[Potatoman]

The nation of Vanheim is dismissed too quickly. Although our troops have no supernatural quickness or flaming swords, the Dwarves of Vanheim have struck a mighty blow today against the citadel of Helheim itself. Helheim is now under siege by Vanheim armies, led by the heroic Gordon Donne. Knowing that victory in the field would be impossible to achieve without powerful magic or potent blessings of our own, two "potempkin village" forces of serf warriors made trouble along Helheim's border while Gordon snuck through their territories unnoticed until, this turn, he besieged Helheim itself.

Unfortunately, sacrifices were made in the name of this gambit. In the mountains of Vanheim, the Dwarves have retreated to their fortress and the surrounding lands left with only a token defense. They now lay sunken beneath a black ocean of Helheim soldiers, flowing inexorably further towards the western border of Arcosephale with the passing of each night.
But the province of Vanheim itself remains free and strong. And as long as Vanheim stands and Gordon still lives, so do the hopes of the Dwarves.

I would entreat all of my "allies" to sharply step up their aid if they wish Vanheim to weather Helheim's wrath. As wonderful as words are, the time for them is over. Purple prose does not pay the upkeep, silver tongues aren't worth the food to feed them, and the beleaguered Vans have yet to see an ounce of Tien Ch'i gold or the glimmer of a single Caelian air gem. Your empires talk a good fight, but so far it is the Vans who have been fighting Helheim alone for the past six months.

Helheim has sent me an offer of peace, and I am sorely tempted to accept it, provided reasonable concessions on his part. Only the overwhelming suspicion that he would backstab me the moment my troops left his capitol stays my pen-hand.

-Kong Jun She, Emperor of Vanheim and the Dwarves