Fall From Heaven NES

I'm sitting here hitting refresh hoping you are posting them soon.

EDIT: didn't see your edit: YOU BASTARD!!! :wallbash::old::trouble:
 
Eh, it happens. I'm only blowing off steam between classes on a crap university computer, so it'll be this afternoon (my afternoon, about four hours or so).

Of course, they are also on my Yahoo account since I sent them to Jopa. I've made some edits since then on one or two of them, though. Hmmmm.... maybe I can still post a couple of them. I'll look.
 
What i would like to see once the entire NES is over:
per turn spending on espionage, intelligence and subterfuge by civilization. but not until we are absolutely done. I think algeroth would have taken an early lead :) but then dwindled out a bit.
 
There are two stories here, with a third waiting on edits. Don't worry, though, the third one isn't related to these two so you're not missing anything vital. Actually, that third one probably needs some background, so I might have to make another story (or dig up an unreleased one) anyway.

That being said, these two are related, with the same main character and linked effects. Since these were part of my orders, Immac can stew a little more over what the update looks like...



Insert Title Here part one

Spoiler :
Hybor, Son of Treni, Chief of the Upper Mealthiel Hippus, was sick. The Lanun were truly his people's brothers in spirit, but while their ships were horses of the sea they were not proper mounts. Everything kept moving, and being surrounded by water was terrifying. He'd finally gotten resigned to this method of travel when a "light little wind", as the seamen put it, drove everything to madness. There was nearly as much water in the air as under the ship, the waves reached higher than the gunwales, and the man in the crow's nest was currently hanging nearly a dozen lengths over the open ocean, all of which combined to make the young Chief queasy.

It had all sounded so simple at the time. Hybor had been impressed enough by Captain-Chief Karimir to offer his services to the Lanun lord, and as part of the alliance of their peoples he and his followers had sworn alleigance. Hybor had expected to join in the Kuriotate War, but since that war had ended in victory his new Captain-Chief had other plans. These plans involved a very long journey, and the quickest way to travel was by sea. Of course, the destination was an island anyway, so Hybor and a full company of veteran horsemen were now on their way to some obscure island in the southern seas. Hybor knew his own worth well, so he was positive it wasn't an exile, but what had appeared to be a short distance on paper proved to be otherwise in reality.

It had taken months to sail from Altheriol-ta-Mealthiel to his current location in Danalin's Tears. There had been several stops along the way. Some of them had been more adventerous than others; the stopover in war-torn Pinea had ended in a three-way battle. No one had even been allowed off the boats in Balseraph lands, a policy that Hybor strongly endorsed once a few stories from the sailors met his ears. Still, the trip was nearly over, and the little fleet that he sailed with was now an mere hour away from Rinwel Isle.

Duty called, and Hybor wasn't going to allow himself to stay along the rail when he was needed elsewhere. He dragged himself upright, and moved toward the Captain's cabim. He prepared himself both physically and mentally for the trial to come, then knocked once and entered.

Assembly-Captain Greyfauss looked up at his entrance. Hybor knew Karimir's opinion of the man. He thought it was maybe a bit harsh, but not by a whole lot. It had been a very long time since Greyfauss had felt like he had to do anything requiring effort, and even longer since he'd actually done so. To his credit, the old man had taken his sailing orders in stride (mostly), and hadn't made any especially large mistakes. Perhaps the Captain-Chief had made the decision to give him command for ability as well as to get him out of his hair, but Hybor doubted it. Greyfauss was a... difficult man to like.

"Ah, yes, young Hybor. I trust you know what you duties are to be here, but it can't hurt for you to hear them again."

Well, yes, it could - if, for instance, this millionth iteration were to send him into a suicidal rage. Hybor forced his face into something like a smile, then said, "Of course not, Captain. Perhaps I missed a small detail, or a question that needs answering. I am glad to listen."

"Good, good. Well then. To the orders. *ahem* 'I, High-Captain Karimir, assign Captain Greyfauss to be governer of the island of Rinwel, to command the Coast Guard and local militias, to decide in local matters of trade and justice, to enforce the laws of the Lanun, to...' "

This part went on for a good while. There was no real reason to read out Greyfauss' orders to Hybor, but the old man enjoyed telling others of his newly-found importance. Hybor concentrated on not being sick and keeping the smilelike expression on his face.

" '... as put down in section 8 of the Sailor's Code. Furthermore, the new Governer shall establish a council of other offices to assist him in his duties. The greatest of the new offices shall be that of Lieutenant-Governer. The Lieutenant-Governer shall take primary responsibility over the land-based military on the island, as well as the police auxiliaries. Matters pertaining to law and justice shall first be given to the Lieutenant-Governer to deal with, and only in extreme cases shall they reach the Governer. The Lieutenant-Governer will serve as the Governer if that august personage is away or incapacitated. Furthermore, the Lieutenant-Governer will be my personal oversight of the area, and with a majority agreement by the Governer's Council can overturn the Governer's decisions. I assign Chief of the Upper Mealthiel Hybor to this position. The second office is that of Governer-Treasurer, who shall...' "

Hybor stopped listening once more. He was truly honored in this task; this position amounted to a Elder Chief's, if not an Baron Chief's! Karimir truly had been generous, even if Hybor has stuck with Greyfauss for the next five years or more. His inner congratulations only lasted so long, however, and eventually he was forced to interrupt the Governer as he was droning on about the position of "Third District Sergeant".

"I'm sorry, Captain, but is it really necessary to read the whole declaration at this moment? I do not believe we have even chosen a man for many of those positions yet."

Greyfauss looked irritated for an instant. "Yes, yes, I suppose."

Hybor prepared to take his leave. He wanted to see his new command as the ship came in, storm be damned.

"Not so quickly, young man!" Greyfauss dug into his desk. "In addition to those orders, these were waiting for us at the last port. I was told not to give them to you until we were in sight of the island."

He passed a sealed letter to Hybor, who had no idea what it contained. Karimir had given no hint that about secret orders - the look on Greyfauss' face told the chief that even the Governer didn't know what it contained. He somewhat hesitantly broke the seal.

Hybor. There have been some new developments in the south that have forced me to make a rather radical alteration to your charge. I suspected it may be necessary, which I why I sent you there in the first place. I'll try to keep this short, but I have to be very precise in what I want you to do. I'm sure you have heard about the new war between the Calabim and the Amurites, but that is only one of the many affairs that concern me in the area. There is much I know, and even more I don't, which is a discomfiting fact.

However, I do not wish to burden you with all my problems, most of which you could do nothing about. I'll simply give you one, which is large enough and important enough, that you can most definately do something about. You may wish to get Greyfauss in on this too; these last months have shown him to be surprisingly effective. It is your decision.

In any case, it is a matter of trade, Hybor. I know that trade really isn't your concern in Rinwel, but this comes under your jurisdiction. You see, it's not exactly a legal trade...



Insert Title Here part two


Spoiler :
Hybor was, once again, sick on a boat. It was a situation he was getting used to. This time, though, he was far from alone. Instead of being surrounded by seahardy Lanun sailors, he was sandwiched between hundreds of orcs, which was a situation he was not used to. Neither were they, apparently, since to the man (or orc?) they were as sick as Hybor.

The unusual surroundings were due to the "not exactly legal" trade that Karimir had mentioned earlier. The Lanun, like many Hippus, were amenable to being mercenaries. If the pay was high enough, they would do almost anything. That "almost" was streached to the limit with this latest endeavor. The orcs of R'Rgorac, betrayed and besieged, had been desperate for an escape of any kind. With no way out by land, the only way was the sea - and the only people with the means and courage to do the job were the Lanun. A deal was reached; the job was contracted. And thus, a son of the Upper Mealthiel Hippus was stranded in the midst of some hundreds of orcs, a small part of a massive fleet.

Of course, that was legal enough by most standards. Although orcs were generally seen as a threat, they were allowed to hire as they wished. No, the illegal part was the destination they sought. Tha Lanun, being Lanun, hadn't really cared about the landward part of things, and the fact that the coast they sailed to was occupied didn't bother them. If the current owners couldn't defend themselves, then by all means the new squatters had every right to be there. The Hippus (including one Chief Hybor) were of the same inclination.

The coast they landed on was deserted, just as their agreement had stated. The offloading was much less... interesting than the onloading had been. When the Balseraphs and Khazad had realized their prey was escaping, they'd launched a rather badly planned assault on the palisades in an effort to catch it. They'd failed, partly because the orcs were desperate and partly because no one had wanted to attack the Lanun sailors and get them involved. The Lanun had got almost everyone out, except for a doomed rear guard. Even though they were orcs, the sight of a mere two companies fighting to the last man against two whole armies, on the very beach where their fellows had sailed from, had given Hybor a deep respect for their courage and honor. Even the Hippus would have been hard-pressed to repeat the act.

After a remarkably short period, a mere two or three hours, the last of the orc cargo was on land and the Lanun sailors shoved off. It had been a near heroic act of smuggling: an entire small town's population, boarded during a seige, moved across one of Erebus's harshest seas, and landed without detection on an unfriendly coast. The secretive smuggling ring that had recently plagued the world would be hard-pressed to do better. The thousands of people slowly began to organize as the ships moved off, intent on survivial in their new home. With the element of surprise, they just might succeed.

Hybor wished them luck. His people (both native and adopted) were no allies of the orcs, but neither were they active enemies. The orcs had a right to survive if they could. He knew that this latest feat of Karimir's was likely to be misread by his allies and enemies. Some would see it as an act of war, others as an act of pity, and yet others as an act of pure mercenary greed. It wasn't really any of that. It wasn't war, although the victims of the R'Rgorac invasion would probably not agree. It wasn't pity, since those that were not strong enough to survive were doomed to serve or die, and there was no pity in that. And it wasn't even truly greed, since the price that was agreed upon was lower than what could very well have been asked for such a monumental task.

What, then, had possessed Karimir to do this? Hybor guessed that he knew as much of the Captain's mind as anyone short of his wife and old crew, and his best guess was that it was an act of honor. He saw it as his duty to give these people a second chance at survivial, a chance to beat the odds, and a chance to avenge the massive act of betrayal they faced. Karimir hated lies; he never commited one, preferring to use misdirection or misinterpretation. That was cleverness, while a lie was deceit. It didn't really make a whole lot of sense to most people, but most of the Lanun understood, as would most of the Hippus if they were asked.

None of that really mattered. The deed was done, the contract fulfilled. Erebus would react, and Karimir would have to face the consequences of his own actions. His people, including an adopted Hippus chief, would be behind him.
 
And yes, the "Insert Title Here" bit was intentional. Too lazy to think off one.

As for per-turn spending, well, I'd rather see some of the actual order emails. I don't know about you, but I have some things in mine that are never released, up to and including some story-type material. Some of it has to stay secret for at least a few turns, some of it are attack orders (that I could probably post, but aren't really interesting after the attack goes through anyway), and some are just forgotten.


Sorry about the double-post.
 
As always, your writing is very good. Also, i like the story more than your usual fare. Its not because its written better (though it might be- i'm a poor judge), its because it involves some crazy danger and a possibly hostile act.

Anyway, i await the update to see what happens. I guess your are hoping that no 'hostile navies' are about yes? :goodjob:

Immac.
 
End of Turn 17
Start of Turn 18​




Coup d'etat

This season, before snows melted, Amurites underwent a coup attempt, in the middle of the war. Pro-AV faction was successful in overthrowing the Senate, demons walked the streets for a while and Interregnum was close to returning, but Order side made a successful counter-coup. Now mages rule again, like in old ages, and Casswalen is about to return, it is said. Mages are only sanctioned by priests of Order, and absolute rule is instigated.

But such shifts of power do not come easiliy. Many members of middle class are uneasy about such political instability. Many do not want mages to rule again. Middle and low classes are absolutely enraged as their right to vote is taken away. They want the Senate again.

In such times, a special group saw their opportunity to seize power. They named themselves the Mithril Guard, and they worked hard over last few decades to build their influence. They succeeded in that - Militant generals finally rose their banners, and declared their goal they had dreamed for ages...

They are heirs to the Patria.

Ancient, long forgotten Golden Crowns replaced the ever-gloving Sunrises. The movement gained popularity amongst peasants, aspired by the tales of glorious generals, and merchants yearning for united trading cetre unhindered by mages.

Movement spreads like fire, especially in Hippus and former Kuriotate and Grigori lands. Brandon was well informed about Mithril Guard in advance – he ordered his troops to stay down and to wait until things are clear again. However, warlords were outraged by this conspiracy. War Council chamber was crowded, Brandon spoke before enraged warlords. One of them, by the name Khuut, son of Lehten, called Brandon a traitor, and seconds later, hidden dagger flew straight at Brandon. It was assassination. Brandon, father of Hippus, was dead, and Hippus were once again thrown in the strife of war. Shall they preserve their culture and tradition, or will it all be lost in the Patrian melting pot?

By the tradition, Brandon throne was to be inherited by his offspring, most of them are Lanun, for the royal marriages Lanun entered with Hippus. Some Hippus still hold them for sacred, but Warlords elected their new leader – Khuut, and marched upon the Mithril Traitors....

Amurites: -10 stablity
Kuriotates, Hippus, Grigori: -6 stablity
Amurites: Army reliability and efficiency decreased
Amurites: Gain gold, crusader regiment and new civic (Caste System) benefits.





The end of Dusk War

With coup in Amurite lands, some hurried negotiations took place. Despite Calabim promises, Acaia was turned over to Amurites. The peace was not well accepted in neither nation- both sides claimed that this was the Holy War, and that was now all nullified after a mere city is taken. Amurite experts are afraid of Calabim that may field Vampires someday, Calabim nobles are unhappy about loss of city and claim that they may have gotten more if they kept on fighting the unstable Amurites.
People of Acaia were given choice to stay or leave. Deeply indoctrinated that Amurites are vile and that their Queen is sacred, most citizens leave Acaia. No wonders, as all that they have seen from Amurites is war, slaughter, sneak attack, and not a trace of enlightenment promised by Amurites.

After words of coup arrive, Acaia is in wonder. For all their stories of liberty, Amurites will no longer be ruled by Senate? Deeply confused and disillusioned, nine out of ten citizens leave the treacherous Amurite rule.


Acaia: loses village and farm
Calabim: Get free villages
Acaia went from Calabim to Amurites



Orc's Threat

As Khazad and Balseraphs armies continue to march upon the R'Rgorac, Orcs provide desperate resistance. Finally, two armies make their final charge on the fortress of R'Rgorac. To their shock, they find the fortress completely empty. Orcs have abandoned it already somehow. Where did they go, and how they disappeared, no one knew, but it was simply empty and hollow. This was even more astounding considering that about two or three regiments were expected.

Either way, Khazad and Balseraphs split the province. Lacking any advice or approval from their Kings or Senates, generals make ad-hoc agreement based upon military presence and efficiency. Balseraphs take south, while Khazad tak north – Balseraphs get slightly bigger slice of lands, and therefore more their generals return with more glory, but Khazad can rest now that Hallowel is safe. It remains to see if Khazad will ask for revising the split of province.

New territory gains
Balseraphs +2 stability
Khazad +1 stability






Letter from the Queen


Calabim sent out few thousands of letters all across the Erebus. They were all addressed to the most powerful mages on Erebus, who found themselves without power. Some mages in Amurite lands also received letters.
In those letters, most powerful mages were invited in the lands of Calabim, where studies of Necromancy and dark arts will no longer be restricted. Most of those who heed the call are from Marreka, a state with uncertain future, and elves from Pinea, who are unlikely to see their goals come true. Some Amurites also came. Rumors are that mages are actually looking forward to receive the gift of Vampirism, to unlock the secret of immortality, a gift they are all eager to receive.


Calabim – Discount to mana, and mages.



Khazad are near unlocking Tablets of Bambur


Khazad priests were dilligently working for quite a long time to unlock their religious artefacts, Tablets of Bambur. Rumors are that the secret is close to being discovered, and people are eager to see their sacred Tablets.


Khazad +1 stability





Smuggling's cove


Increased smuggling activity is reported in new Lanun acquisition of Rinwel isle. Lanun authorities are reported to deal with those criminals, getting a surplus warehouses of goods. But unofficially, Rinwel isle is the place to sell all the extra goods you may have. Either way, smuggling activity in the region will be harder to counter without decisive Lanun action. There were also some attempts made by other civilizations to attempt to infiltrate this operation, with publicly unknown outcomes.

Lanun: +10 gold


Kuriotate lands
Hearing news about betrayal of Orcs on south, coalition of humans and orcs of Shazaak is getting tense. Several villages got pillaged by marauding Orcs. Shazaak make another attempt to take Avelorn, but they are stopped by Avelorn militia, and Shazaak remains inside their own borders.

Meanwhile Marreka gains firm control over their area, as Regency Council shows it's incompetence in restoring order, and Patrian revolutionaries weaken Kuriotate leftovers further.


Shazaak, Avelorn: -20 gold, -2 stability
Marreka: +2 stability
Kuriotates under Regency Council: -5 stability



Lanun operations


Lanun attempt to sieze the isle of North Corel. Disorganized Grigori troops do not stand a chance against well – trained and organized Lanun soldiers. There was no pillage after city fell, perhaps Lanun intend to stay? Either way, resistance in city is still fierce, even if soldiers were beaten, citizens stil fight and ambush Lanun soldiers.

Lanun: Militia takes -20 gold to recover




Pinea

Situation in Pinea came down to two factions – one pro-Balseraph and another backed by everybody else. Balseraphs have been pouring so much money in the province that their faction, despite joined effort of the others, has most troops and money. Some institutions have been formed, and old elf Maer Syeen took lead of the faction, striving to proclaim Glorious Alfheim that will not only control the Archduchy of Pinea but actually unite both courts and all elves under one throne. Most call him mad, Balseraphs call him a visionary, and Elves in homeland are uneasy about his ideas.


Sidha -1 stability



Map:

Spoiler :
vczz1s.jpg
 
LATEST NEWS:


Messengers arrive with most dramatic news: Several hundreds unmarked barges and rafts approach Amurite coast near Twin Bays. They start unloading Orcs, obviously someone sponsored Orcs to leave the province and to raid Amurites instead. They take land east of Ciriail, and Cirial will soon need to be defended.
 
Good update!

OOC: The Calabim are not amused. We are the heirs to Patria, the Holy Calabim Empire of Patria.
 
TheJopa said:
LATEST NEWS:


Messengers arrive with most dramatic news: Several hundreds unmarked barges and rafts approach Amurite coast near Twin Bays. They start unloading Orcs, obviously someone sponsored Orcs to leave the province and to raid Amurites instead. They take land east of Ciriail, and Cirial will soon need to be defended.
Click to expand...

How is this possible with my navy patrolling the area? Surely i could have intercepted them, especially when one considers my specific orders in regards to entry into my lands. Jopa- this doesn't make sense to me- please PM or e-mail me. Whats the point of a navy if it won't stop these sort of attacks?

i.
 
With exception of Lanun and their naval project, level of interception is limited - without radars, with relatively few ships stretched over large coastline and relatively short route orcs traveled, it's just as likely to intercept them as it is to miss them.
 
To the Balseraph and the Khazad
From the disintegrating nation of the Amurites

The council of seven would like to hear your opinions regarding the recent raids upon our lands by the orcs of R'Rgorac?

To the Lanun
From the disintegrating nation of the Amurites

We asked to sail through your waters and you said, "No: we don't trust your ships so close to our lands. We are sure you would feel the same with your lands." And here you are using the seas adjacent to our lands to launch military activity. And using orc mercernaries no less. this is disgusting. Your hypocrisy disgusts us.
 
It looks like the strait is quite small. That and Lanun support may have made it hard to check the orcish boats, particularly if your navy was patrolling more southwards?
 
Ldi- we have always been friends, since the days of rugby. do you care to take a stance regarding this issue?
 
Oh yeah- almost forgot:
interesting and unforgettable update. certainly NOT what i was expecting.
 
To the Amurite nation
From Kandros Fir, First Consul of the Khazad

Orcs have always been known to be treacherous creatures. Once again, we can see that nations whose armies are busy in foreign lands, like Kuriotates in the past and now Amurites with their troops in Calabim lands recently, get attacked by opportunists.
This shows Khazad's strategy of keeping our army at home to defend our soil from enemies was a wise decision, and we intend to keep it this way.
However, we wouldn't want our faithful trade partners to suffer from orcish attacks. For this reason, in its next meeting, the Senate will discuss of the opportunity of sending some of our troops to Amurite lands to help you fight the invaders. Unfortunately, this move wasn't planned and the budget has already be voted so there may be financial issues in getting our troops there in time.
 
We thank you noble Khazad
 
Sorry, I have no time to get on msn now, but I just wanted to say that Amurite coast is long, like, about one quarter of the Erebus width. It certainly takes few flotillas to patrol all of it efficiently. Not to mention that current ships that everyone uses are of minimal quality, they aren't queens of line. There is a chance that ship will get through, they got through, it could have gone either way really. With amount of patrol, the odds were 50%.
 
Fair enough. You win some and you lose some i guess.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ozbenno
Fall From Heaven Leader's Tale - Auric Ulvin
2 3
Replies
41
Views
8K
Ozbenno
Ozbenno
B
Rise of the Reichstag: A German IAAR
7 8 9
Replies
175
Views
16K
CaterpillarKing
CaterpillarKing
Oregon Lee
Thread Index
2 3
Replies
42
Views
7K
Oregon Lee
Oregon Lee
Pazyryk
Éa, The Ageless and the Divine (phase 2, alpha)
42 43 44
Replies
874
Views
204K
tecumseh23
T
Ravus_Sol
The Immortal Gathering (FFH DI 6)
2 3
Replies
58
Views
10K
Bad Player
B
Back
Top Bottom