[spoilers] Commodore is absolutely confident this will end well.

[Commodore]

It's truth. Given noscore, my only really question then is Praets or HA first.

Oh, I did scout the "backline" (AKA, coast frontage). It's nice enough.

[Commodore]

Fourth city down, late and belated.

The Snallygaster is, as far as I know, the only cryptid with a body count. Despite the name (quick ghost, if your German is decent), it's described as a very physical and weird critter, a large one-eyed flying creature with tentacles in-mouth. In Maryland, the creature was reported in the papers with enough fame that Teddy Roosevelt considered postponing his safari to hunt it. Ol' Ted, of course, was also woke to the Sasquatch Question, so take all that what you will. It's a great name, though. Remember, give me your favorite cryptid and I'll gladly toss it on the list.

Here's a picture of the general area. Weird stuff just appeared on the map, dunno why.

[Commodore]

I asked a software dev buddy for help understanding here.
   

[Commodore]

Alright, so how's it going in the Cryptid Nation?

I'm going with "not well". TBS is top food in the game, with six cities, Creative pops dominating our inner sea, and easy southern neighbors. Oh, wait, you want to hear about me? Well, I'm researching better than anyone else in the game but piddling around at the upper edge of the bottom quartile in the field for CY/MFG, which, well, you can see why. There are a ton of great tiles to work, so what's really needed now is more citizens on the board. I considered whipping out a galley to quickly settle that junglehorse island, but honestly with how excellent my GNP is I'm more about just maximizing food cities while preparing for Iron Working (nine turns). Gems online = IC-TR, at least for two more cities' worth of time. Just keep swimming I reckon, and figure out how many cities need to be pushed before swapping everything over to Praetorian Mass Whips. I think five more cities, but we'll have to see.

[Commodore]

Damnit, TBS. Just playing around the borders, eh? Had to divert the chop into Wendigo so I'd make a chariot, at least now I'm covered. The pig-hill to the south gets settled in 3 more turns, that'll isolate these jerks if he's not careful.

After this, let's see, definitely want to settle sheepcopper and flatpig, probably also lower corn and the fishjunglehorse. So four more settlers, couple that with barracks, then...how many, call it 10 praetorians and 6 horse archers?

[Lewwyn]

Ha, he's got 2 warriors poking around you? Look's like he's watching you.

[Commodore]

Ha, he's got 2 warriors poking around you? Look's like he's watching you.

Scouting for his invasion, no doubt. Mad that I won't open borders but there's not point in opening borders until I find Another Star.

[Commodore]

City five time...

[Commodore]

I thought this turn was going to be more exciting for me personally, but the only mainland iron is *really* awkwardly placed. But still...

Superdeath gonna Superdeath. Sorry Joshybravo, sucks for you to have this neighbor set. At least TBS will be mainly looking my way?

[Commodore]

My work boat is findin' us some actually decent intercontinental prospects, probably. Mostly likely. Soon?


Also, in a couple turns, I'm hoping my axe finds something interesting, and that he doesn't see me.

If anyone is curious, this is casus belli:

We (meaning the whole entire field) are so unbelievably screwed. Praetorians are nice, but not this nice.