Turn reports to neutrals have arrived from both Allegiances - and they both seem to objectively cover the same ground. Early game a bit here, a bit there, as usual. Who’se making odds on the first curse?
Enion
Hi all this is the Dark Lieutenants
I have moved from the UK and now live in Germany here is my new email address
all the best, Mike.
Turn 3 and a quiet board. Probably a relief…
All quiet on the home front also. Finally, a commander failed an order…'bout time, I was starting to wonder if the company had me confused with someone else… 
Enion
Turn 5 arrives to see the Witch King getting pounded in the far north though the Dragon Lord is holding his own. The Dog Lord has marched deep into Free territory.
The Free have rallied their troops and are preparing for the counterattack.
Rumor has reached our stone halls that the neutrals have stirred and seek to turn the tide of the war. Will the others preserve the balance?
GB
I’ve received messages from a number of players via email. Excuse the lack of replies. Busy life. I appreciate the news, though. Rhudaur and Corsairs attacking the Free Peoples it seems? I don’t consider my nation to be a worth early-game “balancer” when there are Harad and Easterling superpowers still out there, so I don’t take this news as decisive to my nation’s direction at this time.
Enion
Come to the light Carol Ann…Come to the light…
GB
Dwarves
Arthedain caling, just signing in guys. Not much to report although our risky strategy dint pay off this time around. No matter our dragon slayer in training continues on with his well erm… training…
Turn 7 sees an unprovoked attack on the Free by both the nations of Rhudaur and The Corsairs. The arm of Sauron has grown long to bend these nations of Dunadan blood to his will, diluted though that blood may be.
There will be no mercy to these traitors, these trafficers in the Black Arts.
Rumours have surfaced that the Nazgul have taken unprovoked action on the swarthy Harad of the deep south. Perhaps this was the price demanded by the descendants of the Black Numereons, ever conscious of their avaricious nature to expand their borders. Will the Harad raise an effective defense? The mighty armies of the Free stand ready to aid the strange nomads to the south.
Rhudaur, a nation long divided by political bickering and petty squabbles, has moved it’s armies north in an attempt to save the flounering hordes in Angmar. Their forces have moved west in a cowardly attack upon the proud Noldo. It is rumored that through some dark pact the armies of Rhudaur have enlisted the services of dragons!
Will the nations of Eriador find the strength to stem the tide? Will the provinces of South Gondor find the wherewithal to take the battle to the Corsairs? The councils of the Wise have huddled in the far west in an attempt to know the mind of Sauron and put an end to his tyrannical expansion.
Greg
Dwarves
It seems the Free were misguided by viscious rumors spread by the treacherous Haradrim. They have fallen under the Black Shadow of Sauron.
May they rue the day.
Harad and Corsairs go Dark together and they attack Gondor? How imaginative. Maybe I’ll build some ships and attack Cardolan with them.
Enion the Unimpressed
Ji Indur finds himself cowed and bound. He’s not infallible after all. If not for that wicked Morgul boot knife he’d find himself on the end of a fine elven blade this turn.
An interesting turn of events in the ruins after the desolation of Smaug the Magnificent.
The game has offered a few interesting twists thus far. May it continue…
GB
Harad mate, why oh why. I recognise the ID. Your email address or nickname for email was the same a while ago at least. No matter, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Now we’ve got the neuts aligned its really game on guys.
Hey, had to go one way didn’t I.
Promised myself that I wouldnt do another 12 turn neut game:-))
Can you tell South Gondor to back off a little, I’m not quite ready yet.
I’ve been outed, and before the turn was run even. Further evidence this will likely be a longer game than the supposed “norm”. Excellent. Ed, if you’re voyeuring, maybe you can get in touch and drop me some “magewar” hints…
Brad for Enion
I just thought I’d get the banter going in this game again…
You’ve just got to congratulate that Murazor don’t you? That brilliant capture of Bhur Fram and … wait a second … nothing else! not even Zarak Dum (by the way angulions getting it this turn, hope he has pectoral on him).
Not to mention your skilled partner in war rhudaur - I was a bit worried to be honest with you when he declared DS but when he began chasing around lost camps with his huge armies… enough said.
So what else to talk about…?
The strategically masterful corsairs landing in SG… must be pretty boring without any ships? right?
Or that fact that FP armies passed through the back door so easily… am I right that eothraim used have a MT there?
Anyway it looks bad from here… I hope you guys aren’t ready to drop…
P.S. if you didn’t know rhuds losing his cap this turn… and I know where his backup is, haha - the emmies and agents are coming…
Imran.
Yes the Eothraim used to have a MT in Mordor. Shame that the Easterlings stood to one side while I took it back. Still, we seem to have the threat under control & now the Easterlings have shot their bolt it’s going to be interesting to see who’s going to protect them.
Congratulations to the Eothraim btw. Managing to improve a MT must have taken a lot of money, particularly since they’ve lost two of their other ones. Not so good for NG, of course, losing Osgiliath and Pelargir like that.
Witch King still holds much of Angmar as well. Shouldn’t you have taken him out by now?
In summary - no, we’re not quite ready to give up yet. Are you? It would save a lot of money & you’re too late to win.
Well worth the cash - a FP MT in the middle of mordor… you should be ashamed of yourselves…
I convieniently forgot that… it would have ruined my rant, don’t you think? :o
Hold much of angmar? - a bunch of camps and Carn Dum? If thats what you mean by holding angmar I’ve got to congratulate old Murazor up there… well done … i really mean it… well done.
Too late eh? We’ve got all the good artefacts and only NG is under the cosh …
Dragon lords out of the picture (although I don’t really count that as much) and rhuduars going to have to retreat into playing a character game this turn (poor guy… I do actually feel sorry for him, what was the highlight of the game for him so far? was it threatening a camp? ).
And what happened to that curse squad? I would give you some advice (for free) that Nazgul shouldn’t sit around in the same place for too long… but I think you already learn’t that the hard way…
so considering it all, yep - I think your right - we’re too late … i’m going to phone ME and drop right now 
Imran.
Arthedain calling. Dragon hunters dispatched and looking for targets. All DS armies with lizards in tow please supply details.
Where is the Witch King anyway. Have had the kettle on for months and he’s still a no-show.
The war has turned hot for the Gondors but the north is largely secure save for isolated enclaves which the damned Witch King still holds. The Northmen, Easterlings and Eothraim have been making inroads and burning settlements on the eastern side of Mordor.
Can help arrive south in time to save the noble kingdoms of men?
GB
Of course it can…
Imran.