A pack of four workers, all captured from the conquered Bannor capital, make their way to the mithril blocked off by mountains, but still within the Bannor territory I've just seized. It's a torturous route, extending the road as they go, wending around the mountains and plunging through Svartalfar territory and then out the far end to farther extend the road. I've got an open border agreement with these dark evles, so I expect an uneventful trip, followed by safe passage of the mithril supply to my cities once the road is complete. But to guard against wandering barbarians once the workers reach the far side of the mountains and Svartalfar territory, they're accompanied by a pair of mimics (Balseraph units who can steal promotions from enemy units, and thus end up with an interesting variety of abilities once they've seen a few battles), a taskmaster (a Balseraph unit who can capture slaves when he defeats a unit), and a harlequin (the Balseraph magical scout).

After the jump, the expedition takes an unexpected turn.

As soon as I cross the Svartalfar border, my stack of units is attacked. By Svartalfar units, no less! These elves are trying to kill my units and we're not even at war. It's a bit confusing as to why it's happening. I lose a mimic. Then the taskmaster falls. How is it that I'm being attacked by all these elven units when we're not at war?

This sort of thing is fairly common in Fall from Heaven. Something will happen, or it won't be clear if something is going to happen until it's too late, or something you wanted to happen isn't happening, and often you won't know why. This is a big game (the word "mod" doesn't do it justice) with lots of twisting, bending, breaking rules. You're probably not going to wrap your head around it the first, second, fifth, or even tenth time you play. In fact, that's part of why I like it. It's full of the new and unexpected. I still love Civilization IV, and I love the way it unfolds. But I've seen all of its tricks. It doesn't surprise me any more. So when I figured a stroll from one side of the elven lands to the other would be a walk in the park, Fall from Heaven had something else in store for me.

After paging through the manual, I eventually figure out what seems to have happened. Each civilization in Fall from Heaven has a unique one-time ability, known as its Worldspell. For the Balseraph, it's a double-length Golden Age called Revelry. I used Revelry with my first Great Person and the completion of the Bone Palace to trigger a glorious quadruple-length Golden Age. The Svartalfar Worldspell is called Veil of Night, and it permanently gives all their units the "hidden nationality" trait, which means they can attack anyone without declaring war. Obviously they cast it earlier in the game, and as I pass through their territory, their "Nighted" units can freely harass me. Uppity elves with their asymmetrical warfare.

I would have been mad if I'd sent four workers through unguarded and lost them all. But I would have taken my licks and called it a learning experience (which is particularly easy to say since I'm so far in the lead). Instead, the survivors make it to the other side of the elven lands and start extending the road network out to the mithril source. But before the mithril starts to flow, I end up having to put my iron weapons to use once more.

Up next: Yokes are thrown off
(Click here for the previous Fall from Heaven II game diary.)