Part 23

Update 23 

Last time I scouted my little corner of the world and made assumptions on how to get into the Warlock maze.

Day 16

This is a dead end, so as I thought last time the hole is in the other part of the map.


It’s an army of peasants. Bow before me!


The terrain really hates me doesn’t it? Well, it’s going to go the exact same way as last time, so I’ll probably lose 3 archers.


Only two archers died. I was wrong.

Day 17

I figured that since Kilburn has a mighty army consisting of 35 goblins, 4 archers and 1 pikemen he can pick up this stuff. Any rogues guarding this broach should be doable for him. But it wasn’t protected, so who cares. It adds a +3 to spell power.


Fresh units in tow Kelzen heads to attack the ogres.


I want to speed up and Kelzen isn’t fast enough so Falagar is heading to the Warlock town. I’ll probably have him wait for Kilburn, so Kilburn can do it. I have really really started to appreciate my knight heroes during this LP.

Day 18

That statue looks rather ominous. The way to the maze is guarded by Minotaurs. I wonder if they’re a set stack since it’s such a nice call out to the Minotaur myth.


Give me your bag!


This is going well. One shot kills a stack.


Victory!


And another bag of money for the cause.

Day 19




Attack +1 for Kelzen and a nice leather bag.


Who plants those stupid trees everywhere!?


The cavalry could still reach the griffins, so they did that and left the gargoyles to attack the archers. There was no way for me to block them from reaching the archers anyway so I figured it best if the cavalry just took out the griffins.


At least that puts them in a nice position to get to know my paladins.


Victory!


That’s not too bad.


But this is much better.


I wonder how good Kelzen is at recruiting wandering stacks. Let's give it a try by having him attack that stack.

Day 20

He just gave his bags of gold to Arturius for safe keeping.


Stunned by his lack of bags the archers immediately attack the one who travels unprepared.


It wasn’t exactly a challenging fight.


We win and get a nice shield out of it.


Our new shield.


I discover I’m an idiot as I sent Kilburn to attack the archers protecting the gauntlet without giving him flying units. Fortunately Falager is nearby to pick up the slack.


I let Killburn keep the archers in the small chance that the enemy stack wants to join. If I don’t bring them they will never join me since I wouldn’t have room. Later games give you the option to drop an existing stack to make room, no such luxury here.

Day 21

The gazebo gives Kelzen more defense.

Not much else happens, everyone just stands around or travels to enemy stacks. I do however build a swamp in my new town. Who doesn't want a swamp in their front yard?

Day 22

Score! +20 archers.


We just chopped off his arms and legs, his hand is still in the gauntlet.


This is turning out to be a very nice turn. Kilburn will give his knight units to Kelzen and he can get the Warlock units. His naturally high defense and offense will go well with the powerful Warlock units.

Day 23

A quick trade and Kelzen is ready to take on those swordsmen.


This should be easy since we still kill one stack per shot.


We cut them down nice and quick.


Victory screen!


Why do I have to keep buying these things? I'm your future lord, you should just give them to me. The coin will go on Kilburn and Falagar can go bring it to him. I'll bet Falagar is thrilled to be part of my army.

Day 24

Now we’re talking.


It’s not quite there yet, but next turn.


They’re running around. Kilburn will try to impress the griffins with his mighty moustache. Falagar will get Kilburns knight units for Kelzen who will go and impress the Minotaurs with his sword. Arturius is currently just milling around for something to do.

Day 25

I never doubted him. Welcome new griffins.


War profiteers!


It's not my usual horde of units, but it’s pretty okay and someone will follow him with some more fresh units at a later date.


I can go ghost hunting again but I just don't think that I will.

Day 26

Arturius had this weird voice in his head telling him to see if he could summon any hidden boats. Apparently, there weren't any to summon. I hope the voice is happy.


Welp, time to go visit our friend the miller.


How now, grey cow?


That’s always good to see.


These minotaurs aren’t nearly as fearsome as their Might and Magic and later Heroes games counterparts. Especially in Heroes 2 where they are probably some of my favorite units. Guys who are fast, with decent hitpoints and good damage output. They always keep on trucking. They also get giant axes, which are much cooler than stupid flails.


Musings of better times aside, we make quick work of them.


And with that liberal interpretation of how to pronounce friend we finally enter the maze.

Day 27

Even with my income getting all Warlock troops takes ages.


We leave the gargoyles for Kilburn, maybe they’ll join him as well.

Day 28

Pretty good if I do say so myself. Even with his special Kelzen is greatly slowed down, so all he did was pick up the resources that were near him in the previous screen.

Day 29

I need to investigate how to grow my own moustache. Anyway, we now have 62 gargoyles.


Meanwhile I discover that the Barbarian needs more spells. He has the knowledge, but I never revisited our primary castle.


I just want to point out that this is the best miller and everyone should go get his milled stuff. He gave me crystal again. I may not currently need it, but it's the thought that counts.


This is going to take ages.

Day 30

Sweet, oh wait. Never mind, the enemy probably benefits more from this.


I could attack those ghosts, but he doesn’t have the turn undead spell.


This takes too long. Next turn, Arturius will take his slow archers and get a head start back to the maze. The following turns Kelzen will be a lot faster thanks to the slowest unit being only medium speed.

Day 31

This looks like a dead end to me.


Falagar brings the units from the second castle.

Day 32

More gargoyles who we’ll try to recruit after Kilburn gets the goldmine. Let’s do that daemon cave first, that went so well the last time I did it.


Spells!

Day 33

This couldn’t have come at a better time.


More defense! Meanwhile Kelzen heads back to the maze to scout the bottom part.

Day 34

It’s only several hydras, this should be easy.


They’re a lot bigger than I remember.


Killing them is going to take some time. Hydras are brilliant garrison units and the centaurs need at least two shots to kill one.


Time to solve that problem.


This still takes forever.


And finally the last one.


Pretty decent experience thanks to the Hydra’s high HP. Kilburn even levels up again and adds another plus to his defense.


He’s so close he can probably smell the swamp.

Day 34

I’m not going to bother with those resources. It takes too long to get there and I don’t really need them for anything.


Kelzen is looking good.

Day 35

Let’s try this again.


I think the humidity of the swamp isn’t doing his moustache any favors.
Let them come.


Oh right, the centaurs are big so I can’t fully cover them. Probably a good thing than that I didn't go and fight the ghosts.

Edit:
That would probably work. All those senseless deaths.
I didn't place the dragons next to them since they're flying units and flyers generally like their mobility, however in this case it would've been the better decision.


At least they try.


The game plan is very simple. The griffin gets the top one. The dragon roasts the two below him. The Minotaur takes out the one in front of him and I win.


So far so good.


This isn’t helping. The dragon can’t attack without hitting my own units.


The minotaurs stick to the plan and we win.


Let’s not do that. We’ll get the gargoyles instead.


Why yes, I think I will. Hello 88 gargoyles.


Kelzen finally starts scouting again.

Day 36




Like Kilburn has a nose of a moustache, so does Kelzen have a nose for dead ends.

Day 37

Ghosts appear to guard all the obelisks. I have a suspicion on what happened to Falagar when he died. He either attacked ghosts or was eaten in a deamon cave.


Well, now that he’s here he may as well pick them up. Except the ore. I have 112 pieces, that’s plenty.

Day 38

Kelzen is apparently a mountain climber in his spare time. He's just going to pass through those mountains.


I see more gargoyles, I wonder if they’ll join.

Day 39

There is an obelisk on the left, so that’s probably a dead end. I’ll just keep following the gargoyle guards and wow them with the stache.


There was little wowing that day.


It’s barely even worth it for the experience. It all follows the exact same set of steps.


Next please.


See what I mean?

You what, this swamp and it's uneventful encounters bore me. I’ll see you next update where I no doubt bumble about some more and maybe locate the enemy warlock with either or both of my heroes.