9th Cycle: Mas Reports and Commands

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This board is for post of messages, orders and reports during the nights of blood of the ninth cycle after the return of the Old Gods.
Any of such concerning the Realm are to be put here.

Orders
The orders of this cycles defence during the nights of blood remain the same as during the last cycle:

Three eyed creatures, especially walking corpses (which are commonly named Mummies of Madness) are not to be slain at night or any time during the month of the Fallen God, but lured and sealed away. Anyone found breaking this command will be chained to the trees in front of the gates to be eaten by the undead attackers.

In case of emergency a prepared fire is to be lit on top of the palace, such will notify Runewick of the situation and call for help. In case of fire sighted in Runewick any forces that can be spared are to depart there immediately.

Focus of the Defence will be the Gates of the Realm as such shields the settlement of Cadomyr, the Chosen one and the temples of Zhambra and Tanora. The minions of the Fallen God are expected to attack in massive but uncoordinated waves during night-time, targeting gatherings of people. Forces are to gather at the gates to be ready for such attacks when they are not needed elsewhere. Coordinated movements of hostile forces are to reported immediately.

During daytime the holy sites of the Realm are to be patrolled at least once. In case of a site besieged or even occupied by impure creatures a unit is to be dispatched to cleanse any ground holy.

In addition, the Realm and other settlements have been the victims of magical bombardment in the recent path and the House expects an increased amount of such attacks during the nights of blood. The lights accompanying this phenomenon usually rise in the area of the swamps east of the Hemptie Neck and can be easily spottet minutes before impact. In case of sighting such light heading towards the Realm, all available forces are to be put on alert. An impact of these attacks usually results in a large quantity of hostile creatures or undead (usually magicians) to be released. As the targeting of these attacks has proven unprecise in the past, it is not unlikely a hit can happen right behind the gates, as already happened in Galmair.

Firewasps are to be lead away and blown up in a controlled envoirement where settlement, walls and barricades take no damage from the fire. Larger quantities of undead magicians are to be countered with coordinated groups of archers.

Also of note: The Ultimatum of Captain Red Dog ends during the nights of blood. As of such one is to be suspicious of unanounced ships and large cargo heading towards the settlement as the pirates might use the plentiful distractions provided by the forces Fallen God to deploy and ignite the Endbomb close to the Realm.

The orders and reports of the last three defences are to be read by any having time to spare. They will find helpful information there.


May the primal strength of the Ushak-Skath be with the defenders of the Realm,

• ~Ssar'ney
  • Templewarrior of Zelphia
    Baron of the House of the Sea Serpent
  

Written by Lettarius, who will wield his quill with the unbroken might of the word as formidable contribution to the defence.

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Map of Cadomyrian defence for the nights of blood, end of ninth Cycle. Reused from the previous Cycle, as central orders remain the same.

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15th of Chos, end of 9th Cycle after the Return of the Old Gods
Deployed Barricades
Barricades have been deployed, providing cover for the gates of the Realm, the Cornerstone of Candour as well as an forward archer pocket around the teleportation device.

The House of the Sea Serpent thanks Galmarian counsillor Pryler and all volunteers following her with able hands and donations to aid in the quite resource straining endeavour. The traditional lack of support from the Fifth House has been noted.

• ~Lettarius
  • Scribe of the Third House

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Map of the undead invasion of the Cadomyrian desert during the beginning of the 10th cycle.
The area almost permanently under hostile occupation in dark, the area under alternating control in light red.

The nights of blood passed have been relatively quiet with little to no casualties among the defenders. Almost always a loose group of volunteers from all settlements was deploying to where reinforcements were needed, and with the lack of coordination or attacks in massive force barely any of the waves from the forces of the Fallen God posed a true threat.

However, just before midnight of the last night, a series of portals opened in vicinity of Mount Letma, pouring a large quantity of undead invaders into the desert. While the undead vanguard was crushed and the outer ring of blue portals closed, about five red portals in the area of the entrance to the mountain remain active and continue to act as a bridgehead for the undead invaders.
The Realm is no stranger to this strategy of the forces of the Fallen God as it has been deployed against the vigilant defenders of the Realm before. The last time no ritual or alchemy could reliably close these portals. Instead they vanished on their own after the forces the invaders poured into the portals depleted after about one week of fighting.

Up until now members from all Houses and settlements have contributed their part to push back and decimate the heretic invaders. The House of the Sea Serpent will continue the fight until their forces run dry. It recommends all able soldiers of the realm to do the very same in small, coordinated squads, a strategy that has proven most efficient during the last invasion of this kind.
The House of the Sea Serpent also wishes to point out, that having the invaders block their own main portal (the one out the furthest) by standing right next to it is a most effective tactic for groups of sufficient strength.


For the glory and safety of the Realm of the Chosen One,

• ~Ssar'ney
  • Templewarrior of Zelphia
    Baron of the House of the Sea Serpent
  
  

Brought to paper by the grandest of scribes, Lettarius. Who continues to wield his quill with the unbroken strength of his wit.

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Important: Do read this.

Short summary:

• Do not kill undead dragons.
• Lead undead dragons away. Away, as in around the mountain or far into the desert.
• The same applies to regular undead, for as long as there is a sufficient number of them coming from the portals.

The House of the Sea Serpent discovered that the enemy using the red portals to invade the Cadomyrian desert can only field a certain number of creatures per portal at once, no matter where these creatures are. All creatures slain will be replaced with others coming from the same portal with very little delay of time. Also, each portal does have its own unique set of enemies coming from it and number it can sustain. As of such the House issues the following orders for the ground level of the Realms desert for the duration of the activity of the portals, as already done in the field:

Any undead dragons with lack of noticeable intellect that enter the Realm through the portals are to be lead away from portals, fighting and populated areas. For such one can either lead the creatures to the far side of the mountain or deep into the desert and leave them there to be slain when the portals have closed. Should one encounter a lone undead dragon aimlessly wandering the desert while the portals are still active it is to be left alone or drawn further into unpopulated and unfrequented areas.

To thin out the number of hostiles fought at once the same tactic is to be deployed to the portals bringing forth other mindless enemies than dragons. While one may slay the non-dragons coming from the portals, if these are encountered out in the desert one should only slay them if the current defenders holding the position at the portals are underwhelmed.
At the moment of this writing there are only be two creatures coming from the front portal, a quantity an adept warrior should be able to handle.

Needless to say, travel to the desert for matters other than luring away mindless undead dragons is to be kept to a minimum.

Anyone disobeying these orders without authorisation from one of the Noble Houses of Cadomyr will be given 'one' stern warning and introduction to read this very paper. Anyone disobeying after that will be executed on the spot.


For the glory and safety of the Realm of the Chosen One,

• ~Ssar'ney
  • Templewarrior of Zelphia
    Baron of the House of the Sea Serpent
  
  

Calligraphed by the grand Lettarius. Who wonders as for what happened that such drastic punishment needs to be threatened with.

[S'rrt]

Baron Ssar'ney,

House of the Desert Fox understands the orders, however I would like to make a request for more specific information about the unique sets of creatures coming from each portal and a possible change to the orders based on the answer.

Is one of the portals specifically for dragons to enter from? If the answer is yes, ignore my logic below.

If there is no specific portal for dragons, and they appear at random, this could be used to make no dragons present at all.
As you had established, killing a creature that has emerged from a portal will be replaced by another. Therefore, killing the strongest ones, i.e dragons, until their place is taken by a lesser creature would be preferable to having dragons roam the desert. If anything, I think sufficient effort should be made to get rid of dragons until no dragons are present, then proceed to lure the rest of the undead away. If this logic were to work, slaying any of these lesser undead should be inexcusable due to the chance of their place being taken by a dragon.

Do let me know if there is something in your writings that I haven't seen that covers this issue.

Hail the Queen,
~~ Baron S'rrt K'shire,
Noble of the House Desert Fox,
Queen's ambassador to Galmair

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The portals grow in potency the closer they are to the core of the mountain.

• (one portal) - out furthest: medium undead, weak shadowbeasts, golden skeletal mages
• (one portal) - close to entrance: strong undead and shadowbeasts, drow, red skeletal mages, beholders
• (several portals) - inside the mountain: only undead dragons of varying kinds

As of such, while true, the logic of Knight K'shire does not apply to the dragons. The current commands are to be followed to ensure the fight can be continued with the highest efficiency, also ensuring the safety of the upcoming attempts to close the portals.

Knight K'shire may consider himself gently scolded for uneducated questioning of command. However he is right in pointing out that that one should make use of those mindless foes easier to defeat and lead them away, should the need arise to thin out the incoming waves of attackers coming from the portals outside the mountain.

In the name of the Templewarrior,

• Lettarius
  • Scribe of the House of the Sea Serpent

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The order to slay Hew Keenaxe on sight has been renounced. However, he still may be slain freely, as he is without allegiance to an acknowledged Realm. In case he actually helps in the defence without provocation, the House of the Sea Serpent will leave him be.

In the name of the Templewarrior,

• Lettarius
  • Scribe of the Third House

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Previously given orders given in regards of the defence are hereby revoked. As the origin of the hostile invaders has been located by the Bearers of Fire, the desert may be cleansed from the creatures drawn out there. However, the tactics suggested by these commands may still be applied, should groups of adventurers wish to efficiently raid the portals of the invaders.

If possible the enemies coming from the portals should be restrained to the vicinity of the portals, if there is no assault onto the portals happening at the moment. The House requests raid parties to slay the creatures they lured out after they are done.


In the name of the Templewarrior,

• Lettarius
  • Scribe of the House of the Sea Serpent