The Return of the Dragon is the second scenario of the Vlad Dracula campaign in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten, where the player is playing as Magyars. In this scenario, Vlad Dracula obtains support by Bogdan II, Voivode of Moldavia, for his claim over Wallachia. The Ottoman Empire is now supporting Vladislav II, while Hungary will offer alliance with Dracula (the player) if the player advances to the Imperial Age and pays them 1000 food.
The player cannot build any building that produces military units, therefore the player will have to conquer local villages to acquire such buildings, which are indestructible. These villages can be conquered by any player at any time. To conquer a local village, simply place a unit on the torch of the village, and all the buildings, except houses, will belong to the player. If not guarded properly, any other player, whether friendly or hostile, may simply grab the village by placing their own unit on the torch.
Intro[]
"Dracula knew that he needed to enlist the aid of the Hungarians against Vladislav II, whose policies favored the Ottomans. He also remembered his education under the crusading Order of the Dragon, and wanted to honor his vows."
"The Order was a powerful ally, and their crusader knights would serve Dracula well against his enemies. As he paced the streets of the Moldavian capital, Dracula mused over his plans to reclaim his kingdom..." As the mysterious old man paused, I rose up to take another slab of venison.
The old man stared into the fire, watching the flames dance as if they were soldiers involved in a raging battle. His eyes flashed again as a thought entered his mind, and he grasped the majestic old sword.
Meanwhile, Sultan Mehmed II had ascended to the Ottoman throne. Dracula loathed Mehmed from their time in Edirne, and he knew that the Turks would be a thorn in his side for years to come. In 1453, they had conquered Constantinople, but they were presently occupied with campaigns in Greece and Serbia.
Bogdan II, Dracula's cousin and the new Voivod of Moldavia, had heard of his kinsman's plight and offered his help. If Dracula could cross the Carpathian Mountains into Transylvania and ally with Hungary, then they could launch a three-pronged assault on Vladislav II and the Turks.
"Dracula knew that he needed to realign himself with the Hungarians and enlist their aid against Vladislav II, whose policies favored the Ottomans as well. His father had made a mistake in siding with the Ottomans, alienating himself from the cause that he had once sworn a holy oath to follow. Dracula was different. He remembered his education under the Order of the Dragon, and wanted to honor his vows."
"In addition, the Order was a powerful ally, and their elite crusader knights could be put to fine use fighting the armies of the Turks and the usurper Vladislav II. As Dracula, Jakub, Danislav, and Istvan walked the streets of the Moldavian port, Dracula mused over his plan to reclaim his kingdom." I rose up to take another slab of venison as the mysterious old man paused his tale. One of my comrades then asked:
"So what happened next, friend? How was Dracula able to reclaim his rightful throne?" The old man looked into the fire for a moment, watching the flames dance as if they were soldiers themselves, involved in a raging battle. A spark lit in his eyes again as a thought entered his mind, and he grasped the sword that his guests had brought to him. It shone in the light of the fire, and the ornate hilt looked as majestic as ever.
"Meanwhile, Sultan Murad II had died and was succeeded by his son, Mehmed II. Dracula utterly loathed Mehmed from their time together at the Ottoman court at Edirne, and he was doubtless that Mehmed's Turks would be a thorn in his side for years to come. However, the Turks were distracted at the moment. In 1453, they had conquered Constantinople, and they were presently occupied with campaigns in Greece and Serbia."
"Bogdan II, Dracula's cousin and the new Voivod of Moldavia, had heard of the exile and betrayal faced by his kinsman. He wanted to see his fellow Draculesti seated on the Wallachian throne, and he had the armies and resources to do it. If Dracula could get across the Carpathian Mountains to Transylvania and ally with Hungary, then they could launch a three-pronged assault on Danesti Wallachia and the Turkish holdings there."Scenario instructions[]
Starting conditions[]
- Starting Age:
Castle Age - Starting resources: 500 food, 500 wood, 500 gold, 200 stone
- Population limit: 200
- Starting units:
Objectives[]
Main[]
- Vlad Dracula must survive.
- Vlad Dracula must reach the Bran Castle to the north.
- Storm Vladislav II's capital of Targoviste in the west and kill him.
Secondary[]
- Ambush and kill the general (Cavalier) in command of the Danesti camp.
- Protect the Bran Castle.
- Tribute the Hungarians 1,000 food to acquire their support.
Hints[]
- Vlad Dracula is sundered from his Ottoman patrons and seeks new allies. His technology tree is now Magyar and he may reach the Imperial Age and support a population of 200.
- The safest way to the Bran Castle is through the cliffs directly northwest of Moldavia.
- The Danesti general enjoys a leisurely walk to the northeast of his camp.
- Hungary will offer an alliance if you can show your strength by reaching the Imperial Age.
- Once you reach the Bran Castle, the scenario will begin to play like a game of 'Risk'. You cannot construct military buildings, but most local (6, Grey) towns, cities, and villages on the map contain them and can be captured by each major player. Some buildings automatically produce units: the Bran Castle (Wonder) will periodically train Paladins for Dracula, and the port inn (Trade Workshop) in the center of the map recruits mercenaries. Control of a town is determined by ownership of the converting torch in the center of it.
Scouts[]
- Dracula (1, Red) begins in exile in the allied Kingdom of Moldavia (3, Orange), which will support him with infantry and ranged units.
- Several local towns and cities (6, Grey), are scattered across the map. In the far north lies the Bran Castle, the headquarters of the Order of the Dragon, which is loyal to Dracula.
- A Hungarian military base (5, Green) is located to the northwest. Hungary trains droves of cavalry supported by infantry. Their allegiance is unknown.
- In the south lies the territory of the Ottoman Empire (6, Purple), which now supports Vladislav II, but is primarily focused on fighting the Hungarians. Their army is comprised of Spearmen, Light Cavalry, and Janissaries.
- Vladislav II (2, Cyan) is by far the greatest threat, controlling the Wallachian capital of Targoviste to the west. He will train heavy cavalry, swordsmen, Monks, and siege units. Additionally, he may try to control the Danube River with a fleet of warships.
Players[]
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Player[]
- Player ( Magyars): The player will start with Vlad Dracula and four Cavaliers, and must make their way to Bran Castle.
Allies[]
- Local Inhabitants ( Celts): This player serves only as decorate purpose with Houses.
- Local Inhabitants ( Magyars): Another decorative player, they are represented by Houses and other buildings including the Bran Castle at the north. They also have Knights, Long Swordsmen, and Villagers. All buildings and units transfer to the player when Vlad Dracula reaches the Bran Castle.
- Moldavia ( Slavs): The Principality of Moldavia is situated at the eastern part of the map. Initially passive, but after the player defeats Vladislav II and the Danesti, they will quickly build up their forces and then actively attack the Ottomans.
Neutral, potential ally[]
- Hungary ( Magyars)
Neutral[]
- Ottoman Empire ( Turks)
Enemies[]
- Vladislav II ( Slavs)
- Danesti Forces ( Slavs)
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. |
Player[]
- Player ( Magyars)
Allies[]
Neutral, potential ally[]
- Hungary ( Magyars)
Neutral[]
- Ottoman Empire ( Turks)
Enemies[]
- Vladislav II ( Slavs)
- Vladislav II (Named Vladislav II (Immobile) before an update[When?]) ( Slavs)
Strategy[]
In the beginning, Vlad Dracula and four Paladins meet Voivod Bogdan II of Moldavia at his castle. Vlad Dracula rallies for Bogdan's support for him to get the Voivodship of Wallachia. Once succeeded, Dracula and the Paladins are to travel northwest to the Bran Castle, in the north. Vlad Dracula must survive to get there. Along the way, they encounter Danesti forces. There is a small military camp of Vladislav at the left hand side of the path, with two towers - the southern one having exceptionally strong attack, which therefore should be avoided by going through the Moldavian city.
As the player reaches a pass being guarded by Vladislav's guards, the player has the option to turn back and kill the general of Vladislav at the military camp mentioned above. He is marching with a few soldiers in and out of the camp, but at this moment they will rush out to confront Vlad Dracula. It is a far better option to kill this general, as this causes the guards at the pass to retreat southwards.
Once Vlad Dracula reaches the Bran Castle, he will disappear and the player takes over the whole town from the Wallachians. The player must ensure the Bran Castle remains standing. It produces a Paladin every 300 seconds. The player is unable to build barracks, Archery Ranges, Stables, Siege Workshops, and Castles (the first three are already available in the Wallachian town for the player) in this scenario. The only way to obtain these buildings is by conquering local villages by placing any unit over the torch of the village and take over all buildings except houses (except the one near Targoviste where the Houses would also be taken over together with other buildings). Any other player, whether friendly or hostile, can do the same to the villages. The buildings in these villages are all indestructible (except the houses in the village near Targoviste). If the player is able to control the village in the middle of the map, the Trade Workshop there produces a Hand Cannoneer every 120 seconds.
There are two broken bridges along the Danube River. While the eastern one is passable by ship, the western one is blocked by stone mines. The player may send villagers there to mine stones (there are two Gaia Mining Camps ready), but the player's villagers would be exposed to danger by Vladislav II's navy. Clearing the stone mines would allow Moldavian navy to attack Vladislav II or defend against them. If the Ottoman Empire builds a navy after controlling any village along the river (because of having a Dock), they would also be fighting the player's and/or the Moldavian navy, but will not attack the player's villagers and buildings (apart from castles and towers) due to the neutral stance.
There are a few Relics around. Other players may garrison a Relic inside a Monastery either in their own base or in any of the local villages. If a village is being nabbed by another player, the Relic will be automatically ejected from the Monastery. Therefore it is a good idea for the player to build a Monastery in the player's town, and get a monk to steal a Relic from any of the local villages occupied by the player, and bring the Relic back to the player's permanent Monastery in town.
The player's main enemy is Vladislav II, who will frequently fight the player and Moldavia. While both Ottoman Empire and Hungary are hostile towards the player, they are busy fighting each other and only occasionally harass the player. However, if the player advances to the Imperial Age, Hungary offers an alliance with the player by asking for 1000 food. Unlike the HD edition, even without a castle in possession, the player may advance to the Imperial Age by constructing a Monastery and a University.
The player wins the scenario by killing Vladislav II. There are two castles at the western tip of the map in Targoviste, which Vladislav is hiding in the one on the left, therefore that castle must be destroyed to force him out. If both castles are down, Vladislav will hide in the town center if it is still standing.
Alternative strategy[]
Before Vlad Dracula reaches the Bran Castle, all other players are inactive. This strategy exploits this inactivity by kicking off resource collection and aggression before send Dracula to the Bran Castle.
When the player is hinted to kill the general, don't do so. Instead, send one Cavalier to go west, passing the front of the guards, then go south. At the south, the Cavalier will touch a torch and the player obtains a few buildings, including a Stable and a Dock. Let the Cavalier run west until there's no road and be killed there, to kite the enemy units away from the buildings. If some enemy units are still in the building area, use the Stable to create a Scout Cavalry and kite them to the north.
Now the player must be careful with resource usage and the population, as the player has limited resources and doesn't yet have many Houses. To kick-start resource collection, build a Fishing Ship and a Trade Cog to trade with Moldavia's Dock. Then, train a Scout Cavalry and build a Transport Ship to transport the Scout Cavalry across the river, slightly to the east. There, the player will find another camp with a Market. This allows the player to obtain resources other than food and gold.
Further send the Scout Cavalry to the southeast. There, the player will find another camp with a lot of Houses. Now the player should be free to use the Market to buy wood and build Trade Cogs and Fishing Ships to boom without worrying about housing.
While it is possible to boom without any Villagers, it's almost certainly more convenient to have a Town Center and boom with Villagers. While booming with Trade Cogs and Fishing Ships, Train a Monk, as this most-recently discovered camp also has a Monastery. North to Vladislav II's base, there is a mining zone with a few Villagers. Send the Monk there (better detour from the north to avoid being attacked by Vladislav II's military units and towers) to convert one. With the resource collected by Trade Cogs and Fishing Ships, use the Market to buy some wood and stone, and construct a Town Center.
The rest is straightforward, since all enemies are inactive. The player should take their time and kill Vladislav II, who is at the west-most corner of the map. Once he is dead, send Vlad Dracula to the Bran Castle and claim victory.
In the beginning, the four heroes (Dracula, Istvan, Jakub, and Danislav) meet Voivod Bogdan II of Moldavia at his castle. Dracula rallies for Bogdan's support for him to get the Voivodship of Wallachia. Once succeeded, the four heroes travel northwest to the Bran Castle, in the north. All four of them must survive to get there. Along the way, they encounter Vladislav II's troops belonging to the "immobile" player. There is a small military camp of Vladislav, at the left hand side of the path, where there are two towers with exceptionally strong attack, which therefore should be avoided by going through the Moldavian city.
As the player reaches a pass being guarded by Vladislav's guards, the player has the option to turn back and kill the general of Vladislav at the military camp mentioned above. He is marching with a few soldiers in and out of the camp. It is a far better option to kill this general, as this causes the guards at the pass to retreat southwards.
Once the four heroes reach the Bran Castle, they disappear and the player takes over the whole town from the Wallachians. The player must ensure the Bran Castle remains standing. It produces a Paladin every 300 seconds. The player is unable to build barracks, archery ranges, stables, siege workshops, castles, and Monasteries (the first four are already available in the Wallachian town for the player) in this scenario. The only way to obtain these buildings is by conquering local Transylvanian and Wallachian villages by placing any unit over the torch of the village and take over all buildings except houses. Any other player, whether friendly or hostile, can do the same to the villages. The buildings in these villages are all indestructible. If the player is able to control the Wallachian village in the middle of the map, the trade workshop there produces a hand cannoneer every 120 seconds.
The player's main enemy is Vladislav II, who will frequently fight the player and Moldavia. While both Ottoman Empire and Hungary are hostile towards the player, they are busy fighting each other and only occasionally harass the player. However, if the player advances to the Imperial Age, Hungary offers an alliance with the player by asking for 1000 food. The only way for the player to advance to the Imperial Age is by conquering any of the local villages that has the required building(s) for the upgrade. The Transylvanian village in the middle of the map has a castle for this.
The player wins the scenario by defeating Vladislav's forces and killing him. While the player's allies may help the player defeat Vladislav's forces, Vladislav himself is hiding behind walls at the western corner, protected by a bombard tower. The player can simply send a ranged unit to kill him.Outro[]
The elderly man gave a thin smile. "Tenacity of mind can compensate for other disadvantages. As Dracula slaughtered untold numbers of enemy troops, the large circle of impaled men outside Targoviste grew to awe--and disgust--travelers for weeks to come."
"Dracula owned Wallachia once more, but it was not the land his forebears ruled. Barren from endless wars, it was rife with corruption, crime, and poverty." Aghast, I asked my host how Dracula managed to reform a ruined shell of a country so quickly.
Grinning, the light flashed across the old man's eye again. "Dracula despised dishonesty and crime, and sought to eliminate it. He knew that Wallachia had to become strong enough to face its enemies-and soon. And so his reforms began."
The emaciated old man gave a thin smile. "One's tenacity of mind can compensate for other disadvantages," he remarked in a pensive voice. "It was a glorious victory! Dracula slaughtered untold numbers of enemy troops and Danesti clansmen. The large circle of impaled men that soon formed outside of Targoviste awed merchants and travelers for weeks to come, and Dracula's army feasted for an entire week to celebrate the victory."
"Wallachia was back in the hands of the Draculesti clan, but it was not the Wallachia his father ruled. The land was barren from endless wars, and when Dracula entered Targoviste, he saw a city rife with corruption, crime, and poverty," the old man growled. "It was a great triumph," I remarked, "but it seems there was much work to do! How did he so quickly turn a ruined shell of a country into a force to be reckoned with?"
The ancient man grinned, and the light flashed across his eyes again, as he seemed to remember a fond memory of past days. "Dracula despised dishonesty and crime, and wanted to eliminate it not just for personal reasons, but because he knew that Wallachia must remain strong in the face of its enemies -- to stand up to the might of the Turks -- and soon. And so his reforms began."Trivia[]
- In the HD Edition, Even though the Wallachian villages appear to be in the south of the Danube, in reality Wallachia was actually in the north of the Danube, where the river served as the boundary between Wallachia and the Ottoman Empire.
- There have not been Celts living in Transylvania since the second century AD.
- This is one of the few scenarios introduced in The Forgotten that is almost completely unchanged in the Definitive Edition.
