Neo Xekinima - LA game of Mod nations (finished)

[Tuidjy]

>>>> Tuidjy said: Ulm! Ulm! ULM!

>> That reminds me of the WH40k: Dark Crusade game... "Orcs, Orcs, Orcs, Orcs, ..."

Which is exactly the effect I was going for :-) Although I play the Imperial
Guard, and Nikolai is the Ork player... And in case anyone cares, in Fantasy I
have both a Dark Elves and a Bretonian army.

By the way, I expanded the "Ulm! Ulm! ULM!" post. Sorry, long day at work
yesterday. I am probably holding the game, too.

[Nikolai]

What's up with the quiet? Everyone is fighting, everyone cannot be losing! Who is winning should boast a bit.

Oh, and it is Orks, not Orcs.

[Tuidjy]

As the worship of Lady Elena spreads across the world, news can take a long time
to reach all corners of the Empire of Ulm. The Priesthood understands that even
good people can be disturbed by vague rumors and enemy propaganda, and will from
now on release a bulletin to bring the Truth to everyone.

The wars against the child murderers of the North and the amoral knights of the
South are still raging. There are casualties amongst the followers of Lady
Elena, but our enemies pay with scores of dead for each one of ours. Two of
our white priests have fallen to magic duels, but we are happy to report that
their challengers did not outlive them by much. Other casualties among our
warriors are few and far between, and penitents quickly replenish our armies.
Unfortunately, our scouts have fared significantly worse. We have lost many of
them, and may have to completely suspend our covert operations. Not to worry,
it is much easier to count the enemy after they have stopped moving.

For those interested in the details, here is a brief recapitulation of the
skirmishes in the last two months.

Let us first turn our attention to the North. A spy of ours was ambushed by a
horde of vampires - no less than four lords and scores of newly created vampires.
To prevent these abominations from flying over the elven lands and into Ulm, a
Star Hero of ours secured a goblin province at their western border. The latest
reports indicate that, rather than face that single warrior, scores of goblin
sorcerers and hags are fleeing east.

Ulm still holds its beachhead next to the Vaetti capital. After witnessing the
repeated failures of the goblin attempts to retake the province, and after
cheering last month's defeat of a rampaging nercomancer, the grateful population
has seen the light of Lady Elena, and is assisting with the preparations for an
assault of the capital. Given that the cowardly goblins all seek cover behind
the city walls, Ulm may allow them to gather before shutting them in.

As for the South, the veterans from the dwarf and vampire wars have finally
crossed the desert. They have been joined by the cavalry regiment that
liberated the Mediterranean islands from the cat demons' yoke. As of last
month, they are advancing into Teutanion's territory, dispersing ragtag armies
composed of minotaurs and peasants. The only enemies of note were a detachment
of heavy foot knights led by their prophet, but these also were brushed off with
no effort to speak of. The false prophet ran rather than face the might of Ulm.
The only casualty is forging equipment while recovering from a chest wound, but
we hope he will soon return to active duty.

At this time, one castle is being besieged and another one may be under siege
as early as next month. It seems that the loss of the fountain they worship has
unmanned the whole nation. Their only initiative so far has been to grab the
last province of their former Jomon ally, just as they grabbed provinces from
the vampires we defeated.

We would like to conclude by reassuring all followers of the Light that the
peaceful transfer of power in Rome is proceeding according to plan. As agreed
more than an year ago, Sylvania will take charge of all lands in Italy. We wish
our elven friends success with the rehabilitation of the demons' victims.

[zepath]

I've just finished skimming the last ten pages or so of this AAR and just wanted to mention how amusing the reactions to the death of Kharam Dzu's crusty captain was. It happened just as I'd have hoped. Also, to all participants and especially the mod-balancers: thank you for showing so much attention to these mods. A lot of care went into them and it's great to see them played and enjoyed.

Zepath

[Tuidjy]

Ever since their unprovoked attack, the knights of Teutanion have suffered one
disastrous defeat after another. In their desperation, they have abandoned
all pretense of chivalry and morality. Last month, they used their rudimentary
knowledge of astral magic to drive a number of peaceful peasants insane, and
to force them to rebel against Ulm's authority.

The province will of course be liberated again; it will be the third time. But
the human losses are already unforgivable. Many people died in the process.
Others were driven insane. Even the leaders of the rebellion went mad with the
strain that forced them to turn on the nation that had saved them from the
bloodthirsty vampires and threated them with concern and respect.

But the rebels' madness pales compared to that of Teutanion's false God. That
despicable idol has shown utter lack of concern for the lives and happiness of
mortals, no matter whether they serve it or not. Throwing hundreds of knights
into maelstroems of battle magic, making serfs attack heavily armoured, veteran
heavy cavalry, ordering sages to engage in Mage Duels that will leave them
exhausted before the charge of our Templars... and now using inhumanly cruel
astral magic against a highly developed astral nation.

Nevertheless, the nation of Ulm will stay true to its principles, and conduct its
wars in a civilized and honorable manner. We shall not sacrifice children,
decimate our own citizens with insane taxes, lobotomize peasants, or throw our
soldiers to certain death for perceived military gains.

We had hoped that the knights would see that the demonic and vampiric hordes
summoned by Vaettiheim threaten to engulf the whole world, and would cease their
ineffective attacks on Ulm. But after the latest atrocity committed by Sophia,
our diplomats have been instructed to ignore any overtures from Teutanion.

The followers of Sophia have been declared an abomination upon Lady Elena.

[Tuidjy]

In the last three months, the forces of Ulm have been mostly on the defensive,
pacifying and securing the lands gained in the Summer campaign, and repulsing
the attacks of Vaettiheim and Teutanion. We would like to reassure all good
people that the war is progressing well, and the might of Ulm is growing despite
the continued assaults of the forces of Darkness.

In Scandinavia, Vaettiheim tried once again to dislodge Ulm from the beachhead
next to its capital. In their desperation, the goblins attacked with an army
that barely outnumbered ours. It goes without saying, the slaughter was
one-sided. For the six Ulm soldiers that lost their lives, Vaettiheim paid with
about a hundred shade beasts, scores of vampires, and hundreds of wolves and
dispossessed spirits. This victory allowed our men to complete the construction
of the castle east of the goblin's capital. Using it as a base, our men will
bring Lady Elena's justice to those who would murder children in their bid for power.

In the south of France, Teutanion assembled a vast host for the invasion of
Corsica. It included at least sixty of their best knights with their retainers,
and hundreds of infantrymen. Its magical support was provided by half a dozen
mages who led a dozen ice drakes and eight magical constructs known as crushers.
But before the invasion force could board the ships that were to take it to the
islands, it was intercepted by one of our white priests, and a few Ulmish angels.
We are sorry to report that the priest and one of the angels did not survive the
battle, but neither did three quarters of their enemies. We believe that
Teutanion's plans for the invasion of Corsica will have to be shelved for a while.

In Africa, Teutanion lost the library from which sages were being recruited. The
false idol Sophia was in the castle, but rather than face the might of Ulm, it
chose to teleport back to its capital, taking all defenders with it. Cowardice
seems to be the explanation for most of Sophia's actions. Teleporting away from
battles, breaking down the minds of defenseless peasants... contrast this with
Lady Elena who commanded, Herself, the defense of the Scandinavian beachhead.

Even with Lady Elena fighting in far lands, the news from Ulm's heartland is
mostly good. The Home Army has successfully repelled dozens of incursions,
and the corpses of hundreds of barbarians and Vaettiheim dire wolves litter
Ulm's Eastern border. Somewhat more worrying, the bodies of about thirty glade
riders were found after one of the skirmishes. We are sure that there is a good
reason for those elves' attempt to sneak across our border. Still, we would be
happier if no further elven troops are discovered by our patrols.

[Nikolai]

Just like reading Pravda. Can't wait for defeats, I wanna know the internal enemies of Ulm :-) I bet on Acolytes, those intelligentzia!

Hey, New Ulm IS Russia! The map is reversed for East and West. So can we hear from the Free World that's fighting Russian menace?

[Sombre]

I went AI a couple of turns ago. That's why he's been fighting armies of chaff. I was sick of being stuck in the same place for 30 or so turns, then having no chance at beating the invading force. As far as I'm concerned, he won the game a while back :]

[Tuidjy]

Good people of the world! Isn't it time to set our differences aside, and all
unite under the Aegis of Lady Elena? Look at the lands under Ulm's control!
They are peaceful and secure, thriving and prosperous. The population is healthy,
the soldiers strong, and the scholars wise. Our heroes are the only ones
talked about and our banner flies in the four corners of the world. Ancient
artifacts are being rediscovered by our smiths every day, and few spells are
out of our mages' reach.

Why shed more blood? Allow Lady Elena in your hearts and enjoy a new era of prosperity!

[Morkilus]

With Sombre done and Teutanian seemingly beat down, I'm ready to concede as well. I don't know if I can call it a minor victory or not... but no way can I deal with SC's and I'm at least 10 turns away from my own. Ulm's graphs are staggering.