been in Pendor's midgame for a while now (became a vassal and begun preparing for final conquest). Maxed stats, 5k renown, got rune weapons and strong large army, and went as far as I think I could go without holding land. Don't like becoming a lord because... It's non-stop war.
some screens
just after stepping down from marshal in war against Empire, doing some errands and domestic shit (here I am picking up a companion that left the party before 10leadership/persuasion, I have all 20 companions now) really tired of the same fights against the same lords, with the same units. Going back to small party size and zipping around the map doing little things and fighting off bandits is nice. Gonna do the next Noldor tournament before I go back to the war grind.
In less than a month went from 5k Renown to 7.5k getting the Lion of Pendor achievement (which is fitting, cause Sarleon has that thing with lions, and I'm like the lion of Sarleon haha)
there's only one small entrance into this fortress (Seven Cross Keep) that you could hold forever if the AI behaved, but it doesn't, and I get stuck in a corner unable to do anything. Shadow Legion Centurions punch through and I decide it's unwinnable. Reload and let fortress fall.
It was 400 against 2500, war with Empire had just begun, and I'd just taken Valorshield from Sarleon before swearing vassalage to Ulric (good way to pick up +1 leadership and skip the part of vassalage where you're stuck with just a village).
killed 900 man unique inquisitor army using retreat spam and archers, actually had to run away last battle cause troop counts were lower and gave a different set of maps (and all were bad for my archers), so didn't get qualis gem. Don't even really need qualis gems anymore though, using them now for CKO chapters and Dust of Twilight to pump CKO trainer stats.
got like 300 free troops from the victory which I needed for my garrisons.
as marshal took a big chunk out of the Empire, and beat their lords so many times they've begun spawning in with significantly less troops. Sarleon lords are winning fights alone now, but still managed to lose a castle. I own Laria and 3/5 of the castles bordering the Noldor forest. Also opened up a front for war against the D'Shar, who've been beating on Fierdsvain pretty hard, and might wipe out the Empire given the chance.
I want to overextend Sarleon so they collapse hard when I declare independence, but I may have overdone it. Want to wait at least another 5 months (soonest I can get Rune Armor and have a truly maxed character, also gives time to max out CKO and build up nobles). If Sarleon gets too strong I may have to begin a rebellion to buy other kingdoms time to recover.
Last act as marshal was wiping out the 3 Seers Army in an epic field battle (got 150 renown for it) no screens of that but it was mostly crappy Sarleon troops on bad terrain and we were outnumbered.