Arcoscephale Golden Era AAR

[Blitz]

Turn Six
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Again the army returned from battle in triumph. Even without the cardaces, the peLasts proved enough, as we emerged victorious with only one casualty. There was a moment of doubt, at least for one man. Our precious wind rider recieved a terrible chest wound, one that brought him painfully close to the grave. One moment he was there, the next he was gone. Luckily he managed to flee before death took him, and was reported to be safely back on the Island of White Oak. While there were no priestesses in the area to tend to his wounds they would wait... death does not.

Mesthies had managed to round up the two cardaces and began the trek back to the main army. He wouldn't be available for some time, and with our ranks looking thin, I decided it was time for the men to rest some. Checking the medical reports, I was pleased to note that none of the men had picked up any injuries, save for a leg wound on one of the myrmidons. With Lady Andromache free, I had her search for holy and nature sites. Syren would cover Earth and Air. Lord Klepohon would return to the capitol and gather the men there.

Back in the capitol, I was again annoyed to find yet another earth mage in the library. Was I in Arcoscephale or Ulm for the love of god? Luckily this one was a very skilled fire mage as well, giving me mages in all elements save air. Although he could be of use to me in the countryside, I again put him to work researching alteration. Soon we would know the secrets of the second tier. Now the question of how to deal with the cavalry. The impreial treasury contained a mere 244 gold coins, and we would need troops for the coming battle with the cavalry of Florien. I could train more wind riders, but then how would I manage the cost of a fortress? I could save some money and hire icarids, but would they even make a difference? The army had no troops to soften the cavalry charge, and there would be no reinforcements for some time. I did not want to leave Syren and the imperial army rotting away in Avoca uselessly. I finally decided to have Lord Klepohon stop on the Isle of White Oak and find our missing wind rider. He would be needed soon, his wounds could wait. Mesthies was ordered back to the capitol to gather the men from there. The mystic Anthros had found nothing, and was told to rejoin the main army at the soonest possible moment.

With sights focused on a castle in Florien, I opted to save some coin and train a mystic... and of course as many myrmidons as I could. With 140 gold left in the coffers and the fire gems in the lab, I knew a castle could be afforded soon... and I wanted those cavalry!

[Blitz]

Turn Seven
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Does Mesthies ever bring good news? Not on this day, as he brings word of a great battle between ulm and the people of Dun Vale. Ulm and their mercenary hires crushed the resistance, and according to Mesthies also control the lands to the west and south. Troubling news indeed, as I instruct Mesthies to investigate the situation further. Likewise, my sages bring word of a sizable Pythium army directly to the north of syren and her men. The plans to take Florien would have to wait. This infestation must be dealt with immediately.

But with what army? Lord Klepohon and his wind rider could be brought to bear, along with 3 myrmidons and 8 peLasts. Would that, along with Syren, Lady Andromache the priestess, and Anthros the Mystic be enough? Mesthies and the reinforcements were still two provinces away. It would have to be. The land Pythium held was known as Recenna, and it was a rich one indeed. The impreial army had wasted enough time searching for magic sites. A whole month had netted only a Canyon of Wild winds, and while I was thankful for the gems, there were better uses of a god's time. We would take Recenna, and build our foothold there. It wouldn't be the military instalation that the cavalry might have provided, but there was no way I was going to let Pythium sit on that land for much longer.

Again looking to save money, only a philosopher and a few myrmidons would join the armies this month. I calculated that indeed we could build a fortress on that land... if we could win the battle. Mesthies, his 7 myrmidons, and 3 cardaces were 2 months out, and this battle might be costly.

[ June 20, 2004, 05:01: Message edited by: Blitz ]

[Blitz]

Turn Eight
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Late fall would be remembered as a dark month for Arcoscephale. Just as the armies of rightousness were about to attack north into Recenna, they were the victims of a sneak attack from the same army they sought to overcome. All three myrmidons and all but one of the peLasts were overcome by the Pythium armies, and they were forced to retreat to the Isle of White Oak. There was some good news, as Syren and Lady Andromache are both safe... but the same cannot be said for Anthros.

Even worse news came from Recenna, as Lord Klepohon, unaware of the vicious sneak attack, continued with the plan to attack. While he escaped, word came from Avocca that he had been murdered attempting to return to our base there. On the Isle of White Oak, only Syren and Lady Andromache, aside seven myrmidons and 3 light infantry remain of the once great Arcoscephale army.

The only good news comes from the university, where word comes that both quickness and stoneskin have been added to Syren's repitoire of spells. This will be useful, as I have decided that our nest battle will be hers and hers alone. Mesthies will return to the capitol, leaving Lady Andromache with the remains of the army. Perhaps she can find some sources of magic on that desolate rock. It will be Syren who will exact our revenge on the armies of Pythium.

A replacement for Lord Klepohon will be summoned to the capitol. This warrior I will not waste so incautiously.

[ June 20, 2004, 05:02: Message edited by: Blitz ]

[Blitz]

Turn Nine
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Hell hath no fury like an angel posessed. While I had hoped that the armies of Pythium would remain in Avocca to be slaughtered by our Flambeau-wielding angel of death, they retreated back whence they came, leaving only a few irregulars behind. Perhaps they know how close they came to death just one month ago. Whatever the reason, Avocca is ours again, and with the gold saved in our coffers, Syren begins construction of a new castle on the mainland. While not the best province for a base of operations, Avocca will have to do for now. Our slow myrmidons will get to the front lines much more quickly with a training facility on the mainland. Lady Andromache and the remains of the army make plans to rejoin her there, however I instruct the myrmidons to stay out of any battles that may occur. They protest, but I assure them that they are needed for the "protection" of Lady Andromache. This seems to satisfy them, but in truth I fear their presence in battle may do more harm than good, and I do not wish to risk losing our new castle.

With the coffers strained by the purchace of a castle, I return to the training of myrmidons... but manage to afford a philosopher as well. Mesthies and four new men begin their trek to the mainland. Our new wind lord Melas has arrived, but I do not have plans for him as of yet. He will remain at the palace for now, but soon he will become the new voice of Syren for the people.

[Blitz]

Turn Ten
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Ominous word from Nanvather in Ulm. The nation of Ulm spans seven provinces, and they seems sure to make their move onto the mainland soon. The better news came from the labs, where word that both Alteration 3 and Construction 1 had been discovered. Now all the nation's best thinkers will be put to devising the best mechanical creations ever seen by man. But first, something must be done about our poor supply of earth gems. I order the philosophers to turn their attention towards thamataurgy for now, and return to construction once they have discovered a means to scour the lands for earth and astral gems. For my plan to work, we will need them, and need them soon.

Andromache, having arrived in Avoca with Syren, sets about building a lab, while Mesthies and his myrmidons move to reinforce the main army. Melas has only one myrmidon to lead at the castle, but as his time is valuable, I do not want to waste him there. He begins for the front, passing through the Isle of White Oak. While our armies take a break from war, the blacksmiths do not rest. In addition to yet another philosopher, four myrmidons will be ready for duty next turn. Soon our forward base will be ready, and the heavy cavalry will be mine.

[Blitz]

At this point pythium attacks with two hydras and four hatchlings. They win, we retreat to Isle of Oak. I get pissed off.

I picked a bad game to make my first AAR =)