Intrigue of Magic

[Terran Empress]

Danke, Thank you so much

 

[spaceman98]

To Whome it may concern: To avoid unnecissarily antagonizing our neighbor, we will not accept any mercenary contract against Raevyllke, or in support of the Ghoul faction there at this time. We would be willing to take contracts from Ghouls elsewhere though.

Also:

Send the Seekers of the Helmet (aka the Cult of Ishtar) northwest, up the coast of the bay (OOC: Am I allowed to detail some of what is there?)

This question was never answered.

 

[Terran Empress]

The Naga

Naga Culture has been very nomadic for the majority of their existence, sticking with their tribes and families, the Naga have only recently united into one nation. Historically the Naga because of this, along with their diverse colored skin, and strange physiology, have been used as slaves of pleasure for the more powerful nations.

The Naga are extremely proficient in magic, however if you are born with the innate ability to perform it. The Ability to use magic in the Naga society however is fairly rare, with each tribe having one or maybe two Naga Magi. Because of their innate abilities the Naga Magi became the de facto leaders of tribes, if ever a tribe was without a Magi, it would die off as the tribes Naga would seek other tribes, or die in the process.

Naga society is based around the Magi, who are both the Political and Religious leaders of the Naga. Before we learn about the government of the Naga, we must learn about their Religion.

Religion:
The Naga Religion is based off of what the Naga call the 8 Attributes of the universe.

Earth
Water
Fire
Air
Life
Death
Nature
Arcane

Magi's in the Naga region practice one of the 8 tennents, devoting their entire life to the practice and mastery of one of the attributes of the universe. No attribute is inherently evil, and all can be used for good or for ill. While each attribute does have its polar opposite (seen in on the symbol of the Naga Religion below) the individual attributes are all neutral.

The Naga worship these attributes as the forces that govern the Universe, and Magi are highly respected because of their power over the Universe.

To master all 8 attributes is a sign of true enlightenment within the Naga society, and are treated with extremely high regard. So far only one Naga has been able to achieve this feat. Those who do are forever known as the Magi Lord.

Due to the rarity of Magically adept Naga all genders can became Magi so long as they show some form of magical use.

Government:
The Government of the Naga Magocracy is an interesting one. The majority of the Naga still live in tribal nomadic societies, however a few Naga cities have shown up with formation of the Magocracy. The Magocracy is ruled over by a council of 8 Elder Magi with the current Magi Lord at the head. Each Elder Magi have absolute mastery of their chosen attribute, and are considered avatars for their specific attribute.

The Council along with the Magi Lord have almost absolute control. Ruling from the capital city of Katol, meaning "The Great City". The council makes all the decisions for the nation militarily, and economically, because of the tribal societies still within the Magocracy however, the Magi of the respective tribes still hold a majority domestic power.

History:
No less than 8 years ago Amen Un-Nefer, a prominent Magi within his tribe, went missing. For 8 years Amen lived alone, meditating, pondering, and practicing. He wished to do what no Naga had done before, master all 8 attributes of the universe. If it wasn't for his seclusion he would have been destroyed. Instead he revived a vision, enlightenment from the attributes.

Amen returned to his people, demonstrating his mastery, and calling himself the Magi Lord. The Naga bowed to him, and declared him their king. However Amen in his enlightened state turned down the monarchy. He instead created a Magocracy, ruled over by himself and 8 others, one for each attribute.

It has been 5 years sine Amen's return, and the Naga of this Island have been completely united, and a few others on a nearby island have also heard of Amen's glory and joined the Magocracy.


Orders for this turn.

Send the Magocracy's best Magi to learn more about these squids and attempt to find out what is happening

that is all because it is late and im tired. ill do more later.

 

[filli_noctus]

OOC: The framing letter is not addressed to Marret, I'm not specifying who it's addressed to so if anyone feels like riffing off it, feel free - first come first served.

Sire,
I have managed to acquire the enclosed document relating to the first arrival of humans on Cumhail (at least those in and around Formont, I can not be certain that it is applicable to all the disparate human settlements). As far as I can tell it was compiled from the legends of the humans of the region now entirely under the dominion of the Wight King. I believe the author was a scholar in service to King Marret prior to his turning or possibly his father, Baron Jenner.
Your servant,
Ellet

The Mythical and Recorded History of the Humans of Formont and Outlying Baronies

Many generations ago it is said that Cumhail had not yet felt the touch of the feet of man and that our ancestors resided in a land known as Ala.

Our forefathers, who called themselves the Tudan, lived prosperous lives for Ala was a land of plenty but this was to be their undoing.

The Tudan grew complacent in this paradise whilst others coveted it. Eventually invaders came to Ala lead by a man called Mels. Although the Tudan fought valiantly for Ala they were overwhelmed and forced back. Many sought shelter in the barrows of the Feebol, their predecessors in Ala whom they had forced out like Mels was doing to them.

But the barrows were not uninhabited. The twisted spirits of departed Feebol, beings the Tudan called Scee, clouded their minds and created magical portals to ensnare the descendants of their enemies - intending for the Tudan to become lost in a place beyond their world.

Fortunately for our ancestors beyond the portals lay a shining path for them to follow. For many months they trod the path, knowing neither hunger, nor thirst, nor weariness, nor death, until they emerged through another portal deep inside a cave.

As the last man passed through the portal it disappeared, leaving bare rock in its place. Pressing ahead they emerged into a new land populated with plants and animals unfamiliar to them. Many among them believed they had come to Tinan or Hebrez, blessed lands told of in their stories and legends, but as hunger, thirst, weariness and age crept up on them - afflictions men did not suffer in those lands - they realised that the new world, though it was different from Ala in many ways, was much like their old home.

Together they laboured to create their first village and life was good for them. As generations passed their numbers swelled and they spread, creating first villages, then towns. Arms were forged as they came into conflict with the other races of Cumhail and eventually the baronial system developed where families of wealth and skill of arms would claim an area as their own and protect those within in return for service and coin.

Once the native races were subdued the barons looked to expand their own power, usually at their neighbours expense, and a series of wars were waged. Usually one or two barons would defeat his neighbours and claim the title of duke or even king before being laid low by an alliance of independent barons after which there would be a period of relative peace before the cycle would begin again.

We are now in one of the longest periods of peace we humans have known since the first baronies were declared. Several of our neighbours are reported to be forging great numbers of spears and recruiting many more men. If Formont is to survive we must be prepared for the coming war.

 

[Double A]

Da Gobbies Escaped!: although the orcish pirates showed up in force to the goblin hideout their lack of planning meant that the account of goblins simply running away was not accounted. Still they left behind the loot… wait a minute! You recognise the cart as carrying some fine orcish pirate grog! And the grog barrels are no were to be seen! The goblins must have fled north with the grogs! Gah! Well the goblins have not been wise in where they running to: they are heading up some volcanic mountains to your most north…

Awright, boyz, it's toim fer me ta lead da WAAAGH! on dese gobblin grotsniffaz! An' Mista Nailbrain an' Brikkfist'll kut dem off at da pass!

Plunder da Booty!: a naga merchant ship Arnav Arth from Haik plans to head to the Dugud Unnis to do trade with the orcish clans. However a massive storm has engulfed the open sea route; the naga trade vessel head an alternative route… right to go through a midway point between three isles northwest of Haik and north of Varuna. Freebootaz might enjoy a good looting... yes it would annoy a couple of merchants but they can have it! Plus Haik’s history for hosting pirates can ensure that relations will not be too bad for the chaotically organised sea city. Of course you can be (unpirately) kind and instead hunt for any impish pirate gangs that might want to also exploit the alternative route plan of the naga merchant ship Arnav Arth. Still… what booty does the Arnav Arth has?

Boyz, we'z gotz ta kill dem impies tryin ta takes our lewt. An if we skares dem off, den mor ships'll com an we kan lewt DEM!

Spoiler :

 

[Ailedhoo]

452


Link to video.

"What Scaanoar failed to realise is that without live there cannot be death and without either there cannot be the "freedom" of undeath. In the end the greatest agents of death are the living"

Freyja Hel, necromancer scholar


Death and Hope

Spoiler map of the world :

Spoiler known sites :

Though many nations grow in pride the deaths taken in conflict, especially by the hand of the White King and the Tlaloc Emperor, sign the world in notions of death. Let live goes on as hope ensures that the Great Kingdom of the Sea and Thenisa continue to grow. Death and hope linger on.

Spoiler events :

Raevyllke

Victory of the Crown Prince: having seen the Banahogg’s fall the other ghoul packs have begun to retreat, although some would get caught by the Raevyllken forces. Meanwhile the local populace take to the Raevyllke for the security offered, granding the consent of new provinces for Raevyllke. Meanwhile Baase is rumoured to have ordered a retreat of any remaining Death Hand agents, instead setting the trollish lich Freyja Hel to Raevyllke to discuss Raevyllke’s vision for the captured and remaining ghouls. It is likely Baase may also want to try to clean their image doing the talks and to find a way to keep Felmont on a lease to counter the White King’s genocide plot against ghouls by diplomatic means.


Swamp Tales: while the south-eastern provinces proved to be grassy plains with great cliffs with little access route to the sea the south-western province’s scouts vanished in its swamps… well one scout did return but the tales are… intresting. According to the scout many of the scouts came victim to what appears to a hydra but more notably was a claimant of spotting of what appeared to be a pirate vessel stuck in the middle of a bog. What ever this vessel is it is clear that not all the scouts were dealt by the hydra; investigation into this matter is needed. Is this vessel empty of inhabitants or does it host a force? An adventurer might be needed.


Great Kingdom of the Sea

Kraken Fall: Manannán declares its pleasures with the decline in krakan attacking trade links; Lord Fionntan Mag Aonghuis of Manannán has sent his son Sean to provide his diplomatic and spying skills to King William as a reward and to help give Sean Mag Aonghuis some needed experience.

Aerion’s Ambition is its Weakness: King Ewar III has passed away due to a terrible illness, his title given by elective vote to Taranis II. In this it the ambition that has failed in claimant of the Great Kingdom of the Sea’s main isle but the tensions are likely. Thankfully for the Great Kingdom the land of Aerion is plagued by the raiders which increase. If King William wants to keep the ambition of Taranis II in check he could consider finding a way to help the goblin raider leader: "Baron" Alexis Cupidite. How to get a messenger through will be a challenge… perhaps a master in spying and diplomacy might get through to do such a mission.



Kingdom of Formont

Dark Days are Eternal: Formont grows stronger in spawn and in darkness. Baase is uneasy with its pact with the anti-ghoulish kingdom but sees the White King as too powerful to disregard as an ally.

Holy Fortress: it appears the Poor Soldiers had came forth by method of a fortified angelic temple that has recently been finished in construction. This temple is nothing special but it appears it hosts the Holy Order of the Joy of the Glories of the 9th Heaven. The temple is a fotress, heavily guarded by towers and paladins but the mound it is on is rigged with caves, some of which linked to the underground…

High Technalate of Kunohir

Ruins of Old: a ruin of unknown origin and time has been located. Although it holds treasures it appears to also hold some curse; they say that the skeletons placed around moved. An investigation will have to be conducted.

Fire Glory: more knowledge in fire has been developing.

Tlaloc Alliance

Orcs and Fairies Unite: the slauture of orcs and fairires have leaded to a mass refugee crisis, with even Baase being a long term destination for the refugees. What ever a case a band of orcs and fairies have banded together to not flee: these have forged Karma’s Dagger, which vows guerrilla war against the Tlaloc Allaince. The group has likely taken to the northern borders for preparing: detais are still sketchy but they are at a infant stage as a organisation, able to be injured greatly if the Tlaloc Allaince plays their cards right. They must be careful however; the Fellowship of Meztli has showed to be not pleased with the slaugture While they have not declined the alliance openly it is likely they could take advantage of Karma’s Dagger should the guerrilla group prove useful. That said if one was to make the Fellowship of Meztli a subject of fear…

Divine Sightings: reports of a mysterious sight, described as a “Tlaloc skeleton save for the living head surrounded by black feathers” has been sighted flying around the lands of the Tlaloc Allaince. What is notable is that this figure is said to carry a scythe. Could this be a reaper, an angel of death? If true such powerful being showing themselves may prove notable. If a enemy the Tlaloc will face a great challenge. If seeking a alliance or other deal then great rewards awaits the Tlaloc’s emperor… but at what price? Reapers are powerful beings and being of power may process a hidden agenda. The first thing is to contact but how to contact a being of death? Is the angel attraction to the deaths that occurred?

Kingdom of Thenisra

Knowledge continues to strive on.

Nuifallash Mercenary Conglomerate

Anti-Piracy Contract Served: Massif Opulence has done his objective and returns to his king with prizes of spicae and other goods. Admiral Parjure Amiral’s raid was scattered away by the orcs. Lutindor is likely to see the mercenaries as allies.

Twin Ruins: although scouts not Ishtar they did find two ruined ports that could pose investigation. Scouts did report sightings of a back of dire wolfs prowing in the eastern ruins and the west have what appears to be a small group of orchish worshippers of the Sleeper within them.

Naga Magocracy

Investigation: the naga have found that the kraken have bizarre wounds of a rather neat nature… are they cuttings? The mark identified by researchers suggest not goodness; worshippers of the Sleeper are said to use the markings that are found on the kraken. What is going on? Perhaps scouting the sea may give clues; the hiring of Famouri might be needed to also scout the sea depths in case of cultic linkage in the deeps.

Nice Cuppa for a Shield: a Oni tea merchant has arrived at the naga docks, bringing a shipment of tea. The merchant, Arata Kawaguchi, comes not with a well ship however as he had been forced to endure the wroth of a Oni pirate gang that had managed to hinder his ship. Arata may need some short of protection, magical or otherwise, to guard his return back to the Shogunate of Ikkoku.

Freebootaz

Gobbies Got Da Beating Near Da Mountain of Fire: the goblins did get delt with, with many of their heads taken, but not before the grog got stolen by an ogre magi hermit. The hermit heads home near not an ordinary place: the legendary Mount Aile that Mandatum fell to Balor has been founded. Marvel at the sight as you investigate this ogre that took da grog?

Da Booty Increases!: Arnav Arth managed to pass through the pirate seas… the imp pirates were not so lucky, facing the wroth of a orcish plundering of their vessels. After a bloody battle the orcish pirates have ensured reinsurance for merchents; reports show that a number of vessels have decided to follow the Arnav Arth’s example and take the route. A fleet of 2 troll, 2 imp, 2 naga, a ghoul, a orc and a oni merchant ship set sail; Freebootaz have a chance to gorge.

Da Rival Pirate Boyz Den Found: those imps may have been given a beating but the primal gang are still existing. Scouts have noted what appears to be land holded by an impish pirate gang; the Flaming Skulls, leaded by the impish fire wizard pirate Rouge Admiral Vito Pinho. The land is centred in two spots; a troll made fortress with port and a spice plantation laboured by elementals. There are other points but tend to be unfortified, defended by lonely goons of the Fire Skulls. Fancy showing the Fire Skulls whose boss?

Eliim Cliffside Peoples

Booty Still on Sail: a troll trade ship from Haik was on route to Lamia. The vessel is alone but strong thanks to trollish engineering. It will take the open sea north-east of the Eliim but it will have to venture with care in case of storms. Now having reached Lamia it is on the return back home with fresh spice and other goods.

GM Notes

I will do the deadline for midday Tuesdays perhaps? Any rate I hope this turn goes well and know I am here to help you all.

Adventuring will be a case of great reward for your character making!

 

[filli_noctus]

Any chance of a rough sketch of this holy fortress?

 

[Ailedhoo]

A simple rough plan. Not shown: the tunnels that link under the fortress.

 

[filli_noctus]

OOC: I'm assuming orange is towers, keep and gatehouse, grey is walls/ramparts, and green is open space - correct?

IC:
The prisoner feebly pulled at the shackles securing him to the table as he released his last, long tortured breath as his soul released itself from the agony of his body. The tortured corpse lay still for a moment then jerked as the parasites reanimated it.

Working quickly Marret released the shackles and hauled the newly risen Necrite to its feet.

"Can you understand me? Speak!" barked the king.

"Ye..eth," responded the Necrite.

"Excellent, excellent," said the king, a cruel glint in his eye, "do you know who I am?"

"Maa...rret," it answered.

"Good," mused the king passing it a sword, "can you use this?"

The Necrite stared dumbly at the weapon for a second, before reaching for the pommel, grasping it on the second attempt only for the sword to slip from its grip a moment later. Lazily it reached down and grasped the sword firmly by the highly sharpened blade, losing two fingers in the process.

"Scaanoar's blood!" roared the king, flinging a fireball that reduced the Necrite to ash in mere moments, "I was certain I had it this time! How many more of the Poor Soldier prisoners are left?"

"Barely a score I am afraid, your majesty," replied the steward of the castle, "perhaps you should experiment on more... expendable subjects until you have perfected the process?"

"Very well, round up a dozen mortals for testing and have them brought here as soon as possible."

"Very good, sire. Whilst you were occupied I received word that Sir Nerim's reconaissance party has returned with the details of the Poor Soldier's fortress. He is awaiting an audience in the Great Hall."

"Good, good," responded the king, absentmindedly wiping the blood from his hands, "tell Nerim I'll be with him shortly. And send a servant down to clean this place up."

"As you wish, sire," said the steward before turning to return to the upper layers of the castle.

 

[Ailedhoo]

OOC: I'm assuming orange is towers, keep and gatehouse, grey is walls/ramparts, and green is open space - correct?

Correct: the central primal part of the temple is marked with the golden marker of holding the symbol of the 9th Heaven perhaps.

 

[spaceman98]

To Karma’s Dagger: Need mercenaries? How much would you pay?

Separatly:
To Tlaloc Alliance: Need mercenaries? How much would you pay?

OOC: Can you post a link to the first update and the site list in the OP?

 

[Ailedhoo]

To Karma’s Dagger: Need mercenaries? How much would you pay?

OOC: hmm how much gold should the Karma's Dagger have to give away? Hmm...

IC:

How much would it cost for your mercenary company to declare war on the Tlatloc Alliance?

OOC:

 

[Civ'ed]

Ailed you magnificent abusive GM you.
IC:
To Karma's Dagger:
We offer you one chance to surrender. If you do, you will peacefully be allowed to leave the empire and we will offer a week's amnesty to all others of your kinds to leave the empire. Should you wish to fight, however, all of your kind shall be eradicated without mercy.
To the Mercenaries:
We would greatly appreciate it if you stayed out of important matters of state. We do not wish to hire you and suggest you retract your offer to Karma's Dagger.
To the King of Formont and the Leader of Baase
We have a... sizeable undead population, which has been growing recently. We would be willing to exchange these undead in return for a promise that no Tlaloc under our banners will be harmed by you or your populations. And we would also appreciate it if any of your men could discover the meaning behind recent appearances of one of Itzlacatini's avatars in our realm. We have sent a group of soldiers and scholars out already, but we do not know if they will ever return.

Orders (ish)
- Send a party of scholars and soldiers out to meet the avatar. OOC: Ailed, I'm letting you write the RP for if they find it or not, not because I'm lazy (I think) but because I too have no idea how a meeting between the living and dead could go.
- Offer to send all our undead population to the necromancies to the north.
- Offer Karma's Dagger a chance to stand down.
- Reject the Merc contract.

 

[filli_noctus]

"You are sure these tunnels lead into the fortress, Nerim?" Marret mused.

"Not for certain, sire," replied the commander, "but the cave system will definitely come near to the lower areas of the castle. It should be little trouble to create a connection if none can be found."

"I shall set the mortwrights to creating behemoths suited for mining. What concerns me more is your report that this is an 'angelic' fortress. We do not know the extent of the power of those creatures. Before we formulate any plans we must be certain that we can retain control of our underlings inside the fortress. I need you to return and send in a rat (authors note: when Wights refer to animals they are usually referring to a Necrite mutated to resemble the animal in question), in fact take as many as you need to map the tunnels to search for an entrance. Make sure you can keep control of it within the fortress and that it remains motile. If you lose control or it lays down you are to attempt an infiltration to the point where the rat was lost, we must know if we or the Necrites in general can enter the fortress. Scaanoar forbid we have to hire," the king spat, "mercenaries for the job."

OOC: Please respond to this in time for me to formulate final battle plans, Ailed.

 

[Ailedhoo]

A gleaming fortress was the Temple of the Joy of the Glories of the 9th Heaven. The Holy Order that preyed in it and protected it for pilgrims had been eagerly paranoid of any dark assaults. The mixed species Holy Order, its militant wing commanded by (the goblin) Grandmaster Dieu Garde by directive of the supreme head of the Holy Order the (fairy) Bishop Aspick of the Temple of the Joy of the Glories of the 9th Heaven. In worship of the Council of Caelum the Temple of the Joy of the Glories of the 9th Heaven felt protected, although not in the prideful sense of invincible. Indeed many regarded the defences as delaying the inevitable forces of the White King but the Hold Order that formed with the creation of the Temple are willing to die in the name of protecting their angelic worship.

Among the order's members was a goblin raider converted to a Templar of the 9th Heaven by the name of Vert Aménager. This goblin would leave the following disturbing accounts in his dairy:

"I was tasked with a party of my brothers and sisters to patrol around the holy shrine that we call our home. Le Temple of the Joy of the Glories of the 9th Heaven was illuminated in moonlight on that fateful moment to be. It was in return for late supper back into the Temple itself when I had it; a bizarre ugly rodent scattered across the floor and bit me. I am uncertain of what plague it has endured me, so I am currently in la hospice to be inspected. I have no idea of what the rat be but I am certain it was not le plague for it has not taken all my energy... although I have an nasty feeling... I do not know but... something feel... unusual."

Around this time a tlaloc nun by the name of Doña Ulembachac wrote the following in her personnel notes:

"I need to warn the Bishop on the matters of the cellars. I feel the fortified door to one of the caverns that is heavily guarded by paladins may not be the only route into our Temple by method of the underground. I reckon the wine cellar especially have had weak walling. I believe the rat of unusual form that entered our Temple came through these cracks. I dread of what may come forth with greater force. As for the goblin bitten... I will need to hope the hospice chaplains find out if the rat's bite left anything nasty in Brother Vert. We have finished our construction but I fear we have not prepared fully our holy defences."

 

[filli_noctus]

Hail and well met to you Huecalpixqui who is leader of the mighty Tlaloc,
I have reveiewed your offer to transfer your Necrite population to the Kingdom of Formont and I have concluded that as presented we shall not agree to the proposal.
In Formont, Necrites are commonplace so have little value, certainly not worth detaching one of my vassals or courtiers from his important duties to perform what is, for you, pest control.
Instead I offer you this counter proposal that will sufficiently sweeten the pot to make this deal worthwhile. We will remove the Necrites from Tlaloc for the price of one silver shilling and one fresh ghoul head per Necrite removed.
May your reign last ten thousand years,
Marret, R

Marret impressed his signet ring into the sealing wax, half listening to the report from Nerim.

"No noticeable arcane defences, that is excellent," he said, "have the mortwrights create, let's say ten-score rats and have them released into the fortress to infest the soldiers. We will leave it a week for the fever to reach it's widest spread and then we shall attack.
"We shall send two hordes supported by mining behemoths through the tunnels whilst the rest of the army lays siege to the walls. We shall clear the ramparts with our cannon, send minions up ladders and send Angels over the walls to secure them and attempt to throw open the gates.
"As a contingency we shall send Zulkor, is he larger than a house yet by the way? Excellent. Anyway, we shall send Zulkor to breach the gates. Have a blacksmith forge gauntlets for him.
"Once we have entered the fortress, by whatever means, resistance should be minimal due to the fever and we can replenish our losses from their sickrooms.
"My only concern is that they are likely to have more mages than most of our foes. Therefore I want every sorcerer ever to embrace Wightdom at the siege to counteract their magics.
"I want that fortress to become a charnel house and for my standard to fly from its keep to show all mortals the price of crossing Formont."

 

[Civ'ed]

The Huecalpixqui listened to the letter.
"most interesting proposal, that. We think they misunderstood Our will however."
"Quit possibly so, oh Great One" the aide said.
"Very well. Compose a letter in their tongue."

Hail, King Marret.
It would seem you have misunderstood us. Our idea was that we would provide the transport for the Necrites to your Realm. Your aid was requested in interpreting what appears to be a messenger or angel of Death.
As a token of meaning, please accept the following attached.
Sincerely,
Cecmiqui Huecalpxqui IV.

The aide then engraved in wax a complex pictogram showing a man lying down with hypothermia.
"Sir, what is the attachment?"
The Huecalpixqui looked up.
"Bring a ghoul from the prisons. Cut his head off and rip his heart out. Send that as an attachment."
"very well."

 

[Ailedhoo]

Ailed you magnificent abusive GM you.
IC:
To Karma's Dagger:
We offer you one chance to surrender. If you do, you will peacefully be allowed to leave the empire and we will offer a week's amnesty to all others of your kinds to leave the empire. Should you wish to fight, however, all of your kind shall be eradicated without mercy.
To the Mercenaries:
We would greatly appreciate it if you stayed out of important matters of state. We do not wish to hire you and suggest you retract your offer to Karma's Dagger.
To the King of Formont and the Leader of Baase
We have a... sizeable undead population, which has been growing recently. We would be willing to exchange these undead in return for a promise that no Tlaloc under our banners will be harmed by you or your populations. And we would also appreciate it if any of your men could discover the meaning behind recent appearances of one of Itzlacatini's avatars in our realm. We have sent a group of soldiers and scholars out already, but we do not know if they will ever return.

Orders (ish)
- Send a party of scholars and soldiers out to meet the avatar. OOC: Ailed, I'm letting you write the RP for if they find it or not, not because I'm lazy (I think) but because I too have no idea how a meeting between the living and dead could go.
- Offer to send all our undead population to the necromancies to the north.
- Offer Karma's Dagger a chance to stand down.
- Reject the Merc contract.

To the Tlaloc Allaince

Karma's Dagger realises that surrendering to you would allow you to capture and sacrifice us on mass for your dark cause easy. We will not be easy prey; we will instead make your empire prey! Your dishonesty has been noted by your cruel focus on slauture and we will not heed your dishonesty! May the tlaloc populace rise up against the Tlaloc Emperor! Our guerrilla warfare will encourage this!

Glory to the rebel!

The join leaders of Karma's Daggers, the orcish warrior Zoggrod Urtyfug and the fairy druid Yvon Lhondaig.

...

The reaper has been sighted on the southern coast; the party head off to meet this strange being.

 

[filli_noctus]

The Huecalpixqui listened to the letter.
"most interesting proposal, that. We think they misunderstood Our will however."
"Quit possibly so, oh Great One" the aide said.
"Very well. Compose a letter in their tongue."

The aide then engraved in wax a complex pictogram showing a man lying down with hypothermia.
"Sir, what is the attachment?"
The Huecalpixqui looked up.
"Bring a ghoul from the prisons. Cut his head off and rip his heart out. Send that as an attachment."
"very well."

Marret was back in the dungeons, experimenting on a prisoner, half listening as his steward read the letter from the Tlaloc.

"Write a response, 'Dear Cecqmi-whatever, thank you for the gift, could be a mutated Necrite, possibly escaped mortwright,'" he paused, "are all our mortwrights accounted for? Find out for me. Anyway, 'will accept any Necrites you can round up, no other undead. Regards, me.' Put that in diplomatic language and I'll seal it." Marret looked down as the prisoner screamed, "Off you go now, I'm hopeful for this one."

As the steward left, Marret slowly forced an elongated finger nail into the prisoners temple, drawing out one last scream before he lay still. Marret concentrated as the corpse jerked back into animation.

"Do you know who I am?" Asked Marret.

"Yes, sire," replied the Necrite. Marret grinned widely.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Lana, sire."

"And you are a carpenter, are you not Lana?" Marret asked, releasing the shackles.

"I am," replied Lana.

"Show me," said Marret, gesturing towards some timber and tools, "make a table for me."

"Yes, sire," replied Lana and for several hours put his back to his craft.

After Lana was finished, Marret examined the crude but well crafted table with a wide smile.

"Excellent," he called to the gaoler, "prepare the next subjects, I hope to start on the soldiers by the end of the week."

 

[Civ'ed]

To the Tlaloc Allaince

Karma's Dagger realises that surrendering to you would allow you to capture and sacrifice us on mass for your dark cause easy. We will not be easy prey; we will instead make your empire prey! Your dishonesty has been noted by your cruel focus on slauture and we will not heed your dishonesty! May the tlaloc populace rise up against the Tlaloc Emperor! Our guerrilla warfare will encourage this!

Glory to the rebel!

The join leaders of Karma's Daggers, the orcish warrior Zoggrod Urtyfug and the fairy druid Yvon Lhondaig.

It saddens us that you do not believe us. If you do not trust us, then be aware that we will allow you into our Capital for discussion with the Huecalpixqui himself.
We advise you do such a thing. Bring armed guards if you wish.

"Write a response, 'Dear Cecqmi-whatever, thank you for the gift, could be a mutated Necrite, possibly escaped mortwright,'" he paused, "are all our mortwrights accounted for? Find out for me. Anyway, 'will accept any Necrites you can round up, no other undead. Regards, me.' Put that in diplomatic language and I'll seal it." Marret looked down as the prisoner screamed, "Off you go now, I'm hopeful for this one."

What makes you think that we would send you a dead mortwright?
anyway, we shall deliver to you the first 50 Necrites soon. Please don't kill the guards.