Prince of Darkness

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXIII
ONE WAR IS OVER, WHEN WILL BE NEXT?
Ptah 73 - Sobek 73

In Ptah 73 the war was declared between Empire of Euphrattis and Khanate of Xingchang. In Sobek 73 Southern army took Athribis. As Murabi had thought the Great Khan of Xingchang accepted the loss and agreed with peace treaty in next month.

"So, the war is won. What to do next?" asked emperor in general council from his advisors and military leaders. "Our economy is not yet strong enough for full-scale war against Xingchangians. We need to move on step by step. But the general aim is clear: we must destroy the Khanate of Xingchang and take complete control over their continent. Then we have direct contact with Quinsay colony and there will be no land borders with anyone."

"I suggest that we capture the barbarian cities in Xingchang continent first. Later we can use these cities as military bases against the Khanate" proposed Plengor.

Menua agreed but added that capturing these cities can be done only with navy. So he as Grand Admiral must lead the operations. Plengor remarked that admiral's responsibility is only to hold the seas clean from enemy ships and provide transport for land army.

Emperor Murabi thought that it is better if Menua's position will strenghten as Plengor was already too powerful. He decided that Plengor will organize the capture of Istakhr and Jinjan cities and Menua will lead the operations against Khorasan and Shangtu. Also once firm contact with Quinsay colony is established, the colony will go under Menua's administration.
"All war plans must be ready in next month" concluded the emperor.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXIV
PLENGOR AND MENUA
Amon 73

Plengor and Menua described their war plans. Standard military doctrine said that against a barbarian city there is needed 3 catapults, spearmen and 4 diplomats. As Xinchingians can be involved, an elephant unit is also neccessary. So, both Plengor and Menua asked 6 catapults, 2 spearmen, 8 diplomats and an elephant unit.

According the plan, warships transport Northern army to Istakhr. Army captures the city and moves then by land against Jinjan. Then two warships and a trading ship transport the first half of Southern army to Khorasan. The army captures the city while ships will transport the second part of the army to Shangtu. Emperor approved the plan and ordered to form neccessary units for the armies.

There was a conflict between Menua and Plengor over the commander of Southern army. Menua wanted to replace the current commander Toghrul with his own general. As Toghrul was the conqueror of Athribis and also very popular in his army, Emperor decided to support him.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXV
THE ATTACK OF DEMONS
Isis 72 - Ptah 72

Two new cities were built along the coast of Western Sea. Larsa in south and Nimrud in Eridu peninsula. Their main purpose is to provide bases for warships and protect strategical areas against Stygian landings.

In Thoth 72 the Northern army, which was gathered into Pilona, reported that it is ready for war. Emperor gave permission to start the planned operations. First units which were transported near Istakhr saw that the city is under siege by Xingchang army.

In Ptah 72 the chocking news came from western cities. 4 coastal cities, namely Borazjan, Nimrud, Samarra and Larsa, were attacked by previously unseen Stygian flying demons. All cities except Nimrud lost one garrisoning unit. In Nimrud the brave crew of warship managed to kill the demons.

Murabi called immediately Plengor, Menua and the commander of Coastal army, Saldin, to the palace for urgent war council. "Stygia has started a full-scale war against us" said emperor. "We need to work out the defence plan against these flying monsters."
"The best units what we have against them are archers" said Plengor.
"When warship is on sea then it can also fight very well with these beasts" added Menua.
"And yes, my Court Wizard has the Tempest Spell what Lord Vladimir gave to me" remembered Emperor. "The wizard said that it is effective against flying creatures."

It was decided that the Court Wizard with Tempest Spell will be sent to Samarra. One warship will stay in Nimrud and protect it. Second warship will go to Borazjan and patrol the sea just front of the city. Also around all the empire there will be gathered archers. Every coastal city in west must have 3 garrisoning archer units. "Hopefully these measures are enough" thought Murabi.

The Northern army was allowed to continue its operations. But Southern army was ordered to move back to Ashur and wait there the developments of events.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXVI
NEWS FROM FAR COLONY
Sobek 72 - Re 71

"Stygia is the source of all evil things" thought Murabi. "Sea-monsters who attack our ships are coming from Stygia. The war wolves who breed in mountains are connected with this land. Also the dragons in far north. Happily I have managed to protect my people. The sea-monsters are killed and our ships now control the sea. Wolves have been killed too and my spearmen guard the mountains. Dragons have never attacked, what is good.
Now these flying demons. Do I manage to set up a sufficient defence against them? It will be hard. I wish that Vladimir will succeed with his quest and find a way to destroy these Stygians. Already 5 years I haven't heard anything about him. Is he dead? Or still travelling somewhere?"

In Sobek 72 Mehmet, the commander of Northern army, reported that he captured Istakhr and will proceed against Jinjan.

In Re 71 a trading ship from Quinsay reached to Amaia. Ship brought news from the governor of Quinsay. Everything was fine there. They had built a new city, named Izibia, to the northern part of island. They also discovered that in a continent south from Quinsay there is Kingdom of Praetoria. Bad news were that the barbarian city of Shangtu was fallen to Xingchangians.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXVII
THE DANGER HAS PASSED. OR NOT?
Anubis 71 - Horus 71

In Anubis 71 Mehmet reported that Jinjan is captured too. So the operations of Northern army were ended successfully. Plengor ordered Mehmet to move the bulk of his army to Istakhr and map the inland borders of the Khanate of Xingchang.

Meanwhile the demons hadn't repeated their attacks and big archer garrisons were stationed along the coast. Seems that the danger has passed. Emperor decided that the Southern army can start the operation against Khorasan as soon as all coastal cities have 3 garrisoning archer units.

In Horus 71 there came both good and bad news to emperor's palace in Babylon. Good news were that craftsmen had designed a Siege Tower - powerful weapon against city defences. It will replace catapults in army and also makes sabotage operations by diplomats unneccessary during sieges.

The bad news were about new activity of demons. This time only Nimrud and Larsa were attacked. In Larsa demons were killed by archer garrison but in Nimrud they sank the warship in harbor.

[Cyrion]

Awesome!!

I have been wondering for a few days whether I should intrude in your thread...

But I just had to!!!

So please go on, you definitely caught my imagination!!!

Actually, I'm waiting every day for the new developments in your adventure!!


So, keep on the good work, cause it's damn !!!

[Marko]

Good to hear that people are actually reading it. So I'll certainly go on until the story will reach to the end.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXVIII
DELAY IN SOUTH
Osiris 71 - Re 70

In Hathor 71 the demons attacked Borazjan, Nimrud and Samarra. Garrisons in Nimrud and Samarra managed to defend the cities but in Borazjan two archer units were killed. Emperor ordered to double the garrison of Borazjan.

Two months later, despite relentless attacks by demons, all cities were safely protected and emperor allowed Southern army to move against Khorasan. The fleet of two heavily loaded warships sailed out.

In Re 70 the warships returned and reported that the Southern army needs reinforcements. The diplomats hadn't managed to sabotage the city walls of Khorasan and army commander Toghrul had postponed the assault. Menua sent one warship back to reinforce the army with diplomats and elephant unit.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXIX
HEROIC ARMS
Anubis 70 - Hathor 70

In Osiris 70 the Court Wizard Visagin told to Emperor that Marsutan had appeared to him in a dream. Marsutan taught him a secret design of Heroic Arms. "When armed with these weapons, our knights and infantry would be much stronger" said the Court Wizard. Visagin taught the secret to emperor's craftsmen and Murabi ordered that the new weaponry must be produced everywhere around the empire. "With these weapons we can easily defend against Stygians and conquer the Khanate of Xingchang" said the emperor.

Next month the warship came back from south with news that the Southern army had captured Khorasan. Hearing this Emperor called Plengor and Menua to his palace. "We have now new powerful weapons: Heroic Infantry for defence and Heroic Knights and Siege Towers for attack. Also we have several strongpoints in Xingchang continent. Time has come for decisive war against Xingchangians. I give you one month for working out the war plans" said Murabi.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXX
DOOM FOR XINGCHANGIANS
Seth 70

Plengor proposed the war plan: main blows against Xingchangians will be dealt by Northern army from Istakhr and by recently formed Eastern army from Amaia.
The first stage: Northern army captures Giza and Byblos; Eastern army captures Elephantine.
The second stage: both armies capture in co-operation Pi-Ramesses.
At the same time the Southern army simply protect Khorasan.
After the second stage our main forces are in Pi-Ramesses and further plans depend on enemy's strenghth and activity.
Both Northern and Eastern armies must have 6 infantry, 5 knights and 6 siege towers units.

Menua said that in his opinion the Southern army must play far greater role in the war. If Southern army captures Memphis then it is much harder for enemy to organise effective defence because of multiple fronts.

Emperor agreed with Menua and it was decided that Southern army will get 4 infantry, 2 knights and 3 siege towers units for the task.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXI
STYGIANS MAKE MOVES
Thoth 70 - Nephthys 69

In Amon 70 a trading ship arrives to Amaia. By orders of the governor of Quinsay the sailors had made a mapping expedition around huge Teutogoth continent south from Xingchang.

In next month Stygian Dread Horsemen landed near Larsa and attacked the city. They were easily defeated by city garrison. Warship was sent to pursue and sink the dragon boat what transported the descent. Two months later the second Stygian descent with Hell Fire unit landed in the same place. Emperor decided to send reinforcements to the region to counter the increased Stygian activity there.

In Nephthys 69 Stygians launched mass-attack with demons against Darius Kabir and Larsa. Darius Kabir was emptied and Larsa lost most of its garrison. It was clear that coastal defences must be upgraded as fast as possible.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXII
THE WIZARD IS BACK
Horus 69

In Horus 69 wizard Marsutan appeared suddenly to Babylon. Emperor greeted him gladly and seeing that he was alone, asked about Lord Vladimir. "Lord Vladimir is dead" answered Marsutan and told the tragic story of their second expedition.

"In Seth 77 our expedition sailed out from Ellipi with a trading ship and warship" told Marsutan. "Our goal was to reach to the city of Nippur as the old Hermit had advised. At first everything went well. There were no obstacles and they sailed fast. But in Amon 77 a sea-monster sank the trading ship with spearmen, elephant and catapult units near the city of Asyt. Terrible loss! Vladimir killed the monster and continued the travel with full speed.

Two months later they entered to Odense river but found out quickly that the ship wasn't able to sail along the river. The warship was sent back with both catapults units and Vladimir and Marsutan continued by walk. During their travel they saw Stygian Great Dragon and war wolves in nearby mountains.

After crossing the Lunde mountain ranges Vladimir's party reached again to sea near the city of Shuruppak in Hathor 76. The warship had sailed around the continent and waited them there. The city of Nippur was already close.

[techumseh]

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[MagyarCrusader]

Marko, hurry up and finish Terry Brooks. And check your PMs!

Techumseh, how come I got an error when I click on the .wav?

[techumseh]

I tried uploading the evil laugh wav from the scenario but it can't be accessed. I don't know why. But if Vladimir is dead at this point, the game will be tough to win.