[SPOILERS]Flauros needs no advice!

[Qgqqqqq]

Where'd you settle?
Also: sorry about the delay. I would've thought it would be faster - I sent it via Lesser Domsdale after all. I can't think what would have delayed it in that pristine, proud town...

[Molach]

Travel Journal of Molach, day 27

Finally!

Yesterday I was still waiting for Lord Flauros' carriage to arrive. The map must have been lost on the way, but I was beyond caring about that - even coming unprepared to the court of the Calabim would be better than being left forgotten here.

But as I was sitting down to lunch, eating chicken's leg covered with spices and garlic with a small glass of the fragrant and strong local beer, there was word of a messenger waiting by my hotel. I hurried back, witnessing a travel-stained man arguing with the clerk at the hotel's desk. As I entered, they fell silent, but I could sense the animosity between them. Quite unpleasant encounter.

The messenger wore foreign clothes, but more remarkable than that was the sad state they were in - not merely dusty from the road, but apparently torn in several places, and with dark-red stains splatterd over them. The traveller handed me my long-awaited map, claiming that the delay was caused by Hippus raiders attacking the hamlet of Domsdale while he was there. His spirited account, no doubt inspired by the strong plum-brandy native to this area, made little sense to me, but I was so happy to finally see my map that I tipped him double regardless. As I left, the messenger and clerk resumed their argument, sometimes looking at me and saying the words "Flauros" and "Ordog" several times.

While I could not make out Lord Flauros' Keep on the map, enough of the land was revealed that I could at once locate the new and bustling Calabim city of Malefia. It is located right in the center of the map, marked by an artistic rendation of an early settler. It is near both grain farms and the incence. These will feed the growing population and provide revenue through trade after agriculture and calendar are researched.

There are also several hills nearby, which should be mined for precious or more mundane ores. All in all this is a food-rich but still production-rich area.

There are some small hamlets somewhat to the west and northwest of the main city, but if the city were located there it would loose some pristine farmland in the east for little gain. All in all I am pleased with the Calabim placement of the city.

I am now ready for an early night - the weather is getting worse, and it is quite dark out yet the sun has barely set.

[Ichabod]

It's seems that the backward Calabim society isn't ready for your cosmopolitan political views.

[Molach]

Cache of maps, discovered on the body of a Calabim scout.

[Molach]

Molachs Diary, day 9

There are many odd things to put down, and much time has passed since these events took place, yet I must be faithful while recounting this, lest I later on be accused of having delved too deep into the slivovitz-bottles of local manufacture.

After my long and fruitless stay at the Golden Krone hotel, the rapid turn of events took me quite by surprise. After writing my last post of my travel journal, I went to sleep. Yet I was awoken about an hour before midnight, by an insistent knocking on my door. The landlady's daughter was on the other side, and quite distraught, she exclaimed "Must you go? Oh! Young Herr, must you go?" when I opened the door. Still shaking sleep from my eyes, she took my hand and led me down the corridor, talking quickly in half-understandable dialect. I think she said "He is coming" or something similar.

Outside the hotel, the landlord and his wife stood talking to a coachman wielding a wicked-looking whip. They apparently reached agreement, because the coachman nodded and went to fetch horse and carriage. At the same time a porter appeared, bringing my single piece of luggage.

The landlord, turning towards me, started saying something hurriedly, but I never learnt what he wanted. At this time the carriage arrived.

Black and sleek, led by a team of magnificent horses, They were driven by a tall man, with a long brown beard and a great black hat, which seemed to hide his face from us. I could only see the gleam of a pair of very bright eyes, which seemed red in the lamplight, as he turned to us.
"Mein Herr, I am ordered to bring you to the castle of Lord Flauros immediately"
The landlord stammered "You are early tonight, my L...friend"
His wife, crossing herself with two fingers, quickly whispered "Denn die Todten reiten Schnell", which the driver apparently heard, because he turned towards her and smiled with glistening teeth.

This was a rather strange spectacle, but there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it. I walked towards and mounted the carriage, the driver helping me with a hand which caught my arm in a grip of steel. His strength must have been prodigious. With a whispered command, the horses reared into action, and the carriage sped away. Looking through the rear window, I shall never forget the last glimpse which I had of the courtyard and its crowd of picturesque figures, all crossing themselves, as they stood quite still, following me with their eyes until they disappeared from sight.

Of the journey itself I remember little. I was half asleep most of the way, and whenever I would wake and look upon our surrounding I wished myself back to sleep. We travelled far too fast along narrow pathways. Wild and savage creatures were seen, lurking behind rocks and trees along the way. Wolves, Giant spiders and even a Hill giant could be seen in the distance. The driver would not seem to notice them, instead spurring the horses on to even greater speed.

Then, just as dawn lit up the nearby hilltops, we arrived.
I was outside the great Calabim Palace of Malefia.


The driver let me down, put my case on the ground then drove away. I was left outside the magnificent palace. There were no manservants in sight, so I was left to my own devices. Then the massive gates slowly opened, revealing a tall, pale man.


"Welcome to my house!" He made no motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as though his gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone. The instant, however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed cold as ice, more like the hand of a dead than a living man. Again he said,

"Welcome to my house! Enter freely. Go safely, and leave something of the happiness you bring!" The strength of the handshake was so much akin to that which I had noticed in the driver, whose face I had not seen, that for a moment I doubted if it were not the same person to whom I was speaking. So to make sure, I said interrogatively, "Lord Flauros?"

He smiled as he replied, "I am Flauros, and I bid you welcome, Molach, to my palace. We have much work to do." As he was speaking, he put the lamp on a bracket on the wall, and stepping out, took my luggage. He had carried it in before I could forestall him.

Then the next days and nights seemed to melt into one another. I was given maps, ledgers, letters, previously drafted plans, and even books about early Calabim history to read. I had not the time nor energy to write in my journal, for I was kept busy every waking minute of the day. When I was hungry I could retreat to a dining-room where there always was set out a table laden with food, yet I always dined alone. My host would disappear for long spells of the day, returning only to bring me more books and ledgers, and demanding that I read them to familiarize myself with Calabim strengths, as he put it.

After several days of this, he deemed me ready for a strategic discussion. When I sat down next to him at his table, my mouth felt dry and I was very apprehensive of my danger - if I should prove ignorant or wrong about how the Calabim should develop, I might find myself out of emplyment that very night.

He asked me how to best play to calabim strengths, and after clearing my parched throat, I began.

"My Lord, Calabim has a large city here in Malefia, larger than any of our rivals. The workers in the fields will soon have a corn farm ready, at which point we shall double our food surplus. This will be sufficient to grow in 4 turns, the same time it will take to train another cohort of warriors. After this we shall train a settler."
He frowned at this. "Molach, several ...former..advisors told us to train more workers, to develop the land quicker. Why the early settler?"
Feeling that the cricis had come, I spoke very carefully. "More workers would mostly be idle - build improvements we do not need yet, or roading. Better to start our city sooner. We have time to develop two grain tiles, partially a grassland, then we plantation the incence to encourage trade and commerce. But then little more to do until a new city is up."
"What about security?"
"We started with two warriors and a scout. With an additional warrior unit we can ensure the safety of both our cities. Besides, the location is perfect for us - quick growth, commerce in troves once we get mining online"
Flauros looked up sharply. "Mining? Did you not read about our revolutionary Governor's mansions? Shouldn't we instead focus towards obtaining these houses that we may truly live and prosper in our lands?"
Fighting back the wave of dread sweeping over me, I stood my ground. "We must have mining. Clearing forests for security, development and production. Mining for production is essential - how else will we get stone and metals needed for construction? Code of Laws is good in theory, but while our empire is still growing, it might even cut our food surplus leading to slower growth. After mining we shall make our laws anew"

After a moment of silence, the Lord suddenly smiled. "I may have misjudged you, I think you may still be useful to us, Molach. I was about to invite you to my table for dinner, but I am eager to read more detail about this. You shall prepare a written report of your views by tomorrow. And I hereby name you First Advisor for greater Malefia."

I was too mentally exhausted at the time to appreciate this new and lofty position, but after I had written and delivered my recommendations I soon found the time to rejoice. I also obtained a neat book, in which I have now started my diary from my time here in Malefia.

I have been tasked with making a detailed plan for all Calabim forces, so I must get my rest now.

-M

[Qgqqqqq]

Loving the updates

[Molach]

Molach's Diary, day 12

I've been meeting with Flauros every day these four days. I suppose he really must value my advice, because I never see anyone else in conference with him. Indeed, the palace is really working in a smooth efficient manner, for I never see anyone else in the palace for that matter.

Today we had to meet outside our usual time. I had hung my shaving glass by the window, and was just beginning to shave. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, and heard Flauros' voice saying to me, "Molach, we must meet at once." I started, for it amazed me that I had not seen him, since the reflection of the glass covered the whole room behind me and there was no sign of a man except myself in it. Must have been a trick of light in the early morning sun.

As soon as we sat down at the conference table, Flauros pushed a tattered piece of parchment into my hands.
"Our warriors have made contact. The Hippus are riding for our lands!"
I studied the paper.


Flauros was quite agitated. "This is madness. They appear to be heading towards the hamlet of Gorovino. Our scouts have reported that they are plundering any local lodges and cabins they pass - we fear they will lay waste to the halmet and loot significant gold from it. Gold that is rightfully ours!"
The report and crudely drawn map confirmed what Flauros was saying. The Hippus warrior would surely devastate the hamlet. I could only wonder why Flauros hadn't relocated it's people to the safety of Calabim lands, rather than leaving them isolated out there.
Flauros went on. "The Hippus have mastered temporal magic - even time passes more slowly when their Yellow leader takes a turn leading. They have also proven that they are opportunistic, aggressive and ...well annoying. We must marshal our forces and march at once!"

Must of the meeting was spent laying plans. We could not immediately march without proper economic support without crippling our long-term potential. However we were in full agreement that if he pillaged that hamlet it would be considered an act of war.

We also viewed how scouting was going.


"Our scouts report they have been stopped by giant arachnids. Again. I should have made sure I sent hardier men, but...blood is too precious these days"

When it came to our next settlement, I was on firmer ground.

I told the Lord Flauros that this site was perfect for a second city. Quick growth, gold to fuel trade and increase commerce in our lands. I told him we needed mining for this site to prosper, but that that was not too far into the future. The Calabim had some gold stored, which a warrior had come across in an abandoned plantation, so a quick new city would increase our development rapidly. Flauros was in agreement, but he also insisted we build another worker before the settler. And I could agree with this, since our worker actually needed more time building the plantation near malefia before he could commit to the new city.

And with that, our meeting was adjourned. However my sleep that night was troubled, as I kept recalling Flauros' face as talked about Yellow - a wild look of malevolent fury, murderous eyes glowing almost red in the low light.

I am glad I did not seek a post with the Hippus.

-M

[Molach]

Molach's Diary, day 13.

I have just realized that in all my time here in Malefia, I have yet to exit this palace. With all the work to be done, I've never had the notion to explore much, but it would be good to meet some of the other inhabitants in these lands - what tales they could tell, I must only wonder. But my Lord Flauros is an excellent host, engaging and intelligent, listening attentively as I present my plans for the optimalization of Calabim worker force. I suppose most rulers would find this rather tiresome, but Flauros is different, paying heed to the small things that he may later reap the great rewards.

I went through my recent detailed plans, with a certain satisfaction as everything has been streamlined to the smallest detail.

I informed Flauros that by working a hilly forest for a turn, we could train our warrior one turn faster yet still grow in 3 turns. Flauros seemed very relieved when he heard that the city would grow on time. "Good...good. Growth is good". Calendar finishes in 8 turns, but by working a river grassland for 4 turns, we can shorten this to 7 turns. Now our worker will farm, then road and then start the plantation one turn earlier, so that we can gain technological insight quicker. Settler will still complete in 10 turns after the warrior is sent off. Whether or not we change our government to a more agrarian society before or after we send the settler off is an open question. It will give us +1 food only, as the other farm loses a hammer, so we should do it if that +1 is enough to save us a turn.

Flauros then talked about the military position.

"It seems my...persuation was well received. Hippus warriors turned away from the hamlet. We are pleased with this turn of events. I think it is high time we ...relocate these villagers to the safety of Calabim borders. I suppose they will be so grateful that they may even gift us some money for our trouble."
He then frowned. "But wild animals should be no concern to Calabim might, yet our troops needlessly fear them. Polar bears scaring our warriors away is not how I would have it. If they cannot fortify in the forest and prepare for our settlement I shall have to deal with them myself. Useless bloodpets!"

The meeting was ended soon after. Before I take my sleep I am left pondering the Lord's parting remark. Bloodpet. While official correspondance to our units refer to 1st warriors and so forth, I've seen one of Flauros' private maps, which used the same strange label...'Bloodpet' in lieu of warrior. Must ask him about the origin of this nickname tomorrow. I am sure there is a funny anecdote behind it.

-M

[Molach]

OOC

We do a turn a day, yet YEllow almost every day holds the save for 15-16 hours. Means the rest of us 4 average about 2 hours each per turn. I am sure we could have done two or three turns a day if the timezones were more favourable. I guess one should make these games with that in mind - "Anyone up for a Euro/East coast FFH?"

Oh and I'm probably the 2nd worst turn hog after Yellow, so major kudos to the other guys.

And a turn a day will be fine in about 20 turns or so, when things start to take more time, I guess.

[Ichabod]