Jotunheim:Utgard AAR

[Arryn]

BTW, I forgot to mention that when I took the Well of All Waters, that I can recruit 1F2B Garnet Sorceresses & 1F1B2H Garnet Priestesses there (if I build the appropriate structures). Without fire gem income for now I don't think they'd do me any good, but later on they will likely be a useful addition to my army.

Comments are welcome, as always.

PS - Turn #14 is in progress. I've been having to do a lot of thinking about how I wish to proceed, so I've taken my time with this turn. It'll be posted later today.

[Arryn]

Turn #14, Late Spring of Year 2
Lull before the storm.

It has been a quiet Spring season, and there are no travellers bringing word from afar of events in distant lands this month.

My force at Pythium continues the siege of the citadel into a seventh month, while the defenders within must surely wonder why my army does not storm through the breached gate.

Jorgun equips a newly-fabricated magical Horror helm, increasing the potency of his fearsome presence (to +5).

Tahmar arrives at the Alps, while Bdvar reports from Tesifon the presence of approximately 30 light footmen. Ualgo arrives at Pythium with reinforcements of 5 Jotuns, bringing the total troop strngth at the siege to 34 Jotuns (not counting leaders).

The number of dissenters declines by one in Gwyrth and Bel, and by two in the Iron Range, Feral Woods, and the Well of All Waters. It rises by one in Eribon. My faith takes root in the provinces of Isurian (#47, just south of Helmshire) and Fas Dir (#34, 2 provinces southwest of Isurian, spread there by way of the Wailwind Waters). Influence that I suspect is from Atlantis causes the level of faith to drop to 40% in independent Zenthra, while it grows to 40% in next-door Jotunheim itself.

The Seithkona Modgunn joins the coven at Jotunheim, which achieves mastery of the fourth rank of 'Construction' and first rank in 'Conjuration' magics. Studies continue in Conjuration.

My realm has:

• __8 Provinces (+Pythium under seige)
• 280 Treasury.
• 471 Income. (-1)
• 195 Upkeep. (+17)
• 126 Resources in the capital. (unchanged)
• _39 RPs

Gem income is:

• +3 Water (09)
• +0 Earth (01)
• +3 Astral (42)
• +1 Death (01)
• +2 Nature (23)

In Jotunheim I recruit a Seithkona to join my coven, as well as a Jotun spearman and four Jotun huskarls (w/spear). I recruit a human scout in Eribon. These preparations drain the treasury of all 280 coins.

I command all seven of my Seithkona to manufacture various magical items: 1x Pendant of Luck, 3x Lucky Coins, 3x Amulets of Antimagic. 35 of the astral gems in the treasury are set aside for this task. The items are intended to be distributed as follows: Pendant & Amulet to Jorgun, Coin & Amulet to both Bove and Grymis, Coin to Urd. The Coins/Pendant will allow me to queue some other spell in place of Personal Luck for Urd and Jorgun, and to give Bove and Grymis luck as well. Preparing to face a pretender, I feel it may be useful to improve my commanders' MR, hence the amulets.

Tahmar, in the Alps, continues on the route back to Jotunheim, to pick up reinforcements. Ualgo and Urd leave the siege of Pythium and move to the lab in the adjacent Feral Woods to pick up the magical items that will be fabricated. From Tesifon, Bdvar heads further east into the wastelands of the Three Pillars (#60), a land that may possess a hidden magical site. (it's a VP province, and most have magic sites in them on the Orania map)

My prophet Grymis manages to sway the Last remaining adherents to snake-worship amongst the inhabitants of the farmlands surrounding the citadel of Pythium this month. Alas, it appears the Pythium pretender must possess worshippers elsewhere since I still feel his presence within the citadel. Rather than storm the citadel, and take losses I'd prefer to avoid if there's another viable strategy, I decide to make the attempt to eliminate the Pythium pretender by stamping out all traces of his faith. To this end I send Grymis into Eribon, which I control, with the intent of extinguishing the slight negative dominion there (-1). My avatar moves west from the lab in Feral Woods to the plains of Ultima Typhia (#111, and also with -1 dominion), which are reported to contain some 30 heavy foot, fanatics, and archers. This may be my wyrm's most-challenging solitaire battle, especially if the report has underestimated the numbers of the defenders.

PS - All provinces with positive dominion, except my capital and the adjacent Iron Range (both at Cold-2), remain at Cold-1.

[Arryn]

Turn #15, Early Summer Spring of Year 2
Omens.

The advent of summer brings travellers from afar with word that a Centaur Commander has been appointed as the false prophet of the Pangaean pretender Chillsoul.

A foolish peasant, faint from the summer's heat claims to have seen an ill omen within the Well of All Waters. Rumors spread rapidly throughout the province before cooler heads can put a stop to it, raising fears markedly (+28 to a level of 33).

My force at Pythium continues the siege of the citadel into an eigth month. I can only hope that I may be starving whatever defenders may lay in wait within.

In Ultima Typhia, my avatar Jorgun faces a priest, 3 commanders, 15 heavy footmen, 8 fanatics, and 6 archers. I use the same formation and tactics as in previous battles, and they prove to be no real challenge at all, contrary to my concerns. The wyrm dines very well in this engagement, adding another 15 kills and 14 trophies to his tally. Jorgun gets his 3rd experience star. I discover that the adjacent province to the west of Hoburgdorf (#106) is under the domination of Ashikaga, with 40% of the populace there supporting false faith. Fortunately, at this time, Ashikaga has no mobile force in the province. I shall have to keep a wary watch on this new border to my realm.

Urd and Ualgo arrive in the Feral Woods, and equip all of the newly-made magical items waiting in the lab. Tahmar arrives back at the Jotun castle. Bdvar reports from the Three Pillars the presence of approximately 30 light footmen and fanatics. He does not discover any easily-found magic sites.

The number of dissenters declines by one in Eribon, and by two in the Iron Range. The level of faith climbs once again to 50% in independent Zenthra, and my avatar's presence in Ultima Typhia inspires 10% of the inhabitants to convert to the proper faith, while also eliminating all false worship. In the absence of my prophet's preaching, 10% of the populace of Pythium once again take up snake-worship.

The Seithkona Driva joins the coven at Jotunheim, which achieves mastery of the second rank in 'Conjuration' magics. Research continues in this school. The human scout Oedre joins my forces in Eribon.

My realm has:

• __9 Provinces (+Pythium under seige)
• 283 Treasury.
• 502 Income. (+31)
• 214 Upkeep. (+19)
• 127 Resources in the capital. (+1)
• _86 RPs

Gem income is:

• +3 Water (12)
• +0 Earth (01)
• +3 Astral (10)
• +1 Death (02)
• +2 Nature (25)

In Jotunheim I recruit 2 Jotun spearman, and I raise a half-dozen provincial defenders in the newly-acquired plains of Ultima Typhia. These preparations drain the treasury of 81 coins.

I reduce the taxation of the Well of All Waters to zero to quickly silence dissent there.

I command my Skratti to construct a Clam of Pearls, and 10 water gems are set aside for this task.

Tahmar collects the half-score Jotuns waiting in Jotunheim and heads back towards the Alps. Ualgo and Urd, carrying many magical items, march back to Pythium. From the Three Pillars, Bdvar heads further east into the plains of Pzucz (#57). I send Oedre from Eribon to Ultima Typhia, so that he may scout out the Ashikagans to the west in the near future.

My prophet Grymis begins work on building a temple in Eribon. The purpose is twofold. First, it will enhance the spread of the faith both in the province and throughout the world. Second, it allows for Grymis to return to Pythium and for dominion in Eribon to still be pushed. My avatar, his purpose for being in Ultima Typhia fulfilled, heads for Pythium.

[ February 14, 2004, 01:17: Message edited by: Arryn ]

[Arryn]

Turn #16, Summer Spring of Year 2
Convergence.

The mid-summer heat discourages any travellers from bringing word from afar of events in distant lands.

My force at Pythium continues the siege of the citadel into a ninth month.

Urd and Ualgo arrive in the seige camp and distribute the magical items they carry to Bove and Jorgun. My avatar's return to Pythium once again quashes snake-worship there (neutral dominion). Jorgun assumes command of all the Jotun troops from Bove (Jorgun has much better morale). Bdvar reports some 50 heavy and light footmen, plus crossbowmen, in Pzucz.

The number of dissenters declines by one in Eribon and Ultima Typhia, and by two in the Iron Range, Bel, Feral Woods, and Pythium. The complete absence of taxation has the desired effect upon the residents of the Well of All Waters and all dissent there ceases (-33). As a reward for their misplaced fear, I raise taxes back to their normal level. The level of faith climbs once again to 50% in my capital, but the departure of my avatar makes the people of Ultima Typhia lose their faith. The faith also takes root in Imictan (#128), just west of the Well of All Waters.

The coven at Jotunheim achieves mastery of the third rank in 'Conjuration' magics. Research continues in this school.

My realm has:

• __9 Provinces (+Pythium under seige)
• 276 Treasury.
• 518 Income. (+16)
• 218 Upkeep. (+4)
• 130 Resources in the capital. (+3)
• _86 RPs

Gem income is:

• +3 Water (05)
• +0 Earth (01)
• +4 Astral (13) (includes 1 Clam)
• +1 Death (03)
• +2 Nature (27)

My God, in neutral dominion, has:

• 176 Hit points (16 regen)
• _12 Protection
• _30 Morale
• _22 MR
• __4 Encumbrance
• _22 Strength
• _21 Attack
• _10 Precision
• _13 Defense
• 125 Leadership (40 magic units)
• Horror Helm, Amulet of Antimagic, Pendant of Luck
• Causes Fear +5, Poison resist 100%

In Jotunheim I recruit a Seithkona and 4 Jotun spearman. I recruit a human priest in the new temple in Eribon, and I increase the provincial defense of Ultima Typhia by 2 (to 8). These preparations drain the treasury of 275 coins.

Tahmar continues to Pythium with his half-score Jotuns, while Ualgo begins a journey back to Jotunheim via the Alps. Grymis is recalled back to the siege camp at Pythium. I send Oedre from Ultima Typhia into the Ashikagan province of Hoburgdorf, while Bdvar is to go to the mountain wastes of the Dragon Jaws (#39) to see if he can uncover any obvious magical sites there (it's another VP spot). My avatar will remain in Pythium to inspire faith. (I have reluctantly decided that it may take too long to hunt down where all of Pythium's dominion may be hiding, so I prepare to storm the citadel, and it will go better if I have as much positive dominion there as I can get.)

[Norfleet]

Methinks the AAR is losing a bit of steam. Not much interesting happening in the past 3 turns to touch off a huge argument.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Norfleet:
Methinks the AAR is losing a bit of steam. Not much interesting happening in the past 3 turns to touch off a huge argument.

Well, either I'm doing something right with how I'm managing my nation, or people have stopped giving a hoot. Or it may just be that today is a day that most players who have significant others (gads how that PC term annoys me) tend to spend doing something other than hanging out in front of a screen and keyboard typing away.

Stick around, I have half of turn 17 and turn 18 yet to type up, and they should be a tad more interesting. Of course, you're welcome to study the past few turns and provide an analytical critique rather than just say it's been unexciting (however true that is), if you want to stir something up.

[Norfleet]

Bit hard to do now. You seem to be rolling along at a fair clip, and haven't made any particularly controversial moves.