RoE2 epilogue

[DM B]

Where to start?

RoE2 was a GREAT game.

I had loads of fun, again and again. Lots of great players, lots of great moments.

I really would have liked to have carried it through for 20 turns, but as you all noticed I could not - the game became an excessive in stopping and resuming...until it reached the point where no amount of prodding could make me move it forward.

I'm going to have to do this in multiple parts. If you want to comment I'd like for you to do it in an appropriate OOC thread; maybe this one:

http://www.twilightpeaks.net/forum/index.php?topic=2401.0

[DM B]

The basic premise of RoE2 was this:

Reuse what was good from RoE1, but move it forward a handful of years so that changes could be easily explained!

RoE2 was never supposed to be a DIRECT continuation of the old, more like based upon the events depicted in RoE1. I guess there were a lot of similarities though, but a lot changed as well - both on the surface and 'under the hood'.

RoE2 was supposed to run for only one chapter (20 turns).

---

RoE2 assumes that:

The Gorgon will rise again. He got his ass kicked by the Iron King back in RoE1, but he's not about give up. So throughout RoE there will be a sense of a darkness gathering in the (North)East (if the players pay attention at any rate). Please not that 'ass kicked' only applied to his current military assets; much of his realm was untouched - and the vast network of spies and other agents he's infiltrated Anuire with are still in place, ready for activation with the time is right...

The Red Wind has found his faith in the One True God and become his no. 1 prophet. So he'll go to Anuire to preach the word and try to gain converts. I was a bit anxious to see how many players I could hook, but it actually played out very well, with the meeting between Kaven Enlien and the Red Wind making it into the Top 10 RoE Moments. It was also going to be fun to see whether this new threat would unite the temples or further split them apart, and help Anuire or weaken it in the face of the threat of the Gorgon.

That was my canvas. I added to this domain descriptions with wildly conflicting agendas and let human (player) nature run its course!

[DM B]

MIERES

Under the wise leadership of Governor Vaumel Mieres entered a period of prosperity and peace. Behind the scenes all was not quiet, however; the Governor went south to distant Eustan and witnessed firsthand the religious zeal of the followers of the One True God. Later he would see the Faith taking hold in his own land - and he would until his death contemplate the same question; did his own expedition bring the One True God to Mieres?

Vaumel's appointed heir eventually assumed the regency of Mieres as Canneth I Coereone, Baron of Serien and Lord Governor of the Principality of Mieres. He would have his hands full with the New Faith clashing with the old, upseting the old balances between gold, land, gods and magic...not to mention the presence of Avanese expeditionary forces in the western part of his realm and a growing Avanese influence at court. A lesser ruler might have faltered, but Canneth I proved his mettle and weathered the storm - helped in no small part by his conversion to the New Faith...and the Gorgon's assault upon Anuire demaning all of Avanil's attention. During the dark years that followed Canneth I did much for southern Anuire; spreading the Faith, battling the invaders and helping the people. Were it not for him it is likely that the entire region would have fallen into ruin...

[DM B]

IHH

Pontiff Wallac I never relinquished his title, even when the Concalve called for it. From that time it was clear that the IHH and it's allies would walk their own path, separate from the Conclave. Thus there would be two Pontificates. For a time Wallac held court in Ilien, but eventually the demands of the Crusade (HIS Crusade) called him East. He never returned to Anuire, but spent his remaining days trying to create a new religious hegemony based on the Crusade's conquests.

The IHH fared reasonably well despite Wallac's absence - leadership of the Anuirean temples fell to Cardinal Isilviere, the IHH's former ambassador to the Anuirean Conclave, now returned to his old haunts. Unfortunately he could not foresee the growing faith in the One in Ilien and was powerless to prevent the city of Sails from slipping though his fingers. He was also, in the end, unable to protect his flock from the minions of the Gorgon when they swept across the land. He died bravely, sword in hand and was accept into Haelyn's Hall to sit at his table.

[DM B]

HA

The Aegis would perform its role amicably; when the Gorgon's armies rolled across the wilds of Morcosoer they were at the forefront of the defense of Anuire. When the legions of darkness advanced across Mhoried they fought alongside the Mhor. High Marshal Robahn was gravely injured during one brutal melee; he survived, but was never again able to lead his men in battle. A group of loyal men took him north to Sonnelind and left him in the care of the Bastion of Truth. Bereft of his land and his men Robhan became an adviser to the Baron of Dhoesone, and eventually became and important figure in the political and religious life in the Northern Marches and along the Tael Firth.

Without their august leader the knights of the Aegis fractured into smaller groups, each fighting on as best it could. Brave men continued the fight in a thousand small ways, striking from hidden strongholds in the Stonecrow Mountains and generally making life difficult for the invaders. When the call came many surviving bands of Aegis knights joined their banners to those already serving under Moergan of Thasbyrn, the Shield of Anuire, roving across the length and breadth of Anuire in defense of land.

[DM B]

ALAMIE

Alamie was badly mauled by the Gorgon's legions, but was able to hold long enough for the ruling family and their closest supporters to flee north and find refuge with Robin Ghonall in the Five Peaks. Things would have been much worse had not the treachery of Mourten Vraesil, Lord Chancellor of Alamie, been exposed. For who knows how many years the man had labored for a secret master - the Gorgon. Were it not for the timely return of Duchess Anasatiae Daulton from her pilgrimage to the Five Peaks all would have been lost. As it were the Chancellor was exposed - and was killed trying to murder the Ducal family out of sheer desperation and spite.

Surviving elements of Alamie's armies fell back in good order under the iron-fisted Moerlan, the Duke's brother, eventually crossing the river and finding refuge in Tuornen. Moerlan joined his forces to those of Duchess Flaertes, gaining enough time for Avanese reinforcements to relieve the first siege of Haes, even as Lofton burned across the river. Later the Duke tied his fate to that of Moergan Thasbyrn, helping defend Anuire against the shadowspawn. His son and heir went on to become a ranking officer. Anasatiae gave Carilon three more children before passing away in childbirth. The Duke died of grief and old age not long after.

[DM B]

TUORNEN

Tuornen quickly recovered from the wars that had briefly touched it and entered a period of price and prosperity. Underneath the surface their was a lot going on; the great powers maneuvered by diplomacy and subterfuge against one another, seeking to gain even a small advantage. More of then than not the Duchess was preoccupied by balancing the needs of her neighbors against one another, while trying to keep her realm free over outside influence.

Mhoried's and Alamie's valiant defenses bought time for Tuornen to prepare - and the addition of Alamie's armies to her own meant that she had the strength to break the first siege of Haes (admittedly with the aid of a sizable Avanese expeditionary force). But with the threat of the Gorgon seemingly gone Anavil and Boeruine once again fell to quarreling, each reluctant to give up Tuornen to the other. When Ghoere joined its forces to the second of the Gorgon's armies it took Tuornen by surprise; cutting deep into the kingdom and trapping the defending armies against the mountains. Haes burned - as did much of the rest of Tuornen - but the royal family was able to flee to Tenarien and find refuge there. The Duchess was not among those that fled, choosing instead to remain with her people. The Duchess' children all went on to make names for themselves; Dalton as a knight and lord, Telaena as a priestess of Laerme and Gilgaed as one of Bradonnal Tuare's trusted men.

[DM B]

MOC

The MOC continued to gain in power, if not in prestige, wisely choosing to ignore the Crusade and other distractions in favor of consolidation and expansion at home. Leman States took his obligations very seriously when the Gorgon came-a-knocking, sending the bulk of his forces to aid Mhoried and the HA. He is said to have survived an assassination attempt staged by werewolves and vampires only to learn of Duke Hiriele's treachery the day after. Incensed at this outrage - and seeing that Mhoried was a lost cause - Leman marched back home to set things straight only to find himself surrounded and outnumbered by a great margin. Sensing a trap closing States fought his way out and headed East, hoping to find safe haven among the very Crusade he had so vehemently decried.

[DM B]

ELINIE

Poor Elinie. So wracked by war and plagued by internal strife. No sooner had the eminent Patriarch managed to restore his realm's fortunes before it was swept away by the second prong of the Gorgon's assault. Again there was treachery; this time as House al-Rasshad sought to get back at the Daouta clan form some slight, real or imagined. The Patriarch and his household murdered, the capital fallen, the countryside ablaze. Units of the army would find refuge in neighboring realms, some of them gaining a considerable reputation as mercenaries. Quite a few flocked to Moergan's banner when the time came and granted him a considerable advantage in light cavalry.

[DM B]

PETG

The PETG fared as poorly as did the realms of the Eastern Marches; her holdings burned and sacked, the guildsmen put to the sword after having been robbed blind. Of Elamien; her fate is not known. Some say she died, childless to the end, at the side of her husband. Others claim she slipped away into the shadows. Others still claim she was in on the murder. Perhaps she lives, perhaps she does not.

But Points East endured, nay prospered. The seeds of an eastern trade empire had already been sown. From Coeranys and the Iron Peaks and deep into Brechtür and Khinasi lands her holdings stretched. Competent and loyal servants carried diligently on even after the loss of their head office and leadership. Much revenue was generated - and the lands touched by Points East prospered (as well as could be hoped for during such a bleak age).

[DM B]

COERANYS

Baron William spent much of his time and the resources of his realm campaigning in the East, primarily against the Swordhawk and his cronies. He gained much glory, but his realm did not benefit much. When the attack came it looked for a time like the Gorgon's armies would leave Coeranys be altogether. Alas it was not to be. Following the conquest of much of the heartlands the invaders sent a secondary army to ravage the lowlands. The Baron had ample warning though, and many of his people escaped into the Chimaeron, Baruk-Azhik and even the Sielwode. Baron William continued his service to Duke William in the East, but deep in his heart he longed for the day when Coeranys would once again be free.

[DM B]

OSOERDE

The story of Osoerde is a sad one. Deeply embroiled in conflicts both at home and abroad the lord of Oserde could do little to aid Elinie when the Gorgon washed across the borders. They must have though themselves fortunate when those armies turned west and marched across the Grey Hills. Alas is was but a feint; and Ghoere's iron legions descended upon the unsuspecting Osoerdeans, washing away their feeble defenses. Duchess Marlae tried to get away to warn her husband in the East, but was run down and...well, her fate is too grim to be detailed here.

In the East the story is a different one; Duke William made great gains there, wrestling with the Swordhawk and eventually casting him down. Ballads are sung about his courage and martial prowess. If the world had turned differently he might have become a threat on the flank of the Gorgon - perhaps so much so that the invasion of Anuire never would have happened. Alas the Duke did not know this and instead sent many of his forces south to help the Crusaders with the endless troubles they had gotten themselves into. The Duke died from an arrow wound upon wide open fields somewhere east of Binsada, leaving his you, but capable son Chaerles to rule his newly forged 'Empire'.

[DM B]

AERENWE

Few realms suffered more than Aerenwe tin the first half of the 16th Century HC. Endless rebellions, civil wars and invasion. No sooner had one crisis passed before a new clamity befell Aerenwe. Such was the era of the the Swordwraiths; they rose to power - and fell from grace - and returned again - and were ousted from power. Again and again. To their credit they never gave up. Though perhaps it would have been better for all if they had.

When the Gorgon's legions came calrie was a priority target in the middle stages of the invasion, for the Gorgon feared that the Eastern Crusaders might be tempted to return to Anuire by ship and land in Calrie. Therefore he decreed that Calrie must be destroyed and the Berendor made unsuitable for shipping. And so it was. The invaders devastated the countryside for good measure, driving the survivors into the Erebannien or west towards Roesone.

[DM B]

ETN

For a time the star of the ETN shone brightly. The High Priestess acted as the steward of Calrie following the Osoerdan invasion. She enjoyed modest popularity in the Conclave and her priests followed the Eastern Crusade, winning converts and support for the ETN.

But all was not well. In Mieres the New Faith was spreading, often at the expense of the ETN. In other areas the ETN was slowly marginalized and the THB gained more and more power and independence. Then came the Gorgon's invasion and the devastation of the temples of Anuire. The High Priestess burned along with the rest of Calrie - but her twins were carried to safety across the Gulf of Coeranys, protected and blessed by the Goddess.

In the following years a new temple dedicated to Nesirie would emerge in devastated Anuire - separate, but generally true to the teachings of the ETN. In the East the ETN would gain a great following along the coasts of Khinasi lands, eventually incorporating many elements of the Eastern faiths into its dogma.

[DM B]

BELLAMIE

The Barony of Bellamie fared extremely poorly; in the span of a decade it was totally devastated. First came much hardship following the Osoerdan invasion of Aerenwe. Then came the Gorgon and all that followed. Of Baron Bellamie and his blood nothing remains but ruins and old tales.