Age 27 – Changes

December 29th, 2009Alliances at War0 comments

Hey, these are the changes for Allianes at War, Age 27.

Uruk Hai

• Hill Troll (9/2) – 1365 cr -> Hill Troll (8/3) – 1250 cr

Light Elf

Change: Self spells’ effect will be multiplied by 5x. The only functional difference this will make for the race is ciorin’s blessing, which now gives a 75% offense bonus. All other spells will function the same as they did before.

• Maiar (3/3) – 875 cr -> Maiar (4/2) – 1100 cr

Dwarf

Triple crown costs for explores -> Double crown costs for explores

Change: 50% less mana -> 35% less mana and plans (or 65% of normal)

Viking

Add: Bloodlust (+5% offense, deals 10% more damage to buildings, while at war)

Raven

Remove: 500% losses on blackclaws

Add: 33% lower combat losses (two/thirds of normal combat losses)

Change: Deals 60% of normal damage on BC, raze & pillage -> Deals 75% of normal damage

• Blackwing (5/5) – 750 cr -> Blackwing (5/6) – 835 cr

Balrog

Change: 1 mana gained for every 75 citizens killed by attacks -> 1 mana gained for every 75 citizens or military killed by attacks

Change: Markets and barracks hold half -> Non-homes hold half (including markets and barracks)

Nazgul

Add: Bloodlust (+5% offense and deals 10% more damage to buildings, while at war)

Age 46 – Changes

December 29th, 2009Orkfia Classic0 comments

Hey there.

Age 45 is now over, congratz to the winners.

Age 46 will start january 9th at 00:00 night between friday (8th) and saturday (9th). Getting back to the standard weekend startups and giving you all plenty of time to recover from new years eve =)

Age 46 will last for four weeks, a soft reset will be done once the changes has been uploaded, another one will be done 24 hours before the age starts. The updatebutton will be activate between these two events.

The list of changes for Age 46 will be small due to the hollidays and the stuff we are planning for the new races and other interesting things =)

Age Changes:

Nazgul

• Wraith 13/13 1500 cr -> 12/12 1380 cr

MP and TP costs

Mana point/Thief point cost change undone. This age it was 66% of normal because maximum players per alliance was halved. It is back to 100% of normal.

Mystic and Thievery damage

Spells/Operations damage multiplied by 1.5
* Dragon Apprentice minimum remains 1, it is simply reached later.

Assassination

Assassination: Used to kill 2% of enemy priests. Reduced to 1.5%. Requires you to send 1 thief per enemy acre, instead of the old 2 thieves per enemy acres. Spells/Operations damage multiplier does apply, so actual damage is 2.25% – more than last age.

That is all. We do not want to implement changes if we are unsure of the balance – if you have any suspicions of imbalance, send Bolle in #5 a private message.

Staff is looking for Developers to help balance new, upcoming races. You get the chance to see them and help develop them – and thus prevent imbalances or terminate unwanted races. Yes, most of the races are finished, it is just that we need more feedback on them to avoid spoiling the game for you all.

Cheers, and stay tuned for another races preview.

~ Acwder and Staff.

FUN’s disbandment (2005) part II

December 22nd, 2009In the Rear-view Mirror0 comments

Hey.

As most of you know by now I was once a FUN member, its that one alliance that made me stick with this game, I had been playing Utopia and a few other games in the past but thx to Jappie and his FUN I decided to stick with this game.

A report on the disbandment of FUN was posted last month, while going through some old data I found this log which is one of the thread in our forum that very last age.

Reading through it I was touched by some of the words and saw so many players mentioned that isnt playing anymore, I guess some might consider this log as private but I want to share it, it being christmas and everything.

note: This was written at the time of the real disbandment, the earlier article was when FUN ended at the end of Age 17, this is at the end of Age 19 where FUN temporarly resurected.

So here it is:

Topic: The End

Purple
Purple Rain

2005-07-26 23:53:50 Thnx all for the wonderfull moments i was lucky enough to share with u all in this game and beond, the ally the team this group off friends is breaking up and for me its also time to take another road.

hope to see u all on irc!!! maybe we all join up and bring fear to orkfia once again.

cheers, Supreme

Morningsun
Cyan Dawn

2005-07-27 00:44:45 first of all: thanks jappie for have faith in me.
I really learned a lot about being elder and the less fun things about that too. Still I liked it and enjoyed most of the things we did together this age (trying to war etc )

Once again some people really amased me in a very positiv way (shade for example) so I’m thankfull I’ve played with those. Too bad so many of us got killed and couldn’t get on a nice size anymore.

now this age is over I’ll leave orkfia again so real life stuff can be picked up again. hope to speak some of you on irc/msn once in a while tho

the best to all of you

Jappie
Golden Sunshine

2005-07-27 01:36:52 First of all I want to thank you all for having the faith in me and my alliance to be with me for all there ages!

One person has been with me every age and I’m very gratefull to have such a friend and he feels to me as a brother. MeMerlin! I know he’s on vacation and won’t be able to read this post but still I wanted to name him!

Second I need to thank the Old Time FUNners! I know that still some players aren’t names yet but as this is the end of this alliance for God know how long I need to make this post according to the people who been with me.

Kakarot, Wai and Acwder been in this alliance a long time. (Acwder been out for a long time but still he’s an oldtimer). We played together in the generation of Pestilens, Neandrian, Glenn and some other players long time forgotten by this game! Hell this even include some bad recruits such as Bart and Peach (most likely only known by some). The 3 names at the start been with me for many ages in a row and they have been a key part to this alliance as well. They have helped and served #FUN each age they were in it! In 2003 when I was in Ghana for 7 weeks they kept the allinace allmost fallen apart. These players stood by me and had the trust that #FUN was an alliance to stay!

I also want to thank Tommies for co-founding this alliance with me and MeMerlin. We meet in beta age 4-5 or so when we were playing in ICE his alliance. You stood by me for many ages and for many ages you took your own path. But you allways came back to this alliance. Also we have meet couple of times IRL and I’m gratefull of knowing you. You’re powers to play this game helpen FUN and somethimes you left us but you allways came back!

Other key players to the FUN alliance as most of us know it are Rhodry, Suprem, JooP. Helping this alliance with eldering and making strats. Never hesitated to tell me when I was wrong and they allways gave their honoust opinion! Cheers to you all! Especially after you all joined here we made the ranking! I can write personal thanks to you all but I’m sure you all know how i feel All I can say is thank you for helping this alliance the way you have! You all put in loads of time and energy into this alliance and this game! ORKFiA shoudl give you all a veteran status for the work you have done and will do in the upcoming ages! One day I will be very proud to play with you again!!!!!!

I also want to thank Rye, Luth and Cheris! They came with us invited and without loads of ages expiences. I remember TJ asking me if his friend Rye could join us so we could teach him the game. Rye never left and TJ never got his well trained recruit join the alli he played . Well maybe next age Rye can finally play with you TJ .

Cheris was invited here by Suprem! I remember that Suprem asked me if his friend from an other game could join us and FUN allways took in friends. So Cheris joined and ever since proven to be a valuable active member! Allways willing to help and allways willing to give his opinion as well. For that I thank you Cheris! You told what was on your minds espeacially last ages!

Luth joined us from utopia. Actually to be honoust I don’t really remember who brought you in to be honoust. I’m ashamed of that. But you were a sunshine to our alliance You learned this game with patience and allways wanting to double check to be sure you did the right thing!

We also have a girl in our alliance that has been with us, left and rejoined and who is also a sunshine in our alliance! kiloWatt!
I know the first time I meet her was on a Dutch meeting in Leiden en I remember she was somewhat quiet but we did chat a bit. After that meeting we meet again in the Dutch Arnhem meeting and we decided to go out once. We grown to be friends and I appriciate that! You been sick last months and recovered mostly and I’m glad about it. For you I have the following msg: You won’t play orkfia ever unless you play with me

Now we’re down to the newer members:
Gurra and Tabore joined us 3-4 ages back! You were actually one of the limited players recruited by us. You both have shown us to be real team players and we coudl allways rely on you. Your first age the both of you have showed great activity and you helped winning wars with your teamplay in this alliance. It was like you were with us for many ages! It was very special to have new members that fitted in like you guys did!

Our latest members:
Shade, Adam, Glenn, TJ and Pao
TJ we have met long time ago and ever since we kept in touch. I been asking you many times to join us and this age you decided to join but it wasn’t as you expected. I’m sorry for that because I knew you could have outgrown me. nad never steal our market again

Shade we have met in #Sk and that age you impressed me alot! I promised myself not to invite any #sk player to #FUN after I would leave after that age but I noticed yu would leave anyway to a larger alliance so I decided to invite you! Ever since the most ingame msg I have are from you! Our playing together have grown to friendship and I will surely come to Florida once to meet you! Glad you are with me again next age!

Glenn, I was glad you joined. We have meet before but for real at R&D and we spend quite some time there on things we can’t discuss here But I will allways look for you on irc to have a chat with you. I wish you much luck with girls and surely we will play again together!

Adam, I know you will stop and that makes me sad. I know why you stop and I understand that. But I will remember you as a very enthousiastic player! There to help the alliance and to give your opinion! I hope this girl you have now is to stay!

Myeloou, first time we played together was in Herous of Orkfia. We never really chatted a lot but who knows we might play together again in the future

Luthien
Crimson Sunrise

2005-07-27 03:02:20 Jappie, your words are more than kind…. and I treasure your friendship, and hope maybe someday I will travel to Holland, or you will travel to California and we can meet in real life sometime.

You, and the other FUNners have been so good to me, despite my being a senile old lady…lol. i definitely feel blessed to be considered to be a part (and the official “queen”) of FUN.

I’ve made some very dear friends here, and I hope we can stay in touch on msn/irc (i’ll try to pop in there once in a while when work isn’t killing me).

And if any of you should ever come to california, PLEASE tell me, I’d love to be able to meet you face to face!

I don’t know yet what I’m doing for the next age, as i have another vacation coming up, and considering it took me all damn age to catch up after going to New York, I’m not sure i want to get involved.

Once I’m back though, i may setup a tribe with Niels, but I’ll decide that later.

Anyway, I wish all of you the best in wherever your lives take you, and I hope that someday your lives and mine will cross paths…

Thank you for all the FUN!

*supersparklyrainbow huggles and smooches for everyone*

(oh, and it was Rhodry who invited me into FUN initially when I was going to quit because of my really bad elder in my last alli).

I love you all…

Frank Murphy
Blue Thunder

2005-07-27 04:19:50 I’ve never been one for big speeches. I know you’re all thankful for that right

Anyway, I’d just like to say that it is always a pleasure to game with FUN members. Uncle Jappie you’re a great friend and I look forward to the day we can hang out on the beach in Sunny South Florida!

kWatt, you are and always will by my little girl Daddy’s proud of you!

Luth, my California dream girl! Will miss you take care sweets!

To the rest of you FUNners good gamming with you!

Holm
Teal Shadow

2005-07-27 06:03:36 Military service awaits me so this is my last age for quite some time, hope to see atleast some of you when I return.

thank you all for FUN

btw jappie I still got that peach on msn but she’s been blocked since well since she left FUN:P

bamboozle
Fuschia Night

2005-07-27 06:51:37 i dont have much to say, but
THANKS! THANKS! THANKS!

this alli has been and will always be my home, all of u people are unbelievably friendly
till next time evryone

Pinky and the Brain
Pink Horizon

2005-07-27 12:57:50 Thanks everyone, most of all Jappie & tommies for asking me to join. I also want to thanks tommies, even though i havnt known him as long as the old time funner i have known him quite a long time and always looked up to him as a player and a friend, so thanks for that.

Then there ofc is all my friends here…. i am reluctant to name them as i really dont want to forget anyone out.

But i sincerely love you all.

I also want to apologise to kaka for pissing him off so much this age. Sorry kaka! But thanks for arguieing with me.

I dont want either adam or karin to leave, but each of our times will come…. thanks for some great times, until we next meet

We will all speak soon, thats for sure.

Until the next time!

I hope to one day see you all returned to the world of Orkfia, that would be a great christmas present

Cheers

~Acwder

Petition: Don’t change the game to Alliances of Messed up Changes

December 20th, 2009Alliances at War, Orkfia Portal, The Orkfian Times11 comments

Hello. Christmas is just around the corner, this christmas our present from Alliances at War is the name change to Alliances of Messed up Changes. Jamzi and myself will in this post comment the latest age preview where fame gets two friends named Toughness and Industry.

Here is the preview post to make sure everyone is up to speed:

Fame, toughness and industry are a reflection of how you play.

The playing style you use will influence what kind of score that you have in each. The actions you take, and the events that happen to you, will have a effect through these three rankings on the relevant goals and needs of your tribe.

Fame

• Return offense bonus to 1% per 1000
• Remove population bonus
• Add 1% extra guild space per 1000
• Add 1% extra hideout space per 1000
• Fame gains and losses work slightly differently. You gain fame independently of the fame you take, so you can gain fame from someone who doesn’t have any fame. However, if the person has more fame relative to yours, you still gain more as usual. Losses themselves will be halved.
• Everyone will keep the fame they have now. However, the fame that you inherit or otherwise begin with, will change. After dying you will keep 7.5% of the fame you had at the time of your death.

Toughness

• +1% defense per 1000
• +1% resistance to magic per 1000
• +1% protection from thievery per 1000
• Toughness is gained whenever your buildings are destroyed, you take military losses, your land is seized, or your resources are destroyed. The gains are independent from your fame lost from these things.
• Toughness is lost by exploring, training military, and other actions that boost industry. The losses are independent from your industry gains for these things.
• People playing currently will start with 0 toughness. After dying of old age, you will keep 5% of the toughness you had at the time of your death. After being killed, you will keep 10% of the toughness you had before your death.

Industry

• +1% population per 1000
• +1% production bonus to mines, farms and yards per 1000
• Exploring (regularly or via land grabs), training military, raiding, pillaging and performing thief self ops gives you industry
• Performing some aggressive actions makes you lose industry. The industry you lose is independent from the fame you may gain from these actions.
• People playing currently will start with 0 industry. After dying of old age, you will keep 10% of the industry you had at the time of your death. After being killed, you will keep 5% of the industry you had before your death.
• It will be possible to have negative fame, toughness or industry. An attribute which has gone into the negative will give a penalty instead of a bonus
• Due to the above, there is no minimum bonus on any of the three, in the way that there is a minimum bonus to fame now
• As a bonus for creating an account, you will start with some points in each attribute. Restarting your account will give you 0 of each instead.
• Due to the nature of the gains and losses, it will be possible to accumulate high rankings in two of the attributes at the expense of the third. It will not be possible to have high rankings in all three (though in some cases you might be able to get medium scores in all three). Your playing style will determine which two attributes are the highest.

This list of changes is apparently as Iluros puts it:

They have a purpose, social engineering if you will, and they needed to happen.
~ Iluros

Adding Toughness and Industry is apparently aatw’s way of solving the old problem of bigger ppl hurting smaller ppl who can’t do anything about it, this is kind of a huge change. Here is Jamzi’s take on it:

Despite our playerbase for AATW and Classic being relativly small to other games of a similar nature, we do have some of the most passionate players and staff. This has long been one of the virtues of Orkfia over the other games. However in the last few months it has seemed to myself and others that the development staff in AatW have become a bit over-excited by their responsibilities and wildy throwing anything that enters their heads into the game.

Change is not necessarily a bad thing. We all encounter change every day and some changes in the game in the recent past have been great. Such as tidying up the way spells/ops are casted, improving the range of ops/spells/attacks available has spiced things up too. However the reason Orkfia was popular in the first place was because it was a fun game to play. The simple game mechanics made it one of those games that was simple-to-learn but hard-to-master against other real life people.

I know people think I and those who think like me are set in our ways, but whatever happened to the old “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”?? The changes are easy for you to understand if you invented them i’m sure so you might not see my point but to explain what I mean let’s take the game of Chess. Let’s imagine you have been playing for many years in a Chess league and then at the start of the season you turn up and find some notices pinned on the wall. If it’s a tuesday then Kings can move 4 spaces at a time, if it’s between 4:45pm and 5:17pm all pawns can move backwards… If your name has a J in it you do not have bishops. This sounds stupid maybe but this is how AatW feels to me at the moment. There are so many strange rules in AatW now that I have long ago given up trying to keep up with them and I know others who have said the same to me so I am certain I am far from being the only one who feels this way.

I have even heard a theory that perhaps this is Iluros’s continuation of a campaign he had against AatW when his alliance quit and this is the revenge – to sabotage what is left for the rest of us. I don’t believe this is true but I can see why people may think that.

It is a fundamental concept of business that keeping things simple is the way to go (Keep It Simple Stupid – the KISS principle). AatW needs to go back to it’s Orkfia roots and declutter.
~Jamzi

That sums up what I think about it pretty much aswell. Ive been hosting Orkfia Classic for over a year now, been somewhat responsible for it even longer, some of the very first misstakes I did was to change stuff just cause I could, thats a lesson most people thats responsible for development has to learn, some quicker then other, my own misstakes cost me some great staff and some great players.

This is what I see happening in aatw atm aswell, there has been some huge changes done lately, the most noticable is the interface changes and I really like that bit, the things I don’t like tho is where it looks like dev is sitting and looking at the game thinking “What more can we add”, not due to “We have this problem, what would be the best solution” but more cause “Well why not, the more stuff the merrier”.

I would like to clearify that this is no witchhunt for a individual staffmember nor is it a personal attack on aatw from me since Im running Orkfia Classic, Im a active player in aatw aswell and even if less clever development might get more players into Classic Id be really annoyed to have a game Im playing ruined.

Now then lets have a look at the problem they are trying to solve, are they trying to solve the problem itself or are they adressing the effects of the problem? What will these changes do?

First of this seems to be the definition of the problem according to the Lord of Development in aatw:

The reasons they have been (badly) needed has to do with the way the game is played now, and how that has made much of the people who used to play quit.

The fame rape thing that Origin points out is actually one of the main problems these changes were designed to fix, at least in regard to toughness. The new people in smaller alliances which get beat up by the big alliances will accumulate toughness, giving them an advantage against the top alliances who are left alone by most players due to their dangerous nature. Those new players, in gaining toughness, will have a reason to stay, whereas before they just got beat up.

The other issue that has plagued aatw since its creation, is the arm’s race between explorers and attackers, each becoming increasingly troopfat relative to one another in order to grow. With toughness and industry implemented, it is likely that this problem will cease to exist. Actions that previously were a gamble by themselves will be fruitful. If you do an explore and have it grabbed, you lost the resources that you put into that explore but gained a boost that will help you down the line. This means that growth will be easier for players who will no longer be as hesitant to take risks, and interaction between players will increase.

Will putting your time into growth make you lose some of the toughness you gain? Yes. But certainly not all. You will keep most of the toughness you gain, and the industry you gain will be more than the toughness you lose. In this way it’s quite possible to have both, albeit one higher than the other.

~ Iluros

The first section mentions famerape, this is where people would attack targets to increase their own fame bonuses on a regular basis, the optimal target would be someone with low thievery or magic defense and somewhat high fame. This could be classed as harrasment if you’d like. Lets have a look at why it happens.

Famerape

There is as I see it two reasons why someone would famerape.

1. To get even more out of the fame bonuses, which atm is:

• +0.75% offense per each 1000 fame.
• +1% population per each 1000 fame.

These bonuses is quite tasty when you in full warmode can famerape someone for almost 1000 fame every 8 hours or something which is why fameraping can do quite alot for you, now if these bonuses or fame gains would be smaller would this kind of famerape still be at the same level? The answer is no cause then players would focus their attention on something else more awarding.

2. Cause you can / To piss people off.

This is more like proper harrasment, you target ppl just cause you can and to either piss the target of or to entertain yourself. This kind of harrasment won’t stop no matter what you do, if someone dislikes another person in a game then they will find another way to do it.

These two reasons is kind of what I believe is why people are doing it. (Yes the famegain do vary depending on a few variables but its still possible to gain loads of fame.

What will the new way of Fame, Industry and Toughness do about famerape?

It will be usefull for the most extreme sides of the table, the ones continuously targeted will get more def but unless its overpowered it wont stop famerape if its the second kind of famerape. The first kind of famerape kinda disapears tho, the offbonus are best for attackers (obviously) and they will keep gaining their fame through attacking and also gain industry cause of the new bonuses. This makes it actually better for attackers, which looking at the changes last few months have been improved time and time again, the % of bonuses they are recieving is getting quite big.

Back to the actual point, will this stop the fameraping? It might lower the ammount of famerape but people will just find another way to do their harrasments, its still a war game where the goal is to kill and war other alliances, (“Alliances at War”).

Conclusion: These changes is partly an attempt in preventing harrasment as in fameraping. Will it work? highly unlikely since its threating the effects not the underlying cause. Not only is ut unlikely to work as intentioned it is also highly likely to cause unwanted bieffects that will take an age or two to find, get abused and hopefully fixed.

The idea as a concept isnt so stupid, its almost clever but its hard to implement and I don’t believe its something Orkfia should get to complicate things even more.

The ammount of variables needed to calc attacking and killing is getting huge, tiny % here and there, some not even mentioned in the guide, even the attackcalcs are getting huge.

Lets move on to the other issue thats apparently is a part of why these changes are planned, the race between explorers and attackers. Apparently being troopfat is a huge problem in todays aatw, to fix this problem they are adding the Industry to give population bonuses when you explore and when you grab. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw that was that the ones getting rewarded the most by these changes are the landfarms, you explore, gets industry bonuses, you get grabbed due to low def and gets toughness bonuses, just keep doing that for one age and recieve the % heritage mentioned above and you have some sort of head start.

Another thing this causes is that Industry will be highest amongst the biggest tribes since they have explored the most and grabbed the most on their way up to the top, which means that the top tribes will be even harder to kill.

Now lets have a look at where this troopfatness comes from. Suprise it comes from a long line of race changes and game changes that ended up with the current situation. Instead of sorting the source where racce changes keeps producing imba races (Im not saying its easy to balance races, its a huge job, but the result is still that each age more imba races keeps poping up from the changes).

The gains and losses of these different sections are still to be seen but not only are the actual numbers mentioned risky the whole idea of adding them is all from obvious.

Are these changes really wanted? Just cause it looks cool doesnt mean it should be added. There is just so much stuff you can do to a game before it losses it roots and transforms into a new one. Maybe a new game is what everyone wants, or is it? Ive experienced it first hand with Classic, some stuff was so poor in our view atleast and needed to be changed, but for every change you add you really need to think more then once or twice about if its really something we need, why do we need it, what will the outcome be. How will the players deal with it?

This is our petition to Alliances at War, please don’t lose sight of what aatw is. If you would like to join us in our petition just contact me and I’ll add your name to the bottom. I’ll end this post with a quote from the age preview topic.

Whether the changes are good or not for a more dynamic, fun and complex game is not really the question. The question is really are if these type of changes will actually IMPROVE the game, and maintain it’s players. I really don’t see how it could be.

In short I don’t think the changes are BAD, I just don’t think they will help Alliances at War at all. Just make HaRRy do unnecessary work
~ Canto

The whole topic with the age preview can be found here: http://www.alliancesatwar.com/forums/game/216501/0-25.

So, what we want to achieve with this petition is to bring the people running and developing aatw to see this from our point of view, a view that sees loads of changes, little reasons, lots of bugs and a lost sense of direction.

This petition has been signed by:

• Acwder
• Jamzi
• BiltesKrieg
• EM
• Martel
• Robokop
• Cecil

Preview I: The Winged

December 17th, 2009Orkfia Classic0 comments

Hey, this is a preview post for Orkfia Classic which will contain information about new races and changes we are gonna implement in Classic somewhere in the future.

First of we are moving away from 16 races and 5 classes to 30 races where you combine your main race for example Winged and pick your class for example Rogue and the outcome is Bats. The old class bonuses will disapear and be replaced with more race based class bonuses meaning a Rogue Winged and a Rogue Cursed will have different thief bonuses.

The previews will be divided into five parts, one for each race branch. The first part will cover the Winged.

Part I : The Winged

As mentioned above it will be 6 races per race branch/family, we are already familiar with four from the Winged branch. Raven, Eagle, Dragon and Hawk. The fifth and sixth will be Bat and Pheonix.

Here is a breakdown of the Winged.

(new) Winged + Rogue = Bat

(new) Winged + Spellbinder = Phoenix

Winged + Sage = Eagle

Winged + Crusader = Hawk

Winged + Guardian = Dragon

Winged + Warrior = Raven

I don’t wanna go into specifications since they might get changed until they are implemented.

Stay tuned for Preview II.

Cheers

~Acwder

Orkfic Chapter II

December 6th, 2009OrkFic0 comments

Chapter I

In the east, a shadow fell over the moons of Orkfia. The radiant visage of Deam at last succumbed to the cover, albeit timidly illumined the night overcast, a corona of ill omens. Yet despite the heavy clouds filled to the brim with spite and rain, the shining comet could not be denied from the eyes of those that looked to the heavens. It pierced through the shroud as if to mock it, the reminder of its approach never dulled for a moment. No one could be permitted to forget its presence.

Hairen pulled his hood farther up over his head, hiding his features. The stirring lights of the firmament cast haunting shadows beneath the canopy of the Darkwood. The others gathered were likewise cloaked, their faces hidden. These were the guildmasters, lords among the thieves in his lands. He could not let his identity be known here. Nor they to him. Most among the dark elves thought their existence to be a mere story.

The priestesses warned to be wary when crossing the path of a thief. Be ever wary to never let your eyes leave them, lest they plant a knife in your back. That was the saying. The elfchilds were bidden to not wander too far in the night, lest the thieves come for them.

Few knew just to what extent the thieves were spread, hiding and watching. It suited Hairen just fine. They were useful, though he did not trust them.

None could know of these secret meetings, for they belied the true power held over these lands. It was a mystery wrapped in enigma, painted with deception.

Hairen was High King of these lands. He was not supposed to know about the guildmasters, indeed in these conclaves they plotted openly to manipulate him for their own ends. Nevertheless he had infiltrated their order, and attended every meeting that he could. Their hand was open before him. It had been like this for many Ages, and had become a simple game for him.

Thieves didn’t know mages also dealt in illusions and trickery.

“Reports account that our ‘righteous cousins’ are expanding into the north,” One of the robed figures began, his voice muffled; “It seems they are seeking the Library of Arathos.”

The others nodded quietly. There was no first among equals here, no one could be permitted the distinction of being made leader. Thus the guildmasters plotted behind one another’s back, always seeking to gain a secret advantage. At least one person had been brutally tortured to yield the information that had just now been spoken. Who knew how many messangers it went through before at first coming to the ear of the speaker? They fed on one another as well.

“Naturally scouts have been deployed to secure the information for ourselves,” Another broke in. The first speaker stirred, the slightest hint of discomfort showing in his movements. A loose string had disheveled his plan. It was clear as if he had spoken it aloud. Many would suffer in punishment of that grievous error.

“What are those white wizards seeking?” A third inquired, the distaste on her voice. There was no doubt she was a priestess underneath that hood. The Maidens of Ciorin held no love for these newcomers, the light elves. They claimed to come from the realm of the gods, but recognized none that were worshiped by these people. Hairen smiled in secret, knowing the truth of the matter. They were one in the same, their names warped by the passing of Ages. None now called them by what they were known when they walked the lands of Orkfia, in the beginning.

There was a silence. Perhaps no one knew the answer to that question, but it was more likely that they merely thought it too important to share. Hairen dispelled their ambitions.

“They are seeking a lost source of power,” He explained, just as he had heard from Ancero; “Drawn from something else entirely than the Comet.”

A few were unable to contain their surprise, expressed as discreetly as it was in a quiet gasp. So, he knew a great bit more than any of they. Good. The sooner it would change the ways of the dark elves.

“What is this source of power?” One figure demanded, angry at not having been the first to know of it.

“It is Creation, the opposer to Destruction,” Hairen answered; “With it they shall restore the shattered force of Preservation, and return the world to peace.”

Many began to speak at once. It had always been the case that the Comet was the source of all mystical power. And through it, destruction and war surged, ravaging the lands. As the guildmasters rightly ascertained, a new source of power would put the thieves to a disadvantage, and furthering such goals as peace would surely clip their own aims.

“We should destroy it,” One concluded finally.

It was really quite simple. As the world unraveled before the power of Destruction, the thieves profited on the decay. So they fed the chaos, tending it like a weak flame until it roared into calamity. All for gold and power. They were unable to see the lasting consequences that their actions held for them, the ruin that awaited their short-sighted greed. Hairen would use it to crush them.

“I agree,” He lied smoothly. All was going exactly according to his plan.