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14:47, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

News of the World.

Posted by General OperationsFor group 0
General Operations
GM, 798 posts
Mon 17 May 2021
at 01:41
  • msg #1

News of the World

A Fey Army has swooped into Boscai, the settlements of the Euften.
This appears to be headed for a war with the Goblin overlords to whom the Euften of Boscai pay tribute.  The tribute is largely in food, so the Goblins take this very seriously.

War appears certain- the Goblins don't want to negotiate with those who just stole the territory they stole first.

Complicating the issue:  the Goblins that were just attacked by the Radiant Order also belong to same group.  The Radiant Order won a battle and chased a depleted force of Goblins from the field.  There, the Goblins weren't defending an important (to them) site, so they had no reason to stay.  The Goblins are suddenly facing a two front war.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:46, Mon 17 May 2021.
General Operations
GM, 801 posts
Tue 18 May 2021
at 00:54
  • msg #2

News of the World

Troubles for the Goblins of the Hag Queen continue, as Bex sends its troops to attack from the east the same Goblins the Faeries of Annwyn were attacking from the west.  At the same time, the leading Bex diplomat arrives in Whistleport, the city of the Tinker Gnomes, which has been a vassal state of the Goblins.


Bex also starts up a diplomacy spree, establishing consulates in other nations.  Possibly to pay for this, they raise taxes.


Further south, with the Frost Elves of Isreitha:

Frost Elf nomads take the river route all the way west, to where it emerges from a maze of cold fens.  They discover resources, new resources (Peat, and Magic Moss) and an NPC nation.  Word comes back only in scattered reports from these distant nomads: they have found "moss people".  Perhaps more accurate reports will return in time.

The Frost Elves raise an army of cavalry.  This is a first, for them, and it exploits their mastery of reindeer, which can be ridden by the Elves.

They create a trading post in Port Vidaris.  They also make contact with nearby Goblins, and try to get them to leave.  They are the very peculiar

The Goblins do not yet believe the Frost Elves have an army.  Since when?  Where?  They don't believe you!   These are the bizarre Goblins of the Wompy Rumpus, explained in the new add on to the rules.
General Operations
GM, 804 posts
Tue 25 May 2021
at 00:19
  • msg #3

News of the World

Meanwhile.. we look in on the Dagrnun Stratocracy.  A battle with the Hobgoblins to their northeast is inconclusive- the Hobgoblins are stronger but the Dagrnuns have better leadership.  They have an edge, but it is not enough to drive out the Hobgoblins.

To their east, they find that the forest highlands are a rich source of quality oak.  There is also an unaffiliated independent wood Elf tribe there!

To their north, their diplomat makes contact with Torvil, home to a tribe of Tortles.

The Dagrnun diplomat goes north, but the talks with the Tortles, who don't do things quickly, went longer than expected.  The diplomat will not be able to make more progress until next turn.

Eosia...

Eosian troops go in search of Goblins.  West of Port Vilar They encounter Rumpus Goblins, who decline to fight and withdraw.
A diplomat visits Ziflunde with a gift of furs.  They accept a diplomatic mission and quickly sign a Furs for Whisky deal and Halfling booze heads west.


Eosian troops join the pile on the Goblins.  Pressing from the south the Umkorian Shadows are soon approaching Annwyn's troops in Boscai.  Goblins are scattered, moving along forest paths into rougher highlands, trying to regroup and reinforce and defend their hilly strongholds.
General Operations
GM, 805 posts
Tue 25 May 2021
at 01:21
  • msg #4

News of the World

Lyshart...

They've decided to finish exploring their island first, it seems, and have discovered they are not alone on it.  They've discovered Kiburon, which belongs to an independent city-state of ocean going Elves, and Vauntun, which belongs to Selkies.  The Selkies are few, but their land has a lot of resources.

Neither are hostile, but both are independent minded, the Selkies less so, the Elves much more.
General Operations
GM, 806 posts
Tue 25 May 2021
at 17:17
  • msg #5

News of the World

The Eroan Elves are cautious, sending troops to the north not to attack the Goblins but to watch them.   Goblins tend to be cautious themselves, attacking when they have an easy opportunity or superior forces.  Elven troops in rough terrain aren’t that easy.  With no opportunity, there is détente.

Meanwhile, the send an engineer to the coast to look for a place to put a port.  There are several short but navigable river/bay systems around here- a port could be put on one of them as well, closer to the towns of the Eroans.  The Engineer has found the region to be uninhabited, but vulnerable to threats from the sea.

*****
Isole’s settlers make the same discover the people of Lyshart did:  the northern end of Lyshart’s island is already occupied, by a city state of Elves!   The Elves are not happy with this.  They already have Lyshart’s troops in the area, and the Elves have sent their own to secure their territory.

Isole’s settlers withdraw.  Isole can fight for their spot, negotiate for a  spot, or the settlers will choose a less troublesome spot on their own.

Construction goes on in Isole’s cities:  Oostral gets fortified, Isole gets a cultural building.

Isole’s troops help in the Great Goblin stomp, Whistleport Gnomes celebrate the defeat of the Goblins, but remain cautious.  With multiple armies in their neighborhood they want to see who is friendly with whom.  They approve trade and friendship but want to hold off on any commitments beyond that.

Gnomes are really hoping Isole and Bex aren’t hostile to each other.  Whistleport has a unique product, Mechanicals, covering all sorts of contraptions they make from mill gears to clocks.  The Gnomes of Whistleport have armies all around them… which is better than Goblins, but they really want to see the intentions of the various other nations before wading into things.  Just in case, they start up a militia.

Goblin flee past Boscai, consolidating with their brethren and digging in as the Hag Queen prepares to defend her home.

The Freeholds build a road through rough forest mountain terrain.  On the one hand, rough terrain is where roads are the most expensive and time consuming to build.  On the other… that’s where they do the most good.  But observers are puzzled- it’s not connecting their cities, it’s heading off into wilderness.  Are they planning an expansion?  Their troops move along this new road, approaching Goblin infested territory from the north, while Eroan approaches from the South.  The Goblins dig into their mountain caves and wait.

Freehold Scouts also investigate the island to the east.  It is a strange place, “creature infested” and has a newly discovered resource: Onyx.

Brisk trade develops between Freehold and neighbors to north, creating strong economic growth.  Shippers want naval forces to protect these trade routes.
General Operations
GM, 807 posts
Tue 25 May 2021
at 20:47
  • msg #6

News of the World

Ma'Hellas sends an engineer to create an outpost on the strange island to their south.  There are reports of magical beasts.

The nation prospers with a busy seaborne trade. Merchant ships travel up and down the coast from Coral Bay to Cavetown, and Ma'Hellas is in the middle of it.   Ma'Hellas leads the Southlands in per capita coffee consumption.

Showing off their nautical know-how the Ma'hellans send a ship all the way down to Moorlunde, where Halflings harvest nuts and raise sheep.  They Halflings easily accept diplomatic relations, figuring that Ma'Hellas is so far away it can't possibly be a threat.  Besides, the Ma'hellans seem to be getting along well with their northern tropical cousins.

And they've brought along some of these strange beans, from which the Ma'hellan visitors brew that drink they seem to enjoy so much.

Halflings and coffee...
General Operations
GM, 808 posts
Mon 31 May 2021
at 01:59
  • msg #7

News of the World

In the rugged jungle peninsula on the northeast end, the Collegium is busy.  They conduct surveys of their coast, discovering coral reefs- both a resource and a hazard!


The Collegium also builds a road to connect their two cities. Being a small nation, this is practical and comparatively quick. The Geomorphist helps out along the way, being a natural engineer.

In the rough jungle mountain terrain on their southern end, they encounter Troglodytes.  Troglodytes are tough but primitive, and they test the Collegium troops with a few raids but give up and retire to their underground lairs.  The Collegium also discovers Bullywugs.  These frog-people probe the Collegium as well, but being somewhat smarter they suspect they are outmatched by magic.
General Operations
GM, 809 posts
Tue 1 Jun 2021
at 00:40
  • msg #8

News of the World

Warakeen attempts to make contact with neighbors, some of which are difficult.

Guggish, being an NPC state, requires a visit from a diplomat to accomplish anything.



They pay a visit on the nearby Troglodytes.  They attempt to come up with trade... but so far the Trogs don't seem to have anything the Wakarans really want.


The Floating Market relocates to Coral Bay.  Trade ensues.  But the Warakans are not thrilled with the latest tax increases.
General Operations
GM, 810 posts
Sat 5 Jun 2021
at 14:54
  • msg #9

News of the World

The Witch King of Leyla has shown up in Lutra, home of the Lutrans.

Lutrans are Otter-like humanoids known for a lively, cheerful and curious disposition.  They've never been part of a greater political entity before, in part because they seem to have a cultural attention deficit disorder- pledges of fealty can easily be followed up with "I did?  But that was this morning!".

Nevertheless, they need only a small excuse for games and celebration, and so the visiting entourage is given a festival and pledges of friendship are announced.  The Lutrans turn over a piece of land for a diplomatic mission.

They begin to debate the "vassal state" issue and what it would mean, but hold off on firm decision making until they know more about Leyla and its reputation.

And of course, how this ties in to Goblins.  The representative from Dagrnun has also arrived, though without such a big entourage (or army) but this means that the relative position of Lutra involves more than one neighbor, and so it is complicated.  They'd really like to know more about the intentions of both Dagrnun and Leyla, and if their two nations are friendly to each other.

*******

Meanwhile, to the north, there are reports that in the dark tropical forests of Luna Doreith, there are border skirmishes between Troglodytes and the grim Elves.  But Luna Doreith has a strong warlock, the Trogs do not.  Even though the skirmishes are not decisive, the Troglodytes are on the worse end of it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Sat 05 June 2021.
General Operations
GM, 811 posts
Mon 7 Jun 2021
at 01:56
  • msg #10

News of the World

Mons Imperium troops clash with Troglodytes near their homeland.

The Mons Imperium troops are better (and they have numbers) but in the rough terrain they are unable to get a decisive advantage.

A few battles later, the Mons Imperium troops manage to get the Trogs to talk.  This is not easy, the Troglodytes are a simple, primitive folk. They don't seem to understand some of the options they've been given.  Take us to your cities, for example.. they live in caves deep underground.  Very dark and damp and smelly caves.  (Which are very resistant to attack from above!)  Nor do they wish to join anybody because that means leaving said caves, which is just not going to happen with them.

After a number of contacts (in between battles) the Mons Imperium troops aren't sure the Trogs would keep an agreement even if one could be reached.  Nevertheless the Troglodytes decide that they do not like the idea of being slowly drive into their caves and offer a counter proposal.
General Operations
GM, 812 posts
Mon 14 Jun 2021
at 01:06
  • msg #11

News of the World

Moss Rock troops arrive at the Euften town of Oswigi.  Oswigi isn't as directly controlled by Goblins as the other Euften towns were, but they have been paying off the Goblins, partly because they fear that even if they avoid Goblin activity themselves, Goblin anger might be directed against their kin in the other Euften towns.

But things seem to be changing, with the great Goblin war going on.  Oswigi might just be a sideshow.

As expected, Goblins are not happy with a third party interfering in their fairly happy (for them) arrangement.  Across the river, Goblins are gathering... but will they go to Oswigi or answer the call of the Hag Queen?

Further north, the Moss Rock... Mossrockians?... explore east towards Anwynn, discovering a new resource in the process: hemp.  Moss Rock Nomads float along to the edge of Anwynn patrolled area.

And even further north, a Moss Rock diplomat arrives in Torvil. While Torvil seems a natural ally of Moss Rock, they are more insular and cautious, being entirely Tortle in nature.  They extend friendship and mission permission to Moss Rock, and want to see how Moss Rock gets along with other neighbors.
General Operations
GM, 813 posts
Tue 15 Jun 2021
at 01:30
  • msg #12

News of the World

The Federated Sons raise their taxes.

After a brief but impressive troop movement, they are pleased to discover that the troops they thought were "outlanders" were actually more Halflings, like them.  As a "frontier" federacy, some of their border folk are mysterious even to their own countrymen!  Go over a hill and you are in a completely different world.  It does cause confusion, at times, but the Halflings settle it all out.

With the aid of elephants, (for Halflings, an elephant is a land ship!) they begin to build a road in the jungle.

The Halfling nation does a lot of business with neighbors.  Exports and imports flow.

Like some of the other nations, the people of the Federated Sons are a little lost as to what to call themselves.  Are they Sons?  Sonnish?  Federals?  Federese?  Many debates take place in their coffee houses.
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