Prince of Darkness

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLIII
CAN WE FIGHT WITH LUCIFERS LIKE WE DID WITH WOLVES?
Isis 68 - Re 68

In Isis 68 more bad news arrived to Babylon. Another Lucifer came from Northern mountains and cities of Sardis, Pilona and Jubriga were under attack. All garrisons in these cities were destroyed and messengers from Sidon told that the city is under strong attack by Stygian Ghost Riders.

"We must find the breeding place of these monsters and occupy it" thought Murabi. "Just like we did with the war wolves ten years ago."
He ordered to send an expedition to Northern mountains with this task. Units for the expedition must be provided by coastal army who has big reserves in Borazjan.

The next month brought even worse news. Many more Lucifers appeared. They were everywhere in eastern part of the Empire. Also more Ghost Riders descended from mountains. Sidon and Hamadan were occupied, several other cities in danger. Great cities Akkad and Ur were emptied. Northern army lost some units near Istakhr, and forward units of The Expedition were killed.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLIV
THERE MUST BE A SOLUTION!
Re 68 - Anubis 68

The Murabi's Empire was falling apart.

"This is the biggest crise in our history. And it happens just in the year when I plan to celebrate my 15th years of rule!" he thought. "There must be a solution! All earlier crises have been solved. We have to defend our cities against these Ghost Riders until the expedition finds and occupies the monsters breeding places. Also maybe Marsutan will find some new weapon against the Stygians. When Marsutan returns?" asked the Emperor.

"By my estimation not before 5 months." answered Menua.

"Then we are on our own. I give you two weeks for working out our strategy in this situation" said Emperor to Plengor and Menua.

In Anubis 68 Tyre and Jinjan fell to Stygians. The warship what was going to Istakhr was sunk too. These were the latest news when the new war strategy was discussed in Emperor's palace.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLV
DEFENCE LINE
Anubis 68

"We don't have much hope" said Plengor "The Lucifers wipe out our armies with ease. Fortunately they don't capture cities, this task is left for Ghost Riders. The later ones are strong but beatable.
The Ghost Riders attack from north. We have alrady lost all our northern cities except Sardis and Borazjan. Sardis is doomed to fall, Borazjan maybe not.

Our main task is to defend Akkad and Ur against Ghost Riders. City garrisons will be destroyed immediately, so we have to protect roads to cities. Sometimes happen that Lucifers don't attack units just outside cities and this is our only hope" finished Plengor.

"If our defences fail then we have to seek refuge" added Menua. "I see only two possibilities. The first is Nimrud what is our best defended city. Maybe we can hold it. The second way is evacuating to some island where Stygian land units can't come. The best candidate is our Quinsay colony. But it is very far and there is danger that Stygians sink our ships during the travel. In my opinion we have to evacuate at first to some nearby island, for example to Kephesori island east of Ergili. Later we can move to Quinsay."

"How is the situation with our navy?" asked emperor.

"Eastern Fleet is destroyed except the warship what was sent to Marsutan's quest. Perhaps it is sunk too. Western Fleet has 3 warships, two of them are heavily damaged by demons" answered Menua.

"I am very worried about the Stygian war wolves" said emperor. Lucifers are killing our spearmen who guard their breeding places. When the guards are destroyed, wolves can appear again and move to our defenceless cities. I can't see any good solution against this threat."

It was decided that as the Northern army is isolated in Istakhr, the Coastal army will provide units for defending Akkad and Ur. The Expedition will try to move around Hamadan by north-west and then proceed into the Dragon Mountains. The Tempest Spell will be moved from Samarra to Nimrud. Also a warship will transport settlers to Kephesori island and establish a colony there.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLVI
CHAOS
Nephthys 68 - Horus 68

In Nephthys 68 city of Sardis fell to Stygians and Uruk and Borazjan were emptied by growing number of Lucifers. Northern army was completely destroyed in Istakhr but the commander of army, Mehmet, was reported to be still alive and organising defence of the city.

As Lucifers were so close to Babylon now, disorder and panics broke out in the city. Murabi decided to move to Ergili province because it was the safest place in Empire at the moment. Menua went to the Fortress of Nimrud. Only Plengor stayed in Babylon with his military headquarters.

Next month two Lucifers attacked Babylon. The city garrison were wiped out and Plengor survived from death only thank to his good luck. Nimrud was also under attack and lost several units. As emperor had foreseen, wolves descended from unguarded mountains and captured Nineveh. Stygians made a descent with Hell Fire units south of Ellipi. The descent was destroyed by Coastal army with only a great difficulty.

The Empire of Euphrattis was falling into chaos.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLVII
THE SEER OF ILLBAB
Osiris 68

In Osiris 68 Stygian Ghost Riders broke through the weak defence line and captured Ur. Also Ergili province was the first time under Lucifer attack. Only the capital of province, Ergil, escaped from destruction. Fortress-city Larsa was captured by Stygian descent.

The same month last remnants of once powerful Northern army were destroyed and Istakhr fell to Ghost Riders. Army commander Mehmet didn't escape this time and was killed in the city.

But there were good news too. Wizard Marsutan arrived to Borazjan and was transported to Nimrud with warship. As Emperor was in Ergili, the wizard met with Menua and Plengor.

He told that in Amon 69 his warship reached to the Sea of Illusion. In the island middle of the sea Marsutan met The Seer of Illbab. The Seer granted him the secret of True Faith and taught the Spell of Conflagration. "Do not squander this gift. It may only be used once" said the Seer. He also advised to learn the secret of Holy War from the Khan of Xingchang.

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLVIII
MARSUTAN'S STORY CONTINUES:
TREK OVER MOUNTAINS

When Marsutan returned from the island, the warship's captain warned "There's a storm brewing, sire. And it doesn't look natural." Soon the storm attacked and damaged the ship. Marsutan decided to go back to Euphrattis by walk directly over mountains. He took one infantry unit with him and sent the ship with second infantry back by sea.

In Anubis 68 travellers were closing to Hamadan when they met with war refugees from the city. Refugees told that terrible creature Lucifer had appeared along with Stygian Ghost Riders and Hamadan had fallen to enemy. Hearing this Marsutan decided to go to Borazjan.

Next month Marsutan met with the expedition sent to search for Lucifers breeding place. He heard all the latest news about Stygian assault against the Empire. The Wizard sent his heroic infantry unit with expedition and went himself to Borazjan with the Conflagration Spell.

[DarthVeda]

It's looking bad... think you can pull out?

[LDiCesare]

Do you have the scn converted for ToT? I tried using civ converter on it, but it crashes... Could you send it to me?
The game looks fun, even though you are in bad shape it seems.

[Marko]

Originally posted by DarthVeda
It's looking bad... think you can pull out?

Not very likely..
I am trying to play as realistic way as possible. It means that the sultan has no god-like control over his empire, cities far from center are almost independent etc. It is quite restrictive but very fun.

Marsutan still has some tricks

Do you have the scn converted for ToT? I tried using civ converter on it, but it crashes... Could you send it to me?

Yes I converted it. I can send the files, but maybe Techumseh like to make a special ToT edition of the scenario. 18 new units etc you know

[Marko]

CHAPTER XLIX
THE SECRET OF HOLY WAR
Osiris 68

"What to do now?" asked Plengor from wizard Marsutan "All our defence plans have failed and we are virtually helpless against Stygians."

"I can advice many things" answered Marsutan. "But I don't know how to destroy Stygians or how much hope we still have. The Quest is still uncompleted.
The first thing what you need to do is to get the secret of Holy War from the Khan of Xingchang. Then I'll teach to your priests a new powerful spell which I learned in mountains. This spell is able to twist the minds of Stygians. So we can get some of their units under our control. If we'll manage to take control over a Lucifer then we have a chance to survive."

Plengor ordered diplomats to immediately take contact with Xingchangians. Xingchiangian emissary told that they were under heavy attack by Stygians too. Already one-third of their cities were lost. But Xingchangians refused to give the secret of Holy War, even after they got a gift of 500 gold. At last, when Plengor was going to give up any hope to get the secret, Xingchangians agreed to trade the Holy War for Heroic Arms and a treaty of military alliance.

[Marko]

CHAPTER L
THE DEATH OF MARSUTAN
Hathor 68

In Hathor 68 Akkad fell to Ghost Riders and Lucifers attacked two last cities - Ergili and Ashur - which had stayed intact until now. Murabi and Nebut were hiding in underground tunnels below the city during the assault. Murabi ordered that all cities in Empire must build such underground shelters against Stygians.

Fortress of Nimrud was second time under Lucifers fire. Enemy was forced to retreat again but this time with high cost. Wizard Marsutan was killed during the battle alongside the last warship.

His last words to Menua and Plengor were: "You must discover the secret of Divine Intervention. Then it will be revealed to you how to win Stygians. New wonder.. archangels.."

In the same month Euphrattis' priests made counteroffensive using the Marsutan's Spell. Results were spectacular! The Spell twisted the minds of Stygian units in Larsa and Nineveh. These cities were liberated and enemy units inside taken under the control of the priests including Stygian Lucifer in Larsa. Capturing the Lucifer was a major victory.

[Marko]

CHAPTER LI
A NEW HOPE
Hathor 68 - Seth 68

Murabi saw that there is still hope to save his empire. And as the Ergili province was now also under attack, he travelled back to north and came to the Nimrud Fortress. He thought: "I must be in the center of events. During last months when I have been away, Plengor and Menua have ruled the empire. The only thing what hold them back from overthrowing me is that they don't trust each other. But it is only a question of time if I remain in Ergili."
The Lucifer, controlled by priests, came also to Nimrud sinking a Stygian Dragon Boat on his way.

"Ur and Akkad have fell and all our cities are in danger" said Emperor to Plengor and Menua. "But thank to Marsutan's Spell we have new hope. We have one Lucifer and have ability to get more under our control. We need a new war strategy in this situation. Which are your proposals?"

"Marsutan's Spell works best against small cities" said Plengor. "We must build new settlements around our big cities and use them as buffers against enemy offensives. Our Lucifer will destroy Stygian Ghost Riders, wolves and ships and also protect the fortress."

Emperor agreed with Plengor's plan and Lucifer was sent out. He killed many Ghost Riders and then returned to Nimrud.

[techumseh]

"You can't beat a man who doesn't know when he's beat!" - unknown

Good luck, Marko!

[LDiCesare]

Hey, Techumseh, do you have any idea of a ToT version of this scenario?
Marko, indeed, you have courage to continue at this point. It looks like you are in a desperate situation. How many more Lucifers does the enemy have?

[Marko]

I haven't had much time to play the game lately but now I try to finish it and complete the story.

There seem to appear many more Lucifers every month and my only chance is to get some lucky bribe.