The conclusion of Round 6 and the halfway point of the campaign was a dramatic one—Plummer managed to eliminate the Khadoran command and control center in a brutal game that pitted his larger forces, led by none other than Vyros himself, against Simon’s well-entrenched defenders.

Though the loss was certainly a blow to Simon, it was far from crippling.

The destruction of the Khadoran base, however, was the spark that ignited a wave of construction from the other factions. Hungerford upgraded two of his supply depots to medical centers, which improved the odds of his troops surviving the battlefield. JR and Plummer both established new FOBs, which allowed greater expansion in the coming turns. And Agel upgraded his new FOB into a full-fledged command and control center.

It was clear that all the players were feeling the pressure of the nearing Athanc wagon, as Round 7 quickly became the bloodiest battle yet. The following is the update email I sent at the start of the round.

As the third season of campaigning begins, the trumpets of war call out across the land.

In the west, the Retribution’s daring assault against the Khadoran command center was victorious. To add insult to injury following their victory, the Iosans claimed the remains of the former Khadoran base as their own and built their own forward base over the ashes of their enemy!

On the heels of the Retribution’s victory, the Trollbloods look like they will make good on their oaths of friendship with their new Retribution allies. The Trollbloods are taking the fight directly to the newly established Convergence base and pitting the fury of the trolls against the clockwork might of the Convergence.

Seeking vengeance for the betrayal at the hands of their former allies, the Convergence mobilized a force to take back the Orgoth Ruins; however, the commotion of battle above has awoken a sinister force from below, as an ancient evil boils forth from the earth.

In the north, the Trollbloods are moving to retake Demonhead Pass from the foul clutches of Cryx and are initiating battle upon the precarious and deadly cliffs of the area.

Meanwhile the Circle and Cryx forces are both moving to secure valuable information on the Athanc wagon. Both forces know better than most the true value of the prize that has brought so many forces in this region into conflict.

To the south, the Minion forces attempted once more to recapture Rimmocksdale from the heavily entrenched Retribution army, which managed to hold out despite being completely surrounded and cut off. The Minions’ bold determination has provided critical resources for the bulk of their forces fighting in the west.

While the Minion forces seek a reckoning with the elves, they have not lost sight of their ultimate goal. In hopes of acquiring their own information on the Athanc wagon, the Minions have moved their forces away from Ironhead Station, leaving the vital location open to a force of opportunistic Trollbloods, who moved in to claim it for the United Kriels.

With the Athanc wagon drawing ever closer, each battle fought holds great significance for our commanders, as ultimate victory is currently separated by a hair’s breadth.

With only five rounds left to go, the action will only get more intense as many of the best surprises have yet to come!

’Til next time,
Will