr=0
- The Promised Land: Dom=3, PD=20, Unr=0
- Bel: Dom=3, PD=10, Unr=0
- Ashikaga: Dom=3, PD=0, Unr=0
- Pythium: Dom=7, PD=10, Unr=0
- Barra: Dom=-2, PD=20, Unr=1
- Robber Home: Dom=3, PD=20, Unr=0
- Hoburgdorf: Dom=5, PD=20, Unr=0
- Man: Dom=1, PD=0, Unr=16 (under siege)
- Feral Woods: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
- Ultima Typhia: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
- Well of All Waters: Dom=7, PD=10, Unr=0
- Kepess: Dom=3, PD=15, Unr=0
- Melma: Dom=4, PD=20, Unr=0
- Herghendorf: Dom=3, PD=20, Unr=0
Gem income is:
- +_4 Fire (12)
- +_0 Air (--)
- +10 Water (18)
- +_4 Earth (14)
- +18 Astral (27) (includes 11 Clams)
- +_3 Death (07)
- +_9 Nature (14)
Magical knowledge (stars denote schools being researched):
- 7-Conjuration
- 3-Alteration
- 5-Evocation*
- 6-Construction
- 5-Enchantment*
- 5-Thaumaturgy
- 0-Blood Magic
- 218 RPs (of 239 available at labs)
To be continued in Part 2 ...
[ March 01, 2004, 23:03: Message edited by: Arryn ]