Death Squad Departure From SIN Possibly Fueled By Rift [UPDATED]

The so-called “Death Squad,” whose namesake is a result of Times reporting, has seemingly broken away from SIN in what may have been the result of a strategic rift between ex-Deathmonger players and SIN leadership. On December 6th, the Times noted the founding of The Death Squad [TDS], founded by ex-Death and now ex-SIN member Muad’Dib. The alliance went on to invite The Reaper, ChuckNourish, and Duran — all ex-Death members who up until recently were serving in SIN. Curmudgeon left SIN and joined TDS yesterday. The five members that SIN lost in the departure appear to have been filled by ex-TVM members Phelony, Plathus, Lorcan, DML, and Salgerluk, all of whom have moved from GATE to SIN yesterday. SIN currently has 38 members.

The Times reached out to The Reaper for clarification on why the members in TDS left SIN, and what their new alliance’s role will be in the war. “The Death Squad has and will continue to defend itself against the ongoing aggression of  SHARK and VIC forces,” explained the Reaper in response to whether TDS was at war with SHARK and VIC. The answer appeared to address SHARK sieges that landed on one of Duran’s cities in Kul-Tar, which were moved as support to He-Man’s stand there.

Duran. [TDS]	Siege landing WHOOPS?	[960|-375] in Kul Tar	murdog [SHARK]	Tue 08 Dec 06:56
Duran. [TDS]	Siege landing WHOOPS?	[958|-375] in Kul Tar	murdog [SHARK]	Tue 08 Dec 07:27

The siege now has four  separate siege armies around it and is close to razing Duran’s city.

When asked if TDS was allied with SIN in the war, The Reaper demurred, suggesting that some kind of rift may have led to his and other Death Squad members’ departure: “The Death Squad has chosen a different path to our neighbors in SIN. We are proud of our record of standing by our neighbors in the face of aggression from afar and will continue to do so.”

The Times pressed The Reaper on why he and others left SIN, but he was not forthcoming in providing details, stating: “We are a group of friends who wish to enjoy the game in our own way. Our neighbors in SIN are also friends, but for now our path diverges.”

The palpable reluctance to explain exactly what led to TDS’ departure from SIN suggests that the two parties are still loosely allied, although no formal diplomatic agreements currently exist between themselves and SIN. TDS has also eschewed diplomatic relations with The Deathmongers as well. SHARK and VIC have not issued war declarations of TDS as of this point, though their siege operations continue against Duran in the Kul-Tar desert.

The Times reached out to Josh with a similar set of questions for SHARK’s current position with TDS. “I can’t comment much on the incidents with ‘The Deathsquad,'” he noted, but adding, “Duran has been involved in the defense of SIN even after he left.” When pressed for further comment, Josh concluded, “Sorry that I can’t comment more. I have chosen that I wont involve myself with you too much. I have found things just get worse for us.”

[UPDATED, 12/11/2015, 5:15 pm ST] — the Times’ aReporter is reporting that DS and Death have finally signed a confederation agreement:

<System> ** News flash: A Confederation has been agreed between The Death Squad [TDS] and Deathmongers [Death]

SIN Mops Up Recent Round of SHARK Sieges in Newlands, Pawanallpa

Imagine taken from eyewitness believed to be siege breaking army leaving Foot to the Throat battle.

SIN has repelled SHARK’s most recent round of sieges on BL positions, according to battle reports sent via SIN members. The reports reveal that while legitimate sieges, SHARK did not appear to coordinate any major siege planning on any of these recent sieges, suggesting that they were “one-off” sieges planned by single SHARK players in the BL.

This is the report from the broken siege at Stukahh’s “Foot to the Throat:”

Sent By:	System
Received By:	Jejune [SIN]
Date:	29 Nov 2015 15:36
Two opposing forces clash against each other. Cavalry comes into its own when able to strike hostile forces at will, and from unexpected directions – and nowhere is this more feasible than on open plains. Lightly armoured spear units, however, prefer terrain where there’s some cover available. Fighting defensively on open plains, cavalry draws strength from the ability to form and reform their lines of engagement depending on the direction of battle, and it is here where cavalry excels. Attackers: Unit: Quantity: Casualties: Survivors: Commander: BayNights Doppelganger Swiftsteed 1 Damaged for 37, 113 health remains. Troops: Swiftsteeds Defenders: Unit: Quantity: Casualties: Survivors: Commander: Sharp Knight 1 Damaged for 600, 0 health remains. Troops: Men-at-Arms 0 Troops: Knights 0 Troops: Swordsmen 0 Troops: Archers 0 Troops: Catapults 0

Later, ChuckNourish and Muad’Dib broke the dual sieges on the Pawanallpa operation at The Reaper’s city of Shake a Longfeather:

FW: Victorious battle against longfeather’s forces at [847|-1647] in Pawanallpa by ChuckNourish’s forces from 1.DojoOfBruceLeeAnderthal
Sent By:	ChuckNourish [SIN]
Received By:	He-Man [SIN]
Date:	29 Nov 2015 18:10
From: System Subject: FW: Victorious battle against longfeather’s forces at [847|-1647] in Pawanallpa by ChuckNourish’s forces from 1.DojoOfBruceLeeAnderthal Received: 29 Nov 2015 17:51 Original Message: Two opposing forces clash against each other. Cavalry comes into its own when able to strike hostile forces at will, and from unexpected directions – and nowhere is this more feasible than on open plains. Lightly armoured spear units, however, prefer terrain where there’s some cover available. Fighting defensively on open plains, cavalry draws strength from the ability to form and reform their lines of engagement depending on the direction of battle, and it is here where cavalry excels. Attackers: Unit: Quantity: Casualties: Survivors: Commander: DP 1 Death Pack 1 Damaged for 39, 561 health remains. Troops: Death Packs Commander: DP 2 Death Pack 1 Damaged for 39, 461 health remains. Troops: Death Packs Commander: DP 3 Death Pack 1 Damaged for 39, 211 health remains. Troops: Death Packs Commander: DP 4 Death Pack 1 Damaged for 39, 111 health remains. Troops: Death Packs   Defenders: Unit: Quantity: Casualties: Survivors: Commander: dp Death Pack 1 Damaged for 100, 0 health remains. Troops: Death Packs 0 Commander: ahh Death Dealer Damaged for 600, 0 health remains. Troops: Death Dealers 0 Troops: Trebuchets 0 Troops: Death Packs 0 Troops: Fists 0

 

From: System
Subject: FW: Gathering units destroyed at 846|-1645
Received: 29 Nov 2015 22:26
Original Message:
Two opposing forces clash against each other.

Cavalry comes into its own when able to strike hostile forces at will, and from unexpected directions – and nowhere is this more feasible than on open plains. Lightly armoured spear units, however, prefer terrain where there’s some cover available.

Fighting defensively on open plains, cavalry draws strength from the ability to form and reform their lines of engagement depending on the direction of battle, and it is here where cavalry excels.

Attackers:	Unit:	Quantity:	Casualties:	Survivors:
Commander: DF1	Charioteer	1	Damaged for 73, 527 health remains.
Troops:	Charioteers
Commander: DF2	Charioteer	1	Damaged for 73, 527 health remains.
Troops:	Charioteers
Commander: DF3	Charioteer	1	Damaged for 73, 477 health remains.
Troops:	Charioteers
Commander: DF4	Charioteer	1	Damaged for 73, 477 health remains.
Troops:	Charioteers

 

Defenders:	Unit:	Quantity:	Casualties:	Survivors:
Commander: Death	Death Pack	1	Damaged for 396, 0 health remains.
Troops:	Fangs			0
Troops:	Trebuchets			0

Thus far, it appears that SHARK has not committed its Broken Lands troops to any major sieges against SIN in the BL, opting instead to target He-Man in the deserts of Kul-Tar, with the aid of confederates. These two defeated sieges still likely do not represent SHARK’s true capabilities of waging war in the Broken Lands.

SHARK Steps Up Pressure on SIN with Sieges in Pawanallpa, Newlands

SHARK has touched down two more sieges against SIN, targeting players in both Pawanallpa and the Newlands. The first of the two sieges is a reprise of the broken siege by ChuckNourish on Death Squad member The Reaper, with Longfeather once again testing the Pawanallpa-based SIN players:

The Reaper. [SIN]

3. Shake a LongFeather

[847|-1647] in Pawanallpa

longfeather [SHARK]

Sun 29 Nov 07:23

The Reaper. [SIN]

3. Shake a LongFeather

[846|-1645] in Pawanallpa

longfeather [SHARK]

Sun 29 Nov 05:50

Unlike the first siege operation launched by longfeather, which though substantial had no catapults or supporting forces, these two dual sieges appear to be more orchestrated. The Reaper’s cities, however, are located on plains, making the dual siege susceptible to cavalry strikes. Currently, there is no blockade.

Perhaps even more impressive is SHARK’s move to engage and remove antagonizer extraordinaire Stukahh, who has rooted himself in a spot in the center of Newlands with only one tile where a siege can be laid down — and a plains square at that. SHARK may be looking to leverage its massive armies to muscle its way toward a big, high-profile razing of the polarizing SIN member:

Stukahh [SIN]

7. Foot To The Throat

[136|-2148] in Newlands

Worker [SHARK]

Sun 29 Nov 11:48

The city cannot be sieged and blockaded at the same time, so Stukahh may be able to prestige build the city and delay a raze in time for cavalry strikes.

Meanwhile, SIN’s siege on VIC’s Woolfie’s city of Sinope appears to be at a halfway point, with the city still boasting well over 1000 population. VIC has already managed a siege break on SIN, and may be poised to break this one as well, as SIN’s siege force has not appeared to reduce the city as quickly as other operations thus far seen in the war.

 

SIN Breaks Catless SHARK Siege on “Death Squad” Pawanallpa Member

A short-lived, catapultless siege launched by a lone SHARK BL forces was quickly broken by SIN. The siege took place against The Reaper, one of the ex-Death members in Pawanallpa who is part of the so-called “Death Squad” for SIN. The notifications for the siege flashed both in GC and in the siege section of the Herald:

[28 Nov 02:06]<System> ** News Flash: The Siege of 3. VIC is INACTIVE belonging to The Reaper. [SIN] by longfeather [SHARK] has begun

The Reaper. [SIN]

3. Shake a LongFeather

[848|-1645] in Pawanallpa

longfeather [SHARK]

Sat 28 Nov 02:06

This was the first time that SHARK has engaged any of the SIN players in Pawanallpa. The cluster there is less isolated than He-Man in the far-flung corner of Kul-Tar, but still well enough away from the SIN homeland. SIN’s ChuckNourish provided proof of the siege break. Troop numbers have been redacted:

Victorious battle against longfeather’s forces at [848|-1645] in Pawanallpa by ChuckNourish’s forces from 1.DojoOfBruceLeeAnderthal
Sent By:	System
Received By:	ChuckNourish [SIN]
Date:	28 Nov 2015 11:30
Two opposing forces clash against each other.Cavalry comes into its own when able to strike hostile forces at will, and from unexpected directions – and nowhere is this more feasible than on open plains. Lightly armoured spear units, however, prefer terrain where there’s some cover available. Fighting defensively on open plains, cavalry draws strength from the ability to form and reform their lines of engagement depending on the direction of battle, and it is here where cavalry excels. Attackers: Unit: Quantity: Casualties: Survivors: Commander: DP 1 Death Pack 1 Damaged for 28, 522 health remains. Troops: Death Packs Commander: DP 2 Death Pack 1 Damaged for 28, 272 health remains. Troops: Death Packs Defenders: Unit: Quantity: Casualties: Survivors: Commander: jack Fang 1 Damaged for 100, 0 health remains. Troops: Fangs 0 Troops: Scrawny Wolves 1 1 0

Ad the report demonstrates, the siege force had no catapults, which means that, absent of another siege force arriving at the city, this siege army could have never reduced the city to raze population. Also, the siege army had no reinforcements, suggesting that for longfeather, the siege may have been little more than a test to see the response time and type by the Death Squad, which could be a prelude to another siege attempt on SIN in Pawanallpa in the future.

This was ChuckNourish’s first siege break. It brings his total to 3 points earned on the War Score Card, which includes his capture of Hevneren’s city of Skogstad on November 15, 2015. Chuck was also sieged and had a city of his own captured by SHARK’s Allyssar on November 16, 2015.