SVARTALFAR CONDEMN HIPPUS, DECLARES WAR WITH ARCHOS
After an attack by what seems to be Hippus armies, thousands of acres of forests have been burned to the ground in Svartalfar territory. Faeryl Viconia is said to be enraged and sent her best warriors at the Hippus attackers. Along with Svartalfar elves, the Hippus have begun feeling the fangs of Archos spiders as they come lumbering across the plains to snatch up unlucky Hippus warriors. Some of these spiders are so fast that they can catch up with Hippus horses, but not for very long. However, it doesn't take them that long to strike.
TEBRYN FURIOUS, DECLARES WAR
Tebryn Arbandi of the Sheaim on the Deadlands has declared war on the Elohim, Bannor, and Amurite armies present on his Deadlands. He has warned them to leave several times, yet all warnings went unheeded. Now, pyre zombies and diseased corpses are shambling towards their armies as fire rains from the sky.
INFERNALS PUSH SCIONS OFF
The Infernals have pushed the Scions of Patria off the Fane of Lessers. While they now own coastal cities, the Infernals have yet to construct ships or devise some other way to reach other lands. The Scions are still holding their islands dutifully against the Infernals, destroying hellfires as they opened on their islands. Several of these hellfires have been seen developing on the mainland, though nothing has come out yet. The Elohim claim that these are the portals the Infernals use to move across land. The Bannor and Austrin have sent armies to these hellfires to monitor them.
Front map updated. Luchuirp gain mining colony on the other side of the Hippus, the Doviello grow some due to rapid expansion, the Clan of Chaos expands massively, the D'Teshi expand to the Kahdi and Sheaim borders, the Calabim gain some Cualli land, the Infernals gain a lot of land, the Lanun's presence on the mainland grows, and arrows to point out new wars have been added.
Ordine tags, thin strips of printed metal that many Grigori soldiers wear on a chain over the necks, have become a popular novelty item across Mazera, from soldiers hoping for their bodies to be identified after death to children wishing to emulate them. (The soldiers, not the corpses.) Though first suggested by the Ordine Medicos to identify soldiers needing special types of medicines or herbs, they have quickly spread to most troops and beyond.
Some governments have seized on the fad, printing their own versions. The Bannor have adopted it wholesale across their society, using Ordine tags to identify and mobilize their citizenry. In the Calabim lands, the tags are required for all the 'cattle.'
Different people put different things on their tags across the lands, and there are as many ways to wear them as the size of chain allows. Austrin wanderers now often identify each other at a distance by the chains on their left hands, whereas some Eloheim monks wear the chains on their brow as a simple crown.
About the only nation to have vehemently rejected the tags to date have been the Svartalfar, followers of Esus, who have claimed that the tags make it too hard to act unnoticed, what with the fear of being caught and the information being readable by all. Unfortunately, it is increasingly becoming the case that those without tags are rarer than those with, and a spy without any sort of tags is a dead ringer for a Svartalfar agent.
Amurite enchanters have started bewitching the Ordine Tags that have swept Mazera. They can be used to communicate through long distances, to enhance the combat abilities of the wearer and to heat the wearer up. Who knows what they could produce if they had more mana.
.:~Dain's Trades~:.
In a surprising move last night, Dain offered a trade to Varn. In exchange for mana, he will send an elite force of Firebows and the Knowledge of Elementalism.
He is also offering the Bannor and Elohim troops in the Deadlands some of the special Amurite Ordine tags for free. This is said to have pleased the leaders, and will make the allies in the Deadlands stronger.
New details on Bayamo, the city in which High Chief Votakara was found comatose. The reasons for its destruction and what made Votakara comatose are unknown. More to follow as the Nightwatch continue to investigate.
Spoiler:
NIGHTWATCH REPORT ON BAYAMO
Written before Bayamo's destruction
The Austrin city of Bayamo is an interesting city as it is divided into seven districts. There is the Orcish District, populated by refugees from the former Clan of Embers. The Orc refugees are far more civilized than the former Clan of Embers. They have set up shops full of Orc merchandise and hundreds of people from different nations have come to these stores to purchase carvings, paintings, and poems. The Orcish District also is the home of the Gladiator Arena. The Orcs are still brutes at heart, so they constructed this great building and began hosting daily gladiator fights. People of all species come to fight to the death for money and personal glory. The "Governor" of this district is Imbi Gutslice, one of the most sophisticated Orcs seen yet. He has urged his fellow Orcs to learn to read and receive education, which many Orcs have already done.
Another district of this strange city is the Mazatl District, home of the Mazatl refugees that were able to escape the Cualli's path of destruction. While lacking their natural habitat of marsh and jungles, the Mazatl have lived happily here. They have erected several temples and allow religious freedom in their district, aside from the Ashen Veil. Of all the districts,the Mazatl District is one the of the most religious. Most of the paintings depict epic battles from the Godswar and sculptures depict what a Mazatl thinks one of the Gods looks like. The "Governor" of this section is Feldemer, a tolerant and peaceful lizard. He believes in redemption over death. As such, this district is densely populated with followers of the Empyrean.
The third district of Bayamo is the Calabim District. Only one vampire lives here and the humans that were used as cattle by the vampires make up this district. Some of the greatest bards have come from this district as several Calabim bards are fueled by their joy over being free of the vampire aristocracy. Due to this district being made up of mostly bloodpets, this district contributed some of the best gladiators to the competition. The "Governor" is the only vampire found in this district. He is also one of the few humanist vampires. His name is Hencumil and he has tried his hardest to make life better for the mortals that live under his rule.
The district that makes this city so unique is the Ljosalfar District. Led by the last remaining Ljosalfar leader, Arendal Phaedra, they have settled in Bayamo and cultivated many trees to cover their land. The elves of this district get along with the other districts the best they can and it is the center of the Fellowship worship in Bayamo. Great temples constructed out of trees and plants dot this district and some of the greatest prophets come from the elves as they spend much of their time thinking under the trees.
The Malakim District is the smallest district in Bayamo. As most Malakim stayed with the main group when they migrated north, a large group migrated to Austrin lands and set up a district in Bayamo. Led by Sidiril, a charismatic man who follows the Empyrean, they have constructed magnificent temples and monuments to Lugus and to many of their other heroes. A shrine was even constructed in the honor of the late Kane. This district is dotted with sun mana crystals harvested by Malakim sorcerers, which cause it to be light even at night.
The more dangerous district is the Sheaim District. While they have done nothing to warrant suspicion, many are wary of them just because they are Sheaim. Fleeing from the lands of Os-Gabella, led by a man named Averax, they settled down in Bayamo and began their own worship of the Ashen Veil. While human sacrifices and murder were banned, many believe they may yet still be sacrificing other citizens of Bayamo. This district is filled with forges and the smell of sulfur is powerful enough to sometimes break through the Ljosalfar trees.
Since I've left the opportunity open for many days now for it to be prevented, but none have done so...
Austrin Forces Occupy, Garrison Khazak
Following the urging of the Austrin's good friend and ally Cassiel, the Austrin under Deirdra have at last arrived to occupy the abandoned capital of Khazak, as well as garrison the area including the entrance to the Underhome.
Though some individual looters have managed to sneak into and out of Khazak, plundering tiny bits of the treasury each time, no group of significant size has managed to get through the locked gates. Yet when the Austrin arrived, walking straight up to the formidable iron gates, those gates swung open without pause. Many local watchers suspect magic, but the Austrin will not say.
The Austrin have made good time in reaching the Khazak lands, and in better numbers than expected. Part of that was due to Cassiel's mediation efforts between the Bannor and the Chislev, which allowed later Austrin columns to walk shorter and more prepared paths through the two countries and out of the Clan lands.
For now, the Austrin seem more intent on controlling the area than anything else, and have mainly been keeping the curious and looters away. The sole exception are Grigori sages and researchers sent by Cassiel. Both nations still keep to the Agreement, and are willing to share the knowledge (and magical artifacts and even more) still hidden in the dark mountains.
It has been confirmed that several prominent nobles of the houses Vlos, Dlaida and Ilyth have been assassinated. How the assassins managed to slay the, otherwise thought almost immortal, Calabim is still unknown to the public. Many suspect an internal struggle is intensifying, and the Council of Nobles is supposed to meet soon.
The Rumour Mill at work...
It is rumoured that the old Sir Farghain, a conservatist Amurite owner of a large Reagents plantation, has taken a Svartalfar woman as his mistress. The woman has yet to be actually seen, but his family worry about his mental situation and the possibility that he will testament the plantation to the woman instead of to his adult children.
Ghian looked at the busy courtyard as Ilyth's men packed the eight wagons that the caravan was supposed to consist of. Besides him, Lord Ilyth stood. They went over things one final time. "So, these two wagons," Ghian gestured towards the two largest of the wagons. "They contain the actual shipment?"
Lord Ilyth nodded. "Indeed. About a hundred and fifty casks, is my estimate."
"And the other six are for supplies and spare parts, as well as the wares I am supposed to pick up?"
"Correct," Lord Ilyth nodded. He was an impressive figure, tall and slim and an almost grey tone to his skin. His hair was silvery white. Ghian could feel the natural authority of the man. He still dared himself to go over the most important question again:
"And my payment is...?"
Lord Ilyth merely smiled, shaking his head slightly.
"If you complete this task with no mistakes or complications, I intend to grant you gold enough to establish yourself as a minor noble, was it your wish."
Ghian smiled. He was being paid a fortune for doing what he did best. He did not for a moment regret the decision to seek out the Lord.
The second morning of the campaign resembled the first. They woke, they ate, they formed, and they left their castle by the early morning. Then they reached the foothills where the Yokaido roamed, and no one knew what to expect.
There was an arrow here, a trap there, but the skirmishers and scounts kept the worst away, and the more mountain was liberated. The next hill was similar, and so was the third. Many began to wonder if the Yokaido were intending to meet them from prepared defenes, or intended to stick to guerilla warfare altogether.
A younger officer named Messa frowned as the Chislev to his flank mounted another hill, their numbers disguised as their warriors spread out across it, a column spread out in perfect stealth and spacing. Taking out his most detailed map of the area, he looked at it, frowned, and checked again. Seeing him struggle so, his Sergeant came to check on him.
"Is there a problem, sir?" asked his Sergeant, a man by Yonkers, asked.
"Something is not right," Messa answered, glaring furiously at the hill.
"That the Yokaido aren't fightin' back?" asked Yonkers. "I find it strange to, but better them retreating than us having to earn every inch of these hills back with blood."
"It's not that," Messa replied, distantly. "Well, that worries me to, but it's that hill," he gestured.
Yonkers looked at it. It was an impressive hill, he supposed, though the Chislev column mounting it were more impressive. Still, there were trees and vines, leaves flowing in the wind...
"What about it, sir?" he asked. "Looks plain to me."
"That's just it," Messa said. "There isn't supposed to be a hill there." He gestured to his map, one of the old logging maps which were very precise about how many hills where where. "That's supposed to be a small valley right there."
Yonkers looked a his officer's concerned face and restrained a chuckle. Messa wasn't a political appointment, but he had been born in the Palace and had spent a fair deal of time with some notable people, depending on which stories you believed. He was quick of wit, talented and hardworking, showed a lot of promise to be a halfway decent officer really, but he remained too inexperienced in some ways.
"Probably just an oversight, sir," Yonkers said, guiding the younger man back into his formation. "That map looks rather old even to me, and I've never trusted those things much to begin with. Too inexact to rely on completely." Messa didn't look happy, but let the Sergeant guide him. "Why don't you go and lead the front up to the next hill, sir? Then you'll be able to look around and get a better feel for where we are. Maybe your valley is on the other side. Either way, you can enjoy the breeze like those ones over there are. That looks to be a mighty nice breeze on that hill there."
Messa stopped, looking at Yonkers with wariness. "There's no wind, Sergeant," he said warily. "I can't hear or see any."
Yonkers was about to answer with a retort asking how anyone could expect to hear the wind with the racket of a Grigori militia passing through, but stopped mid-speech as he saw that Messa was correct: the woods around the Grigori were perfectly still, not a leaf moving.
Both men turned towards the hill their Chislev allies were on with alarm. What Yonkers had seen as a gentle breeze through those leaves had turned into a rapid shaking as if a torrent of air was passing through, and the Chislev on the hill paused with alarm and concern as to what was happening around them.
"Shadow magic," Messa breathed, doubtlessly recognizing it from his instructions beforehand. "Shadow magic!" he and Yonkers both bellowed in warning to their troops and allies, but the Yokaido dropped the spell.
The map had been right. There had been no hill. What there was was massive earthworks in the shape of a hill, covered top and bottom with snakes. Most Chislev on the not-hill died instantly as the grass and sticks they had been stepping over turned into venomous vipers who immediately struck. Others, quicker to react, threw themselves aside, tumbling down the sides of the earthwork in hopes or reaching the not-infested bottom. For most, it was a hopeless chance.
As the few survivors escaped the hill of death and the Grigori soldiers came together in a proper formation, the Yokaido soldiers rushed from the earthworks to meet them while archers took aim from inside secret bunker.
There had been no running. There had been no cowardly retreat. Only ambush after ambush after ambush.
A few Illian contributions. Sorry if it messes up anything, but I think the Illians were already at war with the Amurites. All I did was make the Illians an actual threat to them (and the Svartalfar).
ILLIANS DEPLOY BLIZZARDS
Reports indicate that Auric Ulvin has ordered his Priests of Winter to begin calling blizzards into Amurite territory. Alongside these blizzards, which promise a long winter, comes a massive eagle-like creature, an Aquilan- Arioc the Cold Wind, a great demon of ice. Blizzards form in it's wake, and it circles over Amurite lands, awaiting an order to attack.
Further, the "Illialfar" elven druids have begun freezing forests on the Amurite border, raising trees in the snow and snow amongst the trees. Illian and Doviello warriors have been seen moving into these trees in preparation for war. Upon hearing of the Illialfar's work, the Svartalfar have threatened the Illians with war if they do not stop working with the Illialfar. No response has come from Garduk.
FROSTLINGS VERSUS ELVES
Frostling raiding parties have begun attacking the edge of elven lands, apparently in response to Faeryl Viconia's ultimatum. As they go, their shamans begin to freeze the elven forests. Despite the power of the elves in forests, the Frostlings are cunning enough to strike, then quickly retreat into the ice at the edge of the forest, where they dispatch any elves sent to pursue them.
Frostling patrols carrying bodies of dead elves have been spotted returning to Mokka's cave, which lies in the north near Illian territory. They may intend to use his Cauldron on them.
Austrin forces arrive to occupy Khazak. I of course present my self to them, my discoveries in hand. how will they respond? I have been told to return the next day to see if I am allowed to stay.
Finally Judecca's Burning Legion has reached Gareth Minar, the Largest City on the Hippus side of the Svartalphar empire.
Around the same time, most of the scorched earth has a highway beeing built upon it by Imp and Pitbeast work-crews. The svartalphar have been essential in delaying the efforts of the work crews, however the Arcane ritualists have been able to summon the able bodied minions, most of whom don't feel pain, a good deal faster than the svartalphar archers and assasins have been able to strike. The main reason, however, was that most of the Svartalphar forces were attempting to fight off the Balor Legion of Judecca, as well as Invading into Hippus lands. As the highway was almost 2/3rds completed, the head ritualist, Ardecai, was slain my a Svartalphar marksman. A strike to the heart right between the ceremonial chest plates, killing the brain before they could recreate him as a minor lich or zombie. Instead his spirit remained in the physical form as a ghastly thing, wailing and moaning, he ran around frenzied and confused, with no memories, among his former work crews. They were eventually able to recover, after retreating and regrouping, but this set the alarm bells. Then came Alexander of the hippus to lead the work crews, along with a large contingent of Horse Archers and some Urak-volunteers.
Once Judecca reached Gareth Minar, he sent a message through the ether directly to Alexander, well, technically he summoned an Imp within Alexander's presence to send him the message.
Judecca used Fire Magic to tear down the gates of Minar, and to rubble-ize parts of the Forward Walls. He then sent his famed Balors into glorious combat, usually hand to hand. Some Balors would charge forward with their horns, knocking a whole company of archers off the walls. One particular Balor became famous for his prowess. He was cut off from reinforcements by the Svartalphar, and was attacked on all sides. With a combination of wit, minor magical ability, and sheer might, he was able to overcome the attackers and break the will of his opponents in that part of the city. Soon after word of his efforts leaked to the rest of the city, the remaining army disappeared into the Shadows to regroup. This Balor's name is Lazarus. In a past life Lazarus was a farmer, tending to grigori fields. A goblin attack killed his entire family. He then travelled across Mazera to learn the dark arts, and tracked down a Muris Clan that he believed initiated the attacks (it was actually a Diranth clan, although it was formerly a Muris Clan, and the Clan he actually attacked was the one Diranth grew up in as a child) and he used infernal magiks to paralyze the clan, magiks that bound him very strongly to Agares. He used these magics to weaken and paralyze them because he went from hut to hut, killing each goblin man woman and child with his bare hands. He utilized his inbred tenacity and hatred towards goblins to increase his power and determination, and he quickly passed through the layers of hell, and rose up the demon ranks, and as he sat with his comrades, next to Bhall, discussing plans for conquest, Judecca gave them a message, and opened a gate through hell to lead them into erebus. He was thinking of joining Hyborem's crusade, however he wanted to be more than a tool. He wanted to be a leader, and Judecca promised this to him. For Lazarus's prowess, he was awarded the title "Pride of Agares" and awarded the hippus Manes Medallion of Bravery (remember hoofs and manes?). Lazarus quickly changed the Medallion to be the "Balor Medallion of Bravery" as he wished not to be confused with the lowly green demons, manes, even if the Medallion itself referred to the Neck Hair of a Horse.
Judecca, with the Balors, held the city, while Alexander and his large army group ran inside to loot the city, and use it as a regrouping point and base of operations, and supplies.
He then took minimal supplies with him and his men, and went about traversing the Svartalphar roads, as complex and confusing as they were, deep into Svartalphar territory. The looted and plundered cottages, towns, lumberyards, even a few plantations. Usually the Svartalphar citezenry was able to escape and hide into the trees, but occasionally the hippus were able to capture some of them. They then bound and gagged such prisoners, and either stuffed them into nets, or tied them to horses. When they would reach a city that was lightly defended, they would use organization and superior numbers to take the city, burn down buildings and take the treasury, and enslave a good number of Svart citizenry. Again these were bound and gagged, but they sometimes had to have four horsemen riding with a large net between them, stuffed with svart Prisoners. Once they were done with a city, they moved on to the next one. After they left, the svartalphar in the area would re-take and re-occupy it, although their was always much rebuilding to be done, and a whole lot less gold. Occasionally arrows from the Svartalphar would meet up with some of the horsemen, but losses were usually minimal, in comparison to the size of the force. The illusions that attempted to attack from behind would not be able to keep up, and the ones that tried to ambush them would simply be run through by the skills of the Melee Urak riders. As well as the sheer charging power of a full column of Warhorses and Nightmares.
One time however, the Svartalphar in their trickery had illusioned a city to make the hippus Underestimate the garrison. They lost some truly good men in that attack until they realized they needed to get out of there. After burning and looting through 5 decent sized cities, and 5 smaller ones, in addition to in-numerous small settlements of lumberyards and cottages, they returned to Gareth Minar with their prisoners, after a full two weeks of pillaging. Many of the prisoners did not survive their brutal handling, although a lot more did. They would be able to drink when the hippus cleaned their horses, washing water over them too, and they would throw horse gruel on their faces, in a half-hearted effort to feed them. Once they got back to the city, they gathered them all up for Judecca in the city square, under Alexander's orders. He then spend several days preparing, out in the hot sun of the clearing (as most of the trees around the city had been scorched, burnt, and otherwise destroyed) making a field of magical energy around the prisoners. Meanwhile Alexander's assistants were counting the gold in the Ever growing Minar treasury. That which was counted after several days, he sent with almost half of his forces back into Hippus territory, in order to commission the training of more mithril Knights. The hippus already had the Knights of Radannor, although he wanted to train some Aroul knights, Knights of Aletheriol.
Finally Judecca's dark ritual was completed, and feeling a sense of urgency a large Svartalphar army attacked the city, with illusions, archers, marksmen, everything. Unfortunately for the svarts, the night before Lazarus strained himself in using sun magic to help give his cohort enhanced vision, and they were able to cut down most of the assasins that had snuck within the City walls. Most of the hippus units were able to handle the assasins in the daylight, however some were still able to sneak off some of the treasury. During the daytime frontal assault, Lazarus commanded the Balors outside the city walls to meet the army in the field. He treated Illusions as if they were thin air, and he shrugged off archer wounds as he pushed aside guard detail to go straight for the mages, tearing into their necks with his teeth, or claws, whichever was closest. Sometimes he would take a large claw and spill their guts open. Then he would largely ignore the rest of the troops and attack the next mage. His followers would cut down the rest of the troops which were not already retreating. Soon the mages realised what was happening, beeing the smart sort. And beeing the selfish sort, which likes to live, and being the commanders of the army, they ordered a full retreat back into the woods, and disappeared from the hippus and the balors.
Most of the prisoners at this point had already died from heat, exhaustion, dehydration, starvation, all sorts of things as they were bound in the magical field without food, water, or shelter. However, none of this mattered to Judecca as their souls were still trapped within the field of energies.
tale of a Svartalphar prisoner
Spoiler:
I was captured from the city nameless tower, where I was born. I had lived there most of my life, delighting in the majesty of the night. I heard from my raven companion that the hippus were coming. Fearing for the lives of my family, I ordered my daughter and parents to run and hide. My mother and daughter ran away, although my wife and father stayed with me, to protect the family home from the vicious looters. They came in the hundreds, no the thousands. Maybe thousands of thousands, I do not know. First we heard the stampede, and then the screams and crashes and whirs, as thousands of arrows peppered the city, killing our archers and our watchmen. I saw 20 riders come directly at my house, while watching through the windows. A clever Esus assasin took one of the riders off of his horse, and I cheered. Then I looked on in horror as the leader of the gang noticed this, and placed a well aimed arrow in the kinsman's forehead. They crashed into my house, one came in through a large window, knocking me down. My father tried to defend the family crest, although they ran him through with a spear. I scrambled over to him, and wept, wishing to hear his dying words. However they tore me from him, and I could hear his screams as they cut his ears off, for a souvenir, and then slit his throat. They then bound and gagged me, and placed me on a horse, and in my horror I overheard the terrified shrieks of my wife before they bound and gagged her as well. Then came the ride, we rode for days, and then kept on riding. Everytime I felt at the verge of death, I was poured over with water and gruel, and greedily feasted on that which dripped through my gag-piece. The only thing that kept me going was the hope that we could be rescued, me and my wife, and find my daughter and mother, and properly bury my father, and return to our peaceful lives as simple hunter and gatherers, that lived as a part of a large, thriving city. And partook in the festivities at night. Later, much later, the long ride had ended, and we were placed on the dirt. To my horror, many of the prisoners in turn bound to me were Dead! I looked over and saw my wife was still alive. "Thank goodness!" Then I sat there, praying for Esus the revealer, mother of the shadows, to save us. a whole day past, and my wife was looking poor, but I hung in there. I prayed for her. Getting desperate, I prayed for Sirona to heal her, and for Lugus to spare our lives, and not kill us off with a heat stroke. The next day, and she was dead. Still no help had arrived. I was getting angry at the gods, infuriated at their weakness and ineptitude. I looked around, and saw no signs of life among the prisoners. I must of been the only one left alive, it had been three days now, it was in the morning, and ironically a cloud was finally shielding me from the sun, when I no longer had much of a reason to live. The only thing keeping me going was the hope to find my daughter, and raise her as a family, as she was now the only future for the family, and I would at least like to watch as she grows up to become a woman. So, incredibly spitefull at most of the weak and pathetic gods, I now pray to Junil ... oh lord of law and military might Junil, Commander of Order, please send a force of my kin, or of your followers, to fight the good fight, and free me so that I may return to my daughter. It was then that I heard the den of battle. And I was pleased. But then I heard the roar of the Balors, giant brutish beasts, and the screams of my dying countrymen ... and finally I heard the cowardice of retreat, and heard no more. I am a withered skeleton, but still I cling on to some slimmer of hope. Maybe ... just maybe ... help will arive. Then I see a flash of light, and I hope against hope that I am being saved by some diving intervention. The light shimmers and jolts through my whole body, and then I feel as if my body was on fire, and lo and behold, the skin and other organs are splitting off from my muscles, and my blood is pouring onto the ground. Pain as never felt before is coursing through my mind as my very soul is being ripped from my body. How do I know this? Well, through the immense pain Judecca is describing it very snidely, making it as slow and painful as possible, laughing all the while. *He blacks out* Wha? .... where am I? its so dark ... and desolate ... nothing like the shimmering hell of Esus I have heard so much about. Where ... wh-where am I? I see a powerful figure in front of me ... and feel a swell of hope. A swell of hope and ultimate understanding, and I bow as he stands there smiling ever so snidely. Of course! I know all the answers now. There is no victory, there is no humanity, there is no possible way for life as we know it to exist. Nay, it must all be destroyed... so that it can be rebuilt again. I know this now. I am now powered by a powerful hope that we can all destroy erebus someday, together, to bring about the joyous occasion of being destroyed and then to be rebuilt again, in harmony and perfection. I feel glorious pain as horns and spikes are growing all over my body. Im waving good bye to the nice man, and I find myself in a large city. Apparantly I must gather coins of some sort. This is very nice, I am going to enjoy this. Those dupes don't know what is going to hit them . . . haha, Muahaha. Muahahahahahahahahaaaa!
The souls were the sent directly into hell, while those still alive were being ripped apart in the bloody process. In exchange Judecca was granted a host of primitive demons to populate the city, run the shops, and live in Gareth Minar as a functioning Demonic Citizenry. Judecca renamed the city to Alpharbane. and He named Lazarus as the king of Alpharbane, duke among balors.
prologue
Spoiler:
several weeks later, a mysterious pale looking, very scary looking Balor appeared from the hell-fire in the central city-square. He appeared to have very nefarious plans, and had much knowledge of the Svartalphar lands. He asked to speak with Lazarus immediately, and killed anyone, human or demon, who said otherwise.
note to Cypher
Spoiler:
It would actually make more sense for the Luichurp mine to be in the center of the Hippus lands, as the south/south-east is actually where most of the hippus soldiers are that are not with either Mynan or Alexander. So the Luchuirp would actually have a fairly easy time of getting to the mithril mines, as the northern sector of hippi lands (other than Aletheriol and Radonnor of course) is quite lightly defended.
note to the Illians
Spoiler:
Tasunke is still in Garduk negotiating with Auric Ulvin. What is the official Illian response? (in relation with the war on the Luchuirp) Meanwhile of course, Mal'DeGrashni is mostly in control of the Doviello at the moment, waging war on the Luchuirp, attempting to disrupt their ability to wage war.
The Luchuirp are going to be moved west due to Tasunke's message.
The Austrin are indeed holding Khazak, however Deirdra highly respects adventurers so all characters are allowed in Khazak.
Map updated to move the Luchuirp mining colony west. The Hippus gain Svartalfar land, the Austrin are occupying Khazak, and I put arrows to show the Illians declaring war on the Luchuirp.
Well... I guess we declare war on the Luchuirp as well? (Assuming that's what you mean).
So here's a story about that.
Spoiler:
The Ice Golems
Auric considered the map that Tasunke had placed on the table before him. He touched a crystal imbued with ice and saw the battlefield even as he perceived it's representation on the map before him. He saw Doviello berserkers fighting Luchuirp golems, and saw Hippus Horse Lords running down dwarven infantry, even as he saw the positions of cavalry and infantry on the battle map.
"The Luchuirp have long been our enemy. We will gladly aid in the battle," he said. Auric summoned a Disciple of Winter, who entered and hurried to Auric's side. He handed the Disciple a message for the ice mages and priests, and the Disciple hurried off.
Tasunke asked, "How many Illian regiments can you send to aid?" Auric smiled at that, and responded,
"I can't send any conventional fighting units, as we are gearing up for war with the Amurites, and must constantly guard that border. I can send some unconventional fighting units, however. Come," and rose, gesturing for Tasunke to follow him. The horse lord did.
When they reached the crystal that Auricu used as a scrying tool, Auric muttered an incantation and then the image shimmered to show the city of Lakis, not so far away. The Illians of that city were hard at work, shaping and refining ice from a frozen lake, building what appeared to be statues. Tasunke was about to speak when he realized what was happening, even as Riuros, Priest of Winter, finished a spell of some kind.
The statues suddenly began to move forward. Auric smiled.
"After defeating the Luchuirp, Mulcarn studied their golems and made new ones, built entirely of ice. Those, and these, are the Ice Golems. I have ordered them remade, and sent to the Luchuirp border. We shall see how their golems fare against my own." Tasunke smiled as he saw them begin to march, but then asked a question.
"I thought Ice Golems melted outside of ice?" he asked. Auric smirked, and muttered another incantation, changing the angle of the scrying to show what appeared to be a massive eagle heading straight for the Luchuirp.
"I cannot spare Arioc long outside of Amurite lands, but where the Aquilan fly, blizzards go as well. This is Arioc the Cold Wind, and he will cover the path to the Luchuirp in snow and ice. Then he will return to the Amurite border. However, my priests of winter have cast cooling spells on the Ice Golems. They will last for some time away from winter."
Open letter from: Varn Gosam of the Malakim
To: Cassiel of the Grigori
Greetings, Cassiel
We are grateful for your offer, however we don't have much to trade for your marble. We were removed from our homeland by the Sidar and most of our treasures and gold were left in our old cities. As such, we are basically starting from scratch. Due to this, we have barely any military defense and are vulnerable to outside attack. We would like to request that we become your vassal and you protect us from threats. We can possibly trade access to our sun mana nodes if that would please you, as it is all we have.
Open letter from: Varn Gosam of the Malakim
To: Cassiel of the Grigori
Greetings, Cassiel
We are grateful for your offer, however we don't have much to trade for your marble. We were removed from our homeland by the Sidar and most of our treasures and gold were left in our old cities. As such, we are basically starting from scratch. Due to this, we have barely any military defense and are vulnerable to outside attack. We would like to request that we become your vassal and you protect us from threats. We can possibly trade access to our sun mana nodes if that would please you, as it is all we have.
SpoilerCassiel's reply, and the beginning of the Cassiel Doctrine :
To Varn Gosam, Leader of the Malakim,
Though we are disappointed that trade between our nations remains low, we are honored that you feel you can turn to us in your time of need.
Before we can accept such a generous offer, however, we must make it clear that which you are offering yourselves to, as any relationship between guardian and ward must be understood to be both fair and just.
The most important distinction of your voluntary entry inside the prospective Grigori Empire will be the wide berth of autonomy that you will have to determine your own affairs. As our willing vassals, you will remain free to make your own laws, conduct your own trade, appoint your own officials as you see fit, and continue to carry on the Malakim way of life for which we have much respect, all within generous and reasonable limitations of our our oversight.
Those limitations, we believe, will be generous and fair for such a relationship, though they may be difficult at first. Please do not think you are uniquely targeted by such requirements, only that we require these of you in exchange for our protection, and that we hope that others will follow in your footsteps in these matters. These are the desires of the Grigori nation for the world, and for you.
-There shall be not prejudice of religion or sanctioned church across the land whenever both reasonable and possible. Though we have no desire to force you to abandon the teachings of the Empyrean or to refuse to let their wisdoms guide your actions, we refuse to condone or support discrimination or favoritism of any religion for any kind. All must be allowed, but none favored. That is the first and most important price for our unequivocal support.
-Nor shall there be any prejudice of race or color against the citizens of the Grigori nation, whatever their place of origin. We shall always support your current policies of tolerance and acceptance, and will push for more of them should we ever feel compelled. But never shall any citizen of the Grigori nation come to unlawful harm in your lands.
-Though you are free to regulate and retain your own trading practices with others as you see fit, two exception remains: Grigori merchants and wares may never be refused entry and sale into your lands, and we retain the expectation of your support for any prospective trade embargo partaken by the Grigori.
-We shall share friends and enemies equally. For those you have favorable relations with, we pledge to honor to the best of our ability and love them as you do. And for those for whom you do not have favorable relations, we pledge to offer our support to mitigate their offenses and promote tolerance and reconciliation. All we ask and expect in return is that our friends also be your friends, and that our enemies of war be your enemies as well.
-Peace and security shall be our common cause, and the Grigori will see to it's management. If we counsel patience and restraint on your part, we have no reason to expect otherwise. Likewise, if we find that a threat must be handled before it can destroy more, we will also expect your understanding and agreement.
Though these expectations of your station and position may seem burdensome, we assure you that we will work to make them as light and beneficial as we can. We shall also seek to make your existence sounder and more secure in other ways as well:
-We will arrange and manage the common defense of both our peoples from outside and inside threats.
-We will share our knowledge and advances with your people through our sages and merchants so that for as long as we are bound together, you shall also share the fruits of our knowledge.
-We will offer preferential treatment of markets inside our lands, furthering your own economic well-being and growth from bear essentials.
-And we will allow facilitated access inside our borders for your people, so that just as we may go to your and spread our philosophies, so can you come to us and see them yourself.
If this agreement you truly desire and accept, I shall hereby accept the people of the Malakim into the Grigori Empire as Malakim Province, and shall send an initial protective force to your lands immediately.
Open letter from: Varn Gosam of the Malakim
To: Cassiel of the Grigori
Cassiel,
Your demands are reasonable enough for us. We would prefer to keep our state religion of the Empyrean if you are willing to allow it, but we will allow the spread and worship of all religions except the Ashen Veil. I cannot, in good faith, allow the worship of demons to spread to my lands. However I, Varn Gosam of the Malakim, accept your terms.
The Engineer says "If you build it, they will come." It is supposed to be a testament of how far others will carry themselves to see the fruits of your labors.
But I know from experience that it is far easier to say "I will buy it," and then sit back as others go far out of their way to bring it to me.
---
The Grigori Merchant Goodreau was rather glad he hadn't had to be the one to deliver the nightmare to the Balseraph princess. Though watching the girl's rejoicing had brought back memories of his own lost daughter, the girl's squeal of delight had been painful even from this distance.
So he was content to let the ambassador deal with her and her entourage, fulfilling one girl's whimsy in the hopes of affecting the madhouse's advance south. It wasn't up to him to deal with the clowns of chaos and confusion: now that Keelyn had her nightmare pony, he could leave that to the diplomats. The next time he wanted to see someone from the Balseraphs was if Kimble was coming home.
As Goodreau walked off in search of much desired refreshments and an even more desired bed, he felt as much as heard another follow in his footsteps. Slowing his pace, his latest captain came beside him and joined him for the walk.
"It was a long journey, but now it's finally over, eh?" asked Panlupan, the dashing woman who had taken over command of their treasure fleet.
"Indeed it is," Goodreau confirmed, "and I thank you on behalf of my sovereign for carrying through with the job to the end."
Panlupan thumbed her nose, deriding the very thought of giving up a contract. "We do what we swear, and we swear to do what we do," she said, the motto of her ship. "Tis bad business to break one's word, but I'm sure I don't need be telling that to ye."
Goodreau nodded, but felt compelled to say "none of us could have blamed you if you had turned around, not after the Leviathan attack." He felt cold and wet just thinking about it, how that monstrous sea beast you could never completely see had torn through their ships with such careless ease. The sea serpants that trailed along it were difficult enough, but it had been only thanks to Panlupan's sea sense that they had survived at all, much less with over half their ships.
Panlupan hissed at the memory. "That Leviathan has gone on for far too long," she said. "I'll eagerly await the day that someone finally takes down that monster into Danulin's vault. I'd even buy Tebryn Arbandi a round if he found something to get rid of it." She considered that statement, then thoughtfully added "assuming he doesn't put something even worse in it's place, of course." She sighed with real regret. "Until then, though, you just got to make your ships fast enough and with a high enough crow's nest to outrun it to land. Makes fishing near impossible, and shipping's damn hard to steer around it. It takes twice as long to ship half as much when that monster is in the region."
"Of course," Goodreau agreed, "though I hear there's an idea going around to try and limit that. You've heard of the Amurite Ordine tags? I hear they're coming out with a idea to use those to keep track of the monster. Even if you can't put it on the beast, just having men in a fast boat trailing it and telling traders to where to avoid would be worth the weight of those boats in gold."
Panlupan hadn't heard of the latest Ordine tags, and the two of them continued their discussion as they entered a tavern. As they ordered food and drink, Panlupan turned to Goodreau.
"So what next with you, Grigori landlubber merchant?" she asked. "Now that you've found and delivered your little pony, what do you have left to do?"
Goodreau shrugged. "Whatever my lord instructs of me," he said. "I have a few more tasks, but I look forward to returning home sooner rather than later." By home he meant his new home, with the Grigori, not the place from which he was born.
"That would be nice," Panlupan admitted with just a hint of longing in her voice that Goodreau looked at her.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing you would care about," his former expedition commander tried to wave off, though the drink coursed through her. "Just agreeing with the sentiment."
"So why don't you go back, then?" asked Goodreau, honestly curious.
"Can't," she admitted. "They really wouldn't tolerate a captain like me."
"Why not?" he asked. "Because you're a woman?"
He immediately regretted it after receiving the glare she sent him. Realizing he didn't mean it that way, she softened it.
"Oh, no, Falamar would love me for it," she said. "Would love me to warm his bed, no doubt, and tell him all my dashing and impressive stories." She waved a hand airily to show what she thought of his approval. "No, it's because we violated the Code."
Goodreau looked at her blankly. "The Code? Which one? Junil's? The Code of Pirates?"
She looked at the landlubber with some annoyance. "No, the Code," she stressed. "The way captains are supposed to act. I technically wasn't supposed to have landed on the Infernal lands for your mission, and the Fleet can't really own up to me now either."
Goodreau pointed out the obvious objection. "But your previous Captain agreed to the trip," he said. "You just took over and continued it after the Leviathan attacked."
"But I'm not senior enough," she explained. "He had enough clout to defend it, and the oldest respect him enough to support him. Me? I'm too young, according to them. They would say that I should have turned home and come to port, and not risked disgracing the Lunan Fleet and myself."
"But then you would have reneged on a contract," Goodreau pointed out. "Your name would already be ruined."
Panlupan smiled joylessly as Goodreau understood her delimma. "I'd be lucky to get on another captain's ship as a whore, let alone a galley cook or anything else."
"You were going to be disgraced either way," Goodreau realized. "No matter what you did, you were going to be punished. And yet you carried through the mission for us without any hesitation that I could see."
Panlupan nodded, gazing fondly at her grog. "I knew, aye. I asked myself, which could I stand less? Not going home, or not being at sea? Don't misinterpret it: I made the choice that gave me the best chance at keeping an honest job I love. Nothing in it about you and your cause, my friend."
Goodreau looked at the despairing captain without a home port, and was reminded of when he had been a merchant without a home market. He felt sympathy for her. He also remembered his latest instructions from Cassiel, in his forward-thinking wisdom, had instructed him to seek out next.
Open letter from: Varn Gosam of the Malakim
To: Cassiel of the Grigori
Cassiel,
Your demands are reasonable enough for us. We would prefer to keep our state religion of the Empyrean if you are willing to allow it, but we will allow the spread and worship of all religions except the Ashen Veil. I cannot, in good faith, allow the worship of demons to spread to my lands. However I, Varn Gosam of the Malakim, accept your terms.
To Varn Gosam, Future Leader of the Malakim Province:
We are not prepared to make an exception in regards to state religion, in the long term. Remain a devoted Empyrean personally, head of the Empyrean religion on Mazera, and a vocal advocate for the Empyrean philosophy if you wish: we will support you entirely. But the government under Grigori protection must not support any religion over any other. It is not enough to merely tolerate other religions, but none must be favored as well.
However, we understand the delimma of a society that has been forced to replace it's roots. As the Empyrean priests remain the administrative and governmental means for your country, we will understand and, for as long as it is required, accept a state church as the means to administer your empire. We hope you understand that we will look strongly for any sign of discrimination, but at the same time we have peace of mind knowing that the Empyrean philosophy preaches tolerance of other's beliefs and practices within reason. We trust for that heart of your religion to continue to beat strongly.
As for the later concern, there remains a simple, enlightened way to prevent demon-worship, Overlord worship, and similar faiths and practices from your land. And that is to convince people who would follow them otherwise, while working protect the victims of such malign philosophies. Though laws banning Veil-worship, Overlord-worship, Esus-worship, or any other kind of self-chosen practice are contrary to the Grigori way, strict laws against blood sacrifice, mind-tampering, or blackmail and cheating are recognized as foundations for a fair and just civilization. It is our experience that the malign of such cults avoid lands that refuse to tolerate their practices, even if their beliefs are.
Of course, we are willing to share our knowledge of identifying and preventing such practices, and the means to remove such threats from the populace, even if not in the Empyrean tradition.
-Cassiel
OOC: Though it sounds as if Cassiel is saying no, he's actually giving a number of face-saving means for Varn to accept. Empyrean can stay the nominal state religion because the priesthood and the church are the main support of the Malakim civilization, and it can remain as long as the Malakim claim that it is necessary to rebuild/redevelop their nation. Cassiel will expect and press for less favoritism for Empyrean beliefs, of course, but he will tolerate the state religion, especially if the continues to advocate tolerance for other beliefs. Eventually, if not completely abolishing the church, Cassiel will push the Empyrean religion to something resembling the Anglican Church in modern day Britain: still official, and still nominally important in the rules in the books, but much less relevant to the day-to-day governance. He hopes that by doing so, the people will lose reverence of their own will.
The part about the Ashen Veil is a bit more vague. Cassiel is saying don't outlaw the religion, per say, but outlaw the practices that make the religion bad in the first place. But at the end he's also offering the knowledge for performing an Inquisition so that the religion can be removed. Just not as blatantly as if it were on religious grounds.
So basically, the Grigori are accepting Varn's request in a way that leaves them able to claim progress now and for later in the futre.
Edit: If that sounds deceptive, hypocritical, and un-Cassiel, I should explain better. Cassiel's being diplomatic to steadily move the Malakim towards what he'd like them to be. Though he's making concessions to Varn's requests, accepting it will lock Varn into the reforms of the theme. In the future, when the relationship is more established, the Grigori can press Varn to secularize the established Malakim government. But if Cassiel presses too far now, Varn could change his mind and then none of the reforms can come to pass. Cassiel is going about it slow and steadily for Varn because Varn is a willing vassal; an unwilling vassal likely won't have much of a choice.
Open letter from: Varn Gosam of the Malakim
To: Cassiel of the Grigori
Cassiel,
The Empyrean church will in no way be a part of the government of the Malakim and will have no influence in running our nation aside from promoting their beliefs. We would indeed like your help in tracking these activities down. We do not wish for our nation to become a hotbed of crime and murder. We do request that you respect our neighbors, the Amurites and Kahdi. Both nations have been helpful in reestablishing the Malakim nation.
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. . . haha, Muahaha. Muahahahahahahahahaaaa!
