I probably should clarify: upon further testing, it seems that as long as total cost is below your total Ryumaku, Ouki production isn't really affected much. It's only if cost surpasses Ryumaku that we should really be worried. It's still a good idea to leave yourself with some breathing room, though, since you never know when you might suddenly lose a territory and a large chunk of Ryumaku along with it.
With that in mind, it seems the main objection to recruitment is gone. The main problem with recruitment, though, is that it costs us characters, and we're still stretched kind of thin as is. Still, we can't fix that without more units, so I went ahead and recruited the Fumi Doll.
Fumi Doll became an ally.
Sending in the same four members as before, we launch our second assault on the Magic Forest Entrance. This time, Shanghai Doll was there to greet us, and managed to put up a much better fight than our first bout.
With her attack power, Shanghai tore into us with Doll's War, doing over 100+ damage to Reimu and Jack Sou in the early turns of the fight. Reimu went down quickly, leaving mostly Marisa and Wriggle to carry us through to victory. In the end, we scored exactly enough to capture the territory.
Between the heavy damage sustained during the fight, our new recruit who started at 1 HP, and the additional exp we needed to level up, this marks our first turn where we actually lost a bit of Ouki instead of gaining it. However, we took a new territory and were able to develop it once, giving a nice boost to our Ryumaku.
**********
Alice: What!? They've broken through the entrance!?
After losing to Reimu's army, the Shanghai Doll staggered back to Alice. Upon hearing the battle report, Alice showed a hint of panic.
Grrr...So they've slipped through just like that...I suppose that's expected of them. Alright, Shanghai. You can return to my side now. Good work.
Shanghai: .........*nod nod*
The Shanghai Doll seemed dispirited, perhaps feeling guilt from having lost. However, with a bit of head-patting from Alice, her gloomy expression brightened slightly.
How dare they hurt my Shanghai...I wonder if they'll go after here or the boundary next...Whichever it is, I'll get your revenge for you, Shanghai. Especially against you, Marisa...I will not lose against you.
Alice's heart was soon set on one and only one thing: getting revenge for her defeated Shanghai Doll.
The Hourai Doll sat with her back leaned against a tree, staring intently over the area. Her expression typically never changed, so no one knew what she was thinking, or whether she was even thinking at all.
Hourai: .........
A tiny forest beetle landed on the stationary doll's head. It was a harmless insect, but those who dislike insects wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The beetle continued to rest on the Hourai Doll's head.
.........
Dolls are made of inorganic material. Furthermore, they cannot die (since they're dolls) and cannot move. Thus, insects and animals would naturally gather around them without displaying any caution.
.........
A single bird flying through the area noticed the possible prey on the Hourai Doll's head, and swooped down to it. The beetle flew away just in time, and the bird's beak got stuck in the Hourai Doll's head.
She didn't fully understand, but at least knew that it was painful. She covered her head with her hand, causing the bird to hurriedly fly away. Silence once again returned to the forest.
.........
After a quick rub, the Hourai Doll's hand fell lifelessly beside it once again, and she continued her staring...It was just another peaceful day at the forest.
*********
The entrance of the Forest of Magic had been successfully captured, and Reimu and Marisa were performing reconnaissance of the area. Or more accurately, they were taking a walk.
Reimu: Honestly...There's no sunlight, there's strange miasma floating in the air, weird mushrooms are growing everywhere...How do you and Alice live here?
Marisa: Stick around long enough, and you can get used'ta anything.
However you want to paint it, a forest is a forest. Go live somewhere more appropriate.
As Reimu mentioned, the inside of a forest is certainly not kind to living things. It would take someone of considerable vitality to withstand or block the miasma and spores from entering their body.
C'mon, this forest is the perfect place for magicians. There's no lack of materials to experiment with...That girl doesn't seem'ta like 'em though.
Marisa's finger pointed in the direction of a cluster of mushrooms growing near a tree. She looked at them happily, but their appearance didn't look particularly welcoming.
Huh, you two disagree on what food youlike to eat? Sounds like you two are the extreme ends of the magician scale.
They're not food. Well, actually they are, but...Bah, that ain't my point anyway.
What is, then?
...That's a secret.
Tsk.
Marisa and Alice may be magicians, but they are not the same. But as Reimu never particularly looked into the subject of magicians, nor had anything to say about them, she decided to keep quiet.
Turn: 12
Ouki: 6751
Ryumaku: 14/32
Actions Available: 2
Our Territories:
Hakurei Shrine
Defense: 250/250
Cost to Develop: 24 RES
Night-Blind Road
Defense: 160/160
Cost to Develop: 9 RES (subsequent development costs 18 RES)
Faintly Dark Path
Defense: 175/175
Cost to Develop: 18 RES
Magic Forest Entrance
Defense: 180/180
Cost to Develop: 9 RES
Enemy Territories:
Magic Forest Border
Army: Forest of Magic Team
General: Hourai Doll
Defense: 160/160
Magic Forest Interior
Army: Forest of Magic Team
General: Alice Margatroid (leader)
Defense: 210/210
Human Village
Army: Human Village Corps
General: Keine Kamishirasawa (leader)
Defense: 310/310
Special Events Available:
Declare War: Human Village Corps
9 NEG is required to declare war.
String Doll - Not very strong, can't be used to develop. Low cost and decent starting level.
Special: Full Power Shot, a single high-power ranged attack. The user is stunned afterwards.
7 NEG is required for recruitment.