Turn 6 – Trading PlacesSummer, 1003ADThe nations of the world turn away from combat, for the most part. Instead they focus on friendly discourse with their neighbours, and advancement of their technology.
Smoke and Mirrors (Cauldron): Travellers now say the curse of Cauldron has spread into South Owldale.
The Deeps (Shadevale/Greyland): More ships are sunk, and some of the more nervous merchants on the trade route between the Kingdoms of Yorturim and Corax claim they've seen the beast.
Reign of Terror (Hodgwin): Apparently the overlord of North Hodgwin has made a move on Lower Ostley. The flow of refugees is back, all claiming to be escaping the man's deadly gaze.
Fireshows (Biting): An expedition onto the island is met with fiery consequences.
Here be Monsters (Terret): Sent back to investigate further by his master, the Adventurer is officially listed as “Missing in Action.”
Leader Name: Baron Cothecs
The response you receive explains that the Empire would be obliged provide a defence garrison and investment, once the outstanding debt of £650 and a promise of regular payment is received.
In other news, your caravan has arrived in Central Brent. You could hae it conclude its mission there, or move further on.
Ester (+£500): 3 Spearmen, 1 Trireme, 1 Longbowmen. Palace, Farm. Grain.
(+£25: Grain)
(+£100: Farm)
(upk:-£215)
Abroad:
Brent Cen: 1 Caravan
Cash Reserves: £80
Net Revenue: £410 (£625 - £215)
Total: £490
Leader Name: Arzarikad
Two weeks had passed since the expected return of Caeririx. The garrison was obviously concerned by his absence, and so the commander led a small party to the cave to discover what had happened. Halfway up a hillside, near the cliffs, a large amount of ground had been disturbed, as if ripped up by a crazed ploughman. Amongst these scars in the dirt a sword bearing the maker's mark of Storm Empire was found. Of Caeririx himself, there was no sign.
Storm Cen (+£500): Palace, Mines. Marble.
(+£25: Marble)
(+£200: Mines)
Storm Est (+£112): 6 Spearmen.
(upk:-£120)
Cash Reserves: £138
Net Revenue: £717 (£837 - £120)
Total: £855
Leader Name: First Speaker Bartiro
Your forces have assembled once more at your Capital on East Maver, and Commander Vulk gets to see the shining example of Tiefling military acumen that so recently ended the infestation in Dalton.
Your researchers have also returned with excellent news. They have observed how some food spoils with time and how other foods only mature. They believe they can apply these effects to some of the plants harvested by your farms to produce additional sources of food and drink.
Tech Gained: Fermentation I. Unlocks Bakery. Unlocks Brewery.
Maver Est (+£520): 3 Light Macemen, 7 Spearmen, Commander Maria Vulk. Palace, Farm. Dyes.
(+£26: Dyes)
(+£100: Farm)
(upk:-£320)
Maver Cen (+£101): Pasture. Cattle.
(+£5: Cattle)
(+£200: Pasture)
Maver Nth (+£104):
Raided. [Recovery in 2 turns]
Dalton Wst (+£120):
Cash Reserves: £2
Net Revenue: £856 (£1176 - £320)
Trade Pact (Alliance): +£72 [Access Citrus]
Total: £930
Technology:
Chaos Magic (Foundation)
Summon Blights
Fermentation I
Leader Name: Guildmaster Urist
The first ships of the Bannerlands, crewed by Orcs and Dwarves, arrive in South Brent. They come bearing fleeces of wool, racks of dried meats and even a few live sheep. Furthermore they have a several crates of a dull metal. Some of the first iron ingots of the Bannerlands, and enough, so long as the trade route holds, for the Guild to produce their own metal weapons and armour.
On a similar vein, a caravan of formians (odd creatures with far too many limbs, covered in chitin and armed with fearsome mandibles) has arrived in Central Brent. You could seize the trade goods for your own, demand payment in exchange for passage or just leave it alone.
Brent Cen (+£593): 1 Spearmen, Logan Coalsplitter. Palace, Pasture. Swine.
(+£29: Swine)
(+£200: Pasture)
(upk:-£50)
Brent Sth (+£74):
Alestrom Nth (+£80):
Cash Reserves: £437
Net Revenue: £926 (£976 - £50)
Trade Pact (Bannerlands): +£128 [Access Sheep, Iron]
Tax (Empire) -£194
Total: £1297
Leader Name: Grand Marshal Galina Petrova
We chose a beach some ways away from the port city of Biting. Landfall was made without much difficulty and after pulling the boats ashore we ventured into the tree line. Following the coastline we quickly reached the city, and joined the main road leading in.
A Rogue Pyrorune has utterly destroyed a Bannerland Light Macemen and expended itself in the process! [76 vs 48]
Without warning, I was knocked off my feet by an explosion. I looked up from where I'd landed by the roadside to see my comrades scattered to the four winds, some of them in multiple directions. As a few started to rise and rushed to our aide, I saw something glow briefly on the road before another detonation. With barely one in ten still alive, let alone ready for combat we quickly returned to the boats. We had to leave our dead behind.
Bannerland forces and Farland forces engage
Bannerland Forces
Spearmen: 4 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Farland Forces
Light Swordsmen: 1 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Spearmen: 4 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Walls
The attackers are unable to break the enemy fortifications.
A Farland Light Swordsmen has utterly destroyed a Bannerland Spearmen ! [101 vs 41]
A Farland Light Swordsmen has utterly destroyed a Bannerland Spearmen ! [67 vs 39]
A Bannerland Spearmen has routed a Farland Light Swordsmen! [84 vs 70]
A Bannerland Spearmen and a Farland Spearmen have caused heavy damage to each other. [63 vs 63]
A Bannerland Spearmen has defeated a Farland Spearmen, but sustained heavy damage. [40 vs 39]
Bannerland Forces
Spearmen: 0 Intact, 2 Damaged, 2 Destroyed
Farland Forces
Light Swordsmen: 0 Intact, 1 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Spearmen: 2 Intact, 2 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Walls
The Defenders have won out!
1 Spearmen have escaped.
Bannerland forces and Sordell forces engage
Bannerland Forces
Spearmen: 4 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Sordell Forces
Spearmen: 4 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
A Sordell Spearmen has utterly destroyed a Bannerland Spearmen ! [83 vs 50]
A Bannerland Spearmen has routed a Sordell Spearmen! [52 vs 37]
A Sordell Spearmen has defeated a Bannerland Spearmen, but sustained heavy damage. [79 vs 72]
A Sordell Spearmen has routed a Bannerland Spearmen ! [68 vs 55]
A Sordell Spearmen has routed a Bannerland Spearmen ! [81 vs 65]
Bannerland Forces
Spearmen: 0 Intact, 3 Damaged, 1 Destroyed
Sordell Forces
Spearmen: 2 Intact, 2 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
The Defenders have won out!
3 Spearmen have escaped.
All in all, a poor year for the armies of the Bannerlands. A silver lining can be had at least, with the successful survival of almost half your forces.
However, your hopes are not completely dashed. West Farland has seen the first merchants from the Bannerstock Mining Guild, bearing hides, dried meats and Swine.
Sordell Wst (+£550): Palace, Pasture. Sheep.
(+£27: Sheep)
(+£200: Pasture)
Sordell Est (+£56): 3+3 Spearmen. Mines, Forge. Iron.
(+£0: Iron)
(+£200: Mines)
(+£17: Forge)
(upk:-£120)
Farland Sth (+£111):
Farland Wst (+£125): 0+1 Spearmen.
(upk:-£20)
Cash Reserves: £65
Net Revenue: £1146 (£1286 - £140)
Trade Pact (Guild): +£97 [Access Swine]
Total: £1308
Leader Name: Councillor Arlva
League forces and Presston forces engage
League Forces
Light Macemen: 1 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Spearmen: 5 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Strategos Kortak
Presston Forces
Spearmen: 4 Intact, 0 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
A League Light Macemen [Kortak] has utterly destroyed a Presston Spearmen! [77 vs 48]
A League Light Macemen [Kortak] has defeated a Presston Spearmen, but sustained heavy damage. [73 vs 65]
A Presston Spearmen has defeated a League Spearmen [Kortak], but sustained heavy damage. [67 vs 62]
A Presston Spearmen has utterly destroyed a League Spearmen [Kortak] ! [70 vs 41]
Strategos Kortak has been wounded in combat.
A League Spearmen has routed a Presston Spearmen! [47 vs 28]
League Forces
Light Macemen: 0 Intact, 1 Damaged, 0 Destroyed
Spearmen: 3 Intact, 1 Damaged, 1 Destroyed
Strategos Kortak [Wounded]
Presston Forces
Spearmen: 0 Intact, 3 Damaged, 1 Destroyed
The Attackers have crushed all resistance!
1 Spearmen have escaped.
One cool evening, you receive work from Strategos Kortak. West Presst is yours and with it, you have unified Presst! Whilst he regrets to inform that he is too injured to bring word himself, he has sent you a number of theorems and records that he has recovered from across Presst and combined with his own knowledge. He hopes you will find it useful.
Unification bonus: Infantry Training I. Unlocks Skirmishers Unit. Unlocks Stalwart and Slugger Hero Promotions.
Parnassus Cen (+£500): Palace, Sawmill. Lumber.
(+£25: Lumber)
(+£100: Sawmill)
Parnassus Wst (+£125):
Presst Nth (+£87): Horses.
(+£4: Horses)
Presst Upr (+£97): Farm. Tea.
(+£4: Tea)
(+£100: Farm)
Presst Sth (+£29): Fish.
(+£1: Fish)
Presst Wst (+£93): 0+1 Light Macemen, 3+1 Spearmen, 1 Strategos Kortak [Wounded].
(upk:-£160)
Cash Reserves: £450
Net Revenue: £1005 (£1165 - £160)
Tax (Empire): -£140
Total: £1315
Techs:
Infantry Training I
Machinery I
Leader Name: Talarys Revande
You receive a message from the Empire, confirming receipt of £200, and noting that you now owe only £700. It continues to explain that there is no wilderness to stand against, for all of Arcanus is within the Empire and as an imperial organisation you are obliged to pay the amount owed. Once that is complete, the Empire will be fully capable of upholding its half of the agreement, namely an Imperial garrison and direct investment. This message was signed, according to your advisor, by the same envoy who brought this problem to you in the first place.
In other news, your smiths have revealed a breakthrough. They have become quite skilled at using the limited amount of metal they have available to them and are now producing better weaponry for your forces.
Tech Acquired: Weaponsmithing I. Improves all light infantry/cavalry attack rolls by 3. Improves all heavy infantry/cavalry attack rolls by 6. Unlocks Swordmaster I Hero Promotion.
Owldale Nth (+£500): 1 Light Macemen. Palace, Farm. Citrus.
(+£25: Citrus)
(+£100: Farm)
(upk:-£50)
Beaton Nth (+£104): 2 Spearmen.
(upk:-£40)
Abroad:
Terret Est: Caravan
Dalton Sth: Caravan
Cash Reserves: £83
Net Revenue: £639 (£729 - £90)
Trade Pact (Brimstone): +£117 [Access Dyes, Cattle]
Total: £839
Techs:
Weaponsmithing I
Leader Name: Marcos the Researcher
The Empire confirms receipt of the £250. The message then forms you that you apparently owe an additional £250, plus £100 per turn. Once that is paid, the message promises that the Empire will be able to provide an Imperial garrison and investment for your people's benefit.
Your researchers continue to struggle with the limited funding allocated to them. If you were to expand their grant to £500, they would be able to make tangible progress.
Petris Sth (+£522): 1 Archers. Palace, Farm. Grain.
(+£26: Grain)
(+£100: Farm)
(upk:-£50)
Cash Reserves: £11
Net Revenue: £598 (£648 - £50)
Total: £609
Leader Name: Leader Nirur
Your forces gather in Central Ostley, ready for their next move.
Pollock Wst (+£500): Palace, Pasture. Swine.
(+£25: Swine)
(+£200: Pasture)
Pomford Nth (+£126): Mines. Gold.
(+£12: Gold)
(+£200: Mines)
Ostley Cen (+£105): 3 Light Macemen, 3 Spearmen, 1 Engineer, 1 Shara Steelweaver.
(upk:-£290)
Ostley Wst (+£110):
Cash Reserves: £348
Net Revenue: £988 (£1278 - £290)
Tax (Empire): -£254
Total: £1082
Leader Name: Raven Bloodbeak
The first ships arrive from the Kingdom of Yorturim, crewed by hardy men bearing fish and swine, rolled parchments bearing beautiful scenes and even a small chest of gemstones.
Shadevale Wst (+£525): 1 Longbowmen. Palace, Sawmill. Lumber.
(+£26: Lumber)
(+£100: Sawmill)
(upk:-£85)
Shadevale Est (+£30): 1 Light Macemen, 1 Caravan. Stone.
(+£1: Stone)
(upk:-£50)
Cash Reserves: £88
Net Revenue: £567 (£702 - £135)
Trade Pact (Yorturim): +£96 [Access Gems, Fish, Swine, Art]
Total: £751
Techs:
Machinery I
Leader Name: Yorturim
Your researchers work on new methods of extracting the gemstones from their stone prisons, but they make only a little progress. They also briefly consider transporting the artwork from Cloud to Greyland, but the expense involved would make it pointless and so they instead have the money invested into Cloud's infrastructure.
Greyland (+£500): 3 Light Macemen. Palace, Mines, Walls. Gems.
(+£50: Gems)
(+£200: Mines)
(upk:-£160)
Northron Wst (+£4): Fishery. Fish.
(+£0: Fish)
(+£100: Fishery)
Northron Est (+£29): Swine.
(+£1: Swine)
Cloud (+£43): Artists.
(+£10: Artists)
(upk:-£10)
Abroad:
Storm Nth: Caravan
Cash Reserves: £17
Net Revenue: £757 (£967 - £170)
Trade Pact (Corax): +£70 [Access Lumber, Stone]
Total: £854
Tech:
Diplomacy I
Painting
Organised Religion
Leader Name: Princess Gruntsnuffle
Your advisor notices that his records didn't include the walls in East Pork, he has corrected the issue and updated your finances accordingly.
Your wisepigs talk with merchants and courtiers, seeking the art of “Getting what you want, but without stabbing anyone”. They make excellent progress, but do not have a definitive answer for you yet.
Pork Cen (+£500): 1 Engineer, 3 Light Macemen. Palace, Farm. Cotton. [Partial Road]
(+£25: Cotton)
(+£100: Farm)
(upk:-£200)
Pork Est (+£247): 4 Spearmen. Walls. Grain.
(+£12: Grain)
(upk:-£90)
Cash Reserves: £69
Net Revenue: £594 (£884 - £290)
Tax (Empire): -£5
Total: £668
Fermentation I: Unlocks Bakery. Unlocks Brewery.
Infantry Training I: Unlocks Skirmishers Unit. Unlocks Stalwart and Slugger Hero Promotions.
Weaponsmithing I. Improves all light infanrty/cavalry attack rolls by 3. Improves all heavy infantry/cavalry attack rolls by 6. Unlocks Swordmaster I Hero Promotion.
Bakery £200. Requires Farm. Upkeep £20/turn. Generates income equal to 30% of basic income per turn. Tech: Fermentation I
Brewery £500. Requires Farm. Upkeep £10/turn. Generates income equal to 20% of basic income per turn. Generates the Beer resource. Tech: Fermentation I
Skirmishers: £450. Attack 15, Defence 14. Tech: Infantry Training I. Upkeep £45/turn
Trained in the use of hit and run tactics, these unarmoured infantrymen harass enemy forces before a battle
Slugger: £400. Upkeep £10. Adept at brutal foot melees and seizing ground, the hero provides an additional +4 bonus to infantry when attacking. Tevh Infantry Training I.
Stalwart: £400. Upkeep £10. A veteran of shield walls and defensive combat, the hero provides an additional +4 bonus to infantry when defending. Tech: Infantry Training I.
Swordmaster I: £100. Upkeep £5. The hero is notably skilled with his preferred weapon on the attack. His personal attack scores are increased by 4. Tech: Weaponsmithing I.