Prince of Darkness

[Marko]

But if Vladimir is dead at this point, the game will be tough to win.

But sultan doesn't know it. He even considers Stygians as a minor threat. Marsutan thinks otherwise, but he has his own doubts...

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXIII
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
THE CASTLE OF MHYRR

They crossed the narrow sea and in Thoth 76 Vladimir enters to Nippur. The High Chamberlain of Nippur warns him of the journey to Kahun. "It is frought with peril, a long trek over dragon-infested mountains. It is certain death. But there is the ancient legend of a hidden way. No one alive knows the secret."

The next month Vladimir and Marsutan with one catapults unit started the trek. They decided not to enter the Dragon Waste area in mountains but go around it. Warship was sent back to explore the coastline in west.

Everything went well and in Horus 75 the travellers reached to Kahun. When resting in the city Marsutan saw in a dream that their warship was sank by sea-monster. Nobody from the ship survived the disaster.
"Where is the isle of Mhyrr?" asked Vladimir. "I don't know but we need to go along the river as there is no other way" answered Marsutan. They waited until the catapult unit reaches to Kahun and in Hathor 75 continued the quest with boat.

The river ran into inland sea. In the middle of the sea they found an island with a big fortress. The Castle of Mhyrr. In Sobek 75 Vladimir entered to the castle. The Count of Mhyrr asked him to capture the Prince of Corsairs, Capitan Valasquez. The Count told that Valasquez preys on their commerce and kills their subjects. "He has dealings with the Stygians, that we know. His fleet is now active in the Gigian Sea, south of this continent."

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXIV
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
THE GREAT LIBRARY

In Amon 75 the knight and the wizard went south by walk. The boat was left to explore the inland sea. Near the barbarian city of Busiris they met merchants from south. Merchants told that Wraiths at Styx have appeared in south and that they must raise an army and prevent the capture of the Great Library at Tugalete. The library contains many ancient scrolls the Stygians desire for their evil scheme.

Vladimir decided that they go first to Tugalete and destroy Stygians there. Later they can deal with these pirates.

After passing dense forests travellers reached to the Gigian Sea. Tugalete was on another coast. They didn't have a ship and so they had to go around the sea. Vladimir and Marsutan moved west along the coast until in Hathor 74 the barbarian city of Baracaldak blocked their way. Vladimir captured the city and ordered the local craftsmen to build warship against corsairs.

Soon they discovered that there is no land route to Tugalete in west. It meant that they had to wait until the warship is built in Baracaldak. Meanwhile Vladimir and Marsutan planned to travel to east along the coast of the Gigian Sea.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXV
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
WISDOM AND PROPHESIES

In Amon 73 they entered to the city of Gigia in eastern shore of the sea. The wizard Dragnost of Gigia presented to Marsutan a Blitzen Spell to help them fight against Stygians. Travellers rested in the city and discussed the situation.

"Sad that the Hermit died before he could tell us what to do after visiting the Castle of Mhyrr" said Vladimir. "Seems that the Count of Mhyrr tries to use us for his own purposes like the sultan did. There are much better things to do than to hunt pirates. Like protecting the Great Library from Stygians as merchants advised."

"We don't have the wisdom to decide what we should do or not to do." answered Marsutan. "Only thing what we can do is to trust prophesies and hope that we are strong enough for our task. If the Hermit advised us to go to Mhyrr and the Count of Mhyrr asked our help against the corsairs then it must be the right thing for us to do."

"But the merchants near Mhyrr advised us to got to Tugalete and defend it. I think that there is already time for us to stop the travelling and start fighting!" said Vladimir.

"I understand you" told Marsutan "We have travelled already 10 years without finding what we are looking for. But I feel that the end is near. Is it good or bad I can't see. For the time being, we can do both: protect Tugalete and fight against Corsairs. You'll go now to Tugalete, I'll organise the governing and defences of Gigia and then follow you. During the time when we fight against Stygians the warship is built and sent against the Corsairs."

Vladimir was a halfway between Gigia and Tugalete when he heard that Stygians had just captured the city. The Great Library had fallen to the hands of Stygians! Vladimir turned his horse around and rode back to Gigia.

[techumseh]

Originally posted by Marko
CHAPTER XXXV
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
WISDOM AND PROPHESIES

Vladimir was a halfway between Gigia and Tugalete when he heard that Stygians had just captured the city. The Great Library had fallen to the hands of Stygians! Vladimir turned his horse around and rode back to Gigia.

Oh oh.

[Marko]

Yes, Vladimir and Marsutan spent too much time wandering around...

Do they have any hope to defeat Stygians now?

[techumseh]

Theorectically, yes. The quest must be completed before the Sygians discover Summoning. There is normally enough time at Prince level, but when the Great Library is captured by the Stygians they soon find an ancient scroll explaining Sorcery. This is the final step before Summoning. So you have only until the Stygian wizards finish what they're working on now, plus Summoning, which will certainly be next. Your time is very short now. A year at most. Then....

[Marko]

Then I have been even lucky. The Great Library was captured in Re 72 but Marsutan is telling the story about his travel to sultan in Horus 69 (when he returned to Babylon). The Summoning must happen every moment by now.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXVI
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
THE DEATH OF KNIGHT

In Anubis 72 Vladimir reached to Gigia and found Marsutan in black thoughts. He had already heard about the fall of Tugalete.

"I afraid that Stygians found an ancient scrolls about The Chamber of Black Arts from The Great Library" said Marsutan. "If they did, then there is little hope remained for our world."
"When the warship will be completed?" asked the knight.
"After 15 months by my estimation" answered the wizard sadly.
"15 months! We can't wait so long! I'll go north and convince the rulers of the barbarian cities Busiris, Pithom and Edfu to join with us" said Vladimir.
"I can't come with you. The warship in Gigia is too important. There is a danger that Stygia will attack the city and one of us must stay and defend it."
"Call me when Stygians appear" said the knight and rode to north.

In Seth 72 he reached to the barbarian city of Pithom. The City Council decided to join with Vladimir's cause.
In Anubis 71 a messenger from Marsutan reached to Pithom and told to Vladimir that Stygians are approaching to the barbarian city of Baiona south-west from Gigia.

Just when Vladimir was leaving the city to travel back to Gigia, he was suddenly attacked by many flying demons. The knight managed to kill 3 demons but the fourth killed him. The Quest of Lord Vladimir was ended.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXVII
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
THE HUNT FOR CORSAIRS

Marsutan felt the death of the Knight immediately. "Things are turned very bad. The Stygians are winning. I have to complete The Quest alone. But am I enough strong for it? The Quest was Vladimir's destiny. My destiny was to help him. Now when he is gone, do we have any hope at all?"

In Osiris 71 the warship was completed at last in Gigia. Marsutan sent it to find the corsairs. He himself decided to remain to the city and protect it in case of Stygian assault. After four months Stygians captured Balona. "Their next target is without doubt Gigia. Time is running very short" thought Marsutan. Fortunately Stygians stopped their offensive and didn't attack Gigia.

The warship hunted corsairs almost a year without any results. And in Anubis 70 she met her doom near Tugalete. Stygians attacked and destroyed the ship with their Blitzen Spell there. But in the same month second warship was completed and sent to sea in Barachaldak.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXVIII
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
CAPITAN VALASQUEZ

The second warship was a bit luckier than the first. In Horus 70 she found the Corsair ship and attacked it. A fierce battle follows and Corsairs prevailed. They won the battle and sank the warship. Heared this, Marsutan understood that there is nothing to lose now. He took the Blitzen Spell and traveled himself along the coast toward the battle-place.

In Osiris 70 Marsutan found the Corsairs and attacked them with Blitzen Spell. He managed to destroy their fleet and capture Capitan Valasquez. Valasques told that the Stygians enchanted him. But he remembered that far to the north of the Land of Euphrattis is the Sea of Illusion. "Hidden within is the Seer of Illbab. He knows many secrets you desire" said Valasques. He also gave to Marsutan the knowledge of Heroic Arms.

"This Sea of Illusion sounds familiar" thought Marsutan. "I must have heared about it before. Ah yes! The sultan of Euphrattis told me that he sent an expedition to far north and they found a strange Sea from there. It was so close! Had I only paid more attention!"
"Now I need to get back to Euphrattis very fast. For best safety I'll move by walk as much north as possible and trading ship from Gigia will follow me along the coast." Deciding this, Marsutan began his travel back to Euphrattis.

In Nephthys 69 he reached to the land of Illubabori. There he learned a new Expelling Spell. With the help of Illubabori's wise men the spell was able to transport him immediately to Babylon.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XXXIX
THE HOPE NEVER DIES
Horus 69

So ended the story about The Quest. But The Quest itself was not finished yet. "Lord Vladimir is dead and there is only little hope remained for us" said wizard Marsutan. "Still I must not give up the Quest. I have to go to the Sea of Illusion and I need a warship and two heroic infantry units with me."

"You will get them" said emperor. "But are you sure that the Stygians are so great danger for us? They are very aggressive and attack our cities but there is nothing what my armies can't handle. Thank to you we have now Heroic Arms and once the army is upgraded with the new weapons nobody can challenge us!"

"Don't underestimate Stygians. They are backed by far greater forces you can imagine. If we don't stop them, they will open The Gates of Hell and destroy the world as we know it" answered the wizard.

"How you plan to stop them?"

"I don't know yet. But it was prophesied to Vladimir that there is a solution. I hope to find the answer from The Sea of Illusion."

[Marko]

CHAPTER XL
THE BATTLE OF DARIUSH KABIR
Osiris 69 - Thoth 69

In Seth 69 Marsutan left from Nineveh with warship and two infantry units. The third expedition of the long quest had begun.

At the same time intensive fighting with Stygians around southern cities continued. Stygian descent conquered Dariush Kabir a month before Marsutan's departure. It was the first time during Murabi's rule when a city was lost to enemy. Emperor was furious. In Menua's advice he appointed Nebut as military governor of Ergili region and gave him the task of liberating Dariush Kabir.

For Nebut it was a chance for restoring his good name after his mistakes eleven years ago when he was the commander of the Southern army. Whole Eastern army (2 knights, infantry, 2 catapults and 2 archers) was given under his command for the operation. Menua sent a warship from Eastern fleet to the area too.

The Battle of Dariush Kabir was fierce. Warships sank one Stygian Dragon boat after another. When two damaged warships tried to leave from the battle-area then they were attacked by many flying demons. It was incredible bravery of sailors combined with a pure luck that saved both ships at last.

In land an infantry unit what was moving toward the city met suddenly Stygian Hell Fire unit and was destroyed. The Stygian unit was trapped and killed in next month. And in Thoth 69 Dariush Kabir was liberated by swift assault of knights.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLI
LUCIFER
Ptah 69 - Amon 69

Emperor was very satisfied with the fast victory achieved by Nebut. At first he wanted to appoint Nebut as a commander of Eastern army but Plengor was very strongly against it. He pointed out that Nebut lost one heroic infantry unit during the battle - a loss what shouldn't happen.

So Murabi decided to form Ergili province from Ergili, Dariush Kabir, Larsa and Athribis cities and appointed Nebut as the governor of the province. All military units in the region were left under Nebut's command and the Eastern army was to be re-formed in Amaia.

But in Amon 69 terrible news came from eastern part of the Empire. Previously unseen Stygian creature Lucifer descended from Northern mountains and attacked Samaria. All the city garrison was destroyed and the city was occupied by Stygian Ghost Riders. Later the Lucifer, who moved with incredible speed, attacked cities of Tyre and Nineveh killing all their garrisons.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLII
THE WAR COUNCIL
Amon 69

The emperor called Plengor and Menua to his palace for urgent War Council. "What to do against this new Stygian assault?" was his main question.

"I don't know" answered Plengor. "Our best unit for defence is heroic infantry. But if the reports are true then they have no chance against Lucifer. We can only hope that he will go away."

"But we can and we must liberate Samaria from these ghost riders" said emperor. "Where are our armies?"

"Coastal army is entrenched along the Western Sea. The bulk of Northern army is in Istakhr, few units are in Pilona. Southern army is in Khorasan. Eastern army has only a catapult unit now because all its units were sent to Ergili province.
Northern army is the only available force but we need to transport it back to Pilona" concluded Plengor.

"Warship is now returning from the battle of Dariush Kabir. After 3 months it will be ready for transporting the army over" said Menua.

"In future it is neccessary to form a reserv army for such cases" said emperor. "But now the Northern army must liberate the city of Samaria."