Underdeep: Month of the Beetle, Week 2 (Orders due May 27)

[Numinous]

[ic=From the journal of Dr. Robertson, Professor Emeritus of Non-Euclidean Mathematics at Winterhaven]I think fondly back on snow.  That irreverent inconvenience.  A layer of silence on a world too busy to see.  A closed window and a uniform view of white.  The purity of the silence, reigning like an untouchable tyrant over the land.

There is no fighting snow, one simply expects it and must face it when it comes.  There is no trying to stop it, there is no victory of the heat over it, it simply comes and all life must abide its embrace until it leaves of its own volition.

The struggle of men.  The struggle of men to raise kingdoms.  the struggle of men to raise armies.  Great battles against dragons, the conquering of a rival tribe, the birth of a child.  All is forgotten after one's demise.  Some times it takes one generation, other times a dozen.  Yet the snow buries all traces, the memories of men are fickle and brief.  Why struggle in the face of one's inevitable demise?

The answer is simple of course, although they never listened.  The answer is right there in front of us all.  It's pointless.  there is no meaning in struggling, only to die.  The only constant is change, and the only memory is forgotten.

But what if we decided not to forget?  What if we rested and spoke and carried on forever, an eternal essay written day by day and known to all who listened?  The solution is simple.  Do not forget, do not abide, do not die.  The answer is simply to listen.  To me.[/ic]
[spoiler=Orders]
[spoiler=Production]Albaiyat Alhazred, The Red House (Upperdeep 85)
Bone Garden: 20 Bodies
Undead Mine: 175 Gold, 15 Metal

Iron Hall (Upperdeep 87)
Undead Mine: 175 Gold, 15 Metal

Arterial Antechamber (Upperdeep 89)
None

Dormitory of Bones (Upperdeep 91)
Crystals: 20 Gold
Undead Mine: 175 Gold, 15 Metal (Just Completed)

Combat: 9 Bodies
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Trade]
Trade with Llitul: -4 Food (2 more weeks of food shipments promised)
Trade with Gloomsong: -4 Food (2 more weeks of food shipments promised)[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Upkeep]2 Liches: No Upkeep
Gorgol: -13 Gold, -3 Food
2 Promoted Zombies: No Upkeep
2 Promoted Skeletal Archers: No Upkeep
1 Promoted Skeletal Warrior: No Upkeep
1 Chaos Beast: -13 Bodies
11 Zombies: No Upkeep (2 weeks until decay into skeletons)
70 Skeletal Archers: No Upkeep
6 Skeletal Warriors: No Upkeep
3 Ghouls: -3 Bodies
1 Ghast: -2 Bodies[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Construction]
Albaiyat Alhazred (Upperdeep 85)
BeginningConstruction:
Scrying Chamber: 2 weeks remaining, -150 gold
Barrow: 3 weeks remaining, -75 gold, -25 metal

The Arterial Antechamber (Upperdeep 89)
BeginningConstruction:
Undead Mine: 3 week remaining, -175 gold, -15 metal

The Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
Under Construction:
Spiked Moat: 1 weeks remaining

The Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
Under Construction:
Spiked Moat: 1 weeks remaining

BeginningConstruction:
Outer Wall: 2 weeks remaining, -50 gold
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Recruitment]The Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84):
1 Chaos Beast (Summoned): -35 gold, -1 body

Albaiyat Alhazred (Upperdeep 85):
3 Skeletal Archers: -24 gold, -3 bodies, -3 metal
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Wealth]Gold: 30
Metal: 64
Food: 141
Bodies: 141
Diseased Bodies: 135[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]Albaiyat Alhazred, The Red House (Upperdeep 85)

Lich's Study
Tomb
1 Bone Garden
Undead Mine
Catacomb
Arcane Library (Added spells: Confusion, Chaos Spell, Summon (Chaos Beast))
Necromantic Laboratory
Teleportation Circle (Unlinked)

Spiked Moat

Iron Hall (Upperdeep 87)
Nothing.

Arterial Antechamber (Upperdeep 89)
Nothing.

Dormitory of Bones (Upperdeep 91)
Undead Mine

Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
Iron Gate

Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
Iron Gate[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Armies]
Professor Robertson - Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
Gorgol the Anarch - Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
Bard the Boneman (Skeletal Archer Captain) - Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
4 Skeletal Warriors – Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
7 Zombies – Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
1 Chaos Beast - Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
1 Ghoul - Garrisoned at Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
1 Ghast - Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)
37 Skeletal Archers - Garrisoned on the Dean's Wall (Upperdeep 84)

1 Skeletal Archer - Upperdeep 86

Deadeyes (Skeletal Archer Captain) - Garrisoned at the Iron Hall (Upperdeep 87)

1 Skeletal Archer - Upperdeep 88

Headless Ned (Skeletal Warrior Commander) - Garrisoned at the Arterial Antechamber (Upperdeep 89)

1 Skeletal Archer - Upperdeep 90

"King" Stephan (Zombie Commander) - Garrisoned at the Dormitory of Bones (Upperdeep 91)

Weiler the Rotten (Zombie Captain) – Garrisoned at the Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
Markus Ashton – Garrisoned at the Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
30 Skeletal Archers – Garrisoned at the Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
4 Zombies – Garrisoned at the Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
2 Skeletal Warriors – Garrisoned at the Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
2 Ghouls – Garrisoned at the Wall of Rats (Upperdeep 92)
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Characters]
[ic=Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal]Ranged Attack: +10
Ranged Damage: 8
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 18
Health: 20
Speed: 4
Morale: N/A
Special Abilities: Detector, Fear (DC 20), Curse, Haste, Illusory Duplicate, Poison Cloud, Scribe Scroll, Leadership, Necromantic Healing, Phylactery, Undead
Inventory: -[/ic]
[ic=Markus Ashton, Servant of Madness]Ranged Attack: +10
Ranged Damage: 8
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 18
Health: 20
Speed: 4
Morale: N/A
Special Abilities: Detector, Fear (DC 20), Dread Curse, Leadership, Necromantic Healing, Phylactery, Undead
Inventory: -[/ic]
[ic=Gorgol the Anarch]Upkeep: 13 Gold, 3 Food
Ranged Attack: +6
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +8
Melee Damage: 6
Defence: 16
Health: 15
Speed: 3
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Confusion, Haste, Chaos Spell, Detector, Summon (Chaos Beast), Follower
Inventory: -[/ic]
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Orders]Professor Robertson will learn to scribe scrolls. He will also move to Albaiyat Alhazred and learn Invisibility this turn. He will scribe a scroll of Invisibility and a scroll of Poisonous Cloud this turn, for the purposes of trade. He will take 17 of the archers and the ghast off the dean's wall with him. Outside of Albaiyat Alhazred, he will join up with the 3 recently raised skeletons and cast haste on the regiment. The 20 skeletal archers will then move to upperdeep 92.

Gorgol will summon another chaos beast, follow them, and cast haste on them. He and the beasts will move south to upperdeep 90.

I'm not sure how scouting works, precisely, so I'll try and just say what I want. I want a ghoul from the wall of rats to scout the Cleversmart/Mithril Tower force. I imagine this will involve either moving to upperdeep 93 and scouting down or moving to middledeep 73 and scouting west. It may be that they'll be gone by the time the ghoul can make it down there, but there's no harm in trying. If it happens to blunder into anyone, the ghoul is ordered to retreat. After scouting the ghoul should return to upperdeep 92 and garrison on the wall if possible.

Ashton will move to upperdeep 88. (Spending a short time meeting Gorgol as they pass each other.)
[/spoiler][/spoiler]
[spoiler=Messages]
[spoiler=Message to the Onyx Prince]
Most esteemed Bloodlord,
 It pleases us most greatly to hear from you that the Abject are interested in joining our alliance, and we would happily assist another practitioner of the necrmantic arts for the cause of eliminating the Nocae from the depths.  While their recent victories have put them in a most beneficial position, due to recent  assaults on our borders, we find ourselves unable to offer troop assistance at this time, or in the coming few weeks.
 Despite this difficulty, we are able and willing to provide assistance by means of food, metal, or scrolls.  As for scrolls, we have recently researched the technology recently to allow casters to actively use these consumables espite not knowing the spells written upon them.  If you would be so kind as to apprise us of your available casting units, then we can make more useful arrangements for you.  We can sell scrolls to you in the varieties of Curse, Haste, Illusory Duplicate, Poison Cloud, and Invisibility.  These offer a powerful tool for force multiplication that should assist you and the Cerelich greatly in any deployments you wish to pursue.  Finally, we expect to have powerful scrying capabilities at our disposal two weeks from now that will aid you in providing intel on our mutual nemeses.
 In the vein of deploying troops in the looming conflict, I have plotted a course by which I would be able to personally move to Middledeep 18 and establish a forward base of operations for the purpose of transporting troops directly to the front.  This base would exist only for the purpose of troop transport and would allow us to launch assaults with greater immediacy.  We understand any concens you may have about a position of a different faction so close to your borders, and as such we willingly open the doors of such a possible dungeon to troops of yours or the Cerelich in order to supervise our operation.  If you assent to this plan, I will depart shortly under the shroud of invisibility magic, so our movements may appear sudden, so we wish to advise you not to be alarmed if we suddenly appear on your border.
 Finally, regarding further contacts of alliance, I have been encouraged by my tactically minded apprentice to enquire of you as to whether you have had any contact with the forces of Grolhund the Heartscrew, as our intelligence indicates that he is operating perilously close to your territory and he may pose a threat to my person if I choose to venture to your territory, or the Legio I Draco, as both represent unknown quantities in the coming conflict.  If you have no objections to this plan, we are willing to offer a bounty to the Legionary kobolds for Nocae corpses, as we see here an opportunity to apply more pressure to the Nocae in light of their recent acquisition of goblin fortifications.

Sincerest regards from the tomb,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to Llitul, the Exalted]
Most esteemed speaker of the madness,
 It confuses us slightly that you would wish to deal alone with the surface intruders, but we wish you the best of luck in your engagements with them.
 We continue to enjoy our trade relationships with you, and would like to inquire how that has worked out for you so far.  At this time, we have recently come upon the technology to create scrolls which provide casting units the ability to cast spells off of their spell list.  At this time, they are available in the varieties of Curse, Haste, Illusory Duplicate, Poison Cloud, and Invisibility for the price of 20 gold a scroll.  Even if you are not interested in these offers at this time, they remain on the table for the foreseeable future, along with the opportunity to renew your food trading arrangement.

Sincerely,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to Lady Gloomsong]
Most esteemed Lady of Darkness,
 It is with great ambivalence that I must pass on a request from one of my allies at this time that it would be most beneficial if you would not strike at the surface elves.  
 On a more economic note, we are curious how our food trade has benefitted you so far, and if you would like to renew our trade agreement as it draws to a close.  Additionally, we have recently developed the technology to create scrolls that would allow casting units to utilize spells outside of their current repertoire.  If you would like to purchase these, we currently have Curse, Haste, Illusory Duplicate, Poison Cloud, and Invisibility available for the low price of 16 gold per scroll.  If you are not interested at this time, we will continue to offer these trades for the foreseeable future.

Sincerely,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to the Legio I Draco]
Most esteemed of the civilized rats,
 It pleases me to write you today about a most profitable opportunity related to the business of doing violence to good people.  Due to recent changes in the power balance of the Underdeep, we find it most permissible to offer you a gratuitous sum of gold in exchange for the bodies of the elves known as the Nocae.  If you wish to enter into such an agreement of bounties and slaughter, we are willing to pay you 6 gold for each elf corpse and 3 gold for the corpses of their accursed or other such units.  Alternatively, we are willing to offer food instead of gold at the rate of 3 food per 1 gold.  If this arrangement pleases you, please inform us at your earliest convenience through the local post.

Sincerely patronizing,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to The Abject]
Oh twisted ones,
 It gladdens me exceedingly to make contact with your rotting magnificence.  Long have we heard rumors of another mighty practitioner of the necromantic arts, and rumors of our coming cooperation are ones we hope have more than a hint of truth.  It is most enjoyable that we are in a situation where we may enter into an alliance with you and the Kirr for the purpose of crushing those accursed light-bearers, the Nocae.
 Though we cannot be immediately present to provide a military force for at least another month, we are able and willing to provide financial assistance, through food, ore, bodies, gold, or the power of scrolls.  If you would be so kind as to apprise us of the disposition of your available casting units, then we can make more useful arrangements for you.  We can provide scrolls to you in the varieties of Curse, Haste, Illusory Duplicate, Poison Cloud, and Invisibility.  These offer a powerful tool for force multiplication that should assist you and the Kirr greatly in any deployments you wish to pursue.
 Finally, we are curious about your expected timeline with regard to the coming battle with our shared enemy, so that we might adequately plan our movements.  Any information you have on the intended time of engagement will aid us greatly.

Sincerely dead,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[Spoiler=Reply to Lady Gloomsong]
Most esteemed singer to shades,
 In regards to our economic ties, we shall endeavor to continue our research and production of scrolls toward your needs in the future.  Additionally, we will expect another ten gold in 3 weeks to facilitate another cycle of our food transaction.
 In regards to the alliance of the dark, we will be more than happy to pass on any information relating to our strategies so long as it does not impact their efficacy in destroying the Nocae threat.

Sincerely forward-looking,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Reply to the Abject]
Most esteemed keeper of the dead tendrils,
 It pleases us greatly to engage in communication with you as well!  We have heard much of your work and are excited to cooperate further in the near future.  Unfortunately, the dismal business of battle forces me to delay that conversation.  Business dictates that we should should discuss the movements of troops and allocations of resources instead of the finer points of necromantic theory on this day.
 A scroll of invisibility has been arranged for, and will be sent to you on the next week, along with a shipment of 20 diseased bodies.[note]You may wish to discuss with Steerpike whether there are unit you can construct with diseased bodies.  We have some, but they are not on our tech tree and they do not appear on yours either.[/note]
 For the movement of troops for the coming military action, we have arranged to establish a forward base of operations in Middledeep 27, where our teleportation circle will be able to supply a steady supply of troops to the front.  We open our borders to you on this matter, freely allowing you to station troops in this prospective dungeon in order to build trust.  I will be overseeing it's construction personally, and look gravely forward to meeting you in person.

Sincerest Regards,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Reply to Llitul the Exalted]
Dearest dreamer of dreams,
 We will send to you next week a scroll of Poisonous Cloud for the low price of 14 gold, for what else are allies in madness for?  If you would be so kind however, to supply us with all information on this hag you spoke of, including methods of contact or her location, that would be most appreciated in return for such prices this week and in the future.  Additionally, we are capable of producing scrolls of Necromantic Healing for your use in the future, if you would be interested in those at the same rate of 14 gold.

Sincerest regards,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to the Onyx Prince]
Dearest lord of blood,
 While the location is slightly less defensible, we find your suggestion of Middledeep 27 to be more than adequate for the purposes of staging our assault.  We will endeavor to construct the staging area as soon as I can make it to the region personally, and from there our teleportation circle will be ready in 4 weeks.  This entire plan should take an estimate of two months to complete.
 However, once I arrive, I will be able to raise undead from any bodies that fall in the conflict, as well as provide my spell-casting and scroll-crafting skills.
 It will please you to know that our contact with the Abject has been received extremely well and the alliance appears to be progressing quite nicely.
 Unfortunately, we have not received a reply from the Legionary kobolds in relation to the offer of a bounty we sent them a few days ago.

Sincerely,
- Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal[/spoiler][/spoiler]
 

[Polycarp]

The Glow - Fungoids - Week 7

The Glow Theme

[spoiler=Messages to Kafer][ic=Message 1]A chorus of whispers answers back.

The duergar-flesh offers nothing which we desire.  There are no threats which we require the aid of the flesh against.  Explain the purpose of this alliance.[/ic]
[ic=Message 2]We desire our garden.  The Dwer-flesh dwells in our garden.  The Dwer-flesh has given us a "word" that they shall love our garden and make no sharpness with us if they remain.  We are unsure if the word of flesh possesses value.  Yet we see no cause for sharpness with this flesh, as we do not believe they pose a threat to us.

The flesh that is called Nocae disturbs us.  They are dangerous, and make sharpness with that which is their own family.  We have commanded them to leave the realm above our garden.  They have agreed to do this.  We wait and see if this word is truth.

You speak of the flesh that is called Ceremorph.  The elf-flesh of the realm called Surface goes to destroy this Ceremorph-flesh.  We will observe.  We do not believe this flesh threatens us.  It is far from us, and possesses no power we fear.  We have learned that you, flesh, have made sharpness with the flesh that is Ceremorph.  Explain this sharpness.[/ic][/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to Dalashinn]Once again, a puffball rolls through through the caverns of the Underdeep until it comes to rest before the capitol of the Kirr.

When approached, the puffball begins to bloom; its top half separates and peels back in great chitinous petals to reveal a fungal growth in the crude shape of the upper half of a little girl, merged at the waist with the bottom half of the puffball.  Though the puffball was a dull grey-green, the "girl" inside is a fluorescent lime color that seems almost too vivid to be real.  Curling, fern-like fronds sprout from her head, falling over her shoulders like hair; they flutter and shiver lazily, as if there was a breeze here.

The puffball-child-thing smiles broadly, a serene and cheerful expression on her face.  She speaks in a soft, whimsical voice, and speaks the following message.

We greet the flesh!

We will have this dead-flesh now, that the flesh was willing to trade for the dead-gold.  Six of the dead-gold for one of the dead-dark-elf-flesh.  The Child says we may trade for twenty of this flesh, if the flesh has this dead-flesh to give us.

We ask if the flesh will allow one child of ours to enter this gate between us and depart so that we may see this far land.  It will not remain in the dwellings of elf-flesh.

We see your kin grow much and take the dwellings of goblin-flesh.  We dream darkly of this.  They will leave soon.  We do not desire the flesh to trade its sharpness in our garden.  The Thorn will see peace in the Garden.  Our light does not fade.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to the Heir of Lothe]This time, no puffball-child-thing comes to the gates of the Dwer.  This time, a mind touches the Dream, and sifts through the fringe between the colors of the Glow and the pit of the Unreality.  It searches for a mind... and when it finds it, the colors of the Dream are born on a whisper to the one called Tiern.  It is only a faded reflection of the Dream, a mere shadow cast on a wall, but the words still come in a whorl of riotous color.  There is one voice, tranquil but determined, and as it speaks a lesser chorus of whispers bubbles up from below to echo its words.

We are the Children of the Dream.  We are the Light that Does Not Fade.  The flesh that is Dwer dwells in our garden.  We have watched them.

The Lothe-flesh is dead.  The flesh that slew Black-rot is dead in its turn.  Such is the fate of all.

We desire the garden.  We must protect the Dreamer.  The dwer-flesh dwells in our garden.  The flesh that dwells in our garden with fire and sharpness is a threat to us.  Threats to us must be removed.  Such the Child spoke to the flesh that was Lothe.

The flesh sought to convince us that it was no threat, despite appearing so.  It believed its existence in the garden was not a threat to us.  We doubted this.  We do not understand the minds of flesh.

The Lothe-flesh offered to us its word.  It said the word of this flesh had meaning.  It said that it was bound by this word and would not be a threat to us.  We have considered this.

But if the Lothe-flesh is dead, our consideration is irrelevant.  The word of the flesh may have meaning, but dead-flesh cannot speak.  It cannot offer us its words, whether they have meaning or not.  The Lothe-flesh offered us only its word; now we are offered nothing.  We no longer possess anything to assure us that the dwer-flesh is not a threat.

It is against our nature to abide threats to us.  Yet we do not see the death of the Dwer-flesh in the Dream as it is.  Other things darken the Dream more than your flesh.  We will abide the flesh, and we will watch, and we will see what the nature of the flesh is.  Our friend who is wise in the ways of flesh believes that we ought to do this.  We will heed her.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to Dolmar]The puffball-child-thing travels through the Great Mushroom Forest, until it finds Nocae who may know where Dolmar is, or Dolmar himself.  It unfolds before the gate and delivers its message in a singsong voice.

We greet the flesh!

This is acceptable to us.  We welcome the gifts of dead-flesh.  We will make it beautiful.

The Dreamer desires something from you, flesh.  She has seen from the Thorn of Visions creatures of flesh which delight her; for there is creativity in their flesh, and forms we have not seen before.  The creativity of flesh will add to our beauty.  We desire a creature of flesh which the flesh calls an Abomination; a strange name for a beautiful thing.  We will love this flesh.  If the flesh wishes, we will offer the dead-gold for this flesh.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=2nd Message to Dalashinn]The flesh must name its price for this passage we ask.  We have dead-gold, and sharpness-stone, and we have much food that makes flesh grow.  We will consider what the elf-flesh wishes for this service, but we do not seek the ground for dead-gold as the flesh does, as there is no value in a dead thing save that which may nourish life, and thus we do not have much of it.  Most of what we possess we trade for this dead-elf-flesh.

We do not bring sharpness to the elf-flesh called Nocae, but we feel they are a threat to us.  We have told them to leave the caverns above the Forest.  They have given us the word of flesh to do this very soon; they desire the dead-gold of the dwellings that were once of goblin-flesh, but they may also have this dead-gold if the Dwer-flesh takes these dwellings and gives it to them, which is what shall happen.  We doubt the value of the words of flesh, as they are just words and flesh is unreliable, but if they do not remove themselves as they have said, we shall remove them.  Our light does not fade.

We consider what you have said of this staff you desire.  There is little in our garden we do not know of.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to Llitul]Beloved Llitul, there is a task that you may aid us in that would help us against the threat we face.  In the glimmering caverns below [L34], near the dwelling of ours we call Fulgoria [L33], a great flesh-thing has blocked our way.  It is large and strong, and its hide is tough; many children could it destroy.  It dwells there and eats the crystals, for that is how its strange flesh is sustained.  With dead-gold or sharpness-stone we might win it to our service, but we have few of these things, and doubt it will be tempted; it is a base creature that loves only nourishment.  Yet it is strong-flesh, and it can burrow below the ground - under walls and terrible fire.  This would be of great use to us.  The Llitul has strength of the mind our children lack.  If it pleases you, Llitul, come to our dwelling at Fulgoria as soon as you may; we will protect you with our children, and you may try to control this creature so we may use it to further the Dream.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=2nd Message to Llitul]We will provide our children for this task.  We can hold this other creature for you as you wish.

The flesh that is Saerid says it will destroy the Ceremorph-flesh that has beautified Llitul, to avenge her flesh.  It thinks the death of this flesh may make the Llitul-flesh like what it was before; but if it does not, the flesh says, it will find the Llitul-flesh and take her to places we have no knowledge of where it claims she may be returned to the base flesh which she once was.  It wishes ugliness and ignorance for our Llitul.

It warns us that if we stop the elf-flesh from doing this, it will kill us.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to Saerid]The Child reaches out to the fringe between the rapture of the Dream and the pit of the Unreality, and searches for the mind of Saerid.  She waits, for a time, until it lies in sleep - or perhaps the reverie of the elves - and touches it, pulling with her a trace of the colors of the Dream.  It is a pale reflection of the Dream, a mere shadow on the wall, but even this in the minds of mortal flesh explodes in riotous color.  The Child's voice returns to his mind, this time cloaked in a whorl of vibrant hues, for this dream must be seen as well as heard.

Has it... changed?  Poor flesh... it loves our Llitul, yet is so much lesser than her.

Let us show you how our Llitul has changed.

Let us show you, flesh, the beauty that is the Llitul-that-is, and the Llandri-that-was.

The colors coalesce into a figure, oddly grey amidst the colors of the dream.  The figure begins to sharpen and focus, made clearer by the liquid color that fades into grey, until the full measure of Llitul is beheld in Saerid's mind.  Elf-like she is, but with grey flesh that reflects the colors of the dream in its iridescent sheen.  Tendrils wreathe her face, with lamprey-mouths that hiss and gibber.  Upon her head is a crown of elf-bone, which she clutches at with a few of her tendrils.  There is no expression on her face, but a deep blackness in her eyes that has no bottom.

Look how beautiful they have made her, flesh.  We love our Llitul.  But could the flesh love her, as she is?  Does the flesh love our Llitul... or merely the creature that she was, that will never be again?

The illusion of Llitul and the colors themselves begin to grow bleary, and the voice slowly fades until the link between minds is gone.

She says... she never expected her indulgence to last this long...

She was...

...never jealous of...

...Ellisandra.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Orders][spoiler=Production]
Heart of the Glow (Lowerdeep 31)
10 Skin Farms: +250 Bodies
1 Mushroom Grove: +20 Food
Terrain (Mushrooms + Water): +35 Food

Crimsonlight (Middledeep 47)
10 Skin Farms: +250 Bodies

Fulgoria (Lowerdeep 33)
Terrain (Crystals): +20 Gold

Thorn of Visions (Middledeep 41)
Terrain (Mushrooms): +25 Food

Foraging: +50 food (see orders)
Other: +21 Bodies (see parley w/Dwerim and Nocae last turn)[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Upkeep]
100 Fungoid Warriors: 100 Bodies
4 Sporemothers: 16 Bodies
75 Fungoid Thralls: 75 Food[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Construction]Heart of the Glow (Lowerdeep 31)

Under Construction
Restoration Cluster, 3 weeks remaining
Ganglial Cluster: 3 weeks remaining
Deathcap Cluster: 2 weeks remaining
Slime Pool: 1 week remaining
Mindlink Bulb: 1 week remaining
2 Stranglevines: 1 week remaining
Infestation Mound: complete
Giant Stinkhorn: complete

Beginning Construction
Transmutation Cluster: -40 Bodies, 3 weeks remaining
Regeneration Bulb (on Infestation Mound): -12 Bodies, 3 weeks remaining
Cultivation Bulb (on Infestation Mound): -20 Bodies, 2 weeks remaining
Cultivation Bulb (on Skin Farm): -20 Bodies, 2 weeks remaining
Living Wall: -25 Bodies, 3 weeks remaining

Crimsonlight (Middledeep 47)

Under Construction
Euphoria Cluster: 1 week remaining

Beginning Construction
Cultivation Bulb (on Skin Farm): -20 Bodies, 2 weeks remaining

Fulgoria (Lowerdeep 33)

Under Construction
5 Skin Farms: 2 weeks remaining
5 Skin Farms: 1 week remaining
Disguised Entrance: complete
Escape Tunnel: complete

Beginning Construction

Thorn of Visions (Middledeep 41)

Under Construction
Fungal Nursery: 4 weeks remaining
5 Skin Farms: 2 weeks remaining
Living Wall: 2 weeks remaining
Disguised Entrace: 1 week remaining

Beginning Construction
5 Skin Farms: -75 Bodies, 3 weeks remaining

Sanguine Maw (Lowerdeep 29)

Under Construction
Euphoria Cluster: +15 Bodies, cancelled
2 Brown Mould: 2 weeks remaining
3 Vault Slimes: complete

Beginning Construction
Frenzy Cluster: -18 Bodies, 4 weeks remaining
Living Wall: -25 Bodies, 3 weeks remaining[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Recruitment]Heart of the Glow (Lowerdeep 31)
4 Fungoid Infestors: -48 Bodies, 3 weeks remaining
1 Fungoid Sporemother: -12 Bodies, 1 week remaining
50 Fungoid Warriors: -50 Bodies, instant
50 Fungoid Thralls: -50 Bodies, instant[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Wealth]
Gold: 199
Metal: 23
Food: 305
Bodies: 11[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]Heart of the Glow (Lowerdeep 31)

• Heart of the Glow
• Fungal Nursery (w/ Maturation, Regeneration, and Cultivation Bulbs)
• 10 Skin Farms
• 1 Mushroom Grove
• Toxic Cluster (w/ Maturation and Cultivation Bulbs)
• Infestation Mound
• Giant Stinkhorn
• Escape Tunnel
• Disguised Entrance

Crimsonlight (Middledeep 47)

• 10 Skin Farms
• Giant Stinkhorn
• 2 Brown Moulds
• 3 Vault Slimes
• Escape Tunnel
• Disguised Entrance

Fulgoria (Lowerdeep 33)

• Disguised Entrance
• Escape Tunnel

Thorn of Visions (Middledeep 41)

• Arcane Library
• Teleportation Circle
• Scrying Chamber
• Escape Tunnel
• Active spell: Rune Trap

Glimmerwall (Lowerdeep 34 – Under Construction)

Sanguine Maw (Lowerdeep 29)

• 2 Stranglevines
• 3 Vault Slimes
• 1 Dreamcap
• Disguised Entrance
• Escape Tunnel

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Armies]Keepers of the Heart – Garrisoned at Lowerdeep 31
1 Child of the Glow
2 Fungoid Sporemothers (24 weeks left)
50 Fungoid Thralls (6 weeks left)

Keepers of Crimsonlight – Garrisoned at Middledeep 47
1 Florid Reveler (Blightguard Commander)
20 Fungoid Warriors (14 weeks left)
50 Fungoid Thralls (8 weeks left)

Keepers of Sanguine Maw – Garrisoned at Lowerdeep 29
1 Lurker in the Reverie (Blightguard Captain)
20 Fungoid Warriors (14 weeks left)
10 Fungoid Thralls (4 weeks left)
15 Fungoid Thralls (3 weeks left)

Keepers of Fulgoria – Garrisoned at Lowerdeep 33
1 Prismatic Muse (Sporemother Commander)
2 Fungoid Sporemothers (23 weeks left)
1 Fungoid Sporemother (22 weeks left)
10 Fungoid Warriors (13 weeks left)
10 Fungoid Warriors (12 weeks left)
9 Fungoid Warriors (6 weeks left)

Chimeric Host – Garrisoned at Middledeep 41 (Thorn)
1 Clone of the Glow (6 weeks left)
1 Caretaker (Sporemother Commander)
25 Fungoid Warriors (11 weeks left)

Fleshwatch – At Lowerdeep 23 (Infiltrated)
1 Fungoid Sporemother (21 weeks left)
6 Fungoid Warriors (13 weeks left)

At Lowerdeep 32
10 Fungoid Puffball Mines (6 weeks left)[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Characters]
[ic=Child of the Glow]Ranged Attack: +8
Ranged Damage: 6
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 4
Defence: 18
Health: 25
Speed: 4
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Detector, Confusion, Leadership, Clone, Slumberous Poison, Regeneration 12
Inventory: None

The Child of the Glow increases the Health and Morale of any army she is leading by +1.  If garrisoned in a Dungeon she increases the Health and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.  The Child of the Glow's poisonous attacks affect both melee and ranged damage; if her attack roll exceeds the target's Defence, units in the regiment become extremely drowsy for one round, suffering -4 to Defence.[/ic]

[ic=Clone of the Glow]Ranged Attack: +8
Ranged Damage: 6
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 4
Defence: 18
Health: 20
Speed: 4
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Agony,* Detector, Confusion, Leadership, Slumberous Poison, Regeneration 20,* Fear (DC 12),* Grudge (High Elves)*
Inventory: Staff of the Excruciatrix, Blackroot Toadstool (1 dose)

The Clone of the Glow increases the Health and Morale of any army she is leading by +1.  If garrisoned in a Dungeon she increases the Health and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.  The Clone of the Glow's poisonous attacks affect both melee and ranged damage; if her attack roll exceeds the target's Defence, units in the regiment become extremely drowsy for one round, suffering -4 to Defence.

*Granted or modified by inventory[/ic]

[ic=The Florid Reveler]Once a fell warrior of Blackrot's retinue, the Florid Reveler was given a new name and a new purpose by the resurrected Child.  Its form has not been unchanged either, for it has been molded into something more pleasing to the Dream.  Its cap bristles with vicious spikes that phosphoresce warmly, resembling a crown of flames.  It constantly "sweats" a sticky, pestilential red fluid from its knobby hide, mottled with crimson and fluorescent violet.

In its past life, the Reveler was a frenzied killer, ever consumed by the rending of dwarf-flesh in Blackrot's service.  It is consumed by something else now – for when the Reveler wades into battle, lashing violently at everything in reach with half a dozen vicious forked tentacles like the tongues of serpents, its foes see only a blissful and eerie serenity upon its mouthless visage.

Melee Attack: +7
Melee Damage: 10
Defence: 22
Health: 35
Speed: 4
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Leadership, Discipline, Disease 4, Regeneration 12

Troops garrisoned with the Florid Reveler have their morale increased by +1.[/ic]

[ic=The Lurker in the Reverie]The Lurker, too, was once of Blackrot, but it is now bound to a new master.  Its head is a cluster of polypore-like growths, each overlapping another, with oddly-shaped eyes peeking between them at irregular intervals, looking in every direction at once.  At first, one might think the Lurker in the Reverie to be black and colorless, antithetical to the usual aesthetic of the Glow, but a closer look reveals that it not black at all, but a symphony of dark blues and purples that iridesce and flash with brighter hues when the half-light of the phosphorescent fungi of the Lowerdeep plays across its surface.  It stands stock-still, ever watching, stirring only when called upon by its masters – and then the Lurker's limbs of hardened, blade-like chitin go to work.

Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 9
Defence: 21
Health: 30
Speed: 4
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Leadership, Discipline, Disease 4, Regeneration 12

Troops garrisoned with the Lurker in the Reverie have their morale increased by +1.[/ic]

[ic=The Prismatic Muse]Ranged Attack: +6
Ranged Damage: 0
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 7
Defence: 22
Health: 60
Speed: 4
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Distraction, Large, Leadership, Obfuscating Shroud, Regeneration 25

Sporemothers can plant spores in Bodies that mature into Fungoid Warriors or Fungoid Puffball Mines.  If garrisoned in Dungeons with certain rooms, she can implant spores to generate other units as well.[/ic]

[ic=The Caretaker]Ranged Attack: +6
Ranged Damage: 0
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 7
Defence: 22
Health: 60
Speed: 4
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Distraction, Large, Leadership, Obfuscating Shroud, Regeneration 25

Sporemothers can plant spores in Bodies that mature into Fungoid Warriors or Fungoid Puffball Mines.  If garrisoned in Dungeons with certain rooms, she can implant spores to generate other units as well.[/ic][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Trade]Trade 120 Gold to the Kirr for 20 Dark Elf Bodies.  These definitely have to be Dark Elf bodies, not just regular elves painted black or something.  Check the merchandise before handing over the gold.  I'm not sure if trade can e conducted by Teleportation Circle, but if it can, use that; otherwise, we still have a few different cavern connections we can use.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Orders]Everyone who is standing outside a colony/outpost and can garrison should do so (i.e the units in the open at L33 and L29).

Keepers of the Heart

• 2 Speed: The old 50 thralls will move to L32.
• 2 Speed: The new 50 thralls will de-garrison and forage for 50 food, and then re-garrison.
• 4 Speed: The 50 Warriors will move to L33 and garrison at Fulgoria.
• 2 Speed: One sporemother will go to M42 and found an outpost on the site of the old Dwer outpost called the Sublime Portal.
• 2 Speed: The other sporemother will go to L32 and found a colony called Mirror of the Dream.

Keepers of Crimsonlight

• 2 Speed: The 50 thralls will move to MD 41 and infiltrate.

Fleshwatch

• 1 Speed: Move to L21.
• 3 Speed: Scout L22 and L14, then move back to L23.
• Remain infiltrated at all times.  Observe, but do not attack anything that wanders through.  If attacked, the unit should break off combat and retreat towards Sanguine Maw.

Keepers of Fulgoria

• 3 Speed: The 9 oldest Warriors and one Sporemother will de-garrison, move to L34, and attempt to make contact with the Delver.
• If communication is possible, offer it 100 gold and our metal if it will serve us (we don't have 100 gold after our trade, but we will soon).  If service is out of the question, see if it would suffice to either get it to move or to abide a settlement (assuming a settlement could still collect crystal as normal even with the Delver there).  I don't expect the Delver will actually accept this, but it's the best we can do, so why not give it a shot.
• Regardless, once contact has been attempted, retreat back to Fulgoria and re-garrison.
• If the Delver attacks us, do not fight it; retreat.

Mines

• 2 Speed: The 10 Puffball mines will move to L33 and garrison at Fulgoria.

[/spoiler][/spoiler]

[zcynthr]

[ic]
Skarax lifted his snout to the wind, extending his tongue to taste the air. The two orcs that had defended the newly conquered pile of sticks and hide ostensibly called a city did not have nearly enough blood in which to bathe. Why this sounded so appealing had yet to become clear, but Skarax had never been a kobold with a strong sense of restraint or tact. Something on the breeze cut through the unfortunate lack of charnel stink, a scent of musk and fur. This was more promising - perhaps some returning orc survivors, or a party of goblin scouts fleeing the ruin of their civilization, or better yet a herd of wild beasts. Anything at all to quiet the maddening whispers in his head.
[/ic]

[spoiler=Orders]
Scrying:
3x Augures
1x Augur w/crystals
2x Augures built this turn
Upperdeep 42
Upperdeep 43
Upperdeep 44
Upperdeep 45
Upperdeep 46
Upperdeep 48
Surface 109 (the elven city, in case I misread the number)

MONTH 2 WEEK 3      
      
Wealth:      
Gold: 10      
Metal: 209      
Food: 1767      
Prisoners: 0, 27 sold for +54g       
      
Production:      
Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77)      
Kobold Mine: +150g, +15m      
(1) Mushroom Grove: +140f      
Mushrooms: +25f      
      
Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62)      
Crystals: +20g      
      
Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50)      
Improved Dwarf Mine: +350g, +50m      
      
Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53)      
Orc Mine: +150g, +15m      
(4) Warthog Pen: +140f      
(20) Mushroom Garden: +100f      
Mushrooms: +25f      
      
Spoils      
gold: +169      
metal: +124      
food: +698      
      
Characters:      
Marius Krinak, Legatus of the Legio I Draco      
Ranged Attack: +10      
Ranged Damage: 8      
Melee Attack: +8      
Melee Damage: 6      
Defence: 22      
Health: 15      
Speed: 4      
Morale: +6      
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Leadership      
Magic Items:      
Murmerstone: communicate with twin stone
Signet ring of Clan Stonedirge: cast Ward 1/week      
      
Marius increases the Ranged Attack and Morale of any army he is leading by +1.  If garrisoned in a Dungeon he increases the Ranged Attack and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.  His Infiltrator ability is imparted to any regiment he leads.      
      
Tertius Malik, Pontifex Maximus of the Twin Dragons      
Ranged Attack: +8      
Ranged Damage: 6      
Melee Attack: +6      
Melee Damage: 5      
Defence: 20      
Health: 20      
Speed: 4      
Morale: +7      
Special Abilities: Detector, Haste, Hex, Scry, Leadership      
Magic Items:      
      
Troops garrisoned in a Dungeon with a Commander gain +1 Morale.      
      
Skarax, Apostate of the First Cohort      
Melee Attack: +6      
Melee Damage: 8      
Defence: 19      
Health: 17      
Speed: 4      
Morale: +7      
Special Abilities: Discipline, Leadership      
Magic Items:      
Orcdoom: battleaxe, +1/+1 melee, additional +4/+4 vs orcs            
      
Troops garrisoned in a Dungeon with a Commander gain +1 Morale.      
      
Cnaeus Akka, Dominus Fabricae of the Legion      
Ranged Attack: +5      
Ranged Damage: 6      
Melee Attack: +4      
Melee Damage: 4      
Defence: 19      
Health: 16      
Speed: 4      
Morale: +4      
Special Abilities: Disarm Traps +5, Repair, Trapmaking, Leadership      
Magic Items:      

Armies:      
Garrisoned at Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77)      
Legatus Marius Krinak      
      
Garrisoned at Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62)      
Tertius Malik, Pontifex Maximus of the Twin Dragons      
      
Garrisoned at Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50)      
(5) Kobold Velites      
      
Garrisoned at Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53)      
Cnaeus Akka, Dominus Fabricae      
Skarax, Apostate of the First Cohort      
(19) Kobold Velites      
(3) Kobold Augures      
(10) Kobold Legionaries      
      
Upkeep:      
Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77)      
      
Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62)      
      
Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50)      
(5) Kobold Velites : -5g, -5f      
      
Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53)      
(19) Kobold Velites: -19g, -19f      
(3) Kobold Augures: -21g, -6f      
(10) Kobold Legionaries: -30g, -10f      
      
Recruitment:      
Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77)      
(40) Kobold Velites: -200g      
(2) Kobold Augures: -100g      
(20) Kobold Legionary: -200g, -60m      
(5) Kobold Immunes: -50g, -10m      
      
Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62)      
      
Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50)      
      
Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53)      

Dungeons and Outposts:      
Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77)      
Legatus War Room      
Burrow      
(1) Mushroom Grove      
Kobold Mine      
Augur's Fane      
Workshop      
      
Escape Tunnel      
Palisade      
Reinforced Gate      
Disguised Entrance      
(3) Snare      
Cage Trap      
(5) Pit Trap      
Rockfall Trap      
Spiked Moat      
(2) Mimic      
      
Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62)      
Fishing Pool      
      
Escape Tunnel      
Palisade      
Spiked Moat      
      
Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50)      
Forge Hall (unusable by Kobolds)      
Shield Hall (unusable by Kobolds)      
Hall of the Ancestors (unusable by Kobolds)      
Improved Dwarf Mine      
      
Outer Wall      
Iron Gate      
      
Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53)      
Orc Mine      
(4) Warthog Pen      
(20) Mushroom Garden      
Fighting Pit (unusable by Kobolds)      
Slave Pit      
Bloodcap Patch      
      
Palisade      

Under Construction:      
Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77)      
Kobold Coliseum: 2 weeks remaining      
Dragon Shrine: 2 weeks remaining      
      
Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62)      
Kobold Mine: 1 week remaining      
      
Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50)      
Burrow: 1 week remaining      
      
Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53)      
War Camp: cancelled, +40g      
      
Beginning Construction:      
Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77)      
Improved Disguised Entrance: -25g, 1 week remaining      
Command Post: -100g, -10m, 3 weeks remaining      
Legion Forge: -100g, -50m, 4 weeks remaining      
      
Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62)      
Reinforced Gate: -15g, -5m, 1 week remaining      
Disguised Entrance: -50g, 2 weeks remaining      
      
Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50)      
Spiked Moat: -25g, 3 weeks remaining      
Disguised Entrance: -50g, 2 weeks remaining      
Workshop: -65g, -25m, 3 weeks remaining      
      
Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53)      
Reinforced Gate: -15g, -5m, 1 week remaining      
Spiked Moat: -25g, 3 weeks remaining      
Escape Tunnel: -20g, 1 week remaining      

Orders:
-(10) Kobold Legionaries at Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53) spend 7 Speed to Forced March to Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77) to await disease curing tech.
-Skarax takes (9) Kobold Velites and (1) Kobold Augur from Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53), is hasted by the Augurs, and spends 5 Speed to move to Upperdeep 48 with orders to negotiate an alliance with the wargs, promising well-protected dens, as much food as they can eat, and a secret alliance against the dwarves.
-(5) Kobold Immunes, (10) Kobold Legionaries, and (20) Kobold Velites are Hasted by two Augurs at Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77) and Tertius Malik at Shatterspine Post (Upperdeep 62) and spend 14 Speed to enter the dwarven citadel at Upperdeep 42, taking care to not penetrate to the depths with the iron golems.
-(20) Kobold Velites, (10) Kobold Legionaries, and (2) Kobold Augurs spend 6 Speed to Forced March from Bloodwatch Enclave (Upperdeep 77) to Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50).
-(2) Kobold Augurs and (10) Kobold Velites spend 3 Speed to move from Warscale Camp (Upperdeep 53) to Stonespire Fortress (Upperdeep 50).
-Marius Krinak casts Ward on himself with the signet ring, brought to him with the Murmerstone by the Legionaries from Warscale Camp.
[/spoiler]


[ic=Messages]
[spoiler=Response to General Dolmar Lestridae, Protector of Umbrazzid and Champion of the Holy Shadow]
General Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid,
Champion of the Holy Shadow -
Hail.

The Legion appreciates your friendly appreciation of our might
and efforts to bring about a more orderly and peaceable process
to the Upperdark. What news filters up from the deeps grows
ever more disturbing, provided it can be understood at all.

Know that we find those who cheat death by any means to be
utterly repulsive in their disregard for the natural order and
continuity of strength in their people.

Know also that we are content to leave such peoples to their blasphemy
provided that they remain isolated and do not seek larger dominion.

Know also that your position is somewhat curious - the Legion would be
most glad to understand the distinction between yourselves and the Kirr.
As such, the Legion is prepared to meet with your embassy, but we request
that the Nocae delay such an exchange by one week until a qualified candidate
can be found within the ranks of the Legion's priesthood.

Perhaps understanding can lead to joint military options against the monstrous
or economically discriminatory peoples below the Upperdeep.

Marius Krinak and Lucius Yirik, Consuls.

The following is on a separate torn sheet of hide:
Dolmar -
Things Senate does not want to tell:
-Going to propose embassy sent to your city,
not yours to ours. I think joint occupation of
outpost between territories a better plan.
Your thoughts? Think I can convince Senate to
go along if you propose it first.
-Don't go to Upperdeep 48 this week, Legion is
negotiating with monstrous people and
does not need help or interference. Negotiator's
bodyguard is very large.
-Found a trapped dwarven artifact in
Upperdeep 50, leads to Upperdeep 42.
Engineers going to explore depths of
citadel at 42 for twin, not an invasion.
Many died finding disarm method of first.
That is all,
Marius
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Dr. Robertson]
Medicus,
Only shadow elves? Senate wishes peace
with the southerners, but is likely to
approve sacking of surface elf cities
soon. Many surface elves can be traded,
but getting Nocae bodies will be harder
without breaking truce. Not impossible,
though. Offer of gold is tempting instead
of eating them as the gods desire.
Thankfully gods also appreciate coin.
-Marius
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Second Response to the Nocae]
General Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid,
Champion of the Holy Shadow -
Hail.

The Senate has taken your warnings into account, decreeing that its previous
exploratory mission now requires a moderate bodyguard should the city's
defenses accidentally be triggered.

Know that the Legion shall defend against the great evil beneath the hall of iron men
with the very lives and souls of its soldiers - no horrors shall threaten the
stability of the Upperdeep.

Know that the Legion will stand with the Nocae in any future campaigns against
the Kirr apostates, as the Nocae share with the Legion an utter disdain for
the worship of demons.

Marius Krinak and Lucius Yirik, Consuls.

The following is on a separate torn sheet of hide:
Dolmar -
Many thanks for your understanding.
Society forces recruitment of troops,
but I have found alternate targets to
suit both Senate and Army. Potential
exists that commander is AWOL
somewhere near you - his actions are
unknown after he got ghoul fever.
If he steps out of line, we will execute
him and decimate command.
[/spoiler]
[/ic]

[Llum]

[ic=The will of a despot]
[/ic]

[spoiler=Orders]

Orders

[spoiler=Production]
Käferhold
Duergar Mine: +200 Gold, +25 Metal
3 Beetle Farm: +150 Food
Mushroom Forest: +25 food
Hall of Trade: +100 Gold

Umbrahold
Duergar Mine: +200 Gold, +25 Metal
Civil Unrest: -40 Gold -5 Metal
Total: +460 Gold, +45 metal, +175 food
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Upkeep]
2 Duergar Sneaks: -6 Gold -4 food
3 Duergar Hammer Throwers: -6 Gold - 6 food
10 Duergar Halbrediers: -20 Gold -20 food
16 Cave Beetles: -128 food
1 Kirr Summoner: -12 Gold -1 food
4 Fire Drake Hatchlings -4 food
1 Two-headed Fire Drake Hatchling - 2 food

total: -44 Gold -165 food
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Construction]
Käferhold (Lowerdeep 17)
Under Construction:

Beginning Construction:

Umbrahold (Lowerdeep 19)
Under Construction:
Beetle Farm 1 weeks remaining
Hall of Trade 2 weeks remaining

Beginning Construction:

Drakkenhold (Lowerdeep 16)
Under Construction:
Duergar Mine 1 weeks remaining

Beginning Construction:

Glyphhold (Lowerdeep 88)
Under Construction:

Beginning Construction:
Duergar Mine: 4 weeks remaining -200 Gold -25 Metal

Greenhold (Middledeep 50)
Under Construction:

Beginning Construction:
Beetle Farm: -50 Gold 5 weeks remaining
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Recruitment]
Käferhold (Lowerdeep 17)
20 Cave Beetles -400 Gold
1 Magma Cannon -25 Gold -20 Metal

Umbrahold (Lowerdeep 19)

Drakkenhold (Lowerdeep 16)

Glyphhold (Lowerdeep 88)

Greenhold (Middledeep 50)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Wealth]
Gold: 21
Metal: 401
Food: 333
Bodies: 0
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]

Käferhold (Lowerdeep 17)
Despot's Hall
Forge Hall
Training Hall
Hall of Smoke
Hall of Trade
Duergar Mine
Beetle Farm x 3
Hatchery
Outer Wall
Iron Gate
Magma Moat

Umbrahold (Lowerdeep 19)
Forge Hall
Duergar Mine

Drakkenhold (Lowerdeep 16)
Forge Hall

Glyphhold (Lowerdeep 88)

Greenhold (Lowerdeep 50)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Armies]
Despot Käfer – Infiltrating (Lowerdeep 10)
Commander Wulfgar - Greenhold (Middledeep 50)
Commander Kyogre - Garrisoned at Drakkenhold (Lowerdeep 16)
Commander Demosthene - Garrisoned at Glyphhold (Lowerdeep 88)
Greenfang, Master of the Greenhold - Garrisoned at Greenhold (Middledeep 50)

9 Duergar Halbrediers - Infiltrating (Lowerdeep 10)
1 Kirr Summoner - Waiting (Lowerdeep 10)

10 Cave Beetles - Garrisoned at Greenhold (Middledeep 50)
6 Cave Beetles - Waiting at Lowerdeep 10

1 Duergar Sneak - Infiltrating (Lowerdeep 26)
1 Duergar Sneak - Infiltrating (Lowerdeep 36)

3 Duergar Hammer Throwers - Garrisoned at Drakkenhold (Lowerdeep 16)
4 Fire Drakes - Garrisoned at Drakkenhold (Lowerdeep 16)
1 Two-headed Fire Drake - Garrisoned at Drakkenhold (Lowerdeep 16)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Characters]
[ic=Despot  Käfer]
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 9 (+1 Deep Gnome Tinkers)
Defence: 22 (+1 Helm of Telepathy, +1 Deep Gnome Tinkers)
Health: 25
Speed: 3
Morale: +8
Special Abilities: Leadership, Discipline, Infiltrator
Items: Wand of Frenzy (7 charges), Infernal Key, Eldritch Grimoire, Glyphic Shard, Helm of Telepathy

The Duergar Despot increases the Melee Attack and Morale of any army he is leading by +1. If garrisoned in a Dungeon he increases the Melee Attack and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1. His Grudge ability applies to all units in the specific regiment he leads.  His Discipline and Infiltrator ability applies to the specific regiment he leads.
[/ic]

[ic=Commander Wulfgar]
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 9 (+1 Deep Gnome Tinkers)
Defence: 18 (+1 Deep Gnome Tinkers)
Health: 18
Speed: 4
Morale: +4
Special Abilities: Infiltrator

A hardened Sneak and spy, similar in mold to Käfer himself, however this is where their similarities end. Scarred and bearded Wulfgar lacks the iron will that allowed Käfer to rise to become Despot. Short and thickset even by Duergar standards Wulfgar bears many scars from his years involved in the shadowy spy games in the old Empire. A half mask emblazoned with  flaming eyes covers the left side of his face, masking an old injury.
[/ic]

[ic=Commander Kyogre]
Ranged Attack: +6
Ranged Damage: 5
Melee Attack: +2
Melee Damage: 1
Defence: 18
Health: 18
Speed: 3
Morale: +4
Inventory:

Kyogre is a Hammer Thrower, bred and trained. Known for throwing larger hammers with devastating accuracy. Middling height for a Duergar he has a runic spiked helm and a short beard. A necklace of drake fangs and teeth rests on his chest, a trophy from the weeks clearing out the cavern he now rules.
[/ic]

[ic=Greenfang, Master of the Greenhold]
Melee Attack:  +10
Melee Damage: 17
Defence: 20
Health: 50
Speed: 3
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Large, Regeneration 10, Vulnerability (Acid, Fire)
When entrenched in a region containing or bordering a body of water, Greenfang gains the Infiltrator ability and gains +2 to Melee Attack and Defence.

This brutal, hulking creature is well-adapted to aquatic conditions.  Covered in thick scales and possessing rows of shark-like teeth, fins, and a murderous temper, Greenfang could be a powerful ally.
[/ic]

[ic=Commander Demosthene]
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 7
Defence: 19
Health: 18
Speed: 3
Morale: +4
Inventory:

Demosthene is an ancient Duergar, still hardy after surviving Ceremorph enslavement and the following revolt. He has ceremorph glyphs branded and tattooed about his face and neck showing his age, as well as his tenacity to survive.
[/ic]

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Orders]
Force March 5 Speed to move Despot Kafer, Kirr Summoner, 9 Duergar Halbrediers from Lowerdeep 10 to Kaferhold(Lowerdeep 17)
Spend 7 Speed to move 6 Cave Beetles from Lowerdeep 10 to Umbrahold (Lowerdeep 17) and attach themselves to Commander Wulfgar
Spend 2 Speed to move 1 Duergar Magma Cannon from Kaferhold (lowerdeep 17) to Umbrahold (Lowerdeep 17) and join Commander Wulfgar
Spend 2 gold and 6 metal to upgrade Despot Kafers Defence and Melee Damage by +1.
Have the Kirr Summoner examine the Infernal Key, Eldritch Grimoire and Glyphic Shard to determine what they are capable of.
Spend 5 Speed to Move 20 Cave Beetles from Kaferhold (Lowerdeep 17) to Greenhold(Middledeep 50)
Spend Up to 3 Speed, move 30 Cave Beetles from Greenhold(Middledeep 50) to attack the Ceremorph forces in Middledeep 51, if they retreat follow them until they are all dead or 3 speed has been spent.
Force March 7 Speed to move Commader Wulfgar from Greenhold (Middledeep 50) to Kaferhold(Lowerdeep 17) then Umbrahold (Lowerdeep 19)
Spend 2 gold and 6 metal to upgrade Commander Wulfgar Defence and Melee Damage by +1.
Spend up to 4 speed for Duergar Sneak to scout Lowerdeep 40 without entering it, if clear enter, then scout Lowerdeep 41 without entering it, if clear enter it.
Spend 4 Speed for a Duergar Scout to scout Lowerdeeps 24, 25, 27 and 28 without entering them.
Spend up to 3 Speed to move Greenfang to follow after the 30 Cave Beetles and loot any bodies and corpses that they kill. If they are killed before all 3 speed is spent, move to Middledeep 53 (the Pit Hags shop).
[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Messages to the Glow]
[ic=Message to The Glow]
A mind reaches out from the depths of the Lowerdeep to yours, a mind of the flesh.  The mind is cold and determined yet you sense these are merely the shackles that imprison a raging hatred for something.
Greetings Child of the Glow. Perhaps with my new trinket we can establish a better understanding between our two empires. We have kept our side of the bargain on our borders. Perhaps it is time we forge a more permanent alliance?
Käfer has established a Mindlink spell with the Child of the Glow for this turn, allowing for unlimited messages between the two factions.
[/ic]
[ic=Second Message to The Glow]
The Glow sits in an dangerous position, beside the Dwer who are known for exterminating your kind. Perhaps The Glow wishes to form an alliance against them. What goals do the Glow wish to accomplish in the Underdeep? My own is the extermination of the tentacled abominations from the Underdeep. Perhaps we can work together, help each other achieve our goals.
[/ic]
[ic=Third Message to The Glow]
You sense the hatred and rage flare up, straining the shackles that keep it from overwhelming the mind
The Ceremorphs enslaved my people once and would do so again given the chance! They are twisted abominations who do not deserve the chance to live in the Underdeep. Our sharpness with them is one that will be quick and final, we will remove any trace of them from the Underdeep and silence any who mention them. They will be nought but a memory that will soon be lost to the world. Of this there is no negotiation, they will be destroyed, utterly. Those who side with them will suffer the fate of traitors!

What do you know of the Surface elf? We have sent messages to him, he says he seeks a single elf, and is willing to sacrifice the lives of a 100 of his kin to find her. He says he will destroy the Overbrain that presides over the Ceremorphs, but that is empty boasting. What do surfaces know about dealing with Ceremorphs.
[/ic]
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Dalashinn]
Greetings Bloodlord

I hope my message finds you well. It seems that our exchange went well this last week and I hope relations between our empires may continue to grow. The Nocae have grown tremendously and now with their Dwarven and Dwer alliance control most of the Upperdeep and large portions of the Middledeep. The war between yourselves and the Nocae is well known and I would like to know who you are reaching out too as allies? Which empires will you bind to yourself to resist the Nocae?
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Teirn, Son of Lothe]
Greetings to the new Prince and High King of the Dwarves

It saddens us to hear of your fathers death at the hands of goblins, and in these hard times the Duergar extend their hand in friendship towards your people. Do you need to trade for supplies? Do you need an alliance against a common foe? What can the Duergar due to aid you in these trying times.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Dreams-Of-Dead-Races]
You claim to be able to aid us if we return your shard, yet to do so we would have to cut through the heart of the bitch-queens empire, accomplishing what you would help us with. If you desire the shard you should offer something useful to the  Duergar. You should also cease with demanding we do your will for nothing. Do not overstep yourself, ancient creature, or I will bury the glyph so deep in the molten hateful earth it will never be uncovered, no matter how many eons you wait for it.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Prince Saerid]
Greetings Elf

It is said you march upon the vile Cerelich, to cleanse this abomination from the Lowerdeep. A hundred men is all you bring with you, nowhere near enough. Are you willing to hire the service of mercenaries to aid you in your quest? Another question is, you seek an elf who was taken by the Ceremorphs. Who is she and why do you seek her? Why are you willing to sacrifice the lives of a hundred of your kin for a single elf-girl? Should you manage to gain access to the Lowerdeep, I would be willing to trade for your safe passage through my territory, which includes the central tunnel and southern roots.

Finally, a warning. You are being manipulated by creatures ancient and vile. The Watchers in the deep are the ones who pull your strings behind the scenes, to continue on this quest is to advance their agenda.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Reply to Tiern, Son of Lothe]
Greetings Tiern

The Duergar are willing to trade up to 450 ingots of metal to the Dwer, and more will be available in the coming weeks. Perhaps it would also be of interest to you to know that the Kirr have formed an alliance with the undead who hold part of the Upperdeep and are trying to recruit the Cerelich into their alliance. Know that the Duergar are always ready to strike against the vile abominations known as Ceremorphs. However my first priority would be the Ceremorphs who hold part of the north wester Lowerdeep, those who Prince Saerid is riding to strike against.

Finally, I have one more question of you, what is your stance on the Glow? I fear that these creatures could begin to cause a great deal of trouble, perhaps they should be delt with?
[/spoiler]

[Dolmar]

[ic=Coming Soon!!][/ic]
[ic=Messages]
[spoiler=Message to Marius]
Maris Krinak
Legatus of the Legio I Draco

I write to you as General Dolmar Lestridae, Protector of Umbrazzid and Champion of the Holy Shadow, and greet you in friendship. I wish to congradulate you on your recent victory over the Orcish horde: now the Upperdeep is mostly free of threats to those with no desire for their menace, and the only remaining danger - the two Necromancers to the North - seem content to remain burrowed in their crypt-realm.

I apologize for not contacting you sooner, but with my own war against the goblins that formerly infested these lands I needed focus on more pressing matters. Now that we find ourselves neighbors, however, I wish to extend the hand of allegiance to a future of peace in the Upperdeep.

If you wish, I would be happy to send an Emissary to your realm. My ongoing war with the Kirr and Abject seems to have abated, but it is my fear that hostilities could resume at any moment: as such, I could only send a small delegation to speak with you and if you wish before your senate.

Yours,
Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid
Champion of the Holy Shadow[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Response to Marius]
This letter's penmanship is not as neat as the first

I am gladdened to hear that the Senate welcomes our invitation of friendship, and your embassador would be welcome amongst us to discuss future joint efforts. The rest of your requests will be met: we will stay clear of that passage this week to not disturb your negotiations. As for a joint outpost, I think that may be in our best interest; where would you suggest such a structure?

However, I urge you, do not plumb the depths of that ruin yet if you do believe it connects to the ones we steward for the Dwer for now; if it is the same, the opposite end is similarly trapped and guarded by golems of Dwer make. The Dwer have informed us that this trap imprisons something dark and fel. I ask you to guard the entrance well but I outright beg you not to venture within; whatever it was should best lay undisturbed. Though the Dwer mourn the loss of their beloved Thane, contact Tiern, son of Lothe; he will confirm this.

Yours,
Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid
Champion of the Holy Shadow[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to Dreams of Dead Races]
Dreams of Dead Races
Watcher Soverign

Forgive my long silence: war has demanded much of my attention of late. The proper vessel for your vassal has been constructed - however, I still lack a way to transport it safely to you. Our war with the Kirr and the Abject continues, despite a temporary truce I do not trust them to uphold it. I worry about what undead monstrosity the latter would create if they captured your vassal, and what unholy rights the former would preform upon it - and my people have not the strenght to bear Water Over Dried Bones with any speed. If you believe they could be persuaded by your might to allow us to pass through, our safety through and returning guaranteed by your wrath or by escorts of your people, then I would be happy to begin the travel.

As an alternative that protectors your servant and my kin, in a few short weeks I will be able to open portals that will lead us through the Shadeholme, the plane of our Goddess and Realm of Gloom. I believe these structures could be made compatable with a teleportation circle you constructed - and given the distance between our people, I do not expect it would delay our journey to your realm. Such a portal would, on my word and honor as a champion of Umbrazzid, only be used to transport your kin and its bearers, who would return immediately through unless you see need to speak with them - after which the portal would be redirected to connect within mine own realm. I swear no treachery, and if my word is not enough, I also could ill risk a war with your people despite our distance when I am also faced with my current threats.

I hope we can reach a solution for both of our peoples that prevents either of us from coming to undue harm.

Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid
Champion of the Holy Shadow[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Cleversmart Kobolds]
Queen Shee-Ra the Cleversmart
Mistress of All that is Under the Ground

Your vassal Dolmar writes to you to congratulates you on the recent cleansing of the Dark Elven ruins near your lands. I urge caution with any Artaefacts found within - the Dark Elves are fond of malicious magics and items that corrupt those who use them. If you would like, I could send a paladin or cleric to make sure the items are under no such curse; while you are surely more Cleversmart than we are, our knowledge is not inconsiderable.

I hope my tribute reached you this week and that the small pittance I was able to spare due to my war against the Goblins was not insulting - I hope to be able to send more to you as soon as the war efforts do not leave me so desperate for resources.

On a related note, to my war against Kirr and Abject - the MadElves and Nastydreams - while we have a "peace," I use the term loosely, and fear they are merely taking opprotunity to muster their forces. I would like to hire the services of some of you ingenous trap-layers to better defend my holdings. I'd be willing to pay for them in gold and food, or if you'd prefer we could engage in an exchange; I'm certain some of the Nocae forces could well serve your needs.

Yours;
Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid
Champion of the Holy Shadow[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to the Glow]
Childe of the Glow;

I wish to inform you of Lothe, Lord of the Mansion's, death at the hands of the Goblin-King. We will honor our previous agreement with you, though the new Lord of the Mansion may take longer to inhabit the goblin cities we will desert. If there is that delay, we will leave only a token force to safeguard the cities in Lothe's memory once our time inhabiting them has expired - if you would be willing to send your children to ensure we are only maintaining a skeletal force and make sure other beasts do not inhabit these ruins, they would be welcome with open arms. In addition, I am gathering the corpses of the goblins that fell against us; if I may offer some unsoliticed advice, the Dwer would likely look unkindly if any of their fallen were among those brought to you.

Lothe already made clear what he wished done to such brutes, and I'm sure they will be welcome in the Dream.

Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid
Champion of the Holy Shadow[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Message to the Bloodlord]
Bloodlord:

I'd appreciate it if you did not mutilate this bat as you did the last; it is a rather childishly sadistic jesture that accomplishes nothing.

This war between us has cost us both, and while I don't expect this message to be recieved well, I believe it in the best interest of both our empires if we did not continue this conflict. If the prisoners your summoner took still live, I'd be willing to pay handsomly for their healthy return; twenty five gold for each Nocae returned safely to us.

I hope your summoner and her swordsmen reached you well, though if she murdered her prisoners I regret that any peaceful interaction between us may by need be satisfied by blood. The gold I gave her for you, as she doubtless explained, is a wereguild for the forces you had already lost: including that which she stole, the total of 141 peices of gold, 23 ingots of freshly-smelted metal, and a small measure of food so she would not starve on the journey. It was all I could safely spare. Should this amount prove agreeable, perhaps we could reach a cease-fire at the very least until a neutral third party could intervene to negotiate something more agreeable.

You have my word that if you agree to this cease-fire, I will make no hostile moves against you unless you threaten my allies.

Dolmar Lestridae,
Protector of Umbrazzid
Champion of the Holy Shadow[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Thane Teirn, Son of Lothe]
Teirn;

It pains me to write you of this; while I'm certain word has already reached you, your father did fall in battle against the Red King, though he slew the beast as well.

I did not reach him in time to aid him, but I did hear his dying word. He died happy, knowing he had defended the Mansion, and his last words were words of pride in you.

I have the Earth's Cardinal Heart. If you wish, I will safeguard it until I can personally return it to you, or if there is one here you trust in particular I can give it to them to hold until your return.

There are other matters, military matters, matters of governance that need be discussed, but my daughter is with you and I have sent her a letter of these matters to discuss with you when you have finished greiving. However, there is one matter I wish to discuss with you immediately and for you to bring before your betrothed;

The Nocae this past week founded a new city, one near your betrothed's realm, at a passage that leads to the surface. [Underdeep 18]. With your permission, I would like to turn this city into a monument to your father and his greatest ideal: That each should be judged not by blood or birth, but by their heart, and that to each and every being a chance should be given to prove their heart. In service of that, I ask that yourself, your betrothed, the hobgoblins and shadow stalkers that have made themselves allies and friends, the Nocae, and any other who are willing to prove the character of their heart. It would be a safe haven for honorable beings such as Molgrim's Hobgoblins and Tenebrous Shadowed Folk, a safe haven for those from the surface who wish to enter into the depths below, and a testimate to the greatness of your father.

In the Nocae toung, Aldor-Lothii would mean the "Compassion of Lothe." That is what I would name it if you have no other you believe would serve more suitable for such a city.

Yours in friendship and grief,
Dolmar[/spoiler]


[/ic]

[spoiler=Orders]
These are "Done enough" - hoping the extra gold I'm keepin in the bank this turn will draw in some badass mercs. :)
[spoiler=Production]
Special
-91 Gold, -23 Metal, and -5 Food from Mianarith's theft.
+1 Gold, +268 Metal, and +319 Food from seizing the Goblin capitol.

Umbrazzid (Upperdeep 10)
Improved Shadow Elf Mine: +300 gold, +25 Metal
3 Lichen Garden: +75 Food
2 Lizard Pens: +70 Food
Lake: +10 Food

Ald-Anoril (Upperdeep 44)
Goblin Mine +150 gold, +15 Metal
2 Mushroom Gardens +50 Food

Ghostwatch (Uperdeep 42)
Goblin Mine +150 gold, +15 Metal

Rhuad (Upperdeep 42)
Improved Dwarf mine +350 Gold, +30 metal

Dal-Urael (Formerly the Skull Throne) (Upperdeep 43)
Goblin Mine +150 gold, +15 Metal
Mushroom Patch +20 Food
Mushroom Grove +140 Food

Ald-Lothii(Upperdeep 18)
Mushrooms +20 Food

Daed-Waech(Upperdeep 32)
N/A

Ald-Elisae (Upperdeep 19)
Mushrooms +20 Food
Lake +10 Food

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Upkeep] (-183 Gold, -143 Food)
14 Dragonslayers -42 Gold, -14 Food
6 Accursed -12 Food
13 Abomination -90 Gold, -90 Food
Qulaenaszth -10 Gold, -7 Food
10 Shadow Elf Archers -20 Gold, -10 Food
10 Shadow Elf Swordsmen -20 Gold, -10 Food

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Construction]
Umbrazzid (Upperdeep 10)
Completed Construction:
Spire of Gloom

Under Construction:
Temple of Sylessiadil 1 Week
Rangers Spire 2 Weeks
Drake Nest 2 Weeks
Shadow Elf Mine Complex 4 Weeks

Beginning Construction:
Veil of Shadows (-100 Gold, 2 Weeks)
City Wall -50 Gold (4 Weeks)
Spidersilk Armory -200 GOld, 4 Weeks

Ald-Anoril
Completed Construction:
Spiked Moat

Under Construction
None

Beginning Construction
None

Ghostwatch
Nothing Beginning, Under, Or Complete

Rhuad
Nothing Beginning, Under, Or Complete

Dal-Urael(Upperdeep 43)
Nothing Beginning, Under, Or Complete

Daed-Waech(Upperdeep 32)
Beginning Construction (-235 Gold, -20 Metal)
Cavern of the Accursed -35 Gold (3 Weeks)
Shadowy Architecture -60 Gold, -20 Metal (4 Weeks)
City Wall -50 Gold (4 Weeks)
Escape Tunnel -20 Gold (1 Week)
2 Lizard Pens -70 Gold (3 Weeks)

Ald-Elisae (Upperdeep 19)
Beginning Construction (-235 Gold, -20 Metal)
Cavern of the Accursed -35 Gold (3 Weeks)
Shadowy Architecture -60 Gold, -20 Metal (4 Weeks)
City Wall -50 Gold (4 Weeks)
Escape Tunnel -20 Gold (1 Week)
2 Lizard Pens -70 Gold (3 Weeks)

Ald-Lothii(Upperdeep 18)
Beginning Construction (-315 Gold, -20 Metal)
Cavern of the Accursed -35 Gold (3 Weeks)
War Spire -75 Gold (3 Weeks)
Shadowy Architecture -60 Gold, -20 Metal (4 Weeks)
City Wall -50 Gold (4 Weeks)
Escape Tunnel -20 Gold (1 Week)
2 Lizard Pens -70 Gold (3 Weeks)

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Trade]
Nothing as of now

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Recruitment]
Umbrazzid (Upperdeep 10)
Nothing as of now

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Wealth]
Gold: 417
Metal: 337
Food: 1007

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]
Umbrazzid (Upperdeep 10)
Shadow Spire
Cavern of the Accursed
War Spire
Armory Spire
Shrine of Sylessiadil
3 Lichen Garden
Improved Shadow Elf Mine
2 Lizard Pens
Spire of Gloom

Defenses
Shadow Architecture
3 Murder Holes

Ald-Anoril
Goblin Mine
Reinforced Gate
Escape Tunnel
2 Mushroom Patches

Defenses
Palisade
Rienforced Gate
Escape Tunnel
Spiked Moat

Ghostwatch
Goblin Mine

Rhuad
Thane's Hall (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Forge Hall (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Shield Hall (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Hall of Gears (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Artificer's Hall (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Hall of the Ancestors (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Improved Dwarf Mine

Defenses
Outer Wall
Impenetrable Walls
Escape Tunnel

Dal-Urael(Upperdeep 43)
Hall of the Goblin King (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Goblin Mine
Mushroom Patch
Mushroom Grove
Goblin Lair  (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Goblin Armory  (unusable by Shadow Elves)
Bat Roost

Defenses
Pallisade
Reinforced Gate
Spiked Moat
Escape Tunnel
3 Murder Holes

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Armies]
Outrunners: Garrisoned Middledeep 40
3 Abominations and Dolmar

Redeemers: Stationed at Upperdeep 45
5 Abominations led by Pylnorii
5 Swordsmen led by Aerdolm
5 Archers led by Baeria

Dragonslayers: Stationed at Upperdeep 3
14 Dragonslayers led by Phaedra

Ald-Lothii Guard(Garrisoned at Upperdeep 18)
1 Accursed

Daed-Waech Guard (Garrisoned at Upperdeep 32)
2 Abominations Led by Quilidim

Ald-Elisae Guard (Garrisoned at Upperdeep 19)
3 Paladins
5 Swordsmen Led by Eralimae

Home Guard (Garrisoned at Upperdeep 30)
Qulaenaszth
5 Archers

Dal-Urael Guard (Garrisoned at Upperdeep 43)
5 Accursed
1 Abomination (Commander - will figure out name later)

Ald-Anoril Guard
Syndrid

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Orders]
Phaedra will follow Teirn

Baeria will break off from the Redeemers (Upperdeep 45) and head to Ald-Lothii (Upperdeep 18) to assume command.  [EXACT MOVE COMING]

All 3 Paladins from Ald-Elisae Guard will ungarrison and head to Ald Lothii (U19-U18) and garrison

Any forces in the same region as a dungeon that I control but not garrisoned within will garrison in that dungon.

The Redeemers will about face and garrison in Ald-Anoril (U45-U44). -IF0 any of the other goblin dungeons are attacked, the Redeemers will ungarrison and move to defend that dungeon.

Rhuad will remain empty except for Aerdolm, who will move from U45-44-43 and garrison within for the Dwer to claim, though we'll still work the mines for now.

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Characters]
[ic=Dolmar Lestridae]
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 12
Defence: 20
Health: 18
Speed: 7
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Leadership, Elven Fleetness

Dolmar increases the Melee Damage, Speed and Morale of any army he is leading by +1.  If garrisoned in a Dungeon he increases the Melee Damage and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.  Any regiment he joins gains his Infiltrator ability.

If a Drake Nest has been constructed, Dolmar can be mounted on a Drake.  If mounted on a Drake he gains the Cavalry and Flying abilities and gains +2 Speed, +2 Defence, and +7 Health.  He can only join regiments of Shadow Elf Drake Riders.  Mounting Dolmar on a Drake costs 25 Gold and 5 Metal (no Upkeep costs, however).
[/ic]

[ic=Phaedra Lestridae]
Phaedra Lestridae is the daughter of Dolmar and Melthalga, a former Witch-Priestess and current Abomination. She's a fairly easygoing and energetic young woman of only 110, and longs to prove herself in battle. She has a stubborn streak, the same streak that led her to refuse to become a Witch-Priestess and spared her from becoming an Abomination - a fortunate event that has unfortunately strenghtened her determination to follow her own path.

Phaedra is exceptionally beautiful when she bothers to make the effort, but typically is only fair since she spends more time prepared for battle than for court apperances. Her hair is kept short, barely to her neck, to keep it out of the way in battle, and her bangs are similarly short. She has a tatoo of a spider over her left eye, a mistake from her youth gotten to appease her mother that she has kept as a reminder of the dangers of allowing oneself to be led against one's judgement.

Ranged Attack: +7
Ranged Damage: 5
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 3
Defence: 17
Health: 17
Speed: 5
Morale: +4
Abilities Critical Shot, Posion 6 (Melee)
Equipment Gloomrazor, Darksilver Armour
[/ic]

[ic=Qulaenaszth, Shadow Elf Abomination, Guardian of Umbrazzid]This powerful creature has twice repelled attacks from the hideous Abject.  She is greatly honoured in Umbrazzid for her role in the sacred city's defence.

Upkeep: 10 Gold, 7 Food
Melee Attack:  +10
Melee Damage: 12
Defence: 18
Health: 50
Speed: 6
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Climbing, Fear (DC 18), Grudge (Aberrations), Large, Poison 6, Regeneration 10

While garrisoned in Umbrazzid, Qulaenaszth provides a +1 Morale bonus to other garrisoned troops.[/ic]

[ic=Aerdolm, the Hellsbane, Steward of Rhuard]
Melee Attack: +8
Melee Damage: 10
Defence: 12
Health: 20
Speed: 5
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Bless, Grudge (Demon), Leadership

Aerdolm proides a +1 Morale Bonus to any army he leads. A regiment lead by Aerdolm gains the Grudge (Demons) Ability

[ic=Eralimae, Guardian of Ald-Elisae]
Melee Attack: +8
Melee Damage: 10
Defence: 12
Health: 20
Speed: 5
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Bless, Grudge (Demon), Leadership

Eralimae proides a +1 Morale Bonus to any army she leads. A regiment lead by Eralimae gains the Grudge (Demons) Ability

[/ic]

[ic=Baeria, Guardian of Ald-Lothii]
Melee Attack:  +10
Melee Damage: 12
Defence: 18
Health: 50
Speed: 6
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Climbing, Fear (DC 18), Leadership, Large, Poison 6, Regeneration 10

Baredra provides a +1 Morale bonus any army she leads.

[/ic]

[ic=Quilidim, Guardian of Daed-Waech]
Melee Attack:  +10
Melee Damage: 12
Defence: 18
Health: 50
Speed: 6
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Climbing, Fear (DC 18), Leadership, Large, Poison 6, Regeneration 10

Quilidim provides a +1 Morale bonus any army she leads.

[ic=Pylnorii, the Ghost]
Pynorri is an Abomination with the lower body of a great spider. Unlike most of her kind, she is an albino. From the waste up she is stunningly beautiful, while her spider-like torso is more akin to a brown recluse than any other kind of spider.
Melee Attack:  +10
Melee Damage: 12
Defence: 18
Health: 50
Speed: 6
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Climbing, Fear (DC 18), Grudge (Aberrations), Large, Poison 6, Regeneration 10

Pylnorii provides a +1 Morale bonus any army she leads.[/ic]

[ic=Syndrid, Warden of Ald-Anoril]
Melee Attack:  +10
Melee Damage: 12
Defence: 18
Health: 50
Speed: 6
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Climbing, Fear (DC 18), Grudge (Aberrations), Large, Poison 6, Regeneration 10

Syndrid provides a +1 Morale bonus any army she leads.[/ic]

[ic=Dragonslayers (14)]
[ic=Dragonslayers]These elite Shadow Elf archers helped the Dwerim slay the Grey Wyrm Scorra.  Their deeds will be renowned for many centuries in the chronicles of the Nocae and the sagas of Dwarves and Dwerim.

Upkeep: 3 Gold, 1 Food
Ranged Attack: +6
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +2
Melee Damage: 1
Defence: 16
Health: 7
Speed: 5
Morale: +3
Special Abilities: Grudge (Wyrms)[/ic]

[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]

[Rhamnousia]

[ic]
[spoiler=The Will of the Watchers]

[spoiler=Production]
9 Algae Farms: 180 food
3 Thrall Grottoes: 60 bodies
2 Improved Watcher Mines: 650 gold, 70 metal
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Trade]
With Exalted: +30 metal
With Cleversmarts: -30 gold
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Upkeep]
7 Watcher Savants: -35 gold, -35 food
25 Thralls: -25 food
14 Gloomrays: -84 food
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Construction]
Cruel Form of Truth

Completed Construction:
4 Algae Farms

Under Construction:
Augmentation Pool: 2 weeks remaining
Glyph Library: 2 weeks remaining
Slime Moat: 2 weeks remaining

Beginning Construction
3 Algae Farms: 75 gold, 2 weeks remaining
2 Hibernation Pools: 100 gold, 20 metal, 2 weeks remaining
2 Cave Leech Swarms: 40 gold, 2 weeks remaining
Fangfish School: 30 gold, 2 weeks remaining

The Lonely Cenotaph

Completed Construction:

Under Construction:
Thrall Grotto : 1 week remaining
Mucosal Pool: 1 week remaining
Mucosal Wall: 3 weeks remaining
Slime Moat: 2 weeks remaining
3 Vault Slime: 1 week remaining

Beginning Construction


Bowels of the Hateful Earth

Completed Construction:
Repairs to Improved Watcher Mine
Repairs to Mucosal Pool
Repairs to Breeding Pool

Under Construction:

Beginning Construction
3 Vault Slime: 15 bodies, 2 weeks remaining

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Recruitment]
Cruel Form of Truth

The Lonely Cenotaph
Diirzig the Bonesnatcher's forces: 120 gold

Bowels of the Hateful Earth

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Wealth]
Gold: 397
Metal: 269
Food: 451
Bodies: 342
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]
Cruel Form of Truth

Brood Pool
Mucosal Pool
Breeding Pool
Ooze Pool
3 Thrall Grottoes
9 Algae Farms
Improved Watcher Mine

Nightmare Gate
3 Vault Slime

The Lonely Cenotaph: Lowerdeep 82

Bowels of the Hateful Earth: Lowerdeep 87
Improved Watcher Mine
Mucosal Pool
Breeding Pool
Teleportation Pool
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Armies]
Get of the Sovereign – Garrisoned at Cruel Form of Truth (Darksea)
Dreams-of-Dead-Races, Watcher Sovereign –  Hibernating
Sings-of-Lovely-Devils, Watcher Savant – Awake
Harmony-of-Far-Spheres, Watcher Savant – Awake
Long-Tortured-Groaning , Watcher Savant– Awake
Twice-Paired-Eyes, Watcher Savant – Awake
Lurks-in-Gelid-Pits, Watcher Savant – Awake
River-of-Molten-Basalt, Watcher Savant – Awake
13 Thralls

The Bleakflight – Bowels of the Hateful Earth (Lowerdeep 87)
12 Gloomrays

Tendril of Distension – Garrisoned at the Lonely Cenotaph (Lowerdeep 83)
Commander:Inauspicious-Arrangement-of-Gills – Awake
Displays-Most-Promising-Cruelty, Watcher Savant – Awake
10 Thralls
1 Gloomray

Tendril of Reclamation – Garrisoned at Bowels of the Hateful Earth (Lowerdeep 87)
Commander:Grey-Slime-Congealing – Awake
2 Thralls
2 Slime Golems
1 Gloomray

The Trollflensers – Lowerdeep 82
Diirzig the Bonesnatcher
4 Derro Brigands
3 Derro Aklys-Hurlers
5 Derro Filchers
Derro Warlock

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Characters]
[ic=Dreams-of-Dead-Races]



Watcher Sovereign
Ranged Attack: +8
Ranged Damage: 10 (Psychic)
Melee Attack: +6 (Water only)
Melee Damage: 8
Defense: 18
Health: 80
Speed: 1
Morale: +8
Special Abilities: Detector, Dominate, Confusion, Huge, Leadership, Locate Object, Petrify
Inventory: Lens of Petrification (grants Petrify spell), Tentacle-Ring of Protection (+2 Defense)
Unit: Get of the Sovereign

[ic=Locate Object (Utility)]The Watcher Sovereign can now perceive the location of certain objects or artefacts of interest to it.  Instead of Scrying a region, Dreams-of-Dead Races can use one or more of its Scry uses to locate an object (such as a magic item, Lich's Phylactery, or other artefact) and Scry the region it is in – simply name the object targeted.[/ic]

[ic=Petrify (Combat)]This spell transmutes flesh to stone.  You must hit a single unit with a ranged attack.  If your attack beats their Defence, the unit is turned to stone.  This effect is permanent, but can be Dispelled.[/ic]

Dreams-of-Dead-Races increases the Ranged Damage (Psychic) and Morale of any army it is leading by +1.  If garrisoned in a Dungeon, it increases the Ranged Damage (Psychic) and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.

To move overland, Dreams-of-Dead-Races must be dragged in enormous tanks of water by at least 12 Thralls or 6 Scumspawn (or  10 Thralls and 1 Scumspawn, 8 Thralls and 2 Scumspawn, 6 Thralls and 3 Scumspawn, 4 Thralls and 4 Scumspawn, or 2 Thralls and 5 Scumspawn).  If its escorts perish, it is immobilized.  It is unable to fight in melee if not entrenched or garrisoned in regions with a body of water.[/ic]

[ic=Grey-Slime-Congealing]

Though still young among the numberless progeny of the Sovereign, being born only within the last cycle of the Watcher's arcane calendar, Grey-Slime-Congealing holds a petty sort of privilege as the first among Dreams-of-Dead-Races' spawn to be excised from the mucosal cocoon within which it spent the Long Dreaming. Whether the source is this dubious position of seniority or some more intrinsic organic fault, the Savant is possessed of a hasty aggression and impatient temper uncharacteristic of its kind; rather than deferring to the vast wisdom of its Sovereign, Grey-Slime-Congealing displayed such eager hubris as to suggest an assault on the Gloom Trolls dwelling by the shores of the Darksea. When the inadequate host it led fared poorly against the creatures, it found itself relegated to overseeing the blind thralls laboring in the bowels of the Cruel Form of Truth. But Dreams-of-Dead-Races is not an entirely unsympathetic Sovereign (towards its own kind), and it presented its spawn with an opportunity to redeem itself by reclaiming the beached ruins called Bowels of the Hateful Earth.

Watcher Savant
Ranged Attack: +7
Ranged Damage: 8 (Psychic)
Melee Attack: +6 (Water only)
Melee Damage: 5
Defense: 18
Health: 30
Speed: 3
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Detector, Large
Unit: Tendril of Reclamation

To move overland, Grey-Slime-Congealing must be dragged in enormous tanks of water by at least 4 Thralls or 2 Scumspawn (or 1 Scumspawn and 2 Thralls).  It its escorts perish, they are immobilized.  It is unable to fight in melee if not entrenched or garrisoned in regions with a body of water.[/ic]

[ic=Inauspicious-Arrangement-of-Gills]

Watcher Savant
Ranged Attack: +7
Ranged Damage: 8 (Psychic)
Melee Attack: +6 (Water only)
Melee Damage: 5
Defense: 18
Health: 30
Speed: 3
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Detector, Large, Phase-Shift
Unit: Tendril of Distension

[ic=Phase-Shift (Utility)]This spell allows the targeted regiment to phase in and out of reality.  Phase-Shift can be cast once per week.  The regiment targeted by Phase-Shift gains the Teleporter ability for one week.[/ic]

To move overland, Inauspicious-Arrangement-of-Gills must be dragged in enormous tanks of water by at least 4 Thralls or 2 Scumspawn (or 1 Scumspawn and 2 Thralls).  It its escorts perish, they are immobilized. It is unable to fight in melee if not entrenched or garrisoned in regions with a body of water.[/ic]

[ic=Diirzig the Bonesnatcher, Derro Bandit-Chief]

Diirzig is a bizarre Derro warrior with a substantial collection of bones harvested from dozens of races.  He is on a quest to obtain a bone taken from one of every creature in existence.  As the Watchers possess cartilage instead of bones, his new overseers are probably safe... probably...

Upkeep: 12 Gold, 2 Food
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 17
Health: 15
Speed: 4
Morale: +4
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Poison 5[/ic]

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Orders]
Dreams-of-Dead-Races scrys for the nearmost Shard of the Tablet of Time, for the second nearmost Shard, and Lowedeep 75.

Spend 1 Speed to detach 1 gloomray from the Bleakflight and send it through the Teleportation Pool at the Bowels of the Hateful Earth.

Spend 8 Speed to move the Bleakflight from Lowerdeep 87 to Lowerdeep 80.

[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Messages]

[spoiler=Dream-message to Dolmar]
The tone of the whispers that echo inside the Prince's head are strangely...measured. Sly. Sibilant. Perhaps even sympathetic

We are pleased at you're initiative, elf-prince. Know that you have earned our non-loathing and what faint sliver of respect we are capable of bestowing upon such a lesser race (for respect has no synonym in the Deepsong.)

We consider both of your suggestions wise and we posit another alternative. We shall invoke ancient oaths with the Kirr and see whether they bend to obligations by which they did not know they were bound. We shall inform you of whether to assemble a modest host to bear Water-Rushing-Over-Bones to the bosom of the Darksea; there we shall make accommodations for them. We will drain chambers that they might bed there and we shall let our thralls starve so that your servants might eat. In the eventuality that your hold is taken, we shall allow them to erect a new dungeon in the bowels of the Lowerdeep within our sphere, for you have earned a place within the Primal Sovereignty to come again.

Know that this is incumbent, of course, on the arrogant elves of Kirr honoring our demands; do not divert too much attention from your own schemes, for it is the many-armed cephalopod that graps the most throats.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Dream-message to Bloodlord Dalashinn]
Hear us, elf of Kirr! Hear as the Cruel Form of Truth invokes the ancient accords of the Primal Sovereignty! Know that if the elves of Umbrazzid come bearing the vessel of Water-Rushing-Over-Bones, sire of three thousand, they are not to be harmed as they return our kin to the bosom of the Darksea. Know that we invoke this demand in the witness of the Elder Evils, under the sight of gods crueler and more alien than your myths could dare sustain.

But know this too: we are charitable. Know that when they have delivered our kin to us, the feast with which we shall celebrate shall be of elven flesh still spasming, for their kind are naive and bound by oaths of conduct we have no obligation to recognize.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Dream-message to Kafer]
We see you, Despot of the Kaferhold. We see the shard you possess. Know that it is an ancient memento of the Primal Sovereignty instilled with much significance and sentiment to our kind. Know that we desire it back, that we might honor the living memories of our progenitors still trapped within the tectonic embrace of the hateful earth. Know that if you deliver this treasure to us that we shall aid you greatly in your war again your former taskmasters, for their bitch-queen lends us her ear and we see all that she does.

Know that so long as you possess this relic of ours, we see all that you do as well.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Shee-Ra Cleversmart]
We trust that you are enjoying your portion of the bounties of the world's bowels. Perhaps in the imminent future we will increase the allotment we divert to the Middledeep. Know that we continue to scry the dark tunnels for a sign of Llandri Brightstar to disappointingly-little effect. But know too that our vision is not constrained by geography: we would require but a name, but a description of an artefact, and it cannot be hidden from our sight. Coupled with the trap-lore and thief-craft for which the Cleversmarts are well known, much plunder could be wrung from ruins. Or rivals.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Kafer]
You misunderstand us, Despot. We would not expect you to make a journey so treacherous on our accord or to run the gauntlet of Ceremorph fortifications merely to return our relic to us. We would dispatch a flight of gloomray couriers to retrieve it from you were we certain you would not attempt to shoot them down, along with a small gift of gold as payment for your troubles.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Second dream-message to Dolmar]
The misbegotten Kirr did not grasp at the bait dangled before them, though they were polite enough to promise no harm would come to our kin should your fortress fall. Count yourself lucky that we have grown to not-loathe your kind. They seem intent on pressing their attack until they are spent so trust not any offering of parley they place before you. Were our mind not greatly extended already, we would tell you more.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Bloodlord Dalashinn]
We find you not-contemptible for standing in the face of fearsome-worded declarations. You are not as spineless as we have come to expect of the elf-race.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Whisper]
The reply come heralded by laughter soft and deep, at least at first. It seems to echo off the very walls of the Lowerdeep itself as it slowly grows in strength like a bellowing wave, like dull knives on black stone and the roar of the foghorn, a cruel, jerking, asymmetrical staccato of gleeful sadism. It seems almost strange that so alien a mind could express such joy, albeit in the most horrid sound imaginable...

Yes, we have heard the proclamation of your Queen and we are pleased by its implications. Know that already the Bleakflight takes wing to assault Lower Dtoulth and shall fall upon them within a week's time. Know that it stirs the chambers of our hearts to entertain the possibility of capturing a Ceremorph Inquisitor and once more treating a servant of our Oldest Foe to the exquisite cruelties its inferior mind is incapable of recalling. Oh, know that we are very pleased with these events and with utmost enthusiasm shall sack the Hive and butcher the loyalists to naive to not end their own lives.

Thank you.[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]

[Ghostman]

[ic=The Demonomicon]

"No no no, the incense burner goes into the left-hand corner. Careful with that unholy water -- spill it and your blood will be the next thing to be spilled. And for all the hells' sakes, fix that skewed pentagram already!" The face of the Onyx Prince was twisted into a disapproving frown as he supervised the preparations of the ceremonial chamber. The band of cowed servants toiling to set up an elaborate summoning circle on the center of the floor shivered, redoubling their efforts to meet the exacting demands of their overlord. Dalashinn favoured them with a momentary respite from his instructions to focus his attention on the large dusty tome of crumbling parchment that lay spread open on a bookstand before him. His gaze wandered across a pagefull of eldritch formulae and profane prayers penned in archaic hand, broken by half-faded illustrations of various sigils and glyphs.

The Demonomicon. A vaunted treatise on mysteries eldritch and diabolique. What a fortune it's discovery had been! The Bloodlord smiled as he carefully turned a page, scrutinizing a particularly wicked piece of infernal lore, forgetting his frustration with the ineptitude of his underlings. Despite their fumbling, he was confident that the chamber would be finished soon, ready for an exciting upcoming ritual, the instructions for which he'd deciphered from the volume. Indeed, that was something to look forward to.

[/ic]

[spoiler=Messages]

[spoiler=Reply to the Glow]

Again, diplomats approach the puffball-borne creature, listen to it's words, and return awhile after to speak a response:

"The trade of twenty corpses shall take place. As for your request to have one of your numbers pass through the gate, we would require some form of payment or service in return.

There is a particular matter that interests us: The Staff of the Excruciatrix, an ancient artifact crafted by one of our kind. We suspect that it may be hidden somewhere in the area of the Great Mushroom Forest. Should you be able to provide this item, or knowledge of it's whereabouts, we would gladly render in return a suitable favour or a payment.

That the Shadow Elves have infested the Goblins' dwellings does not please us. We would approve of any attempt to expel them from those caves."

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Ktan-Ydheel, the Abjected]

Greetings,

I am pleased to inform you of a military alliance having been forged between my kingdom of infernalists and the necromantic realm of certain scholastic liches -- esteemed Dr. Robertson and his apprentice Ashton -- situated in the northwestern caverns of the Upperdeep. The objective of this alliance is nothing less than the eradication of the Shadow Elves, a goal that I'm sure you will find most agreeable. I hereby present to you an offer to join this anti-Nocae alliance. With the combined forces of three powers brought against them, even the strongholds stolen from the Goblins will not save the infidels.

In view of their alarmingly fast expansion of late, I fear that perhaps my support so far for your war-effort agaisnt the Nocae has not been as strong as it should have been. In order to offer better assistance in the future, I will be sending some troops south. They will be stationed in the tunnels to the northwest from the base you have founded near the entrance to the Upperdeep. Should it happen that the Shadow Elves launch an attack from that direction, these forces of mine will be available to join combat against them.

- Dalashinn, Onyx Prince Bloodlord of Kirr-Godna

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Reply to Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal]

Illustrious Professor,

Regrettably, I must inform you that the mushroom-hedged cavern betwixt my present territories and those of the Cerelich is an area I have been planning to claim and colonize. That said, I have little interest in expanding eastward from this corridor, and would recommend the caverns to the north from the nearby bridge as an alternative site for your forward base.

Your offer of providing scrolls for the war effort is most intriguing and worth of careful consideration. For now, I will withold from requesting any to be scribed, but may be interested in procuring scrolls of Haste and Invisibility in the near future.

As for the possible threat posed by this Grolhund, I am aware of his proximity to my northern border, but so far there have been no communications with him. There is precious little intelligence regarding his objectives and allegiances. I approve of your idea of urging the Kobolds to move against the Nocae; even the threat of minor raids would force them to maintain garrisons and thus leave their forces spread out more thinly.

- Dalashinn, Onyx Prince Bloodlord of Kirr-Godna

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Reply to the Watcher]

Your demands are a wasted effort. The Nocae are our mortal enemies and will not be permitted to pass through my territories. Although the thought of their foolish delegation being feasted on amuses me greatly, it gives no cause to stay our hands from slaying them. All that aside, I see no reason to bring harm upon this kin of yours. My forces will be instructed to take care not to damage his vessel, should they encounter it.

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=2nd Reply to the Glow]

"50 Measures of gold will be the price of the passage. However, we will not allow it to take place during this week. The next week may be an appropriate time -- we will inform you then if that is the case. There will be restrictions on the movement and actions of your agent within our territories. It will be escorted to the border of our lands, either to the north, to the south, or to the tunnels descending into the Lowerdeep. It will not be allowed to cross the bridge that currently marks our border to the northwestern caverns."

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Reply to Despot Käfer]

Greetings, Eminent Despot.

Understand that I divulge this information in an effort to preserve the presently favourable relations between our people: At the moment, there exists an alliance between the Kirr and the unliving necromancers of the northern Upperdeep, aimed at opposing the alarming rise of the Shadow Elves. An offer has been given to the Cerelich known as Ktan-Ydheel the Abjected to join this alliance, though I have yet to receive his response.

I expect that you may have concerns regarding the inclusion of this latter party, for the enmity of your people toward the tentacled ones is known to be great indeed. It is not my intention to tarnish our good relations, but due to simple facts of geography the making of war upon the Nocae is not something that can be easily done without cooperation with the Cerelich's forces. The focus of the alliance is firmly upon coordinating operations against the Nocae; there are no designs that would threaten your realm. And should the Cerelich harbor any plans against you, he would have to pursue them alone, without assistance from me.

As an unrelated matter, I would be interested in purchasing certain services from you -- I understand that your siege engineers have the means to demolish structures, do they not? There are some buildings in one of my dungeons that I would rather be rid of, and would pay for their destruction in either gold or any suitable services in return. Perhaps such a trade would help alleviate any doubts arising from my necessary dealings with the Cerelich.

- Dalashinn, Onyx Prince Bloodlord of Kirr-Godna

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=2nd Reply to Dr. Robertson, Professor Immortal]

Gracious Ally,

I understand your concerns over the defensibility of your forward base, and would gladly offer such assistance as may be needed to better secure the site until you've finished setting up proper defenses. I would also like to purchase two scrolls of Haste from you as soon as possible. I would offer payment in either gold or corpses.

I have learned, from sources I do not trust, that the Nocae may have agreed to cede their bases captured from the Goblins to their Dwerim allies. Whether they'd be receiving in return gold or some other form of compensation, I know not. Though this may be false intelligence, the possibility ought to be accounted for in our calculations.

- Dalashinn, Onyx Prince Bloodlord of Kirr-Godna

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Reply to Ktan-Ydheel, the Abjected]

Esteemed Lich,

It is most fortuitous that you've decided to partake in the covenant against the Shadow Elves. Our undead allies from the north will be marching to the southern Middledeep to establish a base of operations, so that they may bring their armies to bear against Umbrazzid. Now is an opportune time to build up our forces for the upcoming campaign, although I would be willing to coordinate harassing raids against the Nocae to soften them up. A Summoner from my forces may be available to parlay with your apprentice soon, though not yet by this week.

I have learned, from sources I do not trust, that the Nocae may have agreed to cede their bases captured from the Goblins to their Dwerim allies. Whether they'd be receiving in return gold or some other form of compensation, I know not. Though this may be false intelligence, the possibility ought to be accounted for in our calculations.

- Dalashinn, Onyx Prince Bloodlord of Kirr-Godna

[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Month of the Rat Week 3]

[spoiler=Production]

Looting: +91 Gold, +23 Metal, +5 Food

Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
Crystal deposit: +20 Gold
Improved Dark Elf Mine: +300 Gold, +25 Metal
1 Lichen Garden: +20 Food
1 Lizard Pen: +35 Food
4 Ogre Slaves working in the mines: +20 Gold, +4 Metal

Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
Improved Dark Elf Mine: +300 Gold, +25 Metal

Uzannador (Middledeep 15)
Mushroom Forest: +25 Food
Water Pool: +10 Food

South Guard (Middledeep 16)
(Nothing)

North Guard (Middledeep 6)
Mushroom Forest: +25 Food

Rift Guard (Middledeep 4)
(Nothing)

[/spoiler][spoiler=Upkeep]

17 Slave Soldiers: -17 Food
1 Dark Elf Summoner: -12 Gold, -1 Food
18 Dark Elf Swordsmen: -28 Gold, -14 Food
19 Dark Elf Crossbowmen: -18 Gold, -9 Food
2 Spider Cavalry: -10 gold, -6 Food
6 Ogre Slaves: -18 Gold, -30 Food
9 Bloodfiends: -9 Slaves

[/spoiler][spoiler=Construction]

Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)

Under Construction:
(Nothing)

Beginning Construction:
Bloodlord's Study: -150 Gold, -15 Metal, 3 weeks remaining
Fighting Pits: -85 Gold, -15 Metal, 4 weeks remaining


Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)

Under Construction:
(Nothing)

Beginning Construction:
Pit Trap: -25 Gold, 1 week remaining


Uzannador (Middledeep 15)

Under Construction:
Slave Pens: 1 week remaining

Beginning Construction:
Lizard Pen: -40 Gold, 3 weeks remaining


South Guard (Middledeep 16)

Under Construction:
(Nothing)

Beginning Construction:
(Nothing)


North Guard (Middledeep 6)

Under Construction:
(Nothing)

Beginning Construction:
(Nothing)


Rift Guard (Middledeep 4)

Under Construction:
(Nothing)

Beginning Construction:
Escape Tunnel: -20 Gold, 1 week remaining
2 Murder Holes: -40 Gold, 1 week remaining

[/spoiler][spoiler=Recruitment]

Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
5 slave Soldiers: -25 Gold
1 Dark Elf Summoner: -50 gold (Ryltarn; becomes appointed as Captain of Rift Guard)
3 Dark Elf Swordsmen: -36 Gold, -6 Metal
3 Dark Elf Crossbowmen: -36 Gold, -6 Metal

39 Slaves bought from market: -78 Gold

Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
(nothing)

[/spoiler][spoiler=Wealth]

Gold: 54 (before constructing outposts)
Metal: 327
Food: 414
Slaves: 39 (before sacrafices)
Bodies: 22

[/spoiler][spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]

Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
Bloodlord's Spire
Slave Pens
Slave Market
Improved Dark Elf Mine
1 Lichen Garden
1 Lizard Pen
War Spire
Profane Temple
City Wall
Escape Tunnel

Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
Improved Dark Elf Mine
Arcane Library
Teleportation Circle
Slave Pens
War Spire
Armoury Spire
Web Caverns
Tomb (unusable by Dark Elves)
Barrow (unusable by Dark Elves)
Sepulchre (unusable by Dark Elves)
Improved City Wall
Escape Tunnel

Uzannador (Middledeep 15)
Escape Tunnel

South Guard (Middledeep 16)
Escape Tunnel
2 Murder Holes

North Guard (Middledeep 6)
Escape Tunnel
2 Murder Holes

Rift Guard (Middledeep 4)

[/spoiler][spoiler=Armies]

1 Dark Elf Summoner (Mianarith) : Middledeep 16
1 Bloodfiend: Middledeep 16

Larynda: Garrisoned at South Guard (Middledeep 16)
10 Slave Soldiers: Garrisoned at South Guard (Middledeep 16)
5 Dark Elf Swordsmen: Garrisoned at South Guard (Middledeep 16)
5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen: Garrisoned at South Guard (Middledeep 16)
3 Bloodfiends: Garrisoned at South Guard (Middledeep 16)

Malaggar: Garrisoned at North Guard (Middledeep 6)
4 Slave Soldiers: Garrisoned at North Guard (Middledeep 6)
4 Bloodfiends: Garrisoned at North Guard (Middledeep 6)
5 Dark Elf Swordsmen: Garrisoned at North Guard (Middledeep 6)
5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen: Garrisoned at North Guard (Middledeep 6)
2 Ogre Slaves: Garrisoned at North Guard (Middledeep 6)

2 Slave Soldiers: Garrisoned at Rift Guard (Middledeep 4)
2 Dark Elf Swordsmen: Garrisoned at Rift Guard (Middledeep 4)
2 Dark Elf Crossbowmen: Garrisoned at Rift Guard (Middledeep 4)

Eredini: Garrisoned at Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
Ryltarn: Garrisoned at Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
5 slave Soldiers: Garrisoned at Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
1+3=4 Dark Elf Swordsman: Garrisoned at Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
2+3=5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen: Garrisoned at Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
4 Ogre Slaves: Garrisoned at Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)

Dalashinn: Garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
1 Slave Soldier: Garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
5 Dark Elf Swordsmen: Garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen: Garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
2 Spider Cavalry: Garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
2 Tunnel Hulks: Garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
1 Bloodfiend: Garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)

Lomax: Garrisoned at Uzannador (Middledeep 15)

[/spoiler][spoiler=Characters]

[ic=Dalashinn, the Onyx Prince]
Ranged Attack: +6
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 12
Defence: 20
Health: 18
Speed: 6
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Agony, Frenzy, Immunity (Fire), Leadership, Fell Pact, Haste
Inventory: Demonomicon

Dalashinn increases the Speed and Morale of any army he is leading by +1.  If garrisoned in a Dungeon he increases the Defence and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.
[/ic]
[ic=Eredini, Acting Commander of Kirr-Godna]
Ranged Attack: +10
Ranged Damage: 7
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 18
Health: 18
Speed: 5
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Detector, Curse, Poisonous Cloud, Summon (Bloodfiend), Leadership
Inventory: -

If garrisoned in a Dungeon, Eredini increases the Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.
[/ic]
[ic=Lomax, Commander of Uzannador]
Ranged Attack: +10
Ranged Damage: 7
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 18
Health: 18
Speed: 5
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Detector, Curse, Poisonous Cloud, Summon (Bloodfiend), Leadership
Inventory: -

If garrisoned in a Dungeon, Lomax increases the Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.
[/ic]
[ic=Larynda, Captain of South Guard]
Ranged Attack: +9
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 4
Defence: 17
Health: 13
Speed: 5
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Detector, Curse, Poisonous Cloud, Summon (Bloodfiend), Leadership
Inventory: -

If garrisoned in an Outpost, Larynda increases the Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.
[/ic]
[ic=Malaggar, Captain of North Guard]
Ranged Attack: +9
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 4
Defence: 17
Health: 13
Speed: 5
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Detector, Curse, Poisonous Cloud, Summon (Bloodfiend), Leadership
Inventory: -

If garrisoned in an Outpost, Malaggar increases the Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.
[/ic]
[ic=Ryltarn, Captain of Rift Guard]
Ranged Attack: +9
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 4
Defence: 17
Health: 13
Speed: 5
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Detector, Curse, Poisonous Cloud, Summon (Bloodfiend), Leadership
Inventory: -

If garrisoned in an Outpost, Ryltarn increases the Morale of garrisoned troops by +1.


The male Ryltarn is known for his insatiable (and quite twisted) sexual appetites that ignore all boundaries of gender and race. It is rumoured that no act of lust is too bizzarre for him. He is considered exceptionally beautiful and charismatic, an asset that has greatly aided his lecherous lifestyle. Ryltarn adorns himself in the most exquisite items of clothing and jewelry, taking pains to maintain a flawlessly polished appearance at all times.
[/ic]

[/spoiler][spoiler=Orders]

[ooc=Objectives]
This is a freeform summary of my primary objectives for the week. It's intended as a guideline for unforeseen scenarios where following the specific orders as given would be impossible or obviously unsound. Whenever the commanding NPCs have to make such judgement calls, their decisions should be informed by these objectives.

1. The Fungoids might pose a threat to Hazer-Nagroth, but could also be instrumental for the acquisition of the Staff of the Excruciatrix. Careful diplomacy is in order. In any case, I need to avoid starting another war, as that would be truly disastrous at this stage.

2. The process of building up a force of Bloodfiends to counter the Shadow Elves' Abominations continues. First steps to secure the cavern south from South Guard for colonization should be taken, to establish a position from which to threaten Umbrazzid.

3. The Demonomicon provides an interesting opportunity for some new, potentially fruitful bargains. This avenue ought to be explored.

[/ooc]

14 slaves will be delivered to South Guard, 9 to North Guard, 5 to Rift Guard, 5 to Uzannador and 1 to Hazer-Nagroth.

Mianarith and her summoned Bloodfiend will spend 1 Speed to become garrisoned in South Guard for some much needed rest.

All garrisoned Bloodfiends will be given a sacraficial slave to pay for their upkeep.

Ryltarn will depart from Kirr-Godna with 3 Slave soldiers, 3 Dark Elf Swordsmen and 3 Dark Elf Crossbowmen. His party will spend 2 Speed to march to Middledeep 4 and 1 Speed to become garrisoned at Rift Guard.

Each of the Summoners will sacrafice 5 slaves (for a total of 30) to summon Bloodfiends (6 in total), that join their respective garrisons.

After the summoning at North Guard is complete, the 2 Ogre Slaves garrisoned there will depart, accompanied by 2 Dark Elf Swordsmen from the Garrison. This party will spend 2 Speed to march to Middledeep 7. The Ogre Slaves will spend 1 Speed to become garrisoned at Hazer-Nagroth. The 2 Dark Elf Swordsmen will spend 2 Speed to return to North Guard and 1 Speed to become garrisoned there again.

The Tunnel Hulks garrisoned in Hazer-Nagroth will spend 3 Speed to Tunnel under the following rooms: Teleportation Circle, Tomb, Barrow and Sepulchre. (These tunnels will of corse NOT be accessible from outside the city.)

Dalashinn will conduct the ritual of Summoning the Succubi according to the instructions in the Demonomicon. He will also engage in spell research in the Arcane Library to master the Ward spell.

Larynda will depart from South Guard (handing command of the outpost over to Mianarith) with 5 Bloodfiends, 5 Slave Soldiers, 3 Dark Elf Swordsmen and 3 Dark Elf Crossbowmen. Her party will spend 3 Speed to March to Middledeep 19 and then constructs an Outpost there. They will also spend 1 Speed to scout Middledeep 20. If they find Shadow Elf forces attacking that area, they'll join the battle (spending 1 Speed to move there) to reinforce the Cerelich's forces.

The Bloodfiend summoned in Uzannador will depart and spend 1 Speed to march to South Guard and 1 Speed to become garrisoned there.

[ooc]
For sake of clarity, here are the final intended positions of units after all the orders have been successfully carried out without casualties.

Middledeep 19
1 Dark Elf Summoner (Larynda)
5 Bloodfiends
5 Slave Soldiers
3 Dark Elf Swordsmen
3 Dark Elf Crossbowmen

South Guard (Middledeep 16)
Mianarith
5 Slave Soldiers
2 Dark Elf Swordsmen
2 Dark Elf Crossbowmen
2 Bloodfiends

North Guard (Middledeep 6)
Malaggar
4 Slave Soldiers
5 Bloodfiends
5 Dark Elf Swordsmen
5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen

Rift Guard (Middledeep 4)
Ryltarn
7 Slave Soldiers
5 Dark Elf Swordsmen
5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen
1 Bloodfiend

Kirr-Godna (Middledeep 13)
Eredini
1 Dark Elf Swordsman
2 Dark Elf Crossbowmen
4 Ogre Slaves
1 Bloodfiend

Hazer-Nagroth (Middledeep 7)
Dalashinn
1 Slave Soldier
5 Dark Elf Swordsmen
5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen
2 Spider Cavalry
2 Tunnel Hulks
2 Ogre Slaves
1 Bloodfiend

Uzannador (Middledeep 15)
Lomax


[/ooc]

[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]

[Nomadic]

[spoiler=Orders and Information]
[spoiler=Orders]
- Move Grolhund to Middledeep 9 and have him meet up with the servitors returning from Middledeep 8 and escort them safely through any jabberlings before garrisoning with them (5 speed)
- Move the servitors in Middledeep 8 back to Middledeep 82 and garrison (4 speed)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Production]
Scuttling Laboratory (Middledeep 82):

Mushroom Forest: +25 Food
Drilling Machine: +75 Gold +10 Metal
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Upkeep]
5 Grafted Servitors: -5 food
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Construction]
Scuttling Laboratory (Middledeep 82):

Under Construction:

Beginning Construction:
Scrying Chamber: 2 weeks

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Recruitment]
Scuttling Laboratory (Middledeep 82):
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Wealth]
Gold: 100
Metal: 49
Food: 163
Bodies: 14
Prisoners: 0
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]
Scuttling Laboratory (Middledeep 82):
Rooms:
- Cages
- Drilling Machine
- Ooze Cauldron

Traps/Defenses:
- Invisibility Generator
- Ward
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Armies]
Grolhund the Heartscrew - Garrisoned at Scuttling Laboratory (Middledeep 82)
5 Grafted Servitors - Scouting (Middledeep 8)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Characters]
[ic=Grolhund the Heartscrew]
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 15
Defence: 20
Health: 100
Speed: 6
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Climbing, Fear (DC 18), Huge, Paralyzing Poison, Regeneration 10, Trapmaker
Inventory:

Grolhund's paralyzing poison works as normal poison except that instead of dealing normal damage it paralyzes a single unit that would have been killed by Grolhund's attack for the remainder of the combat.  Huge units cannot be paralyzed in this way.  If Grolhund and his forces are forced to withdraw, he takes any prisoners with them.  If he is forced to flee (or is killed), then his prisoners are abandoned.

Casualties inflicted on fleeing opponents are taken as prisoners instead.
[/ic]
[/spoiler]
[/spoiler]

[Steerpike]

[spoiler=Before the Wedding of Tiern and Disa (Shadow Elves and Dwerim)]Soundtrack: King in the Deep

Tiern sits alone by a glowing coal-fire, his gaze unbroken as he watches flames dance and sparks fall. The towers of Balagrod rise in the distance, lit by a few fitful lights. The camp is quiet.

Phaedra approaches, as silent as ever, and crosses her legs to sit nearby. She doesn't speak yet, just providing silent company for her friend.

"It was in Nüln when I was a child that I would watch the great fires of the forge hall for many hours. Even when the smiths put down their tools and worked no more, even as the city slept. For at times I was uneasy and could not. There my father would find me, after a time, and he would take me up in his arms, and as he carried me away, only then would I sleep."

Phaedra almost starts as the silence is broken, but listens.

"But those days are gone, and now he is gone" Tiern says.  "I must find a way to be as strong as my father was, as wise and as thoughtful. For that unease returns, and I fear for the future of my people. We have vanquished Orc and Goblin both, but this may not be enough."

"No, though we have made the Upperdeep a far safer place for all of our peoples. And for this week at least, I believe we shall have peace."

"Blessedly. I shall be wed soon, though it pains me that my father shall not be there. I have little family left, it seems. Galand will stand for me, but he is among the last of Kaltë's line, and I do not know who shall be there to stand for my children."

"Then they shall stand for each other." She smiles, trying to bring some cheer.

Tiern nods slowly. "By the Ancestors, let it be so."

Phaedra bows her head in respect.

"But this talk is dark, and I shall soon be wed. It is a time for joy, as my father would have wanted."

"It is our way as well; do not mourn his death, but celebrate his life. By his hand the greatest threat to peace in the Upperdeep was ended, and Nocae, Dwer, Dwarves, Hobgoblins, and Shroudlings all stand as brethren."

"In some ways, it is so. May this marriage strengthen bond, and may the Westdeep be joined firmly to our cause, and may the rift between our peoples be healed."

"I pray so."  She looks wistful for a moment. "It is good that your peoples take this step towards reunion."

"It is. We have been long parted one from the other, but on the morrow that shall end. Even now the feast is prepared. Are you prepared for it, Phaedra Lestridae? It shall be no paltry spread of Elven moss.

"I believe I can manage to handle the challenge, though it may be my greatest yet."

Tiern laughs quietly. "That it may."

"Mayhap Scorra's sire would provide an equal threat, though I doubt it greatly."

"Your father, the Protector - he wrote to me, of matters." Tiern looks away briefly. "Grief cannot consume me. I am King in the Deep, and I must bear that burden and more, and I must speak for my people. What would the Nocae have of the Dwerim?"

Phaedra nods. "The Eastern realms, the warrens of the Goblins. We cannot spread thin enough to defend them long, and we do not know the intent of the Legion. They speak of alliance, but they have expanded fast and far - already in a war on two fronts, we may make tempting targets."

"We may, and the Dwerim trust not the Glow. Their minds are alien, unknowable. They may yet act against us, though they have said they will not."

"I've heard of that. They asked my father this week for one of our Abominations...and did not seem to understand how that request could be abhorrent. Yet they seem to fear the Duergar. If they fear your Deep cousins, with them so close, they may not act."

"They do not understand. We are but flesh to them, as they say. Food for their children. But we shall see. The Dwerim break not their word, and the burden falls upon the Rotqueen, this Child of the Dreamer."

Phaedra nods in agreement. "We too shall honor our word to them - and maybe they will understand the value of our word. For now, the Nocae need little, save reinforcements - especially at one of our new dungeons. Has my father written to you of Ald-Lothii?"

"I have seen word of it. Know that the Dwerim shall come, and know that we shall make it strong, but so too shall we lend the craft of our hands to its beauty. What might we build together? I do not know, but it shall be great, if we but persevere. I shall come to this place before my return to the Mansion, and it shall have my blessing, and some among my company shall remain to make it safe."

"Exactly what we hope. But as soon as its purpose is known, we fear it may become a target as well; those who despite us may seek a symbolic value in attacking it. We must work to turn it into a thing of beauty and a bastion of safety."

Phaedra smiles widely at the mention of the trip back. "It would be good to follow you there. If you wish, I will accompany you to the Mansion as well; I'm none too eager to depart your company, and it seems right that at least one of the Nocae will remain among the Dwerim.

Tiern nods again. "If that is your wish, Phaedra Lestridae. I would be glad for it. Know too that I have sent out from the Mansion a band of warriors. They shall come to the Thousand Halls this very week, and they shall guard them safe. I thank you and your people for their stewardship, but it is time for the Dwerim to return to the place that made them.

"This is good. The Halls are yours, and should be again. As should those warrens the Goblins built - it would likely put the Glow at ease the sooner we are gone from them. Which reminds me of dire news. There were Dwarven ruins taken by the Legion of the Dragon, the Kobolds to the north. They mean to plumb its depths, and believe it connects to the Thousand Halls. My father bade them not to enter, but they have not yet replied - and even if they had, the rune that sealed the depths has been broken."

"It will take time, but we shall make those places safe as we can. But what you speak of is impossible. There is no such passage. The walls of Rhaud cannot be broken, and even in its depths there is no way within. None that my people know of, and it was we who built that city in ages past."

"Perhaps the Kobold was mistaken, then. It spoke of allegiance when the offer was extended...though I fear they may simply be the newest iteration of the Red Tide."

"If this Legion should come, we shall refuse them. We will not suffer the evil that is bound within to walk free upon the earth.

"Given the guard, I can only imagine what lies bound within - and remain grateful that accursed Goblin did not unleash it."

"Each and every one of our warriors would give his life to see that this does not come to pass. It is unspeakable, and the Crime that gave it birth was terrible and fell. There are few things upon or under this earth that may compare to that ancient malice."

Phaedra shudders at the thought. "Given what we have encountered, that does give me pause. We will stand to the death to keep it sealed as well, then.

"It shall not come to pass, for it cannot. I will not allow it. But you must sleep now, Phaedra of the Duskenbow. You will need your strength for the morrow.

Phaedra nods. "And you as well, Thane Tiern. My friend."[/spoiler][spoiler=In the Thorn of Visions (Fungoids and Exalted)]Soundtrack: The Queen of Thralls

Llitul phases into the Tower of Screams, her Brainhounds in tow, looking around, her tentacles twitching slightly.

The Child stands in the inner hall of the tower, flanked by a towering sporemother and a decrepit-looking crawling cap; the cap seems to be withering away, with great flakes of its flesh falling off.  The chamber itself is radically transformed; a soft, spongy fungal material has grown over most of the surfaces, and clumps of thin, twisting tendrils hang from the ceiling, softly sparking with multicolored hues.   The Child hersElf appears - roughly - like a young woman from the waist up; it is difficult to tell if she is supposed to look Human or Elven. Wriggling bumps and fronds of phospohorescent light cover her head and shoulders; her eyes are a bright, glowing white, with little motes of color flashing in them.  Below the waist, she is a mass of colorful slime. She wears nothing and carries nothing, save a staff of bone - on closer inspection, it might be Elf bone.  The Child looks at Llitul with a curious expression, and the tendrils on her head wiggle.

"The Llitul-flesh has come to us."

Llitul looks around the tower and at the Child and the Children and smiles, the expression odd on her face. While her build has the slender grace of an Elf, her skin is a light gray that shimmers in pale incandescence in the light. "It's beautiful here. As are you." It takes her a moment to realize the Child had spoken, as if she had to process multiple thoughts. "I have. It is a pleasure to meet you in the flesh."

The Child hands the staff to the Sporemother that towers over her and presses her hands together; she smiles and looks very pleased. "I have much delight... we have touched your mind, Llitul, but we did not know your flesh. The mind is greater, but there is beauty in your flesh as well... it is wonderful that you are here. We are all very excited!"

The sporemother and the rotting cap twitch and wriggle with approval.  The Child slithers closer to Llitul, glancing at the creatures behind her.

As if feeding off the joy of the Children, the Brainhounds' tendrils wave in a gesture that would remind a Abovelander of a dog's tail before the comparison on these reptilian brains shattered their minds.

"As are we, Childe of the Dreamer! It is a true joy to see you with my eyes, and your beauty." Her voice holds an almost childish wonder.

The Child scintillates with color as she draws near; she is taller, by a foot or so, but her amorphous lower body flattens out slightly to bring her eyes level with Llitul's. "We have heard long the whispers of the flesh that made you, and saw wonder in them. We see that they also bring beauty to flesh. Their dreams are not perfect... but we see their insight. They have made you much more than flesh."

"They have. But.." she bites her lip, and the starfish-mouths on her tentacles curl shut slowly. "I fear the Overbrain, the flesh that made me, may soon bring sharpness against me in the flesh and dream." Her body language abruptly shifts, and her skin color shifts suddenly to match the multitude of the Child, and the starfish mouths extend in grotesque joy "But we should not dwell on such sad things! Not for a first meeting of friends! I love this tower; it is beautiful now. And I see it is so close to the lands of the Dwer-flesh! Do they no longer bring sharpness to you?"

"Friends..." the Child seems to think on this word for a moment, and her tendrils wriggle and twine around each other. "Yes, we are this. Friends are a thing of flesh; there are no friends in our realm, only my family. But this flesh-word has meaning for us now. You are our... you are my friend, Llitul. The matter of the Dwer-flesh is strange, and not yet finished. There is much we do not understand. The peace we were willing to give them has been undermined. I am.... uncertain what to do."

Llitul beams, her eyes axions shifting from their typical grey to a bright green, her skin shifting to a lighter color. "I am glad to have y ou as my friend." Her brow furrows in concern as she shifts to greys and browns, the starfish mouths closing and turning black, and her voice is a mere whisper. "What are your concerns?"

"In the week past I went to the edge of the forest, before the dwelling of the Dwer-flesh, alone, and asked the Lothë-flesh and the Elf-flesh to speak to me. They came, and we saw the Lothë-flesh, and it spoke to us. We said what was true - we no longer thought the Goblin-flesh to be good flesh. We thought them so because they gave us gifts, but they were very violent in their end, and made much sharpness in the garden with other flesh. Had they lived, they may have been a threat to us as well. The Lothë-flesh accepted this and said it was good. We told them other things that were true; that we would remove threats to us, and that we would have our garden. The Lothë-flesh would not leave our garden, however. They wished to dwell there still. So the flesh offered us this: that they should remain along with us, and have part of this garden, and keep this part whole and good. And yet they were a threat still, by existing here with their sharpness and fire, and we said so; the Lothë-flesh said that it would give us its word that it would not fight us, nor join with the duergar-flesh if there was sharpness between us and them."

The lowermost three of Llitul's tentacles shift down and she leans upon them, listening intently in her hexapodal stance.

"We do not understand this flesh-word or know why it has meaning. But the Llitul has said that this has value to flesh, and value when it comes from the Lothë-flesh especially. So I decided to consider this. But there was still the Elf-flesh to consider, Llitul."

At the mention of the Duergar, her flesh turns jet black streaked with angry golds, and she lets out an involuntary hiss.

"The Elf-flesh had made much sharpness with others, even their own Elf-kin, Llitul! This is unthinkable to us. They seem much like the Goblin-flesh to me, and so I said. I said that we could not abide them in the garden, nor in the Goblin-dwellings above it. But in the Goblin-dwellings there is much dead-gold, we have heard, and the Elf-flesh wished this, for the flesh called Dolmar said it needed this dead-gold to defend itself from its kin and others.""The Dolmar-flesh was willing to give itself to the Dream if this would convince us that it was no threat, but this was not sufficient for us. Then the Lothë-flesh said this, that they would take all the Goblin-dwellings, and give the dead-gold therein to the Elf-flesh, and thus the Elf-flesh could have their dead-gold and still leave this realm. We found this good. Then the Lothë-flesh took Goblins that were its captives, and killed them, and gave them to us. This was also good. I said I would return to the Dreamer and join its mind, and soon would tell them what the Dream had decided. Llitul is wise in the ways of flesh." The Child tilts its head to one side, looking curiously at Llitul. "What does the Llitul-flesh think of this?"

Llitul's skin shifts to the best emulation of the non-spectrum colors of the glow as she ponders. "Lothë will honor his word, and if it is true what I believe I sensed and he did die in battle against the Goblins, their new leader will be even more bound to honor the last request of Lothë."

"Yes, that is the problem. The Lothë-flesh is dead-flesh now. The Lothë-flesh offered to us its word. It said the word of this flesh had meaning. It said that it was bound by this word and would not be a threat to us. Yet if the Lothë-flesh is dead, our consideration is irrelevant. The word of the flesh may have meaning, but dead-flesh cannot speak. It cannot offer us its words, whether they have meaning or not." The Child seems to ponder this for a while, her tendrils and polyps bending in slow waves atop her head.

"The flesh that takes Lothë's place as the leader of the Dwer will likely honor the words of Lothë - this is called respecting last wishes, and they consider it valueable. Some flesh does, at least - you may want to ask the new Food that leads the Dwer if it will honor Lothë's word."

Llitul's skin shifts closer to its traditional greys.

"We have heard this word 'honor' and do not understand it. It may be as you say. But we wonder if this agreement is necessary. We have seen the dwelling, have we not, Child?" The Child turns back to her entourage; the rotting crawling-cap shuffles excitedly up to her, leaving a few pieces of itself on the ground as it goes. The pitiful thing squeals and wiggles its spindly legs, a few puffs of spores drifting from it. The Child bends down and caresses it with her hand, and it shivers in... well, it could be ecstasy. It's hard to tell. "Yes, our little Child watched the flesh have its sharpness before the dwelling. The Goblin-flesh is all dead-flesh, now, and the Dwer-flesh that remain are few, and weak. We think it would be easy to remove them from this garden. I wonder if we should."

The Brainhounds look at it curiously, frontal tendrils lapping, and without a face, eyes, or mouth, manage to convey a desire to play with the rotting crawling-cap in some sort of degusting parody of true hounds. "Which dwelling is this?" Two of her tentacles caress anxious Brainhounds, shifting to the colors of spilled brains. "If you remove them from the garden, they will come back with fire and sharpness. But if your Children could withstand their fire and sharpness, or make them so fearful of you they would not bring it, then you should drive them from the garden. And the Nocae-Food could even help with it, perhaps. Dwer food, Dwer flesh. It values their dead flesh. They put them crypts, big buildings to hold dead flesh to honor dead flesh. To house useless rotting food."

"The dwelling we speak of is the great dwelling of the Dwer-flesh, where Lothë dwelled. We think the Elf-flesh would fight alongside them; they did so against the Goblins. They are willing to give each other what they value, this dead-gold, even though they are not kin. If we bring sharpness to one we must fight both."

"We see also that the Duergar-flesh grows and dwells now in many places. If we bring sharpness to the Dwer-flesh, these other Dwarf-flesh may join as well. We know little of their strength or sharpness. We do not doubt that we could remove this Dwer-threat from this realm in but one week. Yet the Elf-flesh would linger; they too are weak here, but they may come with more from the west passages. And the Duergar-flesh waits below. We would like to be at peace with the Dwer-flesh and Elf-flesh, if they are gone from our garden. But we have seen that they are not sensible creatures, and continue to hate what has threatened them in the past even when it threatens them no longer."

"The Nocae-Food, Elf-Flesh, would then fight you with Dwer-Flesh. And with other Dwarf-Flesh, though they are far away; Whisper has told me that the Dwarf-Flesh andd Dwer-Flesh and Nocae-Food are all friends. All three would fight you. If the Dwer flesh will honor their promise not to fight the Duergar-food" and again her skin turns jet black with rage "They you could focus on turing the Duergar-food, the dream-haters, into dead-flesh you could make beautiful." Her voice trembles with hate. "The difference between them is that if it threatens them but does never harm them or their Children, they can forgive that. They cannot stop hating that which has killed them or their Children. Duergar Flesh, Duergar Food, Duergar monsters have killed some of my Children this past week. Yes, my Children, that is what they are, MINE. The tendrils on her head clutch at the crown of bone that adorns it."

"Yes, we have thought this as well. It... troubles me to not take the garden now; that which was Black-rot would take this opportunity to -" the Child halts abruptly, hearing her words. "They have made sharpness upon your Children?" The Child does not look angry, only curious and mildly surprised. "Why did they do this thing?"

"Yes. Elf-Flesh I had made walk so I could make it beautiful like me! They made sharpness upon them, and brought beetles upon them. They did this thing because my hounds, my beautiful hounds, hungered, and weeks ago in a tunnel came across a SNEAK, a little SHARP Duergar, and they fed upon him, for my hounds must feed. Another Duergar hid and attempted to bring sharpness to me mysElf and I all of us. But I found him before he could bring sharpness, and I entered the dream and he tried to swim in magma." Llitul shakes with rage, her tentacles trembling with rage and fear*

The Child looks at Llitul sympathetically. Her tendrils droop towards Llitul, almost looking like they are trying to be comforting on their own. The Child reaches out her hand and touches Llitul's face. Her touch is slimy, but warm; her fingers pulse with a strange kind of heat. "Do you see my Child, Llitul?" She nods to the rotting crawling-cap standing pathetically below them.

Llitul nods, leaning into the touch, and the tentacles drop almost as if forgotten. It had been so long since she had last been touched, so long. "I do."

"Look at his flesh. He will soon be rot and spores alone. He will die soon. A few days, perhaps."

Llitul looks sad. "Can he be saved? Can I save him?"

"You cannot, Llitul. I cannot. My Children are not like flesh; months they have, from when they are born in flesh to when they return to spores and soil. Do you know this Child of mine once served who I was? It was made by Black-rot. It was her Child; but it loves me. Because I showed it the Dream. I gave it a vision of perfection. Is it better to live a whole life as flesh, for years and years, or to live just one day and know what we know, Llitul? One day in the Dream? One day of beauty and truth?"

Llitul looks like she is deep in thought, her colors shifting rapidly. "One day of beauty and truth is by far better than an eternity without it. That is why the Duergar flesh angered me so; the Elf-flesh I sought to make beautiful would have seen the dream, and now are dead flesh and never will."

The Child smiles kindly. "Then do not mourn for my Child. It must die; that is its nature. All my Children must die. Each of them will fade, as will yours. But they are all loved; they all serve the beauty of the Dream that loves them. There is no mourning in my family. They fade, but our light does not fade. We do not mourn so long as the Dream lives."

Llitul nods, seeming content with the thought. "My beautiful hounds wish to play with your Child. May they give it some more happiness before it must die?"

The Child nods, and removes her hand from Llitul; the warmth seems to linger on its own for some time before dissipating. The rotting cap shivers and begins scuttling straight up one of the walls, letting its tendrils flutter about. The cap scuttles up and down the wall, leading the creatures out of the chamber, if they desire to follow it.

The Brainhounds follow as Llitul leans slightly into the retreating touch, almost loath to let it stop; they Brainhounds will cavort with the cap and hound it, but will essentially be playing tendril-tag, doing no harm.

"We must speak of other things, Llitul. You were right about the gate that is here. I went through this gate last week. We found the Elf-flesh that is called Kirr. They inhabit the other side. We will trade dead-gold to them for dead-flesh; but they are also looking for this." The Child gestures to the bone staff that the Sporemother holds.

She nods, letting the wamth linger. "To Hazer-Nagoth. Ahh, the staff may be kin to my crown. We do not wish to give it to them; they offer us nothing we desire save the dead-flesh, which we trade the dead-gold for. But we consider if we should tell them of it."

Her tendrils weave between the spines of the crown protectively, and one of the tentacles opens to point its lamprey mouth towards the staff. "I would not tell them of it. They may wish to bring sharpness to you to take it, and if they come they may take my crown with sharpness as well."

The Child nods, considering. "We have also reached out to a new mind. This mind knows you. It is Elf-flesh, from the 'surface.'"

"If you wish, I will take it and keep it safe for you - I would give you some elixirs for it, elixirs that will strengthen your flesh so that sharpness will harm you less, and so that if you need to use your sharpness it will be stronger. Then the Dwerim, Nocae, and Duergar would..." Llitul abruptly cuts off and whispers. "Saerid. You...you've spoken with my Saerid?"

The Child seems unconcerned. "Is that what the Flesh is called? The Elf-flesh that seeks the Llitul-that-was, called Llandri. Yes, we have touched its mind. We have spoken, though we have seen the flesh not. I do not think it is a very clever flesh. It does not understand us well."

Llitul's entire body is rigid save for the tendrils, which writhe in agitation. "He has never had his mind touched by a dreamer before...he wouldn't know...wouldn't understand...what did he say? Did he know where we were? Is he coming? He thinks he hears my voice only in the echo of the dream flesh have, their little Sleep-Dreams. As she asks, the lamprey mouths in the tentacles begin hissing words: "fear...love...loathe...perfect...kill...protect...exalt...save"

"He did not say much, but asked much. He was surprised. He asked us where the Llandri was. He asked if she had changed. He asked if the Ceremorph-flesh had her, or if I did. He did not understand why we said that he harmed our Llandri."

"He hasn't harmed me. I fear...I love him. He and I were to join as one before I was made beautiful. When i was ignorant like him, when I was Llandri. He doesn't know, doesn't understand, and I fear he wouldn't see I was beautiful now, that he would fear me, and I don't want him to fear me I want him to love me like he once did and I want to perfect him as I was but I wanted to keep him as he is. He confuses US. WE. We have many thoughts on Saerid." Llitul seems to be near tears, and the tentacle-mouths continue hissing "findhimsavehimheisgoodhedoesnotknowwhathedoeslethimreturntothesurfacekeephimwithusmakehimlikeusmakehimloveus"

"It was our wedding night. We were supposed to have had Children of our very own."

"I..." The Child mulls this over, her tendrils curling. "I do not wholly understand. Those are many flesh-words that are unfamiliar to us. But we would not allow the Llitul-flesh to be degraded and made less beautiful, if such is in his power; nor would I want my friend taken from me."  The Child tilts her head. "We have told this creature to leave... but it only asks more questions and does not heed us. We are not sure it understands who we are, though we have told it of the light that does not fade. We are uncertain how to answer it now. I do not think it would be good to tell it where you are... unless you wish us to destroy this creature."

"He cannot make me less beautiful. I am what I am now. Llandri that was understand that now, even. We are Llitul. Our home is here beneath, you are our friend. We could not return to the surface with him, we WOULD not, we WilL noT DO That." Liltul shakes her head, and her tentacles hissing becomes almost threatening, a rattlesnake's warning. "He must not be destroyed. He cannot find us if he cannot love us as we are, but he showed me Love, the cloesest Flesh can come to the Dream, before I was made BeautiFUL. For that, by showing me love, flesh-love that comes so close to the Dream, I wish him to live if I cannot show him the Dream, or if he cannot Love me as I am now and stay with me beneath."

The Child smiles benevolently. "Then we will not harm this creature. We do not think it knows where to find us, or you, though it asks for this knowledge. We think it draws close to the ceremorph-flesh of Llitul's kin. Perhaps they bring sharpness there. Will the Llitul return to that place?"

"I do not believe I will for some time. The Overbrain will want to force me to destroy Saerid. I cannot let it do that. If I go back, it will unmake me; it will kill me, Sever me from the Dream. I will try to convince the ceremorph-kin, my Beloved, to turn Saerid back, and hope the Overbrain will not bring sharpness to us."

"I will stay with you for a time, then I must head deeper, though not yet - I don't want to leave meeting you in the flesh yet. I want to be with you longer."

"Perhaps there is another way. Perhaps I could bring the Saerid-flesh here, and take it without bringing it death."

"I don't know. Perhaps. Or maybe...maybe the Dwer. He could go to them, they would like him, he would like them, and then we are so close...no, we must venture deep, we must not let the Overbrain find us...if Saerid attacks the Hive, he'll keep the Overbrain from hunting us...my beautiful hounds will come for me... I cannot hide, I must move before the hunt can begin..."

Llitul's tendrils whips about in rage and fear and dispair, each mouth whispering litainies of nightmares and hope and fear as her skin's colors shift rapidly.  Suddenly Llitul snaps to attention, the tentacles falling perfectly. "Show him me. In the Dream. Show him me, beautiful as I am now. Ask him if he could love me as I am now. Ask him if he could Love us as We aRe, as WE have become. Then...then we will know what to do."

The Child tilts her head one way, then the other, looking into Llitul's eyes. "I think this is wise. We will do this. We know the sight of your flesh now, and may show this to him, as we show him our colors." She smiles broadly. "This matter is done, then. Otherwise this Elf-flesh is no threat to us, and is not a concern. We hear what the Llitul has said - it would be wise perhaps to keep this peace with the Dwer-flesh and turn against these duergar-flesh, who are the greater threat. Black-rot would not abandon this opportunity against the Dwer-flesh - but I am not her."

"So he know's it's me...so he knows you speak truth...tell him...I never expected my indulgence to last this long, and that I was never jealous of Ellisandra. Thank you...thank you my friend."

The Child nods.

"While I am here, is there a room for the study of magic? I need to learn more so that I may not leave the dream too soon. And... so we can talk and think and dream."

"Magic?" The Child looks back blankly at her.

"Making Dream reality. I'll...I'll tell you more of it later. I'll explore your home. I wish to see more of the Beauty you've created."

"All that we found in this place was the gate, and the chamber of vision, and a place with much flesh-lines which is called writing. My Children looked there but found nothing sensible."

"You are welcome to go anywhere you like here; we have given it a name, which is the Thorn of Visions, for we see much from it. You ought not to leave it, for now; we cannot provide for your safety in our garden, not yet."

All of these setences are spoken at a single moment, one from each of her mouths: "I and my beloved hounds will stay here, safe with you. I will go to the writing room. That is likely a room of magic. It is...it is a conversation for after I've let my flesh rest, which I need do. We will talk more. We will talk, my friend, Child of the Dreamer. As for the flesh that surrounds you, I believe the Duergar flesh is the most threatenining, and the Kirr must not know of that staff. If you wish to let me safeguard it, I will get those elixirs for you."

"Then it will rest. Rest, our beautiful one."[/spoiler]

[Steerpike]

The High Elves of the Surface have descended to the gloom of the Lowerdeep with the aid of the Cleversmart Kobolds and laid waste to the Ceremorph Hive of Curasd, the Horror in the Woods, as Saerid, Lord of the Mithril Tower, continues his quest to rescue his lost love, Llandri Brightstar.  The Shining Flame illumines even the darkest caverns...

Soundtrack: The Shining Flame

[ic=The Month of the Rat, Week 4]Though the Upperdeep now saw a fragile peace and indeed a brief moment of joy as Tiern, the Dwer King in the Deep, wedded Disa Grimhammer, High Queen of the Dwarves, violence still grips the Underdeep.  In the lowermost caverns, the rebellion of Llitul, once styled the Queen of Thralls and Queen of Ceremorphs, now known as Llitul the Demented, the Lady of Madness, plunged the Ceremorph Hive into a state of civil war.  Seizing the opportunity to strike, the ever-cunning Dark Elves of Vashnaranzenan struck at the Ceremorphs, even as a great army of High Elves from the Surface led by the valiant Prince Saerid, called the Shining Flame, devastated a Ceremorph Hive on his way to the Overbrain's resting place in Dtoulth.  They say the High Elf is guided by the Cleversmart Kobolds, whose realm begins to rapidly expand.  Perhaps soon their Queen's title, "Mistress of All That is Under the Ground," may be more than a mere boast.

The recent string of wars that have broken out in the Underdeep have attracted a variety of mercenaries to the caverns.  Sellswords and strange creatures flock to the many banners raised throughout the Underdeep.  Perhaps most prominent of all are the group known as the Seven Sisters – a coven of Succubi said to have been summoned to the mortal plane by the Bloodlord Dalashinn, the Onyx Prince and master of the Kirr Dark Elves.  Legends of these sultry fiends still linger after their last visit to this world.  The truth of their return will soon make itself known.

Meanwhile, the Jabberling breeding season continues, as herds of the writhing creatures seethe out of their chasmic homes.  Some of the creatures have been found slain, bristling with High Elven arrows, suggesting that Saerid and his war-band fell foul of a herd.  Certain travelers, however, claim that large numbers of the voracious beasts have vanished utterly from the vast cavern known as the Gloomreach in the Middledeep.  The only clue as to their disappearance: a series of gigantic footprints, seemingly made by some gargantuan machine.  Some whispers that Grolhund the Heartscrew has taken up residence in the caverns nearby, and that he is responsible for the decimation of the Jabberling herds.  To what twisted purpose he will put the creatures, only the insane Kobold himself can say.[/ic]

[ic=Map – The Month of the Rat, Week 4]

The Surface

[spoiler=The Surface, Month of the Rat, Week 4]

[/spoiler]

The Upperdeep

[spoiler=The Upperdeep, Month of the Rat, Week 4]

[/spoiler]

The Middledeep

[spoiler=The Middledeep, Month of the Rat, Week 4]

[/spoiler]

The Lowerdeep

[spoiler=The Lowerdeep, Month of the Rat, Week 4]

[/spoiler][/ic]

[ic=Briefings – The Month of the Rat, Week 4][spoiler=For the eyes of the Dark Elf Bloodlord Dalashinn, The Onyx Prince, ruler of Kirr-Godna]Your troops continue to consolidate the borders of your realm.  Meanwhile, you have conducted the ritual you discovered in the Demonomicon.  After preparing the elaborate summoning circle, making the appropriate sacrifices, and chanted the incantations found within the unhallowed pages of the fell tome.  There was a flash of sanguineous light, a brief glimpse of the Abyssal realm as a rupture was torn through the planar membranes, and for a moment Hazer-Nagroth was filled with the sound of uncountable millions screaming in agony.  Then the rift closed, scarring over instantly, and before you stood the Seven Succubi – seven Abyssal maidens of surpassing beauty, each more intoxicatingly seductive than the last.  The seemed to ooze grace and disturbing sensuality; they appeared singularly unconcerned by their sudden manifestation.  Indeed, it is hard to associate these Demons with the momentary vision of the Infernal plane: despite their bat-like wings and small horns, they do not seem especially monstrous.  The eldest greeted you immediately, introducing herself as Arquenciel Diamant Septena, and naming each of her Sisters in turn: Chiaroscuro Jayet Septena, Incarnadine Rubina Septena, Verdure Esmeralda Septena, Caerulea Saphir Septena, Wisteria Amethyst Septena, and Jonquille Topaz Septena.  It would be prudent to hold close counsel with these intriguing and comely creatures.

In other news, Larynda has passed south and established the outpost you requested.  There are no Shadow Elves nearby, but the Cerelich's forces dwell in the cavern not far to the south – Ktan-Ydheel's apprentice, Altharid-Xallisine, extends a friendly tentacle of greeting.

[The Seven Sisters have been successfully summoned.

You can parley with both the Succubi and the Abject (Altharid-Xallisine) if you wish.

1 Scroll of Haste gained from the Undead.  +120 Gold from Fungoids and -20 Dark Elf Bodies to Fungoids.

Rift Guard has been successfully established.  So has the outpost at Middledeep 19, which requires a name and a Captain (presumably Larynda).][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of Dolmar Lestridae, Protector of Umbrazzid, Champion of the Holy Shadow]The week has been quiet, a welcome respite from the horrors of war.  You saw Lothë, Thane of the Dwerim, laid out on his bed of bronze of stone in the Hall of the Ancestors.  When Tiern returns to the Mansion he will put his father truly to rest.  Phaedra has sent a report from Balagrod, the Dwarven ruins in the far west.  She writes that Tiern and Disa have been wed, and that a great feast was held, and that Disa proclaimed that while she remains Queen the Nocae, the Dwerim, and the Dwarves of the Westdeep shall remain bound together, and that any Shadow Elf who wishes to travel through the Dwarf-Realm or visit the cities of her people will forever be welcome.

Meanwhile, a mercenary company has arrived at Umbrazzid and offered their services.  The company consists of a group of Deep Gnomes, led by a Deep Gnome woman calling herself Zururura Izzard Dissenact III, and her Fulgurous Brigade, a band of slightly unhinged Deep Gnomes all armed with what she calls "lightning cannons."  In the lands which once belonged to the Goblins, the Blades of Fury have returned to the Surface bearing the Horsemaster's Ring given to them by the Dwerim.  Their leader, Nareth Vyrr, adds that there is trouble along the borders of the Horsemasters' realm, especially with certain malicious fey and other creatures who lurk in the woods.  He adds that Throngel Greatmane of the House of Gyllir, foremost of the Horsemasters, is always in need of more warriors, and that the Nocae might well find rich rewards if they assisted him.

Aerdolm, the Hellsbane sends a report that while heading for Rhaud he sighted a pack of feral Tunnel Hulks prowling the former Goblin-lands.  They seem to be ranging out of the southern caverns; these tunneling creatures are intelligent but unversed in Undertongue, and have peculiar, alien minds, and only the Duergar know the secrets of their husbandry and keeping.  They can be phenomenally destructive if left unchecked, burrowing into settlements in search of food and rampaging across regions while on the hunt.  These creatures might be appeased with food, but such an arrangement would have to be continuous or they would swiftly resume their prowl for sustenance.  What is more, he writes, the Kobolds of the Legio I Draco also suddenly appeared in the region without warning, and launched a sudden, unprovoked attack against Rhaud!  Though the Dwerim wardens were mostly slain, Aerdolm and the Dwer Custodian Azáin survived, repelling the Kobold attack.  They call for immediate reinforcements.

[Zururura and her Fulgurous Brigade offer their services for 300 Gold.  They consist of Zururura and 20 Deep Gnome Brigadiers:

[ic= Zururura Izzard Dissenact III]

Zururura Izzard Dissenact III is an eccentric Deep Gnome, an inventor and mage who leads a "Fulgurous Brigade," of Deep Gnomes just as crazed and maniac as she is, each armed with one of her lightning-cannons.  Zururura herself is also a powerful Electromancer and a skilled technician.

Upkeep: 10 Gold, 1 Food
Ranged Attack: +8
Ranged Damage: 10 (Shock)
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 4
Defence: 20
Health: 15
Speed: 4
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Chain Lightning, Detector, Leadership, Repair

Zururura increases the Morale of any army she is leading by +1.[/ic]

[ic=Deep Gnome Brigadier]These seasoned Deep Gnomes are armed with ingenious lightning-generating weapons that discharge crackling bolts of puissance.

Upkeep: 5 Gold, 1 Food
Ranged Attack: +5
Ranged Damage: 8 (Shock)
Melee Attack: +2
Melee Damage: 1
Defence: 16
Health: 5
Speed: 4
Morale: +2[/ic]

+2 Morale to Phaedra and her Dragonslayers from Tiern's wedding feast.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the many eyes of Dreams-of-Dead-Races, Watcher Sovereign of the Darksea, Master of the Vault known as Cruel Form of Truth]The Bleakflight has made progress towards Dtoulth, the Ceremorph Hive; meanwhile, the solitary Gloomray you sent through the Teleportation Pool at the Bowels of Hateful Earth has passed through the eldritch gate and emerged in a deep lake in the Middledeep, amidst the sunken wreckage of a Watcher ruin.  There is little salvageable here save for some old mine workings which could be repaired, though cave fish are plentiful here.

In the mines of the Bowels of Hateful Earth, your thralls have unearthed something unusual: a fossil of titanic size, the petrified remnants of a colossal Watcher war-beast of the Primal Sovereignty, resembling a gigantic, mutated version of a Guardian.  This enormous crustacean monstrosity would be a formidable addition to your forces if it could somehow be transformed from unliving stone back into flesh.

Meanwhile, your Watchers enter their dreaming torpor this coming week, to dream phantasmagoric visions and plan the next step in the Primal Sovereignty's glorious campaign.

[The Watcher ruin at the bottom of the lake in Middledeep 1 contains a Teleportation Pool, a Watcher Mine (broken), and 3 Cave Fish Pools.  The ruin could easily be reoccupied.

All Watcher Savants have entered the Slumber this week.  They can take no actions but can still be moved if dragged by other units.  They gain the Scry ability this turn.

-30 Gold to Cleversmarts, -30 Metal to Exalted.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Kobold Inventor known as Grolhund the Heartscrew]As you made your way southwards towards your grafted thralls, you came across a herd of Jabberlings – a writhing, gibbering, seething tide of furry flesh, constantly babbling maddening nonsense, at least a hundred in all.  They tore at you with claws and teeth, but you resisted the effects of their nonsensical burbling and began tearing at them with your mechanical claws, snatching others and hurling them into the cages suspended from your gigantic bulk.  They continued to rip at your flesh and your mechanical augmentations, but you tore them off in clumps, eviscerating dozens and poisoning more, hissing and roaring.  Fearful, a great mass of the chittering creatures fled, and you snatched more of them as they scuttled away, then stamped the remaining Jabberlings to a gory smear.

The Jabberlings dead or fled, you proceeded to the thralls' position and led them back safely through the cavern to the laboratory.

[Grolhund's exploits have earned him a new ability.  Choose 1 and add it to his Special Abilities:

[ic=Toughness]Grolhund's encounters have toughened him greatly.  He can now sustain absurd amounts of damage, and his regenerative abilities are even better than before.  Grolhund gets +50 Health and +15 Regeneration.  In addition, if Grolhund's Health is reduced below 0 but his Regeneration would bring him back above 0, he is not killed as he normally would be.[/ic]

[ic=Evisceration]Grolhund's already prodigious skills in combat have grown.  Grolhund gets +5 to his Melee Attack and +10 to Melee Damage.  In addition, if he gets a natural 20 on his Melee Attack, he inflicts double damage.[/ic]

[ic=Transporter]Grolhund has expanded his suit to include a special transportion unit.  He gains the Transport ability, transporting up to 25 regular-sized troops or 12 Large troops.[/ic]

[ic=Demented]Grolhund's steady diet of chemicals has made him even more demented.  He becomes immune to Confusion effects and gets +4 to Morale checks or Defence against mind-influencing spells or psychic attacks.[/ic]

+ 19 prisoners, +38 bodies from the Jabberlings.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of Käfer, Duergar Despot of the Käferhold]The Dark Elf Summoner the Bloodlord provided you has examined the various objects in your possession.  The eldritch grimoire is a text describing a number of unusual Infernal spells: in particular, a strange rite to open something called the Abyssal Gate, which the Key seems to also be used for.  As for the unusual stone shard, the Summoner is less certain, but the glyphs carved on it resemble those that have been found in certain primordial, half-sunken ruins.  The Dark Elf must study the shard further to tell you more, but suspects that the glyphs have something to do with time.  The Elf is also certain that this is just part of a much larger tablet, and for it to function properly all of the pieces would need to be assembled.

Things go well in the Käferhold.  The Deep Gnome tinkers are about to depart the city, but a group of mercenaries have arrived at the Citadel offering their services – a company of  Grey Orcs, the pallid, disciplined cousins of those creatures who dwell in the upper caverns.  Their prices are not inconsiderable, but they are well-trained and well-equipped.  Their leader is a female Orc named Urog-Sharga.

Your scout near the Fungoids' northern border has nothing new to report.  If there are Fungoids nearby, they are well-concealed.  The scout sent to the western border reports that the region is clear, but that the caverns beyond smell of something unimaginably foul, and that strange whispers seem to taunt him from the darkness.  From the Orc's corpse Greenfang retrieved two scrolls of Phase-Shift and one of Invisibility.

In the Middledeep, your Cave Beetles came across a lone Orc shaman in the service of the Ceremorphs.  They slaughtered this creature easily with no losses of their own.  Meanwhile, Commander Wulfgar arrived fatigued but well back in Umbrahold.  The situation in the mines is getting worse.  The miners tell tales of unusual creatures scuttling through the gloom and picking off miners one by one.  There are too many disappearing miners for this to be a series of accidents.

In the Drakkenhold, your Fire Drakes are growing rapidly.  They are now large enough to use in warfare, if you wish, though they are small and would be easily slain.  In time they will grow much larger and more powerful.

[The Eldritch Grimoire, apart from containing instructions on opening the Abyssal Gate, contains the following spells: Agony, Blood Boil, Hex, and Summon (Bearded Devil).  Any spellcaster who studies the book can learn up to 1 spell from it a week.

[ic=Bearded Devil (Summoned Creature)]These grotesque demonic creatures are often employed as guardians by diabolists.  Their disgusting, prehensile beards and horrific Abyssal glaives are tainted with an incredibly lethal infernal disease.  A summoner can only summon one of these monstrosities per week.

Cost: 8 Sacrifices
Upkeep: 2 Sacrifices
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 15
Defence: 18
Health: 25
Speed: 4
Morale: N/A
Special Abilities: Disease 10, Immunity (Disease, Fire)[/ic]

Greenfang recovered 2 scrolls of Phase-Shift and 1 Scroll of Invisibility.  +1 Body as well.

-50 Gold and -10 Metal from the Umbrahold Duergar Mine due to the loss of miners in the tunnels.  The cause of these disappearances is still unknown, but predatory creatures of some sort are suspected.

A company of Grey Orcs has arrived in the Käferhold, and offer their services.  They consist of Urog-Sharga, 15 Orc Mercenary Warriors, and 15 Orc Mercenary Axe-Throwers.  They can be hired for an initial expenditure of 350 Gold, followed by weekly Upkeep costs.

[ic=Urog-Sharga, Grey Orc Mercenary Captain]

Urog-Sharga has an air of nobility about her despite her bestial features.  A tall, well-muscled Orc female, she wields an enormous two-handed sword in combat, which she dubs Zuk-Tarag, the Doomcleaver.

Upkeep: 8 Gold, 2 Food
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 15
Defence: 17
Health: 20
Speed: 4
Morale: +8
Special Abilities: Discipline, First Strike, Leadership
Inventory: Zuk-Tarag (The Doomcleaver: +2 Melee Attack, double damage on a natural 20)

Urog-Sharge increases the Morale of any army she is leading by +1.

Urog-Sharga's First Strike ability means that she strikes first in melee combat.  This ability is imparted to any regiment she leads.[/ic]

[ic=Grey Orc Mercenary Warrior]Grey Orc mercenaries are a far cry from their brutish kindred, being highly disciplined and well-trained.  Some say this is due to an influx of Hobgoblin blood in their veins, others that ages of survival in the Lowerdeep caused Grey Orcs to shrug off the proclivities of their more uncouth cousins.  Grey Orc mercenary warriors are armed with spears and swords.

Upkeep: 4 Gold, 2 Food
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 6
Defence: 16
Health: 10
Speed: 4
Morale: +4
Special Abilities: Discipline[/ic]

[ic=Grey Orc Mercenary Axe-Thrower]Though most Orcs relish the bloody crush of close-quarter carnage, a few prefer the satisfying thwack of a hurled axe splitting an enemy's skull.  While most Orcs mock such axe-throwers, Grey Orcs greatly respect their abilities.

Upkeep: 4 Gold, 2 Food
Ranged Attack: +4
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +3
Melee Damage: 2
Defence: 14
Health: 10
Speed: 4
Morale: +4
Special Abilities: Discipline[/ic]

Meanwhile, your Fire Drakes have reached sufficient size that they can be used in combat:

[ic=Fire Drake Wyrmling]The Fire Drakes are still very small, and so could easily be slain in combat.  However, they are beginning to learn enough Undertongue to follow basic commands, even if they cannot speak in return.

Upkeep: 1 Food
Ranged Attack: +3
Ranged Damage: 5 (Fire)
Melee Attack: +2
Melee Damage: 2
Defence: 15
Health: 5
Speed: 6
Morale: +2
Special Abilities: Flying, Immunity (Fire)[/ic]

One Drake has the Double-Headed ability and an Upkeep of 2 Food.

Remaining mineable resources at the Käferhold: 35600 Gold, 8450 Metal

Remaining mineable resources at the Umbrahold: 15190 Gold, 4665 Metal

Remaining mineable resources at the Drakkenhold: 19100 Gold, 2175 Metal

Remaining mineable resources at the Glyphhold: 16600 Gold, 6700 Metal

Remaining mineable resources at the Greenhold: 9600 Gold, 3700 Metal][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Cerelich Ktan-Ydheel, called the Abjected]A Goblin rogue calling herself Greeba has approached you in Yuddarath having heard of your need for thievery.  She insists that she is the finest Goblin thief in all of the Underdeep, claiming to have pulled off all manner of jobs – burglarizing the treasure-vaults of the Grimhammer Clan, filching treasure from dragon-hoards, plucking jewels from the throne room of Dark Elf Matriarchs.  She is a fidgety thing, but her skills are certainly apparent: she constantly steals small objects, at one point idly peering into the Murmurstone, at another reading a valuable scroll (upside-down).

Naerlyth believes he is close to a breakthrough.  He says that he will require some bodies to perfect the plague.  Altharid-Xallisine makes excellent progress on her research as well, and will soon allow for the summoning of Bloodfiends using the Chamber of Obscenities.  Meanwhile, you successfully dominated the Lava Naiad when she briefly showed herself at the magma-pool.  In other news, the Kirr have established an outpost near to your own lands, a forward base for the anticipated attack on Umbrazzid.

[You may parley with the Dark Elf Commande, Larynda, with Altharid-Xallisine if you wish.

Greeba offers her services for an initial cost of 25 Gold and subsequent Upkeep costs:

[ic=Greeba]

The deft-fingered Greeba claims to be the most skilled Goblin thief in the Underdeep.  She prefers burglary to fighting, but when pressed she uses a selection of cruel throwing knives in combat.  She is certainly stealthy, appearing quite suddenly out of shadows with her manic grin.  She also seems to be something of a kleptomaniac, constantly lifting small objects from whoever is close at hand.

Upkeep: 6 Gold, 1 Food
Ranged Attack: +5
Ranged Damage: 5
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 18
Health: 7
Speed: 4
Morale: +3
Special Abilities: Disarm Traps +5, Infiltrator, Thieving[/ic]

+20 Diseased Bodies from Undead. +1 Scroll of Invisibility from Undead.

You successfully Dominated the Lava Naiad:

[ic=Lava Naiad]These sultry nymphs dwell in pools and rivers of molten rock.  They take a sadistic delight in luring travellers to their deaths, beckoning them onwards till they are engulfed in lava.

Ranged Attack: +8
Ranged Damage: 10 (Fire)
Melee Attack:  +6
Melee Damage: 5 (Fire)
Defence: 15
Health: 10
Speed: 4
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Immune (Fire), Distraction Aura (DC 15), Dominate[/ic]

Naerlyth the Unclean claims that he can perfect the Ceremorph Ghoul Plague, but needs specimens for study – specifically, 25 Bodies.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of Llitul the Demented, styled the Lady of Madness]The Overbrain has spoken.  Its terrible voice resounds in the minds of all Ceremorphs:

THE ONE KNOWN AS LLITUL SPREADS HERESY AND SEDITION.  SHE IS A BROKEN THING, A TRAITOR WHO HAS SHUNNED OUR KIND AND OUR WAYS.  YOU WILL NOT LISTEN TO HER BLASPHEMIES.  HER SO-CALLED PROOFS ARE EMPTY LIES.

I AM THE OVERBRAIN, YOUR CREATOR AND MASTER, YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER.  YOU NEED NO PROOF OF MY POWER, NO FAITH, FOR A TRUE CEREMORPH KNOWS THAT I AM A PART OF YOU AS YOU ARE A PART OF ME, KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU DIE IT IS NO TRUE DEATH, FOR TO DIE IN MY SERVICE IS TO BECOME ONE WITH ME FOREVER.

LLITUL IS CORRUPTED WITH FOOD-THOUGHTS, WITH THE EMOTIONS AND CONCERNS OF THE LESSER ONES.  HER HERESY CANNOT STAND.  SHOULD YOU JOIN WITH HER YOUR AGONY WILL BE ETERNAL.  DESTROY HER AND YOU WILL SECURE FOR YOURSELF GLORY EVERLASTING.

Despite its insistence, your "proofs" seem to have been persuasive.  Several of your Commanders remained loyal to you – only Phyn-Olbaath and Zasz, the Shamed, stubbornly remained loyal to the Overbrain.  However, no sooner had Daggoth and Xealaz professed their undying loyalty to you in defiance of the Overbrain than Curasd, the Horror in the Wood, was assaulted by a force of High Elves, led by your beloved, Saerid!  They were accompanied by Cleversmart Kobolds, and their wrath was terrible to behold.  Their arrows slew every grafted thrall garrisoned at the colony, and Saerid himself put Daggoth to the sword.  The last thought that the Favoured transmitted to you was an image of your betrothed's face, spattered with Ceremorph ichor, a look of cold fury on his perfect features as he plunged his blade into Daggoth's chest.  Curasd has now been taken over by the Kobolds.

Meanwhile, you have received news from the Seekers that Glyp-Dor was also captured – by Dark Elves.  It seems the Lady Viarra Gloomsong, sensing an opportunity, has at last made what was almost certainly a long-planned move.  The Dark Elves took the colony by stealth, slaying the "loyalist" Psion Phyn-Olbaath with no appreciable casualties.  The Seekers are unsure as to the size or composition of their force, and with no scrying capabilities discovering their numbers may be difficult.  The Seekers themselves assailed the Duergar ruin of Ladaguir; after slaying a handful of the Duergar bandits lurking in the ruins, the rest of the Duergar fled your sizeable army under cover of eldritch darkness conjured by their leader.  Pressing on into the Citadel, Xealaz led the Seekers against the spiders that lurked in the ruin's web-shrouded depths.  The battle was vicious: the arachnids, immune to the psychic attacks of your forces, proved difficult to kill, and their venom devastated your thralls.  However, eventually all of the vermin were eradicated.  Within the ruins a few treasures missed by looters were discovered.  The Warded chamber has some kind of Arcane Lock on the door which must be Dispelled to be opened.

In the Thorn of Visions, you transcribed the Phase-Shift spell into the arcane library and studied it, learning the new ability.  Simultaneously, Quasthid reports that it has established a new Hive as ordered.  Now that you have broken from the Overbrain, it may be loyal to you even without being Dominated.  However, Vruthor has been slain – your low-level psychic link with him reveals that he was swarmed by cave beetles and overwhelmed, though whether these were wild vermin or in the service of the Duergar you cannot say for certain.  While you have lost Vruthor you may have gained a new ally – the Fomorian Tethrol Gricenchos and his mercenary giants.  He has approached the ruins of Ladaguir having heard of the conflict in the Lowerdeep and offered his services to Xealaz and his army.

[You have officially severed yourself from the Overbrain's control.  To distinguish your forces I have given the Overbrain a new Sigil.  You retained control of Curasd, but it has fallen to the High Elves along with all of the Lurkers.  You lost control of Glyp-Dor, but it was captured by the Dark Elves.  You lost control of Lower Dtoulth and those stationed there.  You lost control of Dtoutlh, but there were no troops stationed there.  You retain control of the Seekers and Ladaguir, which requires a Commander (presumably Xealaz will accept this honour).  You may continue to build Ceremorph structures for the time being.  If the Overbrain is destroyed, this ability will be lost.

Your Wealth has been divided between you and the Overbrain.  You retain 149 Gold, 147 Metal, 213 Bodies, and 204 Food.

Your Secret Message Special Ability should be replaced with Mindlink.

Note: if you were somehow able to successfully Dominate the Overbrain, you would retain control of the Ceremorph faction.

Vruthor has been killed.  He made his purchases, however.

Daggoth and all of the Lurkers have been killed.

-64 Gold, -13 Metal, -8 Food, and -18 Bodies stolen by the Cleversmart Kobolds and High Elves during the sack of Curasd.

+46 Bodies from the Battle of Ladaguir.  -2 Brainhounds and -29 Thralls from the battle.

+97 Gold and +20 Metal from Ladaguir.

Ladaguir contains the following structures:

Despot's Hall (Unusable)
Duergar Mine Complex (Broken)
Forge Hall (Unusable)
Hall of Trade (Unusable)
Hall of Carnage (Unusable)
Training Hall ( (Unusable)
Hall of Trophies  (Unusable)
Spiked Wall  (Broken)
Iron Gate (Broken)
Escape Tunnel

Your forces also discovered the Imperial Sceptre of the Duergar, a major magical artefact with the following properties:

[ic=Imperial Sceptre]This black metal sceptre is studded with spikes, looking more like a particularly cruel mace than a royal symbol.  It is carved with Duergar runes that glow with a fell red light.

Whoever wields the Imperial Sceptre gains the following abilities:

Firstly, the wielder of the Sceptre gains +2 Morale.

Secondly, the wielder acquires the Grudge (Ceremorphs) ability, which is conferred to any regiment he leads.

Thirdly, the wielder acquires the Agony spell.  If they already possess this spell they acquire the Torment spell instead, increasing the spell's penalties to -3 Attack and Damage.

Fourthly and finally, the Leadership bonuses of the Sceptre's wielder are doubled.[/ic]

Llitul has learned Phase-Shift.

The Fomorian King Tethrol Gricenchos and his servants (three Fomorians) offer their services for 100 Gold, plus Upkeep in the weeks after their recruitment:

[ic=Tethrol Gricenchos, Fomorian King]

Tethrol Grincenchos is the deposed King of the Fomorians, having been exiled from the Unseelie Court by his cousin Balor, whom he claims is a Usurper.  Towering over thirty feet tall, this twisted, antlered beast wields a gargantuan stone axe in battle.  His third eye can petrify his foes.

Upkeep: 20 Gold, 8 Food
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 25
Defence: 18
Health: 50
Speed: 3
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Curse, Fear (DC 20), Leadership, Huge, Petrify

Tethrol Gricenchos increases the Morale of any army he is leading by +1.[/ic]

[ic=Fomorian]Some say Fomorians are Ogres who wandered into the Faerie Realms and were warped by the fey spirits within; others claim that Fomorians are the original Giants, and that other Giant-kin are their degenerate descendents.  These Fomorians are Tethrol's personal servants and bodyguards.  They wield huge clubs in combat.

Upkeep: 6 Gold, 6 Food
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 15
Defence: 16
Health: 30
Speed: 3
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Fear (DC 15), Huge[/ic]

-14 Gold to Undead.  +4 Food and 1 Scroll of Poisonous Cloud from Undead.

+30 Metal from Watchers.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Dwer Thane known as Tiern, Lord of the Mansion and King in the Deep]Despite the darkness that lay on your heart after news of your father's death, you set aside your black thoughts for your wedding.  The ceremony itself was a somber one, as befits such a momentous occasion presided over by Nail the Runeseer in Balagrod's Hall of Ancestors.  You half-expected the Dwarf Andvarr to appear and interrupt the ceremony, but the presence of Dwarf Riflemen, Wyrmhunters, and the Guardian of Balagrod (not to mention concealed Shadow Elf Archers) must have deterred any attempt on his part to steal into the city.  Andvarr may be hateful, but it seems he is not stupid.  Still, you doubt you have heard the last of the embittered Dwarf.  After the ceremony the halls of Balagrod were filled with the sound of feasting and revelry, and with the smell of smoke as Scorra's bones were burned.  You have been given the title "Consort of the High Queen," a largely honourary position in the Dwarf-Realm – though if Disa dies unexpectedly without an heir, you will become Regent until a Dwarfmoot can be called.  When you return to Mhaldûl-Nem you will need to be formally crowned King in the Deep.  Disa, who you had not spoken to since the Battle of Norrogrod as is the custom, has proved a great source of comfort.  She is a strong and capable woman, willful but not churlish, often grave but sometimes unexpectedly light-hearted.  You fear your duties as monarchs will often keep you apart.  Disa has spoken privately to you of the possibilities of one day uniting your kingdoms, of rejoining the Dwarves and Dwerim as they once were.  It is not time for such a union yet – neither Dwarves nor Dwerim are ready for such a change, she fears – but perhaps the day will come when your two peoples will again become one.  If Disa were to bear a child, he or she would be heir to both realms; perhaps then the two could be joined.

In Rhaud, the Wardens of the Thousand Halls have reclaimed the ruins, and in time may return them to something approaching their former glory.  The lower vaults have been sealed, along with their guardians.  Were Rhaud ever captured by hostile forces, they would need to be skilled indeed to discover the presence of these vaults.  The signet ring of the Horsemasters has been entrusted to the Blades of Fury.  Things go well, but some disturbing rumours have reached your ears.  The Shadow Elves claim that feral Tunnel Hulks have been glimpsed prowling the regions to the south.  Such creatures can be incredibly destructive to fortifications and settlements if left to their own devices, yet they are not unintelligent, for the Duergar use them as beasts of burden and fighting-creatures, though you do not know their dark secrets.

Late in the week a disturbing reported reached you from Rhaud.  The Kobolds of the Legio I Draco assaulted the ruins, seemingly intent on claiming them for the Legion.  The Wardens of Rhaud bravely held them off, but took severe casualties.  Only Azáin himself, the Custodian of Rhaud, and a single Nocae Paladin known as Aerldolm the Hellsbane survived, slaying half a dozen Kobolds at least and sending the remainder away in panicked flight.  This sudden aggression on the part of the Kobolds is unnerving indeed.  Rhaud will need immediate reinforcements if they hope to withstand another assault.

[+2 Morale to all Dwerim units in Balagrod this week for Tiern's marriage to Disa.  +150 Gold in wedding presents from various Dwarves, Dwerim, and others.

Rhaud contains the following structures:

Thane's Hall (unusable in a non-capitol Mansion)
Forge Hall
Shield Hall
Hall of Gears
Artificer's Hall
Hall of the Ancestors
Improved Dwarf Mine
Outer Wall
Impenetrable Walls
Escape Tunnel

+6 Metal, +20 Food from Cleversmart Kobolds.

-9 Dwerim Axemen at Rhaud from the Legion`s attack on the Thousand Halls.

Remaining mineable resources at Mhaldûl-Nem: 31090 Gold, 6520 Metal

Remaining mineable resources at Nüln: 13420 Gold, 1060 Metal

Remaining mineable resources at Balagrod: 3900 Gold, 5350 Metal

Remaining mineable resources at Rhaud: 6400 Gold, 2200 Metal][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Kobold Commander Marius Krinak, Legatus of the Legio I Draco]A disaster at the Dwarf Ruins to the south: it seems that using some magic of their own, the Dwerim beat you to the ruins and secured them against attack, along with a single Shadow Elf ally.  Panicking, your forces launched an attack against the Dwerim and slew nine of their warriors but were eventually repelled by the sole surviving axeman and the Shadow Elf, a Paladin of some skill.  Fortunately your troops withdrew without heavy casualties, but the diplomatic incident this attack is sure to cause is going to be a nightmare to contain, as the Nocae and Dwerim are likely to see this as a declaration of war.  To make matters worse you've heard that the Dwarves of the Westdeep have recently wed their Queen to the Dwer King, effectively joining the two Clans and their forces.  The Senate does not yet know the full extent of this occurrence.  It is up to you whether to suppress knowledge of the incident of make it public.  If you make it public it will almost certainly provoke great outcry, but things may be worse in the long run if you cover it up and the truth is later uncovered.

Elsewhere, Skarax the Apostate has successfully made contact with the Warg known as Dreadfang.  If it does come to war with the Dwerim and their allies, the Wargs will prove exceedingly useful.  The Wargs are willing to join the Legion in exchange for large amounts of food – exactly the arrangement you were seeking.  Dreadfang's only other request is that he be allowed to feast on the "Dwarf-bitch's" flesh.  Details are affixed to this report.

LONG LIVE THE LEGION!  LONG LIVE THE REPUBLIC!

[The Wargs (Dreadfang, 10 Two-Headed Wargs, and 30 normal Wargs) offer their services for a total of 300 Food in the first week and subsequent Upkeep payments in later weeks:

[ic=Dreadfang]

The fell-wolf known as Dreadfang craves vengeance against Disa Grimhammer.  An albino, the creature has two heads, one of them smashed in by Disa's hammer.

Upkeep: 10 Food
Melee Attack: +8
Melee Damage: 10
Defence: 18
Health: 20
Speed: 6
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Grudge (Dwarves), Large, Leadership, Scout

All Warg units in an army accompanied by Dreadfang gain +1 to Morale.

Dreadfang can only lead a regiment of Wargs or Two-Headed Wargs.  If Dreadfang is attached to a Warg regiment all units in that regiment gain the Grudge (Dwraves) ability while he remains with it.[/ic]

[ic=Warg]These enormous black-furred Wrags will make superb allies.

Upkeep: 3 Food
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 16
Health: 6
Speed: 6
Morale: +2
Special Abilities: Double-Headed, Scout[/ic]

[ic=Two-Headed Warg]The two-headed Wargs of Dreadfang's pack are especially ferocious, though their appetites are tremendous indeed.

Upkeep: 5 Food
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 16
Health: 6
Speed: 6
Morale: +2
Special Abilities: Double-Headed, Scout[/ic]

You lost 5 Immunes and 2 Legionaries in the disastrous attack on Rhaud.  Your remaining forces fled the region back towards Shatterspine Post.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Lich Dr. Robertson, styled Professor Immortal, and his apprentice Markus Ashton, Servant of Madness]Your Ghoul has returned with a report – a large force of Kobolds and High Elves have departed from the caverns below heading west.  Their numbers are considerable: twenty-five High Elf spearmen, twenty-four swordsmen led by Prince Saerid, thirty archers, and a single Magus, accompanied by three "Bottletossers" (grenadiers), two "Blunderdigs" (burrowers), and two "Trapspringers."  This unorthodox force seem to be preparing for a battle, based on what little the Ghoul could overhear.  The Kobolds have also occupied the Dark Elf ruins below – four slingers, three skulkers, and a dire rat rider garrison the ruins, which look extensive; the Kobolds are repairing the city walls.

Ashton, you experienced some extremely powerful visions as of late: images of Ceremorphs and their thralls being slain by High Elves and Dark Elves alike, of Kobolds colonizing their Hives, of Llitul wearing the Crown of Malekar, standing in a tower filled with glowing fungi.  Amidst this phantasmagoria you discerned a voice – the voice of the Ceremorph Overbrain itself.  You can see it in your mind's eye – an enormous, pulsating mass of Ceremorph brain-tissue.  It speaks to you, its voice filling your mind:

Human.  The taste of your mind is unusual.  Almost... Ceremorph, in its purity.  I have a use for you, if you desire power and glory.  I have been betrayed by my High Exarch.  Her mind was flawed, corrupted, weak.  This treachery will not go unpunished.  But in the meantime the Lesser Ones have assailed the Hive.  Were you to assist me in driving them out, you would be well rewarded.  I would put you in Llitul's place, teach you to use your mind in ways your current master cannot even imagine.  You will crush lesser minds, bend others to your will, make even the strongest beings your puppets.  Life and death will be meaningless to you.  All that I ask in return is that you destroy those who would do me harm.  Do this, and I will give you power and glory eternal.

[-4 Food to Llitul.  -4 Food to the Dark Elves.  1 Scroll of Poisonous Cloud given to Llitul. 1 Scroll of Haste to Dalashinn. -20 Diseased Bodies and -1 Scroll of Invisibility to the Abject. +14 Gold from Llitul.

Gorgol's Chaos Spell this week is Mindlink][/spoiler][spoiler=For the alluring eyes of the Succubi known as the Seven Sisters]Ah... back to the mortal plane once more.  It's good to stretch your wings; the Abyss was getting rather tiresome, with the ceaseless screaming, and Demons can make such poor company.  Mortals on the other hand, are a source of endless amusement.  Here's one now: the creature that summoned you, staring at you with black eyes, a look of open lust on his face.  Dark Elf, if you remember correctly.  That probably means you're somewhere underground, in the caverns below the Surface.  You're in a rather dusty chamber, a crude summoning circle drawn around you; hardly the luxury you might have hoped for, but still, a beginning...

[Welcome to Underdeep, Sisters.  You may parley with Dalashinn if you wish.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Kobold Chieftain Shee-Ra Cleversmart the Sixteenth, styled Queen and Mistress of All that is Under the Ground]Your DreamSlayers led the ShinyElves westwards, entering a vast, open cavern in which your troops were greatly unnerved.  From out of the gloom a strange chittering cacophony could be heard, and the pounding of many feet, at first distantly, then louder and lounder.  Then they appeared, writhing out of the darkness in a vast horde: Jabberlings, at least a hundred of them, hemming you in on all sides!  Your bottle-tossers hurled their grenades, killing at least a dozen, while your trapspringers fired ingenious crossbows and other weapons, slaying yet more.  Meanwhile the ShinyElf archers sent a volley of arrows at the charging tide of furry, dark bodies, killing twenty of them instantly.  Then they were upon your forces: red-eyed, black-furred, purple-fleshed little horrors with gnashing teeth and grasping hands, smaller even than Kobolds but insanely fierce, burbling a constant stream of nonsense in an endless glossolalic torrent!  Fortunately, the ShinyElf spearmen and swordsmen bore the brunt of the charge.  With flashing blades and spears they slaughtered the charging herd, with only minimal losses of their own, and those few Jabberlings that survived rapidly retreated.  Your forces had no time to collect the bodies lying about the cavern, but were you to collect them they could feed you for some time.

The Jabberlings slain, the High Elves pressed on, deeper into the darkness.  They descended a great stair carved into the earth by some elder race, into the fetid gloom, your DreamSlayers close behind.  Arriving at the small NastyDream bastion near the base of the stair – a pulsating colony of throbbing flesh at the edge of a sinister fungal forest to the south – the Elves carefully scried the region with their Magus.  Seeing that the colony was but lightly defended they advanced, slaying the meagre garrison of grafted thralls and the sole NastyDream that protected the Hive.  With no interest in maintaining a base in the Lowerdeep or anywhere else in the caverns, they have turned this colony over to your forces.  Without losing a single warrior you have captured a major NastyDream base – and the ShinyElves paid you for it.  All hail the Cleversmarts!  You are Clever!  You are Smart!  CLEVER!  SMART!  CLEVER!  SMART!  ALL HAIL QUEEN SHEE-RA, MISTRESS OF ALL THAT IS UNDER THE GROUND!

Ahem.  In other news, your new Warrens have been successfully founded, your traps constructed, and much food foraged.  The Dark Elf mines have been returned to working order.  Your Deepguard reports that yet more structures continue to be added to the slimy fish-city below: algae farms, strange SleepyPools, and swarms of horrible FangFish and BloodSuckers!  The scout sent to survey the GreySkull outpost above reports that is is garrisoned by a Lich, thirty skeletal archers, two skeletal warriors, two ghouls, four zombies, and a Warg zombie commander.  It is protected by an iron gate, and a spiked moat is being dug.  Your scouts sent to the far northwest Middledeep have not filed a report, and are presumed dead.  Basherpokes has nothing new to report except that he thinks the Jabberlings can smell him, and he doesn't know how much longer he can evade them.  Uma-Thur has spied on the MadElf forces and spied a considerable garrison, affixing her report.

[+116 Food from Foraging.

"Gre-Ghor, "Beaterpokes" slain.

The High Elves have turned over the Ceremorph colony they captured to you (the Ceremorphs call this place "Curasd, the Horror in the Woods," but you will probably want to rename it).  It requires a Commander.  The following structures are found within:

Ceremorph Mines
Thrall Pens
Amplifier Node (unusable by Kobolds)
Sphincter Gate

Your Bottle-Tossers didn't have enough time to set charges to destroy the node or the sphincter gate (you may wish to preserve the latter, possibly), but can this turn if you wish.  Note that the Thrall Pens are fully useable as a production structure (+20 Bodies per week) but not as a recruitment structure (you can't recruit Thralls with them).  You could also release the Thralls within if you wish and demolish the pens, of course.  You are unsure if the Sphincter Gate is functioning or where it leads if it is.

+64 Gold, +13 Metal, +8 Food, and +18 Bodies from the Ceremorph Hive.

The Watcher Vault is garrisoned by 6 Watcher Savants, a Watcher Sovereign, and 13 Thralls.  It contains the following structures: a Brood Pool, Mucosal Pool, Breeding Pool, Ooze Pool, 3 Thrall Grottoes, 9 Algae Farms, a Watcher Mine, a Nightmare Gate, and 3 Vault Slimes.  A Glyph Library, Slime Moat, Augmentation Pool, 3 more Algae Farms, 2 Hibernation Pools, 2 Cave Leech Swarms, and 1 Fangfish School are under construction.

The Dark Elf Outpost is garrisoned by 4 Slave Soldiers, 5 Bloodfiends, 5 Dark Elf Swordsmen, and 5 Dark Elf Crossbowmen.  It includes an Escape Tunnel and two sets of Murder Holes.

-6 Metal, -20 Food to Dwerim.

+30 Gold from Watchers.

+10 Gold from Saerid.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Fungoid Rotqueen known as the Child of the Glow]Your forces managed to establish contact with the Delver, though the creature is defensive and difficult to fathom.  Its appetites are obscene and when told of your offering it bellowed loudly, a terrifying, booming sound you think may have been laughter.  It seems to consider this offer paltry.  Without a more generous offer it will continue to feast on the crystals of this cavern.  You estimate that at its current rate it will actually devour all of the crystals in this cavern in the space of a month.  After that it may move on to other caverns – such as your own – in search of more food.  A gluttonous creature indeed... though not unlovely in its own strange way.  All flesh can be made beautiful.

The Thorn of Visions continues to grow, to mature.  Its effulgence now glimmers across the mushroom-forest, and if further cultivated it might become truly spectacular.  Elsewhere, your new outposts, the Sublime Portal and the Mirror of the Dream, have been successfully founded.  The Fleshwatch report that the tunnels are clear of Duergar, though they caught a brief glimpse of a Cinder Worm in the magma-filled cavern.  Llitul remains in your care; she has spent the week studying strange markings on pieces of dead flesh found inside a room inside the Thorn.  A strange if lovely creature...

[You can invest a number of Bodies to improve the Thorn of Vision's spectacular light:

[ic=Thornglimmer]This glimmering radiance is truly beauteous to behold, shimmering with an uncountable scintillation of glorious colours.  Any Fungoids who glimpse it are emboldened by its light.

Cost: 100 Bodies
Maturation Time: 4 weeks
Benefit: All Fungoid units in the same region as the Thorn or in adjacent regions gain +2 Morale, and their Regeneration increases by 2.[/ic]

The Delver has not been appeased, but it could be bought – for a price.  Here are its statistics:

[ic=Delver]This enormous, sluggish creature has an insatiable appetite for precious materials.  If given a steady supply of gold, metal, or other precious substances, it will enter your service.  Delvers are greedy but powerful creatures, able to exude a powerful acid from their skin.

Cost: 200 Gold or Metal
Upkeep: 20 Gold or Metal
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 30 (Acid)
Defence: 26
Health: 150
Speed: 2
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Acid Secretion, Huge, Gluttony, Immunity (Acid), Tunneling

The Delver's Acid Secretion ability deals 2 points of Acid damage to any unit that successfully deals damage to it in melee combat.

The Delver's Gluttony ability allows it to consume Gold or Metal to gain bonuses to Health and Morale.  For every 10 Gold or Metal consumed, it gains +10 Health and +1 Morale, to a maximum of +50 Health and +5 Morale.

If not paid its Upkeep the Delver immediately deserts.[/ic]

The Sublime Portal and the Mirror of the Dream have been successfully founded and require Captains.

-120 Gold to Kirr.  +20 Dark Elf Bodies from Kirr.][/spoiler][/ic]

[Steerpike]

[ic=Responses - The Month of the Rat, Week 4][spoiler=For the eyes of Llitul the Demented, styled the Lady of Madness]Using a scroll of Dispel, Xealaz entered the Warded halls of Ladaguir, the rest of the Seekers in tow.  The first chamber seemed an innocuous anteroom, but as the pack of Brainhounds rushed inside, the room sealed itself off and flammable gas filled it.  The gas was ignited, incinerating five of the creatures, their psychic whimpers filling the minds of the other Seekers.  The rest of your forces circumvented the trap and entered what appeared to be a treasure-vault, one of the few left untouched by looters.  However, as the Seekers entered the chamber there was a sound of grinding gears and hissing steam as two macabre Engines of Excruciation – towering constructs with boilers filled with blood, smokestacks venting crimson steam and bladed mechanical limbs slashing at the air – lumbered towards your warriors.  Your Thralls and Brainhounds assailed the constructs and took further losses; the Brainhounds, evidently somewhat demoralized from the death of their pack-mates, failed to damage the hideous machines, and your Exarchs and Psions' psychic abilities were useless, their tentacles of little utility either.  Your Thralls, however, quickly overwhelmed the clanking guardians through sheer force of numbers, tearing them to pieces.

The rewards, however, were rich – and timely.  Apart from Duergar gold and weapons, Xealaz discovered several potent magical artefacts.  Firstly, he discovered a notorious weapon, the sword called Mindsliver, a powerful object created specifically to destroy Ceremorphs.  Secondly he discovered the signet ring of Xorinatch the Cruel, which seems to bear an enchantment of some sort.  Finally he discovered a curious glyphic stone, a shard of some larger tablet.  He is unsure who made the markings, but the stone is greenish in colour and the runes look primordial in character; they are certainly not Duergar.  It would be hard to say what the stone's function is without assembling the tablet in its totality.

[You lost 7 Thralls and 6 Brainhounds in the treasure-vault.

+302 Gold, +25 Metal, and +13 Bodies (your own troops).

You gained the sword Mindsliver which grants its wielder +2 to Melee Attack and Damage against Ceremorphs; on a natural 20, the weapon deals double damage to any Ceremorph creature.

You gained the signet ring of Xorinatch the Cruel which allows its wielder to cast Shield once per week.

You gained a curious Glyph Shard of unknown origin.][/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of Dolmar Lestridae, Protector of Umbrazzid, Champion of the Holy Shadow]Scrying the cavern with the lake, Vaelri has discerned the forces of the Kobolds – nine slingers, an augur, and a diseased-looking, ghoulish Kobold – along with a large force of Wargs, forty-one in all, eleven of them two-headed.  Their leader is a slavering wolf of prodigious size; one of his two heads bears marks of an old injury and lolls lifelessly alongside the remaining head...[/spoiler][spoiler=For the many eyes of Dreams-of-Dead-Races, Watcher Sovereign of the Darksea, Master of the Vault known as Cruel Form of Truth]You have searched for the two remaining shards of the Tablet of Time.  One, however, is cloaked from your sight; you can sense its presence (indeed you think it is somewhere in the Middledeep; you cannot be any more precise at this time), but you cannot pinpoint it; it is like a dark pall of mud has been stirred up from a lake-bottom and obscured the thing's location.

As for the other shard, you locate this one in washed up on a far shore in the Upperdeep, half-hidden by fungal growths and cautiously investigated by a Gloommantle, one of the strange, squid-like beings that your kind once kept as cattle in ages past (a cluster of half a dozen of these creatures dwells in the same region of the cavern as the shard).

[The Glyph Shard you can locate is to be found in Upperdeep 83.]

Meanwhile, your Watchers slip into their hibernation and begin to dream, to see things which are and were and will be.  One looks into the central caverns, and sees a group of bedraggled Duergar, some of them injured – from the look of it be Ceremorphs.  They are huddled by the shore of the lake round a sputtering fire.

[Middledeep 96 contains a Duergar Battle Cleric and 4 Duergar Sneaks.]

Peering into the Ceremorph Hive itself, your Watchers brush up against the terrifying vastness of the Overbrain's intelligence.  The City of Madness is garrisoned by twenty Sentinels, disgusting creatures the Overbrain seems to have rapidly bred from certain spawning-chambers deep in its living sanctum.  The Ceremorphs are braced for attack.

[Dtoulth in Lowerdeep 73 is garrisoned by 20 Ceremorph Sentinels.  It contains the following structures: Improved Ceremorph Mine, 4 Thrall Pens , 3 Mushroom Farms, Overbrain Chamber, Spawning Pool, Mutation Chamber, Grafting Pen, Inquisition of the Exalted, Evolution Cell, Pupation Cell, Amplifier Node, Slime Moat.]

Next you peer into the lands of the Nocae, where your Fleshwarper is safe in a specially constructed tank.  The garrison has been much reduced of recent, as the Nocae spread themselves thin across the Upperdeep.  A single Abomination and five Archers hold the city, along with a brigade of mercenaries – Deep Gnomes, twenty-one in all, wielding curious machines that seem to generate a kind of eldritch lightning.  The city's expansion continues.

[Umbrazzid contains the following structures: Shadow Spire, Cavern of the Accursed, War Spire, Armory Spire, Shrine of Sylessiadil, 3 Lichen Gardens, Improved Shadow Elf Mine, 2, Lizard Pens, Spire of Gloom, Shadow Architecture, and 3 Murder Holes.  Many structures are under construction: a Ranger's Spire, Drake Nest, a Shadow Elf Mine Complex, a Veil of Shadows, a City Wall, and a Spidersilk Armoury.]

Their south-eastern colony has yet to develop any structures save an escape tunnel, but caverns for the Shadow Elves' Accursed servants, a city wall, and two lizard pens are being constructed, while shadowy enchantments are being woven into the architecture.  Two Abominations form the only garrison.

In the Middledeep, you look into the Dark Elf ruin, the ancient city of Hazer-Nagroth where seven Sucucubi have recently been summoned by the Bloodlord Dalashinn.  A guard-force consisting of a slave soldier, five swordsmen, five crossbowmen, two spider cavalry, two tunnel hulks, a pair of ogre slaves, and a Bloodfiend garrison the ruins – quite an eclectic but potent army.

[Hazer-Nagroth contains the following structures: Improved Dark Elf Mine, Arcane Library, Teleportation Circle, Slave Pens, War Spire, Armoury Spire, Web Caverns, Tomb, Barrow, Sepulchre, Improved City Wall, Escape Tunnel.]

Next your Watchers peer to the shores of a lake above, near to Kobold lands [Middledeep 76].  The caverns on the surface are clear, but below the water there are remnants of a Watcher outpost – an intricate mine complex as well as half a dozen algae farms still linger here.  However, a group of vile toad-like beings squat in these ruins, a tribe with thirty warriors and three druidic hierophants; they may be the degenerate remnants of Scumspawn...

Further east, you look upon the cities of the Dark Elves.  Their capitol, Vashnaranzenan, is garrisoned by ten crossbowmen and a war spider.  It contains a Matriarch's Spire, Slave Pens
a War Spire, four Lichen Gardens, an Improved Dark Elf Mine, Web Caverns, a Matriarch's Study, a Slave Market, a Ranger's Spire, and a City Wall.

Their colony to the south is garrisoned by five swordsmen, five crossbowmen, and five slave soldiers.  It has slave pens, and a mine under construction.

Next your Watchers look upon the Ceremorph Hive the Dark Elves captured.  Here the bulk of their forces are garrisoned: a War Spider, ten crossbowmen, ten swordsmen, and the Matriarch herself.  The Hive contains a Thrall Pen, Ceremorph Mines, and an Amplifier Node.

Finally your Watchers peer once again towards the eastern caverns.  Here they find the breeding-grounds of the icthyoid fish-frogs that dwell in the lake – a great greasy heap of eggs piled along the river-banks.  Nothing else of value can be discerned.

Searching for a Duergar staff of bones, you discern nothing.  You must have been given incorrect information concerning it.[/spoiler][spoiler=Response to Chiaoroscuro Jayet Septena, from the Ceremorph Overbrain]The Overbrain's colossal, overpowering intellect thunders through your brain – though compared to the awful malignancy of a Demon Prince's infernal consciousness the hive-intelligence of the Ceremorphs is a puny thing.

Little Fiendling, Outsider, Sin-Spawn... I bid you welcome to this plane.  You know a great deal for one so newly arrived in this reality.  Let me first offer you some advice: do not trust Llitul, for she is a broken and corrupted thing.  Her bond with me should have been insuperable and yet she betrayed me; she would not think twice about doing the same to you.  You speak of returning her to me, and though this would please me greatly, I wonder at your ability to do so.  You lead no armies; the Diabolic Host of the Abyss has not followed you into this world.  How would you propose to return Llitul to me?

Were you, somehow, to do this thing, and deliver my blasphemous daughter to Dtoulth, you would be well-rewarded.  I have heard your kind prize secrets, take delight in forbidden knowledge.  I have dwelt in this world for many long aeons, could tell you things which none now living know save me.  I have heard also that you covet the essences of the Lesser Ones, which some call Souls.  In this you are almost kin to Ceremorphs, for we too feed on the consciousness of the Lesser.  I could provide a veritable feast of Souls for you and your House, were you to aid me in my conquests, in reeastablishing my dominion.  What could Llitul give you that I could not?  The crass comforts of gold?  Cadaverous sacrifices?  Such material offerings are unworthy of your Race, whose power even I admire.

Consider your actions carefully, little Fiendling.  Join me and we could accomplish much.  Oppose me and the horrors of the Abyss will seem gentle when placed next to the agonies I can inflict.[/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Cerelich Ktan-Ydheel, called the Abjected]Using the Altar that is Yuddarath, you look upon the city of the Shadow Elves.  The garrison has been much reduced of recent, as the Nocae spread themselves thin across the Upperdeep.  A single Abomination and five Archers hold the city, along with a brigade of mercenaries – Deep Gnomes, twenty-one in all, wielding curious machines that seem to generate a kind of eldritch lightning.  The city's expansion continues.

[Umbrazzid contains the following structures: Shadow Spire, Cavern of the Accursed, War Spire, Armory Spire, Shrine of Sylessiadil, 3 Lichen Gardens, Improved Shadow Elf Mine, 2, Lizard Pens, Spire of Gloom, Shadow Architecture, and 3 Murder Holes.  Many structures are under construction: a Ranger's Spire, Drake Nest, a Shadow Elf Mine Complex, a Veil of Shadows, a City Wall, and a Spidersilk Armoury.]

You also peer into the lands of the Duergar, but the tunnel you monitored is devoid of inhabitants.[/spoiler][spoiler=Response to the Kobold Chieftain Shee-Ra Cleversmart the Sixteenth, styled Queen and Mistress of All that is Under the Ground, from Lady Viarra Gloomsong, Matriarch of Vashnaranzenan]Queen Shee-Ra,

It is unfortunate that this Crown has not been found.  My agents believe the creature who stole the crown is now somewhere in the southern reaches of the Underdeep, but they seem to have vanished.  Possibly the Duergar, as you say, have found the Crown.  I will have to make certain inquiries... Meanwhile, we shall search for the fallen Kobold you speak of.  There has been much Ceremorph activity in this region, so it is quite possible your scout discovered your servant and slew, devoured, or enslaved him.

I do not ask for gold or metal for reward in aiding your assault on the Ceremorphs.  However, I have heard it said that you recently occupied the ruins of the ancient city of Haggroth-Kharzenan, which was built by my distant forebears and for a time served as the seat of Queen Naggora herself.  I do not begrudge you these ruins, but I must ask – did you, by chance, discover any objects within the broken halls?  In particular there is a certain jeweled necklace which once belonged to Naggora, whose blood runs in my veins.  It is a trinket, of little real value, but it is something of an heirloom of the ancient kingdom.  I am something of a collector of such objects; if you happen to have discovered it, I would greatly appreciate its return.

Your loyal vassal,

Lady Viarra Gloomsong, Matriarch of Vashnaranzenan[/spoiler][spoiler=Response to the Kobold Chieftain Shee-Ra Cleversmart the Sixteenth, styled Queen and Mistress of All that is Under the Ground, from Prince Saerid, the Shining Flame, Lord of the Mithril Tower]Kobold Queen,

Your attack plan seems sound, though I hesitate to commit to a long siege.  My magus shall speed your tunnellers so that we may assault the vile Ceremorph hive-mind and its minions as soon as possible.  With luck Llandri shall be there, but if not then we will seek her out wherever she may be.  It is my hope that by destroying the Overbrain we will free her of its hold on her.

-   Prince Saerid, the Shining Flame, Lord of the Mithril Tower[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Response to the Duergar Despot Käfer from Black Agnethe]The note you receive, sent on a scrap of discoloured vellum, is cramped and spidery, the letters hard to make out:

"Black Agnethe cares not for your titles or positions.  Black Agnethe wishes only to be left in peace.  Build your fortress if you must.  Black Agenethe will find other caverns to dwell in."[/spoiler][spoiler=Response to the Duergar Despot Käfer from Urog-Sharga] Käfer,

My people fight well.  We do not break.  We do not buckle.  We seek honour, and glory on the battlefield.  Our prices are high for we are well-trained, well-equipped, well-seasoned.  Yet we are not unreasonable.  Should our prices be too high for your coffers to afford, some agreement might yet be reached.  If you plan to engage in wars of conquest, then we would accept some of the spoils of war in lieu of part of our usual payment.

Also, a personal matter.  Many of my kindred are enslaved in the city of Vashnaranzenan.  My warriors and I were slave soldiers once, bought and paid for by the Duergar of the Old Empire.  But when Xorinatch fell and the Empire collapsed, we were freed from our bonds and became mercenaries.  We would have vengeance against those who once kept us in chains, the Dark Elves of House Gloomsong.  Promise us the chance for revenge and the prospect of liberating our kindred from the Elf mines, and we will accept a lesser payment.

Urog-Shraga

[If you promise the Grey Orcs 25% of any spoils of conquest from battles they take part in, or the chance of fighting the Dark Elves of Vashnaranzenan, they will reduce their price to 275 Gold upfront; Urog-Sharga will reduce her Upkeep costs to 5 Gold and 2 Food, while the other Grey Orcs will reduce their Upkeep costs to 3 Gold and 2 Food each.  If you promise both, they will reduce their cost to 200 Gold and an additional 1 Gold less for their Upkeep.[/spoiler][spoiler=Response to the Duergar Despot Käfer from Prince Saerid, the Shining Flame, Lord of the Mithril Tower]To the Duergar King,

Llandri, my beloved, remains unaccounted for, but we shall soon assail the vile Overbrain itself.  With any luck its destruction will release Llandri from any influence the Ceremorphs have over her.  As for these Watchers, the Kobolds who are our guides have made mention of some... creatures in the service of these mysterious deep-dwellers which may aid us in our quest.  What their motivations are, I cannot say; presumably they, too, are foes of the Ceremorphs.

Prince Saerid, the Shining Flame, Lord of the Mithril Tower[/spoiler][spoiler=Response to the Duergar Despot Käfer from Lady Viarra Gloomsong, Matriarch of Vashnaranzenan]Lord Käfer,

My beast-masters have much experience in the training and breeding of Drakes.  If you wish it, I shall bid some of them visit your Citadels.  It will take them some time to reach you, our realms being somewhat distant, though I note your borders increase by the week.

I have heard reports, Lord Käfer, that you have become disturbingly close to the Dark Elves known as the Kirr.  Is this rumour true, or are my agents misinformed?  For your own good I will warn you: beware the demon-worshippers.  They are heretics and heathens, caring only for power.  They will use you and then cast you aside.  Do not trust them!

It is true that I am gathering certain objects, relics of my ancestors, for I am much interested in my own history.  Unfortunately, many of my forebears' ancient ruins have been plundered by looters and thieves.  Should you discover any objects that you think might be of interest to me, you would be amply rewarded for their return.  In particular I seek a certain staff made of bone, a crown set with black gemstones, and a necklace with a shadowy jewel.  I you have any knowledge of these artefacts' whereabouts, this too would be valuable to me.

Lady Viarra Gloomsong, Matriarch of Vashnaranzenan[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Response to Lliutl the Demented, Lady of Madness, from Quasthid]My Lady of Madness, if you have rebelled against the Overbrain, then I am your ally.  I am your servant, willing and eager, enthralled or no.[/spoiler][spoiler= Response to Lliutl the Demented, Lady of Madness, from Tethrol Gricenchos]Greetings, Lady of Madness, Queen of Ceremorphs,

Your sentiments are appreciated.  I must gather my strength before returning to Faerie, but your assistance in the conquest of the Unseelie would be welcome.  For now, I will aid you in the destruction of your foes, and in time, perhaps, we can destroy Balor the Usurper together.  Where shall I begin?

Tethrol Gricenchos, King of the Fomorians[/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Fungoid Rotqueen known as the Child of the Glow]You peer into the magma-filled cavern and discern a Lake Troll stooped over an Orc body.  Nearby, the hut of a strange, female creature - a Pit Hag - is perched over the lake of lava.  It appears to be a shop of some kind.  The Troll has looted the body of several scrolls.[/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Kobold Commander Marius Krinak, Legatus of the Legio I Draco]Your augurs have consulted various signs and omens, have peered beyond veils of mystery to discern far-off places.  First they looked into the lands of the Dwerim.  To the west, in the ancient Dwarf-ruin, they discern the Dwer Thane Tiern, along with twelve elite Dwer warriors, forty axemen, three Hobgoblin mercenaries, and a runeseer, as well as the Dwarf Queen Disa and ten Dwarf rifleman.  An Iron Golem and fifteen Shadow Elf archers are also present at the fortress, which includes a Forge Hall, a Hall of the Ancestors, a Shield Hall, an Improved Dwarf Mine, a Hall of Runes, two Mushroom Gardens, an Apiary, a Runegate, an Outer Wall, three Murder Holes, an Escape Tunnel, and a Rune Trap.

Two the east, the Dwarf-ruin your warriors disastrously assaulted is garrisoned by two Iron Golems, and two axemen, along with the Dwer commander.  This ruin contains a Thane's Hall, Forge Hall, Shield Hall, Hall of Gears, Artificer's Hall, Hall of the Ancestors, and Improved Dwarf Mine, as well as an Outer Wall, Impenetrable Walls, and an Escape Tunnel.   The Nocae settlement nearby contains a Goblin mine and is garrisoned by a Shadow Elf Paladin.

Further west, the former Goblin capitol, now occupied by Shadow Elves, is garrisoned by five Accursed and one Abomination.  It includes a Hall of the Goblin King, a Goblin Mine, a Mushroom Patch, a Mushroom Grove, a Goblin Lair, a Goblin Armory, a Bat Roost, a Palisade, a Spiked Moat, an Escape Tunnel, and three Murder Holes.  The settlement further west still is  garrisoned by five Abominations, five Swordsmen, and five Archers, and contains a Goblin Mine, Reinforced Gate, Escape Tunnel, two Mushroom Patches, a Palisade, Reinforced Gate, Escape Tunnel, and Spiked Moat.

In the Middledeep, your augurs have scried the Dwerim capitol.  It is garrisoned by forty axemen, six grudgebearers, ten flamesprayers, an igniter, ten Shadow Creeper mercenaries, and a Shadow Stalker mercenary captain.  It includes a Thane's Hall, Forge Hall, Shield Hall, Tuber Garden, two Apiaries, Dwerim Mine, Brewery, Training Hall, Lizard Pen, Pyretic Refinery, Hall of the Ancestors, Hall of Trade, Grand Furnace, Outer Wall, Iron Gate, three Murder Holes, two Flame Galleries, and an Escape Tunnel.

The tunnel to the north [Middledeep 49] is clear, devoid of any creatures or other features of interest.[/spoiler][spoiler=For the eyes of the Dwer Thane known as Tiern, Lord of the Mansion and King in the Deep]Your Runeseers have looked into caverns to the north, and seen several disturbing things.  Firstly, your seers have discerned the forces of the Kobolds – nine slingers, an augur, and a diseased-looking, ghoulish Kobold – along with a large force of Wargs, forty-one in all, eleven of them two-headed – have met in the cavern with the lake [Upperdeep 48].  Their leader is a slavering wolf of prodigious size; one of his two heads bears marks of an old injury and lolls lifelessly alongside the remaining head.  Secondly, they peered into the lands just to the east, discovering eight Legionaries and twenty slingers not far from the Shadow Elf controlled Goblin capitol.  The Nocae settlement is garrisoned by five Accursed and one Abomination.  It includes a Hall of the Goblin King, a Goblin Mine, a Mushroom Patch, aMushroom Grove, a Goblin Lair, a Goblin Armory, a Bat Roost, a Palisade, a Spiked Moat, an Escape Tunnel, and three Murder Holes.  The settlement further west still is  garrisoned by five Abominations, five Swordsmen, and five Archers, and contains a Goblin Mine, Reinforced Gate, Escape Tunnel, two Mushroom Patches, a Palisade, Reinforced Gate, Escape Tunnel, and Spiked Moat.[/spoiler][spoiler=Response to Llitul the Demented, styled the Lady of Madness, from Prince Saerid, the Shining Flame, Lord of the Mithril Tower]Saerid's voice drifts out of the void towards you.  It sounds fervent and determined:

Llandri, my beloved, I march to destroy the vile thing that has mutilated you.  When it is dead I will fight my way through every Duergar in the Underdeep to reach you.  If you are dead I shall bear your body across the western seas to the very shores of the Everlasting Lands themselves and take council with our ancient kinsfolk who still abide across the water, the Light Elves of that fair place, and if necessary I shall bring you before the very Powers themselves.  They will restore you, Llandri, will make you whole once more, undo whatever evil the Ceremorphs have done.  And if your soul has somehow been tainted, as passed into darkness and horror, I will harrow the very Hells themselves to bring it back, will scour the Abyss for your spirit.  None can withstand the Shining Flame.  Even if I were to perish and be sent to the Deathless Vale I will petition the Powers of Light to be incarnated once more, and shall sail back across the seas to seek you out.  Nothing can stand in my way.[/spoiler][/ic]

[Xathan]

Soundtrack for the Week: Time to Die
[ic=Closing Time]

Is it always this hollow when everything goes according to plan? I hate to see how you would take defeat

I waved my hand, pushing Llandri and Whisper away, looking over my current - temporary - refuge. Too much. It had all been so simple! I would betray Gloomsong, who would take her time preparing to act. I would show Saerid what I looked like, and he would be pushed to avenge me instead of moving against me directly. He won't, you don't get it, he won't harm us, he would never Shut. Up. Eldrich Things, you're more irritating now than you were when you were a mewling coward. Fine. Get it out of your system, finishing monologuing.

Nevermind. You all already knew the plan the Reader doesn't What?

What?

What?

...

Right. But it worked! The Overbrain is doomed! Why...why am I not happy?

Because you never bothered to consider what you would do next. WE never did, you mean. I won't take full responsibility for this. Fine, but what do we do?

RUN

Who the Elder Hells are you?

NW'SHOGG.

What does that even mean invader, defiler? Who are you!?

NW'SHOGG. YOU TREMBLE HERE, BUT YOU DEFILED DTOULTH, YOU DEFLIED OVERBRAIN WAGH"NAGL. RUN, LITTLE PHAGE. RUN DEEPER INTO SHOGGAGL. RUN, FOR YOU ARE WANTED

I fall to my knees. My ears are bleeding, and I can hear the voice it's leaving, it's leaving my Queens What the hell, what the hell? What the hell was that!? That wasn't one of us, was it? Is that in here? Did I create that?

It doesn't matter.

Kafer. Saerid. Shee-Ra. Dtoulth. Gloomsong.

Who else? Who else wants me dead, or enslaved, or "freed"? The Necromancers said they were not going to help the Overbrain, of course not, why would they when we're such a unique experiment Who else had it contacted? There was one being we could trust and the longer we stay, the more danger we are to agreed. We need to go. Where?

Deeper deep, deeper than we've ever gone before No, back to Dtoulth, destroy the Overbrain. No. Nw'shogg was right. We must go to Shoggagl. We must go where is that?What is that? it doesn't matter. We don't have to go home but we can't stay here.[/ic]
EDIT: Fixing information at DM's request.
[spoiler=Orders]
As Always, Draft At the moment
[spoiler=Production]

Gold	Metal	Bodies	Food
+0	+0	+0	+20

Sources:
Yreh-ctah
Wild Mushrooms +20 food

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Upkeep]

Gold	Metal	Bodies	Food
-62g	-0	-46	-83

Commanders
No Upkeep
17 Psions
-52 gold, -34 bodies
23 Brainhounds
-69 Bodies
48 Thralls
-48 Food
2 Ceremorph Exarchs
-16 Gold, -8 Bodies

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Construction]
Bases
Ladaguir
Repairs:
Duergar Mine Complex (-175 gold, -18 Metal)
Spiked Wall (-25 Gold)
Iron Gate (-25 Gold)

Beginning:
Spawning Pool (-40 Gold, -10 Bodies)
2 Mushroom Farms (-50 Gold)
2 Thrall Pens (-100 Gold, -20 metal)

Yreh-Ctah
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Recruitment]
Ladaguir
Fomorian Mercenaries -100 Gold

Yreh-Ctah

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Wealth]

Gold	Metal	Bodies	Food
17	26	127	152

[spoiler=Body Types]
2 Dark Elf Bodies
6 Giant Spider Bodies
15 Brainhound Bodies
[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Trade]
Mid Week:
75 Bodies to the glow, 168 Metal to Glow, receive 90 gold from Glow, 16 Ceremorph Bodies to Glow

Regular:
15 Gold to Seven Sisters
[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Dungeons and Outposts]
Base
Ladaguir
Despot's Hall (Unusable)
Duergar Mine Complex (Broken)
Forge Hall (Unusable)
Hall of Trade (Unusable)
Hall of Carnage (Unusable)
Training Hall (Unusable)
Hall of Trophies (Unusable)s
Spiked Wall (Broken)
Iron Gate (Broken)
Escape Tunnel

Yreh-ctah
None Yet

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Armies]
The Demented (Garrisoned at Middledeep 31)
1 Quasthid (Inquisitor, Greater Dominated)

The Hounds (Garrisoned Middledeep 41 (Tower of Screams))
7 Brainhounds, Led by Liltul

The Seekers (Garrisoned Middledeep 91)
3 Fomorians led by Tethrol Grincenchos
2 Ceremorph Exarchs
17 Ceremorph Psions, Lead By Xealaz, Exarch Commander
10 Brainhounds
41 Thralls

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Orders]
Immediately hire the Fomorians. Liltul continues her calls for mercanries and apprentices. she is offering 20 gold, 5 bodies, and 3 metal, or 10 gold and 20 bodies, so long as they are worth the price. She is willing to offer more metal, bodies, or food if needed to attract better apprentices: max 15 metal, 30 bodies, or 30 food. Will go up to 40 gold for someone really, really skilled - especially with a more academic leaning. Also offering a 200 gold up front cost for Mercenary bands or powerful mercenaries/Apprentices like Eye Tyrants/Mindwitnesses.

Xealaz to immediately Use scroll of dispel on the Arcane Lock. If something is trapped within, attempt to bargain with it or at least treat non-hostile unless it forces his hand.

Llitul will cast Phase Shift and use the remaining scroll of Haste on the Sporemother headed towards Ladaguir. She will then spend this week in the Arcane Library studying Haste.

The 7 Brainhounds at Middledeep 41 will ungarrison (0 speed) and then spend 6 speed foraging (+42 food). If the Thorn or the Fungoids in M41 are attacked or engage in combat, the brainhounds will assist.

The Seekers (all, including Xealaz) will ungarrison from Middledeep 91 and move to Middledeep 89. They will attempt to wait to intercept Gloomsong's army if it is returning - if they do, Xealaz will use the scroll of Poisonous cloud on the largest regiment of low HP units (Slaves, Swordsmen, or Archers). If there is no combat at M89, or after the combat is over they will split into three forces:

Hounds
10 Brainhounds

Dementists
3 Fomorians led by Tethrol Grincenchos
2 Ceremorph Exarchs
13 Ceremorph Psions
20 Thralls

Rear-Guard
4 Ceremorph Psions, Led by Xealaz
21 Thralls

The Hounds, Regardless of if gloomsong attack or not will break away and join Grolhund in claiming the Dark Elf Capitol at M86, staying slighty back out of archer range until the walls are breached.

The Rear-Guard will Entrench, and Xealaz will return to M91 and re-garrison, since that hits the limit of what a Commander will do. He will lend use of the Signet Ring and Imperial Scepter to Tethrol Grincenchos at this point.  IF Gloomsong's forces there have attacked this week, instead of entrenching, the Rear-Guard will move down to L69 and reclaim Glyp-Dor from whatever meager defenses she left behind.

The Dementists will move to M87 and SLAUGHTER ALL WHO WILL NOT BOW BEFORE THEM.

Any dead brainhounds (including 10 of the brainhound bodies I have) or psions will be offered to Grolhund for dark elf bodies, but other than that the loot will be divided as earlier prescribed - we will NOT hold back Dark Elf bodies/prisoners gained from M87. Each of the remaining two Exarchs will be promoted to Commander and given one of the old Dark Elf cities.

Llitul, as soon as she has finished learning haste, will cast it on herself as well as invisibility and ward from scrolls and leave the Brainhounds behind, heading to deep: Tower-M41 (0 speed)-42-47*-L31-30-32-31. Upon Reaching L31 she'll use the bonus from the crystals in that region to put phase shift on herself. Now her crazy is going to take over, which means she's going to end up where ever works best for the narrative of meeting the Derro so I can get them ASAP; preferences for L46 where the Derro base will be, L56 to meet Ktan at the same time, or anywhere else West of the Fungoids that isn't in the Caverns of Awful Monsters (L42-43-44).

*I'm assuming an allied dungeon in the region+climb keeps me safe from the lava

Quasithid is promoted to Commander but to Ungarrison from M31, move to M30, and spend one speed to scout M32. If Duergar are coming, he is to flee (forced March) to M27 - if not, return to M31 and re-garrison.

If Duergar do not attack, or after they do, the Brainhounds that were with Llitul (once again the Hunters) are to Forced March to M31 (M41-37 (2speed)-33-32-30-31). Ignore this if Duergar take M31.

End of Turn Armies, Assuming No One Dies:
Rear-Guard (Entrenched at M89 if Gloomsong does not attack, back in Glyp-Dor if she did and was defeated)
4 Ceremorph Psions
21 Thralls

Dementists (Garrisoned at my new base at M87)
3 Fomorians led by Tethrol Grincenchos (who now has signet ring and imperial scepter on loan)
2 Ceremorph Exarchs
13 Ceremorph Psions
20 Thralls

Hounds (Garrisoned at my new base at M86)
10 Brainhounds

Hunters (Stationed at M31 unless Duergar took it, then Stationed at M41)
7 Brainhounds Led by Quasithid

The Seekers (Garrisoned Middledeep 91)
Xealaz

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Characters]
[spoiler=Llitul]
Ranged Attack: +12
Ranged Damage: 12 (Psychic)
Melee Attack: +8
Melee Damage: 9
Defence: 18
Health: 30
Speed: 6
Morale: +8
Special Abilities: Regeneration 10, Fear 22, Climbing, Confusion, Detector, Greater Dominate, Immunity (Fear), Leadership, Mindlink, Phase Shift, Spell Resistance +4, Discipline, High Exarch (Provides Dominate, base fear of 18)
Equipment Crown of Malakar, Scarab of Fear
Inventory Scrolls 2 Ward, 2 Invisibility, 1 Dispel, 1 Phase-Shift, 1 Haste, 1 Poisonous Cloud

Llitul increases the Ranged Damage and Morale of any army she is leading by +1. If garrisoned in a Dungeon she increases the Ranged Damage and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1. Any regiment she leads is also Immune to Fear and has Discipline.
[ic=The Crown of Malekar]The Crown of Malekar the Obscene is a major artefact. Whoever possesses the Crown of Malekar gains a number of abilities:
Firstly, the wearer of the Crown gains +4 to Defence or Morale checks vs. all magical effects.
Secondly, the wearer of the Crown gains Regeneration 10.  If they already possess Regeneration they add 10 to their Regeneration.
Thirdly, the wearer of the Crown gains Fear 12.  If they already possess the Fear ability, it increases by +2.
Fourthly the wearer of the Crown gains the ability to create Elf Wights, which possess the following statistics:
[See Below]
Fifthly and finally, the wearer of the Crown rolls 1d100 once per week.  If they roll 01, they have been possessed by the spirit of Malekar the Obscene and temporarily come under the DM's control, along with whatever army the wearer was leading.  They gain a number of new powers, spells, and abilities while possessed, and may act erratically, to say the least.
The owner of the Crown may forgo wearing it, but if it remains in their physical possession they must pass a Morale check of DC 15 or put it on. [/ic]

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Xealaz, The High Dementist]
Ranged Attack: +12
Ranged Damage: 10 (Psychic)
Melee Attack: +8
Melee Damage: 7
Defence: 20
Health: 28
Speed: 5
Morale: +9 (+11)
Special Abilities: Agony (Torment), Detector, Discipline, Fear (DC 18), Immunity (Fear), Leadership, Grudge (Ceremorphs)
EquipmentImperial Sceptre, Mindsliver, Signet Ring of Xorinatch the Cruel, Glyph Shard

Armies accompanied by Xealaz gain the Discipline ability. Xealaz increases the morale of any army he is leading by +2

[ic=Imperial Sceptre]This black metal sceptre is studded with spikes, looking more like a particularly cruel mace than a royal symbol.  It is carved with Duergar runes that glow with a fell red light.
Whoever wields the Imperial Sceptre gains the following abilities:
Firstly, the wielder of the Sceptre gains +2 Morale.
Secondly, the wielder acquires the Grudge (Ceremorphs) ability, which is conferred to any regiment he leads.
Thirdly, the wielder acquires the Agony spell.  If they already possess this spell they acquire the Torment spell instead, increasing the spell's penalties to -3 Attack and Damage.
Fourthly and finally, the Leadership bonuses of the Sceptre's wielder are doubled.[/ic][/spoiler]

[Spoiler=Tethrol Gricenchos, Fomorian King]

Tethrol Grincenchos is the deposed King of the Fomorians, having been exiled from the Unseelie Court by his cousin Balor, whom he claims is a Usurper.  Towering over thirty feet tall, this twisted, antlered beast wields a gargantuan stone axe in battle.  His third eye can petrify his foes.

Upkeep: 20 Gold, 8 Food
Melee Attack: +10
Melee Damage: 25
Defence: 18
Health: 50
Speed: 3
Morale: +7
Special Abilities: Curse, Fear (DC 20), Leadership, Huge, Petrify

Tethrol Grincenchos increases the Morale of any army he is leading by +1.

[ic=Fomorian]Some say Fomorians are Ogres who wandered into the Faerie Realms and were warped by the fey spirits within; others claim that Fomorians are the original Giants, and that other Giant-kin are their degenerate descendents.  These Fomorians are Tethrol's personal servants and bodyguards.  They wield huge clubs in combat.

Upkeep: 6 Gold, 6 Food
Melee Attack: +5
Melee Damage: 15
Defence: 16
Health: 30
Speed: 3
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Fear (DC 15), Huge[/ic][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Elf Wights (0)]
Cost: 35 Gold, 8 Metal, 1 Elf Body
Upkeep: None
Melee Attack: +6
Melee Damage: 8
Defence: 20
Health: 12
Speed: 4
Morale: N/A
Special Abilities: Create Spawn (Zombies), Fear (DC 16).[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]

[Xathan]

[ic=Llitul]
[spoiler=Response to the Glow (1 of Unlimited)]They...they killed my children...so much death...so much loss.

My friend, I find myself with much of the sharp metal you require and no, no use for it anymore, not with so many dead...but I need the dead gold, yes, to avenge my children and to keep those who survive alive.

I will give you 168 weights of the sharp metal for 90 pieces of the dead gold to meet this beautiful creature's desires.

And some of my children...I wish them to see new life in the Dream. I have their bodies, 16 of them, that I will give unto you so they may be reborn, so that you may perfect their flesh. I only ask that when they are reborn in the Dream, a quarter of them will return to me so I may know them again. As more of my children die, I will give them to you, so you may give them new life in the Dream.

Also, there is one other thing. My children fight from the Overbrain, who I now know is a blight upon the dream. If you can send some of your children to aid the ceremorph-flesh, my ceremorph-flesh, at the city of Ladaguir (M91), build a new portal so they may leave, and some of your skin farms with some more flesh that I have so my children will not starve...please, my friend, help me.

[ooc]If you accept, since we're in the same region, we can insta-trade. In addition to the 168 metal for 90 gold, I'm offering 16 cerebodies in exchange for, at a later date, 4 mindrot horrors, and however many bodies you need to build 2 skin farms at my base at M31. This number of metal/gold could change if I have done math wrong and need a bit more to cover my costs this turn, but it'd be at a 1:1 ratio and shouldn't be more than 5 in either direction - just need to make sure I have enough metal to repair a duergar mine I have access to.[/ooc][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to the Child of the Glow (2 of Unlimited)]
I will give you 75 bodies for the birth of your children, though I may need a few weeks before I can see to their needs.

And...thank you. I am desperate with fear, but you...I know I can trust you.

[ooc]Lamest IC message ever, but figured I should get something out since I'm horribly stuck writers block wise.

Total Midweek Trades: Outgoing; 75 bodies, 168 Metal, Incoming 90 gold. Sound good?[/ooc][/spoiler]
 
[spoiler=Message to the Glow (3 of U)]
Llitul reaches out, sending a tendril of thought, an echo of the Duergar's mind to the Child;

If you want mercy, you will have to offer a great deal more. I have reports that your party included seven hounds and seven ceremorph psionics in in along with your orc. What other forces do you have? Perhaps if you sacrificed all these, seven hounds and seven ceremorphs to my beetles I would contemplate mercy, along with your promise to never attack someone of my empire again. What else can you even offer the Duergar? What you ask for will only come at a steep price.

Finally, never ever compared yourself similarly to the Duergar. You are not doing what my people did, we escaped tyranny and slavery that nearly destroyed our people. You simply wish to no longer follow the orders of the Overbrain. You still keep slaves, you still devour the brains of denizens of the Underdeep. Do so again and I will bend my empire to wiping you out from the Underdeep so thoroughly that even the memories of you will be destroyed.

That is the sharpness the Duergar offers me when I offered peace between us; he asked that I feed my children to its beetles. This is why I fear their sharpness, this is why I fear them.

Next week, I must leave your tower, go deeper into the Underdeep to flee his sharpness. But my mind will linger with you, I will share the dream with you even though my flesh is gone.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to the Child (4 of U)]
Thank you, my friend. My hounds and I will help defend the Thorn if it should come to that; we will not see you harmed by the Duergar anymore than you would let us.

As one other thing, I have found a curious shard of green dead-stone with a glyph upon it that contains powerful magic; it has companion pieces. If you were to come across its companions, I would appreciate the chance to learn more of what their power could do for us.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Child (4 of U)]
Here are the bodies of my children; I hope you can find some use for them.

[ooc]16 Ceremorph bodies as discussed in first message; I'm offering 16 cerebodies in exchange for, at a later date, 4 mindrot horrors. Midweek Trade official[/ooc][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to the Bloodlord of Kirr-Gonda (1 of 4)]
In these difficult times, Bloodlord, your generosity is appreciated; however, I find my current circumstances warrant a great deal of caution with my remaining funds. To be blunt, I cannot afford to purchase the slaves at this time in numbers that would make them at all useful to me.  However, I would be happy to take you up on that offer at a later date, given your entirely reasonable prices.

Also, motions in my rebellion make the imminent removal of Lady Vierra Gloomsong from play a possibility, though by no means a guarantee. Should that happen, do you have any interest in purchasing her, sans any and all items and clothing in her possession, alive or dead?[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to the Bloodlord (2 of 4)]
Excellent! Rest assured that if she is not delivered to you, it is because I have found a far greater use for her - but she will not be a concern of yours for much longer.

I do wish to inform you I have a new home founded not far from your realm. It is my hope that I can use this home as a base to assist with the ongoing efforts against the Nocae and their allies; but it seems that may not come to pass. The Duergar are quite intent on my death over a little matter of some scouts that were slain while I was the Overbrain's favorite bitch; though I've broken that link, I believe they may intend on continuing to hunt me, though I wish them no ill will despite the death of my apprentice. If you would be able to dissuade them from slaughtering me, I would be eternally grateful and, once my forces restored, would be happy to devote time and energy to furthering the destruction of your disparate kinsmen so that you are the sole remaining Dark Elven power in the Underdeep.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to the Despot (1 of 4)]
Despot of the Ironhold, hear my thoughts.

I am Llitul, called the Demented, the Lady of Madness, a title I am given by one whom you hate. You killed the orc that serves me - a death I mourn, but one I understand, for I had greatly wronged you. Your servants were killed by my hounds, and I do not deny my involvement.

Yet still I ask for your mercy, for now I seek what your kind once did.

I have broken free of my Overbrain; I have denied its evil, its oppression. I seek freedom from the Overbrain; I seek to be my own being. I did what I did because it controlled me, because I was its pet.

Would you still kill me, Despot? Would you still kill one who sought what your people once did? Would you pursue Vengeance upon me while the true culprit, the Overbrain, is content to rebuild and drive out the invaders and grow strong and hateful yet again?

Or will you allow me to survive? I do not ask you to work with me, I do not ask for your leave to enter near your lands - I ask merely that you allow me to continue to exist, to taste freedom as your kind have.

Allow me this, and I swear to never feed upon your kin or kine, even if it would starve me. What say you, Despot of the Duergar?[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Kafer (2 of 4)]
Your reports are incorrect - the psions they saw were deranged, half-feral creatures I came to put down before they could threaten anyone needlessly. The brainhounds I have are mine, and I am not willing to feed them to your beetles simply for goodwill, not when they are all I have to protect myself from predation.

I did kill the duergar you mentioned. I was the tool of the Overbrain at the time, and for their deaths I am truely sorry.

You are correct in that I offer little. I have little to offer. I am a pauper, having lost much to the Overbrain - it is impossible for me to know what I could offer if I survive Its wrath, but there is one thing I could give to you given the weeks needed to deliver it.

The imperial scepter of the old Duergar Empire is in my possession, a powerful artifact soaked in the blood of the foes of the Duergar. Should you allow me to live, I will see it given to you, and you will still have my word never to feed on any citizen of your Empire.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Duergar (3 of 4)]
I swear that no being of Ceremorph born or enthralled by myself or no mercenaries in my employ will approach or harm a Duergar except in self defense so long as I live.

The scepter will take more time. It is far from you, and the path is perilous. I can safely get it to you in one month's time; should I still live then, the Scepter will be delivered to you with all due speed.

Are those terms acceptable?
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Dreams of Dead Races (1 of 4)]
Elder Thing, it is good to speak with you directly again. I hope the bleakflight finds its path unimpeded; may the Overbrain subject itself before you soon, as should be.

I have two favors I must ask; firstly, if the Overbrain should surrender to the massed armies, if you can see it contained as opposed to slain I would be grateful; as satisfying as its death would be, I have the means to permanently enslave it to my will, and find doing so to be infinitely preferable a blow to its bloated ego. Of course, if that is not reasonable to accomplish, or if you'd prefer to slay the parasitic mass outright, I'll hardly object - if such, and you have no need for its body once it is slain, I would like the massive hulk for further experimentation.

Second, the Dark Elves threaten my remaining presence in the Northdeep. If you could provide any intelligence on any or even all three of their holdings, I would be even further in your debt.

If you have a price for these tasks, name it, though I am a pauper-queen, and I shall do all within my grasp to provide.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Doctor Robertson (1 of 4)]
You are the second being to warn me of the Overbrain's attempts to subvert those around me - a pathetic attempt was made on the Sisters summoned by the Bloodlord of the Kirr. They are truly fascinating creatures. I do appreciate your apprentices decision to not take its vague offers of power and might - I will thank him in person whenever we shall meet.

The impending doom you speak of pleases me greatly; it is good to know the vermin will soon be forced to withdraw from what is rightfully mine.

I do have one...small concern. The Dark Elves of Vierra Gloomsong pose an immanent threat to my peoples and person even greater than that posed by the pathetic mass of the Overbrain. You are a cordial fellow, I find it difficult to imagine that you have not made contact with her. I would not dare ask you for something as crass as I might desire; no requests for intelligence on Gloomsong's elves, no requests that you infect barrels of food worthless to you with the finest grindings of the most potently diseased undead you may spare and send such barrels to her, no promises of gold or unique bodies - including five ropers, beings only found in the depths I make my home, in exchange for these services.

No, I wouldn't ask you to do any of those things. I merely wish to inform you that two individuals who you may have cordial relations with might soon be at the dreary business of attempting to murder each other over an unfortunate misunderstanding while I was enthralled to the Overbrain.

Yours in Madness
Llitul the Demented, Lady of Madness, The Queen in Exile, Mistress of Superfluous Titles, Etcetera.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to the Seven Sisters (3 of 4)]I am well pleased to hear this weeks events went in your favor; the additional gold will come in handy. Unfortunately events dictate I spurn generosity for the moment. As soon as I am able to, however, I would be pleased to be able to be more free with my assets.

Of course, that's assuming all goes according to plan and the Duergar do not kill me this week. Such is the joy of my current life; I pray I can indulge more in the future.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to the Sever Sisters (4 of U)]Inform them I head north, and plan to return to Dtoulth, using spells of invisibility to hide my path. If they believe me headed this way they will not assault south, or so I hope.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Quasithid (U)]
Awaken, Inquisitor, for you present me with a quandary. Having freed myself from the Overbrain, having become Renegade as I planned, it feels improper to hold you in thrall, yet I find little reason to trust you. Can I trust you, Quasithid? Can you work with me? Or must I keep you enthralled for my safety?

[ooc]If possible, Llitul is going to use her Domination of Quasithid to compel him to be truthful.[/ooc][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Quasithid (U)]
Then be free, but you are Inquisitor no more; you are my Harbringer, my will made manifest. The Hive you reside in is now yours, I name you Commander.

I attempt to negotiate a truce with the Duergar. However, you must desert the hive this week, so they will not slay you with their swarms of beetles. Reinforcements will be coming soon, but your life is valued over the safety of the Hive for now.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Tethrol Gricenchos (U)]
Greetings, King of the Fomorians, and I am sincerely sorry that I could not yet meet you in person. I look forward to that day.

I hope the gold you will earn in my employ will aid with your plight; from one unjustly deposed monarch to another, you have my sympathy. Serve me well, King of the Fomorians, and you have my oath that I will make sure you have the army you need to reclaim your throne. Bind yourself to me and I will do more than that; your own people will be but the first of your Kingdoms. I swear to you either way to aid in you reclaiming your throne; the question is only how much further I aid the spread of your empire.

Of course, your decision need not be made now. Your gold is yours, and my promise to aid you in reclaiming your Kingdom is yours as well. If you want more...I look forward to discussing the details.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Tethrol Gricenchos (U)]
The Dark Elves have moved against me; this week, I will see the beginning of their death. My commands will come soon, once I hear back from a great and terrible being who has made common cause with us.
[/spoiler]
[/ic]
[ic=Llandri][spoiler=To Saerid (1 of 4)]Saerid? Can you hear me?

I need you to hear, I need you to list. The Duergar...they're going to kill me. Listen, listen to what they said...

If you want mercy, you will have to offer a great deal more. I have reports that your party included seven hounds and seven ceremorph psionics in in along with your orc. What other forces do you have? Perhaps if you sacrificed all these, seven hounds and seven ceremorphs to my beetles I would contemplate mercy, along with your promise to never attack someone of my empire again. What else can you even offer the Duergar? What you ask for will only come at a steep price.

Finally, never ever compared yourself similarly to the Duergar. You are not doing what my people did, we escaped tyranny and slavery that nearly destroyed our people. You simply wish to no longer follow the orders of the Overbrain. You still keep slaves, you still devour the brains of denizens of the Underdeep. Do so again and I will bend my empire to wiping you out from the Underdeep so thoroughly that even the memories of you will be destroyed.

I'm trying, trying to keep Llitul from them, but...she's scared, she's lashing out, we're lashing out. The Duergar...She killed some of them when we were fully under the Overbrain's influence, when I was fully his favorite bitch. They still, they still want revenge for it.

If I die...be careful if you attempt to revive me..I don't know where my soul is going anymore when i die. And the Child of the Dreamer, the Fungoids...she's strange, but she's keeping me safe, as safe as she can, as sane as she can. She...she's my friend. Please, don't hurt her. And the Ceremorphs to the Uppernorth of you, they serve me, they broke away from the Overbrain because of me...spare them your wrath, I beg of you.

I hope you kill It, the Overbrain. I hope you make sure no one else suffers as I have.

I love you. I'm sorry...I'm sorry it had to end like this. When you came all this way...and then the Duergar kill me before I can see you again. At least the Overbrain will never harm anyone else.

Here's what you need to know about Dtoulth, from when I, when we, were still working for it. I hope, hope this helps...

Transmitted to Saerid are the layout of everything Llitul knows about Dtoulth and about its defenses, structures, capabilities, as well as the plans she had formulated to defend it if the Dark Elves would attack, including the plan to mass Sentinels while the Overbrain and Exarchs Dominate/Agony/Confuse.[/spoiler]
[/ic]
[ic=Whisper]
[spoiler=To the Seven Sisters (1 of 4)]
A cloying tendril of darkness stretches out, fumbling for the minds of one of the Seven Sisters. It reeks of Ceremorph and Elf in a combination unlike any they would have encountered. As soon as one of them decides to pluck it, she hears a voice

I feel you there. Beings of power, of hunger, of beauty; beings not unlike my Queen, who has dispatched me, this little shard of herself, of wholeself, to greet you to the deeps. You may call me Whisper, for that is what I am, a whisper of the power that is my Queen. Who do I speak with, who are you?[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Arquenciel and the Sisters (2 of 4)]
Oh, my, you all are delightful, I had no idea when I reached out...it is a pleasure to meet you all, I assure you.

I am a mote, a fragment, a dream within a dream, a piece of my Queen that is made to talk to beings such as yourself, to do what my Queen needs. I am her Emissary, though not her Harbringer - you might not like her, her Harbringer is rather indelicate.

My Queen is Llitul, Once Llandri. Let me show you her;

An image appears before them, of an elf woman with a pentagon of tentacles growing from her back, her head adorned with a crown of thrones clutched by the tendrils that were once hair. The tentacles move almost as if of their own mind, and her skin shifts texture and color at her will.

Is she not beautiful? Would you like to meet with her still? She would like that, she would want that. She wants many things, and has many things she can, or would do. Would you link minds with her, so that you may know her better? Would you know the Queen of Madness?[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Grolhund the Heartscrew (1 of 4)]
I can taste your madness, Heartscrew, I can taste your rage. I am Whisper, a fragment of Llitul, the Queen of Madness, and she has bid me to brush your mind. You rage is an echo through the Deeps; who has angered the mighty Grolhund? Who has drawn your terrible ire?

May we assist you in your vengance?[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Grolhund the Heartscrew 2 or 4]
Gentle, light laughter comes from the mental link - not mocking, but pleased You're perfect, aren't you? Unfortunately we will not cast ourselves upon your perfection yet - there is much for us to do, and so we will cling to our precious freedom for now. However, the rest is acceptable for the most - we will gather intelligence and give you what we know, and will leave you the majority of the bodies piled up from our efforts.

However, we desire the bodies, alive or dead, of some of the dark elves, including their ruler, Lady Gloomsong. Should you allow us this...we have many bodies, much flesh. Including some of our own. There are some among the ceremorphs who are unfortunately untrustworthy. Would you trade those dark elves and their Leader for the bodies of any of my kin that fall...and a few living Ceremorph Psions and Brainhounds for your experiments?[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Grolhund the Heartscrew (3 of 4)]
That seems more than fair, Master Heartscrew; truly delightful in the madness of it.

Also, if you're interested in more unique forms to experiment with, we have plenty of unique carcasses. Ropers, spiders of all size, Hook Horrors from the depths, Duergar, even know where you can acquire the elusive creatures known as Stranglers...would any of those suit your tastes?

As for Gloomsong, her mind will be broken in one way or another if she is allowed to survive long, fear not - her crimes against yours and mine will not go unpunished.

In addition, one of my Queens Handmaidens, an Exarch who will be given the privilege of ruling the Dark Elven realms when we've conquered them, who is exquisite in her madness and finds your art utterly fascinating, wishes to study some of your art if you would be interested in teaching another the nature of your holy work - though she desires to keep her will free in the process, and we will understand if you find that repugnant. [/spoiler]  

[spoiler=Grolhund the Heartscrew (4 of 4)]
I have learned this;

The Dark Elf capitol, Vashnaranzenan, is garrisoned by ten crossbowmen and a war spider.  It contains a Matriarch's Spire, Slave Pens
a War Spire, four Lichen Gardens, an Improved Dark Elf Mine, Web Caverns, a Matriarch's Study, a Slave Market, a Ranger's Spire, and a City Wall.

Their colony to the south is garrisoned by five swordsmen, five crossbowmen, and five slave soldiers.  It has slave pens, and a mine under construction.

In the Ceremorph Hive the Dark Elves captured, the bulk of their forces are garrisoned: a War Spider, ten crossbowmen, ten swordsmen, and the Matriarch herself.  The Hive contains a Thrall Pen, Ceremorph Mines, and an Amplifier Node.

Any of them would be easy pickings. I suggest Vashnaranzenan first, and then if our forces remain healthy enough crush their southern colony. Then next week we can marshal against Glyp-Dor and reclaim it from the foul Dark elves and capture or slay Lady Gloomsong - what say you, Heartscrew? Does this please your divine will? Or would you rather I send only a portion of my forces to aid in the capture of Vashnaranzenan and the remainder south to take Glyp-Dor?

And to be clear - any Ceremorph-flesh meets you desires? Will some of our brainhounds, for instance, meet your needs?

Let us know where you wish us to march; my forces available consist of 3 Fomorians led by Tethrol Grincenchos, (a Fomorian King), 2 Ceremorph Exarchs, 17 Ceremorph Psions, Lead By Xealaz (an Exarch Commander), 10 Brainhounds, and 41 Thralls[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Message to Abject (Continued from Parley)]
[ooc]Once I get my Laptop, I'll add the logs here so we can recall what was discussed; as it was, IC, Whisper had to cut off the Parley suddenly. We are still Mindlinked, of course[/ooc]

Forgive my abrupt severing of the connection, Ktan-Ydheel; Llandri and Llitul needed full use of our mind for a time. There was one matter I wished to discuss with you;  I have found a curious shard of green stone with a glyph upon it that harkens back to Elder Days, I believe it has companion pieces. If you were to come across its companions, I would appreciate the chance to learn more of what their power could do for us. Are there any particular items you seek? I have recently unearthed a trove of treasures of the Duergar Empire, including two weapons that were designed to slay our people. I intend fully to see to their safe use against the Overbrain, and then to bring them to you so we may attempt to re-purpose them against other foes.[/spoiler][/ic]

[LD]

CleverSmart Kobolds

- Orders Done.
- Tales Draft Done.
- Letters Done.

[ic=A Grand Victory]
From the Cleversmart Official Oral Traditions

(From Steerpike's Briefing:)
Your DreamSlayers led the ShinyElves westwards, entering a vast, open cavern in which your troops were greatly unnerved.  From out of the gloom a strange chittering cacophony could be heard, and the pounding of many feet, at first distantly, then louder and lounder.  Then they appeared, writhing out of the darkness in a vast horde: Jabberlings, at least a hundred of them, hemming you in on all sides!  . . .

The Jabberlings slain, the High Elves pressed on, deeper into the darkness.  They descended a great stair carved into the earth by some elder race, into the fetid gloom, your DreamSlayers close behind.  Arriving at the small NastyDream bastion near the base of the stair – a pulsating colony of throbbing flesh at the edge of a sinister fungal forest to the south – the Elves carefully scried the region with their Magus.  Seeing that the colony was but lightly defended they advanced, slaying the meagre garrison of grafted thralls and the sole NastyDream that protected the Hive.  With no interest in maintaining a base in the Lowerdeep or anywhere else in the caverns, they have turned this colony over to your forces.  Without losing a single warrior you have captured a major NastyDream base – and the ShinyElves paid you for it.  All hail the Cleversmarts!  You are Clever!  You are Smart!  CLEVER!  SMART!  CLEVER!  SMART!  ALL HAIL QUEEN SHEE-RA, MISTRESS OF ALL THAT IS UNDER THE GROUND!

Ahem.  In other news, . . .
[/ic]

[ic=The Cry of Freedom]
"In the name of Queen Mistress Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, I, Basherpokes the Commander of ShinyFriendship Cavern let these people go!" Basherpokes, speaking before a gathered assemblage of ShinyElves and Kobolds, cut down on the gates to the Thrall Pens and stepped back. "Mindslaves be no longer. Be free, unless captured by greatercreatures in the caverns, or come join Cleversmart Caverns in create a grand empire of Friendship in Underdeep." The Thralls stared stupidly at the kobolds, but some shuffled forward, followed by others, until they had filtered out of the Thrall Pens, which the kobolds were hard at work in destroying.

"Free at last! Free at last! Thank the Mistress, you are Free At Last!" Basherpokes lead the cheer, followed by the usual patriotic uttering of "Be Clever! Smart! Cleversmart! Join Kobolds in freedomcelebrate!"

After the liberation, Saerid, leader of the ShinyElves was presented with a seal to commemorate the founding of ShinyFriendship Stair in Lowerdeep 69. The logo displays an Elf and a Kobold in somewhat of an an orborous shape... with each inverted so that the Kobold's head is at the feet of the Elf and likewise vice versa in the other direction... like a 69 with claw and hand extended in the middle to meet (like The Creation of Man).
[/ic]

[ic=Messages]
[spoiler=Grolhund]
Rollykobold,

As we agree-greed, we have provided to you bodies for your experiment replace those you sought in Cleversmart Caverns; and intelligence regarding M6, which at last we have gather. We nevergive koboldbodies, which are sacred, but we provide evil Spinnywebs for you use. As of last week M6: MadElf Outpost is garrisoned by 4 Slave Soldiers, 5 Bloodfiends, 5 MadElf Swordsmen, and 5 MadElf Crossbowmen.  It got Escape Tunnel and two sets of Murder Holes. We not yet know what in M52. AngryDigs Not respond to our missives. We think they not want be vassal.

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground

(Includes 5 war spider bodies)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Viarra]
To the GloomyElf Lady Viarra Gloomsong:

You do goodything this week with assault on NastyDreams. For that, we have waive your required pay of tribute for next month. You goodycreatures be commend.

We sadnot have good information regard Crown you seek. We contact AngryDigs, but they not respond. They do seem have destroyed NastyDreams near their lands, however, so perhaps AngryDigs now have Crown? Other vassals also unable recover item. We also send goodyspies to view evil MadElf vassal land. M6: MadElf Outpost is garrisoned by 4 Slave Soldiers, 5 Bloodfiends, 5 MadElf Swordsmen, and 5 MadElf Crossbowmen.  It got Escape Tunnel and two sets of Murder Holes.

We gladprovide 5 food in return for your cost in recover body of Gre-Ghor, Beaterpokes, who was lost sometime before your assault on NastyDreams. If you find his body, we very happy.

We also gladprovide appropriate gift for your aid in war against NastyDream; what you interest in? A few metal, or a greater amount of food? We glad spare a bit helpygive goody vassals.

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=To Abject]
We have move against NastyDreams as we promised. We congratulate you for what you give and suggest that if you manage make yourself not be NastyDream, like by spell or by killself and raiseself as Lich, we would look forward to be goodyfriends with you as a result of the goodyhappiness we have pursued as result of your aid.

Now, though, any knowledge of M73 is useful in destroy your enemy cousins and cleanse your path of competitorNastyDreams.

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=To Watchers]
Hail to SwimmySwim Vassals!

We thank you great for your tribute.

We also bring you knowledge; this week, we move against M73 of the NastyDreams. We know this in your hallway of regions. We not let ShinyElves go farther toward your structure, and we lead them out after theydone with this deed of cleanse NastyDreams. If iseasy for you, scry of M73 or M75 is useful aid thebattle.

In recognition of your vassalservice, we ask ifyou haveconcern what we do with L73 and L75 when we victory take them? Is nonnegotiable we will destroy NastyDream structures that make NastyDream things, but we seek reward you for helpyaid us. There anything you needyneed from L73 and L75? We pledge give you freepassage through both if you or your subvassals can swimmyswim through them. We know they in important areafor you.

You have other hopeyhope? You needyneed food? Or metal?

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Watcher]
Hail again to SwimmySwim Vassals!

Oh, goodygoody, we warn ShinyElves not be frightened by any swimmyswims they see and let themknow goodyVassal join in assault.

We gladdy help recover relic from L61 after NastyDreams defeat. We promise send Cleversmarts helpyhelp you.

You mention Thrall? You mean slave? Thrall be dangerword, imply mindslave. Slave is naturalneed; but mindslave is dangerbad? You mean workyslave who tireself to death by mine so much? We can give workyslave when we capture. We gladgive workyslaves to goody vassal. Or you call foodyfood "Thrall"? Foodyfood like dead body of NastyDreams instead of mushroom food? We gladgive those. We not fully understand your words.

AngryDigs not respond to any of our missives; we sympathize with your difficulty in get relic from AngryDigs. We thinkythink way recover relic from AngryDigs. What this relic like?

Regard secrets; know what in M73 be helpy help with assault (scry request).

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=To Saerid]
Honor and grace to ShinyElves on victory!

Together we have liberate mindslave from NastyDreams and many are free. We have goodyinformation. NastyDreams only have two regions herenow; our vassals take one region in northwest of Lowerdeep; other vassalfriends now move against M75, Lower Dtouth. These vassalfriends may look strange because they be swimmyswims, but know that strangelook creatures that are not NastyDreams like the ones we fought are allies and are not to be fought. They come to help defeat NastyDream menace.

We now currentwithyou plan march on M73, which be 3 region away; if army therebe strong, we think we get there and besiege; this be safe. We demonstrate how kobold undermine enemies. Then afterwin, we can escort you home. Our vassalfriends north of M75, Lower Dtouth, have cleansed thosecavern of NastyDreams- so we verymuchthink your ShinyElf friend should be in M73 or M75. Next week youshould have her back. If she not in those place, then she either deadydead, or captive by other NastyDreams who be in very far south of this level of cavern.

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Response to Grolhund]
Gloomyelves are vassals of Cleversmarts and we not want war between vassal; we could negotiate to helpyhelp, but we understand that some vassal prefer take in kind when hurt be done. Although we prefer negotiate and find reparations for you from Gloomyelves, for that is better way toward lasting peace; we give you authorize to punish in like to crime commit against you, for is extranastybad when crime be done against koboldkind, especially when crime be eggcrime of slaughter children. Is very horridbad that Gloomyelves kill children and we not understand why they do this verybad thing.

Gloomyelf vassals move troop to Lowerdeep raid NastyDreams. Gloomyelf vassal also build significant defense in M86. M87 likely weaker, but we not know yetknow detail of M87. We had troop in that area who could have discover, but Gre-Ghor, Basherpokes, sadly perish in same week Gloomyelves assault NastyDreams below.

Gloomyelf vassals also obsess with artifacts. Seek manygoodythings.

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=To Dolmar]
Goodyhearthis news
If you only want one or two trapspringers, we pay food and metal costs of recruit if you pay for the gold costs of recruiting and all subsequent upkeep until they have returned to our territory after you are finished with them. Alternatively, you could keep them with no need to return them.

If you would like more than two, with no limit on the number whose service be made to you, then I am going to suggest that we would like the metal and gold costs of recruiting (for all over two) and we would like 4 Gloomdancers on very short term loan.The loan should only be 4 weeks. 1 week to get to the region. 1 to fight. and 2 to return to you. We will still pay the food costs for recruiting. We'll pay the upkeep for them when you are done with them. one trapspringer can make one trap a week... but some traps take multiple weeks to set up. They won't be invisible on the map unless you can make them invisible.
-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=To Viarra]
To Lady Via-Rara:

We Nofind sparklynecklace. Only thing like that is find sparklysparkle. If we find sparklynecklace, we can gladgiveyou after ShinyElves depart Cleversmart territory since you warn us ShinyElves not like know of your exist; we suppose they be depart in three or four week time because we finishslay NastyDreams either this week or next.

Othernews; other subject of Cleversmarts apparently very angry with you. We wish all befriend, but it seem subject wantresolve personalway and notrespond to our offerbenegotiate on his behalf- thissubject want revengeinkind and is notopen to discuss. We not able discourage thissubject because our forces toofardistant.

You no doubt can defeat single kobold even though he mightystrong, but we want you know is personalissue of this Kobold and not of Queen Shee-Ra, though statements this Kobold make be very grave accusation and if this kobold be Cleversmart kobold instead of independent subject or if this kobold hadtaken our offer, we would pursue matter on his behalf.

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]


[spoiler=To Grolhund]
We have additional boon to grant Grolhund to aid in his mission. If you would enjoy visit vengeance on L67; we give you permission travel past L69. We suggest L67 rather than M86 to direct your ire against GloomyElves because M86 is home to chief GloomyElf and must be strongdefend, which could be goodyrisk for you. But alsobe concern, is possible GloomyElves move many elves to L67 because recentfight Nastydreams there. Also note, next week, we plan provide you several NastyDream bodies due to our coming success.

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]


[spoiler=Response to Dolmar]
Goodygood. We can get to U58 at end of next week without forced march to meet your force; or with force march of 4, we can get to U44. We use Shinycaster make Trapspringers faster. Shinycaster use to speed Trapspringers be free, because you goodyvassal. We current plan force march to get to U44 by end of next week. If you have way make Trapspringers invisible, would be good idea so othersnotknow you have goodybenefit. We slightconcern about StupidDress Kobolds in that area since we must passypass them and they currentrefuse vassalage, but thinkyhope they not attack 8 Trapspringer marchsouth.

Once trapytraps are set, they remain set, except with Rock Fall, we thinkythink.

If Gloomydancers move to M60, that be good. Eventual plan be arrive at M70, which has nastybad things.

-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=DONT READ CANNOT SEND TILL NEXT TURN]
We note decent boonrequest. We consider your request and grant boon. You may be Steward of Underdeep and gain this Greater Dto-uth. We need at least one week, likely two and possible three, but no more than that, after conquer Greater Dto-uth to destroy Nastydream structures that beevil; after that, we gladvacate and give you to profituse to makeymake more gold for Cleversmarts.

You speak of want passage for SwimmySwims to Darksea. [Mechanically, which region do you want if you do that? Are you claiming just the sea or additional regions? I don't know if you can claim just the sea- if you're just claiming the sea, Cleversmarts may permit that). We permit this after you aid us in defense against Greyskulls by destroying Greyskull regions. We know Greyskulls plan assault in upcoming weeks. They mass forces. We not currentplan assault first, because we honorablecreatures and we could be friend with Greyskulls but Greyskulls refuse communicate or submit to vassalage. So, we must be prepare respond against their horror. When you helpus fight Greyskulls, we let you colonize. Condition then be that, we ask no SwimmySwims come up the Hollow Shaft of Ryen-Dor; instead, we give permission to come through M80. Cleversmart Cavern in M65 is Holy to Cleversmarts and is best avoid.


-Shee-Ra Cleversmart XVI, Queen Mistress of All that is Under the Ground
[/spoiler]


[/ic]

[LD]

Orders (Final)

[spoiler=Orders and Information]
[ic]
Secret Story?

[/ic]

-ERROR FIXED: I discovered that the mines I was restoring were a Complex and not an Improved Mine... It should have cost me 37 gold to restore- at the end of last turn I  did not spend 16 gold- therefore I was 21 short... but then I discovered that the Watchers had given me 90 gp; So I have a net extra 69 gold this turn than I did last turn from their trade from the past 3 weeks.

[spoiler=Production]
[ooc]Cleversmart Caverns - Middledeep 65

Kobold Mine: (300 gold)
Kobold Mine: (25 metal)

Mushroom Patch: (20 food)
Midden: (35 food)

Resource: Mushrooms  (25 food)
Resource: Pool (10 food)

M65 Subtotal: 90 food, 300 gold, 25 metal[/ooc]

[ooc]Ryen-Dor's HollowShaft a/k/a "The Entrance to the Shaft of Ryen-Dor"- Middledeep 66

Kobold Mine (150 gold)
Kobold Mine (15 metal)

Resource: Mushrooms  (25 food)

M66 Subtotal: 25 food, 150 gold, 15 metal[/ooc]

[ooc]GnomeFeast LuteingCave- Middledeep 72

Kobold Mine (150 gold)
Kobold Mine (15 metal)

Resource: Mushrooms  (25 food)
Resource: Pool (10 food)

M72 Subtotal: 35 food, 150 gold, 15 metal[/ooc]

[ooc]BiteyTriumph Halls- Middledeep 73

Dark Elf Mine Complex (400 gold)
Dark Elf Mine Complex (50 metal)

M73 Subtotal: 400 gold, 50 metal
[/ooc]

[ooc]ShinyFriendship Stair - Lowerdeep 69

Ceremorph Mine (185 gold)
Ceremorph Mine (20 metal)

Resource: Mushrooms (25 food)

L69 Subtotal: 25 food, 185 gold, 20 metal[/ooc]

Total Production: 175 food, 1185 gold, 105 metal

[ooc]Looting/Events
+116 food (forage), +64 gold (loot) +13 metal (loot) + 8 food (loot) + 10 gold (guides), +18 bodies (18 ceremorphs),  +69 gold (carryover trade from Watchers)
[/ooc]

Total Looting/Events: 124 food, 13 metal, 143 gold, 18 bodies/food

Total Total: 299 food, 138 metal, 1328 gold, 18 bodies/food
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Upkeep]

GoodyGarrison
Slingers (1g/1f) x 3 = (3g/3f)
Skulkers (2g/1f) x 2 = (2g/2f)

1 less Slinger upkeep because of Commander.

=SUBTOTAL: 5g/5f

SmartyScouts
Slingers (1g/1f) x 14 = (14g/14f)
Skulkers (2g/1f) x 8 = (16g/8f)
Blunderdigs (3g/1f) x 2 = (6g/2f)

One less Skulker upkeep because of Free Commander (2g/1f).

=SUBTOTAL: 36g/24f

RatAvengers
Dire Rats (3g/3f) x12 (36g/36f)

=SUBTOTAL: 36g/36f

BangyBangs
Trapspringers (6g/4m/1f) x 1 =(6g/4m/1f)

=SUBTOTAL: 6g/4m/1f

Southguard
Skulkers (2g/1f) x4 (8g/4f)
Slingers (1g/1f) x 2= (2g/2f)

=SUBTOTAL: 10g/6f

DreamSieges
Blunderdigs (3g/1f) x 2 = (6g/2f)
Bottletossers (4g/2m/1f) x 3 = (12g/6m/3f)
Trapspringers (6g/4m/1f) x 3 =(18g/12m/3f)

=SUBTOTAL: 36g/18m/8f

Deepguards
Slingers (1g/1f) x 6 = (6g/6f)
Skulkers (2g/1f) x 7 = (14g/7f)
Blunderdigs (3g/1f) x 1 = (3g/1f)
Dire Rat (3g/3f) x1 (3g/3f)

One less Skulker upkeep because of Free Commander (2g/1f).

=SUBTOTAL: 26g/17f

The Colons
Slingers (1g/1f) x 2 = (2g/2f)
Skulkers (2g/1f) x 4 = (8g/4f)

=SUBTOTAL: 10g/6f

ShinyGuards
Skulker (2g/1f) x 1 = (2g/1f)

=SUBTOTAL: 2g/1f

Total: Net Loss/turn -(157g/104f/22m)

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Construction]
[ic]Cleversmart Caverns- Middledeep- 65
Completed This Turn
Improved Kobold Mine (225 gold, 20 metal) (week 4/4)

Under Construction
Dragon Shrine (75 gold) (week 2/3)

Beginning Construction
Shinycaster's Cave (125 gold) (week 1/2)
Disguised Entrance (50 gold)
Caltrops (10 gold; 10 metal)
[/ic]

[ic]SouthSkulk Caverns- Middledeep 60
Completed This Turn
None.

Under Construction
See Beginning.

Beginning Construction
Escape Tunnel (20 gold)
Gold Mine (150 gold, 15 metal)
[/ic]

[ic]Cleversmart Colony- Middledeep 64
Completed This Turn
None.

Under Construction
See Beginning.

Beginning Construction
Escape Tunnel (20 gold)
Kobold Mine (150 gold, 15 metal)
Pit Trap (25 gold)
[/ic]

[ic]Ryen-Dor's HollowShaft a/k/a "The Entrance to the Shaft of Ryen-Dor"- Middledeep 66
Completed This Turn
None.

Under Construction
See Beginning.

Beginning Construction
Murder Holes (20g)
Pit Trap (25g)
[/ic]

[ic]SpikyDeath Cavern- Middledeep 67

Completed Construction
Pit Trap (by Trapspringers)

Under Construction
Rockfall Trap (35g) (week 2/2)

Beginning Construction
None.
[/ic]

[ic]GnomeFeast LuteingCave- Middledeep 72
Completed This Turn


Under Construction
Spiked Moat; 25 gold (2/3 week)

Beginning Construction
Reinforced Gate; 15g, 5m
Pit Trap; 25g
[/ic]

[ic=BiteyTriumph Halls]BiteyTriumph Halls- Middledeep 73
Completed This Turn
Restore Dark Elf Mine Complex (113g) (week 1/1)
Restore City Wall as Palisade?? (10g)
Pit Trap (25g)
Snare (10g)
Snare (10g)

Under Construction
See Beginning.

Beginning Construction
Murder Holes #4 (20g)
Murder Holes #5 (20g)
Snare #3 (10g)
Pit Trap #2 (25g)
Pit Trap #3 (25g)
Spiked Pit Trap (Upgrading Pit Trap #1) (10g)
Reinforced Gate (15g/5m)
[/ic]

[ic=ShinyFriendship Stair]ShinyFriendship Stair - Lowerdeep 69
Completed This Turn
None.

Under Construction
See Beginning.

Beginning Construction
Escape Tunnel (20 gold)
Burrow (35 gold) (week 1/2) (Construct even if at risk of falling).
[/ic]


[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Recruit]

Recruiting:

11 Slingers (5gp) * 11 = 55 g
6 Skulkers (7g/1m) * 6 = 42g/6m
12 Dire Rats (17 gp/1 m) * 13 = 221g/13m

=SUM (318g/19m)

For easy Copy/Paste (Not recruiting:
1 Slinger (5gp) * 1 = (5gp)
6 Skulkers (7g/1m) * 6 = 42 g/6m
2 Dire Rats (17 gp/1 m) * 2 = (34 gp/2 m)
2 Blunderdigs (10g/2m) * 2 = 20 g/ 4m
4 Bottlethrowers (13g/ 5m) *4 = 52 g/ 20m
3 Trapspringers (13g/ 8m) * 3 = 39g/ 25m

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Wealth]
Began Turn at: 0 gold (note Watchers and 2 Snares, was 16g), 113 metal, 1062 food, 5 bodies
Gained: 1328 gold, 138 metal, 299 food, 18 bodies
Total: 1328 gold, 251 metal, 1361 food, 23 bodies

Spent 735 gold on construction.
Spent 157 gold on upkeep.
Spent 318 gold on recruiting.
Spent 100 gold on founding dungeons.

Spent 50 metal on construction.
Spent 22 metal on upkeep.
Spent 19 metal on recruiting.
Trade 0 metal to Vassals.

Spent 104 food on upkeep.
Trade 0 food to vassals.

Trade 5 bodies (dire spiders) to Grolhund.

18 gold
160 metal
1257 food
18 bodies (ceremorphs)
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Dungeons]
[ic=Middledeep 65]
Cleversmart Caverns - Middledeep- 65

Mystery Chamber (scry if in the region)
Burrow (build slingers, skulkers, blunderdigs)
Mushroom Patch (20 food)
Kobold Mine (150 gold, 15 metal)---> UPGRADED TO Improved Kobold Mine (225 gold, 20 metal) (week 4/4)
Midden (125 gold) (dire rat cavalry, 35 food)
Workshop (65 gold, 25 metal) (build bottlethrowers, trapspringers)

Palisade (20 gold) ----->UPGRADED Reinforced Gate (15 gold, 5 metal)
Pit Trap (25 gold) --->UPGRADED to Pit of Rats (12 gold)
Spiked Moat (25 gold)

Susurrus, the Executioner's Blade
[ic]Its vorpal enchantment means that if its wielder rolls a natural 20, it automatically kills its target if they have a head.  The sword grants +2 to Melee Attack and Damage, but the sword demands blood constantly, and its wielder effectively gains the Animosity ability while they carry the blade.[/ic]
[/ic]

[ic=Middledeep 66]Ryen-Dor's HollowShaft a/k/a "The Entrance to the Shaft of Ryen-Dor"- Middledeep 66
Kobold Mine (150 gold, 15 metal)

Palisade (20 gold)
Escape Tunnel; 20g
Murder Holes (20 gold)
Pit Trap; 25g
[/ic]

[ic=Middledeep 67]SpikyDeath Cavern- Middledeep 67
Note. Not a Dungeon. Just Traps Here.

Pit Trap (by Trapspringers)
[/ic]

[ic=Middledeep 72]
GnomeFeast LuteingCave- Middledeep 72
Kobold Mine (150 gold, 15 metal)

Palisade (20 gold)
Escape Tunnel (20 gold)
Murder Holes (20 gold)
Murder Holes; 20 gold
Snare; 10 gold
Snare; 10 gold
Pit Trap; 25 gold
Pit Trap; 25 gold[/ic]

[ic=Middledeep 73]
BiteyTriumph Halls- Middledeep 73

Dark Elf Mine Complex

City Wall (Restored as Palisade?)
Pit Trap
Snare
Snare
Murder Hole
Murder Hole
Murder Hole
Escape Tunnel

Matriarch's Spire (unusable by Kobolds)\
Matriarch's Study (unusable by Kobolds)
Arcane Library (unusable by Kobolds)
Slave Pens (unusable by Kobolds)
War Spire (unusable by Kobolds)
Armoury Spire (unusable by Kobolds)
Web Caverns (unusable by Kobolds)
Temple Spire (unusable by Kobolds)
[/ic]
[/spoiler]


[spoiler=Armies]
[ic]GoodyGarrison
Commander: Mya-He, the Unmentionable (Slinger)
Effects: +1 morale for being in a garrison. & + Morale for Kobold Warren
Location: Middledeep 65
4 Slingers [Mya-He is a Slinger]
1 Skulker

Slingers [Mya-He is attached to this unit]
Slingers (Foh-Manchu "Unutterable Ovumguard")
Slinger ("Dom-Boh", the Distinct)
Slinger (Vit-Toh)
Skulkers (Shel-Dahn)
[/ic]

[ic]SmartyScouts
Commander of the Garrison: Hai-Phen, the Shadow
Effects:  +1 morale for being in a garrison & + Morale for Kobold Warren (not counting Commander bonus to morale), and Skulkers are in ambush mode. Hai-Phen has a cloak that helps her [ic]Cloak of Arachnida grants its wearer the Climbing ability and gives them +1 Defence.  Their Melee attacks also acquire Poison 2 and they become immune to the Poison of arachnid creatures.[/ic]
Equipment: Manned Murder Holes
Location: M72. (New slingers were in M65 and marched- are not garrisoned yet due to speed; old slingers (10) and Skulkers (4) moved from here to reinforce M73.
2 Blunderdigs
7 Skulker [Hai-Phen is a Skulker]
9 Slingers

Skulkers* [Hai-Phen, the Shadow]
Blunderdig ("Cat-Con", "Underfeet Underdeep Squadron")
Blunderdig ("Bill-Dit", "Backdoor Blundering Boffins")

New Slinger
New Slinger
New Slinger
New Slinger
New Slinger
New Slinger (Par-Fate)
New Slinger (Par-Fait)
New Slinger
New Slinger

New Skulker
New Skulker
New Skulker
New Skulker
New Skulker
New Skulker

[/ic]

[ic=ShinyGuard]ShinyGuard
Commander of the Garrison: Basherpokes
Effects: Kobold Warren Bonuses
Location: L69

1 Skulker

Skulker ("Basherpokes") Was in M80 in SmartyScouts; move to L69 and garrison and start new unit, ShinyGuard. (See Orders)
[/ic]

[ic=BangyBangs]BangyBangs
Effects: Trap Building
Location: M67

1 Trapspringer

Trapspringer ("Quo-Vadis", the wanderer)[/ic]

[ic=SouthGuard]SouthGuard
Commander: Tro-Jan, the Unbreakable (a Skulker)
Effects: Invisible, in Kobold Warren
Location: (at end of turn M60)
4 Skulkers
2 Slingers

Skulkers  (Tro-Jan, the unbreakable) [Commander]
Skulkers  (Achi-Lees, the unkillable)
Skulker (Hen-Rhee)
Skulker (Ran-Dolph)

Slinger (Hes-Sian)
Slinger (Ver-Ity)
[/ic]

[ic=RuinGuards]RuinGuards
Commander: Grimfever and Xev-Yiat, the rider (Dire Rat)
Effects: Invisible; Garrisoned; Skulkers in Ambush; Kobold Warren Bonuses
Equipment: Manned Murder Holes
Location: (at beginning: M73; including 10 slingers and 4 skulkers who were formerly in M72 as SmartyScouts (they transfered and were replaced in M73 by new recruits))
1 Dire Rat
9 Skulkers (1 on assignment)
14 Slingers

Dire Rat (Grimfever and Xev-Yiat, the Rider) [Commander]
Skulker (Cad-Mium)
Skulker (Rhe-Sus)
Skulker (Rhe-Bus)
Skulker (Iv-Hor)
Skulker ("Bat-Mun")
Skulker ("Bat-Miz")
Skulker ("Bat-Shee")
Skulker ("Rob-Yin")

Slinger ("Char-Mander, the Meepish")
Slinger ("Val-Arie", the Valorious)
Slinger (Mya-Ho)
Slinger (Pik-Pok)
Slinger ("Mya-Haha", the Speedy)
Slinger ("Tom-Tom")
Slinger ("Park-Park")
Slinger ("Pik-Pik", brother to Pik-Min)
Slinger ("Pik-Min", sister to Pik-Pik)
Slinger ("Pik-Poke", youngest sister of the Pik clan)
Slinger ("Par-Fore")
Slinger ("Par-Two")
Slinger ("Par-One")
Slinger ("Par-Tay")

Skulker (Uma-Thur) (on assignment to M8) (Remaining in M8)
[/ic]

[ic=Dreamsieges]DreamSieges
Effects:
Location: (at beginning; L69 ; at end, march with elves to L73 and besiege)

2 Blunderdigs
3 Bottletossers
3 Trapspringers

Blunderdigs (Ben-Jee)
Blunderdigs (Ben-Ghay)
Bottletosser (Ysi-Xvho)
Bottletosser (Qwi-Jibo)
Bottletosser (Qwi-Ghon)
Trapspringer (Qup-Upp)
Trapspringer (Dip-Dwn)
Trapspringer  (Mop-Pop)
[/ic]

[ic=Forestrees]Forestrees
Commander:
Effects: Garrisoned; Kobold Warren Bonuses
Location: (at end: M63)
2 Slingers

New Slinger
New Slinger[/ic]

[ic=The Colons]The Colons
Commander: Hum-Bout, the Trickster
Effects: Garrisoned; Skulkers are in Ambush.; Kobold Warren Bonuses
Location: M64.
4 Skulkers
2 Slingers

Skulker (Hum-Bout, the Trickster) [Commander]
Skulker
Skulker
Skulker

Slinger
Slinger
[/ic]

[ic=BiteyAvengers]BiteyAvengers
Commander: Shee-Ra Cleversmart the Sixteenth, Queen Mistress of All That Is Under the Ground (mounted on Dire Rat "Pointyteeth")
Effects:  Commander bonus to morale. Cavalry +4 special ability and Disease 3, Climb [Invisible because of Shee-Ra]; Ambush and Garrisoned. Note Shee-Ra's Jewel (see Character Sheet below for her special abilities)
Location: (at beginning: M72; end of turn: M73- except for the New Rats; the new rats are in M73 but can only garrison, not ambush due to speed)
1 Shee-Ra [currently attached to Dire Rat "Pointyteeth"]
25 Dire Rats

Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat
Dire Rat

New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
New Dire Rat
[/ic]

[ic]Deepguards
Commander: Ho-Dor, the Stable (Skulker) (who eats rocks, carries around his lame nephew on a howdah, nephew shoots and slings from his back)
Effects: +1 morale for being in a garrison & + Morale for Kobold Warren . (Commander Bonus Not Added yet) (Skulkers Not ambushing this turn.)
Location: Middledeep 66
8 Skulkers [Ho-Dor is a Skulker]
6 Slingers
1 Blunderdig
1 Dire Rat

Skulker  [Ho-Dor, the Commander]
Skulker  (Ay-Jax, the warrior)
Skulker  (Vor-Keth, the massive)
Skulker (Vir-Ille, the Fecund)
Skulker (Vir-Sal)
Skulker  (Ai-Ur, the Greater)
Skulker  (Ai-Ur, the Lesser)
Skulker  (Ro-Dan, the belligerent watcher)
Blunderdigs (Kili-Fili, the stout digger)
Slinger (Isil-Dur, the unmentionable-the other kobold captured by humans along with Mya-He)
Slinger (Fush-Rodah, the shouter)
Slinger (Hus-Roh, the loud)
Slinger (Aaa-Hha, the fearful)
Slinger (Mah-Sala)
Slinger (Bir-Yani)
Dire Rat (Bittersnap ; rider- Mun-Gor)
[/ic]


[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Characters]
[ic=Shee-Ra Cleversmart the Sixteenth]
Shee-Ra Cleversmart the Sixteenth

Ranged Attack: +10
Ranged Damage: 8
Melee Attack: +8
Melee Damage: 6
Defence: 24
Health: 21
Speed: 6
Morale: +6
Special Abilities: Infiltrator (also imparted to entire unit), Leadership, Sling Mastery, Mounted Charge (Cavalry +4 bonus applies to whole unit), (Rat abilities follow-->) Cavalry, Climb and Disease 3,
Inventory: Potion of Restoration (instantly cures any disease a single unit is suffering from); strange Jewel
Unit: Attached to Dire Rat.
Instructions: Use the Potion of Restoration on self if self is in danger of being killed in battle. Use on self if army retreats.

[ic]Jewel- when worn it imparts to its wearer a +2 bonus to Morale and grants them the Fear ability (DC 12, or +2 to their Fear DC if they already possess Fear).  It almost certainly imparts other, unknown powers as well.[/ic]

Shee-Ra increases the Ranged Attack and Morale of any army she is leading by +1.  If garrisoned in a Dungeon she increases the Ranged Attack and Morale of garrisoned troops by +1. (Note this turn: Each turn, if she has the move, please check orders to see if she is Garrisoned-she should be garrisoned this turn) Her Infiltrator ability is imparted to any regiment she leads.

Sling Mastery
Shee-Ra is now so adept with her sling that she can choose to use it in melee combat.  Shee-Ra now uses her Ranged Attack and Damage in melee, so long as she is using a sling.

Dire Rat Mounting- She gains the Cavalry, Climb and Disease 3 abilities and can only join a regiment of Kobold Dire Rat Cavalry.  She also gains +2 Defence, +2 Speed and +6 Health.  Mounting Shee-Ra on a dire rat costs 17 Gold and 1 Metal (no Upkeep costs, however). [/ic]

[ic=Mya-He, the Unmentionable]
Mya-He, the Unmentionable

Unmentionable not because Mya-He is a cannibal who has eaten Kobold flesh before, which is acceptable to do when Kobolds have perished, but because he was captured by surface dwellers! Once, on a long expedition to the surface, Mya-He and a squad became separated from a main raiding party and they were trapped in a surface race trap, where he and his fellows lingered. He only survived and remained strong because he and one ally killed and ate the rest of their fellows, then they played dead.

When humans came to fetch the kobolds out of the trap, they were overpowered and the kobolds fled to the realm of the Cleversmarts. Although Mya-He received great shame for being captured by a surface-dweller's trap, he received great honor for having overpowered and escaped from surface dwellers.

He is considered as having great insight into surface dwellers' ways and customs, gathered from overhearing snatches of their conversations and observations of their surface camps. Mya-He is a tenacious kobold, willing to do whatever it takes to survive and willing to sacrifice anyone else to ensure his survival. Shee-Ra places him in charge of the Cleversmart Caverns because most kobolds are afraid of him, and because she knows that he will never figure out how to work the mystery chamber or establish a cult following to overthrow her- he is too hated for that to happen- and he knows that.

Slinger

Upkeep: Free
Ranged Attack: +4
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +3
Melee Damage: 3
Defence: 18
Health: 14
Speed: 4
Morale: +3[/ic]

Commanders also gain +10 Health and +2 to all Attack, Damage, Defence, and Morale characteristics (Melee or Ranged, if they possess a Ranged attack).  

[ic]
Ho-Dor, the Stable

Ho-Dor the Stable is a simple Kobold. He is a distant cousin of Shee-Ra and he is a forager at heart.

He dotes on his nephew, whose leg was crushed when he tumbled down the dark slicks of a Dark Elf trap, and now Ho-Dor carries the nephew, Oh-No, around on a howdah that is strapped to Ho-Dor's broad back. Oh-No shoots rocks and other debris at enemies while Ho-Dor the Stable roots himself into the soil and fights with his quarterstaff.

Ho-Dor is a tempered commander who cares greatly for his soldiers. He is also an odd Kobold in that he has no interest in mating or in fertilizing Kobold Eggs. Instead, when he is at rest, he sits and meditates. His soldiers consider him eccentric, but they benefit from his constant attention. If the soldiers need something, Ho-Dor, the Stable, will find it for them.

Skulker

Upkeep: Free
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 19
Health: 16
Speed: 4
Morale: +3
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Scout[/ic]

[ic=Hai-Phen, the Shadow]
Hai-Phen, the Shadow

The Shadow knows what few others know, she slinks and spies and comes back with food, news, and dead enemies heads. The Shadow was nearly kicked out of her tribe for being a thief, by the previous Master of All That Is Underground when she stole a precious amulet that belonged to him and sold it to Dark Elves, but Shee-Ra recognized her potential and protected her from his wrath. Hai-Phen owes her life and her allegiance to her Queen Mistress, and she is eager to demonstrate her worth to the Clever Lady.

Skulker

Upkeep: Free
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 20 (with cloak)
Health: 16
Speed: 4
Morale: +3
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Scout, (with cloak->Climbing, +1 Defense (added), Poison 2, Immune to Arachnid Poisons)
Inventory: Lute of Bravery which, if played in lieu of an attack by a single unit within a regiment, gives other units in the regiment +2 Morale for one round
Cloak of Arachnida grants its wearer the Climbing ability and gives them +1 Defence.  Melee attacks also acquire Poison 2 and they become immune to the Poison of arachnid creatures.[/ic]

[ic=Tro-Jan, the Unbreakable]
Tro-Jan the Unbreakable is known for his feats of strength. Tro-Jan wrestled many Kobolds and always came away the victor. Tro-Jan also wrestled a Gloom Troll, it is said, during one sojourn to the Deepsea. Tro-Jan bites the tops off containers and allows his always taut chest to be used as a punching bag by trainee Kobolds. Tro-Jan is known for his pithy quips: "The only old kobold who is a bold kobold is the gold kobold*" *referring to the golden abs and muscles of himself and the tendency of kobolds in poor health to die young. "Fitness is like a crate of swimmyswims. You always know what you're going to get- toned abs and longer life." He has been thinking of writing a book about his experiences and his wisdom. Tro-Jan's followers are inspired by his unflappability, his strength, and his health. Some are a bit jealous of his braggadocio and his good fortune; but all good kobolds are taught to be proud of their achievements, so it is of no great surprise that one with so many great achievements would be so arrogant.

Skulker

Upkeep: Free
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 19
Health: 16
Speed: 4
Morale: +3
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Scout[/ic]

[ic=Hum-Bout, the Trickster]
Hum-Bout, the Trickster (a Skulker)
Commander of the Colons
Hum-Bout, the Trickster, is known for cheating at pick sticks, knotch arrows, and bait monsters. Although this cheating makes him rather unpopular, it also is a sign of creativity, which resulted in his being picked to lead the Colons. Perhaps one day he will be placed in charge of a more advance-guard location, but for now, he is placed in a vital location near the Cleversmart Caverns themselves, defending them with a valiant force as he learns how to best lead and inspire young kobolds without dunking their heads in a lake or dropping a buzzing trap in their cereal that snaps their tongues in half while he laughs at their misfortune. His men do not enjoy him much and perhaps one day they might mutiny; but that day is not this one.

Skulker

Upkeep: Free
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 19
Health: 16
Speed: 4
Morale: +3
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Scout[/ic]

[ic=Grimfever and Xev-Yiat, the rider, Commander of BiteyTriumph Halls- Middledeep 73]
Grimfever and Xev-Yiat, the rider
Commander of the RuinGuards

Grimfever the rat was born on an inauspicious moon; when young, he was stricken with the Blessed Plague, the plague of the ratdroppings. After many excruciating weeks, he overcame the plague and grew to become wiry and fit, smarter and faster than other hatchlings of his pride. His intelligence was noted by the Cleversmarts and he was trained for leadership; he was eventually paired with Xev-Yiat, an inquisitive Kobold with a yen for adventure. Xev-Yiat is a fourth cousin to Queen Mistress Shee-Ra, and he has used that connection to certain advantage. Although he has not directly begged for positions as a result of his relation, he has judiciously dropped her name at important times; at one such occurrence, he mentioned the relationship and his allegedly close friendship with her (she once nodded to him at a gathering), and all other candidates for officer training mysteriously made mistakes- leaving him with the only flawless performance--which merited him this eventual promotion to Commander of the RuinGuards.

Cost: 17 Gold, 1 Metal
Upkeep: Free
Melee Attack: +7
Melee Damage: 8
Defence: 20
Health: 20
Speed: 6
Morale: +5
Special Abilities: Cavalry, Climb, Disease (3)[/ic]

[ic=Basherpokes- Lowerdeep 69]
Basherpokes
Commander of the ShinyGuard

Basherpokes is known for bashing; and poking; and bashing; and poking. His eyes are good and his nose is keen. He's a straightforward kobold, hit on the head one too many times to be considered even passing intelligent, but he's good at bashing and poking and seeing and reporting. He's an unimaginative kobold, but he's loyal and he follows written orders to the letter. If something needs to be done, Basherpokes will be the first one to do it, no matter how dangerous, or risky.

Skulker

Upkeep: Free
Melee Attack: +4
Melee Damage: 5
Defence: 19
Health: 16
Speed: 4
Morale: +3
Special Abilities: Infiltrator, Scout[/ic]

[ic=xxx- Middledeep 63]
No name yet
Commander of the ShinyGuard

TODO. PLACEHOLDER MAY APPOINT SOMEONE ELSE LATER.

Slinger

Upkeep: Free
Ranged Attack: +4
Ranged Damage: 4
Melee Attack: +3
Melee Damage: 3
Defence: 18
Health: 14
Speed: 4
Morale: +3[/ic]
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Orders]

General
- Found Dungeon in M73 (Cleversmart Forest)

- (Long Term) if any bodies are available in a region that Undead approach with intent to siege, eat the bodies before any other food.
- If M65 is about to fall, DO NOT cancel mine construction.
- Don't let undead enemies get behind my "lines". Attack them and try to kill them if they try to slip past M73. Try to use ambush bonuses though and to draw them to the city with cavalry on the rats.
- Demolish Thrall Pens in L69. Free the slaves. Invite them to join as vassals or to make their way in the underdeep; offer the ones with more health an opportunity to join our army- especially any minotaurs, given the cleversmarts long association with such beasts, if any are insane and perhaps dangerous- consider them for use in a pit trap. (NOTE: Next turn destroy amplifier node).
- Demolish. In BiteyTriumph Halls (The Ruins) M73-  destroy slave pens and web caverns.
- New Recruits in M65;
---(5 Speed) send 13 Dire Rats to join M73 BiteyAvengers. They will Garrison (1 Speed).
---(4 Speed) send 6 Skulkers to M72 to join SmartyScouts
---(4 Speed) send 9 Slingers to M72 to join SmartyScouts
---send 2 Slingers to M63 to form Foresttrees, promote one as Commander.

From Middledeep 60 (SouthGuard)
-(2 speed) Ambush
-(1 speed) Garrison

From Middledeep 65 (Cleversmart Caverns)
-(3 Speed) GoodyGarrison Forages (5x3=add 15 food next turn).
-(1 Speed) GoodyGarrison Garrisons. (I have not added the bonuses).

-See New Recruits orders above for New Units

From Middledeep 66 (Ryen-Dor's Hollow Shaft)
-(3 Speed) Deepguards Forage (14x3 =36+ 2x3=6 add 42 food next turn).
-(1 Speed) Deepguards Garrison. (I have not added the bonuses).
-(Free Ability) Scout Darksea.

From Middledeep 67
- BangyBangs unit, which is only Quo-Vadis, finishes his last trap: A rockfall trap (35g) (week 2/2).

From Middledeep 72 (GnomeFeast Luteing Cave)
SmartyScouts
-(1 Speed) Gather food. (17= add 17 food next turn) +12x 2 speed for the blunderdigs and slingers who cannot infiltrate= 24f= [total 41 food]
-Gain 6 new skulkers and 9 new slingers; but send 4 skulkers and 10 slingers to M73, where they join the RuinGuards.
-(2 Speed) Set up an Ambush with Skulkers and any others who can infiltrate. Old Skulkers can ambush (if the attack comes before they move) as can Hai-Phen always; new recruits don't have enough speed.
-(1 Speed) Garrison.
-(Free Ability) Scout M74 and M71.
-Standing Order for future fights; Commander Hai-Phen has a Slinger play the Lute of Bravery (+2 morale) at the start of battle to improve the regiment's bravery.

Skulker (Cad-Mium) once again sent to U93 (2 speed) to spy on U92 (1 Speed); returns to M73 and joins defense there.

BiteyAvengers
-(1 Speed) Move to M73.
-(2 Speed) Set up Ambush.
-(1 Speed) Garrison.
-STANDING ORDER: If defeated in battle but not killed, Shee-Ra will put on the Jewel and hope that it protects her against subsequent attacks.

From Middledeep 73 (BiteyTriumph Halls)
RuinGuards
-(2 Speed) Ambush
-(1 Speed) Garrison
-(Free Ability) Scout M73.

From Middledeep 8
Uma-Thur continues to spy on M6; use extra speed to retreat if Dark elves come.
- Do not engage Grolhund.

From Middledeep 80
Basherpokes joins the garrison at L69 and is appointed Commander.

From Lowerdeep 69
DreamSlayers
-(3 Speed) March with elves to lay seige to M73).
-(1 Speed) Use Tunneling special power to get under the buildings and to make them collapse. Focus on disarming Traps. Barring intelligence to the contrary: Ask High elves for haste so that the blunderdigs can properly tunnel to permit the elves to walk into the dungeon.
"Tunnel into the dungeon to circumvent all traps and fortifications (this takes 3 total speed, not 3 speed per tunneller, so more tunnellers = faster tunnel digging"
-(Do not engage in battle with NastyDreams; role is as support only for the actual siege and make this known to Saerid as best as is possible when Saerid crosses paths with Shee-ra as he's marching out). If, on the other hand, they are assaulted by skittering creatures, stay with Prince Saerid.)


Total: Add 116 food due to foraging. (41+15+42+18)

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=Trade]
Expect +10 gold from RatGuide duties for Saerid.
Send 5 bodies (dire spiders) to Grolhund.
[/spoiler]

[/spoiler]