[SPOILERS]Flauros needs no advice!

[Qgqqqqq]

I love the updates, the slow realisation reminds me a lot of Dracula (which is no doubt intended).

[Molach]

Molach's Diary, day 18

I had a dream last night. Dreamt I was back home, sitting down with friends in the old inn next door. Ichabod the traveler and Q. the scribe, and they were listening to my tales of Malefia, and that I should write up a tome containing my Travel Journal and Diary and sell it to the kings.

Awoke, as always, cold and alone in my room.

I found the breakfast laid out for me, cold cuts, eggs and pickled vegetables served with the black, hard bread of this region. After so fortifying myself, I went back to my study to work, and prepare for my next meeting with the Lord of the palace. Winter is coming; I never seem to feel warm in these open, deserted hallways. It's like the chill is seeping from the ancient walls, penetrating my very soul with frozen daggers. I have never seen the fireplace in the grand hall lit, and I am unable to set a fire myself as there is neither flind and steel nor kindling or logs anywhere to be found.

Following our plans for the workforce and production in the city, there is little planning required - all my attention is instead focused on making sure that our orders are being followed through. I feel like an observer, or indeed a spymaster - watching the Calabim people's every move and notifying Lord Flauros if anything is amiss.

We received a map from the scout late last night:

After twice being turned away by giant spiders, he has found a third land-bridge which might lead on to other lands. In the middle of this map there is a perfect place for a Calabim settlement - with fresh food and hills for production, is should grow into a thriving town in no time.

Our workers have farmed, they will now build a road on a hill while preparing to erect our first plantation on the incense.

We are sending two units of warriors to ensure we can found the city on time, to get this second city growing as fast as possible. After that capital will build more workers, then some warriors and more settling parties.

I suspect this meeting will end in mirth, as foreign reports indicate that a Hippus scout has been killed in combat. Wild rumors told of a flock of rabid wolves, led by a demon clothed in shadows and mist. I can't wait to tell this wild tale to Flauros. He hasn't heard the news yet, for he has been away 'conducting diplomacy' abroad these last few days.

-M

[Molach]

OOC

Yes, I have borrow the idea and some words, sentences and even small paragraphs from Dracula. But I suppose this will end differently...depending on how the game goes...

Thanks for support.

[Molach]

Diary, wrapped in waxed cloth, found in the jacket pocket of a bloated, rotting corpse in Kilfray river.

How could I not have seen it?

It was rumored that Mardoc was a fair and intelligent administrator for the Illian court. When we met their scout I was sure he would see reason and cooperate for mutual benefit.

We could ill afford the loss of a working party this early in our expansion efforts.

However when I ordered our second worker unit to stop and lay foundation to a road on their way to farm...and were later massacred by more scouts...I shall never forget the face of my host.

His eyes burner red, his visage twisted into something foul, something evil, and he looked like he might leap at my throat from across the table between us. Then his face returned to a stony mask, and with an icy voice, he told me my services were no longer needed.

"On second thought, I can think of one small service you may do, if it please you. Entertain my sister for a while. She gets very ...lonely...locked up in her part of the castle". He smiled at me, yet there was no mirth in that smile.

It is now morning. I am drained, spent. For the brief remainder of my existence I am to be tortured by the fair-looking but deadly hellspawn that is Alexis, my blood slowly drained from my veins until I become a undead slave of the Calabim. The Vampires, for that is what they are.

I have been blind, but at last I know.

There is no escape from my room, and a stone falling from the window would fall a thousand feet without touching anything. As far as the eye can reach is a sea of green tree tops, with occasionally a deep rift where there is a chasm. Directly below the silver thread of the Kilfray river, winding its way through the forests.

I must escape

-M

[Molach]

Royal court of Flauros.

We are slowly growing.

Our Empire:


Illian lands, with area we need to settle.


Our status:


After the fall of the Insignificant, we sent our own scout to Mardoc lands. He disrupted some workers, killed a warrior on defense, but was slain by a barbarian warrior. But main thing is, we have the location of Illian lands. Our capital is sending out a further settling party, then will build training facilities for Moroi. We will soon have bronze weapons. We will revolt to apprenticeship for more experience, then train a host of warriors, supported by elite Moroi in 20 turns' time.


Our goal is to burn and disrupt Mardoc lands before he can unleash his own priests of darkness.

Our reward is the blood of our fallen foes, for the blood is the life.

Blood is so ...not precious these days.

[Molach]

If anyone is globally lurking...here's my update/plan.

I've built up an army of moroi. It's all ready to go. I'm still at war with Mardoc.

I was gonna punish Mardoc for messing up my opening game, but "power" graph shows that mardoc has almost as much power as I do. He is also last in score (even though this probably doesn't mean _that_ much).

I sent him an offer for peace, 10 turns. If he declines peace I'll be forced to assume that he is locked into a fight to the death, and will send my army forth to kill and be killed.

But if he accepts, I will go after the score leader, yellow of the Hippus. He is, after all, on my doorstep, while Mardoc is a long trek through the wilds to reach (core cities). I can attack first city, held by 3 warriors, in 2 turns. After that we'll see. At least I'll put an end to the farmers gambit the others are running here. Be fun to see what Mardoc does with _his_ army in this case as well.

I'll try to get some pics up when the war(s) kicks off.

[Molach]

Mardoc took peace.

I declared and entered Hippus lands. Captured a worker on the hill I've put my men.

I had vision on his city by a worker - 3 or 4 warriors, but 2-3 promos including shock on em. Will be a tough fight.

I'll take this city, and keep it. Then send most of my men eastwards and engage and harass the enemy as best I can. Or bravely run away from counterattack. Who knows? Yellow has great production, but I don't know what he can build. A few waves of warriors to reinforce his next city will probably put an end to my advance, as I've no collateral.
I stopped building moroi for a while, my core will add 5 governor's mansions next few turns, that should keep my production up for a while.

Yellow running farmers market:

[Old Harry]

:HAMMER

What can yellow build to counter attack with?

[Molach]

Mounted mercenaries

I should have kept closer watch on wonders being built, seems he built GotN the turn I attacked, not really bright move.

12 units in town now, 7 warriors and 5 mounted mercs. He also used warcry, so I barely have advantage in numbers, no advantage in strength on attack.



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I simmed it out - and it's not surprisingly a total loss if I attack. 2-4 of my units survive, I kill that number of his units. Any units I'd had beyond my number would have had good odds, easy wins. 8 units more and I would have gotten some value out of the attack.

Ran back to town, offered peace + 60 gold, will see what he counters with.

I fully expect "total war", since I made him use his warcry on defense. He can run 100% gold now, pump out mounted mercs. Question is if he'll tech more or just go for domination now. It will be interesting to see what the others do with the situation, but I'll go refurbish my bunker and prepare for the arrival of the hooves of wrath.

[Qgqqqqq]

Do those odds take into account burning blood?