Editing The Capture (section)

=== Timed events ===
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{{TErow| 1 |day 1|I pushed my troops hard and fast to catch up to [[Gelu]].  Those that couldn't keep up were left behind.  It is the [[Nighon]] way.  Unfortunately, I marched too far, too fast.  Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the Elven troops.<p>I knew this plan was risky when I first heard it, but it would take a risk such as this to learn where [[Gelu]] expects to find the [[Sword of Frost]].  Just as [[Neez]] predicted, [[Ufretin]] remained behind.  But [[Neez]] didn't foresee the [[Dwarf]]'s ingenuity.  [[Ufretin]] waited for my forces to catch up to him before he came out of hiding, attacking quickly.<p>That first ambush cost me dearly, nearly crippling my army.  Then he gave me an opportunity to surrender.  That was his mistake.  By backing off, [[Ufretin]] has given me an opportunity to dig in and rebuild my forces.  Let him think I'm too weak to fight.  Soon, his compassion will come back to bite him.}}
{{TErow| 7 |day 7|A messenger from [[Ufretin]] came today demanding my surrender.<p>"We have given you more time than you deserve," the messenger said, "If you don't drop your weapons now, we will kill every last one of you!"<p>I nodded, and a moment later an arrow appeared in the messenger's arm.  I stepped in front of the man, who looked up into my eyes knowing that he had made a terrible miscalculation.<p>"When you wake, go tell your boss he better make sure I'm dead next time, because I will never give up!"<p>Then I punched the messenger so hard I felt his jaw shatter beneath my knuckles.<p>It felt good.  That's what frightened me.}}
{{TErow| 9 |day 9|"The [[Dwarf]], [[Ufretin]], commands his army from behind a gate in the south," my advisor, [[Kilkik]], informed me this morning.  "Unfortunately, we cannot pass through this gate without visiting the Green [[Keymaster's Tent]] first."<p>"And where do I find this Tent?" I asked.  I pretended not to care as I ate my breakfast.<p>"Some of my spies have found it northwest of here, but the enemy has surrounded them.  We'll have to hurry.  They will protect the Tent as long as they can," [[Kilkik]] said.<p>I nodded, dismissing him with a wave of my hand.}}
{{TErow| 10 |loc={{blue}}|day 10 - computer|freq=7|For Computer - DO NOT TRANSLATE|effect=+60 {{c}} [[Crystal]]s, +45000 {{g}} [[Gold]]}}
{{TErow| 16 |day 16|Despite his bold behaviour in the past, [[Ufretin]] has been cautious so far.  He refuses to face me in the open field despite numerous challenges.  I even allowed [[Neez]] and [[Kilkik]] to display some of the tortured prisoners outside [[Ufretin]]'s gate.  Nothing.<p>So, [[Ufretin]] isn't stupid, and now he probably suspects that I up to something.  Why else would I stay and fight when I could flee and continue my pursuit of [[Gelu]]?<p>None of that matters.  [[Ufretin]] committed himself to this battle.  He knows that I will come after him sooner or later, which only means that he will be well prepared for my arrival.}}
{{TErow| 22 |loc={{teal}}|day 22|[[Neez]] and [[Kilkik]] brought a dozen [[Troglodyte]]s before me today, accusing them of losing the 2100 Gold they were transporting from one of my mines.<p>"I need all the Gold I can get!  How can you lose that much?" I shouted.<p>The [[Troglodyte]]s couldn't answer, choosing instead to cower and plead for their lives.  [[Neez]], however, offered a possible scenario.<p>"They probably went to sleep and didn't post a guard.  [[Elves]] aren't above stealing when they need to.  Who else would take the Gold but leave these scum alive and well?" [[Neez]] said.<p>"Sleeping!"  I slapped the nearest [[Troglodyte]] hard enough to knock it unconscious.<p>What was I going to do?  Showing mercy with these workers would make me appear weak.  Mistakes of this calibre were always punished in the same way.  Death.<p>But I couldn't execute them.<p>"You are the luckiest scum I have ever met!" I said.<p>[[Neez]] squinted at me curiously, and said, "Lucky?  How are they lucky?"<p>I threw my weapon on the ground.<p>"Because I can't kill them today, and I really want to!  But I had a dream last night that told me I would die in battle with an Elven arrow through my neck if I killed any of my own troops today," I explained.<p>I glared at the [[Neez]] and then at the [[Troglodyte]]s with my eyes as wide as possible, hoping that they would realize this was just one of my moments of insanity.  My [[Beholder]] advisor, however, just scowled at me.  He was not pleased.  I wasn't going to get away with this one.<p>"But I have another idea," I said quickly.  I marched in front of the hapless [[Troglodyte]]s and to them I said, "I have a mission for you, men!  I want you to march on the [[Rampart]] of my enemy, the [[Dwarf]] [[Ufretin]].  You will bring him back to me, alive.  Just to be sure you follow your orders, my advisor, [[Neez]] will accompany you."<p>The [[Troglodyte]]s, who a moment ago thought they were safe, now appeared crestfallen.  How could such a small number conquer so many [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]]?  It was a suicide mission.<p>"But [[Overlord]]..." [[Neez]] said.  He realized that his own life would be in danger as well.<p>"Oh, don't you worry, [[Neez]]!  I'm not asking you to attack the [[Rampart]] - just to watch over these [[Troglodyte]]s until they have captured the [[Dwarf]] or died trying.  Whichever comes first?  Do as I order, because tomorrow I am no longer restricted from slaying my own troops!"<p>At least this way, the poor [[Troglodyte]]s had a chance - even if it was a miniscule one.  Unfortunately, something had to be done about [[Neez]].  I could tell by his look that I had just earned another enemy.|effect=-2100 {{g}} [[Gold]]}}
{{TErow| 26 |day 26|[[Kilkik]] floated into my tent this morning with a menacing look on his face.  I knew the [[Beholder]] wouldn't be foolish enough to attack me one-on-one, but there was something in his dark eye that told me [[Kilkik]] no longer felt any loyalty toward me.<p>So, I stood and called, "I want to introduce you to someone, [[Kilkik]].  [[Trongar]]!"<p>A secret slit in the back of my tent parted and a massive, black [[Minotaur King]] stepped inside.  He had to bow his great head to avoid tearing the ceiling of my tent.<p>"[[Kilkik]], meet [[Trongar]], my new bodyguard.  I hired him last night," I said.<p>[[Kilkik]] studied the [[Minotaur]] for a long time, realizing now that I was twice as powerful as before.<p>"So, why have you come here, [[Kilkik]]?" I asked.<p>"To report some bad news," [[Kilkik]] said.  "The [[Troglodyte]]s you sent to capture [[Ufretin]] were killed before they even reached his [[Rampart]].  An Elven ambush!  Unfortunately, our loyal companion, [[Neez]], was slaughtered as well!"<p>"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!  I really am," I said.  "You may go now.  Leave me to my grief."<p>Once I was alone with [[Trongar]], I tossed him a heavy bag of Gold.<p>"That one's dangerous," [[Trongar]] said.<p>"Yes, I know, but he just lost his strongest ally.  It will take him a while to regain his power," I said.<p>Just before [[Trongar]] left the tent, I said, "Good work, by the way.  I assume the [[Medusa]]s used Elven arrows to make it look like our enemy did it."<p>"Yes.  They were all too willing to get back on your good graces - and to get at least partial revenge for the deaths of their sisters," [[Trongar]] said.<p>I smiled, but inside my guts were twisting with shame.  This kind of treachery was all too easy for me.}}
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