Part 12

Update 12
After searching the lands I finally found the green castle. In addition I discovered that they had many castles and were still expanding, so I stormed lots of castles while defeating heroes left and right including people who used to work for me. Green currently has 2 villages and 2 castles left. I also discovered that the ultimate artifact is very near the green castle, so that’s worth following up on. This update, I try to finish this level. But really, I can't see my self lose this map anymore.

Day 50

I’m not sure what Tyro hopes to accomplish by running away. I’d let him go and feed him to Thundax, but I’m more worried about Antoine who is still closing in on my warlock castle. So I can’t afford to give Thundax an army now. I also discover that the primary castle has hired Ector.


A fearsome army.


The druids, sprites and centaurs attack the trolls and kill one. The elves kill 3 archers. I would cast more spells, but Barok is almost out of spells and I want to save them for the siege.


Peasants have no place in late game.


The trolls still managed to kill some units. Knowledge +1.


My army can be seen in the bottom right corner. This should be good.


My gargoyles will block the centaurs. Unless I have morale against me it will take the enemy two turns to reach me. I can make it last longer by paralyzing the enemies. I can cast it twice.


You’ll notice my paladin hasn’t moved. Because he was hit by lightning I decided that the minotaurs would attack the gargoyles instead. I would like him to survive for no particular reason other than my love for the unit. Their Cyclops stack has been paralyzed. Time to kill the rest.


Alright everyone. It’s Cyclops season!


I almost felt bad seeing everyone attack a defenseless Cyclops.


Victory! Attack+1 and the enemy had a lucky rabbits foot.


Falagar attacks a green village.


Alakazam!


Genies are the level 5 or 6 neutral unit, depending on which faction you want to compare it with. They are really quite good having high speed, flying and excellent damage output. Their low hit points are a bit of a downer though leaving their staying power something to be desired especially considering they will almost always have low numbers when on your army. In addition they only uncross those arms to attack or be attacked giving them a nice "I don't really care" vibe.
The most dangerous thing is their special power, they have a 10% chance of halving the enemy stack on their attack and this works on everything no matter the amount of genies.
Good thing you can only recruit them from a magic lamp which disappears after all genies have been recruited.


I lost one genie.


Knowledge +1.

Everyone else just shuffles around a bit as they flag some green mines to red.

Day 51

New week!


Ector started walking. Maximus is nearby, but both castles on that screenshot are unguarded.


But first this! The first shot brought down the walls! I blind the trolls and charge!


Having learned from an earlier mistake I let my elves skip a turn so the unicorns could get the kill with a single blast of sparkles.


The tower did that. Spell power +1 for Barok.


This place isn’t half bad.

Day 52

Another new hero has shown up. I set Falagar up to meet with Wrathmont. I set Barok up to meet with Thundax. Both will get new armies. Meanwhile Maximus tries to defend the castle against these two. He can’t reach either and it doesn’t look like he can reach the castle. I spend a few bucks on some meager defenses and Maximus attacks the goblins to see if he can shave some time off his journey.


Slaughters are still fun.


It was all for naught.

Day 53

I think the AI was performing their version of Grease. They touched, they danced, one ran away and one did a step forward.


They exchange pleasantries.


No one can reach that hero. But at least here are two heroes staring him down.


Meanwhile Barok can’t reach the new hero, nor can Maximus. The plan is for Thundax to park himself in the castle while Barok stands in the enemies face.


I hope Ector attacks.


This could be fun.


Sucks being on the other side for once doesn’t it? The orcs do well to whittle down the cyclops stack.


The goblins died buying us another turn.


That went fairly well, except the orcs getting paralyzed.


I hope he enjoys his castle.

Day 54

The fool didn’t have the movement points to park himself in the castle. In addition he didn’t buy reinforcements so I can just walk right in, take it back and kill him.


Like this.


And like this.


Meanwhile this guy couldn’t reach his target either. So Barok gets his units and prepares to wreck faces.


I wish Barok had lightning bolt, he has 5 spell power. So that would be 125 damage per casting.


Oh no, they’re coming!


The elves and everyone whittle down the ogres.


The sprites are now safe from the Ogres, so they kill the centaurs.


Bless them and their courage. Despite everyone dieing they keep their spirit up.


Those unicorns died to lightning bolts. The elf to the troll. No level up, but at least Thundax is free to claim more mines.

I would excuse you if you had forgotten about her, but Luna is also still around and that apple is looking mighty fresh. She buys some paladins and starts walking to the top. Time for our powers to combine!

Day 55

Though I probably won’t need to do that. The AI has started splitting their stacks. This leaves just a pack of ogres to protect their castle.


Barok visits a gazebo.


Falagar is taking up positions to dig.


Maximus discovers that I never visited the red obelisk next to the barbarian castle.

Day 56

I think I broke the AI, it’s not moving.


No artifact here.


Wrathmont is running around claiming mines and he also finds a piece of map.


Another village for my collection!


You know how this ends.


Bye!


Flawless victory and spell power +1 for Barok. He is really getting there. He is now rocking spell power 7. I wish I had something to take advantage of this and doesn't kill me at the same time.

Day 56

Look who’s back for more!


Even more map! Thanks Barok!


Thundax pitches in.


Time to fix the Ergon problem…again.


I tried to get the genie specialty to fire, but instead the genie died to the retaliation and to a lightning bolt. Well, it was fun while it lasted.


Ultimately I win easily, but lose too many units due to being an idiot. I took the enemy lightly so I didn’t buff my gargoyles and my nomads and minotaurs kept getting into each others way which could've been avoided with a simple spell as well.

Day 57

Green tries to run.


That’s a lot of ogres. At the rate this is going they're not going to have anything left in the castle. I block the archers and let them come.


I kill everything, but this hero can cast a mean lightning bolt. He’s killed 4 of my paladins using it.


I’m not playing at my best, those two cavalry didn’t have to die. He cast slow on them and I never dispelled it. Attack skill +1.


Wrathmont is still scouting and he finds another green village.


I have faith in Wrathmonts abilities.


I paralyze the orcs and attack the goblins.


After that, this dance begins with a blessed paladin.


He’s joined by a griffin and a few rounds later.


This happens. In addition, Wrathmont gets a +1 knowlegde.

Everyone else scouts around and moves to get closer to the enemy castle.

Day 58
A new enemy hero shows up, but stays in the castle. Falagar digs a hole, but finds nothing. Maximus kills some goblins so he can have a more direct route to the green castle.


When suddenly this happens. I get attacked by green. I have no idea what it’s hoping to accomplish. The map lay out is pretty crappy for my units but there is virtually no way for me to lose.


We kill some units.


And the orcs suicide on us.


That single archer must’ve been worth it.


This is a dig line. Next turn everyone but Maximus will dig. Maximus needs to move because he already dug a hole.

Day 59

Hurray. Falagar strikes gold.


He looks dashing in his new cloak!

We run around off screen.

Day 60
We run around off screen.


Ultimate power for a knight!

Day 61

Another new enemy runs away into a lava area. We hadn’t seen this backdrop yet. Looks pretty.


Yep, I think it’s about time to end things. Knowledge +1.


Not needed, but nice of Wrathmont to help.


This is what he is traversing. You can see Maximus as well in the top right.

Day 62
We run around off screen. What am I doing?

Day 63

We attack with my newest army. I call it the chaperone.


These guys will be doing the heavy lifting. The paladins are there because I like what they look like and the sprites are here because the peasants needed a date. I had a few heroes running around off screen to buy and ferry over all the peasants.


Maximus has 16 defense. Not even the tower can do much damage. Those orcs to 2 per shot. All they’re doing is pissing off the peasants by shooting their girlfriends.


Here comes your doom! After I cast haste again.


He never saw it coming. I wish the stack had been bigger it would've made this more impressive.


The orcs can’t do less than 1 damage, so one peasant always dies.


Power to the peasants!


We win!


Finally I have vanquished green. The next maps are new territory for me as well, this should be fun.


Somehow I clicked the ok box before I could even see the red box. Anyway, it just mentions that I won and everyone fears me. In addition, it's rabbit season.


With lord Slayer being our first rabbit.

Next time we start the second half of the game. The first three levels we face off against the rivals one by one followed by a grand finale. Considering the barbarians always seem to be conquered last by me I expect that this will be a tough battle.