ancient times 2/3 From: keith.langley@mdcs.com (Keith Langley) Date: Sun, 21 Apr 1996 00:00:00 +0000 Holy Writ One True Faith game #3 Drehme attacks Taverna - War erupted between Dreamers and Alcoholics as Drehme's army marched into Bohemia from Bavaria. Taverna's forces retreated, avoiding casualties but giving up the province. Two victories for Dudley - The Mounties attacked and captured Castile while defending Aquitaine from a Mercant coastal assault. Both battles were short, as Mercanna's forces fled after the initial exchange of shots. Heavy weather on the coast of Castile kept Mercanna's fleet from fleeing; nine ships were captured. Flush Rimbaugh's priests change miracles - The Dittohead Seminary has completely changed its curriculum. All grades of Dittohead priests must now practice the art of escaping. New initiates must demonstrate competence in healing. Village priests learn to throw fireballs. For advancement to senior priest (grade C), normalcy must be learned. Master priests learn to disrupt artillery, and high priests can conjure soldiers. Debate answered in Portugal; new challenge in Paris - Mercanna has sent a priest to Portugal, and the debate with Dudley's priest for control of that province has begun. Gamblers are offering payoffs of 60 to 1 if Mercanna wins, and 10 to 1 against a draw. Meanwhile, a priest of Flush Rimbaugh has challenged Dudley to a debate in Paris. Locusts devour crops in Basque - Dudley unleashed a plague of locusts, preventing Mercanna from producing goods in Basque. Since Basque is primarily a sheep-herding country, carnivorous locusts were used. Kashelo takes Gautland - After several setbacks, Kashelo has finally succeeded in capturing Gautland from Crispin. The Crispians retreated, but were forced to abandon several units due to lack of cargo space. Economic upheavals continue in Russia - Bread riots in Moscow killed about 80 Seers, as Mercanna continued to disrupt supply and demand in Roebuck's empire. A total collapse was averted when Roebuck overcame divine interference and managed to get his army paid; the entire army was on the brink of desertion. Mercant agents assassinate Dudley's hero - A hobbit eaglerider was shot out of the sky while practicing near his home in Majorca. A similar attempt in Castile (before the battle there) failed, as the target was alerted to the plot by a Mountie sympathizer. Mercanna's hero dies in prison - An agent imprisoned for espionage in Holstein has died. Drehme's agents denied any complicity in the death, and made public the evidence that had been gathered against the agent. The people of Holstein held a pro-Drehme rally, denouncing Mercantism. Roebuck's army wins one, loses one - Roebuck sent two attacks out of Moscow, after solving His fiscal problems. The first force easily took Vologda as Mercanna's forces retreated. The second army was soundly thrashed as it tried to take White Russia from Taverna; fortifications and heavy artillery drove the attackers back. Blindness continues to afflict northern lands - Roebuck again punched a hole in the ozone layer over Thrandheim, causing severe eye damage across the north. The area affected included Iceland, York, Skane, Moscow and all areas between. Losses were 350 for Mercanna, 50 for Kashelo, a handful for Crispin, and about 50 agnostics. A total of 12 units and 5 leaders were also permanently blinded. Taverna gains Voronezh; Roebuck's northern army cut off - A drive from White Russia into the undefended province of Voronezh split the Empire of Seers, leaving Roebuck's powerful northern forces separated from the rest of His empire. Vulcan invades Crete amid civil strife; Crispin defends Sinai - Mercanna's worshippers in Crete rioted, killing Crispian citizens and interfering with defense efforts, as a massive invasion force landed there. Crispin's defenders surrendered. The Mercants were not thanked for their efforts; they were forced to convert to Vulcanism or die along with the Crispians. Vulcan's second attack, from Egypt to Sinai, failed utterly. An all-cavalry army found itself facing fortified artillery. It was able to withdraw before losses became severe. Up