Герои 3 - карта The Nexus(Duel)

События

• How much
  How much? you ask, leaning forward.
• 45,000 gold
  The wizard pauses for a moment. I can weave the spell and construct the gate to Melkonia for a mere 45,000 gold, payable upon completion of the task.
• Too Much
  'Too much! you cry, disgustedly. Totally unacceptable! Why, I could raise an army right here for 45,000 gold! I wouldn't need to travel more than 20 leagues as opposed to... how far did you away did you say this... Melkonia... was? 2,500 leagues?
• Yes... but
  Yes, your excellency, the wizard replies calmly, you could wage war right here, but do you think that wise? Your fiefdom is but a small scrap of coastline clinging to the edges of the Dargadon Empire. Raising an army here would only invite your own destruction.
• Glum Retort
  It galls you to hear him speak thus, but you have no retort. He speaks truely. There is no future for your line here. You are a tadpole among sharks... less than a minor noble, you are benieth notice. 45,000 gold is still too much, you grumble unhappily. It is beyond my means, Wizard.
• The Offer
  Perhaps... there is a way... says the wizard, rubbing his chin, one eyebrow cocked. I could fashion for you a portal that has but one anchor. It would allow you to travel to Melkonia. But once there, you could not return.
• What good is that?
  What good could possibly come to me by travelling through a one way gate, Wizard?
• 10,000 gold
  It is your one chance at greatness, Excellency, the wizard replies. Melkonia is a land ripe for the plucking. Large and untamed, lightly guarded and unorganized. There, you can carve for yourself an empire! All I ask is 10,000 gold and I can give you that empire!
• For a 1-way gate
  For a one way portal...
• Yes
  Yes, a one way portal...
• Done
  Done!
• Payment
  Later that day, the wizard weaves his spells and the gate is formed. Grumbling all the while, you pay his fee.
• Astrologer
  You are approached by your chief astrologer. Excellency, he begins, bowing low, I have finished with my preliminary investigation of the portal. I find that it is sound, but rather erratic in its anchorage in Melkonia. It should be stable, but it is not.
• Your reply
  And this is important because... you say, distractedly.
• Astro-answer
  It means, Excellency, that once entered, the portal is liable to deposite you anywhere on Melkonia. This should not be so, but it is. There must some interfering force that is responsible.
• Letter arrives
  You receive a message by courrier today from a fellow nobleman. Though your holdings are distant, you share a similiar rank at court. This has forced the both of you to move in similiar circles, much to your personal displeasure.
• The Letter
  Dearest Friend and Colleague: Recently, I have entertained a most amazing visitor. I shan't go into the details here, but let it suffice to say that I shall miss your company at the annual gathering. I just wanted to assure you that I shall never forget the little people. Farewell!
• Hmmm
  Throwing the distastful letter onto the fire, you ponder its implications. It could be nothing. The fool could be going away on holiday; or perhaps received some token boon from court. Or, that foul wizard may have pitched his plan to others besides yourself....
• Many gates
  Your chief astrologer approaches, carrying a large bundle of parchments. Excellency! he says hastily, I have discovered the cause of the exit gate's instability! There is more than one gate focused on Melkonia! The astral tethers are crossing, interfering with each other!
• Suspicions Confirmed
  The atrologer continues to explain, but you tune him out... at least now your suspicions are confirmed. That villian of a wizard must have pitched his offer to others in Dargadon. It appears as if you may have a fight on your hands if you wish to control Melkonia.
• Astrologer sent over
  You sent your chief astrologer through the portal gate today to learn what he can from the other side. He assures you that he can remain in contact with you using the 'astral tethers' as lines of communication. You almost asked him to explain how this could be done, but thought better of it.
• Message from Chief Astrologer
  You receive a message today, apparently from your chief astrologer. Though the scroll is not written in his hand, it bears his mark. You are informed that the letter was dictated to a scribe using the 'astral tethers' of which the astrologer spoke.
• Astrologer's Letter
  Excellency: Do you know that there is a robust society of astrologers here in Melkonia? Well, there is and it is a flurry of activity at present. Groups of astrologers have fanned across the island in order to study a strange phenomenon that they are calling 'The Nexus'.
• Astrologer's Letter P.2
  I know little of this 'Nexus' at present, but shall endeavor to find out more. Whatever it is, I believe that it was created by the multiple crossings and recrossings of the astral tethers focused on Melkonia. --Your faithful servant, Mordikai, Chief of Astrology
• 3rd letter arrives
  You receive another message from your Chief Astrologer today.
• 3rd Letter
  Excellency: Our fair city may be in very grave danger! I have determined that this 'Nexus' is, in reality, an instantiation of what we atrologers call 'A Slingshot Effect'. This occurs when there is a grave imbalance in the fabric of the atral plane that needs be redressed.
• Letter cont.
  In our case, this imbalance has been created by the overlapping astral tethers of the gateways leading into Melkonia. Every time the tethers cross, a kind of weight is added to the portion of the astral plane relating to Melkonia that is greater than the sum weight of the two tethers alone.
• Letter cont. 2
  The scales are tipped too far to one side, and cannot remain thus. The result is the manifestation of a Nexus Event where rogue gateways are created in order that the balance may be regained. These gateways can lead almost anywhere, but they are most likely to form where either the astral
• The letter cont 3
  tethers cross, or where they are anchored. In other words, back to our fair city! Beware, Excellency, for our enemies could potentially strike at our homeland using the Nexus pathways! --Your faithful servant, Mordikai