[boltcutter]

Turn 10:

Results- All is quiet.

Shopping- Two Smiths (they're expensive, but once I can cast Blade Wind one smith should be the equal of twenty archers), and troops. I convert another 5 Earth gems into gold, sadly.

Planning-Everyone moves up and out. Research continues. I get greedy and send First Army against the independent Ichthyids to the west, rather than waiting two turns for my Smiths [with Blade Wind] to arrive. Research continues as I slowly build up Second Army.

Turn 11:

Results- Disaster. The Ichthyids take out six troops- not particularly good- but Caelum, from the other side, attacks the province just after I do. My outnumbered, outmanuevered troops fight valiantly, but they are not in formation for this and individual acts of heroism are not enough. At the end, my Commander- alone, badly injured, and surrounded- nearly cuts his way to freedom but is finally taken down by sheer numbers and time.

The shell of First Army mills around, leaderless- 27 troops total, two of whom are missing an arm [naturally enough, they both had two-handed weapons so are worthless.] I lost all my hammermen and archers, half my axemen, four of my flailmen and only one crossbowman- the Ulmish tendency to put armor on EVERYTHING works in my favor.

On the plus side, I have now researched Blade Wind and my Smiths are a force to be reckoned with- as long as they have gems, that is.

Shopping- I buy what troops I can, and a single Smith for Second Army. I put some Province Defense into the southern bottleneck- it's now up to PD 8.

Planning- My Smiths will arrive in "the bottleneck" with a true combat commander, to take control of the First Army.
I start researching Conjuration- once they have Earthpower, my Smiths will truly be a combat force I can count on. And I have quite a few Smiths.

Turn 12-

Results- None of note. Conjuration 1 acheived.

Shopping- Another Smith, and a pathetic handful of Hammermen.

Planning- Strike directly for T'ien Chi's capital. Hopefully three Smiths will be enough to compensate for my severe troop reduction. I'm bringing more troops and a siege engineer south from the capital.

Turn 13-

Results- The assault on T'ien Chi went well. The Smiths rip a good chunk out of the enemy troops and flailmen clean out what's left. I am pleased to note that the enemy composite bows do nothing to me; unfortunately, the glaives work a little better. I lose a couple troops but nothing to worry about. Siege commences.

Shopping- Built three horsemen- I need to be able to hit harder. Also a siege engineer and raise Point Defense to 13 in the southern bottleneck. T'ien Chi is a wealthy province.

Planning- Hold T'ien Chi and destroy the enemies as they come . Consider starting a third war with Mictlan.

Looking at the score charts, Pythium and C'Tis are far ahead. I'm second from the bottom in almost everything. If I don't start taking capitals soon, I'm going to be too far behind to have ANY chance. If I can take Mictlan fast enough, I can pincer T'ien Chi.

It's a bad idea but the only one I have.

Turn 14-

Results- I got cleaned out at T'ien Chi. Celestial Warriors aren't something I can fight, apparently and I lost every Smith I brought in a display of exceptional stupidity. Give them a set of gems and they summon Earth Elementals instead of casting Blade Wind.

I'm losing and there's not much I can do about it.