Re: Jotunheim:Utgard AAR
Turn #39, Early Summer of Year 4
Growing pains.
Part 1 of 2
This month, no travellers bring word from afar of events in distant lands.
Rimdriva's Acashic Record ritual upon Ivenmoor reveals three(!) magical sites: the Azure Academy (1 water gem), where Azure Mages (2W, 100g) & Initiates (1W, 60g) may be recruited (in the accompanying lab); the Sun Ridge (2 fire gems), with accompanying watch tower fortification, and a Farm of Plenty (+25 supply).
The level of supply in Ivenmoor is only sufficient for roughly 45% of my army there, so starvation, disease, and opportunistic afflictions run rampant amongst the troops. I am appalled to think what the situation would be like without the Gift of Health, as over half this army is afflicted in spite of it.
Again I sense a powerful ripple in the magical weave of the world. The sudden concentration of astral magics from the realm of Mictlan loudly bespeaks of their having undertaken the ritual of Stellar Focus. I am untroubled by this event, since it does not affect my realm, and Mictlan is my ally of circumstance in our mutual conflict with Vanheim.
Vanheim summons a score of Black Hawks using the ritual Call of the Winds to attack The Promised Land. As in previous months, the defending Jotun militia easily eat the fowl assault, with much appreciation. I am very pleased to see my foe expend five precious air gems per month in such futile gestures.
Jorgun Teleports to Imictan directly into a battle with three dozen barbarians, plus their leader. Seventeen of the savages manage to escape my wyrm's feast, never to be seen again.
Marignon attacks the 30+ amazons of Polgrave (who also have a Garnet Priestess, a Garnet Sorceress, and two gryphon riders) with a force of a score of flagellants led by a witch hunter, and a mixed force of ten pikeneers and eight light infantry led by an inquisitor. The riders suicide against the pikes, but the amazons in turn slaughter all the flagellants. When the savage ladies reach the ranks of the pikes and infantry, the army of Marignon routs after losing three of the infantrymen. Marignon suffers a few more losses of infantry and pike as they flee from the rapidly pursuing amazons.
Swanuth the Firbolg, commanding an army of 20 Jotun spearmen and 8 vine ogres, attacks the independent defenders of Saeborea, which muster 2 mounted commanders, 1 priest, 21 heavy cavalry, 19 heavy infantry, and 4 fanatics. The Gift of Health, made strong by my dominion in this province, provides an 80% boost to the health of the Jotuns (+24HPs), allowing them to take the cavalry charge with ease. Swanuth, at the beginning of the battle, immediately flew behind the cavalry to disrupt the enemy's plans and draw their commanders into battle. In the image below, you can see the situation several rounds into the battle with Swanuth having just slain the second (and Last) mounted commander. The first is already fleeing from Swanuth's helm-generated aura of fear, and the priest was slain a few moments before. Sending the firbolg alone into the enemy rear was a calculated risk that in this instance paid off in greatly reducing the amount of damage the Jotuns absorbed before the enemy fled. Swanuth did receive a chest wound, and lost two-thirds of his health, before winning the fray. Were it not for the Gift of Health he would have died from the number of hits he took.
Caelum attacks Vanheim in Emryc. Caelum musters their Vampire Queen pretender, 3 ghosts, 6 lamias, and 10 wingless against the defenders who can only muster 2 herse, 1 heavy cavalry, 7 light cavalry, 5 huskarls, and 4 barbarians. The Caelum pretender, after a few defensive preparatory spells, summons 4 Ghost Wolves each round for the remainder of the short conflict, as the Van forces are no match even for the lamias and ghosts Caelum began the battle with.
Ulm attacks Jorgun in the province of Imictan, having expected to encounter only independents. Ulm fields a commander of Ulm, 1 heavy cavalryman, 5 black plate infantry (w/shields), 4 black plate infantry (flail), 19 assorted infantry of Ulm, 8 heavy infantry, 18 barbarians, 10 amazons, 3 light infantry, 19 crossbowman, and 8 archers. My wyrm begins the battle with a large amount of health (406HP), due to the combined effects of dominion and Gift of Health bonuses, and a very impressive regeneration rate of 41HPs which makes him nigh-invincible to anything but magic, which the Ulmish force completely lacks. Against this living scaley juggernaut is an Ulmish army that is suffering from extensive starvation, and averages just 6-7 morale (and only 3-4 amongst the missile troops). First to become wyrm-food is the lone horseman, who reaches my avatar after Jorgun has completed all (4 rounds of) preparatory spellcasting. Next up on the dinner menu is a course of barbarian stew, flavored with amazon, and with a side helping of infantry. For dessert, a light portion of missileers awaits. By the end of the battle, when Ulm has had their fill of filling my wyrm's stomach, Jorgun has accounted for 41 of the 95 Ulmish troops. (Killing 1 heavy cavalryman, 4 assorted infantry of Ulm, 1 heavy infantry, all 18 barbarians, 6 amazons, 2 light infantry, 7 crossbowman, and 2 archers.) Jorgun, in the carnage of two battles this month, accrues another 56 kills and 42 trophies to his fame.
Rod the Firbolg, leading a company of 18 Jotun spearmen and a bodyguard of 5 vine ogres, along with 4 priests carrying Sceptres of Authority and with one vine ogre apiece as bodyguards, attacks Vanheim's province of Gipha. The meager 4 PD is easily overhwelmed. Upon occupying the province, I learn that Vanheim had discovered a magical site, a BLasted Heath (2 air gems). Reducing Van's magical air income, and adding it to my own, is a double blessing.
Mictlan attacks Vanheim in Ragdan. Mictlani forces: 2 Mictlan priests, 1 fiend of darkness, 1 spine devil, 13 eagle warriors, 5 warriors, 2 slaves, and 1 blood slave. Van forces: PD of 2, plus a mobile army of 1 commander, 3 heavy infantry, and 12 light infantry. The Vans are annihilated, but it costs Mictlan 8 of their eagle warriors.
Ulm attacks Pangaea in Nicia. Ulmish forces: 1 commander of Ulm, 4 black plate infantry (flail), 2 infantry of Ulm (w/shield), 4 barbarians, 1 light infantry, 9 crossbowmen, 2 archers, and 4 sappers. Panaean forces: 1 centaur commander, 6 satyrs, and 3 harpies. A victory by Ulm is a foregone conclusion. Only the centaur and a single satyr escape.
A brief recap of the strategic situation on Orania is in order. The following are ongoing wars that I know about for certain:
- Abysia vs. Machaka. (Machakan capital beseiged)
- Ulm vs. Pangaea ... and now Jotunheim.
- Vanheim vs. Atlantis, Caelum, Jotunheim, and Mictlan.
Atlantis may also be at war with Arcoscephale, and/or R'leyh, as I have witnessed large armies of theirs move southwards, never to be seen again. As of this month, I have surpassed Pangaea in number of provinces, and I have tied Vanheim for the #1 position. I lead all other categories by a significant margin, excepting army size, in which I rank #5 (up from #8 Last time I looked).
My researchers achieve mastery of the seventh level of Construction.
My realm has:
- ___9 Dominion max.
- __23 Temples
- __43 Provinces converted
- 1077 Treasury.
- 1770 Income. (+130)
- _664 Upkeep. (unchanged)
- 28 Provinces controlled
- Saeborea: Dom=5, PD=0, Unr=39
- Jotunheim: Dom=9, PD=25, Unr=0
- Zenthra: Dom=7, PD=20, Unr=2
- Eribon: Dom=4, PD=10, Unr=0
- Gwyrth: Dom=8, PD=17, Unr=0
- Iron Range: Dom=6, PD=10, Unr=0
- Saetica: Dom=4, PD=20, Unr=0
- Black Alps: Dom=8, PD=10, Unr=0
- Rim Mountains: Dom=3, PD=20, Unr=0
- Ancyrna: Dom=6, PD=20, Unr=0
- The Promised Land: Dom=2, PD=20, Unr=0
- Bel: Dom=4, PD=10, Unr=0
- Ashikaga: Dom=3, PD=20, Unr=0
- Pythium: Dom=8, PD=10, Unr=0
- Barra: Dom=5, PD=20, Unr=0
- Robber Home: Dom=4, PD=20, Unr=0
- Hoburgdorf: Dom=7, PD=20, Unr=0
- Man: Dom=4, PD=20, Unr=10
- Feral Woods: Dom=9, PD=10, Unr=0
- Ultima Typhia: Dom=8, PD=20, Unr=0
- Well of All Waters: Dom=8, PD=10, Unr=0
- Agenor: Dom=0, PD=9, Unr=10
- Kepess: Dom=4, PD=20, Unr=0
- Melma: Dom=4, PD=20, Unr=0
- Herghendorf: Dom=2, PD=20, Unr=0
- Imictan: Dom=5, PD=0, Unr=15
- Gipha: Dom=1, PD=0, Unr=11
- Ivenmoor: Dom=1, PD=20, Unr=0
Gem income is:
- +_8 Fire (08)
- +_7 Air (08)
- +11 Water (18)
- +_7 Earth (22)
- +24 Astral (23) (includes 17 Clams)
- +_3 Death (07)
- +11 Nature (14)
Magical knowledge (stars denote schools being researched):
- 7-Conjuration
- 3-Alteration
- 7-Evocation
- 7-Construction*
- 6-Enchantment
- 5-Thaumaturgy
- 0-Blood Magic
- 347 RPs (of 408 available at labs)
To be continued in Part 2 ...
[ March 13, 2004, 18:14: Message edited by: Arryn ]
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