Go into all the world, and tell all people that new world is great.

   _.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._.-=-._
.----      - ---     --     ---   -----   - --       ----  ----   -     ----.
 )                                                                         (
(                             NewOrigins Events                             )
 )                            December, Year 1                             (
(                                                                           )
 )      A few peasants are talking about an encounter between enemies      (
(       happened in the mountains of Cosdet where many soldiers will        )
 )     never fight again. This battle will be known as Battle near the     (
(                         ocean of Atlantis Ocean.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(       Some druids are whispering about an encounter between hostile       )
 )    forces 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.                      (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     A few pilgrims are whispering about a fight between combatants      (
(     happened in the plains of Piangja where many soldiers will never      )
 )     fight again. This battle will be known as Battle near the ocean     (
(                            of Atlantis Ocean.                             )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(     Many scouts are discussing about the town of Erwhestead that lies     )
 )          in the Meulcos forests, where a villans slew guards.           (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )      Numerous wanderers are worried about the town of Felbruk that      (
(      lies in the Fro'agate plains, where a villans murdered guards.       )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(      Handful commoners are rumoring about the city of Scretibis that      )
 )     lies in the Osdrarway swamps, where a villans massacred guards.     (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     A group of daredevils expelled the Tribe of Centaurs (428) who      (
(      inflicted fear on the inhabitants of the Sofpuctaph plains near      )
 )                           town of Hiampbury.                            (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )     In the caverns of Jenwocend, near ocean of The Undersea, Undead     (
(         (813) who continue to cause terror to local inhabitants.          )
 )                                                                         (
(                          .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                          )
 )                                                                         (
(     In the chasms of Ehi, near ocean of The Undersea, Demon (594) who     )
 )              continue to cause fear to local inhabitants.               (
(                                                                           )
 )                         .:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.                         (
(                                                                           )
 )    Fearsome news were coming from the plains of O'enbran. Commoners     (
(        were scared by the assassination near the ocean of Atlantis        )
 )                 Ocean. The assassin escaped unnoticed.                  (
(__       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       _       __)
    '-._.-' (___ _) '-._.-' '-._.-' )     ( '-._.-' '-._.-' (__ _ ) '-._.-'
            ( _ __)                (_     _)                (_ ___)
            (__  _)                 '-._.-'                 (___ _)
            '-._.-'                                         '-._.-'

Some nations just don't mean war

Now is time to look at developing the area we are in to the maximum. Lots of work to do.

Maybe we should hunt for some giant scorpions?
Hunting party is on the way.

Our ships approached the shores of the hoped for addition to our island empire. To our chagrin however, we spied  what appeared to be either walruses, or perhaps unusually chubby natives, cavorting on the beach. Not our style we said, and turned around.

"Yo, like, weird-stuff dude," began the somewhat-tanned lord.

The subject of his attention peered owlishly through the haze of blue smoke that filled the hut.  "Whoa, bossman, excellent, dude!"  

The lord knelt, and poured some of the questionable-looking punch into his half-coconut cup.  Then he added a reed straw and a paper umbrella.  If one was a lord, one had to observe the niceties.

"How goes the quest for the perfect board?"

The respondant paused to exhale with a pensive sigh.  "Well, we learned some most bodacious secrets of the universe from the hippie weirdos over in the city, which is most excellent.  So now we are splitting our efforts.  We do think we may need to shift from boards to carpets, but when we get it perfected... Dude, it will be a thing of beauty."

The somewhat-tanned lord smiled at the thought.

il faut tout recommencer

Devilry abounds...

Hoooooonk!

Desert? And more people hiding themselves? We are in the end of the world.

Wait? There is an underworld ?

New discoveries about pikes this month we weren't aware of. Size really does matter.

It's good that all issues can be resolved over a glass of beer 🍻 and a crocodile snack 🐊!

Act One, Sixth Scene.

The balcony of the Lord's residence. Evening. On the balcony of the Lord's chambers, another peasant woman is humbly waiting on the bed.
The lord looks at the town square.

Three drunken orcs are chasing a naked peasant across the square. There is a bonfire at the other end of the square, orcs are sitting around the bonfire, something is frying in the bonfire, suspiciously similar to a human leg.
In the distance, on the edge of the town, something is burning strongly. Screams and orcish laughter are heard.

- What good peasants we have, Vasily! Thanks to them, I came up with such a great idea - to invite migrants! What would we do without them? Isn't it time for us to extend this idea to neighboring lands? The world needs our new greatness based on our rules! I will definitely discuss this with the council tomorrow. And it's time to sleep tonight. 
Vasily is sarcastically interested
- Do our neighbors really need this? They seem like good guys. We've gotten along well so far. Again, they keep the north from all evil spirits. We should be grateful to them, and we are such a gift to them, hee-hee!
- Oh, yes! We should get something from them in return for this!
- Ha ha! Don't worry! You will definitely get a satisfaction!

Intermission!

How can we make so many mistakes with all that we know?  Yet, with each error that will never repeat, we must be making progress....

The carnival attack on a small trader outposts was brutal. As a result Trader council made a quick analysis of profitability of conflict and the result was all in red.  Thus, the Writing department was delegated with another task to write long messages and try to find the source of disagreements so that Enclave can stay in black. It seems it will work out

Trees live for a long time with a long memory.  We shall survive

The problem with the donut is there is never enough to go around.

Another visitor has arrived from the Nexus
Welcome traveller.
Enjoy the entertainment supplied by my Ballerina's. Not like that you sicko..

Bridy, come here...

Well, the world has become freer from as many as two murderers, a small fee for a murdered observer.

I slowly approached Zashius. He had already begun to cut off the limbs of the still warm but already dead crocodile with his small but sharp knife.
- Let's hurry Rishsat! Have you forgotten how you were almost eaten yesterday? - said Zashius.
I approached the dead crocodile from the other side and began to cut off the hind limbs just as quickly. I managed it pretty quickly, as if I had been doing it all my life. But I didn't do that. When I started thinking about my past life, when I was still human, my head started to hurt. As if someone started driving nails straight into the back of the head. At the same time as the main pain, images began to appear, which I could not explain in any way.
Here I am small, but not human, I swim in the water and catch a frog.
Here I am already a little bigger, someone threw me part of a human hand.
I began to feel dizzy in my head, from memories that were not mine.
There was no need to pull you out of that swamp yesterday. - said Zashius quietly.
And I began to remember again... There was a battle... We hunted in the swamps as usual. There were four of us. My younger brothers are Kishsat and Mashsat. We tracked down a large turtle that had somehow gotten lost in the swamps. We knew that turtle meat is very tasty. And we surrounded it from four sides. At the same time, they hit the turtle's paws. We knew this would slow her down enough that we could gradually kill her, even though she was very large. But we were not lucky. Wolves began to howl from the northern direction, we were drawn into the battle and could not retreat in time. The wolves attacked rapidly, biting our hands, legs, and tail.The big tortoise also, although it was slowed down by the fact that we injured its legs, it turned sharply and with one movement of its head seized Kissat. He was doomed. He didn't even have time to shout. The turtle bit him in half. During the turn, the turtle hit me on the head with its tail. And realizing that we have no chance not to win, I simply switched off. The next thing I saw was that my brother Mashsat was being eaten by wolves. I myself was lying there bleeding nearby.
- Get out of here monsters! - I heard human speech, and finally turned off.
That's all I remembered about yesterday.
- What happened to the turtle? And who helped us? I said.
- It was the magician El Nio from the town. - said Zashius and lowered his eyes. - You were already barely warm, but the mage said something over you and your wounds began to tighten in a strange way. But he could not save your brothers.
- What do we owe him? - I asked.
- We owe him our lives. Zashius answered.

When you just can't get your orders right.

The underworld expedition had found three sets of monsters - dragons, drow warriors and evil mages! Now to see if any scouts survived the month.

We're all going to die someday...

------------------------------------------------------------
              Squirrel Chatter                first December
------------------------------------------------------------


The  underforest city  of Oghtstowe  looks like  a pleasant,
peaceful place  to settle.  There are  so many  happy, safe,
friendly places in this world.
                              --Meraca Yarareethare, Tahimmo

Well, the tundra  squirrels aren't starving. I  can't get to
them anymore, but they  aren't starving. Squirrels will have
to consider  starting to guard just  so we are more  free to
move around through the tundras  we farm, but the protesters
while expert  at what they do,  do not seem to  be trying to
starve squirrels at this time.
                                  --Ernam Adilodkish, Eckhif

I was supposed to go back  the way I came last month,  but I
wasn't able to manage that, and I'm still where I was, which
isn't where I am supposed to be, or where I want to be. I'll 
try harder to find my way home this month.  Good thing there
is still unclaimed silver in the state old explorers pension
fund.
                                --Tinoth Nothisosed, Prandme

As our  population rises, land tends  to become increasingly
scarse relative  to available labor.   The law of supply and
demand  is  inexorably  driving  rents up  and  wages  down.
Without a steady source of new land at the frontier, how can
social stability be maintained?
                                     --Zas Dathnesmot, Yglen

Dangerous neighborhood, this.
                                  --Mister Sandwich, Pestflo

It takes awhile to set up a good farm.  I sent Sluro back to
make excuses to the undead.
                                            --Ethel, Ianatbu

I wonder whether they are friendly Demons?
                               --Kifono Fanathinilu, Tahimno


------------------------------------------------------------
                         Be with us next time for
                         "Devil Dan thinks it over"
                         or
                         "A fiend in need is a fiend indeed"
                                                 --Squirrels
------------------------------------------------------------

don't go to sleep angry
stay awake and plot revenge

Studying. Endless studying. This is probably not how I should be playing, but no one's attacking, so there's no pressure to build up resources/space. After all, I'm not interested in winning, just surviving until the end.

Jeremy will be ready to transport everyone after Turn 14. The raft (singular) will set sail on Turn 14 as well.

False alarm, we may be able to finish the year in a peaceful note.

Rhydian Kweo groggily opened his eyes halfway and waited for the room to stop spinning.  His mind was muddled, but he did not remember drinking heavily last night, nor did he have the sour taste of a hangover on his tongue. 
     He lay on a bed in a simple yet elegant and well appointed room.  One totally unfamiliar to him.
     "Where am I, and how did I get here?" He wondered.
     Slipping off the bed, Rhydian walked over to the solitary door in the room.  There were no windows.  He put out his hand and, grasping the handle, pulled it open.  A well dressed and distinguished looking woman in her middle years glanced up from a handful of papers she had been perusing. She gave him a warm smile, and ordering the papers neatly on the table, rose from her chair and approached him with poise and grace.
     Extending her hand in welcome, her melodious voice said "Welcome, sir, to our domain.  I am Abiirsa Jaminapour a, Prefect of the Nexus.  I am sure that you have many questions, and I am here to
provide answers and to prepare you for your journey, the first of many."
     "How did I get here, exactly where is Here?  Why am I here and where are my friends?" His questions tumbled out.
     "Come with me to a dining area.  I am sure you are famished.  Everyone always is.  Let's take care of first things first, and I will explain everything to you."
     As he ate.....he found that he was indeed incredibly hungry; Abiirsa began the education of Rhydian.
     Nexus was an eternal place, existing timelessly in the ether between worlds, universes, and realities.  Everything was connected and created for the education and perfecting of all intelligent beings. Each of us were born into the world, situation, and life that would give us idividually the best start in our education.  As we learned and grew, what we learned, the decisions we made, what we did, and who and what we became, would decide where we would go next and what our possibilities would be.  If we chose aright and became a person exhibiting wisdom, justice, compassion and charity; we would become an exalted being with the power, privilege, and responsibility of creation and guiding others in their journeys.
     Rhydian would be placed in a terrain of his choice on one of the originating worlds to begin his becoming and his friends would join him once properly prepared. 

Ugh, it smells like sulfur down there! We better get back to the surface.

What a friendly little town!

TIP OF THE TURN 11!

#2 Always try to kill guards!

Goats are like mushrooms. Because if you shoot a duck, I'm afraid of toasters.

Reports returning from our explorers have the map makers excited, more evidence against the Flat Earthers to show the world is in fact round - Donut round. 

Some fools continue to hold to the theory that the world is a globe but they are laughed out of the science halls. Yet others claim it is somehow cylindrical but we see no evidence of such nonsense.  

The Donut theory however has achieved its own schism, some trying to call it the Dough Nut theory. Madness.

-- Ils sont fous ces scientifiques (toc toc toc)

Again...

After the previous unexpected attack, my full attention was on defenses. Some preparations have been made and alliances forged. Hopefully that will be enough. 
In the mean time, trading is blooming in the city. Lots of coin changes hands between merchants and crafters. 
With spare silver, exploration teams are recruited. They bring news of horrible monsters in the swamp.
I wonder, What will next month bring?

The Swarm has commenced its march. Consuming all in its path!

Nothing much to report, a few scouts blocked and blocked a few in return

Carnival of Shadows Faces New Mystery After Midnight Disappearance

Late last night, yet another twist in the tale of the Carnival of Shadows unfolded, as Elara Brightspark, a well-known carnival assistant, mysteriously vanished after the final show. Witnesses report seeing her enter the Hall of Mirrors but never leave. Authorities are investigating, though some carnival-goers speculate that her disappearance may be part of Jobobo’s ever-growing spectacle.

Old Jobobo, in typical fashion, commented:
"Ah, Elara? Perhaps she found a reflection more interesting than herself. These things happen."

As tensions rise and rumors swirl, Atlantis eagerly watches the shadows for more answers.

You flatter yourself! I've overseen the assimilation of countless millions. You were no different!

Voices come from down the hall, in my room all painted white.
I have my bat and rubber ball, I like to sleep with them at night.
But now I'm all smiles, the good little shots must be winning.
Yes, they crank my dial, my motor is stalled but my wheels are still spinning.

Sabotage or Incompetence?
Work on the latest Lunarian vessel unexpectedly ground to a halt this month. Management laid the blame on malcontents sowing unrest amongst the workforce, possibly encouraged by agents of a foreign power. However, rumours abound amongst the workers that an incompetent manager issued conflicting orders to several work crews. An investigation is currently underway.

THE SOUTHERN COURIER - no hype, just the straight news.

Breaking News!  Counterfeiting Racket Smashed!  Ringleader Arrested!

If anybody doubts the efficiency and professionality of The Police Department they can think again. The Department, leadered by the redoubtable Inspector Lagrasse has just released information about the heinous crimes perpetrate by perhaps one of the most dangerous criminals of all time.

Auditors from The Royal Nonentity Mint tipped off authorities after they noticed a discrepancy in the weights of silver coins arriving at the mint and the same coins some time later. The Mint, besides minting faction coins, also acts as repository for local factions', markets' and peasants' silver reserves. The accused somehow gained access to the vaults and was caught red-handed tampering with the coins. These coins back the weightless silver certificates used by all.
 
At a news conference held on the steps of Police HQ, Lagrasse announced:
"Crimes like this have the potential to undermine public trust in the currencies. We may have just prevented the total collapse of one faction's currency." 


Later he visited the cells to look at the prisoner. Behind him rattled the jail library trolley stacked with books.  
"Well, Orthogonal, thought you were smarter than us?" he said, picking up 'How to start a Book Club' by Baroness Orzcy "Now you have a choice. Work for us and we'll get you off light. Otherwise  we'll throw the book at you."
"I'm no snitch " insisted Orthogonal.  
"You get around and nobody even notices that you're there. Bring us anything you hear about the Body Artist..."
"Just about him and nothing about anybody else?"
"Welcome to the team! Your code-name is Bluestone."  


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


Ambassador's Report: 

I stand at the far Eastern edge of the known world. The factions around seem friendly enough. Wrote **coded** who refuses entry but has assured me he will not interfere with my mission. I would advise we send him a sample of our wares, perhaps he will change his mind when he sees the potential of trade and cooperation. I depart soon and will send a report on what I find next month. Thankyou for the horse, It looks like a reliable beast. If I fall off the edge of the world, or something else stops me reporting, please give the attached letter to my wife. I would hate for her to read a sensationalised story of my fate in the Times.

The Great Map grows!

over 610 hexes now mapped. both above and below
contact the Friendly Cartographers today to share in the knowledge and contribute to the great cause.

this would be the last random jump he hoped. now for more direction,

coming soon to you, gate jumping messenger. need to send silver across your amazingly vast empire? have gates? then we have your solution

diversifying our income streams to allow for better entertainment.

The Pied Piper

Groo was happier. 
soon Groo would be able to attack the bog things and undead that dwelt in the swamps.

soon.... 

Run lola... Run...

Honk?

Luke was happy. this city would do nicely.

friends had come forth and the posse had settled in. time to study hard, and help out his new friends

Starting over again for the first time!

It's amazing how the sound of a centaur travelling across mountainous terrain echoes. For size and discretion, there's nothing better than a good elf.

Centaurs?  Really?  Because they are the best farmers?

Stranger warn'd rudely
New homeland for us alone
But they did not heed

Lagrasse used to be a butler.