PBEM game "Not Stupid But Slow": Running

[Alneyan]

It was Marignon and not Abysia; I had expected Abysia due to the Magic+Heat heavy scales, but it was Marignon instead (much better for me by the way). Abysia is more or less in the middle of the map, while I am on the right side, so we are not neighbours (Marignon at least is between us, and other nations to the south). We are not neighbours for the few turns to come at any rate, as later on Teleport and the like will make "neighbours" a loose term.

I would much, much rather have a replacing player for Abysia as well. Ulm is in a weaker shape (more or less like the Mictlan you have seen in Yarnspinners Deccan), so it will matter less in the grand scheme, and could either go AI or be set up as beefed up provinces to take. Abysia, on the other hand, still has potential and a decent situation, and would be worth being replaced.

I cannot believe I have forgotten to make a public ad though. Give me a Flagellant to slap myself. With a Fire 9 blessing if possible.

[Blofeld]

Heat? Me? Must've been the weather . I'd say we wait for a while, I sent a word of a vacancy to my fellow players, perhaps someone willing will come up.

[deccan]

*Bump* I suppose we're not having any luck finding replacement players?

[Alneyan]

Indeed, you are correct Deccan; nobody wants to take the Fiery Nation of Abysia, or the Ulm enclave of the North.

- Wait some more. Or wait a lot more.
- Turn the nations in question to the AI. The main problem is that it will help their respective neighbours.
- Leave these nations to one of the players in the game, and either give information about them or make one turn fully available to all for information purposes. Alternatively, or in addition, the nation(s) concerned would go AI as soon as a war with a genuine human player is started, to prevent said player from getting intelligence about the attacking player.

If the third option is chosen, someone else may be needed for Abysia, as they are not so far away from myself (I believe they are next to my own neighbour, Marignon). Ulm is almost as far away from me as you can get (they are in the north-west), so I can probably keep them and build them up to make them harder to conquer by their own neighbour. I would turn them AI once someone wants to move against them if we went with this plan.

Suggestions, opinions, comments and insults welcome. Well, perhaps not insults, but you get the idea.

(Just noticed my typo. I called Deccan Duncan. Hmm, I guess I have been reading Dune too much, or something.)

[Alneyan]

The turn has just run, with Crash stepping in as Abysia. I have given something like an explanation about the fate of Ulm in my standard "new turn has arrived" mail.

[Crash]

Hello,

Thanks for letting me join your game.

I'm looking forward to razing your provinces and sacking your castles.


Respectfully,
Crash (Reborn heirophant of Abysia)

[Cainehill]

Remember, raze, pillage, _then_ burn, in that order.

[Alneyan]

The Karenon Monthly: the best gazette on the Eastern marches. A summary of the present events happening in the known world.

- The rumours of demoncial influences within Arcoscephale: A growing rumour in agoras has it that the powerful Pyromancer leading our glorious nation would actually be one of those fiends we so despise. Such lies are ludicrous, and an infamy. Our ally was not born in the Shadeworld of Hades, but from the elemental power of fire, the lifegiver. Any claim to the contrary shall be met with the full force of the laws.

- The fall of Ulm: travellers have reported a collapse of the archaic kingdom of Ulm, far to the west. The once-proud nation is said to have fallen prey to invasions and, above all, the intrigues of infernal lords. It is now widely known that Ulm fiddled with the powers of the abyss, the most heinous of all corrupted powers.

The Karenon Monthly failed to determine the current status of Ulm; nonetheless, we strongly urge our readers not to travel to the area. We have full confidence that their neighbours will remove the anchor of these devils, allowing us to resume normal trade with the protectorate of Ulm.

- Marignon reports the capture of several spies: In the course of the past few months, Inquisition authorities have claimed to have seized a few illegal travellers in their lands. The Holy Office pretended that these passers-by were actually employed by the Strategon Council of Arcoscephale, accusations left answered by Arcoscephale.

However, the Ekklesia admitted the responsibility of Arcoscephale in this matter, but dismissed the incident as being "a mere misunderstanding between the Ekklesia, the Council, and their servants. These were rogues in our midst, and their actions do not reflect the policy [of Arcoscephale]". Marignon answered that "they have means to unravel the truth".

- The thrice cursed land of Pythium: Following many hardships, the Southern elite phalanx finally rescued the Reunification forces, who were besieged in a Pythium fortress by errand knights. The disgruntled hoplites rejoiced as the reinforcements were sighted, putting to rout the finest knights this part of the world had ever seen. The core of our elite troops repelled a cavalry charge without a loss; a living testimony to the quality of our training.

Meanwhile, reclamation of lands in the former Empire of Pythium (a vain title for the heirs of the glory of the Old Empire) has begun. Religious renewal has been declared the most important aspect of this plan, as the faith of Pythium has radically changed since the days of the Empire. Above all, faith will be needed to keep the darkness at bay. The abomination stemmed from the collapse of the Empire is indeed too close to our borders.

- The future of Arcoscephale: an overview. With much of our lore rediscovered, our treasury filled with silver talents, and our army unchallenged, the eyes of our people may now turn to our neighbours. While we do not share their outlook, Marignon seems a trustworthy partner, despite rumours of a war involving them and some demon-kin. Who would we be to blame them for fighting the fiends?

The Summer Land remains nearby, their kingdom a haven of peace and prosperity; or so it used to be, as our relationship had deteriorated for the past few years. But the biggest threat to the continued survival of our cities is the resurgence of the Enemy, the Living Dead of Ermor. These are the foes of tomorrow, and they herald the coming of a period of despair, blood, and death. Little will be gained by crushing them once more; but securing the peace of future generations, and the harmony of the Greater Sphere, is our only duty.

(If possible, I will add something like a schematised map, with boundaries and approximate locations of the various nations, and probably some more details on the current situation)

[Blofeld]

The mighty forces of Marignon and Pangea rid the world of demonic Abysians. Not a moment too soon, as they, in their wickedness, had already started summoning infernal beings, which would wreak havoc upon the face of the world.
Oh, a glorious war it was. I personally shredded Abysian phoenix to pieces (twice) and our soldiers stood valiantly against supehumanly strong, fiery and armoured enemies.

Hail to Crash - good game, hope to meet you on a battlefield soon.

[Crash]

Good work Marignon and Pangea.

I look forward to more battles with you in the future.

Crash.