Middle Era, Cradle of Dominion PBEM

[Twan]

Knowing that after the second (and stupid) death of Dwalaki, who tried to take a province alone last month, the huge Man armies were going to attack, the black sorcerers tried a desesperate tactic, using flame storm even with lot of non fire proof province defense on the field, hoping to inflict some casualties to archers before the unavoidable defeat.

At 1 vs 3 or 4 (and better troops) it should have been a bad idea, the light Machakan usually lose very fast against the knights and longbowmen of Man, and when one of Crystalmist's hydromancers casted rain in the beginning of the battle, Machaka, with most mages planning to use fire spells, could only expect a total defeat. But for an unknown reason, the heroic Kasisi, whose mission was to cast the flame storm had the good idea to use only half the 12 gems he had, ending as fatigued a man can be without dieing. Then, as expected, the victory of Man was fast. Exhausted by the rain the machakan mages couldn't inflict lots of dammage, nor being saved by their phoenix pyres, and after only 4 rounds the Machakan army was fleeing and 12 mages / 19 were lost, the two thirds of Man's forces, including about 25 vine ogres, being still alive at this point.

But the sacrifice of Kasisi wasn't useless, so exhausted that he couldn't move the lone black sorcerer stayed on the field in spider form, watching the stupid Man forces pursuing the last machakan soldiers... and burning in the flame storm during 7 more rounds before finally killing him. The final result was 193 deaths / 252 regulars of Man, 33 magic beings / 35, 10 commanders / 13. One or two more rounds and Kasisi would probably have destroyed the entire Man's army.

Kasisi, the Machakan empire will never forget you, your example will survive and enlighten the next generations of black sorcerers. Statues at your image will be built in all the temples of the Dwalaki's cult, and you will be celebrated as a saint.

Some screens...
Army of Man
Army of Machaka
Army of Man when Machaka routed
Army of Man in the end, and the heroic Kasisi

[Meglobob]

Will not be able to get my turn in until saturday night. Been busy repairing some damage caused by recent storms/gales. If hosting could be delayed till then, that would be great.

[Hadrian_II]

@host
i just got a stale , but i sent you my turn, did you not get my email??
btw. i sent my new turn on 23:00 CET so you can check if you got this one.

[solo]

Ha!

The Ulmish budget PD defense of 1 was sufficient to scare off some silly birds.

[Twan]

I've just realised that Fire Resistance doesn't work against Phoenix Pyre dammage. (11 mages lost to learn that)

Unbelievable when you look at the stats, the Machakan Empire is not far to be defeated, the Golden Age has ended, there are riots in the streets in half our cities, there are so many revolters that ennemy spies can't be found even by our professionnal patrolers, even without taxes unrest continue to increase. We have to pillage former Arco's provinces or change our fire gems to have some money to spend, and with his new tactic, to use only trolls and other tough units and cast several earthquakes in each battle, Man may kill all the mages we engage, and can't replace, with minimal losses.

Anyway Machaka will fight till the end, and we'll take at least Hadrian II with us in the grave.

[Hadrian_II]

Well Arco is far From Beaten, we might have lost our first army, but we are regenerating fast and in the next turn you might see your first big defeat in this game.

[Meglobob]

Hadrian_II said:
Well Arco is far From Beaten, we might have lost our first army, but we are regenerating fast and in the next turn you might see your first big defeat in this game.

Arco, I (Man) have a economic stranglehold on Machaka, that grows tighter every month. It is a slow but irresistable strategy. So take care, only pick battles you are 100% certain to win, do not give Machaka any opportunity to break free of my vice like grip!

I have tried hard to relieve the pressure on you by sending raiding forces into Machaka lands, so far I have burned 3 heathen temples to the ground, those raids will esculate in nature, causing chaos in his empire. My military will press into his outer border, troll kings Wham, Bam and Thankyoumam struck but the 1st devestating blow. Crash, Bang and Wallop will follow up.

Strike him with mind hunts (kill his leaders), blights, locust swarms, anything that will hurt him money wise and in the long run, perhaps many months/years from now victory will be ours...