KingMaker - let the Ascension War commence!

[Xietor]

LA Marignon is at war with Ruin. What more of a challenge could you seek?

It is not who lands the first blow, no matter how mighty, that determines who wins a war. Ruin will not lose faith even if reduced to only his castles, where he will hole up for some stout painful defense.

Ruin is about to dispense some pain from afar on his enemies. If their capitals are not well domed I predict a drastic drop in income for all concerned.

[AdmiralZhao]

On the events at Swande, in the winter of year 5, A.D.W
Report filed by Hand of God #156, Angel of Marignon

I send my greetings to the Council. Doubtless you have already read the reports sent by my most holy brothers, Hand of God #152 and Hand of God #153. They have not as yet seen fit to join me on the front lines, but they are quick to write when they see some benefit in it. I am sure they have informed you, with great regret, about the losses of men and material at Swande. I am equally sure that they wrote of how disheartening it was that so many senior mages could die to the province defense of the infidels. And, I am confident that they went on at great length about what a tragedy it was for the soldier's families, and how inexplicable it must seem to the populace, seeing as how our mages were guarded by the elite northern battle group.

As I am sure you know these things, I will not repeat them in detail, but will instead inform you of some things which I am quite sure you do not know. For instance, I am sure that my brothers did not tell you that it was Climorins, a mage transferred to my department specifically at Hand of God #153's authorization and against my written protests, who cast the first Phoenix Pyre. I have never thought Climorins qualified to stand in the line of battle; I could smell fear off him the first time we met. Fear and lies. Still, I could not dis-obey the Council's wishes, and so Climorins was present at Swande. The man quailed at the sight of the enemy, puny as they were, and rather than obeying my express orders to wrap the enemy in chains of fire, Climorins began the Phoenix ritual. The other elder mages noticed, and rightly fearing for their own lives should something happen to Climorins, began their own Phoenix rituals. Still, even then the situation was not lost. If the enemy had just been simple province defense, as my brothers have surely reported, then victory would have been ours without any loss. Instead, mixed amongst the enemy ranks was an elite archer, skilled in the arts of marksmanship and assassination. While I detected no enchantments or magic items on her, I believe this is only because the Adversary has cloaked or shielded the gifts he had given to her, via infidel magics as yet unknown to us. In any case, she knew just where to strike, and while the Adversary's troops fled amongst fire and chaos, she loosed a single arrow which took Climorins through the heart. Of the results, again, my brothers have surely told you. What they did not tell you was how I blocked the worst of the blast with my great wings, preventing the conflagration from spreading still further. Indeed, if it was not for my quick action, it is possible that the entire host battle group might have been ripped apart by the Phoenix rituals.

In light of these events, I ask your leave to investigate how the Adversary's archer could have known to target Climorins. Furthermore, as Climorins survived his death, I request the immediate dispatch of a group of Inquistors to my battle group in order to uncover the truth about Climorins dealings with the Adversary. While it is too early to say anything definitively, I do find the relations between Hand of God #153, Climorins, the archer, and the Adversary to be a bit too close.

Naturally, I will not let these investigations or the Swande losses interfere with my primary duty of taking the regional capital from the Adversary. I will write you next from beneath its walls.
Your servant,
Hand of God #156

[Darkwind]

I think I'll take a hint from Ruin. As much damage as possible will be inflicted upon Arcoscephalean (and Atlantian, and C'tissian, and whoever else joins the Eat Ulm bandwagon; the C'tissians have been polite at least though) forces who attack our forts, though that's not really too much right now. And no I won't begina wolf-eating policy, as that's really creepy considering how Ruin happens to be undead. Monny's just as old if not older than Ruin, and about everything he remembers is telling stories of how, in the ye olden days, Monny had to personally tell the governors to adjust tax rates and personally remind those stupid magi to cast a spell over and over again. Also Ulm's method of counting to three is quite curious and not always reliable, so I believe LA Arcoscephale is wrong in that respect.

Also, I think I may take another hint from LA Marignon and begin giving the Anonymouses (Anonymii?) numbers. It doesn't help when you say "Anon cast Iron Blizzard, as did Anon, Anon, and Anon, while Anon also was attacked by a Mind-Enslaved Anon while Anon and Anon desperately tried to Banish the undead horde pouring from the enemy side. Sadly, Anon, Anon and Anon died, though Anon became legendary for his cruelty and Anon became legendary for his heroic stupidity." Numbers, or even letters would be much easier.

Ulm takes hints from a lot of people, it seems. Perhaps I should start collecting them?

[DonCorazon]

Originally Posted by Xietor

And since we know your allied with them and have only stayed your hand out of naked fear of Ruin, we declare war on Utgard as well.

Hehe, it seems Ruin's last few dusty lich brain cells finally blew out of his cavernous lich skull. Declaring war on a 4th nation after getting attacked by 3 nations seems unwise. But the world should know Utgard doesn't even have a border with Arcos, and only a vague idea that they are somewhere in the corrupt west.

So to say its a 4:1 is a bit premature as Utgard is currently busy trying to reduce Abysia's carbon footprint following our divine leader's warning that global warming will doom us all...

Winter is coming!!!

[Xietor]

Regardless, we know where YOU are, and ask la tien chi if we needed a border with him to gate an army in next to his capital and sack it. Do not get too cozy in your new digs.

[DonCorazon]

Excellent! That saves us a trip.

[Xietor]

And provides me with the thugs i need to fight your allies. we can both profit by my trip to your lands!

[Xietor]

Ruin is losing provinces to ghost riders and raiding angels and thugs-not much anyone can do about that when outnumbered. We also observed a new flag in our area this turn, but apparently their scouts were a turn out of date as they landed on a bandar Log province.

Despite that, Ruin intends to reclaim all of his lands. Ruin will also add there are 4 less angels flying around in the world this turn than last. one dies to my decked out Sleeper(who thanks you for the horror helm btw), and the other 3 to penetration 5 mind hunts. MR 22 is no bar to the call from the grave!

Ruin also caused some pain to LA Marignon:




Ruin is prepared for a long war. A war that will last 40 or more turns. While he cannot guard his provinces from raiders, he can kill raiders, and he can destroy armies.

Ruin is immortal. He will win this war of attrition. No matter how many nations come to dine on him. Already they begin to attack each other in their zeal to gobble up his lands. How soon before apologies are not accepted and they begin to war in earnest?

Ruin's laughter will be their only reward as he animates their corpses.

[atul]

*sigh*

You've been whining for help everywhere and now that you've got it you don't even have the backbone to acknowledge your helpers? It's one thing to make others wage your war for you, but totally other to feign ignorance. It might have worked for Cladius, but nowadays it's one of the oldest tricks in the book.

[Xietor]

Actually, i did have help against you, and you alone. But it has not materialized(:

No that is not the help i had negotiated, as you well know. In fact I informed you prior to your invasion with whom i had a mutual defense pact. In fact I am baffled where my partner's armies are. MIA