Game 53 (grudge)

[DaveHolt]

We the Dark Servants have developed a business plan for the abdication of power by the so-called Free Peoples and transfer of dominion over Middle Earth to mighty Sauron, his lord Nazgul and minions. The business plan has been through exhaustive review and is beginning phase I implementation now. Of course no business plan can ever be complete, and it will likely be necessary to update the document as our plan progresses and victories unfold before us. Nevertheless, we do appreciate the Free People's plight and will be most willing to accept early surrender by any Free nation with the wisdom and foresight to early-on accept the inevitability of defeat. Mighty Sauron will look upon the leaders of any surrendering Free nation with favor and shall grant an ambassadorship (great benefits & relocation paid) as recognition.


With corporate governance and transparancy so much on the public's mind these days, we are pleased to assure you that our board is composed almost entirely of those that were formerly living. Additionally, we want to assure the public that although nine board members might be viewed as insiders by some, that we have brought in 3 outside board members to ensure that actions that might be conflicts of interest are well understood, agreed to quickly, and acted upon immediately! Finally, we are pleased to report to the VCs who so wisely invested in our business plan that we are on schedule, on plan, and under budget!


Reported by Hoarmurath, CFO & VP IR, Dark Servants
Financials audited by Mordor Partners, LLC
Full report available for public review at our offices, Mt. Doom (closed tuesday afternoons - for golf)

[fred]

Hhmmm. . . Sounds like a hostile take-over plan. But then, all plans fall apart as soon as they meet the implementation phase. This was no different, better start rewriting.

Before your revised plans can even be brought into the "United Council of Light", some misunderstandings need to be addressed:
We expect & demand full compliance to our ennvironmental laws.
Proper usage fees for roads and other infrastucture shall be submitted.
Other regulations available for a nominal cover charge.

Also, your petition did not abide by the customary submission protocol, therefore it must be rejected.

Scribe (beginner class):

[Thelor 66]

Hoamurath,
your offer has been rejected we are not going to be taken over by a Mickey Mouse operation like yours and you can take my word directly to Mickey himself

Thelor 66 ;)

[quantrill37]

Hmmmm, you seem to think they have a choice in this takeover. You will learn the hard way Sauron's will is inevitable.


Hoamurath,
your offer has been rejected we are not going to be taken over by a Mickey Mouse operation like yours and you can take my word directly to Mickey himself

Thelor 66 ;)

[DaveHolt]

Before your revised plans can even be brought into the "United Council of Light", some misunderstandings need to be addressed:
We expect & demand full compliance to our ennvironmental laws.
Proper usage fees for roads and other infrastucture shall be submitted.
Other regulations available for a nominal cover charge.
Also, your petition did not abide by the customary submission protocol, therefore it must be rejected.


We are sorry to report that your messenger (who had the misfortune to deliver the above tidings) has met with an industrial accident. I'm going to categorize it as "warg training mishap". As CFO and VP IR, it is my solemn duty to inform the "United Council of Light" that there will be no customary submission protocols, and that you can have your messenger's broken bones back after the wargs are through with their meal. We'll dump them in a bag in Osgiliath. I do agree that "Hostile Takeover" is a fantastic soundbite and that it will motivate our troops. We'll adopt it as the tag line for our campaign.

Regarding usage fees for roads, my Lord Sauron approves of the idea and will begin to impose appropriate usage fees immediately. What a fabulous idea to come from your council! Perhaps we shall keep the "Council" around to help with regulations and laws to suitably suppress the population. I hadn't considered that there might be residual value to your Council. But it seems that you are already moving well ahead of schedule to that of our business plan. Suppressing the populace was a Phase IV schedule item. Splendid! Please send details on the "other regulations."

And, beg my pardon, but just what exactly is an "ennvironmental law"? We just don't seem to have those here in Mordor. I can't for the (past) life of me think of why we'd want to preserve those in your lands either. They don't seem to suppress the populace or strike fear into hearts. bah.

Regarding progress-to-plan: I'm happy to report that things do seem to be progressing quite nicely. Again, on-schedule, per-plan, and under budget.

Reporting for the Nine, (er, I mean 12 - with deference to this corporate governance stuff),
Hoarmurath
CFO & VP IR, Dark Servants
(seeking new auditors. Apply in person at Durthang. no resume required)

[leonidas]

:p

Dear assorted evil-doer scum,

We, the Khazad, have a proposition for you: give us women, and we won't burn your stinking, filthy Orc hovels. It's real simple, there isn't enough Dwarf women, and besides, they're BEARDED for Aule's sake!

No Orc or Troll wenches please, they have hygenic issues we just can't ignore. Some wicked, hot, vampire-Goth looking, human domantrix's is what we want! Whip me, beat me, make me write bad checks!

Hey midgets need to get their freak on too...

Bain
Boss Bearded Bastard,
Stunty Runts

P.S. Nice to see Dave and Scott on the other side, always fun to play against great competetion, who can give and take a joke. Good luck, but please, try to lose anyway.

Chris Guerra

[DaveHolt]

:p

Dear assorted evil-doer scum,

We, the Khazad, have a proposition for you: give us women, and we won't burn your stinking, filthy Orc hovels. It's real simple, there isn't enough Dwarf women, and besides, they're BEARDED for Aule's sake!
... Some wicked, hot, vampire-Goth looking, human domantrix's is what we want! Whip me, beat me, make me write bad checks!

Chris Guerra

OK. Deal! We shall deliver six wagon-loads of wicked, hot vampire-Goth looking, human domantrix's for the dwarven lords. We assume you'd like an assortment of brunette, redhead, and blonde? Note that these are not for the faint of heart. They have been trained in central Mordor and are quite expert at their techniques.

So pull back all of those armies. NOW please...

Hoarmurath
speaking for the Dark Lieutenants(domanatrix trainers extraordinare)
(still looking for new auditors)

p.s. Chris - great to play with you again! now please be kind...

[DaveHolt]

Hoarmurath looked up from the military reports as the messenger cowered on the floor, kneeling in front of the desk built from skulls and thighbones of the countless messengers before him.

"You disturb me?" glowered Hoarmurath

"Great Nazgul, the Dwarves and their allies reneged on their offer. They have pressed the assault."

"Didn't we send the six wagon-loads of Blond, Brunette, and Red-Haired Dominatrixs per their request?" belowed Hoarmurath.

"Great One, they claim that the ommission of Black Haired Dominatrixs from the selection voids the agreement" quivered the messenger.

Hoarmurath paused. A deep chuckle rattled his rib cage and came forth as a sound so sinister that the messenger fainted. "It is as I would have done. Yes, it is well done indeed. These dwarves and these bureaucrats of the so called Free -- they will serve My Lord Sauron nicely. They already follow his teachings and spread his will under the guise of their so-called 'freedom'." The chuckle became a full-blown roar of hideous laughter.

Hoarmurath hastened away to inform the others of the Nine, ignoring the lucky messenger's prone figure on the floor. The Free were hard at work, already laying the foundations for Lord Sauron's rule. The business plan was working out perfectly.

Oh, but first he must stop off to see some of those black-haired dominatrixs that he had personally removed from the dwarf-bound wagon train. yes, the rest of the Nine could wait....

[leonidas]

Hoarmurath,

We reneged on the deal??? You sent us Orcs!!! Sure, they were blonde. brunette and redheads, but they're still pig-women! Aside for a couple of extremely hard-up Dwarves who enjoy their "women" hairy, meaner, and more unhygenic than they are, will be sending back your contraband. What were we thinking, dealing with the Slaves of Sauron?!?

Therefore, we've decided to do our duty as Free, and eradicate you from Middle-Earth. No hard feelings, huh?

Fulla tried his best "I'll huff and I'll puff" routine at Nahald Kudan, but the piggies there were unimpressed. Since when did the Nazgul become swine-herders? In any case, I'm sorely diappointed in Fulla; he's likely to get the sack. It won't happen again, as I indicated earlier, we'll just have to have a pig roast at Nahald Kudan.

Bain
Stunty Runts

[DaveHolt]

Small stunty one,

Humans? Orcs?
Who can tell the difference when you've been past dead for centuries...
And what difference does it make? they all squeal delightedly.

with love (sortof)
Hoarmurath

[DaveHolt]

Dear Stunty one,
We have waited for you to return the Dominatrixs per your promise... And for some reason they haven't yet shown up. Perhaps your "politically correct" aversion to orc women is only a feeble facade for the masses? My spies tell me that regular squeals, giggles, and other less presentable noises have been heard coming from the dwarven encampments where the Dominatrixs were delivered. It seems to me that your claim that we didn't deliver our end of the bargain is well, a bit "overstated". Since you're continuing to enjoy the benefits of Mordor's training, why not just give in! Join us in our quest. Work with us to help implement the Mordor Conquest & Victory Business Plan.

The elves have already signed up! Why shouldn't the dwarves sign up as well?

Sincerely,
Hoarmurath, coldest of the Nine

[leonidas]

Witch-King,

Concerning you failed Threat on Zarak-Dum:

Ha! Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries! Come back and I'll shall taunt you a second time! :p

Bain
French Ke-nigghet, er, I mean King of the Dwarves

[DaveHolt]

Unfortunately, there is little for the DS to crow about as of yet in this contest. Kudos FP!

What I want to know is what cheat code you guys enter via MEOW or AutoMagic that negates the CL's +20 K/A. jeesh! By the odds, there should be a whole heck of a lot more dead and hostage FP commanders by now. Only thing our agents seem capable of is stealing gold. Thank goodness for that!

I sure hope you don't have cheat codes against all the other DS advantages (Dragons, etc). If so, we're going to be toast much too quickly.

I'm going to send Hoarmurath back to business school. As is usually the case with business plans, Hoarmurath's schedule was way too aggressive. We're going to have to draw up Business Plan 2.0 for the _Abdication of Power by the Free Peoples and the Domination of all of Middle Earth by the Servants of Sauron_. Worse, I think we need a second round of funding and I HATE fundraising...

Dave

[reklan]

Better than fund raising, just ask the Blind Sorcerer to disband his army, I'm sure that all those troops are costing him a fortune in salaries and pension payments.

If he won't I'm sure I can lighten his load for him.


Dave/Northmen

[vandal]

We of the enlightened league would just wish to say, we have all the angles covered as we like recruiting dragons to!

As regards money we have so much we will have to do something about that as these interest free loans will have to stop

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

As regards money we have so much we will have to do something about that as these interest free loans will have to stop

Vandal

<grin> well, it *is* nice to see 7000+ gold from a single theft. Thanks! Please keep those bank balances high! Nothing is more frustrating to our thieves than successfully breaking into the vault only to find a piddling amount of treasury. It is indeed a wonderful thing to realize that the lands we will eventually subjugate are so rich and ripe for the plundering.

[vandal]

Being enlightened and in the interests of preventing crime why dont you stop stealing and we just send you some gold and it makes the crime figures so much better.

Vandal

[vandal]

PS Who said the good side cannot be tricky and what are you offering for the cheat codes?

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

Being enlightened and in the interests of preventing crime why dont you stop stealing and we just send you some gold and it makes the crime figures so much better.

Vandal

Hmmm. the last offer by the Dwarves to pull back in exchange for a bevy of Mordor-trained dominatrix was, well, er, um, a BUST ... so to speak ;-)

So I'm not sure that we'll trust you and act first this time... You send the gold, then we'll stop stealing. How's that?

As to what we'll offer for the cheat codes, why, we'll offer the one ring! We won't even go searching for it and will leave it to you. How's that? What prize could be more valuable?

[vandal]

How much gold you need we ahev kept so much as the the rebuilding costs for the New Harad looks to be quite high.

But I am sure we can spare a bit, as you already know.

Hey I have heard about the one ring I am not looking for that it has a tendancy to make you do very strange things

Vandal

[smuller]

vandel the candle,
sorry to barge in guys, but i think i was lied too on the uk 56 thread. reads like candle dropped all his games, and went away on vacation( he wrote it). i thought we had a duel , pending your return from vacation candle. i'm not confused, cause you the wrote the same. we playing or not, since you challenged me. we can start tomorrow, if your ready.

apologies to all. but a match as been set, and i'd hate to be left waiting.
thanks for your patience in this matter.

sm

i could be wrong, but then again, its all in thread 56. its a tragicomedy

[DaveHolt]

Hoarmurath looked out his tower window, high in the castle of Durthang. All that he could see for miles were formations of Free People's troops marching toward his mountain stronghold. It reminded him of an old Patti Smith song "Horses Horses, coming in from all directions"... er, um, no that's wrong somehow...

Back to our story...

He looked down at what he held in his hands: the new Business Plan 2.0 Revised. With disgust, he ripped it into tiny pieces and let loose a string of invectives that made even his Ogre bodygaurds blush. The only good news in all of this was that the double-crossing leader of the dwarves was apparently coming for dinner. He'd make sure the table was appropriately set. Hmmm, he wondered, what would be the appropriate garnish for a dwarven war-leader main course? Of couse Ji Indur had just sent him a message bragging at how delicious Fried King of Northern Gondor was. The braggard! he'd have to show him one up. A dwarven king was much more of a delicacy. So plump! He figured there must be very good marbling. Yes, it would be good to invite one of Ji's minions so that word could be sent back.

In the meantime, Business Plan version 3.0 loomed as a forboding task. Surely he would get it right this time... He didn't know if his Lord and Master would have much patience for a 4.0...

[leonidas]

:rolleyes:

Har, har Hoarmurath, your awful funny... for an (un)dead guy!

Are you absolutely positive I'm going for your capital, hmm? Seems both the Doggie's and your capital are a bit light on mindless minions of Darkness!

Besides, who has better domantrixes? A frigid wizard, or a guy with lots of dog collars!?!

Bain
Short, Phat and proud of it!

[DaveHolt]

Dear well-marbled one,

As with all things said by the so-called Free in this war, your intimation that you plan to attack Morannon in lieu of joining me for dinner in Durthang is noted, but hardly believed. I shall set the table appropriately.

Although the point about the dog collars is a very good one and difficult to argue with... I will do you honor and import some well trained Dog Lord minions for our dinner entertainment and they will definitely be wearing dog-collars.

Your soon-to-be dinner companion,
Hoarmurath

[DaveHolt]

Hoarmurath looked at his large empty banquet hall. All of his finest linens, crystal, silver, and china were arranged on the table with care. he especially liked the black swamp lilies that were so artfully arranged around the seven elven skulls. Most vexing though was the large empty dwarf-sized platter sitting in the middle of the table! And he had personally invited one of Ji's henchmen to partake of the absent delicacy. This was most unfortunate. Most unfortunate indeed.

Well, at least he had some very interesting dog-collared entertainment imported for the evening, courtesy of Dendra.

He sighed and walked back to his tower to begin the long climb up to his room at the top. It did seem there would be an interesting battle to watch at Morannon. And amazingly enough, that dwarf had told the truth for once!

Hrumpf!

[vandal]

I would just like to thank the dark courier service for its handy collect an arty and delivery service.

Very handy and saved me a trip!

Do you accept payment in returned dark skulls by any chance as you did not stay to collect the tip.

Oh Ji thats was not very nice but may the best elf win though if you get the first shot in I may not be so happy

Vandal

[vandal]

Boy those stumpies sure get even when they get mad.

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

Tsk Tsk... taking things that do not belong to you.
Zaketh, will pay the ultimate price, and very soon now...
I guess it's not surprising then to, ahem, um, lose things that don't belong to you so quickly again?

As to dwarves.... I smell a couple plump ones roasting on the spit right now. Hoarmurath will be most pleased as he had promised Ji an incredible evening, the culmination of which was to be a delightful low-carb menu:
- spit-roasted dwarf king accompanied by a melange of candied apples, peel d'orange, wild rice, and sweet mountain onions.
- a side dish of spicy dwarven commander sausage
- fried northern and southern gondor commander ears, lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon for dessert.

[vandal]

Now us elves are much more enlightened (hate the taste of orc) but we do seem to have a few convincts in our hands.

Now shall we just kill those lovely dark servants, what do you think?

At least you can be sure we wont eat them.

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

Now us elves are much more enlightened (hate the taste of orc) but we do seem to have a few convicts in our hands.

Now shall we just kill those lovely dark servants, what do you think?

At least you can be sure we wont eat them.

Vandal

heh. well, if you saw her picture, you might well change your mind and decide you did want to eat her... if you know what i mean...

nah... you're an elf.

just let her go. she was only trying to right the balance-of-trade and help increase Hoarmurath's treasury. He is far behind on his business plan and she was concerned for him...

[croupat]

Hi Guys

I've been quiet. But no more. WK how u doing. Im going to own a lot of your popcenters. LoL Rhu what can we say. OOOUUUUCCCHHHH!!!!! But let me say thanks. I love popcenters. So if u dont mind. I'll destroy your army at 2009. Then next turn move on anouther popcenter.

Arth
Quackers

[vandal]

Well having seen the picture, yes you are right I am an elf and she has to die.

Now Duran he got in the way to, want to trade?

What you have to offer in return?

Oh I am in a really mean mode and have decided to kill another of your guys this go, but I bet you know who that is already if you are tracking me!

If not wait and see.

You sure moving to the dwarves new pleasure palace is a good idea? you know they have very strange ideas on what they have in mind for you.

Who is going to roast who, where and why, just glad I was not invited myself.

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

the dwarves just wanted the dog-collared slaves & dominatrix's. that's what our spies keep telling us...

Now, as to who's where... Isn't that for us to know, and you to find out? Do you want us to come visit you at Morannon? if so, just ask! We are mandated to retake it anyway. Sauron is no fun to meet with when stunty ones control the Gates of Mordor.

I do think 5300 troops on 2135 is a bit of overkill though...


OOC:
One thing you guys do have going for you: we keep messing up orders. I'm going to blame it on overwork (running 4 nations each). It's a feeble excuse, but it's all we have... I can't believe Vandal that you're going to now run 12 in one game... yikes!

[vandal]

What can I say those Corsairs are a bunch of cut throats, who dont believe in a fair fight, and no they are not dwarves, you can bet they will ravage things.

As you can see they also have more than that many troops about to hit the poor Harad, now I am very interested if his Capital will fall or not also. but can you have agents on so many fronts or does he have a free hand on this to?

Oh but I know where Ji, Din and E are, as well as one or two others shall we have a wager on how many I can pin down?

I myself think it dangerous to travel alone, but we shall see.

You sure you can afford the time to visit the dogmatrix chambers of the stumpies, as the winter palace is about to have another visit and that will not be any fun.

Oh and one day the fireking is going to know pain and gondor will be toasting marshmellows on the embers, for mercy is not in his plans at all.

Lets not talk about playing one game on my own its ruddy hard work, but then I am sure you know that already

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

LOL yes. all this talk of attacking the IK... all talk, no action.
as to FK, well, you have moved one army onto 3224 once. it didn't
last long. and you seem to be losing lots and lots of commanders
in that pass... Then of course, you do have almighty Zaketh who
is somehow immune to the CL's methods. We have NOT figured out
how to take him out. He is a big mystery, and more so each passing
turn that he continues to live in freedom.

again OOC:
For the record, if we were ever to do this again (whether FP or DS),
we strongly believe that Corsairs should be DS and Harad FP. The
Corsairs/SG combo is far far stronger and outmatches Harad/QA,
while the Harad/SG vs. Corsairs/QA is a much fairer southern config
(both in terms of defensive and naval ability).

[vandal]

Honest guv its true, you just wait and see, the IK will be next.

Now the FK is more wishful thinking but hey Gondor can dream for a bit longer.

Oh and yes I agree the Corsairs/SG is a real potent force against the Harad QA do not hear me argue that point, but a lot of others do.

Let me tell you a big secret this big ruddy cav army is about to hit the IK and you will see it next go.

Now only time will tell but it should be interesting next go

Vandal

[leonidas]

A moment of silence please...

Our Great Leader, Bain I has gone to join his ancestors in the Forges of Mahal. He was viciously assaulted repeatedly; first by vile sorcerey, then finally succombed to a cowardly assassin's blade unawares. Though his life was cut short (snicker!), his legacy and fame will reverberate strong through the ranks of the Free: his enemies feared him so greatly, that they twice surrendered their capitals to him without his soldiers swinging an axe, and his death required the desperate attention of several of the Dark Lord's most powerful slaves!

We, the tragically short, foul-tempered, ale-guzzlers of the Middle-Earth, will exact righteous vengeance for him! We will wash away our pain in our enemies blood! Death to the enemies of the Khazad, our axes are upon you!

Thelor II
Acting Generalissimo,
Dwarven junta

[DaveHolt]

Hoarmurath licked his chops.
yumm, he thought. Dwarven king with a side dish of elven sausage sure is tasty! He looked up as the messenger came running into the hall.

"Sir, I bring news of import! Zakath the Invincible is dead! Veantur has been captured, Taurnil, Bain, and Beneoracer are no more. Rumors abound that Tharudan fell ill and died."

Hoarmurath smacked his lips. "Yes little one. I've just now dined upon a splendid repast of roasted Dwarven king, shipped here express from Morannon. But the news on Zakath, now that is most excellent! Say,
I feel splendid today. Would you care to share some elven sausage? Roast dwarven king? It's a delicacy that my kitchens have been working to perfect. Try it!"

Turning from the table as the hungry messenger began downing the remaining sausage, Hoarmurath smirked. Finally! Business Plan 4.0 was actually going according to plan. It's a splendid thing, he thought. Yes, a very splendid thing. He couldn't imagine the wrath of his lord and master if he had to draw up a 5.0. Despite his nature, he shivered and walked up the tower steps... Only to glance out the window at the vast Gondor armies ammassed in the valleys to the west... Dragons, yes! He must summon more dragons...

[vandal]

Oh well at last a A dragon of my own, small fry compared to your masses, but every little helps.

Now whose poor emmy is that I see before me, no escape for this little one me thinks.

I just want to offer my thanks for the next one this go to, small fry I know but every little bit helps.

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

Oh well at last a A dragon of my own, small fry compared to your masses, but every little helps.

Now whose poor emmy is that I see before me, no escape for this little one me thinks.

I just want to offer my thanks for the next one this go to, small fry I know but every little bit helps.

Vandal

hiya Frank -
you know, you had lots of brave words before last turn... (you were going to kill my agent, you were going to kill lots of our characters at Morannon, you were going to come destroy Durthang...) Hmmm. I think you're 0 for 3.

1. You let my beautiful agent go! I told you she was too good looking to kill. See, even Elves have hearts!

2. And well, I think the character war count at Morannon was decidedly uni-directional (poor dead FP...) woops! did you lose another trinket? shame. for shame! Gosh... do you guys control any of the interesting trinkets anymore? I need to consult my database, but I don't think it's a pretty picture...

3. And Hoarmurath is sitting in Durthang all alone unmolested! Sure there are lots of NG troops to the west, and lots of dwarven troops to the east, but they aren't doing much good there now are they? And do you want to place a bet on how many of them leave the hexes they're in as a part of any type of organized army? I'm betting most simply wander home leaderless... Poor demoralized FP troops without army commanders. It's a disgrace to the allegiance!

And finally, do we want to mention the dead elf bodies piled against the fortifications at 3222? why, sure! Lets! Nice pile of bodies Frank!
;-) ;-) ;-)

Oh, one more chortle... !!!!ZAKATH THE INVICIBLE IS DEAD!!!!
whew. that feels better.

Dave

p.s. yeah, sure, I know. You'll be giving me turn-about as fair play sooner or later. And you guys did do a nice job at 2135... But it is nice to have a great turn for the DS once in a while!

[vandal]

Well they say every dog has its day, gues it must have been soemone in a dog suit instead.

Hey what can I say when you turn up at a gunfight with knives you have to bluster just a bit.

Oh and yes we do have a few trinkets, but then I am sure you know that.

Now please do play all day in your dark corner as we will be frying other fish on that you can be sure.

We will just have to settle for WK, Rhu , Harad and QA pop centres then burn you our of that nasty pit you call home.

Vandal

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

"You say WHAT!" Hoarmurath raged.

"Theeyyy cannnn't ffffiinndd the boddddy offf Zaaakkaaatthhh" the messenger stammered.

PFFZZZZT!

A small noxious cloud dispersed slowly from the spot where the messenger had just stood. A solitary blackened boot-heel was all that remained. Hoarmurath could not believe it. As he turned away, his anger sated for the moment, he pondered. Could the rumors be true? Could the agents of the so-called Free have spirited away the dead body of Zakath? Could they really have discovered the sacred lore and death magiks required to bring back Zakath the Invincible? Surely not... surely not...

Surely Zakath had met his final fate as the poisoned dagger had slipped into his kidney. Surely it had worked this time...

[vandal]

Did you know we could not find it either!

A legent is born, I think I will have to rename all my children.

Mind you thanks for all that gold, I thought it was time I collected back some of the interest you owe me.

I hope the owner did not find the loss to taxing.

As you can no doubt see its collection time again and we wont be stopping until we get it all back.

Many thanks to the Rhu for building that nice shiny MT for us, it will make some great quarters for our boys as we finish our campaign in the area.

Oh and the WK had best have a pet or two with him or its goodbye to another town.

Hey at least its all good where I am, what more can I say.

Vandal

[croupat]

Now Now WK

Trying to sneak above me with that dragon cav army wont help. Trust me go home young man. Wk need those armies there. Not at my home. Its not worth u destroy 2 towns and a couple of camps. Four wasted turns if u ask me. Because i allready got blocks in motion. If your nation is in that long. I hope u have friends to help u. Rhu is not much help right now i think. Maybe your teams writing u off. With free armies all over your mountains.

How u like the isspers. I loved it. Talking about that. U r going to lose a Lord this turn. I got enough arties to kill him on a issue. LoL My advise is to refuse and run. Ill Give u a hint run to 2006. Because it going to be mine. With all the food u left. I can forcemarch there.

Quackers
Arth

[DaveHolt]

<SLURP>
Hoarmurath licked his lips. This recipe was a wonderful success! Puree of Elatar, spiced with sage and peppers. What a delight!

He got up from the table and wandered over to the balcony. There he gazed out upon the newly arrived Elven and Eothraim armies. Why, just last week over four thousand North Gondorian troops had amassed in a very similar manner outside the gates of Durthang. Yet, as the heads of their commanders were hoisted up above the walls of Durthang, a collective sob of dismay had arisen. Hoarmurath laughed at how lacking in proper fear and discipline these Free Peoples armies were. Show them a couple of bloody heads, and they all turned and ran!

Now it was time to recreate the saga. It would be interesting to see if the Elves or Eothraim had better training. And, once more he must consult his recipe books. Hoarmurath was sure that he had a most exquisite elven compote recipe. If only he could find it in the stack of books on his desk.
Oh, and he must pen a quick thankyou note to Ji.

Despite the delicious soup, the best part of this day was the news from Ren. The Ithil pass was clear through to Minas Anor. The hordes had been released from their pens, and were marching this very hour. Finally, the business plan was moving forward as he had envisioned!

[vandal]

Oh but our elven eyes glistened to as we looked around and saw that which we would sweep before us.

For now was the moment, the pleasure would indeed be sweet this day for we would gorge on the killings to come this fair day.

We remember well the hero of Ithil, the great Z, note it well for we come now for the butchers head.

Oh thanks for the gifts, those goods in those MT where an unexpected treat, hell things are better than we thought for you, if you can lose that much.

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

Oh thanks for the gifts, those goods in those MT where an unexpected treat, hell things are better than we thought for you, if you can lose that much.

Vandal

That's what I've been telling you. You guys are toast and just don't know it yet... :-)

heh

Dave

[vandal]

We are but like toast in your hands, mind you, your butter in our hands and we intend soaking you up

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

We are but like toast in your hands, mind you, your butter in our hands and we intend soaking you up

Vandal

touche! well said Vandal...

but a quick wit with the words aren't going to win this for you my friend...

[vandal]

Oh you are right which is why we intend some hard payback with certain nations of your own.

But how we like the deep joy of a hard slog in the mud and guts and a truly worthwhile victory makes it all worthwhile.

You get the idea we dont think it all over and victory still rests in our hands.

Would you wnant it any other way? We dont

Vandal

[Thelor 66]

And now Hoamurath look at the ruins of Durtang he was afraid of Dwarves but it was Humans and Elves he should have look for. Well, it cost me 2 commanders and a few cavalry but it was well worted and we are going in for more

Eo 53 :) aka Jacques :p

[DaveHolt]

EEEEOOOO EEEEOOOO EEEEOOOO
The claxons were sounding.

Four huge uruk-hai of Hoarmurath's personal guard roughly burst into Hoarmurath's chambers.
"time to go, your eminence." one snapped.
"The walls have fallen, mighty Nazgul. The enemy calvalry is running roughshod in the streets!" said another. "They've set fire to everything!" grunted a third.
Hoarmurath couldn't believe it. How had the defenses failed? Where was that dragon he had been promised? Oh, the excuses. Oh, yes, he was going to need lots of excuses...

His Uruk-Hai body guards hustled & hurried him to the roof. Hoarmurath worried greatly about his Lord Sauron's reaction. This untimely development was definitely not in the business plan. As he mounted his great flying steed, he could smell the smoke of Durthang as the fires lept into the air. The mountain fortress was being burned to the ground by the enemies of his Lord.

Retribution would be his. It must be. These were the thoughts he mulled as he quickly took to the air and left his burning fortress behind. It was indeed a fortunate thing that he had taken the precaution of preserving his most precious recipee books just the week prior. But that would be of little interest to his Lord... oh no... Perhaps Sauron would be pre-occupied with the successes in the push toward Minas Anor. He surely hoped so...

[vandal]

Darn the great Z will not be happy you got away, he wants revenge.



Vandal

[vandal]

Elrond wonders what the Longrider has been doing but does not mind staying as long as it takes to take your toy away.

Vandal

[DaveHolt]

Hoarmurath looked up at the Eye of his master.

There would be no mercy. He and the Nazgul had failed his Lord and Master. His seventh business plan was crumbling to dust in his hands, having just been summarily rejected by Sauron. He now knew the bitter taste of ultimate defeat.

The Eye gazed deep into his soul, crushing him, squeezing... squeezing...

He wondered if the Eye would be as lacking in mercy for the other Nazgul.

As he blacked out, Hoarmurath's last thoughts were of his cookbook. He hoped it wouldn't be lost. Such a masterpiece should be passed on to future generations... to whomever should next wear his ring...

---
so ends game 53. Congratulations to the FP! You won with a relentless economic game. We felt that we were extremely well positioned for the character war, but our economies didn't have the beef necessary to survive.

Dave

[reklan]

So Hoarmurath,

Have the DS officially conceaded this game?

Dudannis.

-----

[DaveHolt]

yes. the DS have officially conceded. We have all notified ME Games.

<sniff sniff>

[reklan]

Dudannis stepped from the shadows, he had been sent to deliver retribution upon Hoarmurath. A slight smile played upon his lips, what he had just seen was enough to lighten his soul, after the recent news that his lord Eoder had been kiiled by a mysterious sickness.

Moving towards the figure on the ground, he felt a sharp pang of pain as he stubbed his toe upon a large tome. Bending down he retrieved the large, leather bound Volume. It was engraved in large letters in the language of Mordor. The only words he could understand looked like "..Nazgul receipe book..". This he placed in his backpack.

Moving forward, the ultimate goal was at hand, a small but powerful prize, a golden ring. looking towards where it should lay, there was nothing..........


-----------

Many thanks to all in the DS team, it was a good fight and an excellent game. Congrats to all on our Team, and especially to Frank for asking me to join his team. he's an excellent guy and I have learnt alot from him.

Dave Pearson

Game 53 Northmen
Game 66 Woodmen

[DaveHolt]

Dave P. - fitting epilog! well done.

who played which nation for you guys?
I was IK, FK, CL, QA
Scott was DrgL, DkL, DogL, BS
Aaron was WK, Rhu, LR, Harad
Scott quit many turns ago and (god bless him) Drew Carson took on his
positions which were at that time only DkL, DrgL, and BS (Dog was bankrupt)

We had lots of fun with the game even though we really blew it early by not laying down enough camps and having enough of our nations go to 60% taxes early enough.
And we were ok as we had a couple of nations with really high balances for a long time, but once we used that money, the economy really hit skid-bottom 2-3 turns back. then it was tough.

[Drukarzun]

Hi Dave P.,

Wish you would have had better luck in game 68 and worse luck in game 53. <g>

Drew

[vandal]

Congrats all around to both teams for a game played in the spirit all games should be played.

We could poke fun at each other but never get nasty and both side stuck at it when things went wrong.

As to nations well I have to admit after the disaster of South Gondor taking himself out, which is no mean feat, I played the Dwarves Noldo and Duns.

Did you like the no fear Elrond sticking his head all over Mordor?

I must have had a deathwish or been very lucky.

But lets exchange PDFs and then you can see for yourself who played what it not big secret.

Vandal

[vandal]

Elrond looked and he saw before him the darkness swept back and gone.

Then he was gone and the land was left to the men

Let someone else write the rest.

Vandal

[reklan]

Dave H.

Right our guys were:-

Woodmen - Andy Wright
Northmen - Me
Eothraim - Jacques Perron
Arthedain - Donald Croupat
Cardolan - Eric Osborne
N Gondor - Uwe Reiners
S Gondor - Martin Harrison
Dwarves - Was Chris Guerra but Then Frank took over
Sinda - Robert Kuchta
Noldo - Frank Redmond
Duns - Was Giampien Carlo but Then Frank took over
Corsairs - Chris Littlejohn


We lost Giampien and Chris due to outside circumstances and Frank came to the rescue. We also lost Martin and South Gondor due to one to many zero's on an order!

Like Frank said I'd be more than happy to exchange PDF's.

Drew as for game 68, yes I wish that i did have more luck...mainly no Fire King.. but glad my luck rn with me in 68 especially with that bloody massive BS army trying to wipe me out. 8-)


Dave Pearson

[vandal]

Only a few question remains, who has the ring and if we have collected them all have we turned dark, at last I see the master plan at work!

Vandal