Be productive and strong; explore new land and find a way to survive.

   _.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._
.----      - ---     --     ---   -----   - --       ----  ----   -     ----.
 )                                                                         (
(                             NewOrigins Events                             )
 )                              July, Year 2                               (
(                                                                           )
 )      Dozen bards are talking about a clash between hostile forces       (
(     happened in the plains of Jetmedde where many soldiers will never     )
 )     fight again. This battle will be known as Battle near the ocean     (
(                            of Atlantis Ocean.                             )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(      Some locals are worried about the battle between hostile forces      )
 )       happened in the plains of Ci'oulger where battle ended in a       (
(        slaughter of one of the sides. This battle will be known as        )
 )                 Battle near the forests of Sparsticre.                  (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     Handful traders are worried about the battle between combatants     (
(        happened in the mountains of Inhead where battle ended in a        )
 )       slaughter of one of the sides. This battle will be known as       (
(                       Battle near the town of Sehe.                       )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(     Many traders are worried about the village of Uprun that lies in      )
 )            the Cenintco plains, where a faction slew guards.            (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )    Several refugees have heard about the town of Iywick that lies in    (
(         the Crillversqui jungles, where a villans killed guards.          )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(     Many druids have heard about adventurers who have destroyed Clan      )
 )    of Wild Men (195) near city of Dau'asthaven. Freeing the jungles     (
(                        of Blodo from their dread.                         )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(       Multiple bards have heard about rangers who have slew Pirates       )
 )    (1053) near forests of Sposdaywood. Freeing the ocean of Atlantis    (
(                         Ocean from their terror.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(     Several adventurers are worried about witchers who have murdered      )
 )      Clan of Wild Men (196) near city of Dau'asthaven. Freeing the      (
(                   jungles of Blodo from their anxiety.                    )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(     Many locals are worried about adventurers who have decimated Imp      )
 )     (7655) near town of Leserstead. Freeing the tundra of Rendprog      (
(                            from their anxiety.                            )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(      In the ocean of Atlantis Ocean, near town of Quolebury, Merfolk      )
 )        (285) who continue to cause terror to local inhabitants.         (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     In the ocean of Atlantis Ocean, near jungles of Maput, Pirates      (
(         (1733) who continue to cause dread to local inhabitants.          )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(       In the jungles of Dyni, near ocean of Atlantis Ocean, Clan of       )
 )     Wild Men (357) who continue to cause fear to local inhabitants.     (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )        Frightening news were coming from the forests of Meulcos.        (
(         Citizens were afraid by the assassination in the town of          )
 )               Erwhestead. The assassin escaped unnoticed.               (
(__       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       __)
    '-._.-' (___ _) '-._.-' '-._.-' )     ( '-._.-' '-._.-' (__ _ ) '-._.-'
            ( _ __)                (_     _)                (_ ___)
            (__  _)                 '-._.-'                 (___ _)
            '-._.-'                                         '-._.-'

The war machine rolls out.

Finally shelter for our mages. This will help their study as well.

People with papers were tried to steal our land.
Now their thieves was caught stealing our silver.
Bad, bad people with papers

It's a little delayed, but be assured, excitement is coming.

The bronzed lord lay back on the soft cushions on the reclining chair, revelling in the gentle waft of air from the palm fronds that his equally-bronzed attendants slowly churned above him.

Whoever put a weapon of mass destruction in such a paradise, he thought, really was a most bogus individual.

quelle puissance !!

Honk

the final countdown...

"Sir, the centaurs have not attacked this month."
"Finally we have a bit of luck on our side"
"Sir, about that ... the centaurs haven't attacked, because an ice dragon has, and the centaurs are scared of it"
"groan... not only the centaurs"

Deeply sad news. Wistful thinking doesn't seem adequate at times.

Warning! Crocodiles from the Nibiru Swamp have allegedly captured a newspaper editor. Measures have already been taken...

Act Three, Scene One

The Lord's chambers. Guardian Vasily, Centurion Petro, Heads of craft guilds, Weather Magician. 

"We tracked him to the edge of the forest. He brazenly galloped past the guards on a horse, did not react to shouts, behaved suspiciously, held himself confidently in the saddle, it was obvious that the appropriate skills were there. He obviously knew the area and had a map, perhaps he exchanged it with our western neighbor. He was moving purposefully to the north. Hi was stopped at the very border. My men caught up with him. They didn't try to figure his out, they hacked him right in the saddle."
"Yes! Close the borders, introduce a total inspection. Do not offend the neighbors, but turn around suspicious clowns with riding skills who broke through without permission - on a stake! What's up with the anti-evil squad's weapons?"
"The armor is stamping. We are still the first in terms of armor and shields, but magicians have started making enchanted armor, so we will soon lose the lead in this indicator."
"Heavy weapons have also been put into production. We are clearly not ahead here, but we have a feature that may soon become an advantage."
"Magicians, what do you have with the willingness to march on the undead?"
"We are not ready. We need time. And I'm afraid that it will still be necessary to recruit militias. Yes, most of them will die, but this will give us a chance to live to the end of the battle..."
"This is a bad decision! If you give us time to learn, we can offer a target for the Lich curse without killing civilians"
"You have 4 turns. We need a safe passage! And the undead are a hindrance to us on this path! Now I will report what we have on the international track. Magicians! You have a replenishment! There will be many students! The neighbors from the north are causing concern. Surveillance of the south is lost after the observers are killed. We cut other people's observers ourselves, so victims are inevitable for us. The West is under the protection of neighbor. The East is waiting for our ships. The dungeon is not for us. But we'll go back there."

What is this focus on quantity?  How many swords?  How many people?  A better understanding of those already here is the way - do not dilute your knowledge.  Soon we will reduce the number of people to concentrate all knowledge.

The traders report to those that like to enforce justice the observation of stealing as a traveller from Lord of Drama faction tried to steal silver from some of Enclave's traders. However, good notice skills are requirement even for novice trainers, hence, thief was noticed, alarm raised although he escaped punishment right there. Probable causes for this act includes greed, hunger and/or malice.
Be aware.

What the enemy ran away? Where did they go.  We are but trees!!

Not much happening in my section. Time to start exploring the ocean I think.

lets go hunting

Shameless excuce to have some silver..

There is no order in this story. Send the storyteller to the bonfire!

Thanks Friends!

Well done to the assassin.  We have your number.

The Council of the Four Winds was very excited. They had 100% of all the mushrooms gathered on the entire planet! Surely they would then dominate the world in healing potion production! Yes, it wasn't as exciting as being number 1 in advanced weapons or armour, but to completely corner the market in one substance was interesting.

The problem with trents, aside from getting your guardsmen all killed, is just this: you can never trust a tree again. We keep trying to cut them all down, but there are exactly 27 full-sized trees in the same spot again every month. 

Empires are born and die.

------------------------------------------------------------
              Squirrel Chatter                   second July
------------------------------------------------------------

Sound the horns! Ring the  bell! Clash the cymbals. Round up
all  the  ice  cowboys  and  ice cowgirls!  It  is  time  to
celebrate!  After almost  a year  of tending  this destroyed
tundra, some  natives are  finally coming  back.  There is a
demand for theatre  and poetry again, and  the local economy
is slowly  coming back to  life. I sure wish  Pinkie Blossum
and Miss  Blossum were here  to celebrate with us.  I wonder
where they trotted off to? I hope they are okay. Anyway, let
us  sacrifice the  fatted  calf (fatted  calves  we have  in
abundance, the destruction of  the local economy didn't seem
to  affect how  many livestock  we can  graze on  this tasty
ice), strike the drums, let there be dancing and drinking to
celebrate the healing of this frozen wasteland.
                              --Soloz Lunrudthazor, Rendprog

Watch was right. Dragons are fun. Well, this ice dragon, and
the underworld  dragon that  Watch visited are  fun, anyway.
And just  like Watch  said, the  ice dragon  knew everything
about magic. Well, I think  so, anyway, squirrels don't know
much of anything about magic, so maybe we wouldn't know. But
squirrels  have explored  much of  the world,  and this  Ice
Dragon had a  silver world cylinder, with  land marked using
steel and two other metals  I do not recognize. The dragon's
world cylinder  had little holes punched  or drilled through
the cylinder  where all  the shafts  are located.  The shaft
locations that squirrels know about were all just where they
should be, too,  so dragons do know  about geography. Inside
out  from  what the  Drow  claim,  this ice  dragon's  world
cylinder had the tundra on  the outside of the cylinder, and
the chasms on  the inside of the cylinder. Not  sure why the
Drow claim  it is  the opposite  way, but  I trust  this ice
dragon. The squirrels in the ice are on the outside, and the
squirrels in the chasms are  on the inside. I wonder whether
the silver world cylinders of  Chasm Dragons have the chasms
on the outside and the ice on the inside?
                               --Misssy Ssawtooth, Crenkaces

Looking for  a way  out of  these interminable  tunnels that
does not end  in a demon pit  or a dragon's cave,  I found a
new kind of lair, or perhaps the  squirrels  have found  one
other lair  like this  in the underworld.  This lair  has an
illyrthid.  Funny looking  thing. I  think it  is the  first
illyrthid squirrels have seen yet. He  or she or it seems to
be accompanied by 15 skeletons and 8 undead. Well, squirrels
know the undead are usually  friendly. I wonder whether that
means illyrthids are friendly too?
                                          --Noel, Silxidcact

World  population   growth  rose  this  month,   from  about
3000/month to about 3500/month, a significant increase. This
means  we  weren't  at  the  inflection  point  last  month,
and  aren't there  this  month;  population  growth is still
increasing.
                     world population by month
  35000  -------------------------------------------------- 
        |                                                  |
        |                                                  |
  30000 |-                                               **|
        |                                               *  |
        |                                             **   |
        |                                            *     |
  25000 |-                                         **     -|
        |                                         *        |
        |                                       **         |
  20000 |-                                     *          -|
        |                                    **            |
        |                                   *              |
        |                                 **               |
  15000 |-                              **                -|
        |                            ***                   |
        |                          **                      |
  10000 |-                       **                       -|
        |                      **                          |
        |                   ***                            |
        |                 **                               |
   5000 |-              **                                -|
        |          *****                                   |
        |       ***                                        |
      0  -------------------------------------------------- 
           2     4     6     8     10    12    14    16   18
Hill  dwarves are  still  excluded,  because squirrels  have
still  not recruited  one. Squirrels  have now  seen a  hill
dwarf though; the "degraded underdwarves" the Drow theorized
DO  actually exist.  I wonder  whether this  graph would  be
easier to  read if I  plotted world population  increase per
month instead of total world population per month?
                                        --Nanotha, Ersatrork

Now  where  did  scout  5473 go?  Perhaps  he  woke  up  the
sorcerors?  And why does it take  so many months to  enter a
chasm on  foot?   We may wish we had fled to the underforest
instead of to the chasm.
                                      --Geographers, Tahimmo

The squirrel frontier grows ever smaller and smaller.  There
are other factions almost everywhere  we go now.  And,  as I
predicted,  the  squirrel  income per  capita  continues  to
decline.  We  are  now  down  to 24  silver  per  month  per
squirrel.  Graph not worth the space it would  take up, just
like last month but ends a little lower.  I  think the cause
is  an  increased fraction  of  squirrels  that are  farming
instead of taxing, together with an interminable line at the
grain and livestock markets.  Our per capita income would be
higher if I  booked income when food was  produced, not when
sold or consumed.  But then how many silver should each head
of livestock be worth?  Buyers pay 26 silver in Mowdorf, but
only 18 silver in Ersatrork.
                                     --Zas Dathnesmot, Yglen

What is  that stalking prey in  the snow drifts? Is  that an
ice sphinx?      I guess snow drifts and sand dunes are both
aeolean terrain.    Perhaps there  are warmer lands close to
this tundra?   Are ice sphinges friendly?   Aw, cute  widdle
kitty cat.  Shall I put out a bowl of milk for her?
                                              --Flimp, Ubrem

------------------------------------------------------------
                                Be with us next time for
                                "Aeolic triad 54:64:81"
                                or
                                "I sphinx I saw a puddy tat"
                                                 --Squirrels
------------------------------------------------------------

This world is huge!

First gate popped Jeremy in an already occupied city. Oh well, trying again.
The Overseas Group has been informed of a small, seemingly unclaimed plains section. It looks promising and should be reached in a few turns.
The Observers take to farming. The lands we formerly occupied are free now.

The teachers were worth their silver, only a couple of slow students didn't pass the test.

A change of pace is coming

Tundra is a boring and slow terrain. And without roads it is even slower.

A crypt clouds the sun.

End of quote. Repeat the line.

We send expeditions in all directions and only encounter desolation. What evil salts the lands and creates nothing but burnt fields and weeping common folk. 

Go North

Another day, another night
Another sip, another bite

Finally the swarm is at sea!

Build build build. 

Enchanted Marionettes Take Center Stage at Carnival of Shadows

In a dazzling new performance, the Carnival of Shadows unveiled its latest act: the Enchanted Marionettes. These eerie, life-sized puppets, controlled by invisible strings, performed an intricate dance that left the audience spellbound. With movements so fluid they seemed almost human, the marionettes acted out a dramatic tale of love and betrayal, captivating all who watched.

When asked about the puppets’ lifelike nature, Old Jobobo grinned and remarked:
"Strings, shadows, or souls—it’s all about how you pull them."

The Enchanted Marionettes have quickly become the talk of Atlantis, drawing crowds curious to see the magic behind the curtain.

I'm in control, I got a bulletproof soul, and I'm full of self-esteem
I invented myself with no one's help, I'm a prototype supreme
I sit on my private throne, and run my lifestyle all alone
Me, myself and I agree, we don't need nobody else
I never learned to bow, bend or crawl, to any known authority
I really want to build my statue tall, that's all
I'm just trying to be God, I only wanna be God!
I just wanna be God, Why can't I be God?

Lost at Sea

Sails torn by the storm,  
Sketchy maps lead to nowhere,  
Hopes and dreams drift on.

Interesting, mused Mercator Jnr. the enemy moved in mysterious ways.

oh well, this was but a game and win or lose, he had had fun. certainly he would not be involved in the final battles, but this mini war had been interesting. 

our enemy is a better tactician and better organised, facing 3 enemies, they have held fast and pushed ahead. this would be the turning point.

Mercator jnr saluted his noble enemy. he had fought well indeed

Damn and blast it!

where had those Kobolds come from?! the plans to take the settlement would have to be delayed while they regrouped. maybe entertaining the masses was far easier than trying to form a war band.

At least the fleet was coming along nicely. several new lands had been discovered, and the minstrels spread out to bring cheer and good music to all

Groo was finally at ease... the squirrels seemed like good luck charms. no monsters had invaded for a while and Groo thought he might just be able to repel an assault....

maybe....

this third time of rebuilding should be the lucky one he hoped. Friends were being made overseas, and he was content to tinker away on his small island. he dreamed of one day being in charge of a village, but that day would have to wait.

soon he would develop his scouting idea and the world would become clearer. the troops trained, the tinkers tinked. all was going smoothly.....

I bet its this turn I get wiped out, muses Groo......

Devil!

*squirkle*    (what noise do squirrels make?)

These cowboy Magic Robes looked weird to Lukes wizened eye...
oh well, guess its all the rage in the big city.
looking around the newly constructed buildings, Luke paused to take in their majesty. things were moving quickly nowdays. sometimes too fast for an old cowpoke like himself...
At least the Demons had wandered off, they were the worst drinking partners a man could ask for.

there was news that Lady Sybil and Sir Vimes would be touring the new buildings, and maybe even moving in! this would be interesting as Lady Sybil was well known throughout these parts as an avid Dragon breeder.

the scouting had bought back some information, the island would prove interesting. 

all in all things were ticking along nicely

i need to figure out why my units are so agoraphobic

I really, really want to move more than two hexes after exiting the Nexus without being killed - what am  dong so very wrong?

When an orc bites its nails, it's not that he's hungry, it's that he's rushing what he's already eaten.

Hello World!

Join the Resistance!
PS. You know where to find us.

Uhm, no, where do we find you?

(elsewhere)

I have traced the Rebel spies to her.  Now she is my only link to find their secret base!

pale foam dark coffee
jaw clench'd in hot frustration
forgotten sugar