Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Akroma]

Welcome to Battle of the Gods III!
The official successor of Battle of the Gods II, and hopefully will turn into just as griping a tale.

If you want to join, please start by writing a description of your race in the OOC tread

Relevant links are:
OOC for BotG3: http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=20215.0
BotG2: http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=19241.0
BotG I: http://www.bay12games.com/forum/index.php?topic=646.0

We are ALWAYS in the need of more players, and space is plenty, please join!

Oh, and everyone involved in the game or wanting to join are very welcome to the IRC chanel to discus it. (go to http://www.worldirc.org/index.php?page=webchat then type in '/join #BotG dwarf' , or just click this: irc://irc.worldirc.org/#BotG )

Rules:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Play modes:
These play modes are made
God of Civilization:
The player is a god around the table, and controls a civilization.
This is the entire presence of the species culture on the board, not any single government. For reference I heard somewhere that earth of today have 3-5 separate cultures.
Organization mode:
You control an organization, you may or may not be a god around the table or the leader of said organisation.
An organization could be a government, a multicultural alliance, a company, a political movement, a guild, a secluded wizard tower, or whatever.
Adventurer mode:
You are a single individual, not necessarily an adventurer.
It can be a heroic adventurer, a wandering merchant, or a lone wizard in a tower.
If the person get hold of one this may evolve into organization mode over time.
This could also be a “monster mode” if the WM give a player control over some NPC megabeast.

Numbers and turns

Each turn lasts 2 days IRL. Ingame, each turn will be 1 1/2 months i.e 8 turns are one year.

Should a player stay absent for more than 3 turns, without notice, his civ will become a NPC-civ, and will do nothing. If you announce your absence beforehand, another player or GM might take over for you.

Battles and other events, such as the exploration of ruins, will be handled via PMs to the Main GM. After the GM decided what should happen, the RPGM will be writting a long, nice version of the event that will be posted in the main tread.

Movement follows the common sense rule. Each race is asked to write a table with their movement speed according to terrain in the description of their race. For pointers, there are lists if movement speed to be found in the rule discussion tread.
These numbers are only indicators. If you are in a great hurry, you might be a bit faster. If you are just randomly searching the land, you might be a lot slower.
Any speed that is faster than 15 tiles per turn needs to be discussed with the GM before.

NEW: Roads grant a +3 /+5 bonus to movement, depending on the quality of the road. It doesn't make terrain that was previously impassible because of temperature suddenly passable, so glaciers ares till unreachable for races that cannot stand cold, deserts are impassible for creatures that cannot stand heat.
Quality of the road, and time used to build one is determined by common sense.

At the beginning of each turn, the secretary GM will update a list with all towns, simulating civilisation growth.
The formula for this is as of now: (watch out for stupid typos, if the result seems odd that is probably the reason)
If the population is less than 50% of the max supported population, then the growth is simple exponential: newpop=oldpop*(growthrate+1)
If it’s 50%-100% then it follows a logarithmic-ish curve: newpop=(oldpop/growthrate+popcap)/(1+(1/growthrate))
If it is more than max then 1/3 of what you have above max does of: newpop=((oldpop-popcap)*2)/3+popcap

All players whit civ growth should post their growth rate (standard is 20% (human) but it might range from 5% (LotR elf) to 35%. (some fast breading insect maybe))
All players should also post whit their popcap for different biomes, this is for how many of your people you could get food for from one tile of that biome, look at examples ((until those are up: bad biomes are 5-20, good biomes are 70-100. remember that you cant get more than there is, even dessert people cant get as much out of the dessert as from fertile soil))
A setlement can get food from its own tile and the 8 surounding tiles, so to get how big cities will be multiply the number by 9.
Rivers count IN ADDITION to the tile they run thought, good spots (¤) give a 30 bonus to their tile to.
Popcap is how much food there is availed, meaning that it can be transported, traded, stored, etc. In case of siege it is assumed that there is enough food to last maybe 2 turns under normal conditions before the cap drops to 0...
settlements next to to one another by the same race will count as 1 for popcap.
((human examples of popcap:
plains:90
temperte forest:50
jungle:70
sea/lake:60
river:+40
dessert:8
tundra:10
etc.))

The % is the growth per turn during the exponential stage, the official explanation for the extreme speed is higher lifeforce, the actual is gameplay would be impossible at realistic growth speeds.

The last game of BotG was full with overpoweredness. We want to avoid that. That's why we would welcome it, if all your magic and technology you want to use is described in the description of your race. If you want to add something later one, you will have to ask the Main GM about it. He will judge if the invention is reasonable, and if it was made in a reasonable time. No one would be able to invent something like greek fire from a scratch in just one turn.

All players must post EVERYTHING relevant before they can join in, RP stuff movement speed and growth and initial populations and starting position and everything else that may ever be relevant.

Entry races must be approved by a GM before entry, they should not be overpowered, they should be decently realistic (many seem to have trubles uniting the concepts of magic and realism, it has to do whit how consequent it is.

If you’d want to join but are unable to post reliably evry turn or think the rules are to demanding and want to only RP some instead of keeping rack of food and doing math you might want to wait a while into the game and play some random adventurer from one of the races, whit the permission of said player.

For convenience SI/metric units will be used for all measurements in game, no inches and pounds, no “huge” or “kinda really small”.

The symbols for a civ/organization player is one letter, upper-case for settlements and lower-case for armies, the heroes does not get their own tile. Special letters like Ö and ö or Ñ and ñ also count.
Adventurer players that are just one person all get the @ tile, and just have to keep track of their coordinates.

All cities must have proper information on: Name, population, short description, coordinates, and owner.

Keeping large and detailed lists of everything is encouraged.

Please keep thread layout in mind, and use spoiler tags to hide large things.
Try to keep OOC talk to the OOC thread, and when necessary use ((OOC parenthesis)).

The game is played after the common sense rule. Common sense will in most occasions win.

lastly, this still applies from BotG II:
“5. Common sense trumps all.
6. Racial Flavor, Divine Actions, and awesome ideas trump common sense. Rich descriptions give rise
7. Players may join at any time. Players begin with a single migrant group and an immortal (In the sense that s/he doesn't age. Not that s/he is immune to death) champion.
8. Play fair, have fun. If you know an action will alienate another player, don't do it.”

Players:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Akroma: [APPROVED]
God: Kanako and Suwako, the twin godess. Spheres: 50% Sky, 50% Earth.
Race: the Tengu
Crow-harpies
Civ symbol: ¥ y
Growth:25%


Prometheus: [APPROVED]
God: Xar, the great father. Spheres: 25% eternity, 25% earth, 50% wisdom.
Race: Iraxi
Wise squid people.
Civ symbol: I i
Growth: 15%


Niphanter: [APPROVED]
God: Sem'seddin, Lord of the underworlds. Spheres: 20% death, 30% undead, 30% dark magic, 20% dark creatures, eternal night.
Race: Akkadians
Arabian nights +undead.
Civ symbol: Ç ç
 Growth: 20%


Coelocanth: [APPROVED]
God: Nerlor Starfallen, "The Deep One". Spheres: 30% nature, 30% weather, 5% life, 5% death.
Race: Crocrolen
Frogmen.
Civ symbol: F f
 Growth: 30%


Kashyyk: [APPROVED]
God: Thaemin. Spheres: 10% victory, 35% war, 25% duty, 20% strength, 10% respect.
Race: Daroth
Dwarvenlike warriors.
Civ symbol: B b
 Growth: 15%


Dwarfaholic: [APPROVED]
God: Rashoom. Spheres: 75% weather, 25% life
Race: Ents
Like LotR ents but whit even more awesome.
Civ symbol: W w
 Growth: 35%;15%;5%;4%


Frelock: [APPROVED]
God: Fenneth. Spheres: 40% revelry, 10% joy, 10% fertility, 10% peace, 40% knowledge.
Race: Ipetians
Deer taurs.
Civ symbol: L l
Growth: 25%


AlanL: [APPROVED]
God: Rolitokovo. Spheres: 36% scholarship, 30% victory, 34% trade.
Race: Aneqip
Magicless lizardmen.
Civ symbol: P ρ
Growth: 25%


Naze: Wanted to change his race. On hold.


Zako: [APPROVED]
God: Wotan. Spheres: 40% battle, 30% protection, 15% sea, 15% thunder, 10% forests.
Race: Hrun
Seafaring Half-giants
Civ symbol: V v
Growth: 15%

Armok:[APPROVED]
God Armok. Spheres: ideas/memetics 20%, everything/infinity/infinite diversity 10%, the Multiverse 10%, mathematics/logic->fractals/chaos theory/exponential growth 25%, souls/minds 15%, thermodynamics/entropy 10%, paradoxes 6%, confusion 4%.
Race Netwa
Flying Newt-people
Civ Symbol:Ñ ñ
Growth: 20%


deadlycairn: [APPROVED]
God:Karn. Spheres: Misdirection 40% Undeath 60%
Race: The Silent Ones
Humanoid entities adapating to their surroundings
Civ Symbol: Z z
Growth: 15%

Emporer_Jonathan: [APPROVED]
God: Anmod. Spheres: 40%Water, 20%Cold, 15%Architecture, 15%Hunting, 10%Forgiveness
Race: Covad
Humanoid frost-beings
Civ Symbols: J j
Growth: 17%

OneRaven: [APPROVED]
God: Sarvesholmul the Crafter (Furnacebathed in Dwarven) Spheres: Fire 10%, Earth 25%, Magma 25%, Crafting 40%
Race: Datandolush (Ironborn)
A race of golems
Civ Symbols: D d
Growth: Special, needs adamantine


Organizations:

Istrian: [APPROVED]
Organization: The Tower.
Symbol: T t
Races yet involved: Leotaur, Liches, Vampires, Dwarf, Gnome, Lost Elves, Highbloods, Mixbloods, Pureblood, Zombies.


Polifar: [APPROVED]
Organization: The Renegades.
Symbol: R r
Races yet involved: Ul'Fanir.

Adventurers:

Heph:
Name: Mari Narena
Gender: Male
Race: Seyec-elf
Symbol: e

Powers/skills:    Swordsman (alino-ocade)
                      Wrestler (Ametha-Umethe)
                      dabbling Magican (Type: Shaman)
                      Herbalist

Inventory at start:        Icori (See below, 90cm Blade)
                      Basic clothes
                      Knife
                      Firestone and steel

Symbols:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Code: [Select]

¥ y  Tengu
I i   Iraxi
Ç ç   Akkadians
F f   Crocrolen
B b   Daroth
W w   Ents
T t   Tower mages
R r   Renegades
P ρ   Aneqip
B b   Daroth
L l   Ipetians
Z z The Silent Ones
e Mari Narena


Game masters:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Nahkh : Main Gm, controles events, knows all secrets
Akroma : Organiser, keeps track of the map
Ceolocanth : Keeps track of numbers and growth

There have been problems understanding the map, so here is a short explanation on how to work out the coordinates:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

the top left tile is 1;1

the tile right next to it is 2:1

the tile below it is 1;2

the tile in the lowest right corner is 64;128

each block is 8x8 tiles, meaning that the first block starts has these coordinates:

1;1...........8;1
.               .
.               .
.               .
8;1...........8;8

the numbers betwen the blocks always refer to the tile LEFT or OVER it

+++++++1
+++++++6
+++++++
+++++++  means that this

...........^ THIS
 row is the 16th row


++++++++
++++++++
++++++++
++++++++  <-- THIS
24

means that this row is row 24
any more questions ?

[nahkh]

Regarding turn length and cutoff time;
Turns last for three full days (previously two), and the turn ends (and begins) at 21:00 GMT. This is for practical reasons, as I prefer to be the one do declare a turn change and I live in GMT +2. I'm sure you can figure I why.
If it looks like you aren't going to make it in time, reserve a post for yourself with your movement info. Just a few lines will do. You can flesh out the post with better time afterwards.
I feel that two rules are necessary for this:
If you do not make a post before the next turn is announced, your turn is forfeit. It is assumed that your civ will continue doing what it was doing, such as finishing construction, your units will move towards their destinations (if they have such). The specifics will be dictated by GMs.
If you post a placeholder, you must fill it out during the next turn. Failing to do so will cause the turn to be forfeit. After that no editing. Doing so will be considered cheating and will be punished. By dragons.
The only way to circumvent these rules is by making an agreement BEFOREHAND with a GM.


Further GM rulings, in no particular order:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

1) Demons are considered to be evil spirits, independent of their physical bodies. As such they cannot be killed permanently, but their bodies can be destroyed, their spirits banished or locked away et cetera.
2) The distinction between a demon and a god is not clear-cut. It mostly comes down to style and power.
3) Magic is magic. The deep mystery. No particular system will be used as standard. Your race may have a particular system, but that is considered to be one theory of the mysteries of magic among many. If it is plausible and makes for good narrative, it will probably work.
4) Magic may be unpredictable. Spells may interact in strange ways. The more preparation is done (or the more familiar the spell is to the caster), the more likely a particular spell will work as predicted. Conversely, an impromptu spell may backfire if you're unlucky.
5) Clerical magic. Clerics are allowed to get their powers from their gods, but their strength is limited by the clerics attunement to his/her/its god, and must adhere strictly to the gods spheres. Clerics may instead practice a form of "natural" magic that they simply attribute to their god (often combined with doctrines declaring other types of magic an abomination)
6) Divine intervention. ***UPDATED*** Divine intervention is allowed to an extent, but should be left for a desperation move. Sending visions to your worshippers is allowed, just don't do it every turn.
7) Army support. Once armies grow to significant sizes they _must_ be supported or the army will suffer from attrition, to a significant degree. More specific rules may be made once it becomes an issue.
Midichlorians do not exist.
9) Squares subject to heavy storms or drought give half the support.
10) I am a tyrant. Perhaps not an unreasonable tyrant, but a tyrant nonetheless. If anyone argues with me (Particularly starting with "You can't do that!!") I will kill you and cannibalize your body. If this isn't clear, rocks fall and everyone dies.
11) Roads. Paved roads give a +5 bonus to movement, dirt roads give +3.
12) Rivers. Scouts and adventurers (and equivalent thereof) can cross rivers with no penalty, armies must use bridges or receive a -2 movement penalty (to a minimum of 1). Armies attempting to cross rivers when the opposite bank is held by hostile combatants will be at a punitive disadvantage (ie. don't try this at home kids).
13) Walls. You may build large walls in the terrain, china-style. Keep in mind that they are very costly to build and maintain. And you must post a sufficient garrison for it to be effective. A manned wall will force enemies to siege, while unmanned walls will simply give a -2 movement penalty (to a minimum of 1). Anyone other than invading armies still get the -2 penalty unless moving through gates. All in all a wall isn't such a cost-effective defense, but it is a pretty impressive penis extension right there.
14) Overpowered. The definition of an overpowered action is that there is no realistic method for countering it. This doesn't mean that your victim must actually possess the ability to do that, but it must be within reason. In simple terms, if there is nothing anyone could do to stop it, it's probably overpowered. Overpowered actions will be vetoed by GMs, and repeated offenses will be punished according to Akromas whim. Consider yourselves duly warned. Example: If you come up with a spell that cannot by any means be countered, it's overpowered. If you summon a monster that is utterly unkillable, it's overpowered. If you cause the apocalypse, it's overpowered and lame. If summon a monster with 10^256 hitpoints it's technically killable, but still considered to be overpowered. If you destroy a peasant tribe with no warriors or magic by four mages casting fireballs, it's not overpowered even if they have nothing to fight it with.
15) Awesome != good. Awesome ideas only trump common sense if they aren't retarded.
16) United front. If a GM says no to your idea, asking another GM later won't change the result. You will be found out, and you will be punished for cheating. However, if you feel that a GM treated you unfairly, you are allowed to bring your grievances to me. Remember to explicitly mention that you are complaining of a previous GM decision. If you feel I treated you unfairly, refer to rule 10.

A glossary of magic:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A mage (or magus): A user of arcane magic.
A wizard: A user of formal arcane magic, regardless of the type of formality used.
A sorcerer: An intuitive user of arcane magic (possibly combined with a formal system)
A cleric: A user of divine magic. One who channels the power of a divine (or demonic) entity.
A battlemage or battlecleric: One who is trained in using magic while in combat. Maintaining coherent thought while in battle is not a trivial thing. This may be attained by sheer experience or extensive training.

And regarding magic in general, there are some rules of thumb:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The more time spent preparing, the more powerful the spell will be. Battlemages can cast spells very quickly, but they still take some seconds to cast, and will be much weaker than well prepared spells. This applies to all users of magic. Casting spells that are both fast and powerful is not strictly speaking impossible, but ridiculously difficult. Think of lifting a heavy object or running very fast. Could one do both at the same time?
Magical enchantments work best on sensitive materials. Conversely, some materials are much more resistant to magic.
Long-effecting magic needs to be maintained. One may either maintain it by continuous casting or employ runes or symbols. Enchanting is a bit different in this respect (Enchanting items should be discussed with a GM in detail).

Army movement and supply:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Armies need to bring supply wagons with them, and that slows them down compared to other parties. They move at 2/3 (rounded down, to a minimum of 1) the normal speed for your race.
Armies are must be constantly supplied by cities, reducing the popcap of the city accordingly. The supply line is assumed to follow the path your army took unless otherwise specified.
Enemy supply lines may be cut by placing your army on or adjacent to it.
An army whose supply lines are cut will receive 10-15% (or more, if the GM so chooses) of attrition per turn. They will also fight with reduced efficiency. An army may choose to scavenge to reduce the rate of attrition by half. A scavenging army moves at 1/3 your usual movement rate and must keep moving.
A supply line drains the popcap of the origin city by 2 per tile in case of small armies and 5 per tile if your army is very large (ie, 700+). If your supply line has to cross much rough terrain (ie no road or river) they will use an additional 2 per tile.

As this game becomes more battle-oriented, it's becoming a bit difficult for me to keep track of everyone's shenanigans. For this reason, I would request that whenever you make a bigger military action you notify me by PM. Bare-bones is enough. Thank you.

[Akroma]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈8≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈1≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈2≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈3 ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈4≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈4≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈5≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈6
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈6≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈4≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈2 ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈0≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈8≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈6≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈4
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈██≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈█████  █≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈█████ ████████ ████████  ███≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈'' ████████ ████████ ████████  ██████≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈''██ ████████ ████████ ████████  ████████ ≈≈≈≈≈{{{ {{≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈''''' '~~~~~██ ████████ █████~~~  ~~~~~~%' ''≈≈≈≈≈{ {{{{{≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈''''' ''''''~~ ~~███~~~ ~~~~~J==  '''''=/=═ ═J≈≈≈≈≈  ───┐{{{{ {≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
8                                                                       
≈≈≈≈'''' ''''J─── ┐''''''' ''''''''  ''┌───║' '''≈≈≈≈≈ ≈{{└──○{ {{≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈J─── ┐''┌┘''' └┬┐''''' ''''''''  '#│'''║' ''''≈≈≈≈ ≈≈{{{{{⌂ {{≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈''' └──┘'''' '│└┐'''' ''''''''  '┌≈J==╩J =╗''≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈{{{P {{{≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈'≈''' '''⌂⌂''' '│'└┐''⌂ ⌂⌂┌────┬  ─┘⌂''''' '║'''≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈{{┌ ○{{≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈'≈''' ''''⌂⌂⌂' '│'⌂○⌂⌂⌂ ▲⌂○⌂⌂'┌┘  '''''''' ┌J───┤≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈──┤ ⌂{{≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈──┐ ''''⌂⌂⌂⌂ ⌂○⌂⌂⌂⌂⌂▲ ▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂○⌂  ⌂⌂⌂''┌── ┘╚═══╗≈≈ ≈≈≈≈{{{≈ p{{≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈'└ ──┐''⌂⌂⌂ ⌂⌂⌂⌂▲▲▲▲ ▲▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂  ⌂▲⌂⌂⌂○{{ {{''┌║'≈ ≈≈≈≈{{{{ {{≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈'' ''└──○▲▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲  ▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂ {{{┌┘║≈≈ ≈≈≈≈{{{⌂ {{{≈≈≈≈≈
16                                                                     
≈≈≈≈≈≈'' '''''⌂⌂▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲  ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲⌂ ⌂⌂○{{╚'≈ ≈≈≈≈≈{{{ ○──≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈♣♣' '''''⌂⌂▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲^ ▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲  ▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲ ▲▲⌂⌂⌂{'≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈{{ ⌂{{{≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ''''''⌂⌂ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ▲▲⌂⌂⌂♣⌂⌂  ▲▲⌂⌂○⌂⌂▲ ▲⌂⌂○⌂⌂B» ≈≈≈≈≈≈{{ {{{{≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣┌────○⌂ ▲▲▲^▲▲▲▲ ▲⌂⌂⌂♣♣┌○  ╔═B⌂│╞⌂○ ⌂⌂⌂└┐♣♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈─ ─○{{{≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈─ ─┘''''⌂⌂ ⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ▲⌂⌂○┐♣│╔  ╝⌂○╞│╞╞│ ⌂○♣♣│♣≈≈ ≈≈{⌂≈≈≈{ {⌂{{{≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣''''⌂⌂ ⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ⌂⌂⌂♣└┐│║  ○⌂│╞│♣┌┘ ♣│♣♣└─≈≈ ≈≈≈{{≈≈≈ {⌂♣♣♣≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈♣≈≈ ♣♣♣''''⌂ ⌂▲▲▲▲▲⌂⌂ ⌂⌂╔══╪╪╝  └┐│♣│W│♣ ♣│♣♣♣≈≈♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ {○P♣≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣'''♣ ⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂⌂ ○♣║♣♣└┤♣  ♣└┤♣│♣│♣ ♣W┐♣♣?≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣└─≈≈≈≈
24
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ─┐♣♣'''⌂ ⌂⌂$B════ ╪═╝♣♣♣└┐  ♣♣└┐│┌┘♣ ♣││♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ┌○♣♣≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣└────○⌂ ▲▲⌂⌂└┐♣♣ └┐♣♣♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣W├┘♣♣ ┌┘│♣♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ┘♣♣♣≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂⌂ ▲⌂⌂♣♣│♣♣ ♣│♣♣♣≈≈≈  ≈♣♣├┘♣W♣ │W└┐W≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈»≈≈≈ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈────○⌂▲ ▲⌂⌂♣♣└┐♣ ♣│..≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈♣♣♣┌ ┘♣♣│♣♣≈≈ ≈≈≈♣r≈≈≈ ≈♣≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣⌂▲▲ ▲⌂♣♣♣♣└┬ ┐└≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣│ ♣♣♣└┐♣≈≈ ≈≈≈..≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣⌂⌂▲ ▲⌂♣♣♣┌─┘ └┐≈≈≈♣♣♣  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈┘ ♣W♣♣└┐♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈└ ──┐♣⌂⌂▲▲ ⌂e♣♣⌂│♣♣ ♣└─≈≈≈♣♣  ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣│♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣┌┘≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣└─○▲▲▲ ○┐┌─○○⌂♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈  ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣W♣♣W┐♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ⌂♣│♣≈≈≈≈
32
≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣⌂▲▲⌂ ⌂├┘⌂⌂▲○─ ──┘♣≈≈≈≈  ≈♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣│└┐ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈─ ○┌┘♣≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣⌂⌂▲⌂⌂ ♣│⌂⌂▲^▲⌂ ♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈  ≈≈♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣│♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈.♣ ♣│♣♣≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈♣♣┌ ─┐♣⌂⌂▲⌂♣ ♣└≈⌂⌂⌂⌂♣ ♣♣♣♣♣♣♣≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣W♣♣W♣≈ ≈≈≈≈..♣♣ ○┘♣≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈──┘ ♣└─○▲▲⌂♣ ♣♣│♣♣⌂○┐ ♣♣╞╞♣♣♣♣  ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣│≈≈ ≈≈≈..♣♣♣ ⌂♣♣≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣ ♣♣♣⌂▲⌂⌂♣♣ ♣│♣♣♣⌂│ ♣╞√√√♣♣♣  ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣♣♣♣└≈≈ ≈≈≈───○▲ ⌂♣♣≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈♣♣♣♣♣♣ ♣┌─○⌂⌂♣♣ ♣♣└┐♣♣♣│ ♣♣√√√♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣│♣♣ ♣W♣♣W♣≈≈ ≈≈.♣♣⌂▲⌂ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈♣♣♣♣┌ ─┘♣┌○⌂♣♣ ♣♣♣└┐♣♣└ ┐♣√√√♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣└┐≈ ≈♣♣♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈.┌≈○⌂♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈♣♣┌┘ ♣♣L│⌂♣♣♣ ♣♣♣♣≈≈≈♣ │♣♣♣♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈─┘⌂▲⌂♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
40
≈≈≈≈─┬┘♣ ♣♣┌┘⌂♣♣♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈≈♣♣⌂▲♣♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈♣│♣♣ ♣♣│♣♣♣♣♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.♣♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣⌂▲⌂♣♣ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈┘♣♣ ♣♣│⌂♣♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.♣♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣≈≈≈ ≈──○⌂♣♣≈ ≈≈♣♣≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈L♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈.T♣♣♣  ?♣♣♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣▲○─≈≈ ≈♣⌂≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ .≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈.♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣.≈≈ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈ ≈♣⌂⌂♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ ♣L.≈≈♣♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣..≈ ≈.♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈┌○♣♣≈≈≈ ≈♣≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣L│♣♣♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣♣.. .♣♣♣♣≈≈≈ ─┘♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣└┐♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣  ♣≈≈≈≈♣.. .○⌂♣♣≈≈≈ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
48
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣♣♣♣│.≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣  ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. ┌┘♣.≈≈≈≈ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣└≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. │..≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣.≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈. │.≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~~≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣.≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈.≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈~ √√√~≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈... ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈~ √√√~≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. .│≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ¥≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~~≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ .○⌂⌂≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠ ╟┘♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠┌ ╢♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
56
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈│♠♠│ ║♠♠♠♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈│♠┌┘ ║♠♠┌┘≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♠♠⌂.≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈♠└┐│♠ ║♠♠│♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♠ ♠⌂≈─┘≈≈≈ ≈≈≈T♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈♠♠└┤♠ ║♠♠│♠♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♠ ⌂▲⌂..≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈♠♠♠♠└┐ ║≈≈┘♠♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ┌○⌂..≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ──┐♠♠♠╔╪ ¥▲≈≈≈♠♠♠ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ │⌂⌂.≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♠  ♠♠└─┐♠║○ ▲^⌂≈♠♠♠♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠  ♠♠♠♠├─╫○ ⌂⌂○┐♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
64
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠  ♠♠♠┌┘♠║♠ ⌂⌂¥│♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠♠  ┌──┘╔═╩═ ══╣└┐♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈» ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠┌──  ┘¥══╝♠♠♠ ♠♠╚╦╪═══ ══¥≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠♠≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈F♠≈≈ ≈≈≈I└┐≈≈ ≈≈♠┌─¥══  ═╝♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠║└┐♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠⌂▲○─≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠║♠♠≈ ≈≈♠║♠└─┐ ♠♠┌┘╔╝♠♠  v♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠╚¥├┐♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈⌂▲^▲⌂≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠║♠└┐ ♠♠I╣♠♠♠└ ──┘§╝♠♠♠  ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠≈┘│♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ┌─○▲⌂≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠╚F♠├ ┐♠♠I═I══ ═══╩══¥♠  ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠│♠└┐ ♠♠♠♠♠♠≈≈ ┘♠♠♠≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠║♠│ └I═╩I╣♠♠ ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠~  ~~~♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠│♠♠└ ┐♠♠♠♠≈≈≈ ≈♠≈≈≈≈≈≈
72
≈≈≈≈♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠║♠│ ♠└┐♠♠║╞╞ ♠♠♠♠~~~~  ~~~~~~♠♠ ♠♠♠♠└┐♠♠ └──┐≈≈≈≈ ≈♠≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠F╦╧ F♠│♠♠╚═I ♠~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~ ~♠♠♠♠│♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠║♠ │♠└┐F♠╞└ ──┐~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~ ~~♠♠♠└┐♠ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠♠║♠ │♠♠│♠~~~ ~~└─┐~~~  ≈↑~~~~~~ ~~~♠♠♠└┐ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈F♠ │♠♠│~~~~ ~┌─↑Ç───  ┐~~~~~~~ ~~~♠♠♠♠├ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈┐♠ └┐♠○~~~~ ┌┘~~↑~~~  └Ç≈≈~~~~ ~~~♠♠♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♠└┐ ⌂F⌂I⌂~~┌ ┘~~~~~~≈  ≈≈≈≈~~~~ ~~~~♠♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠F└ ○▲▲▲⌂Ç○┘ ~~~~~~~~  ~≈≈≈≈≈~~ ~~~~~♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈
80
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈F♠♠♠⌂ ⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂Ç ~~~~~~~~  ~≈≈≈≈≈≈~ ~~~~♠♠♠│ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠♠♠┌○ ▲▲^▲⌂⌂≈⌠ ~~~~~~~~  ~~≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~~...┌┘ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠┌─┘⌂ ⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂F─ ┐~~~~~~~  ~~≈≈≈≈≈. .~~..♠│♠ ♠≈≈♠♠♠≈≈ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠┌─┘♠%" ⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌠⌠ └F┐~~~~~  ~≈≈≈≈≈.. ....♠┌┘♠ ♠≈≈♠⌂≈≈♠ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈┌ ──┘♠♠♠"" F⌂▲▲⌂○⌠⌠ ⌠⌠└─F┐~~  ~≈≈≈≈≈.. .....│♠♠ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈♠ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈♠│ ♠♠♠♠F♠"┌ ┘⌂⌂▲⌂≈⌠⌠ ⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠└┐~  ≈≈≈≈≈... .....│♠♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈┘ ♠♠♠♠♠""│ ""F⌂F⌠⌠F ⌠≈F⌠⌠⌠≈≈  ≈≈≈≈.... ....┌┘♠♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♠♠♠""""F ""│⌂⌠≈⌠⌠ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈.... ....│.♠♠ ♠♠≈≈♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
88
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠"""""" ""│⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈..... ...┌┘..♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈""""""│ "F┘⌠F⌠⌠F ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈..... ...≈.... ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈""""""│ "│"⌠⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈.... ...≈.... .≈≈♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""└ ┐│""⌠"⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂  .≈≈≈≈... ..≈≈.... .≈≈♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""" F┘""⌠F⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂^  ⌂≈≈≈≈... ..≈..... .≈≈≈♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈.≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""" │"""⌠⌠⌠⌠ ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠♠  ≈≈≈≈≈... ..≈↑.... ..≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" │""""⌠≈⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈┘  ≈≈≈≈.... ..≈..... ..≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" F┐""""⌠F ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈.... ┌─┤..... ..≈≈≈≈.≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
96
≈≈≈≈↑≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" "│""""⌠⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈..... │.│..... .≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈↑≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" "└─┐""⌠⌠ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈....┌ ┘.│..... .≈≈≈≈≈≈. ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" "↑F│"""⌠ F⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈...│ ..│...┌─ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" "⌠≈≈≈""" ⌠⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈...│ ..│..┌┘≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" """≈│""" ""⌠F≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈..│ ..○⌂┌┘.≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈↑ ↑↑≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈↑≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """"F┐"" ""⌠⌠≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈○ ⌂▲○─┘.≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈↑≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """""│"" """""≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈⌂⌂.≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """""└─┐ """""≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈⌂≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
104
≈≈≈♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈"" """""""└ ──F""≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈"" """""√"" "√└┐♠≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈↑≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈" """"√√√" ↑√▲└─F≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠♠ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ """√√√╞╞ ↑√√√♠♠≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈Z≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈↑≈≈≈≈≈ ≈↑≈≈≈≈≈≈ """"╞╞╞↑ ↑↑↑↑↑♠♠≈  ≈≈≈≈♠♠♠♠ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈↑≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈"↑╞╞↑↑↑ ↑↑↑↑↑↑↑F  ≈≈┐♠♠♠♠♠ z♠♠♠♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈↑≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈↑↑↑↑↑↑↑ ↑↑↑↑≈≈≈≈  ≈♠└─┐♠⌂⌂ ⌂♠⌂┌─┘≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈↑≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈↑↑↑↑↑ ↑↑≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈♠♠♠└─○▲ ▲○─┤♠♠.≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
112
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈↑↑↑↑ ↑↑≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈♠♠♠⌂▲^ ▲⌂┌┘♠..≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈↑↑≈ ≈≈≈↑≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈↑↑↑ ↑↑≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈♠♠♠⌂⌂▲ ⌂○┘♠♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈↑↑↑ ↑♣♣≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈♣┌──○ ⌂♣♣♣♣≈≈≈ ≈♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈↑≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈│♣♣Z ⌂♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈↑≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈  ≈♣♣└┘≈♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♣≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♣♣♣≈≈≈  ⌂⌂⌂♣♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♣≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈⌂♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈
120
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈~~~~≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈~~~~≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈~~~~≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣≈≈♣♣≈ ≈♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈~~~~≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣≈≈♣  ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈♣♣≈≈♣≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈

[coelocanth]

World

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Race	Population	Pop Cap	Next Turn	Settlements	Groups
Akkadian	1373	2070	1458	6	0
Anqip	738	1010	744	2	1
Arti-Tokans	360	1040	411	2	1
Covad	626	3570	694	7	2
Crocrolen	7104	11035	7865	26	2
Daroth	462	1276	513	3	3
Ent Impling	3252	10440	4138	10	0
Ent Lord	2	33	2	1	0
Ent Material	102	1820	117	2	0
Ent Protector	10	1583	11	2	0
Hrun	544	538	571	2	2
Hrun Wolf Mount	52	189	57	1	1
Ipetian	1911	3095	2143	4	0
Iraxi	1066	4799	1226	9	0
Tengu	952	6090	1178	9	4

Settlements

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Location	Name	Population	Pop Cap	Modifier	Race	Next Turn
35,20	Astmeban	218	335		Daroth	233
35,20	Astmeban	246	379		Hrun	263
35,20	Astmeban	24	189		Hrun Wolf Mount	29
47,19	Karrack	146	350		Daroth	168
47,19	Karrack	66	159		Hrun	76
20,25	Kelash	86	590		Daroth	99
42,27	Great Glade	8	1350		Ent Protector	8
42,27	Great Glade	990	1350		Ent Impling	1083
42,27	Great Glade	66	1350		Ent Material	76
39,27	Tur-Aarok	91	1040		Ent Impling	123
45,27	Tur-Har	91	840		Ent Impling	123
42,24	Tur-Dok	91	1250		Ent Impling	123
42,30	Tur-Telos	91	900		Ent Impling	123
36,26	Oor-Halok	2	33		Ent Lord	2
36,26	Oor-Halok	2	233		Ent Protector	2
36,26	Oor-Halok	35	470		Ent Material	41
36,26	Oor-Halok	597	1460		Ent Impling	806
46,32	Oor-Dok	325	900		Ent Impling	439
43,32	Oor-Aarok	325	900		Ent Impling	439
43,35	Oor-Har	325	900		Ent Impling	439
46,35	Oor-Telos	325	900		Ent Impling	439
20,60	Seristis tower	28	100		Mage	28
29,44	Angartheris	9	100		Mage	9
19,70	Ehn’gha / Odua	134	300	192(Trade,Prisoners)	Iraxi	155
19,70	Ehn’gha / Odua	8	0	8	Akkadian	8
19,70	(ruined city)	168	550	-40(Trade)	Iraxi	193
18,72	(ruined city)	168	820	-40(Trade)	Iraxi	193
21,72	(ruined city)	91	480	-40(Trade)	Iraxi	105
22,71	(ruined city)	141	465	-40(Trade)	Iraxi	163
22,69	(ruined city)	103	800	-40(Trade)	Iraxi	118
20,79	(mining colony)	45	275		Iraxi	52
24,74	Desert's Edge	100	750	-465(Slaves, burned forest)	Iraxi	115
24,74	Desert's Edge	40	0	40	Akkadian	40
14,74	Tel Yolanda	412	450	327(Trade)	Crocrolen	496
14,71	Tel Koil	109	450	-109(Trade)	Crocrolen	142
17,74	Tel Indura	109	450	-109(Trade)	Crocrolen	142
15,77	Tel Ulkon	109	430	-109(Trade)	Crocrolen	142
18,79	Tel Andis	214	275	-60(occupied tiles)	Crocrolen	214
15,84	Vol Sundar	0	280		Abandoned	0
22,74	Tel Anicent	159	450	-250(occupied tiles)	Crocrolen	168
29,85	Tel Tikal	281	340	45(Trade)	Crocrolen	305
24,87	Tel Sarangis	477	630	-20(Trade)	Crocrolen	507
27,87	Tel Narkan	411	540	(Trade)	Crocrolen	441
24,90	Tel Sirtis	418	540	-10(Trade)	Crocrolen	443
23,83	Tel Kendar	364	385	30(Trade)	Crocrolen	375
22,93	Tel Santos	457	630	-30(Trade)	Crocrolen	490
21,90	Tel Sicata	450	600	-20(Trade)	Crocrolen	480
26,84	Tel Corathon	315	340		Crocrolen	321
21,87	Tel Kytos	290	287	30(Trade)	Crocrolen	296
24,96	Tel Theris	411	600	-15(Trade)	Crocrolen	451
25,99	Tel Keltine	474	630		Crocrolen	510
28,101	Tel Tenethior	307	500		Crocrolen	352
30,107	Tel Ungol	253	410		Crocrolen	289
17,85	Tel Onoli	130	220		Crocrolen	150
19,87	Tel Korina	112	153		Crocrolen	121
16,88	Tel Harlais	130	287		Crocrolen	169
18,90	Tel Ordil	130	312		Crocrolen	169
17,93	Tel Esteban	130	375		Crocrolen	169
17,96	Tel Polona	130	325		Crocrolen	169
19,99	Tel Talanor	298	425		Crocrolen	327
13,44	Huis Hoop	711	465	340(Trade)	Ipetian	730
18,46	Zuiden Kust	467	740	-120(Trade)	Ipetian	497
11,40	(North town)	366	1010	-140(Trade)	Ipetian	457
14,47	(south town)	366	880	-80(Trade)	Ipetian	457
29,77	Akkad	656	800		Akkadian	680
34,78	Ac Acasid	356	440		Akkadian	370
22,80	Jyeraz	181	380	-70(occupied tiles)	Akkadian	203
24,80	(fort)	130	450	-110(occupied tiles)	Akkadian	156
59,23	Kavla Niti	734	765		Anqip	740
56,11	(mine)	0	245		Anqip	0
46,38	Halas	0	620		Abandoned	0
40,116	Apoikismos	254	530		Arti-Tokans	293
39,108	Mouseion	85	510		Arti-Tokans	97
39,8	Anmod	296	407		Covad	312
36,11	Modan	43	430		Covad	51
39,7	Damon	118	292		Covad	138
43,8	Odman	43	525		Covad	51
40,11	Danom	43	585		Covad	51
42,13	Fort Nanyt	25	665		Covad	29
13,9	(riverside)	30	665		Covad	35
43,65	きぼう(kibou)	204	800		Tengu	255
41,62	ﾌｫｰｼﾞ (fo-ji)	142	490		Tengu	177
45,69	ちりょく(chiryoku)	117	820		Tengu	146
34,67	かさむら（kasamura）	61	830		Tengu	77
41,54	沿岸(engan)	69	580		Tengu	86
51,67	Roppoushi	62	570		Tengu	78
30,68	Sakana	30	830	-60(Trade)	Tengu	37
31,71	Butaniku	30	570	-60(Trade)	Tengu	37
33,44	HQ	0	100		Renegades	0
28,70	N'lengyou	187	600	75(Trade)	Tengu	234
28,70	N'lengyou	112	359	44(Trade)	Iraxi	129

Groups

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Location	Leader Name	Population	Race
19,25	(scouts)	2	Daroth
18,23	(scouts)	2	Daroth
57,14	(explorers)	4	Anqip
41,110	Doulos	20	Arti-Tokans
41,60	(explorers)	16	Hrun
46,31	Poltifar	24	Renegades
13,9	(settlers)	20	Covad
24,70	diplomat	1	Tengu
43,13	diplomat	5	Covad
46,13	Erak	215	Hrun
46,13	Erak	28	Hrun Wolf Mount
30,69	Madara	42	Tengu
19,70	Thanis	5	Crocrolen
32,87	(merchant ship)	10	Crocrolen
45,57	Qlosh	3	Mage
49,57	Elestris	3	Mage
22,67	(scout ship)	2	Tengu
56,69	(scout ship)	2	Tengu
24,23	(delvers)	7	Daroth

Adventurers

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Location	Name	Companions	Race
26,22	Mari Narena		Seyec
13,67	Bahad		Akkadian

Population Cap & Growth for each race

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Race	Growth Rate	Desert	Glacier	Lake	Mountains	Ocean	Palm Forest	Plains	Rain Forest	River	Rocky Hills	Savanna	Swamp	Taiga	Temp Forest	Tundra	Wasteland
Akkadian	0.2	60	10	70	10	5	70	120	40	40	30	60	40	30	95	25	20
Anqip	0.25	10	0	50	5	50	100	90	120	40	5	90	30	25	100	20	5
Arti-Tokans	0.15	30	20	40	50	40	60	80	60	40	60	40	30	40	60	40	20
Covad	0.17	0	0	40	0	40	0	50	0	20	45	10	40	35	35	65	5
Crocrolen	0.3	0	0	40	5	30	20	25	50	50	5	25	70	5	30	0	5
Daroth	0.15	20	0	45	40	45	55	65	40	15	75	65	30	55	55	20	20
Ent Impling	0.35	0	0	0	0	0	80	0	80	70	0	0	0	80	100	0	0
Ent Lord	0.04	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	2	3	0	0
Ent Material	0.15	0	0	0	0	0	25	0	25	25	0	0	0	25	30	0	0
Ent Protector	0.05	0	0	0	0	0	13	0	13	10	0	0	0	13	17	0	0
Hrun	0.15	10	60	30	20	30	30	70	30	30	30	10	20	20	70	50	40
Hrun Wolf Mount	0.2	5	30	15	10	15	15	35	15	15	15	5	10	10	35	25	20
Ipetian	0.25	10	0	40	5	40	90	100	50	40	80	80	30	90	90	10	5
Iraxi	0.15	0	0	70	5	70	60	50	90	40	5	50	5	5	60	0	5
Tengu	0.25	10	0	40	0	40	70	90	70	50	60	90	100	70	70	10	5

Movement Table

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Race	Desert	Glacier	Lake	Mountains	Ocean	Palm Forest	Plains	Rain Forest	River	Rocky Hills	Savanna	Swamp	Taiga	Temp Forest	Tundra	Wasteland
Akkadian	10	0	9	2	9	6	7	5	9	7	7	5	6	6	4	4
Anqip	6	0	8	2	6	9	10	8	8	6	10	2	9	9	5	4
Arti-Tokans	8	6	0	5	0	9	10	9	0	6	8	6	9	9	7	6
Covad – Spring/Autumn	0	9	0	6	0	2	6	0	10	7	2	6	7	4	9	4
Covad – Summer	0	9	0	5	0	2	3	0	10	3	2	6	7	2	6	1
Covad – Winter	0	9	0	6	0	2	8	4	10	7	2	7	7	7	9	4
Crocrolen -Winter	0	0	9	0	3	4	0	8	9	0	4	10	0	0	0	0
Crocrolen – Spring/Autumn	0	0	9	0	3	6	6	8	9	4	7	10	0	6	0	6
Crocrolen – Summer	0	0	9	0	3	4	7	8	9	4	4	10	4	6	4	6
Daroth	5	1	0	3	0	6	7	5	3	9	7	3	6	6	5	7
Ent Impling	4	0	0	2	0	9	7	9	0	7	9	4	9	10	4	4
Ent Lord	11	0	0	8	0	11	10	11	7	10	11	7	11	12	10	7
Ent Material	5	0	0	3	0	9	7	9	0	7	9	5	9	10	5	5
Ent Protector	8	0	0	5	0	10	9	10	4	9	10	6	10	11	8	6
Hrun	4	6	1	4	1	8	10	8	1	6	10	4	8	8	10	6
Ipetian	6	1	0	0	0	8	10	8	9	7	8	7	10	10	9	4
Iraxi	4	0	0	0	0	7	5	9	0	1	5	1	3	7	2	4
Mage	2-5	1	0	0	0	4-7	5-7	3-7	0	2-5	5-7	2-6	4-7	4-7	2-5	4
Mari Narena	7	2	0	0	0	8	5	5	4	5	5	3	8	8	3	4
Renagade	7	1	0	1	0	9	8	9	5	8	8	4	9	9	6	4
Tengu	4	4	0	3	0	9	10	9	8	8	10	8	9	9	5	4

List of Players/Civilisations

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Player	Race	Settlement	Group
Nhiphanter	Akkadian	Ç	ç
AlanL	Anqip	P	ρ
Emperor_Jonathan	Covad	J	j
Coelocanth	Crocrolen	F	f
Kashyyk	Daroth	B	b
Dwarfaholic	Ent	W	w
Zako	Hrun	V	v
Frelock	Ipetian	L	l
Prometheus	Iraxi	I	i
Istrian	Mage	T	t
Akroma	Tengu	¥	y
Poltifar	Renagade	R	r
Deadlycairn	Arti-Tokans	Z	z

[Akroma]

Turn-1
beginning of spring

[coelocanth]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Race	Start position	Start population
Daroth	34,19	45
Ents	41,26	(28i,7m,4p,1l)
Nacka-Rachti	15,38	65
Renegades	32,48	19
Tower Magi	19,59	24
Iraxi	19,70	120
Crocrolen	29,85	200
Ipetian	13,44	60
Akkadian	29,77	125
Anqip	59,23	103
Hrun	46,38	100

[Akroma]

And so it came, that the gods sat down for yet another game. For fame ? Out of boredom ? Little did they know...

From the depths of hell, so deep that neigher light, nor even the warmth coming from the eternal fires of the everburning furnaces of torture, a single entity once again, creeped into the light of the multiverse. Cocytus this place was called, the ever frozen hearth of hell, and Nagarach was it's lord. For the last 3000 millenia, his icy shadow was cast across the land, grasping it with his long, skeletonfingers, in a steely grip that no land ever escaped from. Thousands of planets, and even more souls were permanently trapped, tranformed into his servants. He had taken on the battle of battles. The battle against all creation. The amound of sous is limited, and ever has been, and this is, why one day, creation would surely perish. His time, once again, grew near.

The heavens... will tremble...

---------------------------

With a sound like a whip ripping through flesh, the portal closed behind the last survivors of the Nacka-Rachti. They were hunt into extinction, and fleeing from the old world took the last of them. Their cruel master demanded the live of 300 of them, in exchange for a safe harbour. And now, only 65 of them remained, in this unknown, hostile world. But their will to fight on, shall never be broken...

Curious looks were going through the eyes of the tribe. They were stranded in a forest, thick with ground vegetation, trees whichs leaves had an unknown shape. Birds were singing songs never heard before, and it hurt their ears. It had rained lately, and through the everlasting chill of the frozen skull, the woods were slowly overgrown with a white veil of frost. Withing that mass of confused eyes, it was only one who did not hesitate.
Celsius was kneeling next to a thorny bush, inspecting droppings on the ground. Suddenly she, raised her voice.

"Herbivores, about 120-150 kilogramms, probably wandering the forest in groups. They were here only 3 hours ago."

She pointed her finger at the elders, without even looking at them.

"You will summon a swarm of the crystaldragonflies. Scout the complete terrain for a month or so, then let them return and start manufacturing a map."

Now she pointed her fingers at a group of civilians, again, not even turning the head in their general direction.

"You will check out what is left of our belongings. Replace everything we have lost. And you..."
Now she was pointing at the hunters.
"follow me"

With that, she swung her bow over her shoulder, spear into her hand, and speed of into the forest, before the others could even react.


"Okay then, we don't want to lose any time, right ?" The leader of the elders stepped forward, broke some ice from a frozen puddle, and placed it infront of him. With a small stone knife, he scratched a 7 pointed star into the ground, around the shard of ice, and without hesitation, like it was nothing, cut open his finger, letting small drops of blood rain unto the ice. Chanting words that were neither elven nor human tounge, nor any tounge spoken in any world of creation, in front of his eyes the ice began to form, like on does form clay. Slowly, the features became sharper, clearer. Legs, addorned with the tiniest of hooks broke out of the frozen mass, wings thiner than a hair, and yet filled with a fine pattern shaped by tiny veins. A dragonfly, beautiful, and yet a mockery of creation. A mere corruption of the original. When close to you, it could never hide it's hideousness from your eyes. The eyes, these fishernet marbles, now an empty ball of glass. How it could see, a mystery. But it could see, I tell you. You could feel it looking at you, it stares through you, like looking through empty air and you can feel it. And the mouths, adorned with tiny, hairy, feelers, that would not hold still for the blink of an eye. Between them, jaw completely unlike the original. The jaws of a human, shrunken to a tiny crystal denture, jammed into a gapping hole of it's skull.
Opening these cruel jaws, the abomination rose it's voice, sounding as human as any, speaking in clear, dialect free elven.

"What is my task, my master ?"

---------------------------------
The Settlement consists of a loose group of big Hemispherical tents made of leather, wood and bone. The Nacka-Rachti just place them as they please, so there is no deeper order in it, however the biggest tents, the tent of the elders, is usually in the middle, containing the artifact. Amongst the tents you will find quite a number of wooden wagons, which double as store-room, and sometimes as a workshop. They are designed in a fashion that they can be pulled by Kharmanathi.
They spent the 6 weeks reconstructing what was left on the other side and restocking on many basic supplies.
They also store lots of meat in frozen blocks, for times when they have to travel through terrain without much wildlife.
---------------------------------

((the tribe arrives in the new world, and summons a group of 3 dozen of these dragonflies, and send them to scout the area. Because they are so many, i will not add them to the map. Next turn they will retun and start drawing a map of everyting in a 23 tile radius. The river source to the west is affected by the artifact and frozen over, meaning that the river coming from it is currently running very very low, almost dry. As a result, the lake it fuels is standing lower than ever. I believe the Ipetians wanted to settle there, so it is relevant to mention it. I will only mention the effect of the eternal winter when it is relevant))


│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣⌂▲▲⌂ ⌂├┘⌂$▲○─ ──┘?≈≈≈≈  ≈♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣│└┐ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈─ ○┌┘♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣⌂⌂▲$⌂ ♣│⌂⌂▲^$⌂ ♣♣&♣$≈≈≈  ≈≈♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣│♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈.♣ $│♣♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣┌ ─┐♣⌂$▲⌂♣ ♣└≈⌂⌂&⌂♣ ♣♣♣♣♣♣?≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣│♣≈ ≈≈≈≈..♣♣ ○┘♣≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈──┘ ♣└─○▲▲⌂♣ ♣♣│♣♣⌂○┐ ♣♣╞╞♣♣♣♣  ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣$♣│≈≈ ≈≈≈..♣♣$ ⌂♣♣≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈♣♣♣♣ ♣♣♣⌂▲$⌂♣ ♣♣│♣♣♣⌂│ ♣╞√√√♣♣♣  ♣♣?≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣♣♣♣└≈≈ ≈≈≈───○▲ ⌂♣♣≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈♣♣♣♣♣♣ ♣┌─○⌂⌂♣♣ ♣♣└┐♣♣♣│ ♣♣√#√♣$♣  ♣♣♣♣$│¤♣ ♣♣♣♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈.♣¤⌂▲⌂ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈♣♣♣♣┌ ─┘♣┌○⌂♣N ♣♣♣└┐&♣└ ┐♣√√√♣♣&  ♣♣&♣♣└┐≈ ≈♣♣♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈.┌≈○⌂♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈♣♣┌┘ ♣♣♣│⌂♣♣♣ ♣♣$♣≈≈≈♣ │♣♣♣♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈─┘⌂▲⌂♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│40                                                                      │


----------part2, in response to Nhipanthers renegade--------

Bahad could again find no sleep this night, the 3rd in a row. What he has witnessed would be etched into his mind for all eternity, plageuing him with nightmares even when awake. His mind has grown restless, avoiding sleep at all cost, not to sink any further into the void of waking nightmares.

Earlier today he tried to eat some meat. When through the meat the bone became visible, terror overtook his mind, and he was barely able to move for what seemed hours. Infront of his eyes, the lamb had turned into the carcass of his first born son...


In every moment that wasn#t filled with terror, revenge clouded his mind. He just had to find a way

find a way

find a way


Exhaustion had taken his toll out of him, as he finaly drifted into sleep for the first time since 3 days.

He found himself in a completely white desert. No. Not a desert a frozen wasteland. But as a simple man of a desert tribe, he had never seen snow. Strangely enough, he wasn't feeling cold either, though a chill was traveling down his spine, born from the strangeness of this scenery. From afar, a voice called out to him.

Bahad....

"What do you want ?"

Bahad...

The voice was completely non-threathening, childlike. Yet, He was striken with uncertainness that soon turned into fear. Without even noticing, his legs started running on their own, leaving deep footsteps in the snow. He ran, and ran, and fell. He landed on something hard, but he did not feel any pain. What was this strange thing ? Glass ? Crystal ?
Slowly, he ran his fingers over it's smooth surface, and extending from his fingers, like a mirror image at first, slowly grew a figure. Bahad gasped as he realised to whom it belonged. It was his firstborn son.

"Father, it hurts. They hurt me. Father."

"Oh god, what have they done to you ? Tell me, what have they done to you ?!"

"Father, you have to hurt them too."

The sky above his head grew darker, into a clear, cloudless night. From the surface of the icy mirror, a ball of light blue light emerged and flew towards the sky, hanging clearly visible over the north.

"Follow this light, then you will find a way to hurt them....."

Bahad rose from his resting place with a scream, bathed in cold sweat. The window in his room had opened, and an icy wind was coming in. It was still night, but when he got up to close the window, he could see it clear as day. A bright blue star had appeared in the north.

--------------------------

((This star will indicate the position of the artifact. Only bahad can see it))

[Istrian]

Aurea, Elchandaar Universe

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Reyleen Ach'Medarath, Elchmistress of the Elchandaar Tower, surveyed the assembled Mages on the field, in front of the place where the portal was to be opened. There were nearly 200 of them, 200 who had answered to the summons of the Purple Seal. She noticed the half-demon Pyromancer impatiently looking around. He was visibly displeased to be in a robe, but it was a formal occasion.

She wondered if it was the right time to send mages on exploration on another world. The Demon War was already heavily taxing the Tower's resources. The Demons... It was after an assault on one of their fortresses that they had recovered the old parchment which told how to reach the world where the mages were being sent. She was worried that it could easily be a trap, but it was true that the opportunity could not be ignored.

"I know it was a difficult decision, Your Highness." said Kerzon, the Grandmaster Diviner, "We both know that we will never see these mages again."

"You have seen the future, Kerzon. Are you sure there is no onther way ? These mages could make the difference in our current war."

"They may help us gain victory faster, but if we do not send them away now, the future of the Tower will look bleak."

The Elchmistress sighed heavily and nodded towards another group of a hundred Displacers. Their leader nodded back and they all started gathering the flows into the right shape. Tiny yellow particles of magic, like tiny grains of dust, began assembling in the middle of the group. A sphere grew there, as if it was fed by the particles.

As the sphere grew larger, an image could be distinguished in the middle of it : a forest bordering an expanse of water. The Displacers then began getting the portal into the right shape. Slowly the sphere thinned, until it looked like a lens. Then it sank slowly into the ground. Finally, the leader of the Displacers turned toward the Elchmistress and nodded. In turn, she motionned for the mages to enter the portal.

"Farewell", she whispered between clenched teeth.
[/b]
=============================================

The New world
[spoiler]
The army of mages slowly walked out of the portal on the other side. They were followed by a huge floating chest, at least the size of a man. The portal slowly closed behind them.

The appointed leader of the assembly, a Druid, smiled and took out a small enveloppe from his robes. He broke the Purple Seal on it and finally read the orders they were all expected to carry out. His smile quickly vanished and his face became deathly pale. The letter fell out of his hands, to be caught by a nearby Geomancer. He read out loud a very interesting passage of it :

"'Your orders are simple : assert the presence of the Tower and investigate the world. No help will be sent during the first ten millenia.' So it's a survive and survey thing." he commented "Well, since we will be here for a very long time, we might as well choose our leaders and-"

He interrupted his sentence and looked downward. There was a long stone spike protruding from his chest. He dropped dead without a further sound. All assembled Mages slowly looked at each other, while the 8 Runeblades, knowing full well what was going to happen next, moved away from the assembly. Then all Hell broke loose.

Fire, lightning, earthquakes, tidal waves and worse began killing the Mages one by one. Or ten by ten in some extreme cases. Calcinated, decapitated, dismembered, pierced, electrified, unnaturally aged to death, entangled then compressed and otherwise killed Mages began to litter the ground.

A few hours later a small wind rose from the sea and drove away the fog of the battle. A few Mages were still left standing. One of them, a Chronomancer, slowly looked around, picked up a stick and held it out. A few seconds later, another Chronomancer appeared at the spot where the stick was and noticed the above-mentionned item protruding from where his heart should have been.

"Trying to move forward in time, old 'friend' ?" said the mage holding the stick before his 'friend' died.

He then looked around. There were 15 other mages left standing and none of them was wearing the same School colors as the others. That was good. They were now enough to start a fresh leadership and to claim the titles of Grandmasters. Without talking to each other, they acted on a common accord and opened the floating chest, while taking good care of standing as far away as possible from it.

Something started to come out of the chest. It was small at first, then slowly grew larger. It ended up as a tall tower, and it came fully equipped with what was necessary to a mage in those foreign parts : laboratories, libraries and sleeping quarters.

================================

Mages and Runeblades

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

In the following days the surviving Grandmasters drew the roll of the first members of the Tower in this new world.

'On the year 187342 of the Tower Calendar the following people were appointed to the mentionned positions on the world of Seristis, newly placed under Tower jurisdiction.

Of the Principle of Creation
Elestris Eth'Vindelar, Grandmaster Hydromancer, Lost Elf
Akrashah Tal'Resh Kraroch, Grandmistress Healer, Leotaur
Athan Fyrkus, Grandmaster Binder, Highblood
Sekhfar Lalantis, Grandmaster Illusionist, Mixblood

Of the Principle of Change
Selene Tirmisthan, Grandmistress Displacer, Highblood
Jaleen Excelmarth, Grandmistress Aeromancer, Pureblood
Shugak, Grandmaster Transmuter, Gnome
Lithios, Grandmaster Chronomancer, Vampire

Of the Principle of Balance
Kirlin Ach'Verdath, Grandmistress Druid, Lost Elf
Sendar Goldsmith, Grandmaster Geomancer, Dwarf
Sirilanai Eth'Mertallar, Grandmaster Diviner, Lost Elf
Xanthis the Eraser, Grandmaster Psychomancer, Lich

Of the Principle of Destruction
Carvanil the Plagued, Grandmaster Necromancer, Lich
Werelath Ach'Orlindis, Grandmistress Illuminator, Lost Elf
Ostralin, Grandmistress Noctalist, Vampire
Dazhmar, Grandmaster Pyromancer, Mixblood

Of the Most Respectable Order of the Elchandaar Tower Runeblades
Karkish Rezhak Rohkarsharel, Leotaur
Partavel, Vampire
Morticia, Vampire
Inifius, Vampire
Gregor Travis, Graveborn
Joshua Verbasit, Graveborn
Alexius Sivrail, Highblood
Unroe Maxalli, Highblood

By the approval of those assembled and under the delegated supreme authority of Reyleen Ach'Medarath, Elchmistress of the Elchandaar Aurea Tower'

===================================

Diviner's Quarters

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A few days later the most curious mages set to work. Sirilanai prepared a whole arsenal of crystal balls, mirrors and runes and set off to scrying the land around the island where the Tower ended up. He was planning to scry the flow of Divination magic to find if there were nearby settlements or places of strong magic.

First he prodded the south, as it was where civilization had appeared on their homeworld. This time, unfortunately he felt no unnatural bend in the flow.

Then he tried north, the direction which lets magic flow more freely. Again, no result.

The next direction was east, the direction of the unknown and of the surprising. Yet again, no result.

Finally, west, from where the Elchandaar Empire had sprung up and conquered the world. This time he felt a strong pull, a very strong one. There was something in that direction, and it was very powerful. It bent and twisted the flow. It warranted investigation.

He tried to survey the place using his mirrors and crystal balls, but unfortunately his power was not yet great enough to see over such a long distance. There was no way he could compare to Kerzon who could even see the far away future.

The west would require more detailed examination.

==============================

The Expeditions Depart

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A few days later, two expeditions were assembled. One would head south, because it felt like a good direction. Elestris, Morticia and Karkish would go that way. They would blindly go where no one had gone before.

The other expedition would head west, to find out what causes the disturbance in the flow. This one would be larger : Jaleen, Sendar, Dazhmar, Partavel, Inifius and Gregor.

Both expeditions departed the same day. And both used the same way of transportation. Elestris used his mastery over water to create an iceberg, while Jaleen did the same using air. And they all set off to explore the unknown.

===============================

Portal Preparations

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Selene meanwhile began to draw runes and circles on heavy stones set around the area which was now the Tower's. These runes would prevent anyone from teleporting in from outside the runed area. Later she would also prepare a large platform to serve as a support for portals, when they would need those to move around the world.

===============================
((The main HQ consists of only one building : a single tower with a large entrance. The tower has a radius of 150m and a height of 500m. Images later. There is also a teleportation pad in construction on water. Images above.))
===============================
56                                         
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈¤≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ $♠⌂♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♠ ♠⌂≈¤┘≈t≈ ≈≈≈T¤≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♠ ⌂▲⌂?♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ┌○⌂♠♠≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ │$⌂♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│64                                                                     
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈t≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈♠└┐≈≈
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠?♠#≈ ≈≈♠♠♠#─┐
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠└┐ ♠♠?♠♠♠♠└
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈#♠♠♠├ ┐♠♠#♠#♠♠
│≈≈≈≈≈♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠?♠│ └#♠♠?♠♠♠
│72     

[Frelock]

The arrival of the Ipetians:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Leef walked into the sunlight.  The eternal twilight of the portal-realm was now behind him, and a new day dawned, bright and clear.  He turned back and called to the others, “Alright, we’ve made it; come on out.”  Through the portal, a line of Ipetians blinked as they entered daylight for the first time in weeks.  They had been warned that the journey would be long and dangerous, and it most certainly was.  Demonic creatures had assaulted them, sinkholes and quicksand were common, but the real danger was of losing their way in the perpetual darkness.  To be able to stand again in the sun, it was the greatest feeling.

As the others moved off to find a suitable place for a campsite, Leef was joined by Tod and Onschuld, and the three friends began to discuss what they needed to do in the new world.  Leef advocated created defenses around the portal, to prevent the escape of any that dwelled in the dark.  Tod wanted to send out scouting groups immediately, to discover the lay of the land around them.  Onschuld thought that creating a viable town was the best way to start.  Of course, his nature made him adverse from insisting upon anything; so, as usual, Leef and Tod fell to bickering, while Onschuld remained silent.

“It is our responsibility to this world to ensure that we do not infect it with any evil beings,” Leef explained.

Tod countered, “And we have a responsibility to ourselves to make sure that we know where Fenneth has plopped us down at.  Anyhow, the demons that we faced weren’t that tough.”

Leef replied, “Killed five of our best scouts, and you don’t call them tough?  What would you do if one came through that portal right now?”

Onschuld attempted to interrupt, “Umm, guys…”

Tod continued on anyways, “And what if there are enemies hidden in the land that surrounds us?  What would we do then?”

Onschuld tried to get a word in, “Guys…”

Leef didn’t hear him, “We’ll face that problem when we come to it.  Right now we…”

Onschuld raised his voice, “Guys…”

Leef and Tod turned to him in unison and shouted, “What?!”

Onschuld pointed behind them and said, “The portal’s… getting smaller.”  The two looked, and stared in utter horror as the portal began to shrink. 

Leef was the first to recover, “Come on!  We have to stop it!”  The three ran over to the rip in space, and thrust their hands over the barrier.  They could feel the flow of Life returning to normal.  Leef said to the others, “Try to slow it down; I’ll see if I can brace it.”  Tod and Onschuld nodded, and attempted to hold the portal open.  Leef placed his hands on the ground, and two thick branches sprung up from the dirt.  They quickly wrapped around one another, and formed a circle in the air, halfway through the portal.  The portal shrunk until it was wrapped around the branches.  A moment passed, and everyone began to breathe a sigh of relief.

Then the wood shattered as the portal continued to close.  The three friends clutched their arms as splinters flew and dug themselves into Ipetian flesh.  Tod, forcing himself to overcome the pain, shouted, “We have to hold it!  Don’t stop now!”  With cries of agony, the three placed their hands back into the portal, trying with all their might to keep it intact.  But they were doomed to failure.  As the portal got smaller and smaller, it split into three small circles, one around each plainshapers’ hands.  There they held it for an hour, gritting their teeth and struggling against fate.

Then, without warning, there was a crack, as of thunder, and all three Ipetians suddenly found themselves inexplicably weak.  The portals snapped closed around their wrists.  Experiencing a jolt of pain, the youths yanked their arms back, and found their hands still attached to their bodies.  They also noticed that the pain and weakness had vanished.  But none of that mattered; they stared blankly at where the portal used to be.  Now there was only empty space.

A voice from behind pulled the three back into reality.  “Odd, that wasn’t supposed to happen.”  They turned around, and there stood Fenneth, scratching his head.  “That’s interesting…”

Tod, growing angry, demanded, “What’s the meaning of this?  I thought we were supposed to be able to go home.”

Fenneth continued to scratch his head, “Umm….oops?”

Tod couldn’t believe it, “We’re stranded in the middle of nowhere on this god-forsaken world…”

Fenneth interrupted, “Technically not god-forsaken as I am currently here…”

“Shut Up!  This god-forsaken world with no way of getting home, little food, unknown enemies, and nothing to look forward to save a slow death away from our friends, and all you can say is Oops!?”

“Yea…sorry about that…I guess the temporal disturbance was not nearly as permanent as I had thought.  The universes aren’t exactly lined up right…I think the portal has shifted.”

Onschuld picked up this glimmer of hope, “Shifted?  Where?  Is it nearby?”

Fenneth bent his head and closed his eyes.  He looked like he was thinking intensely.  He muttered quietly to himself.  Suddenly, he looked back up again.  “It’s about 20 billion kilometers…that way,” he said, pointing up towards the sky.

Tod threw his hands up into the air.  “Wonderful, let me just snap my fingers and we’ll all just fly as fast as light for a while to reach it.”

Fenneth continued to look thoughtful.  “Actually, it seems to be on a regular rotation.” He began tracing out a path in the air.  “If I’m right, then it should end up,” his finger pointed to the spot where the portal had been, “right where it started.”

Leef looked grim, “And how long will that take?”

Fenneth bit his tongue, “I’d say, somewhere around… 100 years.”

Tod echoed him, “A hundred years!?”

Fenneth nodded, “give or take a decade or two…”

Onschuld sat down on the ground.  “We’re doomed.  We’ll never see home again.”

Fenneth smiled slyly, “Oh, I think there’s a good chance you will.”

Leef looked questioningly at the god, “How?”

Fenneth looked at the three, and explained, “I believe you all felt a moment of weakness, just before the portal closed?”  The youths nodded their heads.  “That was caused by a dweller of the portal realm, a ‘soul sucker’ of sorts.  It has an ability similar to the ancient Dark Ones’, the ability to drain a soul from a living being.  To make a very complicated matter short, when the portal closed as it was feeding on you, you gained a measure of immortality.”

The friends looked at each other.  Tod was the first to speak, “You mean…we’re…gods?”

Fenneth chuckled and shook his head, “No, no, no, it’s similar to Riet’s immortality.  You won’t age, and you won’t get sick.  But a knife in the back will still kill you.  Trust me, you will die.  Forever is a long time to live, and something will eventually go wrong.  But, with a little bit of luck, you will be able to get back home.”

The god glanced at the sky and noticed the position of the sun.  “I’ve got to be going now.  I’ll make sure to tell Riet about your predicament.  I’d suggest forming an outpost soon.  If you look around, you’ll find something really interesting nearby.  I’ll probably be back sometime before the year is out.  Best of luck to you!” and with that, Fenneth vanished.

Tod turned to look at Leef.  “You know, I’m starting to understand why Riet sighs every time he hears Fenneth’s name.”

Leef nodded, “Yea.  Well, it looks like you win, Tod.  We’ll send scouts to check out the immediate area.  I’m putting you in charge of them.  Onschuld and I will start working on getting a viable outpost set up.  Don’t stray too far, alright?”  Tod nodded, and galloped off towards where the others had gone.  Leef motioned to Onschuld, “Come on, let’s get to work making some watchtowers.” 

Onschuld got up “What do you think we should call this place?”

Leef thought about it, “How does Huis Hoop sound?”

Onschuld smiled, “Home’s Hope, I like it.”  As they followed Tod’s tracks, Leef sighed; surviving for a hundred years, how hard could it be?

Code: [Select]

│40                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈─┬┘♣ ♣♣┌┘⌂♣♣♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣&♣♣  ♣♣♣?≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈≈♣♣⌂▲$♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈♣│♣♣ ♣♣│♣♣♣$♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.♣♣$♣♣  ♣&♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣⌂▲⌂♣♣ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈┘♣♣ ♣♣│⌂♣♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.?♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣≈≈≈ ≈──○⌂♣♣≈ ≈≈$♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣$♣ ♣♣≈≈L♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈.#♣♣♣  ♣$♣♣♣?≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣$▲○─≈≈ ≈♣⌂≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ .≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈.&♣  ♣♣♣♣♣.≈≈ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈ ≈♣⌂⌂♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ ♣..≈≈♣♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣&♣♣..≈ ≈.♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈┌○♣♣≈≈≈ ≈♣≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣│♣♣♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣♣.. .♣♣$♣≈≈≈ ─┘♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣└┐♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣  ♣≈≈≈≈♣.. .○⌂♣♣≈≈≈ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│

[coelocanth]

-=The World Above, Games Room=-

Nerlor extended a tentacle into the rrorolen leather sack at his feet and pulled out a small cedarwood box.  As he deftly flipped open the catch and tilted back the lid, the gold and pearl inlay caught the light.  A pattern of shooting stars shone briefly before the lid fell back upon the table.

He looked over the game board for a few moments before taking a settlement token and carefully placing it in a swamp tile.  He took a handful of figurines from the box and spread them on the table before settling back to watch the other Players and taking a sip of mead.  Holding a dragon shaped figurine carefully in one hand, He cut away the spear it was carrying and filed down the swarf before discarding the figurine back into the box.

Seeing the other Players had taken their turns, Nerlor scooped up a generous handful of frog shaped figurines from the table and sprinkled them over the swamp and nearby rainforest. Shrugging at the odd looks he got from some of the other Players, he carefully placed the spear upright on the settlement token and watched the crocrolen heed its call.  He took a mouthful of mead and grinned broadly while fingering a “Weather system, Large” token.

-=The World Below, central homelands=-

Korkel Selan was hunting carp. He had a strange feeling of being somehow displaced that was interfering with his concentration, but he tried to keep his mind focused as he lay blended on the shore of lake Sicata.

A ripple disturbed the mirror smooth surface of the lake, and Korkel sprung with the bone tipped fishing trident held firmly in both hands.  He landed in the deep water with a splash, and held up the trident to suffocate the struggling fish before slipping it into the catch bag.

-=The World Below, River Sithis=-

Inkala Forsrit was lost in the woods. This is not a normal situation for a crocrolen, but when she went to sleep she was in her hut in Tel Furntul. Now she wakes up, and is on a river bank in an unfamiliar forest. Luckily she still had her knives. Remembering her training, Inkala took a quick meal of wild fisher berries and began to search the area with her mind. There were others here, but no sign of either tel or vol. She would need to gather them, but first, tools of the trance. Searching the trunk of a tree fallen across the river, she soon found what she was looking for.  She sliced the yellowish puffball off near its base and placed it on a flat stone from the river. Taking another stone, she pounded it into a pulp and mixed some ash and bitter herbs from her pouch.

Muttering a prayer to the Ancestor and the Deep One, Inkala scraped up the mixture with her blade and swallowed it.  The taste was foul, but good medicine always tastes bitter. The stars brightened and the shadows deepened.  When the sea breeze scuttled upstream in purple waves, she was ready.
She closed her eyes and opened her mind to the universe. The Ancestor's spear was east, a great distance, but its song called out to her. The world was different, or she had been displaced? The spear seemed to occupy a tel, but the tel was empty of voices. She reached into the past, to the massed minds, but they were silent. She searched around her for the minds she had sensed earlier, ten hands wandered the forest – lost but close. She searched to the east – forty hands in the swamp and a familiar voice...Korkel?

-=The World Below, central homelands=-

{Korkel?} a distant voice echoed in the mind of Korkel Selan.
{Inkala, is that you?}
{Yes, where are you, Korkel?}
{Lake Sitaca, I'm hunting for carp}
{Something is changed, I'm not sure that is lake Sitaca, I'm not even sure we are on Aerith anymore...}
{Huh, what is this...?}
Korkel climbed out of the water and looked around, the nagging feeling from earlier coming back.  It looked like Sitaca, yet there were differences.  The curve of the shore, the island that was slightly to the left of where it was this morning...even the number of carp he had caught. Korkel knew he wasn't that good of a fisherman even with his gifts.
{Inkala, what is going on? Are we translated?}
{Only the Liberator can answer that.  Now listen Korkel, I can't hold this trance much longer. Find Hengist Starforged. It should be close to you, claim it if you have to, but bring the people to it. We need to settle this strange land, and its protection is all we have. I'll get there as soon as I can}
{Claim it...?}
{Korkel, it sings...in the legends it sings only when dispossessed...I know you are untrained, but if you can hear me then you can hear it...listen}

-=The World Above, Observatory=-

Nerlor adjusted the focus dials on the macroscope to get a good image of Tel Sarangis. Omniscience is all very well, he thought, but there is something personal about optics. He was faintly amused by the number of prayers he was getting, but the motivational oil he rubbed the figurines with on the way to the game should be enough to inspire the crocrolen to find their own solutions. Panning the macroscope around, he smiled to see the pattern of ridges and furrows in a freshly plowed farm plot.

-=The World Below, River Koss=-

A band of the displaced crocrolen search for their way home. They are surprised to find the sandy northern shore.
“I told you this was not the way to Tel Arun”
“There is no sand in thirty akoms of that place! I told you we are not near home anymore”
“Sand means glass, yes? Glass is something we can trade, wherever we are”
“I'm not working in a dry old sand pit!”
“You won't have to”, commanded Jakalo, “those who want to hunt, hunt; those who want to craft, craft. We have nature's bounty this side of the river, and all the sand we could ever use on that”

-=The World Below, edge of the forest=-

40 Crocrolen led by Inkala are on their way to Tel Sarangis.
“The tel should be on the other side of that mountain range.  We can get around it to the south, but I'm not sure how far, or how much of the journey will be in that savanna out there.  We don't have enough food to all travel without hunting along the way.  So I will lead two hands to scout the path, then we can return with maps.  The rest of you establish a temporary vol here and prepare food for three months”

-=The World Above, Game Room=-

Armok called out across the table to Nerlor, "What's big, dangerous, and lives in swamps?"
"Giant saltwater crocodile?"
"I'll give you a clue, 'nine'"
"Hydra?"
"that's right!"
With that, a figurine snapped into existence to the south of Tel Sarangis

-=The World Below, Tel Sarangis=-

The calm morning was suddenly disturbed by the loud snap of a breaking tree. Katan dropped her sack of water snakes and looked up to see a huge serpent's head towering over the trees. Instinctively, she dropped to the water and blended, her eyes circling behind. Relieved to see the neck and body slide past, she looked around for the tail.
With a SNAP, the Hydra's fourth head snatched Katan out of the water and hurled him thirty meters into the air.  She had a few seconds to scream before being caught by two heads and ripped in half.
The thirty three residents of Tel Sarangis saw the Horror of the Swamp and fled, scattering into the swamp and hiding.

The Hydra Sorin Keln is not easy to hide from. The eyes of each head are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, so while Katan was invisible in the infra-red and well camouflaged in the human-visible spectrum, the camouflage is far from perfect in the ultra-violet B illumination of sunlight.

Four more crocrolen met their doom, trusting too much to their blending or not fleeing fast enough, as Sorin Keln rushed forward into Tel Sarangis. She smashed her head through the roofs of several huts, looking for anything tasty inside, ate the drying fish in the smoke house, then departed into the swamp, her hunger satisfied for now.

-=The World Below, near Tel Sarangis=-

The hunter Kiran froze as she heard a hippo roar in the distance. Looking through the night fog, she could make out three giant heads feasting on the fallen hippo. Lying close to the ground, she watched the Terror of Tel Sarangis devour the hippo and slide off to the south.

South, away from Tel Sarangis, but still too close for comfort.

-=The World Below, Tel Sarangis=-

Korkel Selan hopped around the perimeter carrying Hengist Starforged.  The defenses were weak as yet, but the angled wooden spikes should deter such a large beast from charging into the tel or its farms again. Three hunters had failed to return in recent weeks, this paradise was beginning to look like a poisoned chalice.

Population Centres:

Location	Name	Population	Pop Cap	Notes
23,86	Tel Sarangis	112	630	Defended by angled sharpened logs
28,84	Vol Tikal	40	340	Building a glassworks
14,83	Vol Sundar	30	280	Temporary Settlement?

Characters, Groups & Armies:

Location	Leader Name	Group Size	Notes
15,85	Inkala Forsrit	10	Finding a path to Tel Sarangis
Tel Sarangis	Korkel Selan	-

Points of Interest:

Location	Name	Notes
20,89	Lake Sicata	Contains delicious carp
15,81-07,86	River Sithis	Inkala's Landfall
22,82-31,85	River Koss

Words:
Tel = a large settlement
Vol = an outpost
Blended = using chameleon type camouflage ability

Map:

┌─────────God View──────────────────┬─────────Civ View──────────────────┬─────────No Special Places─────────┐
│80      0        1        2        │80      0        1        2        │80      0        1        2        │
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈8≈≈≈♠♠♠♠⌂6⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌠4~~~¤¤~?~│        8 ≈≈♠♠♠♠⌂6⌂   ▲⌂⌂⌠4~       │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈8≈≈≈♠♠♠♠⌂6⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂⌠4~~~~~~~~│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠♠♠┌○ ▲▲^▲⌂⌂≈$ ~~~~~~~~│         ≈≈♠♠♠♠┌○ ▲▲ ▲⌂⌂≈│ ~       │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠♠♠┌○ ▲▲^▲⌂⌂≈│ ~~~~~~~~│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠┌─┘⌂ ⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂¤┴ ┐~~~~~~&│         ≈≈♠♠┌─┘⌂ ⌂▲ ▲⌂⌂○┴ ┐~~~    │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠♠┌─┘⌂ ⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂○┴ ┐~~~~~~~│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠┌─┘♠F" ⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌠⌠ └─┐~~~~~│      ≈≈ ≈♠┌─┘♠F" ⌂▲  ▲⌂⌠⌠ └─┐~~~~ │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠┌─┘♠♠" ⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌠⌠ └─┐~~~~~│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈┌ ──┘♠♠♠"" ○⌂▲▲⌂○⌠⌠ ⌠$└─F┐~~│     ≈≈┌ ──┘♠♠♠"" ○⌂▲▲⌂○⌠⌠ ⌠⌠└─F┐~~│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈┌ ──┘♠♠♠"" ○⌂▲▲⌂○⌠⌠ ⌠⌠└──┐~~│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♠│ ♠♠♠♠♠♠"f ┘⌂⌂▲⌂≈⌠⌠ &⌠⌠⌠⌠└┐~│    ≈≈♠│ ♠♠♠♠♠♠"f ┘⌂⌂▲⌂≈⌠⌠ ⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠└┐~│≈≈≈≈≈≈♠│ ♠♠♠♠♠♠"┌ ┘⌂⌂▲⌂≈⌠⌠ ⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠└┐~│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈┘ ♠♠♠♠♠""│ ""○⌂○⌠⌠F ⌠≈⌠⌠$$≈≈│     ≈≈┘ ♠♠♠♠♠""│ ""○⌂○⌠⌠F ⌠≈⌠⌠⌠⌠≈≈│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈┘ ♠♠♠♠♠""│ ""○⌂○⌠⌠⌠ ⌠≈⌠⌠⌠⌠≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♠♠♠""""│ ""│⌂⌠≈⌠$ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈│      ≈≈ ♠♠♠"""      ⌂⌠≈⌠⌠ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♠♠♠""""│ ""│⌂⌠≈⌠⌠ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│88                                 │88                                 │88                                 │
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠"""?"& ""│⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│       ≈ ≈♠""       │⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠ ⌠≈≈     │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠"""""│ ""│⌠⌠⌠⌠⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈¤"""""│ "┌┘⌠≈&⌠¤ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│       ≈ ≈""        ┘⌠≈⌠⌠⌠ ≈≈      │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈""""""│ "┌┘⌠≈⌠⌠⌠ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈""""$"│ "│"⌠⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│         ≈""        "⌠⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈       │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈""""""│ "│"⌠⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""└ ┐│""⌠$⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂│                    ""⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈       │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""└ ┐│""⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""#"" ├┘""⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂^│                    ""⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈       │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""" ├┘""⌠⌠⌠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈⌂^│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""" │""""⌠⌠& ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠#│                     ""⌠⌠⌠ ≈≈      │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈"""""" │""""⌠⌠⌠ ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠○│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈"&"?" │""#"⌠≈⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈┘│                     ""⌠≈⌠ ⌠≈≈     │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" │""""⌠≈⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈┘│
│≈≈≈≈$≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" &┐""""⌠⌠ $≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈↑≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" └┐""""⌠⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│96                                 │96                                 │96                                 │
│≈≈≈≈↑≈≈≈ ≈≈≈&"""" "│""""&⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈↑≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" "│""""⌠⌠ ⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈$≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" "└─┐""⌠⌠ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈↑≈≈≈ ≈≈≈""""" "└─┐""⌠⌠ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈""?" "↑¤│"""⌠ ⌠&≈≈≈≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" "↑↑│"""⌠ ⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" ""≈≈≈""" ⌠⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" ""≈≈≈""" ⌠⌠⌠≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" """≈│""" ""⌠$≈≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈"""" """≈│""" ""⌠⌠≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈↑≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈&"" "$""└#"" """"≈≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈↑≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """"└┐"" """"≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈$≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """""│"" """""≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈≈≈↑≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """""│"" """""≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """""└─┐ """""≈≈≈│                                   │≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈""" """""└─┐ """""≈≈≈│
│104                                │104                                │104                                │
└───────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────┘



OOC Comments:
All final positions are reachable in one turn of movement from the starting settlement - artistic license for the story.

[Prometheus]

It came to the ears of Xar that the Battle of the Gods had begun. Initially it did not hold much interest in him, but when he saw the board, he knew he would join in.
From the darkness of the void, he emerged. A large, dark mass with three eyes set in a triangular pattern, surrounded by clawed tentacles, the Watcher from Beneath slithered his way across the hall. He took his time, because he knew it would make him look more solemn. Once he arrived at the board, however, the effect suffered as he placed a masterfully crafted aluminum cabinet next to a pillar. It was opened. A light winked on inside, revealing a large variety of refridgerated foods, most rare beyond imagining, some defying reason and logic. Among all those was crumpets, nestled between hoary marmot roast and cat tallow biscuits.
"I believe you requested snacks?"

-

A while later, Xar lounged on one of the thrones, holding a glass of Sunshine and peering at the board.
"There's been some changes around from when I last set eyes on this world. A few dozen millenia does that to planets with life and/or active weather."
His eyes focused on a certain area on the southern continent.
"Interesting. I'd have thought they would have gone the way of all the other great empires of the time. It does look like they won't last long at that rate."
He pulled a small metal object from thin air, holding it above the board. A small metal figurine crawled out to grasp the object with a number of tentacles.
"This should help them a bit. It'd be such a shame to see such a promising creation go to waste because of no fault of their own."
The spot where the figurine stands is in the following spot:

│64                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠  $♠♠┌┘♠♠♠ ⌂⌂♠│♠♠♠♠ ♠$♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈t≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠♠  ┌──┘♠♠♠♠ ♠⌂♠└┐♠$♠ ♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠┌──  ┘♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠│♠♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠?♠♠≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈♠└┐≈≈ ≈≈&┌─┘♠♠  ♠♠♠♠♠¤¤$ ♠♠♠♠└┐♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠⌂▲○─≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠?♠#≈ ≈≈♠♠♠#─┐ ♠♠┌┘♠♠♠♠  ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠⌂¤├┐♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈?▲^▲?≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠└┐ ♠♠?♠♠♠♠└ ─&┘♠♠♠&♠  ♠♠♠$♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠≈┘│♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ┌─○▲⌂≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈#♠♠♠├ ┐♠♠I♠#♠♠ ♠?♠#♠♠♠♠  ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ $♠♠♠│♠└┐ ♠$♠♠♠♠≈≈ ┘♠$♠≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠?♠│ └#♠♠?♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠~  ~~~♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠│♠♠└ ┐♠♠♠♠≈≈≈ ≈?≈≈≈≈≈≈│

-

Meanwhile in a dark chamber, deep underground...
"Would you stand up straight for once?"
"Nothing ever happens around here and nobody ever comes around to check on us. Why shouldn't I take the opportunity for rest?"
"This is an important assignment! We watch over the vault of the Emperor until the day he returns an-"
"Yeah yeah, heard it a thousand times already. You keep reminding me every five minutes and keeping me awake."
"Don't you care at all about doing your job?"
"The Emperor didn't exactly give us a date as to when he returns. Who knows if we'll still be guarding the vault when he wakes up? 'sides, it's been, what, five or six thousand years? You really think he's still even alive?"
"But-"
"Also, suppose he does come back. You can just wake me up once that happens. Just let me have my freakin' nap. Sheesh. No wonder nobody wanted to work the same shif-"
The two Iraxi guardsmen froze when a loud, grinding noise came from behind them. The vault door, sealed for thousands of years, was opening. It ground to a halt. The dust settled. The guardsmen were still staring at the door, shocked. Then they looked at each other. A furious scrabbling ensued as they tried to make themselves presentable, putting on those damned uncomfortable helmets, picking up their glaives and fastening armor straps. They were so busy that they were caught off guard by a calm voice.
"Oh, is there some important event coming up?"
The pair froze again, turning to look at the third Irax that had appeared in the doorway. It was wearing a fine mantle, with flowing, wide strips of silky material hanging down the sides. Its shell was apparently carved with strange patterns and symbols. It held in its tentacles a large staff of an unknown, dark metal. It is masterfully crafted, with engraved glyphs and sigils, glowing blue. What struck them most, however, was the third eye.
The guard complaining about lack of rest promptly fainted, collapsing into a pile of quivering tentacles with a clatter.
The Eternal Emperor looked down at the unconscious Irax and shook his head in an amused fashion. Then it turned to the one left standing, who was overcome with a sense of fulfilled duty. He had been at least partially attentive when the Emperor awoke!
"Would you kindly show me the way outside? I am feeling like some sunlight."
The guard found himself unable to speak, and just nodded.

Outside, on the upper tiers of the Great Library, the Emperor looked at the surrounding terrain. It was different, but he hadn't expected things to stay exactly the same. The jungle looked like it was thriving. What wasn't thriving was the thing that worried him most. He saw the great city of Ehn'gha, in ruins. This had been quite unexpected. The Eternal Empire had been thriving when he last saw them. For them to have lost their very heart would have needed a disaster of cataclysmic proportions. Or a slow, slow stagnating death. He knew better to ask the guard. He was young, and apparently not very well versed in history. History. What he remembered like yesterday was ancient history to this generation.

No turning back now, he thought, and set off for the ruins of Ehn'gha, to try and see if he could fix things up a little.

-

The Emperor and guardsman Xith set off toward the capital city, leaving behind a small crowd of bewildered citizens of Odua. They had been overwhelmed completely by the sight of the pair coming down the steps of the library. After the two had set off along the uneven, unkempt road, they started muttering to each other. The Last Emperor of the great empire of ancient times had returned!

The Emperor with his escort slithered over partially displaced paving stones, overgrown with lichen. He didn't exactly have a plan as to how he would begin the undoubtedly long and arduous rebuilding process. He had been told that the majority of the survivors were living in the ruins of Ehn'gha, and that they had been hit hard by the strange mind-numbing effect that had, according to legend, slowly brought the death of the empire. How would they react to his return? he wondered.

As they neared the gates, they saw nobody at first. When they passed under the ruined arch and entered the city proper, the inhabitants' reaction slowly became clear. They were skulking in the shadows, eyeing the intruding pair with suspicion. The only reason, the Emperor suspected, why they hadn't attempted to mug them yet was because they could sense his nature through whatever clouded their minds. That or the fact that he had an armed escort.
They proceeded down a wide street, approaching the ruins of the Imperial Palace. It was a huge building, partially collapsed and covered in creepers. The banners proudly displaying the symbol of the Eternal Empire had long since rotted away. The beautiful engravings were worn and covered in the ever-encroaching plantlife. Emperor Gizash sighed. It would take years to rebuild this wonder of the ancient world. And this was only one city. The largest, but only one.
Xith began to speak, but the Emperor interrupted. "I know. It was never your fault. Nobody could have prevented this. What is the cause I do not yet know, but I intend to find out."
With that, he stepped onto a raised platform, looking over the plaza in front of the palace. A crowd of Iraxi had assembled, slightly hostile, yet curious as to who had brought them such pretty loot.
The Emperor then spoke.
"Awaken, children of Irax! I have returned at last, and seen the corruption of once a proud and vast empire. For millenia our race has suffered from a disease of the mind. Something we could not have planned for, yet brought the Iraxi crashing to the earth. But I have returned, with a gift from the Great Father! Behold the Staff of Irax, and clear your minds!"
The Emperor raised the metal staff into the air, where it started glowing, surrounded by a wreath of crackling energy. It flashed brighter than the sun, washing the plaza with blue light.
As the light dimmed, the congregrated Iraxi looked around with new eyes. The strange apathy which had dominated their minds for thousands of years had lifted and their minds were once again clear to think and to reason. A cheer went out. It might have been deafening, if there were more than a hundred of them present.
The Emperor turned to guardsman Xith, who was completely stunned by sheer awe for the second time today.
"Come, child. There is much to do."

-

After a few days of organizing things and assigning work schedules, the Emperor decreed that scouts would be sent to search for the other cities, starting with the nearby five locations marked on a large stone tablet set into the wall in the entrance hall to the palace. No details were available as the stone tablet had been worn by centuries and the more detailed maps had been lost aeons ago.
Spirits had been quite high despite the daunting task of rebuilding an empire. Perhaps the rest of them were inspired by the tireless and always calm work of the Emperor. Many had expected the Emperor to start bossing them around meaninglessly, but instead he worked without pause to improve the lot of the people. None had seen him pause to rest once since his return. He rarely hurried, but still managed to keep the workers busy with the plantations and refurbishing the living spaces. The Palace was a secondary objective to getting the food production and lodgings set up. "Vanity comes after necessity", the Emperor explained. The populace agreed that this was sensible.
Fortunately the ruins of Ehn'gha could at the very least provide stone for new buildings. They would still have to find a place to quarry for stone, however, if they were to properly restore the glory of the Empire. This was the secondary objective of the scouting expeditions. They were to report back any sightings of natural resources, be it metal, springs, quality stone and so forth. It was sheer luck that some of the practical skills had been passed down through the Age of Sleep, as the millenia-spanning period of mind-numbing apathy came to be called.

The Emperor stood in the great entrance hall, bathed in the light pouring from a hole in the ceiling and looked at the map stone. Back in the old days of the Empire, he had been plagued by not having direct goals, as simply expanding their borders was seen as a waste of time, as they had no need of more space. But now he had a clear objective.
He shook himself from his moment of daydreaming and slithered outside, heading for the masonry shops. Someone with spare time had started work on a small monument to commemorate the rebirth of the Empire. Slightly premature, the Emperor thought, but it's good to see the new generation in the spirit of things.

The following morning five pairs of scouts equipped with mapmaking tools, long-sight lenses and prospecting equipment were sent to the nearest five spots marked on the map.

-

Xar reached to the board with a tentacle and moved ten Iraxi figurines decked out in surveying gear across the board to the five tiles marked as ruins.
"They have been surprisingly adaptive to the new circumstances." He eyes the assembled gods with the usual serious look. It doesn't seem he's even capable of seeming less than dead serious, at least to more humanoid gods.
"I have to admit that I am concerned by this anomaly here." The tentacle points to the wide swath of land around 16,39 which is covered with snow and ice out of season.
"....I think we have an extraordinarily shy participant. Whoever they are, they aren't afraid of breaking the climate. Either we are talking about a very careless or very chaotic person."
A brief silence.
"This will be interesting."

((Plus a map for clarity

│64                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠  $♠♠┌┘♠♠♠ ⌂⌂♠│♠♠♠♠ ♠$♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈t≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♠♠♠  ┌──┘♠♠♠♠ ♠⌂♠└┐♠$♠ ♠♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠┌──  ┘♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠│♠♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠?♠♠≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈♠└┐≈≈ ≈≈&┌─┘♠♠  ♠♠♠♠♠¤¤$ ♠♠♠♠└┐♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♠⌂▲○─≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠?♠#≈ ≈≈♠♠♠i─┐ ♠♠┌┘♠♠♠♠  ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠⌂¤├┐♠ ♠♠≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈?▲^▲?≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠└┐ ♠♠i♠♠♠♠└ ─&┘♠♠♠&♠  ♠♠♠$♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠≈┘│♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ┌─○▲⌂≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈#♠♠♠├ ┐♠♠I♠i♠♠ ♠?♠#♠♠♠♠  ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠ $♠♠♠│♠└┐ ♠$♠♠♠♠≈≈ ┘♠$♠≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠?♠│ └i♠♠i♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠♠♠♠~  ~~~♠♠♠♠♠ ♠♠♠♠│♠♠└ ┐♠♠♠♠≈≈≈ ≈?≈≈≈≈≈≈│
))

[Nhiphanter]

*Before is a view of expansing desert, In it, at the horizon, rises a glinting yellowish city, its tower domes wrought from gold and towers build from sandstone bricks and large stones. A river flows through the city lazily, forking into two at the middle of the city. On the middle of the joining point, amidst the flowing waters, rises a Tall round tower, its windows made from precious gems and walls build from huge yellowish stone blocks. The banks of the rivers are lush with vegetation and are lined with fields and houses. It is night.*

This... is Akkad. A city, a land, a people. This was the land of legends and magic, of the long nights of danger and intrigue and days of gleam and glamour. Yet, it is a dark place...

¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤

Sechmed stared fixedly downwards, into the deafening depths of well of souls. The water was pristine and clear, yet the pool was as black as the blackest night, for its sheer deepness could be "seen" through the waters.
His shrouded hands were raised over the well, in exactly the same pattern as those of the other three.
From above, the sounds chanting was penetrating even to the deepest recesses of the tower. It was the time of the prayer to Sem'seddin and the eternal night.

Then, all of sudden, the four began to chant. Their voice grew louder and became strangely broken, like it was coming from aeons away and yet so near, like a whisper yet a shout, like a speech yet a scream.
Slowly words could be noticed among the chanting, forming sentences.

"We call to thee... Sem'seddin." A pulsating, red light began far down the well.
"Accept our gift... And grant us the full power... of the well"

with these words a scream could be heard from above...

Khaled stared in horror as the people around him began writhe in pain, their blood gushing out from their noses, ears and eyes, their skin ripping as their own bones tried to rip themselves free and a tugging sensation all around them being felt. Now he knew why all the outlying tribes had been forced to the city, and led into the middle of the temple square.
The Akkadians were chanting in all drowning shout around them when the perfect darkness of the deep moon fell.

Nothing could ever compensate the horror Khaled felt as his bones began to pull their way out his flesh, as the unimaginable pain was replaced by images of starlit desert of black sand, where wandering souls wailed in wind as they were dying for eternity. The tortured souls hungering for something to lash their desperation at...

Deep down in the tower the chant continued, bolts of  lightning coloured in undescrible colours now flashing out from their hands, directed into the pulsating light deep down.
Sechmed was shouting clear sentences now in unnatural, broken voice.

"We Shall run the rivers dark with the blood of these innocents in your name! We shall create an army of your will from their tormented bones!"

The chant became louder when a pillar of twirling souls that twisted in agony and shouted in pain was shot through the far ceiling, directing straight into the now sickly twisted looking well of souls that seemed to suck the desperate souls down into it, the souls falling deeper and deeper with outstrecthed hands, as if trying to pull themselves back up.

Secmed let out an inhuman wail as the power surged through him, the flow so strong that the the fibers of his being were slowly being ripped apart.

"It is ready! Let the gate be opened!"

The lightning charges flowing from their hands suddenly burst upwards, forming together into a great ball of lightning... And in the ball, could the kingdom of Akkad be seen.
The red light down in the well burst wider and brighter, rendering the whole cave swelling with the sick light.

"The Gate Stands Ready!"

With these words the liches raised their arms over them, and brought them down furiously, The ball of lightning thrust into the swelling and twirling gate.


The sensation felt by the Akkadians above could not easily be described by words, when they saw the sky and stars somehow getting farther away, the wind seemed to be rising from the grounds, bringing ominous wails with it and all kinds glimpsed horrors passing by the sky at blinding speeds.
Suddenly new stars burst on to the sky and the wind brought forward unknown smells that could be smelled only with unaccustomed noses. The place was... Unfamiliar, yet it was the same. The deep moon was rising back to its position.
The time of prayer had ended.

¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤

Deep down in the tower, where the liches were settling in after the passage through dimensions, An ominous shadow lurked behind one of the pillars... It was a middle aged man, not Akkadian, but one of the tribesmen. His name was... Bahad, roughly translated it meant brave and bold.
He had followed the Akkadian military back to the city when they had attacked some of the tribes and rounded up their members. After getting to the city, he had resolved to sneak down into the tower, surpise whoever was in charge in there and take him to hostage with dagger on his neck, and demand the freeing of his people... He had never expected this.

The Akkadians had long since taken up the practice of necromancy, raising and creating undead to serve them to their own needs. They treated regarded these beings as slaves and servants... Little did they know that they were the slaves of the undead.
From what he had knew and thought that Akkadians knew, they were governed over by the four most powerful of the mage organization called "The Magistrates".
But now he saw it... They were liches, ancient mages turning Themselves to undead to preserve their minds and wills on the mortal realms.

He had been here for the whole time... Seeing the whole ritual from beginning to the end, hearing the voices of his people sacrificed to the dark god Sem'seddin that worked through these unholy beings... And now all there was left was revenge. Only that revenge couldnt be served by a valiant sacrifice. He needed to find help.

¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤

As the new day rose after the long night, The merchant's guild of Akkad was a flurry of activity. Under the gold adorned dome of the prosperous building the most wealthiest merchants of the city were holding a meeting.

"Don't be daft Effendi! We won't be finding our old tradepartners anymore! Didnt you look at the stars last night after that Ritual with the foul dogs of the tribes? This place... World, is not the one we were! I request that we send out caravans to see for new traderoutes!"

Some of the lavishly dressed merchants looked skeptic.

"How can you know its just not some sideeffect of the Spell? Surely you realise such a great raising of undead might do something... funny. Besides, sending out caravans might be risky business effendi, the profits are great but so are the losses if they dont find anything!"

The argument went on for a few hours but eventually it was agreed to send out two caravans to seek new traderoutes, To the north, and south.

¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤-¤

So, here's the summary.
I created a group of 50 skeletons as a starting army.
Two merchant caravans send out, seeking any possible trade partners in the world.
And for you organization players, Yes, i have given you a candidate for joining.



│≈≈≈≈♠♠≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠♠♠│ ♠└┐♠♠♠♠& ♠♠ç♠~ç~~  &~~~~~♠♠ ♠♠♠♠└┐♠♠ └──┐≈≈≈≈ ≈♠≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠&#♠└ ┐♠│♠♠#♠○ ♠~~~~~~~  ~~~~~~~~ ~$♠♠♠│♠♠ ♠♠♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠♠♠ │$└┐♠♠♠└ ──┐~&~~~  ?~~~~&~~ ~~♠♠♠└┐♠ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♠?♠♠ │?♠│?~~~ ~~└─┐~~~  ¤↑~~~~~~ ~~$♠♠♠└┐ ♠≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠ │♠♠│~~&~ ~┌─↑Ç#──  ┐~~~~~&~ ~~~♠♠$♠├ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈$♠≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈┐♠ └¤&○~~~~ ┌┘~~↑~~~  └┐≈≈~~~~ ~~~$♠♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈♠└┐ &○⌂⌂⌂~┌─ ┘&~~~~~≈  ≈≈≈≈~~~? ~~~~♠♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈♠♠♠♠└ ○▲▲▲⌂⌂○┐ ~~~ç~~~~  ~≈≈≈≈≈~~ ~&~~$♠♠≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♠≈≈≈≈≈│




            and so...
The Tale of BAHAD, Begins!

Peering at the star through the wooden grid on the window, Bahad made his mind. This could be his only chance to find revenge... The only problem was the daytime in the desert. he would need a camel and lots of water.

A few days later...

Bahad was preparing to leave the city, disguised as an Akkadian with a common desert robe and a large turban. He had had to kill one of the citizens to accuire the regalia, and the camel he was sitting on was stolen, laden with waterskins.
He squinted on the bright star, hovering over the horizon in the north, clearly visible even in day.
He could only wonder why none of the city's inhabitants had seemed to notice it.

Night was just falling, and he would have to move. He needed to make it as far as possible during the night, to avoid traveling in the scorching daytime and be unnoticed by atleast the living patrols along the borders.
He made haste to his readily packed camel and galloped through the darkening streets.
Soon, he was on the gates. A gatewatch came out of the guardpost with two skeletons flanking him.

"Halt! Who're you and why do you want to go into the desert?"

Bahad quickly told him the sentence he had practiced.

"Im one of the merchants of the southern caravan! Mehmed is my name, and by the gods can you let me through?! I need to catch up!"

The guard peered at him suspiciously.

"Hmph. Usually you effendis are never late to profit... Fine, go through, worshipper of coin"

And so, Bahad rode north in to the sunset, following the pale, blue star.

[Poltifar]

Turn 1: Part 1:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

As thunder boomed over the sailing ship's masts,  the ship's deck was brimming with agitation. People ran from bow to stern, from port side to starboard side, shouting at the top of their voices to be heard over the howling winds. People slammed into each other, into the masts, the sides, people tried to fix this, but something on the other side broke and smashed into the hull. In all that utter chaos, nothing seemed to be accoplished, and the ship's crew were starting to panic.

"Fools," muttered Poltifar. Standing on the furthest point of the ship's bow, and in complete balance, never shifting whatever the storm threw at him, however the ship rocked and shook. Staring straight ahead into the raging sea, he needn't even look back to know the deck was in great commotion. Well, he hadn't fought the Klang Empire against all odds, and then sailed through a seeming unnending sea, just to be smashed against a damned rock in this pathetic storm.

Suddenly, seeing a looming shadow to his left, Poltifar called out, "Ernest, large reef off port bow. You know what to do."

Ernest Windwalker, the air mage of the party, barely skidding to a stop from his running spree, called out, "I do?!?"

"Dammit! Just summon a wind barrier you idiot!"

And at the last moment before the boat hit the reef, Ernest made the few fast gestured and murmured an incantation that sollidified the air to port side into the consistency of jelly, and then shaped it into a bowl to protect the ship and turn it away from the reef.

Still muttering curses from  his standing point on the bow, Poltifar still looked ahead, waiting for any signs of land. Instead, a huge shadow, bigger than the one of the reef appeared. "Oh great. Its just MY luck. A giant stone smack in the middle of the ocean, and right in our way. Hmm, maybe I should just let this forsaken boat slam into it. I could easily continue my journey afoot..."

"Afoot? In the middle of a storming sea?!" cried Ernest, "and what about the rest of us???"

"Yes, I guess I can't waste you people yet. You might still turn out useful. Then I'll have to do this the easy way."

Finally shifting from his position, Poltifar gestured an elaborate and confusing gesture, while incanting, in a voice seeming distant and yet booming, clearly hearable even through the storm, echoing through the night, "Fire of the heavenly sun, Water of the ocean depths, Wind of the raging storm, Earth of the ancient mountains... Elements of the one Creation, binded by my will, come forth and bring destruction, and let Chaos reign!"

An otherworldy ripple sprung forth from his extended hand, seeming to twist and bend the world all around the ship, and when it hit the huge boulder, it seemed to shake and twist, to be ripped apart by the wind, to fall to pieces, to melt into magma, to be swallowed by giant waves... All of these effects and more brought down the boulder, yet none of them did. All of them shattered the rock, all at ounce yet individually. That is how an observer saw the effects, impossible to understand and to describe.

The ripples didn't only affect the stone. The bow of the ship, and other parts of it, also bended and twisted, and the sound of wood cracking mangled with the sounds of the storm and that of the breaking stone. Yet Poltifar still stared ahead, his hand extended, and laughing maniacally. The world seemed to shift, and suddenly, the ship smashed into land, till now unseen in the storm...

∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=

The next day,  the temporary camp made were the ship had landed was buzzing with activity. Poltifar was overseeing it all, and at the same time thinking of what he was to do. This seemed the perfect place to start a civilization independant from the now far Klang Empire, yet only one ship had survived. Atleast this ship had all the greatest and most powerful members of the Renegades. Other than that, they also needed to know the layout of the land, and also wether there were any other sentient creatures nearby. He couldn't afford to lose any member of the group, so he couldn't send out scouts just yet, instead he ordered the construcion of temporary watch posts that could see far away from high in the the treetops, and asked all mages that had any power in divination to use it, although they were few and there power in that school of magic limited.

"Hey," said Seandar Ironfist, the old and battle-scared swordmaster of the group, "Its no time to be daydreamin' now, Polti. Being the leader doesn't make you excluded from the work."

"Stop calling me that," Said Poltifar absently, "And besides who are you to tell ME what to do?"

"Ha, that attitude of yours is gotta change if you want to be a truly great leader, ya know."

"I never asked to be anyone's leader. All I want is power, and magical knowledge and artifacts. If I couldn't use you buffoons to further my end, I'd have abandoned you all long ago."

"Well, if getting rid of us is what you wanted, you almost managed it when you used that spell of yours in that storm. I'm no mage and all, but I'm sure that that spell was a bit overkill for a single boulder. You should definitely be more careful from now on."

But Poltifar wasn't listening anymore. He had felt something different since using that spell, something strange in the flow of magic. Now he knew. His spell, combined with the natural powers unleashed by the storm, had shifted them all into another reality, another world. Atleast there was no fear of being followed by the Empire here. Even better, he could feel strong magic in this new world. Powerful new magic, that would soon be his to command. Poltifar silently chuckled.



│40                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈─┬┘♣ ♣♣┌┘⌂♣♣♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣&♣♣  ♣♣♣?≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈≈♣♣⌂▲$♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈♣│♣♣ ♣♣│♣♣♣$♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.♣♣$♣♣  ♣&♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣⌂▲⌂♣♣ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈┘♣♣ ♣♣│⌂♣♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.?♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣≈≈≈ ≈──○⌂♣♣≈ ≈≈$♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣$♣ ♣♣≈≈¤♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈.#♣♣♣  ♣$♣♣♣?≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣$▲○─≈≈ ≈♣⌂≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ .≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈.&♣  ♣♣♣♣♣.≈≈ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈ ≈♣⌂⌂♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ ♣..≈≈♣♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣&♣♣..≈ ≈.♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈┌○♣♣≈≈≈ ≈♣≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣│♣♣♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣♣.. .♣♣$♣≈≈≈ ─┘♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣└┐♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣  ♣≈≈≈≈♣.. .○⌂♣♣≈≈≈ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│48                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣$♣♣│.≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈r  ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. ┌┘♣.≈≈≈≈ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣└≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. │..≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣.≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈. │.≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~~≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣.≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈~ √#√~≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣$♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈..$ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈~ √√√~≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. .│≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ¤≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~~≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ .○⌂¤≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠ ┌┘♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈$♠┌ ┘♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│56                                                                      │


Members of the Renegades:

-Poltifar Chaoswielder: Master of all arcane secrets known to the Renegades and some not, he is one of the most powerful mages of his race that has ever lived. The leader of the organization. 17 years old (atleast, in appearance...)
-Seandar Ironfist: A grizzled old warrior, favoring the greatsword. He has lived through many battles and campaigns, and thus has alot of experience. 49 years old.
-Jonil Truestrike: Seandar's young son, and an already well-trained user of the greatsword, as his father is. 17 years old.
-Emily Dawnbow: A very skilled bow-user, also dables in the arcane arts, allowing her to shoot magically enhanced amunition. 16 years old.
-Terna Farstrider: An experienced explorer, having seen alot of the old continent and wanting to explore the new one even more thouroughly. Experienced with the bow and spear. 27 years old.
-Ernest Windwalker: A daydreaming scholar who has great power in the wind and weather domains. 25 years old.
-Klin Diceking: A merry rogue and gambler with incredible luck and great skill in stealth and light weapons. 21 years old.
-Farn Earthmover: A stubborn yet sympathetic earth-wielding mage, also a good fighter when using the hammer and axe. 24 years old.
-Inglan Steelshaper: A young magesmith who still hasn't really proven himself. 19 years old.

The rest: I wanted to flesh-out all members and give them all names now, but I will only give their profession and develop their characters during the game as they are needed. But consider them all as powerful as the ones above.:

-1 medic/healer
-2 swordsman
-1 spearman
-1 crossbowman/hunter
-1 builder/architect
-1 scholar/philosopher
-1 ice mage
-1 fire mage
-1 enchanter/diviner/spirit mage

((EDIT: since i seem to have caused some confusion, let me explain: "he ordered the construcion of temporary watch posts that could see far away from high in the the treetops, and asked all mages that had any power in divination to use it" basically means that i am exploring withought sending scouts, using divination magic to 'divine' stuff about our surroundings, and also by climbing on top of the tall trees of the forest and looking around from the top. that way, next turn i will have an idea of what lies ahead, including runes and maybe other nearby civilizations))

∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=∞=

Turn 1: Part 2:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

A few weeks pass, and the only thing of notice for the Renegades is a passing storm, probably the remainder of the storm that had brought them there. The storm doesn't affect them much, only blows some tents away and uproots some trees. Also, the mages sense a weak power moving off the cost towards the east during the second week, but it doesn't get close enough to identify. Nothing that might make any significant problem.

"Well, it has been five weeks," said Poltifar in a overly calm, slow, warm voice, which seemed very out of place, "What have you uncovered of our surroundings?"

"Nothing much," replied the group's diviner, Anna Dreamweaver. "Just... just a few feelings... you know... an idea of what could wait for us out there."

"Do tell," said Poltifar with a smile so large it seemed to split his face into two."

"There seems to be... ruins of some kind. Or structures. I'm not sure how they were left here, or who left them, but they all seem to be hiding something of some kind. One that is close to the north-east has a weak feeling of treasure of some kind. one a bit farther, north, gives a VERY strong feeling of, um... Not good. And... power. Alot of it." She takes a deep breath. "Farther north, there seems to be a location of some kind... I feel there is a lizard. And fire. Surrounded by gold. East of that, near a body of water, I sense... weirdness, and also something bordering insanity. Even the very fabric of space and time seems to shift and break around that place."

"That's all," asked Poltifar in a completely expressionless voice.

After a shy nod from Anna, Poltifar shouted "Aha! I knew!" He started pacing back and forth, muttering to himself very quickly, "I knew there was power. And treasure. Alot of treasure. Power AND treasure, maybe even both together! Or not! and a lizard! a lizard could be useful, yes, yes. And the fire with it, why fire with lizard and gold? Oh yes, gold, gold!!! Maybe the lizard eats gold? Ofcourse! That's why there is fire. A a stove to heat the gold for the lizard to eat! We can't go on eating cold gold, no no, bad for your health it is. So we must steal the gold AND the stove. Maybe its a golden stove..."

As Poltifar kept babbling his nonsense, Terna jumped down from a nearby tree. "It seems Poltifar is a bit... busy to hear my report, so I'll give it to you, Anna, and you can pass it on later."
"O.. Ok..."
"Oh sure," said Klin the rogue as he stepped out from a nearby corner, "too afraid of the insane boss to give to him yourself, are we Terna? And I thought explorers were courageous."
"I heard that," said Poltifar before continuing his pacing and mutterings.
Casting a sullen look at Klin, Terna said "Well, since he seems attentive to us even now, I'll just say it. There are some large structures north of here, so far away our watchers have barely seen the tips of towers. They are very high towers, too, and seem to be made of old, rusted iron. Just though you might want to know Polti."

"YES! AND DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Exclaimed Poltifar in a gleeful voice, before continuing in his usual, far-away, expressionless voice, "We will definitely need to explore all these natural and artificial occurences and structures. What we find there will definitely be useful in hard times to come. Start the preparations, we leave in a week's time. I'm not sure yet to which we will go, and how many of us will go to each, but all that can be decided later. For now, I have my own... preperations... to make"
Suddenly uttering a maniacal laugh before again seeming completely unruffled and distant, Poltifar moves into the forest, drawing his longsword.

*Poltifar has begun some mysterious constructions*


│40                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈─┬┘♣ ♣♣┌┘⌂♣♣♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣♣&♣♣  ♣♣♣?≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈≈♣♣⌂▲$♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈♣│♣♣ ♣♣│♣♣♣$♣ ♣♣♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.♣♣$♣♣  ♣&♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣⌂▲⌂♣♣ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈┘♣♣ ♣♣│⌂♣♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈.?♣♣♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈♣≈≈≈ ≈──○⌂♣♣≈ ≈≈$♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣$♣ ♣♣≈≈¤♣♣♣ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈.#♣♣♣  ♣$♣♣♣?≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣$▲○─≈≈ ≈♣⌂≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ .≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈.&♣  ♣♣♣♣♣.≈≈ ≈≈≈♣≈≈≈≈ ≈♣⌂⌂♣♣≈≈ ≈♣♣≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣♣ ♣..≈≈♣♣♣ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣&♣♣..≈ ≈.♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈┌○♣♣≈≈≈ ≈♣≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣│♣♣♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣  ♣♣♣♣♣♣.. .♣♣$♣≈≈≈ ─┘♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ♣♣♣♣└┐♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣  ♣≈≈≈≈♣.. .○⌂♣♣≈≈≈ ♣♣≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│48                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣♣$♣♣│.≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈r  ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. ┌┘♣.≈≈≈≈ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣└≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. │..≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣♣.≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈. │.≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~~≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣.≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈~ √#√~≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣$♣≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈..$ ♣≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈~ √√√~≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈♣♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈.. .│≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ¤≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ~~~≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♣♣≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ .○⌂¤≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈≈♠♠ ┌┘♠≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈♣≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈  ≈≈≈≈≈$♠┌ ┘♠♠♠≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈│
│56                                                                      │


Members of the Renegades:
(I've fleshed out some more of them)

-Poltifar Chaoswielder: Master of all arcane secrets known to the Renegades and some not, he is one of the most powerful mages of his race that has ever lived. Very powerful melee and ranged warriormage, using melee weapon (normally longsword) in unison with magic. The leader of the organization. 17 years old (atleast, in appearance...)
-Seandar Ironfist: A grizzled old warrior, favoring the greatsword. He has lived through many battles and campaigns, and thus has alot of experience. 49 years old.
-Jonil Truestrike: Seandar's young son, and an already well-trained user of the greatsword, as his father is. 17 years old.
-Emily Dawnbow: A very skilled bow-user, also dables in the arcane arts, allowing her to shoot magically enhanced amunition. 16 years old.
-Terna Farstrider: An experienced explorer, having seen alot of the old continent and wanting to explore the new one even more thouroughly. Experienced with the bow and spear. 27 years old.
-Ernest Windwalker: A daydreaming scholar who has great power in the wind and weather domains. 25 years old.
-Klin Diceking: A merry rogue and gambler with incredible luck and great skill in stealth and light weapons. 21 years old.
-Farn Earthmover: A stubborn yet sympathetic earth-wielding mage, also a good fighter when using the hammer and axe. 24 years old.
-Inglan Steelshaper: A young magesmith who still hasn't really proven himself. 19 years old.
-Anna Dreamweaver: A spirit mage with a wide array of spells and power, yet most are non-offensive. Also, a diviner and has some powers over dreams. 20 years old.
-Godroy Fireheart: The group's pyromancer, has a quick temper yet is very charismatic. Very powerful in offensive fire magic, but not much else. 25 years old.

The rest: I wanted to flesh-out all members and give them all names now, but I will only give their profession and develop their characters during the game as they are needed. But consider them all as powerful as the ones above.:

-1 medic/healer
-2 swordsman
-1 spearman
-1 crossbowman/hunter
-1 builder/architect
-1 scholar/philosopher
-1 ice mage

[AlanL]

Code: [Select]

         /                         \                  || //
/\/\/\/\|   The Forests of (59,23)  |/\/\/\/\      000|| |/
 |.|,|.| \    Near the Waterfall   / |,|,|.| __000()()/-///

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Rolitokovo ascended, and looked around. This seemed a rather pleasant place... a bit on the cold side but still quite inhabitable. He noticed 3 natural formations on the terrain nearby, though the details were hard to discern from here. Normally he would go have a look himself but... that would probably be 'cheating' here. Cheating might have dire consequences for all Anqip...

When the townsfolk ascended the hill, carrying lumber up to the top of the waterfall, they spotted Rolitokovo in his avatar sitting on a rock near the edge. Rolitokovo smiled, "Greetings, people!" There was a murmur as they set their materials down and formed an audience. "With a new world comes new challenges!... I didn't think that would be so literal here. I'll be streightforward, the land you are standing on is part of a board for a game of Tacticus." The crowd seemed slightly confused, one digging his claws into the ground to see if the dirt was real. Rolitokovo continued, "In practice this means there are other gods with other intentions commanding other peoples in this world! But it seems we are alone on this continent island, so we have plenty of time to build a nation anew upon it. So, what do you think of it?" A discussion commenced... it turned into a quite positive discussion. Despite the context of 'game', the idea of meeting new cultures was exciting, and building a great nation anew in such a beautiful and cosy place did seem like quite a good deal.

After a bit of discussion, Rolitokovo got to the caves, "There are also 3 natural features, one immediately to the southwest, one far to the west near the southmost point of the island, and one far to the north among some taiga between a spring and a mountain. Not even I know what's in them, but I'm sure quite a few of us would like to find out." Two in the back of the crowd, wearing large backpacks, immediately high fived. Rolitokovo smiled, "I suppose I should go find out who else is involved in this! If I can't make it back in person, I'll leave notes on your town postboard... assuming you get one up soon that is. Thank you all, and good luck!" A feeling of some sort of odd mission being played out fell upon the crowd... After a brief bidding fairwell, Rolitokovo's material avatar vanished as he departed the realm.

Code: [Select]

        ____-----____
       /             \
      /               \
|||-|-|-||-||-||-||-||-|-|-|||
============================== The Game Room
A fog drifts off the board, and descends to the floor behind a chair, getting denser until finally, a green Anqip with yellowish eyes materializes. Rolitokovo looks around, "Wow, nice place you got here! Hey guys!" He smiles, and takes a seat.

-----------------------------------------
()2 weeks pass upon the world's surface()
-----------------------------------------

During this time...

^^\\0\\.,,.D.,..,aa.,//^^^

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The 2 Anqip that had been so eager to leave spot a cave opening not that far away from the town. Upon closer inspection, they peer inside, and find the cave is full of gold and shimmering gems! What luck! Only a couple weeks spent on this new world and they're already rich beyond their wildest dreams! They hug eachother... then hear a loud crunch! Looking back in the cave, they see a shadow move... a relatively small, green dragon emerges, young and actually kind of cute in a way. He sits in front of the cave, yawning. A dragon... beings of nearly divine wisdom, beings of awesome power. The two Anqip kneel before the dragon in a gesture of respect, "We apologize if we have intruded..." The green dragon notices them, gets up, and approaches. The two explorers continue, "We are new to this land, and seek resources and wisdom to aid us. We have yet to get proper bearings really! As a humble request, are you willing to share your eternal knowledge with us?" The green dragon licks his lips. The two look up to see a large open mouth. CHOMP! The dragon bit the heads off both explorers before either could really get away.

After a brief feast, the green dragon growing in size a little, an enormous red dragon emerges to see what the ruckus is. The green dragon walks back to his mother, licking his lips, then nuzzles against her affectionately. She smiles, and thinks, 'Wisdom? A bit of wisdom for ye explorers, never kneel before a predator larger than you are!' They both walk back into the cave. Just before the young dragon enters, he notices the explorer's footsteps lead northeast...

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Code: [Select]

B      B B
      (*)       B
  --       --- 
  || |   ||| | |
a ==== a ======= a a
..,.,,,.,.,,,.,.,.,.. The partially built town of Kavla Niti

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Traga notices the musketeer she's chatting with is looking off to the sourhwestern skies. She looks herself, and spots a green speck on the horizon, "I'm gettin' a bit worried about 'em. They aught've been back a while ago now." "Maybe they got stuck in the cave or something?" "I sure hope not!" "Well we could always send a crew to fish them out you know." "I sure hope they stocked up on their food if that's the case."

The green speck reveals itself to be an approaching dragon. "What th'ell is that?" "Well that's not a bird..." "Looks like... a dragon?" The dragon circles the outskirts of town. Traga stands along with a few around. The musketeer speaks, "So... we know what happened to them then?" Traga replies, "Don't jump to conclusions, we'll let him land then hear him out. Bring your guns to be safe, but try to keep a peaceful posture!"

They exit the partially made building. Traga brought her cannon out, but held it down. By now everyone has stopped what they were doing to watch their winged guest. Said winged guest dove streight at a worker, snatching him up before he could jump out of the way. The worker screamed out in pain as the dragon ascended, circling around the town once again. Traga shouted, "You three, guard the center!" As they moved to the middle of town, she raised her cannon, gesturing for the rest to follow her. She led them to the outskirts of town, circling the town in the opposite direction of the dragon. Meanwhile the unarmed townsfolk took shelter wherever they could.

When the dragon circled straight south, he continued on in a straight line. Traga commanded her troops to stop and hold... firing at it with a regular musket at this angle was pointless. Any musketball that actually managed to strike the beast would likely glance away from its thick scales! So, Traga moved behind a wooden sill, crouching with her cannon braced against it. As the dragon flew off, she lit the fuse and aimed carefully at the dragon's soft underbelly, aiming up and leading the target. KaBAM! A plume of smoke and flame shot out, the wood of the sill cracking slightly. The cannonball sailed through the air in an arc. THWACK! It struck the dragon in the leg, glancing away but breaking the bone within! The young dragon let out a brief roar of pain, dropping the corpse. Noticing its meal had gotten loose, the dragon descended, landing in the forest. Traga and her troops snuck into the woods, approaching the dragon.

She crouched low, gesturing for half the musketeers following her to sneak around behind the dragon while she snuck in front. She reloaded her cannon as she moved. As they got into position, she saw the dragon devour the last bit of the corpse... the dragon seemed to grow quite suddenly, and heal spontaneously as well. In the end it was as if he were never even struck! Upon getting into position, she gestures to her troops... aim for the eyes. She herself would aim for the heart. The dragon spread his wings, though just as he was about to take off, he spotted Traga emerging from behind cover, crouched down with the cannon under her arm, the fuse lit.

"FIRE!"

A brief but thundrous series of cracks ensued as the few musketeers all fired at once, piercing the dragon's eyes. The dragon roared in pain, "RAAA-"

KaBAM!

The kick of her cannon pushed her back into a half-standing position, the cannon pointing up, the claws of her feet leaving a short rut in the ground.

The cannonball struck, piercing through. A torrent of blood shot out of the wound! The dragon gasped, gagged with teary eyes, curled up... then the rush of blood slowly stopped. Silently, everyone approached. Immediately a roaring cheer is let loose! One less threat in the world to worry about! Discussions were already underway as to what to do with the dragon's corpse... perhaps make the hide into a rug? Such a thing deserves proud display, right by the town center! The cheer was short lived though... silence retook them, for buried within the dragon's corpse was the remains of a friend.

A distant but unimaginable shriek of sorrow and despair filled the air, echoing off of trees and mountains! It came from the direction of the cave...

Everyone was dead silent for a few moments... "That was... the little one, wasn't he?"

After a brief discussion, it was agreed to move the corpse away from the town... with a little luck it would at least give them time to prepare... though some felt that this spelt doom.

-----------------------------------------
()4 weeks pass upon the world's surface()
-----------------------------------------
During this time...

Code: [Select]

   B      BB B
     B      BBB
           BB
/\/\       /\ /\/\
 | |*.,aa.*|**|*|*   A natural oddity to the south...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"What the hell..."

"There ain't nothin' here but trees an' f*ckin' webs!"

"..."

"...."

"Tell the weavers? They say spider web is strong thread."

"... Alright, let's get a sample and get it back to 'em."

After gathering a bit of thread...

"Don't get yourself stuck."

Eventually, an enormous, truly monstrous, man-eating spider emerges out of the trees, hissing loudly.

"Erm, right! That-a-way then!"

They back off, "Damn!"

The two unarmed explorers flee. The giant forest spider stays behind.

"I don't think I'm coming this way for a while..."

"I am! Hah, imagine Traga ridin' one of them critters!"

--------------------------------------------------------------

A little later...

(*)
 
 /\
.,|.,aa.________  A patch of land far to the north with nothing but hard stone, where everything that enters, magically falls up.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The field sucked in air quite rapidly... the air inside of it fell up, went undoubtably very high, then fell down upon exiting, creating an extraordinarily tall convection current.

*SNEEZE*

"Bless ya!"

The frontmost sighs, a bit of fog trailing from his mouth.

"So, how do you think it works?"

"Umm... magic?"

"Indeed. Well, it looks like nothing around is being poisoned by it. Perhaps it is safe?"

"I dunno, let's ask when we get back."

The frontmost seems lost in thought for a few moments.

"I suppose, though this might be quite useful..."

He picks up a rock, puts it half in the field, and half outside the field. The rock floats in air, spinning rapidly. He catches it, and feels the torque on both the rock and his hands that the edge of the field causes.

"Here we have a means to construct perhaps a water wheel that needs no water."

"Well..." She notices the torque it produces, "Say, that's not a half bad idea! Maybe we can mark this place for a settlement some day?"

"I would suggest so! Now let us return, the town must hear of this."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

During this month, the citizens of Kavla Niti worked day and night to fortify the town against the impending attack... or as some felt, their impending doom.

A sign of great luck, quarriers struck hematite as well as several other needed minerals in the mountains!

A simple metal works was set up while quarried stone was processed to make shelters. A simple stone-and-wood watch tower was put up over the town center to keep an eye out for anything approaching. Traga took station up on top, the extra height hopefully yielding a better range.

The crude stone igloos would not take much of a beating, but at least they were effectively fireproof.

Only near the end of this period was there time to forge new muskets and bullets, but even then, only a small ragtag squad could be put together.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Mere minutes until midnight, the very last of the first 6 weeks.

Code: [Select]

  |a__|
   \ /      ==.    ==.
   | |                    ==
,./_0_\.|-=-=-=|.,,,.,.,.===0  The Town of Kavla Niti, bunkered down and as ready as it'll get.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Traga sat atop the watch tower... though there wasn't much of a point now. Night had fallen with a new moon. Everything was pitch black.

Earlier, enough saltpeter and coal had been dug up to make three kegs of 'powder on standby... generally these kegs were used for weapons or special mining purposes only, as gunpowder is not cheap, but drastic times call for drastic measures. A plan was made. If the westward candle is lit, the kegs are to be moved into the forest to the west and hidden, fire archers on the ready to set them off. The kegs were already placed near the edge of town... no need for a dragon's flame to detonate them early. At least in this pitch black the dragon would have a hard time spotting them. The northern candle was an alarm. Those with stone shelters are to retreat into their shelters, or flee, whichever they choose. Those without must flee into the forest. Those with guns use shelters as terrain shields. They would not stay there for long most likely... no need to needlessly risk those within the shelters.

Several minutes pass.

Traga felt rather like falling asleep... It was exactly midnight. It was cloudy above, not a thing could be seen. Just as she felt herself nodding off a bit, Traga was snapped back awake by a deafening roar... from straight above. Not from east or west but directly overhead. She immediately lights both the north and west candles, the lookouts on the ground recognizing this and getting people to action. Traga realizes... she's standing right on top a kill zone! In fact, likely the very plank she was standing on was about to be reduced to ash. Seeing as she was still alive, and therefore in some way still had a chance, she grabbed her cannon and hopped down the tower, letting herself slide down the ladder, breaking a couple rungs to slow her descent. She dove under a stone shield on the bottom. At the same time, a team of 6 rushed the kegs to the west, into the forest. Troops took stations, crouching behind the stone shelters...

The dragon, nearly a full 70 meters long with glowing red eyes, swooped down from above, and opened it's mouth.

The next thing Traga saw was pure yellow... then pure white. She immediately shielded her eyes. Those who escaped saw the entire town glow red and yellow with flame as the dragon breathed down an unspeakably intense flame! Traga felt herself heating up... she was shielded from the flame but the rays alone were burning with heat! Oddly, she hardly heard a thing. When the flame stopped... she emerged from the shield. Only the stone and metal bits remained of the watch tower... yet she was OK. Her ears were ringing.

All around her, anything flammable was aflame. Wood near the center of town was engulfed. Major parts of the rest of the town were alight... doubtless any building not made entirely out of stone would be leveled if this went on... luckily, those inside buildings were inside stone igloos. Meanwhile, exiting the city, the group hauling the kegs barely escaped a rather explosive end! One shouted his keg was on fire, though luckily the next was there to douse it with water from her waterskin. A sigh of relief, and they all continued westward into the woods. Three soldiers, not completely shielded were killed. Fifteen remained alive. The shelters, as planned, had taken the blast for them.

Traga opened the door, its hot metal handle stinging her hand through the armor. "Westward, NOW!" The musketeers changed positions, grouping to the west side of town. The ground shook with thundering force as the dragon landed hard right over the remains of the watch tower, its bulk crusing what was now flaming skeletons of buildings all around. Traga looked up... the enormous fire-breathing creature had landed... right, above her. Seeing as this might be the only chance she would ever have, she braced her cannon against the ground, aiming straight up into the dragon's chest. She lit the fuse, and a moment later, smoke and sparks shot out... the report of the gun only made her ears ring more.

Taking this as a signal, the musketeers emerge and fire a volley all at once before moving westward in an attempt to draw the dragon west, or at least get themselves into a better position. Meanwhile, the kegs were laid down in ruts on a ridge, and partially buried under dirt. One among them had a bow and a couple fire arrows. She stabbed the center keg with a dagger, letting some of the powder leak out onto the ground. She then hid herself behind a tree, the rest of the crew taking shelter. She held her bow and arrow, some flint and iron in her lap.

As the musketeers moved west, one of the slower ones, trailing behind the crowd, was spotted before he could make it to the forest. The dragon breathed a concentrated flame on that one troop. Immediately there was an explosion, followed by a brief scream as leather and skin were burned, melted, and in some parts vaporized. The immensely bright flame blocked all view. When the flame stopped, a charred black figure fell to its knees, then fell face first into the dirt, laying next to a twisted, red-hot metal tube.

A torrent of blood flowed down like a red waterfall from the dragon's chest, knocking Traga over and washing her away from the ruined tower. Her suit was steaming a bit, hot to the touch! It had saved her from getting incinerated back there... As she got back to her feet, the dragon tumbled back, leveling more buildings and caving in a stone shelter. The inhabitant of the shelter was knocked unconscious.

Traga stood, looking at the fallen dragon... that was, anticlimactically easy she thought. No, she realized, the dragon was still moving. The dragon growled, and stood... the would directly to it's heart closed up, as if it had never been struck. There was only one solution, she thought. She alone would have to lead the dragon west to the kegs. As the dragon stood and looked directly at her, she thought, it also meant she had to survive long enough to get there herself.

She moved west, the dragon following. That poor troop... Traga knew she would share his fate if she did not hurry. Indeed, she moved behind a stone shelter which she believed was empty, putting it between herself and the dragon. The dragon breathed a blinding blast of flame! Traga looked behind herself to see flame fanning out in all directions, seeming to surround her, but not strike her. The shelter began to glow with heat. When the flame ceased, the stone immediately exposed to the flame was red hot, some slightly molten, dripping down.

Just as the dragon was about to breath flame again, Traga dove into the forest, keeping low to the ground behind a tree. The forest around her was incinerated, trees set alight all around! She knew she had no time to reload here, and would have to drop some weight to make it in time... alas, this was probably her last act anyway. At least she could leave her cannon, saving it for those who wish to remember her. She dropped it, and as she scrambled back up, she drew her halberd. The dragon was forced to fly low to maintain line of sight with Traga as she made her way into the denser forest.

Meanwhile, the bowman by the kegs, seeing flame approaching, lights her arrow, and readies it in her bow, aiming at the spilt powder. The musketeers approached. The dragon was behind them, but so was Traga!

Traga ran as fast as she could as a constant stream of flame turned the land behind her to a charred crisp. The dragon swooped forth, the edge of the flame approaching. The musketeers gathered in the forest around the kegs. The flame ceased. Traga was finally near the kegs! She looked back to see the dragon swooping in to bite her in half. That moment, she leapt off of the ridge. While airborn herself, she threw her halberd into the airborn dragon's mouth. Traga fell to the ground below. The dragon smacked down skidding onto the kegs.

The dragon gakked and gurgled, trying to cry out in pain, its mouth filling with blood. The dragon tried to breathe flame, finally able to strike Traga directly, but all that came out was boiling blood. Traga saw a flaming arrow whiz by her head.

!!BOOOOM!!

The entire ridge was blasted open! Scorched soil trailed upwards, the dragon blasted back onto her hind legs. The thundrous explosion echoed between the trees, a ball of flame trailing skyward, leaving a trail of smoke beneath.

The two explorers, returning from the north, witnessed the fires, witness the fireball, and several seconds after seeing it, heard a double-thud. "It seems we are missing the party!" They rush toward town. They had to defend it some way!

Meanwhile. Traga slowly got to her feet... one of her legs was hurt a bit by the blast. The dragon had fallen onto it's side, and now lay curled up in a ball, slowly succumbing to blood loss and pain.

Everyone stood quiet.

Traga felt her armor stinging against her, and taking her helmet off, got to work cooling the plate off.

After a few minutes, people begun to talk to eachother. Just as they begun, they stopped. The dragon opened her eyes, her eyes glowing with a hatred a mother could only hold for the one who killed her son. The dragon stood... she was completely healed. Under the light of flame, the dragon began to approach Traga. They felt it. Doomed. All of them. But at least the troops' muskets were still loaded. They fired their row at the dragon! The musket balls glancing away. The dragon just ignored them, and kept heading right to Traga.

Traga noticed the halberd was still stuck in the dragon's throat. She decided to move uphill to gain altitude, but she had dallied too long pondering the impossible situation at hand. The dragon lunged forward at her. The next thing she knew, all was pitch black, and rather slimy. She was inside the dragon's mouth! The dragon then promptly swallowed her...

She felt a handle hit her leg. She grabbed hold of her halberd on the way down, digging it in and tearing the dragon's guts open as she fell in. The dragon rose up, screaming out with rage and pain!

Traga struck down in the pitch black to stop herself. Fluids from torn organs spilt down all over the place. One of them smelled like a very strong oil. She felt fear for a moment, but put that away. In all likelihood she was dead anyway. Traga yells out and hacks around, slicing open whatever she can as she tries to dig her way to the dragon's heart. The fluids eat away at everything, corroding her armor. Traga is engulfed in a stinging sensation that grows until she herself is overcome with pain.

The dragon twists and thrashes aroudn in incredible pain, trying to take flight but instead ust crashing right back down to the ground!

This seemed almost a fitting introduction to hell for Traga... she held on, immersed in the dragon's guts and blood, her skin corroded away by stomach acid. Her mouth was sull of the gore, the blood of the dragon seeping into her body through non-existent skin. Well, this was the end, she thought. If the flame goo can decimate a town in one breath, then one could only imagine what would happen if it were all set off at once. Traga would've smiled at the thought, if she were capable. She took out her remaining powder charge. Lickily the container hadn't gotten hot enough for it to go off. She took it out, and stuffed it into the hole she made, forcing herself to move despite the immense pain. She stuffed it in with a bit of fire goo, lit the fuse, then let go, letting herself fall into the pool of guts. It was as if in that moment all of the dragon's pain shot into her. She curled up into a tight ball, then all went white!

--------------

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The Anqip, knocked out by his collapsing shelter, slowly came to to. He excavated himself from the rubble, and slowly stood, holding a small support rod in his hands. Birds all around sang for a few moments, then the singing stopped. There was nothing but silence. A distant thud came from all directions as a blinding flash filled the sky. He grunted, shielding his eyes. The radiant heat stung him, vapor rising up from his clothes!

The glow slowly diminished. He looked west to see what appeared to be a sunrise, trees nearby the 'rising sun' set on fire by radiant heat. A dull rumble could be heard. A spherical shell expanded outward, becoming invisible after a bit, the glow in the center expanding out and dimming slightly.

A wave seemed to disturb trees as it zipped across the land toward him. He dropped the rod, standing as still as a statue. As the wave swept by him, he felt it pass through him. The dull roar was interrupted by a distant but powerful explosion that seemed to sound from all directions. A cloud of dust rose slightly from the ground.

He looked onward. Near the center, winds once blowing everything outward reversed, sucking leaves and debris back inward as the fireball rose upwards, leaving a column of flame below it. All around, a dull but powerful rumble reverberated among the trees and ruins.

--------------

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

"Well, I suppose that means we're the last Anqip?" "Shut up!" The two returning explorers looked upon the mushroom cloud and ruined city. Nobody seemed to be alive anywhere.

Indeed, every single soldier was reduced to charred remains.

Where the dragon once stood, there was now a large, pitch-black skeleton, smoking a bit, half-embedded in glassified, craterized terrain. The area around it was reduced to wasteland.

"It is no good, no good at all."

"No worries bud, not the first time the world has ended!" He chuckles and whistles a happy tune, keeping his mind off it all.

As they approached what appeared to be ruins, they heard a rushing sound. "What th-"

Ka-POOF!

"HEY!"

They were both knocked back into the dirt, bits of soil raining down. They stood. Holding their torch forward, they noticed the char-black, curled up mummy-like form, resting within a small crater. The two look at eachother, then look down at it. The charred, twisted form slowly unravels with a crackling sound. Unsure of what this is, they back off. Something seems to be present within the baked exterior. He walked up, and holding his hand out to touch whatever it is, notices it still seems to be, breathing? Gravely injured, but still alive.

"Ho-ly sh*t!"

A few moments pass.

"Lets move whoever it is back to town."

They lift the form up, hauling it back.

"How the hell?"

"I have no idea whatsoever!"

A while later...

They walk into town, finding that if anything more than a foundation remained of a wooden building, it was a charred frame. The only buildings seeming to still stand were the shelters. The explorers noticed that oddly, within one building, reduced to a charred frame, a table with a cup of tea on it remained entirely unscathed inside, everything around it turned to ash. They put together a makeshift bed near it, setting down whoever they rescued upon it, leaving to search the shelters afterwards.

They happened upon an Anqip, sitting near a ruined shelter, looking ahead.

"Another survivor? You ok?"

"That... was a little too real. It reminds me of the twilight... I don't like it!"

They sighed in agreement.

When morning rose, the rising sun shone through dusty skies, illuminating the charred skeletons of buildings in an orangish red. Those who fled into the woods came back unscathed, and those who stayed in shelters emerged OK. These preparations saved most of the town's inhabitants, albiet most of the town itself was no more. 21 were dead, none of the military remained.

Checking up on the person they rescued, the explorers found she had chipped away some of the baked shell... "Traga?" She had healed surprisingly well... overnight? The explorer looked back, "It's Traga, she's alive!" They faintly heard her soft voice, "A little... request?" Immediately he responded, "What do you need? I don't know where our medic is!" "No, food please. I'm hungry enough to eat a cow!" "Alright, we sent someone out to hunt some deer, heh, you'll be first to get a slice!" "Thanks, and bring the rest of the deer too." He was quite surprised... the whole situation seemed absurd in the first place. Well, an order was an order!

Most of the town survived, and even though buildings were burnt to a crisp... at least buildings could be rebuilt. Unfortunately, that day, artifacts from the old world were lost or ruined forever. At least they still had their lives, and perhaps would one day forge new artifacts. At the time being, most were concerned simply with surviving in this new world.

[][][]

Anqipians:

Town: Kavla Niti (59,23)

Population: 82

Pop Cap: 765

Task: Rebuilding the town...

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

│16                                                                      │
│≈≈≈≈≈≈'' '''''⌂⌂▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲  ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲⌂ ⌂⌂○{{''≈ ≈≈≈≈≈{{{ ○──≈≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈♣♣' '''''?⌂▲ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲^ ▲▲▲▲$⌂$▲  ▲▲▲⌂⌂⌂▲▲ ▲▲$⌂⌂{'≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈{{ ⌂{{{≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈♣♣ ''''''⌂$ ▲▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ▲▲⌂⌂⌂♣⌂⌂  ▲▲$⌂○⌂$▲ ▲⌂⌂○&⌂♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈{{ {${{≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈♣ ♣┌────○⌂ ▲▲▲^▲▲▲▲ ▲⌂⌂b♣♣┌○  ▲⌂B⌂│♣⌂○ ⌂⌂⌂└┐♣♣≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈─ ─○{{{≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈─ ─┘''''⌂⌂ ⌂▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ ▲⌂$○┐♣│⌂  ▲$○♣│♣♣│ ⌂○♣♣│b≈≈ ≈≈{⌂≈≈≈{ {⌂{{{≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣''''$⌂ &▲▲▲▲▲▲▲ $⌂⌂♣└┐│♣  ○⌂│♣│♣┌┘ ♣│♣♣└─≈≈ ≈≈≈{{≈≈≈ {⌂♣♣♣≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈$≈≈ ♣♣♣''''⌂ ⌂⌂▲▲▲▲⌂⌂ ⌂⌂♣♣♣││♣  └┐│♣│♣│$ ♣│♣♣♣≈≈♣ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ {○P♣≈≈≈≈│
│≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣♣♣♣'''? ⌂▲▲▲⌂⌂$⌂ ○♣♣♣♣└┤♣  ♣└┤b│♣│♣ ♣├┐♣♣♣≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ ♣$└─≈≈≈≈│

[deadlycairn]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Shimmering into place inside the meeting hall, Karn steps forward. "I hope I haven't missed anything too interesting" he comments as he fumbles in his pockets for the game tokens he carved a couple of decades back.
"Just a dragon attack, mass sacrifice, and possession" an unidentified voice calls out. Karn ignores him, he knows most of the gods don't view him as equal to them, he planned to use this game as an oppurtunity to prove them wrong. Pulling a battered and time weathered token made out of what appeared to be crystal from a pocket which lead into a pocket dimension, he placed it on the board, smiling as it began to pulse with a strange light. A bag full of more tokens, less aged than the first and made of wood was then upended next to the main token. Karn sat back in his throne and watched the tokens take on a light of their own, the civilisation will have to make their own way from here, lest he be accused of cheating.

Down below:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Doulos shivered, it was cold here, and the light was fading fast. It had been a hard fight, and many had died in the elders quarters, but they had managed to open a portal to... somewhere else. They appeared to be on a rocky mountain of some kind, they'd practically appeared right on top of a largish spring. Night had fallen quickly, and vegetation was sparse, so shelter was temporarily out of the question. He hoped it didn't get that much colder, there was only 51 of them after all...

The Silent Ones have teleported onto 40,115 (if thats the river source way down on the bottom, correct me if I'm wrong) with 51 able workers!

One Week Later:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

One Week Later...
Doulos examined the new structures, warm in his goat leather clothing. It hadn't taken them long to learn the goats were about the only creature that lived around here, but at least they made reasonably good eating. After the first night they had set about building some primitive stone huts, the last of which had just now been completed. Still, he would not feel safe until they had begun metalworks construction, most of his men were working with bone tolls and weapons, apart from the few that had managed to keep their swords. For the smithys they would need fuel, lots of it, and the vegetation on the hill was sparse. They had obtained plenty of ore from the hill already, but nothing to smelt it with. With this in mind he called his scouts to him and gave them their orders. They were to travel in goups of 4, each heading in one of the four compass directions. One of the more apt mages had said there was the possibility they were on an island. With that in mind he told the scouts to the size of the coast should they find any. He also gave them one last imperative : " Do not, under any circumstances, stop or travel more than 5 stretches from this base. Remember, this is just a temporary base, and your main job is to find us a better home. Scouting comes secondary. Now go!" with that the scouts ran off to prepare for their journey. Doulos turned away, the homes still needed insulating, and for that they needed more goat leather...

OOC: For convenience a stretch is a tile.