Players have visited 89% of all inhabited regions.

   _.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._
.----      - ---     --     ---   -----   - --       ----  ----   -     ----.
 )                                                                         (
(                             NewOrigins Events                             )
 )                              June, Year 2                               (
(                                                                           )
 )      Some traders are telling that have heard a tell about a small      (
(     encounter between two armies in the mountains of Veyco where and      )
 )                  many soldiers will never fight again.                  (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     Some adventurers are telling that they have heard about a small     (
(     battle between hostile forces in the tundras of Jascenburn where      )
 )                          ended in a slaughter.                          (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )        Dozen travelers are telling that have heard a tell about         (
(      mountains of Grolnalmam where in the Webenscre city guards were      )
 )                           slain by a faction.                           (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )       Dozen adventurers are telling that they have heard about a        (
(     hunters who have murdered Lizard Men (5688) freeing the swamps of     )
 )                     Poontmagwern from their terror.                     (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )       Dozen travelers are telling that have heard a tell about a        (
(      witchers who tried to put to the sword Kobold Pack (708) in the      )
 )         forests of Coskal but were all murdered by their prey.          (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )    Some travelers are telling that locals are rumoring about Undead     (
(     (885) in the deserts of Helmec continue to cause horror on local      )
 )                              inhabitants.                               (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )    Many traders are telling that have heard a tell about Giant Birds    (
(     (1307) in the mountains of Tolsellil continue to cause horror on      )
 )                           local inhabitants.                            (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )      Many adventurers are telling that refugees are worried about       (
(     Giant Scorpions (866) in the deserts of Perhont continue to cause     )
 )                      horror on local inhabitants.                       (
(__       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       __)
    `-._.-' (___ _) `-._.-' `-._.-' )     ( `-._.-' `-._.-' (__ _ ) `-._.-'
            ( _ __)                (_     _)                (_ ___)
            (__  _)                 `-._.-'                 (___ _)
            `-._.-'                                         `-._.-'

The General looked at the new information provided - the world rankings. This would be proof to show that there was a weapons and armour gap, and all funds should be thrown into closing that!

He looked down. He considered the number of factions. If these were correct, then his motley forces were mighty in weapons usage, and the only real shortage was of money and soldiers that weren't super-cheap gnomes and goblins.

He started to write a letter to the the Council of the Four Winds. "Dear Council, it has come to my attention that our forces are lacking in diversity. I suggest we proactively try to promote an orc and dwarf friendly working environment." Now what other phrases could he use to persuade them?

Finally we have found some iron. Lets mine it.

It is good to know one's place in the world, and it even better to see that we are not far behind in some important areas. 
The private security model in our town is working, it is time to start selling the idea to the other settlements nearby. Shiny new equipment and above average pay are both great arguments.

From the diary of Bohica Miaburn:

4th of May Year 2

Another city conquered. Orcs can fight I must give them that but they were had no chance against the combined fireball bombardment from fifteen mages. I didn't even get to kill anyone today. Damn Fannybaws and his perfect tactics. I'm bored.

10th of May Year 2

Our funds with the fleet are running low. I sent instructions to have more silver sent after us from Va'os. I hope it arrives without trouble. I don't want to rely on my allies too much. That is a sign of weakness and you should not appear weak even to your allies. Especially not to your allies.

16th of May Year 2

The plains my men pillaged a year ago are slowly recovering. I'll have to send out men to collect money again. Or maybe set up permanent tax collectors? I haven't decided yet.

21st of May Year 2

The first group of rangers are ready for deployment around Va'os. I wonder if they will find the lions that decimated my men a year ago. I still want that fur coat.

28th of May Year 2

Another galleon joined our fleet. That's excellent news. It's a pity that there are more than a dozen magic users waiting in line to use the two laboratories the two galleons have. Maybe I should improve my tracking skills as I wait for my turn to use the labs?

We had a meeting about what to do about the uncommunicative types who ply our lands. It came up that, why don't we use them as a resource? After all, the living are but a raw material...
   
               The dead must be fed.....

To a new, calm and bright future..

Our goblin scientist has made a sensational discovery:
a unit producing livestock may not be able to flee from kobolds.

Lands close to home are now known. Time to journey to distant shores....if the krakens don't get us.

Those days were both joyful and sorrowful for the Flan tribe. Joyful because the tribe's men finally came home, and sorrowful because many of them haven't returned. But even that dubious joy won't last long...

Tehe watched from the entrance of her delapidated shack as her neighbour Veiko with his wife Löhse were loading a big deer-driven sleigh with their belongings. Despite her young age she was wearing plain funeral white.

'Going somewhere?' she called them.
Veiko wiped sweat from his forehead. 'Yes, we're moving west. There are rich lush lands, and free now.'
'How can they be free if they are so good?' wondered the girl, 'Why people avoided them before?'
'Not avoided,' Veiko chuckled, 'You see, Jomas-naj freed them for us. There was a tribe that called themselves Wenvonians. Ah, those people. They were weak and flimsy, you know, you just touch them and they die. We slaughtered them all. Your Mikko wasn't a man of muscle, but even he managed to kill a centaur. I enjoyed it!'
There was something wolfish in his face as Veiko was saying it, and Tehe shuddered. She knew her neighbour as kind and caring person. What could have happened to him to change him so?
'And then it all went amok.' Veiko continued. 'Six ice wurms emerged out of snow, right in the middle of the fight. They were ten men heights in length, not less, with gaping mouths full of hundreds of teeth! Everyone panicked. Mikko was swallowed whole immediately, I'm sorry for your loss. But Jomas-naj was with us, he called to spirits, and wurms go thrashing as in pain! They still ate a half of people, but at last we managed to kick the crap out of them. But girl, you should see Jomas-naj fight! He's a god, no less!'
Tehe felt sudden anger: 'Damn you and your foolish war! If he's a god, can he return my Mikko to me?'
Veiko frowned: 'No, he cannot. And don't ask for that! It's Kul-otyr domain, and you don't want to mess with him. Have you seen Osho lately? The old man has gone completely nuts!'
He suddenly softened: 'You know Tehe, you should come with us, I'll take you as my second wife.' he put one leg on a sleigh and straightened his shoulders with pride, 'In fact, I'm so rich now I can support three wives. And white doesn't suit you.' He bended over his sleigh and picked an embroidered parka trimmed with red fox fur. 'Come on, put in on!'
Löhse looked at her husband with disapproval, but stayed silent.
Tehe didn't hesitate for long. Although the day was warm, she took the present, wore it over her clothes and took a place at Veiko's sleigh. He was strong, handsome and still young. Fate gave her a chance for a better life and she was going to catch it.

The thin mist swirl and twirl... more locals commenting on seeing orcs, armed orcs in the mists. 

Ohhh, numbers, numbers again, those sheets with many numbers that librarians put on our table, they call this - stats!

Imperial Intelligence Office is expanding! If you like challenging tasks, not afraid of wildlife, and like to see new lands, come and join our forces!

It's time-it's time-let's rejoice in our lifetime,
Beauty and the cup, happy blade!
Bye-bye - wiggling the feathers on the hats,
Let's whisper to Mercy bok more than once!

The worn saddle creaks again…
And the wind chills the old wound!
Where the hell are you going, sir,
Can't you afford peace?"

It's time-it's time-let's rejoice in our lifetime,
Beauty and the cup, happy blade!
Bye-bye - wiggling the feathers on the hats,
Let's whisper to Mercy bok more than once!

Paris needs money ... se la vie !
And he needs knights all the more!
But what is a knight without love?
And what is a knight without luck!

It's time-it's time-let's rejoice in our lifetime,
Beauty and the cup, happy blade!
Bye-bye - wiggling the feathers on the hats,
To fate we will whisper more than once to Mercy bok…

Bye-bye - wiggling the feathers on the hats,
Let's whisper to Mercy bok more than once!..
To fate we will whisper more than once... to fate we will whisper more than once…
Let's whisper to Fate…
Mercy boku! Mercy boku! Mercy boku

The Grandmaster is calmed. Things are moving on the right course. But there's never enough time to get all the elements right. 

The chief herder has issued his results for the month. Proudly he reports we have 235 camels, over one quarter the world's stock.

"What is this report? We are #1 in camels. And what of that? What ever are we going to do with all these camels? Can we not sacrifice them to some lich or devil to recruit them to our cause?"

"not so much. but you didn't berate the armorer who told you we are number one in plate and mail. And it's your work that we're #2 in skeletons!"

"Stop deflecting blame. Back to the camels... Can we move stone with them?"

"not so much. technically yes, but not practical"

"can we ride them?"

"yes but only useful in some terrain"

"can we play polo on them"

"No, they aren't Bactrian camels, but dromedary"

The Grandmaster looks at the chief herder incredulously

"One hump that you sit sideways upon. Bactrian camels you sit between them and are nice and snug so you can do all kinds of maneuvers and contortions. Better than a horse."

"And why do we have the wrong kind of camel?"

"We're not in the Mongolian steppes but in the desert"

"Where are the steps?"

"In the other world"

The Grandmaster crumples up his latest report and throws it out of his tent.

"And where is my tower? Builder, you are summoned for your session of being berated!"

The chief 

Another ship was launched, bigger than the raft that preceded it, this one his shipwrights said was a “longship”.  The Storm King was not all that impressed, and let his engineers and shipbuilders know that he expected something bigger, something that could truly ride a storm!

So, we lost none last month but we are ready for this season.

- Where are the guard helmets and what is this bird head?
- Your majesty we've been attacked by the pack of Roc birds and was not able to advance to the village.
- I see. Let the bird head stay but I still want some guards helmets there.

Overkill? Why not.. 

Report from Scout #5

Everyone else is dead... everyone...

I am the sole survivor from the attack of the hellish creature.

We need to ensure we muster an army strong enough to face this creature and once and for all banish it back to where it came from. Vengeance will be ours!

Food. Money. Weapons. Magic.
What next ? Ships ?

The traders of the Guild eagerly received the first ever list of treasury accounting, both of their own and of interfactional one. As they excitedly went over figures, the most important - silver amount caused many gossips. Many of traders asked why the total for our trade faction is so low, not at all one of the world's highest. Some reminded of many setbacks - monsters eating traders, Month-With-No-Orders, monsters eating workers, some cooperation expenditure, monsters eating craftsmen and so on.
Anyway, they waited for Representatives' opinion with some worries. However, Representatives went over figures with same excitement as others and showed no signs of worry. When questioned they pointed out that all existing silver has been invested in more-or-less profitable ventures, therefore, the low numbers in treasury is actually a sign of great efficiency and every trader in guild should be praised. So they celebrated the arrival of treasury with great joy and vodka-drinking.

What a calm month. No deaths. No work either.

God Explains the Water Cycle

All the streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full.
To the place from which the streams flow, there they return so as to flow again.

	- Ecclesiastes 1:7

The troops drill in the swamps, being given Special High Intensity Training...

This month new neighbor came to our land. Pretending to be polite, orc women bring some gifts. Let's see.

Well they call me the hunter, that's my name.
A pretty little floater like you is my only game.
I bought me a wooden spear just the other day
And I aim to aim it your way
Ain't no use to hide, nor to shed a tear
'Cause I've got you in the sights of my mighty spear 

Found another lair of evil mages on my doorstep. Have started making preparations to evict them.

All preparations for taking over taxation from city guards are done, lets hope for result that is not very bloody on our part. There might be ice dragons nearby that are on standby to take over taxation from us, but we will worry about that later. 

More iron - more efficiency! demand the bosses
But the Clan members are stubborn, efficiency is not in our nature.
If the bosses want more iron per worker, maybe time for the workers to go on strike?
OK the bosses will give some time off for school.

What to do next? 

Due to recent assassinations, we declare instant death penalty for any concealed weapon.

For months now, they had been sailing the endless sea.

Would there not be land here after all ? Had the tip from old man Umbos Cul been a lie ?

Searching for valuable resources, so far out of luck. Old gods need them to be able to protect the lands from intruders and possible expansion of the kingdom.

Can you feel the new day rising,
Climbing up the east horizon

Kill it. Kill it with fire!