THE DARK SUN, Issue 25.
VICTORY! WAR ENDS IN TRIUMPH FOR THE FORCES OF SAURON!!
ELVEN CONSPIRACY UNRAVELS, LEADERS FLEA TO WEST!!!
The end was inevitable, it is true, but the speed of events even
surprised
this correspondent, as the nations of "the Free" at last admitted
defeat and
surrendered to the mercy of the One True Lord, SAURON the Benevolent!
Let me summarise for you all the events of this last week;
From the realm of Sangarunya [Hermann Brauch];
A worthy place as the leading nation of the Dark Servants and indeed
Middle-Earth,
his strength and many victories were worth more than the 1600 points
awarded.
He ended with 43 population centres, supplied all with resources and
was never slow
to help with his armies/characters. Furthermore, he never went out of
his way to
fulfil personal victory conditions!
At 2220, Bragolmaite challenged the miraculous ASCARNIL to a duel and
slew him.
Later a battle between his forces and Ascarnil`s back-up Valandil saw
a pyrric
victory for the vanquished pointy-eared Noldo. Has Yayb [2833] was
taken back from
the cheeky Duns. At 2632 some 5800 troops were readied to board ship
bound for South
Gondor! Vargaelas already had some 1600 troops in the field there and
another army
was roaming north of Mordor!!!
From the realm of Angulion [Kevin Bond 500points];
An expected party continued long into the night at Khazad-Dum. It`s
been going on
for some six weeks now and the dwarven spirits are in danger of
running out. Several
Freep characters have now been interned there for "their own safety".
Rogrog moved
his small army deeper into Ranger territory [0707] having failed to
threaten 0907,
with the despairing ELBORON on his tail. Kevin is to be commended for
rescuing this
position after it was surprisingly dropped, and for being a thorn in
the freeps side
in the north!
From the realm of Ji Indur [David Murray 850 points];
My first game as Cloud Lord was very much enjoyed. We managed 33
kills in 27 turns,
but i think i was just warming up! CIRDAN, ELROND and GALADRIEL were
taken into custody
at 3627. They will face trial as War Criminals. Gufauq the Vague held
both Colovaere [Northmen]
& Dis [Dwarves] as hostages at end of the War. Araudagul followed up
his PC`s on BILL FERNY &
MORAIZA with another cheeky one on SOIL NANAW. Killing her and
claiming the Voice of the Dark
Tower from the corpse. At 2527 a WW Town SIRION the ICEY with 1400
troops took on UGLUK`s 300
and wiped them out, killing the WW commander in the process. BETHESDA
THE FOOL execute AERANDIR
and stole 8k of gold at 2717. JI INDUR moved into 2717 to help the
assembled company there with
their bloody work...SHOGLIC played his part in one of the two active
CURSE Squads of the DS.
From the realm of Akhorahil [David Murray 1042points];
Another first try. Nice combination with the CL. Led three large
mixed nation companies to great
affect. MAGURGOTH`s emmy squad was working on 2717. VULMEK led a
party of CL agents and LEARDINOTH a
mixed band of cursers. Retrieved many artifacts, but handed a lot off
to the needy. Much expense was
put into the formation of a HC army at 4126 [eventually numbering
1500 it headed into Rhun] under
ETHACALI this week it helped in the liberation of 3713 from the
renegade Rhun nation and captured it
with the help of Khand forces under URDRATH & ULFANG against inferior
troops under JYGANOTH & QUILSAL.
Jyganoth was captured in the process. BS emmies also recaptured Minas
Morgul & Barad Perras in response
to the Freeps somewhat effective emmy blitz strategy. 3 BS cursers
helped cast spells on CELEBORN &
LOTHIRIEL this turn. Ethacali also injured SELOOT in his ill-fated
assassination attempt. Leardinoth`s
cursers moved to cover ANGRENOST this week and Vulmek`s agents into
the Dwarven capital at 3707!
Kindly Rhun left 3000 mounts and LOADS of leather at 3713, woulda
made invasion of Mirkwood fun!!!
From the realm of Hoarmuruth [Alan Gourlay 400 points];
The Ice King never really recovered-financially-from the early,
unlucky loss of his first emmy.
Was on the backfoot throughout and picked upon by enemy
agents/emmies. Only started to pick up
recently, though his own agents were much to the fore! Hoarmuruth led
his motley crew of agents
in Angrenost for a party, but only received the cities surrender
instead! Khathog helped curse
CELEBORN.
From the realm of Adunaphel [Chris Soar 1600 points];
What can you say about a rookie who equalled the lead in points at
game end?
Set about fulfilling personal victory conditions early, made
effective relations with
neutral nations nearby and built decent characters. Did many
necessary scouts and provided
gold for the needy on several occasions. Was just building a base in
South Gondor when the
game ended! Also retrieved several powerful and much needed artifacts
from sea-hexes! Had huge
stashes of gold and product [80k food, 12k leather etc] at the end.
Was making a 5k profit.
Who else can claim that?
From the Dark Lts [Alan Gourlay 1550 points];
Flexed their military might throughout. Gothmog rampaged through the
Gondors and Rohan and was
headed for Angrenost when the surrender came through. Ably supported
by top agents too. Took Edoras,
Minas Tirith, Imdorad & Osgiliath. This week BOLROG headed out of
Barad-Dur to 3017 with 1200HC bound for
Mirkwood, but never got to see action. Gothmog was mustering his
troops [with the aid of conjurers]
at Edoras, where he had 3300 troops ready. Gothmog challenged and
slew MINOHTAR this week. At Osgiliath
the forces of the Fire King [Robin Durham, unknown points. Another
pick-up position that has just turned
around of late, despite heavy Freep emmy/agent pressure. Thanks
Robin!] under UKLURG were involved in a
battle of mutual destruction with the Dunadan [1200HC] thanks to the
presence of LAMTHANC on our side!
CARROG assassinated NIENOR of the WW [bad last turn for that nation].
URZAHIL helped in the cursing of
LOTHIRIEL.
From the realm of Ovatha IV [Kevin Bond 1517 points];
The former neutral that became a military powerhouse and took the War
to the Rhun and Northmen!
Owned 20 pop.centres at game end, including ALL that bordered the Sea
of Rhun [though they had a bit of
help there!], they were ready for the invasion North when the War
ended. Still had 3600 troops in the field
[in 9 armies] despite large battles last turn. CURUBAND challenged
and killed VEANTUR at the northmen capital.
NARKGA killed GUNDOR of the northmen in a PC and ULCATHUR killed
ULBAR of the northmen at their capital too!
At 4013 combined forces of Khand [OVATHA] and the Long Rider
[MORNADAK] defeated an army led by HAMMAN there,
and later took the capital from the Northmen. Hamman was captured.
Elgaer [4415] was also captured by ULGARIN
from the Northmen. Rof Paku of Rhun was also captured by URDRATH in
the battle for 3713 [Ilanin].
From the realm of Uvatha [Hermann Brauch 1275 points];
Another pick-up position which went on to make decisive agent and
military victories!
As mentioned MORNADAK helped in the liberation of Shrel-Kain and was
prepared for the push into
Mirkwood or north of the river running. DARK QUEEN Stole the
listening helm #53 at 2212. LR emmies began the work
to reclaim 3822 from the enemy. LOMELINDE assassinated ELLADAN and
took artifacts from his body at Khazad-Dum.
UVATHA assassinated FORILIEL. Many more Freep victims were in place
at Khazad-Dum, but the surrender saved them from the
knives of the Long Rider!
All in all it was a comprehensive victory for the Darks, though the
War could have been drawn out much longer, perhaps surrender
was the best option. Both sides had problems with players dropping,
but the Darks coped better even though the emmy/agent offensive
of the Freeps had us on our heels for a few turns...we decided to
abandon large-scale defensive measures and go back on the offensive
ourselves supporting the military advances in the Gondors. Hopefully
we`ll open our group for public scrutiny soon for those who are
curious. Last turn pdf`s should also be there. Freeps welcome to post
their to us!
Wrigol Perrit, Prophet of Sauron.
[David Murray]