Editing A New Ally (section)

=== Timed events ===
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{{TErow| 1 |day 1|My battles with [[Kija]]'s [[Barbarian]]s slowed me down enough that I've lost [[Gelu]].  We know he was heading north, but he is so far ahead of me now that I'm afraid I won't catch up to him in time.<p>I have to face the possibility that [[Gelu]] might beat me to the [[Sword of Frost]].  But would that be such a bad thing?  Yes, the [[Ancestors]] told me that if the [[Sword of Frost]] and [[Armageddon's Blade (artifact)|Armageddon's Blade]] should ever meet, it would bring about the destruction of the world.  But can [[Gelu]] be foolish enough to allow that to happen?<p>But no matter how good his intentions, [[Gelu]] cannot stop the unpredictable.  [[Kija]]'s presence here in the north is evidence of that.  What would happen if she were to obtain the [[Sword of Frost]]?  Horror!<p>So, to strengthen my own forces I've decided to enlist the help of the [[Azure Dragon]]s.  Some of these pompous, but supremely powerful creatures live in the region.  I need only to find them.}}
{{TErow| 5 |day 5|A [[Harpy]] scout returned to camp today with horrible news.  [[Kija]]'s [[Barbarian]]s are in the north.  Somehow, they circled around me and, once again, they block my path.}}
{{TErow| 9 |day 9|My [[Beholder]] spy, [[Neez]], has somehow learned that [[Kija]] left the [[Barbarian]]s in the north to delay me long enough for her to catch up to [[Gelu]].  I've learned that it's best not to ask [[Neez]] how he gets his information.  I'm sure it came at the cost of several dead bodies.<p>"Try to learn where [[Kija]] and [[Gelu]] are headed," I ordered.<p>Then to [[Kilkik]], I said, "We can't be wasting our time on these [[Barbarian]]s!"<p>"Yes, I will begin looking for a weakness," [[Kilkik]] said.}}
{{TErow| 12 |loc={{teal}}|Day 12|freq=14|Knowing that my resources are going to be slim up here in the northern wastes, I've arranged for the [[Dungeon]]s I've left behind to step up production and ship everything they can here to me in the north.  Every two weeks I should receive a huge shipment.<p>I just hope it will be enough.|effect=+3 {{w}} [[Wood]], +10 {{m}} [[Mercury]], +3 {{o}} [[Ore]], +2 {{s}} [[Sulfur]], +5 {{c}} [[Crystal]]s, +2 {{gem}} [[Gems]], +15000 {{g}} [[Gold]]}}
{{TErow| 17 |day 17|[[Kilkik]] entered my tent and immediately held out a large, red crystal shard in one of his ropey tentacles.<p>"What's this?" I asked.<p>"That is our enemy's strength and weakness, [[Overlord]]," [[Kilkik]] said.<p>"Explain."<p>"It seems that the [[Barbarian]], [[Kija]], is not a brainless savage.  She has somehow gained the ability to manufacture [[Crystal Dragon]]s.  These powerful [[Dragon]]s are stronger than anything we have at the moment, but it requires a lot of Crystal to build them.  They will be forced to focus their entire production toward Gold and Crystal - which means if we can control all their Crystal we will keep them weak."<p>I pace back and forth, tossing the single crystal in my hand.  I've faced [[Crystal Dragon]]s before.  They are capable of tearing an army to pieces.  Now, I need the [[Azure Dragon]]s more than ever!}}
{{TErow| 22 |day 22|Some of my scouts have uncovered a huge cache of Gold and Mercury in the far northwest.  Unfortunately, this treasure is guarded by a group of [[Green Dragon]]s.  I assume this stash belongs to [[Gelu]], something he left behind for an emergency.  Not only could I use those resources, but I also have to keep [[Gelu]] from getting them.}}
{{TErow| 25 |day 25|A single [[Medusa]] approached between the watchful gaze of [[Neez]] and [[Kilkik]].  She prostrated herself before me.  Ever since her kind tried to kill me, the [[Medusa]]s have been getting fewer rations and a smaller share of the treasure.  They've been trying to get back on my good side.  And now, one of them practically begged to talk to me.<p>"What do you want?" I asked.<p>"Once again, [[Overlord]], we apologize for the behaviour of some of our sisters and hope that you can forgive us.  We have brought you some news.  Many of my sisters risked their lives and died to bring you this information," the [[Medusa]] said.<p>I reached out and grabbed a handful of the [[Medusa]]'s wiggling tendrils of snake hair.<p>"One more is going to die if she doesn't spit it out!" I shouted.<p>"The [[Azure Dragon]]s, [[Overlord]]!  We've found them!"<p>"Where?"<p>"Beyond a magic portal, one that glows with a teal light, but my sisters ran into one of those [[Dragon]]s.  All were killed, but myself," she said.}}
{{TErow| 30 |day 30|"Not only will we have to battle the arrogant [[Azure Dragon]]s before they will agree to join you," says [[Neez]], who has been researching the creatures, "but they also require massive quantities of Gold and Mercury.  You might want to consider saving for them now."<p>"I'll think about it," I said, and since it had been a while since I've had one of my 'fits', I tore the shirt off my back and threw it at the Beholder.<p>"It hurts!" I shouted, scratching at my skin.<p>I ran outside and jumped half-naked into the snow, rolling around in it as if I were on fire.  By the time I finished, I had gathered quite a crowd.  I turned on [[Neez]].<p>"Find the one who cast that spell on me," I ordered.<p>"Uh, what spell, [[Overlord]]?"<p>"The one that set my shirt on fire, of course!  Now, go!" I said and retired to my tent again.<p>Once I was in private, I chuckled to myself.  The expression on [[Neez]]'s ugly face had been priceless.  The [[Beholder]] would spend hours trying to figure out a way to handle my insane orders.  In the end, he will come to me and lie, stating that he had found and killed the culprit.<p>My chuckle turns into a laugh when I think of my answer.<p>"What culprit?  I don't know what you're talking about," I will say.}}
{{TErow| 35 |day 35|[[Neez]] reported today that although he hasn't been able to track down anyone close enough to [[Gelu]] to know where the [[Elf]] was headed, he has learned much about my enemy's troops.<p>Apparently, [[Gelu]] confides only in two of his followers.  Both are loyal [[Ranger]]s who joined the [[Forest Guard]] around the same time as [[Gelu]].  The three are inseparable, but if [[Gelu]]'s mission was suitably threatened one of them might attempt to stop us.<p>"One of [[Gelu]]'s friends, a [[Dwarf]] named [[Ufretin]], is prone to acts of bravery and sacrifice.  I believe we could capture this man," [[Neez]] said.<p>"Well, first we'll have to engage [[Gelu]]'s troops.  Begin putting your plans in motion.  Soon as we get the [[Azure Dragon]]s on our side, that should pose enough of a threat for us to lure this [[Dwarf]] away," I said.<p>Inside, I cringed.  I knew this [[Dwarf]], [[Ufretin]].  He was a brave fighter and a good person.  I'm not sure if I can allow [[Neez]] and [[Kilkik]] to torture the answers I need out of him.<p>Curse the [[Ancestors]] for this!  I thought I was supposed to save lives - not destroy them!}}
{{TErow| 38 |day 38|[[Neez]] presented his plan for the capture of the [[Dwarf]], [[Ufretin]], to me this morning and I accepted it.  [[Gelu]] and the others will never realize what hit them.<p>And then my two [[Beholder]] advisors informed me that their interrogations of [[Barbarian]] prisoners have turned up little information.  [[Kija]] is simply following [[Gelu]] as we are.  She hopes to snatch the [[Sword of Frost]] from [[Gelu]] the moment he finds it.<p>Now, I only need to find out what [[Gelu]] knows of the [[Sword of Frost]].  Unfortunately, it looks like that information is going to cost the life of a good man.}}
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