Happy New Year, New Game, New Players (Finished: Dojango/Mictlan Wins!)

[Dogged57]

Verudoctius finished the ritual, spilling the blood of the boar over the altar. He walked away, hoping his god would be pleased with the sacrifice this day. Tomorrow he was bound for the borderlands. He wandered into the city past the tribesmen readying for the next month's raids. Many lands had been brought under the sway of the Marverni, and more would soon be under their rule. Of course, which lands were conquered and which were yet to be taken was unknown in the capital.

Without the druids, chaos rules Marverni. The Gutuaters attempt to keep the tribes united and under control, but only a few bother to care for anyone beyond their own clansmen. The prophet, if he can be called that, was a simple man, an unknown warrior. He happened to be the first mind the great scholar's thoughts reached. That touch drove him mad. He only thinks of conquest, now. The Gutuaters sent Luterius with him to keep him aimed in the right direction. Soon, though there will be nothing anyone can do to control him. Not unless the druids return, and bring with them the one true god, the one marked by the stars.


OOC: I'm delaying messages by a turn or two to represent the chaotic political situation in Marverni.

[Torgon]

Captain Simragel, at the order of Balor, continued to search for the resting place of the God that had spoken to him in the dying forests of Fomoria. Behind him, the kingdom was dying, the curse grew worse by the month. Increasingly, hope was fleeing the kingdom.

Simragel was also despairing in his quest. He continued to search, but many paths were closed to him by the advances of other nations. Particularly disturbing, was an army of creatures from under the very mountains themselves (apparently they called themselves Argathans) that had advanced to the very marches of Fomormia. Simragel received a message from Balor, recalling him and his small force back to the capital lest the beasts from the mountains attack.

Emissaries had been sent to venture out to the army of Pale giants, but none had returned. Balor had no desire for war while they still searched for a cure to curse, but if the Argathan army refused to withdraw he would be forced to strike back. A eerie quite settled over the Armies of Fomoria, awaiting word from the ambassadors. They sharpened their weapons, but everyone hoped for a peaceful conclusion to the standoff. Fomoria had seen enough of war.

[Torgon]

The pale giants of Argatha refused to yield. They claimed some ancient right to land that was clearly Fomorian, litterly footsteps away from Rath Chimbalth and the Isle of Kings.

From various sources within the local tribes of Icthyids, word had also reached Fomoria that these giants were conquering the very Encircling Ocean. Clearly, these pale monsters had intentions upon the entire world, and if they controlled both the sea and the land they would be unstoppable.

Reluctantly, Balor ordered the forces of Fomoria to attack. He had wished for Peace, and he still held out some hope that these creatures would find reason and come back to the negotiating table. But he could not stand back and let another invasion destroy the lands of his people. He sent out birds carrying messages far and wide for aid, but he had little hope that many would return with good news.

Within the encampment on the Plains of Fomoria, Captain Simragel oversaw the preparations. The forces of Fomoria were still small, having only begun to recover from the devastation of the previous years. However, with them was a company of Unmarked. Formorians untouched by the curse and sacred to the people. The previous night the new god had spoken to Simragel for the first time. In his dream she promised to imbue these holy soldiers with her own strength. As he looked out upon the forces of the Argathans arrayed against his tiny force he could only hope that she spoke the truth.

[Immaculate]

nice writing. very much enjoying the story-telling.

[Immaculate]

Note to the moderator:

I'll be able to get this turn in on time but for the next one can you please extend it 36h or so? I have to go to montreal for a few days

[Excist]

No problem Immaculate. I'll add 12 hours to the clock after the next hosting.

[Immaculate]

oh- i'll still be in montreal- can you extend it 36h after the next?

Sorry to be a pain.

i.

[Excist]

Mandred's brow angled sharply in a frown that at once seemed to convey stern concentration and summary disapproval as the last of the tattered hordes from Fomoria fled back to the north in ruins.

As his Ancient One warriors speared the stragglers and finished off the crippled: too maimed to flee, too weak to give a proper fight, Mandred found hastily scrawled missives apparently calling for aid against the 'pale beasts'.

His eyebrow raised briefly for just an instance in genuine shock as he took in the full measure of disinformation being sent to other nations. Surely some had let fly already, but this pack of letters at least would reveal what lies this disrespectful nation of Fomoria would tell.

Inexcusable. Not only had they left the negotiating table after one bout of correspondence during which Mandred had removed his troops from the contested Werk Enum province to prevent any possible unintended conflict, but Fomoria had shed first blood attempting to push even farther into Agartha's homeland.

And now to top it off they send missives painting Agartha as the aggressors. One thing is clear now. Fomoria and Agartha cannot peacefully coexist. Too much Agarthan blood has been split and Fomoria has proven that they lack the honor all warriors should live by.

Mandred issued the call urging the Seal Guards forth to leave the Seal undefended. Once again the drum beats of war announce impending funerals and give Agartha's enemies warning and time to settle their debts and say goodbye to their loved ones.

[Dogged57]

The scout saluted his commander and gave the report. "Giants to the south, giants to the east, and giants to the north, my chieftain. Nothing but giants in the whole of the land! Giants from the cold mountains, giants bathing in bloody rituals, and giants emerging from the very ground itself!"

Acco, Chieftain of the Marverni and the first to undertake the reconquest of tribal lands shook his head as the scout drew a rough map on the ground. Vercingetorix, mad prophet of Doggedetorix, sat on the ground and rocked back and forth, clutching his knees to his chest. He gibbered madly under his breath, calling upon his god, naming the absent druids, and raving about slaying the enemies of the faith. Segonax the Gutuater, annointed in the blood of the sacrifice given to their god in thanks for the easy conquest of the lands of Runia, joined them at hill encampment overlooking the tents of the warband.

"The city of the Frost Giants lies just over the hills to the east. They won't be happy that you've come here." Robidan the Ferran spit as he mentioned the giants, bravado in front of the Marveni who had conscripted him. While he had proven himself in battle and wore the sign of their god, he was still not accepted by the tribes.

"That we've come here," Segonax stressed. "You'll share our fate, be it a grave or the spoils of the land."

Acco, cutting off the Gutuater, added "The men are still restless. They still need the raids. None of us has made our fortune in the piss-poor lands we've stumbled through. But first, we return home to celebrate our victories. That'll occupy them for a while."

"A short while," the Gutuater added under his breath.

Vercingetorix fell silent and still. His eyes closed and his breathing slowed. None could wake him. The leaders of the army hid this from the men, knowing it would unman them if they saw. And they started the long march home through the mountain pass, wine and women waiting for them.

[tigercub]

(Mightus talks to vonblood) ,Marverni people have taken Root your lands my lord, word has been sent to warn them to leave or needless blood will be spilt...make plans to clear them... my lord as you speak i have done so...if they have not left soon we will kill them all...

Vonblood