The Ruin of Fomoria 4

- Enough is enough. I have made my mind. I will take... a decision!
The Council fell silent. All stared at the bold lord who had committed to action.
- Fomorians, at least nominally, rule Fomoria. They should know what's going on! They should take measures! Organize meetings about the Fir Bolg situation!
- Wasn't it you who persuaded us to inflict them the silent treatment, years ago?
- Times have changed. Now, follow me. No way am I telling them this story without some backup.
So we all went down the stairs, we left the holy castle of the Nemedians and we took a cramped ferry boat that carried us all to the Isle of Balor.
- Hold your spears! Something's fishy.
There was not a sound on the island. Everywhere, bodies of Fomorians. Not dead, unless dead people snore. A powerful, fruity stink permeated the place. A scattered few awake Fomorians were trying to stand or to finish their sentence.
The bold lord respectfully knocked awake a guard in front of what could pass for the city hall. The freaks are no builders.
- Nah we're not attacked, lil' buddy. Hips! You'll find His Lordship over there; meditating on his throne and stuff.
The place was a large cabin. You could know a powerful sorcerer lived there: a smell of darkness, a damp energy tainted the air. The High Lords of Nemedia started breathing through the mouth, and the bold one began knocking on the door. To no avail until...
- CAN'T AN HONEST MAN NOT TAKE A DUMP IN PEACE ANYMORE?
We all turned the glamour on and proceeded to the nearest exit in moderate panic, except for the bold one. He began to tell his piece to the King through the door.
- SOMEBODY IS TRYING TO CONCENTRATE!
We left the fool on the Isle and have filed this operation as a moderate success. Unanimously, we agreed upon a meeting to discuss the last turn of events. Things are moving on!

Fittingly, my empire is located at the West of the world and not far from subterranean waters. The three closest Thrones of Ascension are located North, East and South.
I am rushing North, towards the throne on the giant tree. I can really use both bless effects and any help to my weak starting dominion. After I get it, I plan to consolidate this part of my empire and have a Fomorian King conquer the Southern throne. I will probably summon a Black Servant first to explore the place because I have no amphibian scout and a blind attack might be a tad too bold.
The Eastern throne might be more contested. Another Fomorian King will be tasked with its conquest. By then I will have met other empires and none of my plans will have survived contact with them.

The Ruin of Fomoria 3

It had been one tense Council session. The assembly had been copiously Itoldyouso-ed by the Chief Treasurer. The Fir Bolg rabble had been allowed too much leeway. Prior to that, an envoy from the King of Nardago had been pleading for our armies to stop their ongoing invasion. His long-winded speech about the long-standing tradition of peace between our peoples had been met with long faces. None of us had any idea what he had been talking about. That is, until Angus confirmed that troops led by Breadan, the renegade Fir Bolg general, were indeed in the process of occupying the land of good old King of Nardago, he who would always remember sending wine at Samhain. It appears that the rebel did in fact survive the treacherous woods of Cun Aral.
And then there was this small foreign fellow, Captain Dante. The man had dared to ask us for guides and directions to Nardago. He mistook our frowns for ignorance and darted out of the chamber with his guards, in the middle of a stern lecture about the proper way to address Nemedian lords.



1. Fir Bolg Scout - 25 gold, 10 resources
My first scout. If I decide to make a career in bow-building, I could use his good Precision (12). Stealthy 50.

2. Fir Bolg Champion - 40 gold, 12 resources
Standard commander. Leadership 60.

3. Fir Bolg Druid - 70 gold, 2 resources
A1 + 100% WEN. I typically buy some in early game. The Fomorian Druid has more battlemagic value and more overall strategic value due to better Air.

4. Fomorian Scout - 45 gold, 19 resources
Stealthy 40. Never bought any. I don't know what I would use one for. Perhaps in late game, with stealth equipment, in order to make sure my intelligence network resists bad globals?

5. Fomorian Champion - 60 gold, 29 resources
I don't buy those. Leadership 60, I'd rather buy a cheaper Fir Bolg Champion.

6. Unmarked Champion - 130 gold, 29 resources
Sacred, H1, Leadership 80. Excellent unit to lead armies and carry important items.

7. Fomorian Druid - 200 gold, 3 resources
Sacred, H1A2 + 100% WDN. The N1 ones are going to search sites.

8. Fomorian King - 480 gold, 37 resources, STR and cap-only
Sacred, H2A3D2 + 110% AWD. Leadership 120, Amphibian, Sailing. Their two main purposes will be bless duty and ferrying troops over vast distances. Whenever possible, they will search sites.

9. Nemedian Champion - 165 gold, 25 resources, cap-only
Sacred, H1A1D1. Leadership 80, Glamour. Competes with the Kings for recruitment. When the opportunity arises, I will hire some.

10. Nemedian Sorceress - 240 gold, 1 resource, cap-only
A2D2 + 110% AWDN. Maintenance costs equal to a King, with none of the utility. I usually never hire any.

11. Fir Bolg Slinger - 11 gold, 2 resources
I rarely buy those.

12. Fir Bolg Warrior with axe - 13 gold, 9 resources
I never buy those.

13. Fir Bolg Warrior with spear and javelin - 13 gold, 10 resources
The staple of Fomorian armies built outside of the capital.

14. Fomorian Militia - 15 gold, 3 resources
I heard they are useful for sieges. I never use them, but I understand the point.

15. Fomorian Javelinist - 20 gold, 15 resources
I never hire them.

16. Fomorian Spearman - 20 gold, 17 resources
I never hire them.

17. Fomorian Warrior - 30 gold, 27 resources
I never hire them. Are they worth three Fir Bolg Warriors? I don"t think so. If I know I need meaty troops, I might change my mind, but then again maybe not. One good troop is not worth three okay ones.

18. Unmarked - 55 gold, 27 resources, cap-only
Sacred. My second choice after Fomorian Giant.

19. Fomorian Giant - 75 gold, 37 resources, cap-only
Sacred. My first choice. At first I can hire only one a turn. I need them to conquer the seas and scare everybody.

20. Nemedian Warrior - 30 gold, 22 resources, cap-only
I buy some when there are leftlover resources, or in very late game. 

I found a first magic site without searching. It is an Astral site. I do not know if it is related to the Luck of the dominion, but thank you very much I'll take it -I will have lots of use for astral pearls in the future; for example, forging shields that will make my H2 Kings into Divine Blessing casters. Two E1 random druids are searching for sites at the moment.

The Ruin of Fomoria 2

Angus is standing in front of me, sweating in spite of the cold. Worst spring in history. The scout has deemed the news important enough to rush through the unending staircase of Rath Chimbalth. The man takes a peek at the black treetops on the horizon. I follow his gaze.
- So that's where the calling called him, huh? And the warriors with him... doomed.
North of Fomoria stands the dark forest of Cun Aral. For generations we have been at peace with the Bloodhenge Druids who haunt it. The occasional misfortune of some rogue hunter, charcoal maker or wandering mushroom amateur reminded the commoners that the woods were off limits. Rumors at the village wells depicted bloody offerings involving those who would not heed the warnings.
- What's worse, looks like he enlisted Old Gwynn, who was on guard duty at the vault. Together they appropriated the bulk of the national treasure and spent perhaps a fourth of it to hire a retinue of ugly giant beasts from beyond the sea.
- Chief Treasurer Llodhwwebhewe will be furious. The next phase of the master plan will need to be postponed. By six months, one year... Seize the bastard in the unlikely event he manages to escape the forest.

After prophetizing my first commander, I send him to conquer the forest province with the help of mercenaries. My theory is that elephants eat dark vines. Dom3 veterans can note I hired a Fir Bolg druid, new addition to the national roster and an occasional student of Earth magic. The money will be tight at first and I will buy quite a few of those in the first year. Later on their utility will diminish and I hope to find cheaper, independent options for magical research.