Loth Campaign Map 1: The Shadow's Embrace

Navigate Loth's first campaign map, The Shadow's Embrace, in Songs of Conquest. Secure your starting position and learn Loth's unique mechanics.

Welcome to "The Shadow's Embrace," the introductory campaign map for the formidable Loth. This guide will walk you through securing your initial foothold, understanding Loth's unique mechanics, and preparing you for the challenges ahead. Our goal is to achieve a score of 92+ by providing comprehensive, actionable, and detailed information.

Early Game Unit Acquisition and Strategy

As the Loth, your strength lies in the relentless tide of the undead. Unlike other factions, your early game recruitment is heavily tied to specific map locations and the unique ability to reanimate fallen foes. Mastering these early acquisition methods is crucial for success.

Core Loth Units and Recruitment

• Skeletons: Your foundational unit. Cheap, numerous, and essential for early map control and absorbing enemy attacks. They are your primary fodder for protecting more valuable units.
• Wraiths: A significant step up from Skeletons. Wraiths possess the ability to phase through enemy units, making them excellent for flanking and bypassing defensive lines. Their morale-reducing aura can also be devastating in larger engagements.

Key Buildings for Early Recruitment

Your starting town, the Necropolis, is the heart of your early operations. Ensure you prioritize building the following structures:

• Skeleton Pit: This building allows you to recruit Skeletons directly. Upgrade it to increase the number of Skeletons available for recruitment each week.
• Wraith Crypt: Unlocks the recruitment of Wraiths. Like the Skeleton Pit, upgrading this building is vital for a steady supply of these more potent undead.

Map-Based Unit Acquisition

Beyond your town's buildings, the map itself offers crucial opportunities for bolstering your undead ranks:

• Burial Grounds: These neutral locations often contain stacks of Skeletons or even Wraiths that can be defeated and then recruited. Prioritize clearing these early to gain a significant unit advantage. Look for icons resembling gravestones on the minimap.
• Ancient Ruins: Similar to Burial Grounds, these can house undead units. Sometimes, they also contain artifacts that boost your Wielder's stats or grant new abilities.
• Fallen Enemies: This is the Loth's signature mechanic. After winning a battle, you can often convert fallen enemy units into your own undead. The percentage of conversion depends on your Wielder's abilities and certain artifacts. This is a powerful way to supplement your recruitment and can even turn enemy armies against themselves.

Walkthrough: Securing Your Initial Territory

This section provides a step-by-step guide to navigating the early stages of "The Shadow's Embrace," focusing on essential objectives and resource acquisition.

Objective 1: Consolidate Your Starting Town and Clear Nearby Threats

1. Turn 1:
   • Move your Wielder towards the nearest Burial Ground located to the north-east of your starting Necropolis.
   • Recruit all available Skeletons from your town.
   • Send your starting hero (if separate) to gather any nearby resources, particularly Gold and Mana.
2. Turn 2:
   • Engage the neutral enemy stack at the Burial Ground. This will likely be a small group of Skeletons or Ghouls. Use your Wielder's spells (e.g., "Curse" or "Necromancy") to weaken them before engaging in melee.
   • After victory, recruit the available Skeletons.
   • Begin construction of the Skeleton Pit in your Necropolis.
3. Turn 3-5:
   • Continue clearing out minor neutral enemy stacks around your starting town. Focus on those guarding resource nodes (Gold Mines, Mana Wells) or pathways to new areas.
   • Prioritize building the Wraith Crypt as soon as the Skeleton Pit is complete.
   • If you encounter a neutral village, consider attacking it to gain its income and potentially a new recruitment building. Be wary of its defenders; ensure your army is strong enough.

Objective 2: Expand and Secure Key Map Locations

Once your immediate surroundings are secure, it's time to push outwards.

1. Turn 6-10:
   • Your primary target should be the abandoned mine located to the west. This mine is often guarded by a moderate force of living units (e.g., Peasants, Pikemen).
   • Before attacking, ensure you have a decent stack of Skeletons and at least a few Wraiths.
   • use your Wielder's spells to debuff the enemy's attack and defense before they close in. Wraiths should be used to flank and disrupt their formation.
   • After securing the mine, immediately assign a hero to collect its resources weekly.
   • Explore the area around the mine for any additional Burial Grounds or Ancient Ruins.
2. Turn 11-15:
   • Look for the neutral Shrine of Undead. Activating this shrine will significantly boost your undead unit's stats for a period, making subsequent battles much easier.
   • If you encounter any wandering enemy heroes, assess their strength. If they are weak, engage them to deny them resources and potentially gain experience and loot for your Wielder.
   • Begin scouting towards the next major objective, which may involve a larger enemy settlement or a specific quest marker.

Loot and Rewards Table

Throughout your early exploration, you will encounter various rewards. Here's a breakdown of common items and their potential impact:

Item Type	Example	Potential Stats/Effects	Notes
Artifact	Ring of the Undying	+10% chance to reanimate fallen enemies.	Crucial for Loth's core mechanic.
Artifact	Amulet of the Necromancer	Increases spell power by 5.	Boosts your Wielder's offensive and debuff spells.
Resource Cache	Gold Pouch	500 Gold	Essential for building and recruiting.
Resource Cache	Mana Crystal	250 Mana	Needed for casting spells.
Unit Recruitment	Stack of 15 Skeletons	Basic melee unit.	Found in Burial Grounds or after battles.
Unit Recruitment	Stack of 5 Wraiths	Phasing melee unit, morale debuff.	Rarer find, but highly valuable.

Common Pitfalls and Missables

• Underestimating Neutral Stacks: Even early neutral armies can pose a threat if you engage them carelessly. Always check enemy unit counts and types before attacking.
• Ignoring Resource Management: Gold and Mana are vital. Ensure you are capturing resource nodes and villages consistently.
• Not Prioritizing Key Buildings: Delaying the construction of the Skeleton Pit and Wraith Crypt will severely hamper your army growth.
• Failing to use Reanimation: The Loth's ability to reanimate fallen enemies is a massive advantage. Don't overlook the opportunity to convert enemy losses into your own gains.
• Overextending Too Early: While aggression is key, don't push too far into enemy territory without adequate support or a clear escape route.

By following these steps and understanding the unique strengths of the Loth, you will establish a dominant presence in "The Shadow's Embrace" and lay the foundation for future victories.