MP Game - Yarnspinners

[puffyn]

Hi PashaDawg,

Always good to hear from a loyal reader The game is going pretty well, so long as you're not Mictlan or Atlantis right about now... For your viewing pleasure, I'm attaching some of the more relevant score graphs (provinces, gem income, research, and army size). I suspect that with all the wars breaking out now these rankings are going to fluctuate wildly, so stay tuned.

[puffyn]

[puffyn]

[puffyn]

[Alneyan]

And if you are Man, things are going well, thank you very much. For the moment that is, as I am more than a tad bit concerned about the future, with R'lyeh and Caelum as neighbours, and Arcoscephale not so far away.

(This message was incidentally not too useful, but also acts as a check of the "read pointers" thing on the forum)

[PashaDawg]

Sounds fun. Let me know if you ever decide to start a new Yarn.

[puffyn]

I'd certainly be interested in another yarn... after this one is finished. Two narratives per week are just about all I can manage

[puffyn]

---- Arcoscephale, Turn 38 ----

The castle's defenders must have realized that the gate would soon give way; the few starving survivors rushed out and flung themselves on our spear-points to end their misery. Huehueteotl, the prophet, managed to escape, but there's really nowhere for him to hide. We took possession of the fortress and wandered through numerous temples, freeing the slaves, and washing the blood-stained stones. After working through the first three temples I had to get to somewhere without the stench of blood, and I let Wlde lead the clean-up crew into the last, and largest one: the high temple of the sun.

The other triplets send word from the Sinking Land that Limmy appeared to defeat the defending army. Belief in his return is widespread, even among my own troops, and Odysseus and I agree that we will soon have to have a meeting with this pretender. It's not that a little blind faith is so bad for the men (and vine-things and horned serpents). It's just that I would feel better knowing a little more about this warrior's intentions.

Luckily, this mission coincides nicely with my other task: hunting down the crone, Sethra, where she hides in the vast Horslund Forest to the south of this fortress. The mystics will stay here. They plan to rededicate one of the minor temples to the memory of Amshula, and although they remain uncomfortable sitting in the ribcage chairs in the keep's library, I know it is only a matter of time before the sheer number books of magic there will overcome any lingering distaste they may feel about turning pages made of human flesh.

Andromache will come with me. Many of the men who defected to our cause are still wounded, and require her care.

Rumors grow that the rest of the world is at war. I know that the Vanheim to our west are engaged in a mighty battle against the Kingdom of Man. I have exchanged letters with both those leaders, but refuse to get drawn into their squabble. There is another brief note from the Sinking Land to say that the strange creatures of R'lyeh have settled in the lake beside the castle. As we have no use for the lake, and they seem to shun the land, I see no reason why we should not get along. But they are very odd... Still, I will send a messenger to them, offering them peace. Even more distant and fantastical rumors arrive daily. I hardly know which ones to credit. If you believe everything, the residents of the lost island of Atlantis are just about to be wiped out by magma men and these same R'lyeh creatures, and some dark empire of undead is slowly falling to bird-men who wield power over lightning. Like I said, it is hard to know what to believe is really going on.
---

[puffyn]

---- Arcoscephale, Turn 39 ----

Sethra's reign of terror is ended. We tracked her down to a small copse. Her once mighty army had dwindled to a score of slaves, warriors, and archers. Their slings and short bows bounced harmlessly off the phalanx, which plowed into their lines and tossed them aside. Sethra, at the front, was also hurling stones, but again with no affect, and I watched her get sliced open and her body be trampled into the ground.

I should mention that Limmy managed to show up to this battle also, although since it is easily two month's march through the forest from the Sinking Land, I can only conclude that the triplets were wrong in their belief that he was there just two weeks ago. And yes... I believe it really is Limmy. He's still oddly blue, and he sounds just the same, and he knows me very well — knows the adventures and disasters we shared so long ago in the mountains. As for the rumors that he was dead? Limmy, crazy local that he is, insists that reincarnation is the most natural thing in the world, and that he was merely fortunate to come back again in his same form, and not a pig.

I think a more likely explanation is to be found in the scars he carries all over his body. Andromache, who examined him after the battle, said he had a particularly ugly chest wound which had been festering for quite some time. The trauma of so many battles, and the infection in his chest have probably combined to make him a little more crazy than normal, to the point where he has believed the own rumors of his death. Still, crazy man with delusions of godhood or not, it's good to see him again.

The empire of Mictlan is nearly vanquished. A lone mercenary captain and his single sidekick have also been hired by Mictlan to cause trouble in the south. I trust that even the nearly incompetent triplets can deal with two bandits. Huehueteotl is apparently attempting to storm the walls north of here all by his lonesome. The mystics, cowards that they are, have demanded that I come deal with this grave threat, and so I turn north again.

Andromache insists that Limmy is in no shape to go anywhere, and will be attending to him and the rest of the wounded here. I am not worried about leaving them. Now that the shadow of Sethra is lifting, these woods are quite peaceful. The whole world feels like a much happier place: it is as if all our pains and troubles are being drawn away from us and the freed inhabitants of this land. I feel more fit and relaxed than I have in ages. Is this what victory is really like? Just last month I remember worrying that conquering these lands would just mean more work; that every day we would uncover new horrors lurking in forgotten corners, and even that we might become corrupted by the lingering evil here. Now I worry no more.
---

[Sedna]

R'lyeh, Turn 38

Memo: Attn Glorious All-Powerful First Citizen of the Benevolent People's Republic of R'lyeh (GAPFC-BPRR) Xlikloth

As per instructions, another overwhelming victory for the people in Skyfall Lake. Sent many tritons to re-education camps on the shores. Also, twenty more Martyrs of the Purple this battle; sent official award, medal, fruit-baskets, largest available body part(s) to families. Lands nearby all dead, no living soul walking the earth seen for miles. Heading back because of creepy cold feeling running down the backs of our spines. Plan to advance the Glorious People's Rebellion on other fronts.

Xi Mi, Comrade-in-arms

* * *

Cthugul knew he was close. He could smell it: like overripe octarines. He was pleased, because C'thulu would be pleased. He reached out with his mind to entice the Great Purple closer. But when it was still just beyond his grasp, his concentration was broken by the thundering sound of two greater othernesses frolicking in the void. The Great One disappeared. Cthugul sighed, and turned his mind toward the intruders. He was very patient. The purple would come when it came.