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 )                                                                         (
(                             NewOrigins Events                             )
 )                              March, Year 2                              (
(                                                                           )
 )    A few traders are worried about the battle between hostile forces    (
(       happened in the desert of Great Autarkirmos Desert where many       )
 )      soldiers will never fight again. This battle will be known as      (
(               Battle near the ocean of Great Lochash River.               )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(     Several refugees are rumoring about an encounter between hostile      )
 )    forces happened in the desert of Great Durbuz Desert where battle    (
(       ended in a slaughter of one of the sides. This battle will be       )
 )            known as Battle near the ocean of Lanktor Ocean.             (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )       Some travelers are discussing about a clash between hostile       (
(      forces happened in the desert of Great Antanoatos Desert where       )
 )    3combatants were killed. The attackers slaughtered all defenders.    (
(       This battle will be known as Battle near the ocean of Lanktor       )
 )                                 Ocean.                                  (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     Some merchants are talking about the city of Lurgubal that lies     (
(       in the Hornwood Heights mountains, where a faction massacred        )
 )                                 guards.                                 (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     Several pilgrims are whispering about the village of Hastlemoor     (
(     that lies in the Great Autarkirmos Desert desert, where a villans     )
 )                            decimated guards.                            (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )    Multiple commoners are talking about the town of Argbuz that lies    (
(          in the Great Bletchgrove Desert desert, where a villans          )
 )                          extinguished guards.                           (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     Some peasants are rumoring about daredevils who have killed Imp     (
(     (5534) near ocean of Garaen River. Freeing the desert of Kanesti      )
 )                        Sands from their terror.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     Dozen traders are worried about daredevils who have put to the      (
(      sword Sandlings (5540) near jungles of Bletchvil Woods. Freeing      )
 )            the desert of Great Ugdur Desert from their fear.            (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )       Handful pilgrims are talking about hunters who have killed        (
(     Sandlings (541) near jungles of Autarkotuspolisus Woods. Freeing      )
 )          the desert of Great Durbuz Desert from their horror.           (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     A few dockers are talking about rangers who have killed Grizzly     (
(        Bears (126) near volcanoes of Hornwood Volcano. Freeing the        )
 )           desert of Great Autarkirmos Desert from their fear.           (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )        Multiple scouts are whispering about adventurers who have        (
(       destroyed Sandlings (5541) near ocean of Great Methan River.        )
 )        Freeing the desert of Great Ugdur Desert from their fear.        (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     In the desert of Great Autarkirmos Desert, near ocean of Great      (
(      Lochash River, Sandlings (140) who continue to cause horror to       )
 )                           local inhabitants.                            (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     In the desert of Great Dokimarenos Desert, near ocean of Great      (
(     Lirael River, Crocodiles (97) who continue to cause fear to local     )
 )                              inhabitants.                               (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )    In the jungles of Garakloth Jungle, near ocean of Lanktor Ocean,     (
(          Kobold Pack (358) who continue to cause dread to local           )
 )                              inhabitants.                               (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )       In the desert of Great Ametanimos Desert, near mountains of       (
(      Ametanimos Mountain, Sandlings (870) who continue to cause fear      )
 )                          to local inhabitants.                          (
(__       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       __)
    `-._.-' (___ _) `-._.-' `-._.-' )     ( `-._.-' `-._.-' (__ _ ) `-._.-'
            ( _ __)                (_     _)                (_ ___)
            (__  _)                 `-._.-'                 (___ _)
            `-._.-'                                         `-._.-'

Everyone's gone somewhere...

Time to make friends with crocodiles.

Apparently, the Sphinx does not take kindly to be taken lightly. Lesson learned...

Englefart is playing with his toy soldiers. He doesn't like it when they fall over. It's hard to make them stand up again.

"Right, I think we should build it there..."
"Looks good boss, I'll get the boys on it tomorrow morning."

City should be ours!

Damm wandering monsters

- Sir, we are starving. Its a matter of time when and how our people will riot.
- Soon we should finally get a fish, big enough.

The Sphinx's are still wandering around the desert. If only we could handle them.

No more insects? That's pathetic! Orcs do need more protein. And garlic.

another slow month, we need to speed up, as other factions seem to get all goodies instead of us.

Need more Power! Next city, please!

Well, we are about to see if those guards are so strong!

We could have expected that - no mushrooms nearby.

We need to strengthen the trade guard. Bandits are getting stronger, and monsters should be put to the sword as soon as possible.

Who would like to slaughter peaceful cartographers ? Is there no respect for science in that world ?

Hunter (2465) attacks Cartographer (4698) in desert (18,50) in Great
  Autarkaros Desert!

Attackers:
Hunter (2465), Orc Hunters (56), behind, human [HUMN].
Smiths (2463), Orc Hunters (56), 12 goblins [GBLN], 16 hammers [HAMM],
  7 camels [CAME], 23 swords [SWOR].
Hunters (3440), Orc Hunters (56), 126 gnolls [GNOL], 2 goblins [GBLN],
  6 humans [HUMN], 8 camels [CAME], combat 1.
_Tamers (4222), Orc Hunters (56), 11 gnolls [GNOL], 21 camels [CAME].
Hunters (4982), Orc Hunters (56), 100 gnolls [GNOL], combat 1.
Unit (4984), Orc Hunters (56), behind, leader [LEAD], tactics 1.
Smiths (1383), Orc Hunters (56), gnoll [GNOL], hammer [HAMM].
Builders (2456), Orc Hunters (56), 6 humans [HUMN], combat 1.
Hunters (1389), Orc Hunters (56), 15 gnolls [GNOL], 13 swords [SWOR],
  2 hammers [HAMM].
Builders (4980), Orc Hunters (56), 10 humans [HUMN], combat 1.

Defenders:
Cartographer (4698), The Cartographer (30), behind, goblin [GBLN].
Cartographer (4699), The Cartographer (30), behind, goblin [GBLN].
Cartographer (4701), The Cartographer (30), behind, goblin [GBLN].
Cartographer (4702), The Cartographer (30), behind, goblin [GBLN].
Cartographer (4703), The Cartographer (30), behind, goblin [GBLN].

Round 1:
Hunter (2465) tactics bonus 1.

Hunter (2465) loses 0.
Cartographer (4698) loses 5.

Round 1 statistics:

Hunter (2465) army:
- Hunters (1389):
  - sword [SWOR] (slashing melee attack), attacked 1 of 1 time, 1
  successful attack, 0 blocked by armor, 1 hit, 1 total damage, and
  killed 1 enemy.
- Smiths (2463):
  - sword [SWOR] (slashing melee attack), attacked 0 of 1 time, 0
  successful attack, 0 blocked by armor, 0 hit, 0 total damage, and
  killed 0 enemy.
- Hunters (3440):
  - without weapon (slashing melee attack), attacked 4 of 5 times, 2
  successful attacks, 0 blocked by armor, 2 hits, 2 total damage, and
  killed 2 enemies.
- _Tamers (4222):
  - without weapon (slashing melee attack), attacked 1 of 1 time, 1
  successful attack, 0 blocked by armor, 1 hit, 1 total damage, and
  killed 1 enemy.
- Builders (4980):
  - without weapon (slashing melee attack), attacked 0 of 1 time, 0
  successful attack, 0 blocked by armor, 0 hit, 0 total damage, and
  killed 0 enemy.
- Hunters (4982):
  - without weapon (slashing melee attack), attacked 1 of 2 times, 1
  successful attack, 0 blocked by armor, 1 hit, 1 total damage, and
  killed 1 enemy.

Cartographer (4698) army:
Army made no attacks.

Cartographer (4698) is destroyed!

The battle with city guards went for several days and as of writing this article it is still not finished. Those guards turned out well trained and didn't surrender.

However, new issues has arisen. From east unknown attackers slaughtered several scouts. We do not know their faction but from foreign names they appear to be from the same faction that was sent messages to, but did not respond. Vikings considered probably that learning observation to discover their faction allegiance is useless, if they chose not to speak. After conquer of city we will direct some forces to their direction if those attacks do not stop.

The Prime Exarch studies the reports that have come in from his generals and wipes a tired hand over his brow.  "Sometimes you use the desert, and sometimes, the desert uses you, it seems."

200 silver Times 1 equals 200 silver

==========================================
Music Hath Chahms to Sooth a Savage Bheast
==========================================


Our Eldest's Column
-------------------

Well, we started playing music, but the rats didn't become peaceful and friendly, they just left town.  This is bad for town owls and hawks and big snakes and giant lizards.  Also disappointing to wolves and coyotes.  What can be done?  Maybe if the musicians depart the rats will come back?


Pillaging Column
----------------

How long does it take a region to recover from pillaging?  The little folk gleaners have some data to share.  A delightful little region in Garakloth was pillaged in June.  The population stopped growing, the wages went below subsistence, and the amount of money we could beg for music or other public goods dropped even more dramatically. 

           Popu     wage   music
           ----     ----   -----
June       1321     11.1      19
July       1320      9.2       1
August     1320      9.2       1
September  1321      9.2       1
October    1321      9.4       3
November   1321      9.4       3
December   1321      9.5       4
January    1321      9.5       4

It seems to take more than seven months for an area to recover after pillaging.


LFLF Column
-----------

Our Eldest sucks as a diplomat.  He is nice to everyone, and naive.  He really believes everyone has our best interests at heart.  This is why the little folk have always been slaves.  Join the little folk liberation front, where we have long discussions over tea and biscuits about what our diplomats really should be doing, if they weren't held back by Our Eldest's manners.  This month's discussion is about Utuk'ku of Stormspike.  Our government wants to do everything they can to encourage Utuk'ku, because our diplomats believe Utuk'ku is trying to bring the blessing of weather to this world.  But we, the little folk liberation front, notice some unusual wording from Stormspike.  Consider, for example, "Utuk'ku listened to the report of the slain scout."  Little folk scouts remain silent after they are slain.  When was the scout slain?  Before or after Utuk'ku listened to his or her report?  Stormspike journalists wrote "Knowing the quality of the help Utuk'ku was forced to employ, the magician was most likely dealing with a trespasser."  Does "the quality of help Utuk'ku was forced to employ" hint that the scout was slain before Utuk'ku hired him or her?  Is Utuk'ku employing dead scouts, that can rise and return home after encounters with magicians?  Can we learn to do that too?  

After Hymnoaros fell, and the secret LFMIA musical archives were captured, as expected, the LFMIA secret songs have spread through the world.  Rapidly.  Too rapidly.  Impossibly rapidly.  Really, if we still had an intelligence agency, our sleepy old spooks would be busily researching how a song can travel faster than a galloping camel.  Are there magical means of sending songs from one place to another?  Are there ships that travel faster than rafts?  Who knows, the little folk have no intelligence anymore.

Join us for tea and biscuits, every month, for long discussions about how little folk goverment is broken and could be better.



Letters Column
--------------

We are surprised that the Editor of the Times chose to publish last month, without commentary or explanation, an untrue propaganda screed that claims to come from an orc slave.  Although we know it must be obvious to the well educated editor of this erudite publication that the screed she published cannot be true, and we suspect the editor chose to publish the screed for amusement value, we worry that, without commentary, some of the less refined readers of the Times might be confused.  As those of us who went to school learned in school, "Missy" is not an Orcish word, and no word in Orcish translates to "Missy".  Elementary and uncontroversial linguistics proves that the author of the screed about loving her orcish husband must be in a miscegenous marriage.  We hope the readers of this fine publication take pity on the plight of the poor slave who authored that false screed.  We hope someday she will be freed.

Her freedom from orcish slavery being of the utmost importance and urgency, we implore like minded souls to meet regularly in Zelotatres on the first Thursday of each even numbered month (February, April, June...) to discuss this dreadful situation and what might be done to rectify matters.  At the first meeting in February, tea and scones will be provided by the organizers.  I hope to see you in Zelotatres.


Thieves' Column
---------------

We had a hard time getting our own column.  The priests and Our Eldest thought a thieves' column would give the little folk a bad name.  But we kept saying "the little folk let everyone do everything their own way" until they gave in.  So, for our first column, we want to discuss Ogre Mages' "Are yo stealing horsa from Ogre ? Youu dumbas." article last month.  

As experienced thieves, the little folk want to tell Ogre Mages that although stealing horses seems like a clever idea, it doesn't work.  If horses were silver, and we could steal up to 200 at a time, then stealing horses would work great; we could steal all the horses and ride away at a gallop, while the rightful owner of the horses would be stuck on foot and unable to catch us.  But sadly, we find (at our skill levels, at least), we can't steal 200 horses, we can only steal one horse.  Stealing one horse is just not worth the risk and trouble.  There are no little folk horse thieves, because it is easier to train horses than to steal them.

If some thief really did steal a horsa from Ogre Mages, well, then Ogre Mages are correct, that thief is a dumbas.


Women's Column
--------------

Our little orc boys are wonderful.  We made them toy swords, and they are so happy with them.  The statisticians tell us that most factions are recruiting gnolls, not orcs.  Our gnoll children are wonderful too, they mostly want to play dinner party, and wear chef's hats.  But we wonder why our neighbors all want to hire gnolls and not orcs?  Perhaps because there is less need for shipbuilders in this desert?  Perhaps because lumberjacks are useless in a treeless world?


Weather Column
--------------

The weather was clear last month.  The weather will be clear next month.  Rain, sun, fog, and snow bored King Derwin until he asked for something more interesting.  We wish we had as much as King Derwin had.  Can we get rain, sun, fog, and snow?  All we ever get is sun, sun, sun, and sun.  Maybe that explains all these deserts.  How can we help StormSpike bring the snow?


Music Column
------------

Aenbecan, were he still alive, would be overjoyed to hear little folk music everywhere.  With Our Eldest's silver, Aenbecan's "music everywhere" program is far more successful after Aenbecan's death than it ever was during his life.  All through the little folk lands, musicians are serenading the monsters.  Our children now study what kinds of music calms each monster best.


Religion Column
---------------

There seems to be quite a bit of conversation with the dead going on.  If this is just people wanting to ask their ancestors for advice, that is not so bad.  If these skeletons are being passed from leader to leader to protect us all from monsters, that is not so bad either.  We sincerely hope such good uses are all that is going on.

Little folk orcish children's evening prayer:
    Tari amase wahr als ish usi tai Hagen Thane's nazg gul itt hab te summ ula Hagen
    Durbuk ustipte gimbatuluk krimpatul thrakuk suruhsi summuhsi urbu nazg ishi


Obituaries
----------

More undeath.  None of the little folk died last month.  It must be our new musicians, pacifying the monsters.  Our morticians have put aside their casket chisels for anothe month of art training.  

Urgdur is Free!
----------------
As promised, freedom has come to Urgdur.  The people have risen up and joined our quest to make this land a better and safer place.  Sphinx and Sandlings still roam the desert, and only a few miles away there have been sightings of an evil black tower with fearsome Sourcery swirling around.  Take heart - we will bring safety to this land in time.

The econometrist of the Four Winds (a truly vital position, as important as High Wizard or Ambassador) presented his report. The Children of the Four Winds had 100% of all the spice in private hands.
"This must clearly be an oversight by our rivals. This is mostly a desert planet, and surely the spice must flow!"

Alwe is dead! Long live the new Alwe

Little son did not come to his father and did not ask what is good, and what is bad.

Father, I'm sorry! I did everything you said. You were wrong. I accept your banner and swear to avenge you!

-The Sphinx again took off his victim

Finally, I'm safe, I can focus on studying and research while men are fighting.

The Humham News

Yesterday, new coats of arms were spotted in the city. According to the first rumors, they are the coats of arms of a southern people. Their exact origin is unknown at this time. Will they behave peacefully? Will peaceful coexistence be possible? The citizens seem very frightened

Utuk'ku could not believe that the winter was over. Outside the window the weather was scorching hot, it was no wonder there were so many screams. Who would like to live in a place like this?

Those who play with fire do get some extra experience.

Kongs are known to be hiding in jungles, but we met one in swamp as well.
That is reason why we are going to open hunting season on these beasts quite soon, but appropriate men for tracking them are yet to be trained.

Torwin knew that nothing could be done to prevent the sand in his food. Except of magic. The choice between clean food and several mithril chunks was obvious.

Is it year 2 already?

You'll live righteously
And you won't cross the line -
Then the guard at the door
Will save your soul.

Vikings were hidin old Lugburz. 
Now Ogre Mages have clear target.

It was, the goblin decided, an awfully big sphinx.

The sort of size that made even the most devout question the wisdom of trying to farm so close to it.

The goblin just hoped it didn't have any riddles it wanted to ask today.

Almost there... first castle completed but it appears a citadel is needed.

"Boohahaha! At long last Yazhnarb is ours! Attack! Oh wait, flee! Where are the rest of you?"

"The boss said avoid combat."

"But that only means in neighboring hexes! We need you to fight!"

"No, he said avoid combat. That means here too. You're on your own."

"Alas! Alas! We die...."

(Fenris Reborn can neither confirm nor deny that such a conversation happened recently.)

Climbing a volcano is not so easy.
We need another month.

The Horse Lords are wishing for to contact the Magogash Empire and Dragon Clan. Maybe they read the news from not so far away?

No wood. Just sand. Let's search elsewhere

Running late on Orders.
Hope to make it!

While things appear to be progressing well, Peter turns an eye warily south- and eastward with some consternation.  Denied the expansion of his territory, it doesn't look like there will be any resolution outside of outright war.  Grimly, he sends out orders and begins to prepare for the inevitable.

Journalists are hiring their camels now.  But there seems to be some disagreement about where, exactly, the Magogash revenge battle is happening.

The apostates of the Holden Witness Sect have declared holy war to the Holden Holy Deed Church. They declared that the right of ritual is sacred and should be available to ordinary believers even if they do not have dragon eggs.

Aval is afraid again in the corner.

The old bald Alwe has never brought any war to victory. He is very good at losing his army in useless battles. Don't be afraid of him, no matter who he threatens!

Oh might it be
that Atlantis is truly sinking?
Less and less factions,
is a good concept
enough in these days?