Decline 10: New Blood for the Feast

[Dreaad]

I wish to try the different setup for the next turn. I changed the hosting interval to 36 hours (from 48) and reminder messaging from 12 hours before the hosting to 14. I am not sure how it will go, and if at least one player will not be able to do his turn in time I will postpone for another 12 hours to make classical hosting interval.

No offense, but I require more time to do the turns as the game progresses, and a 36 hours interval is kinda chaotic to remember, as the deadline varies every time (particularly if one got used to the old timeline). If you can't wait, join more games. And it seems that "everyone" bar me got the password..... at least no one will do like in the Warhams game, where someone took the initiative of ending the game WITHOUT ASKING THE HOST. Improper.

Wait really!? But who did you give the PW to?

 

[noisenerd]

There has been a request for a 6 hour postponement, it has been done.

 

[Grimwulf]

Spent 10 minutes trying to find the Pretender of Bogarus on the battlefield. I hate you, KoolNoodles.

Here is a fun game, men. Try to find a Svartalf Mastersmith on this picture.

Spoiler

Oh, he's there. You just have to look harder.

 

[KoolNoodles]

Edit: You picked the worst angle.

 

[Raghar]

Spent 10 minutes trying to find the Pretender of Bogarus on the battlefield. I hate you, KoolNoodles.

Here is a fun game, men. Try to find a Svartalf Mastersmith on this picture.

Spoiler

Oh, he's there. You just have to look harder.

Spoiler

Is it that person behind that lizard? Actually behind the archer behind that lizard...

 

[Grimwulf]

Spoiler

Is it that person behind that lizard? Actually behind the archer behind that lizard...

Nope.

 

[Dayyālu]

My Internet failed for an hour, no one extended, as I have seen.

And in the middle of a war with Bogarus, even!

Thus I learn to heed Lizzurd 's teachings to always submit as soon as I can, even if diplo is a mess.

Spent 10 minutes trying to find the Pretender of Bogarus on the battlefield. I hate you, KoolNoodles.

Here is a fun game, men. Try to find a Svartalf Mastersmith on this picture.

Spoiler

Oh, he's there. You just have to look harder.

AND THIS IS DRIVING ME INSANE

WHERE IS THE DWARF

 

[Grimwulf]

My Internet failed for an hour, no one extended, as I have seen.

As you might remember, admin password was changed. Only noisenerd has the new one.

 

[KoolNoodles]

Spoiler

Is it that person behind that lizard? Actually behind the archer behind that lizard...

Nope.

Here's a hint, he's a little bony.

 

[noisenerd]

My Internet failed for an hour, no one extended, as I have seen.

Damn, sorry Dayyālu.

Would setting the timer to a longer interval help anyone? I see more games have started, if more time is needed I'm ok with that.

 

[Grimwulf]

I'm actually thinking of dropping one boring-ass game for the sake of this one. I'm gud with 48h.

 

[sqeecoo]

I'm happy with this, but also happy with a longer timer if that's what people want. But more admins would probably do more to prevent stalls.

 

[Dreaad]

I'm actually thinking of dropping one boring-ass game for the sake of this one. I'm gud with 48h.

I agree we should abandon the failed team effort and go AI.

 

[Dayyālu]

My Internet failed for an hour, no one extended, as I have seen.

Damn, sorry Dayyālu.

Would setting the timer to a longer interval help anyone? I see more games have started, if more time is needed I'm ok with that.

My fault at not sending the turn before, truth be told, so no prob in keeping 48h. When we reach 60 or so and Grimwulf and C'tis will be fighting the Ragnarok on the ruins on our civilizations, we can maybe switch to 72

 

[Grimwulf]

I'm actually thinking of dropping one boring-ass game for the sake of this one. I'm gud with 48h.

I agree we should abandon the failed team effort and go AI.

I was talking about Decline 9.

 

[noisenerd]

hello friend , please do your turn. If you need more time, please let us know.

 

[Grimwulf]

hello friend , please do your turn. If you need more time, please let us know.

Maybe someone with a better spy network will correct me, but as I see it, TC only has one castle left - his capital. His forces have been staying inside for several turns in a row. I'm fairly certain he doesn't plan to do anything in any case, preparing to make a last stand against Lemuria.

Bottom line - not much point in waiting for TC.

 

[noisenerd]

Ah, ok then... we'll let it ride.

 

[KoolNoodles]

Well these score graphs are interesting. I'm not doing as bad as I thought I might be.

 

[Lizzurd]

No one can mess with Lemuria and stay alive! This month Lemurian ghosts defeated a group of Tien Chi mages, killing in total 12 wizards and 4 commanders. The total losses of Lemuria are 2 dispossessed spirits.

 

[Grimwulf]

It's true. What. The. Fuck.

Lemuria only had PD 1.

 

[Dayyālu]

It's true. What. The. Fuck.

I don't know. must be a racial trait or something. After all,

I am haruspex and I cannot foretell without dead creatures!

On the other hand, in the midst of the tunnels of the Ice Floe City....

Focus on the American flank! YOU'LL NEVER BREAK ON THE OTHER SIDE! You simply lack the British artillery and the Axis Air is too strong. Guess it's better to start it all over.

Like the Decline10 game, nay? That's a mess also!

Uhnnn..... it's not quite a mess. ....well, it's a mess. At least, we are breaking some noses before they get us.

I want a summon Churchill IV spell.

 

[Grimwulf]

The war camp of Marignon was a gruesome sight to behold. Dead and diseased covered the ground; while those still alive were laughing and drinking with demons.

Three leaders of the Royal Army were going through the war camp with inspection, followed by their loyal bodyguards. One of them was High Inquisitor Mendoza, the Prophet of Marignon and the one who speaks on its behalf, protected by elite Royal Guards.

I don't understand. This province is supposed to provide much more supplies than we need.

Yet our people are starving, and disease is spreading rapidly.

The other one was Tomaso del Monferrada the Witch Hunter General, and his loyal elite halberdiers. The man tasked with leading the army.

The enemy is nearby, watching us from the shadows. A lot of them.

What are you talking about, Tomaso?

The peasants don't tribute as many supplies as they should, and their excuses sound more than suspicious. They are feeding enemy scouts, that's why our own people don't get enough. But that wouldn't be surprising by itself, since there always have been scouts lurking about.

A few scouts here and there can only eat so much.

Exactly. And we lack a significant amount of supplies - just look at all those dead and diseased! Unrest in the province keeps rising, despite the work of our patrols.

What are you implying?

I know only one group of people capable of avoiding our patrols, while keeping unrest high, and consuming that many supplies behind our backs.

The third man remained silent until now. Tall, withered and crooked, with dirty grey hair covering his face; his whole body was mutilated during years of practicing blood magic.

Adam Crowley the Goetic Master - the one who commands the Goetic Adepts and Apprentices in this particular army. And the demons, of course. At first glance it almost seems like he's walking alone and unprotected, but on a closer look one can notice that Adam has three shadows instead of one, and two of them are always whispering. These shadows are Fiends of Darkness, bound to protect Crowley with their lives.

I think I know of the group that you're speaking about, Tomaso. Things are getting interesting. *chuckles*

Would somebody tell me what's going on?

Khlysty are walking among us, dear Prophet. Masters of disguise, always travelling in groups - that's where the lack of supplies is coming from. Their ability to stay out of the sight and raise unrest far surpasses anything known to the world.

It is true. I had to deal with them in the past - a tough task even for the best Inquisitor of Marignon.

The order of Khlysty originates from Bogarus, isn't it? It makes no sense. They are our allies!

Their Kingdom always denied any connection with Khylsty order. Officially, it doesn't even exist.

Maybe it's a skilled enemy spy from... Ulm? Or just a lot of scouts roaming about.

A spy wouldn't sabotage that many supplies. And ordinary scouts wouldn't be able to keep unrest that high. Furthermore, if there were many scouts sneaking around, our patrols would catch at least a single one.

I trust the experience of our General. Besides, my own intuition tells me the same.

Bogarus is up to no good.

... Fine. I will send a detailed report to de Prado.

The leaders approached a large gathering of soldiers. The soldiers were surrounding a bunch of dying lepers and laughing merrily.

What's the deal here? Wait. Who is this leper in plate cuirass? His face looks familiar to me.

Oh, I think it was one of my rod carriers. We tried to call them Leper Kings, but most of the soldiers refer to them just as "cursed souls".

What have you done to him, Crowley? He looks even worse than the others.

Well, somebody has to pay the Price. Humans cannot normally lead demons, unless they dabble in death magic, which is forbidden here in Marignon. Or if they are true masters of Blood Magic, which is in all honesty quite diffuclt to grasp. So we have to use these magical rods that grant the wielder an ability to lead small hordes of demons, but also shorten their lives significantly. They suffer of diseases and leprosy, occasionnaly lose their limbs and sometimes even minds. Like this one over here - eventually he became feeble-minded, and that affected his leadership too. Another one took his rod, and this one, well... I granted his soul to Helkar - our best Harlequin.

Only now did Tomaso and Mendoza notice that the soldiers were not laughing at the lepers themselves, but rather at Demon Jester who was standing by their side. Apparently, that jester was juggling with the eyes of dying lepers.

How could we fall so low?

Don't let it get to your head, High Inquisitor. The Leper Kings are criminals that were supposed to be sentenced to death anyway. Normally a man who carries the rod doesn't last even a year. But our lizard shaman-slaves are doing a great job at keeping them alive. Truly the lizard race is blessed with the art of healing.

Criminals or not, they are still humans. Why do you have to torture and humiliate them like that?

I am merely doing what the General asks me. Providing demon support, while making sure that our men's morale won't be affected. See, it's not an easy task to keep them happy fighting alongside demons. But Harlequins can solve that and much, much more. Nobody feels bad about those corpses and deaths that surround us every day. Nobody minds imps and their foul way of communicating. In fact, I saw several soldiers playing dice with imps the other day. Trust me, High Inquisitor - when the time of battle comes, you will thank me for keeping these people merry.

You son of a...

The Cause justifies everything.

... *sighs* The Cause justifies everything.

As the three leaders were walking away from the soldiers, Tomaso del Monferrada looked back for a moment. One final glance at the leper in plate cuirass.

(I am sure I've seen his face somewhere...)

 

[hello friend]

FINAL REPORT FROM THE FRONT LINES

Our troops were dying. And no one could explain why. Since the beginning of the campaign, there had been few engagements. Scouts would report sounds, as of a great multitude 'just over yonder', only to find empty fields.

These blasted lands. These damn ghosts. What terrible sin, that a whole legion's worth of spirits will turn away from their descendants in selfishness. Who will be there to guide them?

Rogue spirits. Ethereal banditry. To think I'd see the day. I briefly touch my ornate belt buckle, a gift from my father. His spirit makes a home here, as does my grandfather, and his father, and so on and so on. To grow up absent of such protection is unthinkable. What happened in this hellish place, I wonder.

Ah. And here are some now. Look at that smirk. This will not stand.

Those who have a full complement of limbs walk, those less fortunate crawl, stumble - some are blind. No matter. Those that can beat their shields with their weapons, and these remaining few, these last survivors, let loose their clucks of doom. Cluck. Cluck.

Esteemed One, I'll admit a tear sprung to my eye seeing our mutual friend Ching Chang Chong charging furiously towards the enemy. He had lost his limbs earlier, but his warrior spirit was unquenched. Crowing like a rooster, he rolled across the battlefield faster than I would have thought possible.

However, it was all for naught. So weakened were we all, and so hungry, that after chasing after these ghosts for some time we decided instead to return whence we came. Alas, Ching Chang didn't make it. Others, too, collapsed from their exhaustion and infirmity on the way back, never to stir again.

As I write this, I am eating my last meal. I can go on no longer.

Enlightened Leader, I think I figured it out! Delectably exquisite as it is, candied and jellied ectoplasm provides no sustenance. I can (almost) taste it on the tongue, yet the belly doesn't fill. If only I'd known!

I can hear murmurs in the dark. More of these irresponsible spectres, I have no doubt. We are too few now, and too weak to fight them. Goodbye, my friend. Ancestors ward you, and the Blue Sky grant you it's favour.

 

[Matalarata]

A pearl in the mud , it belongs here:

Spoiler