[puffyn]

---- Arcoscephale, Turn 45 ----


All that flying was for nothing. The Firbolgs led the hypaspists and a forest of vinoghers out of here just a few days ago. They are now somewhere in the swamp between here and Oast Hills, but the thick cover of slimy leaves which hangs like a sullen blanket over that part of the world will probably defeat any attempts to find them from the air.

Meanwhile, I have another crazy person to deal with. You gotta respect a guy who thinks he's Odysseus, especially if he is manifestly sane. But when some local mystic decides it's not good enough to worship at the temple of Athena, no, she has to be Athena, that's plain crazy and a transparent power grab amongst locals who actually do believe that gods become people and fruitbats and orangutans and large chunks of... Still, I should talk to her at some point and make sure she's happy-insane, and not dangerous-insane.

I received the most odd report from our southernmost scout this morning. The lands south of here are all aboil with this new war between Man and the squid-beings. It doesn't look like things are going well for Man. In the wastes of Ryazan, where it is common for men to eat the dead bodies of other men in times of extreme hunger, one brave waif has stood up to the cruel policies of their Manish overlords and led a revolt, demanding some degree of autonomy, freedom of religion, and lots of brains (which are a delicacy amongst these barbarians). Our scout was on hand to witness this individual lead his motly band against the local militia. And though there were equal numbers on both sides, and the rebels were armed only with their bare hands, Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaains (for that his the closest I can reproduce the local dialect in Greek) led his men to victory with almost no loses. A fine tactician obviously. I shall ask our scout to keep a close eye on further developments.

It is interesting to note that while I have been gone, Ulde, Wlde, and Vlde have only grown in stature among the citizens of the Sinking Lands (although they are not all here at the same time, and it is exceedingly difficult to discern which one you are talking to). Remember that these were the same women engaged in the hateful blood sacrifices of the loathed kingdom, whose defeat is even now being celebrated; yet they meet with many smiles and small gifts whenever they walk around town. Perhaps it has something to do with their successful handling of the seige during the war, though since I have learned the precise number of troops they faced my only wonder has been why it took them so long. There is a dark cynical voice that says they meant it to, so that the people would be grateful and rally around them; but that leads to other dark thoughts about what they intend to do with these loyal citizens and the troops they keep amassing. I do not want to see this province become another police-state like the one I just brought down.

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