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The most recent issue of the Alt Netherworld's Whisper:





Hey again everyone, this is Baal. Big update here. I've got a confirmed launch date, the 8th. A huge batch of info to be placed in threads, and the last harrumph of pre-release updates. This is the final issue before launch.

Don't expect our Whisper to let itself be topped!



So, it's been awhile since I wrote a column, I usually am the muse, still, I suppose being offered I may as well write my thoughts. Oh, sorry, I'm known as Kalitel, at least elsewhere. I'm here to assist in writing about the world itself.

So, you probably noticed the pic that I got there. Yea, the world is commonly divided into 7 sections by demons, although I have to say, that's a bitter mistake with what I know... Still, I've been told not to write about them in this column. Jeez, I bet Baal is going to be censoring this out, That or turn it down.

Alright, my data on each of the areas, aside from the Forsaken Valley, which Baal wants me to feign ignorance of:

Emerald Plains are a pretty standard environment, I see lots of places with this sort of growth. It's pretty beautiful in my opinion. Alright, the most common obstacles you'll notice are the stands of trees, but aside from that it's pretty wide open. Oh, there is a river flowing through the southern end of the plains, but that's not too important. Towards the western end is an interesting place. Oops, sorry, not supposed to be writing about that. Anyway, it's a pretty standard open area.

The Blood Mountain as it's called is generally easy to get around in, I've been there, it's filled with narrow valleys, just be careful of the lava flows at the base of most of those valleys. I'd have to say the only truly interesting thing there is the city. Oh, and the ruins just east of the city. Errr, well, no reason to delete that at this point. Just keep forming the words.

As for the last place people usually travel, the Glacial Sheet, it's a nice place I suppose, but it reminds me of that one place, so I don't like it too much. Anyway, most of the area seems to be cut into large ice blocks, with connecting small bridges over the lesser ice peaks. I think there was a road leading to the capitol city if I recall correctly.

The other places on that map up there are the White Sand Shallows, a long belt of sand dunes mixed into the ocean. Don't expect to see me there, it reminds me too much of where she died, aside from that, it's pretty odd at times, be careful of the coral reefs, some of them are quite prickly, and a few are actually poisonous. Some of them are hollow too, but that's a different subject. It's not too hard to get around though.

The Red Sweep Desert isn't that odd, although it's certainly hot. And dry. And hot. Anyway, near the western tip is an oasis with a town built around it. A pretty interesting place. I've given up on trying to finish my project there. None of the locals bother helping, and I'm just one muse. Anyway, I wouldn't suggest going there unless you've got water. Or water magic maybe.

The other place on the map up there, Steam Rock, is an entertaining place, and full of hot springs and such, which is understandable considering it's position, but it's not the best place to live. The ground is harsh, and plants don't grow. Not to mention methane pockets, random geysers, pit falls, and a number of other problems. Anyway, that's the data I was supposed to give I think, so I'll just send this. Let's see what Baal does. I bet he's going to be complaining I'm not taking the job seriously.


Meishial here. I've been hired to give an honest look at strategy. I don't really care personally.

The example of why a siege is a stupid idea I will be using is a battle on the world of Junon. There was this group of mercenaries holed up in this small fort named Malfirne Castle. They were given the task of holding it against all enemy assault, and the entire 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Junon division's all decided they had to take that particular castle. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty. Normally people seem to forget about magic in these circumstances though, and that's exactly what Junon did. Now here's why a siege of a well defended town is near suicide: The defensive mercenaries realized that there was near no way to fight the army massing outside, and so they threw into despair. A single voice came up with an incredibly brilliant plan. They would collapse the two secondary entrances to the castle, and in the small hall before the opening room, they would work a powerful magic.

What this magic did was simple, it operated by creating a entrance to a castle filled entirely with angels on an alternate plane. Unfortunately the Junon commander didn't realize the spell that had been worked, and took this alternate castle as their attempt to hold the castle, and simply commanded the 5 Junon divisions to charge in, and slaughter every single angel by means of numbers. This failed miserably, as the spell was in fact simply sending them to the third level of the heavens where there was a nigh unlimited number of lesser angels, and although the army fought, and fought, there always seemed to be the same number of enemy angels. The enemy commander never realized this simple magic had defeated him, and instead claimed that the enemy troops were unstoppable.

So far, the most active faction is quite obviously the warlord Laharal. Not that odd, but please keep in mind that this means that the most active faction... is a person. This means that people need to start joining. If you don't know the names of the factions, feel free to ask.


We won't be able to bring another issue before we begin the war, so good luck, and greater hunting.