[Spoilers] Defining the phrase "€˜Hung Like a Horse"€™: Pb & the Kuriotates

[pocketbeetle]

So you are really going to build them now? I already wondered if you would.

Absolutely.

To give you an idea, I could build 25 warriors over the next bunch of turns, and still be below the Illians' current power rating.
And in a fight between those 25 warriors and the force outlined in Sareln's email, I wouldn't be placing any money on the outcome.
Plus I'm already over my unit supply, so that would be an extra -25gp/t in maintenance.

Then there's the Illian ritual Samhain. Selrahc hasn't built it yet, for which I'm glad, but I can't rule it out.
I was playing around with the Illians the other day, and noticed that building Samhain gives them +1 happy in all their cities for 20t (quick speed), and it's pretty cheap (hammerwise ~settler).
Samhain spawns frostlings (str 3), frostling archers (str 3/5) and more importantly Mokkha (str 8?).
If Mokkha were to spawn near me, I'd need more than a few warriors.

So in short, I need a credible military to tide me over until I can tech something respectable.
The only options I have at the moment are warriors (str 3 16h), Soldiers of Kilmorph (str 4 but 60h) and the Giants.

I'm not sure enough about Selrahc's intentions to rely on diplo alone, certainly not at this stage where there are no obvious factions yet.

[pocketbeetle]

Turn 80:

All quiet.

Bobbo completed the tundra (yuck, I really hope it switches back to gl soon) mine.
Bobbin completed the wheat farm, Caledor grew onto it and grows again in 2t.
Kwythellar produced another 1t workboat, the first one has headed off for the fish.

If you’ve been wondering what Vanilla Ice has been up to, he’s been checking the neighbourhood for spiders, and is happy to report none have been sighted.



Note the mouse highlight in the bottom left – Selrahc has one of Silent Night’s corns farmed, has two workers improving a second, and the capital now has a road leading East out of it.

Still hasn’t farmed the wheat near Jingle Bells though, and to my knowledge doesn’t have Calendar to improve his riverside Incense.
Where’s the shaking head smiley? Bleh we don’t have one. Okay, let’s go fetch one. There we go.
Or in fact, maybe this one’s better.

Yep I like that one.


Demographics:

Rival Best Soldiers keeps fluctuating between ~95k and 110k, that’ll be the effect of Selrahc summoning str 5 Ice elementals.
Strange that Caledor at size 4 is now above the Hippus capital on the city screen, which I believe is still at size 5. Probably the effect of buildings and culture.

Nothing much else to comment.

[pocketbeetle]

Diplo:

Well, I said I was going to wait a couple of turns but, “when opportunity knocks you better let him in and sit him on down and try to be his friend.”

(6:35:54 PM) Selrahc: I was just about to send you an email
(6:36:05 PM) pocketbeetle: Oooh, what've I done to deserve that?
(6:36:17 PM) Selrahc: I've got bob lined up for a map trade in 6t
(6:36:20 PM) Selrahc: After I get cartography
(6:36:24 PM) pocketbeetle: Eh?
(6:36:31 PM) pocketbeetle: You're getting Cartography?
(6:36:41 PM) pocketbeetle: Okay
(6:36:43 PM) Selrahc: I'm going to get cartography because I am dieing for maintenance
(6:36:49 PM) pocketbeetle: Ah, city states
(6:36:54 PM) Selrahc: Zacly
(6:37:04 PM) pocketbeetle: Okay. So what's up with Bob then?
(6:37:28 PM) Selrahc: Anyway, I thought I'd see if you wanted to do another map exchange after I've done that.
(6:37:56 PM) Selrahc: Um.. nothing much. He has a scout nearby the combat zone, and I need some help finding Sareln's last city.
(6:38:24 PM) pocketbeetle: Hmmm. Well that's very kind of you to let me know and offer
(6:38:45 PM) pocketbeetle: Question: Have you talked this over/ committed to this yet?
(6:39:13 PM) Selrahc: Not comitted to it thouroughly
(6:39:25 PM) Selrahc: (Ick spelling)
(6:39:39 PM) Selrahc: I've mentioned it to him.
(6:39:50 PM) Selrahc: But I could cancel it.
(6:39:51 PM) pocketbeetle: Don't worry =D. Let me put things to you from my perspective.
(6:41:35 PM) pocketbeetle: I've been quite happy with the current situation - us two having the best maps.
We made an effort to explore early on, and so deserve it.
I personally was hoping to wait until gold trading, or at least open borders (resource trading) before handing map knowledge over.
I don't see the reason to give free info over to civs who have just sat on their ass and waited
(6:41:53 PM) pocketbeetle: Equally, I can see things from your point - you want to find Sareln's city and think Bob can help you
(6:41:59 PM) Selrahc: Yes, that's a fair enough point.
(6:42:14 PM) pocketbeetle: If I can 'cancel' out that last point, would you reconsider?
(6:42:43 PM) Selrahc: Honestly, you don't have to do that.
(6:42:59 PM) Selrahc: If you've got a problem with the map deal I can accept that.
(6:43:10 PM) Selrahc: And not go through with it for now.
(6:43:38 PM) Selrahc: Of course if you know something about Sareln's city location that would be helpful.
(6:43:53 PM) pocketbeetle: Well, I don't want you making decisions because I've got a problem with it. I don't want you to feel I'm forcing you to do stuff.
I'd rather you reached the decision yourself
(6:44:09 PM) pocketbeetle: Well, how is the sacvenger hunt going?
(6:44:13 PM) pocketbeetle: *scavenger
(6:45:03 PM) Selrahc: I don't even know really. I haven't found anything. I don't know if I'm looking in the right direction yet.
(6:45:27 PM) Selrahc: His settler was in his capital 2t ago though.
(6:45:36 PM) pocketbeetle: Which direction are you looking? I take it you're using the Ice elementals to search +1 tile?
Have you split the Priests up?
(6:45:36 PM) Selrahc: So it can't be too far away
(6:45:45 PM) Selrahc: Not yet.
(6:45:54 PM) Selrahc: I don't want to risk them getting mugged.
(6:46:01 PM) Selrahc: Scant risk as that is.
(6:46:32 PM) Selrahc: (A stack of 3 warriors for example could take one down if they were on their own)
(6:47:04 PM) pocketbeetle: You think so? I think they're more hardy than that, but okay.
(6:47:19 PM) Selrahc: Well it depends on terrain.
(6:47:28 PM) Selrahc: And luck
(6:47:41 PM) Selrahc: But I think it's conceivable.
(6:47:49 PM) pocketbeetle: True
(6:47:53 PM) pocketbeetle: How about I write you a short diplo email in a sec then?
(6:48:00 PM) Selrahc: Alright.
(6:48:12 PM) pocketbeetle: Oh while we're at it, have you chatted with Iskender recently?
(6:48:22 PM) Selrahc: Not yet.
(6:48:23 PM) pocketbeetle: I don't have contact, but we've exchanged some pms, he seems fun
(6:48:57 PM) Selrahc: I sent him a quick hello when he first took over, he said he was going to get to grips with his situation first.
(6:49:04 PM) Selrahc: Before diving into diplo.
(6:49:27 PM) Selrahc: And told me he'd get in contact if he had something to discuss.
(6:49:43 PM) pocketbeetle: Okay no worries Was just curious. Think Bob has contact with him yet?
(6:49:46 PM) Selrahc: Nothing since then.
(6:49:54 PM) Selrahc: No, he doesn't.
(6:50:06 PM) Selrahc: He's holding off for some reason.
(6:50:31 PM) pocketbeetle: Strange. Okay, let me go scribble.
(6:52:02 PM) pocketbeetle: Oh and just to repeat, thanks for letting me know you were thinking of trading maps with Bob. I appreciate it
(6:52:39 PM) Selrahc: No worries.

Remember this comment?

With regard to the whole AV thing, it looks like everyone is saying they haven't spoken to Iskender?
So either Bob has gained contact with Iskender in the interval, it was Selrahc, or someone's fibbing.

So looks like someone’s fibbing, or the new Lord of the Hippus is a master of demographics.
I’m making a mental note to ask Iskender when I finally get contact with him.
Should be interesting.

Greetings Mighty Selrahc,

I've been meaning to ask, when are you going to rename those cities to carol songs?
'Gereth Minar' doesn't quite have the same ring as 'Jingle Bells', you know.

Also, I came across my head ratman Veezheesumuunuun yesterday, he was holding a copy of what *looked like* your orders to Illian troops.
And...I don't wish to be indelicate...but he was laughing.

I think he may have an idea where the Svartalfar are hiding.
Would you like me to put him in contact with you?

Kind Regards,
Pb, Zoo Caretaker Boy-King.

Greetings to Emperor Pocketbeetle

I believe your ratman must be wrong! The Winter King makes no mistakes. However, the troops sometimes make errors in their interpretation of orders. Perhaps your ratman and I should have a discussion and see if we can come the root of this issue.

Emperor eh?
Looks like I’m going up in the world.

Greetings Selrahc,

Oh dear, of course, I must have been wrong.

But I'll mention it to him.
Try to be gentle with him, and forgive his manners.

Regards,
Pb, Multiple choice Boy-King

And then I sent him this bunch of emails.
He started getting it towards the end.

Later that night, after performing a detailed ‘inspection’ of the local taverns in Silent Night, you’re slowly and unsteadily returning back to the royal palace when a shadow detaches itself from the wall.

A pair of eyes gleam at you behind long yellow teeth grin, a pointed snout, twitching whiskers and huge ears complete the nightmarish visage.
“Alright Boss,” hisses the Ratman, “I heard you were interested in talking to me. I’m Veez-”
At which point the creature rattles off a long complicated string of syllables, that even in a sober state you couldn’t possibly hope to replicate.

Drawing yourself up, you nod, trying to appear regal yet not trusting your voice.

“Other Kings limit themselves to losing their crowns, their wives, sometimes even their dignity,” the creature says, “you, it would seem, managed to lose a city.”
It chuckles.

The two bodyguards behind you shift their hands to their swords, but you choose to say nothing, continuing to stare frostily at the insolent beast.

“Yes well,” Veez continues, appearing unsettled, “I may be able to help you with that.”.
“But…” and the leer returns, “It’s going to cost you Boss, lotsa cheese, and not just the edible kind if you get my meaning.”

Do you:
a) Tell your guards to draw their swords and seize the creature. He’ll tell you where the damn Elves are if you have to beat it out of him personally!
b) Walk away from the Ratmen, you want nothing to do with his kind?
c) Remind Veez that his King owes the Illians information?

Choose your own PBEM huh?

I'm going for A.

With a word you order your guards to draw their swords and seize the vile thing.

But before the command has even left your mouth you hear two rapid thunks, like the sound of arrows hitting wood, and the guards on either side of you slump.

If it’s possible, the -thing‘s- grin grows even broader.

“Price just increased Boss. We’re not talking any type of mouldy cheese anymore, we’re talking puuure Cheddar. The expensive shit.”

Do you:
b) Walk away from the Ratmen, you want nothing to do with his kind?
c) Remind Veez that his King owes the Illians information?

Not much option now...

C it is.

“Pffft,” splutters Veez, drawing himself up. “That nancy boy may like you and offer favours like wine, but that doesn’t buy you much credit with us.”

“Although…” and again his eyes gleam, “Some cheese is always better than no cheese now isn’t it? Famous saying of the kindred that is, hmmm.”
Clearly he comes to a decision.

“I’ll make you an offer Boss, and you won’t find a better one this side of the island, that I tell you,” he chuckles and mutters something under his breath.
You strain but can only catch a couple of words, something about ‘the only offer.’

“We’ll give you the Silver service for wiping that debt clean. We’ll tell you why you can’t find no city around Thariss and maybe even give you an idea of what’s going on, what those stupid blind senses are missing.”

Once more, yellowed teeth get bared.

“But if you want the -details- Boss, all the gory details, then you’re going to need the Gold Service. And considering the stunt you just tried to pull, no small token gonna cover that. You’re going to have to owe us by the end of it, nothing too much, a small favour, a piece of info.
But it will be something.” His eyes flash. “Pick Boss, and make it quick.”

a) I’ll take the Silver, let the slate be wiped clean.
b) I’ll take the Gold, even though we will end up owing these creatures.
c) I want nothing to do with this, walk away.

Is this a purely in character discussion?

I mean, this particular choice

For the first time, Veez appears offguard.
He looks confusedly at you and says "Eh?"

Then he laughs again.

"Does the little King need someone to hold his hand? Did we forget to bring a nursemaid, precious? Our King owes you, so we're willing to accept we owe you.
But if you owe usss...well I guess that means you owe our King, -if- we remember to tell him about the debt that is." He looks pleased with himself. "Bad memory I got me sometimes."

Selrahc looks around at the fresh coating of snow on the ground and looks back at the warm glow of the tavern. Normally he would return to the Ice Throne to seek guidance from Ulvin on affairs of this level. But this clearly wasn't the time.

"I'll take your deal Veez"

"Which one your Kingliness?" asks the ratman, his tone containing none of the respect it should have.

Gold.

Got him there eventually, and only needed to railroad him once.

Veez grins.

“A wise choice Boss, you’ll be hearing from us soon.” and with that, he fades back into the shadows. Movement in the corner of your eye tells you that the bowmen have withdrawn too.

Suddenly much more sober, you wonder if maybe you should start reinspecting those taverns in earnest.

Well, that’s for you to decide.

I feel I missed my calling in life.

I’ll give him an edited copy of the proposal email Sareln sent me before, and see if I can direct him towards the Calabim.
That should definitely scupper any map deal with Bob, I really like the fact he spoke to me about it before, +diplo for that.

.

[SevenSpirits]

[Adlain]

You rat, you sure vanilla ice hasn't taken over the running of the empire

[Serdoa]

PB, I bow before you. Not only for your diplomatic skills, but much more for the whole fun I have with reading that. Every time I look into this forum I hope there is another posting from you. Keep up the marvelous work you are doing

[Maksim]

I can’t help but think that soon afterwards, the following scene took place in the Kuriotates’ palace:

- Sire, if you could spare your loyal servant a morsel of your time, I cannot help but ask…

- Ask away, my scribe most loyal.

- It’s just that well… so many things happened that I doubt myself, Your Majesty.

- What doubts you have? Let no thought of yours remain unspoken.

- Well… A generation ago, the priests anointed you an equal of the gods of old, and ever since the younger ones toil without rest to greater glory of Your most exalted name, and even now the capital prepares for a grand ritual to sign a pact with the giants of the northern wastes that have long hunted us in the dark ages of Winter…

- Better to have them as an ally, than an enemy, indeed.

- And when a demon-worshipping madman was found in the lands far away, not only did you let him settle in our lands, but you also had given him a military escort and provided a small pension that even now is spent on expanding his cult in the fair city of Avelorn.

- Well, it was either this, or make him a military medic, or put him in charge of inventing our festivals, and I’m sure none of us wanted that.

- And when a ruthless demagogue who claims to be the reincarnation of the God of Winter – the same one who brought down the brightest civilizations of the old age and wants to do the same again – when he attacks and subjugates a nearby neighbor, what do we do? What do we do, o Sire?

- Oh, tell me now, I’m genuinely curious.

- We offer no help; we wait whilst slaughter and bloodbath rule the land, and when the poor elves escape their enemy's ice-cold clutches, we offer our hard-earned intelligence to help this Auric hunt them down and exterminate them where even the Long Winter could not?.. I have but one question, my Lord, and afterwards, do what you will with me.

- What is it?

- Aren’t we supposed to be the good ones?

The Boy King falls silent, then, lowers his eyes momentarily; a split second later raises them to stare at his servant, a playful smile hiding in the corner of his lip.

- We are the good ones, my child. We truly are. After all, we are the only game in town.

On a more serious note, though: from a non-interested viewpoint though, how do you feel about Sareln's gambit? Is it gamey, is it brilliant, is it something you would have done under the circumstances?

[pocketbeetle]

So you are really going to build them now? I already wondered if you would.

Another important reason for building the Giants, that while I was responding to Rowain I completely forgot about (oops).
Is quite simply: because I said I would.

No need for Selrahc to start wondering what else I said I would do and haven't, not at this stage of the game.

You rat, you sure vanilla ice hasn't taken over the running of the empire

Adlain, I am as truly horrified as you at Veezheesumuunuun's actions.
They are a stain and a blight on both my good reputation and that of the noble Kuriotates.
The thought of all those poor elves being condemned to the slaughter nearly breaks my heart.
Sad though it may be however, the die has now been truly cast. I can only continue such tragic events along their natural course: rivers cannot be damned while in full flow.

It's interesting you made the comparison though, Vanilla Ice and Veez are half-brothers.
It's just that Vanilla Ice decided to leave his bedroom and nobly explore the outside world, while Veez doesn't like the outside world prefers to nobly explore bedrooms.

PB, I bow before you. Not only for your diplomatic skills, but much more for the whole fun I have with reading that. Every time I look into this forum I hope there is another posting from you. Keep up the marvelous work you are doing

Hey Serdoa, thanks for the encouragement. =)

I'm not so sure about my diplomatic skills, but I'm very glad about the last part.
As far as I'm concerned, the point of this thread is to entertain and have a laugh, so I'm glad to see I'm succeeding.

I can’t help but think that soon afterwards, the following scene took place in the Kuriotates’ palace:

<<Good stuff>>

I think we need to get you in a PBEM asap Maksim!
I particularly liked the last line, because it's so true, I am the only good game in town!
Don't forget the Elves currently being slaughtered are evil and treacherous though, trying to lead our hero Vanilla Ice to his death from the first moment of contact.

I was also thinking of posting a note in the tech thread, something to the effect of saying that the Kuriotates considered themselves the Keepers of the AV religion, Guardians against the coming of the Meshabber of Dis.

I chose not to due to contact rules, and also I wasn't sure about handing away free info.
Now that it seems most people already know where it's been founded, I wonder.

On a more serious note, though: from a non-interested viewpoint though, how do you feel about Sareln's gambit? Is it gamey, is it brilliant, is it something you would have done under the circumstances?

I've got absolutely no problem with it.
We didn't ban city-gifting, and as far as I'm concerned, if Sareln can manage to convince an in-play civ to give up one of their cities to keep him alive, well a big to him.

That's not to say I want to see it happening lots in this game.
I think the two mitigating factors have been that the game is still in the early stages (cities are worth -a lot-) and that Sareln/Bob/Cull did not know each other/ had not played together in other games before.
If it was late in the game, or if they were not necessarily making decisions that they felt best for their civ in the long run, then maybe I'd be more concerned.
As for whether I'd do it, the question is slightly moot, because I honestly would never have thought of it. =)

Do I have any intentions of doing so if I find myself in a similar situation? Nah.

[pocketbeetle]

Turn 81:

Turn 81 begins with workboat naming ceremony, broken champagne bottle and all.
The proud ship Concepcion leaves Kwythellar’s harbor, heading to map out the Northern polar reaches of the continent, hopefully to find a trade route to Cull.



Meanwhile, the other workboat nets the fish, Bob Marley completes the penultimate mine at Kwythellar, and Bobbo moves to road the desert oasis.

Kwythellar begins production of the Pact, T95ish is the ETA, with the GSci *cough* coming one turn after.



Both Caledor and Avelorn grow at the end of the turn.
Avelorn will start on a worker next turn, both to keep the pop down RE:founding of OO, and because I still need more of them.




Demographics:

Both Cull and Bob gained 6 points for a pop boost, Bob in Nubia (size 4?), Cull in his capital, Khazak.

Something I missed last turn was that the rival worst approval went to 52%, and whaddya know, this turn Cull grew to size 7.
There are a couple of ways he can be doing that: his happy cap is normally 5, but he has a free gold from his palace which makes it 6.
So that means:

• He’s got a happy resource hooked up and his treasury is ~100-149 gp (neutral).
  
• He doesn’t have a happy resource and his treasury is ~150-198 gp (+1 happy).
  
• He has two happiness resources connected and his treasury is <99gp (+1 unhappy).
  

Those are roughly in order of likelihood.
It wouldn’t be particularly wise of him to grow to size 7 based on treasury level, not if he expects to get the city back within 10 turns or so.

[pocketbeetle]

Diplo:

Selrahc received this earlier today:

You wake up in your bedchamber this morning to the knowledge that something is not right.

It has been over five days since your meeting in the dark with the Ratman, and since then, nothing. Silence.
You’ve amused yourself in the meantime, devising all kinds of elaborate torture rituals you intend to use on the creature if it should turn out it was wasting your time. -Most- are downright sadistic (needs improvement), and -all- of them end up with Veez’s tail mounted on your wall (satisfactory), pride of place above the firepit.

Just like any other morning the dawn light is spreading through the window, illuminating the room.
But the smell brought with it is not fresh, more…musty. The smell of a sewer.
Standing up, you soon realise why.

A small package sits in the dead centre of the room. Imprinted on its upper side, a large black pawprint.
Walking over, you pick the parcel up and unfold it, finding two letters and a note within.

The first letter is a tattered piece of paper containing a scrawled jumble of words.
It begins:

“Ello Boss – nice digs you got here.”

You can just picture the creature grinning as you read.
The thought is not a pretty one.

“Turns out when you plant an Elf in the ground and water copiously, they do turn into a tree after all. A Weeping Willow! Hah!”

The script wavers briefly, then continues.

“Course that only happens after they’ve stopped making up silly words like ‘mercy’ and ‘par-lay’ though.
Anyhoo, a nice Elf I met kindly donated the message alongside this one.
Says he was a courier, headed for the Rockheads. One of five.
Apparently they got a problem with messages going missing.”

The script loops wildly out of line again.

“Should answer all your questions and more.”

You stop reading to contemplate the second message.
This letter is much more elegant, written in a flowing, continuous hand on rich parchment. A broken seal of wax marks the outside.
It reads:

“Salutations Cull, Leader of the Khazad,

I find myself in need of a temporary home while I flee from the
Illians with a settler. I have already secured a promise of a more
permanent home and would be willling to offer you gold, maps, 1 of the
palace mana (the Calabim have dibs on another) and a supply of elven
workers. I also have the map information that I have assembled, and
have already acquired hunting, though have not had the opportunity to
saturate the maps with my scouts.

The Calabim state that they are able to provide me with permanent
settlement in 13 turns + move-time. They would offer me [i]<<some blood
has made this sentence illegible>> [/i]such moves folly. My own settler
will flee far from the Illians. So the timeline looks something like this:

You loan me a city --> I found another city in a safe spot and you
reclaim yours --> The Calabim found me a permanent settlement, and I
rebuild from there, perhaps keeping the temporary outpost, perhaps
scrapping it / giving it over to the barbs, or handing it over to
either you or the Calabim.

Time is something of a critical factor in these negotiations, so
please follow up with either a positive or negative reaction as soon
as possible.

Sincerely,
Sareln

P.S. And now you know why the turn took so much longer than normal to
get through Bob... he says this is starting to sound like a CIV
pyramid scheme :P.”

You turn back to the Ratman’s tatty letter.

“Shouldn’t come as a big surprise to you really Boss, the pasty pale ones sticking with other pasty ones.
Now, as for that settler, don’t you go demanding the deal required we tell you where that one is. Not even my boys can keep up with an Elf in its home forest.
Last we saw, he was hotfooting out of Thariss like a small army was after him, and funnily enough there was.
Said small army scared him so much, there’s a damn good chance he’s still bloody running.

So that just leaves the final question, the big one, doesn’t it?
Where the pansy Elves are currently hiding, yeah?
Well, riddle me this Boss:
If a Dwarven city falls in a forest, does anyone notice that it was full of Elves?”

The letter ends:

“Never let it be said that the Kindred do not deliver.
Veezheesumuunuun”

At the bottom there appears to be a long list of terms, all written in the tiniest letters ratly possible.
Apparently by reading this, you have agreed not to share the details with anybody, have been entered automatically into a raffle to win a new set of armour, and can now purchase some blue pills for the low low price of 3gp each.

Thoughtfully, you pull out the final note, written in a childlike hand.

“Greetings Selrahc,

If this were an imaginary world where people could speak to each other instantly over long distances, it’s entirely possible you’d be jumping up and down right now screaming ‘WHO STOLE MY KILLZ???’

But before you decide to rain ice, brimstone and retribution upon all concerned, please could you take the time to have a little chat with me?

I think it is significant, that the potentially weaker player has ended up with the ‘sucker’ end of the deal. Namely the surrender of his second city for a significant number of turns, sacrificing all growth, income and production at such a crucial stage of the game. Not to mention the unenviable honour of being the obvious target for your wrath.
Meanwhile the other beneficiary from this agreement receives an equal payout, and for the low low price of a settler, continues to grow strong.

Kind Regards,
Pb, Concerned Boy-King.”

Carefully you fold the pieces of paper back together, taking special care with the elegant parchment.
You stand motionless in the centre of the room for a moment, considering what you have learned; then grimly, walk to the door and call for the Guard Commander to attend you at once.

As you turn away, one last detail catches your eye.

Your drinks cabinet has been emptied.

Note that Sareln’s email has been edited slightly from the original.

Overall, I’m not sure how Selrahc will take the above.
I made one of the sentences illegible because I want him to realise that Bob is getting the better end of this deal by far.
But rereading it, I realise it could be inferred that Bob has ended up having to offer more than just a settler in 13 turns.

Anyway, we’ll see how things go, I think he wants a chat later.

(Also, can I just take a moment to salute the operators of this forum.
Any board that dares to support the colour ‘hotpink’ (yes really) has instant respect from me. )