I emerged on day 1, week 2, month 2 through Wyverns with Oil. Right there, a chest guarded by Hydras for 5 Green Dragons. Then, using Cyclopes, I eliminated two birds for two chests granting experience and 25 Grands plus a max Dragon Fly Hive. On day 1, week 2, month 3, I took a Dragon Utopia — Wings, Blackshroud of the Dying, Sandals of the Saint +2, Gold Bag. I scouted the Helm for Friday, but I had no movement. Bishop was not visible, no Vision spell, I passed the turn, getting nervous. Everything is fine — the Helm is ours. I accidentally lost an Angel (even slowed dragons are fast....). I captured the central towns. The Dungeon was located right near Bishop's exit. He had Green Dragons and Black Knights. Judging by his gold, he had taken Dragon Utopias. His stats weren't shining, meaning either he's hiding Magic or, more likely, he was given magic stats. I have nothing for Magic Resistance — it's dangerous to go. We decided to clear the center. Many Dragon Fly Hives, gathered about a hundred Wyverns. The Well is very convenient. I constantly gave Oil in the Dragon Fly Hives, as the dragons were causing trouble on auto-combat. I was given another chest for 5 Green Dragons.
I built two level 4 mage guilds. The second one gave Town Portal. We had already planned a move for splitting and studying, but we received a Colossus in a Dragon Utopia. Nevertheless, Town Portal came in handy for the scouts.
Bishop emerged on the third month, took the Dungeon, and dove into a second snow respawn. I retook the Dungeon and then, every day until the end of the game, I stayed there with my main hero — it was too strategic. I wasn't allowed to scope out the center. He had two scouts there. I had to dig up a scout on a fake to reach one. Of course, my elevated mood changed to the opposite, as I saw Bishop had Control, but unlike me, he clearly moves farther. He has more experience in this running around, it's scary :( I also blundered and overwrote two Green Dragons. I found and delivered an Air Magic Scroll (I overwrote right then, having previously failed to recruit the scout on dragons, but having already split the scout with the scroll). An artifact for Morale also helped.
The running around began, scout battles, searching for useful artifacts. I needed 5 artifacts for complete peace of mind: 1) Bracers of Protection, 2) Breastplate, 1 all of the Alliance, 3) Boots of Speed, 4) Cape of Velocity or Cloak of the Undead King, 5) Colossus to arm if needed. It was also critical that Bishop did not have the Bracers.
The roads on his respawn were extremely long, everything was very hard to contest, countless times back and forth. The birds saved me thanks to the first strike, of course.
Out of the five needed artifacts, I found the Colossus and the Breastplate. I bought two artifacts from the Artifact Merchant in the town on AOTD, but not for myself — just so Bishop wouldn't get them :D I assembled the Elixir of Life.
On day 6, week 6, month 4, I managed to cover Gundula. She was standing on Friday and one stack of Titans. I was preparing to contest the center. Alliance + Cape of Velocity with an Imp in the main stack helped me win.
Thank you for the game!
