05.08.13 Sanin (Red, Tower, Neela, Neela) def Grizvald (Blue, Rampart, Kyrre, Kyrre) 8mm6a 323

One of the most epic games I have ever played.
After the first week, I didn't want to continue: the roads (medium) were incredibly long. By the end of the week, I had only managed to run Neela to the end of the respawn, dove Tamika into the underground, but the road there led to a village and was no shorter. I eventually gave up on Necromancy and started leveling Neela instead. Built Naga in the Citadel, there's an external dwelling of mages and an external market (which later prevented me from completely collapsing). In the corner treasure zone, there's a Dragon Utopia, scouted three Griffin Conservatories, but the roads...

In the second week, it turned out that the trek to the Dungeon was just as long (if not longer). I only took it on day 131. From my part of the center, I managed to snag the gloves. At home, Giants are in the Castle.

On day 132, Kyrre bursts into the center and in one go takes the Dragon Fly Hive there. My troops managed to retreat home. Neela tries to break through on the brown player's spawn, which turned out to be not so easy: the computer had killed everyone in the area... Meanwhile, Enian heads to the border between the village and the main area, captures a +2 HP potion there, and takes Conservatory 2. Then Neela takes Conservatory 3 and, using an Angel, heads to the Dragon Utopia. Enian, meanwhile, climbs into the snow and grabs another level 2 structure there. The Dragon Utopia, frankly, seemed like my only chance. Kyrre is already showing stats 12-12, with Wyverns and Angels, while I have nothing of the sort. Neela levels up moderately poorly: after maxing out Scholarship and Defense, Archery and Air Magic come up, and then I have to take First Aid... At the end of the week, on my part of the center, Iona finds a +3 sword (this is important) and sacrifices herself to pass it on.

Day 143: Neela, with 8 Angels, takes the Dragon Utopia, which is the minimum. It gives a КЗ and a Ring of Health. I lost 2 Angels. But the КЗ alone doesn't solve my problems. I can't leave my corner. The road is very long, Neela didn't get Logistics (she got Attack, Tactics, and Earth Magic). I'm afraid Kyrre will intercept me. From the spawn, my scout heroes fend off a Skull Helmet and a +3 Shield. I still need to find the Breastplate. Scout heroes on secondary heroes scouted a Conservatory, so I head there for now. At the end of the week, I take it; there turned out to be another one too. Total of 7 Angels from two Conservatories, so 13 total.

Kyrre clears a dead-end treasure zone, the entrance to which is from my part of the center. Stats there are around 20 for her, mine are ~10-10. I head to the center with a secondary hero, hoping to finally break out somewhere. Kyrre, of course, immediately rushes to intercept. I manage to capture an enemy village in the center. I build a Black Market there, but it has neither the Breastplate nor the missing Ring of Health. I plan to upgrade the Titans and return the same turn, but something doesn't work out time-wise...

In the sixth week, Kyrre takes my Dungeon and heads towards me. Before dying, I decide to clear the farthest corner of my treasure zone, where the morale/luck pendant is (something at least), and set off, figuring that even if I have to flee, I can replenish mana at home and recast Implosion, but Kyrre is fast, and the encounter doesn't keep me waiting.

226 - first fight (screenshots 1 and 2), Kyrre's stats are twice mine.
Round 1: Implosion on the Archers, Defend for all units. Opponent casts Slayer, Archers charge into the Genies.
Round 2: the Archers fly back. Meteor Shower on the Angels and Titans, which frees my hands. I cast Mass Haste, Wait, and a full assault on the Archers, ending in their death. In the third round, Implosion on the Wyverns and a full assault there. Naturally, with a bunch of moral and luck procs, six survived. Finally, Kyrre casts one more Meteor Shower and flees. Total losses: two Titans, seven Angels, all Genies, and other small units.

It becomes clear that she at least doesn't have the КЗ, and apparently no Control either. I head to the center, emerge through the green portal where the opponent came from, and it turns out the roads on that side of the portal are no shorter. I reached Inferno, captured it; there's a level 5 Mage Guild there. A couple of days later, with nothing better to do, my scout heroes capture a scroll on the spawn, and it has Dimension Door. Around the same time, judging by View Air, Dimension Door appears for Kyrre (this is mid-eighth week). I take back the Dungeon and rush to where Kyrre hasn't been yet. Kyrre, naturally, heads to the same place. Her stats are already three times higher than Neela's. The task is simple: collect the Armor of the Damned / Elixir of Life / or just something for stats, like the Golden Bow... From that treasure zone, I only manage to snatch the Shackles of War. Kyrre, killing my scout heroes, reveals a Red Orb.

From Inferno, I head to where a couple of artifacts are lying, both low-level swords. However, the next turn, I capture an enemy village where Dace is sitting, equipped with — what? — the Breastplate. The Armor of the Damned is assembled. I buy all the Gremlins, Harpies (could have gotten 40+ Eyes, but didn't have enough money even with the market) and on day 316 I offer myself up. Kyrre moves next to me, I check with a scout hero — the Red Orb is equipped, I attack (screenshot 3), and slowly dismantle her. Losses: five Titans, half the Mages, a hundred Gremlins, Golems, and Nagas. After the battle with Kyrre, half the map dropped loot! :) Finally, the Elixir was also assembled.

But there's also Luna with stats there, and a few days later I see both her and Kyrre in the Tavern. Well, Neela is much better prepared for the second part of the Marseillaise ballet than for the first. On day 323, I catch Luna with the Shackles of War, after which surrender follows.

Thanks for the interesting game!